Table of contents for April 30, 2025 in Wine Spectator

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RECENT RELEASES OF KEY WINES TUSCANY Antinori Toscana Solaia 2021 (98, $500) | This superb red is deep and dense, drenched with blackberry, pomegranate, plum and sweet spice flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Antinori Toscana Tignanello 2021 (97, $180) | Laced with pure cherry, strawberry, graphite and tobacco flavors, this red is beautifully supported by vibrant acidity. Sangiovese blend. Antinori Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso 2021 (97, $175) | The pedigree and purity of this red are evident immediately in this red, which is all about finesse and harmony. Cabernet Sauvignon blend. Antinori Chianti Classico Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori Riserva 2021 (95, $60) | This ripe style is fresh and harmonious, with plum, cherry and boysenberry fruit, accented by earth, iron and eucalyptus. Sangiovese blend. Antinori Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione…

Each year, Wine Spectator editors review more than 10,000 new releases to the U.S. marketplace to help inform consumers about exciting bottlings for their enjoyment. That may seem like a vast number, but in reality there are hundreds of thousands of individual wines for sale across the country today, coming from all corners of the globe. Our tasters select wines to review based on their relevance to our readers, taking into consideration qualitative track record, importance for the region of origin and availability. However, given the sheer number of wines being produced, no single retailer is likely to have all the wines we recommend on hand. This makes “how can I find the wines I want to buy” a common refrain. But just as we see more wines in the…

Highly Recommended The issue’s most impressive wines. Includes top-scorers and wines that represent optimal purchases based on their combination of score, price and availability. 97 Aubert Chardonnay Carneros Larry Hyde & Sons 2022 $100 CALIFORNIA Offers a bold mix of power and elegance, displaying generous flavors of mango puree, grilled pineapple, peach cobbler and marmalade, with details of lemon mint, marzipan and wild sage, plus spice notes of nutmeg and cardamom. The vibrant acidity, supple texture and crescendo of flavors on the finish make this a memorable wine. Drink now through 2036. 632 cases made.—M.W. 96 Evening Land Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills La Source Seven Springs Estate 2023 $80 OREGON This dynamic red shows finesse and impeccable structure, with expressive flavors of raspberry and blueberry accented by stony mineral, star…

American and Canadian winemakers breathed a sigh of relief on Feb. 3 after a looming trade war ended before it officially began. President Donald Trump hit pause on his threat to levy 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada after the U.S. and Canada agreed to negotiate for 30 days. The new trade duties had been scheduled to take effect the next day. The Canadian government had threatened 25% tariffs on many U.S. products in response, including all alcoholic beverages, potentially raising prices on American wine and whiskey. Similar tariffs on Mexico were paused for one month after negotiations between the two nations’ governments, sparing price hikes on tequila, mezcal and Mexican beers for now. The White House did impose 10% tariffs on all Chinese products. Trump had announced the…

The debate over whether moderate alcohol consumption can offer health benefits has never been more combustible. In December 2024, a federal committee of respected scientists issued a detailed report finding with “moderate certainty” that people who drink alcohol in moderation have lower all-cause mortality than those who abstain. But just two weeks later, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory calling for alcoholic beverages to carry cancer warnings, arguing that Americans are uneducated about potential links between alcohol and seven types of cancer. Key to this debate are the dozens of studies that have been conducted in recent decades on alcohol, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked repeatedly to lower rates of cardiovascular disease. It has also been linked to higher rates of certain…

Count Sauvignon Blanc as one of the brightest stars in the wine world, and bottlings from California are among the most exciting. The vibrant, aromatic white wine is one of the few categories gaining ground in an otherwise listless wine market, both in the U.S. and around the world. Sauvignon Blanc sales are up, and the best examples from the Golden State are stylish, expressive and even ageable. Sauvignon Blanc has evolved in a few directions: There are more single-vineyard expressions, more consistent regional blends and a growing number of ageable wines. California Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t conform to a signature style; rather, a range of flavors gives wine lovers the opportunity to explore. That said, the grape’s signature bright, juicy acidity shines through in most bottles, as do fresh citrus…

The latest releases from Piedmont showcase back-toback harvests yielding exceptional reds. Both the 2020 crop of Barolos and the 2021 Barbarescos are must-have vintages for fans of this northwestern Italian region. Based on my reviews of more than 600 wines tasted blind at our New York office since my previous report (“A Classic Year in Piedmont,” April 30, 2024), I give the 2020 vintage an overall rating of 95 points, while 2021 earns a preliminary rating of 95–98 points, pending the release of the 2021 Barolos later this year. Possibly the best vintage in a generation, 2021 has the hallmarks of a classic year, with cooler weather and later harvest dates. The wines are complex and structured, with vibrant acidity defining their red fruit, floral, savory and mineral flavors. Snow…

A Napa Winemaker Speaks Out Recently, outgoing U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released his parting letter to the American people. In it, he writes about the ways in which we can improve our health, happiness and longevity; in short, he wrote that strengthening a sense of community will help us live longer and more fulfilling lives. Reading this had me reflecting on my life in wine, and my 30 years living and working in the Napa Valley. Despite a sometimes-glossyveneer, at our core we are farmers and craftspeople who support each other, as a local community should. Winegrowing keeps us grounded, it brings us together, and it connects us with all the people who have worked this land over generations. Wine is a vehicle for celebration, for giving and for…

Cincinnati-based attorney Michael L. Cioffi, founder of Monteverdi Tuscany, a luxury boutique resort in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia region, has acquired Tenuta Valdipiatta in Montepulciano for an undisclosed price. The deal includes nearly 75 acres of vines and 5 acres of olive trees as well as the winery facility and cellar. Valdipiatta produces an average of 6,600 cases each year. Current owners Miriam Caporali and her husband, Giuliano, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations, with Miriam as COO. Cioffi has committed to the future growth of Validipiatta by investing to purchase additional vineyards, update the winery equipment and implement a strategic marketing program. “The decades-long friendship between us, the desire to ensure continuity and continuing success of Valdipiatta’s business, and the deep trust in Michael Cioffi’s vision and entrepreneurial ability are…

The Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF) celebrated its 25th anniversary by raising more than $34 million—a record high, beating last year’s total by $1 million—for children’s charities at its annual event on the last weekend in January. The nation’s top-earning charity wine auction gathered around 650 wine lovers under a big tent outside the Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, to bid on dazzling auction lots, all in support of the Naples Children and Education Foundation (NCEF). Since 2001, the auction has raised more than $336 million for philanthropy. This year’s anniversary event was especially noteworthy. “We are thrilled to celebrate the silver anniversary of the Naples Winter Wine Festival with yet another record fundraising performance,” said Lisa Juliano, senior vice president of NWWF and event production. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of…

“It’s 1966. Your father comes to you. You’re now in charge. Did you know that was your destiny? Describe to me what the family wine business was like then. ” Since assuming control of his family’s wine business in 1966, Marchese Piero Antinori has built a vast wine empire, centered on Tuscany in central Italy and spanning the globe to California and Washington state in the U.S., and Chile. In half a century, the Tuscan aristocrat and 25th generation of the Antinori family dynasty has converted a wine merchant business to a company controlling more than 7,000 acres of vineyards. Along the way, he was one of a small group to revolutionize the face of Tuscan and Italian wine overall, shifting the focus from quantity to quality. In 2000, Antinori’s…

As the world around us continues to change, restaurants across the United States are striving to become more environmentally conscious, including intensifying the already established trend toward local and seasonal menus, cutting down on waste and reducing their carbon footprint. In tandem with these efforts, many also support their communities and promote ethical treatment of workers. Along the way, the sommelier—sensitive to the needs of the restaurant and its diners, to the effects of environmental issues and to wineries’ contributions to combat them—is becoming a de facto spokesperson for sustainable farming. Many sommeliers feel they have the most impact through storytelling—an ongoing conversation with guests about what is in their glass. Often, a discussion about sustainable wines is then flooded with questions; what it means and how to distinguish them.…

As companions, winery dogs are commonly seen around vineyards and cellars performing the valuable job of best friend. But canines could soon take on a new role in the vineyards: sniffing out pests among the grapevines. The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus, is a vineyard pest that has spread across California for three decades. The bug carries the grapevine leafroll-3 virus, which saps the vine’s health and ability to produce a normal-size crop. The mealybug spreads prolifically, as it produces several broods of offspring in a season and is transported easily on birds, pruning shears, mechanical harvesters and other equipment. Integrated pest management (IPM) procedures for limiting the spread have included keeping vineyards and equipment clean, using chemical insecticide treatments and removing vines. Is There a More Sustainable Way to Prevent…