Wine Spectator – May 2025 – Insider Weekly

Insider Weekly

Hot Wines: These are the most exciting discoveries from our editors’ most recent tastings, published exclusively in Wine Spectator Insider. They are high-scoring wines from around the world that may be difficult to find, but are worth seeking out.

2023 Aubert Pinot Noir CIX Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 97

This packs in an admirable amount of bright fruit in the form of raspberry, cherry and mulberry notes, while sparkles of anise, sassafras, savory 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.—J.M.

2023 Aubert Pinot Noir Park Avenue Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96

Densely packed but mouthwatering, with crushed red and black cherry and raspberry fruit, this moves steadily and authoritatively, showing iris, hibiscus and rose petal nuances within the fruit offset beautifully by glossy, apple wood–accented toast along the edges. The bristling energy, buried deeply, should steer this through a decade of cellaring. Best from 2026 through 2038.—J.M.

2023 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96

This is beautifully rendered, with youthfully compact notes of raspberry, boysenberry and bitter cherry compote stitched with light accents of briar, warm earth, sassafras, bergamot tea and singed apple wood. Its range and precision are amplified and carried with aplomb by the vintage’s highly pixelated acidity. Gorgeous and built for cellaring. Best from 2026 through 2038.—J.M.

2023 Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Score: 96

This is powerfully rendered, with a deep well of blackberry, black cherry and mulberry reduction notes infused with an inner tension that belies their density. As the fruit forms the prodigious core, mouthwatering accents of anise, black tea and apple wood fill in liberally, adding lift and energy through the finish, which shows remarkable definition. Best from 2027 through 2038.—J.M.