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
Guerra Elaboración Especial Dry White Vermouth, Bierzo, Spain: Guerra Elaboración Especial Bierzo Dry White Vermouth is a sophisticated, medium-bodied fortified aperitif of impressive aromatic complexity, woven from a tapestry of over 40 botanicals including dried citrus peel, white stone fruit, anise seed, warm baking spices, and a pleasantly bracing herbal bitterness on the finish. It is dry and beautifully poised, with seamless integration between its fruit-driven base wine, made from native Bierzo grape varieties, and its carefully macerated botanical blend that has matured in stainless steel to preserve freshness and clarity. Winemaker Guerra has been crafting wine in Cacabelos since 1879, and it was in the early twentieth century that the house first developed its vermouth formula, a recipe that disappeared from the market for decades before being triumphantly revived, making this a genuinely historic style brought back to life. Serve it well chilled over ice with a twist of orange peel as a refined aperitif, or use it as the backbone of a classic martini where its botanical depth will add character far beyond what standard commercial vermouths deliver. It also shines alongside a spread of marinated olives, aged Manchego, and thin-sliced jamón serrano, the kind of easy, convivial table that vermouth was born for. Vermouth food pairings: marinated olives and aged Manchego with jamón serrano, classic martini with briny green olives, grilled sardines with lemon and capers. Drink: 2026 - 2028 47335 16% MS 750 mL $23.95 Score: 88/100. May 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Sparkling Wine
Antech Cuvée Françoise Blanquette de Limoux 2023, Languedoc A.O.P., France: Brut / Antech's Cuvée Françoise Blanquette de Limoux from Languedoc is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkling wine crafted from 100% Mauzac with notes of green apple, lemon, toasted brioche and wet stone. This sparkling wine is made using Méthode Traditionnelle or the traditional method of the second fermentation in the bottle, just as they do in the Champagne region. This dry sparkler displays bright acidity and distinctive mineral character that make it wonderfully food-friendly. Serve it well chilled with brie and walnut crostini as the wine's acidity cuts through the creamy cheese, or pair it with Caesar salad where the wine's crisp freshness balances the rich dressing. Winemaker Françoise Antech represents the sixth generation of her family crafting traditional-method sparklers in Limoux, a region that claims to have invented sparkling wine in 1531, well before Champagne. The Antech family has been producing exceptional sparkling wines since 1860, maintaining centuries-old traditions while bringing modern precision to their winemaking. This elegant Blanquette represents outstanding value and will drink beautifully through 2028. Blanquette De Limoux food pairings: creamy cheeses, salads, freshly steamed and chilled shrimp. Drink: 2025 - 2028 44204 12% XD 750 mL $23.35 Score: 90/100. May 2026. Top Rated Sparkling Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart