Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2020
The 2020 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is widely regarded as one of the most expressive and charming recent vintages from the estate. It shows a lifted, aromatic profile with bright red‑fruit tones—cherry, strawberry, raspberry—layered with floral notes, sweet spice and a touch of balsamic. The warmth of the year gives it an open, perfumed nose and a palate that feels generous without losing the freshness that defines good Brunello.
On the palate, the wine is supple and elegant, with silky tannins, lively acidity and a rounded texture that makes it far more approachable in its youth than the more structured 2019. Subtle oak, hints of tobacco and dried herbs add complexity, while the finish is long and polished. Overall, the 2020 vintage delivers a balance of immediacy and ageing potential, offering both early drinking pleasure and the structure to evolve gracefully over the next decade.
Buena Vista Sonoma County Zinfandel 2018
Buena Vista Sonoma County Zinfandel 2018 is a fruit-forward, medium-to-full-bodied Sonoma Zin, led by ripe blackberry, dark plum and raspberry flavours, with black pepper, baking spice and a touch of earthiness adding complexity. On the palate, it feels firm and slightly chewy, but the balanced acidity keeps it fresh and drinkable, and the wine finishes with a warm, gently spicy, lingering close. Overall, I’d describe it as a classic, approachable, well-made Zinfandel that delivers plenty of flavour and balance, even if it isn’t aiming to be a top-tier, collector-style bottle.
Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021
Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021
Lucente 2021 shows a brilliant ruby red color. The nose is rich in black fruits such as blueberries and blackberries, accompanied by a light balsamic and pan brioché note. The palate is soft supported by a nice freshness, with enveloping tannins and a long fruity aftertaste.
91 WinesCritic
Valenciso Rioja Reserva 2019
Valenciso Rioja Reserva 2019
The 2019 Valenciso Reserva is highly regarded by critics, often praised for its balance between classic Rioja style and modern, elegant, and fresh characteristics. It is produced from 100% Tempranillo, typically aged in French oak for around 17–19 months.
Critic Ratings & Notes
Critics have awarded the 2019 Valenciso Reserva scores ranging from 92 to 94 points.
Tim Atkin MW (94 Points): Described the wine as "youthful, structured and vigorous," a "compact, serious, age-worthy red" with dark plum and blackberry fruit and a "balsamic undertone".
James Suckling (93 Points): Noted "ripe, racy aromas of dark plums, cherries, dark earth, walnut husks, dark mushrooms and graphite" and a "restrained and rather understated" style with a medium body and "fine-grained tannins".
Decanter (93 Points): Highlighted "fleshy black fruit" integrated with "subtle savouriness of thyme, wild oregano, macerated sage and mint".
Vinous (92 Points): Described a garnet hue with "red fruit, cherry and light jammy notes alongside gentle oak" and a "dry and juicy" palate with "firm, fine-grained tannins and good intensity".
General Characteristics
Reviewers note a perfumed aroma with violet, blackberry, and savoury spice. The palate is described as juicy and powerful, with "gentle" or "fine" tannins. The wine shows balanced acidity and a structure suggesting good aging potential. The overall style is often called "understated" and "elegant".
Pairing & Drinking Window
Recommendations for food pairings include roast lamb, game pie, strong cheeses, and grilled dishes. The wine is suitable for drinking now but has the structure for further aging, with suggested windows generally extending from 2024 to 2035.
These reviews detail the tasting notes and ratings for the 2019 Valenciso Reserva, highlighting its complex aromas, palate structure, and potential for aging.
Prats & Symington Post Scriptum 2023
Prats & Symington Post Scriptum 2023 is a Portuguese red wine crafted from Touriga Nacional, along with Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. From the esteemed Douro Valley, it exhibits a deep ruby hue and a bouquet of ripe red fruits, subtle spices and oak influences. The palate reveals a structured body, characterised by a moderate acidity and firm tannins, providing a savoury finish. Prats & Symington, established in 1998, is known for its commitment to sustainable practices, ensuring meticulous vineyard management and quality.
Bargylus Grand Vin de Syrie Rouge
The wine is as intense as you would expect from an emissary from the arid land of the crusades, with the fragrance of balsam and savoury spices plus a top note of some dried herbs, but it manages to remain wonderfully fresh and appetising on the finish too after intense, ripe, quite complex fruit. Eastern promise indeed! I really don’t think many people would be disappointed by what this wine has to offer. It is 14.6% alcohol but is chock-full of flavour. Jancis Robinson, (17)
Blend composition
~60% Syrah
~20% Merlot
~20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bodega Numanthia 2019
The Numanthia 2018 is a powerful, complex red wine from Spain's Toro region, made from Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) grapes, known for its intense dark fruit (plum, blackberry), spice (clove, vanilla, cocoa), and earthy notes (herbs, graphite) with velvety tannins and a long finish, offering richness balanced by elegance and acidity, often scoring in the low to mid-90s from critics. It's a full-bodied wine that ages well and pairs wonderfully with roasted meats, game, and rich Spanish dishes.
Merum Priorati Inici 2020
The Merum Priorati Inici 2020 is a powerful, structured Spanish red from Priorat, a blend of Garnacha, Carinena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and sometimes Merlot, offering intense notes of black cherry, licorice, vanilla, oak, and spice, with a mineral-driven palate of ripe red fruits and firm tannins, best paired with rich meats like lamb or rabbit. It's known for its deep color, rich aroma, balanced acidity, and lingering spicy finish, reflecting the region's unique slate soils (llicorella).
Journey’s End V5 Shiraz
Petrolo Torrione 2022
This wine is mostly Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Petrolo 2022 Torrione reveals a luminous ruby tinge and follows through with bold cherry, blackcurrant and crushed rose. This vintage brings forth more textural heft in terms of mouthfeel, and it feels a little richer on the finish. You get excellent quality at a still-affordable price.” Monica Larner, WINE ADVOCATE 94 points
“The 2022 Torrione is a bold, fruity wine with terrific up-front intensity and tons of charm. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, cinnamon, new leather and cedar fill out the layers. This approachable, juicy Torrione is a delight.” – Antonio Galloni, VINOUS 93 points
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is complex and stylish, with aromas of blackcurrant leaf and coffee bean which progresses into a palate that’s structured and racy with hints of leather, dark chocolate and sweet blackberry. The firm tannins yields a gripping mouthfeel from the first sip through to the long lingering finish.
5 STARS - PLATTER'S WINE GUIDE 2025
Food Pairing
A butterflied leg of lamb or a lamb steak with rosemary and potato dauphinoise on the side.
Bodegas La Horra Corimbo I 2018
Corimbo I 2018
100% Tempranillo
In the glass shows a deep, youthful cherry-garnet colour. The nose is immediately complex and layered, combining ripe black cherry and plum with fresher red-fruit tones. These are complemented by aromatic wild herbs, balsamic notes and a subtle forest-floor character, underpinned by well-judged oak influences of cedar, cocoa and gentle sweet spice. A faint mineral and graphite edge adds further complexity and lift.
On the palate, Corimbo I 2018 is full-bodied yet notably fresh, with a sense of poise that distinguishes it from more muscular interpretations of the region. The fruit profile remains focused and precise, supported by vibrant acidity and finely grained, polished tannins that provide both shape and length. Oak is present but unobtrusive, contributing texture and savoury nuance rather than dominance. The finish is long and persistent, marked by balsamic freshness, spice and a subtle mineral resonance.
Overall, this is a sophisticated and age-worthy Ribera del Duero that demonstrates restraint, clarity and structural harmony. While already expressive with decanting, its balance of fruit concentration, acidity and tannin suggests a long and positive evolution in bottle over the next two decades.
