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Inventory updated: Tue, Aug 18, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Newly Acquired Cellar
We are pleased to announce the arrival of a recently acquired private wine collection, offering a rare opportunity to secure exceptional bottles from a carefully maintained cellar.
What makes this acquisition particularly noteworthy is the depth of inventory and the availability of many wines in full original cases. Built over years with a focus on quality, provenance, and age-worthy producers, this collection features a broad selection of highly sought-after wines from many of the world's most celebrated regions. From Bordeaux Second Growths and top Right Bank estates to elite California Cabernet, and benchmark Rhone producers, the cellar reflects the vision of a passionate and discerning collector.
Equally important, these wines have been professionally stored since purchase, preserving their condition and ensuring they arrive ready for either immediate enjoyment or continued cellaring. The availability of original case quantities presents an attractive opportunity for collectors looking to build verticals, secure investment-grade wines, or simply replenish their cellar with confidence.
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Beau-Sejour Becot |
2018 |
St. Emilion (12X750ML)  12-bottle OWC |
$828 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (3/2021): This estate makes an incredibly classic, elegant Saint-Emilion. The 2018 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is based on 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 65% new French oak. Coming from a beautiful terroir on the upper plateau, it reveals a deep purple/ruby color as well as perfumed cassis and mulberry fruits intermixed with ample spring flowers, chalky minerality, violets, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated on the palate, it has terrific mid-palate depth, flawless balance, background oak, and polished yet significant tannins. If you want to know what limestone soil gives to a wine, try this! It has the polish and balance to offer pleasure today, yet the cellar will be your friend. This warrants 5-7 years of bottle age and will have 30+ years of prime drinking.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Beau-Séjour Bécot has really closed down since I tasted it en primeur. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and blood orange gradually open in the glass, all framed by veins of chalky minerality. The 2018 is a fabulous wine in the making, but readers have to be patient. Time in a decanter or simply in the glass helps to bring out the wine's considerable depth. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (3/2021): The 2018 Beau-Sejour Becot is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slips slowly, sensuously from the glass with notes of boysenberries, black raspberries, baked plums and chocolate-covered cherries, plus hints of star anise, dried Provence herbs and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate offers soft textured, perfumed black fruit layers with just enough freshness and a lifted finish. A little closed and shy at this youthful stage, give it a good 5-6 years in bottle and enjoy it over the next 25 years or more. |
|
| Ch. Branaire-Ducru |
2016 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$828 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 95 (1/2019): The best vintage of this wine since 2009! Effusive, fresh redcurrant and cassis aromas give this St.-Julien terrific drive and energy, the elegant, dry tannins beautifully married to the medium body, right through the long, agile finish. Drink or hold.
JD 92+ (2/2019): The 2016 Château Branaire-Ducru checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. This medium to full-bodied, downright pretty Saint-Julien has a complex, layered style in its mulberries, blackberries, saddle leather, and forest floor aromatics, with hints of graphite developing with time in the glass. Possessing terrific tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish, I’d certainly be happy to have bottles of this in the cellar. Give it a few years and it promises to shine for 20-25 years. |
|
|
2018 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$780 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 97 (1/2021): Very attractive aromas of currants, tile and sandalwood with black and red currants. It’s full-bodied with a tight, dense center-palate that remains closed in and tight. Yet there is underlying seriousness and length to this. Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made. Try after 2026.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is every bit as captivating as it was en primeur. Ripe, silky tannins give the 2018 a striking air of sensuality that only grows as the wine sits in the glass. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and gravel inflections all open more over time. Even with all of its natural radiance, Branaire remains a model of grace. It is unquestionably one of the under the radar wines of the year. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (3/2021): A beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2018 Château Branaire-Ducru reveals a deep purple color as well as ample, earthy cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with sous bois, earth, lead pencil, and cedar. With that classic Saint-Julien pure fruit, sumptuous aromas and flavors, sweet yet present tannins, and a solid spine of acidity, it's going to need 5-7 years to hit maturity yet should keep for 20-25 years or more. I don't think it's going to match the blockbuster 2009 (it's more in the pretty, elegant style of the 2016), but it's a gorgeous, elegant wine you will love to have in the cellar.
WA 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and an upfront, expressive nose of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries with an undercurrent of dried mint, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a very pleasant fruit wallop, featuring juicy black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with lovely purity. |
|
|
2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$390 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 97 (1/2021): Very attractive aromas of currants, tile and sandalwood with black and red currants. It’s full-bodied with a tight, dense center-palate that remains closed in and tight. Yet there is underlying seriousness and length to this. Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made. Try after 2026.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is every bit as captivating as it was en primeur. Ripe, silky tannins give the 2018 a striking air of sensuality that only grows as the wine sits in the glass. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and gravel inflections all open more over time. Even with all of its natural radiance, Branaire remains a model of grace. It is unquestionably one of the under the radar wines of the year. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (3/2021): A beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2018 Château Branaire-Ducru reveals a deep purple color as well as ample, earthy cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with sous bois, earth, lead pencil, and cedar. With that classic Saint-Julien pure fruit, sumptuous aromas and flavors, sweet yet present tannins, and a solid spine of acidity, it's going to need 5-7 years to hit maturity yet should keep for 20-25 years or more. I don't think it's going to match the blockbuster 2009 (it's more in the pretty, elegant style of the 2016), but it's a gorgeous, elegant wine you will love to have in the cellar.
WA 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and an upfront, expressive nose of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries with an undercurrent of dried mint, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a very pleasant fruit wallop, featuring juicy black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with lovely purity. |
|
| Ch. Cos d'Estournel |
2018 |
St. Estephe |
$165 |
13 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (3/2021): The 2018 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak barriques. The alcohol weighs in at just over 14.5%. Sporting a deep purple-black color, it needs a lot of swirling to begin to unlock a powerful nose of crème de cassis, stewed plums, wild blueberries and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by nuances of Sichuan pepper, star anise, tree and clove oil, plus a waft of charcoal. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with taut, muscular black fruits and earthy layers, framed by super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully earthy. A very impressive behemoth, this is going to need a good seven to 10 years to truly show its stuff and should drink for a good 40 years and beyond.
JD 98+ (3/2021): An incredible wine from this estate that's as good as anything in the vintage, the 2018 Château Cos D'Estournel checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 50% new French oak. While some 2018s are going to offer pleasure right out of the gate, this isn't one of them, but rather it's a backward, tannic powerhouse of a wine that has flawless balance as well as a level of purity that's off the charts. Thrilling crème de cassis fruit, notes of lead pencil, damp earth, cedarwood, violets, and acacia flowers, full-bodied richness, masses of ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish all make for a legendary Saint-Estèphe that will need a good decade of bottle age yet evolve for 50 years or more. If you are tempted to try a bottle in its youth, it needs lots of air. (Drink between 2031-2081).
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Cos d’Estournel showed a lot of promise when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle and given a 2–3-hour decant, it has a gorgeous and disarmingly pure bouquet, slightly high-toned with iodine scents infusing the lush blackberry and boysenberry scents. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, delivering silky-smooth tannins, perfect acidity and a sense of harmony than is very persuasive. I cannot recall a Cos d’Estournel in recent years with such fine tannins. It gently fans out toward the finish while retaining superb precision, completing what is a beautifully crafted Cos d’Estournel with a long future ahead. (Drink between 2025-2060). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2018 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$990 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (3/2021): The 2018 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak barriques. The alcohol weighs in at just over 14.5%. Sporting a deep purple-black color, it needs a lot of swirling to begin to unlock a powerful nose of crème de cassis, stewed plums, wild blueberries and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by nuances of Sichuan pepper, star anise, tree and clove oil, plus a waft of charcoal. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with taut, muscular black fruits and earthy layers, framed by super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully earthy. A very impressive behemoth, this is going to need a good seven to 10 years to truly show its stuff and should drink for a good 40 years and beyond.
JD 98+ (3/2021): An incredible wine from this estate that's as good as anything in the vintage, the 2018 Château Cos D'Estournel checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 50% new French oak. While some 2018s are going to offer pleasure right out of the gate, this isn't one of them, but rather it's a backward, tannic powerhouse of a wine that has flawless balance as well as a level of purity that's off the charts. Thrilling crème de cassis fruit, notes of lead pencil, damp earth, cedarwood, violets, and acacia flowers, full-bodied richness, masses of ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish all make for a legendary Saint-Estèphe that will need a good decade of bottle age yet evolve for 50 years or more. If you are tempted to try a bottle in its youth, it needs lots of air. (Drink between 2031-2081).
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Cos d’Estournel showed a lot of promise when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle and given a 2–3-hour decant, it has a gorgeous and disarmingly pure bouquet, slightly high-toned with iodine scents infusing the lush blackberry and boysenberry scents. The oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, delivering silky-smooth tannins, perfect acidity and a sense of harmony than is very persuasive. I cannot recall a Cos d’Estournel in recent years with such fine tannins. It gently fans out toward the finish while retaining superb precision, completing what is a beautifully crafted Cos d’Estournel with a long future ahead. (Drink between 2025-2060). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2014 |
St. Julien |
$199 |
9 |
|
| |
JS 99 (1/2017): Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022.
JD 96 (11/2017): I just love the style of this estate and the 2014 Ducru-Beaucaillou is an undeniable success in the vintage. Made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot brought up in 100% new French oak, it offers a deep purple color as well as both elegance and power in its crème de cassis, raspberries, cedarwood, graphite, and floral bouquet, with its background oak smothered in fruit. Possessing a classic elegance, full-bodied richness, sweet tannin, and stunning length, it one of the wines of the vintage and will drink nicely for another two to three decades.
WA 96 (3/2017): The 2014 Ducru Beaucaillou showed extremely well when I tasted it with Bruno Borie during en primeur. Now in bottle, it delivers on that promise with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit infused with cedar and pencil box aromas. Quintessentially Saint Julien. The palate is very well defined with fine tannin, pitch-perfect acidity, a palpable sense of energy and frisson from start to finish that delivers plenty of tobacco-infused fruit. It is not the perfection-flirting legend that I have read elsewhere; it is just a damn good Saint Julien that is going to drink beautifully over the next 25 to 30 years.
VM 95+ (2/2017): One of the more powerful wines for the year, the 2014 Ducru-Beaucaillou surprises with its sheer concentration. A blast of dark cherry, crème de cassis, mocha, spice and chocolate makes a strong opening statement. Super-ripe, voluptuous and opulent, the wine possesses off-the-charts depth and richness. Ducru remains the most opulent and flamboyant of the 2014 Saint-Juliens. While some 2014s have faded a bit over the last two years, Ducru has barely budged. I imagine it will be many years before the 2014 starts drinking well. Proprietor Bruno Borie gave it 18 months in 100 % new French oak. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Gloria |
2016 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$636 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2019): The 2016 Gloria is one of the undisputed stars of this vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried rose petal all add complexity. In 2016 Gloria is a real head-turner. It should be a fabulous value as well. There is not much else to say. Antonio Galloni.
JA 95 (11/2022): Plum colour, with spiced damson and raspberry leaf aromatics. A good few years from being truly open and ready to drink, this is nevertheless superbly enjoyable, even if closed in. Unrolls to show waves of cocoa bean, dark chocolate shavings, espresso, crushed rocks, bilberry and blackcurrant fruits. The chewy tannins are confident and dominating the structure, exerting quiet control over the shape and form of the palate. Bursting with poential. 40% new oak, with one of the latest harvests in the vertical, running from September 29 to October 17. Remi di Constanzo technical director.
JD 94 (2/2019): I was lucky enough to taste the 2016 Château Gloria on multiple occasions and it’s unquestionably the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 42% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful, medium to full-bodied wine that has thrilling purity in its ripe black and blue fruits, tobacco, and graphite-laced aromas and flavors. Deep, layered, with ripe tannins and the purity and freshness that makes the vintage so special, this is a brilliant Gloria to drink over the coming 20+ years.
WA 93 (10/2022): The 2016 Gloria is showing brilliantly and appears to be entering the beginning of its drinking window. Offering up a deep bouquet of sweet crème de cassis and blackberries mingled with sweet spices and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with fine concentration, ripe tannins and bright acids, it's a vibrant, precise wine from this sometimes rather flamboyantly styled estate, impressing for its purity of fruit and structural seamlessness. Gloria in excelsis! |
|
|
2016 |
St. Julien |
$53 |
23 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2019): The 2016 Gloria is one of the undisputed stars of this vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried rose petal all add complexity. In 2016 Gloria is a real head-turner. It should be a fabulous value as well. There is not much else to say. Antonio Galloni.
JA 95 (11/2022): Plum colour, with spiced damson and raspberry leaf aromatics. A good few years from being truly open and ready to drink, this is nevertheless superbly enjoyable, even if closed in. Unrolls to show waves of cocoa bean, dark chocolate shavings, espresso, crushed rocks, bilberry and blackcurrant fruits. The chewy tannins are confident and dominating the structure, exerting quiet control over the shape and form of the palate. Bursting with poential. 40% new oak, with one of the latest harvests in the vertical, running from September 29 to October 17. Remi di Constanzo technical director.
JD 94 (2/2019): I was lucky enough to taste the 2016 Château Gloria on multiple occasions and it’s unquestionably the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 42% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful, medium to full-bodied wine that has thrilling purity in its ripe black and blue fruits, tobacco, and graphite-laced aromas and flavors. Deep, layered, with ripe tannins and the purity and freshness that makes the vintage so special, this is a brilliant Gloria to drink over the coming 20+ years.
WA 93 (10/2022): The 2016 Gloria is showing brilliantly and appears to be entering the beginning of its drinking window. Offering up a deep bouquet of sweet crème de cassis and blackberries mingled with sweet spices and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with fine concentration, ripe tannins and bright acids, it's a vibrant, precise wine from this sometimes rather flamboyantly styled estate, impressing for its purity of fruit and structural seamlessness. Gloria in excelsis! |
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|
2018 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$660 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (3/2021): A youthful, unevolved 2018 with lots of up-front blue and black fruits as well as cedary herbs, violets, and scorched earth, the 2018 Château Gloria is medium to full-bodied and has a beautifully balanced, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and both richness and freshness. The purity of fruit is spot on. It's another brilliant wine from this estate that readers will love. It's going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and cruise for two decades in cold cellars. |
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| Ch. Grand Puy Ducasse |
2018 |
Pauillac (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$660 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (3/2021): The 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Readers will find a heady, richly textured Pauillac loaded with character. Technical Director Anne Le Naour and consulting oenologist Hubert de Bouärd coaxed tremendous richness from the 2018 while avoiding some of the excesses of the recent past. The result is a wine that delivers on all levels. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mint, licorice, sweet spice and a touch of new oak build into a striking crescendo on the lush, persistent finish. (Drink between 2028-2043). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste |
2018 |
Pauillac (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$948 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (3/2021): A beautiful Pauillac, the 2018 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a classic nose of ripe blackcurrants, scorched earth, cedarwood, and tobacco. This carries to a medium to full-bodied 2018 offering wonderful balance, ripe, polished tannins, and gorgeous purity of fruit. A wine that grows on you with time in the glass, it has building mid-palate depth and tannins, again, terrific balance, remarkable purity of fruit, and outstanding length on the finish. It should round into form in 4-5 years and keep for 20+. |
|
| Ch. Haut Bailly |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan |
$109 |
11 |
|
| |
JD 99 (10/2023): I seriously considered putting one more point on the 2018 Château Haut-Bailly, and for all practical purposes, it's as good as it gets. Based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it has a majestic, full-bodied, multi-dimensional profile as well as a blockbuster bouquet of currants, chocolate-covered cherries, iron, tapenade, and smoked tobacco. It has a sunny, exuberant, uber-sexy style, yet it's not over the top, and it has perfect ripeness (not overripe or underripe), beautiful tannins, and flawless overall balance. It's approachable today yet should hit maturity in another 4-5 years and have a broad 30-40 years of prime drinking window. (Drink between 2027-2058).
WA 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Haut-Bailly is blended of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.4% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to unlock a powerhouse of black fruit preserves, offering notes of blackberry pie, crème de cassis and black cherry compote, giving way to nuances of Chinese five spice, camphor, chocolate box and licorice with a touch of crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with plush textured, rich black fruits, supported by a lively backbone and finishing long and spicy. It is decadently tempting to drink now, but give it 5 years in bottle to begin to see its full glory, while it should continue to transform for a further 20 years or more in cellar.
VM 95 (4/2022): The 2018 Haut-Bailly replicated its showing in my in-bottle tastings. Wonderful violet and iris aromas burst from the glass with ample black fruit. The palate is beautifully balanced, silky smooth with a sumptuous, quite precocious finish. It just envelops the senses and leaves them gagging for more...but best wait a few years. Tasted at the Haut-Bailly vertical at the château. (Drink between 2026-2050). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. La Gaffeliere |
2018 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$510 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 99 (3/2021): The 2018 La Gaffelière is hands down one of the wines of the vintage. Towering in its stature and vertical lift, the 2018 dazzles right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, mocha, spice, licorice and leather all run through this deep, wonderfully pliant Saint-Émilion. The 2018 is rich, deep and beautifully resonant, with tremendous depth and tons of stature that builds, all framed by beams of supporting minerality that confer vibrancy. La Gaffelière is distinctive, alluring and arresting right out of the gate. It is another magnificent showing from this reborn estate. The blend is 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (3/2021): Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Gaffeliere is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to offer peeks at notions of stewed red and black plums, mulberries and Morello cherries, plus hints of damp earth, tar and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound, delivering crunchy red and black fruits with an approachable texture of fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long with a lifted perfume. This is a refreshing, beautifully perfumed and skillfully crafted expression of the vintage. Give it 4-5 years in bottle and then enjoy it over the next 20 years+.
JD 93 (3/2021): Based on 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Gaffelière is another pretty, elegant Saint-Emilion with a classic, mineral-laced style as well as a terrific mix of finesse and richness. Black raspberries, cassis, graphite, white flowers, and chalky minerality give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless 2018 that offers plenty of concentration, a lively, focused texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for two decades or more. |
|
| Ch. Lagrange |
2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$354 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (3/2021): The flagship 2018 Château Lagrange is a more dense, backward, serious wine, offering an unevolved yet incredibly promising bouquet of cassis, blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and violets. A big, rich, full-bodied Saint-Julien, it delivers thrilling purity of fruit, plenty of background oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a great mid-palate. This is serious stuff, but it's going to require patience. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades. |
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|
2020 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$648 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (3/2023): Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Château Lagrange checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. It's a gorgeous, complete Saint-Julien offering remarkable purity in its cassis, violets, chocolate, and leafy tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with terrific balance, a pure, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and beautifully integrated oak, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise over the following 2+ decades in cold cellar.
VM 94 (2/2023): The 2020 Lagrange is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, cedar and new leather are all amplified in this gorgeous, striking Saint-Julien. Soft and racy, with no hard edges and exceptional balance, Lagrange is a winner. Antonio Galloni.
JS 94 (12/2022): Attractive nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts, ink and kaffir leaves. It’s medium- to full-bodied, firm and structured, with chewy and tight tannins. Dark and intense, with a long and persistent finish. Turns to graphite and cedar. Needs time to open and soften. Try from 2026.
WA 94-96 (5/2021): Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Lagrange leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of redcurrant jelly, ripe blackcurrants and minted blackberries, followed by nuances of dark chocolate, star anise and mossy tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is both super intense and super elegant, featuring exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness to frame the bright, crunchy black and red fruits, finishing long and mineral laced. |
|
| Ch. Langoa Barton |
2018 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$708 |
2 |
|
| |
JA 94 (3/2022): At this point Langoa was really starting to stand out among its peers in St Julien, and it is performing extremely strongly here. Retains the touch of austerity that I found En Primeur, with powerful tannins asserting their presence, but riven through with sappy and smiling raspberry and blackberry fruit. Woodsmoke, liqourice and clove spices show the warmth of the year. Excellent stuff, one to look out for. Technical director François Brehant, consultant Eric Boissenot.
JD 92 (3/2021): Made by the stellar team at Léoville Barton and a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Langoa Barton sports a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a charming, medium to full-bodied, velvety-textured 2018 with terrific notes of red, blue, and black fruits as well as spice box, dried flowers, and a touch lead pencil. It has surprising up-front appeal, with ripe, velvety tannins and nicely integrated acidity, and it's going to shine with just 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20+. Drink 2025-2045.
VM 92 (3/2021): The 2018 Langoa Barton is succulent and racy right out of the gate. Inky red fruit, sweet floral notes, cedar and spice all mesh together effortlessly. This mid-weight, pliant Saint-Julien is every bit as seductive as it was from barrel. (Drink between 2024-2038). Antonio Galloni.
WA 92 (3/2021): The 2018 Langoa Barton has a deep garnet-purple color and notions of ripe blackcurrants, fresh blackberries and kirsch with touches of bouquet garni, cedar chest and pencil lead plus a hint of crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled and refreshing with bright, red fruit and herbal sparks lifting the black fruit and an approachable, chewy texture, finishing savory. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2018 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$1,140 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97 (3/2021): This estate has been on fire in recent vintages, and the 2018 Château Leoville Barton is up there with the best of them. Based on 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that was brought up in 60% new French oak, this classic, flawlessly balanced, straight-up awesome Saint-Julien has loads of cassis and mulberry fruits as well as notes of freshly sharpened pencils, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and earth. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has building tannins and healthy acidity, yet the fruit is pure, perfectly ripe, and wonderfully integrated with all the wine's components. As is normal with this cuvee, it closes down with extended air and is going to take a solid 8-10 years of bottle age to reach the early stages of maturity. It's going to evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Leoville-Barton is a gorgeous, exotic wine. Crème de cassis, lavender, menthol, licorice and cloves race out of the glass. The 2018 marries the natural opulence of the year with a pretty classic sense of structure, making for one of the more compelling wines of the year. I would give this a good decade in the cellar. There is much to look forward to. I especially admire the energy and poise here. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$1,200 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Léoville Barton has a powerful and comparatively rich bouquet with layers of black fruit suffused with minerals - wonderful delineation. This has an effortlessness about it. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gorgeous satin-like texture, mineral-driven with hints of truffle and white pepper towards the exceedingly harmonious finish. I thought this was outstanding before - now I think it might be a benchmark. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Neal Martin.
JD 97 (4/2022): The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It's never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years.
WA 97 (4/2022): Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. Offering up aromas of blackcurrants, plums, pencil shavings and licorice, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, its deep core of fruit framed by a chassis of rich, powdery tannin that makes itself felt on the youthfully firm finish. While it's clearly built for the long haul, its structural seamlessness and mid-palate plenitude mark it out as one of the finest wines from this château in recent times. Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985?
JA 97 (10/2021): Big rich, powerful wine with pencil lead precision. This is a brilliant wine, I loved it En Primeur and it is delivering on expectations. It's big, as is Langoa in this vintage, with damson and black cherry fruits, and tons of gourmet notes from brioche to bacon rind to chocolate shavings. The tannins are going to need a good decade to soften, but when it is ready, this is going to be such a fun wine to share with friends. |
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|
2020 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$1,128 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (3/2023): The flagship from this great château, the 2020 Château Léoville Barton checks in as 85.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14.5% Merlot that saw 60% new French oak. It has fabulous aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid violets, spring flowers, and background oak. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, its purity of fruit is just about off the chart, it has a great mid-palate, and enough tannins to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age. This is another sensational wine from this team that will have 30-40 years of overall longevity.
VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Léoville Barton is compelling. It offers up a gorgeous mix of vintage 2020 intensity married to the classicism Léoville-Barton have come to expect. Blackberry, graphite, dried herbs, menthol and dark spice abound. Whereas so many Saint-Juliens are exuberant in 2020, Léoville-Barton is very much buttoned up, showing just a twinkle of mischief that lets you know the best is yet to come. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (12/2022): Aromas of dark berries, ash, tar, blackcurrants and lead pencil, following through to a medium to full body, with firm and integrated tannins and a medium, chewy finish. Needs four to six years to soften and come together. Very tight and nicely structured. Try in 2027 and onwards. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$678 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): Every bit as good as the 2009, and I think better than the 2010 and 2016, the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré is a total thrill that tops out my scale. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible, full-bodied monster of a wine that, despite massive amounts of fruit, tannins, and extract, still stays weightless and ethereal, with incredible purity. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spring flowers, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and cedar pencil, it's extraordinarily concentrated, flawlessly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit. This is a legendary wine in the making. Give bottles 7-8 years, a decade would be even better, and it will keep for 40-50 years. Hats off to the Cuvelier family for another extraordinary wine! (Drink between 2028-2078).
WA 97 (3/2021): A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure.
VM 95 (9/2022): The 2018 Léoville-Poyferré performs similarly to the bottle tasted a few weeks earlier in the UK for my in-bottle round-up, although here I sense more opulence on the nose, perhaps more florality. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, broad and sensual, plummy with that beguiling symmetry on the finish. It needs several years in bottle but it will be well worth the wait. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. (Drink between 2027-2055). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2020 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$1,128 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Léoville-Poyferré is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. If anything, it has gained in freshness and vibrancy with élevage. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, graphite and a kiss of French oak are some of the many notes that infuse the 2020 with tons of character. I especially admire its vertical energy and buttoned up personality. In some recent vintages Léoville-Poyferré has been quite showy, but the 2020 also has a more nuanced side that is hugely appealing. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (12/2022): This is really floral on the nose with violets and roses, and some black berries and dark cherries. It’s medium- to full-bodied with firm and polished tannins, and plenty of hazelnut and milk chocolate. Structured, yet so finely textured. So attractive and enticing now but needs three or four years to show what it has. Try after 2026.
JD 95-97+ (5/2021): Cut from the same cloth as the 2016 with its focused, pure, yet concentrated style, the 2020 Château Léoville Poyferré reveals a dense purple color as well as ultra-classic notes of crème de cassis, graphite, toasted spice, and unsmoked tobacco. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has brilliant mid-palate depth and ripe, velvety tannins, all making for a beautiful Saint-Julien that will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and shine for 30-40 years or more. Tasted three times.
WA 95-97 (5/2021): Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass like an energetic young pup, delivering exuberant scents of crushed black cherries, juicy blackberries and warm cassis, with hints of ground cloves, dark chocolate, lilacs and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully plush, delivering bags of ripe black fruits with a seamless backbone of acidity, finishing long and spicy. |
|
| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2018 |
Pauillac (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$1,500 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (3/2021): One of the finest vintages I've ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that's just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team.
JS 97 (1/2021): Aromas of blackberries, cloves, licorice, dried leaves, graphite and black olives. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and tannic with beautiful austerity and a long, mineral and layered finish. The tannins grow on the palate. Try from 2026.
VM 96 (3/3021): An utterly fabulous wine, the 2018 Lynch-Bages captures all of the richness and generosity that make the year so appealing, and yet doesn’t stray too far from its classic feel. Rose petal, lavender, spice, sweet red berry fruit and mint are all beautifully lifted in the glass. Racy and silky to the core, the 2018 is a real head-turner from the very first taste. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (3/2021): Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Lynch-Bages was aged in 75% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with a magnificently expressive nose of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and blackcurrant pastilles, plus suggestions of dark chocolate, licorice, tar and violets with a waft of hoisin. The medium to full-bodied palate is just as impactful as the nose, coating the mouth with juicy black berry and spicy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with a refreshing earthiness coming through at the end. |
|
| Ch. Montrose |
2018 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,134 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): A full-bodied powerhouse as well as a perfect wine, the 2018 Château Montrose is a final blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. Boasting a deep purple hue as well as awesome levels of crème de cassis and smoky blackberry fruits and notes of tobacco, lead pencil, scorched earth, and chocolate, it's deep, opulent, and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with no shortage of mid-palate depth, tannins, or length. It reminds me a little of a fresher version of the 2003, although there's more Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018 as well as less Merlot. It has that classic Montrose minerality and backward, mineral-laced style, yet I suspect this will be drinkable in just 5-6 years and should evolve into a modern-day legend from this terroir. (Drink between 2027-2077)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Montrose is dazzling. Whereas so many 2018s are opulent and broad, Montrose is a wine of vertical explosive power. Ripe Cabernet aromatics soar out of the glass, making a strong first impression. Black cherry, leather, licorice, graphite and menthol develop later as the 2018 starts to open in the glass. The energy, vibrancy and drive here are palpable right out of the gate. Montrose is one of real stars of 2018. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2028-2058). Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (6/2021): Silky, young, clear spice notes, more so than in any other vintage in the lineup except for the 2003. Plenty of stuffing through the palate, with blueberry, cassis, hawthorn, tumeric, saffron but also caramel and black chocolate flavours. It's beautiful, well balanced, with intent and poise, and very clearly a wine that will go the distance. Having said that, it's the only wine in the lineup when I even think about the alcohol, suggesting there is a trace of heat, and certainly you feel the sunshine of the year in a way that you rarely do in Montrose - this takes it down for me from my initial En Primeur score. Harvest September 17 to October 5.
WA 95+ (12/2023): A hulking monster of power and extraction, the 2018 Montrose offers up rich aromas of mulberries, cherries, dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied, broad and ample, with a textural attack that segues into a sweet core of fruit framed by ripe but chewy tannins, it's a muscular, dense Montrose with structure to burn, concluding with a lingering, floral finish. While its over 14.5% alcohol is impressively well integrated, Médoc purists will want to gravitate toward the 2016 rather than the 2018. |
|
| Ch. Pavie Macquin |
2019 |
St. Emilion (12X750ML) 12-bottle OWC |
$1,116 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (4/2022): The 2019 Château Pavie Macquin comes from a beautiful, cooler terroir located just outside the village of Saint-Emilion. A wine that always demands bottle age, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a tight, reserved wine with notes of ripe cassis, mulberry, and blackberry fruits as well as notes of spring flowers, sandalwood, and flowers. The purity is truly something, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a rich, layered mid-palate, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This is a wonderfully complete, nuanced, flawlessly balanced Pavie Macquin that will round into form with just 5-6 years of bottle age yet keep for 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2027-2058).
WA 96+ (4/2022): The 2019 Pavie Macquin has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with aromas of blackcurrants, cherries, burning embers, black truffle and licorice, framed by a deft framing of new oak that's more discreet than was the case even a few vintages back. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's deep and layered, with a strikingly vibrant core of fruit, powdery, chalky tannins and a long, penetrating, youthfully firm finish. Tasted alongside older vintages, it's clear that the Thienpont team have eased off extraction, which allows the quality of fruit that this fantastic vineyard produces to express itself all the more completely, delivering the finest Pavie Macquin since 1998.
VM 94+ (2/2023): The 2019 Pavie-Macquin is missing a little complexity on the nose, with tertiary scents and touches of dry tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant and fine tannins, pure and silky smooth in style, gradually building so that it exerts gentle grip on the finish. Give it time for the aromatics to evolve. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2048). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Tertre Roteboeuf |
2016 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,350 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is flat-out stunning and also one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses remarkable depth and intensity from the very first taste. The 2016 is exotic, full-throttle and unapologetically hedonistic. At times, Tertre-Rôteboeuf can be a bit rough around the edges, but the 2016 is totally sublime. In a world in which so many wines are copycats, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is an original. And the 2016 is a great, emotionally moving Tertre-Rôteboeuf. This is a magnificent effort from François and Nina Mitjavile. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-98 (4/2017): The 2016 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare between 14-18 October. This year I was hosted by François' daughter Nina Mitjavile, who has been working alongside her father for several years. It has a wonderful bouquet, very pure and fresh. I anticipated that François Mitjavile might have been tempted to pick a little later like others, but it was an assiduous decision to have the fruit in the vat by the 18 October and lock in that freshness. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, extremely well judged acidity, the new oak present at the moment but in proportion with the fruit. This is a stylish Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf, very sensual and luxuriant with layers of crushed strawberry, blood oranges and raspberry fruit. In a word...irresistible. |
|
| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2014 |
Pomerol |
$219 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (3/2018): The 2014 Vieux-Château Certan has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, clove and truffle aromas, nicely defined though it seems to have closed up a little since I tasted it just after bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a keen thread of acidity. The palate shows the real potential, more than the nose at the moment. There is wondrous linearity and precision and it finishes with haunting grace. At this tasting I marked this lower than I wanted because it just continuously improved in the glass after I announced my score to the group. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Maison Henri Boillot |
2019 |
Pommard 1er Cru Clos Blanc |
$119 |
6 |
|
| |
| BH 90 (4/2021): (from a parcel purchased in 2007 and replanted; 2018 was the first vintage where this has been declared under its own name as it was previously blended). A cool, pure if very restrained nose features a pretty mix of red and dark currant and earth nuances that are trimmed in just enough menthol and wood toast to mention. There is again very fine volume to the sappy, rich and powerful medium-bodied flavors that, much like the Fremiets, remain relatively refined before culminating in a dusty, saline and beautifully persistent finish. This is lovely and it’s not so structured that it couldn’t be approached after only 5 or so years. Drink 2027+. |
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|
2018 |
Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens |
$160 |
11 |
|
| |
WA 93+ (1/2020): The 2018 Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens is the last time Boillot will produce this appellation, made from purchased grapes. Offering up aromas of dark berries, cassis, baking chocolate, candied peel and licorice, the wine is medium to full-bodied, muscular and chalky, with fine depth at the core, succulent acids and a long finish.
BH 93 (4/2020): ( from equally sized parcels in both Rugiens Hauts and Bas that measure <1 ha.) A brooding and quite reserved nose grudgingly offers up pretty aromas of red and black cherry liqueur-like aromas that are cut with both spice and floral influences. There is a lovely sense of refinement to the intense and well-detailed larger-scaled flavors that brim with minerality on the powerful, serious and built-to-age finale. This too is well-worth searching out provided that you have the patience to let it slumber for at least 8 to 10 years first. Drink 2033+. Sweet Spot Outstanding! |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. de la Janasse |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes |
$119 |
13 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2018): Bottled at the same time, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes gives up more cassis, tapenade, underbrush, cured meats, and earth, and it’s a slightly more dense, backward wine compared to the Chaupin. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, with tons of structure, it stays fresh and elegant, has sweet tannins, and a blockbuster finish. It's an incredible, borderline perfect wine from this estate that will keep for two decades or more.
WA 97+ (8/2018): Time will tell if this wine equals the stellar 2015; it's certainly very close in quality. The 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a blend of approximately 75% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Syrah and the rest other permitted varieties. Tarry and deep on the nose, it delivers waves of blackberries and black cherries on the palate, framing those flavors with plenty of richness, layers of silky tannins and a long, elegant finish.
JS 96 (8/2018): There’s a very intense core of dark fruit. A deep, ripe and quite savory palate with spices and dark herbs. Bitter chocolate, too. Real depth and power here. Super-fresh, dark spice and cola give a real spark to the finish. Thrilling. A blend of four old-vine parcels from a variety of soils. Drink in 2020.
VM 94-96 (7/2018): Bright violet. Heady aromas of mineral-tinged dark berry liqueur, incense and cola, complicated by a suave floral nuance. Smoky and seamless on the palate, offering powerful, alluringly sweet black and blue fruit, spicecake, mocha and candied licorice flavors braced by juicy acidity. Closes with outstanding clarity, smooth tannins and floral-dominated persistence, leaving sexy floral pastille and star anise notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. du Pegau |
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$878.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 95 (2/2022): This youthful Chateauneuf has a very complex nose of graphite, raw meat and lilies. With aeration the black-cherry note steadily grows in intensity. Bold, leathery and earthy palate with fine tannins that build steadily on at the extremely long and straight mineral finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.
WA 95-97 (5/2022): The 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée looks set to rival the best examples of this bottling. Made up of approximately 80% Grenache, with 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and smaller amounts of other permitted varieties, it's impressively complex on the nose, with scents of black cherries, blackberries and black olives, plus mysterious wafts of violets and garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it finishes long and velvety, a sure-fire bet for cellaring. |
|
| Le Vieux Donjon |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$89 |
24 |
|
| |
JD 98 (8/2018): The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is unquestionably the greatest wine made from this estate to date and surpasses the 1998, 2007, and 2010. Checking in as a normal blend of 75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, it offers a heavenly bouquet of blackcurrants, ground pepper, new saddle leather, garrigue, and an assortment of exotic spices. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, yet with the purity, elegance, and finesse that makes this vintage so special, it can be drunk any time over the coming two decades or more. Bravo!
VM 95 (7/2018): Vivid ruby-red. An exotically perfumed, expressive nose evokes ripe cherry and black raspberry, and cola, licorice and floral pastille notes add complexity. Shows impressive depth as well as energy on the palate, offering sweet dark fruit, lavender and spicecake flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. In a suave, graceful style for the vintage, showing outstanding clarity and a sexy floral nuance on the strikingly long finish, which features harmonious tannins and a sneaky mineral quality. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | Italy |
| Isole e Olena |
2016 |
Cepparello |
$150 |
18 |
|
| |
VM 97+ (8/2019): The 2016 Cepparello is dense, dark and also very closed in on itself. Those qualities bode well for the future, but readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and new leather gradually open up in the glass, but the 2016 is not ready to show all of its cards. This fruit was brought in during the second week of October, which is pretty much optimal at Isole e Olena. The 2016 spent 20 months in French oak, with a bit less than 30% new oak, and a few months in cask prior to bottling. An explosion of floral and spice notes punctuates the super-refined finish. The 2016 is shaping up to be epic. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (9/2019): The beautiful Isole e Olena 2016 Cepparello is a gorgeous and precise expression of Sangiovese. This is one of the icon wines of the vintage that shows a naked and transparent portrait of the grape on the one hand, with the complexity of the vintage and its territory on the other. Cepparello is like a crystal ball into the heart and soul of Sangiovese, Tuscany's mighty red grape. It is fermented in conical oak casks and later aged 20 months in 95% French and 5% American oak, of which only one-third is new wood. The wine delivers ample structure and contouring, with a firm and silky consistency at its core. Some 42,000 bottles were made. This wine should age over the better part of the next 20 years.
JS 95 (7/2019): This is a beautiful Cepparello with transparency and verve; it opens with dark cherries, blackberries, citrus, cumin, Thai basil and eucalyptus. What really strikes you about this wine are not the first sensations of muscular tannin, nor the plush fruit suspended above darker spices — though they are all impressive — but the sudden dart of acidity on the long finish that appears seemingly from nowhere and keeps you coming back for more. Drink from 2023. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Beringer |
2015 |
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
24 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2019): I was able to taste to two vintages of the Private Reserve, and the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve comes from a vintage loved by the estate. The final blend is the normal 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in 85% new French oak. This full-bodied, ripe, voluptuous beauty shows the vintage to a T, offering a blast of sweet blackcurrants, licorice, ground herbs, and graphite aromas and flavors. Blockbuster styled, with full body and an expansive, sexy texture, it has the depth and density to continue drinking brilliantly for 20+ years. (Drink between 2019-2039).
VM 93+ (5/2018): Beringer's flagship 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is tannic, unyielding and not fully put together. I suppose that is not entirely surprising, as most of the fruit was sourced from sites on Howell Mountain. Time in the glass brings out an attractive floral upper register, along with brighter notes in the fruit. Even so, the tannins remain forbidding. There is plenty to look forward to, but readers will have to be patient. The 2015 has been very tight on both occasions I have tasted it so far. (Drink between 2025-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2019): I was able to taste to two vintages of the Private Reserve, and the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve comes from a vintage loved by the estate. The final blend is the normal 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in 85% new French oak. This full-bodied, ripe, voluptuous beauty shows the vintage to a T, offering a blast of sweet blackcurrants, licorice, ground herbs, and graphite aromas and flavors. Blockbuster styled, with full body and an expansive, sexy texture, it has the depth and density to continue drinking brilliantly for 20+ years. (Drink between 2019-2039).
VM 93+ (5/2018): Beringer's flagship 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is tannic, unyielding and not fully put together. I suppose that is not entirely surprising, as most of the fruit was sourced from sites on Howell Mountain. Time in the glass brings out an attractive floral upper register, along with brighter notes in the fruit. Even so, the tannins remain forbidding. There is plenty to look forward to, but readers will have to be patient. The 2015 has been very tight on both occasions I have tasted it so far. (Drink between 2025-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Continuum |
2012 |
Proprietary Blend |
$195 |
14 |
|
| |
VM 96 (12/2014): Ripe, silky tannins wrap around the palate in the 2012 Continuum. Bright red cherry, plum, spice, menthol and hard candy meld together effortlessly in the glass. The 2012 captures the polished, refined side of the vintage. This is perhaps the most refined wine I have ever tasted from Continuum. The flavors are bright and focused, while the new oak has been decidedly toned down, both of which allow the personality of these breathtaking hillsides sites to shine. The 2012 is the first Continuum to be made entirely with estate grown fruit.
VM 93-96 (5/2014): (I tasted what Tim Mondavi described as close to the final blend): Bright, dark ruby-red. Urgent crushed blueberry and cassis aromas are complemented by licorice and wild herbs on the brooding nose and palate ("a noble baby," says Mondavi). Extremely young but already utterly seamless, delivering an uncanny combination of density and finesse. Compellingly lush and pure, with serious underlying power currently masked by sweet fruit. Really wonderfully managed tannins here. Promises to be the best vintage yet from this superb estate. |
|
|
2019 |
Proprietary Blend |
$229 |
6 |
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WA 98 (5/2022): Continuum's 2019 Proprietary Red is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, all from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Aged in two-thirds new French oak, with the balance in second or third-use barrels and a single concrete amphora, it's remarkably dark in hue, a deep, saturated purple in the glass. On the nose, it's floral and herbal yet fruit-driven, with violets, sage and bay leaf adding nuance to black cherries, while the palate is full-bodied, plush and silky. There's an enticing yin-yang to the interplay between high-toned herbals and bass notes of dark chocolate in this dense, concentrated effort that finishes lush and long. It's a magnificent wine that should drink well for at least two decades.
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is elegant, plush and sensual like few vintages I can remember tasting on release. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, dried flowers and raspberry jam infuse the 2019 with tons of nuance. Time in the glass brings out lovely energy to balance things out. What a gorgeous, classy wine this is. (Drink between 2026-2039). Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (1/2025): The 2019 Continuum is ripe, upfront, and sexy, which is very much in the style of the vintage. Beautiful red and black currants, new leather, and an almost garrigue/wild herb character define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, polished yet still mountain tannins, and incredible length. I love it today, yet it clearly has another two decades of longevity ahead of it. (Drink between 2025-2045). |
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| Joseph Phelps |
2014 |
Insignia |
$445 |
12 |
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WA 97+ (10/2017): Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from six vineyards and reared for 24 months in 100% new French oak, the 2014 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed blackberries and fresh blackcurrants with touches of cigar box, sandalwood, dried lavender, beef drippings and mocha plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied and incredibly elegant and fine in the mouth, the lively fruit is well structured by grainy tannins and seamless acid, finishing long and earthy. 14,500 cases were made.
JS 97 (5/2017): The blackberry, dark-chocolate and walnut aromas are persuasive. Full body, a dense and fruity center palate and beautiful depth and intensity. The tannin texture is exceptional. Great wine. Drink in 2020 and onwards.
VM 97 (3/2018): The 2014 Insignia has turned out beautifully. Finely sculpted, nuanced and classic in structure, the 2014 is built on a core of energy and brightness. There is a level of purity and delineation in the flavors that is remarkable. Bright red cherry, lavender, rose petal and graphite add to the wine's sculpted personality. The 2014 is not an obvious or especially opulent Insignia, but rather a wine that makes its case with its impeccable balance. A closing flourish of bright, floral notes adds the final shades of nuance. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (12/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Insignia checks in as 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc and was brought up all in new oak. This beauty comes from six estate vineyards and offers a gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, Asian spice and white chocolate. With full-bodied richness, a beautiful, opulent, yet balanced texture, sweet tannin, and a great finish, it's a gorgeous 2014 that's already hard to resist, yet will cruise for two to three decades in the cellar. |
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| Mayacamas |
2015 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$350 |
5 |
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| VM 96 (11/2025): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous, elegant wine that is just starting to drink well. Black cherry, licorice, lavender, spice, menthol and coffee fill out the layers. Plush contours wrap it all together in style. This offers lovely textural density to play off the estate's more classically leaning sense of structure. Today, my impression is that some of the baby fruit has started to melt away. At the same time, the 2015 is a bit of a mystery, as is one of the most shut-down, reticent 2015s I tasted for this report. (Drink between 2025-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$255 |
10 |
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| VM 99 (1/2020): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as monumental as it was from barrel last year. Rich, deep and powerful, the 2016 is endowed with tremendous fruit concentration and all of the structure to back it up. Wild, savory and super-expressive from the very first taste, the 2016 is utterly magnificent. Wild cherry, grilled herbs, new leather, licorice and mocha infuse the 2016 with tremendous brooding power. The 2016 represents a striking, contemporary expression. All the Mayacamas signatures are there, but with just an extra kick of finesse that makes the 2016 a Cabernet of total allure. (Drink between 2024-2056). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$525 |
11 |
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| VM 99 (1/2020): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as monumental as it was from barrel last year. Rich, deep and powerful, the 2016 is endowed with tremendous fruit concentration and all of the structure to back it up. Wild, savory and super-expressive from the very first taste, the 2016 is utterly magnificent. Wild cherry, grilled herbs, new leather, licorice and mocha infuse the 2016 with tremendous brooding power. The 2016 represents a striking, contemporary expression. All the Mayacamas signatures are there, but with just an extra kick of finesse that makes the 2016 a Cabernet of total allure. (Drink between 2024-2056). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Mayacamas Vineyards |
2015 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
60 |
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| |
| VM 96 (11/2025): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous, elegant wine that is just starting to drink well. Black cherry, licorice, lavender, spice, menthol and coffee fill out the layers. Plush contours wrap it all together in style. This offers lovely textural density to play off the estate's more classically leaning sense of structure. Today, my impression is that some of the baby fruit has started to melt away. At the same time, the 2015 is a bit of a mystery, as is one of the most shut-down, reticent 2015s I tasted for this report. (Drink between 2025-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
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| | USA White |
| Mayacamas |
2016 |
Mt. Veeder Chardonnay |
$75 |
16 |
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| VM 95 (3/2018): The 2016 Chardonnay is fabulous. A vivid, textured wine, the 2016 possesses remarkable finesse and intensity in all of its dimensions. Lemon oil and white flowers are amped up by the natural intensity of these old vines. The 2016 was fermented and aged in neutral oak, with no malolactic fermentation. Mayacamas is setting a new standard for what California Chardonnay can be. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni. |
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| | Argentina |
| Cheval des Andes |
2019 |
Mendoza Red Wine |
$78 |
22 |
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WA 98 (8/2022): The 2019 Cheval des Andes had a more reductive vinification and élevage, making the wine a bit shy and in need of time to open up, as one of their objectives was to make it more age-worthy. Another objective is to get to a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, which they achieved in this vintage for the first time, going back to the initial character of the wine that was the idea of Argentinean winemaker Roberto de la Mota; so, they are closing the circle and going back to the initial idea, with more implication from the Cheval Blanc team. This is the first vintage fully under the charge of the new French winemaker, Gerald Gabillet, who fermented by plot, isolating some specific parts of the vineyard, like the borders where you tend to get higher yields because of the irrigation. It matured in 225- and 400-liter oak barrels and in oak vats. They used more barrels and vats from Stockinger, which they like and rotate; the wine spends an average of 13 to 14 months in oak, but some lots get 11 months and others get 16. 2019 was a mild vintage, cooler than 2017 and warmer than 2018, with rain at the right time, which helped to avoid hydric stress, and without extremes (which they had in 2020 with three weeks of extreme heat). The wine is young and tender and a bit oaky, which Gerald attributed to the reductiveness; it's ripe without excess, with around 14.2% alcohol, mellow acidity and velvety tannins. There's more Cabernet here, so the aromatic expression can be something between 2017 and 2018, but Cabernet marks the palate a lot and makes the wine more age-worthy, as it provides the structure and length that the Malbec lacks. So, the wine might be less accessible when young and should develop slowly in bottle. It's tasty and supple and has the ingredients and the balance for what they are aiming for. In the following vintages, they follow this path, and Gabillet feels that having more precision allows the wines to reflect the differences between vintages better. They keep producing around 100,000 bottles. It was bottled in late January 2021. The way they want to describe the wine is the Argentinean expression of Cheval Blanc. And I can only agree.
VM 97 (11/2021): The 2019 Cheval des Andes is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira, Mendoza. The 2019 was 40% aged in 225-liter barrels, 40% in 500-liter barrels and 20% in foudres. It’s red with violet flecks in the glass. It has a fresh nose of plum and blackcurrant accompanied by hints of white pepper, mint and violets over a bed of cedar and sandalwood. On the palate, the feel is finely grained with a leaner, more agile flow than in previous years, while the freshness brings plenty of energy before the lengthy finish of fruit and country herb aromas. Joaquin Hidalgo.
JS 97 (4/2022): A refined but spicy Cheval, showing charcoal, blueberries, wild herbs, lavender and hints of bacon and cedar. Medium to full body with extremely fine tannins that get dialed into the fruit with violet, spices and sweet blue fruit at the end. Long and subtle. Drink or hold. |
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| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Boyd-Cantenac |
2020 |
Margaux (12X750ML) |
$588 |
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| Ch. Calon-Segur |
2016 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) |
$0 |
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2018 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) |
$888 |
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| Ch. Canon |
2020 |
St. Emilion (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2020 |
St. Emilion |
$549 |
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| Ch. Clinet |
2018 |
Pomerol (6X750ML) |
$594 |
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2019 |
Pomerol (6X750ML) |
$714 |
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| Ch. Cos d'Estournel |
2016 |
St. Estephe (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. d' Issan |
2016 |
Margaux (12X750ML) |
$925 |
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2020 |
Margaux (12X750ML) |
$744 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Haut Bailly |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan (6X750ML) |
$850 |
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Sold Out
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2018 |
Pessac Leognan (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. La Gaffeliere |
2018 |
St. Emilion (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Lagrange |
2016 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$948 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Latour Martillac |
2016 |
Pessac-Leognan (12X750ML) |
$660 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2010 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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2015 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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2016 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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2018 |
St. Julien (3.0 L) |
$400 |
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Sold Out
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2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) |
$570 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2010 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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2018 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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2018 |
St. Julien (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2016 |
Pauillac (6X1.5L) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Malartic Lagraviere |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan |
$58 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Malescot St. Exupery |
2020 |
Margaux (12X750ML) |
$720 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Montrose |
2014 |
St. Estephe (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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2015 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) |
$954 |
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Sold Out
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2020 |
St. Estephe (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan (12X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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2018 |
Pessac Leognan (6X750ML) |
$534 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Pontet Canet |
2015 |
Pauillac (6X750ML) |
$750 |
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Sold Out
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| Ch. Sociando Mallet |
2020 |
Haut Medoc (12X750ML) |
$456 |
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Sold Out
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| Domaine de Chevalier |
2016 |
Pessac Leognan |
$99 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2018 |
Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets |
$135 |
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Sold Out
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2019 |
Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets |
$140 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Burgundy White |
| Louis Jadot |
2018 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle Domaine du Duc de Magenta |
$119 |
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Sold Out
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2018 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle Domaine du Duc de Magenta (6X750ML) |
$684 |
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Sold Out
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| Maison Henri Boillot |
2018 |
Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes |
$350 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Rhone Red |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2015 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (6X750ML) |
$654 |
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Sold Out
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| M. Chapoutier |
2012 |
Cote Rotie La Mordoree (6X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Spain |
| R. Lopez de Heredia |
2012 |
Vina Tondonia Reserva Rioja |
$45 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Italy |
| Argiano |
2018 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$79 |
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Sold Out
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| | USA Red |
| Heitz Cellar |
2016 |
Martha’s Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (6X750ML) |
$0 |
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Sold Out
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| Joseph Phelps |
2015 |
Insignia Proprietary Blend |
$239 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Argentina |
| Cheval des Andes |
2019 |
Mendoza Red Wine (6X750ML) |
$468 |
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Sold Out
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2020 |
Mendoza Red Wine (6X750ML) |
$468 |
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Sold Out
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2021 |
Mendoza Red Wine (6X750ML) |
$430 |
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Sold Out
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|
| | Chile |
| Don Melchor (Concha y Toro) |
2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (6X750ML) |
$720 |
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Sold Out
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