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Press Reviews

Wine Anorak

94 points - Jamie Goode

Powerful, lively and spicy with concentrated tangy citrus and pear fruit with some saline notes and tangy apple and lemon on the finish. Lovely intensity here with some crystalline citrus fruit.

Wine Align

93 points - David Lawrason

This is not your everyday chardonnay! In the Jura region of east-central France in the lower foothills of the Alps, there is tradition of oxidative winemaking, some under a layer of flor, as occurs in some Spanish sherry. As a result of the advance maturation this pours medium gold. The nose is dominated by classic hazelnut, honey, barley sugar sourdough and anise, around the ripe tropical fruit. It is medium weight, very smooth, well balanced and focused, with excellent length. More lithe lemon notes enliven the finish. There is a touch of tannin. Tasted December 2022.

91 points - John Szabo, MS

A pure chardonnay made in the traditional, oxidative Jura style under flor, not unlike fino sherry, but here the oxidation is more pronounced. Expect bruised apple and cold Orange Pekoe tea, cold wheat toast with honey, lemon pith and zest, and much more in an unusual but complex expression. The palate is mid-weight, showing more fruit and less oxidative qualities than the nose, succulent acids, and good to very good length. I must say, I like the salinity and savoury aspects, the lingering flavours and authentic but unimpeachable winemaking. There's fantasy here; be sure to decant before serving; best now-2026. Tasted December 2022.

91 points - Michael Godel

Clémentine Baud took over the family estate with her brother six years ago. The first father to daughter transition and with many to follow. The estate dates back to 1742, started by Jean-François. They farm 25 hectares, Clémentine’s father started with five and grew to 19 hectares when he retired. Picking for Sparkling now seems to happen in August, save for the difficult 2021 vintage. In 2017 70 per cent of the harvest was lost to the frosts, 50 in 2019 and 80 in 2021. "We have over 40 old varieties in the Jura, important for diversity, including those not allowed under the rules of the AOC," tells Clém. The fruit for Cuvée Flor is grown at a latitude of 46.73 North and though very much a cool climate place for chardonnay the threats of warmer winters and seasonal frosts has wreaked havoc over the past 10 years. A chardonnay of remarkable lustre, concentration and purity, worked by way of oxidative aging, low alcohol expectation starting at 12 and finishing no higher than 14 to 14.5. A floral chardonnay, not one related to yeast and surely a pretty in Jura wine. From the younger vines, phenolic and hinting towards though remaining clear of emerging boozy. Filled with flavour, hazelnut and praline, peach and yellow plum. A world of its own. Drink 2022-2025. Tasted July 2022.

Press Reviews

Wine Align

91 points (2020) - Michael Godel

In Catalunya and other parts of Spain’s north-central appellations there has been a decade-long investigation into grenache raised in amphora with Bodegas Puiggròs making some of the cleanest of the bunch. This family’s work dates back nearly 180 years though in bottling just more than a dozen. Their Catalonian garnatxa blanca grown at 600m on limestone and clay sees time in 800L clay amphora. The freshness and oily texture combine for honest to goodness pleasure with lemon, orange, lime and dried herbs all in the mix. Almost lemongrass and kefir but certainly some notes of exoticism within. Good energy here and worth a look, finishing with tell-tale tisane and tonic. Drink 2022-2025. Tasted September 2022.

91 points (2020) - John Szabo, MS

Amphora-aged garnacha blanca from Catalonia, Puiggros's 2020 Exedra is a fine follow up to the excellent 2019, clean, fresher than most in the clay pot-aged genre. I like the gentle white-fleshed orchard fruit flavours, the lemon curd and cream, the fullish, well-rounded palate, the impressive length. It's not easy to render this style so cleanly and precisely, but Puiggros does it so well. I'd consider ageing it another year or two for full complexity, though it's also admittedly delicious now. Tasted September 2022.

89 points (2020) - David Lawrason

This is 100% grenache blanc - the favoured white grape of northeast Spain. It shows bright fairly deep lemon colour. The nose is generous but gentle with ripe yellow melon/pear fruit, acacia florality, a hint of anise and spice. It is medium-full bodied, just off-dry and sour-edged with a hint of acetic, which lowers my rating below 90. Still, it is enjoyable, quite plush, open knit and intensely flavoured with excellent length. Tasted Sept 2022

Press Reviews

Wine Align

92 points - Sara d'Amato

A volcanic gem from the sub-tropical Atlantic outpost of Tenerife, this listán negro erupts with flavour and personality. It hints at a touch of carbonic maceration—its juicy, vibrant fruit leaping from the glass. A mere three months in barrique lends a whisper of spice to the naturally derived aromas of white pepper, licorice root, and wild juniper teasing the nose. The palate is plush and lively, with silky tannins, a salty snap, and a refreshing lift that keeps you coming back. Sustainably crafted and ready to pour—ideally just below room temperature. An engaging sip from a singular terroir. Tasted May 2025.

91 points - Michael Godel

A varietal listán negro with its acidity over tannin and ability to mix fruit with the intangibles created by a relationship with volcanic soils. There are no grapes that scent like listán negro while here staying pure, clean and without idiosyncratic behaviour. Viñátigo travels the experienced and philanthropic road to gift a prime and accessible example that is simply a joy to drink. Use this open to market level red in much the same way you might gamay or frappato but also know you have something of fun, joy and excitement in your glass. Crunchy or "crujiente" as they say, ideal for Korean fried chicken tacos or something more appropriately local like papas arrugadas. Drink 2025-2028. Tasted May 2025.

91 points - John Szabo, MS

The latest release from Viñatigo's pre-phylloxera, own-rooted listán negro vines planted on the north side of Tenerife at up 1000m on the slopes of El Teide Volcano is a wonderfully savoury and perfumed wine, with typically wild, lightly desiccated red berry fruit, dried earth, resinous herbs and faded flowers, with a smoky, tea leaf undertow, complex and intriguing. The palate is also typically smooth and medium-bodied (13.5% alcohol declared), with finely sanded tannins and balanced acids, supple and highly drinkable. I'd suggest enjoying over the near term with a gentle chill - it's not a wine that needs time in the cellar. Tasted May 2025.

90 points - David Lawrason

Listan Negro is the primary red grape of the Canary Islands, growing in volcanic soils at about 500 metres. The nose is fairly generous with cranberry/sour cherry fruit, red rose florals and spices. It is medium weight, juicy and fresh with some drying tannin. You can almost taste the slightly acrid character of the soil on the finish of this wine. The length is very good to excellent. Tasted May 2025

Press Reviews

Wine Align

92 points - David Lawrason

This is a very tasty, rich, golden hued, well aged chardonnay-based sparkler with an involved nose of cashew, baked apple, nougat and honey. It is almost creamy in texture with fine mousse and very good acidity providing counterpoint. There is pleasant nutty bitterness on the finish; length is excellent.

91 points - Michael Godel

Varietal chardonnay that sees a year of lees aging with a dosage to reach the desired Brut. A richness and also dried herbal notes plus fennel that is offset by a creamy sweetness melting and melded through the pictorial texture of a wine so sharp and yet so soft. One imagines the Baud family being led by such humans and when a wine acts as an expression of they, well isn’t that the point in a wine like this? Drink 2022-2024. Tasted July 2022.

Baud’s Crémant is made in true Blanc de Blancs style, from 100 per cent chardonnay and though faintly if beautifully oxidative, the cuvée pulses with great energy. The scents of fraying ginger batons, scraped orange skin and baking almond cookies are all a treat for the olfactory. Just enough but not too much sweetness fleshes the the body to get down to density in mouthfeel but never abandons its airy character. A terrific Champagne alternative that was disgorged in October of 2017. Drink 2018-2022. Tasted April 2018.

Treve Ring

91 points

This family estate dates back to 1742, but it wasn't until 1950 when René Baud, 7th generation, rebuilt the vineyards, expanding from 4 hectares into 20 hectares over the years. Today the estate is managed by siblings Clémentine and Bastien, 9th generation. This sustainably farmed chardonnay is rooted in the Jura's marl and limestone soils and was fermented in stainless before a year on lees before disgorgement and release. Green apple, white florals, oyster shells, meadow herbs, meringue run the bright, sleek palate, with a bed of creamy lees. There's a lovely streaming anise note that leads to a lengthy finish. Drinking beautifully now, but will hold over the next couple years easy.

Press Reviews

WineAlign

90 points - Sara d'Amato

Pours a luminous, deep pink, this rosada from Leon is made entirely of the indigenous prieto picudo grape, more typically a blending variety with dark skins and often resulting in wines with licorice-tinged black and red fruit. With youthful exuberance and potency, this salty and succulent expression features a wealth of lightly candied red berries, slippery tannins and a touch of welcome bitterness that contributes balance and a sensation of freshness. Best to enjoy in its youthful condition but it has the concentration for another year or two of aging. Tasted February 2024.

Press Reviews

Wine Align

90 points - Sara d'Amato

A bright and cheery malbec made with finesse. The palate is cut and refreshed with a salty component, zesty acidity and mildly sinewy tannins. Sleek with notes of earth, new leather and blackberry. Impressively complex with a memorable finish. Drink now or hold until 2023. Tasted July 2020.

90 points - David Lawrason

This is a very generous, open knit, dense and just slightly sweet malbec with classic aromas of mulberry/raspberry, thyme, a touch of meatiness and oak vanillin. It is very smooth, almost slippery and dense with fine tannin and warm. The length is very good to excellent. Lots here for $20. Tasted June 2021