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
Esmeralda Tilia Malbec Syrah 2024, Mendoza, Argentina: Bodegas Esmeralda Tilia Malbec-Syrah from Mendoza is a vibrant, medium to full-bodied red offering aromas of ripe blackberry, dark plum, and hints of smoky spice. It's dry with soft tannins and lively acidity. Serve it slightly below room temperature with grilled flank steak as the wine's juicy fruit and subtle pepper notes will enhance the meat's charred, savory flavors beautifully, or pair it with beef empanadas where the wine's smooth texture and concentrated dark fruit will complement the seasoned filling perfectly. Winemaker Leopoldo Kuschnaroff, who oversees all of the Catena family's Eastern Mendoza vineyards at Bodegas Esmeralda, crafts this wine from grapes grown at elevations ranging from 2,600 to 4,300 feet with six months of aging in French oak. Tilia was the first Argentine wine to carry the Bodegas de Argentina Certified Sustainable Seal, and the brand takes its name from the traditional Linden trees that grace Mendoza's landscapes, symbolizing the winery's deep connection to the natural environment and farming traditions. Enjoy now or cellar for 1-2 years. Malbec Syrah food pairings: grilled flank steak, beef empanadas, spicy sausage pasta. Drink: 2026 - 2028 13.5% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 90/100. February 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Sparkling Wine
Back 10 Smitten Sparkling 2024, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: Back 10's Smitten Sparkling Riesling from Niagara Peninsula is a vibrant, light-bodied sparkling wine offering notes of green apple, honeydew melon, Asian pear and limestone. This sparkling wine is made using the Charmat method where the second fermentation occurs in pressurized tanks, preserving the wine's fresh, fruity profile. This gently sweet wine displays lively character and excellent balance that will continue to integrate over the next four years. Serve it well chilled with oysters as the wine's zesty brightness complements the briny shellfish, or pair it with ricotta and cherry tomato bruschetta where the wine's gentle sweetness balances the savory toppings. Winemaker Debi Pratt crafts this fun sparkler from hand-selected grapes split between the Alsatian 239 clone and Niagara's famous Weiss clone 21B, with minimal skin contact preserving the juice's purity and crystalline quality. Back 10 represents small-batch, artisanal winemaking from their own estate vineyard. This refreshing, food-friendly sparkler represents excellent quality and will drink beautifully through 2030. Sparkling food pairings: oysters, crab cakes, ricotta and cherry tomato bruschetta. Drink: 2026 - 2030 14440 10.5% MD 750 mL $25.95 Score: 90/100. February 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart