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35 Articles

Italy’s rich history and culture draw millions of American visitors each year to immerse themselves in the country’s alluring lifestyle. Within Italy, that lifestyle expresses itself very differently across many distinctive regions. In this issue, we take you to six important Italian regions, from Piedmont in the north to Campania in the south, and spotlight some of the experiences, artisans and products that make each one special. For each region, we first present the local wines, recommending producers that are historical benchmarks and quality leaders. These overviews will serve as reliable guides when you’re looking for a true taste of terroir. Then, we profile standout local artisans in and around a destination city in each region—from cheese producers to milliners, from rice growers to knifemakers, mostly family-run businesses backed by generations of experience.…

Vintner Remembered I was deeply saddened by the passing of one of California’s pioneers of Zinfandel: Jay Heminway, longtime owner-wine-maker of Chiles Valley–based Green and Red Winery. He was a very special man. When tasting at two other rural wineries 10 years ago, we were told that if we liked Zinfandel, we “should go see the Zin-master,” Jay. They were absolutely right. He always personally poured our tastings and chatted with us—we never were rushed to taste and he always had both fun and serious topics to share. Wayne House Lake Forest, Calif. Monk Matching I thoroughly enjoyed Bruce Sanderson’s column “My Dinner With Thelonious Monk” (Jan. 31 - Feb. 29). My addiction to Monk’s brilliant compositions began some 60 years ago. His music is very complex, lively and stimulates the senses. Quite the same…

ITALIAN INSPIRATION

A recent Wine Spectator poll asked readers about their impressions and drinking habits when it comes to Italian wine. Nearly 2,500 respondents chimed in. Below are some of the most interesting results among the data we collected. 59% Italy was respondents’ favorite among Old World wines, sweeping 59% of the vote across age and gender. 66% Diversity was cited by 66% of respondents as Italian wine’s greatest strength, followed closely by value. 23% Barolo was respondents’ favorite Italian wine at 23%, edging out Brunello at 22%. Chianti followed at 15%. 16% Pinot Grigio and Prosecco are the favorites of 16% of women, more than three times as much as for men (4%). 36% Among respondents 51 and older, 36% typically spend $50 or more on a bottle of wine from Italy. 62% Women spend less for…

Health Study Links Wine to Longer Life

Which is healthier, Dry January or year-round moderation? A new study out of Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that adherence to a healthy lifestyle, including moderate alcohol consumption, exercising, eating a healthy diet and not smoking, is associated with a longer life expectancy. For the study, published in The BMJ, Harvard professor of nutrition and epidemiology Dr. Frank Hu and a team of researchers from Chicago, Switzerland, the Netherlands and China analyzed data from the 34-year Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and 28-year Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), which together collected health information on nearly 112,000 participants, specifically health professionals. At the study’s start, the NHS cohort consisted of female nurses ages 30 to 55, while the HPFS group was male health professionals ages 40 to 75. Questionnaires…

Health Study Links Wine to Longer Life

EU Wines Spared 100% Tariffs In the early evening hours of Feb. 14, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (USTR) issued a decision in his review of the ongoing trade war between the United States and the European Union over subsidies to plane manufacturer Airbus, opting not to raise tariffs on European wines for the time being. However, the 25% tariffs on French, Spanish and German still wines under 14% alcohol remain in place. The fight stretches back almost two decades, to U.S. objections concerning government subsidies that France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom has given to Airbus. On Oct. 2, the World Trade Organization gave the U.S. the green light to impose duties on $7.5 billion worth of European goods after the EU was found guilty of providing unfair subsidies. The…

Bordeaux Stars Buy in Napa Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the owners of Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte in Bordeaux, are branching out to California’s Napa Valley. The couple has purchased the Flora Springs estate, which straddles the Rutherford and St. Helena AVAs. The sale price was not disclosed. The deal includes 280 acres (58 planted to vines) and the winery. Flora Spring’s owners—the Komes and Garvey families—will retain the brand and tasting room in St. Helena. “My sister Julie and I founded and grew Flora Springs from the ground up, but the wine business has changed since we began,” John Komes said. He will retire from his role at Flora Springs while continuing to work on the Jon Nathaniel brand that he started with his son Nat. Bonny Doon Vineyard Sold Randall Grahm, the innovative founder of…

Live Bids Tally $44 Million Across 13 Charity Wine Auctions

The nation’s top charity auctions enjoyed another blockbuster year in 2019. Wine lovers became local heroes as 13 auctions topped the $1 million mark in live bids, earning spots on Wine Spectator’s annual list of leading fundraisers. These events raised a combined $44.1 million in live bids, with proceeds going to underprivileged children, health initiatives and art and cultural institutions. In addition to breaking the $1 million mark, Auction of Washington Wines, Naples Winter Wine Festival, Sonoma County Wine Auction, Carnivale du Vin, Auction Napa Valley, Classic Wines Auction and Wineapaw-looza all surpassed their totals from 2018, with a few reaching their highest totals ever. Wine-focused lots were key to the success of auctions such as Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), which raised nearly $13.1 million in live-auction bids and nearly $16…

Live Bids Tally $44 Million Across 13 Charity Wine Auctions

Spreading Some Good Southern Cheer

If you grew up south of the Mason-Dixon line, have ever been to the Florida-Georgia football game (aka the world’s largest cocktail party) or tried the signature sandwich at the Masters golf tournament, you already know about pimento cheese. A rudimentary form of the spread—cream cheese studded with diced imported Spanish pimiento peppers—originated up north during the late-19th century heyday of New York state’s cheese factories, among the U.S.’s first industrial food-making facilities, and was mass-marketed nationwide. Though it’s long been an icon of American vernacular cuisine, how it became an emblem of the South is somewhat of a mystery. Around 1910, Georgia farmers began cultivating pimientos, a smallish, meaty and mild member of the capsicum family, rendering them less exotic and more affordable. Starting in the 1920s, kids all over the…

Spreading Some Good Southern Cheer

The Rare Air of Cognac

It doesn’t happen instantly. Give it a moment as the brandy creeps past the lips and slowly suffuses the palate. Then the ride begins. The sweetness on the tip of the tongue opens into a parade of fruit candy: pears, berries, tangerines. After a touch of floral sprig come notes of ginger spice and cinnamon, followed by hints of savory herbs, saffron and tarragon. Each sip is worth minutes of contemplation. This is the hyperpremium level of Cognac, the French brandy that can run to thousands of dollars per bottle. Even as house styles prevail, connecting entry-level to superpremium examples, these paragons set themselves apart in ways that are recognizable even to the newly initiated. Beyond the breadth of tasting notes is a depth of flavor and an insistent finish. These…

The Rare Air of Cognac

When Kathryn Walt and Craig Hall met in 1991, both were enjoying fruitful careers. Craig was a successful Dallas-based entrepreneur, real estate developer and philanthropist, while Kathryn, after spending years as a public interest attorney and community advocate, had just embarked on an ambitious campaign: “All I wanted to do was be mayor of Dallas,” she says. The two were introduced by a mutual friend, Texas’ then governor, Ann Richards. “Ann knew both of us were available and she played match-maker,” Craig says. Kathryn agreed to meet with Craig, purportedly to request backing for her mayoral run. When the conversation turned to her passion project, a namesake wine made from the Cabernet grapes she was then growing in Mendocino, Calif., Craig professed he didn’t much care for wine. Kathryn responded, “Well,…

Spanish Nights This selection of well-priced wines is sure to invoke an Iberian mood, while staying within your budget. The bold flavors and solid structures of the Rioja reds should pair beautifully with dishes such as roast lamb and root vegetables seasoned with plenty of herbs and spices, while the Albariño makes the perfect accompaniment for fresh seafood. BODEGAS MURIEL Rioja Fincas de la Villa Reserva 2015 (93, $20) Generous, focused; cherry, dried currant, licorice, vanilla, spice, orange peel BODEGAS LAN Rioja Xtrème Crianza 2015 (91, $20) Black cherry, currant, forest floor, loamy earth, vanilla; firm, polished BODEGAS CASA PRIMICIA Rioja Crianza 2016 (90, $18) Focused, energetic; black cherry, red plum, licorice, black tea, mineral, herb, spice BODEGAS LAUNA Rioja Crianza 2016 (90, $25) Steeped plum, currant, loamy earth, dried herb; ripe, chewy LAGAR DA CONDESA Albariño Rias Baixas O Fillo…

SPECTATOR SELECTIONS

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 95 Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago Bannockburn 2018 $52 NEW ZEALAND Aromatic and expressive, offering raspberry, cherry and fresh herb notes that are precise on a smooth frame, with matcha green tea, white pepper and forest floor details. COLLECTIBLE 97 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate 2015 $275 ITALY A compelling red that offers purity and grace, showing rose, cherry and raspberry aromas backed by iron, tobacco and earth flavors, with wonderful harmony. SMART BUY 91 Château Thivin Brouilly Reverdon 2018 $26 FRANCE Lively acidity cuts through the bright cherry and currant notes of this mouthwatering red, which shows great energy and focus throughout. BEST VALUE 89 Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch 2018 $15 SOUTH AFRICA This bright white leans more toward stone fruit flavors, with white peach, dandelion and sea salt notes streaking along. IN THIS ISSUE’S BUYING GUIDE You’ll find 54…

SPECTATOR SELECTIONS

Lee Hudson’s Stellar Chardonnays

In 1981, the Carneros district, which straddles the southern reaches of Napa and Sonoma counties just north of San Pablo Bay, had a few scattered vineyards. But it was primarily home to dairy cattle, which grazed on its rolling hills and vales. Lee Hudson, looking to grow grapes in the Golden State, was drawn to Carneros that year by a real estate agent with a property for sale. Hudson, a Texas native who’d struck it rich with an Oklahoma natural gas deal in his early 20s, bought the 1,400-acre parcel for the princely sum of $600 an acre. It had not one vine planted but plenty of damaged terrain from over-grazing. “When I bought the ranch, I had a huge pile of cash—and used it up,” he says. But Hudson took the…

Lee Hudson’s Stellar Chardonnays

What’s In a Name?

In Bordeaux, many estates share names, which can result in confusion for consumers. But these properties can be very different in style, quality and price. It’s worth taking some time to learn what makes each one unique. For example, in St.-Emilion, Château La Gaffelière is situated amid châteaus Canon and Canon-La Gaffelière. The latter two are established stars, consistently earning classic ratings and selling for $100 or more per bottle. La Gaffelière also has a long history, but it has been flying under the radar lately. Recent vintages show a markedly upward trend, though, with quality increasing much faster than the wine’s price. La Gaffelière has been owned by the Malet Roquefort family for more than three centuries. The estate is ideally situated on the terraced hillside just below châteaus Ausone and…

What’s In a Name?

MILAN & PIEDMONT

Milan, Italy’s center of finance, fashion and design, is the capital city of Lombardy. Nestled against the foot-hills of the Alps in the northwestern part of the country, it is Italy’s second-largest metropolitan area and its most cosmopolitan. Steps from the Gothic cathedral and Teatro alla Scala in the city center are the high-end shops, including global brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Armani and Chanel. Milan is also the gateway to neighboring Piedmont, one of Italy’s most important wine regions and home to world-class reds from Barolo and Barbaresco. It’s just a 45-minute drive from Milan’s international airport to Piedmont’s Gattinara, one of the best regions of the northern subregion called Alto Piemonte. Barolo and Barbaresco, in the heart of the Langhe, a UNESCO heritage site, lie only two hours away. Piedmont is…

MILAN & PIEDMONT

INSIDER TIPS FROM GAIA GAJA

GAJA 5 Via Torino, Barbaresco Telephone (39) 0173-635158 Website gaja.com Vinegar just isn’t taken as seriously as wine, though they share an origin. That’s a shame. Done right, vinegar is a thing of beauty—and requires manico (“grip,” Italian slang to indicate talent in winemaking). Maybe it’s unsurprising, then, that Gaia Gaja, eldest daughter and heir to the throne of the “king of Barbaresco,” Angelo Gaja, would list her favorite artisans in the region starting with CESARE GIACCONE and his vinegars. In his mid-70s, Cesare (like Angelo, who is 80) belongs to the generation of men who saw—and had a part in—the Langhe’s transformation from impoverished countryside in the aftermath of World War II to UNESCO-blessed homeland to some of the best food and wine in Italy. “Visiting Cesare’s restaurant in Albaretto della…

INSIDER TIPS FROM GAIA GAJA

VENICE & THE VENETO

Few cities on Earth can match Venice’s distinctive beauty. Perched in a turquoise lagoon, the city is a tightly knit collection of majestic sights including St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and piers full of gondolas with their striped-shirted, straw-hatted gondoliers. But there are less obvious charms here too: The city and surrounding region are home to great artisan traditions hiding in plain sight, from the glassmakers of Murano in Venice to the vast vineyards beyond the city. Despite the crowds—and the increasingly threatening flooding—there is an unmistakable magic to this ancient city. The maze of winding streets linked by ornate bridges over the canals offers a unique charm, and wandering without a specific destination is perhaps the best way to discover and enjoy Venice. Ample cafés provide a respite, tempting…

VENICE & THE VENETO

INSIDER TIPS FROM GIANLUCA BISOL

BISOL 33 Via Follo, Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene Telephone (39) 0423-900138 Website bisol.it Gianluca Bisol, president of Bisol, is a wine pioneer in the Prosecco Superiore hills and beyond. The Desiderio Bisol & Figli winery was founded in 1875. Over the past 30 years, it has moved to the fore as a Prosecco leader. In addition to building their Jeio négociant line to about 165,000 cases, Gianluca and his brother Desiderio have boosted their estate vineyards tenfold for their premium wines (38,300 cases), including single-vineyard Proseccos. In 2017, the brothers sold Bisol to the Lunelli family of spumante producer Ferrari, but they continue running the show. Read on for Gianluca’s top picks in the region. —R.C. DALLA LIDIA MERLETTI D’ARTE (dallalidia.com) on Venice’s Burano island: “It’s the oldest lace store on the island, an absolute…

INSIDER TIPS FROM GIANLUCA BISOL

BOLOGNA & EMILIA-ROMAGNA

Soaring towers above red terracotta–tiled roofs; narrow streets bordered by colonnaded arcades; markets with piles of fresh vegetables, stacked wheels of Parmesan cheese and large rolls of mortadella; the occasional roar of a sports car made in nearby Motor Valley; and open piazzas lined with churches, cafés and restaurants, humming with activity from locals, students and visitors. The sights and sounds of Bologna are manifold, yet the city’s modest scale makes it eminently accessible. About the size of Florence—a fraction of the size of Rome or Milan—and with a compact historic center, Bologna is best enjoyed on foot or by bicycle. Yet despite its size, Bologna is a microcosm of Italy’s culture, both historical and contemporary. The business district on the city’s eastern edge is home to electronic, mechanical and financial companies,…

BOLOGNA & EMILIA-ROMAGNA

INSIDER TIPS FROM TOMMASO CHIARLI

CLETO CHIARLI & FIGLI 4 Via Belvedere, Castelvetro di Modena Telephone (39) 059-3163311 Website chiarli.it Chiarli is a rare breed of wine family: a large-scale producer that has also invested greatly in, and acted as a steward of, quality for its area’s signature wine, Lambrusco. Founded in the 1860s by Cleto Chiarli, a local restaurateur-turned-négociant, the Chiarli Group today bottles about 1.6 million cases a year. But at the turn of the millennium, brothers Anselmo and Mauro Chiarli were tired of Lambrusco’s image as cheap fizz. So they invested in 300 acres of vineyards and a winery that now produces about 80,000 cases a year of estate red, white and rosé sparklers. In recent years, Cleto Chiarli & Figli has garnered attention for its Lambrusco di Sorbara del Fondatore, the producer’s only wine…

INSIDER TIPS FROM TOMMASO CHIARLI

FLORENCE & TUSCANY

Tuscany is a large region occupying central Italy, from the Tyrrhenian Sea on its west coast to the spine of the Apennines bisecting the peninsula. Liguria and Emilia-Romagna border Tuscany on the north, Marche and Umbria are to the east and Lazio flanks its southern border. Florence, home of the Renaissance and rich in culture, art and music, has been a hot-bed of ideas for centuries. Thus, it comes as no surprise that Tuscany has a rich history in viticulture and wine production. Florence is a destination in itself, of course, but it’s also a great starting point for touring Chianti Classico, one of Tuscany’s most historic wine regions. It was first delimited in 1716 by Cosimo III de’ Medici, grand duke of Tuscany. Surrounding Chianti Classico is the greater Chianti…

FLORENCE & TUSCANY

INSIDER TIPS FROM ALBIERA ANTINORI

MARCHESI ANTINORI 133 Via Cassia per Siena, Bargino Telephone (39) 055-23595 Website antinori.it Known internationally for its examples in almost every market category, from standards like Pèppoli Chianti Classico to formidable super Tuscans like Tignanello, Italian wine giant Antinori has nonetheless staked its reputation on more than what’s in its bottles. The crest that sits over the Marchesi Antinori property, fashioned for the family in the early 1500s, is a reminder of just how deep the history of this Tuscan winery runs, but it also hints at the richer relationship between wine production and culture in Italy. Marchesi Antinori president Albiera Antinori points out that her native region of Tuscany “has always taught us that striking a balance between tradition and innovation is simple to do, but complicated to maintain.” Read on…

INSIDER TIPS FROM ALBIERA ANTINORI

Rome, the Eternal City, is the largest city and the political capital of Italy. Attractions such as the Forum and Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Vatican draw hordes of visitors to absorb the echoes of a culture that dominated Western civilization for roughly a millennium. But it’s also a living city of human proportions. Drying laundry hangs from windows of old, low buildings in the historic center. Stores and restaurants are small and locally run. Rome also has a rich culinary tradition. Its many fine restaurants and neighborhood trattorias welcome visitors alongside locals, serving dishes with strong identities and long histories. These include steaming bowls of cacio e pepe pasta; long, cheesy bites of supplì al telefono—rice and cheese croquettes that stretch like telephone wires as you pull them apart; and…

INSIDER TIPS FROM DOMINGA COTARELLA

FAMIGLIA COTARELLA Strada Statale Cassia Nord, kilometer 94, Montefiascone Telephone (39) 0761-827032 Website famigliacotarella.it Cotarella is a big name in Italian wine, sort of like Mondavi in California. Brothers Riccardo and Renzo founded Falesco, a major producer in central Italy. Today, the next generation—Riccardo’s daughter Dominga, her sister Marta and their cousin Enrica—are overseeing the growth of the family business. Of her recommendations for where to go in Lazio, Dominga, who is sales and marketing director of Famiglia Cotarella, says, “I chose these because all of them share attention to high quality, starting from the soil, to the production and then to our tables. They represent our land and our country too, along with Italian wines.” AGRITURISMO CERQUETO (cerqueto.it) in Acquapendente: “This company produces a very special variety of lentils from Onano. They…

INSIDER TIPS FROM DOMINGA COTARELLA

NAPLES & CAMPANIA

For years, Naples was little more than a gateway city for most visitors to Italy. With a careful eye on their belongings, tourists quickly passed through town on their way to the historic riches of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the staggering beauty of the Amalfi Coast and Capri, or the rolling vine-yards of Campania. But the past decade has seen new luster come to this once-faded, sometimes gritty metropolis. The art scene is buzzing; tourism is on a rapid rise; the city is cleaner and safer than it has been in many years; and Naples’ famous pizza is just as delicious as always. For its lovely baroque architecture and rich, satisfying food, Naples is worthy of inclusion in any visitor’s agenda. The culinary riches are perfectly matched with the bold wines of Campania,…

NAPLES & CAMPANIA

INSIDER TIPS FROM PIERO MASTROBERARDINO

MASTROBERARDINO 75–81 Via Manfredi, Atripalda Telephone (39) 0825-614111 Website mastro berardino.com While most Italian wine-lovers know Mastroberardino as the standard-bearer for the red wines of the Italian south, fewer are aware of just how much the winery has done to promote appreciation and understanding of Campania and its broader history of winemaking. Mastroberardino’s vast research program focused on ancient sites has brought to light many of the exciting old-is-new production techniques and enological experiments that fuel today’s most innovative winemakers within their region and beyond. For Piero Mastroberardino, president of Mastroberardino, it’s not a question of innovation or tradition but rather an ability to express emotions that makes a great artisanal product: “Every now and then, when an individual manages to interpret nature in light of his or her own creative sensibility,…

INSIDER TIPS FROM PIERO MASTROBERARDINO

Affordability is always relative. It all depends on the category and what you’re willing or able to spend for a certain level of quality. The price tag for a particular Napa Cabernet Sauvignon might seem like a bargain to some, while inducing sticker shock in others. But there’s a middle ground we can all agree on—when the quality is high enough and the price point low enough, we know we’ve hit the bull’s-eye. That’s the inspiration behind this roundup of 100 New World values, all of them rated 88 to 93 points, priced between $15 and $30, and produced in large-enough quantities to be widely available. This is the range where you don’t need to spend a lot of money to find distinctive and expressive reds and whites—wines that are affordable…

THE PURITY OF PIEDMONT

For more than a decade, Barolo has been on a roll in the United States, gaining momentum with a string of excellent vintages since the 2004 harvest, a number of them at the classic level. It’s no surprise then that expectations were high for the 2015s. I can now report that those expectations are mostly borne out, despite some inconsistency, earning the vintage an overall rating of 95 points. The best 2015 Barolos are beautiful expressions of Nebbiolo from the sweeping hillsides of the Langhe, in the heart of Piedmont. Despite warm temperatures during the summer months, these versions belie the hot year, offering freshness and vibrant profiles, along with red fruit flavors. A trio of 97-pointers lead a group of more than two dozen Barolos earning classic ratings of 95 points…

THE PURITY OF PIEDMONT

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

Years don’t come more turbulent than 2017 in California wine country. The vintage was a headache from start to finish, with a wet winter causing severe flooding, followed by June heat spikes that led to one of the season’s major wildfires. Another fire arrived in October, luckily after much of the harvest was already complete; nevertheless, it blazed a path of destruction through Napa and Sonoma. Despite this adversity, the state’s Rhône Rangers—those faithful devotees of Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and other Rhône Valley varieties—produced a number of excellent wines. That’s my impression after reviewing more than 285 Rhône-style reds in blind tastings since my previous report (“All In,” April 30, 2019), in addition to 80 Rhône-style whites blind-tasted by senior editor MaryAnn Worobiec. With nearly 60% of the wines under review…

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

TABLAS CREEK’S FRENCH ACCENT

Paso Robles is a world away from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, some 5,500 miles from the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Central California to the Southern Rhône in France. In 1989, the distance seemed even greater. At the time, Châteauneuf’s star was rising, while Paso Robles was obscure, a region halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles that supplied grapes for large California producers. But similarities between the two regions in climate, terrain and, most importantly, soil composition, were about to come into focus in a way that would help change the future of winemaking in Paso. Paso’s Tablas Creek winery is today a stalwart of the California Rhône-style category of wines, based on Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and others. Its story really begins in 1971. Jean-Pierre Perrin, who represents the fifth generation of his…

TABLAS CREEK’S FRENCH ACCENT

SPECTATOR SELECTIONS

Highly Recommended The issue’s most impressive wines. Includes top-scorers and wines that represent optimal purchases based on their combination of score, price and availability. 95 Bouchard Père & Fils Volnay Les Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot Domaine 2017 $115 FRANCE Fine purity, silkiness and harmony set the stage for aromas and flavors of flowers, cherry, toasty oak and spice. Features a minerally undercurrent, while the finish goes on for close to a minute. Best from 2022 through 2038. 150 cases imported.—B.S. 95 Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago Bannockburn 2018 $52 NEW ZEALAND Aromatic and expressive, with raspberry, cherry and fresh herb notes that are precise on a smooth and supple frame, offering details of matcha green tea, white pepper and forest floor. A hint of fresh nutmeg lingers on the long, expressive finish,…

SPECTATOR SELECTIONS

About the Buying Guide

This Buying Guide contains ratings of new releases from around the world. Complete tasting notes are provided for new releases scoring 85 or more points (on the Wine Spectator 100-point scale, explained below); notes for wines scoring 84 points or less are included at the discretion of the taster. Hundreds of additional reviews appear each month on our website, www.winespectator.com. Each review carries the initials of the Wine Spectator editor who blind-tasted and scored the wine and wrote the review, based on the regional specializations indicated below. Thomas Matthews Spain Kim Marcus California Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir, Argentina, Chile James Laube California Bruce Sanderson Burgundy, Piedmont, Tuscany James Molesworth California Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Port MaryAnn Worobiec California Sauvignon Blanc and other whites, Australia, New Zealand Alison Napjus Italy, Champagne, Alsace Tim Fish California Zinfandel and other…

89 Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Chianti Castiglioni 2018 $14 ITALY Full of rich, dark cherry and plum fruit, this red is balanced and charming, with accents of earth and iron adding detail as this winds down on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 5,000 cases imported.—B.S. 89 Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Stellen-2018 $15 SOUTH AFRICA This bright white bosch leans more toward stone fruit flavors, with white peach, dandelion and sea salt notes streaking along. Offers hints of vanilla spice midpalate, followed by a moderately long finish. Drink now through 2024. 9,500 cases made, 5,000 cases imported.—A.Z. 87 Château de Seguin Bordeaux Supérieur Cuvée Prestige 2017 $10 FRANCE Fresh and focused, featuring good cherry and red currant fruit, backed by a racy edge, with a flash of iron on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet…

New Wines From Around the World

ARGENTINA 89 Proemio Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Single Vineyard Reserve 2017 $20 Dark fruit and spice flavors are accented by rich, smoky notes in this robust style. Hot stone hints on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 3,400 cases made, 1,666 cases imported.—K.M. 88 Viña Cobos Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza Felino 2018 $20 Dark currant and olive flavors are backed by medium-grained tannins and fresh acidity in this savory style. Dried herbal notes show on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 15,000 cases made, 8,000 cases imported.—K.M. 88 Bodegas Salentein Chardonnay Uco Valley Portillo 2019 $11 Savory salinity accents the freshly cut apple, pear and green peach flavors. The firm, fleshy finish is well-spiced. Drink now. 28,000 cases made, 1,250 cases imported.—K.M. 88 Zolo Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza 2019 $10 Crunchy acidity supports the fresh gooseberry, grapefruit…

New Wines From Around the World

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Château Miraval to Premiere Rosé Champagne When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated nearly four years ago, rosé observers wondered what would become of their Côtes de Provence estate, Château Miraval. At very least, it would likely be stuck in custody limbo while terms of the divorce dragged on, wrote the skeptics. Instead, things have been busier than ever, with the co-owning Perrin family of the Rhône’s Château de Beaucastel propping up Miraval through the difficult split of its other parents. Last year, we reported that Miraval had unveiled a shiny new top-of-the-line cellar and released a new prestige rosé cuvée, Muse de Miraval, from the vineyard’s best parcels. Now, winemaker Marc Perrin tells us a Miraval Champagne is next. “We are working very hard on that right…

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