Served blind, I'd think this was a top Hermitage due to its smoky character, topped with mint, peppery herbs, barbecued meat, black currants, blackberries, along with a hint of blueberry. The palate is rich, full-bodied...

A vertiginous tight-rope walk between savory and sweet on the nose, from white tea leaf to tart blackberries to bing cherries to damp earth and gunpowder on the nose somersaults into ripe blackberries, black cherries...

Elegant, sweet, juicy, and fresh, there is a purity to the sweet kirsch that defines the wine. The finish focuses on its mineral characteristics that accompany the raspberries, kirsch, and cherries. This is a knockout...

A particularly pretty and floral expression of Clos Apalta, the 2022 Clos Apalta is beautifully lush and expressive on the nose, combining a deep core of black and blue fruit aromas with pencil lead, camphor and bramble...

Beautiful stuff and one of the gems in the vintage, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Réservée shows ripe black cherries, scorched earth, sandalwood, and incredibly peppery garrigue and spice. It's medium to full-bodied...

Lush and powerful, yet with lively underlying acidity, this red evokes black cherry, blackberry, mineral and wild herb flavors, all wrapped in an embrace of vanilla and toasty oak. Shuts down on the finish, where the...

Macerated cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit is shaded by mint, iron and spicy oak in this dense, linear red. Quickly takes on the character of its chewy tannins, yet the ripe fruit lingers. Though balanced and...

A richly styled, opulent Châteauneuf that offers a streamlined cascade of ripe cherry, licorice root and toasted chestnut. Mineral energy keeps this powering long distance, with a smoldering foundation of iron. Starts off...

Black cherries, strawberries, black raspberries, herbs, pepper, and flowers crowd into the perfume. There is concentration, energy, and layers of ripe, sweet, peppery fruits that linger with fruit and freshness. The wine...

Made with Merlot and a tiny part Alicante, the Tenuta degli Dei 2022 Le Redini shows a dry delivery that is reinforced by dusty tannins and desiccated fruit tones of currant and Fig Newtons. The effect is soft and...

A distinctive, singular style, with tangy, salty layers of apple and melon powered by succulent lemon-lime acidity. Silky and finessed, wafting with smoke and flint on the close. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne and...

An expressive, polished red, featuring black cherry, blackberry, floral, iron and oak spice aromas and flavors. Fluid and juicy, with refined tannins for support and echoes of fruit and spices on the finish. Cabernet...

Lively acidity and notes of black plum skin and pomegranate impart a bright tang to this harmonious red. Minerally on the nose and palate, with ripe black raspberry, floral, marjoram and cocoa powder elements layered with...

This is a classy and very elegant expression. The Marchesi Antinori 2022 Solaia is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The tannins are beautiful in this wine, very well managed with...

Massive and voluptuous, with an expressive gush of cherry and kirsch flavors making this punchy and opulent, with details of sweet spices and red tea. Behind the ripe opulence, there's real depth and character, while the...

A perfumy, open version, with hints of sanguine animal meatiness underneath the sweet red forest berry and fresh currant flavors, backed by dried lavender high tones. Full but not heavy on the palate, with whiffs of...

This appealing red shows good focus and fine structure without excessive weight. Flavors of crushed black raspberry, cassis and mountain herbs, plus lots of black pepper, anise and sandalwood accents, expand on the creamy...

The medium red 2022 Magari has a more generous feel but offers pure aromas of cherry liqueur, pine, balsamic herbs, and forest earth. The palate is full but remains elegant without excess weight, with supple tannins, good...

This is full-bodied yet carries a racy edge, with juicy acidity driving licorice and cherry dusted with spices. Chalky mineral notes bring an earthy depth and firmness to the succulent, salty finish, which shows a waft of...

There’s an earthy, loamy character alongside the red currant, mocha-dusted cherry and juniper notes in this spicy, gentle-edged and plush red. Opulent yet shows a nicely lifted feel midpalate spiked with tobacco and...

A blend of 65% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malvasia Nera, the Montepeloso 2022 Eneo shows a lovely combination of forest berry, sweet earth and crushed flowers. The wine does a great job of drawing upon the...

A slightly muscular red, with a floral and brinelike edge to the densely packed, broad-textured core of blackberry, damson plum and cassis. Dried herb, spice and mineral notes fill out the well-structured finish. A good...

A particularly pretty and floral expression of Clos Apalta, the 2022 Clos Apalta is beautifully lush and expressive on the nose, combining a deep core of black and blue fruit aromas with pencil lead, camphor and bramble...

The 2022 PSI hails from the Sorian side of Ribera del Duero. Ripe plum, cherry and herbal aromas mingle with a balsamic touch, soft cedar and a hint of prune. The palate is juicy and creamy in texture, defined by firm...

The organic Tenuta Sette Ponti 2022 Crognolo is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. The wine has a core of blackened fruit with plum and cooked blackberry, but it also shows varietal hints of Sangiovese, with...

The 2022 Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity...

Velvety and seductive, with smoothly polished tannins holding up ripe red currant and cherry flavors edged in iron and baking spices. A bitter cherry pit note at the end contributes to the focused, dry finish, which...

The 2022 Le Trame is a heady, beguiling beauty. Exotic and perfumed, with striking nuance, the 2022 is a more-than-worthy follow-up to the 2021. Crushed rose petal, red/plum fruit, blood orange, cloves and spice gradually...

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Poggio al Lupo offers up copious jammy dark fruit, chocolate and sweet spice. This opulent, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon is packed to the core. Plush contours wrap it all together in style. There’s...

The 2022 Chiesamonti is stellar. Chiesamonti is often marked by slightly coarse tannins. In 2022, intense summer heat amplified the fruit, yielding an especially showy, racy edition of the Chiesamonti. Plush contours wrap...