Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2025 i Wine Enthusiast Magazine

“I LIKE TO PUT MY WINES IN PLACES THAT I LOVE, YOU KNOW, JUST GIVES MEAT HRIL L. I ALSO WANTED TO BE IN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DON’T NORMALLY GET QUALITY WINE.” Predictably, actor/comedian/producer/winemaker/cookbook author Eric Wareheim is chatting with us while driving around the hills of Southern California. This IS Los Angeles after all. We’re discussing the 10th anniversary of his Las Jaras Wines, his soon-to-be-released book Steak House (coming fall 2025 from Ten Speed Press), the Los Angeles wine scene and why he hangs out with chefs far more often than actors. The answer to the last bit is actually pretty simple. When you’re new in Hollywood and curious about food and wine, you figure out how to get linked up with…

ALBARIÑO 93 Bodega Garzón 2023 Petit Clos Block #27 Albariño (Maldonado). This Albariño offers a nose of floral and citrus notes. The lively palate shows depth and offers excellent acidity, providing balance. Lemon, herbs and saline notes blend with a touch of honey for a lasting and tasty finish. A portion of this wine is aged in untoasted barrels. Winebow Imports. Editor’s Choice. —J.V. abv: 14% Price: $80 92 Bodega Garzón 2023 Single Vineyard Albariño (Maldonado). Albariño has adapted well to Uruguay’s coastal climate and this wine shows its potential. It starts with delicate aromas of lime and a dash of white pepper. Vigorous acidity provides support to a nice mix of stone fruit, orange, grapefruit and lime flavors that fade slowly into a lingering finish. Winebow Imports. —J.V.…

Named for aviator, motion-picture producer and noted eccentric Howard Hughes, this drink, served at The Formosa Café in West Hollywood, is a classic Aviation at heart—with a little extra oomph, explains bar manager Bryan Brumbaugh. (Translation: It features a bit more gin than the classic, yielding a slightly stiffer drink.) Hughes was among the regulars at the venerable movie star hangout, which dates back to 1939 and is conveniently located across the street from the former Pickford-Fairbanks Studio (later known as United Artists, Samuel Goldwyn Studios, Warner Hollywood Studios and, since 1999, The Lot at Formosa). But The Formosa is also a star, appearing in such films as L.A. Confidential (1997) and Swingers (1996). Inside, black-and-white headshots pay homage to celebrity clientele, while the striking red- and black lacquered…

It is a delicate balance, incorporating drinking into your work. Take friends and comedians, Sam Morril and Mark Normand, for example. The pair host the podcast We Might Be Drunk, which they started during the pandemic to catch up, since career success and lockdowns had translated to fewer drinks together. There are obvious pitfalls intrinsic to any alcohol-soaked project, but the two have found a way to hilariously weave drinking culture not only into their acts but their extracurriculars as well, launching Bodega Cat Straight Rye Whiskey in 2022 with the encouragement and help of their listeners. Morril, for one, doesn’t like to drink before he goes on stage, which would explain why he’s slightly annoyed with me now. Before workshopping a new hour at New York City’s Comedy…

Kyle MacLachlan’s journey has always been about patience, serendipity and a touch of mystery. From his early days under the mentorship of David Lynch to his latest role in Fallout, he has built a career on idiosyncratic characters who linger in the imagination. But MacLachlan isn’t stuck pondering past roles. He’s far more interested in what’s ahead. That same long-game mindset applies to his second act as a vintner. His Washington State-based winery, Pursued by Bear, isn’t a celebrity side gig. It’s a labor of love, built over two decades with his winemaking partner and friend, Dan Wampfler. In building relationships with growers, buyers and the land, MacLachlan continues to dive deep into the craftsmanship and sensory storytelling that wine, like film, can evoke. In this conversation, MacLachlan reflects…

Special Designations Editors’ Choice: Products are those that offer excellent quality at a price above our Best Buy range, or a product at any price with unique qualities that merit special attention. Cellar Selections: Products deemed highly collectible and/or requiring time in a temperature-controlled wine cellar to reach their maximum potential. Hidden Gems: Products that are not your typical regional finds, but should not be missed. These fun, esoteric wines are priced above $20 and score above 87 points. Best Buys: Products that offer a high level of quality in relation to price. Wines meriting this award are generally priced at $20 or less, and are designated Best Buys after surpassing 85 points and a specific quality-to-price ratio benchmark. SUBMITTING PRODUCTS FOR REVIEW: Products should be submitted as detailed…

TANNAT 92 Viña Progreso 2021 Old Vines Tannat (Canelones). Progreso is located in the Canelones Department, a wine region that concentrates the majority of Uruguay’s wine production. This Tannat comes from 60-year-old vines. It has a delicate nose and firm tannins, along with excellent acidity, providing a sturdy frame for strawberry and mulberry flavors that combine with hints of bay leaves. Copa Fina Imports CA. —J.V. abv: 13.5% Price: $45 90 Viña Progreso 2022 Revolution Tannat (Canelones). Inviting aromas of pink peppercorn and cherries welcome the senses. There is tension on the palate of this energetic Tannat, with dark berries and earthy notes adding an extra layer of flavor. Copa Fina Imports CA. —J.V. abv: 13.5% Price: $22 RED BLENDS 92 Familia Deicas 2021 Extreme Vineyards Cerro del Guazuvirá…

PESSAC-LÉOGNAN 97 Domaine de Chevalier 2022 (Pessac-Léognan). This is a magnificent white wine, balancing the herbal element of Sauvignon Blanc with the rich Sémillon in a mélange that promises considerable aging. Produced in small quantities on the Domaine de Chevalier vineyard, it is one of the legendary white wines of Bordeaux. Drink from 2027. S.C. Domaine de Chevalier. Cellar Selection. —R.V. abv: 13.5% Price: $105 96 Château Carbonnieux 2023 (Pessac-Léognan). The grapefruit and honey aromas of this wine are echoed in its crisp and rounded textures. It is ripe with apple and spice flavors, the wood aging subtly in the background. Drink from 2027. SCEA Perrin & Fils. Cellar Selection. —R.V. abv: 13% Price: $45 95 Château Latour-Martillac 2022 (Pessac-Léognan). The wine’s white fruit and toast aroma is echoed…

CÔTES DE PROVENCE 94 Château Sainte Roseline 2024 La Chapellede Sainte Roseline Cru Classé (Côtes de Provence). Earthy and spicy, the nose of this rosé immediately grabs your attention. The palate opens with flavors of dried apricot and pear, then the vibrant acidity kicks in. The finish is all minerality and salinity in the best way. Château Sainte Roseline Cru Classe. Editor’s Choice. —C.W. abv: 13% Price: $40 93 Château Roubine 2023 Heritage (Côtes de Provence). This deep golden rosé is robust with aromas of baked red apple and vanilla mixing with wet stones, giving it an earthy feel. There is great structure to this mouthcoating wine that is all about its minerality and ability to pair with food. Château Roubine. —C.W. abv: 12.5% Price: $100 93 Château Roubine…

VINHO VERDE 93 Aveleda 2023 Solos de Xisto (Vinho Verde). From vines planted on schist soil, this wine is dense, with a tightly mineral texture. With a bitter orange and hazelnut aroma and a nutty and dense white fruit flavor, the wine is impressively structured. Drink from 2026. Aveleda SA. Cellar Selection. —R.V. abv: 13% Price: $25 93 Soalheiro 2023 Primeiras Vinhas Monção and Melgaço (Vinho Verde). This bright wine, with a white fruit aroma and apple and citrus flavors, also shows some of the typical creaminess of Alvarinho produced in the Monção and Melgaço region. The wine originated with the producer’s first vineyard planted in 1974 and is now a symbol of the preservation of old vines in this region. Drink from late 2025. Soalheiro. Editor’s Choice. —R.V.…

Imagine walking into the movie theater bar of your dreams—complete with exquisite glassware and a French-inspired wine cellar fully stocked with your favorites. Because really, who wants to settle for flat soda with a soggy popcorn or sickly sweet, pre-mixed margs? Let’s roll the credits on the sad snacks and lackluster sips. Picture lounging in a plush leather recliner, and just as the big explosion scene hits, taking a perfectly timed swig of a big bold red wine that sends your senses into overdrive. Movie going is about more than just watching a film—it’s about the full experience. Silence your mobile devices and dive into these blockbuster pairings. Pretzel bites This is a no-brainer superhero pairing, like Batman with Robin or Captain America with Bucky Barnes. Doughy and savory…

The chopped salad from the iconic Italian restaurant La Scala in Beverly Hills went viral before “viral” was a thing. First conjured in the late 1950s, it was designed for Hollywood starlets who asked for the house “gourmet salad” in an easy-eating format so as to avoid soiling their gowns. What started as an off-menu special eventually grew so popular with power-lunchers that it became an on-menustaple. The salad’s now enjoying a stint in the online spotlight thanks to its recontextualization as a high-protein, low-carb alternative to the Italian sub. It’s again fueled by celeb endorsements—though this time, it’s of the Kardashian variety. The recipe is hardly complicated, but online versions are all over the place. Our interpretation is a recreation of the original, pulled together with info leaked…

Rip out this page and stuff it in your pocket for when you go to the wine shop next or just search wineenthusiast.com/ratings. Top 5 Best Buys These wines represent the highest quality-to-price ratio at $20 or less. 94 Method 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (California) Price: $20 abv: 14.5% 93 Good Fucking Wine 2022 Red Blend (California) Price: $17 abv: 14.5% 93 Rieslingfreak 2023 No. 44 Growers Riesling (Eden Valley) Price: $20 abv: 12% 93 Jules Taylor 2024 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) Price: $20 abv: 13.5% 93 Manzanos 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (Navarra) Price: $15 abv: 13.5% Top 5 Hidden Gems These wines may be atypical but they are worth trying—especially if you are looking for something different. 94 Godeval 2022 Revival Godello (Valdeorras) Price: $50 abv: 13.5% 94 Thorn Clarke 2022…

Los Angeles is famously an industry town—and one that likes to imbibe. What happens when the city’s top bartenders create drinks inspired by their favorite movie genres? These inventive drinks—photographed at the bars where each was created—are red-carpet ready, ranging from an elegant sipper inspired by silver-screen classics to a refresher that channels beach-film hijinks. There’s even a quirky, moody nightcap of which we think David Lynch would approve. Grab some popcorn—it’s showtime. THE GENRE: SILVER SCREEN From Casablanca to Citizen Kane, this iconic filmmaking era (1930s to 1940s) introduced some of cinema’s best-loved flicks, most in black and white. It’s easy to imagine characters from these years sipping this sophisticated Royale, a drink style topped up with sparkling wine. As for the name, “‘Stardust’ references the magic of…

MARIANA CARVAJAL BENICIO DEL TORO JUAN SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ DON PORFIRIO CHAGOYA “There’s been a tendency to equate power with quality.” La La Land The meet-cute is a Hollywood staple for a reason. Boy meets girl (or boy) in an unexpected yet undeniably charming first encounter that sets the stage for a beautiful romance. Not long ago, Perro Verde (which literally translates to “green dog” and colloquially to “odd duck” or “misfit”) cofounders Mariana Carvajal and Juan Santiago Rodriguez were out in Los Angeles, sipping drinks with friends and passing around a (gorgeous—more on that later) prototype bottle of their artisanal mezcal. Then, from the din of the bar, came a voice, unmistakable and slightly amused, “You talking perro verdes? That’s my tribe!” They turned to find none other than…

MALBEC 94 Alta Vista 2021 Single Vineyard Temis Malbec (Mendoza). From vines planted in 1938 at 3,412 feet in El Cepillo, a subregion in the Uco Valley, comes this silky Malbec. Fresh strawberry aromas on the nose are inviting. It has finely grained tannins and lots of red fruit flavors in the form of blackberries and strawberries on the palate. A hint of licorice and graphite adds depth. This elegant red wine will age beautifully. Drink now through 2033. Alta Vista. Editor’s Choice. —J.V. abv: 14.5% Price: $55 93 Huentala Wines 2021 Block 03 La Isabel Estate Malbec (Gualtallary). Inviting notes of black pepper and hints of violets emerge from this structured red. Firm tannins support rich, yet well-integrated, dark fruit, floral and leafy flavors. There is a fair…

VINTAGE 95 Ayala 2015 La Perle (Champagne). This is the top Champagne from this producer, based in Aÿ. Beautifully aged with a toasty aroma and a fine balance of maturity and freshness, the wine has a dry crispness, like all the wines from this producer, and gives great definition of green fruits, acidity and toast. Drink now. Ayala & Co. Cellar Selection. —R.V. abv: 12.5% Price: $180 95 Bruno Paillard 2009 N.P.U. - Nec Plus Ultra - Extra Brut (Champagne). This wine, with 10 years on lees and further aging before release, is the epitome of the Paillard Champagne philosophy. Now, it is toasty, spicy while preserving an impressive amount of fruit. The ginger cookie aroma and the vivid white fruits are just ready to drink. SAS Maison Bruno…

GIGONDAS 95 Château de Saint Cosme 2021 Hominis Fides (Gigondas). Black olive takes center stage on the nose, with hints of boysenberry, violets and scorched earth. The savory palate delivers salty Nyons olives, fresh plum, saffron and dried lavender, balanced by iron and soft black pepper. Mineral rich and complex, it’s a perfect match for roasted wild fowl and should cellar well through 2035+. Winebow Imports. —A.C.C. abv: 15.5% Price: $NA 94 Domaine de la Solitude 2020 Bellecoste (Gigondas). The nose is complex and layered, with deep black cherry, dried cranberry, anise, iodine, saffron, truffe, leather and earthy garrigue. On the palate, balanced acidity lifts the focused flavors of pure blackberry, dried thyme, spice, shaved dark chocolate and pencil shavings. Deliciously approachable now with a proper decant, this wine…

RIBERA DEL DUERO 95 Balbas 2018 Ancestral (Ribera del Duero). The polished nose is driven by well-integrated oak and a brilliantly precise palate. The ratio of fruit to earth is perfectly proportional here, offering a nearly impeccable balance. I am not only wholly impressed by the winemaking, but I also truly can’t wait to see how this one ages. Votto Vines. Cellar Selection. —B.B. abv: 15% Price: $60 95 Bodegas Nabal 2018 Gran Reserva (Ribera del Duero). Vibrant, high-toned berry-forward fruit is underscored by a brilliant minerality that will immediately steal your attention. Its lithe frame contrasts with a nearly majestic core, elevating this wine into a league of its own. Every detail seems meticulously considered, and if there’s any advice to be given, it’s to secure a case…

SPARKLING WINES 93 Henners NV Rosé Brut Sparkling Blend (England). Pale pink, this exudes delicate melon and wild strawberry aromas, with subtle cream and spice notes tucked behind. There’s a lovely balance of acidity, texture and fruit, with prickly fizz and a long finish. A well-made wine for any occasion, from an always-solid East Sussex producer. Boutinot USA, Inc. —C.P. abv: 12% Price: $NA 92 Silverhand Estate NV Silverhand Classic Brut Champagne Blend (England). Bright lemon curd, brioche, honey and toast open, with a cool stone character beneath. A burst of vibrant acidity and prickly fizz make this an ultrarefreshing bubbly. There’s stuffng here too—texture and flavor concentration. A classy drop for drinking solo or with a wide variety of cuisine. Silverhand Estate. —C.P. abv: 12% Price: $50 91…

If a sipping tequila is what you seek, añejo is for you. Aged between one and three years, añejo is on the richer, more complex end of the tequila spectrum. That barrel maturation time layers the agave spirit with extra caramel and vanilla, or possibly dried fruit and baking spice. The best añejos don’t obscure the roasted agave at the core of every tequila, but accent it with subtle sweetness and spice. Many añejos are splurges or status pieces, presented in sculptural showpiece bottles or associated with celebrity names. There’s nothing wrong with splashing out on such bottles, but know there are still values to be had, too. As of this writing, agave spirits are facing unusual crossroads. Potential tariffs imposed on Mexico have the potential to force prices…