A striking collection of bold reds and bright winter whites that feel comfortingly familiar yet delightfully unexpected. From diverse terroirs, they share a luminous character — ready to be discovered and savoured.
9 products
- Red Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.6% alc./vol
- Red Wine
- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
Press Reviews
Wine Align
90 points (2016) - David Lawrason
The 2016 vintage has put some punch into this inexpensive merlot-based Bordeaux. There is a sense of volume and energy. The nose is quite lifted with blackberry/raspberry fruit, notable herbal presence, some meatiness and spice. It is medium-full bodied, with warm alcohol, juicy acidity and some slightly green tannin. The length is excellent. Best 2025 to 2030
89 points (2016) - Michael Godel
Blends merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc for a Right bank bruiser, especially at the cost. The wood is still very much in charge and if the 2014 showing at this stage is any indication then 2016 will need even more time to unwind. In this stage the merlot is in full command, verdant, savoury, herbal and with toasty oak flavours yet settled. Wait on this one. Drink 2022-2026. Tasted November 2021.
- Red Wine
- Graciano, Grenache, Tempranillo
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Bodegas Exopto

Exopto is Latin for “to long for” or “to desire greatly” and it is the dream of Frenchman Tom Puyaubert and his family to endeavor to craft and assemble wines where the whole adds up to more than the sum of their parts. Tom relocated from France to Rioja in 2000 after falling in love with the region and working for the French cooperage Saury as its Spain representative.
When Tom began Exopto, he wanted to do a project that produced wines within this historical context of Rioja - combining both worlds in a unique way. His idea is to remain true to the blending of the principle grape varieties and to do so from the best terroirs/villages for those varieties crossing sub-regions of Rioja. Each wine though, has a majority of a different principle grape – showcasing that variety specifically within the context of a blend. The viticulture and winemaking model is that of the “vigneron” days – small plots of vines in the extremes, wild yeast fermentation in concrete or old oak vats and then aging in a way to showcase the fruit, minerality and terroir not the wood or aged flavours that people often associate with Rioja.
Press Reviews
WineAlign
92 points - Sara d'Amato
Peppery, fresh, and modern - a result of a project to recover old bush vines on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria and Monte Yerga at over 1,800 feet in elevation. A blend of garnacha, tempranillo, and graciano aged in concrete for 8 months in order to preserve it primary varietal character and a distinctive sense of place. Peppery rotundone permeates the palate of this aromatically engaging wine that proves a lot less heavy and tannic on the palate than the 14.5% belies. Relatively supple yet mineral with juicy acidity that lends definition. Notably well balanced with excellent length. Tasted May 2026.
91 points - Megha Jandhyala S.J.D., DipWSET
This is an unusual Rioja, in the most wonderful way. It is a blend led by garnacha with 30% tempranillo and 5% graciano. Fruit for this wine was sourced from old bush vines growing on the slopes of the Sierra Cantabria and Monte Yerga, at over 1600 feet. This wine was aged for 8 months in concrete. It is not especially expressive aromatically, but it blossoms on the palate, revealing delightful petals of flavour - ripe red plums and dark cherries, violets, black pepper, and lots of herbs. I like the simple charm of this wine, it's the focus and minimalism. The palate is medium bodied and tender, with a pleasing impression of sweetness, fine-grained tannins, and fresh acidity. The finish is long-lasting and bright. Tasted May 2026.
90 points - David Lawrason
Here's a very lively, fruit driven tempranillo that displays the simple heart of Rioja. The nose uplifts with cherry all the way, plus hints of tobacco, earth and spice. It is medium weight, fleshy, open, warm (14%) and juicy with gritty/sandy tannin. The length is very good. Rioja unadorned and quite charming. Chillable. Tasted May 2026
90 points - John Szabo, MS
Here's a pleasantly juicy-fruity, oak-free Rioja in a modern guise, highly drinkable and contemporary, a garnacha-led blend with tempranillo and graciano sourced across sub-regions — old-vine garnacha from sandy plots at Alfaro/Monte Yerga, tempranillo from Ábalos, graciano for finesse — fermented with native yeasts and aged six months in concrete and large 5,000L oak vats, with a touch of semi-carbonic for buoyancy. I appreciate the zesty, lively palate, brimming with fruit and spice, and the fine-grained but properly sandy tannins. Length, too, is solid. Attractive and pretty much ready to enjoy even if there's no rush. Tasted May 2026.
- White Wine
- Chardonnay
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 13% alc./vol
About the Winery
Leaning Post

A leaning post is what you find at the beginning of a row of grapes, anchoring the wires that are the frame-work for growing grapevines. It is the beginning of an obsession to translate a time and place into liquid. Leaning Post wines take you to that beginning by finding small, unique plots of land in Niagara and putting them in bottle. Because after stripping away all the fancy buildings and high-tech equipment you are left with a place on this earth that grows wine unlike any other. When you taste that in a glass you just know it. Nadia and Ilya have had to rely on the support of family, friends and financial institutions to make the dream of owning a winery a reality. Leaning Post began as a virtual winery and is so proud to now have the quaint tasting room at 1491 Hwy 8 on their home property in Winona, Ontario.
Ilya and Nadia are the brains and passion behind Leaning Post Wines. It started with a dream to take unique, interesting single vineyard blocks in Niagara and turn them into distinctive, terroir driven wines. Nadia and Ilya first met in their hometown of Winnipeg, MB where their passion for wine and each other was born.
Ilya has been a winemaker in the Niagara Region for the last 17 vintages working at Daniel Lenko Estate Winery, Foreign Affair and now at Leaning Post Wines. Ilya is also a consulting winemaker at the Good Earth Winery. Ilya’s true passion in life is to make world renowned wines from Niagara that really showcase the distinct terroir that Niagara offers.
- Red Wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Residual Sugar: 1.28 g/l
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14% alc./vol
- White Wine
- Chardonnay
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Lighthall Vineyards
Lighthall Vineyards is a small, proud, low volume and high quality winery located in enchanting Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. All their wines are produced in a non-interventionist manner and fuelled by passion as hearty as our vines. They also make cheese, designed to pair with their wines.