Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.
Red Wine
Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019, Veneto D.O.C., Italy: Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella from Italy is a profound, luxurious red and perhaps the ultimate winter warmer. It opens with intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry compote, and dried plum, layered with notes of baking spice, cocoa, and hints of leather and tobacco. The palate is full-bodied, dry, and opulent, with rich, concentrated fruit framed by velvety tannins, balanced acidity, and 15% alcohol that gives it depth and resonance. Serve it at room temperature to fully appreciate its layered complexity.
It’s crafted using the ancient appassimento method, where grapes are partially dried for several months, concentrating their sugars and flavours into a rich, velvety elixir. The Tommasi is intensely concentrated with notes of dried cherry, fig, mocha, chocolate, and warming baking spices that evoke Christmas pudding and holiday indulgence. The grapes basically go through their own spa retreat before becoming wine. Very luxurious. It’s like the ghost of Christmas desserts past, present, and future all showed up in your glass at once.
Fascinating fact: Amarone is made using the traditional appassimento method, and Tommasi’s family has been perfecting this technique for generations in Valpolicella’s Classico zone. This wine has outstanding aging potential and will evolve beautifully over 10–15 years, gaining deeper tobacco, leather, and savoury nuances. Food pairings: borscht, beef, lentil patties, osso buco. Drink: 2022 - 2026 356220 15% D 750 mL $53.95 Score: 96/100. December 2025. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Dessert Wine
Barbeito 5-Year-Old Malvasia Reserva Madeira, Maderia D.O.P., Portugal: From Maderia D.O.P. Barbeito is a 5-year-old Reserva Malvasia (aged in French oak casks for 5 years) produced in the Canteiro method from select wines from Barbeito's warehouses that see stable temperatures year round giving a balanced sweet and mouth-watering dessert wine with marmalade, toasted nut, honey and minty flavours with honey and smoky notes silky long on the palate. Lightly chill and pour it with blue-veined cheeses. Malvasia Reserva Madeira food pairings: rich savoury cheeses, Christmas pudding, dried fruit and nuts. Drink: 2025 - 2030 39480 19% S 500 mL $18.95 Score: 91/100. December 2025. Best Value Dessert Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart