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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

The star of the show is the 2022 Ontogeny, a broad, layered, richly textured 2022 that has gorgeous cassis and blue fruits as well as integrated oak, some classic Cabernet graphite, iron, and smoked tobacco. It’s rich...

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...

Potent and dense, with brooding flavors of blackberry and cherry accented by bitter chocolate, cracked pepper and savory meat tones as this builds tannins on the finish. Grenache, Syrah and Petit Sirah. Best after 2025...

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...

A rich, toasty red, offering a silky mix of concentrated boysenberry, cassis, espresso, dried mint and black licorice flavors. The muscular tannins are tightly sprung, but well-meshed with the fruit profile, emerging to...

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...

A full-throttle and decadent red, this unfurls layer after layer of spiced fruit cake, plum and cherry liqueur grounded by graphite and smoke notes, plus plum skin bitterness. Ripe tannins melt into the structure of the...

Pahlmeyer's 2022 Proprietary Red is only 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance comprising 4% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot and 3% each Malbec and Petit Verdot. It spent 18 months in 90% new French oak. According to...

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...