90 Wine Spectator

"Delicious, smoky style, with a good balance to the off-dry caramel and buttercream flavors and the ripe melon, apricot and tropical fruit elements. Decadent, mesquite smoke finish. Drink now through 2008."

90-92 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Aromas of dark berries, red fruits and cherries mingled with hints of mint and violets introduce the 2023 De Sales, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (which performs well on these terroirs) and 5% Cabernet Franc. Charming, elegant and fruit-driven, if it can make it into bottle without succumbing to the Brettanomyces that inflicted the 2021, it will be well worth seeking out.

96 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

An extremely concentrated and refined Chateauneuf that presses all the pleasure buttons, yet remains subtle. Breathtaking energy at the very long finish. Listing all the aromas would take too long, but there’s a slew of red fruits, Mediterranean herbs and a touch of candied citrus in there. Great touch and texture on the mid-palate, harmonious and vibrant. Expanding and ample long finish. A cuvee of 60% grenache and 40% syrah. Drink or hold.

95 Wine Advocate - Wine Advocate

From a single parcel planted to a mix of Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%), the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale offers up aromas of mint, cherries and dusty earth. It's full-bodied and ripe, with a rich, velvety texture and a lingering finish that echoes of dark chocolate. Joe Czerwinski

95 Wine Spectator

There's impressive range and depth to the plum paste and bitter cherry flavors in this red, woven with earth, warm spices and charred apple wood smoke. The palate shows power and concentration, yet hums with mineral energy and salty black licorice undertones. Big-boned and harmonious through the deftly built finish. Grenache, Syrah and Counoise. Drink now through 2032. 790 cases made, 390 cases imported.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"A compact and focused red with spiced cherries, raspberries, red licorice, iodine and crushed stones on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with smoothly polished tannins framing the vivid fruit. Long and balanced. Drink or hold."

92 Wine Spectator

"Fresh and lively, with a leesy hint of bread dough mixing with candied berry, quince paste, lemon zest, wax and fleur de sel. Fine-grained, with a lip-smacking, juicy finish. Disgorged April 2011. Drink now through 2018. –AN (Tasted 11/11)"

92 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

This young wine is impressively concentrated, tannic and tight at this stage of its development, but it carries the proper amount of dark fruit, dark chocolate and heady oak spices to gain complexity with age. The tannins are full and a bit edgy for current drinking. Best from 2029.

94 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Very hot iron and cloves with green pepper to the dark fruit. Full-to medium-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a fresh, spicy finish. Lots going on, with lots of flavor and character. 100% tintilla.

94 Wine Enthusiast

Black plum, dried mushroom and bruised-blackberry aromas fill the nose followed by smoked meat and damp earth. The palate is reserved with medium-intensity flavors suggested on the nose that flirt with worn leather and dried black-cherry skin. Drink with grilled steak, kebabs and pot roast. — Reggie Solomon

96 Kerin O'Keefe - kerinokeefe.com

Blue flower, resin, ripe forest berry and dark culinary spice mingle with whiffs of underbrush on the gorgeous 2022 Starderi from Olek Bondonio. Smooth as silk, it’s juicy and delicious, doling out ripe Morello cherry, cinnamon and vanilla before a minty finish. Velvety tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. This is one of the best wines of the vintage. Drink 2027–2034.

92 Wine Enthusiast

Rich black cherries and milk-chocolate notes give a ripe, saturated expression to this full-bodied wine, while well-integrated tannins add needed structure. Made from mostly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and sourced from three mountain locations, the wine is velvety, flavorful and almost sweet on the finish.

93 Wine Spectator

"Bright acidity and detailed texture frames rich flavors of date, candied orange peel, dried apricot, graham cracker and almond cream in this seamlessly integrated, vibrant Blanc de Blancs. A wine drinker's Champagne. Drink now through 2018. 3,000 cases made. -AN"