Wine Spectator's
Advance

A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE BUYING GUIDE FOR THE SEPT. 30, 2025, ISSUE, FEATURING ALL OF THE SPECTATOR SELECTIONS

Wine Spectator's Sept. 30 issue features the food and wine of Italy, with an in-depth look at the dishes and wine styles special to each of the country's 20 major regions. Plus, don't miss our tasting report on the 2023 vintage for California Pinot Noir, a classic-rated year that delivered scores of exceptional bottlings.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Machado 2023 • $85

This brims with succulent blackberry, boysenberry and mulberry fruit flavors that are coiled with energy, while singed mesquite, blood orange zest, black tea and dried anise accents add fuel on the lengthy finish. Rock solid. Best from 2026 through 2038. 1,000 cases made.—J.M.

Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico Strada al Sasso Gran Selezione 2021 • $75

Packed with fresh black cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit, this red is smooth and enticing. Mineral, eucalyptus and tobacco elements add complexity, while the lively acidity drives the long finish. A compelling red, with terrific balance. Best from 2027 through 2045. 1,388 cases made, 528 cases imported.—B.S.

Caliza Azimuth Paso Robles Willow Creek District 2022 • $78

This complex, engaging red displays a wild character, with chaparral, leather and white pepper details up front, complemented by a lilac note that unfolds on the palate alongside a fresh, elegantly textured core of black cherry and mulberry. A graphite element weaves through, lending some structure, yet this finishes with poise and elegance around refined tannins and hints of cigar box and cordial. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and Mataro. Drink now through 2038. 360 cases made.—A.R.

John Duval Eligo Barossa 2019 • $100

This stunner is richly layered with blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate flavors up front, backed by notes of spices including clove, cardamom and star anise. The tannins are velvety and plush, while the details of palo santo, espresso and blueberry syrup linger on the long finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2038. 100 cases imported.—M.W.

Occidental Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Freestone-Occidental 2023 • $75

A tightly focused beam of bitter cherry, damson plum and raspberry coulis streams through this red, with mouthwatering cut in the form of ocean breeze minerality that runs throughout. Iris and rose hip notes fill in the background as the long, piercing finish shows a remarkably pure and unadorned feel. A high-definition Pinot. Drink now through 2035. 3,650 cases made.—J.M.

COLLECTIBLES

Aubert Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast CIX 2023 • $125

This packs in an admirable amount of bright fruit in the form of raspberry, cherry and mulberry notes, while sparkles of anise, sassafras and even rosemary peek in, giving savory, juicy lift and cut. Shows a suave gloss of toast, with more than enough energy and fruit to burn on its youthfully compact but mouthwatering finish. Built to cellar. Best from 2026 through 2040. 654 cases made.—J.M.

J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Russian River Valley West Block 2023 • $120

Sappy kirsch and linzer torte notes are expressive as they drive along in this red, flanked by hints of anise and apple wood and pushed from behind by a second wave of boysenberry and mulberry pâte de fruit. Considering the range of amplitude of fruit, the focus and precision are rather remarkable, with buried acidity for days. Sleek and fresh through the long, shimmering finish thanks to a reverb of bright minerality. Wow. Best from 2026 through 2040. 160 cases made.—J.M.

Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Summa Old Vines 2023 • $95

Though reserved in style, this displays the dense, fresh and succulent fruit profile of the vintage in the form of taut and pleasantly tangy flavors of mulberry, raspberry and black cherry coulis. Refined, with gossamer tannins and seamlessly embedded acidity. The finish just sails through to a distant vanishing point, leaving mouthwatering, minerally ripples of rose water, dried hibiscus and rooibos tea. A special wine. Best from 2026 through 2038. 125 cases made.—J.M.

Bodegas Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero Unico 2015 • $675

This enticing red is fluid and silky on the palate, offering a core of plumped cherry fruit accented by notes of licorice root, rooibos tea, vanilla and milled pepper. There’s length and expression without overpowering weight as this integrates fine tannins, a satiny texture and lively acidity. Long and focused. Tinto Fino and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2040. 7,016 cases made, 393 cases imported.—A.N.

Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2022 • $310

A bit shy aromatically, this concentrated red exhibits flavors of black currant, black cherry, blackberry, tobacco and sweet spices that show a hint of eucalyptus, with assertive tannins that take hold as this evolves through the finish. Although closed and compact at this stage, this is balanced, fresh and long overall. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2045. 5,250 cases imported.—B.S.

SMART BUYS

Failla Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2023 • $36

This suave Pinot has a mulled edge to its raspberry, damson plum and blood orange notes, sparkling with savory and rose hip details. Ends with light-handed echoes of sandalwood and sous-bois. Drink now through 2030. 9,480 cases made.—J.M.

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2024 • $26

This white’s vibrant, aromatic flavors of lemon blossoms, ripe peach, kumquat and lime sherbet show focus and intensity on a smooth, sleek body. Touches of candied ginger and green tea linger on the fresh finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases imported.—M.W.

Elk Cove Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2023 • $34

A sleek and vibrant red, offering medium-bodied flavors of cherry and cranberry that take on green tea and forest floor accents as this builds toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2033. 15,733 cases made.—T.F.

Hahn Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands SLH 2022 • $24

This offers a succulent feel, showing sappy kirsch and raspberry paste notes streaked with savory and red tea accents. Ends with a sandalwood hint through the lengthy finish. Drink now through 2029. 5,317 cases made.—J.M.

Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco 2022 • $25

Violet, thyme and anise notes accent black cherry and wild strawberry fruit flavors in this sleek red, sculpted by fine, taut tannins. Shows good focus on a light- to medium-bodied frame, ending with a lightly chewy finish. Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot. Drink now through 2030. 17,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.—A.N.

Chateau Ste. Michelle-Dr. Loosen Riesling Columbia Valley Eroica 2023 • $20

Gracefully structured, this white is delicately rich and vibrant, with alluring flavors of peach blossoms, honeydew and white peach. Drink now. 12,000 cases made.—T.F.

Llopart Brut Rosé Vino Espumoso Corpinnat Reserva 2022 • $22

This lovely, creamy sparkling rosé offers mouthwatering acidity, with a well-meshed mix of ripe nectarine and white cherry fruit set on a fine, chalky mousse, showing notes of grated ginger and slivered almond. Monastrell, Garnacha and Pinot Noir. Disgorged November 2024. Drink now through 2028. 5,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.—A.N.

BEST VALUES

St. Hallett Shiraz Barossa Blackwell 2021 • $15

There’s a distinctive note of dark chocolate covered–coconut candy up front, with accents of maraschino cherry and strawberry preserves, plus herbal accents of sage and rosemary. Juicy, dense and polished, offering an appealing hint of mint that lingers on the finish. Drink now. 18,730 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.—M.W.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley Dry 2023 • $9

Delicate and pretty, this offers fragrant kiwifruit and lime flavors that glide on the fresh, snappy finish. Drink now. 116,000 cases made.—T.F.

Illuminati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riparosso 2022 • $17

This is smooth and creamy, with a tang of plum skin–infused acidity enlivening flavors of blackberry paste, black cherry and cocoa powder. A delicate thread of brambly herbs and spices winds out on the chewy finish. Drink now. 30,000 cases made, 6,000 cases imported.—A.N.

Marisco Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Fernlands 2024 • $12

Fresh lemon ice, orange sherbet and yuzu notes are bright and aromatic in this white, backed by sleek acidity and ending with a hint of sea salt spray on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now. 14,500 cases made, 7,000 cases imported.—M.W.

Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner Niederösterreich Classic 2024 • $9

This is a bright, up-front version, with an appealing floral lift to the light notes of melon and apple coursing alongside the finely beaded acidity. Chalky mineral details complete the lithe, refreshing profile. Drink now. 6,000 cases made, 2,240 cases imported.—K.B.

ABOUT THE SPECTATOR SELECTIONS

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.

Collectibles: Wines that will improve most from additional bottle age and that show the greatest potential to gain in value.

Smart Buys: Wines that deliver fine character at affordable prices and that are broadly available.

Best Values: Wines with solid scores, modest prices and wide distribution.

Initials at the end of each tasting note indicate the Wine Spectator editor who blind-tasted and scored the wine and wrote the review. The tasters are as follows: Bruce Sanderson (B.S.); James Molesworth (J.M.); Alison Napjus (A.N.); MaryAnn Worobiec (M.W.); Tim Fish (T.F.); Aaron Romano (A.R.); Kristen Bieler (K.B.).