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
Sophenia Altosur Cabernet Sauvignon 2024, Tupungato, Argentina: Sophenia Altosur Cabernet Sauvignon from Tupungato, Mendoza is a dry, medium-bodied organic red grown at high altitude near the foot of the Andes, opening with an inviting nose of fresh wild blueberry, crushed black olive, dried rosemary, toasted cedar and a whisper of warm baking spice that carries through to a juicy, fruit-forward palate with firm, grippy tannins and a clean, focused finish. Winemaker Julia Halupczok, working alongside consultant Matias Michelini, spends four months in oak barrels to add just enough structure and texture without robbing the wine of its lively, high-altitude freshness, a balance that is the hallmark of this certified organic estate planted by founder Roberto Luka, formerly the President of Wines of Argentina, who chose the Tupungato Valley specifically for its ideal combination of soil, cool nights and intense Andean sunlight. Impressively, the Altosur Malbec from this same estate took a Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2022, an honour that speaks to the consistent quality Sophenia achieves across its entire value-driven range. Serve it slightly below room temperature alongside a thick-cut grilled steak with chimichurri, where the wine's dark fruit intensity and firm structure are a natural fit; it is equally enjoyable with gourmet burgers topped with aged cheddar and caramelized onions, the wine's brightness cutting through the richness with ease. Cellar through 2032. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: grilled steak, gourmet burgers, meat lover's pizza. Drink: 2026 - 2032 555722 14.4% XD 750 mL $17.95 Score: 91/100. April 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
White Wine
CVNE Monopole 2021, Rioja D.O.C.A., Spain: CVNE's Monopole Reserva Clásico Blanco Seco from Rioja is a utterly singular and intellectually captivating dry white wine made from the Viura grape, aged in Sherry butts to produce a style of thrilling complexity and historical depth that stands apart from virtually anything else in the Spanish wine world. The nose unfolds with intriguing aromas of toasted almond, preserved lemon rind, and sun-dried chamomile, while the palate reveals a creamy, medium-full body layered with flavours of roasted cashew, baked quince, and a striking briny, ocean-breeze minerality that evokes tidal rock pools and sea-washed pebbles, closing on a long, savoury, and deeply contemplative finish. The Monopole label has a remarkable history, first produced by CVNE in 1915, making it one of the oldest continuously produced white wines in all of Rioja, a living testament to the region's often overlooked capacity for world-class white winemaking. Winemaker María Larrea brings both precision and reverence to this wine, honouring its century-long legacy while crafting each vintage with a modern sensibility that keeps it feeling alive and relevant. Best served slightly below room temperature and drinking well through 2032, it pairs magnificently with grilled tiger prawns drizzled in garlic and olive oil, where the wine's nutty richness and saline edge mirror the sweetness of the shellfish, or try it with a classic Caesar salad topped with anchovy-crusted chicken, where its savoury, toasty depth finds a wonderfully complementary match. Food pairings: grilled chicken, green salads topped with fresh steamed freshwater shrimp, crab cakes. Drink: 2026 - 2032 489583 13% XD 750 mL $35.95 Score: 94/100. April 2026. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart