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.
Other Wines/Drinks
Shunka Shusetsu Echizen Junmai Ginjo Sake, Japan: Shunka Shusetsu Echizen Junmai Ginjo reveals layered aromas of steamed brown rice, sweet cream, toasted sesame, and honeydew melon with whispers of jasmine and fennel seed. Off-dry and medium-bodied with plush, cushioned texture, it glides across the palate with elegant richness before finishing with warming notes and gentle bitterness. Serve it chilled or gently warmed through 2028. The skilled brewing team at Koshi no Iso, a family-operated sake house founded in 1909 along the windswept ocean coast of Echizen in Fukui Prefecture before relocating 30 kilometers inland after World War II, crafts this wine from Gohyakumangoku rice using only pure rice brewing methods without fortification, and their small-batch focus reflects the coastal village terroir where seafood from the Sea of Japan first inspired their flavor philosophy. Pair this refined sake with butter-poached lobster tail where its creamy texture complements the rich, delicate shellfish, or enjoy it alongside pumpkin and sage risotto finished with brown butter as the sake's nutty character enhances the dish's autumnal flavors. Junmai Ginjo Sake food pairings: butter-poached lobster tail, pumpkin and sage risotto with brown butter, grilled miso-glazed eggplant. Drink: 2026 - 2028 572644 15.5% M 720 mL $29.95 Score: 93/100. February 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Red Wine
Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia: Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River's southern reaches reveals aromas of ripe red currant, dark chocolate, dried violet and a hint of fragrant eucalyptus. It's dry and medium to full-bodied with supple tannins and lively acidity that gives the wine remarkable freshness and vibrancy. Serve it at room temperature alongside grilled ribeye steak with herb butter where the wine's structure and dark fruit intensity complement the charred, savory meat, or pair it with braised lamb shanks where the wine's bold flavors and firm tannins balance the rich, tender braise. Chief winemaker Luke Jolliffe, who was a finalist for Gourmet Traveller Wine's Winemaker of the Year in 2020, crafts this wine from hand-harvested grapes grown in Stella Bella's sustainably-farmed vineyards, then ages it for up to 15 months in French oak barrels with a portion of new oak to add complexity while preserving the pure fruit expression. Founded in 1996 when Stuart Pym and Janice McDonald leased the southernmost Suckfizzle vineyard, Stella Bella has consistently earned James Halliday's prestigious Five Red Star rating for over 12 consecutive years, and the winery's Serie Luminosa Cabernet Sauvignon won Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Margaret River at the 2016 James Halliday Cabernet Challenge. Enjoy this elegant Cabernet through 2037. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: grilled steak, beef bourgignon, grilled lamb chops. Drink: 2025 - 2037 487777 14% XD 750 mL $34.95 Score: 94/100. February 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart