Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Pure perfection, the prodigious 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select reveals an even deeper purple/blue hue as well as extraordinary notes of unsmoked tobacco, crushed rocks, graphite, crème de cassis, and blueberries. With a massive, full-bodied profile and a texture that builds incrementally on the palate, it has a stacked mid-palate, ultra-fine (yet lots of them) tannins, flawless balance, and a monster of a finish. It’s tight and closed at the moment, so hide bottles for a solid 7-8 years. It should age at a glacier pace.

Halliday Wine Companion (98)

Sourced from 3 vineyards in Piccadilly, Lobethal and the estate’s high-elevation Lenswood block. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented and matured on lees in French barriques and puncheons. The first thing that strikes you is an elegance that is so fundamental to the style and respectful to the elite fruit within. The faintest of oak lifts adds a complexity to start, but the energy and concentration of the fruit become the prime focus on the palate. It's all about chardonnay's finest flavours and a vibrant acidity to drive it long into the future.

Wine Enthusiast (94)

93-95 Densely structured wine, full of honey, cinnamon, and sweetness. The acidity gives just the right counterpoint.

Wine Advocate (90)

Showing its age with tarry spice and dark fruit tones, the Sijnn 2015 Malgas Red reflects an earlier chapter in the estate’s evolution. The blend of Syrah, Tinta Amarela, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Mourvèdre does not include Grenache, and after a decade in bottle, the wine presents a more evolved and weightier profile with deeper, darker edges. There is richness and maturity here, with tertiary notes emerging and tannins softening into a broader frame. This vintage predates the stylistic refinement seen in more recent releases, marking a clear step forward in subsequent years.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Sijnn is one of the most amazing new terroirs in the Cape, producing wines of remarkable individuality. This Rhône meets Bordeaux meets the Douro Valley blend, made with grapes grown just 15 kilometres from the sea, is stony, complex and intensely aromatic, showing lavender and wild thyme avours, grippy tannins and layered, mineral intense fruit. Superb stuff . 2021-35

Tim Atkin MW (96)

One of the most beautiful and complex terroirs in South Africa supplies the grapes for this unique red, produced from a medley of Shiraz with 33% Mourvèdre, Touriga Nacional and the very rare (in South Africa) Tinta Amarella. Inky, savoury and wild, it has freshness and concentration, notes of rosemary and lavender, meaty depths and fine oak. 2023-30

Wine Spectator (90)

Lovely almond and hazelnut notes lead the way, with lemon curd, verbena, heather and lightly toasted piecrust and ginger notes gliding through the finish. Slightly languid in feel, but shows good range. Chenin Blanc and Viognier.

Tim Atkin MW (93)

More conventional than the Sijnn red, this is a three-way blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Roussanne that sees a little skin contact before fermentation. Honeysuckle, fresh herb and citrus flavours reminded me of the Rhône Valley.

Take pleasure in the Silvia Barbaglia Boca 2016, a stunning embodiment of classic Italian winemaking prowess exhibited by renowned vintner Silvia Barbaglia. Born of the historic vineyards of Piedmont, this captivating Nebbiolo blend delivers an unrivalled tasting experience. The wine draws its distinctive character from the Boca DOC, bestowing upon it a robust, complex profile.

Meticulously crafted, Barbaglia deftly coaxes sublime flavours from hand-harvested Vespolina and Uva Rara grapes. The grapes are then aged in large oak barrels, infusing the wine with an enticing blend of earthiness and spice. The result? A captivating, full-bodied drink with intriguing layers of black cherry and raspberry, underscored by notes of anise and clove.

An unwavering devotee of traditional techniques, Barbaglia insists on limited intervention, allowing the terroir to articulate its authentic confession. Each bottle of the Silvia Barbaglia Boca 2016 promises to be a testament to this philosophy, making it an essential addition to any discerning wine connoisseur's collection.

Envelop your palate in the embrace of the distinct Silvia Barbaglia Boca 2017. Crafted by the eminent winemaker Silvia Barbaglia, in the rustic landscapes of Piedmont, this Italian gem represents the quintessence of her earnest, organic approach. Carefully created from a blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina grapes, these are handpicked from vines that bear witness to deep-rooted traditions on ancient volcanic soils.

Silvia Barbaglia Boca 2017 is a natural wine, aged for three years in large, old Slovenian oak barrels for subtlety, complexity, and depth. The aroma is a vivid blend of violet and rose, with undercurrents of dried herbs and tobacco. On the palate, it expresses an intense, structured taste with soft tannins and a staggering finish.

This carefully sculpted handcrafted wine paints an authentic portrait of its home region and testifies the mastery behind its creation. A must for lovers of traditional Piedmontese wines.

Wine Advocate (95+)

The Tenute Silvio Nardi 2016 Brunello di Montalcino makes a big impact in the glass thanks to its dark color saturation and the pretty intensity of its aromas that range from dark fruit and plum to soft potting soil and grilled herb. You get beautiful balance here, even more so when you allow the bottle to breathe for a few hours. A twofold delivery of freshness and tannic backbone gives the wine the DNA required to hold 10 years or more. Having had the pleasure of touring the vineyards, I can firmly state that Tenute Silvio Nardi occupies one of the most distinctive areas of the Montalcino appellation, tucked into the northern side of the area, at high altitude, hidden by thick forests and cooled by an almost blueish quality of light. The soils are dark and mineral-rich with pockets of schists and shale. A unique position such as this does not guarantee consistent results every year, and I can imagine how vulnerable this area could be in the most extreme weather, especially given the later harvest. Indeed, my feeling is that vintage variation is experienced with greater intensity here. But when presented with a classic vintage such as 2016, all those elements fall magically in place to produce wines of extreme elegance and character. Tenute Silvio Nardi has three new releases from 2016: a classic Brunello and two single-vineyard expressions.

Vinous (93)

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Manachiara is dark, bold and powerful. Sweet red cherry, plum, hard candy, flowers and mint rush forward as this succulent, open-knit Riserva shows off its personality. The Manachiara is quite forward and fruit-driven, yet it is also very nicely balanced throughout. This is a terrific showing from Nardi.

James Suckling (97)

This is really beautiful with black cherries, porcini mushrooms, black walnuts and dried flowers on the nose. It’s full-bodied, yet very toned and tight with class and precision. Wonderful length and focus. Goes on for minutes. What a wine from here. Best ever? Try after 2025.

Wine Advocate (95)

Close in quality to the profound 2007 is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grandes Grenachieres d-Hippolyte. A stunning expression of old vine Grenache, it boasts abundant notes of raspberries, licorice and kirsch intermixed with hints of forest floor and underbrush. With good acidity, precision and freshness as well as a deep, full-bodied, voluptuously textured mouthfeel, this superb example of old vine Grenache should drink well for 15+ years.

Vinous (92-94)

The 2019 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Vergelesses 1er Cru has a sophisticated nose of blackberry, loamy damp soil, raspberry and light cracked black pepper aromas that build nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and a crisp bead of acidity; very harmonious. White pepper and clove appear toward a finish that leaves the tongue tingling after it has departed. Superb.

Sine Qua Syrah Capo Dei Putti 2014 1x75cl - 3 bottles in the case

99 points | Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the reds, the extended barrel-aged 2014 Syrah Capo Dei Putti boasts an insane bouquet of cedarwood, white chocolate, caramelized meats, candle way, and assorted red and black fruits. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible elegance, it changed every time I came back to the glass and is a multi-dimensional, riveting red wine from California. A blend of 90% Syrah and the balance Viognier, Petite Sirah, and Grenache, partially destemmed and aged 38 months in 94% new French oak, give this beauty 2-3 years of bottle age, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 10-15 years.

Sine Qua Non Grenache Testa Dei Cherubini 2014 1x75cl - 3 bottles in the case

99 points | Jeb Dunnuck
As with the extended aged Syrah release, the 2014 Grenache Testa Dei Cherubini (80% Grenache, 15.5% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier) comes all from the estate Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and spent just under 38 months in 25% new French oak, with the balance in neutral barrels (varying sizes). Layers of black raspberry, cassis, white chocolate, white flowers, and Asian spices flow to a full-bodied, supple, powerful Grenache that has silky, silky tannins, a seamless texture, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s already approachable, yet in my experience, this extended élevage results in a very stable wine, and I suspect this beauty will have another two decades of longevity.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2019 Syrah Distenta I is composed of 83.6% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre, 5.2% Petite Sirah, 6.2% Grenache, 1.4% Muscat and 0.6% Petit Manseng. “I think Muscat is the number-one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred told me last year. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” The red winemaking included 33% whole cluster. The vineyard sources for this wine are 35% The Third Twin, 33% Eleven Confessions, 31% Cumulus and 1% Molly Aida—all estate-owned vineyards. This wine was bottled at the end of July 2021, after 23 months in French oak, 43% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it erupts from the glass with a powerfully fragrant nose of red roses, Morello cherries, boysenberries and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of mocha, star anise, cardamom and cassia. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with bright, crunchy black, blue and red fruits. It has a rock-solid structure of firm, finely-grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the shimmering layers to a long, energetic finish. The complexity and vivacity of this Syrah are simply jaw-dropping!

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2019 Syrah Distenta I is composed of 83.6% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre, 5.2% Petite Sirah, 6.2% Grenache, 1.4% Muscat and 0.6% Petit Manseng. “I think Muscat is the number-one white grape for me to blend with reds,” Manfred told me last year. “It kinda triples the effect of the wine.” The red winemaking included 33% whole cluster. The vineyard sources for this wine are 35% The Third Twin, 33% Eleven Confessions, 31% Cumulus and 1% Molly Aida—all estate-owned vineyards. This wine was bottled at the end of July 2021, after 23 months in French oak, 43% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it erupts from the glass with a powerfully fragrant nose of red roses, Morello cherries, boysenberries and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of mocha, star anise, cardamom and cassia. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam-packed with bright, crunchy black, blue and red fruits. It has a rock-solid structure of firm, finely-grained tannins and seamless freshness lifting the shimmering layers to a long, energetic finish. The complexity and vivacity of this Syrah are simply jaw-dropping!

Jeb Dunnuck (97-100)

The 2020 Grenache Distenta II is a blend of mostly 78% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and a tiny splash of Viognier. It's a ripe, sexy, insanely good barrel sample that has remarkable purity, tons of black raspberry and cassis fruits, perfect balance, full-bodied richness, and an already complex bouquet of violets, spice, and flowers. I continue to be blown away by what this estate seems to achieve with Grenache in just about every vintage.

Vinous (98)

The 2021 Syrah Distenta III is another magnificent offering in this great vintage. A wine of penetrating depth and vibrancy, the 2021 explodes onto the palate with copious dark fruit, new leather, licorice and spice. It possesses statuesque energy and pedigree to burn. The Distenta III is one of my favorite recent SQN wines. The blend is 81.7% Syrah, 11.3% Grenache, 3.3% Mourvèdre, 2.1% Petite Sirah and 1.6% Muscat and Petit Manseng.