Featured Wines - November 2023

Dayne and Jill Sherwood continue to excel with Pinot Noir. The 2020 Sherwood Estate Waipara Valley Pinot Noir hails from another splendid vintage on New Zealand’s South Island. Moreover, it is every bit as compelling as their expressive, highly touted 2019 Waipara Pinot Noir, as it continues to outshine many Burgundy and New World Pinot Noirs selling for twice the price. The succulent 2020 Sherwood Waipara Valley Pinot Noir offers delicious...

The 2022 Château la Genestière Les Petits Cailloux Viognier Pays d’Oc had us on the first sniff. “What a gorgeous nose!” uttered one tasting panel member. “This wine smells so good it’s almost a shame to drink it,” commented another. In true Viognier fashion, the aroma alone of this Les Petits Cailloux Viognier is worth the price of admission. Pure juicy peach and apricot aromas waft from the glass. Add a spray of spring flowers and the...

Just as one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, the same can be said for a wine’s label. The label on Schwarz’s 2020 The Butcher Blaufränkisch elicits all kinds of reactions, everything from the ridiculous to the sublime. The wine on the other hand is nothing short of masterful. The 2020 Schwarz The Butcher (91 Points – Falstaff; 90 Points – Wine Enthusiast) woos the nose with juicy scents of crushed blackberries and currants laced with...

The exuberant NV Gruber Röschitz By Nature Sparkling Grüner Veltliner shines like the sun and brings a smile to every occasion. Not only does this sparkling wine have eye appeal, it offers an enticing aroma of freshly picked mountain apples, hints of citrus, ripe pears and more. A delicate mousse carries the wine’s lovely aroma through to the palate, offering a mélange of exotic fruits and deft touches of spice before exiting with a satisfying...

A superlative offering from an excellent vintage, the 2020 Arzuaga Ribera del Duero Crianza (90% Tempranillo, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot) opens with heady aromatics. A deep draught of red and black fruits, roasted chestnuts, herbs, and aromatic wood smoke greet the nose. In the mouth, Arzuaga’s 2020 Ribera del Duero Crianza is deep and harmonious, offering plenty of rich fruit, dark chocolate, and coffee tones. Moreover, all of these...

Made with organic grapes (70% Pinot Blanc, 30% Auxerrois), Camille Braun’s Crémant d’Alsace Brut NV delights the eye with its lively persistent mousse and expressive nose and flavor. Delicate hints of ripe autumn apples, freshly baked shortbread, and spring flowers delight the nose. In the mouth, the wine’s beautiful aromas re-emerge and expand on the palate. A delight to sip and savor or drink with abandon, Camille Braun’s Crémant d’Alsace...

Purity and sophistication mark the regally robed 2020 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend (95 Points – Decanter; 92 Points – Wine Advocate). The wine’s brilliant ruby/purple robe first captures the eye before seducing the nose with dazzling aromatics. A bouquet of cherries, raspberries, roses, and violets along with the sensuous scent of rain washed woodlands greet the nose. Ample and expansive on the palate, the 2020 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir...