Very bright and lucid lemon blossom seeps out of the glass along with a minerally wet slate note, with a hint of petrol in the nose, similar to a high-end Riesling. The cider is medium bodied with an elegant roundness to it, while wrapped in the cider’s strong acid foundation. The cider has a linear and distinctive finish but marries beautifully with a sweet lemony note.

The nose is driven the by fresh, sweet, ripe aromas of apple. Notes of Normandy Funkiness cast a light veil over the stronger apple notes, while leaving the door open for hints of orange and lemon blossom. A kiss of residual sugar balances out a lightly tannic body and creates a beautiful finish along with the effervescent backbone.

The apples for this blend are selected based on maturity and concentration of flavor and are hand-picked to create the most interesting and flavorful product possible. Full of fruit and freshness, the cider taste of apple, earth, stone fruit, floral notes, lightly funky. Supremely balanced with bold flavors, this sets the standard for French cider.

The nose is a study in purity with the ripe apple aroma cutting through everything in its way. A slight note of over ripe apple appears as does a hint of barnyard. There’s seduction going on here. On the palate you get a medium bodied, effervescent cider that sports a beautiful acid/tannin/sugar balance.

This Albariño started as a bit of an experiment for Bouza and has quickly turned into one of the winery’s most sought after bottlings. Pale yellow color, with golden highlights. Aromas of peach and white flowers, pineapple and pear. Moving the glass, the pineapple enhances its presence, and vanilla and caramel notes appear. The Bouza family has Galician heritage, and their winery arguably introduced Albariño to Uruguay, if not all of Latin America.

Aged 12 months in French Oak; 10% free running juice with 10% of fruit distilled from Amarone Classico grapes.

New vintage! Cruse is one of the new generation in California working with small, interesting vineyard sites. The chardonnay this vintage is slightly richer than the previous but still elegant and aromatic.

Aged in oak for 12 months, this golden grappa edges close to aged brandy territory—although one sip and that grappa heat warms all the way down. That said, this spirit offers lovely enduring vanilla notes that are laced with cinnamon spice, and a velvety feel.

Sharp aromas of lemon peel and lemon pulp. The palate entry is very tart, lemony and juicy; at midpalate the flavor turns sweeter, though not candied. Ends up deliciously tart, zesty, and pulpy. Best Buy WINE ENTHUSIAST

The 2015 Viñas de Gaín could very well be the finest bottling of this pure Tempranillo that comes from 20 to 30 different vineyards in the villages of Laguardia and Elvillar, located at altitudes of 400 and 700 meters on clay and limestone soils, from vines averaging 30 years of age that are farmed organically.

organically farmed vines 35 to 40 years old. It fermented in open-top oak vats for 10 to 12 days, with two daily pigéages and one soft remontage after a 24- to 48-hour cold soak. The élevage was 12 months and malolactic was also in barrique. It's very fine and elegant, a vineyard that keeps the elegance in more powerful years.

Enticing scents of exotic spice, iris, red berry and a whiff of eucalyptus mingle together. On the youthfully assertive palate, firm close-grained tannins and bright acidity frame sour cherry, pomegranate and white pepper. Drink after 2023.

Wild berry, iris, rose and a potpourri of culinary spice aromas emerge on the nose of this stunning red. Radiant and full bodied, the palate is young and primary at this stage but already evokes morello cherry, licorice, pipe tobacco and aromatic herbs. Bright acidity and taut tannins provide impeccable balance and an impressive, age-worthy structure. Drink 2025–2043.