Reviews
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence.
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
Attractive notes of pink nectarines, cherry blossoms, blood oranges and crushed stones. Sleek and creamy on the medium-bodied palate, with a delicate mousse and a flavorful finish. Pretty and seductive. Drink now.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday.
Aromas of pink cherries and wild strawberries with dried flowers, orange peel and praline. Medium-bodied, dry and chalky with fine bubbles and zesty character. Refreshing and crisp at the end.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
Quite a refined sparkling with gooseberry and citrus aromas and flavors, bolstered by a delicate, mineral base. Balanced palate with medium-fine perlage. Crisp, fruit and mineral finish. Nothing heavy here. Delicious to drink now.
EDITORS’ CHOICE
Aromas of toasted bread crust, botanical herbs and chamomile form the subtle nose. All about finesse, the dry, savory palate features ripe yellow apple, tangy lemon drop candy and hazelnut set against a delicate, silky perlage.
Really delicious rosé sparkling wine with dried strawberries, red apple skins and some white pepper. It’s full and flavorful with bitter lemon on the finish. Lots of flavor at the end, but tensioned and fun.
A fruity and frothy bubbly with cooked-apple and pear character. Lemons, almonds and some bread, too. Full-bodied, fruity and delicious. Nice bitterness and dryness at the end.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Tons of candied and fresh-citrus aromas on the nose and the full, juicy palate. However, there’s no hint of anything superficial here and the finish is long and elegant. Drink now.
Full yet delicate red berries and nectarines make this medium-bodied and polished rosé Spumante very attractive. Lovely harmony at the clean, dry finish. Drink now.
A rich and tangy sparkling wine with cooked pears and apples, as well as hints of toasted yeast. Medium to full body and a flavorful finish. Try this often-forgotten sparkling wine. Drink now.
Made entirely with Pinot Nero, this bright sparkler delivers wild raspberry, cherry and cake-spice sensations along with a hint of baked bread. Fresh acidity lifts the finish.
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2020 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93+ |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2022 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap. |
August 9, 2024 |
| 2020 Cuvée Aurora Rosé Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Attractive notes of pink nectarines, cherry blossoms, blood oranges and crushed stones. Sleek and creamy on the medium-bodied palate, with a delicate mousse and a flavorful finish. Pretty and seductive. Drink now. |
August 8, 2024 |
| 2018 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday. |
April 1, 2024 |
| 2017 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 94 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2015 Thick Skinned Red Mountain92 | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2019 Cuvée Aurora Rosé Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Aromas of pink cherries and wild strawberries with dried flowers, orange peel and praline. Medium-bodied, dry and chalky with fine bubbles and zesty character. Refreshing and crisp at the end. |
September 19, 2023 |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2017 Cuvee Aurora Rose Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Quite a refined sparkling with gooseberry and citrus aromas and flavors, bolstered by a delicate, mineral base. Balanced palate with medium-fine perlage. Crisp, fruit and mineral finish. Nothing heavy here. Delicious to drink now. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2017 Cuvée Aurora Rosé Alta Langa DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | 93 pts |
EDITORS’ CHOICE Aromas of toasted bread crust, botanical herbs and chamomile form the subtle nose. All about finesse, the dry, savory palate features ripe yellow apple, tangy lemon drop candy and hazelnut set against a delicate, silky perlage. |
November 18, 2021 |
| 2016 Cuvee Aurora Rose Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Really delicious rosé sparkling wine with dried strawberries, red apple skins and some white pepper. It’s full and flavorful with bitter lemon on the finish. Lots of flavor at the end, but tensioned and fun. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2015 Cuvee Aurora Rose Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 91 pts |
A fruity and frothy bubbly with cooked-apple and pear character. Lemons, almonds and some bread, too. Full-bodied, fruity and delicious. Nice bitterness and dryness at the end. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot |
August 18, 2020 |
| 2013 Cuvee Aurora Rose Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Tons of candied and fresh-citrus aromas on the nose and the full, juicy palate. However, there’s no hint of anything superficial here and the finish is long and elegant. Drink now. |
October 1, 2018 |
| 2014 Cuvee Aurora Rose Alta Langa DOCG | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Full yet delicate red berries and nectarines make this medium-bodied and polished rosé Spumante very attractive. Lovely harmony at the clean, dry finish. Drink now. |
October 1, 2018 |
| 2012 Cuvee Aurora Rose Alta Langa DOC | James Suckling | 92 pts |
A rich and tangy sparkling wine with cooked pears and apples, as well as hints of toasted yeast. Medium to full body and a flavorful finish. Try this often-forgotten sparkling wine. Drink now. |
July 5, 2018 |
| 2012 Cuvée Aurora Rosé Alta Langa DOCG | Wine Enthusiast | 90 pts |
Made entirely with Pinot Nero, this bright sparkler delivers wild raspberry, cherry and cake-spice sensations along with a hint of baked bread. Fresh acidity lifts the finish. |
August 15, 2017 |