2014  Ribera Sacra

Organic/biodynamic Brancellao from RIbera Sacra in Galicia. " It's a light and pale-colored, subtle and aromatic red, with an ethereal palate where the fine-grained tannins are nicely balanced by refreshing acidity. This showcases the potential and elegance of Brancellao, a grape that was ignored for a very long time that still has quite a lot to say. With time it develops a slightly animal character that I've seen in other wines, and it's quite subtle and does not dominate; I wonder if it's inherent to the variety. I need a lot more experience with Brancellao, because it's a grape that is really starting... 3,800 bottles produced." - 93pts WA

2014  Ribera Sacra

Organic/Biodynamic Merenzao (Trousseau) from Ribera Sacra in Galicia. 167 cases produced.

2013  

"The 2013 Gratallops, their village wine, is a blend of 85% Garnacha and the rest Cariñena. The grapes were destemmed, lightly pressed and fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts. The wine went through malo and 16 months aging in oak barrels. It might be suffering a bit of bottle shock. In this vintage, the Garnacha was so rich that the percentage of Cariñena is lower to maintain the fluidity of the wine. In this vintage I give the edge to Terrasses. 600 cases produced." - 92+pts WA

2016  

Margaret River, 95pts JH -- "A vibrant, unwooded style of Verdelho with lashings of fruit aromas on the nose marrying with tropical fruit flavors and hints of spice on the palate. The wine stays focused and finishes crisp and dry yet has a powerful and refreshing length that makes this wine the perfect accompaniment to spicy, full flavoured dishes. Famous for its natural acidity, this variety ages beautifully. Cellaring for more than five years rewards with complex spice and honeysuckle and developing nutty and toasty characters."

2013  

100% Pinot Blanc. We are fans of this estate - among the best producers of Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) in Germany. This is a lovely example of the charms of Pinot Blanc, made by the young Friedrich Wilhelm, building on the strong reputation that his father, also Friedrich, established over the last four decades. Although a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc is structurally close to Chardonnay. This is fairly rich, with an expressive yellow fruit & citrus nose, and a palate that is layered and tense with acidity. Situated at the very southern end of the Pfalz, this estate actually owns a significant portion of vineyard land across the border in Alsace-which they are allowed to label legally as German wine. The whole operation feels like a hybrid of French technique with German tradition. Young Fritz Becker gleefully experiments with French vs German clones of Pinor Noir and French vs German barrels-including numerous casks he picked up (used) from Romanée-Conti and Comtes Lafon!

2020  Monte Rosso

Monte Rosso ---- "The 2020 Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard is a standout. Readers who want to understand why Monte Rosso is such a special site will find that here. Soaring aromatics, strikingly pure fruit and refined tannins are all signatures of a special place and a special wine. Red-fleshed fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and lifted floral overtones grace this racy, flamboyant Zinfandel-based wine. Dollops of Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir and Tempranillo round out the field blend." -94pts Vinous

2017  Thomson Family

Thomson Family ---- "The Best's Great Western Thomson Family Shiraz 2017 encapsulates the best of Australian shiraz, and at 13.5% abv to boot! Grapes are meticulously hand-harvested, selected and sorted. It was first made in 1993, one hundred years after the Thomson family settled in the area. It is produced predominantly from the fifteen rows of vines planted by Henry Best in 1868, recorded as "Hermitage" by Henry in his daily journal. It was elevated to the highest and rarest Langton’s Classification of "Exceptional" in the 2018 Classification VII. It is the only Victorian Shiraz in this category." James Halliday: "Predominantly from the 1868 plantings, with lesser amounts from 1996 and '70, hand-picked and sorted, 50% crushed, 45% whole berry, 5% whole bunch. You'd stand up for royalty, and that's this wine. To use the spit bucket is lese majeste. Just savour it, drop by drop, as it magically finds its way unbidden down your throat. It's got the full rainbow of cool-grown shiraz flavors, a conjunction with a year made for it by Dionysis, and, glory be, comes with a screwcap." - 99 Points JH

2019  Thomson Family

Thomson Family ---- "Best’s remains at the top of its game because of wines like this; wines that hold true to the Thomson family’s winemaking philosophy, celebrating old vines and its distinguished sites. It all comes together beautifully, perfectly, in Thomson Family Shiraz. Tasted 1 year before release and it’s already an elegant and noble wine. Dark berry fruits, hints of sage and cassia bark with gentle leafiness. Oak and tannins, well, they are seamless and supple. A complex life awaits." - 96 points, James Halliday

2014  Sobre Lias

Grape: Godello -- Origin: Galicia, Spain -- Appellation: Valdeorras -- Alcohol by volume: 13.5% -- Features: Organic, Biodynamic -- About the product: This is the wine of the family. A complex wine made form the oldest Godello vines in the world put together to showcase the best that Valdeorras, Godello and Valdesil can make.

2006  Ribera del Duero Reserva

100% Tempranillo. They say the nose knows and here is proof... The big brother Cathar has an inviting, expressive nose of ripe berry, coffee & smoke that promises & delivers a big & full-bodied, chewy, classy Ribera with dense boysenberry fruit & a silky mouthfeel. Room to grow, best to decant for an hour.

2017  Jurancon Sec VdF

Jurancon Sec VdF

2009  Rutherford Cabernet

"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard is bigger, richer and deeper than the 2008 tasted alongside it. In this vintage (and 2010) the picks were smaller, and therefore many of the fermentations were done in smaller French oak barrels, which has given the wine much of its shape. Ripe dark cherries, menthol and spices wrap around the finish. The tannins are a bit firm, but the wine was also bottled just one month before I tasted it." - 94pts Antonio Galloni WA (Tasted 12/2011)