Flickinger Fine Wines - Fine and Rare Wine What's New RSS/RDF Feed http://www.flickingerwines.com/whatsnew.asp VM 94 (3/2016): Healthy dark red. Highly complex but youthfully restrained nose offers scents of black fruits, violet, chocolate, menthol and minerals, along with some faintly liqueur-like high tones. Boasts outstanding density of texture, not to mention great lift and power for this bottling, with almost exotic fruit ripeness leavened by strong acidity. Finishes with spectacular lingering perfume of violet, bitter chocolate, wild herbs and mint. An amazingly strong, bulletproof Volnay for the year--or for any vintage, for that matter. Stephen Tanzer. WS 93 (5/2016): This red offers well-defined cherry, currant and spice flavors, supported by vibrant acidity. Saturated with pure, ripe cherry fruit midpalate, this firms up, yet remains balanced and mouthwatering on the long finish, showing spice and chalk accents. Best from 2018 through 2030. 95 cases imported. WA 92-94 (12/2014): The 2013 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs has that citrus-like freshness; that Seville orange marmalade trait that was tangible in a range of mature Clos des Ducs tasted the previous week. There are touches of violet that emerge with continued aeration. The palate is very feminine and refined, laid back almost, but that distracts from the structure underneath and the persistence and minerality on the finish. This is a regal, perhaps one should say, "ducal," Clos des Ducs that should drink beautifully over the next 25-30 years. But as I discovered at the vertical, this vineyard needs several years in the cellar. BH 91-94 (4/2015): (a monopole that measures 2.15 ha.) A gorgeously fresh mélange of black raspberry, cherry, tea, violets and anise scents introduces superbly well-detailed middle weight flavors that seem to be built on a base of firm minerality that continues onto the dusty, complex and strikingly persistent finish. As is often the case, this is the most complete wine in the range. Drink 2023+. Sweet Spot Outstanding!http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomMarquisdAngerville.aspWA 87 (10/2001): The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a sweet, textured, spicy offering displaying aromas and flavors of tobacco, jammy strawberry and cherry fruit, new saddle leather, licorice, asphalt, and herbs. This medium-bodied 1995 Brunello should be consumed over the next 5-10 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PoggioAntico.aspWA 90 (8/2000): The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits an evolved ruby/garnet color as well as complex aromatics of soy, smoked meats, red currants, cherries, and licorice. Ripe, complex, and dense, with a sweet attack, and an evolved, supple texture, it can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Argiano.aspWS 95 (12/1998): Wild thing. This Italian red is even better than the wonderful debut '95. It offers exotic and complex aromas of blackberry, violet, crushed raspberry, is full-bodied, and though very tannic, the tannins are coated with ripe fruit, and the long and caressing finish delivers even more fruit. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2000. 2,000 cases made. WA 94 (10/1998): Argiano's 1996 Solengo, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah (500 cases produced), is a blockbuster effort. The wine boasts a saturated ruby/purple color, as well as an excellent nose of jammy blackberries, cassis, pain grille, and spice. Full-bodied, with superb depth, a layered texture, low acidity, and a blockbuster finish, this is an impressively-endowed, smoky, rich, exotic, accessible, dry red that should age nicely for 12-15 years. Bravo to Argiano!VM 91+ (2/1999): Healthy red-ruby. Superripe, slightly roasted aromas of currants and nuts. Lush, thick, sweet and large-scaled, with concentrated currant fruit supported by a serious, rather Bordeaux-like structure. Very strong and long on the finish, with the tongue-dusting tannins hitting the palate quite late.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Argiano.aspVM 95 (6/2008): Good full medium yellow with a green tinge. Fruit-driven aromas of pineapple, pear, citrus peel and hazelnut. Fleshy, fat and oily, with a thickness of texture leavened by fresh flavors of pineapple and nectarine. Very densely packed and long. Aubert hasn't missed a beat with his Ritchie bottling, which is consistently one of California's elite chardonnays. WA 93 (12/2008): There are just over 200 cases of the 2006 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard. Displaying a more evolved style than usual, it offers up notes of buttered hazelnuts, lemon oil, honeysuckle, and a hint of spice. Drink this full-bodied, rich Chardonnay over the next several years. WS 93 (7/2008): Fresh, fragrant lemon-lime and citrus scents pick up subtle pear, fig and apple flavors that are sleek and refined. Gains richness on the finish, yet remains impeccably elegant. Drink now through 2011.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Aubert.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BeauxFreres.aspWA 97 (12/2010): The stunning 2008 Ontogeny Proprietary Red (a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) boasts an opaque purple color along with notes of kirsch, blueberries, boysenberries, mocha and subtle smoke. Expansive on the palate as well as opulent and fleshy with tremendous fruit, depth and richness, there is some tannin lurking in the background, but it is largely concealed by the luxurious fruit component. Already showy and complex, this stunning red can be drunk over the next decade. One of the major fruit sources for Bevan has been the Showket Vineyard in Napa, which was recently sold to Peter Michael. WS 93 (1/2012): Rich and generous, with layers of dark berry, mocha, spice and cedar flavors. Full-bodied and concentrated, with a long, persistent, mouthcoating finish. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2020. 486 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BevanCellars.aspVM 93-95 (9/2016): (50% new oak): Deep, musky aromas of very ripe stone fruits and clove. Silky-sweet in the mouth, showing sexy leesy notes of hazelnut and smoke and excellent salty extract but less obvious oakiness than the Criots and the Bienvenue. This powerful yet suave Batard finishes smooth and vibrant, with a repeating note of clove and terrific saline persistence. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonHenriBoillot.aspBH 92 (4/2009): Here too the nose is cool, pure, elegant, restrained and even less expressive than the Chambertin at present, offering up intensely earthy dark berry fruit aromas that complement well the energetic and impressive scaled big-bodied flavors that possess ample power and weight, particularly on the slightly rustic and youthfully austere finish. I very much like the drive and the underlying material is quite good as well and if this adds depth in bottle, it may very well catch the Chambertin. Drink 2017+.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MaisonHenriBoillot.aspVM 89+ (9/2007): Good palish color. Yellow fruits and honey on the nose, with brighter hints of orange and spice. Sweet, smooth and fairly rich but with good inner-palate lift. Finishes with obvious structure and some apparent oak tannins that call for three or four years of patience. Best today on entry and in the middle palate. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomJeanMarcBoillot.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).aspBH 86 (10/2001): Slightly sour fruit nose with earthy, rustic flavors and very good length. This is well structured and shows quite a bit of Gevrey quality though it's not clear that the fruit is going to outlive the tannin. Drink 2003-2008.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PierreBouree.aspVM 95 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is gorgeous. An unusually open, resonant, young Howell Mountain Cabernet, the Estate dazzles with its rich, textured fruit and incredibly welcoming personality. Hints of smoke, tar, licorice and menthol add complexity to the intense fruit. This is a wine I want to drink, not merely taste. All the elements come together in an effortless, inviting wine loaded with class. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Cade.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.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChartronetTrebuchet.aspVM 93 (5/2012): (mostly cabernet sauvignon, with some cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot; from a Diamond Mountain property planted in 2003): Bright ruby. Pure, expressive, attractively high-toned aromas of cassis, licorice, graphite, mocha and chocolate, with complicating notes of loam and tobacco. At once sappy and seamless, with a saline complexity and a floral nuance to the black cherry and licorice flavors. The big, broad tannins are firm but sweet. I tasted this sexy wine literally hours after it was bottled. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Checkerboard.aspWS 96 (5/2010): Deliciously complex, rich, layered, intense and concentrated, offering a dense yet elegant mix of currant, wild berry, black cherry and plum, with touches of cedar, anise and melted chocolate. Full-bodied, focused, pure and persistent, winning points for its graceful texture. Drink now through 2020. 375 cases made. WA 95 (12/2009): Corra’s superb 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon’s opaque blue/purple color is followed by subtle aromas of charcoal, white chocolate, blackberries, black currants, and background oak. Deep and full-bodied with impressive texture and purity, this 2007 is accessible now, but promises to evolve for 20+ years. JS 93 (4/2011): Beautiful strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries on the nose. Incredibly floral as well. Full bodied, with loads of fruit and a firm tannin structure. Long finish. This is big, but in reserve. Pop the cork after 2013. 15+23+22+33. Find the wine VM 90 (5/2017): Bright red-ruby. Expressive aromas of currant, raspberry, smoked meat, mocha, licorice, menthol and roasted herbs. Plump, fine-grained wine with still-fresh cherry and redcurrant fruit lifted by cooler herb and licorice notes. Nicely suave wine with well-managed dusty tannins, repeating herb and menthol notes and a bit of finishing warmth. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Corra.aspJS 98 (1/2017): Loads of dark tobacco aromas with blackcurrants and black olives. Boysenberries, too. Full to medium body, ultra-fine tannins and lots of flavors of smoke, dried roasted chillis, black truffles, mushrooms and fruit. Bright acidity on the finish. Sexy and subtle austerity. Alluring. Very approachable now but better in 2021. WA 97 (10/2016): The 2014s, where the production of Napanook was only 2,200 cases and Dominus slightly more than the 2015 at 4,000 cases, was another early harvest, although somewhat later than 2015. The 2014 Dominus, which is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot really struts its stuff. Moueix’s belief in dry farming seems to be paying off with stronger and stronger vintages, each successive year, and the 2014 is a sexy, opulent, layered, multidimensional wine with notes of red and blackcurrant, cedar wood, tobacco leaf , spice box and licorice. The color is a dense plum/ruby/purple, much like the Napanook. This is a beauty that is already drinking gorgeously – as most 2014s are – and will continue to evolve for 25 or so years. VM 96+ (12/2016): The 2014 Dominus is endowed with tons of depth, power and muscle. Black cherry, plum, smoke, menthol, licorice, chocolate, dried herbs and dark spices are all pushed forward. Deep, pliant and exquisitely layered, the 2014 possesses tons of concentration and mid-palate depth. Like so many wines in this vintage, the 2014 comes across as a hybrid of 2013 and 2012. I very much like the energy and focus in this wine. This is a fabulous wine in every way. With time in the glass, the flavors gain in brightness and focus. There is certainly much to look forward to.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Dominus.aspVM 89 (11/2010): Rough-hewn, but rich and intense, offering complex, concentrated raspberry, blackberry and cherry fruit that is pure and spicy. A touch of anise and red licorice mark the finish. Best from 2011 through 2017. 2,710 cases made. WA 87-89 (2/2010): Still young and unevolved, the 2008 Pinot Noirs are restrained and slightly less impressive and concentrated than the 2007s at a similar age. They all appear to have outstanding potential with the exception of the generic Russian River cuvee. The latter wine possesses lots of sweet cola-infused berry fruit. The 2008s are softer than the 2007s. The heat spikes that occurred in September appear to have given these wines a more forward, plump style without the definition and minerality found in the 2007s. I will wait until the wines are in bottle to provide more extensive tasting notes.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DuMol.aspBH 92 (1/2005): One of the two best wines Sylvie Esmonin has ever made (along with the 93) with wonderfully complex aromatics of Gevrey earth, black fruits and a touch of secondary aromas followed by flavors offering grand cru depth and weight. Impressively long and displaying plenty of richness, this is an outstanding 1990. The most recent bottle still displayed the above quality but the tannins are a bit chunky and while this is still intense and impressive, it lacks the overall refinement of a genuinely great wine. Still, I like this for what it is and it is still holding beautifully. Drink now+.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MichelEsmoninFille.aspVM 94 (11/2013): Fairchild's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro is drop-dead gorgeous. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco, licorice and menthol are all woven together in a silky, impeccably polished Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2011 stands out for its pure textural elegance and class. Sweet raspberries, mint and wild flowers linger on a perfumed, fragrant finish that turns increasingly savory and complex over time. This is a fabulous showing for the year. Larry Fairchild purchased his Sigaro vineyard in 1999. There are two plantings; the original 1 acre parcel, and a second parcel measuring 1.25 hectares. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/FairchildEstate.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 99 (10/2015): The original wine from the Oakville Estate Vineyard is a relatively small cuvée of 546 cases. The 2012 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. This is a drop-dead beautiful wine with an absolutely extraordinary nose of white flowers, blueberries, blackcurrants, licorice and camphor. Stunning forest floor notes also make an appearance in this ripe, full-bodied, opulent wine that is begging to be given a three-digit score. The silkiness of the tannins and the stunning purity of fruit of this unfined and unfiltered wine is simply breathtaking. This is just an incredible effort to drink now or over the next 30+ years. VM 96 (10/2015): The 2012 Futo is just as impressive as it has always been. One of the darker, more brooding wines of the vintage, the 2012 exudes radiance and intensity. Dark fleshed fruit, exotic spices, espresso and menthol are some of the notes that flesh out. The 2012 has really opened up since last year, but it still needs at least a few years to truly come together.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Futo.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Greer.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomGuiberteau.aspVM 88+ (3/2017): Healthy medium red. Expressive aromas of red cherry, raspberry, coffee and smoky minerality. Sappy red fruit and spice flavors show enticing sweetness supported by excellent acid lift and a firm spine of tannins. Can't match the 2015 version for fleshiness but this wine is intense, precise and very easy to drink and finishes with lovely lift. I'd give it a couple more years in the bottle before pulling the cork. It wasn't too many years ago that this cuvée was a weak link in this cellar, but not any longer. Stephen Tanzer. BH 87-90 (1/2016): This too is exceptionally pretty with a layered array of various red berries, violet and gentle wood nuances. There is once again a lovely sense of vibrancy to the delineated, sleek and very Chambolle-like flavors that also evidence a hint of bitter cherry on the youthfully austere finish. Drink 2020+.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomAlainHudelot-Noellat.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/WeingutKeller.aspWA 97 (12/2009): A prodigious effort is the 2007 LMV Salon (a 1,000-case blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot). A proprietary red of this quality with a Napa appellation usually sells for $200 or more. A dense purple color is followed by a beautiful perfume of spring flowers, ink, espresso roast, creme de cassis, and black cherries, a full-bodied, voluptuous texture, staggering depth and purity, and a 50-second finish. This exceptional Napa Cabernet Sauvignon should drink well for 20-25+ years. JS 95 (6/2011): Lots of graphite and lead pencil to the nose and palate. Full yet racy and long with a beautiful backbone of acidity and ultra-fine tannins. Almost a saltiness. Savory at the end. I like this slightly better than 2007. Wonderful length. 530 cases. VM 92+ (5/2017): (14.5% alcohol): Bright full ruby. Slightly high-toned aromas of blueberry pastille, licorice and violet. Very concentrated and rich but clearly tougher than the last two Larkmead bottlings, with dark berry, licorice and herb flavors firmed by a solid mineral underpinning. Finishes with strong but fine-grained tannins and resounding notes of licorice and bitter chocolate. This still needs time. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LarkmeadVineyards.aspBH 89 (7/2004): Stylistically, this is quite similar to the Chassagne villages with its open and generous character but there is more vibrancy and as one would expect from Caillerets, plenty of racy acidity and an almost pungent and tactile minerality. A very pretty wine that will require a few years in the cellar to realize its ample potential. In short, this is lovely stuff. Drink 2007_.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LouisLatour.aspVM 94-97 (1/2014): (includes wine from the north and south part of the appellation; in some past vintages, these two components were bottled separately): Good medium red. Pure but very closed nose hints at dark fruits and spices. Powerful and penetrating, conveying an impression of strong dry extract to its cassis, blackberry and white pepper flavors. Incredibly unevolved and pure, with a muscular, slowly mounting finish featuring savory minerality and sexy Asian spices. Stephen Tanzer. WA 94-96 (2/2014): The 2012 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a wonderful bouquet with bright red and black fruit, superb mineralite and freshness. The palate is precise and focused with great harmony and depth, leading to a passionate, rounded, sensual finish with an abiding sense of symmetry that I hope will be translated once in bottle.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspWS 97 (5/2017): An expressive, cherry- and raspberry-flavored red, wrapped in a layer of smoke, vanilla and toasted spice. Intense, with assertive tannins, but the elements come together on the expansive finish. Firm now, gaining suppleness with air and showing excellent potential. Best from 2022 through 2045. 41 cases imported. VM 96 (3/2017): Deep, bright medium red. Knockout nose combines dark raspberry, clove, licorice, white pepper, minerals and earth. Conveys incredible inner-mouth lift considering its thickness of texture and spicy intensity. Really spreads out to saturate the palate. Saline, superconcentrated, pungently mineral wine with a firm tannic spine, integrated acidity and extraordinary rising length and solidity. This is almost painful today. A great Bonnes-Mares: in the end, Mounir Saouma blended his lots from the Chambolle (two-thirds) and Morey (one-third) sides of the cru. Stephen Tanzer. WA 93-95 (4/2016): The 2014 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, a blend of the north and south parts of the vineyard (here blended together) has a plush redcurrant, cranberry and strawberry scented bouquet with fine delineation. The palate is crisp and taut with red cherries and wild strawberry, steely and focused with a touch of white pepper on the long finish. This is one of the best reds from Lucien Le Moine in 2014, not a flamboyant Bonnes-Mares, but correct and blue-blooded.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspVM 94-97 (1/2014): Good medium red. Vital, pungent nose combines raspberry, crushed redcurrant, cranberry, pomegranate and rose petal, accented by fresh herbs and white pepper. Juicy, sappy and pristine, with uncanny detail to the tart berry, exotic passion fruit, mineral and pepper flavors. Still a bit folded in on itself but the youthfully tight finish shows outstanding precision and floral persistence. Stephen Tanzer. WA 94-96 (2/2014): The 2012 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru has a slap of strawberry jam on the nose that just needs a little more eloquence and sophistication. Perhaps that will develop during the remainder of its elevage, because the palate is very impressive: rounded, powerful and deep. There are copious raspberry and strawberry coulis flavors that defined the very persistent finish. I will give this the benefit of doubt.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspVM 93 (3/2015): Medium red. Come-hither nose offers scents of black raspberry, Asian spices, flowers, tobacco leaf and earth. Sweet, sappy and sharply delineated, with darker fruit and spice flavors enlivened by underlying minerality. In a rather masculine, gripping style, with a very long finish showing terrific mineral firmness and solid but harmonious tannins. Stephen Tanzer. WA 92-94 (2/2014): The 2012 Corton Perrieres Grand Cru has an engaging, slightly nutty bouquet that is reveals a floral component with aeration. The palate is taut and crisp with fine tannins, superb acidity and exuding great delineation on the finish. This is very classy and at the moment, out-performs the Corton Renards.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspWS 95 (6/2015): A racy style, with cherry, raspberry, currant, spice and mineral flavors that are intense and long. Hangs together nicely, feeling effortless and fanning out on the long aftertaste of sweet fruit and spice. Best from 2019 through 2033. 40 cases imported. VM 93 (3/2017): Saturated bright, medium red-ruby; dark for the vintage. Deep, brooding aromas of blueberry, dark cherry, licorice and bitter chocolate convey an impression of coolness. Densely packed and a bit youthfully medicinal, with blackberry and blueberry fruit flavors that are darker and a bit higher-toned than those of the Faiveley and Bouchard examples from en Orveaux, which I tasted alongside this wine. Strong tongue-dusting tannins avoid dryness but will need time to harmonize with the wine's youthfully medicinal fruit. Still very young and unevolved, but has the thickness of texture and density to reward cellaring. WA 90-92 (4/2016): The 2014 Echézeaux Grand Cru has a crisp, undergrowth-tinged bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and faint sea-spray scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy, sorbet-fresh red fruit, a little savoriness here, nice depth if needing a little more finesse to develop on the finish. Perhaps just curtailed by the growing season? At the moment, both the Gaudichot and Les Malconsorts outplay this grand cru.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspVM 94-97 (1/2014): Palish red. A wild essence of Burgundy on the nose, offering intense scents of raspberry, smoked meat, minerals, clove and mocha. The palate combines pungent saline minerality with great lush, sappy sweetness of strawberry and raspberry fruit. Outstanding depth of texture and finesse; conveys an impression of soft power. Finishes with utterly suave, noble tannins and remarkable persistence. Stephen Tanzer. WA 94-96 (2/2014): The 2012 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru has a sophisticated bouquet that has wonderful clarity - ebullient and vivacious, speaking louder than the Charmes or Griottes-Chambertins at present. The palate is precise on the entry with good acidity, poised with a precise blueberry and iodine finish. This should be devastatingly seductive once bottled.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspVM 92-96 (1/2013): Good full red. Aromas of creme de cassis, musky red berries, spicy oak and smoky minerality (Saouma describes it as "a red version of a black wine"). Plush, dense and classically dry, with deep, sappy red berry and mineral flavors carrying through to a wonderfully vibrant, wild, extremely long aftertaste featuring a distinct saline element. My note should be viewed as provisional, as one of the wine's two components had not quite finished its malolactic fermentation. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LucienLeMoine.aspWA 97 (6/2008): The 2005 Reserve is made up of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, and 17% Merlot. It was aged in new French barriques and a large oval botti for 22 months. Deep purple-colored, the wine presents aromas of pain grille, pencil lead, scorched earth, black currant, plum, and blackberry liqueur. The wine makes a powerful entry onto the palate with great concentration, serious depth, and opulence. The flavors reveal spicy, savory black fruits with a note of chocolate in the background. Long and complex, this superb Reserve is another tour de force for Leonetti Cellar. Give it 5-7 years in the cellar and drink it from 2015 to 2030. VM 95 (12/2008): Bright ruby-red. Deep, multidimensional aromas of cassis, licorice, violet, bitter chocolate and black pepper. Wonderfully sweet and deep on the palate, but with superb ripe acidity and a floral element giving lift and definition to the wine's flavors. The wine's uncanny mouth-saturating concentration and sweetness thoroughly hides its wine's 15% alcohol. Still a baby today but built for a long evolution in bottle. The pH here is 3.65, whereas the '06 cabernets are more like 3.8. From a crop level of about 2.2 tons per acre, according to Chris Figgins. Stephen Tanzer. WS 93 (12/2008): Rich and distinctive in flavor, offering raspberry, cherry and pomegranate fruit that keep floating effectively over the refined structure, which shapes the tannins and acidity beautifully to support, not overwhelm, the flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2009 through 2015. 906 cases madehttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LeonettiCellars.aspWS 90 (6/2007): Bold and rich, with an unctuous mouthfeel, letting the ripe fig, butterscotch, melon and spicy floral scents pull you in. Ends with a more elegant balance, with a dash of mineral. Drink now through 2010. 2,100 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/LewisCellars.aspJS 92 (2/2013): A juicy wine with strawberry and blueberry character. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Lots of ripe fruit. Excellent second wine of Lynch-Bages. Better in 2015. WS 91 (3/2013): This displays a solid core of cassis, raspberry and blackberry coulis notes, framed by a rather polished structure and lined with lightly toasted apple wood and anise notes. Offers good definition, with a violet note chiming in on the finish. A sleek, elegant Pauillac that relies more on purity than muscle. Best from 2014 through 2023.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/EchodeLynchBages.aspVM 91 (8/2011): The 2008 Tenuta Belguardo comes across as quite inward and closed in on itself at this stage. It shows plenty of length and power, but whether it ever fills out remains an open question. The wine's overall harmony gives me hope. Mocha, espresso and sweet French oak linger on the finish. The Belguardo is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Mazzei.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Miura.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MoetChandon.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/MoetChandon.aspWS 77 (7/2008): A tough, oaky style, showing a modest cherry note and dry astringent tannins. 300 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomMoillard.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdeMontsLuisants.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/DomdeMontsLuisants.aspJS 97 (3/2016): This is the Mouton-Rothschild of Australia - with a screw cap! Incredibly complex aromas of blackcurrants, spices, cigar box, and berries. Full body, a fantastic palate and polished tannins. Goes for minutes. Better in 2017. WA 96 (4/2016): Tasted at the Mouton-Rothschild vertical in London, the 2012 Mouton-Rothschild clearly has the upper hand over the 2011, if not quite at the level of the 2009, 2010 and what I envisage will be the 2015. There is obviously greater fruit intensity here, as if the contrast has been dialed up a couple of notches. It is quite showy on the nose, preening in its infancy with pure black cherries, graphite and hints of cold slate-like scents, later that hint of seaweed I observed when tasted blind a few months earlier. The palate is beautifully balanced with great vim and vigor. This is a Mouton that will not be put down - vivacious, vivid and delineated with wonderful focus and crucially, impressive persistence on the finish. Do not underestimate this Mouton-Rothschild, because I can see an upswing as it matures in bottle. VM 94 (5/2016): The 2012 Mouton Rothschild continues to open up nicely. Forward, open and quite expressive, the 2012 looks like a wine that will drink well sooner rather than later. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, smoke and mocha meld into the inviting finish. The 2012 is not a huge wine, but it will open up sooner than some of the surrounding vintages. Time has only been a help for this open-knit, distinctly fruit-driven Mouton. The 2012 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc harvested during the first fifteen days of October. Antonio Galloni. WS 94 (3/2017): This is starting to mellow already, featuring dark fig and blackberry notes infused liberally with black tea and smoldering tobacco accents. Shows a light loamy echo through the finish, with a flash of menthol. Offers ample flesh throughout, with a slightly grainy edge to the tannins. Best from 2020 through 2040.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChMouton-Rothschild.aspWA 96+ (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard (a separate cuvée is the Elysian Reserve from the same source) has first-growth blueberry, blackberry and an almost a celestial floral note combined with forest floor and uncommon concentration and purity. Stunningly seamless, full-bodied, rich, and a brilliant wine, this should drink effortlessly for 15-20 years. JD 95 (7/2017): I loved the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard and it offers sensational purity and elegance in its crème de cassis, lead pencil, graphite and smoked earth aromas and flavors. One of the deeper, richer and more concentrated wines in the lineup, yet still with the telltale 2014 suppleness and elegance, this full-bodied beauty has polished tannin, no hard edges and is pure class all the way. As with all the 2014s from Mike, it already offers pleasure today, yet will cruise in the cellar on it balance, purity and freshness. JS 94 (7/2015): This is tight and intense with blackberry and black currant character. Full and powerful. Layered and amazing. Try it in 2017. WS 92 (8/2015): The initial mix of loamy earth, road tar, cedar and tobacco notes makes way for a dense core of dark berry fruit, with touches of dried herb, licorice, mocha and toasty oak, showing some heat as well. Big and angular now, but should reward with time in the cellar. Drink now through 2028. 200 cases made. VM 91 (12/2014): Dark red cherries, plums, flowers, mint and spices meld together in Myriad's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane. The typical Dr. Crane succulence comes through in spades in a soft, beautifully textured Cabernet Sauvignon that is open and expressive today. The 2012 should drink well for another decade or so. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Myriad.aspWA 98 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard tastes like a California version of a La Mission Haut-Brion. Blueberry and blackberry fruit, wet gravel, crushed-rock notes and white flowers are followed by a full-bodied, elegant wine - with not the level of concentration of the Georges III, but with seemingly more ethereal and sublime subtleties and nuances. This is a stunner with sweet tannin that is beautifully, rich full and long. It should drink well for 20-25 years. VM 92 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane is one of the most seamless, polished wines in the Myriad lineup. Sweet floral and spice notes meld into a core of dark red fruit. Supple and open-knit, the 2013 offers plenty of near and medium-term appeal along with silkiness that is perhaps the single most specific signature of Dr. Crane Cabernets. JS 92 (1/2016): A soft, full-throttle style with lots of dried fruits, blackberries and viscous texture. Chewy tannins. Old school Napa red but shows some form. Drink now. WS 91 (11/2016): A robust yet charming effort, with dark berry, mocha, licorice, cedary oak, dried herb and graphite flavors. Turns supple and caressing midpalate before the tannins weigh in. Drink now through 2032. 200 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Myriad.aspWA 97 (10/2014): From the famous George III vineyard, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard has a haunting bouquet of cedar wood, juicy blackcurrant jam and forest floor. A soil note enhances the overall picture. The wine has gorgeously sweet well-integrated tannins, no evidence of new oak (as it’s so well-integrated), a plush, voluptuously textured full-bodied mouthfeel and a knockout finish. This is sensational wine that can easily be a modern-day version of one of the great BV Private Reserves from decades ago, although in this case it’s aged in French oak, not American. Kudos to Mike Smith. Look for this to drink well for 20 or more years. JD 94 (7/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard is a deeper, richer example of the base Napa Valley release and offers fabulous notes of blackcurrants, graphite, charcoal and licorice. It’s a big, sexy beast of a Cabernet that has full-bodied power, a ripe, unctuous texture, and sweet tannin which are completely cover by fruit at the moment. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades. JS 93 (7/2015): A red with blackberry and mineral character. Some phenolics too. Full and silky. Very stylish. Handmade. WS 92 (8/2015): Centered on a rich, vibrant, lively core of juicy blackberry. The ripeness and acidity complement the raw and coarse texture, with the fruit providing plenty of power and expression. The tannins lean toward the rowdy side. Drink now through 2028. 170 cases made. VM 89 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III is a relatively ripe, forward wine from this Rutherford site. Dried cherries, tobacco and earthiness flow through to the energetic finish. This is the most overtly ripe and flashy of the Myriad 2012 Cabernets. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Myriad.aspWS 96 (4/2009): Offers crushed berries, with flowers and sandalwood. The nose is reserved, but interesting. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Very tight and stylish. Racy and powerful. Needs time. Best after 2011. 6,750 cases made. JS 93 (12/2010): Very fresh for a 2005 with dense fruit and silky tannins. Not the same depth of fruit of the 2004 or the 2006 for that matter, but it is clearly one of the best 2005’s in my opinion. I suggest another couple of years of cellar age. Great finesse, richness, and freshness for the vintage. WA 93 (6/2009): The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova reveals layers of dark perfumed fruit intermingled with French oak, spices, minerals, violets and licorice. The Tenuta Nuova is impressive mostly for its textural richness and sheer depth, both qualities it has in spades. The finish is long, sweet and pure. Here, too, the wine will need at least a few years in bottle before its full range of aromas and flavors emerges. Neri gave the Tenuta Nuova 30 months in medium-sized French oak tonneaux. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2024.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CasanovadiNeri.aspVM 95+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard is every bit as impressive as it has been on the several occasions I have tasted it from cask. An exotic concoction of smoke, graphite, black cherries and lavender makes a strong impression in a towering, distinctive Howell Mountain wine that is going to need a good few years in bottle to truly come together. This is a fabulous showing from Outpost. WA 94 (10/2015): An intriguing blend, the 2013 True Vineyard Immigrant is composed of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 32% Merlot aged in 67% new French oak for 20 months. This is a great showing in a complex wine, with notes of white chocolate, forest floor, blueberry and black raspberry. It’s intense and full without being heavy, attributable to the Cabernet Franc component. This wine has great color, already burgeoning complexity, and gorgeous texture and length. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Outpost.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/VillaPalatina.aspWS 86 (7/2009): Berry and fresh mushroom with a hint of flowers follow through to a medium body, with light fruit and a slightly short finish. Bit hard.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/PavillonRougeduChateauMargaux.aspWA 87 (4/2002): The 1999 Pichon Lalande performed inconsistently. This wine is a blend of 47% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. It offers a complex, evolved bouquet of cedar, underbrush, red currants, and spice box. The dark ruby color is not as saturated as many 1999s, and the wine possesses the weight and style of the 1979 and 1981 (both of which are superior to 1999). There is medium body, excellent ripeness, and an angular finish, without the persistence typically found at this chateau. Anticipated maturity: now-2012.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspJS 96-97 (4/2017): Linear and racy with ultra-fine tannins and a gorgeous center palate. Full-bodied, tight and so polished. The classicism and beauty are exceptional. Love the texture. Better than 2015? WS 95-98 (4/2017): Light savory and tobacco notes peek out from the core, but a ball of cassis and blackberry fruit is still coiled up with the strong iron spine. This is to be expected. Very pure, with a long finish. Risk-free cellaring.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChPichon-LonguevilleLalande.aspWA 98 (6/2016): An utterly prodigious effort that would most likely be the wine of the vintage if not for its big brother, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes all from Red Mountain and was raised in 100% new French oak. Revealing a healthy ruby/purple color and classic notes of sage brush, graphite, black cherries, currants and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness; building, present, yet ripe and polished tannin; perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol and oak; and awesome length. This is a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds onto a sense of elegance and finesse. Forget it for 4-5 years and drink bottles over the following two decades. VM 94+ (11/2016): Deep ruby-red color. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis and violet lifted by a pungent licorice note that may come from the very expensive, long-seasoned, tight-grained Taransaud T5 barrels. Tighter and less pliant in the early going than the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon but with a remarkably juicy intensity and superb inner-mouth perfume to the flavors of dark berries, wild rose and Belgian dark chocolate. Still youthfully imploded but boasts uncanny energy for this warm year. The tannins saturate the front teeth. This wonderfully cerebral wine is Lafite to the more powerful, densely packed flagship wine's Latour. Stephen Tanzer.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuilcedaCreek.aspWA 97 (12/2015): A real killer effort is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard. This shows nice, gravelly, earthy notes intermixed with a floral component, blackberry and blueberry, a sensationally saturated purple color and fabulous opulence and richness. Once again, this is a great effort and a pretty fair price point for a Beckstoffer Vineyard-sourced wine. This should drink well for 15-20 years. JS 95 (1/2016): So much eucalyptus in the nose with blackberry and white pepper. Full body, round and silky tannins and a bright and fresh finish. Chewy and serious. Fantastic finish. A super wine with focus from the Las Piedras Vineyard. Better in 2019. WS 91 (11/2016): A sophisticated effort, with rich, creamy oak and dark berry notes that are full-bodied and caressing even as the tannins gain presence. Hints of licorice, sage, crushed rock and herb add flavor and textural dimension. Drink now through 2030. 125 cases made. VM 87 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras is rich, dark and intense. The style is opulent, ripe and full-throttle, with plenty of intensity. I don't see much of the typical Las Piedras energy or minerality here, while the distinctly sweet finish is distracting. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuivetCellars.aspWA 98 (12/2013): As usual, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is a fabulous effort. The debut vintage of this cuvee was 2004, which is still quite young (I recently rated it 95). From the Oakville appellation, it is aged in 100% new Taransaud barrels, but sadly, only about 260 cases are made. The 2010 boasts beautiful notes of fruitcake, espresso roast, chocolate and black currants in its complex, full-bodied, concentrated, multi-dimensional personality. There is a huge up-side to this beauty as the tannins have not yet fully resolved. Give it another few years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades or more. VM 93 (5/2014): (includes 15% petit verdot; 100% new oak): Inky ruby. Pungent black and blue fruit aromas show an exotic peaty quality and suggestions of incense, violet and Indian spices. Deeply pitched cassis and blueberry flavors are braced by juicy acidity and pick up a suave floral pastille nuance with aeration. The spice and blue fruit notes dominate the finish, which is firmed by youthful but harmonious tannins. While I have no doubt that this wine is built to age it's pretty showy already. WS 92 (11/2013): Bold and expressive, featuring loads of deep flavors, with a fine measure of restraint and balance. The core flavors are keyed into dried dark and red berry, cedary oak, crushed rock and loamy earth, ending on the dry side. Best from 2014 through 2024. 260 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Ramey.aspVM 96+ (7/2015): The 2013 Monte Bello is super-ripe, exotic and flashy. Dark blue and purplish stone fruits, sweet spices and licorice meld together as the 2013 opens up in the glass. There is plenty of supporting acidity and tannin, but the 2013 is likely to always remain flamboyant within the framework of Monte Bello. In 2013 the inversion layer moved around quite a bit, which resulted in warmer days and cooler nights than is the norm at Ridge, where diurnal shifts typically occur within a narrower range. The drought conditions and a blast of late season heat yielded tiny berries, a small crop and an unusually dark, concentrated Monte Bello that is going to require considerable patience. This is another Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy year, with less Merlot than is often the case. Ridge fans can look forward to Monte Bello Old Vines and Monte Bello Steep Terraces Cabernets that had not yet been bottled when I stopped by the winery this past June. Tasted from barrel, those two limited production wines are both shaping up to be magnificent. Antonio Galloni. WS 91 (3/2017): Well-constructed, with firm tannins and acidity framed by a tight core of dusty blackberry and wild berry, showing cedary oak and woody touches. Slowly eases into a dusty black licorice and anise center. Best to let this aerate or cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2031. 5,000 cases made. WA 88 (8/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello Vineyard Estate is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It tips the scales at 13.8% alcohol. (Newly retired winemaker Paul Draper said on the back label that it was the first time in nearly 50 years that harvest took place in September rather than October.) Deep briary blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, with some light to moderate tannin are present in this dark ruby/purple-hued wine. It is medium-bodied and shows good structure, freshness and purity, with the oak clearly pushed to the background. This excellent Cabernet Sauvignon should age nicely for 10-12+ years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RidgeVineyards.aspWA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, which comes from the so-called Olmo clone (the same as the Eiesle clone), exhibits an opaque purple color, sweet créme de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as licorice, wet pebbles giving it minerality, and a long, full-bodied, opulent texture. This stunning wine comes from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from the most historic portion of Larkmead, where the Olmo clone (said to be the precursor to Eisele clone) and pure Cortina soils yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Dense and powerful, with distinctly earthy, savory notes, the 2013 delivers serious intensity and explosiveness. Readers will have to be patient, however, as the 2013 needs time to be at its best. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RiversMarie.aspWA 97+ (10/2015): Another killer effort from Rivers-Marie is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard, from a steep and rocky single vineyard in the Vaca foothills of eastern Napa above the Rudd Winery. The wine comes across with fabulous intensity and loads of blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit, licorice, camphor and incense. This is great stuff, backward, as all of these 2013s tend to be. It’s the smallest of these cuvées, with about 250 cases, or ten barrels produced. This wine is another one to benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more. VM 97 (10/2015): The undisputed crown jewel in this lineup, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is every bit as fabulous in bottle as it was from barrel. Here the impression is of explosive energy and pure verticality. A rush of dark red and black fruit, melted road tar, cloves, licorice and leather punctuates the explosive, creamy finish. All the magic of eastern Oakville comes through in spades. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RiversMarie.aspWA 98+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard comes from a five-acre, valley-floor vineyard just north of St. Helena near Vineyard 29's Aida. There are 450 cases of this magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of Mediterranean herbs intermixed with licorice, blackberry and cassis jump from the glass of this opaque purple wine. Stunningly proportioned, full-bodied, super-intense, with great purity, structure and depth, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for three decades. VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, from a site on the valley floor, shows all the voluptuousness and raciness that is typical of this sector in the northern reaches of St. Helena. Dark red cherry, plum, pomegranate and spice blossom as this full-bodied, racy Cabernet shows off its personality. There is just enough acidity to give the aromatics enough lift to balance the super-ripe fruit. As always, the Panek is a very showy wine. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/RiversMarie.aspWS 88 (7/2016): Both rich and deeply fruited, this delivers competing messages, with extracted licorice, dark berry, plum and currant notes met head-on by chewy gravel- and road tar-driven tannins. Best from 2020 through 2028. 250 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rudius.aspWA 94+ (10/2016): A vineyard made famous by Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 337 in St. Helena. This is a stunner with a beautiful floral fragrance interwoven with blueberry and blackberry fruit, graphite and incense. It is dense, full-bodied with the blue and black fruits continuing across the full-bodied palate. The wine has superb purity and moderate tannin. This wine should drink well for 20-25 years. WS 88 (7/2016): A solid red, if uneasy in the delivery, with fruit that is ripe and juicy but also herbal and dilly, and tannins that are edgy. Time may work to smooth things out. Drink now. 225 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Rudius.aspWA 98 (8/2010): The late-released 2007 Heart Stone, which spent 28 months in a combination of barrels, demi-muids, and pungeons, turned out to be a final blend of 65% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 14% Mourvedre. Like all of Justin Smith’s 2007s, it is a riveting, sensational wine that carries its heavy weight, profound richness, and intensity very gracefully. That is no doubt an effect of the limestone soils of this region. Blackberry and smoked meats as well as some garrigue and floral notes are followed by a dense, rich, pure, multi-layered wine that just screams for grilled poultry or meats! Bottled unfined and unfiltered (and as I recall, 25-35% stems/whole clusters were used during fermentation), this is a fabulous wine that combines power and elegance. It should drink well for at least a decade or more. JD 98 (11/2010): The lightest and most vibrant of the ‘07s, the 2007 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard is a blend of 65% Syrah, 21% Grenache, and 14% Mourvedre, from limestone soils, which saw close to 30% whole cluster and spent 26 months in oak. The Grenache really shows and the wine exhibits exceptional aromatics of spiced red fruits, underbrush, flowers, and graphite on the nose. This develops beautifully in the glass and shows awesome purity and precision. Silky and elegant on the palate, the wine is medium to full bodied and perfectly balanced, possessing a layered, rich, yet light texture, vibrant acidity, and a very long, focused finish that highlights fine-grained, ripe tannin. I love the delineation this shows, and while superb right now, I think this will benefit from 2 to 3 years in the cellar and then drink beautifully for 12 to 15 years. WS 97 (2/2011): There's amazing harmony and range of flavor in this red, which offers richness, elegance and finesse, with blackberry, wild berry, plum and cherry fruit that's full-bodied, smooth-textured and layered, opening doors of flavor on an amazingly long, intricate finish. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2022. 475 cases made. VM 93+ (11/2010): (65% syrah, 21% grenache and 14% mourvedre) Opaque purple. Explosive aromas of black raspberry, cherry pit, pomegranate molasses and Asian spices. Densely packed red and dark fruit flavors show intense spiciness and unfurl slowly to offer sexy floral character. Dense but with unlikely energy and finesse; this is just hinting at its potential. Josh Raynolds.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Saxum.aspJS 97 (5/2016): Amazing aromas of hot stone, iodine, black currants and blackberries. Full body, super polished tannins that highlight the dark fruits, plus white pepper, salt and fruit character. Precise and focused. Better in 2020. WS 94 (11/2016): Offers a powerful, extracted, high-torque core of zesty blackberry, wild berry, anise, licorice and crushed rock flavors. Sails a steady course once underway, ending where it starts, with a dense mix of complex earth and berry notes. Best from 2020 through 2033. 650 cases made. WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv comes from clone 337. This is a rather earthy style for a Schrader wine, with less drama and flamboyance, but great fruit, a more meaty, dusty style with underbrush as well as blackcurrants, with spicy oak. It’s dense, full-bodied and promises to age nicely for 20 more years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Schrader.aspWA 98 (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, Fred Schrader’s favorite selection, is clone 4 from the To Kalon Vineyard aged in 100% new Darnajou and seems closest in personality and overall style to the CCS. This is a beautiful wine with great intensity and seems to be one of the superstars of this vintage. Smoky barbecue notes intermix with charcoal embers, blackberry, cassis, Christmas fruitcake, licorice and camphor. This is a complex 2014 that is showing beautifully at the moment and will continue to drink well for another 20 years.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Schrader.aspWA 99 (8/2016): A wine that flirts with perfection, the 2012 Cumulus Vineyard #6 is an interesting blend of 38% Syrah, 37% Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and the rest Mourvedre that saw 33 months in 54% new French oak. There’s a tiny 191 cases made, and it’s one of the most singular, exotic wines I’ve tasted. Spice, cedar, chocolate, exotic flowers and an assortment of dark fruits all emerge from this full-bodied, layered blend that hits the palate with serious richness and depth. Yet, like all truly great wines, it’s light, ethereal and never, ever heavy. There’s big structure here as well, so forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+ years. VM 98 (9/2016): The 2012 No. 6 - Cumulus Vineyard might very well be my favorite of Manfred and Elaine Krankl's 2012s, including naturally the wines of Sine Qua Non. This is the warmest site the Krankls work with and the need to harvest on the earlier side seems to also preserve a bit more verve than is often found in some of the other Sine Qua Non wines. A host of cherry jam, pomegranate, sweet spice, rose petal and mint open up effortlessly, all with striking energy that keeps the wine vibrant and wonderfully alive. The blend is 38% Syrah, 37 % Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and 7.6% Mourvèdre, done with 36% whole clusters and aged in 54% new oak. Sold in cases of 3 bottles and 1 magnum at the price of $1,200.00 per case. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspWA 97 (6/2014): Starting off the Syrah-based wines, the 2004 Poker Face (Syrah) is aging beautifully. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier (from the Eleven Confessions, White Hawk, Alban, Bien Nacido, and Alta Mesa vineyards) that was aged in 80% new French oak, it offers up a perfumed, fresh bouquet of sweet blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and licorice that gives way to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured feel on the palate. Rich and decadent, it has notable, yet beautifully integrated acidity and stays remarkably fresh, detailed and even elegant. It still needs a lengthy decant to shine, and will continue to thrill over the coming decade or so. VM 96 (8/2015): The 2004 Syrah Poker Face remains deep, inky and powerful, even at eleven years of age. A host of black cherry, chocolate, licorice and smoke meld together in this dark, voluptuous Syrah. As good as the 2004 is, it's also quite clear just how far Sine Qua Non has come since the Poker Face was made. The blend is 96% Syrah, with drops of Mourvèdre and Viognier. Vineyard sources are 33% Eleven Confessions, 27% White Hawk, 22% Alban, 16% Bien Nacido and 3% Alta Mesa. Antonio Galloni.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/SineQuaNon.aspJS 98 (7/2015): Incredible blueberry, blackberry, black walnut, mineral, black licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, very tight and structured with hints of hazelnut, fine chocolate, mineral and spice. Layered and very fine. A solid and classic-styled Napa Valley cab. WA 96+ (10/2014): The opaque purple-hued 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a glorious bouquet of crème de cassis, spring flowers, a Pauillac-like lead pencil note, and background new oak. The overall impression is one of restraint combined with richness. This full-bodied effort possesses good acidity and ripe tannin. It has been crafted for the long-term. The hallmarks of great Spottswoode wines are their purity and elegance combined with serious power. The 2012 has that in abundance. This youthful, reserved Cabernet will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring, and will keep for two decades or more. VM 95 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as surprisingly medium in body and not as explosive as I had expected, perhaps a reflection of its recent bottling. Today the 2012 shows the more suave, silky side of the year, with considerable early appeal and pure radiance, butt less in the way of structure. Hints of mocha, spices and crushed flowers add nuance on the finish. All things considered, today the 2012 performs in line with the vintage, but does not appear to be the overachiever it has been in recent years. WS 87 (3/2015): Offers a trim mix of red and dark berry fruit, dusty cedary oak, gravel and tobacco leaf accents and stalky tannins. Ends dry and clean, yet clipped. Drink now. 4,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Spottswoode.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/BrendanStater-West.aspVM 90 (8/2015): Bright yellow-gold. Aromas of ripe pear, nectarine, honey and toasty lees, with a subtle floral nuance emerging with aeration. Smooth and open-knit, offering sappy pit and orchard fruit flavors and a bracing punch of bitter citrus pith on the back half. Nicely bllends opulence and vivacity and finishes with very good cling and subtle smokiness. Josh Raynolds.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TalbottVineyards.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/CastellodiUzzano.aspWS 87 (7/2013): Cherry, plum and underbrush notes prevail in this stiff red, whose tannins leave a firm grip on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2020. 10,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/TerredaVino.asp