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Inventory updated: Sat, Mar 15, 2025 10:38 AM cst
2020 Margherita Otto Barolo
Vintage: 2020
Region: Italy
Color/Type: Red
Size: 750 ML
Ex-Domaine
Tasting Notes:
JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Italy |
| Margherita Otto |
2018 |
Barolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$229.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo  Ex-Domaine |
$109.99 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$233 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
NV |
Vino Chinato (500 ML) Ex-Domaine |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
NV |
Vino Chinato (500 ML) |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Italy |
| Fratelli Alessandria |
2020 |
Barolo Gramolere (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$554.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$652.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo San Lorenzo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$207.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo San Lorenzo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$522.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Elio Altare |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$438.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Castello di Ama |
2020 |
Chianti Classico Bellavista (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,470.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Gran Selezione San Lorenzo Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$400.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Vigna Apparita (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,392.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Piero Antinori |
2020 |
Solaia (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,027.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Solaia is an infant. I expected a more exuberant wine, but the 2020 is built along more classic lines. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, smoke, pencil shavings and spice all open effortlessly. As always, Solaia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but it is a Cabernet that is distinctly Italian, with plenty of Tuscan acid and structure driving through the mid-palate and into the finish. The 2020 is a terrific example of the recent stylistic shift at Antinori. In the past, richness and opulence were qualities of a vintage that would have been amplified in the vineyard and cellar. Today, the aim is to capture a more balanced expression of these kinds of vintages, and that very much comes through. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (5/2023): Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight. The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit color this full-bodied Tuscan red. |
|
|
2020 |
Tignanello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,012.97 |
9 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (8/2023): The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and mocha later. Time in the glass brings out striking dimension. In 2020, Tignanello is wonderfully sleek and racy, with fine tannins that lie below a core of bright, sculpted fruit. The balance here is just sublime. I can't wait to revisit the 2020 with age. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Tignanello (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,109.97 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (8/2023): The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and mocha later. Time in the glass brings out striking dimension. In 2020, Tignanello is wonderfully sleek and racy, with fine tannins that lie below a core of bright, sculpted fruit. The balance here is just sublime. I can't wait to revisit the 2020 with age. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2020 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$203.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.
JD 93-94 (5/2023): Just off the bottling line, I was the first in the world to taste the 2020 Barbaresco from bottle with Aldo Vacca. It pours a jewel ruby, which Aldo thought was probably pre-bottle shock. A pretty wine with aromas of ripe raspberry (almost liqueur), sweet licorice, and fresh violets, it is medium to full-bodied, with pure, ripe fruit of red cherry, blood orange, dusty earth, and pressed flowers. This is a lovely wine out of the gates, and it will be interesting to see how it settles. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Montefico Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$449.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$172.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$444.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Muncagota Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$417.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Ovello Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$172.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Ovello Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$427.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Ovello Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$435.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Paje Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$427.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Pora Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$427.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$179.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$474.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$427.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Le Berne |
2020 |
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva |
$46.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta di Biserno |
2020 |
Biserno Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,194.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Biserno Toscana IGT (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$612.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Brovia |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$384.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’mia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,476.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Garblet Sue (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$788.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$730.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Villero (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,476.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Villero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$779.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| G.B. Burlotto |
2020 |
Barolo Acclivi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,321.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,033.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,066.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Campogiovanni (San Felice) |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$451.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Arnaldo Caprai |
2020 |
Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anniversary (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$556.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Castellare di Castellina |
2020 |
I Sodi di San Niccolo Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$456.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Cavallotto |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$297.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (5/2024): The 2020 Barbera D’Alba Vigna Cuculo is a crowd pleaser of a wine, coming from vineyards just south of the Bricco Boschis. Pouring a deep magenta color, it’s plush with notes of ripe plum, candied flowers, and cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, it has good richness with good lift on the finish and is approachable now. Drink 2024-2030. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis ex-Domaine |
$85.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (5/2014): A youthful saturated red/ruby color, the 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis leaps from the glass with tangy aromas of sour cherries, orange peel, clove (it smells like heffeweisen), and dried earth. The palate is lovely, revealing a refined structure, ripe, velvety tannins, and a pure core of concentration with a ripe yet weightless feel. It has good depth and remains fresh, and its structure lasts long on the finish, but so does its fruit. I liked the palate more than the nose at this stage, and it’s likely going to improve with time in bottle over the next 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$184.99 |
9 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (5/2014): A youthful saturated red/ruby color, the 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis leaps from the glass with tangy aromas of sour cherries, orange peel, clove (it smells like heffeweisen), and dried earth. The palate is lovely, revealing a refined structure, ripe, velvety tannins, and a pure core of concentration with a ripe yet weightless feel. It has good depth and remains fresh, and its structure lasts long on the finish, but so does its fruit. I liked the palate more than the nose at this stage, and it’s likely going to improve with time in bottle over the next 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$462.99 |
9 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (5/2014): A youthful saturated red/ruby color, the 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis leaps from the glass with tangy aromas of sour cherries, orange peel, clove (it smells like heffeweisen), and dried earth. The palate is lovely, revealing a refined structure, ripe, velvety tannins, and a pure core of concentration with a ripe yet weightless feel. It has good depth and remains fresh, and its structure lasts long on the finish, but so does its fruit. I liked the palate more than the nose at this stage, and it’s likely going to improve with time in bottle over the next 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Ceretto |
2020 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,194.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Michele Chiarlo |
2020 |
Barbaresco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$635.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Reyna (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$419.99 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Giacomo Conterno |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$455.97 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Cerretta (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$455.97 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Arione (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$569.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Arione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,639.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Cascina Francia (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,238.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Cascina Francia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,790.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Cerretta (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,238.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Conterno Fantino |
2020 |
Barolo Sori Ginestra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$548.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Vigna del Gris (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$573.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Renato Corino |
2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$436.99 |
30 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Vigneto Arborina (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$375.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
| Conti Costanti |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$544.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Luigi Einaudi |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$539.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Costa Grimaldi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$410.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Cascina Fontana |
2020 |
Barolo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$169.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$531.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Castello di Fonterutoli |
2020 |
Siepi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$500.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (6/2022): Graphite and lead pencil is coming through, together with violets and blackberries. Some tar and asphalt, too. Full-bodied, yet creamy and crunchy, with agile liveliness that goes on for minutes. Fabulous length. Drinkable already, but will age gracefully for decades.
WA 95 (6/2022): Equal parts Merlot and Sangiovese, the Mazzei 2020 Siepi is a terrific vintage in a long line of wines that I had the pleasure of tasting through last year in a complete retrospective. The first vintage produced was 1992. The soils in the Siepi vineyard are especially deep, and the site is surrounded by forests to keep it cool. These conditions give rise to abundant aromas of sweet black cherry, underbrush and blue wild flower. This is a medium to full-bodied Tuscan red that shows enormous elegance and depth. |
|
| Fontodi |
2020 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$438.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$613.97 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$265.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$703.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Frecciarossa |
2020 |
Sillery Oltrepo Pavese Pinot Nero Bianco 100th Anniversary |
$20 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Angelo Gaja |
2020 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,555.99 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 94-96 (5/2023): A pale ruby, and blended from 14 vineyard sites, the 2020 Barbaresco was tasted as a barrel sample. Spicy and pure, it is full of red berries with Asian spice and white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with elegance and refinement throughout, approachable and fine tannins, no harsh edges, and a long-lasting floral finish. This seem to be a vintage that will drink well early but have plenty of longevity as well. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Dagromis (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$670.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Sperss (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,660.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Barbaresco Asili Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,394.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,321.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Barolo Falletto (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,878.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$732.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$398.95 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Bibi Graetz |
2020 |
Testamatta Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$438.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Elio Grasso |
2020 |
Barolo Gavarini Chiniera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$531.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Mate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$486.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) |
2020 |
Bolgheri (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$847.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Isole e Olena |
2020 |
Cepparello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$617.99 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 97+ (8/2023): The 2020 Cepparello is dense, powerful and soaring in intensity. A dark, almost somber Cepparello, the 2020 possesses remarkable depth from start to finish. Black cherry, plum, gravel, dried herbs and lavender build in a vivid, stunningly beautiful Cepparello that hits all the right notes. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (5/2023): Supple and smooth, the 2020 Cepparello brings Sangiovese to soaring heights in a manner only Paolo De Marchi can manage. This is his second to last vintage before he would retire and sell this historic estate. The wine opens to medium to full-bodied concentration with dark plum and redcurrant. Those cede to sweet spice, earth, crushed stone, rusty nail and candied orange peel. Give the wine more time to flesh out with cellar age. It registers a powerful 15% alcohol content.
WS 96 (10/2023): Expressive and sumptuous from the get-go, this red features cherry, strawberry, rose, orange peel, mineral and Tuscan herb aromas and flavors. Sangiovese. Best from 2025 through 2045. 4,800 cases made, 800 cases imported. |
|
| Lisini |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$178.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$469.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Le Macchiole |
2020 |
Messorio IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,237.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Paleo Rosso (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$640.99 |
22 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2023): The 2020 Paleo offers up more concentration of color with a hint of purple. Aromatically, this moves into some black fruit as well as red fruits of boysenberry, violets, pencil shavings, and cedar. Full and round, with ripe tannin and a round mouthfeel, it offers iron-rich earth, mixed berries, and a floral finish. It feels sunny and warming without being baked and is a more generous wine to drink 2024-2044. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (8/2023): The 2020 Paleo Rosso is classy, elegant and wonderfully polished. Crushed flowers, spice and blood orange lend brightness. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, Paleo Rosso offers tons of depth. Historically it has aged quite well. I expect that will be the case here also, as the 2020 exudes balance from start to finish. The 2020 spent 18 months in 100% French oak, with 5% of the wine aged in amphora. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Margherita Otto |
2020 |
Barolo (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$233 |
1 |
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| |
| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Il Marroneto |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$831.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Bartolo Mascarello |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$427.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo |
$229 |
11 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2020 Barolo is a very pretty, delicate wine. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, tobacco and dried flowers are all nicely lifted. Medium in body, with fine tannins, the 2020 is impeccably balanced. Today, the 2020 comes across as understated, gracious and classy in a style that is more delicate than it is powerful. Tasted next to the 2019, the 2020 appears to have a bit more mid-palate resonance that is not fully expressive at this stage. This spent 55 days on the skins, including a period of submerged-cap maceration. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,559.99 |
13 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2020 Barolo is a very pretty, delicate wine. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, tobacco and dried flowers are all nicely lifted. Medium in body, with fine tannins, the 2020 is impeccably balanced. Today, the 2020 comes across as understated, gracious and classy in a style that is more delicate than it is powerful. Tasted next to the 2019, the 2020 appears to have a bit more mid-palate resonance that is not fully expressive at this stage. This spent 55 days on the skins, including a period of submerged-cap maceration. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Dolcetto d’Alba (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$317.99 |
2 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$624.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Massolino |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$266.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Margheria (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$602.99 |
2 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Parafada (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$499.99 |
3 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo Parussi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$499.99 |
4 |
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| |
|
| Monsanto |
2020 |
Chianti Classico Riserva (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$554.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Chianti Classico Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$302.99 |
6 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$589.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Montevertine |
2020 |
Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$348.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,639.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| La Ca' Nova |
2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$320.99 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (10/2022): The 2020 Barbaresco Montestefano is a dense, plush wine, in other words classic Montestefano. Like all the Barbarescos here, the Montestefano is relatively open, which will surely please readers who can't or don't want to cellar their wines. Dark Nebbiolo fruit intermingled with spice, leather, incense and licorice build into the creamy, resonant finish. The 2020 is a gorgeous wine; the only real problem is that it is not quite the 2019! Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Oddero |
2020 |
Barolo Villero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$730.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Fratelli Odero |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$307.99 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Col d' Orcia |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$384.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Orma |
2020 |
Orma Toscana IGT ex-Negociant |
$61.95 |
11 |
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| |
WA 94 (6/2022): A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the Orma 2020 Orma is richly concentrated and midnight black in appearance. It presents considerable intensity in terms of its ink-like flavors of wild plum, blackberry confit, dark spice and cured tobacco. The wine wraps heavily over the palate, imparting lots of important textural richness along the way. You are best off serving a wine of this depth and magnitude with a classic T-bone cut bistecca alla fiorentina.
JS 93 (5/2022): You really sense the sea and brightness here, with super-fine tannins and a long and beautiful palate. Medium body, fine tannins and a lightly chewy structure. 40% merlot, 35% cabernet and 25% cabernet franc. Try after 2023, but already delicious. |
|
| Tenuta dell' Ornellaia |
2020 |
Le Serre Nuove (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$412.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Le Volte (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$197.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$874.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2020 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,519.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,278.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Ornellaia (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$661.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Palazzo |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$393.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Petrolo |
2020 |
Galatrona (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$574.99 |
10 |
|
| |
JS 97 (6/2022): Subtle yet intense aromas of black fruit and violets. Extremely perfumed. Crushed stones. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a mouth-feel of velvet that goes on for minutes. Refined and fresh. Al-dente fruit. From organically grown grapes. Better in three to four years.
WA 96 (6/2022): The Petrolo 2020 Galatrona is a pure expression of organic Merlot and the estate's headline wine. It was first created in 1994 when Luca Sanjust's second child, Lucia, was born. Despite the summer heat that became a challenge for winemakers in many corners of Tuscany, Galatrona shows terrific results in 2020. The vineyard is located in a cool and thickly forested position almost exactly between Florence, Arezzo and Siena. The vintage has a classic quality with a subtle bouquet that grows in intensity as the wine opens in the glass. Aromas of cherry, toasted almond and dried mint fuel a long and very elegant finish. The oak tannins are soft and sweet, and the wine boasts long-lasting flavors. |
|
| Planeta |
2020 |
Sicilia Chardonnay (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$151.99 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Poggio di Sotto |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$597.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Fattoria le Pupille |
2020 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$509.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2020 |
Vigna d’Alceo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$785.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Renato Ratti |
2020 |
Barolo Marcenasco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$148.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Marcenasco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$349.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$231.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$610.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Giuseppe Rinaldi & Figli |
2020 |
Barolo Le Brunate (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,258.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Le Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,089.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Tre Tine (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$802.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Tre Tine (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,471.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Tre Tine (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,991.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Bruno Rocca |
2020 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$367.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Albino Rocca |
2020 |
Barbaresco Ronchi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$367.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Girolamo Russo |
2020 |
Etna Rosso Feudo |
$62.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2023): The 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo is slightly lighter in appearance, but really only by a hair, compared to some of the other contrada wines by Giuseppe Russo this year. It also shows elegantly contained aromas of dark rose, orange peel, candied almond and wild currant. Like past vintages of Feudo, this wine makes good on a promise of elegance and extreme silkiness. |
|
|
2020 |
Etna Rosso Feudo |
$65.95 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2023): The 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo is slightly lighter in appearance, but really only by a hair, compared to some of the other contrada wines by Giuseppe Russo this year. It also shows elegantly contained aromas of dark rose, orange peel, candied almond and wild currant. Like past vintages of Feudo, this wine makes good on a promise of elegance and extreme silkiness. |
|
|
2020 |
Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo |
$62.08 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens to a hint of salinity or minerality that is specific to this site. Those linear aromas tend to frame a tight core of wild fruit, white cherry, apricot and mountain flowers like blue bonnet or Sicilian ginestra, which grows with yellow blooms on the flanks of the volcano. The wine's interesting saltiness cedes directly to the mouthfeel. The tannins are more prominent in this vintage. You should get very good aging potential from this bottle.
VM 93.5 (9/2023): The remarkably pretty 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo d'Mezzo opens with a whiff of sweet spice that gives way to dried roses, cinnamon and clove. This is surprisingly juicy and energetic in feel, with crisp red fruits propelled by vibrant acidity as citrus adds cheek-puckering tension toward the close. The 2020 finishes dramatically long with a saturating concentration and edgy tannins that curl the tongue as sour cherry hints fade. This is deceivingly open and giving yet remarkably complex. I suggest checking in on one for its primary fruit but then cellaring the rest to unveil their underlying power. Eric Guido. |
|
|
2020 |
Etna Rosso San Lorenzo Piano delle Colombe |
$174.99 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo Piano delle Colombe is more open-knit compared to the 2019 vintage (I had the opportunity to taste the two side by side). This is a lovely wine with fine fiber and delicate fruit notes of wild berry, crushed stone and white pepper. The 2019 vintage has a certain magic that does not completely manifest here (in this hot vintage). However, the wine shows the supreme elegance of Etna. |
|
| Castello Della Sala (Antinori) |
2020 |
Cervaro della Sala Chardonnay Umbria IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$525.99 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Luciano Sandrone |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$242.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Aleste (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$682.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Le Vigne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$598.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Paolo Scavino |
2020 |
Barolo Bric del Fiasc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$539.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$539.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Sottimano |
2020 |
Barbaresco Basarin ex-Domaine |
$67 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 94 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Basarin is just now starting to open aromatically, although it remains quite pointed in its acid and tannin profile. Sweet macerated cherry, tobacco, cedar and incense are nicely lifted in this classic, mid-weight Barbaresco. This is such a gorgeous wine. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (5/2023): A generous sweet perfume of pressed violets, ripe cherry, cinnamon, and incense emerges from the 2020 Barbaresco Basarin. The tannins are more giving here, and its fruit expands through the palate, with refreshing acidity and wonderful balance and purity. It is drinking well now and will continue to improve over the coming 10-15 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (8/2023): With fruit from the village of Neive, the 2020 Barbaresco Basarin is a generous and fleshed-out wine with soft fruit tones and plenty of bold cherry. Sottimano Maggiore likes to work with ambient yeasts and submerged cap. This is a fruit-forward Nebbiolo from a warm vintage. It shows above average concentration, but not by much, and feels quite smooth and supple to the palate. Production is 9,000 bottles. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine |
$72.99 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Cottá is another fabulous wine in this range from Sottimano. Dark and super-classic in bearing, the 2020 has tremendous stature along with a darker and more somber personality than usual. The balance here is just mind-blowing. Scorched earth, leather, tobacco and incense infuse the finish with tons of nuance to complement its muscular personality. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (5/2023): Moving to the 2020 Barbaresco Cotta, fantastic mineral-tinged aromas of crushed stones, pencil shavings, and blackberry are followed by a medium-bodied red with a ripe yet linear feel and crunchy red fruits of red plum, orange rind, and clove. I liked this for its more tension-packed and energetic feel and stony texture. Drink 2025-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 94+ (8/2023): A wine from Sottimano that also draws its fruit from the village of Neive (and Barbaresco, because these 2.8 hectares of vines are on the border), the 2020 Barbaresco Cottá shows an austere character with pronounced rust or iodine aromas that are neatly layered into dark fruit and dried cherry. The wine sports a generous, medium-weight texture that offers a good amount of textural firmness to the palate. Give this pretty wine a little more time to flesh out. 9,000 bottles were produced. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$65.89 |
23 |
|
| |
VM 97 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Pajorè is deep, sensual and mysterious, as wines from this great site tend to be. Black cherry, lavender, new leather and balsamic overtones infuse the Pajorè with tremendous complexity and textural resonance. The 2020 is still an infant, but its potential is evident. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (5/2023): Pouring a rich garnet, the 2020 Barbaresco Pajore is fleshy and ripe, with a pleasant touch of rustic aromas of saddle leather, black cherry, and balsamic herbs. This medium to full-bodied red is ripe with meaty tannins, rounded black raspberry fruit, potting soil, and mouthwatering salinity on the finish. It is a ripe yet very attractive wine to hold another 6-12 months and drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (8/2023): The Sottimano 2020 Barbaresco Pajoré (with 6,000 bottles made) is a tight and elegant wine with mid-weight structure. The bouquet is very expressive with dried cherry, blackcurrant, iron ore and blue flower. Sottimano succeeds in crafting very linear and precise wines, and that is certainly the message delivered by this wine from the Pajoré Vineyard in the village of Treiso. It ends on a dry, chalky note. |
|
| Tenuta San Guido |
2020 |
Sassicaia (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,840.96 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2020 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,599.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Cantina Tibaldi |
2020 |
Roero Roccapalea ex-Domaine |
$27.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Trediberri |
2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$556.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Tua Rita |
2020 |
Perlato del Bosco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$216.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Redigaffi (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$490.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Redigaffi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$574.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ultima Pietra |
2020 |
Merito ex-Domaine |
$150 |
2 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Merito ex-Domaine |
$150 |
36 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Merito (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$330 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso |
$80 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso Ex-Domaine |
$80 |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso ex-Domaine |
$80 |
36 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$176 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| G.D. Vajra |
2020 |
Barolo Bricco dell Viole (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$522.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Eduardo Valentini |
2020 |
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,723.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$872.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Vietti |
2020 |
Barbaresco Masseria (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$456.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbera d’Asti La Crena (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$297.99 |
5 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (5/2023): There is more richness in the profile of the 2020 Barbera D'Alba La Crena, with mocha, black plum, and macerated flowers. Full-bodied but not weighted down, with notes of turned earth, boysenberry preserve, and black tea and a silky mouthfeel, this would be an outstanding wine to showcase for lovers of New World wines. Drink 2024-2034. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Brunate (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$599.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Castiglione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$330.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$232.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$576.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Ravera (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$601.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$555.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Zenato |
2020 |
Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$195.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Brane-Cantenac |
2016 |
Margaux |
$89 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (11/2019): I missed this wine in my recent 2016 Bordeaux report, but I was able to purchase a bottle locally. A tremendous Margaux, the 2016 offers the quintessential elegance of the appellation as well as plenty of density, concentration, and ripe tannins. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and flowery incense all emerge from the glass, and it builds nicely with air, offering medium to full body, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is classic Margaux as well as a classic 2016. It’s already approachable, and I doubt it will close down, yet it’s going to develop additional nuances with another 4-6 years of bottle age and have 25-30 years of prime drinking. |
|
| Ch. Giscours |
2015 |
Margaux |
$65 |
9 |
|
| |
JS 96 (2/2018): Plenty of violets and dark berries on offer here. This has a striking sense of purity as well as an energetic, regal palate. The structure is impressively groomed with effortless depth and length. A standout wine. Try from 2022.
VM 95 (7/2019): The 2015 Giscours has a beautiful, clean, pure bouquet of generous ripe black cherry, raspberry and crushed violet aromas that could only come from Margaux. The medium-bodied palate is quite dense but wonderfully poised, offering sappy red fruit and very fine tannin and delivering impressive detail on the bay leaf and tea leaf finish. Alexandre van Beek oversaw one of the best Giscours in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 94+ (2/2018): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Giscours opens with expressive cassis, blackberry and red currants on the nose with touches of cedar chest, roses and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied with a good core of muscular fruit and firm, grainy tannins, it finishes long.
WS 93 (3/2018): Polished and rounded in feel, with a solid core of plum and blackberry compote flavors, lined with light hints of charcoal, tobacco and violet. Nice perfumy tobacco and warm tar notes show on the finish. Very well-integrated, making this approachable now, but there's no rush. Best from 2020 through 2035. 23,333 cases made. |
|
|
2015 |
Margaux (3.0 L) OWC |
$325 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 96 (2/2018): Plenty of violets and dark berries on offer here. This has a striking sense of purity as well as an energetic, regal palate. The structure is impressively groomed with effortless depth and length. A standout wine. Try from 2022.
VM 95 (7/2019): The 2015 Giscours has a beautiful, clean, pure bouquet of generous ripe black cherry, raspberry and crushed violet aromas that could only come from Margaux. The medium-bodied palate is quite dense but wonderfully poised, offering sappy red fruit and very fine tannin and delivering impressive detail on the bay leaf and tea leaf finish. Alexandre van Beek oversaw one of the best Giscours in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 94+ (2/2018): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Giscours opens with expressive cassis, blackberry and red currants on the nose with touches of cedar chest, roses and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied with a good core of muscular fruit and firm, grainy tannins, it finishes long.
WS 93 (3/2018): Polished and rounded in feel, with a solid core of plum and blackberry compote flavors, lined with light hints of charcoal, tobacco and violet. Nice perfumy tobacco and warm tar notes show on the finish. Very well-integrated, making this approachable now, but there's no rush. Best from 2020 through 2035. 23,333 cases made. |
|
| Ch. Gruaud Larose |
2005 |
St. Julien |
$109 |
4 |
|
| |
WS 91 (3/2008): Aromas of blackberry, meat and earth follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a rich finish. Decadent, balanced and very approachable already. I thought it would have been a little better than this. Best after 2014.
VM 90 (6/2008): Good red-ruby. Redcurrant, leather and game on the expressive if slightly rustic nose. Sweet and concentrated but a bit youthfully aggressive, and not showing the refinement or definition of the 2006. Strong nutty oak component. Finishes with substantial tannins that are a bit richer and more fully buffered by the wine's middle-palate material than those of the 2006. It will be interesting to compare these two vintages in ten years or so. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 90 (6/2015): The 2005 Gruaud Larose has a deep ruby/purple color, excellent concentration, and clean, pure black and red currant fruit, licorice and spice. It is medium to full-bodied, lush, and very soft and round. I’m surprised how drinkable it is already, although it is certainly capable of lasting 15 or more years. |
|
| Ch. Haut-Brion |
2009 |
Pessac Leognan |
$825 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 100 (2/2012): What a blockbuster effort! Atypically powerful, one day, the 2009 Haut-Brion may be considered to be the 21st century version of the 1959. It is an extraordinarily complex, concentrated effort made from a blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc with the highest alcohol ever achieved at this estate, 14.3%. Even richer than the perfect 1989, with similar technical numbers although slightly higher extract and alcohol, it offers up a sensational perfume of subtle burning embers, unsmoked cigar tobacco, charcoal, black raspberries, wet gravel, plums, figs and blueberries. There is so much going on in the aromatics that one almost hesitates to stop smelling it. However, when it hits the palate, it is hardly a letdown. This unctuously textured, full-bodied 2009 possesses low acidity along with stunning extract and remarkable clarity for a wine with a pH close to 4.0. The good news is that there are 10,500 cases of the 2009, one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made. It requires a decade of cellaring and should last a half century or more. Readers who have loved the complexity of Haut-Brion should be prepared for a bigger, richer, more massive wine, but one that does not lose any of its prodigious aromatic attractions.
JS 100 (2/2012): Aromas of forest floor, currants and blueberries, with hints of fresh tobacco and sliced mushrooms. Turns to orange peel and blueberries. Full-bodied, with incredible structure. This is so powerful in tannins, yet so polished. This is the most structured Haut-Brion that I have ever tasted. This has 15% Cabernet Franc, which is more than normal and perhaps giving the wine a little more tannic structure. A monumental Haut-Brion made to age for centuries. I have never tasted a young Haut-Brion, with such spellbinding power and depth. A modern 1945 or 1961 HB? Better than the legendary 1989? Try in 2021.
WS 98 (5/2012): This enormous young wine is among the most backward of the vintage at this early stage, with iron-clad grip holding the broad, deep core of blackberry, cassis and roasted fig notes in check for now. The finish is a torrent of dense, almost compressed layers of tobacco leaf, hot paving stone, singed bay leaf and tar that will take at least a decade to massage together fully. This one is for the kids born in 2009. Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,500 cases made.
VM 97+ (7/2012): Vivid deep ruby. Knockout fruity nose offers blackcurrant, strawberry, rosemary, truffle and a stony note. Then very closed in the middle, with cabernet sauvignon-dominated flavors of cassis, cigar box, cedar and minerals. Finishes long and deep, with massive but smooth tannins and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time in the cellar but should be an Outstanding, memorable Haut Brion. Offhand, I do not recall a better pair of wines from any estate in 2009: millionaires will have a lot of fun trying to choose between La Mission and Haut Brion in 20 years' time. |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
1979 |
Pauillac Tissue-Stained Label |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 92 (11/1991): Fruity, deep and firm, filled with plum and cherry, backed by youthful, stiff tannins. Needs time for complexity to develop. Try in 1995.--Lafite Rothschild vertical.
MB [***] (7/1999): Like a bad-tempered baby pulled out of its cot by a doting father it was presented on its first birthday prior to a Lafite dinner at Boulestin's in London. Raw and raucous. By the early to mid-1980s, it was hard and very tannic but with good length. At Penning-Rowsell's '10-year' dinner its nose and taste beginning to demonstrate Lafite fragrances, though a touch of astringency. I have just four notes over the past decade: peppery, high-toned; firm, flavoury but dry (Stockholm 1994). In a 'flight' of four Lafite imperiales, spicy, good fruit but raw, very tannic (1996). Yet another imperaile: attractive, enough fruit and in particular enough extract and tannin to cope with black truffle and marscarpone-crusted Brie (Bacchus Society 1997). Most recently, Jamie Guise's last magnum: still deep, rich, lovey; distinctly good, distinctly Lafite- it opened up fragrantly; pretty good yet still very tannic.
WA 87 (10/1997): I overrated this wine when it was young, and have not been as pleased with its evolution in the bottle. The wine has retained a cool climate high acidity, giving it a more compressed personality than I had envisioned. The color remains a dark ruby/garnet, but the nose has taken on a more vegetal, earthy note to go along with the new oak and sweet red and black currant personality. The wine's crisp acidity keeps its tannic edge aggressive. There is already some amber at the edge of the wine's color. Anticipated maturity: Now-2012. |
|
| Ch. Latour |
1996 |
Pauillac (6.0 L) OWC |
$7,000 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (6/2000): A spectacular Latour, the 1996 may be the modern day clone of the 1966, only riper. This vintage, which is so variable in Pomerol, St.-Emilion, and Graves, was fabulous for the late-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon of the northern Medoc because of splendid weather in late September and early October. An opaque purple color is followed by phenomenally sweet, pure aromas of cassis infused with subtle minerals. This massive offering possesses unreal levels of extract, full body, intensely ripe, but abundant tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. Classic and dense, it displays the potential for 50-75 years of longevity. Although still an infant, it would be educational to taste a bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050.
WS 96 (12/2007): Fabulous aromas of crushed raspberries, plums and blackberries. Mind-blowing nose. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and a long caressing finish. Hard not to drink now, but leave it alone.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. 17,000 cases made.
VM 95+ (6/1999): Saturated ruby-red. Dark berries, violet, licorice and a note of torrefaction. Explosive, pure flavors are almost too big for the mouth. Finishes with big, sweet tannins and expanding, exhilarating flavors of pruneaux and crystallized dark berries. Perfectly integrated oak. A great Latour. Stephen Tanzer.
NM 95 (12/2017): Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 1996 Latour is a wine that continues to perplex. I just think that given the vintage, the team would have made a far superior wine nowadays. That said, it is still a very fine Pauillac. Here, it conveyed a sense of "airiness" on the bouquet, more backward and surly than other bottles tasted with attractive damp earth and leather aromas. It feels strict and uncompromising when compared to others. The palate is medium-bodied with light and supple tannin, tart red berry fruit, black pepper and plenty of tobacco indicating its Pauillac origins. This is a well balanced, correct and elegant Latour, not the powerhouse of the 2000 or 2005, yet continuing to give drinking pleasure unabated after two decades. . |
|
|
2000 |
Pauillac |
$945 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (4/2014): Latour has made truly great wines in the past two decades—and this is one of the best. It has fabulous aromas of black truffles, currants, raspberry and dried flowers. Mind-blowing on the palate, it’s an emotional and soulful red.
WS 99 (12/2015): The fruit here is still very much in the primary phase, with a decidedly racy feel to the raspberry coulis, cassis and blackberry reduction notes that are streaked with violet, iron and graphite flavors. The superlong finish alternates between a tug of sweet earth and a velvety feel, as the fruit and grip are still melding together, but there's so much vivacity here, there's no concern with waiting it out. The wait may be a while though. Rather stunning that this can separate itself so clearly from the rest of 2000's high-class field.
NM 99 (7/2028): The 2000 Latour is a wine that I feel is overlooked by many cognoscenti, goggle-eyed by the 2005 or 2009. However, this is perhaps the pinnacle of the millennial vintage. It has a stunning bouquet with extraordinarily pure blackberry, raspberry, cedar and violets. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate has a satin-like texture thanks to the filigree tannin, almost Burgundy-like in texture though Pinot Noir rarely achieves this density or arching structure. It is extremely complex, the black fruit giving way to more red fruit with aeration, gradually mellowing, even if it would benefit from another four or five years in bottle. This is a majestic Latour. Tasted at the International Business & Wine Latour dinner at Ten Trinity.
WA 98 (6/2010): The 2000 Latour (a relatively abundant 14,000 cases compared to what they produced in 2009, 2008, or 2005) is “packed and stacked.” The extremely rich, black/purple color to the rim is followed by a wine with some subtle smoke, loads of minerals, a hint of vanilla, and plenty of creme de cassis as well as roasted meat and a slight scorched earth character. Broad, savory, and rich, the wine seems to be about 5 years away from full maturity and should drink well for at least 40-50 more years. A great effort, probably eclipsed only by 2003 and 2009.
VM 97 (6/2003): Full medium ruby. Wonderfully sweet, rich aromas of cassis, minerals and bitter chocolate. A huge wine with almost painful intensity; solid as a rock and at the same time utterly sensual and creamy, with great inner-mouth complexity and depth of flavor and a complete absence of rough edges. "Almost too easy today," says Engerer. Sweet notes of roasted nuts and chocolate add to the wine's early appeal. A powerful, hugely rich Latour with a great building finish and perfectly suave tannins. This was really the last vintage of Latour with a meaningful percentage (3%) of cabernet franc, as the old franc vines were removed after 2000. But Engerer noted that Latour planted 1.5 hectares of petit verdot, which can be expected to represent up to 4% of the blend by 2004. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Pauillac |
$975 |
8 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2012): A breathtaking combination of dried flowers and minerals, with dark fruits such as currants and blackberries. Full-bodied, with fabulous fruit concentration, yet its compacted. Velvety tannins. So much fruit and beauty. It's the quality of the tannins that are magic. It is the famous 1959 all over again. Amazing. Try in 2022.
WA 100 (2/2012): A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot with just under 14% natural alcohol, the 2009 Latour is basically a clone of the super 2003, only more structured and potentially more massive and long lived. An elixir of momentous proportions, it boasts a dense purple color as well as an extraordinarily flamboyant bouquet of black fruits, graphite, crushed rocks, subtle oak and a notion of wet steel. It hits the palate with a thundering concoction of thick, juicy blue and black fruits, lead pencil shavings and a chalky minerality. Full-bodied, but very fresh with a finish that lasts over a minute, this is one of the most remarkable young wines I have ever tasted. Will it last one-hundred years? No doubt about it. Can it be drunk in a decade? For sure.
WS 99 (3/2012): This seems to come full circle, with a blazing iron note and mouthwatering acidity up front leading to intense, vibrant cassis, blackberry and cherry skin flavors that course along, followed by the same vivacious minerality that started things off. The tobacco, ganache and espresso notes seem almost superfluous right now, but they'll join the fray in due time. The question is, can you wait long enough? Best from 2020 through 2040. 9,580 cases made.
NM 97 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Latour '09 has a comparatively exotic bouquet with macerated small dark cherries, mango sorbet, and blackcurrant and vanilla pod. There is a floral component that lends it a Margaux like veneer. The palate is medium-bodied with firm grip on the entry. There is a pleasing saline edge, firm grip with a pleasing crescendo towards the opulent but controlled, delineated finish. Perhaps it is showier than its peers, but why not? And there is enormous grip and weight on the finish, making this an impressive Latour for long-term ageing.
VM 96+ (8/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Latour '09 has a comparatively exotic bouquet with macerated small dark cherries, mango sorbet, and blackcurrant and vanilla pod. There is a floral component that lends it a Margaux like veneer. The palate is medium-bodied with firm grip on the entry. There is a pleasing saline edge, firm grip with a pleasing crescendo towards the opulent but controlled, delineated finish. Perhaps it is showier than its peers, but why not? And there is enormous grip and weight on the finish, making this an impressive Latour for long-term ageing. |
|
|
2011 |
Pauillac |
$509 |
6 |
|
| |
WS 96 (3/2014): This has a gorgeous core of steeped plum, boysenberry and black currant coulis flavors, backed by a prominent graphite note that drives through the lengthy finish, where extra hints of anise and sweet tobacco flitter in the background. Regal. Best from 2018 through 2035. 5,835 cases made.
JS 95 (1/2014): The nose is complex, featuring smoke, meat and hints of wood, with currants, olives and berries underneath. Full body with super-velvety tannins. The strong acidity gives the wine an edginess. Love the spicy, subtly fruity finish. Steely. Try in 2020.
VM 95 (4/2022): The 2011 Latour is well-defined on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, cedar, hoisin and a touch of mint. There is impressive intensity here, regal and convincing. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. There is a solid backbone to this wine, plenty of freshness, quite powerful towards the finish with superb persistence. Wonderful. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 93-95 (4/2012): A blend of 84.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Latour represents only 34% of the crop. It hit 13.1% natural alcohol. One of the vintage's most compelling wines, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, open-knit personality with ripe tannin, superb intensity, good purity and harmony, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and lots of crushed rock, floral and black as well as blue fruit notes in addition to hints of ink and forest floor. This beautifully rich, savory Latour will be surprisingly drinkable in 4-5 years, and should age easily for two decades or more. |
|
| Ch. Le Gay |
2005 |
Pomerol (6.0 L) OWC |
$1,200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (4/2008): The finest Le Gay produced since the post World War II era, the 2005 even eclipses the fabulous 1982 and 1989. This inky/purple-hued effort reflects the commitment of proprietress Catherine Pere-Verge. An extraordinary perfume of blueberries, blackberries, flowers, truffles, and a touch of steely minerality is followed by a massive wine of exceptional concentration, a multilayered texture, phenomenal purity, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. It is a massive, old style, pure, rich Pomerol that should only be purchased by patient connoisseurs as gratification will need to be deferred for at least a decade. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040+.
WS 93 (3/2008): Dark purple in color, with aromas of coffee, green olive, blackberry and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with very polished yet present tannins and a long, rich, fruity finish. The best Le Gay in years. Best after 2014. 1,575 cases made.
VM 92 (6/2008): Dark red-ruby. Plum, mocha, minerals and coffee on the nose. Supple, lush and sweet, with captivating flavors of raspberry, toffee, coffee, mocha and iron. Wonderfully pliant and appealing Pomerol, finishing with sweet, tongue-dusting tannins and excellent length. (A second bottle of roughly equal quality showed a more serious tannic spine and appeared to be in the process of shutting down.) |
|
| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2010 |
St. Julien |
$149 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 99 (2/2018): Another massive, incredible release from this estate is the 2010 Leoville Poyferre. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, its inky purple color is followed by a massive, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated 2010 that has awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spring flowers. As with the 2009, it has incredible depth of fruit, yet a slightly more focused, classic style, which is very much in the style of the 2010 vintage. With its new oak completely absorbed by its wealth of fruit, perfect balance, and sweet tannin, it’s a sensational, monumental effort to drink over the coming 3-4 decades.
WA 98+ (2/2013): The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.
VM 97 (4/2020): The 2010 Leoville-Poyferre has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, briary cedar and light estuarine/seaweed aromas that are very well defined. Pure class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, layers of pure black fruit laced with pencil lead and a pinch of white pepper. It fans out wonderfully towards the finish, a Saint-Julien demonstrating wonderful density and precision. What an outstanding wine, perhaps less flamboyant than other vintages, one that will last decades. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2013): Wow. Very intense and aromatic nose with crushed currants and blueberries with hints of nuts and dried flowers. Full body, with very refined tannins and a lovely undercurrent of fruit. Balanced and juicy. Better in 2018.. Best from 2015 through 2030. 17,833 cases made. |
|
| Ch. Margaux |
2017 |
Margaux |
$429 |
6 |
|
| |
JS 99 (12/2019): There is ripeness and opulence to this, in an almost exotic and sassy way. Crushed berries with chocolate and spice. Floral and cashmere undertones. This starts off slowly and just rolls off the palate with beautifully polished tannins and a salty, minerally note to the long, extended tannins. Really brilliant. So classy. Structured. Try after 2025.
JD 98 (2/2020): Despite Margaux being a slightly more difficult region for the Medoc in 2017, this estate has fashioned an incredible 2017 Chateaux Margaux that’s unquestionably in the same league as the 2015 and 2016, and that’s saying something. Based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot representing a draconian selection of just 22% of the total production, it reveals a deep purple/ruby hue as well as stunning notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, crushed violets, unsmoked tobacco, and Asian spice. With flawless tannins, medium to full body, brilliant concentration, and a great, great finish, it's easily one of the standouts in the vintage. It’s already stunning, yet a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should cruise for 20-25 years in cold cellars.
WA 98 (3/2020): The 2017 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal alluring notes of blackcurrant cordial, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with suggestions of candied violets, tilled soil, fallen leaves, licorice and espresso plus wafts of underbrush and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the elegance and finesse on the palate is simply bedazzling, exuding a quiet intensity of fresh black fruits layered with oh-so-subtle floral and earth nuances. It has a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness to support the tightly wound flavors, finishing long and perfumed. Beautiful! This grand vin accounts for just 37% of the crop.
VM 95 (2/2020): The 2017 Château Margaux, bottled in June/July 2019, has a classic aromatic profile for this First Growth: blackcurrant leaf, raspberry, cold black tea and pressed iris rather than violet petals this time. It is well defined, if not as intense as the 2016 as you would expect. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, quite saline in the mouth with superb precision on the elegant finish. This is one of the most approachable Château Margaux that I can remember, less opulent than out of barrel and supremely refined. Neal Martin.
WS 95 (3/2020): Seamless from start to finish, with a thoroughly caressing mouthfeel to the mix of damson plum, black cherry and black currant fruit, inlaid with a range of lilac, lavender and rooibos tea accents. The finish unfurls slowly, revealing a mouthwatering mineral edge buried deeply in the seductive fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 10,833 cases made. |
|
|
2017 |
Margaux (1.5 L) |
$929 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 99 (12/2019): There is ripeness and opulence to this, in an almost exotic and sassy way. Crushed berries with chocolate and spice. Floral and cashmere undertones. This starts off slowly and just rolls off the palate with beautifully polished tannins and a salty, minerally note to the long, extended tannins. Really brilliant. So classy. Structured. Try after 2025.
JD 98 (2/2020): Despite Margaux being a slightly more difficult region for the Medoc in 2017, this estate has fashioned an incredible 2017 Chateaux Margaux that’s unquestionably in the same league as the 2015 and 2016, and that’s saying something. Based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot representing a draconian selection of just 22% of the total production, it reveals a deep purple/ruby hue as well as stunning notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, crushed violets, unsmoked tobacco, and Asian spice. With flawless tannins, medium to full body, brilliant concentration, and a great, great finish, it's easily one of the standouts in the vintage. It’s already stunning, yet a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should cruise for 20-25 years in cold cellars.
WA 98 (3/2020): The 2017 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal alluring notes of blackcurrant cordial, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with suggestions of candied violets, tilled soil, fallen leaves, licorice and espresso plus wafts of underbrush and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the elegance and finesse on the palate is simply bedazzling, exuding a quiet intensity of fresh black fruits layered with oh-so-subtle floral and earth nuances. It has a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness to support the tightly wound flavors, finishing long and perfumed. Beautiful! This grand vin accounts for just 37% of the crop.
VM 95 (2/2020): The 2017 Château Margaux, bottled in June/July 2019, has a classic aromatic profile for this First Growth: blackcurrant leaf, raspberry, cold black tea and pressed iris rather than violet petals this time. It is well defined, if not as intense as the 2016 as you would expect. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, quite saline in the mouth with superb precision on the elegant finish. This is one of the most approachable Château Margaux that I can remember, less opulent than out of barrel and supremely refined. Neal Martin.
WS 95 (3/2020): Seamless from start to finish, with a thoroughly caressing mouthfeel to the mix of damson plum, black cherry and black currant fruit, inlaid with a range of lilac, lavender and rooibos tea accents. The finish unfurls slowly, revealing a mouthwatering mineral edge buried deeply in the seductive fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 10,833 cases made. |
|
| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2010 |
Pauillac |
$750 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (11/2015): Clearly a perfect wine that shows incredible depth of fruit with currants, dark chocolate, minerals and licorice. Full-bodied, tight and wound up with ripe tannins that let go and seduce you. Makes me want to drink it now. But this is a wine for the long term. Extraordinary. 94% cabernet sauvignon. Better in 2020.
WS 99 (3/2017): This remains the stunner, a battleship of a wine, brimming with cassis, blackberry and fig fruit that has melded together now, with the backdrop of alder, bay leaf and menthol starting to emerge a bit more. The long finish is loaded with grip, pulling the fruit and other components together. And then there's that flash of iron at the very end. Awesome wine.--Non-blind Mouton-Rothschild vertical (March 2017). Best from 2025 through 2060.
WA 98 (3/2020): Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Mouton Rothschild is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of baked black cherries, crème de cassis, blackberry compote and bouquet garni with suggestions of sweaty leather, pencil lead, cedar chest and black truffles plus a hint of crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is solidly constructed of super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and lively acidity, framing the densely packed black fruit, finishing on a persistent mineral note.
VM 98 (4/2020): The 2010 Mouton-Rothschild is very deep in colour. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow, sous-bois and touches of peppermint. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is incredible focus to this First Growth with fabulous mineralite and tension on the finish. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Palmer |
|
Historical XIXth Century Wine L 20.17 |
$219 |
6 |
|
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| Ch. Pavie |
2016 |
St. Emilion |
$335 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2019): The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, crushed blueberries and eucalyptus over a core of preserved plums, kirsch, black raspberries and crème de cassis plus hints of licorice and chargrilled meat. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a solid foundation of firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness interknit with the black fruit preserves and minerally layers, finishing very long and very decadent. Superb!
JD 99 (2/2019): Turning the dial up considerably, the 2016 Château Pavie leaps out of the glass with a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasty oak, graphite, white truffle, crayons, and flowers. A blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 85% new French oak (the new oak has been dialed back in recent vintages), this full-bodied Pavie is made in a more elegant, seamless style compared to prior great vintages, yet it still has brilliant depth of fruit and concentration, ripe, present tannins, a seamless texture, and an awesome finish.
VM 98+ (1/2019): The 2016 Pavie is simply magnificent. Gracious, perfumed and exquisitely beautiful, the 2016 has it all. I can't remember seeing a Pavie with this much translucent energy and nuance. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol all infuse this explosive, young wine with tremendous character. In the glass, the 2016 is vivid, aromatically deep and full of saline-infused energy. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. As it turns out Gerard Perse also opened the 2008. Although the two vintages (2016 and 2008) in question are quite different in style and quality, the trajectory Pavie has taken in recent years is evident. The 2016 is a thrilling wine. That's all there is to it. The blend is 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron |
2009 |
Pauillac |
$239.99 |
1 |
|
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WA 98 (2/2012): Revealing incredible quality and performing better than it did from barrel, the 2009 appears to be the greatest Pichon Longueville Baron since the 1990 and 1989. An amazing opaque blue/purple color is followed by scents of spring flowers, graphite, smoky charcoal, incense, blackberries, blueberries and hints of coffee and chocolate. Incredibly intense, pure and flawlessly constructed with extravagant layers of fruit and richness, this offering has developed beautifully under the management of Christian Seeley. It is a voluptuous, opulent Pichon Longueville Baron that may eclipse anything they have made in the past. This brilliant wine should be at its peak between 2018 and 2045.
JS 97 (2/2012): Amazing aromas of ripe currants and plums with flowers. Full body, with super fine tannins and wonderful fruit. It is energized. Better than I remember it from barrel. Reminds me of the 1990 PB. Try after 2020.
VM 96 (7/2012): Saturated deep ruby-red. Pungent, brooding, very ripe aromas and flavors of cassis, blueberry, licorice, bitter chocolate, espresso and minerals, along with hints of spices and underbrush. Large-scaled, rich and deep, with superb chewy ripeness and terrific mineral lift. At once plush and powerful, boasting the texture of a first growth, with a near-perfect sugar/acid balance. The palate-staining finish features substantial ripe, chewy tannins and rising length. This should evolve gracefully in bottle for two or three decades. Stephen Tanzer.
NM 96 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Pichon Baron 2009 is a great wine destined to last for many years. It has a very well defined bouquet with blackberry, creme de cassis and still some vanillary new oak that needs bottle age to be subsumed. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins. This is beautifully composed and pure with an unerring symmetry. It is tightly coiled and very precise, yet the finish has enormous length. Outstanding.
WS 95 (3/2012): This delivers a massive core of black Mission fig, black currant paste and roasted fig fruit, backed by alder wood, bay leaf, singed cedar and maduro tobacco. The finish lets a racy iron note take over. Long and authoritative, with gorgeous acidity giving the balance for long-term cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2030. 13,000 cases made. |
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|
2011 |
Pauillac (6.0 L) OWC |
$1,100 |
1 |
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NM 93-95 (4/2012): A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot picked from 12th September until 28th or something (according to a vague Mr. Seely.) It sports a ripe, more extrovert nose than some of its neighbours, with lush blackberry, boysenberry, a touch of cherry liqueur and underneath, typical Pauillac traits of graphite and tobacco. Leaving the glass for five minutes it unwinds nicely and shows great purity. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry, good grip and weight, a 2011 with real substance and chutzpah. The more I leave this in my glass, the more I like it. Very harmonious with layers of ripe blackberry and a touch of white pepper, the finish forgetting it is 2011 and not 2009. This is an Outstanding Pichon Baron for the vintage. Tasted three times with consistent notes.
JS 92 (3/2015): A Pichon Baron with currants and cocoa powder. It’s a little lean but shows lovely full body, bright fruit and polished tannins. Lovely race and finesse. Better in 2018.
WS 92 (3/2014): Shows a taut feel for now, with lots of cassis and blackberry fruit, lined with iron and bramble notes. Dark and well-toasted yet integrated overall, this should stretch out after moderate cellaring, as there's an ample core of dark, fleshy fruit. Best from 2016 through 2028. 15,000 cases made
WA 91 (4/2014): The dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 Grand Puy Lacoste exhibits a charming, open-knit bouquet of red and black fruits. It is a savory, medium-bodied, flavorful, well-endowed Pauillac from Xavier Borie that can be enjoyed over the next 10-15+ years.
VM 88+ (8/2014): Inky purple. Smoky aromas of dark berries, coffee and cocoa, with a peppery topnote; strong element of torrefaction. At once chewy and a bit tart on the palate, offering spicy redcurrant and ripe blackberry flavors along with strong suggestions of mocha and coffee. The broad finish features slightly chewy tannins. I'd have liked a bit more definition here, but it's probably just a matter of time. Cellar this for five years and see where it's headed. Ian d'Agata. |
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| Ch. Pontet Canet |
2007 |
Pauillac |
$89 |
7 |
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VM 92 (8/2010): Deep ruby-red. The nose shows an almost exotic ripeness but also a high-pitched quality to the aromas of fruitcake, graphite and spicy oak. Dense and intensely flavored but at the same time quite juicy and penetrating, with terrific lift to its dark fruit flavors. An outperformer for the vintage, this rather powerfully structured wine has a serious spine for aging.
WA 91-94 (4/2008): Rated - No tasting note given.
WS 90 (3/2010): Currant and dark licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a caressing finish. A beauty. Best after 2013. 20,835 cases made. |
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2010 |
Pauillac |
$199 |
2 |
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WA 100 (2/2013): An absolutely amazing wine, from grapes harvested between the end of September and October 17, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot has close to 15% natural alcohol. It comes from one of the few biodynamic vineyards in Bordeaux, but you are likely to see many more, given the success that Tesseron seems to be having at all levels, both in his vineyards and in his fermentation/winemaking. An astounding, compelling wine with the classic Pauillac nose more often associated with its cross-street neighbor, Mouton-Rothschild, creme de cassis, there are also some violets and other assorted floral notes. The wine has off-the-charts massiveness and intensity but never comes across as heavy, overbearing or astringent. The freshness, laser-like precision, and full-bodied, massive richness and extract are simply remarkable to behold and experience. It is very easy, to become jaded tasting such great wines from a great vintage, but it is really a privilege to taste something as amazing as this. Unfortunately, it needs a good decade of cellaring, and that's assuming it doesn't close down over the next few years. This is a 50- to 75-year wine from one of the half-dozen or so most compulsive and obsessive proprietors in all of Bordeaux. Is there anything that proprietor Alfred Tesseron is not doing right? Talk about an estate that is on top of its game! Pontet-Canet's 2010 is a more structured, tannic and restrained version of their most recent perfect wine, the 2009. Kudos to Pontet-Canet!
JS 100 (2/2013): The aromas to this are incredible with blueberry, minerals, dried flowers, and stones. It goes to dried meat and spices. Full body and incredibly integrated with blackberry, licorice, and minerals. There's a wonderful purity to this. It goes on for minutes. The quality of tannins is amazing. Seamless. There's an amazing transparency that shows you all the elements of the wine's unique terroir. Try after 2018.
JD 98+ (10/2018): The 2010 Pontet-Canet lags behind the 2009, but these two vintages can be hard to compare due the drastically different styles. Where the 2009 is broad, expansive, and showy, the 2010 starts our more reserved and classic in style, with beautiful notes of cassis, cedarwood, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and damp earth all developing with air. Deep, beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and powerful, it’s built for the long haul and needs 5-7 years of bottle age, but I suspect will see its 50th birthday in still fine drinking form.
WS 97 (3/2013): This is big, broad and powerfully rendered, but remarkably polished and refined at the same time. An enormous core of roasted fig, blackberry and black currant fruit is suavely wrapped with roasted apple wood and sandalwood, while dark espresso, loam and warm paving stone notes drive the finish. Very long, with a great tug of scorched earth at the end. A terrific combination of power and precision. Best from 2020 through 2040.
VM 95+ (8/2013): Bright ruby-red. Superripe, soil-driven aromas of currant, plum, cherry pie, mocha and minerals; almost liqueur-like in its ripeness, in a 1947 way. Then huge, sweet and plush, with great volume and depth to its flavors of cassis, flowers, minerals, game and olive. Finishes with big, ripe, horizontal tannins and great mounting length. This remarkably thick wine is actually a bit youthfully stunted today and should really be cellared for ten years. It should go on for three or four decades in a cool cellar. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Ch. Tertre Roteboeuf |
1994 |
St. Emilion |
$109 |
2 |
|
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| WA 90 (12/2002): A very successful effort in a difficult vintage, Tertre Roteboeuf’s 1994 shows a dark plum/ruby color with no lightening at the edge. A nose of roasted herbs intermixed with black cherry, plum, fig, and currant also has a hint of chocolate and earth. Medium-bodied, with ripe but noticeable tannin, excellent definition, and fine purity, this is a nice, weighty, rich, surprisingly strong effort from Tertre Roteboeuf. Anticipated maturity: Now-2014. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2001 |
Sauternes |
$560 |
1 |
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VM 100 (9/2021): Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. Neal Martin.
WA 100 (8/2019): I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed.
WS 100 (11/2005): (WS #10 wine of 2005) The greatest young Yquem I have ever tasted from bottle. Yellow, with a golden hue and an almost green tint. Intense aromas of botrytis, spices and blanched almonds follow through to honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and pineapple. Full-bodied, sweet, thick and powerful, with layers of fruit and a bright, lively finish. Coats the palate yet remains exciting. So balanced and refined, showing the pedigree that only this Sauternes estate can deliver. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made. |
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2009 |
Sauternes |
$435 |
3 |
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WA 100 (3/2019): Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection.
WS 98 (11/2014): The aromas are closed today, but the core is loaded with apricot, nectarine and orange notes, bolted by a citrus zest spine and backed by toasted almond and piecrust accents on the finish. A large-scale Yquem that shows the richness of the vintage.—Non-blind Yquem vertical (July 2014). Best from 2020 through 2050. 10,000 cases made.
JS 98 (4/2012): The length to this is exceptional with an intensity yet subtlety. Full and medium sweet with bright and exciting acidity. It's all in balance here. Creme brulee, pineapple, and papaya. Lasts so long on finish. It's so fabulous now. It will age forever but it's already a joy to taste, even drink. Better in 2020.
VM 97 (3/2019): The 2009 d'Yquem is a vintage that I have awarded perfect scores to in the past however, neither bottles merit that on this occasion. The first bottle feels scalped, so much so that a second bottle is checked. This has a very refined and sophisticated bouquet with wild honey, brioche, vanilla pod and light orange blossom aromas, beautifully refined. The palate is very well defined with fine acidity, very elegant in style with pure botrytised fruit and superb acidity on the finish. Ah...that is more like it. However, on this occasion it does not quite hit the high notes. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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|
2009 |
Sauternes |
$499 |
1 |
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WA 100 (3/2019): Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection.
WS 98 (11/2014): The aromas are closed today, but the core is loaded with apricot, nectarine and orange notes, bolted by a citrus zest spine and backed by toasted almond and piecrust accents on the finish. A large-scale Yquem that shows the richness of the vintage.—Non-blind Yquem vertical (July 2014). Best from 2020 through 2050. 10,000 cases made.
JS 98 (4/2012): The length to this is exceptional with an intensity yet subtlety. Full and medium sweet with bright and exciting acidity. It's all in balance here. Creme brulee, pineapple, and papaya. Lasts so long on finish. It's so fabulous now. It will age forever but it's already a joy to taste, even drink. Better in 2020.
VM 97 (3/2019): The 2009 d'Yquem is a vintage that I have awarded perfect scores to in the past however, neither bottles merit that on this occasion. The first bottle feels scalped, so much so that a second bottle is checked. This has a very refined and sophisticated bouquet with wild honey, brioche, vanilla pod and light orange blossom aromas, beautifully refined. The palate is very well defined with fine acidity, very elegant in style with pure botrytised fruit and superb acidity on the finish. Ah...that is more like it. However, on this occasion it does not quite hit the high notes. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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Sauternes 00’s Special Collection Case: 1 bottle each 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011 in OWC (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$3,000 |
1 |
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| |
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Sauternes 80’s Special Collection Case: 1 bottle each 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989 in OWC (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$3,500 |
1 |
|
| |
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Sauternes 90’s Special Collection Case: 1 bottle each 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999 in OWC (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$2,200 |
1 |
|
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| Ch. La Tour Blanche |
2009 |
Sauternes |
$73 |
6 |
|
| |
JS 96 (5/2013): Impressive density of fruity here with caramel, dried lemons, apricots and honey. Full yet reserved and beautiful. Wonderful length. One of the Sauternes of the vintage. Better in 2016.
WA 93 (2/2013): The 2009 La Tour Blanche has a gorgeous, botrytis-rich bouquet with lemon thyme, honey and spice, with just a touch of alcoholic warmth denying it the clarity it deserves. The palate is crisp and taut on the entry with notes of apricot and white peach emerging with a few swirls of the glass. It offers a pleasing viscosity and volume in the mouth, although compared to its barrel showing, it appears to have tightened up more than I expected, possibly a sign that it is a wine in for the long haul. Drink 2017-2035.
WS 92 (3/2012): Ripe and broad, with lush buttered pecan and almond notes followed by rich apricot, orange and date flavors that glide through the finish, where a glazed pear note sits in reserve. This should cruise nicely through mid-term cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2024. 6,665 cases made. |
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| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Calon-Segur |
2005 |
St. Estephe |
$135 |
|
Sold Out
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JS 94 (11/2015): Tight and dense still but so integrated and seamless in texture. Aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, dried spices and currants. Full body, superfine tannins and a texture that is so caressing and beautiful. Drink or hold.
NM 94 (3/2015): Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a captivating nose: blackberry and boysenberry fruit coming at you at full pelt; dried blood and bacon fat developing as secondary aromas just behind. There is fine delineation here - an underlying mineralite sure to surface with time. The palate is very intense and disarmingly youthful, almost ferrous on the entry with layers of ripe black fruit that segue into an earthy finish (with a curious light tang of Marmite on the aftertaste!). It is a fabulous Calon Segur, though the millennial wine might ultimately possess greater precision. We will see.
WA 93 (6/2015): The 2005 is a beautiful Calon Segur, with sweet mocha, black cherry, leathery fruit, medium to full body, attractive purity, a gorgeous texture, and serious nobility, gravitas and density. Drink it over the next 20-30 years, yet it is surprisingly accessible.
WS 93 (3/2008): Has a beautiful nose of crushed berry, spices and nutmeg, with a hint of coffee. Then turns to licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish of vanilla, berry and cinnamon. Beautifully crafted. Best after 2014. 17,500 cases made.
VM 92+ (6/2008): Deep, bright ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, leather, smoked meat, earth and menthol. Chewy, brooding and deep, with concentrated black cherry, menthol, mineral and leather flavors framed by a powerful spine of acids and tannins. Really saturates the palate on the tannic back end. I'd give this classic St. Estephe a decade of aging, at which time this wine may well merit an even higher score. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2006 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$495 |
|
Sold Out
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WA 97 (1/2016): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Cheval Blanc is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc. It has the most floral bouquet of the four Serié A Grand Cru Classé: an explosion of crushed violets and potpourri, hints of leather and cigar box, the Cabernet Franc clearly lending this complexity and character. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It feels wonderfully structured and comes with an insistent grip that coats the mouth. This is backward and almost surly, but you have to stand back and admire the precision and arching structure on the mineral-rich finish. Top-dog Saint Emilion? That's for sure.
WS 95 (5/2009): Displays lots of milk chocolate, cedar, berry and cappuccino aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins, this is structured and layered for the vintage. Mouthpuckering. Needs time. This is one of the wines of the vintage. Best after 2015. 5,400 cases made.
JD 94 (12/2017): A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, the 2006 Chateau Cheval Blanc is a classic wine from this under-the-radar vintage and offers a perfumed, complex bouquet of red and black fruits, dried flowers, earth, spice box, and tobacco. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, elegant texture, ripe tannin and impressive length, it’s approachable today yet will keep for two decades or more.
VM 94 (6/2009): Good deep ruby-red. Captivating nose combines blackberry, menthol, licorice, bitter chocolate, violet and a flinty, iron-like element. Densely packed and very fresh, with superb energy and definition to the complex flavors of cassis, blackberry, licorice, menthol and minerals. A floral element contributes to the impression of vibrancy. This is more impressive than it was at any stage of its elevage, offering surprising chewy richness and sweetness for a brand-new Cheval. Finishes with broad, toothdusting tannins that mount slowly and saturate the palate. This wonderfully smooth wine gained in precision and floral perfume with 24 hours in the recorked bottle and should be at its best roughly between 2015 and 2035. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2016 |
Ch. La Mission Haut Brion Pessac Leognan |
$325 |
|
Sold Out
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| Ch. Lascombes |
2005 |
Margaux (6.0 L) OWC |
$900 |
|
Sold Out
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WS 93 (3/2008): Dark in color, with an impressive nose of licorice, toasty oak, chocolate and blackberry. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very pretty and structured. Best after 2012. 25,000 cases made.
NM 90 (2/2015): The Château Lascombes 2005 has one of the most extravagant bouquet from the Margaux appellation with copious red berry fruit, candied orange peel. marmalade and cedar scents that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannin, a little more advanced than its peers with a slight dryness appearing towards the finish. I would have liked just a little more focus and cohesion here, though it can still boast impressive length.
WA 88+ (6/2015): Spicy oak, earth and cedar wood jump from the glass of this fruity, medium-bodied wine. It is not showing quite the density I would have expected, but it is still well-endowed and more evolved than some of the top efforts from the Margaux appellation. It has a dark, ruby/plum color, a slightly narrow finish, and less intensity than I remember. For whatever reason, this didn’t jump out of the horizontal tasting of the appellation of Margaux in 2005. Moreover, I loved this wine from barrel and post-bottling. |
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| Ch. Latour |
2005 |
Pauillac |
$750 |
|
Sold Out
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VM 100 (4/2021): The 2005 Latour was mind-blowingly profound in two recent tastings for this report. Deep and sensual to the core, the 2005 is utterly captivating. All the elements are so seamlessly put together. Graphite, crème de cassis, licorice, dark spice and lavender infuse the 2005 with so much energy. More than anything else, though, the 2005 is a Latour of texture and resonance. Even after several hours, the 2005 is fresh and full of energy. Wines like this are just life affirming. That's about all I can really say. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JS 99 (10/2019): Very open and beautiful now with currants, light chocolate and spices. Incense as well. Full-bodied, tight and reserved with a fantastic center palate of fruit and firm tannins. Closed and hiding behind the structure and depth. Needs time to open still but already a joy to taste (drink!).
WS 99 (3/2008): Dark ruby black in color. Brilliant, intense aromas of mineral, blackberry and currant, with hints of Indian spices and cigar box, lead to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful balance of blackberry, raspberry and mineral. There's subtlety, yet also great depth. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is a Latour with fabulous tone and vigor. Best after 2018. 12,500 cases made.
JD 98 (4/2020): A massive, powerful wine that tastes like the essence of the great estate, the 2005 Château Latour is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Petit Verdot brought up in new barrels. It reveals a saturated purple/plum color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, graphite, gravelly earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate. Dense, full-bodied, and massively concentrated, it has the more austere, masculine style of the estate front and center, yet has gorgeously sweet tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. This profound, regal 2005 can be drunk any time over the coming 40-50 years, and I suspect even longer.
WA 98+ (2/2019): 2005 was a very dry, warm and sunny vintage, causing vine stress in some areas of Bordeaux. Harvested from September 26 to October 6, the tannin/IPT levels were very high this year. The 2005 Latour is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is the biggest surprise of this tasting—until now, the wine was relatively closed and broody, but today the wine is just starting to reveal its personality—and what a stunner! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with provocative floral scents of roses and violets over a core of fresh blackcurrants, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with hints of fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, it has an epically long, savory finish sparked by floral notes. 12,000 cases were made. |
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| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
2005 |
St. Julien |
$275 |
|
Sold Out
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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.
WS 98 (12/2017): Sleek and racy, with black currant and fig fruit laced liberally with a bright iron streak and singed alder notes. This is very tightly coiled, as the fruit seems to be preserved for now, while the cold fireplace character holds sway. A superb energy in reserve gives this more than enough time to wait. Could outlast them all in this vintage.—Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2025 through 2050. 15,000 cases made.
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+.
NM 95+ (2/2015): The Château Leoville Las-Cases 2005 has a surprisingly backward bouquet that has clearly decided to let Poyferre have all the fun at the moment. This is very well defined but extremely tight, reluctantly offering blackberry, wet tobacco and iris scents to eke from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and acidity. It is not as deep or as concentrated as I was anticipating, brutally shy in the glass with a linear finish that says: “Come back another day.” Say in 2025. |
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| Ch. Margaux |
1996 |
Margaux (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
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WA 100 (10/2016): The 1996 Chateau Margaux, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, must be a strong contender for wine of the vintage. It offers everything you desire from this First Growth. It is blessed with breathtaking delineation and freshness on the nose, understated at first and then blossoming with mineral-infused black fruit, hints of blueberry, crushed stone and violet. The palate is perfectly balanced with filigree tannin, perfect acidity, a wine where everything seems to be in its right place. Blackberry, crushed stone at the front of the mouth, just a touch of spice towards the finish that shows supreme control. This is a Margaux that seems to light up the senses. It was Outstanding in its youth...something that has not changed one bit over the intervening two decades. This may well turn out to be the Left Bank pinnacle of the 1990s.
VM 96+ (8/2002): Bright full ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of cassis and violet. Dense and tactile in the mouth; a huge, chewy wine with major extract but also considerable refinement. Almost painfully backward today, and a bit less perfumed than it was in the year or so after the bottling, but the huge tannins show no hardness. Another great expression of cabernet sauvignon from the '96 vintage. Drink 2015 through 2040. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 95 (7/2014): Fully formed now, with a rush of steeped currant and black tea notes that are melded with a backdrop of anise, sandalwood, bergamot and charcoal. The long, suave finish lets the perfume linger, with a weighty feel. This seems to mark the start of the refinement of tannins; despite the power, this is all grace and elegance. |
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| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron |
2005 |
Pauillac |
$195 |
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JD 96 (12/2017): The 2005 Pichon-Longueville Baron is another concentrated, full-bodied 2005 that’s starting to drink well. Cassis, black cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar and classic Pauillac lead-pencil characteristics all emerge from this ripe, sexy, surprisingly rounded effort that has a stacked mid-palate and sweet, polished tannin. It’s impressive today but is going to cruise for another two to three decades.
VM 94+ (6/2008): Dark red-ruby. Multidimensional nose offers deep aromas of currant, cedar, coffee, tobacco and minerals. The palate offers a rare combination of sweetness, energy and depth, with superb grip and a layered texture to the flavors of plum, cedar, tobacco and minerals. The finish features sweet, noble tannins and Outstanding length. I find this more complete and ultimately more exciting than the 2003, but this will need at least a decade of cellaring.
Stephen Tanzer.
WS 94 (3/2008): Offers crushed currant and blackberry on the nose, turning to tar and licorice. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and seamless tannins. Goes on and on. Very, very beautiful. A cross between the 2000 and fabulous 2003. Best after 2013. 20,000 cases made.
NM 94 (2/2015): The Château Pichon-Baron 2005 has a not dissimilar bouquet to the Pichon-Lalande with bright red and black fruit infused with cedar and violets, almost Margaux-like in character. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin: more masculine than Pichon-Lalande, you could almost say more rustic. Yet there is immense length and persistence here, real depth and vigour on the muscular finish. Yet I might just prefer the property over the road in this vintage.
WA 93 (6/2015): The 2005 Pichon Baron has a dense ruby/purple color, sweet crème de cassis fruit, lots of cedar wood and forest floor, medium to full body, ripe tannin, and a long finish of a good 30+ seconds. This is a beauty and one of the most successful Pauillacs of this vintage. Drink it now through 2035. |
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| Ch. Pontet Canet |
2008 |
Ch. Pontet Canet Pauillac |
$99 |
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2009 |
Pauillac |
$209 |
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JD 100 (10/2018): The 2009 Pontet-Canet continues to just knock it out of the park every time I’ve been lucky enough to drink a bottle, and this beauty was as good as it gets yet again. Deep purple-colored, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and just about off the charts in terms of scale and density, it nevertheless just glides across the palate with an ethereal, seamless texture that never seems heavy or cumbersome. This is pure Pauillac in all its glory and is a monumental wine in every way. Drink it any time over the coming 4-5 decades.
WA 100 (3/2019): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Pontet-Canet is a little shut down to begin, but with coaxing this baby is soon firing on all cylinders with a full-throttle nose of chocolate-covered cherries, crème de cassis, boysenberries and spice cake plus tons of kirsch and cranberry sauce sparks and a beautiful undercurrent of emerging tertiary characters: cigar box, sandalwood, chargrill, truffles and cast iron pan. Full-bodied, rich, multilayered and completely seductive, the palate is charged with incredible energy, with a firm backbone of velvety tannins and seamless freshness providing solid grounding and promising a very long life ahead. It finishes with an incredible display of epically long-lasting flavor fireworks. Wow!
JS 98 (2/2012): Stunning aromas of fresh flowers, with blueberries, blackberries and currants that follow through to a full body, with super balance and finesse. The tannins are super polished. Such class here. Best ever from here. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try in 2018.
VM 96 (7/2012): Bright, full ruby. Pure, vibrant aromas of cassis, blackberry, blueberry, licorice, graphite and leather. Like liquid velvet on entry, then energetic and sharply delineated in the mid-palate, with penetrating minerality intensifying the pristine dark berry flavors. Most impressive today on the extremely long, perfumed finish, which shows suave, noble tannins and a magically light touch for such an intense wine. This wine is remarkably tastable today but it's also built for 30+ years of aging. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 96 (3/2012): This is amazingly expressive now considering how huge it is, with stunning espresso and warm fig confiture aromas followed by lush layer after layer of blackberry paste, cassis and plum sauce. A terrific loam underpinning strides in on the finish, which is weighty but sports serious cut. Equal parts fruit and earth. Best from 2018 through 2038. 26,665 cases made.
NM 95 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. I have tasted the Pontet-Canet '09 several times in bottle, but I wanted to wait until I could tasted it blind before posting my first appraisal in bottle (which was done in two different flights.) It has a very rich, almost extravagant bouquet with blackberry, black olive compote, a touch of balsamic and graphite. It is very intense although it seems to calm down in the glass. The palate is very smooth, underpinned by supple, saturated tannins. This is primal, loaded with glycerine, a 2009 determined to make an impression, which it most certainly does. Yet does it quite have the panache and class on the finish compared not only to its peers, but the Pontet '10? |
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| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2009 |
Pomerol (1.5 L) |
$795 |
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JS 100 (2/2012): This is a wine that had extreme intensity of electrifying tannins and acidity, with supercharged fruit. Full-bodied, yet agile and lively. It touches every taste bud on your palate. Chocolate mousse and fruit. I am lost for words. Legendary 1950 all over again. Try it in 2020.
WA 99 (2/2012): The 2009's nearly 14% natural alcohol, exquisite ripeness, and incredible complex bouquet of Asian spices, fruitcake, licorice, smoke, blackberries and black currants are to die for. A blend of 84% Merlot and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses a viscous texture as well as a freshness and vibrancy that are remarkable given the wine’s weight, richness and potential massiveness. This extraordinary effort is one of the finest Vieux Chateau Certans made over the last sixty years. It will undoubtedly shut down in bottle, requiring a decade or more of cellaring. It should keep for 50 years thereafter. Proprietor Thienpont thinks it is a modern day version of the 1948.
WS 97 (3/2012): This shows gorgeous silk and polish, brimming with beguiling plum, cherry eau de vie and red currant fruit flavors laced with supple toasty vanilla and cedar hints. But in the background brews a darker side, with loam, maduro tobacco and iron notes, which take over on the finish authoritatively. This feels like it will get a lot bigger before it fully melds—and that will be a while. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2018 through 2035. 4,300 cases made.
VM 95 (7/2012): Bright medium-deep ruby. Musky aromas of red plum, blackcurrant, cocoa and tobacco leaf. Juicy, sappy and rather stylish on the palate, combining pepper and herb qualities with a subtle touch of sweetness. Not a hugely concentrated wine but amazingly well balanced and silky, and with insidious depth of flavor. Finishes with suave, spreading tannins. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2005 |
Ch. d’ Yquem Sauternes (375 ML) |
$209 |
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