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.
White Wine
Domaine Jacky Marteau Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Touraine, Loire A.O.C., France: Domaine Jacky Marteau's Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine, Loire is a vibrant, medium-bodied white wine offering aromas of lime, green apple, fresh parsley, and a touch of wet stone. This dry, sustainably grown wine displays juicy character and crisp intensity that will continue to integrate over the next two years. Serve it well chilled with fresh oysters on the half shell as the wine's bright acidity complements the briny shellfish, or pair it with Thai green curry fish where the wine's herbaceous profile balances the spicy coconut sauce. Fourth-generation winemakers Rodolphe and Ludivine Marteau employ skin contact on a portion of this wine, adding depth and textural complexity to the leafy green aromatics and crunchy vegetable notes. The Marteau family has been crafting wines in Touraine for generations, showcasing the region's potential for producing distinctive Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc at accessible prices. This lime-lemony wine represents great value and will drink beautifully through 2028. Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: Thai green curry fish, fresh oysters on the half shell, chicken and sage skewers, fresh tomato and basil salad, pan-fried freshwater fish. Drink: 2026 - 2028 745349 13% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 91/100. February 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Red Wine
Van Loggerenberg High Hopes Syrah Grenache 2023, Swartland W.O., South Africa: Van Loggerenberg High Hopes Syrah-Grenache from Swartland is an elegant, medium-bodied red offering aromas of crushed red berries, dried herbs, and hints of black olive tapenade. It's bone dry with fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Serve it lightly chilled with grilled lamb chops as the wine's silky texture and savory complexity will enhance the meat's richness beautifully, or pair it with roasted duck breast where the wine's red fruit purity and herbal notes will complement the savory, crispy skin perfectly. Winemaker Lukas van Loggerenberg, who was named Young Winemaker of the Year by Tim Atkin in 2018, conceived this wine during an eight-day hospital stay with COVID-19—the name reflecting his optimistic outlook for better times ahead. Working from an unglamorous farm shed on Devon Valley's hilltop alongside his wife Roxanne since 2016, van Loggerenberg employs whole-bunch fermentation for the Syrah and ages the wine in a combination of concrete tanks, large foudres, and French oak barrels. Enjoy now or cellar for an extraordinary 10-20 years. Syrah Grenache food pairings: grilled lamb chops, roasted duck breast, wild mushroom ragout. Drink: 2026 - 2046 48106 13% XD 750 mL $32.00 Score: 93/100. February 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart