Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Wine Enthusiast Magazine

I keep hearing a familiar refrain echo throughout the wine world: We need to evolve. And while I wholeheartedly agree, it always surprises me how often this sentiment is repeated, as if evolution isn’t already happening all around us. The truth is, there are plenty of people in wine pushing boundaries and trying new things. You just have to know where to look and how to support their projects. The truth is, there are plenty of people in wine pushing boundaries and trying new things. You just have to know where to look and how to support their projects. In many ways, the “nothing’s changing” narrative feels like confirmation bias. It’s easier to complain about what’s broken than it is to dig deeper and discover what’s blooming. As a professional…

When you can’t decide which drink to serve guests, a punch that contains two drinks in one should do the trick. Adapted from San Jose’s retro arcade bar Miniboss, this batched cocktail mashes up the bubbly French 75 with the passion fruit-spiked Porn Star Martini (usually served with a sidecar of sparkling wine). This two-in-one approach also explains the drink’s name: It’s a little like two different familiar cocktails. To bridge the two, Miniboss Beverage Director Ryan Ota adds Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato, a rosé wine liqueur that brings refreshing fruity notes. If you can’t find Ramazzotti, he suggests Aperol as a potential substitute, but it will add a more orangey note, rather than red fruit. The recipe also includes 2 ½ cups of water—resist the temptation to omit it.…

“What’s most important is not being afraid to lose and embracing innovation through failure, whether you’re making radios or wine.” History is written by the victors, the aphorism goes—and yes, I know that Winston Churchill probably didn’t say it, and if he ever did, he was just paraphrasing a quote that had been repeated many times before. But it’s usually true, even if it leads us to incorrectly assume that losers never get a word in edgewise. I’ve been thinking about this idea a lot. Last year, I used the quote in my article on Italy’s Valdarno di Sopra DOC. I wondered why, out of the four regions surrounding Florence that were praised for producing great wine by Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici in 1716, only the Valdarno fell out…

Ambitious bartenders seeking a first-class education in botany as much as mixing drinks love to apprentice with Hiroyasu Kayama, the legendary proprietor of Tokyo’s Bar BenFiddich. At his 16-seat cocktail apothecary-cum-research library on the ninth floor of a shabby midrise in Shinjuku—more Being John Malkovich than Blade Runner—Kayama’s fluid movements behind the bar adhere to his “farm-to-glass” philosophy. Kayama’s nightly offerings are an alchemy of spirits and elixirs poured from dusty bottles and homegrown produce—fragrant yuzu, plump mulberries—harvested from his family farm in Saitama, north of Tokyo. Green Art Nouveau lamps glowing above Bar BenFiddich’s walnut counter shine a spotlight on techniques the master barman has developed since starting his career as a barback at the Okura Hotel in the Toranomon district of Tokyo more than 20 years ago. On…

Products are blind tasted in peer-group flights of from 5–8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection. 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: Are products deemed highly collectible and/or requiring time in a temperature-controlled wine cellar to reach their maximum potential. Hidden Gems: Are products which 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: Are products that offer a high level of quality in relation to price. Wines…

RED WINES RIOJA 93 Bodegas Manzanos 2019 111 Reserva Rioja (Rioja). Deep garnet in the glass, this 111 Reserva showcases ripe cherries and blackberries, spiced tobacco, and a sprinkle of sea salt through the finish. Flavorful with the juiciness to keep the palate fresh. W. Direct. —E.C.B.  abv: 13.5% Price: $42 93 Fernández de Piérola 2008 Gran Reserva (Rioja). A complex of resinous woods, mushroom reduction and pleasing earthiness join with ripe, dark fruits and well-integrated spice from nose through finish. Refined tannins linger through a long finish. Bodegas Fernández de Piérola. —E.C.B. abv: 13.5%  Price: $40 93 Manzanos 2015 125 Aniversario Reserva (Rioja). Ruby in the glass, fresh fruits combine with cocoa and coffee grounds and a mineral finish for a refined Rioja built to age. Supple tannins coat the palate,…

CHARDONNAY 96 Walter Scott 2023 Justice Vineyard Chardonnay (Eola-Amity Hills). When I swirl my glass, I can visualize scallops topped with butter and rosemary sizzling in a skillet. That saline ecstasy is joined by a tart lemon curd aroma. A lemon and lime flavor combination is laced with chamomile tea and toasted filbert flavors. Lemons and the saltiness of an Amalfi Coast breeze—what more could one want from a Chardonnay? Editor’s Choice. —M.A. abv: 13% Price: $80 96 Walter Scott 2023 X Novo Vineyard Chardonnay (Eola-Amity Hills). Rapidly becoming one of the Willamette Valley’s iconic vineyards, X Novo delivers once again. It begins with an undeniable aromatic blend of chamomile tea, buttered popcorn and tart lemon curd. Blazing acidity then lights up the wine’s flavors of lemon grass, Thai basil and grilled…

Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has been the Chef de Cave at Louis Roederer since 1999. In his time there, he’s completely revolutionized the farming practices at the renowned 249-year-old Champagne house. I’ve always adored the beauty and rawness of his cuvées, and my admiration of him only deepened after a lengthy conversation we had at the Louis Roederer maison. He’s been monitoring these old vines for over two decades, selecting and planting them with intention. His philosophy is, “The answer to tomorrow lies in the legacy of yesterday.” In an age obsessed with innovation, Lécaillon seeks progress by preserving old vines and replanting new vines with cuttings from choice old ones, a.k.a. Massal selection. He’s not just making wine; he’s shaping a living archive where nature, time and knowledge come together to…

The drinks industry is about fostering joy while capturing a feeling and a place in a bottle. Few people pursue a career in wine and spirits with the sole ambition of making lots of money or becoming famous; they do it for the love of the game. Especially now, with mounting challenges like climate change, tariffs, increasing costs and evolving tastes, it’s not easy to turn a profit and make your mark in the drinks world. But these 40 emerging talents have risen above the noise to distinguish themselves. They are winemakers, sommeliers, distillers, brewers, business owners, educators and advocates leading the way and effecting change. Every year, Wine Enthusiast chooses a new class of ambitious, visionary Future 40 recipients, and we’re proud to celebrate them in this issue. “Have…

Anna-Christina Cabrales: Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône Valley Cody Wexler: Provence, Bandol, Méditerranée WRITERS AT LARGE Michael Alberty: Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North & South Dakota, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, Wyoming & Canada Brandon Borcoman: Northwest Spain Elaine Chukan Brown: Napa & Northeast Spain Danielle Callegari: Tuscany & Southern Italy Tom R. Capo: Sonoma County, Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas Cheron Cowan: U.S. States from Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi to the East Coast (excluding New York) Matt Kettmann: Central Coast & Southern California, Languedoc-Roussillon Kara Newman: Spirits & Ready-to-Drink Christina Pickard: Australia, New Zealand, England, New York Tonya Pitts: Northern California & California AVA, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah Jeff Porter: Piedmont & Northern Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland Emily Saladino: Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Lebanon Reggie Solomon: Beaujolais, Loire Valley, Southern Coastal Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,…

BURGUNDY WHITE WINES CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE 94 Domaine Antonin Guyon 2022 Grand Cru (Corton-Charlemagne). The nose opens generously with rich Meyer lemon, graham cracker, jasmine, lactic notes, sweet butter, and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, it broadens with volume and intensity—layering fresh citrus with sweet oak spice and a striking, enveloping minerality. The finish lingers with fine mineral tension. Accessible now, but it is poised to age gracefully through 2032 and beyond. Frederick Wildman. —A.C.C.  abv: 13% Price: $239 93 Chartron et Trébuchet 2022 Grand Cru (Corton-Charlemagne). A fresh, lifted nose of citrus oil, white peach, and jasmine sets a delicate, almost ethereal tone—reflected even in its pale hue. The palate is lean and focused, layered with singed lemon skin, fresh almond, lightly salted butter, and a whisper of vanilla. Bright acidity…

SPARKLING WINES 97 Wiston Estate Winery 2018 Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay (England). 2018 was hailed as England’s “miracle vintage,” rocketing the country to a new level of sparkling-wine stardom. From the chalky soils of the South Downs, BdB has long been the diva style of Wiston’s stellar range and for good reason. Showing some mushroomy character, it’s beautifully complex, with layers of distinctive aromas, from thyme to green apple, lemon brioche and nougat. The acidity has a distinctively English edge to it, rolling over the tongue like cool river water rolls over rocks. There’s a pithy grapefruit bite. Poised and still remarkably youthful overall, with a subtle generosity that makes it remarkable versatile food pairing but utterly delicious now. Wiston Estate. Editor’s Choice. —C.P.  abv: 12% Price: $80 96 Wiston Estate…

In an age when mezcal bars are plentiful, and Mezcal Margaritas appear on menus everywhere, it’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, few Americans knew about mezcal. Today, mezcal is firmly in the mainstream. The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. tracks tequila and mezcal as a single agave-fueled entity—and notes that it remains a bright spot, with tequila/mezcal sales rising 2.9% to $6.7 billion in 2024. A key reason for its continued popularity: Mezcal offers plenty of discovery opportunities for curious agave fans. Tequila is made with a single type of agave (blue Weber) within one of five regions of Mexico. In contrast, mezcal can be made from more than 20 agave species—with espadin the best-known—within nine Mexican states. It’s no wonder that mezcal offers such…

When winemaker Drew Horton moved from California to Minnesota in 2010, he was more than a little worried. California is the epicenter of American wine, and Minnesota is, well, Minnesota. The root of his trepidation? How to deal with Frontenac, a cold-climate red grape that’s one of the most prevalent varieties in the state. “I had never really worked with it before,” Horton says. “It was completely different from anything I had known in California.” Horton was hired as the founding winemaker of Chankaska Creek Ranch in Kasota, Minnesota, and stayed there for three years. Shortly after his tenure, The Minneapolis Star Tribune named Chankaska Creek the best winery in the state. Today, Horton is an enology specialist at the University of Minnesota and a leading wine expert in…

Sam Lerman knew he had to go to Ukraine. After Russia invaded in 2022, helping the country defend itself was so important to the retired Air Force Security Forces officer that when his wife revealed she was pregnant on the eve of his departure, she told him to go anyway. “I don't know whether this changes anything,” she said. “I don’t want to look at ourselves years later and wonder whether we could have made a difference.” Armed with his wife’s orders, Lerman set off for Ukraine, moving into a safe house where he and a few other former American servicemen consulted with Ukrainian operatives on the defense effort. That first night in country was life-changing in a way Lerman never would have predicted. When a Ukrainian comrade offered…

BAROSSA VALLEY Spinifex 2022 Esprit A blend of Barossa’s classic red varieties (Grenache, Shiraz, Cinsault and Mararo, a.k.a. Mourvédre) from a highly regarded boutique producer, this is a gorgeously perfumed and transparent wine—all red fruits, florals and minerally tannins with precision and quiet power. Rieslingfreak 2022 No. 12 Riesling This Riesling from the Flaxman Valley, a top-notch subregion within the Eden Valley, showcases the Aussie penchant for bone dry, electrically acidic Riesling, threading flint and lamp-oil bottle-age notes with lime leaf, lavender and chalk dust. Drink now or pretty much as long as you’re on planet Earth. RIVERLAND Unico Zelo 2023 Fresh A.F. Red Blend One of the most crowd-pleasing bargains in Aussie wine, this Riverland blend of Nero d’Avola and Zibibbo (a.k.a. Muscat of Alexandria) is a heady combo…

RED WINES BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 96 Fattoria La Lecciaia 2018 Vigna Manapetra Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino). The nose is a forest floor of fresh, iron-rich soil and crushed herbs, plus a sweeter, balancing note of wild cherry. On the palate, strawberries and a touch of ripe peach lift the cherry element, while a salty acidity preserves balance. Further proof that Fattoria La Leccaia is an excellent deal in the world of Brunello, particularly in this cru iteration. Fattoria La Lecciaia. —D.C. abv: 14% Price: $60 96 San Polo Montalcino 2018 Riserva (Brunello di Montalcino). The subtle, layered nose is initially savory, spicy and even smoky, then turns tangy, cooling and lightly medicinal with figs, pomegranate, wild mint and eucalyptus. There is an outstanding purity of fruit on the palate, which is…

CHARDONNAY 98 DuMOL 2023 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros-Napa Valley). From an ideal vintage for white wine, and grown in an iconic Chardonnay vineyard, this wine brings together the concentration, richness and alluring texture of the site combined with a resplendently long finish. It conveys sweet citrus, citrus blossom, a touch of spiced butterscotch and beautifully integrated barrel aging. A standout. Cellar Selection. —E.C.B. abv: 13.7% Price: $90 97 Kosta Browne 2022 Cerise Vineyard Chardonnay (Anderson Valley). It is not often that a Chardonnay selection is produced from this sought-after vineyard known for its high elevation and pristine fruit. This one doesn’t disappoint, with youthful orchard fruit, orange-scented herbal tea, dried herbs and nuances of French oak on the nose. The wine is golden hued, with flavors of tart golden apple, Meyer…

This poem is for the quiet war I never meant to wage on breast cancer. This is also dedicated to the community I’ve found through the grapevines. Not only did I find a deeper sense of self, but also a circle of hands that reminded me that healing does not happen alone. For the ones who lent their light when mine flickered dim. For all the strength that held me steady through the storm. Thank you for helping me find my way back to myself. With every fiber of my being, sincere thanks to Dr. Christina Weltz, Dr. Hani Sbitany, Dr. Barry Berson and the entire care team at Mount Sinai Dubin Breast Center, NYC. This season felt like winter forever.A long hush with breath held. Frost came in fast.I…