Flickinger Fine Wines - Wines with Parker 100 ratings http://www.flickingerwines.com/rss/parker100.asp WA 100 (10/2015): The perfect 2012 Madrona Ranch displays notes of roasted coffee, forest floor, incense, Christmas fruitcake, blackcurrants and blackberry fruit in an incredibly fragrant, full-bodied, opulent style. Far more dramatic and open-knit Capella, the 2012 Madrona is super-intense, with incredibly velvety tannins. This is a sublime wine of the highest order, a fabulous example of the vintage, and a tribute to the craftsmanship of David Abreu and Brad Grimes. It should drink well for 30+ years. VM 100 (10/2015): One of the many highlights in this tasting, the 2012 Madrona Ranch is a real stunner. Bright, nuanced and lively, the 2012 exudes freshness. Blood orange, sweet red berries, mint, cinnamon and a host of bright notes grace the palate. Exquisite, subtle and beautifully nuanced, the 2012 has everything going on. Best of all, the 2012 won't require much cellaring. In 2012, the Madrona Ranch is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot. Antonio Galloni. JS 97 (7/2015): Intense aromas of mushroom, earth and dried flowers follow through to a full body with juicy, rich and ripe tannins and a beautiful austerity. Very contrasty and structured. Balanced and powerful. Needs a lot of time to soften. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot, 12% cabernet franc, and 9% petit verdot. Madrone Howell Mountain and Thorevilos from Abreu. Wait until 2021 to soften. March 2016 release.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Abreu.aspWA 100 (12/2015): The 2013 Chardonnay Eastside is from a vineyard owned by Ulises Valdez, and planted with the Montrachet clone on the very low-yielding rootstock called riparia gloire. This wine displays terrific intensity, plenty of stony minerality, and great precision in its notes of subtle white peach, pineapple, almond paste, brioche and crème brûlée. This is a killer wine and a perfect example of 2013 Chardonnay at its best. I never thought this wine could hit this peak, but the proof is in the tasting, and the wine, which was somewhat shy and reserved after bottling, has truly come to life over the last three to four months. This five-acre vineyard sits on a west-facing hill on Eastside Road in the Russian River. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. VM 95+ (1/2015): The 2013 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard is one of the most tightly wound wines in this range. White pepper, crushed rocks, smoke, mint and lemon peel gradually open up, but only with great reluctance. Today, it is the wine's energy and tension that stand out above all else. A vivid, mineral-drenched finish rounds things out in style.WS 92 (6/2015): Tight, bright and focused, with an elegant core of zesty, lemon-infused green apple, honeydew and tangerine notes, ending with a pithy grapefruit skin edge. Drink now. 900 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Aubert.aspWA 100 (6/2015): Made up of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the opaque bluish/purple 2005 from Bellevue-Mondotte offers amazing chocolate espresso notes along with blueberry and blackberry liqueur, some incense and a hint of flowers. Full-bodied and staggeringly concentrated, this blockbuster wine (in a blockbuster vintage) is unreal. Talk about a wine that is beyond belief - this is a great achievement from Chantal and Gérard Perse. Drink it over the next 25-30 years. Sadly, there were only 340 or so cases produced. WS 97 (6/2008): The crushed blackberry and raspberry are wonderful in this wine. Full-bodied, with superpolished tannins and loads of ripe fruit, toasty oak and coffee on the palate. Goes on and on. An opulent young red. Best after 2016. 420 cases made. VM 91-94 (6/2007): Bright ruby. Aromas of cassis, black raspberry and liquid graphite. Hugely concentrated but very backward, with exotic and extremely dark flavors of black fruits, licorice and violet. This has a surprisingly silky texture (a year ago it seemed to be a bit more chunky) but the major tannins are going to require considerable patience. Better than I thought last year, but not for the faint of heart.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevueMondotte.aspWA 100 (2/2012): The inky/blue/purple-colored 2009 Bellevue Mondotte offers aromas of creme de cassis, mulberries, licorice, white flowers, forest floor and candied cherries. Extremely thick, rich and full-bodied, it is nearly overwhelming in its textural richness, colossal concentration and mind-blowing finish that lasts nearly a minute. Undeniably massive and over-sized, but perfectly balanced, it is made for those looking for something to put away for 30-50+ years. One has to admire a proprietor who is making a wine for the history books, not for near-term gratification. JS 97 (4/2012): Loads of fruit with blueberries and blackberries. Cassis. Full and juicy with super fine tannins. Very flamboyant. Powerful structure. Goes on for minutes. 90% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Try in 2018. VM 95+ (7/2012): (90% merlot with 5% each cabernet franc and sauvignon): Deep ruby. Superripe, slightly inky aromas of blueberry liqueur and violet. Like liquid silk in the mouth, but with surprisingly firm acidity leavening the wine's sweetness and giving shape to its blue and black fruit flavors. A compellingly rich, thick wine with palate-staining length and the tannic clout to support at least a couple decades of positive evolution in bottle. WS 95 (6/2012): A very dark, almost brooding style, with loads of ganache, espresso and roasted fig aromas and flavors, backed by extra notes of black forest cake, warm currant preserves and melted black licorice. There's a gorgeous polished feel despite its heft, with a purity buried deep on the finish. Drink now through 2015. 415 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChBellevueMondotte.aspWA 100 (10/2014): Another perfect wine is Bevan’s equal part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2012 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain. Notes of unsmoked cigar tobacco, forest floor, pen ink mulberries, blackberries and spring flowers soar from this inky/purple-colored 2012. The wine possesses great intensity, remarkable unctuosity and thickness, and perfect integration of acidity, alcohol, tannin and wood. Aged in equal parts new Gamba and Darnajou barrels, there are 225 cases of this fabulous wine. Drink now-2032. VM 95 (1/2015): The 2012 Red Blend Sugarloaf Mountain (Cabernet Franc/Merlot) is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Savory herbs, smoke, tobacco, menthol, graphite, red cherries and plums blossom in a powerful, intense wine that grips all the senses and never lets up. A crescendo of aromas and flavors builds to the layered, voluptuous finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BevanCellars.aspWA 100 (10/2013): Meriting a three digit score, the 2011 Tin Box is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot from a hillside vineyard. It boasts a vivid perfume of acacia flowers and blueberry liqueur that bursts from the glass with vibrant purity as well as intensity. A magnificent red wine with unreal richness, full-bodied unctuosity, low acidity, and velvety tannins, this 2011 (aged in 100% new French oak) reveals few wood notes, and because of the vintage characteristics, can be drunk now or cellared for another 10-15 years. VM 94+ (11/2013): Bevan's 2011 Red Wine Tin Box (Cabernet Sauvignon) emerges from a superb site in Oakville. Deeply spiced and layered, the 2011 impresses for its balance and classy, totally supple personality. Pencil shavings, graphite, spices and plums are some of the many notes that flow through to the stunning finish. Quite frankly, the Tin Box is a revelation. I can hardly wait to see what Russell Bevan comes up with here in a more favorable vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BevanCellars.aspWA 100 (10/2015): From an 11-acre vineyard sitting near Bond’s winery and the Harlan estate, the 2012 Vecina Proprietary Red is the perfect Napa version of a hypothetical blend of a La Mission Haut-Brion and Mouton-Rothschild. This is riveting Cabernet Sauvignon with great intensity, a killer fragrance of burning embers, charcoal, gravel, blackberry, cassis and earth. Fabulously intense and full-bodied, with majestic flavor intensity, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, incredible purity and length, and supple tannins, this magnificent wine comes closest to the great Harlan Estate itself. Drink it over the next 35 years. JS 98 (7/2015): This is a Vecina that really builds on the palate with a chewy and juicy texture that melts away. Lots of dried and dark fruits plus fresh bark and sweet tobacco. Dark tea leafs and citrus too. Great finish. This is a wine that only shows a touch of the greatness it will give in four or five years. WS 95 (11/2015): Deliciously pure and polished, with a juicy mix of blackberry, wild berry, currant and black licorice flavors, supported by firm, fine-grained tannins that give this a gentle texture and nice grip. Ends with a dusty, cedary aftertaste. To be released 2016. Drink now through 2028. 651 cases made. VM 95 (10/2015): The 2012 Vecina is deep, powerful and intense. Scorched earth, smoke, leather, menthol and dark spices are some of the signatures. As always, the Vecina presents a powerful, vertical sense of structure, with more than enough tannin to keep for two decades. This is a decidedly brooding Vecina.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BondEstates(Harlan).aspWA 100 (8/2014): Just another perfect wine (ho hum), the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Le Clos du Caillou is an incredible effort that matches the 2010 in terms of quality, yet has a larger-than-life, richer and more over- the-top style. Loaded to the gills with sweet black cherry, cassis, licorice, lavender, roasted meats and creamy licorice, it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied profile that carries awesome fruit, building, sweet tannin, incredible depth and blockbuster length. Spectacular in every way, enjoy it anytime over the coming two decades. VM 95 (1/2010): (a 70/30 blend of grenache and mourvedre) Dark purple. Hypnotic bouquet of red and dark berry compote, flowers and spices, with notes of smoky garrigue and cola gaining power with air. Manages to be both dense and energetic, offering sweet raspberry and boysenberry flavors underscored by candied flowers and herbs. The finish refuses to let up, repeating the sweet berry and floral notes with great authority.JLL ****[*] (11/2008): Dark red with black tints in the robe; has a broad, wholesome bouquet - beef stock and deep blackberry or black cherry, with a little spice. The palate delivers blackberry fruit with an earthy inlay, delivered in the wrapping of a smooth texture. It is a supple, oily wine with a sweet thread through it. There are polished late tannins and oak - like many wines this year. The length is sound, This is going to be tasty and gracious - it is very sleek and modern, not local. From 2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeClosduCaillou.aspWA 100 (8/2014): Just another perfect wine (ho hum), the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Le Clos du Caillou is an incredible effort that matches the 2010 in terms of quality, yet has a larger-than-life, richer and more over- the-top style. Loaded to the gills with sweet black cherry, cassis, licorice, lavender, roasted meats and creamy licorice, it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied profile that carries awesome fruit, building, sweet tannin, incredible depth and blockbuster length. Spectacular in every way, enjoy it anytime over the coming two decades. VM 95 (1/2010): (a 70/30 blend of grenache and mourvedre) Dark purple. Hypnotic bouquet of red and dark berry compote, flowers and spices, with notes of smoky garrigue and cola gaining power with air. Manages to be both dense and energetic, offering sweet raspberry and boysenberry flavors underscored by candied flowers and herbs. The finish refuses to let up, repeating the sweet berry and floral notes with great authority.JLL ****[*] (11/2008): Dark red with black tints in the robe; has a broad, wholesome bouquet - beef stock and deep blackberry or black cherry, with a little spice. The palate delivers blackberry fruit with an earthy inlay, delivered in the wrapping of a smooth texture. It is a supple, oily wine with a sweet thread through it. There are polished late tannins and oak - like many wines this year. The length is sound, This is going to be tasty and gracious - it is very sleek and modern, not local. From 2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeClosduCaillou.aspWA 100 (1/2003): One of the greatest vintages for Andre Brunel, aside from his extraordinary succession of vintages from 1998-2001 is 1990. The perfect Cuvee Centenaire is still dense ruby/purple-colored with a sumptuous nose of white flowers, raspberry and cherry liqueur, smoke, and mineral scents. The gorgeous aromatics are followed by an unctuously-textured, pure wine that combines the best of Chateauneuf du Pape with the floral, earthy complexity of a great grand cru red Burgundy. This is a riveting tour de force in winemaking. Don’t miss it. Anticipated maturity: now-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesCailloux(LABrunel).aspWA 100 (1/2003): One of the greatest vintages for Andre Brunel, aside from his extraordinary succession of vintages from 1998-2001 is 1990. The perfect Cuvee Centenaire is still dense ruby/purple-colored with a sumptuous nose of white flowers, raspberry and cherry liqueur, smoke, and mineral scents. The gorgeous aromatics are followed by an unctuously-textured, pure wine that combines the best of Chateauneuf du Pape with the floral, earthy complexity of a great grand cru red Burgundy. This is a riveting tour de force in winemaking. Don’t miss it. Anticipated maturity: now-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LesCailloux(LABrunel).aspWA 100 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, which comes from St. Helena, has that blueberry, gravelly, wet-pebble note that I often associate with great vintages of La Mission Haut-Brion. The wine has an inky purple color, gorgeous black raspberry, blueberry liqueur notes, licorice and earth. Full-bodied and opulent with silky tannins, this is a tour de force in winemaking and pure perfection. This is absolutely riveting, prodigious wine that has to be tasted to be believed. Drink it over the next 25 years. VM 94 (10/2015): Carter's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is deep, dense and unctuous on the palate, with plenty of black cherry jam, smoke and graphite nuances. This is an especially rich, sweet Cabernet, but there is plenty of Las Piedras power lurking beneath the fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CarterCellars.aspWA 100 (4/2002): This is one of the greatest dry white wines I have ever tasted. The 1999 Ermitage l'Ermite is a liquid mineral, crystalline expression. It is the essence of its grape as well as terroir. It may be the greatest expression of terroir I have seen outside of a handful of Alsatian Rieslings (Clos Ste. Hune comes to mind). It has that transparent character that terroiristes talk more about than actually recognize. Drinking it is like consuming a liquified stony concoction mixed with white flowers, licorice, and honeyed fruits. It is frightfully pure, dense, and well-delineated. As I said last year, "There is no real fruit character, just glycerin, alcohol, and liquid stones." That's about it, but, wow, what an expression! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. This is for the connoisseur of rare wines. Along with Gerard and Jean-Louis Chave, Chapoutier is producing the finest expressions of white Hermitage. His single vineyard cuvees are to die for if you like these eccentric, idiosyncratic, mammoth dry whites.JLL ****** (4/2006): Full yellow; buttered nose, quite simple at this stage; good, creamy wine - peach flavours and spice, good fat within. Slight aniseed on end. Fabulous elegance, good length and a clean finish. WS 92 (11/2001): Beautiful. Thick, yet so reserved aromatically, with plenty of honey, mineral, macadamia nut, pear tart and passion fruit. What makes it a winner is the opulent, smooth texture. Drink now through 2010. 380 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MChapoutier.aspWA 100 (4/2002): This is one of the greatest dry white wines I have ever tasted. The 1999 Ermitage l'Ermite is a liquid mineral, crystalline expression. It is the essence of its grape as well as terroir. It may be the greatest expression of terroir I have seen outside of a handful of Alsatian Rieslings (Clos Ste. Hune comes to mind). It has that transparent character that terroiristes talk more about than actually recognize. Drinking it is like consuming a liquified stony concoction mixed with white flowers, licorice, and honeyed fruits. It is frightfully pure, dense, and well-delineated. As I said last year, "There is no real fruit character, just glycerin, alcohol, and liquid stones." That's about it, but, wow, what an expression! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. This is for the connoisseur of rare wines. Along with Gerard and Jean-Louis Chave, Chapoutier is producing the finest expressions of white Hermitage. His single vineyard cuvees are to die for if you like these eccentric, idiosyncratic, mammoth dry whites.JLL ****** (4/2006): Full yellow; buttered nose, quite simple at this stage; good, creamy wine - peach flavours and spice, good fat within. Slight aniseed on end. Fabulous elegance, good length and a clean finish. WS 92 (11/2001): Beautiful. Thick, yet so reserved aromatically, with plenty of honey, mineral, macadamia nut, pear tart and passion fruit. What makes it a winner is the opulent, smooth texture. Drink now through 2010. 380 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MChapoutier.aspWA 100 (9/2015): From one of the greatest years in Hermitage, Jean Louis Chave's 2009 Hermitage Blanc is quite possibly the greatest white ever from this estate (the 2013 will certainly be in the same league, but in a different style) and tops out on my scale. An utterly profound wine in every way, it offers to-die-for notes of liquid rock, licorice, buttered citrus, honey and quince. This gives way to a voluptuous, full-bodied, decadent and heavenly Hermitage Blanc that has massive richness and mid-palate depth while always staying fresh, pure and focused. This is insanely good white that will have half a century of longevity. Bravo!WS 98 (10/2012): A stunning display of richness and precision, with almost languid creamed Cavaillon melon, peach and persimmon fruit framed by toasted macadamia nut and brioche hints. This is kept lively by salted butter, chamomile and orange blossom flavors through the very long finish, where a quinine note echoes. Best from 2015 through 2030. 1,200 cases made.VM 96 (4/2012): Bright yellow. Heady, seductively perfumed bouquet evokes fresh pit fruits, citrus zest, honeydew and ginger, with a touch of licorice in the background. Stains the palate with intense nectarine and pear skin flavors braced by vibrant minerality. Rich but strikingly lithe on the finish, which leaves potent spice and citrus fruit notes behind. Josh Raynolds.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Jean-LouisChave.aspWA 100 (6/2015): The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity. Full-bodied, but extremely light on its feet, I don’t mean to gush, but it is super-intense, rich and just so meticulously crafted! This is another fabulous wine and a perfect expression for this vintage. It is difficult to forget the gorgeous blueberry and raspberry fruit, full body, sweet tannin, a multi-layered texture, and purity and palate presence of this stunning wine. Drink it over the next 20 years. P.S. In 2005, this was 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot.VM 100 (11/2015): The 2005 Cheval Blanc is another wine that is utterly mesmerizing from the moment it is opened. Exquisite in its aromatics, the 2005 Cheval is sublime on the palate, where the interplay of Merlot and Cabernet Franc proves to be captivating. In a night of truly spellbinding wines, the Cheval makes a deep impression because of its overall finesse and nuance. Along with the Margaux and Haut-Brion, the Cheval speaks to total refinement and polish. The Cheval is of course not one of the bigger, more imposing wines of the night, but it is among the most complete, which makes it the perfect wine to close out an incredible night. When we first opened the 2005, I thought it might very well be the wine of the night. A few hours later, it was every bit as impressive. Antonio Galloni.NM 98+ (2/2015): The Château Cheval Blanc 2005 has an intense bouquet, one that is more complex than Ausone with a slight marine influence infusing the blackberry and raspberry fruit, hints of wilted violet and cassis surfacing with time an joining the chorus line.. The palate is beautifully balanced with filigree tannin. It feels linear at first and then fans out marvellously with a bravura finish that lacquers the mouth. There is clearly quite brilliant precision here, impressive length and poise with a touch of salinity on the finish. What a spellbinding Cheval Blanc, a Saint Emilion that is just going to get better and better with each passing year.JS 98 (11/2015): Always a fabulous nose of black fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and spices. It's full-bodied with beautifully dense tannins reminiscent of cashmere. A long, long finish rounds out this beautiful wine. It would be better to leave it alone until 2020 but so hard not to revel in its splendor now.WS 97 (3/2008): This is really gorgeous on the nose, with blackberry, mineral, light vanilla bean and milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is racy and very beautiful. The tannins coat the palate, but leave a provoking impression. A Cheval for long-term aging. Best after 2017.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCheval-Blanc.aspWA 100 (6/2004): A prodigious offering, the 2001 Climens’ light medium bold color with a greenish hue is followed by ethereal aromas of tropical fruits (primarily pineapple), honeysuckle, and flowers. It is a medium-bodied wine of monumental richness, extraordinary precision/delineation, great purity, and moderate sweetness. The finish seemingly lasts forever. This monumental effort is the stuff of legends. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+.WS 97 (9/2004): Loads of orange peel and dried apricots on the nose here. Full-bodied, with a wild and exciting palate. Sweet yet racy. Electrifying. Great class and elegance. One of the best Climens I have tasted. Best after 2010. 1,955 cases made.VM 94+ (8/2004): Medium yellow. Reticent, liqueur-like aromas of yellow plum, vineyard peach, spices, white flowers and menthol. Impeccably balanced and impressively structured, with its new oak component to the fore. But this extremely bright, intense, focused wine possesses a strong core of spicy, botrytized fruit. Finishes with terrific fruit and an almost tannic firmness. Like so many of these 2001s, give this long aeration if you plan to taste a bottle any time soon. http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChClimens.aspWA 100 (10/2013): The 2010 Proprietary Red Cariad reveals great intensity along with abundant notes of unsmoked tobacco leaf interwoven with blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, charcoal and coffee bean nuances as well as a Pauillac-like lead pencil shaving character. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Franc is one of the finest wines I tasted over the 12 days I spent tasting in Napa Valley in late August and early September. This remarkable 2010 should drink beautifully for 20 or more years. VM 97 (12/2012): The 2010 Red Wine Cariad is incredibly shut down at this stage. Dark raspberries, flowers, mint and tar emerge over time, but the Cariad remains quite a bit tighter and more introspective than the other wines in this lineup. At the same time, there is a level of purity in the fruit that is striking. This is the tightest of the estate's 2010s. Accordingly, it will require a few years to open up. This is the lowest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in Cariad. VM 95+ (6/2013): (a blend of 48% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 14% petit verdot and 10% cabernet franc): Saturated, bright ruby-red. Deeper and darker on the nose than the Tychson Hill cabernet, offering vibrant scents of blackcurrant, graphite minerality and bitter chocolate. At once round and delineated in the mouth, with dark berry and mineral flavors displaying outstanding depth without excess weight. With its very firm tannic structure, this typically Medoc-like wine will need a good eight to ten years to evolve in bottle and may ultimately merit an even higher rating. These vines in Madrona Vineyard in St. Helena were planted on an alluvial fan in the 1980s. JS 95 (5/2014): Lots of ripe fruit, chocolate and iron. Full body, with loads of velvety tannins and a round and rich palate. It is round and mouthfilling yet fresh and beautiful. Delicious already but will improve with age WS 92 (10/2013): Notable for its charcoal and graphite woodiness, along with its edgy entry into the core of dark berry fruit. Keeps you at arm's length, with the flavors both concentrated and nuanced. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024. 550 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Colgin.aspWA 100 (10/2013): The 2010 IX Estate is another perfect wine. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by copious aromas of blueberries, cassis, pen ink, asphalt, licorice and subtle oak. Full-bodied and rich but light on its feet, this spectacular effort was created from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Enjoy this profound wine over the next 25+ years. VM 97 (12/2012): Colgin's 2010 Red Wine IX Estate emerges from the glass with super-ripe red cherries, flowers, white truffles, spice box and mint, all in a voluptuous style that captures the very best qualities of the year. In this vintage, the IX Estate boasts a level of generosity that make it slightly more accessible than the Tychson Hill. Sweet, seamless and totally pure, the 2010 is endowed with superb balance and fabulous overall harmony. The 2010 shuts down quickly in the glass and I suspect it may do the same in bottle. Nevertheless, this is a stunning showing. VM 95 (6/2013): (63% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 11% cabernet franc and 6% petit verdot): Saturated ruby. Intense, rather wild savory aromas and flavors of black raspberry, soy sauce, mocha, tobacco and game, with a hint of chocolatey superripeness. Plush, rich and sweet, conveying lovely fullness without excess weight, with underlying minerality giving the very long finish a firm edge. Silky and elegant wine. These 2010s have pHs of around 3.85, which I gather is a tad lower than average. WS 94 (10/2013): Pleasing for its richness, elegance and finesse, this graceful red presents a delicate mix of dark berry, licorice, light cedar and loamy earth, gliding along on the finish, where the wine is amazingly polished. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2026. 1,100 cases made. JS 94 (5/2014): Aromas of spices, sage, bay leaf and pepper. Medium to full body with juicy tannins and a tangy, orange peel finish. It's balanced and pretty. So drinkable now. Mostly cabernet with merlot, franc and petit verdot.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Colgin.aspWA 100 (2/2012): One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos d’Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos d’Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century. JS 100 (11/2011): Classic Cos with so much spice and fruit, yet refined and sexy. Powerful with super silky tannins. Full bodied, yet incredibly compacted. This is so tight and rich with layers of fruit and tannins and a finish that last for minutes on the palate. I asked the head of Cos, Jean-Guillaume Prats, what the alcohol on the wine was, and he said 14.8% alcohol and 3.58 pH. Fab. Try after 2021. WS 97 (3/2012): This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavors backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over on the hard-driving and extremely long, anise- and incense-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style. Best from 2020 through 2040. 20,830 cases made. VM 93-96 (6/2011): (a blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, cabernet franc 2% and 1% petit verdot; 3.51 pH; IPT 91; alcohol 14.5% alcohol; a 55% selection for the grand vin Saturated bright ruby. Captivating, intense aromas of dark berries, red cherry, mint and tobacco. Dense, sweet and fruity in the mouth if still a bit youthfully tight, with great purity to the flavors of red and dark berries, exotic herbs and licorice. Finishes smooth and extremely long, with wonderfully silky tannins. This very big wine will need plenty of time, but I have no doubt this will be remembered as a great Cos. Jean-Guillaume Prats pointed out that though the analytical numbers (IPT, alcohol, acidity) are very similar to those of the '09 Cos, the two wines could not be more different. When it comes to wine, he emphasized, the numbers do not tell the whole story. I should point out that the 2010 Cos contains only 19% merlot, down from the 33% of 2009—and merlot that had overripened at that.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 100 (2/2012): One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos d’Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos d’Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century. JS 100 (11/2011): Classic Cos with so much spice and fruit, yet refined and sexy. Powerful with super silky tannins. Full bodied, yet incredibly compacted. This is so tight and rich with layers of fruit and tannins and a finish that last for minutes on the palate. I asked the head of Cos, Jean-Guillaume Prats, what the alcohol on the wine was, and he said 14.8% alcohol and 3.58 pH. Fab. Try after 2021. WS 97 (3/2012): This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavors backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over on the hard-driving and extremely long, anise- and incense-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style. Best from 2020 through 2040. 20,830 cases made. VM 93-96 (6/2011): (a blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, cabernet franc 2% and 1% petit verdot; 3.51 pH; IPT 91; alcohol 14.5% alcohol; a 55% selection for the grand vin Saturated bright ruby. Captivating, intense aromas of dark berries, red cherry, mint and tobacco. Dense, sweet and fruity in the mouth if still a bit youthfully tight, with great purity to the flavors of red and dark berries, exotic herbs and licorice. Finishes smooth and extremely long, with wonderfully silky tannins. This very big wine will need plenty of time, but I have no doubt this will be remembered as a great Cos. Jean-Guillaume Prats pointed out that though the analytical numbers (IPT, alcohol, acidity) are very similar to those of the '09 Cos, the two wines could not be more different. When it comes to wine, he emphasized, the numbers do not tell the whole story. I should point out that the 2010 Cos contains only 19% merlot, down from the 33% of 2009—and merlot that had overripened at that.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChCosdEstournel.aspWA 100 (10/2012): Pure perfection, the 2010 Gigondas Hominis Fides (200 cases produced) boasts over-the-top richness, an extraordinary, room-filling bouquet of red, black and blue fruits intermixed with charcoal, subtle new oak, forest floor and spice box. With fabulous richness, a massive mouthfeel and a delicacy and subtlety that belie its heft, weight, richness, precision and delineated character, this remarkable Gigondas may be the finest wine I have ever tasted from this appellation. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. JLL ****** (12/2011): Clear red robe. Red berry-raspberry, oily air, which is thorough, also pure, and shows a fine trail of flint, smoke-ash. The palate is tight, with fine tannins along either side. It holds well modelled, clear red fruit, red cherry. It builds up rather forcefully, and a lot of grainy, assertive content appears on the finish. Has good, intense, good carry fruit, and a lovely tinkle of clarity. Great, stylish Gigondas. From 2016-17. WS 97 (10/2012): Dense and packed, with bittersweet chocolate and espresso notes leading the way for a huge core of blueberry, blackberry and black currant fruit, all melded together and pumping through the graphite-filled finish. The fruit is almost ostentatious now, but the grip is there, buried on the finish, and this will easily cruise in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2032. 208 cases made. VM 94 (1/2013): Opaque purple. Powerful black raspberry, floral and Asian spice aromas show outstanding clarity and vivacity. Offers deeply pitched flavors of red and dark fruit preserves, given spine and lift by zesty minerality. The spicy note comes back strong on the the clinging, floral-driven finish. Extremely rich but showing a surprisingly accessible side right now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdeStCosme.aspWA 100 (10/1995): The awesome 1992 Maya is performing better than the 1991 did at a similar stage. It reveals a saturated purple color, as well as an intense fragrance of black-raspberries, cassis, flowers, and minerals. The wine possesses great fruit, superb density, wonderful purity and balance, and a compelling extra dimension both aromatically and texturally. It is destined to be one of California's legendary wines. http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DallaValle.aspWA 100 (6/2012): As stunning as this basic Cabernet Sauvignon is, the 2002 Maya, a proprietary blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Cabernet Franc, is pure perfection. It boasts an inky purple color as well as an extraordinary perfume of incense, black fruits, charcoal and forest floor. Full-bodied, with monumental intensity, a multidimensional texture/mouthfeel, and a stunning finish, this beauty reveals the brilliant quality of the Dalla Valle Cabernet Franc plantings meshed with their powerful Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040+. VM 95 (6/2014): Rich, ripe and explosive, the 2002 Maya emerges from the glass with layers of dark, voluptuous fruit. There is plenty going on in the glass, although today the 2002 isn't as expressive as it was when I last tasted it, about two years ago. Dark raspberry jam, cloves, mint and flowers are layered into the finish with substantial weight and silkiness. This is one of the great vintages of Maya and as it turns out the last Maya made until 2005.IWC 92+ (6/2005): (a 55/45 blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc) Good ruby-red. Blueberry, licorice, violet and leather on the perfumed nose. Supple on entry, then sweeter, broader and lusher than the 2002 cabernet, with lovely depth of flavor. Bright and nicely delineated. Finishes with huge, building, horizontal tannins that dust the palate and front teeth and are distinctly finer than those of the basic cabernet bottling, which seems a bit green and dry by comparison. This wine needs several years of patience and should be long-lived. WS 89 (11/2005): Dense, rich and earthy, with tightly wound currant, tobacco, mineral, sage and a touch of leather forming a broad range of flavors. This massive youngster is also quite tannic, so it's hands off for at least five years. Best from 2009 through 2014. 250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DallaValle.aspWA 100 (10/2015): Absolutely perfect is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 1, which comes from the Beckstoffer/Las Piedras Vineyard in St. Helena. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 80% new French oak for 20 months, the wine has that Mission Haut-Brion/Haut-Brion scorched-earth, gravelly, quarry-stone aromatics intermixed with blueberry, cassis and spring flowers. It is full-bodied with magnificent texture and concentration, stunning freshness, and a terrific finish that goes on for close to a minute. This is surreal and compelling Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 30+ years. VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 1, from the famous Las Piedras vineyard in St. Helena, opens with exquisite aromatics. Silky, nuanced and polished to the core, the 2013 shows the more finessed side of this site. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint and sweet spices are laced into the super-expressive finish. The minerality of Piedras comes through most clearly on the finish. Still, it would be nice to see more site specificity here. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FairchildEstate.aspWA 100 (4/2009): Utter perfection, the 2005 Cote Rotie La Landonne exhibits a similar scorched earth/burning ember and bacon fat-scented nose as well as copious quantities of black fruits, truffles, and forest floor. Incredibly dense and masculine with unreal levels of concentration, and beautifully integrated tannin, acidity, and oak, this remarkable 2005 may turn out to be the longest-lived La Landonne since the debut vintage of 1978 (which is still going strong). Cellar this cuvee for 5-6 years, and consume it over the following 35+ years. JLL ****** (5/2011): Bright, healthy dark red robe. Has a creamy, softening black fruits aroma with a fine jam air about it - the fruit is a dark plum and there are droplets of red meat from this big vintage. A sturdy start from this sealed, tight bouquet that has cedar influences hovering. The palate starts cautiously, is less open than the Mouline and Turque. It is extremely persistent, though, is a real Road Runner that coats the palate every which way. Its oak is infusing - I can see that it was needed this year to sort out the strength of the tannins, very much so. The finale is wide. It will be more defined from 2015-16. It is in its shell, and today I prefer the Turque of all the 3 Big Wines by a whisker. WS 99 (9/2009): Still tight, with a wall of mocha and raspberry ganache covering the massive core of fig fruit, hoisin sauce and plum cake notes. This is extremely dense but remarkably polished, with a long, tongue-penetrating finish that drips of fruit and spice laid over massive grip. Best from 2012 through 2034. 1,000 cases made. IWC 97 (1/2008): Opaque purple. Brooding cherry-cola, cassis, cocoa and licorice scents, with suave Indian spices gaining power with air. Deep, chewy and sweet, offering impressively rich dark fruit preserve flavors, velvety tannins and great spicy lift. Really clings to the palate, finishing sappy and with outstanding thrust. An amazing wine, but I give the edge to the Turque today. VM 96+ (12/2013): The only problem with Guigal’s 2005 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is that it is too young. A wine of pure texture and silkiness, the Landonne graces the palate with stunning richness and depth. Three and half years in oak have given the 2005 a level of depth and density that is remarkable. But what is most impressive of all is just how primary the flavors are, even at eight years of age. Readers lucky enough to own the 2005 should cellar it for at least another five years. I imagine it will still be spectacular at age 30. Today it is the wine’s pure texture and persistence that impress most.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EtienneGuigal.aspWA 100 (12/2013): Another 2009 that exhibits over the top extravagance and richness, and one I can find no fault in, the 2009 Cote Rotie La Landonne offers a colossal and full-bodied profile that carries incredible aromas and flavors of roasted meats, smoke, asphalt and assorted meatiness that’s all grounded by a massive core of fruit. A huge wine, it stays perfectly in check, with notable freshness, a deep, layered mid-palate and masses of fine tannin that carry through the finish. Hide this beauty in the cellar for another decade and enjoy. JLL ****** (12/2011): Dark robe; there is a chocolate breadth on the nose, accompanied by some herbs of the south - it has a very deep blackberry jam fruiting, a real plunge of that aroma. There are also pine-bosky woods and licorice touches. The palate is direct, travels along tightly, has a free, fresh style after half way, is really good. It fines on down as it goes, is an interesting, complex wine - the most complex of the Big Three in 2009. The finish reflects menthol, is a clear-cut adieu. “We picked early in 2009 - early and fast to avoid heaviness,” Philippe Guigal. WS 99 (10/2013): This delivers a stunningly ripe, pure, polished bolt of plum confiture, along with notes of anise, mocha, blueberry coulis, Black Forest cake and espresso. The finish sports admirable grip for this ripe-styled vintage, with a grounding rod of iron buried deeply. There's fruit and muscle now, with minerality to burn while this is cellared. Best from 2015 through 2040. 1,000 cases made.IWC 96 (3/2014): Glass-staining purple. Explosive aromas of dark berries, fresh violet and anise, with a hint of smokiness in the background. Sappy and incisive on the palate, offering deeply pitched, spice-tinged cassis and bitter cherry flavors accented by bitter herbs. Closes extremely long, with firm tannic grip and alluring sweetness, leaving a zesty mineral note behind. Showing a surprising degree of elegance for the vintage and for this bottling, which is usually the most forbidding of Guigal's big-gun Cote-Roties.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EtienneGuigal.aspWA 100 (5/2011): This wine, which first debuted in 1990, has probably garnered more perfect scores than any other Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2001 is just entering a young adolescent stage of development, exhibiting extraordinary nuances such as sweet, loamy soil and earthy minerality intermixed with some background smoke, black currant liqueur, plum, Asian spice and new saddle leather. Full-bodied, it possesses great intensity, with stunning flavors that are viscous enough to coat the mouth, but never become heavy or overbearing. The wine has a remarkable purity, concentration and intensity that should carry it for another 30+ years. This is already very promising, and for those who own it, I would suggest a good two to three hours of decanting prior to service. WS 97 (7/2011): Firm and intense, with gripping tannins wrapped around dark berry, black licorice, graphite, cedar and tar. Slow to unfold but does so impressively, gaining strength, depth and vitality; appears a great candidate to go another 10 to 15 years with ease.—2001 California Cabernet blind retrospective (June 2011). Drink now through 2025. 1,250 cases made. VM 96 (5/2004): Deep ruby. Roasted black fruits, leather, licorice, bitter chocolate and mint on the complex, youthfully medicinal nose. Hugely sweet, fat and pliant, with solid structure currently covered by baby fat. The wine's brilliant vinosity became more apparent as it opened in the glass. Finishes with noble, sweet tannins and superb palate-staining persistence. A compellingly layered, deep wine that's likely to develop in bottle for 15 or 20 years. I kept raising my score as I went back for yet another taste, and yet it's possible that the 2002 will be even better. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HarlanEstate.aspWA 100 (2/2012): What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions. JS 100 (2/2012): Aromas of forest floor, currants and blueberries, with hints of fresh tobacco and sliced mushrooms. Turns to orange peel and blueberries. Full-bodied, with incredible structure. This is so powerful in tannins, yet so polished. This is the most structured Haut-Brion that I have ever tasted. This has 15% Cabernet Franc, which is more than normal and perhaps giving the wine a little more tannic structure. A monumental Haut-Brion made to age for centuries. I have never tasted a young Haut-Brion, with such spellbinding power and depth. A modern 1945 or 1961 HB? Better than the legendary 1989? Try in 2021. WS 98 (5/2012): This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to massage together fully. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,500 cases made. VM 97+ (7/2012): Vivid deep ruby. Knockout fruity nose offers blackcurrant, strawberry, rosemary, truffle and a stony note. Then very closed in the middle, with cabernet sauvignon-dominated flavors of cassis, cigar box, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and deep, with massive but smooth tannins and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time in the cellar but should be an outstanding, memorable Haut Brion. Offhand, I do not recall a better pair of wines from any estate in 2009: millionaires will have a lot of fun trying to choose between La Mission and Haut Brion in 20 years' time.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 100 (2/2012): What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions. JS 100 (2/2012): Aromas of forest floor, currants and blueberries, with hints of fresh tobacco and sliced mushrooms. Turns to orange peel and blueberries. Full-bodied, with incredible structure. This is so powerful in tannins, yet so polished. This is the most structured Haut-Brion that I have ever tasted. This has 15% Cabernet Franc, which is more than normal and perhaps giving the wine a little more tannic structure. A monumental Haut-Brion made to age for centuries. I have never tasted a young Haut-Brion, with such spellbinding power and depth. A modern 1945 or 1961 HB? Better than the legendary 1989? Try in 2021. WS 98 (5/2012): This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to massage together fully. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,500 cases made. VM 97+ (7/2012): Vivid deep ruby. Knockout fruity nose offers blackcurrant, strawberry, rosemary, truffle and a stony note. Then very closed in the middle, with cabernet sauvignon-dominated flavors of cassis, cigar box, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and deep, with massive but smooth tannins and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time in the cellar but should be an outstanding, memorable Haut Brion. Offhand, I do not recall a better pair of wines from any estate in 2009: millionaires will have a lot of fun trying to choose between La Mission and Haut Brion in 20 years' time.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChHaut-Brion.aspWA 100 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Few and Far Between has a minerality that is also found in the Howell Mountain cuvee as well as deep, luxurious, beautiful black currant and blackberry fruit intermixed with hints of jammy black cherries, licorice, camphor and charcoal embers. Exceptionally full-bodied with sweet tannin, surreal richness and remarkable purity as well as delineation, this pushes ripeness and intensity to nearly over-the-top levels, but it pulls back to simply create a wine of genius. This 2010 should age effortlessly for two to three decades, but there is no reason to delay your enjoyment. IWC 95 (6/2013): (the only one of these cabernets that includes some cabernet franc): Bright ruby-red. Lovely floral lift to the aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, smoky minerals and musky brown spices, with a note of coconutty oak emerging with air. Large-scaled, chewy and rich, showing compelling early sweetness to its dark berry and saline mineral flavors. Wonderfully velvety, palate-staining wine with enough minerality to maintain its shape and balance. I found this a step up in concentration from the 2009 release.WS 94 (11/2013): Matches power with finesse, offering an amazing mix of ripe, zesty, vibrant blackberry, raspberry, black licorice, espresso and kitchen spices. This gains momentum and holds focus, revealing a touch of heat on the finish. Extremely well done in a superripe style. Drink now through 2026. 300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HundredAcreWinery.aspWA 100 (10/2016): Obviously, the Eisele Vineyard next door is a first-growth quality vineyard, and so is Jayson Woodbridge’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Few and Far Between. This has some Cabernet Franc (5%-15%), and spends 32 months in barrel. It is an absolutely outrageously great wine from the volcanic rocks and white volcanic ash of these soils in this northeast sector of Napa to the south of Calistoga. The finish goes on for over a minute, as this wine has layers and layers of fruit. If anything, it reminded me of a Château Latour on steroids. A magnificent example, it is one of the prodigious wines of this great vintage for Bordeaux varietals in Napa. The 2013 Few and Far Between already drinks well, but will still be reveling its purchasers 35-40 years from now. The sad thing about the Few and Far Between Vineyard is that it is only a five-acre parcel. WS 93 (11/2016): Plump and juicy, with ripe plum, cherry and blueberry flavors. The dense backbone of oak, herb and tannins gives this a sense of power, as well as finesse, structure, charm and length. Drink now through 2032. 450 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HundredAcreWinery.aspWA 100 (8/2015): A perfect wine is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Arc Vineyard from Woodbridge’s property on Howell Mountain. This is an amazingly deep, rich, blueberry, blackberry and mulberry scented and flavored wine with skyscraper-like texture, remarkable intensity, again great, great purity, and the new oak completely concealed by the lavish and extravagant amounts of fruit. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, as are all these wines, the Ark Vineyard is certainly another blockbuster wine with no hard edges that comes across like a flawlessly constructed dress from an haute couture house in Paris. It should drink well for 25-30 years as well.WS 93 (10/2015): A deliciously pure and juicy style, capturing the currant and blackberry essence of Cabernet in a supple, graceful manner. Texturally harmonious, with just the right amount of sage details and dusty, earth-laced tannins. Ends on a tart note. Drink now through 2027. 1,100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/HundredAcreWinery.aspWA 100 (12/2009): Absolutely riveting, and even better than I predicted last year is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard. Made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and the rest tiny dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (400 cases produced), in two weeks of tastings, this wine stood out as one of those singular efforts that it is impossible to get out of your mind and off of your palate. A flawless, seamless, profound example of Napa Cabernet, it exhibits an opaque purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of lead pencil shavings, cedar, creme de cassis, ink, flowers, and espresso roast. With phenomenal depth, a multidimensional personality, unbelievable length, and an impeccable integration of all its component parts, this stunning wine lasts and lasts, with a finish approaching a full minute. Give this profound wine 3-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 25-30 years. JS 95 (4/2011): This is a very powerful and structured wine from the Kapcsandy's. Tannic and rich, with flavors of licorice, blueberries, and blackberries. Long and rich finish, give this at least five years. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petite Verdot. 300 cases.WS 94 (10/2010): Tightly wound and Bordeaux-like in its structure and mix of earth, graphite and dried currant flavors. Full-bodied and slow to unfold, but keeps revealing extra layers of depth and complexity only to be reigned in by gripping tannins. Best from 2012 through 2022. 300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KapcsandyFamily.aspWA 100 (12/2010): Another perfect wine (identical to the 2007) is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard. Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (430 cases produced), this is an exquisite wine of great precision and profound concentration and complexity. It possesses an inky/purple color in addition to an ethereal nose of cassis, chocolate, burning embers, espresso and forest floor. Sweet tannins, a multidimensional mouthfeel, full-bodied power and good structure as well as freshness make for a prodigious example of wine that will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring, but will keep for 25-30 years. This is an awesome effort, particularly after what the Kapcsandy family achieved in 2007. VM 94+ (5/2011): (87% cabernet sauvignon, 5% each merlot and cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Crushed cassis, blackberry, bitter chocolate and menthol on the nose, along with a pronounced rocky minerality. Densely packed and energetic, with powerful dark berry, crushed stone and saline flavors enlivened by a lavender element. Finishes very long and firm. This uncompromisingly dry wine shut down in the glass and gives every sign of needing a good eight to ten years of cellaring.JS 94 (6/2011): Notes of blueberry and cassis on the nose and palate. This is chewy and rich with a full body that gives hints of minerals, mint, and spices. Don't touch this for five or six years. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Verdot. 430 cases.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KapcsandyFamily.aspWA 100 (12/2010): Another perfect wine (identical to the 2007) is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard. Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (430 cases produced), this is an exquisite wine of great precision and profound concentration and complexity. It possesses an inky/purple color in addition to an ethereal nose of cassis, chocolate, burning embers, espresso and forest floor. Sweet tannins, a multidimensional mouthfeel, full-bodied power and good structure as well as freshness make for a prodigious example of wine that will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring, but will keep for 25-30 years. This is an awesome effort, particularly after what the Kapcsandy family achieved in 2007. VM 94+ (5/2011): (87% cabernet sauvignon, 5% each merlot and cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot): Bright medium ruby. Crushed cassis, blackberry, bitter chocolate and menthol on the nose, along with a pronounced rocky minerality. Densely packed and energetic, with powerful dark berry, crushed stone and saline flavors enlivened by a lavender element. Finishes very long and firm. This uncompromisingly dry wine shut down in the glass and gives every sign of needing a good eight to ten years of cellaring.JS 94 (6/2011): Notes of blueberry and cassis on the nose and palate. This is chewy and rich with a full body that gives hints of minerals, mint, and spices. Don't touch this for five or six years. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petite Verdot. 430 cases.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KapcsandyFamily.aspWA 100 (10/2014): The bottled 2012s are all performing brilliantly. It was a large, but not excessive crop with a consistently warm growing season that never suffered the heat spikes Napa often experiences. The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is the greatest example of this cuvée since the 2007. Bottled without fining or filtration, this blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot tips the scales at 14.1% natural alcohol. There are 320 cases. The Kapcsandys have hit the bull’s eye with this beauty. A stunning set of aromatics consisting of white chocolate, blackcurrant liqueur, cedarwood, graphite, incense and melted licorice is followed by a beautifully integrated, seamless, full-bodied classic. With terrific fruit purity, a touch of spice, and a voluptuously textured, super-pure, extravagant mouthfeel, this well-balanced 2012 can be drunk young because of the stylistic precociousness of this vintage or cellared for two decades. VM 97+ (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is a real stunner. The Grand Vin has all the richness and texture of the Roberta's but with a little more verve, energy and overall structure. Beams of tannin and acidity provide the backdrop in a Grand Vin that brings together the raciness of the vintage with a fabulous sense of vibrancy. The 2012 is going to be very hard to resist young, but it also clearly has the capacity to age for decades. VM 96-99 (5/2014): (13.9% alcohol; includes 2% merlot; 100% new French oak): Bright medium ruby. Urgent crushed blackcurrant, licorice and wild herb aromas are lifted by violet and iris notes. Superconcentrated and utterly seamless in the mouth but with a magically light touch to the blueberry, licorice and mineral flavors. This really spreads out to saturate the mouth and echoes and resounds on the mounting back end. Tannins are completely buffered by extract. A monumental wine in the making.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KapcsandyFamily.aspWA 100 (10/2016): Little can be added to the greatness of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine (600 cases) is truly stunning in its dense, crème de cassis and blackberry-scented nose with a hint of barbecue smoke and forest floor. Tasting like a ripe vintage of Château Latour from Pauillac, the wine has amazing richness and a savory, expansive mouthfeel, but tiptoes across the palate like a ballerina. A wine of magnificent richness and intensity, but vibrancy, purity and overall equilibrium, this is a staggeringly great wine and another tribute to the Kapcsándy family’s extraordinary professionalism and meticulous attention to detail in their vineyard. JS 98 (4/2016): Incredible black currant, blueberry, stone, oyster shell and violet. Subtle and complex. Sweet tobacco. Full body, superb density and flavor. Great length and structure. A wine that is complete and complex. So much aging potential. Linear and dense. Better in 2022.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KapcsandyFamily.aspWA 100 (10/2016): At 100% Merlot, the 2013 Merlot Roberta’s Reserve is off the charts and could easily eclipse a great vintage of Pétrus in a blind tasting. Fabulous notes of sweet cocoa and chocolate intermixed with black cherry and blackberry soar from the glass of this full-bodied wine that has a deep, rich, profound core of fruit and density. It is a great example of possibly the finest vintage Napa has ever produced for Bordeaux varieties. This wine has greatness all over it, with a minute-plus finish, yet is accessible enough to be drinkable now or cellared for another 30+ years. JS 100 (9/2016): The aromas to this are mind-blowing. Pure violets, lilacs, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, and flowers. Full body and superb tannin tension with polish and balance. Harmony. The layers and texture to this are phenomenal. The greatest American merlot ever made. Ranks among the best in the world. Only about 300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/KapcsandyFamily.aspWA 100 (10/2015): There are roughly 600 cases of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, all of which comes from the Weitz Vineyard on the eastern Vaca Mountain hillside of Oakville at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the Silverado Trail. This is shallow soil interspersed with loads of pebbles and stones. This wine is incredible first-growth material – a magical Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color, an extraordinary nose of blackberry and cassis, white flowers, crushed rock and minerality followed by a full-bodied majestic mouthfeel with phenomenal balance, purity and overall equilibrium. Stunningly rich and impressive, this wine will hit its peak in 8-10 years and has the potential to last 40-50 years. For those who keep track of such things, the wine was completely aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maybach.aspWA 100 (10/2016): The flagship, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, represents 560 cases and achieved 14.8% alcohol after aging in 90% new Taransaud and Darnajou casks. Remarkably, the wine matches the perfect 2013, with extraordinary fragrance of blueberry, blackberry, forest floor, truffle, spring flowers and background barbecue smoke followed by a thick, unctuously textured, juicy, but incredibly well-balanced, intense wine. This is built like a skyscraper with enormous quantities of blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, well-integrated acidity and sweet, gentle tannins. This is an extraordinary effort from Maybach that can be drunk now or cellared for up to 30 or more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maybach.aspWA 100 (10/2016): The flagship, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, represents 560 cases and achieved 14.8% alcohol after aging in 90% new Taransaud and Darnajou casks. Remarkably, the wine matches the perfect 2013, with extraordinary fragrance of blueberry, blackberry, forest floor, truffle, spring flowers and background barbecue smoke followed by a thick, unctuously textured, juicy, but incredibly well-balanced, intense wine. This is built like a skyscraper with enormous quantities of blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, well-integrated acidity and sweet, gentle tannins. This is an extraordinary effort from Maybach that can be drunk now or cellared for up to 30 or more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maybach.aspWA 100 (10/2016): The flagship, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, represents 560 cases and achieved 14.8% alcohol after aging in 90% new Taransaud and Darnajou casks. Remarkably, the wine matches the perfect 2013, with extraordinary fragrance of blueberry, blackberry, forest floor, truffle, spring flowers and background barbecue smoke followed by a thick, unctuously textured, juicy, but incredibly well-balanced, intense wine. This is built like a skyscraper with enormous quantities of blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, well-integrated acidity and sweet, gentle tannins. This is an extraordinary effort from Maybach that can be drunk now or cellared for up to 30 or more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Maybach.aspWA 100 (12/2014): Remarkably, both vintages of Peter Michael’s top Chardonnay selection, the Point Rouge, may merit perfect scores. A selection of the best barrels, it is meant to age for 30 or more years. It represents the crème de la crème essence of what this estate is about. Helen Turley first coined the term by putting red dot stickers on the best barrels in the cellar, hence the name Point Rouge. This cuvée is made from Old Wente selections and some of the estate’s oldest vines, particularly the 25-year-old vines in Belle Côte.The 2012 Chardonnay Point Rouge is slightly more ostentatious and flamboyant than the 2013, with lots of orange marmalade, a full-bodied texture, creamy crème brûlée notes, exotic pineapple and a mind-boggling finish. In my 36-year career, this is one of the single greatest Chardonnays I have ever tasted. It should drink well for 10-15 years, although Peter Michael thinks it has 30 years of aging potential.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PeterMichaelWinery.aspWA 100 (12/2015): Luc Morlet's three-digit wine is the 2013 Cabernet Franc Force de la Nature, 100% Cabernet Franc from the incredible Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard. This is an ethereal wine that goes beyond just being majestic. Aged in 100% new Darnajou oak, the wine offers a flowery, blueberry and blackberry-scented nose along with forest floor, some sweet, subtle toast and lead pencil shavings. Remarkably rich, full-bodied, but light on its feet and on the palate, the wine builds incrementally to a majestic, full-throttle, seamless work that is rather remarkable. This is an amazing wine, and Luc Morlet has certainly proven once again his incredible talents and knowledge of great vineyard sites. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MorletFamilyVineyards.aspWA 100 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Elysian Reserve has a black/bluish purple color, extraordinary suppleness and velvety integration of tannin, copious quantities of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, graphite and white flowers. It’s amazing wine and would be the equivalent of a great vintage of a Mission Haut-Brion on steroids. Whether it lasts 20 years or 30 or 40 is still up for speculation, but this is a profound Cabernet Sauvignon and one of the most compelling examples of this remarkable vintage. This is an utterly compelling, prodigious effort. Here’s to you, Mike Smith! JS 94 (1/2016): Plenty of blueberry, blackberry, fresh herb and sweet tobacco aromas follow through to a full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Full-throttle yet the breaks are on with a bit chewy tannins.VM 93 (10/2015): A fabulous, open-knit, hedonistic wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Elysian captures the more exotic, flashy side of this famous St. Helena site. Mocha, espresso, black cherries, smoke, licorice and tobacco flesh out in a totally effortless, unctuous Cabernet. Layers of flavors blossom through to the exuberant finish. There is so much to like and admire here.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Myriad.aspWA 100 (8/2015): What fun, excitement and joy it will be to compare the four perfect wines Perse has made in 2005, 2009, 2010 and, of course, the 2000, in 25 or so years. This wine is truly profound Bordeaux. Everything is in place - remarkable concentration and a beautiful nose of cedar and ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with some kirsch and spice box in the background. Lavishly rich, with slightly more structure and delineation than the more Rabelaisian 2009, this wine does show some serious tannins in the finish, and comes across as incredibly youthful. Of course, it's five years old, but it tastes more like a just-bottled barrel sample than a 2010. In any event, this wine is set for a long, long life and should be forgotten for at least another decade. Consume it over the following 75 or more years.JS 98 (6/2013): Amazing aromas of blackberries and chocolate. Then dried herbs and sweet tobacco. Wonderful. Full body, with a wonderful density and richness. It goes on for minutes. Tannic and structure but incredible. Very savory. This needs at least 10 years. Superb. This is not quite as complex as 2005 or as harmonious, but it is super quality. Yes.WS 97 (3/2015): An immense wine, with tiers of roasted fig, boysenberry confiture, warm plum sauce, Black Forest cake and raspberry ganache that flow authoritatively, while a terrific graphite underpinning provides support. The explosive finish is framed by roasted apple wood and licorice snap notes. Shows terrific muscle, but the purity and minerality is there as well. Needs time. Best from 2020 through 2040. 7,083 cases made. VM 95+ (7/2013): (14.5% alcohol; 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon): Saturated, deep ruby-red. High-toned, superripe aromas of black raspberry, cassis and caramel. Then dense, velvety and huge in the mouth, with great power and chew to the thick flavors of cassis, raspberry and crushed chalk. This improbably thick wine boasts terrific sweetness but its huge, building tannins will need a good decade of cellaring to harmonize. Interestingly, Gerard Perse picked this fruit in mid-October, yet the wine has been even higher in alcohol in some recent vintages. Stephen Tanzer.NM 95 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Pavie 2010 has a powerful but elegant bouquet with scents of black currant, iodine and seaweed. It is tightly coiled at first, but unwinds with aeration and there is just a touch of volatility creeping in - though nothing to furrow your brow. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, chewy in the mouth with slightly lower acidity than its peers. Sulky towards the finish - this just feels a little ostentatious compared to its peers, but it is very focused and possesses the substance to age with style. This is a long-term Pavie from Gerard Perse.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPavie.aspWA 100 (10/2010): For the fourth time, the Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo has been produced, and for the fourth time, it has received a perfect score although I might back off the 2000's perfect score based on the fact that it seems to be more of an upper-ninety point wine than pure perfection these days. The 2007 may come closest in style to the 1998, the debut vintage, although the tannins are sweeter and the wine is perhaps fatter and richer in the mouth. The alcohols in these cuvees can be very high, ranging from 16.1% in 2003, 15.8% in 2000, 16.3% in 1998, to 15.5% (the lowest ever) in 2007. An inky/purple color is followed by aromas of smoked meats, Peking duck, licorice, lavender, aged beef, grilled steak blood, black currants, plums, sauteed cepes and soy. Enormously concentrated, broad, expansive and massive but not over the top, this is a tour de force in winemaking that is impossible to imagine unless one has a bottle to work through over the course of 4 to 5 hours. Although they advertise using all 13 authorized varietals, this wine is over 90% Grenache, largely from the famed La Crau section of Chateauneuf du Pape. They do have other vineyards from which they pull some of the fruit that goes into the Cuvee da Capo, including St.-Jean, Esquilons and occasionally Monpertuis. The 2007 seems to be broader, fatter, more unctuously textured and more flattering to drink at this stage than the 1998 was. In that sense, the evolutionary development may resemble their 2003s. The 2007 was bottled in February, 2010, and my anticipated drinking dates are 2014-2030+.RR 99 (8/2010): Even more impressive than the Réservée and a noticeable step up, the 2007 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo is one deep, dense puppy and yields awesome aromas of cassis and blackberry fruit, licorice, dry aged beef, and copious stem and garrigue on the nose. The purity and delineation are truly something and the wine has spectacular intensity, depth, and richness. The palate is full bodied with a pure, precise texture, perfect balance through the mid-palate and a finish that delivers so much tannin and extract that it’s almost mouth-numbing. Give this rock star wine 7 to 10 years in the cellar and then drink over the following 2 decades. JLL ***** (11/2008): full, complete red with mauve tints; has a good, broad aroma, has a biscuity black cherry air and a combination of herbs and licorice - has a lot of potential variety. The palate is tightly packed - it is very Grenache in style with its firm red fruits and prune flavours. The finish is robust, nice and deep, and there is an admirable fresh tang at the end. More stylish and live than many 2007s. From 2012. WS 96 (9/2010): This is a remarkable marriage of density and grace, as layers of roasted fig, braised chestnut and dried blood orange stay supple and plush, embedded with rounded grip and alluring cocoa, graphite and incense notes. There’s a long, espresso- and hoisin sauce-filled finish. Best from 2011 through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomduPegau.aspWA 100 (10/2010): For the fourth time, the Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo has been produced, and for the fourth time, it has received a perfect score although I might back off the 2000's perfect score based on the fact that it seems to be more of an upper-ninety point wine than pure perfection these days. The 2007 may come closest in style to the 1998, the debut vintage, although the tannins are sweeter and the wine is perhaps fatter and richer in the mouth. The alcohols in these cuvees can be very high, ranging from 16.1% in 2003, 15.8% in 2000, 16.3% in 1998, to 15.5% (the lowest ever) in 2007. An inky/purple color is followed by aromas of smoked meats, Peking duck, licorice, lavender, aged beef, grilled steak blood, black currants, plums, sauteed cepes and soy. Enormously concentrated, broad, expansive and massive but not over the top, this is a tour de force in winemaking that is impossible to imagine unless one has a bottle to work through over the course of 4 to 5 hours. Although they advertise using all 13 authorized varietals, this wine is over 90% Grenache, largely from the famed La Crau section of Chateauneuf du Pape. They do have other vineyards from which they pull some of the fruit that goes into the Cuvee da Capo, including St.-Jean, Esquilons and occasionally Monpertuis. The 2007 seems to be broader, fatter, more unctuously textured and more flattering to drink at this stage than the 1998 was. In that sense, the evolutionary development may resemble their 2003s. The 2007 was bottled in February, 2010, and my anticipated drinking dates are 2014-2030+. RR 99 (8/2010): Even more impressive than the Réservée and a noticeable step up, the 2007 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo is one deep, dense puppy and yields awesome aromas of cassis and blackberry fruit, licorice, dry aged beef, and copious stem and garrigue on the nose. The purity and delineation are truly something and the wine has spectacular intensity, depth, and richness. The palate is full bodied with a pure, precise texture, perfect balance through the mid-palate and a finish that delivers so much tannin and extract that it’s almost mouth-numbing. Give this rock star wine 7 to 10 years in the cellar and then drink over the following 2 decades. JLL ***** (11/2008): full, complete red with mauve tints; has a good, broad aroma, has a biscuity black cherry air and a combination of herbs and licorice - has a lot of potential variety. The palate is tightly packed - it is very Grenache in style with its firm red fruits and prune flavours. The finish is robust, nice and deep, and there is an admirable fresh tang at the end. More stylish and live than many 2007s. From 2012. WS 96 (9/2010): This is a remarkable marriage of density and grace, as layers of roasted fig, braised chestnut and dried blood orange stay supple and plush, embedded with rounded grip and alluring cocoa, graphite and incense notes. There’s a long, espresso- and hoisin sauce-filled finish. Best from 2011 through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomduPegau.aspWA 100 (10/2010): For the fourth time, the Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo has been produced, and for the fourth time, it has received a perfect score although I might back off the 2000's perfect score based on the fact that it seems to be more of an upper-ninety point wine than pure perfection these days. The 2007 may come closest in style to the 1998, the debut vintage, although the tannins are sweeter and the wine is perhaps fatter and richer in the mouth. The alcohols in these cuvees can be very high, ranging from 16.1% in 2003, 15.8% in 2000, 16.3% in 1998, to 15.5% (the lowest ever) in 2007. An inky/purple color is followed by aromas of smoked meats, Peking duck, licorice, lavender, aged beef, grilled steak blood, black currants, plums, sauteed cepes and soy. Enormously concentrated, broad, expansive and massive but not over the top, this is a tour de force in winemaking that is impossible to imagine unless one has a bottle to work through over the course of 4 to 5 hours. Although they advertise using all 13 authorized varietals, this wine is over 90% Grenache, largely from the famed La Crau section of Chateauneuf du Pape. They do have other vineyards from which they pull some of the fruit that goes into the Cuvee da Capo, including St.-Jean, Esquilons and occasionally Monpertuis. The 2007 seems to be broader, fatter, more unctuously textured and more flattering to drink at this stage than the 1998 was. In that sense, the evolutionary development may resemble their 2003s. The 2007 was bottled in February, 2010, and my anticipated drinking dates are 2014-2030+. RR 99 (8/2010): Even more impressive than the Réservée and a noticeable step up, the 2007 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo is one deep, dense puppy and yields awesome aromas of cassis and blackberry fruit, licorice, dry aged beef, and copious stem and garrigue on the nose. The purity and delineation are truly something and the wine has spectacular intensity, depth, and richness. The palate is full bodied with a pure, precise texture, perfect balance through the mid-palate and a finish that delivers so much tannin and extract that it’s almost mouth-numbing. Give this rock star wine 7 to 10 years in the cellar and then drink over the following 2 decades. JLL ***** (11/2008): full, complete red with mauve tints; has a good, broad aroma, has a biscuity black cherry air and a combination of herbs and licorice - has a lot of potential variety. The palate is tightly packed - it is very Grenache in style with its firm red fruits and prune flavours. The finish is robust, nice and deep, and there is an admirable fresh tang at the end. More stylish and live than many 2007s. From 2012. WS 96 (9/2010): This is a remarkable marriage of density and grace, as layers of roasted fig, braised chestnut and dried blood orange stay supple and plush, embedded with rounded grip and alluring cocoa, graphite and incense notes. There’s a long, espresso- and hoisin sauce-filled finish. Best from 2011 through 2030.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomduPegau.aspWA 100 (11/2013): An inky/plum/purple color is accompanied by a stunning bouquet of violets, charcoal, creme de cassis and a hint of toast. Prodigious when it hits the palate with a full-bodied expansiveness, there is not a hard edge to be found in the 1997, only velvety tannins, compelling depth and fruit intensity, and stunning purity. It is a perfect expression of Napa viticulture and wine that should continue to age effortlessly for two decades or more. WS 97 (12/2008): Dense, rich and focused, youthful and concentrated, with hints of maturity on the edge of the core currant, mineral and spicy berry flavors. Wonderful vibrancy and intensity for a wine this age, which only bodes well for the future. A classic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. VM 94 (5/2000): Full ruby. Supersweet aromas of blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, espresso and tobacco. Thick and seamless yet bright and sharply defined. Very long and spicy on the aftertaste, with excellent grip. Sweet tannins coat the teeth. Williams says the selection for Insignia is based on quality and concentration rather than on a particular flavor profile.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/JosephPhelps.aspWA 100 (10/2015): The incredible 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot treated identically to the Reserve Claret (40% new French oak aged in wood for 22 months prior to bottling). There are nearly 1,500 cases of this wine, with 60% coming from the Sonoma side and 40% from Napa. An absolutely amazing nose of camphor, lead pencil shavings, blackberry and cassis, some new saddle leather, a touch of spicy oak followed by a profoundly concentrated, multi-dimensional mouthfeel with gorgeous integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol. This is a fabulous, seamlessly constructed Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next 15+ years. Kudos to Pride! VM 95+ (10/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve wraps around the palate with serious depth and intensity. Huge, broad swaths of tannin provide the backbone. Dark and intense to the core, the 2012 possesses magnificent intensity as well as considerable structure. Readers will have to be patient, as the Reserve is not forthcoming today, especially within the context of the year. Pride fans won't want to miss the 2012, as it is superb. VM 94+ (6/2015): (14.8% alcohol): Saturated bright ruby. Knockout nose combines crushed blackberry, blueberry, gingerbread, fresh nutmeg, chocolate, mocha and menthol. Almost painfully dense and youthfully shut-down today, in a closed stage just three months after its bottling. But this very powerful mountain Cabernet boasts highly concentrated dark berry and spicecake flavors and already hints at superb chocolatey depth. Finishes with very broad, serious, palate-saturating tannins and terrific length. Ws 93 (10/2015): Features lots of extra facets, from the core of dark berry, licorice, gravel and dust to the pure red berry and spicy oak flavors that peek through midway. The tannins clamp down nicely on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 1,471 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PrideMountainVineyards.aspWA 100 (4/2006): Unlike some minuscule production “cult" wines or luxury cuvees culled from a winery’s primary product that have earned perfect scores over the years, Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon is the winery’s raison d’etre and is produced in significant quantities (3,400 cases in 2002, 3,425 in 2003). For accomplishing this feat the Golitzens should be doubly proud. Dark ruby-colored and sporting a nose of violets, sweet blueberries, dark cherries, and slight undertones of asphalt, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon blossoms on the palate to expose a wine of ethereal delicacy yet immense power. Medium to full-bodied, it expands to reveal concentrated layers of cassis, blackberries, red cherries, raspberries, violets, spices, and touches of candied plums. This rich, exquisitely balanced, sweet, and broad wine is harmonious, graceful, and awesomely long. Projected maturity: now-2022. Congratulations Alex and Paul, welcome to the big leagues. VM 93+ (12/2005): Bright ruby-red. Superripe aromas of cassis, black raspberry, minerals and chocolate. Rich, lush and expressive; superconcentrated but not at all heavy. In fact, this broad, suave wine offers a compellingly silky texture. Finishes impressively rich, dry and long, with firm but fine-grained tannins. Wait until 2010 before drinking this superb cabernet, by which time it may merit an even higher rating. WS 93 (11/2005): Firm and taut, with dusky spice and freshly ground pepper nuances to the dark berry, currant and cherry aromas and flavors, lingering impressively on the chewy finish. Doesn't have the pure fruit of previous vintages, but it should soften and broaden, developing more depth with cellaring. Best from 2008 through 2015. 3,400 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (4/2006): Unlike some minuscule production “cult" wines or luxury cuvees culled from a winery’s primary product that have earned perfect scores over the years, Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon is the winery’s raison d’etre and is produced in significant quantities (3,400 cases in 2002, 3,425 in 2003). For accomplishing this feat the Golitzens should be doubly proud. Dark ruby-colored and sporting a nose of violets, sweet blueberries, dark cherries, and slight undertones of asphalt, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon blossoms on the palate to expose a wine of ethereal delicacy yet immense power. Medium to full-bodied, it expands to reveal concentrated layers of cassis, blackberries, red cherries, raspberries, violets, spices, and touches of candied plums. This rich, exquisitely balanced, sweet, and broad wine is harmonious, graceful, and awesomely long. Projected maturity: now-2022. Congratulations Alex and Paul, welcome to the big leagues.IWC 93+ (12/2005): Bright ruby-red. Superripe aromas of cassis, black raspberry, minerals and chocolate. Rich, lush and expressive; superconcentrated but not at all heavy. In fact, this broad, suave wine offers a compellingly silky texture. Finishes impressively rich, dry and long, with firm but fine-grained tannins. Wait until 2010 before drinking this superb cabernet, by which time it may merit an even higher rating. WS 93 (11/2005): Firm and taut, with dusky spice and freshly ground pepper nuances to the dark berry, currant and cherry aromas and flavors, lingering impressively on the chewy finish. Doesn't have the pure fruit of previous vintages, but it should soften and broaden, developing more depth with cellaring. Best from 2008 through 2015. 3,400 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (6/2013): Another wine I’ve had multiple times recently, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot) is pure perfection in a glass and yields off-the-hook aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, pepper and licorice. Deep, layered and even elegant, with a seamless texture that conceals the sheer wealth of material present, it builds through the mid-palate, possesses huge amounts of extract and masses of polished tannin on the finish. Despite the overall size, it never loses its Cabernet Sauvignon soul and has an almost Bordeaux-like savoriness and tannic frame. Still young (yet gorgeous none the less), it can be enjoyed now or cellared for another 10-15+ years. Drink now-2028. IWC 95+ (12/2006): (includes 2% merlot and 1% cabernet franc; mostly from Champoux Vineyard) Deep medium ruby. Very deep aromas of currant, minerals, meat and smoke, with complicating notes of chocolate, tar and pastry dough. Tightly wound, penetrating and powerful, with terrific precision to the flavors of dark fruits, graphite and minerals. A very firmly structured wine that finishes with superb length, verve and grip. A stunning Washington cabernet. Paul Golitzin says to start drinking this in 2010.WS 95 (6/2006): Richly layered with gorgeous, focused currant, plum and blackberry fruit, shaded with touches of dusky spice and smoky notes from oak, but it's almost subliminal to the harmonious, seamless fruit character. The wine glides over the palate, submerging its tannins to let the flavors soar. Best from 2008 through 2020. 3,400 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (6/2013): A monumental wine in the making, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those wines that presents such an over the top array of aromas and flavors that it’s hard to figure out what you think about it with just a quick glance. It’s only with the second or third sip that you really start to see how special this effort truly is. Offering up perfumed, intense aromas of plum, violets, ink, licorice and black currants, it flows onto the palate with a massive, incredibly full-bodied texture that builds through the mid-palate and carries layers of polished tannins, awesome purity of fruit and blockbuster length. Most likely not for everyone given the sheer size, it is an incredible wine in my opinion. Still tasting like a barrel sample, it will have 30+ total years of longevity. Drink 2017-2037. VM 95+ (11/2010): (includes 3% merlot; 15.2% alcohol) Dark medium ruby. Lovely vibrancy to the aromas of blackcurrant, plum, licorice and cocoa powder, with a strong impression of minerality. Like liquid silk on the palate and yet powerful at the same time, with strong minerality contributing to the impression of lift and inner-mouth perfume. The dark berry, violet and cocoa powder flavors offer compelling early sweetness, and this wine's wonderfully lush tannins will not get in the way of early enjoyment. A great example of the new generation of Quilceda Creek cabernet. Based on its superb length and balance, I'd cellar this for even more fireworks ahead. WS 94 (10/2010): Firm, with a light grip of tannins around a core of dark berry, currant, smoke and tobacco flavors. This has elegance and depth, with a welcome sense of reticence that doesn't push the flavors too strong. Finishes very long, with a silky texture. Drink now through 2017. 4,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (6/2013): A monumental wine in the making, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those wines that presents such an over the top array of aromas and flavors that it’s hard to figure out what you think about it with just a quick glance. It’s only with the second or third sip that you really start to see how special this effort truly is. Offering up perfumed, intense aromas of plum, violets, ink, licorice and black currants, it flows onto the palate with a massive, incredibly full-bodied texture that builds through the mid-palate and carries layers of polished tannins, awesome purity of fruit and blockbuster length. Most likely not for everyone given the sheer size, it is an incredible wine in my opinion. Still tasting like a barrel sample, it will have 30+ total years of longevity. Drink 2017-2037. VM 95+ (11/2010): (includes 3% merlot; 15.2% alcohol) Dark medium ruby. Lovely vibrancy to the aromas of blackcurrant, plum, licorice and cocoa powder, with a strong impression of minerality. Like liquid silk on the palate and yet powerful at the same time, with strong minerality contributing to the impression of lift and inner-mouth perfume. The dark berry, violet and cocoa powder flavors offer compelling early sweetness, and this wine's wonderfully lush tannins will not get in the way of early enjoyment. A great example of the new generation of Quilceda Creek cabernet. Based on its superb length and balance, I'd cellar this for even more fireworks ahead. WS 94 (10/2010): Firm, with a light grip of tannins around a core of dark berry, currant, smoke and tobacco flavors. This has elegance and depth, with a welcome sense of reticence that doesn't push the flavors too strong. Finishes very long, with a silky texture. Drink now through 2017. 4,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (6/2013): A monumental wine in the making, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those wines that presents such an over the top array of aromas and flavors that it’s hard to figure out what you think about it with just a quick glance. It’s only with the second or third sip that you really start to see how special this effort truly is. Offering up perfumed, intense aromas of plum, violets, ink, licorice and black currants, it flows onto the palate with a massive, incredibly full-bodied texture that builds through the mid-palate and carries layers of polished tannins, awesome purity of fruit and blockbuster length. Most likely not for everyone given the sheer size, it is an incredible wine in my opinion. Still tasting like a barrel sample, it will have 30+ total years of longevity. Drink 2017-2037. VM 95+ (11/2010): (includes 3% merlot; 15.2% alcohol) Dark medium ruby. Lovely vibrancy to the aromas of blackcurrant, plum, licorice and cocoa powder, with a strong impression of minerality. Like liquid silk on the palate and yet powerful at the same time, with strong minerality contributing to the impression of lift and inner-mouth perfume. The dark berry, violet and cocoa powder flavors offer compelling early sweetness, and this wine's wonderfully lush tannins will not get in the way of early enjoyment. A great example of the new generation of Quilceda Creek cabernet. Based on its superb length and balance, I'd cellar this for even more fireworks ahead. WS 94 (10/2010): Firm, with a light grip of tannins around a core of dark berry, currant, smoke and tobacco flavors. This has elegance and depth, with a welcome sense of reticence that doesn't push the flavors too strong. Finishes very long, with a silky texture. Drink now through 2017. 4,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (6/2013): A monumental wine in the making, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of those wines that presents such an over the top array of aromas and flavors that it’s hard to figure out what you think about it with just a quick glance. It’s only with the second or third sip that you really start to see how special this effort truly is. Offering up perfumed, intense aromas of plum, violets, ink, licorice and black currants, it flows onto the palate with a massive, incredibly full-bodied texture that builds through the mid-palate and carries layers of polished tannins, awesome purity of fruit and blockbuster length. Most likely not for everyone given the sheer size, it is an incredible wine in my opinion. Still tasting like a barrel sample, it will have 30+ total years of longevity. Drink 2017-2037. VM 95+ (11/2010): (includes 3% merlot; 15.2% alcohol) Dark medium ruby. Lovely vibrancy to the aromas of blackcurrant, plum, licorice and cocoa powder, with a strong impression of minerality. Like liquid silk on the palate and yet powerful at the same time, with strong minerality contributing to the impression of lift and inner-mouth perfume. The dark berry, violet and cocoa powder flavors offer compelling early sweetness, and this wine's wonderfully lush tannins will not get in the way of early enjoyment. A great example of the new generation of Quilceda Creek cabernet. Based on its superb length and balance, I'd cellar this for even more fireworks ahead. WS 94 (10/2010): Firm, with a light grip of tannins around a core of dark berry, currant, smoke and tobacco flavors. This has elegance and depth, with a welcome sense of reticence that doesn't push the flavors too strong. Finishes very long, with a silky texture. Drink now through 2017. 4,250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 100 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is another perfect wine. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot (400 cases produced) aged in 100% new French oak, this gravelly site produced a wine with notes of wet pebbles, Haut Brion-like scorched earth and volcanic notes, some smoke, dark chocolate, forest floor, and massive amounts of blueberry and blackberry fruit. A wine of great intensity, depth and richness, if somehow Bordeaux's Haut Brion were injected with steroids, it might taste like this monumental effort from Napa. This is pure perfection and should drink well young as well as 30 years from now. Bravo! JS 99 (1/2016): So intense and aromatic with spices, blueberries and blackberries. Incredible nose. Then turns to dried mushrooms. Full body, extremely layered and beautiful. Powerful. Turns to iodine and oyster shell. Goes on for minutes. Superb. Try this in 2020, but so irresistible already. 225 cases. VM 96 (10/2015): One of the signature wines here, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is one of the more voluptuous, racy wines in this lineup. Deep, powerful and intense, the Dr. Crane captures the silkiness and spherical creaminess that is such a signature of this great site. Racy, voluptuous and totally seamless on the palate, the Dr. Crane captures the best of the Realm style. Raspberry jam, sweet spices, mocha and licorice add shades of nuance, but the Crane is all about texture and feel. The 2013 shuts down quickly in the glass, which is probably a good thing for the future, but something readers should keep in mind if opening the wine young, which, by the way, I do not recommend. Antonio Galloni. WS 93 (11/2016): Delightfully rich and layered, with savory herb and underbrush aromas amid the dark, extracted berry, mocha, anise and cedary flavors. Thick and persistent on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 225 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Realm.aspWA 100 (12/2015): Another perfect wine (but very limited in production at 200 cases) is the 2013 The Absurd, a blend of 17 components dominated by 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Benoit Touquette told me that this wine is produced with no rules and no restrictions, and is considered their super-blend of the best they have in any given vintage. (I guess I would look stupid if I didn't give it 100 points, given the fact that two other Realm wines already hit that maximum score.) There is something different in this wine, with an opaque purple color for sure, but then there's the cassis, the blackberries, the roasted meats, some spicy pepper, and then an extravagantly rich, cascading palate that seems to be built like a skyscraper, but without one hard edge. This is a seriously endowed, super-rich, incredibly well-balanced wine that should drink well for 25 or more years. VM 95 (10/2015): A dark, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Absurd is a terrific example of the Realm style at its best. Surprisingly open for such a young wine, the 2013 offers gorgeous textural richness and voluptuousness. Sweet dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, spices and crushed rocks are laced into the powerful yet seamless finish. The Absurd is remarkably nuanced for a wine with this much intensity. Antonio Galloni. WS 93 (11/2016): Smoky, toasty oak provides the framework and an alluring flavor, yet the emergence and presence of riveting blackberry, wild berry, black cherry and plum add flavor nuances, joined by dusty, cedary oak and loamy earth scents that are tightly focused. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Realm.aspWA 100 (8/2014): The largest scaled of the three, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum offers a 2009-like level of decadence, yet is more dense, concentrated and thick, with a massive mid-palate and texture that has nothing out of place. Boasting off-the-chart aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, ground pepper, melted licorice, loamy soil and exotic spice, it’s another desert island wine, in a lineup of desert island wines. Given that there are so few of these to go around, and that it’s bottled only in magnum, I know it’s difficult to open bottles, but don’t wait too long, as all three are insanely good – even today. WS 97 (11/2009): Pure and velvety, with an alluring raspberry ganache note that drives the blackberry, hoisin sauce, mesquite and incense flavors through the superlong finish. Shows plenty of density, but stays suave and almost light on its feet, with plenty of buried graphite and pastis in reserve. A beautiful combination of power and finesse. Best from 2010 through 2030. 8 cases imported. VM 95 (1/2010): (for 1.5 liters; 100% grenache from 102-year-old vines) Vivid ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed bouquet of raspberry and blackberry, rose and Asian spices, with a suave mineral undertone. Bright, focused red fruit flavors are deeply concentrated but pinot-like in their delicacy and balance; sweetness mounts and a floral quality emerges on the back half. Really impressive for its clarity and focus. Finishes spicy, mineral-driven and very long. Josh Raynolds.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosSaintJean.aspWA 100 (8/2014): More flamboyant, open and exotic, with notes of kirsch liqueur, cassis, toasted almonds, sandalwood, lavender, and crushed flowers that you can smell from across the room, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum expands on the palate, with incredible concentration, building, sweet tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. Where the 2010 cuts a more focused path, this puppy is overflowing with fruit and texture. It too is a perfect wine that will evolve for another couple decades, yet given this showing, don’t hesitate to crack bottles over the coming couple of years. WS 95 (11/2011): This lush red shows very enticing notes of toasty raisin, spice cake, fig sauce and blackberry preserves inlaid with flashes of ganache and espresso. The dense but racy finish features a graphite edge that really extends. Grenache. Best from 2012 through 2024. 75 cases imported.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ClosSaintJean.aspWA 100 (8/2009): Utter perfection, and one of the most profound Rhone Ranger wines I have ever tasted is the 2007 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red, a blend of 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, and 28% Syrah (15.8% alcohol). It would be an amazing wine to insert in a tasting of the most profound 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes. As with many prodigious wines, the extraordinary freshness, purity, equilibrium, and singularity of this effort is breathtaking. Its dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary, incredibly pure, all enveloping, intense, sweet nose of black raspberries, kirsch, spring flowers, spice box, and pepper. Full-bodied with not a hard edge to be found, it is stunningly concentrated with unreal purity, a voluptuous texture, and remarkable freshness for a wine of such power, depth, and concentration. This 2007 will be approachable young, although I would not be surprised to see it close down given the relatively elevated proportion of Mourvedre, and it should drink well for 12-15 years. WS 98 (2/2010): (2010 Wine Spectator Wine of the Year) An amazing wine, dense, rich and layered, offering a mix of power and finesse, with concentrated dark berry fruit, mineral, sage, herb and cedar notes that are pure, intense, focused and persistent. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2018. 950 cases made. VM 97 (12/2009): 41% grenache, 31% mourvedre and 28% syrah) Inky purple color. Spectacular nose combines black and blue fruit preserves, cola, smoky Indian spices and potpourri, with a vibrant mineral underpinning. Juicy, vibrant and focused, offering sweet boysenberry and blueberry flavors and suave floral pastille and allspice qualities. Deeply concentrated but lithe, with superb finishing clarity and a spicy, endless finish. I also retasted the 2006 James Berry Vineyard and it is in a highly expressive, juicy phase right now, with strong, sweet red and dark berry flavors and excellent clarity. I suspect that my score of 94 last year was low by a point. And the 2008 version, tasted from barrel, looks at least as good as this 2007.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Saxum.aspWA 100 (8/2009): Utter perfection, and one of the most profound Rhone Ranger wines I have ever tasted is the 2007 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red, a blend of 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, and 28% Syrah (15.8% alcohol). It would be an amazing wine to insert in a tasting of the most profound 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes. As with many prodigious wines, the extraordinary freshness, purity, equilibrium, and singularity of this effort is breathtaking. Its dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary, incredibly pure, all enveloping, intense, sweet nose of black raspberries, kirsch, spring flowers, spice box, and pepper. Full-bodied with not a hard edge to be found, it is stunningly concentrated with unreal purity, a voluptuous texture, and remarkable freshness for a wine of such power, depth, and concentration. This 2007 will be approachable young, although I would not be surprised to see it close down given the relatively elevated proportion of Mourvedre, and it should drink well for 12-15 years. WS 98 (2/2010): (2010 Wine Spectator Wine of the Year) An amazing wine, dense, rich and layered, offering a mix of power and finesse, with concentrated dark berry fruit, mineral, sage, herb and cedar notes that are pure, intense, focused and persistent. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2018. 950 cases made. VM 97 (12/2009): 41% grenache, 31% mourvedre and 28% syrah) Inky purple color. Spectacular nose combines black and blue fruit preserves, cola, smoky Indian spices and potpourri, with a vibrant mineral underpinning. Juicy, vibrant and focused, offering sweet boysenberry and blueberry flavors and suave floral pastille and allspice qualities. Deeply concentrated but lithe, with superb finishing clarity and a spicy, endless finish. I also retasted the 2006 James Berry Vineyard and it is in a highly expressive, juicy phase right now, with strong, sweet red and dark berry flavors and excellent clarity. I suspect that my score of 94 last year was low by a point. And the 2008 version, tasted from barrel, looks at least as good as this 2007.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Saxum.aspWA 100 (8/2009): Utter perfection, and one of the most profound Rhone Ranger wines I have ever tasted is the 2007 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red, a blend of 41% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, and 28% Syrah (15.8% alcohol). It would be an amazing wine to insert in a tasting of the most profound 2007 Chateauneuf du Papes. As with many prodigious wines, the extraordinary freshness, purity, equilibrium, and singularity of this effort is breathtaking. Its dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary, incredibly pure, all enveloping, intense, sweet nose of black raspberries, kirsch, spring flowers, spice box, and pepper. Full-bodied with not a hard edge to be found, it is stunningly concentrated with unreal purity, a voluptuous texture, and remarkable freshness for a wine of such power, depth, and concentration. This 2007 will be approachable young, although I would not be surprised to see it close down given the relatively elevated proportion of Mourvedre, and it should drink well for 12-15 years. WS 98 (2/2010): (2010 Wine Spectator Wine of the Year) An amazing wine, dense, rich and layered, offering a mix of power and finesse, with concentrated dark berry fruit, mineral, sage, herb and cedar notes that are pure, intense, focused and persistent. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2018. 950 cases made. VM 97 (12/2009): 41% grenache, 31% mourvedre and 28% syrah) Inky purple color. Spectacular nose combines black and blue fruit preserves, cola, smoky Indian spices and potpourri, with a vibrant mineral underpinning. Juicy, vibrant and focused, offering sweet boysenberry and blueberry flavors and suave floral pastille and allspice qualities. Deeply concentrated but lithe, with superb finishing clarity and a spicy, endless finish. I also retasted the 2006 James Berry Vineyard and it is in a highly expressive, juicy phase right now, with strong, sweet red and dark berry flavors and excellent clarity. I suspect that my score of 94 last year was low by a point. And the 2008 version, tasted from barrel, looks at least as good as this 2007.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Saxum.aspWA 100 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard CCS is Clone 4 from another block, and always seems to hit all the sweet spots on my palate. It’s aged 20 months in 100% new Darnajou barrels. The good news is there are 520 cases of it. Just a prodigious wine, this spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon is inky bluish/purple with a gorgeous nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, a touch of background toast and graphite. It has a very full-bodied, multidimensional mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like finish. It is fabulously open, sexy and a total thrill to smell and taste. This should continue to drink well for two decades. VM 96 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is gorgeous. Often one of the more open-knit, silky wines in the range, the CCS plays in an upper register of sweet perfumed aromatics, bright red fruit and super-finessed tannins. A long, polished finish rounds things out in style. Even though the CCS is one of the more delicate wines in the Schrader lineup, the new oak is totally integrated. In the end, great wine are all about balance, and the 2012 CCS has that in spades. This is a magnificent showing. JS 96 (7/2015): This is very rich and bright with loads of fruit and spice character. Some fresh berry too. Full-bodied, very firm and chewy, yet bright and intense. Muscular and powerful. A beauty. Better in 2018. WS 94 (5/2015): While big and chewy, this offers an intriguing mix of dark berry, plum and black cherry, shaded by black licorice, cedar and berry jam on the finish. The flavors push through gracefully on the finish. Best from 2016 through 2029. 520 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Schrader.aspWA 100 (10/2014): Another compelling, perfect wine is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky. This is Clone 4 and Clone 6, as well as Clone 337, blended together from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, aged in 100% new Darnajou barrels. For whatever reason, this wine seems to show more chocolate, espresso roast, barbecue smoke, dense blackberry and blueberry fruit and enormous body with not a touch of heaviness or astringency. This is a fabulous offering. It should drink well for 20-25 years. WS 96 (3/2015): Very tight, featuring a beam of spice-laced blackberry, currant, dried herb and jazzy oak. The laser focus is most evident on the finish, which slowly unravels to highlight this wine’s density, elegance and grace. The flavors reverberate in the end. Best from 2017 through 2023. 200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Schrader.aspWA 100 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, which is essentially made from clone 4 from two separate blocks, clone 6 and clone 337, is another perfect wine from the Schraders. I suppose it’s a little boring to say, and perhaps I can be accused of creating unrealistic expectations on the part of readers, but this is as great as Cabernet can be. Tasting like a first-growth Pauillac, the wine is opaque purple and has a fabulous nose of lead pencil, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry and the telltale cassis. There is also some licorice and sweet oak, the tannins are ripe, and the wine full-bodied. Built like a skyscraper, with an incredible finish (like most of these wines) going on for 50 seconds to a minute, this amazing wine should still be drinking splendidly well at age 25 or 30.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Schrader.aspWA 100 (12/2014): One of the perfect wines from Shafer is the 2007 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select. Think it over - in the first decade of the 21st century, Shafer scored three perfect scores and two 99s - that’s about as high a praise as I can give any producer in the world. Opaque purple in color, the 2007 has a stunning nose of sweet crème de cassis, black cherries, licorice, and toasty oak, a multilayered, full-throttle personality, and a texture that builds and builds. Great purity, fabulous fruit intensity and a richness without heaviness characterize this massive, prodigious effort from Shafer. It’s still very young, despite this vintage, which seems to be maturing precociously. I don’t believe this wine will hit its stride for at least another 5-10 years and drink well for at least 2-3 decades. JS 97 (2/2011): This won't be out until next year and will mark 25 years of Hillside Select. Nice aromas of mint, mineral, dark fruits, and delicious currants. Full bodied, with a soft beginning that just builds and builds. This is muscular and toned, very impressive. Save your money to get plenty of this. Thought provoking wine. Don't drink this for four or five years. VM 94+ (7/2016): (15.5% alcohol): Deep red with ruby tones. Classic Stags Leap nose combines dark plum, black cherry, currant, mocha, dried herbs, cigar box, leafy underbrush and cocoa powder; I thought of a fresh-baked doughnut. Very densely packed and youthful but showing considerably more personality--and more consistent ripeness--than the 2006 edition. This seriously structured wine finishes with substantial but ripe tannins and excellent length. I wouldn't pull the cork for at least another few years. From a vintage featuring small clusters and small berries. Stephen Tanzer. WS 92 (11/2011): Impressive for its richness, elegance and grace, this is spicy and supple, with full-bodied plum, currant and black licorice notes, gaining momentum and ending with a silky aftertaste of loamy earth. Drink now through 2020. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 2,200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ShaferVineyards.aspWA 100 (6/2008): The perfect 2005 Syrah Atlantis Fe 203-1a,b,c is a blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 2% Viognier, with 25% whole clusters. Whereas the Ode to E is all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, this cuvee is a combination of 43% from the estate vineyard, 28% from the White Hawk Vineyard, 21% from the Alban Vineyard, and 8% from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The good news is there are nearly 1,500 cases of this recently released offering. An extraordinarily flowery nose interwoven with scents of blueberries, blackberries, incense, and graphite soars from the glass. Although not the biggest or most concentrated Syrah Krankl has made, it is one of the most nuanced, elegant, and complex. It remains full-bodied, but builds incrementally on the palate, and comes across as elegant and delicate, especially when compared to many California Syrahs. Nevertheless, the intensity is mind-boggling, and the finish lasts for nearly a minute. Drink this amazing effort over the next 10-15+ years. VM 94-95 (12/2008): Opaque ruby color. Powerful, impressively concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry aromas are complicated by smoky minerals, candied licorice, incense and cured tobacco. Pliant dark berry flavors stain the palate and are energized by zesty minerals. A big, sweet palate-stainer that somehow manages to be graceful as well. Sweet black and blue fruit flavors linger endlessly on the finish, which is refreshingly spicy and focused.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 100 (6/2008): Even more remarkable is the 2005 Mr. K. Marsanne Vin de Paille The Strawman. One-hundred percent Marsanne from the Beckmen Vineyard, with remarkably low alcohol (7.5%), a whopping 392 grams of residual sugar per liter, and exceptional acidity (6.4 grams of acid per liter), this is one of the most singular sweet wines I have ever tasted. It rivals the great 2000 Suey that was made from Roussanne and ended up with 241 grams of residual sugar. The individualistic, prodigious sweet wines are the products of meticulous attention to detail, obsessive harvesting requirements, and amazing vinifications and upbringings. They are unbelievable elixirs, and this one is as complex and intense as any sweet wine made in the world. It is a fitting tribute to the genius of both Manfred Krankl and his late partner, Luis Kracher.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 100 (8/2016): A perfect wine any way you look at it, the 2012 Grenache Rattrapante comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and spent 33 months in 27% new French oak. My notes start - and end - with “Wow.” Giving up tons of black raspberries, peppery herbs, licorice, dried flowers and cured meats, it’s a massively concentrated, rich and layered Grenache that somehow manages to stay graceful, lively and fresh on the palate. There are roughly 800 cases of this elixir and any Grenache lover should do their best to latch onto a bottle (or two). It’s also worth noting that this cuvee saw 26% whole clusters, which is a small change from past vintages. VM 97 (9/2016): The 2012 Grenache Rattrapante, from Eleven Confessions, is deep, powerful and voluptuous, with a striking interplay of fruit, structure and overall intensity. Thus is another wine that is going to need time to fully come together. Hints of smoke, licorice, new leather, cherry jam and pomegranate meld into the huge, creamy finish. Dollops of Syrah and Petite Sirah round out the blend. The 2012 was done with about 26% whole clusters and aged for 33 months in French oak, around 27% new. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 100 (8/2014): The current release of the estate vineyard (a.k.a. the extended barrel-aged cuvee), the 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible effort that I couldn’t find a fault with. A blend of 75% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confession Vineyard, it spent just under 30 months in 22% new and 78% used French oak prior to bottling. Locked and loaded, it knocks it out of the park with its cassis, licorice, smoked duck, spice-box and exotic herb-styled bouquet. The palate follows suit and while it has the expected depth and richness of the estate, it’s seamless, elegant and lively, with perfect balance, ultra-fine tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It doesn’t get any better and count yourself lucky if you can latch onto a couple of these. It will thrill for 15-20 years. VM 96 (7/2014): The 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome has an explosive energy to it that takes hold of the senses and never lets up. A distinctly dark side of Grenache comes through in an intense, opulent, full-throttle wine endowed with superb intensity and tons of fruit. Hints of over ripeness appear, especially on the finish, but that isn't enough to detract from the pure pleasure the 2010 delivers.IWC 94 (12/2013): (made from fruit grown in the Krankl's Eleven Confessions vineyard; 75% grenache, 22% syrah, 2% viognier and 1% roussanne; 15.7% alcohol): Brilliant ruby. Vibrant aromas of fresh blueberry, smoky Indian spices and minerals, with a sexy floral overtone. Then rich and pliant in the mouth, with sappy blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that come off surprisingly lithe for the wine's power. Finishes spicy and very long, with fine-grained tannins fading into the wine's plush fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 100 (8/2014): The current release of the estate vineyard (a.k.a. the extended barrel-aged cuvee), the 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible effort that I couldn’t find a fault with. A blend of 75% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confession Vineyard, it spent just under 30 months in 22% new and 78% used French oak prior to bottling. Locked and loaded, it knocks it out of the park with its cassis, licorice, smoked duck, spice-box and exotic herb-styled bouquet. The palate follows suit and while it has the expected depth and richness of the estate, it’s seamless, elegant and lively, with perfect balance, ultra-fine tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It doesn’t get any better and count yourself lucky if you can latch onto a couple of these. It will thrill for 15-20 years. VM 96 (7/2014): The 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome has an explosive energy to it that takes hold of the senses and never lets up. A distinctly dark side of Grenache comes through in an intense, opulent, full-throttle wine endowed with superb intensity and tons of fruit. Hints of over ripeness appear, especially on the finish, but that isn't enough to detract from the pure pleasure the 2010 delivers.IWC 94 (12/2013): (made from fruit grown in the Krankl's Eleven Confessions vineyard; 75% grenache, 22% syrah, 2% viognier and 1% roussanne; 15.7% alcohol): Brilliant ruby. Vibrant aromas of fresh blueberry, smoky Indian spices and minerals, with a sexy floral overtone. Then rich and pliant in the mouth, with sappy blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that come off surprisingly lithe for the wine's power. Finishes spicy and very long, with fine-grained tannins fading into the wine's plush fruit.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 100 (8/2016): Lastly, the utterly perfect 2012 Syrah Touche reminds me of a great vintage of Guigal’s Cote Rotie La Landonne. A blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah and 2% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, it spent 40 months in 78% new French oak. Deep, concentrated, full-bodied and layered, with a multidimensional texture and to-die-for notes of camphor, cured meats, violets, smoke and assorted dark fruits, this beauty has fine, perfectly ripe tannin and blockbuster length. Give it 3-4 years and drink over the following two decades. VM 98 (9/2016): A quintessential Sine Qua Non wine, the 2012 Syrah Touché is off the charts. Rich, seamless and voluptuous, the 2012 exudes concentration and flamboyance. Red cherry jam, plum, spice, licorice, pomegranate and new leather flesh out in an effortless, radiant wine bursting at the seams with personality. The 2012 is 93% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah and 2% Viognier, done with 36% whole clusters, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 100 (12/2010): The 2007 Sloan, now in bottle, has lived up to the extraordinary quality it exhibited from barrel. A world-class, perfumed nose of charcoal, espresso roast, white chocolate, black currants, sweet plums, Asian soy and a Grave-like scorched earth aroma soars from the glass of this dense purple-colored wine. Full-bodied and seamlessly constructed with a multidimensional mouthfeel as well as a phenomenal finish, this 2007 carries considerable tannin, but at present it is concealed by the wine’s luxurious levels of fruit, glycerin and intensity. This spectacular 2007 should drink well for 25-30+ years. VM 96 (6/2010): Good bright ruby-red. Sexy, highly aromatic nose melds cassis, black raspberry, violet, minerals, bitter chocolate and cedar. Tightly wound and minerally, with strong acidity intensifying the flavors of black fruits, licorice, violet and tobacco. The elements of cabernet franc and petit verdot give additional lift to this slightly high-toned and very energetic wine. The very long, firm finish boasts terrific grip. A great example of the 2007 vintage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Sloan.aspWA 100 (2/2012): The finest wine ever made by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte exhibits an opaque blue/purple color in addition to a glorious nose of acacia flowers, licorice, charcoal, blueberries, black raspberries, lead pencil shavings and incense. This massive, extraordinarily rich, unctuously textured wine may be the most concentrated effort produced to date, although the 2000, 2005 and 2010 are nearly as prodigious. A gorgeous expression of Pessac-Leognan with sweet tannin, emerging charm and delicacy, and considerable power, depth, richness and authority, it should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bravo! JS 96 (2/2012): Aromas of flowers, dried citrus fruit and blueberries follow through to a full body, with firm and silky tannins and a long, long finish. Gorgeous fruit and structure. Polished and powerful. Best red ever from Smith. Best in 2018. WS 96 (3/2012): This is really loaded, with crushed plum, blueberry, cassis, fig and blackberry paste flavors all melded together, along with notes of tar, pastis and violet. Very long and dark, but polished and pure, with terrific fruit offset by a great tug of earth on the finish. Should cruise easily in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2035. 10,000 cases made. VM 94+ (7/2012): Good bright red-ruby. Enticing aromas of blueberry, flowers, graphite and charred, nutty oak, plus a sexy suggestion of floral white fruit. Like liquid silk on entry, then concentrated and lush in the middle, with red plum, tobacco and mineral flavors given definition by lovely harmonious acidity. Utterly seamless wine with suave tannins. Voluminous and intense but not a powerhouse. Finishing flavors mount slowly and stain the palate without leaving any impression of weight. Conveys a beautiful impression of site and vintage. The most complete young Smith Haut Laffite I've yet tasted at this early stage; perhaps my score will ultimately prove to be conservative.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChSmithHautLafitte.aspWA 100 (10/2013): The brilliant 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts an inky/purple color as well as glorious aromas of spring flowers, lead pencil shavings, licorice and a multitude of wild mountain fruits, in particular black raspberry, blackberry and cassis reminiscent of a French Pauillac (although I always think of Spottswoode as the Chateau Margaux of Napa). With a flawless integration of tannin, wood and acidity, it comes across like a liquid version of haute couture from the house of Chanel. It should drink well young yet age for 25 years. WS 93 (10/2013): Notably rich and generous, with a complex array of dark berry, currant and cassis flavors, delivering subtle herb, spice and cedar notes and ending with a dash of loamy earth. Most impressive on the finish, which sails on and on. Best from 2014 through 2024. 2,586 cases made. VM 96+ (11/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is drop-dead gorgeous. Over the last 12 months the 2010 has fleshed out beautifully. Today, the 2010 is rich, full-bodied and intense. The structure is that of a cold vintage, but the fruit and density are those of a year marked by three heat spikes. I imagine the 2010 will enjoy a long drinking window, starting in another few years, even if today the fruit is really popping. The 2010 is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. This is a dazzling wine from Spottswoode.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Spottswoode.aspWA 100 (2/1995): Taylor's 1992 Vintage Port is unquestionably the greatest young port I have ever tasted. It represents the essence of what vintage port can achieve. The color is an opaque black/purple, and the nose offers up fabulously intense aromas of minerals, cassis, blackberries, licorice, and spices, as well as extraordinary purity and penetration. Yet this is still an unformed and infantile wine. If Chateau Latour made a late-harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, I suspect it might smell like this. In the mouth, the wine is out of this world, displaying layer upon layer of concentrated black fruits backed by well-integrated tannin and structure. This is a massive, magnificently rich, full-bodied port that will be far more flattering in its youth than were such Taylors as the 1983, 1977, or 1970. It possesses awesome fruit, marvelous intensity, and lavish opulence, all brilliantly well-delineated by the wine's formidable structure. This monumental 30-50 year port is a must purchase for port aficionados.! Also noteworthy is the fact that the 1992 Taylor commemorates the 300th anniversary of this firm, as evidenced by the special bottle Taylor used for this port.FTLOP 94+ (11/2007): Dark, opaque magenta. A profound spicy nose of dark fruits such as cassis, boysenberry and black cherry. Lush and dense with extraordinary extract and deeply concentrated flavors. Best known for its tercentenary anniversary, the ?92 is a great example of young Taylor?s vintage Port showing its power, brutish tannins and longevity. The finish flashes brilliant complexity even at this age and a persistent finish. Drink now through 2050. In retrospect, I believe I underrated this one.MB **[*] (4/2002): Very deep, still youthful; very sweet, jammy nose. Only tasted quickly but not very impressed. Rhone like flavour.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspWA 100 (6/2011): 2001 was the first truly great vintage for Jess Jackson and Pierre Seillan, and that is evidenced by the utterly perfect 2001 La Muse, a blend of 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. Over three-fourths of it came from the Alexander Mountain estate of Jess Jackson, and the rest from Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, and a tiny bit from Bennett Valley. This dense purple-colored effort exhibits notes of licorice, creme de cassis, plum sauce, violets and truffles. Full-bodied with magnificent density, overall equilibrium, stunning purity, sweet but abundant tannin and a fabulous finish, this profound wine remains a baby at age ten. Give it another 5-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 35-40+ years. It is very French in style even though one could argue that this level of concentration can only be achieved by a handful of wines from Pomerol and St.-Emilion. VM 92 (6/2004): Bright ruby-red. Roasted red berries, tobacco, game, coffee and animal fur on the nose. Lush, layered and sweet, with sexy flavors of roasted berries and game. Finishes uncompromisingly dry, with building, ripe tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Verite.aspWA 100 (6/2011): 2001 was the first truly great vintage for Jess Jackson and Pierre Seillan, and that is evidenced by the utterly perfect 2001 La Muse, a blend of 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec. Over three-fourths of it came from the Alexander Mountain estate of Jess Jackson, and the rest from Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, and a tiny bit from Bennett Valley. This dense purple-colored effort exhibits notes of licorice, creme de cassis, plum sauce, violets and truffles. Full-bodied with magnificent density, overall equilibrium, stunning purity, sweet but abundant tannin and a fabulous finish, this profound wine remains a baby at age ten. Give it another 5-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 35-40+ years. It is very French in style even though one could argue that this level of concentration can only be achieved by a handful of wines from Pomerol and St.-Emilion. VM 92 (6/2004): Bright ruby-red. Roasted red berries, tobacco, game, coffee and animal fur on the nose. Lush, layered and sweet, with sexy flavors of roasted berries and game. Finishes uncompromisingly dry, with building, ripe tannins.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Verite.aspWA 100 (8/2014): The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is certainly one of the greatest Chateauneuf du Papes I’ve tasted and represents the essence of this fabulous terroir. From a cool and windy growing season, this work of art offers incredible creme de cassis, peppered steak, garrigue and bouquet garni to go with a flawless, massive, layered and seamless mouthfeel that carries serious amounts of fruit and tannin. When all is said and done, this beauty will have 3-4 decades or evolution. WS 96 (11/2011): A recipe for a classic? Marry flavors of dark fig bread, currant paste and plum reduction with grippy tar and licorice snap notes. Lay that over racy graphite elements and add in smoky black tea, Christmas pudding and blueberry sauce notes. Back it all up with vibrant acidity. This is an awesome combination of power and definition, and it's remarkably youthful today.—2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape non-blind retrospective (November 2011). Drink now through 2026. JLL ***** (3/2003): Very dark, profound bouquet, a pebbly air on top of an oily setting. There are light touches of herbs. While reserved, the bouquet is broad and constant. This is rather big wine, but not obviously so; its texture is smooth, has a dense pocket of black fruit flavour, seasoned by some white pepper. Has good potential. The finish is complete. From 2008, say. 100% Grenache this year. Bottling in 9-12 months’ time, no hurry.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdelaVieilleJulienne.aspWA 100 (8/2014): The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is certainly one of the greatest Chateauneuf du Papes I’ve tasted and represents the essence of this fabulous terroir. From a cool and windy growing season, this work of art offers incredible creme de cassis, peppered steak, garrigue and bouquet garni to go with a flawless, massive, layered and seamless mouthfeel that carries serious amounts of fruit and tannin. When all is said and done, this beauty will have 3-4 decades or evolution. WS 96 (11/2011): A recipe for a classic? Marry flavors of dark fig bread, currant paste and plum reduction with grippy tar and licorice snap notes. Lay that over racy graphite elements and add in smoky black tea, Christmas pudding and blueberry sauce notes. Back it all up with vibrant acidity. This is an awesome combination of power and definition, and it's remarkably youthful today.—2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape non-blind retrospective (November 2011). Drink now through 2026. JLL ***** (3/2003): Very dark, profound bouquet, a pebbly air on top of an oily setting. There are light touches of herbs. While reserved, the bouquet is broad and constant. This is rather big wine, but not obviously so; its texture is smooth, has a dense pocket of black fruit flavour, seasoned by some white pepper. Has good potential. The finish is complete. From 2008, say. 100% Grenache this year. Bottling in 9-12 months’ time, no hurry.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdelaVieilleJulienne.aspWA 100 (6/2014): Served from an ex-chateau bottle. The 2009 Chateau d’Yquem is one showstopper of a wine and perhaps it is only in a vertical that you realize this is up there among the legendary wines of the past - the 2001 included. It has a wonderful nose that expresses the Semillon component majestically: heady aromas of lemon curd, nectarine, jasmine and honeysuckle that all gain momentum in the glass. The oak is supremely well-integrated. The palate is extremely well-balanced with an unctuous entry. You are immediately knocked sideways by the palpable weight and volume in the mouth, which is almost “bulbous," with layer upon layer of heavily botrytized fruit. It builds to a spicy finish with hints of marzipan and pralines in the background that lend it an untrammeled sense of exoticism. The 2009 is utterly fabulous and decadent, a star that will blaze brightly and undimmed for many years. Drink now-2060+. WS 98 (7/2012): Dense and unctuous, but with lacy detail already showing along the edges, as light toasty hazelnut and piecrust notes lead the way for creamed melon, mango and pineapple flavors, with hints of green plum and honeysuckle. There's mouthwatering drive on the finish, which drips with a rosehip honey note that keeps pulling you back. Stunning. Best from 2020 through 2055. 10,000 cases made. JS 98 (4/2012): The length to this is exceptional with an intensity yet subtlety. Full and medium sweet with bright and exciting acidity. It's all in balance here. Creme brulee, pineapple, and papaya. Lasts so long on finish. It's so fabulous now. It will age forever but it's already a joy to taste, even drink. Better in 2020.IWC 97-100 (5/2010): (a blend of 80% semillon and 20% sauvignon; 13.8% alcohol) 155 g/l residual sugar): Bright gold-tinged lemon-yellow. Enticingly fresh aromas of white flowers, honey, orange and fresh apricot, with suggestions of coconut and candied orange peel. Enters the mouth suave and wonderfully pure, with nectar-like flavors of peach, orange and pineapple complicated by a hint of smoky botrytis. Though extremely rich and concentrated, laser-like acidity gives this remarkable Sauternes a seamless, penetrating, mineral quality on the extremely long, silky finish. Its superb inner-palate energy and near-perfect balance suggest that it will evolve very slowly and go on for decades. A very sleek and refined yet impressively concentrated Yquem that remains amazingly light on its feet. A great example not just of the vintage but of the Pierre Lurton style, and quite different from the more showy and opulent wines made under the direction of Alexandre de Lur Saluceshttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChdYquem.asp