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
Lawson's Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand: Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is an elegant, sustainably grown Marlborough white that goes well beyond the category's usual zesty simplicity, with a portion barrel-fermented in neutral French oak adding a subtle weight and complexity that sets it apart. It is dry, medium-bodied, and polished, with an aromatic nose of ripe honeydew, star fruit, white peach, and a bright thread of grapefruit zest, layered with a delicate herbal note and a cool, flinty stony quality on the finish. The palate is silky and salivating, with fine lees texture lending a satin-smooth mouthfeel and a long, clean finish that lingers satisfyingly. Serve it chilled and enjoy through 2028, as the barrel influence and lees work give it a quiet structure that will continue to develop. Winemakers Ross and Barbara Lawson have been growing grapes in Marlborough since 1980 and producing wine since 1992, and their winery holds a distinguished place as one of the Family of Twelve, a celebrated group of a dozen artisanal New Zealand wineries committed to showcasing the country's finest terroir-driven wines. Pair it with a golden grilled chicken breast stuffed with ham, gruyere, and Dijon mustard, where the wine's bright acidity and fruit generosity will cut through the richness beautifully, or enjoy it alongside chilled shrimp and avocado salad with a citrus vinaigrette for a light, vibrant warm-weather meal. Sauvignon Blanc food pairings: grilled Dijon chicken stuffed with ham and cheese, salads topped with grilled shrimp, fish tacos. Drink: 2026 - 2028 47921 13% D 750 mL $24.95 Score: 93/100. April 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Red Wine
Tedeschi Nicalò Valpolicella 2023, Veneto D.O.C., Italy: Tedeschi Nicalò Valpolicella Superiore D.O.C. from the Veneto is a dry, medium-bodied red crafted from an expressive multi-variety blend of native grapes including Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Oseleta, Negrara, and Dindarella, grown on the moraine hills at the heart of the appellation. It opens with a perfumed nose of tart red cherry, pomegranate, dried violet, warm cinnamon, and a flicker of cracked black pepper, leading to a palate that is juicy and supple with bright acidity, satiny tannins, and a savory, lingering finish. Serve it slightly below room temperature and enjoy from 2026 through 2034, as the wine has the structure and freshness to reward patience. Winemaker Riccardo Tedeschi, who runs the estate alongside his sisters Antonietta and Sabrina as the fourth generation of this family winery, ages the Nicalò for 12 months in Slavonian oak barrels followed by further bottle aging to build roundness and depth. The wine's name pays tribute to a Tedeschi ancestor, Niccolò, and the estate's history of pioneering single-vineyard winemaking in Valpolicella dates to 1964 when Lorenzo Tedeschi made one of the region's first true Cru wines by vinifying his Monte Olmi vineyard separately - decades ahead of the trend. Pour it alongside a bowl of hearty ribollita or a slow-simmered pasta with rich tomato and meat sauce, where the wine's cherry fruit and lively acidity cut through the richness beautifully, or pair it with a wood-fired margherita pizza topped with good prosciutto, letting the wine's spice and dried fruit notes echo the smokiness of the crust. Valpolicella food pairings: hamburger, hearty soups, pasta, Mediterranean cuisine. Drink: 2026 - 2034 984997 13% XD 750 mL $19.95 Score: 90/100. April 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart