93 Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of Golden Delicious apples and peaches explode from the glass, followed by a slightly sweet and buttery note that unleashes an intense craving for lemon shortbread cookies. The wine feels crisp and fresh in the mouth, with flavors like lemon shaved ice, cinnamon and a hint of coconut oil. Great acidity.

94 Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Brancaia 2021 Ilatraia is an organic blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. I like the restyled front label design presented with this vintage. This is a bold and generous wine with sweet fruit, blackberry preserves, baking spice and hints of pipe tobacco. The Ilatraia hits the palate with power, but the tannins are softly integrated for a full-bodied but velvety close.

94 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2021 Ilatraia, Brancaia's flagship Maremma red, is a fine example of the appellation. Black cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and bittersweet chocolate saturate the palate. This young, vibrant, exotic red needs time to be at its best. Today, it is almost shockingly primary.

91 Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Named for the tractor acquired with the original property in 1973, Shafer's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 blends fruit from the estate with purchased fruit to provide an entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, aged in 100% new French oak, it does offer plenty of vanilla and spice shadings to balance the cherry fruit. Full-bodied and velvety-textured, it offers plenty of pleasure for what amounts to a fair price within the Napa scheme of things. With more than 10,000 cases produced, it should be widely available at steakhouses and retail.

90 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

The 2022 TD-9 checks in as 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec, and the rest Petit Verdot. It has a juicy, lively, medium to full-bodied style to go with pretty red and black fruits, some spicy wood and floral notes, fine tannins, and a great finish.

90 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 is a pretty wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit and sweet spice tones are nicely lifted. This is an especially delicate, aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the lighter structure of the year.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

A powerful and ripe Meursault with plenty of Mirabelle plums filling out the generous medium- to full-bodied palate. Attractive interplay of creaminess, fine tannins and freshness. Matured in small oak barrels, of which one third were new. Very limited production. Drink or hold.

93 Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

Packed with black fruits and balanced acidity, this is the second wine of Quinta do Vale Meão. Aged for 14 months in wood, its fruit is rich while also having freshness. The wine's name comes from the massive horseshoe bend in the Douro that forms the boundary of the estate. Drink from 2026. — Roger Voss

92 Aldo Fiordelli - Senior Editor - JamesSuckling.com

"A restrained yet layered wine with aromas of wax, quince, lemons, chalk and leesy savoriness. Medium-bodied, it shows orange flavors on a savory palate and a tannic grip that’s balanced by weight and lifted acidity. Drink now."

90 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2024 Dolcetto d'Alba is bright, bold and punchy. Blue-toned fruit, lavender, sage and mint show terrific energy and vibrancy because of the cool year and the decision to use 70% stems, very high for this wine. Give the 2024 six months to a year to come together. It's another super-distinctive wine in this range.

89-91 Allen Meadows - Burghound

"Mild reduction compromises the expressiveness of the nose but the attractively textured and very rich flavors are supple, round and also relatively fine. I like the balance and overall sense of harmony though a bit more depth would be a plus."

96 Falstaff Magazine

Bright ruby red with a delicately brightening rim. Generous nose of wild strawberry and raspberry, with subtly sweet nuances of fruit and tea, then leather and wet stone, complex and deep. Extremely juicy on the palate, opens up in many layers, powerful and polished, seems to build up endlessly, lingers for a long time.

95 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Intense floral nose of red and dark fruit, with a slightly peppery, almost meaty character. There is a lot of stony minerality. Tight-knit structure with fruit and acidity that are crisp and zesty, ripe tannins, a velvety texture and a medium body. Good cherry fruit finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

93 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The eponymous 2023 Branco, a 50/50 blend of Arinto and Roupeiro from dry-farmed vines planted in 2008 on granite soils, finished fermenting in 2,000-liter Austrian foudres, where it matured for 12 months with the lees. It comes in with a serious and elegant profile, good ripeness, 13% alcohol and very good freshness. It's balanced, fresh, very clean, elegant and tasty. It should develop nicely in bottle. 5,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2024.

91 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Subtle roasted spices, sour cherries, hibiscus and bramble berries. Youthful and quite lively palate with a fruity core of ripe, juicy berries and cherries. Flavorful finish. Drink now.

88 Joaquín Hidalgo - Vinous Media

The 2023 Malbec Pizzella is from Paraje Altamira, San Carlos in the Uco Valley. Fifty percent aged in oak barrels, this wine showcases red fruit and plum notes. It is leaner than in previous years, with a slightly rough texture, reflecting the impact of a challenging vintage.

87 Wine Spectator

A polished youngster, showing a smooth-textured core of macerated berries, with twinges of slate and herbs folding around suave tannins. Drink now.

90 Wine Spectator

Sleek and pure, with fresh Meyer lemon, orange zest, apple and tangerine flavors that are crisp and elegant. Accents of lemon basil, tarragon and fennel add aromatic lift on the clean and crisp finish. Drink now. 23,659 cases made.

94 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2019 Le Boucher, David Arthur's Cabernet Franc-based blend is terrific. A whole range of floral/savory flavors and red berry fruit are really popping today. Dried herbs, mocha, herbs and Franc aromatics open with a bit of coaxing, but the 2019 needs time. The 2019 is beautifully done.