Weine, Parker:

91/100 Punkte Falstaff
Helles Goldgelb mit feinperligem Mousseux. Bukett von frischen Himbeeren, reifen Erdbeeren und Cassis, ein Hauch von gelbem Pfirsich, Zitruszesten. Am Gaumen trocken und lebendiger Säurebogen, zupackend, geradlinig. Im Nachgeschmack ein Touch von getrockneten Wiesenkräutern mit würzigen Anklängen, animierend und erfrischend. Idealer Aperitif.

90/100 Punkte Robert Parker Apr 2019
The latest rendition of Drappier's NV Brut Nature Pinot Noir Zero Dosage André et Michel offers up pretty scents of crisp green apples, beeswax, dried white flowers and oyster shell. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and vibrant, with a youthfully frothy mousse, ripe acids and a precise, chalky finish. There's none of the austerity that mars some no-dosage Champagnes, and the wine makes a persuasive case for the proposition that the Aube is one of the areas best suited to that style.

16/20 Punkte La Revue du Vin de France December 2019

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
Even lighter in alcohol than the 2016, Schuster's 2014 Zagersdorf Sankt Laurent was bottled with 12% alcohol and offers a pure, fresh and stony nose of sour cherries, underwood and spicy/flinty notes. Silky, pure and fresh on the palate, this is a straight, taut, fruity (cherry) red with a tight, somewhat austere but well-concentrated finish. Coming form 55-year-old vines, this is a quite concentrated, complex and mineral St Laurent that is beautiful to drink and even to pair with fish. Very stimulating. Tasted October 2018.

96/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2019/20

94-96/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2017
The 2015 Zieregg Weissburgunder is the first bottling after 1990 and 2013. Coming from a very small, very shallow plot on pure limestone (Muschelkalk) and fermented in Burgundian oak barrels, the 2015 opens excitingly deep, pure, green, fresh and intense like a lemon perfume on crushed rocks. Gorgeous! Full-bodied, chalky, very elegant and extreme but fascinating in its purity and tension, this is a beast of a Pinot Blanc. It is salty, chalky, tannic, finessed, rich, sweet and intense#in other words: a sleeping giant with great structure and finesse. Tasted as a barrel sample in May 2017. Scheduled to be bottled in autumn this year at the earliest.

92/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
From lime-sandstone and mica schist soils, the 2015 Leithaberg Weissburgunder opens precise and crystalline on the rather reductive but challenging nose. It is lush and juicy on the palate, where it displays a firm mineral but also tannic structure and some discreet oaky flavors toward the finish. This is a round, creamy and very persistent Pinot Blanc with lingering sur lie aromas. It is very elegant but still very young. Tasted October 2018.

90/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
The 2015 Vitovska is a glossy and rich expression of this grape from the Italian-Slovenian karst. I picked up some notes of glycerin along with fragrant stone fruit and candied orange peel and almond. It starts off slow and closed, but it brings a nice intensity. Aged in oak for one year, it's a bit thin and dry in the mouth. I see it pairing well with some big, juicy scallops pan-seared in butter and sherry.

93+/100 Punkte Robert Parker, October 2015
The very dry 2012 vintage produced a powerful 2012 Victorino. It's a pure Tempranillo, known here as Tinta de Toro, from ancient, head-pruned, ungrafted vineyards on clay-rich soils. Some ten separate plots contribute grapes to this wine. These old vines have very low natural yields, ten hectoliters per hectare in 2012. The destemmed grapes fermented with yeasts selected from their own vineyards and the wine matured for 18 months in brand new French oak barrels, where it also underwent malolactic fermentation. I found the 2012 very earthy with notes of graphite and hints of peat, as well as some balsamic aromas of menthol and licorice, and a core of black cherries and plums; the oak plays a secondary role in the shape of spices and neatly folds into the voluptuous fruit. The palate is medium to full-bodied with the gobsmacking balance of 2012, very fine tannins and great acidity that lifts the wine up, coupled with some heat from the alco

94/100 Punkte Guia Penin 2016

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker Oct 2016
The grand vin here is the 2013 Vall Llach Mas de la Rosa, which is from an ancient vineyard with a 70% slope on llicorella slate planted with Cariñena. They used 5% stems for the fermentation in 225- and 500-liter barriques and stainless steel with indigenous yeasts after a three-day cold soak. It underwent 17-19 days of fermentation with daily punching down of the cap and a post fermentative maceration of 12 days. The wine matured in new 225- and 300-liter French oak barrels for some 16 months. There's obviously superb fruit in here, but the extreme ripeness of the fruit and the creamy oak kind of hide the character of the wine. Having said that, I have noticed much better freshness in all these 2013s, and even some floral aromas fighting to come to the surface. This is a huge, bodybuilder of a wine in an XXL style. I have the feeling the fruit is capable of producing something a lot more elegant. This is very good in its style.

95/100 Punkte Wine Spectator Sep 30, 2018
This powerful red shows depth and harmony. The thick texture is supported by well-integrated tannins, delivering cassis, kirsch, menthol and cola flavors. Herbal and meaty notes add a savory element. You might call this Priorat on steroids, but this remains balanced and fresh. Drink now through 2033.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
Here's another winning edition of this great wine. The 2015 Vespa Bianco has that familiar creamy texture and richness but a more evolved aromatic profile. What's special about this vintage is the dimension it now shows along with some very tonic fruit at the back. It is spicy and warm, with flashes of bright tangerine, and offers so much intensity and textural purity. This beautiful wine calls for a nice grilled ocean fish, such as orata or (more readily available in North America) a black sea bass.

92+/100 Punkte Vinous May 2018
Vivid straw yellow. Slightly reticent nose at first, then gains depth and complexity with aeration offering aromas of yellow apple, pear and nectarine complicated by botanical herbs and minerals. Then similar flavors to the aromas nicely extended by saline freshness on the tactile back end which is enlivened by a hint of peppery ginger. A Vespa Bianco that is very promising but needs to be cellared; put this away for another three years at least.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling
This is always a very serious red for the money, and 2015 could be one of the most exciting editions. Sesame seeds are dispersed among brambleberries and fields of bright blueberries and lavender. Full-bodied and fine but juicy. Grainy tannins dive deep into the vibrant dark fruit, buffing it with care to gleam brightly on the finish. Drink now.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker, June 2016
The intensely yellow-colored 2005 Vertus Premier Cru Coeur de Terroir is a partly barrel-fermented (malolactic included) Chardonnay from the best parts of Vertus. Disgorged in April 2015 with five grams of dosage, this is a rich, round and full-bodied cuvée with great finesse and elegance. Chalky textured, the finish is pure, fresh and salty. The ripe Chardonnay fruit and chalky minerality are really persistent. This is a perfectly balanced and well-structured Vertus cru that is ready to be enjoyed today, but can be cellared for five or more years.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker 31st Aug 2018
Doquet's 2006 Vertus Premier Cru Coeur de Terroir is a selection from the best and oldest Chardonnay vines in Vertus. Fermented and aged on the lees, 60% in small oak barrels, it was bottled in April 2007 and disgorged as Extra Brut in July 2017 (with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter). This is a highly aromatic, ripe, elegant and pretty sexy 2016 with lovely iodine and very fine (sweet) brioche flavors. Round and perfectly balanced on the palate, this is a rich, elegant, salty, beautifully lush, generous and perfectly balanced Vertus with a pure, fresh and salty finish. Fabulous!

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Mar 2016
The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne shows great balance that is due, in part, to the advanced age of the vines (most of which were planted between 1967 and 1972). The wine delivers a very fine, silky quality of tannin and an elegant approach. The bouquet exhibits elements of forest fruit, crushed mineral, balsam herb and wild mushroom. The effect is graceful and nuanced. The nice thing about this wine is that you don't taste any of the fruit ripeness that characterizes this vintage. Those old vines were able to stand up to the summer heat.

97/100 Punkte James Suckling Oct 29, 2015
A very muscular red with plum, blueberry, walnut and dried mushroom character on both the nose and palate. Full and chewy. Fabulous fruit and intensity. Amazing quality for the vintage. Wow. Better in 2017.

94+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2017
Giancarlo Pacenti knows his land well and is a skillful farmer, especially with regards to navigating a challenging vintage like this. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne boasts a beautifully saturated ruby color that appears healthy and bright. The aromas are presented with precision and balance. A wine like this offers irrefutable evidence that old vines are the best remedy in a hot and dry vintage. The wine's various elements are intact and focused. Dark cherry, candied plum, exotic spice, tar and licorice form a united front. I prefer this vintage to 2011.

19/20 Punkte Vinum November 2017

95/100 Punkte James Suckling February 2017
Aromas of ripe fruit such as sweet strawberries and hints of orange peel and chocolate. Medium to full body, soft and velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Riper style. Drink or hold.

95/100 Punkte Robert Parker February 2018
Showing more oak definition, texture and overall fruity richness, the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne benefits from the concentration and complexity you get with old vines. The wine wraps thickly over the palate, imparting luscious aromas of dried cherry, exotic spice, pressed rose and scorched earth along the way. This is a wine for the cellar. The bouquet has a lot to give, but this will require some extra time. All the elements are there for an excellent aging future. Some 27,000 bottles were produced.

95/100 Punkte James Suckling November 2017
The nose is decadent but not overdone with plum liqueur, Christmas cake, cedar, Chinese spices, licorice, tea leaves, tar and hot stones. Full and very dense with mouth-coating tannins but also attractive fresh fruit, pretty acidity and a long finish. Rather chewy and needs time, but a beautiful follow-up to the 2012.

90+/100 Punkt Robert Parker August 2019
The 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Capitel San Rocco shows great dark fruit intensity, spread over a rich mid-weight style. I found the breezes of rosemary essence and eucalyptus oil to be very distinctive and nice. It's the perfect choice for roasted lamb with garlic and rosemary potatoes, and it's a great value too, thanks to the 100,000 bottles made. This wine was first produced in 1976, and the Tedeschi family was among the first to use the Ripasso method in Valpolicella in its commercial winemaking.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling, November 2018
A Valpolicella Ripasso that effortlessly combines ripeness and elegance. Fine blackberries, ripe plums and cocoa powder on the nose. The bright acidity and the supple tannins are beautifully integrated on the palate. Long and silky, dry finish. Drink or hold.

90+/100 Punkt Robert Parker August 2019
The 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Capitel San Rocco shows great dark fruit intensity, spread over a rich mid-weight style. I found the breezes of rosemary essence and eucalyptus oil to be very distinctive and nice. It's the perfect choice for roasted lamb with garlic and rosemary potatoes, and it's a great value too, thanks to the 100,000 bottles made. This wine was first produced in 1976, and the Tedeschi family was among the first to use the Ripasso method in Valpolicella in its commercial winemaking.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling, November 2018
A Valpolicella Ripasso that effortlessly combines ripeness and elegance. Fine blackberries, ripe plums and cocoa powder on the nose. The bright acidity and the supple tannins are beautifully integrated on the palate. Long and silky, dry finish. Drink or hold.

90/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
This is an easy-drinking blend of 40% Corvina, 30% Corvinone and 30% Rondinella. The 2015 Valpolicella Superiore Maternigo is perfect for pizza or burgers and fries. The grapes come from the Maternigo vineyard, occupying 31 hectares in the Mezzane area, which lost much of its fruit in this vintage to a violent hailstorm. So, only 13,600 bottles were produced. The quality, however, has remained happily intact, with bright berry and dried blackberry flavors.

92/100 Punkte James Suckling Nov 2018
Fragrant and generous with elegant, dry tannins, this is a genuinely superior Valpolicella with a great combination of ripe red berries and fresh tannins that make this a great food wine. Long, very straight finish. Drink or hold.

93/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2015
Color cereza intenso. Aroma fruta madura, hierbas silvestres, especiado, roble cremoso, mineral. Boca complejo, especiado, largo, balsamico, elegante, taninos finos.

93/100 Punkte Parker Feb 2014
The 2011 Trossos Tros Negre is pure Garnacha from a single 85-year-old vineyard on chalky soils worked biodinamically. The wine is powerful and concentrated but has very good balance, with very good red fruit over a layer of cinnamon, vanilla and other sweet spices that should integrate with a little bit of time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and powerful, quite balanced and with good persistence, length and acidity. A powerful, tasty Garnacha. Drink 2014-2018.

94/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2015

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker Jun 2015
Really showy and aromatic, the single-vineyard 2012 Trossos Tros Negre is pure Garnacha from plot called Mas de la Notaria in the village of El Masroig that has a combination of sand and chalk and is biodynamically farmed. The vineyard was harvested twice at different points of ripeness and therefore two separate batches were fermented. The wine matured in French oak barrels for 11 months but the oak is unnoticeable, having added to the slow oxygenation of the wine without imparting excessive aromas. The nose is a heady combination of wild flowers and blood orange peel, small wild red berries and some earthiness. The palate is medium-bodied, with very refined tannins and very good balance. Perhaps a little light for what you expect from the vintage, but this is subtle, elegant and drinks quite well already. It should also develop nicely in bottle for a few years. 1,210 bottles produced.

94/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2016

94/100 Robert Parker Jun 2015
Pure Cariñena from a low-yielding vineyard planted in 1911, the 2012 Tros del Clos was full-cluster fermented in open barrels with indigenous yeasts for 30 days with manual punch-down. The wine was matured in used French oak barrels for one year and bottled unfined and unfiltered. This is a serious and powerful Cariñena, showing a restrained character with those telltale earthy notes of iron, blood and tree bark, black fruit and some graphite. The palate is extremely balanced, has earthy tannins and mineral notes with good acidity and freshness. It is serious and has the elegant rusticity of Cariñena that should develop further in bottle. 1,458 bottles produced.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Apr 2012
The 2010 Trossos Tros Blanc is a pure Garnacha Blanca from 90-year-old, biodynamically farmed vines and is aged in 50% French oak. It has a creamy, almond and nougat-scented bouquet that stylishly combines the aromatic qualities of the grape variety with the new oak. The palate is harmonious, smooth and creamy, with pure scents of white chocolate, fresh apricot and quince leading to a delineated, precise, elegant finish. Excellent. Drink now-2016+.

92/100 Punkte Stephen Tanzer, Sep 2012
(100% garnatxa blanca, aged for ten months in large French oak casks): Light yellow-gold. Pungent, highly perfumed aromas of candied peach, poached pear, honey and vanilla, with a floral overtone and a hint of ginger. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, offering gently sweet orchard fruit flavors and a bracing lemon pith quality. Finishes smooth, sappy and long, with lingering spiciness.

93/100 Guia Penin
Color amarillo brillante. Aroma especias dulces, roble cremoso, hierbas de tocador, fruta madura, expresivo. Boca graso, sabroso, fresco, buena acidez.

92/100 Punkte Parker May 2011
The 2008 Trossos Tros Blanc displays a similar aromatic and flavor profile but with slightly less concentration and length than the 2009. It will pair very well with rich fish and white meat courses.

96/100 Punkte Guia Penin 2013
Color amerillo brillante. Aroma fruta madura, mineral, especias dulces, roble cremosa, hierbas de monte. Boca graso, carnoso, complejo, sabroso, retronasal ahumedo.

92-94/100 Punkte Robert Parker May 2011
Portal del Priorat makes an outstanding white wine called Trossos Tros Blanc. The 2009 Trossos Tros Blanc was tasted from a tank sample but will be in bottle by the time of publication. It displays notions of buttered popcorn, vanilla, melon, pineapple, and other tropical aromas. This nicely proportioned effort displays a firm acid structure in the glass, layers of flavor, and exceptional length.

94/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2016

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker Jun 2015
The 2012 Trossos Tros Blanc is pure Garnacha Blanca from a dry vintage that yielded 30% fewer grapes than previous years. This is from a single plot of old head-pruned vines on chalky soils, fermented in three 500-liter oak barrels where it stayed with the lees for 10 months. I tasted this next to the 2013, and I found more depth here. I'm not usually a fan of warm vintages but it seemed to work for this plot. It's well-oaked but it has strong aromas of yellow flowers and plenty of leesy-nutty notes. The plate is compact with lively, juicy fruit and is supple. It should develop nicely in bottle. 1,681 bottles produced.

94/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2015

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker Jun 2015
The 2012 Trossos Tros Blanc is pure Garnacha Blanca from a dry vintage that yielded 30% fewer grapes than previous years. This is from a single plot of old head-pruned vines on chalky soils, fermented in three 500-liter oak barrels where it stayed with the lees for 10 months. I tasted this next to the 2013, and I found more depth here. I'm not usually a fan of warm vintages but it seemed to work for this plot. It's well-oaked but it has strong aromas of yellow flowers and plenty of leesy-nutty notes. The plate is compact with lively, juicy fruit and is supple. It should develop nicely in bottle. 1,681 bottles produced.

93/100 Guia Penin
Color amarillo brillante. Aroma especias dulces, roble cremoso, hierbas de tocador, fruta madura, expresivo. Boca graso, sabroso, fresco, buena acidez.

92/100 Punkte Parker May 2011
The 2008 Trossos Tros Blanc displays a similar aromatic and flavor profile but with slightly less concentration and length than the 2009. It will pair very well with rich fish and white meat courses.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2016
There's single vineyard white 2013 Trossos Tros Blanc Mas de la Notaría, Garnacha Blanca from an ancient 0.7 hectare plot in the village of Masroig. It was pressed after one day cold soak and the must put to ferment in two 500-liter French oak barrels where it was kept with the lees for eight months with very soft bâtonnage. It feels a little closed and backward, a serious white currently trapped behind the oak, with serious aromas and an even more serious palate; it has volume and clout, and is clean, precise and focused. Built for the long term. I think this will age magnificently in bottle. Only 770 bottles were filled in September 2015.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker Oct 2019
A blend of 65% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Montepulciano, the 2016 A.D. 1212 (with a really cool hand design on the front label) is a versatile and accessible red that would pair with meat lasagna or meatloaf. The bouquet is infused with purple and black fruit nuances with a good measure of spice and toast. This wine is mostly executed in steel, with a part that is aged in barrique for 12 months.

92/100 Punkt James Suckling November 2018
Deep and vibrant dark-berry aromas with fresh flowers and hot stones, following through to a full body, chewy and dusty tannins and a long, flavorful finish with chocolate undertones to it all. Drink in 2020, but already beautiful.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker June 2018
Bold, intense and flavorful, the 2017 Tavel La Reine des Bois continues to set the standard for the appellation. It's a rich, full-bodied rosé, with lush, mouth-filling flavors of cherries, raspberries and white chocolate, underscored by lime zest and refreshing brine notes. The price is creeping up, but it remains a benchmark in terms of quality.

93/100 Punkte Vinous August 2018
Brilliant orange-pink. Displays heady, mineral-accented raspberry, cherry and blood orange scents, with a suave floral accent that builds in the glass. Sappy and concentrated yet energetic as well, offering palate-staining red fruit, citrus zest and lavender pastille flavors and a hint of fennel. Shows real power and red fruit-driven character on the finish, which hangs on with impressive tenacity. I'd look at this rich, weighty Tavel more as a light red wine than a pink wine and serve it accordingly, with full-flavored, strongly seasoned, even earthy foods, perhaps even alongside grilled or braised red meat dishes.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
The 2014 Tancredi is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Nero d'Avola. The wine is creamy and dense with excellent concentration and a smooth style that leaves an especially warm feeling in the mouth. Tancredi is one of those go-to wines when you want something good, but you don't want to think too hard. It offers happy, quality drinking. This is my favorite vintage of Tancredi to date.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
The 2014 Tancredi is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Nero d'Avola. The wine is creamy and dense with excellent concentration and a smooth style that leaves an especially warm feeling in the mouth. Tancredi is one of those go-to wines when you want something good, but you don't want to think too hard. It offers happy, quality drinking. This is my favorite vintage of Tancredi to date.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
The 2014 Tancredi is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Nero d'Avola. The wine is creamy and dense with excellent concentration and a smooth style that leaves an especially warm feeling in the mouth. Tancredi is one of those go-to wines when you want something good, but you don't want to think too hard. It offers happy, quality drinking. This is my favorite vintage of Tancredi to date.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker Oct 2019
Donnafugata's Tancredi is one of Sicily's most popular red wines, and it's easy to see why. The 2016 Tancredi is rich and soft at the same time, with a very pleasing texture that caresses the palate with dark fruit, spice and plum. The wine is mostly a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola, although some Tannat and other grapes are thrown in. It ages in oak for 14 months. This is a complete effort that boasts thick layering and volume.

90+/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Oct 2019
Welcome to the first rosato to join the Donnafugata family of wines. The 2018 Etna Rosato Sul Vulcano is an unoaked Nerello Mascalese that opens to a very pretty, pale pink color with soft tones of wild berry, apple and mint tea. Delicate mineral sensations give the wine beautiful focus and clarity. The presentation is excellent all around. I could see this as a great accompaniment to a Moroccan-style chicken tagine.

91/100 Punkte Vinous April 2019
Bright orange-tinged pale pink. Captivating aromas of raspberry, pomegranate, wisteria and minerals. Then multilayered and dense, with zingy acidity lifting the mineral red fruit and floral flavors. Finishes long, sweet and suave. An outstanding Rosato characterized by great precision and sneaky concentration. Made with 100% Nerello Mascalese via cold maceration in press for 6-12 hours at 10°C followed by fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. A new wine from Donnafugata, and I would say they have a real winner on their hands. Well done.

90/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Sept 2017
The 2015 Rosso del Ticino Sottobosco is a dark purple colored assemblage of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Leathery and with a bit of volatile acidity on the deep and intense nose that displays dark, spicy fruit aromas, this is an elegant, pretty silky textured and refreshing red blend with fine, fresh tannins and an aromatic finish. The general style is a bit robust but this has good character and can age for 10 to 15 years. Tasted in Zurich, August 2017.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker Apr 2019
The red Callet 2017 Sòtil, which means roof in Mallorquin, wants to show lightness and freshness, a more ethereal wine, if you want the opposite of their Tripsol. The grapes are selected from vines in Felanitx on red soils and part from the 67-year-old d#Es Pou de Sa Carrera vineyard in Porreres. 2017 was an unusually warm and early harvest (they started on the 9th of August, their earliest ever). The mostly destemmed and uncrushed grapes with 10% full clusters fermented in open-top 500-liter oak barrels and had a 20-day maceration. The wine matured in a combination of barriques, amphorae and stainless steel tanks. The wine has moderate alcohol (12%), a pale bright ruby color and an intoxicating nose of flowers and herbs#violets, lilies, rockrose, thyme and all things Mediterranean. There is something wild and authentic about it. The palate is superb; it has great finesse with filigree and is nicely textured with very fine tannins, great purity

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker, May 2019
This is the top-shelf wine from musician Sting's Tenuta Il Palagio. The 2015 Sister Moon is a mid-weight wine with rich and dark concentration. The wine represents a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot culled from vineyards scattered around the estate. The bouquet is rich and bold with aromas of Spanish cedar, camphor ash and spice, all surrounding a core of dark fruit. The wine is balanced and carefully large in scope. It makes a big impression in the mouth but ultimately delivers an elegant sign off.

93/100 Punkte Wine Spectator April 2019
Blueberry and violet aromas and flavors highlight this sappy red. Compact and succulent, this extends on the finish, with notes of black currant, graphite and sweet spices. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2028. 750 cases made.

94/100 Punkte James Suckling September 2018
Really enticing aromas of fresh flowers and dark fruit, as well as fresh herbs. Full body, chewy tannins and a rich finish. This is layered and provocative. From organically grown grapes. Give it two or three years of bottle age to come together.

93/100 Punkte Guia Peñin 2010
Color amarillo brillante. Aroma complejo, expresivo, punzante, salino. Boca graso, potente, fresco, fino amargor.

94+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Dec 2017
As with many other wines from the José Estévez group, there is a special bottling of Valdespino's flagship NV Fino Inocente in magnum, but in this case they have kept the bottles for six months as the wine is from the saca otoño 2016, the autumn bottling from 2016. So the wine is offered with some extra bottle age. It has all that you expect from Inocente, a long aging wine fermented in bota from grapes grown exclusively in the Macharnudo Alto vineyard and bottled with an average age of ten years. All the textbook aromas and flavors are there, coupled with the elegance and mineral intensity the Macharnudo white chalky soils provide. Customers who purchase one of this scarce magnums probably know Inocente already. This will have a longer development in bottle. Only 600 magnums were filled in the autumn of 2016.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling July 2019
Persistent, dried apples, hints of rosemary, salt and cream, following through to a medium body, creamy texture and a flavorful finish. Subtle yet complex aftertaste. Drink now.

89/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Jul 2016
The 2015 Sicilia Nero d'Avola Sherazade is a balanced and very attractive red wine with loads of ripe fruit and dark spice presented with equal billing. This wine is silky and smooth in texture yet it offers abundant fruit notes of black cherry and plum along the way. There's a touch of fennel seed or anise as well that recalls some of the most distinctive flavors of Sicily and Nero d'Avola. This expression is also loaded with primary fruit. The wine is well worth its low price.

91/100 Punkte Vinous Dec 2016
Bright red. Blue fruit and sweet spices on the explosively fruity nose. Then fresh, bright and juicy, offering red berry, red cherry and mineral flavors lifted by a bright violet kick. Finishes long and vibrant with a whiplash of fresh dark berries and noteworthy youthful tannic bite. Relatively low fermentation temperatures (79°F/26°C) help express the fruity nature of Nero d'Avola. Full of early appeal, this is a gorgeous wine for the money.

92/100 Punkte James Suckling November 2016
Lovely silky and racy tannins to this nero d'avola with lemon-rind and rose-petal character. Medium body and a long finish. Drink now.

93/100 Punkte Guia Penin 2019

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
They didn't produce this wine in 2010, so I tasted the 2011 Serral del Vell from a warm and dry year, which is reflected in the wine. It is slightly more evolved and a little more oxidative, with diesel-like and camphor aromas, keeping the verticality, austerity and minerality typical of this vineyard. It has great complexity and pungent flavors and a long, mineral finish. 15,000 bottles produced.

92/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2017/18
Mittleres Gelb, Silberreflexe. Feines anhaltendes Mousseux. Mit einem Hauch von Brioche unterlegte reife gelbe Fruchtnuancen von Apfel und Mango, ein Hauch von Honig unterlegt. Saftig, gute Komplexität, feine Fruchtsüße, lebendig strukturiert, mineralischer Nachhall, trinkanimierender Stil, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter.

91/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
The newest release of Fred Loimer's Niederösterreich NV Reserve Extra Brut is an assemblage of Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt sourced from the Kamptal and the Thermenregion. The citrus colored wine offers a highly refined and complex bouquet of white fruits, brioche, bread and hazelnut. Pure, fresh and straight on the palate, this is a highly elegant, finessed and bone dry méthode champenoise with lingering salinity and very nice, very subtle astringency on the finish. Lovely, pure and fine, this is really remarkable in its style. One of the finest sparkling wines I have ever tasted from Austria. Bottled June 28, 2016, disgorged in May 2018 and tasted in October 2018. Dosage is two grams per liter.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2012
The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Vieris Sauvignon comes across as quite deep and plush next to the Piere. Juicy apricots, peaches, flowers and light honey flow effortlessly from this big, round Sauvignon. The wine maintains plenty of intensity and presence through to the deep, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

90/100 Punkte Wine Spectator Jun 30, 2012
Fresh and lightly juicy, this offers flavors of green melon, pink grapefruit, spice and quince. Well-balanced, with a stone-tinged finish. Drink now through 2015.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff, April 2019
Kraftvolles, leuchtendes Strohgelb. Sehr präsente und intensive Nase, zeigt Noten nach Mango, Stachelbeere und Nektarine, dahinter feine Kräuterwürze. Schlägt am Gaumen ein tolles Rad, füllig und mit sehr guter Konsistenz, präsente Frucht, salzig, im hinteren Verlauf fester Druck, dezenter Holztouch, der dem Wein den richtigen Kick gibt.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
I drank this beautiful wine with a dinner of couscous with chicken, fresh mint and preserved lemon. The 2016 Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte Sauvignon Blanc Vieris is not a pungent Sauvignon but rather a beautifully tempered and elegant one. It has the kind of creamy and long persistence that, to me, is an indication of a compellingly food-friendly white wine. There are lovely notes of candied orange peel with almond and fragrant garden herb. The wine ages on the lees in barrique for nine months. Production is 32,864-bottles strong.

96/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2015/16
Helles Gelbgrün. Feine weiße Frucht, zart nach Cassis, Stachelbeerkonfit und einem Hauch von Bienenwachs, zarte Kräuterwürze unterlegt. Straff, feinwürzig, gute Komplexität, sehr präzise, weiße Frucht, vielschichtige Aromatik, anregende Frische, angenehme zitronige Nuancen, mineralischer Nachhall, große Länge, sicheres Zukunftspotenzial.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker Apr 2016
Bottled July 2015, the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Zieregg is deep, very intense and ripe on the smoky and chalky flavored nose; it displays pure and precise fruit aromas of lemon chutney, white peaches and passion fruit. Powerful, intense and highly concentrated on the palate, this piquant and salty wine is still in a capsule but shows a great purity, elegance and complexity. The finish is very long and reveals a compact minerality, as well as an excellent tannin structure; it indicates a great aging potential. I tasted the wine twice in the past six months and would call it the quintessence of the Zieregg cru as Sauvignon Blanc.

96/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2015/16
Helles Gelbgrün. Feine weiße Frucht, zart nach Cassis, Stachelbeerkonfit und einem Hauch von Bienenwachs, zarte Kräuterwürze unterlegt. Straff, feinwürzig, gute Komplexität, sehr präzise, weiße Frucht, vielschichtige Aromatik, anregende Frische, angenehme zitronige Nuancen, mineralischer Nachhall, große Länge, sicheres Zukunftspotenzial.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker Apr 2016
Bottled July 2015, the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Zieregg is deep, very intense and ripe on the smoky and chalky flavored nose; it displays pure and precise fruit aromas of lemon chutney, white peaches and passion fruit. Powerful, intense and highly concentrated on the palate, this piquant and salty wine is still in a capsule but shows a great purity, elegance and complexity. The finish is very long and reveals a compact minerality, as well as an excellent tannin structure; it indicates a great aging potential. I tasted the wine twice in the past six months and would call it the quintessence of the Zieregg cru as Sauvignon Blanc.

98/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2017/18
Leuchtendes Gelbgrün. Rauchig-kräuterwürzig unterlegte feine gelbe Tropenfrucht, mineralischer Touch, zarter Blütenhonig, facettenreiches Bukett. Komplex, weiße Fruchtsüße, sehr gute Tiefe und Frische, ein vollkommen harmonischer Wein mit überzeugender Länge, dem nur mehr eines fehlt, die perfekte Trinkreife. Ein Meilenstein in der österreichischen Sauvignon-Blanc-Entwicklung.

96-98/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2017
The golden-yellow colored, still cloudy sample of the 2015 Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc is the "picture book Tement wine" for Armin Tement. It contains all of the single plots (and more of course) and opens with a deep, intense and perfectly ripe but also flinty bouquet that indicates great depth and chalky minerality along with purity, complexity and herbal flavors. Full-bodied, silky and generous, this is a mind-blowing Austrian wine that is rich but finessed, highly complex and elegant, powerful and persistent but also fresh, vital and enormously mineral, with endless salinity. This 2015 is beautifully balanced but, nevertheless, full of tension and length. What a great and complex, pure and finessed Grand Cru from Sauvignon Blanc. And what a finish! This is a legend in the making. Tasted as a sample in May 2017.

98/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2017/18
Leuchtendes Gelbgrün. Rauchig-kräuterwürzig unterlegte feine gelbe Tropenfrucht, mineralischer Touch, zarter Blütenhonig, facettenreiches Bukett. Komplex, weiße Fruchtsüße, sehr gute Tiefe und Frische, ein vollkommen harmonischer Wein mit überzeugender Länge, dem nur mehr eines fehlt, die perfekte Trinkreife. Ein Meilenstein in der österreichischen Sauvignon-Blanc-Entwicklung.

96-98/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2017
The golden-yellow colored, still cloudy sample of the 2015 Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc is the "picture book Tement wine" for Armin Tement. It contains all of the single plots (and more of course) and opens with a deep, intense and perfectly ripe but also flinty bouquet that indicates great depth and chalky minerality along with purity, complexity and herbal flavors. Full-bodied, silky and generous, this is a mind-blowing Austrian wine that is rich but finessed, highly complex and elegant, powerful and persistent but also fresh, vital and enormously mineral, with endless salinity. This 2015 is beautifully balanced but, nevertheless, full of tension and length. What a great and complex, pure and finessed Grand Cru from Sauvignon Blanc. And what a finish! This is a legend in the making. Tasted as a sample in May 2017.

97/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Kräuterwürze, kühle Ausstrahlung, ganz zarte Stachelbeer-Grapefruit-Nuancen, rauchige Noten, mineralisch unterlegt. Kompakt, weiße Apfelfrucht, straff, finessenreiche Säurestruktur, zitroniger Touch, sehr elegant, konzentriert, dabei leichtfüßig wirkend, großes Zukunftspotenzial.

96+/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
The intensely yellow colored 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc is incredibly deep, intense and spicy on the ripe, concentrated and fresh nose that intertwines vegetal and chalky notes with spicy and coolish fruit flavors (gooseberries, black cassis). On the palate, the wine is silky textured, dense and concentrated yet tight, refined and elegant, showing gorgeous bitters (grapefruit) in the long, promising finish, though it's still a bit closed. Armin Tement believes it is the finest Zieregg the domain has ever produced, and I agree with that. If it is also the greatest, I can't yet tell, but I'll let you know as soon as I know it. Tasted June 2018.

97/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Kräuterwürze, kühle Ausstrahlung, ganz zarte Stachelbeer-Grapefruit-Nuancen, rauchige Noten, mineralisch unterlegt. Kompakt, weiße Apfelfrucht, straff, finessenreiche Säurestruktur, zitroniger Touch, sehr elegant, konzentriert, dabei leichtfüßig wirkend, großes Zukunftspotenzial.

96+/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
The intensely yellow colored 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc is incredibly deep, intense and spicy on the ripe, concentrated and fresh nose that intertwines vegetal and chalky notes with spicy and coolish fruit flavors (gooseberries, black cassis). On the palate, the wine is silky textured, dense and concentrated yet tight, refined and elegant, showing gorgeous bitters (grapefruit) in the long, promising finish, though it's still a bit closed. Armin Tement believes it is the finest Zieregg the domain has ever produced, and I agree with that. If it is also the greatest, I can't yet tell, but I'll let you know as soon as I know it. Tasted June 2018.

97/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Kräuterwürze, kühle Ausstrahlung, ganz zarte Stachelbeer-Grapefruit-Nuancen, rauchige Noten, mineralisch unterlegt. Kompakt, weiße Apfelfrucht, straff, finessenreiche Säurestruktur, zitroniger Touch, sehr elegant, konzentriert, dabei leichtfüßig wirkend, großes Zukunftspotenzial.

96+/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
The intensely yellow colored 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc is incredibly deep, intense and spicy on the ripe, concentrated and fresh nose that intertwines vegetal and chalky notes with spicy and coolish fruit flavors (gooseberries, black cassis). On the palate, the wine is silky textured, dense and concentrated yet tight, refined and elegant, showing gorgeous bitters (grapefruit) in the long, promising finish, though it's still a bit closed. Armin Tement believes it is the finest Zieregg the domain has ever produced, and I agree with that. If it is also the greatest, I can't yet tell, but I'll let you know as soon as I know it. Tasted June 2018.

97/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Kräuterwürze, kühle Ausstrahlung, ganz zarte Stachelbeer-Grapefruit-Nuancen, rauchige Noten, mineralisch unterlegt. Kompakt, weiße Apfelfrucht, straff, finessenreiche Säurestruktur, zitroniger Touch, sehr elegant, konzentriert, dabei leichtfüßig wirkend, großes Zukunftspotenzial.

96+/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
The intensely yellow colored 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc is incredibly deep, intense and spicy on the ripe, concentrated and fresh nose that intertwines vegetal and chalky notes with spicy and coolish fruit flavors (gooseberries, black cassis). On the palate, the wine is silky textured, dense and concentrated yet tight, refined and elegant, showing gorgeous bitters (grapefruit) in the long, promising finish, though it's still a bit closed. Armin Tement believes it is the finest Zieregg the domain has ever produced, and I agree with that. If it is also the greatest, I can't yet tell, but I'll let you know as soon as I know it. Tasted June 2018.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2015/16
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Tabakig, frische Kräuter, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten, dunkle Würze, mineralischer Anklang. Saftig, weiße Frucht, frisch und salzig, dunkle Beeren im Abgang, zitroniger Touch, animierend, mit sicherem Reifepotenzial ausgestattet.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 31, 2017
The 2015 Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc#marketed as premier cru (1STK)#has an intense citrus color and opens with a dense, aromatic bouquet that intermixes ripe and concentrated lemon (zest) aromas with flavors of crushed stones. Very complex and promising! Full-bodied, rich and round on the palate, this is a dense, well structured and expressive Sauvignon Blanc with reduced fruit aromatics but a beautiful sur-lie texture from the long lees aging. The wine is highly elegant and finessed and has a hidden complexity that is expressed through a persistent mineral taste and structure that comes with grip#like a river transporting rolling stones over your palate. This is a great and elegant wine that can compete with the finest Sancerres. It comes from shell limestone soils and a warm, protected terroir whose hillside faces south/southeast.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2016/17
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Rauchig-kräuterwürzig unterlegte weiße Tropenfrucht, zart rotbeerige Nuancen, frische Mandarinenzesten. Saftig, gelbe Frucht, angenehme Extraktsüße, druckvolle Textur, feiner Säurebogen, bleibt gut haften, mineralischer Nachhall, würziger Rückgeschmack.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 31, 2017
The 2015 Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc#marketed as premier cru (1STK)#has an intense citrus color and opens with a dense, aromatic bouquet that intermixes ripe and concentrated lemon (zest) aromas with flavors of crushed stones. Very complex and promising! Full-bodied, rich and round on the palate, this is a dense, well structured and expressive Sauvignon Blanc with reduced fruit aromatics but a beautiful sur-lie texture from the long lees aging. The wine is highly elegant and finessed and has a hidden complexity that is expressed through a persistent mineral taste and structure that comes with grip#like a river transporting rolling stones over your palate. This is a great and elegant wine that can compete with the finest Sancerres. It comes from shell limestone soils and a warm, protected terroir whose hillside faces south/southeast.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Cassisanklänge, ein Hauch von Grapefruit und reifen Stachelbeeren, helles, kühles Bukett. Straff, weißer Apfel, feine Extraktsüße, eingebundene Säurestruktur, angenehmer Zitrustouch, mineralisch und anhaftend, salziger Nachhall.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
From the family's very first vineyard, which was cultivated by Armin Tement's grandparents, the 2016 Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc is pure, fresh and coolish on the nose. Since Tement gives this the same amount of attention as the Zieregg, the quality continues to rise from year to year. The 2016 was fermented and aged for one year in 25-year-old 3,000- and 4,000-liter oak barrels and spent another two months in stainless steel. The nose is just beautiful in its coolish, leafy, refreshing, greenish and mineral character (pure coral chalk), with white currant and floral aromas. On the palate, this is a very elegant wine with salt, grip and tension, reminding me of a fine Sancerre (from the Clos de Beaujeu perhaps). In a blind tasting, I would guess without a doubt it was a Sancerre. The finish is pure, fresh and salty, revealing great elegance and finesse. Tasted June 2018.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Cassisanklänge, ein Hauch von Grapefruit und reifen Stachelbeeren, helles, kühles Bukett. Straff, weißer Apfel, feine Extraktsüße, eingebundene Säurestruktur, angenehmer Zitrustouch, mineralisch und anhaftend, salziger Nachhall.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
From the family's very first vineyard, which was cultivated by Armin Tement's grandparents, the 2016 Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc is pure, fresh and coolish on the nose. Since Tement gives this the same amount of attention as the Zieregg, the quality continues to rise from year to year. The 2016 was fermented and aged for one year in 25-year-old 3,000- and 4,000-liter oak barrels and spent another two months in stainless steel. The nose is just beautiful in its coolish, leafy, refreshing, greenish and mineral character (pure coral chalk), with white currant and floral aromas. On the palate, this is a very elegant wine with salt, grip and tension, reminding me of a fine Sancerre (from the Clos de Beaujeu perhaps). In a blind tasting, I would guess without a doubt it was a Sancerre. The finish is pure, fresh and salty, revealing great elegance and finesse. Tasted June 2018.

95/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2019/20

95+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Oct 2019
Bottled in February 2019, the 2017 Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc is from Tement's coolest vineyard, where Manfred Tement started the Sauvignon Blanc revolution in South Styria (when the grape was called Muscat-Sylvaner and had a very bad image). The nose is impressive in its deep, pure, fresh and complex, tightly knit generosity that reveals a coolish lime and lemon bouquet interwoven with flinty notes of crushed limestone rocks and even charming floral notes, white cassis, melissa, stinging nettle and green tea aromas. Full-bodied, round and highly finessed, with a coolish, seamless silky texture and a firm, persistently salty and crunchy-crystalline structure, this is a great and expressive Grassnitzberg that has never been better, more complex and spellbinding. The 2017 already shows its class, but you would waste the very best if you drank it too soon. This is a great, endlessly salty and tensioned Sauvignon Blanc with challenging but

95/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2019/20

95+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Oct 2019
Bottled in February 2019, the 2017 Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc is from Tement's coolest vineyard, where Manfred Tement started the Sauvignon Blanc revolution in South Styria (when the grape was called Muscat-Sylvaner and had a very bad image). The nose is impressive in its deep, pure, fresh and complex, tightly knit generosity that reveals a coolish lime and lemon bouquet interwoven with flinty notes of crushed limestone rocks and even charming floral notes, white cassis, melissa, stinging nettle and green tea aromas. Full-bodied, round and highly finessed, with a coolish, seamless silky texture and a firm, persistently salty and crunchy-crystalline structure, this is a great and expressive Grassnitzberg that has never been better, more complex and spellbinding. The 2017 already shows its class, but you would waste the very best if you drank it too soon. This is a great, endlessly salty and tensioned Sauvignon Blanc with challenging but

94/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Gelbgrün, Silberreflexe. Feine Cassisanklänge, ein Hauch von Grapefruit und reifen Stachelbeeren, helles, kühles Bukett. Straff, weißer Apfel, feine Extraktsüße, eingebundene Säurestruktur, angenehmer Zitrustouch, mineralisch und anhaftend, salziger Nachhall.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker October 2018
From the family's very first vineyard, which was cultivated by Armin Tement's grandparents, the 2016 Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc is pure, fresh and coolish on the nose. Since Tement gives this the same amount of attention as the Zieregg, the quality continues to rise from year to year. The 2016 was fermented and aged for one year in 25-year-old 3,000- and 4,000-liter oak barrels and spent another two months in stainless steel. The nose is just beautiful in its coolish, leafy, refreshing, greenish and mineral character (pure coral chalk), with white currant and floral aromas. On the palate, this is a very elegant wine with salt, grip and tension, reminding me of a fine Sancerre (from the Clos de Beaujeu perhaps). In a blind tasting, I would guess without a doubt it was a Sancerre. The finish is pure, fresh and salty, revealing great elegance and finesse. Tasted June 2018.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker April 2016
Selected in the best plot of the Zieregg and only in great vintages, the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Zieregg Vinothek Reserve displays a very clear and pure bouquet with lemon flavors. This fascinating nose seems to be delivered on a perfumed stone plate. Pure perfume, no eau de toilette, of course. The palate is the extension of the nose, although the finish reveals a sweetish and charming juiciness that takes away a bit of the purity - which I like too much, but many readers might find too intellectual or not sensual enough. Ripe and cooked/baked white fruits (apples) intertwine with mineral flavors on the highly elegant palate, which finishes with verve, salt, and ripe and concentrated fruit flavors. This is doubtlessly great wine and there is no Sauvignon I know on planet wine that is comparable to this Zieregg. And that's a probably the greatest compliment I can give to this extraordinary wine.

97/100 Punkte Falstaff Weinguide 2018/19
Mittleres Grüngelb, Silberreflexe. Feine gelbe Fruchtnuancen, ein Hauch von Nougat unterlegt, reife Cassisnoten, zart nach Kapstachelbeeren, facettenreiches Bukett. Kraftvoll, stoffig, feine kalkige Mineralität, angenehme Fruchtsüße, lebendige Säurestruktur, ein komplexer Speisenbegleiter, große Länge, ein Wein mit burgundischen Dimensionen, feine Tropenfrucht im Rückgeschmack.

97+/100 Punkte Robert Parker, October 2018
From a small parcel (seven rows) that's very steep and shallow, the 2015 Ried Zieregg Vinothek Reserve is made with highly concentrated grapes that rarely ferment to dry#in 2015, it fermented down to five grams per liter. Bottled in May 2018, this is a powerful, concentrated, beautifully round and balanced 2015 full of grip and tension, with fine tannins and intense, lush if not hedonistic fruit. The finish is enormous, very long and full of finesse and tension.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2012
The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Vieris Sauvignon comes across as quite deep and plush next to the Piere. Juicy apricots, peaches, flowers and light honey flow effortlessly from this big, round Sauvignon. The wine maintains plenty of intensity and presence through to the deep, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

90/100 Punkte Wine Spectator Jun 30, 2012
Fresh and lightly juicy, this offers flavors of green melon, pink grapefruit, spice and quince. Well-balanced, with a stone-tinged finish. Drink now through 2015.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff, April 2019
Kraftvolles, leuchtendes Strohgelb. Sehr präsente und intensive Nase, zeigt Noten nach Mango, Stachelbeere und Nektarine, dahinter feine Kräuterwürze. Schlägt am Gaumen ein tolles Rad, füllig und mit sehr guter Konsistenz, präsente Frucht, salzig, im hinteren Verlauf fester Druck, dezenter Holztouch, der dem Wein den richtigen Kick gibt.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
I drank this beautiful wine with a dinner of couscous with chicken, fresh mint and preserved lemon. The 2016 Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte Sauvignon Blanc Vieris is not a pungent Sauvignon but rather a beautifully tempered and elegant one. It has the kind of creamy and long persistence that, to me, is an indication of a compellingly food-friendly white wine. There are lovely notes of candied orange peel with almond and fragrant garden herb. The wine ages on the lees in barrique for nine months. Production is 32,864-bottles strong.

94/100 Punkte Falstaff, April 2019
Kraftvolles, leuchtendes Strohgelb. Sehr präsente und intensive Nase, zeigt Noten nach Mango, Stachelbeere und Nektarine, dahinter feine Kräuterwürze. Schlägt am Gaumen ein tolles Rad, füllig und mit sehr guter Konsistenz, präsente Frucht, salzig, im hinteren Verlauf fester Druck, dezenter Holztouch, der dem Wein den richtigen Kick gibt.

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
I drank this beautiful wine with a dinner of couscous with chicken, fresh mint and preserved lemon. The 2016 Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte Sauvignon Blanc Vieris is not a pungent Sauvignon but rather a beautifully tempered and elegant one. It has the kind of creamy and long persistence that, to me, is an indication of a compellingly food-friendly white wine. There are lovely notes of candied orange peel with almond and fragrant garden herb. The wine ages on the lees in barrique for nine months. Production is 32,864-bottles strong.

91/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Oct 2009
The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Vieris is a rich, expansive wine boasting layers of perfumed, ripe fruit on a generous frame. Medium in body, the Vieris flows with tons of elegance and sheer class. This is a wonderful effort from Vie di Romans. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017.

92/100 Punkte Winespectator, Apr 30, 2010
A very tropical Sauvignon, with mineral and apricot undertones on the nose. Full-bodied, delivering lots of pretty fruit and a long, racy finish that turns to papaya and flint. Long and wonderful. Drink now. 3 ,600 cases made.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2012
The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Vieris Sauvignon comes across as quite deep and plush next to the Piere. Juicy apricots, peaches, flowers and light honey flow effortlessly from this big, round Sauvignon. The wine maintains plenty of intensity and presence through to the deep, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

90/100 Punkte Wine Spectator Jun 30, 2012
Fresh and lightly juicy, this offers flavors of green melon, pink grapefruit, spice and quince. Well-balanced, with a stone-tinged finish. Drink now through 2015.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
The 2015 Sauvignon (with 8,000 bottles made) is not as tangy as you might have expected, but it has a zippy freshness and mildly pungent aromas that are true to the grape. You'll pick up some lovely notes of candied almond peel, wild sage and orange zest. The mouthfeel is soft and luscious (thanks in part to 12 months in oak). This wine opens nicely and it is very accessible. It would be great with game fowl like pheasant or quail.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling
A very fresh and attractive sauvignon that shows limes, sliced grapefruit, nutmeg and nectarines. Medium to full body and plentiful acidity, but then spicy character and a medium-long, delightful finish. Salty undertones. Outstanding. Drink now.

89/100 Punkte Robert Parker December 2018
The 2017 Burgenland Sankt Laurent is a concentrated, warm and fruity red from up to 20-year-old vines. Although it is leathery and a bit reductive on opening, it then delivers ripe cherry and raspberry aromas as well as some earthy terroir notes to the nose. Silky, fresh and intense on the palate, with leathery notes again but good, juicy concentration, this is a promising St Laurent for lunch. Tasted October 2018.

92/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2018

93/100 Punkte Robert Parker April 2018
The 2014 Salanques is a blend of 65% Garnacha and 25% Cariñena from vines averaging 70 to 80 years of age and 10% Syrah from 14-year-old vines. The destemmed grapes fermented in stainless steel with neutral yeasts, and the wine matured in 50/50 new and second use French oak barrels for 14 months. It shows very well, with contained ripeness and a mineral, iron-like sensation and some notes of flowers and wild herbs. It has a medium-bodied palate with great freshness and a core of acidity that lifts it up. A powerful yet fresh and balanced Priorat.

92+/100 Punkte Robert Parker April 2018
A similar blend of 65% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 10% Syrah resulted in a 2015 Salanques with higher ripeness and notably lower acidity, reflecting a much warmer and drier year. It's ripe and with lots of earthiness, mineral and characterful, with ripe fruit without excess, elegant tannins and a polished, sleek texture within the rusticity of the zone.

92+/100 Punkte Robert Parker April 2018
A similar blend of 65% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 10% Syrah resulted in a 2015 Salanques with higher ripeness and notably lower acidity, reflecting a much warmer and drier year. It's ripe and with lots of earthiness, mineral and characterful, with ripe fruit without excess, elegant tannins and a polished, sleek texture within the rusticity of the zone.

92+/100 Punkte Robert Parker April 2018
A similar blend of 65% Garnacha, 25% Cariñena and 10% Syrah resulted in a 2015 Salanques with higher ripeness and notably lower acidity, reflecting a much warmer and drier year. It's ripe and with lots of earthiness, mineral and characterful, with ripe fruit without excess, elegant tannins and a polished, sleek texture within the rusticity of the zone.

93+/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
The 2016 Salanques is phenomenal, one of the finest vintages ever. It has an expressive nose combining notes of flowers, wild herbs and berries and subdued minerality, reminiscent of wet slate. The palate is medium-bodied, with a little less alcohol, fine, slightly dusty tannins and very good freshness. It's terribly balanced and tasty. It should develop beautifully in bottle.

93+/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2019
The 2016 Salanques is phenomenal, one of the finest vintages ever. It has an expressive nose combining notes of flowers, wild herbs and berries and subdued minerality, reminiscent of wet slate. The palate is medium-bodied, with a little less alcohol, fine, slightly dusty tannins and very good freshness. It's terribly balanced and tasty. It should develop beautifully in bottle.

92/100 Punkte Falstaff Juli 2019
Duftiges Bukett mit Noten von hellen roten Beeren, dazu florale Anklänge, Orange und kräuterwürzige Anklänge sowie feine Rauchnoten. Am Gaumen seidene Textur, frisch, mit saftiger Säure, viel Beerenfrucht und fein geschliffenem Tannin. Finessenreicher, eleganter Pinot.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Sep 2017
The 2015 Elfingen Rüeget opens with an intense, gorgeously spicy, pure, chalky and cherry-scented bouquet with red fruit and white peach aromas#terrific! On the palate this is a full-bodied, round but dry and spicy Pinot Noir with an enormously juicy and concentrated palate. Powerful, firm and fresh, with great tension and purity but also concentration#this is one of my favorite Swiss Pinot Noirs.

92/100 Punkte Falstaff Juli 2019
Duftiges Bukett mit Noten von hellen roten Beeren, dazu florale Anklänge, Orange und kräuterwürzige Anklänge sowie feine Rauchnoten. Am Gaumen seidene Textur, frisch, mit saftiger Säure, viel Beerenfrucht und fein geschliffenem Tannin. Finessenreicher, eleganter Pinot.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Sep 2017
The 2015 Elfingen Rüeget opens with an intense, gorgeously spicy, pure, chalky and cherry-scented bouquet with red fruit and white peach aromas#terrific! On the palate this is a full-bodied, round but dry and spicy Pinot Noir with an enormously juicy and concentrated palate. Powerful, firm and fresh, with great tension and purity but also concentration#this is one of my favorite Swiss Pinot Noirs.

93/100 Punkte Falstaff März 2018
Sehr sattes, tiefes Rubinrot. Feingliedrige Nase nach reifen roten Beeren, Himbeeren, Erdbeeren, filigrane Kräuter, Rosmarin. Geschliffen in Ansatz und Verlauf, samtiges Tannin mit klarer, dunkler Frucht umhüllt den Gaumen mit festem Druck, endet lange im Finale.

91+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Februar 2018
The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino is a bright and vibrant red wine that really pops from the glass. It exhibits a cheerful vertical lift that embraces all the senses. That buoyant bouquet is duly followed by robust cherry flavors with an impressive level of richness and concentration. This wine shows good structure and staying power. It has the budding complexity that comes so naturally to the mighty wines of Montalcino.

95/100 Punkte Robert Parker Oct 2016
The 2008 Licoroso Robert Reynolds is a fortified Alicante Bouschet with 19% alcohol and 114.5 grams per liter of residual sugar. It was aged for 24 months in French oak vats, bottled with a long cork and then held back for three years in bottle. Let's just say up front: this is a "wow" wine. Big, concentrated and powerful, this is impressive from the get-go. That said, it isn't a mindless fruit bomb and it isn't really all that sweet, either. In fact, structure typically dominates at the outset. Like a fine, dry-ish Port, it soaks up a lot of the sugar and actually finishes, relatively speaking, rather dry. As it aired out, it came into better balance between fruit and structure, but that tightly wound intensity always remained, even as the days went by. The aromatics lean to earthy and beefy and then it finishes with some Alicante complexity and lingers. This is very fine--and far better balanced if drunk in the low or even mid-60s than room t

92+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2018
The red 2015 Rivas de Tereso will be the last vintage with that name (the name of the village where the majority of vineyards are located). It will be called Camino de Santa Cruz from the 2016 vintage onward. This was the first vineyard-designated wine, from very shallow soils at high altitude. It fermented in amphorae to preserve freshness and then aged in 500-liter oak barrels for one year. There is good ripeness of fruit with an earthy and mineral touch plus aromas of herbs and wild flowers, a medium-bodied palate with dusty, chalky tannins and a very tasty finish.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling July 2017
Assertive and convincing style with black fruit aromas and flavors in a very slick, layered and flavoursome palate. Very impressive balance and depth. Long, smooth tannins with peppery edges. Powerful and delicious. Best from 2020.

92+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2018
The red 2015 Rivas de Tereso will be the last vintage with that name (the name of the village where the majority of vineyards are located). It will be called Camino de Santa Cruz from the 2016 vintage onward. This was the first vineyard-designated wine, from very shallow soils at high altitude. It fermented in amphorae to preserve freshness and then aged in 500-liter oak barrels for one year. There is good ripeness of fruit with an earthy and mineral touch plus aromas of herbs and wild flowers, a medium-bodied palate with dusty, chalky tannins and a very tasty finish.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling July 2017
Assertive and convincing style with black fruit aromas and flavors in a very slick, layered and flavoursome palate. Very impressive balance and depth. Long, smooth tannins with peppery edges. Powerful and delicious. Best from 2020.

92+/100 Punkte Robert Parker Feb 2018
The red 2015 Rivas de Tereso will be the last vintage with that name (the name of the village where the majority of vineyards are located). It will be called Camino de Santa Cruz from the 2016 vintage onward. This was the first vineyard-designated wine, from very shallow soils at high altitude. It fermented in amphorae to preserve freshness and then aged in 500-liter oak barrels for one year. There is good ripeness of fruit with an earthy and mineral touch plus aromas of herbs and wild flowers, a medium-bodied palate with dusty, chalky tannins and a very tasty finish.

93/100 Punkte James Suckling July 2017
Assertive and convincing style with black fruit aromas and flavors in a very slick, layered and flavoursome palate. Very impressive balance and depth. Long, smooth tannins with peppery edges. Powerful and delicious. Best from 2020.

97/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Mar 2016
Only made in the best years, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS is a phenomenal achievement. The wine was produced in 2006, 2007, 2010 and will also be released in 2012 and 2015. Fruit is sourced from across a five-hectare vineyard in the northern part of the appellation, but only 1,500 bottles are made using the very best fruit. This is an incredible wine that shows a promising evolution in the glass. The bouquet is fluid and graceful with a very precise and focused delivery. Dark fruit is contrasted against pressed rose, smoked spice and crushed graphite. The finish is silky and very long. Attractive tones of savory smoked meat appear at the very end.

97/100 Punkte James Suckling Oct 1, 2015
Incredibly perfumed and vibrant with dried berries, flowers and dried strawberries. Full body, a velvety texture and an intense and rich palate. So much richness and length. Better in 2018 but wonderful to taste now.

97/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Mar 2016
Only made in the best years, the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS is a phenomenal achievement. The wine was produced in 2006, 2007, 2010 and will also be released in 2012 and 2015. Fruit is sourced from across a five-hectare vineyard in the northern part of the appellation, but only 1,500 bottles are made using the very best fruit. This is an incredible wine that shows a promising evolution in the glass. The bouquet is fluid and graceful with a very precise and focused delivery. Dark fruit is contrasted against pressed rose, smoked spice and crushed graphite. The finish is silky and very long. Attractive tones of savory smoked meat appear at the very end.

97/100 Punkte James Suckling Oct 1, 2015
Incredibly perfumed and vibrant with dried berries, flowers and dried strawberries. Full body, a velvety texture and an intense and rich palate. So much richness and length. Better in 2018 but wonderful to taste now.

98/100 Punkte Falstaff, März 2018
Kraftvolles, leuchtendes Rubin mit Granatrand. Kompakte, dunkle Beerenfrucht in der Nase, nach Brombeere und Himbeere, im Hintergrund feine Ledernote. Am Gaumen sehr präsent, zeigt viel reife Frucht, viel Kirsche, etwas Himbeere, öffnet sich mit dichtem, feinmaschigem Tannin in vielen Schickten, im Finale fest und sehr lange anhaltend.

96/100 Punkte Robert Parker Februar 2018
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS is absolutely impressive, but with only 4,500 bottles made, it may not prove easy to locate. This precious expression of Sangiovese exhibits a gorgeous level of intensity and power, coupled by elegance and poise. The long presentation of aromas starts with black fruit and cherry confit and continues to crushed stone, toasted spice, cola and medicinal herb. The wine's texture sticks firmly to the palate. This Brunello ages in French oak for two years.

95/100 Punkte Wine Spectator June 2018
A modern style, exuding coffee, vanilla, cherry and tobacco flavors. Vibrant, offering grip and picking up mineral accents as this winds down on the finish. An elegant, minerally red under the oak. Best from 2021 through 2035.

98/100 Punkte Falstaff, März 2018
Kraftvolles, leuchtendes Rubin mit Granatrand. Kompakte, dunkle Beerenfrucht in der Nase, nach Brombeere und Himbeere, im Hintergrund feine Ledernote. Am Gaumen sehr präsent, zeigt viel reife Frucht, viel Kirsche, etwas Himbeere, öffnet sich mit dichtem, feinmaschigem Tannin in vielen Schickten, im Finale fest und sehr lange anhaltend.

96/100 Punkte Robert Parker Februar 2018
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva PS is absolutely impressive, but with only 4,500 bottles made, it may not prove easy to locate. This precious expression of Sangiovese exhibits a gorgeous level of intensity and power, coupled by elegance and poise. The long presentation of aromas starts with black fruit and cherry confit and continues to crushed stone, toasted spice, cola and medicinal herb. The wine's texture sticks firmly to the palate. This Brunello ages in French oak for two years.

95/100 Punkte Wine Spectator June 2018
A modern style, exuding coffee, vanilla, cherry and tobacco flavors. Vibrant, offering grip and picking up mineral accents as this winds down on the finish. An elegant, minerally red under the oak. Best from 2021 through 2035.

93/100 Punkte Guía Peñín 2016

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker, Apr 2015
The 2012 Pujanza Norte may well be the best vintage for this pure Tempranillo from a 2.7 hectare single vineyard on shallow clay and chalk soils at 720 meters altitude. The wine fermented in stainless-steel vats with indigenous yeasts where it went through malolactic and then matured for 16 months in French oak barrels. The nose is subtle, elegant and perfumed with aromas of violets and lilies, ripe strawberries and raspberries and spicy nuances. The palate is equally harmonious and shows juicy tannins, very good acidity and freshness, plus superb overall balance. It ends very tasty, long and with a chalky minerality that sticks to your teeth. It's accessible now, but it should gain in complexity in bottle and improve and age for a very long time. Superb modern/classical Tempranillo. 10'000 bottles produced.

94/100 Punkte Robert Parker Aug 2016
The Pujanza 2013 Norte is Tempranillo cropped from the Finca Norte vineyard. It's really called San Román, but they couldn't use that name; the nickname people apply to it is north, because of the strong north winds that make it very healthy and somehow cool. It's a 2.7-hectare plot on clay and limestone soils, where the limestone mother rock is at some 50 centimeters from the surface. The vineyard is north-facing and located at an altitude of 720 meters. Fermentation was in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, the same as malolactic. There are notes of beef blood intermixed with wild red acid berries and flowers, with good freshness. The upbringing was 14 months in French barriques. The palate is extremely fresh, but combining high acidity with incredible power. There is less difference in the vintages in this Norte than in the Finca Valdepoleo, here it feels like the vineyard-besides being smaller-is more consistent. The character of the p

94+/100 Robert Parker Aug 2016
The 2014 Norte comes from a warmer and riper vintage than the previous one, but curiously enough, the wine had higher acidity and lower pH. The explanation from Carlos San Pedro is that 2014 is a very complete and balanced vintage, with good ripeness and very good acidity. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French barrels for some 14 months. This is very different from the 2013, and as I've seen with other wines from the year, the nose shows higher ripeness and darker fruit aromas. The palate shows fresher and the liveliness of a cooler, northeast-facing vineyard, where the influence of the north wind is very intense at 720 meters altitude. I think this will age nicely. In the long run, I believe the two vintages are of similar quality; though perhaps this 2014 will prove to be a better, more complete wine, hence the + on the score.

94+/100 Robert Parker Aug 2016
The 2014 Norte comes from a warmer and riper vintage than the previous one, but curiously enough, the wine had higher acidity and lower pH. The explanation from Carlos San Pedro is that 2014 is a very complete and balanced vintage, with good ripeness and very good acidity. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French barrels for some 14 months. This is very different from the 2013, and as I've seen with other wines from the year, the nose shows higher ripeness and darker fruit aromas. The palate shows fresher and the liveliness of a cooler, northeast-facing vineyard, where the influence of the north wind is very intense at 720 meters altitude. I think this will age nicely. In the long run, I believe the two vintages are of similar quality; though perhaps this 2014 will prove to be a better, more complete wine, hence the + on the score.

91/100 Punkte Robert Parker Aug 2016
The 2014 Hado wants to showcase the freshness and typicity of Tempranillo in the zone of Laguardia in Rioja, where Pujanza's vineyards are located. 2014 was an early and warm vintage, and the grapes comes from a diversity of plots in Laguardia. The wine is fermented (malolactic included) in stainless steel vats and matured in French oak barrels for one year. This year he used a lot of grapes from the Valdepoleo vineyard (he doesn't buy grapes, but he doesn't want to sell them, either), so the wine has more character. It's usually a more straightforward wine and it has more freshness, from a clay-rich vineyard; but here, the aromas are fresher and more floral. The palate is lively, fine-grained and tasty. A very good showing for this wine.

91/100 Punkte Robert Parker August 2016
I also tasted the 2014 Finca Valdepoleo, from a riper and warmer vintage than 2013. It also fermented in stainless steel and was raised in French oak for 14 months. This vineyard has a lot of clay and can give fruit-forward grapes in warmer years. The nose is ripe, with black fruit and feels a bit heady, with some spicy notes. As I've seen with other 2014s, the palate feels fresher than the nose, with a fine thread of acidity going through the core. This is an accessible, ripe Rioja. This wine will be released in April 2017.

94/100 Punkte James Suckling July 2017
Tight and linear wine with blackberry, blueberry and mineral character. Medium to full body, and stone and slate undertones to the bright fruit. Bright acidity. Drink now.

92/100 Punkte Robert Parker February 2018
The vineyard-designated 2015 Finca Valdepoleo is pure Tempranillo from vines planted in 1973 on limestone and clay soils at 630 meters altitude in the village of Laguardia. It fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels for 14 months. It shows the style of the vintage#approachable, juicy, medium to full-bodied, clean, modern and with good ripeness and nicely integrated oak. The palate shows good balance and a powerful wine with long life ahead. There is less structure than in 2014, gentler, more approachable, with a rare combination of power and elegance. It's also balsamic and faintly Mediterranean, nicely balanced.

95/100 Punkte James Suckling August 2018
The enveloping mulberry and spice aromas on the nose are only the first of the wonders of this stunning red Rioja, which has a great tannin structure that gives the medium-full-bodied palate both stature and excitement. Very long, fresh herbal finish of considerable complexity. Drink or hold.