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Inventory updated: Sun, Jul 26, 2026 12:42 PM cst
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Australia |
| Henschke |
2009 |
Mt. Edelstone Shiraz (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,191.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Ausone |
2018 |
St. Emilion (3x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,972.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98-100 (4/2019): The 2018 Ausone is composed of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. The Merlot was harvested September 25 and 27, and the Cabernet Franc was harvested October 3, 8 and 9. Deep purple-black in color, it is an impenetrable wall to begin, unrelenting without persistent coaxing, at last uncoiling to offer glimpses at preserved plums, blueberry coulis, molten licorice and underbrush with emerging scents of lavender, iron ore, crushed stones, charcoal and Indian spices plus a waft of red roses. Full-bodied, rich, decadent and tightly knit, it offers layer upon layer of fruit, spice and mineral nuances with a firm frame of exquisitely fine tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and heart-stopping beauty.
VM 97-100 (5/2019): The 2018 Ausone is off the charts. Deep, sensual and mysterious, the 2018 is going to need many years to show the full breadth of its potential. And yet, there is so much there. Rich and concentrated on the palate, with phenomenal persistence, the 2018 is loaded with energy, tension and precision, offering a compelling interplay of opulence, saline intensity and structure. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-99 (5/2019): Ratcheting up the intensity, the 2018 Château Ausone has an essence of limestone-like character as well as thrilling notes of blackberries, black raspberries, white flowers, truffle, forest floor, and graphite. Possessing full-bodied richness, a deep, beautifully concentrated mid-palate, ample tannins, and a great finish, this is a powerful, layered Ausone that’s going to need 5-7 years of bottle age but should knock your socks off over the following 25+ years. The 2018 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, brought up in a mix of new and used barrels.
JS 99-100 (4/2019): This is really exotic with wild-fruit character that I have seldom encountered in Ausone. Full-bodied yet reserved and very tight. Amazing depth and purity of fruit. Incredible beauty. Sexy. |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
1990 |
St. Julien (1.5 L) ex-Chateau; reconditioned 2021 |
$695 |
6 |
|
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| WA 91 (8/2020): Harvest took place this year from 23rd September to 8th October. The wine was aged for around 12 months in two-thirds new oak. Medium brick-brown in color, the 1990 Ducru-Beaucaillou is quite evolved, offering notions of incense, tree bark, tilled soil and tobacco with nuances of preserved plums, kirsch, tapenade and leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate still possesses a good amount of earth-laced savory fruit with a bit of chew to the texture and a stewed tea finish. |
|
| Clos l' Eglise |
1998 |
Pomerol ex-Chateau |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (4/2001): A classic Pomerol, the 1998 boasts a superb, complex bouquet of mocha fudge, vanilla, black cherries, roasted coffee, smoke, and berries. The dazzlingly explosive aromatic display is followed by a creamy-textured, medium to full-bodied, beautifully-layered wine with no hard edges. A supple texture leads to a finish with notes of caramel and spice that lingers for over 40 seconds. This is a gorgeous, complex Pomerol. |
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|
2001 |
Pomerol ex-Chateau |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2004): The 2001 offers a huge spectrum of aromas, including notes of smoke, mocha, chocolate, coffee, and loads of blackberry, cherry, and currant fruit. The superb aromatics are followed by an elegant, medium-bodied, deliciously supple-textured, expansive, fleshy, beautifully pure, well-delineated Pomerol. It is a brilliant effort as well as one of the candidates for the wine of the appellation in 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2014.
VM 91 (6/2004): Medium ruby. Compelling aromas of candied currant and cherry, tobacco and roasted nuts. Suave, silky and sappy, with smoky berry and plum flavors framed and intensified by harmonious acidity. Dense, sweet, rich and seductive. Finishes ripely tannic, subtle and long. Delicious, archetypical Pomerol. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. La Fleur Petrus |
2016 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,685.98 |
13 |
|
| |
JD 98 (2/2019): The 2016 Château La Fleur Petrus is more regal and elegant, with an incredibly floral quality in its red and blue fruits, crushed rock, forest floor, and graphite-tinged aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied, rich, layered effort has notable structure, integrated acidity, beautiful balance, and a rock star finish. This is pure class and a thrilling La Fleur Petrus that needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2023-2053)
VM 97 (1/2019): The 2016 La Fleur-Pétrus soars out of the glass with striking aromatics. Light on its feet yet also quite fleshy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Blood orange and floral notes add brightness to the red-toned fruit in this silky, beautifully nuanced Pomerol. The 2016 is rich, dense and spectacularly beautiful, with a persistent, saline-drenched finish that makes it hard to resist a second taste. (Drink between 2026-2056) Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (11/2018): Blended of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 la Fleur-Petrus reveals stunning Black Forest cake, redcurrant jelly and wilted roses scents with underlying suggestions of pencil shavings, yeast extract, dark chocolate and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, the mid-palate possesses superb intensity and depth with layers of perfumed black fruits and loads of red fruit sparks framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing on a lingering earthy note. |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
2014 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$695 |
12 |
|
| |
JA 97 (2/2024): Fine swirls of gunsmoke on the first nose, totally enticing, very much in control, with mouthwatering salinity, fine tannic structure that initially masks the build up of power and concentration, with an expansion through the mid palate of raspberry, cassis, rose petals and tobacco leaf. One of those sapid, mouthwatering, moreish Lafites that beg to be drunk, but are deceptive because will continue to develop over the next decade, then hold on for another two or three. It's delicious, not the most luscious 2014, but elegant and on point.
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild, tasted with head winemaker Eric Kohler, has retained that very opulent and outgoing bouquet that dare I say actually reminded me of Mouton-Rothschild. There are layers of blackberry and boysenberry fruit, still that hint of juniper berry, certainly a more extrovert Lafite-Rothschild compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, very focused and quite linear, again with plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. It begins to clam up towards the saline finish, suggesting that it will need several years in bottle, but I still have high expectations for this First Growth once afforded several years in bottle.
VM 92 (3/2024): The 2014 Lafite-Rothschild has a typically refined nose at first, though I notice that it gains more richness after five minutes and replicates the menthol scents that I noticed in the previous bottle four years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, fleshy and ripe. White pepper and fennel infuse the red fruit. Perhaps it doesn't quite "kick on" towards the finish like Mouton, though it does feel reassuringly persistent. Maybe it has something up its sleeve? A second bottle tasted blind at Southwold was a bit "aloof". Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2026-2055). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
2005 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,849.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (8/2012): A stunningly complex and complete nose of flowers, dark fruits, and minerals. Very perfumed and subtle at the same time. The palate is full, yet tight and powerful with perfect tannins and a long, long finish. The quality of the tannins is phenomenal, please leave this alone for ten years. Pull the cork in 2020.
VM 98 (11/2015): A wine for the ages, the 2005 Leoville Las Cases is slow to come out of the gate, but its beauty and pedigree are evident. The 2005 Las Cases is one of the only wines in this tasting that still needs time in bottle, something that won't come as a surprise to fans of this St. Julien estate. The 2005 offers plenty of the typical Las Cases power, but it is also remarkably nuanced and translucent for a wine of its sheer size. When all is said and done, it is in my top three or four wines of the night. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97+ (6/2015): This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. |
|
| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2012 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,478.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 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. |
|
| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2019 |
Pessac Leognan (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$493.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2022): As to the Grand Vin 2019 Château Pape Clement, it reveals a dense purple hue to go with stunning aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencils shavings, scorched earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced, with flawless tannins, this full-bodied Pessac has that rare mix of elegance and power, a great mid-palate, and again, perfect balance. It's one of the gems of the vintage and has some accessibility today given its purity and balance, yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new French oak.
VM 97 (2/2022): The 2019 Pape Clément is just as impressive as it was en primeur. It shows all of the textural richness that is so typical of Bernard Magrez's wines, but with an extra kick of freshness that provides energy as well as a sense of proportion. A wine of stature, the 2019 is so classy. Succulent black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice are all beautifully delineated. But more than anything else, I find the wine's energy really impressive. This is a fabulous vintage for Pape Clément. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (1/2022): This lays down a challenge to the other wines in Pessac-Léognan, with a little more power and definition, with slate tannins and a rasp of minerality all while delivering pure and concentrated raspberry, loganberry and black cherry fruits. The tannins are confident and are not about to let the fruit go anywhere soon. Great quality and potential, a little more severe and austere than the 2018 at this point, needs a good five years in bottle. Harvest September 17 to October 10, An upscore from En Primeur. Tasted twice, two months apart.
WA 94 (4/2022): The 2019 Pape Clément has turned out well in bottle, delivering a rich bouquet of cherries, blackcurrants, plum liqueur and blackberries mingled with notions of burning embers, licorice and a nicely integrated framing of new oak. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's a layered, fleshy wine, with a deep core of ripe but lively fruit, plenty of powdery tannin and a long, expansive, discreetly heady finish. This is a powerful, dramatic Pessac with a transatlantic accent and will drink well with only a few years' bottle age. |
|
| Ch. Peby Faugeres |
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,274.97 |
2 |
|
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| WA 97 (2/2013): A very limited production cuvee, the 2010 Peby Faugeres is sold in a specially designed bottle from Silvio Denz, who also owns Lalique Crystal. It comes from the oldest portion of the Faugeres vineyard, which is actually more of a completely separate entity under Denz than it was under the previous owners. The 2010 is 100% Merlot and again 15% natural alcohol. The vines were cropped at 20 hectoliters per hectare, but harvested about a week before the harvest finished for the main Faugeres vineyard. Most observers would tend to look at this wine as a modern-style, massive, intense St.-Emilion, with an opaque purple color, a floral nose shaded by notes of blueberry liqueur intermixed with black raspberries, vanillin, subtle smoke and barrique smells. It is full-bodied and built for two decades of longevity, but should be reasonably drinkable in 5-6 years because of the 100% Merlot content. This is a thrilling wine, as it has been in nearly every vintage where it has been produced. |
|
| Ch. Pontet Canet |
2018 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$707.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97-99 (4/2019): The 2018 Pontet-Canet is made up of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Picking began on September 24 and finished on October 5; aging is in 55% oak barriques and 45% amphorae. Very deep purple-black in color, it comes rolling sensuously out of the glass with all the opulence and seduction of Cleopatra on a carpet. It emerges with flamboyant scents of crème de cassis, preserved plums and blueberry compote, and after a few moments, it bursts with nuances of molten licorice, sandalwood, Chinese five spice, candied violets, dark chocolate and dried roses, followed by underlying earthy suggestions of fallen leaves, black truffles, underbrush and wild sage. Full-bodied, wonderfully dense, rich, impossibly layered and very, very decadent, the palate delivers all it promises on the nose, with a firm, wonderfully velvety frame and finishing with epic length, a scintillating wave of freshness and a beguiling perfume. This is one for true hedonists.
VM 96-99 (5/2019): The 2018 Pontet-Canet is a freak of nature. Dark, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses off the charts richness and concentration, much of it coming from tiny yields of just ten hectoliters per hectare, or one third of a normal crop. The 2018 soars out of the glass with stunning aromatic intensity and depth. Black cherry, gravel, grilled herbs, leather, lavender and menthol stain the palate. Dense and hedonistically ripe, the 2018 is a stunningly beautiful wine. The grapes were crushed by hand. Because of the tiny yields, the entire production was vinified in Pontet-Canet's new smaller concrete vats. All winemaking was done manually, without the aid of external temperature control or electricity. The 2018 is aging in a combination of 55% new oak and 45% terra cotta amphora. Quite simply, I have never tasted anything like it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98 (5/2019): Deeply colored, the 2018 Pontet-Canet checks in as a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot that was destemmed by hand, fermented all in concrete tanks (punch downs only) and is still aging 55% in new French oak and the balance in concrete amphoras. It's an incredibly rich, opulent, and plush Pontet-Canet that offers loads of black and blue fruits, licorice, crushed violets, and graphite aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, powerful, beautifully textured and layered, it's reminiscent of the magical 2009 with its rare mix of both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure. Unfortunately, the estate was decimated by mildew in the spring and lost a full two-thirds of their total production.
JS 97-98 (4/2019): A bright and open young wine with polished and soft tannins that spread out and fold into the wine, becoming barely discernible, yet the feel and beauty of them frames the wine in a beautiful way. Love the fruit and purity. |
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| Ch. Prieure Lichine |
2015 |
Margaux ex-Negociant |
$56.95 |
60 |
|
| |
JA 94 (5/2022): Generous aromatics, raspberry puree, a little reticent right now as this is a big shouldered and well constructed wine that needs time to fully open. Edges of chocolate and liqourice alongside the cassis and black cherry fruits, and even in a generous vintage like 2015 there is still balance offered by a touch of mint and eucalyptus. Needs another few years in bottle before the terroir begins to reassert its authority, but this will give exceptional pleasure and is impressive. 50% new oak. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant.
VM 89 (6/2025): The 2015 Prieuré Lichine has a bouquet that demands more coaxing from the glass to reveal dusky black fruit, hints of leather and undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins and fine acidity, but it feels blocky on the finish at the moment. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2026-2038). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Trotte Vieille |
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$586.99 |
2 |
|
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JD 95-97 (5/2023): My rough note on the 2022 Château Trotte Vieille included more than one expletive, and this beauty is straight-up gorgeous. Vivid blue fruits, violets, flowers, and chocolate all make an appearance on the nose, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered texture, perfect tannins, and nicely integrated oak. Based on 50% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it remains to be seen if this will ultimately match the magical 2020, but we're not far off. This is a château readers need to have on their radar.
VM 94-96 (5/2023): The 2022 Trotte Vieille is a hugely intriguing wine. The aromatics alone are wonderfully alluring. Sweet red-toned fruit, mint, blood orange, spice, licorice and rose petal infuse the 2022 with compelling inner perfume. Layered and complex, with tons of character, Trotte Vieille is shaping up to be terrific. In 2022, Trotte Vieille is not as bombastic as it has been in some recent years, and that is a positive. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-96 (5/2023): The quality of the 2022 Trotte Vieille took me by surprise, but clearly more diligent viticulture, combined with a new winery equipped with fully 26 vats for the estate's 11 hectares of vineyards, is beginning to pay off, as this is the most complete, integrated young wine I have ever tasted at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, rose petals, violets and incense, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a long, saline finish. A blend of fully 50% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot, it derives exclusively from Trotte Vieille's historic clay-limestone walled vineyard.
JA 95 (5/2023): Even with its location on the heart of the Asteries limestone plateau the colour is insanely dark, a clear imprint of the vintage. This is the second vintage in Trottevielle's new cellars, and it's totally gorgeous, rich and creamy in its delivery of blackberry and blueberry fruits, feels complete, compelx and balanced, with the chocolate and damson core given lift and finesse by a salted cracker and saffran finish. 100% new oak, beautiful wine from the team here, owned by Philippe Casteja. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2017 |
Sauternes (6x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,228.98 |
4 |
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JS 99 (12/2019): This is a great Yquem, delivering thrilling purity and intensity. The nose offers intense aromas of fresh and dried apricot and peach pastry, as well as freshly baked creme brulee, candied and fresh orange and kumquat. Some marmalade, too. Smooth, glossy texture with flavors of grilled orange, dried apricot and an exceptionally long finish with a powerful, driving push to the end. A flicker of toasty-oak influence arrives late, but this wine has completely consumed the oak. The 2017 Yquem is a very powerful wine from a very rich and exceptional vintage. The acidity has a big hand in balancing the richness. Pithy finish. The phenolics deliver some great depth. Rain at the beginning of September prompted an extensive infection of noble rot. The harvest lasted from September 26 to October 13. Great quality and one of the best since the legendary 2001. Drink or hold.
VM 97 (11/2019): The 2017 Yquem was tasted instead of the 2018 since owners LVMH no longer show the wine en primeur. This vintage has just been released onto the market and so I have included it in this report. The estate suffered no frost damage in 2017 and a warm period between May and July, 3° Celsius above average meant the vines' growth cycle was a month in advance. Then, 65mm of rain between 1 and 16 September was the catalyst for botrytis formation. The fruit was picked in two dry and warm windows between 26 September and 14 October, during which concentration came easily so that the bunches achieved even levels of ripeness. The vineyard team selected the best parcels to pick at 21 degrees potential alcohol and in a draconian measure, the rest was sold, some 50% of the crop. Winemaker Sandrine Garbay described it as "A vintage of puissance and richness." It has a charming and very pure bouquet with dried honey, acacia, apricot blossom and touches of crushed stone that gradually unfurls in the glass. The palate is viscous on the entry, beautifully balanced with impressive weight and substance, though sans the multi-dimensional complexity of the very greatest vintages. Honey, hints of lemongrass, marmalade and quince combine on the extremely harmonious finish that lingers. This is a seriously good Yquem. Neal Martin. |
|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Henri Gouges |
2011 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,213.99 |
1 |
|
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BH 90-92 (1/2013): Here too a background application of oak is visible on the intensely earthy and beautifully complex nose of both red and blue pinot fruit, earth, violet and plum scents. There is good size, weight and power to the relatively supple mid-palate though the firm core of tannins is apparent on the moderately austere and impressively long finish. This is very Nuits in character but not unduly rustic or rough. Drink: 2021+
VM 90-92 (2/2013): Good bright, deep red. Blackberry, minerals and crushed stone on the nose. Densely packed and concentrated, with savory dark berry, floral and licorice flavors leading to a youthfully powerful if rather strict finish. Classic sturdy Nuits-Saint-Georges but with lovely energy and finesse to its fruit. The big tannins spread out on the back end, yet the wine maintains a light touch. |
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| Dom. Hubert Lignier |
2023 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,087.99 |
2 |
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2023 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,221.99 |
1 |
|
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2023 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Baudes (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$456.99 |
2 |
|
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2023 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,160.99 |
2 |
|
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2023 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$527.99 |
1 |
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2023 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$879.99 |
2 |
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| Dom. Lignier Michelot |
2023 |
Morey St. Denis Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$403.99 |
10 |
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2023 |
Chambolle Musigny Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$403.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Maume |
2002 |
Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,964.98 |
1 |
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BH 93 (1/2005): ( from a .7 ha parcel in Mazis-Bas of 70 year old vines) The aromatic profile is completely different as there is an intense animale quality with intense red and black fruits, earth, underbrush and truffle notes plus a hint of reduction that introduces robust yet detailed flavors that are rich, extremely long and this finishes with a touch of toast. What I really like here though is the sophistication of the tannins as they are quite fine and completely buffered by the buckets of mid-palate sap. A marvelous effort of imposing potential that possesses so much extract that it could be approached now yet it would be a clear case of infanticide as everything required is here for a long life. Drink 2012+.
WA 93 (4/2014): This 2002 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru tasted wonderful back in 2008 and it continues to drink beautifully. It has superb delineation on the nose with vibrant red berry fruit, briary and cold stones – the mineralite heightened with time. The palate is poised, leafy and fresh, an elegant and rather understated Pinot Noir that is full of personality and charm. Lovely. |
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| Dom. Georges Roumier |
2015 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussiere (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,778.97 |
1 |
|
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| BH 91 (1/2018): A more deeply pitched nose combines notes of dark currant, earth, underbrush and discreet humus nuances. There is fine richness and plenty of punch to the more voluminous and once again solidly concentrated flavors that are shaped by surprisingly sleek tannins on the firm, highly complex, lengthy and impeccably well-balanced finish save for a trace of warmth. This firm and dusty effort will need all of a decade to shed its core of tannins and become more user friendly. Drink 2025+. Outstanding! |
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| Dom. Taupenot Merme |
2019 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru La Combe d’Orveaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,008.97 |
1 |
|
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| Dom. Cecile Tremblay |
2012 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,210.99 |
1 |
|
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2013 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,020.97 |
1 |
|
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2017 |
Bourgogne Cote d’Or (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,685.97 |
1 |
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2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,785.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
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2018 |
Bourgogne Cote d’Or (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$845.97 |
4 |
|
| |
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2019 |
Bourgogne Cote d’Or (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,685.97 |
1 |
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| | Burgundy White |
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2024 |
Puligny Montrachet (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$602.99 |
1 |
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| JM 88-90 (10/2025): Mid lemon yellow. A smoky reduction on the nose. An oily note to the texture, a little burnt note as well, is that from the wood or just reduction? Slightly sour lemons skins to finish. Not in place today, but I would expect it to cheer up later on. Drink from 2028-2032. |
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2024 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchere (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,153.99 |
5 |
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| |
| JM 93-96 (10/2025): Mid yellow. There is a little touch of patisserie on the nose, showing the additional breadth of fruit on Henri Boillot’s favourite vineyard. That’s what gives the gourmandise to the wine, says Henri. This seems to have all the aspects with an excellent mineral backbone holding the fruit together. Lime blossom and acacia he finds, from the adjacent trees which flower at the same time. Very fine long finish. Drink from 2030-2036. |
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2024 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,144.99 |
2 |
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| JM 92-94 (10/2025): Mid lemon yellow. There is additional weight to the Perrières, making a very complete wine, fresh almonds for me and Henri Boillot finds a mandarin note as well. Strong mineral backbone. Very nicely balanced overall. Drink from 2030-2035. |
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| | Champagne |
| Gosset |
2007 |
Brut Rose Celebris Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$417.99 |
1 |
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| | Italy |
| Argiano |
2010 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$455.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 98 (12/2014): An unforgiving and powerfully structured wine with fabulous grilled meat and granite stone character with dried berry and flower petal. Full body, chewy and intense. Great structure and extremely long and intense. Sexy austerity. Gets the juices going. Best ever from here. Reminds me of the great Argianos of the 1970s but now! Better in 2017 or 2018. |
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| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2014 |
Barbaresco Pora Riserva (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$739.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (10/2018): The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a dark, sensual beauty. Deeply spiced and balsamic, with tremendous textural richness, the Pora is utterly beguiling. I can't remember a Pora with this much depth, textural resonance and brooding intensity. The 2014 needs at least a few years to be at its best, but it is superb even in the early going. I won't be surprised if the 2014 turns out to be better than this note suggests. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cavallotto |
2007 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,274.99 |
1 |
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2016 |
Barolo Riserva Vignolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$991.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 94 (2/2022): The 2016 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is going to need time to emerge, as it is pretty austere today. Red cherry, iron, incense, white pepper, cedar and tobacco are enshrouded by a blanket of intense tannin. The flavor profile is decidedly old-school leaning, in a way that is not too common these days. Firm, dusty tannins wrap it all together. Quite frankly, the 2016 tastes like a wine from another era. I can’t wait to see how it ages. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2015 |
Barbaresco Asili (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,003.99 |
2 |
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JS 95 (10/2017): Very perfumed and pretty with cherry, dried fruit and orange peel. Hints of sandalwood, too. Full body, layered and refined. Smoke, tar and spice aftertaste to the fruit. Drink in 2019.
VM 94 (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Asili is all class. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, orange peel, wild flowers and sweet spice lift from this vibrant, beautifully delineated Barbaresco. The 2015 doesn't quite have the sweetness or inner perfume of the best Giacosa Asilis, but it is nevertheless a very pretty and expressive wine that pulses with energy and personality. It is also one of the most tighly wound 2015 Barbarescos I tasted. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2018): In 2013, the father and daughter winemaking team of Bruno and Bruna Giacosa decided not to produce their Barbaresco Asili. They made a Rabajà expression instead. Asili was vinified separately again in 2014 and more recently to create the impressive 2015 Barbaresco Asili. This wine was bottled one year ago in July and has been on the market since February. This expression offers accessible and generous fruit tones, with blackcurrant and dark plum. The wine delivers big inner power with evident tannic firmness and a point of astringency on the finish. All it needs is more time in the bottle. |
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| Roagna |
2020 |
Barbaresco Paje (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,133.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Tenuta San Guido |
2016 |
Sassicaia (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,359.98 |
1 |
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WA 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a wine of soaring achievement. I tasted this wine several times during the course of its creation in both barrel and bottle, and the highly deserved 100-point score you see here was enthusiastically assigned at the conclusion of a mini vertical in which I tasted and compared the 2016 vintage against 2015 (which I scored 97 points). It makes perfect sense to present these two excellent vintages in back-to-back comparison fashion because they are two of the best to emerge from Bolgheri, and indeed Tenuta San Guido, in recent memory. These are very similar vintages with long, hot summer months that fueled a long growing season. There was a bit more rain in 2016, and in analytical terms this vintage has a tad more acidity. However, the results in the glass are extraordinarily different. The 2015 vintage is exuberant, round, succulent and immediate, whereas the 2016 vintage shows pinpoint sharpness and precision (with similar grit and texture at the back). That acidity will carry it long into the future as the wine completes its slow evolutionary course. This wine is chiseled and sharp with blackberry, ripe cherry, grilled herb and barbecue spice. The aromas flow from the glass in a continuous stream and are all marked by radiant intensity. The mouthfeel is long and powerful. The crisp linearity of the wine's tannic backbone is perfectly measured to the volume and depth of the fruit flavors. To my mind, the 2016 Sassicaia stands tall next to the epic 1985 vintage that set the ultimate benchmark for vino italiano.
JS 97 (4/2019): Subtle and complex aromas of blackcurrants, fresh herbs, lavender, rosemary and oyster shell. Some moss, too. Very perfumed. Full-bodied yet integrated with refined tannins that melt into the palate. Extremely classy and polished. Hard not to drink now. Try after 2021, when the tannins will have integrated even better in the wine.
VM 97 (3/2020): The 2016 Sassicaia is one of the most powerful, imposing young Sassicaias I can remember tasting. Explosive and vibrant with stunning depth, the 2016 possesses off-the-charts aromatic intensity, richness and structure, all in a mid-weight style that is so distinctive. Plum, lavender, rose petal, spice and mint all build into the explosive, deep finish in this potent wine. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (11/2019): Coming from a long, hot, even growing season, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated 2016 Sassicaia sports a deep purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of black and blue fruits, tobacco lead, lead pencil, and plenty of minerality. This carries to a medium to full-bodied wine that has good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, a notable sense of purity and elegance, and plenty of grainy tannins. This elegant, focused Sassicaia will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and drink nicely over the following two decades or more. |
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| Tua Rita |
2021 |
Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscana (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$697.97 |
1 |
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| WA 96 (3/2024): Here’s a wine that takes us to a vintage that excels in terms of general fruit clarity and precision. The 2021 Giusto di Notri is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot that ages in new oak (50% of the wine) with the other half going into second- and third-passage barrel. Intensity and depth are highlighted nicely here in a vintage that ended on October 16th (much later than 2020). This benefits complexity and aromas. The vintage also delivers more freshness and balanced tannins (without the sharper edges you get in 2020). This is a beautiful wine, one that's set up for long cellar aging. |
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| Eduardo Valentini |
2024 |
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,124.99 |
1 |
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| Roberto Voerzio |
2015 |
Barolo Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,442.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| | Other Red |
| Thymiopoulos |
2017 |
Kayafas Naoussa Xinomavro (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$706.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2017 |
Vrana Petra Naoussa Xinomavro (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$899.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Kayafas Naoussa Xinomavro (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$706.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2018 |
Vrana Petra Naoussa Xinomavro (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$899.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| M. Chapoutier |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$573.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Clos des Papes |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,804.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (2/2017): One of the great vintages from this estate, surpassing even the 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, and maybe the 2010 (time will tell with this one), the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape from Vincent Avril delivers everything you could want from a wine. Full-bodied, intense and beautifully concentrated, with plenty of muscle and depth, it shows the hallmark elegance and purity of the estate, with sensational notes of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, incense, smoked meats and Asian spices. The blend is the normal 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, brought up all in older foudre, and it's just now entering its prime drink window and has another two decades of longevity.
VM 95+ (2/2010): Deep ruby. Powerful, pungent aromas of kirsch, dark berries, smoky herbs and spicecake, with notes of black olive and tobacco coming on with air. Chewy, palate-staining dark fruit flavors are complicated by bitter chocolate, licorice and black cardamom. Acts like a 2005 today, with serious structure but also superb depth of powerful, densely packed fruit. A hint of cherry skin adds grip and refreshing bitterness to the long, smoky, focused finish. Not an easy read right now: this demands cellaring. |
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|
2010 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,192.98 |
3 |
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WA 98 (5/2022): Unprompted, Paul-Vincent Avril pulled a 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape from the admirable library stock he maintains at Clos des Papes. Who was I to say no? A stupendous effort that seamlessly marries full-bodied richness with a sense of lightness and ease, it's really just now maturing, although it has been drinkable for some time. Leather accents raspberry and blackberry fruit on the nose, while the long, silky-textured finish adds delicate notes of star anise, peppery spice and black olive. This complex, elegant masterpiece should continue to drink well for another decade and then some.
JD 98+ (12/2017): The 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Paul-Vincent continues to fire on all cylinders and is a big, rich, structured beauty that flirts with perfection. Black raspberries, kirsch, dried garrigue, and dusty earth-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this huge, concentrated, incredibly structured 2010 that’s just now starting to shed a touch of baby fat. It’s going to hit full-maturity in another 4-5 years and last for another two decades. It’s an incredible, world-class effort that every reader should try to taste.
VM 96 (1/2013): Inky ruby. Potent, intensely perfumed aromas on raspberry liqueur, cherry-cola, anise and smoky garrigue. Spicy and incisive, offering palate-staining red and dark berry flavors that become richer with air. Shows a superb balance of richness and vivacity, with dusty tannins giving grip to a long, spice- and floral-dominated finish. One of the top wines from the entire Rhone from this Outstanding vintage. |
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| Dom. du Pegau |
2010 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Capo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,634.98 |
1 |
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WA 100 (10/2013): Comprised of roughly 85% Grenache and the rest Syrah and other permitted varieties, aged all in foudre, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo is sheer perfection in a glass. Wine doesn’t get any better. Incredibly rich and concentrated, yet ethereal and even graceful, it boasts off-the-hook aromas of blackberry, licorice, spice-box, smoked meats and underbrush that continue to change and develop in the glass. Massive and decadent on the palate, yet again, with no weight and a seamless texture, this brilliant effort needs a handful of years in the cellar and will live to see its 30th birthday in fine form. Drink 2016-2040.
VM 95-96 (2/2013): Inky purple. Heady, explosive aromas of black raspberry and blueberry preserves, garrigue and incense, with smoky mineral and anise accents. Lush and palate-coating, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that are enlivened by juicy acidity. Ridiculously rich but animated wine, with excellent finishing thrust and lingering spiciness. This wine had still not been bottled when I tasted it in mid-November. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Quilceda Creek |
2003 |
Merlot |
$89 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 94 (4/2006): Though this is first and foremost a Cabernet producer, this fall Quilceda Creek will release an exceptional 2003 Merlot (400 cases). Produced with 12.5% Cabernet Franc, it brings to mind some of the finest St.-Emilions. Sweet black fruits and notes of roasted asphalt can be detected in its aromatics. Highly concentrated and dense, it is medium to full-bodied, suave, and silky-textured. Dark chocolate, blackberries, dark cherries, and hints of raspberries make up its boisterous flavor profile. Projected maturity: 2008-2020. Congratulations Alex and Paul, welcome to the big leagues.
VM 91 (11/2006): (includes 12.5% cabernet franc) Good ruby-red color. Lively aromas of redcurrant, tobacco, mocha and maple syrup. Then high-pitched and fresh in the mouth, with a slightly carnal tone to the flavors of dark cherry, redcurrant, tobacco, roasted marshmallow and herbs. Finishes with firm tannins and a hint of boysenberry. This has a pH of 3.8 but comes across as brighter than the Red Wine bottlings. Quilceda's merlot bottling has become consistently Outstanding. |
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|
2004 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$350 |
1 |
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WA 99 (8/2007): The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon contains 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet with the wine sourced from the Champoux, Klipsun, and Taptiel Vineyards. It was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak. There are 3400 cases produced, most of it sold through the winery’s mailing list and the rest in a handful of markets. Opaque purple-colored, it delivers a remarkable array of aromas including pain grille, violets, pencil lead, truffle, Asian spices, black currant, and blueberry. This leads to a lustrous, layered, velvet-textured wine with gobs of spicy, ripe black fruits and beautifully integrated oak, tannin, and acidity. The long, pure finish goes on for well over a minute. It will evolve for a decade and drink well through 2045. I was able to retaste the 2001, 2002, and 2003 vintages and can only say that Monsieur Rovani’s notes and scores are right on the bulls-eye.
VM 93-96 (12/2006): (with 3% merlot and 1% cabernet franc) Medium ruby. Aromas of cassis, black rasperry, smoke, mocha, coffee and tobacco; still a bit suppressed by SO2 Sweeter and fatter today than the 2003, with a distinct chocolatey flavor, but in its muted state this lacks the high notes of the earlier vintage and shows less obvious spine. But the terrific breadth of the wine is already obvious, and the finish is pliant and long, with building, ripe tannins. |
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|
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
2 |
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WA 100 (6/2013): From a hot vintage and incredible any way you look at it, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon has that laser-like focus of a cooler year, yet the voluptuousness and richness of a warmer year. Smoked black fruits, coffee, truffle and pen ink-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this massive, incredibly full-bodied effort and on the palate, it carries itself perfectly with a weightless, yet decadent texture, masses of polished tannin and blockbuster length. More classic and textbook than the 2007, it is every bit as good. Enjoy it over the coming two decades or more. Drink now-2033.
VM 94+ (11/2008): (includes 3% merlot) Bright, saturated medium ruby. Sexy aromas of cassis, black raspberry, minerals, mocha and smoky oak. Juicy, layered and intense, with superb depth of fruit and an impression of breadth rare for Washington cabernet. This superripe wine shows considerably more finesse of tannins than the estate's red blend. This began with a slightly roasted quality but with time in the recorked bottle it appeared to gain in energy and sheer density. This was a vintage that yielded very small berries, noted Alex Golitzin. |
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2005 |
Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
6 |
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WA 93 (6/2008): The 2005 Red Wine is the winery’s second label for declassified lots. It consists of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot. Purple-colored, it reveals an expressive bouquet of cedar, pencil lead, spice box, black currant, and blackberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, plush wine with ample ripe tannins and layers of sweet fruit. The wine has serious weight, excellent length, and will profit from several years of additional cellaring. It should be at its best from 2011 through 2020. The wine is true to the house style and is a superb value.
VM 90 (12/2008): Bright ruby-red. Very ripe, rich aromas of currant, plum, smoke and mocha, lifted by spice and floral nuances. Plush and slightly candied in the mouth, with dried fruit and roasted, smoky oak notes perked up by the spice component. The sweet finish features substantial dusty tannins. |
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2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
1 |
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WA 99 (10/2009): The flagship 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon comes predominantly from the famous Champoux Vineyard in which the winery is a partner. It was aged in 100% new oak. It sports a deep purple-color with a captivating nose of spice box, sandalwood, truffle, Asian spices, incense, black cherry, and black currant. Opulent on the palate (but elegant as well), it already reveals serious complexity, density, and succulence of fruit. Enjoyable now but with at least 8-10 years of cellaring potential, this marvelous effort should have a 30 year lifespan.
VM 95+ (12/2009): Good deep ruby-red. Cassis, licorice pastille, violet, incense and sexy smoky oak on the nose. Densely packed, intense and sweet but the most backward and primary of these 2006s. Wonderfully full, chocolatey fruit saturates the palate. Quilceda Creek's flagship bottling has become more of a competition wine lately than this producer's examples in the '80s and '90s, but this very powerful wine boasts greater vibrancy and focus than recent vintages and seems as much Pauillac in character as Napa Valley cult wine. Finishes ripe but classically dry, with terrific medicinal reserve and slowly building tannins that reach the front teeth. A bit youthfully monolithic now, this really demands cellaring. |
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2007 |
Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
12 |
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| WA 93 (8/2010): The 2007 Red Wine is composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec. As always, it is a great value offering a fragrant, already complex nose of confiture of black fruits, incense, and Asian spices. On the palate it is savory and elegant with a plush texture. It is likely to evolve for several years but there is no compelling reason to defer gratification. |
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2008 |
Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$64 |
10 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (8/2011): The Quilceda Creek lineup begins with the 2008 Red Wine made up of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Aromas of cedar, spice box, mineral, incense, black currant, and blackberry inform the nose of a ripe, savory, smooth-textured wine. In the glass it displays more minerality, excellent volume, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Enjoy this first-class effort now through 2020. |
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|
2008 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$119 |
1 |
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WA 97 (8/2011): The 2008 Palengat Proprietary Red Wine is made up of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, with the balance Merlot and Petit Verdot. The fruit was sourced entirely from the Palengat Vineyard. Pain grille, pencil lead, Asian spices, incense, violets, dried herbs, black currant, and blackberry aromas compose the bouquet of this impeccably balanced offering. It opens in the glass to reveal plush, succulent flavors, superb concentration, plenty of ripe tannin, and at least 4-5 years of aging potential. It will deliver optimum drinking from 2015 to 2028.
VM 94 (10/2011): (76% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc, 7% merlot and 3% petit verdot; this used to be a single-vineyard wine but Palengat is now used as the name for a proprietary Bordeaux blend): Expressive aromas of cassis, cocoa powder and brown spices. Sweet and smooth on entry, then intensely flavored and tactile in the middle, with a plush creme de cassis flavor framed and intensified by mounting graphite minerality. Wonderfully suave wine with terrific back-end volume, very smooth tannins and lingering spiciness. Paul Golitzin describes 2008 as "focused and complex," while the 2009s, he says, are "ripe and fruity, like the 2005s." He says that he may prefer 2009 at this stage. |
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2009 |
Galitzine Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2013): Also incredibly concentrated, with burly structure and a mountain of tannin, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard (99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot) delivers a seriously intense array of blackberry and kirsch-styled fruit, licorice, charcoal and spice box on both the nose and palate. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak and a big, broad shouldered, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a rocking mid-palate and fabulous length on the finish. Really showing the power of its Red Mountain terroir, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age to become civilized and will have decades of evolution. Drink 2017-2034.
VM 94+ (11/2012): (includes 1% merlot): Bright medium ruby. Cassis aroma lifted by sandalwood. Densely packed and intense, with terrific energy to its chewy flavors of dark berries, licorice pastille and minerals. Less plush and harmonious today than the estate's flagship cabernet but this superconcentrated wine (made from a yield of just 1.5 tons per acre, according to Paul Golitzin) boasts a serious tannic spine and great energy and length. Should be the best release for this bottling. It's blacker than the cabernet and less seamless today but I would not bet against this chewy bottling in the long run. |
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2009 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (6/2013): Much more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the 2009 Palengat (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot) shows the warmer vintage with ripe red and black fruit, licorice, roasted meat and hints of singed herbs on the nose. Fantastically polished on the palate, with silky tannin, full-bodied richness and a layered mouthfeel, it is a knockout effort that will have 15-20 years of prime drinking. Drink now-2029.
VM 93 (12/2012): Good full ruby. Aromas of blackcurrant and licorice. Rich, deep and concentrated, with an almost Kahlua-like liqueur quality to its dense, exotic flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, mocha and orange peel. Very rich blend with an impressively long finish featuring fine tannins and hints of licorice pastille, dark berries, sexy Taransaud spices and black walnut. From vines planted at 3 x 6 feet, according to Paul Golitzin, "about as dense as it gets in this state." |
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|
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (6/2013): Rich, backwards, structured and massively concentrated, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon comes mostly from the Champoux Vineyard (also from Galitzine, Klipsun, Palengat and Tapteil) and is comprised of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot that spent 22 months in all new French oak. Offering up plenty of creme de cassis, coffee bean, toasted spice, pencil shavings and violet-like qualities on the nose, it has palate staining levels of extract and tannin that come through on the mid-palate and finish. Gorgeously full-bodied, layered and textured, with perfect balance, this awesome Cabernet needs to be forgotten for 5-6 years and will have two to three decades of longevity. Drink 2018-2030. |
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|
2010 |
Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
8 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2013): A superb entry level effort that has not only layers of fruit and texture, but solid back-end structure, the 2010 Red Wine is a declassified blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, yet has 15% Merlot and a splash of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in there as well. Up-front, perfumed and intense, it offers up spice-laced red and black fruits, toast, cedar, vanilla and hints of chocolate to go with a full-bodied, mouth-filling and voluptuously textured palate. Lacking the polish and elegance that can be found in this estate’s upper tier efforts, it nevertheless has superb fruit, ripe tannin and serious length. Enjoy it while you wait for this estate’s other wines to mature. Drink now-2020. |
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2010 |
Galitzine Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
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| |
| WA 97 (6/2013): Even more concentrated, structured and dense than the Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard (99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot all from the Red Mountain AVA) delivers an incredible array of black currant, dark chocolate, cedar, tobacco and assorted spring flower-like nuances that give way to a massively concentrated, tannic and structured 2010 that has brilliant mid-palate depth, integrated acidity and a pure, detailed and energetic texture that carries through the finish. As with the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, this is more fun to taste than to drink presently and needs 5-6 years or more of bottle age to round into form. It too will have two to three decades or more of ultimate longevity. Drink 2018-2035. |
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2010 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (6/2013): Refined, elegant and supple, yet also rich and concentrated, the Merlot-dominated 2010 Palengat has 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot in the blend and spent 20 months in 100% new French oak. Gorgeous on the nose, with notions of creme de cassis, violets, graphite and mint, it flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness and depth that’s paired with a seamless, incredibly elegant and polished texture. Firming up on the finish with masses of tannin, mineral and juicy acidity, this incredible 2010 needs 3-5 years of bottle age and will have upwards of 15-20 years of ultimate longevity. Drink now-2030.
VM 91+ (11/2013): (15.2% alcohol; 64% merlot, 22% cabernet sauvignon and 7% each cabernet franc and petit verdot): Good dark ruby-red. Superripe aromas of blackberry, licorice and espresso. High-toned and a bit liqueur-like in the mouth, with round, primary dark fruit flavors joined by licorice, milk chocolate and graphite. A somewhat unrefined if serious blend that finishes with chewy, chocolatey tannins that coat the front teeth and a slight impression of warmth. This was previously a cabernet-driven wine. |
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2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): More serious, and one of the wines of the vintage, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has uncommon concentration and depth in the vintage, as well as a broad, structured profile that will allow it to age gracefully. Loaded with sweet creme de cassis, exotic spice, licorice and graphite, it’s a full-bodied, elegant and classically styled effort that has nothing out of place, fine, building tannin and a rock star finish. It will be approachable at an earlier stage than most vintages, yet still have two decades of longevity. |
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2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): More serious, and one of the wines of the vintage, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has uncommon concentration and depth in the vintage, as well as a broad, structured profile that will allow it to age gracefully. Loaded with sweet creme de cassis, exotic spice, licorice and graphite, it’s a full-bodied, elegant and classically styled effort that has nothing out of place, fine, building tannin and a rock star finish. It will be approachable at an earlier stage than most vintages, yet still have two decades of longevity. |
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2011 |
Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
8 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (6/2014): The 2011 Columbia Valley Red Wine offers the classic creme de cassis, graphite, toasted spice and hints of licorice that seems to be present in all of the estate’s Cabernets. Medium to full-bodied, supple and already approachable, it nevertheless has the back-end stuffing to evolve gracefully for upwards of a decade. |
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2011 |
Palengat Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2014): A blend of 61% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2011 Palengat Vineyard has a great bouquet of sweet plum liqueur, blackberry, graphite, lead pencil shavings and toast. This is followed by a full-bodied effort that has beautiful concentration (especially in the vintage), loads of texture and ripe underlying tannic structure. Reasonably approachable now, it will nevertheless evolve gracefully on its overall balance. Enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years. |
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2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$165 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is brilliant. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly from the famous Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, it was aged all in new oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. It offers a captivating bouquet of black cherry liqueur and cassis-like fruit, Asian spice, coffee bean and lead pencil shavings to go with a full-bodied, ripe, seamless and hedonistic style on the palate. One of the more approachable, opulent examples of this cuvee, it has no hard edges, plenty of tannin and a massive, heady finish. Give it 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2032.
VM 95+ (11/2015): (15.2% alcohol): Bright, deep, dark ruby. Penetrating aromas of dark berries, violet, minerals and fruity tropical dark chocolate. Boasts Outstanding intensity without any rough edges, showing superb thrust and grip to its youthfully powerful flavors of blueberry, minerals and spices. Finishes with huge tannins that dust the front teeth without coming off as dry. The pH here is around 4.0, according to Paul Golitzin, but this spectacular young Cabernet boasts plenty of energy and is likely to be long-lived. |
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2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$359 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is brilliant. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly from the famous Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, it was aged all in new oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. It offers a captivating bouquet of black cherry liqueur and cassis-like fruit, Asian spice, coffee bean and lead pencil shavings to go with a full-bodied, ripe, seamless and hedonistic style on the palate. One of the more approachable, opulent examples of this cuvee, it has no hard edges, plenty of tannin and a massive, heady finish. Give it 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2032.
VM 95+ (11/2015): (15.2% alcohol): Bright, deep, dark ruby. Penetrating aromas of dark berries, violet, minerals and fruity tropical dark chocolate. Boasts Outstanding intensity without any rough edges, showing superb thrust and grip to its youthfully powerful flavors of blueberry, minerals and spices. Finishes with huge tannins that dust the front teeth without coming off as dry. The pH here is around 4.0, according to Paul Golitzin, but this spectacular young Cabernet boasts plenty of energy and is likely to be long-lived. |
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2012 |
Galitzine Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (11/2015): (15.2% alcohol; 3% of this Cabernet comes from Wallula): Bright, dark ruby. Very refined, high-pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis, boysenberry and violet; smells lighter than the flagship Cabernet and more peppery. Dense, silky and weightless in the mouth, conveying a refined texture to its very intense flavors of cassis, licorice pastille and dark chocolate. Less fleshy and sweet today than the Cabernet but this wine is still youthfully imploded. Big, building tannins are less suave than those of the Cabernet, despite the fact that both wines are made with the same Cabernet Sauvignon clone. Finishes with a sexy cocoa powder quality that must be from the Taransaud barrels. |
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2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 99 (6/2016): I think the wine of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Columbia Valley is flat out sensational, and flirts with perfection. Its inky ruby/purple color is followed by incredible notes of cassis, black currants, smoked herbs, licorice and graphite. These give way to a full-bodied, utterly seamless Cabernet that has full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin and a killer finish. While it possesses the elegance and purity of the vintage, it has a stacked mid-palate, and deserves 4-5 years of cellaring. It will have two decades or more of overall longevity. |
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2013 |
Columbia Valley CVR Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
14 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2016): Always a terrific value, the 2013 Cvr Columbia Valley Red Wine is a medium to full-bodied, ripe, sexy 2013 that has tons of plums, licorice, lead pencil shavings and spice to go with a rounded texture, ripe tannin and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade. |
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2013 |
Galitzine Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 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. |
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2013 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2016): More Merlot dominated in 2013 (they plan to move this back to a more Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend in the future), the 2013 Palengat Vineyard is another terrific 2013 that makes the most of vintage. Sexy, voluptuous and rounded, with no hard edges, it gives up classic notes of plums, graphite and licorice in its full-bodied, mouth-filling and impossible to resist style. While I’d happily drink a glass (or three) today, it will drink well for another 10-15 years. |
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2014 |
Columbia Valley CVR Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2017): One of the finest examples of this cuvee to date, the opulent, sumptuous and downright sexy 2014 Cvr Columbia Valley Red Wine gives up loads of black currants, kirsch, licorice, toasted spice and dried herb aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, gorgeously textured, round, and just about as hedonistic as it gets, yet without being over the top or heavy in the least, drink it anytime over the coming decade. |
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2014 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2017): A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, the sensational 2014 Palengat Vineyard is loaded with notions of chocolate covered plums, licorice, roasted herbs, and graphite/lead pencil shavings. Up there with the of the top vintages of the cuvee, this full-bodied, rounded and hedonistic 2014 shines in the vintage, has no hard edges, gorgeous purity, and plenty of ripe, sweet tannin. It’s a serious mouthful of a Cabernet and will drink nicely for 10-15 years. |
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2015 |
Columbia Valley CVR Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2018): A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and the balance equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2015 CVR Columbia Valley Red Wine offers up a generous bouquet of ripe red cherries, licorice and creamy new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with an open-knit core and a generous personality, concluding with a chewy, richly fruity finish. |
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2020 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 98 (5/2023): The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a lush, silky, rich, round nose with fresh and ripe notes that seduce and delight. Full-bodied, fresh and yet still tight, the wine offers a balanced structure and lifting tannins that elevate the mid-palate followed by juicy, fruit-forward layers and delightful oak spices. The Cabernet continues to show its depth and breadth, compounding its natural beauty. The Cabernet lingers on the ever-evolving, food-friendly finish and will benefit from another two years of bottle aging. The wine rested for 22 months in 100% new French oak.
JD 96 (6/2023): The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is all Cabernet Sauvignon that's mostly from the Champoux Vineyard, with 10% from the Mach One Vineyard, which was planted in 2012. A big, ripe, opulent red, it has terrific aromatics of black currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, and loamy earth, medium to full-bodied richness, a round, opulent mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a heady finish. It doesn't match the all-time greats from this team, but it’s deep, rich, and clearly up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.
VM 96 (3/2023): The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley opens slowly. At first dark and understated, it gains lovely floral perfumes with each passing swirl of the glass, as rose-tinged black raspberries evolve, laced with nuances of sandalwood, lavender and dark, dark chocolate. This floods the palate with an elegant wave of ripe red and black fruits complemented by sweet exotic spice, all expertly lifted by a core of zesty acidity. The 2020 leaves balsamic nuances, with clove and cherry liquor, while tapering off lightly structured with fine yet silky tannins. The balance and energy here is remarkable for such a powerful young wine. The 2020 hails from 90% Champoux to 10% Mach One Vineyard’s. (Drink between 2026-2040). Eric Guido. |
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2020 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$389 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (5/2023): The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a lush, silky, rich, round nose with fresh and ripe notes that seduce and delight. Full-bodied, fresh and yet still tight, the wine offers a balanced structure and lifting tannins that elevate the mid-palate followed by juicy, fruit-forward layers and delightful oak spices. The Cabernet continues to show its depth and breadth, compounding its natural beauty. The Cabernet lingers on the ever-evolving, food-friendly finish and will benefit from another two years of bottle aging. The wine rested for 22 months in 100% new French oak.
JD 96 (6/2023): The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is all Cabernet Sauvignon that's mostly from the Champoux Vineyard, with 10% from the Mach One Vineyard, which was planted in 2012. A big, ripe, opulent red, it has terrific aromatics of black currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, and loamy earth, medium to full-bodied richness, a round, opulent mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a heady finish. It doesn't match the all-time greats from this team, but it’s deep, rich, and clearly up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.
VM 96 (3/2023): The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley opens slowly. At first dark and understated, it gains lovely floral perfumes with each passing swirl of the glass, as rose-tinged black raspberries evolve, laced with nuances of sandalwood, lavender and dark, dark chocolate. This floods the palate with an elegant wave of ripe red and black fruits complemented by sweet exotic spice, all expertly lifted by a core of zesty acidity. The 2020 leaves balsamic nuances, with clove and cherry liquor, while tapering off lightly structured with fine yet silky tannins. The balance and energy here is remarkable for such a powerful young wine. The 2020 hails from 90% Champoux to 10% Mach One Vineyard’s. (Drink between 2026-2040). Eric Guido. |
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| Schrader |
2006 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (12/2008): One of the more backward efforts is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Schrader. It is dense and full-bodied, but holding more in reserve. |
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2006 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$299 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2008): The similarly-styled 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon T6 displays extraordinary focus and precision along with lavish amounts of creme de cassis fruit intermixed with smoked herbs, milk chocolate, and burning embers. Powerful yet silky-textured and sumptuously rich, this is another stunner to drink over the next 20-25 years.
VM 97 (10/2013): Schrader’s 2006 and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon T6, also from my cellar, were showstoppers. I preferred the 2006 for its explosive, vibrant personality, sumptuous fruit and exceptional pedigree. The 2006 was flat-out breathtaking. Wow. |
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2008 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$395 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (12/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Schrader, which comes from Clones 4, 6 and 337, is slightly more structured and perhaps not as velvety as the CCS or RBS. Again, blue fruits, black fruits, camphor, charcoal and burning ember characteristics are presented in a full-bodied, powerful style that balances intensity with elegance and an uncanny equilibrium. This is another stunning wine that should benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25-30+ years. |
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2008 |
GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$375 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (12/2010): The 2008s were bottled in early summer, 2010. From the Beckstoffer Vineyard, the opaque blue/purple-colored 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon George III Clone 337 rocks out of the glass with brilliant aromas of creme de cassis, Christmas fruitcake, cedarwood, licorice and incense. The wine is deep, full-bodied, dense and concentrated with Outstanding purity, texture and length. It is approachable now (one of the seductive characteristics of these wines) yet is capable of lasting 25 or more years. |
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2009 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Schrader Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is one of the more plush, overt wines in this lineup. There is tremendous depth in the fruit in this massive, sweeping wine. The aromas and flavors build towards the cascading finish. The Schrader is a decidedly big, muscular wine that emphasizes power over detail. The Schrader is predominantly clone 4 from the D2 block, with a dollop of clone 6 from the D2 block and clone 337 from the B2 block. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. |
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2009 |
CCS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$275 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes across as big, tight and powerful. This is one of the more reticent, inward of the 2009 Schraders. Tar, licorice, menthol and violets are some of the notes that wrap around the intense, virile finish. Today the CCS is a touch compact. It will merit a higher score if the fruit fills out a little more. CCS is clone 4 from the C1 block. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. |
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2009 |
RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes across as dark, plush and inviting, but with greater inner focus and minerality than some of the other wines here. Graphite, smoke, tar and licorice are some of the notes that wrap around the intense, juicy finish. I especially admire the way the RBS grows in the glass as it turns more explosive over time, yet never loses its more refined shades of expression. The RBS is 100% clone 337 from the B1 and B2 blocks. According to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, it is the addition of fruit from B2 (new this year) that gives the 2009 much of its personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. |
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2010 |
GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer George III Vineyard, made from clone 337, had a total production of 110 cases (compared to 260+ for the 2012). Its gorgeous nose reveals aromas of creme de cassis, blueberries, raspberries, vanillin and notions of cedarwood as well as incense. Deep and full-bodied with fabulous purity, a hallmark of all these wines, this spectacular 2010 has plenty of structure, but the fruit intensity and richness largely obscure the wine’s tannic profile. This beauty will be drinkable in several years and keep for 30 years.
VM 96 (12/2012): Schrader's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard bursts from the glass with explosive dark blue and black fruit, exotic spices, flowers and menthol. There is an inner energy and tension in the GIII that makes this bottling stand out. Readers will want to give the 2010 a few years in the cellar, but it is strikingly beautiful even today. Over time, as I followed it, the wine continued to open up in the glass and put on considerable weight. In 2010, the GIII is a true standout. The GIII is clone 337 from the F block. Antonio Galloni. |
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2012 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$295 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (10/2014): Nearly as prodigious is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard, which is Clone 4 and Clone 6 blended together from the Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard, this is the highest in alcohol of the 2012s at 14.6%. It was aged in a combination of 50% new Darnajou and 50% new Taransaud barrels. This wine is one of the tighter, more backward of the 2012s, with more structure, tannin, muscle, a masculine personality, oodles of black and blue fruits and a massive mouthfeel, but is somehow much more primary and younger tasting than the other wines. Forget it for a few years and drink it over the following 20-25 years. |
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2012 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6, which is from Clone 6 in a different block of Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, is aged in 86% new Darnajou and 14% new Taransaud. This wine is not terribly different, but Clone 6 is believed to be old Bordeaux clones brought over to Napa Valley and propagated. The wine has terrific fruit intensity, blackcurrants, blackberry, licorice, creosote and espresso roast. Deep, full-bodied, powerful and rich, this, again, shows the vintage’s voluptuous texture, full-bodied power and richness. |
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2013 |
MMXIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 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. |
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2015 |
LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$350 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (12/2017): Coming from the Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard, from blocks C and E that are planted to clones 337 and 4, respectively, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Lpv has a very deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed black berries, black currant cordial and garrigue with wafts of sage, mocha and cedar chest plus a hint of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and very tightly knit, the palate reveals great elegance and sophistication, with slowly revealing layers and a lovely minerality coming through on the long finish. 2,017 cases produced. |
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2017 |
CCS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$285 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2020): Another wine in the running for the wine of the vintage is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS, which, as always, is all Cabernet aged in new Darnajou barrels. This full-bodied, magical 2017 has incredibly polished, silky tannins as well as a mammoth-sized texture and mouthfeel. Loaded with notions of blueberries, white flowers, graphite, candied violets, and incense, it’s one of those wines that carries incredible richness and depth yet never seems heavy or cumbersome. The 2017 doesn’t get much better, and this beauty can be drunk today or cellared for two decades. |
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2017 |
Monastery Block To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$265 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus. |
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2017 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2020): In the top handful of wines in the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (which was harvested the morning of the fires) that spent 20 months in 92% new French oak. This is a powerhouse of a wine that’s loaded with fruit and richness, yet it still just glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Dense purple-hued, with lots of chocolaty black and blue fruits, incense, and spice as well as unsmoked tobacco, give bottles 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades |
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2018 |
MMXVIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,595 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (1/2021): There are few vintages of Old Sparky that don't merit a perfect rating, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky isn't one of them. This flawless wine offers up a wild smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, with loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, lead pencil, violets, blood orange, tobacco, and flowery incense all developing with time in the glass. Deep purple-hued and incredibly full-bodied, it has ripe, silky tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. This magical wine stays weightless and elegant on the palate, never seeming heavy, cumbersome, or over the top, and it's a wine that just begs to be drunk yet will evolve for decades. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another heavenly Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that could come from nowhere else in the world. Life is too short not to have experienced this cuvée! (Drink between 2021-2041) |
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2018 |
Heritage Clone To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$279 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97+ (1/2021): This is the very first vintage of this new label for Schrader. True to Schrader form, the wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a single block in the southern part of Mondavi’s section of To Kalon vineyard. The “Heritage Clone,” a.k.a. clone 39, is pretty much exclusive to Mondavi To Kalon, with the exception of some cuttings Robert Mondavi may have given out. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown noted that this clone produces very small bunches and tiny berries, equating to super intense fruit. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mondavi Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard was aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of stewed blueberries, plum preserves, Chinese five spice and fragrant earth, giving way to hints of beef drippings, iron ore, espresso, tobacco leaf and dried roses. Medium-bodied, it has a firm, chewy texture and loads of bright, lively freshness lifting the densely packed berry preserves layers, finishing very long and very spicy. This is certainly a singular style—somewhat atypical for the 2018 vintage, but nonetheless compelling. |
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2018 |
RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$279 |
4 |
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WA 97 (1/2021): Schrader’s RBS comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from 337 clone grown on blocks B1, B2 and E2. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with gregarious exotic spice scents—cumin seed, cloves and star anise—over a core of Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and black currant pastilles plus a waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with spicy, open-knit black fruit preserves flavors, marked by bright red-fruit accents. Supported by great tension and velvety tannins, it finishes on a lingering cinnamon toast note. 1,715 cases were made.
JD 99 (1/2021): Another heavenly wine in the lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, which comes from Clone 337 and a handful of different blocks in the vineyard. This deep purple-hued beauty has an incredibly seamless, elegant, yet full-bodied style as well as killer notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, wildflowers, violets, white chocolate, and new saddle leather. Flirting with perfection, the tannin quality, purity of fruit, balance, and overall harmony here is just about off the charts. It makes you want to drink the whole bottle, but it should age effortlessly for 25+ years.
JS 97 (1/2021): Aromas of red fruit, plums, herbs and dark chocolate with some bark and forest-floor notes. Full-bodied, yet very finely crafted and poised. Lots of fresh and dry herbs to the dark fruit at the finish. Lasts a long time. Try after 2024. |
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2018 |
RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$279 |
1 |
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WA 97 (1/2021): Schrader’s RBS comes from Beckstoffer’s To Kalon vineyard in Oakville, produced from 337 clone grown on blocks B1, B2 and E2. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud French oak barrels for 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with gregarious exotic spice scents—cumin seed, cloves and star anise—over a core of Black Forest cake, blueberry compote and black currant pastilles plus a waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with spicy, open-knit black fruit preserves flavors, marked by bright red-fruit accents. Supported by great tension and velvety tannins, it finishes on a lingering cinnamon toast note. 1,715 cases were made.
JD 99 (1/2021): Another heavenly wine in the lineup is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, which comes from Clone 337 and a handful of different blocks in the vineyard. This deep purple-hued beauty has an incredibly seamless, elegant, yet full-bodied style as well as killer notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, wildflowers, violets, white chocolate, and new saddle leather. Flirting with perfection, the tannin quality, purity of fruit, balance, and overall harmony here is just about off the charts. It makes you want to drink the whole bottle, but it should age effortlessly for 25+ years.
JS 97 (1/2021): Aromas of red fruit, plums, herbs and dark chocolate with some bark and forest-floor notes. Full-bodied, yet very finely crafted and poised. Lots of fresh and dry herbs to the dark fruit at the finish. Lasts a long time. Try after 2024. |
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2018 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$269 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (1/2021): Rocking levels of blueberries, creme de cassis, exotic spices, tobacco, cigar wrapper, and candied violets emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6, which is full-bodied, has a ripe, concentrated mouthfeel, and lots of building tannins. There's no shortage of structure here, yet the tannins are sweet and polished, it has nicely integrated acidity and just beautiful overall balance, although it remains relatively tight and doesn't have the same opulent, expansive mouthfeel found in the CCS, RBS, and Schrader releases. Regardless, it's an incredibly impressive bottle of wine. Give bottles 4-5 years, and it's going to cruise for 20 years or more. |
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2019 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$335 |
1 |
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| JD 98 (12/2021): Another spicy, complex, gorgeous wine in every sense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader reminds me of the CCS with its pure, seamless, perfectly balanced style. Lots of cassis fruits, notes of flowery incense, baking spices, leather, and unsmoked tobacco, silky tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish all define this beauty, and it's certainly up with the crème de la crème of this great vintage. |
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2019 |
GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$279 |
1 |
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JD 97 (12/2021): Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so. (Drink between 2021-2041).
WA 95 (9/2022): All Clone 337 from F Block, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII delivers masses of black raspberries and cassis, accented by dark chocolate, tobacco and cedar. This full-bodied wine is high-octane stuff, but carries it well, framed by supple tannins and finishing rich, velvety and long. |
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2019 |
Heritage Clone To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$305 |
1 |
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| JD 98+ (12/2021): My notes on the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone started with a big "Wow," and it's clearly a structured, serious, incredibly impressive 2019. Giving up plenty of cassis and assorted black and blue fruits, it has a distinct sense of minerality as well as classic Cabernet tobacco, lead pencil, and tobacco leaf nuances. With bright acidity, building tannins, and a concentrated, massive, backward mouthfeel, it needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and should have decades of prime drinking. |
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2019 |
MMXIX "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,350 |
1 |
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| JD 100 (12/2021): A selection put together by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky is one of the true gems in the vintage, as well as a perfect wine. Thrilling black fruits, crème de cassis, tobacco, tapenade, and iron notes all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied and has a similar purity to the CCS release, with ultra-fine tannins and one hell of an incredible finish. Napa Valley Cabernet, or red wine for that matter, doesn't get any better. Give bottles 2-4 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades or more. |
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2019 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$289 |
1 |
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| JD 99 (12/2021): A big, muscular, powerful wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 boasts a monster note of blackcurrants, fresh plums, scorched earth, tobacco, and chocolate. This all carries to a full-bodied 2019 with the ripe, savory, concentrated style of the vintage, building tannins, no shortage of fruit, and a great, great finish. It's certainly one of the biggest, richest, more structured wines in the lineup, yet the balance is spot on and everything is in the right places. It's going to take at least 7-8 years for this puppy to shed some of its considerable baby fat and hit maturity, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 20 or 30 years. |
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2019 |
Wappo Hill Vyd. Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$249 |
3 |
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| JD 96 (12/2021): A new wine from this team, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill comes from a famous site in the Stags Leap District and is all Cabernet Sauvignon. At a high level, Stags Leap is a slightly cooler region, and the wines shine for their complexity, and that's certainly the case here. Lots of cassis, violets, graphite, dried flowers, and spicy oak define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, some chalky tannins, and notable freshness and purity. The acidity is higher here, but this still brings plenty of classic Schrader opulence and texture. |
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2022 |
Heritage Clone To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$190 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2025): Schrader's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard is based on what has become known as Clone 31, about which winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown said, "Commercially nonviable is how I'd describe it—unless you grow it, bottle it and sell it for a lot of money." Scents of black cherries, loam, dried spices and dark chocolate appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky-textured and harmonious. It's a terrific wine from a challenging vintage.
JD 95 (1/2025): Red and black plums, cassis, spice oak, violets, and incense nuances all shine in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone, a pure, concentrated, elegant To Kalon that's full-bodied, has pure, polished tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's a structured, big, burly wine in 2022 that warrants 2-4 years in the cellar. It should keep through at least 2037. |
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2022 |
MB To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$190 |
3 |
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JD 95 (1/2025): Cassis, darker chocolate, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco all emerge from the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block, a beautifully textured, full-bodied 2022 that has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It doesn’t get much better in the vintage, and while it has the upfront appeal of the vintage, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve gracefully for upwards of two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045).
WA 95 (6/2025): Comprising 48 acres planted to several varieties, Mondavi's Monastery Block gets divided up among various brands. Schrader's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard offers up compelling scents of dried herbs (thyme?), cassis and perfumed violets on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated, velvety and perhaps a touch warm; the long finish adds a touch of dark chocolate. |
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