The Holiday Collection

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Platter Wine Guide 2026

4.5 Stars (91/100)

Remarkably generous & forthcoming at modest 12.5% alcohol, 2024 layered stonefruit & sweet citrus swathed in rich, creamy lees. Hints vanilla & nutmeg, nicely integrated, attest to 9 months in seasoned barrels.

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90 points (2022) - Michael Godel

Good Stellenbsoch season, of that there can be no doubt and surely less complaints, especially as it goes for chenin blanc. By count this is the eighth take on the variety by winemaker Jacques de Klerk for the négoce duo of Nicholas Pearce and Will Predhomme, always wild, always alive and never boring. This hums that familiar tune and reminds us all how chenin and Stellenbosch are so intrinsically connected so that a winemaker need only pay attention to timing and details for the wine to make itself. Feels so natural, in synch and on time. Drink 2024-2027. Tasted April 2024.

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Platter Wine Guide 2026

4.5 Stars (90/100)

These are collaborations with Canadian sommeliers. Supple & juicy, 2023 67% wholebunch carbonic maceration cinsault, shows variety’s fragrance & charm; conventional ferment syrah, supplies heft. Tannins rounded 9 months in older oak.

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90 points - Michael Godel

Über clean C-S joint this time around from the Pearce-Predhomme duo by way of Radford Dale in Stellenbosch and the winemaking acumen of Jacques de Klerk. No lack for aromatic volume and syrah adds palate density to otherwise light and transparent Western Cape cinsault. Good showing from 2022, missing some of the natural and volatile swarthiness of previous vintages so look at this as something gained over something lost. Those who wish for crisp, crunchy and as mentioned, very clean will get on board this time. Drink 2024-2027. Tasted April 2024.

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91 points (2021) - David Lawrason

This shows the vivid yellow colour I expect from good Soave. It also shows the complex, detailed nose honeysuckle, lemon blossom, camomile and almost tropical peach/mango fruit. It is mid-weight, rich and viscous yet shows some enlivening freshness, spritz and tenderness at the same time. Slightly bitter and lemony on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted January 2023.

90 points (2021) - Michael Godel

The latest volcanically driven garganega from the Tessari family is a child of a promising vintage full of sun, fun and support. The sky is the limit for just how well this will drink and please. It is in fact bottled salty and fruit crunchy deliciousness and why shouldn’t it be? Made simply with tradition in mind, basalt in pocket and all the modern facility made available. Citrus and nectarine, basil and Maldon salt. Lime all over the finish. Spot on. Drink 2023-2025. Tasted January 2023.

4 Stars (2022)- Sara d'Amato

Nervy and salty with a dash of elderflower and pear, this stylish Soave Classico is a favourite of restauranteurs. Richly textured with notes of apple and lemon zest, salt and lime. Quite chalky and dry, with a pleasant degree of roundness despite the moderate level of alcohol. Nicely balanced with a pleasant finish of good length. Drink now. Tasted January 2023.

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90 points (2018) - Michael Godel

Mainly dolcetto (70 per cent) with barbera and nebbiolo. Not much of the latter but necessary to widen the expression of the Langhe. Here it’s an explanation point, not a question, as in a confirmation of the exclamatory Piedmontese expression. Bright red amalgamated fruit with proper acidity and the ability to work alongside anyone and all. Drink 2019-2022. Tasted November 2019.

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91 points - Sara d'Amato

A firm Chianti Classico, brightened by the purity of red fruit, simultaneously vibrant and structured. Gentle notes of tilled earth and new leather complement the cherry-driven palate, lifted by lively freshness. Fine-grained yet firm tannins frame the wine’s emerging youthful complexity. Stylish and promising, it will reward patience with further time in bottle.
Tasted January 2026.

90 points - John Szabo, MS

2023 is a fine vintage for Calcinaia's entry point "Cappone" bottling of Chianti Classico (owned by the current conte, or count, Cappone), ripe and generous but also clearly delineated and precise, with textbook savoury cherry flavours, red and black, and comfortably ripe tannins and acids. There's a pleasant ease and accessibility on the palate, an inviting profile that will be best enjoyed over the next 2-3 years. Textbook; certified organic as a bonus. Tasted January 2026.

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91 points - Megha Jandhyala

This is a firm, flavourful, and elegant chardonnay, made with fruit that were organically, bio-dynamically, and sustainably grown. I like the balance between crunchy orchard fruit and juicy lemons, on the one hand, and finely-integrated notes of spice and toast on the other. It feels rounded and silky on the palate, lifted by taut acidity. The finish is long-lasting, leaving subtle salinity in its wake. Tasted April 2023 by Critic Understudy Megha Jandhyala.

90 points - David Lawrason

This is a very fine, quite elegant chardonnay that over-delivers for $25. There is a sense of sophistication here.The nose is generous and clean with very well integrated peach/pear, subtle toast, spice and lees. It is mid-weight, polished and very well balanced, with some minerality on the finish. Tasted April 2023.

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91 points (2020) - David Lawrason

This is a quite rich, slightly oxidative style of unoaked chardonnay with pale golden colour and a ripe nose of baked apple. Peach pie, toasty lees and vague nuttiness. It is medium weight, smooth and almost creamy with fine acidity and mineral underpinning. The length is excellent. Tasted June 2022

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93 points - David Lawrason

This is a very well aged, golden toned Champagne with a very lifted quite oxidative nose of barley sugar, caramelized walnut, burlap and almost turnip-like fruit/root veg aroma. It is medium weight with excellent acidity, a hint of caramelized sweetness and a nutty, bitter finish. Outstanding length. Last tasted July 2026

93 points - Michael Godel

A sad situation when nearly six years passes before having the chance at another taste of this most excellent Champagne. A new level of toast and charm is on display today, and still that revitalizing feeling you get from just one glass. Better yet, make it two. ’Tis the sort to take one’s breath away. Last tasted July 2026.

When richness, yeasty and warm toasted brioche get together in Champagne the effect is comforting and potentially hypnotizing. From the Premier Cru village of Villedommange dating back to the mid 1800s, the pedigree is noted and the 48 months of lees aging a coup for creating both a creamy and a revitalizing Champagne. There is an oxidative aspect here and it's effectualness is one that imagines exotic spice cupboards, masala mixes and gingery tisanes. Quite the exotic bubble, lightly frothy, elegantly styled, complex and fine. Drink 2020-2026. Tasted October 2020.

93 points - Megha Jandhyala S.J.D., DipWSET

Richly nutty and toasty, yet firm and balanced, with gently unfurling layers of dried fruit, this is a memorable Champagne. I like the finely balanced palate that is lifted and supported by bright yet harmonious acidity and subtle sense of richness. The length is abiding. I would pair this sparkling wine with rich foods like gougères, butter-poached lobster, or a creamy cheese like camembert. Tasted July 2026.

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94 points

This Champagne shows some fine maturity. A blend based on the 2014 vintage, it now has toastiness while keeping intense freshness. Acidity and touches of minerality come through the spiciness. Drink now.

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91 points - David Lawrason

Yet another riper-than-expected Muscadet as warming settles in, but this may also be intentionally later harvested. It pours with deeper more golden than expected colour. The nose is quite reserved but showing ripe peach, leesy pastry (sur lie) notes and subtle citrus marmalade. It is quite rich and soft for muscadet, with almost creamy texture, modest acidity and pleasant bitterness on the finish. Excellent length. Chill fairly well. Tasted May 2026

91 points - Sara d'Amato

A gutsy wine with more oomph than the norm for Muscadet with an almost buttery, leesy richness that doesn't feel overdone from 11 months of sur lie aging. With the stuffing for further development, I like the cut of acidity, the delicate minerality, and density of the palate. Idiosyncratic and engaging, even in its youthful condition. Tasted May 2026.

90 points - John Szabo, MS

Stylishly stony the way we like Muscadet, from 40+ year-old vines on south- and southeast-facing slopes in the Côtes de Grand Lieu sub-zone and aged 11 months on its fine lees, this is also quite dense and richly proportioned at just 12% ABV declared, indicating genuine concentration and richness. The finish also lingers admirably. More than oysters, this is a Loire white for lobster and scallops; even roast chicken wouldn't be out of place. Tasted May 2026.

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90 points - Michael Godel

Cut above energy and buzz from the Hager Matthias grüner veltliner, once again pumping up the aromatic volume, even more CO2 varietal buzz and kinetic, if this time frenetic energy. Subtlety be darned, caution to the wind and thrown out the window for an Austrian white with serious game. Vllages-level grüner veltliner from Mollands in the northern, higher-altitude part the Kamptal gets no more noticeable than this. Might be unusual for some. Drink 2026-2028. Tasted February 2026.

90 points - Megha Jandhyala S.J.D., DipWSET

This is a fruitier iteration of grüner veltliner than many, brimming with sweet green apples, nectarines, and oranges, with only subtle undertones of herbs and toast. I like the glassy palate, energised by acidity and dissolved carbon dioxide, as also the long, crisp finish. Balanced, correct, and appealingly clean and clear, this grüner veltliner will pair well with seafood - perhaps a cilantro-topped ceviche? Tasted February 2026.

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90 points (2022) - 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.

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93 points - Megha Jandhyala

This is a concentrated, complex, gracefully balanced cabernet franc. Notes of ripe red plums, blackberries, dark cherries, tobacco, dried leaves, and violets are interwoven here to form an elegant, engaging, and varietally representative flavour profile. The palate is densely flavoured but lithe, with fine-grained tannins and refreshing acids. The finish is long, layered, and captivating. Though it can be enjoyed now, I would cellar this for 2-3 years. Tasted January 2024.

93 points - David Lawrason

This is a serious cab franc indeed - not so much in terms of weight and power, but in its complexity, poise and length. It’s a deeply coloured for franc. The nose shows fine, ripe raspberry, perfectly pitched by fresh herbs, tobacco and violet. It is loosely structured mid-palate, and a touch warm, with slightly green tannin. The length is excellent. I would age it a year or three. Tasted January 2024

92 points - John Szabo, MS

Silky and refined, elegant but dense, this Saumur Champigny (cabernet franc) is a substantial and serious wine, with a high degree of textbook regional character, complete with a touch of green-herbal, varietal flavour. Tannins are fine and dusty, acids gently salty, and length good to very good. I'd suggest another year or two in the cellar to further refine the texture and develop complexity - potential I think is high. Tasted January 2024.

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93 points (2019) - Michael Godel

Nice citrus display, red and orange, into pomegranate and currants. Tart Barolo with vintage tang, idiomatic of Monforte d’Alba and solid throughout. Getting the roses and the tar, all the right moves, a vintage wine that does things with great correctness. Drink 2024-2029. Tasted blind at Nebbiolo Prima, January 2023.

93 points (2019) - John Szabo, MS

Clean, on the closed, gently reductive side; resinous herbs, minerals lead. Full, fleshy, concentrated palate, abundant but fine tannins, very good length. Quality wine, best from 2028. Tasted January 2023.

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90 points - David Lawrason

Pais is one of the oldest commercial grapes of Chile, long used for bulk wine, but now enjoying an renaissance as a light, fresh fruited red. This is quite delicious with pomegranate seed, cherry, a light leafiness and pink rose. It is light bodied (12.5%) with a certain crispness and freshness. Almost tart but it is balanced. The length is very good to excellent. Chill a bit. Tasted January 2026

90 points - Michael Godel

The idea might be a little salty but país by Garage Wine is always a top hit in the making and more than just an interlude set between more serious wines, and songs. Salty yes and while some won’t get the vibe, consider what this varietal mission is all about, to revive old vines and make wines from some of the world’s older plant DNA. Now imagine a red wine of unique tang and wild backwoods fruit as if it were music with a back beat, no melodies or rap overtop, from a sound that could be both Regina Spektor or Eminem. Now you get the idea for país and a must try wine from Chile’s Maule Valley Secano Interior Caquenes. Drink 2026-2028. Tasted January 2026.

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91 points - Michael Godel

Freshest of freshest varietal listán negro which means the hyperbole of acidity distracts from detecting any serious tannin while fruit and volcanic hypotheticals create their necessary union. The unmistakable and impalpable listán negro is expressed through a house’s consistent, persistent and unwavering purity, without grift or deception. If "your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect" please do not worry and don't call the police because "slight" is the operative word. This is the Viñátigo way and this their accessible red wine in celebration of clarity from a place. Getting at this 2024 involves no early indication of potential danger or failure but instead the prospect of delicious drinking for these next few years. No canary in a coal mine indeed but yet a character that is expressly Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Oh joy, oh rapture for a crispy varietal red seemingly always “acertado,” readied, on call and on point. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted June 2025.

91 points - Sara d'Amato

Expressive and grippy with an expansive aromatic profile. This volcanic red from the sub-tropical Atlantic outpost of Tenerife, is made from the local listán negro is juicy and naturally spicy with the faintest hint of volatility adding character to the wine. Tannins are lightly grippy with snappy acids on the palate. Engaging and versatile with food. Ready to drink but don't serve too warm. Tasted June 2025.

90 points - Megha Jandhyala, S.J.D., DipWSET.

This is an intriguing and distinctive listán negro, with aromas of ripe red berries, cherries, and pomegranates amplified by a whiff of volatile acidity. These fruit flavours are accompanied by pleasing flavours of dried savoury herbs, including juniper and rosemary, crushed wildflowers, and a hint of spice. The palate is medium bodied, with fine, drying tannins and crisp acidity, while the finish is long and fragrant, with notes of sweet herbs peaking on the long, layered finish. I would enjoy this wine sooner rather than later, ideally over the next year. Tasted June 2025.

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91 Points - John Szabo, MS

Gilvesy's estate white blend delivers a fleshy and fruity-savoury expression with notable saltiness, not an easy and simple, fruity entry cuvée by any means, but a wine of real substance and volcanic expression, what we'd call minerality, more serious than the modest price suggests. Length, too, is highly impressive in the category. A sharp buy to be sure. Tasted January 2026.

91 points - David Lawrason

Hungarian expat Róbert Gilvesy moved back to his homeland from Canada, and began building on the former Esterházy estate on Szent György Hill. This is an effective, different and interesting blend of olaszrizling, pinot gris, riesling and sauvignon blanc. It pours yellow-gold. The nose is lifted with a waxy note, dried flower, caraway and raw turnip. It is light to mid-weight, fresh and balanced with good acidity with refreshing CO2. The root veg flaovurs proceed on the palate. Slightly bitter and pithy citrus on the finish. Excellent length. Tasted May 2026