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
Gérard Bertrand Le Viala 2022, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France: Gérard Bertrand Le Viala 2022, Minervois-La Livinière, Languedoc, France is a commanding red blend offering a deep garnet hue and unfolding aromas of ripe black fruit, violet, baking spices, and a gentle undercurrent of forest floor. It’s full-bodied with polished tannins and an elegant woody backdrop, carrying an alcohol presence of 15% that’s bold yet balanced. Serve it just below room temperature to let that fine harmony of power and finesse shine.
Fascinating fact: Winemaker Gérard Bertrand, a former rugby captain turned visionary vintner, leads the biodynamic estates behind this wine, and in 2023 he was named one of the Top 100 Winemakers and dubbed the “Wine King of the South of France”.
This is a wine with serious aging potential—drink now for its generous fruit and vertical structure or cellar for 8–12 years to let the tannins melt and the spice layers deepen.
Enjoy it with herb-crusted rack of lamb—the wine’s violet and spice notes tango beautifully with the meat’s rich savor.
Or pair with a creamy mushroom risotto, where the earthy texture and ripe fruit interplay like a perfectly choreographed dance. Drink: 2025 - 2030 387613 14.5% XD 750 mL $85.00 Score: 95/100. August 2025. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart
Other Wines/Drinks
Stirrings Paloma Cocktail Mix, United States: Stirrings Paloma Cocktail Mix is a lively, sun-kissed blend bursting with ruby red grapefruit, a hint of lime, and a touch of honeyed sweetness—like a citrus grove in a glass. It’s light-bodied and refreshingly tart with a smooth 9% ABV (when mixed with tequila), making it dangerously easy to sip. Serve it ice-cold over crushed ice with a Tajín-rimmed glass alongside grilled fish tacos—the bright acidity will slice through the smoky char like a flavor machete—or whip up a pitcher for your next backyard BBQ and watch it disappear faster than sunscreen in July. Fascinating fact: The Paloma is actually Mexico’s most popular cocktail (not the Margarita!), and Stirrings stays true to tradition by using real grapefruit juice for that authentic tang. At $12, this mix is your ticket to instant fiesta mode—just add tequila, a splash of soda, and maybe a sombrero for full effect. MS 750 mL $15.98 Score: 91/100. August 2025. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart