95 James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion

One of my favourite champagne houses. This entry point has one-third each of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay from 30 crus, 25% reserve wines, spending 4 years on tirage. It has a flowery bouquet, terrific mouthfeel thanks to a hint of honey, and Meyer lemon cleansing the finish and aftertaste.

96 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Showing enormous precision and direction, the 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo (with 25,000 bottles released) is a generous expression of Sangiovese that boasts singular intensity. This organic wine offers black fruit, grilled rosemary, pressed rose and crushed limestone. All of these aromas enjoy special, forward-moving intensity that dovetails into the ample fruit generosity that this sun-filled vintage will be remembered for.

96 Wine Spectator

This red is tightly wound, linear in profile and full of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, fresh loam and mineral flavors, supported by lively acidity and dense, suave tannins that integrate nicely with the tension and silky texture. Shows terrific length. Best from 2026 through 2045. 1,800 cases made, 700 cases imported.

95+ Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is one of the most backward editions of this wine I can remember tasting. Dark and almost somber, the Vigna del Sorbo packs a ton of intensity in its deceptively mid-weight frame. In many vintages, Vigna del Sorbo is quite showy in its youth. That is not at all the case with the 2020, a wine that will require many years to be at its best. Hints of lavender, dried herbs, plum and graphite appear over time, but the 2020 is very clearly an infant. There is a feeling of youthful austerity (in a positive sense) that I find quite alluring. The 2020 Sorbo is a wine for those who can wait.

95-97+ Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

I was able to taste the 2022 Château Beychevelle on multiple occasions, and it never failed to impress me. Based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that will see 18 months in 70% new oak, it's one of those wines that makes you stop and say "wow" due to its purity, depth, and texture. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as lots of blueberry and black cherry fruits, it's full-bodied and has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, building yet gorgeous tannins, and subtle background notes of crushed violets, flowers, and graphite. This is a sensational effort from director Philippe Blanc.

94-96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Beychevelle has a TPI of 78 and a pH of 3.8. It is deep garnet-purple in color and needs a swirl or two to wake up pronounced notes of crème de cassis, plum preserves, and Morello cherries, giving way to nuances of candied violets, Darjeeling tea, and dark chocolate. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black fruit preserves, supported by fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a mineral lift.

94-96 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2022 Beychevelle is fabulous. In most recent vintages Beychevelle has been a flamboyant, extravagant Saint-Julien, but in 2022 is its surprisingly vibrant and fresh, almost shockingly so. Ripe red cherry/plum fruit, blood orange, rose petal and spice are all beautifully delineated. More than anything, I admire the wine’s freshness and drive, qualities that have not often been present in recent vintages. That makes the 2022 one of my favorite recent vintages here. Tasted three times.

94-95 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

The tannins are very well-integrated with lovely bright fruit of currants and blackberries. Medium to full body. Vivid and pretty. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 4% petit verdot.

92-94 William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with hints of violets and licorice, framed by creamy new oak, the 2022 Beychevelle is medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a fleshy core of fruit framed by rich, unusually suave and polished tannins in the context of recent vintages at this address. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, with a pH of 3.85, quite typical for this address.

94 Beverage Dynamics

Gruet is one the great “surprise” wines. Who would have thought that a superb sparkling wine could be produced in New Mexico? For any skeptics, the Gruet Blanc de Noirs should be a revelation. Lightly spiced red fruit on the nose and palate showcase the pinot noir used to make up the cuvée, and the wine’s focus can be traced to the chardonnay component. A great value and dependable producer make this a real must-buy.

100 winescritic.com

"Imperial and decidedly austere on the nose showing deep notes of black prunes, blackberries, wild myrtle, Mediterranean herbs, sandalwood, cumin and juniper berries. In the background hints of cedar and burnt mandarin peel blend with wild thyme, marjoram and sage. There's more in the sensory frame which comes out slowly with nuances of gentian and coriander. Full bodied, perfectly blended tannins of extraordinary workmanship and admirably fine grain and an exciting finale with fresh, whispering, balsamic echoes of iced mint and maritime pine. An extraordinary expression made in Maremma, perhaps the best ever for Saffredi, the most elegant and cohesive ever tasted. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. A perfect wine, a divine wine. Better from 2025."

99 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

So much crushed stone, rosemary, lavender, mint and blackberry. Full-bodied and very structured with layers of powerful and polished tannins. It goes on for minutes. Ink, blackcurrants and blueberries. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Needs at least five or six years to open. Try after 2025.

97+ Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

My article on icon wines from Tuscany focuses primarily on releases from the 2018 vintage. Fattoria le Pupille releases its top wine, the 2019 Saffredi, earlier than the rest. This blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot is explosive. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon has been slightly increased in this vintage (and we can expect the same in the warm 2020 vintage that saw the percentage of Merlot further reduced). This 2019 expression boasts a very compact and powerful quality of fruit with deep intensity, thick layering and a velvety texture. This is a real beauty that should be put aside for a few more years of aging.

97 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2019 Saffredi is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted here. It offers a beguiling mix of opulence in its fruit profile with a classic sense of structure that holds it all together. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, leather and cloves infuse the 2019 with notable darkness. I would give the 2019 a few years to soften, as the tannins are pretty imposing today.

97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

The 2019 Fattoria Le Pupille Saffredi from the souhthern part of Tuscany, has a very youthful nose with very gentle sweet oak spice, some light tobacco notes and dark red and blue fruits, yet it still needs more time to open up. It is extremely smooth and silky on the palate with some good concentration but there is still a weightless feel to it. The tannins are very gentle and integrated with a chalky twist on the finish. It is already looking very balanced and harmonious, concentrated yet supremely elegant. The blend for this vintage is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.

96 Wine Spectator

Elisabetta Geppetti inherited Fattoria Le Pupille from her father-in-law in 1985. Through passion and determination, she developed the vineyards in southern Maremma from the original 10 acres to nearly 200 today. In 1987, with the help of the late Giacomo Tachis, Geppetti launched Saffredi, a Bordeaux-style blend that has become the estate’s flagship. The original 12-acre Saffredi vineyard was planted in 1985 and 1986; an additional 22 acres were planted on an adjacent hillside between 2006 and 2010. The 2019 comprises 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 26 percent Merlot and 4 percent Petit Verdot, aged 15 months in French oak, 70 percent new. It’s the highest-rated Saffredi since the stellar 2004.

97 Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com

The bright ruby 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is another stunning 2019 on the nose, with bright, intense aromatics of rosewater, redcurrants, wild Mediterranean herbs, macchia, incense, anise, potpourri – it’s so distinctive yet always moving in the glass. Medium-bodied, with beautiful purity, it has ripe, fine tannins, is long on the palate for days, and has a weightless feel. This impeccable wine is phenomenal now, but it’s only going to improve over the coming 15-20 years.

97 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Alessandro Mori's wines are easy to spot in a blind tasting thanks to the soaring intensity and vibrant Sangiovese aromas they display. They are truly one of a kind. A wine that sees a relatively short and hot fermentation, the Il Marroneto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino respects local winemaking tradition and remains true in spirit. The steep verticality of the bouquet evokes almost-carbonic or lifted aromas of bright cherry, strawberry shortcake, lilac and heritage rose. You get straight to the heart of Sangiovese. The tannins are extremely fine and powdery and the freshness of the fruit is beautifully intact. This wine really pops in 2019.

97 Decanter

Iacopo Mori described the 2019 vintage as ‘perfect, no disease...lots of fantastic grapes,’ when he visited Decanter in December 2023. Indeed, 2019 is looking superb across the board. Il Marroneto's Brunello di Montalcino 2019 has the most incredible scent; an enticing waft of aromatic cherry and fragrant violets. In the mouth it's supremely precise, with a silky texture and sweet red fruits. Intense, chiselled and sapid, there's a bewitching pureness and delicacy here. Delicious.

96 Kerin O'Keefe - kerinokeefe.com

All about finesse and impeccable balance, the radiant 2019 Brunello from Il Marroneto opens with heady aromas of wild rose, forest berry, camphor and baking spice. Delicious and elegantly structured, the palate features raspberry compote, blood orange, mocha and baking spice before closing on a hint of graphite. Drink 2027–2039.

95 Eric Guido - Vinous Media

A cascade of bright cherry, rose buds, lavender and cedary spice wafts up from the whimsically perfumed 2019 Brunello di Montalcino. This is surprisingly juicy yet quite complex, with hints of zesty orange and vibrant acidity that add tremendous energy as crisp clove-inflected red fruits drench the senses. It finishes with cheek-puckering tannins, yet they are sweet and round. The 2019 tapers off spicy and fresh, leaving lingering mint, violets and sweet herbal tea notes. Don’t be fooled by its energy and approachability; the 2019 holds a massive amount of power in reserve. This is a spell-binding Brunello from Il Marroneto.

94 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A mix of red and black fruits with lavender and fresh herbs followed by vanilla, blanched almonds and a hint of black ink and pencil lead. Full-bodied, firm and juicy tannins with good acidity backbone. Sound and harmonious wine with beautiful drinkability. Terrific quality. This needs two or three years to take the edge off it.

91 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Aromas of berries, Mediterranean herbs, licorice and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied with silky tannins. Poised and juicy with a vivid finish. Better in a year or two.

95 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

The stunning interplay of vanilla oak with cool white-peach and sliced-pear character makes this very elegant, Burgundian-style dry pinot blanc very delicious. Breathtakingly fresh and clean at the super-mineral finish that pulls you back for more of this beauty. Drink or hold.

90 Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Primarily from the Hardester Ranch in Pope Valley, with other major contributions from St. Helena, Soda Canyon and Glass Mountain, it's a medium to full-bodied effort, with bold flavors of cherries, cassis and cedar. It's easy, but not soft, nicely firm, with a long, silky-textured finish."

94 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A creamy and layered white with sliced apple, pear and honeycomb aromas and flavors. Some stone. It’s medium-bodied with lovely phenolics that blend nicely into the wine. White peaches with hints of mountain flowers. Unique. Drink or hold.

93 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Petite Arvine Alder Springs Vineyard is rich, deep and very nicely textured, with a real feeling of intensity that comes through. Dried pear, sage, mint and mineral notes abound. A few hours of skin contact works beautifully for this wine.