93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A very attractive Gigondas that marries black-cherry and complex Mediterranean-herb aromas to a wealth of velvety tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. The long, very elegant finish pulls you back for more. Delicious now but also has excellent aging potential. Drink or hold.

95 Wine Enthusiast

Subtle baking spice and oak-toast aromas lead to a silky smooth palate alive with nuances of white peaches, vanilla bean, cream and poached pears. The wine is luscious but balanced, quiet on the first sip and then growing in flavor impact with each repeated taste. Best from 2026–2036.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"Nicely balanced, with aromas of lemon confit, crushed stones, pastry, grapefruit and flint. The palate is mid-weighted with bright acidity and a zesty, vibrant finish. A well-balanced chardonnay to drink now." - Ryan Montgomery

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Perfumed aromas of red currants, lavender, fresh thyme and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with plush tannins and balanced acidity, giving flavors of raspberry coulis, red licorice and baking spices. Very soft and delicate, with a nicely constructed backbone. Drink or hold.

98 International Wine Report

The 2023 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County includes small amounts of 3% Malbec, 1% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, and was aged for 18 months in 55% new French oak. In the glass, it reveals an opaque ruby-purple hue. The nose is strikingly layered, bringing together aromas of crushed black cherries, wild marionberries, roasted coffee bean, cedary herbs, and damp forest soil. The palate follows with intensity and grace, offering cassis, mulberry, and dark chocolate, balanced by savory herbs and graphite. Firm, polished tannins and vibrant acidity structure the wine without weighing it down, giving it both power and lift. The finish is extended and resonant, echoing spice, fruit, and earthy undertones long after each sip. This bottling is both deeply expressive and precise, one of the most incredible Cabernet Sauvignons yet from Aperture, built to evolve over two decades. For pairing, it would be stunning with dry-aged ribeye and truffle butter, the wine’s depth of fruit and earthy complexity mirroring the richness of the dish. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.

96+ Erin Brooks - Robert Parker's the Wine Advocate

I tasted the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon in October, not long after it was bottled in August. Grapes were harvested October 5 through November 3. It was blended with 3% Malbec, 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and matured for 18 months in 55% new French oak barrels plus 10% concrete—a new aging vessel Aperture has started experimenting with. It has slowly unfurling scents of cassis, black cherry, dark chocolate, cast iron and floral hints. The full-bodied palate is impressively concentrated without over-ripeness, and its flavors are rich yet minerally. It has an haut couture frame of powdery tannins and refreshing acidity and a very long, elegant finish. It should be very long lived in the cellar.

95 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A lovely white with green mangoes and pineapple, white flowers and a hint of flint. Medium to full body with depth, intensity and plenty of fruit. Tangy at the end. Very complete.

92 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Plush and generous aromas of blackcurrants, mulberries and baking spices. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving flavors of olive tapenade, blackberries and cedar. Approachable for early drinking, but it will age nicely. Drink or hold.

90 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

"The 2023 Chardonnay De La Guerra is a terrific introduction to this range from Hyde de Villaine. Hints of apricot, chamomile, tangerine oil and light tropical inflections unfurl in the glass. This vibrant, steely Chardonnay is so expressive. Think of the De La Guerra as the village wine here. What a delight."

100 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

I obviously underrated the 2016 Château Haut-Bailly on release, and it easily tops out my scale. A hypothetical blend of the 2009 and 2010, it has the opulence and sexiness of a ripe, sunny vintage (à la 2009) paired with incredible purity, concentration, structure, and elegance (à la 2010). Incredible aromatics of cassis, liquid violets, cedar pencil, flowers, and minerals give way to a full-bodied, multi-dimensional, layered Haut-Bailly offering ultra-fine tannins, flawless overall balance, nothing out of place, and the class to drink well today yet evolve for 30-40 years. Absolute perfection in wine, this is a modern-day Legend from director Veronique Sanders.

100 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

To kick off the 50 year retrospective of Haut-Bailly, we began with this exceptional 2016 (we had also tried the fragrant and nuanced 2019 in the tasting room). Still concentrated and powerful, its structure and poise is a clear reminder that the vintage sets the bar as one of the greatest Haut-Baillys in recent history. Fabulous wine, with layers of black olive paste, blueberry fruit, crayon, cigar box, luscious but still reserved, will go for decades. Harvest September 26 to October 18. Denis Dubourdieu's last year as consultant, Gabriel Vialard winemaker, Véronique Sanders director, 55% new oak for ageing.

98 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Wonderful aromas of tobacco, sweet fruit and licorice follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that caress every inch of your palate. Love the length and subtlety to this young wine. Gorgeous. Drink after 2024.

98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2016 Haut-Bailly is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. The nose opens with beautiful floral notes of violets and lavender accented with earthy notions and sparks of crushed rocks over a core of kirsch, cassis and wild blueberries. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, it has layer upon layer of red, black and blue fruits intermingled with earth and mineral hints leading to a very long, perfumed finish.

97+ Antonio Galloni - Vinous

A big, vertical wine, the 2016 Haut-Bailly explodes onto the palate with tremendous depth and intensity. Readers should be in no rush to drink the 2016, as it won't be close to ready to drink for at least a decade, and I say that as an eternal optimist. Black cherry, smoke, tobacco, cedar, gravel and incense add to the wine's decidedly somber personality.