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El Molino: The Essence of Napa Valley Classicism
featured, Verticals & Retrospectives
, Nov 2025
Despite boasting a history that stretches back to the late 1800s, El Molino remains one of Napa Valley’s most under-the-radar estates. I have only tasted these wines sporadically over the years myself, as the wines are rarely seen. Here, at her family’s historic St. Helena winery, proprietor Lily Oliver Berlin quietly crafts Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs of rare distinction. This vertical of the estate’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir back to 1999 revealed a sleeping giant, an iconic Napa Valley winery waiting to be discovered. Readers who admire old-school, classically built wines will find so much to admire.
Napa Valley Soars: The 2023 & 2024 Cabernet Sauvignons
napa, United States: California, featured
, Nov 2025
After three very challenging years, Napa Valley soars with the 2023 and 2024 Cabernet Sauvignons. The two vintages are quite different in style, and yet quality is very high in both years. In 2023, a long, cool growing season yielded young wines of exceptional finesse. Not to be outdone, the warmer 2024 vintage has a lot to offer as well. At some properties, the 2024s will challenge or surpass the 2023s.
Vinous Top 100 Wines 2025
Top 100, 2025, featured
, Nov 2025
Welcome to the Vinous Top 100 Wines 2025. The Vinous Top 100 aims to capture the diversity and dynamism of today's wine world. Our selections span the globe from established regions to emerging appellations, including both iconic producers and exciting newcomers. We have highlighted many wines that deliver remarkable quality with an added focus on relative value and availability. We hope the Vinous Top 100 inspires you to explore new regions, producers and styles as you continue your own wine journey.
2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: In the Zone
napa, featured, Verticals & Retrospectives
, Nov 2025
My annual look at the Napa Valley vintage ten years on was so illuminating. Two thousand fifteen is a vintage I have followed since the very beginning. Several trips during the fall of that year allowed me to see everything from fruit on the vine through to harvest, and then very young wines in tank. Overall, the wines have aged beautifully. Most are heading effortlessly into their second decade. Two thousand fifteen is a terrific vintage to drink now, although the best wines will continue to drink well for some time.
Gigondas 2024: Birth of a Modern Classic
France: Rhône & Beaujolais, featured
, Nov 2025
Gigondas continues to assert its place among the Southern Rhône’s most dynamic appellations. This report delves into the 2024 vintage, a year defined by a return to wines of classic proportions, alongside the approachable and fruit-driven 2023s.
Cellar Favorite: 2013 Domaine Jean-François Coche-Dury Le Corton Grand Cru
France: Burgundy, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2025
"Unicorn" is a word frequently misappropriated with respect to wine. In this case, the word is merited.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2024: Dark Elegance
France: Rhône & Beaujolais, featured
, Oct 2025
The 2024 vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape was marked by downy mildew and coulure, leading to the lowest yields since 2018. With Grenache hit especially hard, this year’s blends often lean toward Mourvèdre and Syrah, giving them darker fruit, more spice and firmer structures. Though the wines show less youthful flamboyance, they impress with freshness and balance.
New Releases: Ridge, Rhys and Centennial Mountain
United States: California, featured
, Oct 2025
This update contains reviews of the latest releases from two of the reference-point producers in the Santa Cruz Mountains—Ridge and Rhys—plus additional coverage of Rhys' Centennial Mountain project based in Sonoma County.
2022 & 2023 Barbaresco: Pushed to the Limit
Italy: Piedmont, featured
, Oct 2025
Barbaresco faced two very challenging growing seasons in 2023 and 2022. Quality is inconsistent across the board. These are vintages in which readers will have to be especially selective, but there are some undeniable stars in both years.
Cellar Favorite: 1949 Lagrange (Saint-Julien)
France: Bordeaux, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct 2025
Provenance is the most important factor that determines the quality of a mature claret. A magnum of 1949 Château Lagrange that was recently served blind at the estate in Saint-Julien exemplified this.