romo

9.3

Capt crunchy red fruit and gravelly driveway. The tannins are out of my league. - at Laurelhurst — a month ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2023 vintage. First Sauternes I tasted from this great vintage, and this is very good indeed. Château Lafon has a long history, and a part of its vineyards form an enclave within the vineyards of Château Yquem. In the 1922(!) edition of Cocks & Ferry it is considered to be "in the league of the best crus of Sauternes". It was bought from the Lafon family in the early 20th century by the Dufour family, whose 4th generation runs the estate these days. Honey, candied pineapple and flowers. Mouthwatering acidity keeps the sweetness in check. Good length too. Terrific value. — 8 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2022 vintage. A blend of 53% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot. As Siran is consistently of Cru Classé quality, I've put the bar high, tasting it next to the 2022 La Lagune. While it doesn't have the depth and quality of tannins of the latter, Siran 2022 is an impressive effort, a classic Margaux in the same league as the magnificent 2019 Siran. — 2 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Elena Walch, Vigna Castel Ringberg Pinot Grigio 2023. Alto Adige DOC, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A single-vineyard 100% Pinot Grigio from the Castel Ringberg site in Alto Adige, showcasing depth, structure, and vineyard character far beyond the typical expectations of the variety. This is not a neutral, simple expression, it is layered, textural, and architecturally composed, demonstrating power and harmony in equal measure.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe pear, yellow apple, and lime blossom lead the aromatic profile, followed by subtle sage, alpine herbs, and a delicate mineral undertone. The fruit is generous yet precise, with floral lift and savory nuance adding dimension.

Mouthfeel
Structured and commanding, yet elegant. Creamy texture and density provide weight without heaviness, while vibrant acidity keeps the wine lifted and focused. The finish is persistent, layered, and beautifully integrated.

Food Pairings
Seared scallops, roasted chicken with herbs, mushroom risotto, alpine cheeses, grilled prawns, or creamy pasta dishes.

Verdict
A commanding, character-driven Pinot Grigio that completely redefines the category. Powerful yet refined, textural yet precise, this is a benchmark single-vineyard expression that showcases Alto Adige’s serious white wine potential.

Did You Know?
Castel Ringberg is one of Alto Adige’s most prestigious vineyard sites, benefiting from significant diurnal shifts that preserve acidity while allowing full phenolic ripeness, a key reason this Pinot Grigio shows such depth and structure.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is Pinot Grigio in a different league, structured, serious, and unapologetically expressive. A reminder that this grape, in the right hands, can be profound. — 3 months ago

Daniel M

9.0

No notes. Casual pour in front of the champions league final (football / soccer). Very clear nose of white peach, lemon peel, yuzu. The palate is tangy, fruity, zesty, fresh and delicious. Good soft mouthfeel, with a zing in the rear and a tiny bitter, salty touch. It's a simple and delicious and a superb summer sipper. — a year ago

Daniel M

9.0

Cherry, violet, hay, a tiny touch of licorice too. This is quite exciting and profound. The palate is showing a massive acid backbone, some width and grip, some cherry notes, but the fruit is a little discreet. There are tannins popping up in the rear, disturbing the mouthfeel, powering up a tangy finish with cherry and a nice bitter note along with a tiny salty touch, almost sea breezesque if that makes sense. This is a serious beaujo, very different from fruit bombs and other crowd-pleasing usual expressions that people tend to rave about. This is gastronomy wine and playing in the same league as some other wines from a different varietal that grow a bit farther to the north. — 2 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.2

The 2023 Ottoventi Nerello Mascalese is a deep ruby-hued, single varietal from Sicily that should not be overlooked.

In fact, if you’re not familiar with the grape itself you can look for it within an easy majority of any of the reds that come from Sicily. To me- and I’ve been in a major Sicilian phase- this example of the variety goes right to the nature that appeals so distinctly to its fans worldwide.

While Nero d’Avola seems to be the grape that dominates the wines that we in the US- know that this is not that.

Of all the wines I’ve had made from Nerello Mascalese, I’ve thought of them far more approachable, more complex, and at times in a league of their own on a global stage. — 3 months ago

with Beth

AJ Gubser

8.9

Blackberry, Big League Chew, cured meat, smoke. Dark fruits on the palate with some meaty, spicy notes on the mid palate that reminds me of chorizo. Medium acidity and medium, dusty tannins. Good stuff. — 8 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2015 vintage. A bit of a funky nose, not in the same league as the extraordinary 2014. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

While not in the same league as the legendary 2000, 2006 is showing well after sufficient air (3 hour decant), but still incredibly youthful and even a bit rustic with noticeable tannins. This is not an elegant vintage, but rather immensely structured, dense and dark fruited with Rhône-esque camphor and bacon, coffee beans and black tea. I’d give this several more years for the tannins to soften and palate to integrate but I’m not sure this will reach the heights of 02 and 00. — 2 years ago