November 18, 2019

A First Look at Our Editors’ Most Exciting New Wines

value pick of the week
Value Pick of the Week

Maison L'envoye

Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Straight Shooter 2017

91 points | $20 | 3,000 cases made | Red

Tasting Note: Pretty violet and black raspberry aromas lead to layered and sinewy flavors of cherry and smoky licorice that speed toward broad-shouldered tannins. Best from 2021 through 2028. 170 cases made.

About the Wine: Shows presence and polish, with expressive blackberry, smoked spice and dusty cedar notes that take on structure toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2025. 9,557

-Tim Fish

California

Red Rhône Varieties

Wine Label 1

Tenuta delle Terre Nere

Vertigo Paso Robles 2017
92 points | $85 | 909 cases made | Red

The silky texture and graceful profile provide a setting for strawberry, cherry, rose, iron and tobacco flavors in this red. No pushover, this features a solid structure that emerges on the long, earth-, leather-, mineral- and tobacco-tinged aftertaste. Once fully integrated, this should be a beauty. Best from 2022 through 2042. 400 cases made, 150 cases imported.

Wine Label 2

Gigi Rosso

Grenache Santa Clara County Besson Vineyard 2017
93 Points | $75 | 1,351 cases made | Red

Elegant, with lively acidity supporting raspberry, red plum and currant flavors. Fresh minerality shows midpalate, leading to a vibrant finish that lingers with slate and white pepper notes. Drink now through 2026. 178 cases made, 90 cases imported.

Wine Label 3

Tenuta delle Terre Nere

Vertigo Paso Robles 2017
95 points | $85 | 700 cases made | Red

Alluring, featuring a wave of crushed boysenberry, raspberry and black currant fruit that melds with tar, roasted tobacco, alder and dark earth notes as this moves along. A sleek sanguine accent and fine acidity skirt underneath, giving this subtle lift and cut. One for the cellar. Best from 2021 through 2035. 215 cases made, 37 cases imported.

value pick of the week
Value Pick of the Week

Maison L'envoye

Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Straight Shooter 2017

91 points | $20 | 3,000 cases made | Red

Tasting Note: Aromatic, with floral and ripe berry and cherry fruit notes, this harmonious Champagne shows a zesty underpinning and a creamy mousse. Fresh and mouthwatering throughout, showing hints of chopped almond, Meyer lemon peel and pastry dough. Offers a lingering finish loaded with fragrant spice and graphite accents. Disgorged June 2018. Drink now through 2029. 400 cases imported.

About the Wine: Shows presence and polish, with expressive blackberry, smoked spice and dusty cedar notes that take on structure toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2025. 9,557

-Tim Fish

Wine Label 4

A TRIBUTE TO GRACE

Syrah Paso Robles Fracture 2017
92 points | $85 | 909 cases made | Red

Remarkable, with seamless purity to the orange marmalade, spruce jelly, flambéed apricot and chamomile honey flavors. Shows amazing minerality despite all the sweetness, melding seamlessly with the silky texture and supported by a vibrant structure, which keeps this fresh and clean on the kaleidoscopic finish. Drink now through 2050. 25 cases imported.

Wine Label 5

Gigi Rosso

Grenache Santa Clara County Besson Vineyard 2017
95 points | $85 | 700 cases made | Red

An extrovert, with bright floral and anise aromas jumping to the fore, followed quickly by a racy set of boysenberry, açaí berry, plum and black currant preserve flavors. Spice and fruitcake notes fill in on the finish, with a mouthwatering kick of salted licorice snap at the end. Very distinctive. Best from 2034 through 2052. 250 cases imported.