The 2023 Pouilly-Fumé from Domaine de Ladoucette is another beautiful wine in a long string of beautiful wines from this iconic estate. The bouquet is deep, pure and still fairly youthful, wafting from the glass in a complex blend of lemon, green apple, gooseberry, gentle grassiness, a lovely foundation of flinty soil tones and a floral topnote redolent of white lilies and lime blossoms. On the palate the wine is deep, crisp, precise and full-bodied, with a great core of fruit, superb mineral undertow, zesty acids and a very long, impeccably balanced and focused finish. I love the backend lift here! This is delicious right out of the blocks, but will age beautifully and will be an even better drink five to ten years down the road. 2025-2040.

Mid ruby with the beginning of orange tinges. Real depth of earthy sweet-cherry fruit with minerally touches. Suave red fruit with gripping, finely ground tannins underneath. Real classic Barolo.

Intense aromas of oyster shell and dark fruit, such as black cherries and blackberries, together with some black olives, dark mushrooms and just a touch of clove. It’s medium- to full-bodied with linear and long tannins and a powerful finish. Yet, it’s polished and refined at the same time. Needs time to open, but there’s so much going on here. March 2025 release. Drink after 2028.

Sweet Cabernet Franc may sound strange, but in Inniskillin’s hands it’s amazing. The green-herb notes common to the variety read as peppery spice; the fruit flavours bring to mind sweet red raspberries and tangy rhubarb pie. It’s sweet but not too, with vibrant acidity and that Cab Franc grape-skin spice. And this is one of the rare wines that really does complement chocolate desserts, from birthday cake to mousse.

A pale silver/yellow color, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley has softer floral notes of melon, dewy flowers, quince, pink grapefruit, and vanilla. It’s elegant, fruity, and supple, with lots of elegant charm and an inviting feel as well as a softly rounded texture. Drink 2025-2030.