Wine Advocate (94)

La Calleja was not bottled in 2020, so the 2021 La Calleja is going to be released a little earlier. It's a brilliant vintage for this wine, from a year they consider exceptional for Tempranillo. It has a classical, serious and austere profile with a cool-climate feeling to it and with very integrated oak; it always ferments in the same 6,000-liter oak foudre and matured in a combination of concrete and oak foudres for two years with two rackings. It should age beautifully in bottle. 4,300 bottles were filled in May 2023.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Boekenhoutskloof's world-class Semillon uses grapes from three distinct blocks in Franschhoek, planted in 1902, 1936 and 1942, combining these with 3% Muscat d'Alexandrie. Showing more acidity and restraint than the stunning 2020, and less of the struck match character, it has notes of lemongrass, custard and beeswax and a core of chiselled acidity. Needs more time.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

Given that 90% of its raw material comes from Porseleinberg - the other 10% comes from Boekenhoutskloof's Roundstone property - it's no surprise that this is such an impressive Syrah. Fermented with 65% whole bunches, it combines fynbos, lavender and Asian spice aromas with a palate of white pepper, barbecued meat, oregano and blackberry framed by sappy, granular tannins. World class.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Leather and spiced notes, pure with good fresh vivacity on the nose. The palate is ripe and seductive, layered with forest fruits, dark spiced figs. Attractive refreshing acidity, red fruits and a wild garrigue savoury Mourvèdre note – the tannins are supple and silky – dark forest-fruits finish which is broad, ample and opulent but always with a finesse of tannins and a savoury liquorice mineral note.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2021 La Bruja de Rozas is their edgiest and most austere mineral and soil-driven version of their entry-level red. It's herbal, with no concession for fruit, and it has electricity and grip. It's a good preview of what's to come from 2021. It has a lot of 2018 and 2016 characteristics, a cool summer, a year with rain and even some during harvest that complicated matters and made them lose some grapes, but there's more grip, more minerality, more depth, layers and subtleness. It needs time in the glass, and my guess is that at age eight it's going to reach an outstanding level. A grown-up Bruja, it’s more for soil fanatics than the general public, and it’s one to lay down in your cellar (by the case) while you drink your 2020s. There were 55,184 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2022.

James Suckling (97)

A hint of flint and gunpowder with waxed lemon, oyster shell, mango and salted green apples. Quite a textured, saline expression of chardonnay with tangy flavors and a mineral drive. Full-bodied and reductive with phenolic support. Savory, saline and mouthwatering finish. Love the austerity here. Drink or hold.

Nikolas Krankl, son of Manfred Krankl who founded cult sensation Sine Qua Non looks set to further the family business. Together with his wife Julia, Nikolas founded Fingers Crossed in 2017 using fruit from the vineyards of Sine Qua Non, amongst others. Like Sine Qua Non, Nikolas works with Rhône varietals, crafting enchanting Rhone blends that have won strong accolades from critics from the get to.

The Assortment case contains an equal mix of the estate Syrah and Grenache, reviews of which are as follows:

Fingers Crossed Unanswered Prayers Syrah 2021

96-98 points | Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent)

'The 2021 Unanswered Prayers Syrah comes mainly from Bien Nacido Vineyard, plus smaller proportions from Rancho Boa Vista, and Sanford & Benedict Vineyards. It is composed of 83% Syrah with 4.7% Grenache, 4.7% Mourvèdre, 4.7% Petite Sirah, and 2.9% of the White Wine (Chardonnay, Roussanne, and Marsanne). It was made using 35% whole clusters and aged for 20 months in French oak, 63% new. Deep purple-black colored, it explodes with vibrant notes of juicy blackberries, fresh raspberries, and ripe plums, giving way to hints of tar, violets, licorice, and cracked black peppercorns. The palate is big, powerful, full-bodied, yet very bright, pure, and light on its feet. With a solid frame of velvety tannins, it finishes long and fragrant. This was bottled in July 2023. 437 cases were produced.'

95-97 points | Erin Brooks (Wine Advocate)

'I tasted the 2021 Syrah Unanswered Prayers on July 7, 2023, a few days before it was due to be bottled. It comes from the Bien Nacido, Rancho Boa Vista and Sanford & Benedict Vineyards. The blend includes 4.7% Grenache, 4.7% Mourvèdre, 4.7% Petite Sirah and 2.9% white wine. It was vinified using 35% whole clusters and matured for 20 months in 63% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple, it's bursting with youthfully broody scents of blueberry preserves, blackcurrant, lavender, tar, game meats and peppermint patty. Full-bodied, powerful yet balanced, the palate features concentrated floral fruit, detailed, velvety tannins and seamless acidity that carries on through the shimmery finish. 437 cases are projected.'

Fingers Crossed Unanswered Prayers Grenache 2021

97-99 points | Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent)

'The 2021 Unanswered Prayers Grenache comes from Bien Nacido, Rancho Boa Vista and Sanford & Benedict Vineyards. The composition is 76.5% Grenache with 11.3% Syrah, 5.5% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah, and a 2.7% splash of the White Wine (Chardonnay, Roussanne, and Marsanne) from this year. It was made with 42% whole clusters and aged 20 months in French oak, 38% new. Opaque purple-black colored, it leaps with bold notes of black cherries, black raspberries, and lilacs with nuances of tar, wild sage, and lavender. The bright, shimmery, full-bodied palate is laden with crunchy black fruits, textured by silky-soft tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with loads of floral and red berry sparks. This was bottled in July 2023. 438 cases were made.'

94-96 points | Erin Brooks (Wine Advocate)

'I tasted the 2021 Grenache Unanswered Prayers on July 7th, 2023, a few days before it was due to be bottled. Grapes were sourced from Bien Nacido, Rancho Boa Vista and Sanford & Benedict Vineyards, and the Grenache is blended with 11.3% Syrah, 5.5% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and 2.7% white wine. It was vinified with 42% whole clusters and matured for 20 months in 38% new French oak. Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, it has pure, detailed aromas of wild berry jam, oolong and bergamot tea leaves, damp earth and bark. The medium-bodied palate is seamless, silky and light on its feet, boasting generously floral fruit and a long, graphite-driven finish. Broody yet delicate, it blossoms gloriously as it spends time in the glass, hinting at dynamic development once in bottle. 438 cases are projected.'

Vinous (97)

Sweet rose petal, mint, chiseled red-toned fruit and chalk give the 2014 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn its sculpted, brilliant personality. All the elements are in the right place. A wine of translucent energy and weightless elegance, the Sorì Tildìn is hauntingly beautiful today. A host of floral notes and red berry fruit infuse the persistent, chiseled finish in this fabulous Barbaresco. As it so often is, the Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is a wine of pure charm and seduction.

James Suckling (98)

An exceptional vintage for this wine, with such intense aromas of lime and sweet flowers, as well as hints of white nectarine and wet stone in the background. The palate has density and sleekly refined shape that drives so long. Lime juice throughout, and some almost pithy density builds into the finish, supported by driving acidity. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026 and a number of years after that. Screw cap.

Burghound (86-89)

A super-fresh nose freely reveals its aromas of ripe red and dark berries trimmed in ample earth nuances. The rich and seductively textured middleweight flavors possess solid size and weight before concluding in a long if moderately rustic finale. This is a quality effort for its level

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (88-91)

Last to be picked, with plenty of rot to sort out. A deeper purple than the Bourgogne. Marvellous density of deep raspberry fruit. Generous and very pure, with some black raspberry fruit, luscious more than precise but a wine it will be easy to fall in love with. Drink from 2024-2027.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95-98)

5 Star Wine. A rich dark purple. The nose is astonishing because of its definition. It is a slightly darker and certainly less lushly appealing style. Peppery notes are in balance but the volume of fruit surmounts. This is a fine and very noble example which could well leap ahead of the 2020 in the rankings. There is such a wealth of fruit, on the cusp of red and black, which returns in the very long finish. Bravo. Drink from 2030-2040.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (96-98)

5 Star Wine. An astonishing rich imperial purple colour. Possibly it wins in density over and above the Clos de Vougeot. It doesn’t stun me as much as last year because it is no longer my first experience! An all-enveloping dark raspberry, silky as well as lush, dotted with pepper, with an almost endless finish. Grapes beautifully grown and then seamlessly made. Drink from 2030-2040.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (86-88)

Again quite a full yellow. The nose is full of apples and the palate brings out the chiselled hillside aspect but there is still some flesh. He has kept CO2 high (1100-1200) and this assists the final crisp aftertaste. But this is not really my wine. Drink from 2024-2026.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-92)

Fullish yellow, some apples but riper here than the Coteaux Bourguignons. A little touch of oak, 25% new. This really comes into its own on the palate, still showing some oak and a bit of bacon fat but the ripe apples now give it plenty of flesh. Not mainstream but a thoroughly interesting wine. Picked a week before the reds. Drink from 2024-2027.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (89-92)

A rich deep purple. the nose too is luxurious, with a touch of coconut as well. Totally fills the mouth but there is just a little more precision than the Chorey. The fruit and the coconut make me think of Lamingtons. As long as the coconut dies down this will be pretty impressive. Drink from 2025-2030.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-96)

Medium to dark purple. Pepper and spice up front along with some remarkably refined fruit. The intensity is compact at the front then opens out much more behind, with black raspberry becoming more apparent. The intensity is impressive for 2021 and the natural balance undeniable. Sweet fruit finish. Drink from 2028-2035.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)

A deep bright purple. The nose has the characteristic (of Brûlées) smoky struck flint note to it, which adds complexity to the red fruit which is as abundant here as the other wines. Lush in the middle then a structure which tames the extrovert nature, a good point of acidity alongside ripe tannins, and some darker fruit to finish. Potentially extremely fine. Drink from 2028-2035.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

5 Star Wine. On arriving in Vosne-Romanée we do discover another level of elegance. A fresh but quite deep purple. An essential concentration of deep dark fruit, but this time with an absolute feeling of precision. Lifted, racy, electric, spicy with a depth of concentrated mostly raspberry fruit. We are getting there! Drink from 2026-2032.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

Not deeper in colour, perhaps just a touch brighter even than the village Vosne. An even finer detail, with more precision, still just a note too much of new oak. Broader shoulders, more structure behind, which tames the fruit and stops it getting soupy. An exceptional intensity of liquid raspberry with great persistence. Drink from 2027-2033.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2014 Haut-Brion is an exceptionally beautiful and vivid wine. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, tobacco and menthol are some of the notes that run through the 2014. Just as it did from barrel, the 2014 boasts tons of opulence, intensity and richness. Dried flowers, tobacco, menthol, licorice and smoke wrap around the huge, baritone-inflected finish. Readers should not be in any rush with the 2014, as it is likely to require a number of years before it even starts to drink well. The blend is 50 % Merlot, 39 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 11 % Cabernet Franc.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2014 Léoville Poyferré has a very complex bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone, cedar and hints of violet. It is extremely focused, intense rather than overtly powerful. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp and generous, conveying much more tension and precision than the Léoville Las-Cases. It gradually fans out in the second half with real mineralité, quite profound in the context of the vintage. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Sourced from 39 plots, the 2014 Champagne Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 32% aged in oak, and it has 7 grams per liter dosage. It is highly expressive of classic elegance and purity, revealing aromas of crushed rock, almond croissant, and perfume of citrus blossoms. The palate is hyper-refined in its mousse, with pinpoint bubbles, a subtly rounded mid-palate, an irresistible chalky texture, and energy throughout its long and floral finish. Everything about this feels perfectly tailored. Drink 2024-2044.

Kerin O'Keefe (94)

Made with 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo grown 450-570m above sea level, this radiant red opens with heady scents of camphor, red berry, wild herb and spice. Linear and focused, the elegant, racy palate has a pristine quality, delivering strawberry, orange zest and white pepper alongside bright acidity and lithe tannins. The organically-farmed vines are the estate’s youngest at fifteen years old. Fermentation takes place spontaneously in concrete tanks with no temperature control while aging occurs in French and Slavonian casks. The results are a wine with an enticing purity of flavors and class. Drink through 2031.

Wine Advocate (95+)

The yellow-golden 2014 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, a world famous and iconic Chenin with its own appellation (Savennières – Coulée de Serrant AC), opens with a beautifully clear, precise and aromatic bouquet of ripe and dried, lovely concentrated stone and grapefruit, as well as some honey aromas intermixed with crushed crystalline stones and herbal flavors. Highly elegant, clear and vital on the palate, this full-bodied wine is immensely intense but also silky, transparent and finesse-full. The long and stimulating finish is enormously piquant and salty, very compact but in perfect balance. There are dried Mediterranean herbs like thyme along with concentrated apricot and quince flavors in the persistent aftertaste. A great, elegant and very refined Coulée.

Greg Sherwood MW (93+)

An impressively substantial wine yet again from Aldo Vacca and this world famous red wine Co-operative. The wine has a real presence showing complex aromatic layers of wild herbs, dried blood orange, botanicals, vermouth spices over pink musk, red cherry and candied red berry fruits. The palate is sumptuously muscular, plump and fleshy, but beautifully mellow and harmonious with a massive red and black berry fruit concentration, spicy herby tannins and an incredibly bold, vibrant acidity that once again underpins the fabulous depth of fruit and fleshy opulence. This is the real deal, a substantial Nebbiolo that simply sings in the glass. Bravo Aldo! I don’t know how you do it, year in and year out, but the Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo 2021 is an absolute winner. Drink on release and over 10 to 12 plus years.

Wine Advocate (98)

First made in 1971, this legendary Italian wine now celebrates its 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tignanello! The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Tignanello (made with 79% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc) pulls on all the heartstrings. To be released in May, the wine shows a quintessentially pretty taste profile with tart fruit flavors, redcurrant, tea leaf, heritage rose, crushed white pepper, licorice, nutmeg, clove and chopped mint. It opens slowly to reveal more richness and exuberance with time, becoming downright voluptuous and heady a short while later. The through line, however, remains the bright freshness and minerality of Sangiovese. Compared to the 2018 vintage (which I also loved), this vintage has more overall fruit weight and volume.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2021 Viñedo Chadwick fermented in stainless steel and troncoconic concrete vats, spent some 10 months in barrique, and then part of the wine (some 20%) was sent to the Stockinger foudres. The nose is reminiscent of a super elegant and sleek Bordeaux, pure and clean, less balsamic than in previous years and less herbal. It's perfumed and floral, precise, fresh and elegant, with very fine tannins, and despite the grape, it is more Pomerol than Graves, with 14% alcohol on the label but without any heat at all. It's velvety and luxurious, juicy and tasty, with fine-grained chalky tannins and the elegant stoniness that the best Maipos are capable of. It has structure and power, like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. This has to be the finest vintage for Chadwick; the wine made my heart beat faster—it's a wine of emotion. This is also my first 100-point wine from Chile! The final blend contains around 3% Petit Verdot from vines planted in 2005. There are some 10,000 bottles of this, and it was all bottled all at once on January 31, 2023.