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Inventory updated: Mon, Mar 02, 2026 04:02 PM cst
Over 95pts Under $95
 Today at Flickinger Wines we are pleased to offer an array of excellent scoring 95pt wines that are all below $95. Treasures abound, happy hunting!!
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Monday, March 2, 2026. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Barde-Haut |
2015 |
St. Emilion  |
$48 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96 (3/2020): An awesome Saint Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish. I love it even today, yet it has a full two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.
JS 95 (2/2018): Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, wet earth and black tea. Full-bodied, dense and layered with medium, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and power. Needs three or four years to start coming together.
WA 92 (4/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Barde-Haut gives up notions of plum preserves, potpourri and baked cherries with underlying Chinese five spice and cigar box hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and background freshness supporting the spicy black fruits, finishing on a lingering earthy note.
VM 87 (2/2018): The 2015 Barde-Haut is forward, simple and lacking in both depth and structure, just as it showed en primeur. The dark cherry, espresso, plum, licorice and mint flavors are attractive, but there is just not enough textural richness to be compelling. Sadly, the 2015 is short, compact and missing the exuberance and complexity that have been the norm here in the past. |
|
|
2015 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$48 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 96 (3/2020): An awesome Saint Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish. I love it even today, yet it has a full two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.
JS 95 (2/2018): Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, wet earth and black tea. Full-bodied, dense and layered with medium, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and power. Needs three or four years to start coming together.
WA 92 (4/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Barde-Haut gives up notions of plum preserves, potpourri and baked cherries with underlying Chinese five spice and cigar box hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and background freshness supporting the spicy black fruits, finishing on a lingering earthy note.
VM 87 (2/2018): The 2015 Barde-Haut is forward, simple and lacking in both depth and structure, just as it showed en primeur. The dark cherry, espresso, plum, licorice and mint flavors are attractive, but there is just not enough textural richness to be compelling. Sadly, the 2015 is short, compact and missing the exuberance and complexity that have been the norm here in the past. |
|
| Ch. Bellefont Belcier |
2019 |
St. Emilion |
$54 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (4/2022): A beautiful, elegant Saint-Emilion that will be loved by both modernists and traditionalists out there, the 2019 Château Bellefont-Belcier comes from a south-facing, limestone terroir just beside Château Pavie and Larcis Ducasse. A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it starts out reticent and understated yet builds beautifully with time in the glass and has wonderful cassis and black raspberry fruits intermixed with notes of truffle, tobacco, damp earth, and violets. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has silky tannins, perfect overall balance, and a great finish. It's not a powerhouse, but it shines for its purity, finesse, and elegance. Drink bottles over the coming 15-20 years or so.
VM 94 (2/2023): The 2019 Bellefont Belcier is delineated and focused on the nose with pure blackberry, briary, crushed stone and cedar scents, the oak here nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, cohesive and smooth, blackberry and white pepper tinged with cedar towards the finish. This sashays along in style, and it is very promising. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Canon La Gaffeliere |
2019 |
St. Emilion Ex-Negociant |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (4/2022): The 2019 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière is another brilliantly perfumed wine in the vintage that shines for its complexity, finesse, and nuances. Giving up awesome notes of red and black currants, tobacco, exotic flowers, cedarwood, and loamy earth, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, beautifully polished, integrated tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is serious juice that warrants at least 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30 to 40 years. (Drink between 2026-2067).
WA 96 (4/2022): The 2019 Canon la Gaffelière has turned out brilliantly, bursting from the glass with a dramatic bouquet of wild berries, blood orange, exotic spices, rose petals, violets and burning embers. Full-bodied, ample and layered, it's supple and perfumed, with a deep core of lively fruit, melting tannins and a long, saline finish. This contains the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc of any of Stephan Von Neipperg's wines, which no doubt helps to account for its singular personality.
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2019 Canon-la-Gaffelière is quite punchy and bold on the nose. Blackberry and raspberry fruit, cedar and mint emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, quite plush yet cohesive, fanning out towards the velvety finish with a brush of white pepper on the aftertaste. One of the more approachable Saint-Émilion wines in this vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2024-2040). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Gazin |
2019 |
Pomerol |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (6/2020): The 2019 Gazin is tightly wound at first and needs coaxing from the glass. Broody dark berry fruit, truffle and smoke eventually emerge, flanked by a discrete marine influence. The palate is very promising with saturated tannins that belie the structure of this Pomerol. The freshness is very impressive, lighting up the senses. The finish is imbued with wonderful tension and traces of iron on the aftertaste. Quintessentially Gazin, this is a superb wine. Neal Martin.
JD 94-96 (6/2020): The 2019 Château Gazin checks in as 89% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc. I'm not sure it's going to match the 2018, but it's certainly not far off and has a wonderful mix of freshness, richness, and complexity that's the hallmark of this great vintage. Lots of ripe red and black fruits, tobacco, mocha, and spring flower notes all emerge from the glass, and it's beautifully balanced, building nicely with time in the glass, and just has everything in the right places. This gorgeous Pomerol in the making will be accessible in its youth and drink brilliantly for 15-20 years.
JS 95-96 (6/2020): A tight, focused red with blackberry and blueberry character, as well as chocolate. It’s full and compact with soft, silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Harmonious. |
|
| Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste |
2020 |
Pauillac |
$73 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (5/2021): The 2020 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a very refined, almost understated bouquet at first, but it opens in glorious fashion to offer precise blackberry and wild strawberry fruit, crushed stone and wild mint, gaining intensity at its own pace. The palate is beautifully balanced with fine-grained tannins, a keen thread of acidity, layers of intense black fruit and quite a spicy, vibrant and certainly persistent finish. This is a brilliant GPL from the Borie family. Neal Martin.
WA 91-93 (5/2021): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Grand-Puy-Lacoste offers notes of freshly crushed black and red currants, fresh blackberries and mulberries, plus hints of pencil lead, damp soil and black olives. The medium-bodied palate is delicately styled and refreshing, delivering soft, skillfully managed tannins and just enough freshness to frame the juicy black fruits, finishing savory.
JD 92-95 (5/2021): The 2020 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a more fleshy, textured Pauillac that still plays in the concentrated, focused, structured style of the vintage. Ripe black cherries, currants, toasty oak, chocolate, and tobacco leaf notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, richly textured 2020 that has velvety tannins, good mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years or so.
JS 96-97 (4/2021): This full-bodied red builds on the palate in a fantastic way with tight, compact tannins that grow and grow on the finish. Plenty of blackcurrant and graphite character and a flavorful finish. Same level as the excellent 2016. |
|
| Ch. Haut Bages Liberal |
2020 |
Pauillac |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93-95 (5/2021): The 2020 Haut-Bages Liberal is a powerhouse in its first impression. Veins of bright mineral notes give the 2020 its textural feel and persistence. Bright red fruit, cedar, dried flowers, mint, spice and sweet tobacco. Time in the glass brings out very pretty floral notes that add finesse and considerable aromatic presence. Antonio Galloni.
JS 95-96 (4/2021): Unique character to this with mushroom, wet-earth, spice, and black-tea character on the nose and palate. It’s full and layered with chewy tannins that are plush and pure. Rose-bush and bark undertones to the fruit. Old merlot vines showing through! 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certification. |
|
| Ch. Pavie Macquin |
2014 |
St. Emilion |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96 (2/2017): The 2014 Pavie Macquin is just as sensual from bottle as it was from barrel. Silky, gracious and expressive, the 2014 has it all. Black cherry, plum, smoke, mocha and a host of dark-toned flavors all blossom in the glass. The 2014 offers a striking combination of power and finesse, with plenty of power to burn. This is another unqualified success from estate manager Nicolas Thienpont and consulting winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt. The blend is 85 % Merlot, 14 % Cabernet Franc and 1 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (2/2017): The purity and clarity to the nose of this wine are really exceptional with crushed berries, cherries and currants. Fruit and density are so impressive, yet this is so linear on the center palate, which gives it direction and focus. Fabulous. Better than 2009? Drink in 2022, but hard not to drink now.
JD 92+ (11/2017): Coming from two parcels planted on the upper plateau, with a terroir like Troplong-Mondot, the 2014 Château Pavie Macquin is more backward than the 2015 (which is expected) and offers a masculine, firm, edgy style as well as lots of black cherry and currant fruits intermixed with smoked herbs, scorched earth and lots of minerality. This medium to full-bodied 2014 has good concentration, high, integrated acidity, and an age-worthy, classic style that needs 5-6 years of bottle age. It should have three decades of overall longevity. |
|
| Domaine de Chevalier |
2019 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$79.95 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (6/2020): Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Domaine de Chevalier was harvested from the 23rd of September to the 13th of October. The alcohol weighed in at a modest 13%. It is aging in French oak barrels, 35% new, for around 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it shoots from the glass with vibrant, intense scents of warm blueberries, blackberry preserves and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of spice box, violets, crushed rocks and pencil lead with a hint of menthol. The medium-bodied palate gives an appearance of weight from its sheer energy, offering bags of fresh, crunchy berry layers and a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and pure.
VM 95-97 (6/2020): The 2019 Domaine de Chevalier has the potential to be one of the wines of the vintage. Regal and soaring in the glass, with tremendous intensity, the 2019 is pure magic. An exotic melange of ripe red plum, gravel, spice, cured meats and incense develops with time in the glass. Effortless and wonderfully nuanced, the 2019 is a fabulous wine in the making. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98+ (6/2020): Reminding me of the 2016, the 2019 Domaine De Chevalier checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a classy bouquet of crème de cassis, damp earth, tobacco leaf, and spring flowers. With medium to full-bodied richness, stunning purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a good spice of acidity, this beautiful, classic, quintessential Chevalier will need 5-7 years of bottle age yet keep for 4-5 decades in cold cellars. Tasted twice.
JS 96-97 (6/2020): The chocolate, walnut, dark-fruit and stone character is attractive. It’s full-bodied and very tight and linear with chewy yet polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of intensity and complexity here, as always. |
|
| La Dame de Montrose |
2022 |
St. Estephe 2023 en Primeur Release |
$46 |
7 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (5/2023): The second wine of Château Montrose, the 2022 La Dame De Montrose, tastes like a Grand Vin. More Merlot-dominated (71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc), the terrific purity in its cassis and blue fruits give way to complex floral, forest floor, and violet aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant, I'd be happy to drink a bottle any time over the coming 15 years.
VM 92-94 (5/2023): The 2022 La Dame de Montrose is deep, pliant and rich. All of the intensity of this warm, very dry vintage comes through in the wine’s sheer size and ripe, dark profile. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, spice and espresso are all amplified in this decidedly intense, concentrated La Dame. Qualitatively, there is little question this could have easily been a Grand Vin in a preceding generation. The 2022 is a stunning La Dame. Antonio Galloni.
WA 92-94 (5/2023): A second wine that would embarrass numerous classified growths, the 2022 La Dame de Montrose unfurls in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, rose petals, charcoal and loamy soil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy palate of striking concentration, energy and dimension. Seamless and complete, it's a blend of 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
JA 92 (5/2023): Higher proportion of Merlot than usual in the blend, this is deep ruby red in colour and opens to sandalwood, cedar, black pepper and rosemary notes, alongside ripe blackberry and creme de cassis fruits. A lucky vineyard located next to the river at one of the widest points of the Estuary, this is impactful and confident, with the fingerprints of the vintage. 31hl/h yield. 30% new oak. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. La Tour Blanche |
2009 |
Sauternes (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$34.95 |
60 |
|
| |
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. |
|
| Ch. Rieussec |
2016 |
Sauternes ex-Negociant |
$55.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 97 (2/2019): A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while still packing beautiful depth of fruit. Honeyed peach, apricot, flower oil, and even a hint of wet stone all emerge from this full-bodied, thick, opulent effort. I love it. It has a rounded, sexy style ideal for drinking any time over the coming 15-20 years. The 2016 is a final blend of 83% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle.
JS 97 (1/2019): So much botrytis on the nose with spice, dried mushrooms and nutmeg. Dried lemons and mangoes. Full-bodied and medium sweet with density and, at the same time, lightness. I like that it is full of botrytis on the palate at the beginning and then turns fruity and very pretty at the end with citrus and fruit. Balanced, creamy and rich. Try after 2024, but already gorgeous.
WA 96+ (3/2019): Pale lemon colored, the 2016 Rieussec comes sashaying out of the glass with a beautiful floral and citrus perfume of orange blossom, pink grapefruit, yuzu, lime leaves, lemongrass and fallen leaves with hints of nutmeg and candied ginger. Having shed a lot of the puppy fat from when I last tasted this from barrel, the palate reveals loads of elegant, tightly wound layers and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
VM 93 (1/2019): The 2016 Rieussec has an elegant bouquet of pure honeysuckle, orange pith, peach and light minerally aromas. The palate is well balanced with fine precision and pleasant fatness, featuring white peach and almond-infused, honeyed fruit. A touch of vanilla emerges toward the finish. This was a barrel sample due to be bottled in January 2019, though it was virtually the finished wine. Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Suduiraut |
2013 |
Sauternes (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$32.95 |
60 |
|
| |
JS 97 (2/2016): This is phenomenal with superb depth and texture. Full-bodied and very sweet, yet the bright acidity balances the wine out. Creamy mouthfeel with phenolic undertones. Great finish. This wine has a great future. Better in 2021, but already great.
WA 93-95 (4/2014): The 2013 Suduiraut has one of the more flamboyant bouquets of the vintage, one that is actually reminiscent of de Fargues. There are copious Satsuma and dried honey scents, hints of beeswax and almond that keep your snout in the glass. The palate is very well-balanced with a viscous entry, just a touch of marmalade and quince coming through, and then blossoming toward the weighty finish that shows just a touch more oak at the moment. This is an excellent Suduiraut.
VM 92 (3/2019): The 2013 Suduiraut, picked from 3 to 30 October, is destined to be overshadowed by the succeeding two vintages. The aromatics feel very “contained” with beeswax, dried honey and light spicy aromas, although it is missing the intensity of a top vintage. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, very focused and poised, perhaps a more approachable Suduiraut since it does not possess the concentration of a more benevolent growing season. But it retains admirable freshness and there is a lovely spiciness, a dab of ginger on the aftertaste. 13.6% alcohol, 145gm/L residual sugar. Tasted at the Suduiraut vertical at the château. Neal Martin. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Chateau Mont Redon |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (12/2019): Deep brilliant violet. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe cherry, blackberry, candied violet, spicecake, garrigue and exotic spices, along with a smoky mineral overtone that builds in the glass. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated red and dark berry liqueur, fruitcake, licorice pastille and lavender flavors that possess a compelling blend of richness and energy. The mineral note comes back strong on a strikingly long, penetrating finish shaped by velvety, steadily mounting tannins. This is the best example of this venerable domaine's work that I can recall drinking in its infancy, and it may measure up to their legendary 1959 and 1961 bottlings, which I first tried back in the late 1980s. (Drink between 2028-2040). Josh Raynolds.
JD 93 (8/2019): Showing similar to last year, the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape offers a classic bouquet of black raspberries, garrigue, and spice box, with a touch of minerality. It’s more rounded, fleshy, and layered than the more concentrated 2017, has plenty of upfront appeal, and will keep for 15+ years. Château Mont-Redon appears to be on an upward trajectory due to the management and passion of the young Pierre Fabre, who has recently taken over management of this large, historic estate. In addition to their classic Châteauneuf du Pape, which comes from a selection of the three terroirs of the domaine, they’ve begun releasing a Le Plateau cuvée starting in 2016 which comes exclusively from the upper Mont-Redon plateau and pebbly soils. This special cuvée is 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah and is brought up in a mix of barrels, some being new. Pierre commented that he felt 2017 was one of the greatest vintage ever for the estate, and while the wines are still in barrel, it’s hard to argue with him. In addition to the Châteauneuf du Pape releases, the estate also releases several Côtes du Rhônes, a red and white Lirac, and a Gigondas. It’s important for readers to understand that wines labeled “Reserve” come from a mix of estate and non-estate fruit, while the Château releases are all estate fruit. (Drink between 2019-2034).
WA 91 (8/2019): Somehow, I missed getting a note on the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape last year, but since the 2015 seems to be the current release in the United States, let's hope this is still of some value to prospective purchasers. It's a solid effort, featuring scents and flavors of cherries, leather and dried spices. Full-bodied, silky and clean, it goes down easily now, but it should last a decade or more. As usual, it's about 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% mixed varieties (mainly Mourvèdre). |
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| Chateau Simian |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grandes Grenachieres d’Hippolyte |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2009): An astonishing effort, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Grandes Grenachieres comes from a combination of Grenache vines planted in 1880, and younger vines planted in 1948. An incredible sleeper of the vintage to the extent anyone can find any of the 350 or so cases produced, it boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to an awesome aromatic display of spring flowers, sweet black raspberries and black cherries, and forest floor. The wine possesses amazing density and richness, yet flows across the palate like a delicate ballerina. This incredibly old vine material has an intensity, substance, and palate penetration that is nearly beyond belief, yet the wine never comes across as heavy. The purity, depth, and 60-second finish are to die for. As the last five words of my tasting note said, “Where can I find any?” This amazing Chateauneuf du Pape should drink well for two decades or more.
VM 92 (1/2010): (95% grenache; raised completely in cuve Glass-staining ruby. An expressive, alluring bouquet of raspberry, rose petal, Asian spices and minerals. Supple, silky and restrained, with seductive sweetness to the red berry and cherry flavors. Spreads out on the back while retaining energy and focus. The long finish features lingering sweetness and subtle notes of flowers and minerals. |
|
| Clos des Papes |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (8/2019): One of the strongest wines in the vintage is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Vincent Avril. This beauty has everything you could ask for. As with the 2018, the blend is heavily shifted toward Mourvèdre, and it offers a mammoth bouquet of black cherries, graphite, cured meats, Asian spices, and assorted garrigue-like nuances. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated, it stays straight and focused on the palate (whereas the 2016 is more expansive and voluptuous), with a stacked mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, and fabulous length. You’re going to want bottles of this in the cellar, and comparing the 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2017 over the coming two decades is going to be a treat.
WA 96 (8/2019): As predicted last year by Paul-Vincent Avril, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, about 10% Syrah and the rest other permitted varieties. It boasts a cool, fresh nose of strawberries, cola and tree bark, yet it's full-bodied and tannic on the palate. Dense and chewy, albeit with a mouthwatering sense of freshness, this will need a few years to relax and unwind, but it looks very promising. |
|
| Delas |
2015 |
St. Joseph Sainte Epine Slightly Depressed Cork |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-96 (12/2016): In the same mold as the Francois de Tournon, the 2015 Saint Joseph Sainte Epine will see 18 months in barrel, 40% being new. This loaded, inky-colored, gorgeously concentrated and pure effort has off-the-chart notes of cassis, crushed rocks, pepper and graphite; it also has full-bodied richness, building, ultra-fine tannin and a blockbuster finish. It's one of the gems in the vintage, but there are only 500 cases made, so don’t miss a chance to grab a few bottles.
VM 91-93 (4/2017): Bright violet. Deep-pitched aromas of ripe red and blue fruits are complicated by cola, anise and smoked meat accents. Sweet, seamless black raspberry, cherry liqueur and cracked pepper flavors smoothly combine heft and finesse and show no rough edges. Large-scaled but shows good vivacity and finishes on a gently tannic note, with very good clarity and persistence. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Dom. Chante Cigale |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes |
$50 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2009): The compelling 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (78% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvedre) is made from 60- to 120-year-old vines. Its dense plum/purple hue is followed by knock-out aromas of incense, crushed pepper, cedar, black currant jam, licorice, and sweet cherries. Voluptuously textured, opulent, and round with well-formed, moderately high tannins that are nearly covered by the wine’s fruit and glycerin, it will easily last 15-20 years in a cold, damp cellar.
JD 95 (3/2012): A brilliant, full-bodied effort that comes from 60 to 100-years-old vines, the 2007 Domaine Chante Cigale Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes sports thrilling aromatics of black cherries, melted licorice, roasted herbs, and meat juice like qualities that lead to a seriously endowed, decadent Châteauneuf that stays remarkably light and balanced on the palate. Seamless, with stunning purity and beautiful levels of fruit, this needs 3-5 years of bottle age to start to enter maturity, and should have 15+ years or more of longevity.
VM 92 (1/2010): Deep ruby with a bright rim. Explosive, fruit-driven bouquet of red and dark berry preserves, potpourri and oak spices, with a smoky undertone. Supple, velvety dark berry flavors seem tannin-free and provide impressive palate coverage. This very sexy, ready-to-drink wine offers intense, spicy blackberry, mulberry and candied licorice flavors on the sweet, faintly warm finish. Reminds me of some high-end Central Coast wines. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. Coursodon |
2018 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (11/2020): The 2018 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie is a more serious, concentrated wine offering a touch of background oak as well as impressive cassis and blackberry fruits, full-bodied richness, notes of pepper and Asian spice, building tannins, and a great finish. It shows more minerality and an almost gunflint-like character with time in the glass. It needs a solid 3-5 years of bottle age, but it should see its 20th birthday in fine form.
VM 93 (4/2020): Glass-staining ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla and smoky minerals, plus a sexy floral note in the background. Gently sweet and expansive on the palate, offering supple blackberry and cherry compote flavors that show sharp clarity and very good depth. Seamless and focused on the persistent, smoke-tinged finish, with velvety tannins providing framework. 20% new oak. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie Ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (5/2025): All Syrah, the 2023 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie brings another level of concentration, offering cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and classy oak on the nose. It has terrific purity, medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. The overall balance and purity here are exceptional.
VM 90-92 (1/2025): Cedar, black cherry, wood smoke and pencil shaving introduce the 2023 Saint-Joseph L'Olivaie, a medium-bodied, deeply hued Northern Rhône Syrah. Touching the palate with elevated flavor concentration, the 2023 handles the oak well. I look forward to tasting the bottled version. Nicolas Greinacher. |
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|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge Paradis St. Pierre Ex-Domaine |
$68.99 |
47 |
|
| |
JD 94-96 (5/2025): Lastly, the 2023 Saint Joseph Paradis Saint Pierre comes from old vines and offers a ruby/plum hue as well as a more mineral-laced, cooler style in its darker, blue fruits, violets, black pepper, and bouquet garni-like aromas and flavors. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, ripe, and brilliantly textured, it's going to need short-term cellaring. This cuvée was partially destemmed and will spend 15 months in barrel.
VM 91-93 (1/2025): The 2023 Saint-Joseph Le Paradis Saint-Pierre emerges with elevated aromatic complexity, mingling orange rind, crushed flowers, red and black plum, iodine and graphite. Fleshy essences add another layer to the fray. Touching the palate with abundant flavor concentration, the 2023 is totally tasty, packing spot-on balance and remarkable intensity.Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2015 |
St. Joseph Rouge Sensonne |
$59.99 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96-98 (1/2018): Coming from a selection of Granite terroirs and aged all in new oak, the 2015 Saint Joseph Sensonne offers an incredibly pure, silky style as well as pedal-to-the-metal aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, toasted spice, violets and incense. It's a big, rich, concentrated beauty that's already approachable given its fruit, yet has the depth, balance and purity to keep for two decades.
WA 94 (12/2017): A bit of cedar sticks out on the nose of the 2015 Saint Joseph la Sensonne, so give this a couple of years in the cellar to further integrate its 100% new oak treatment. This full-bodied, richly concentrated wine has the mixed berry and cherry fruit to handle it and the tannic structure to age a decade or more. |
|
|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge Sensonne Ex-Domaine |
$57.99 |
42 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (5/2025): The 2023 Saint Joseph La Sensonne is another gorgeous wine in the making. Offering lots of cassis, spice, dried flowers, and beautifully integrated oak, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. All Syrah aging in 100% new oak, I love its overall balance, purity, and length.
VM 90-92 (1/2025): The 2023 Saint-Joseph La Sensonne is heavily marked by the oak-derived components at this early stage, unwinding intense hints of cedar, clove and even charred wood, mingling with black plum and spicy traits. Medium- to full-bodied and extroverted, the 2023 shouldn’t be touched prior to 2026. This is a bold, blockbuster-styled Saint-Joseph. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
| Dom. de la Janasse |
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin |
$74 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (11/2021): I was able to taste the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Chaupin on two occasions, rating it one point higher on one of those as well. Incredible notes of red and black fruits, violets, scorched earth, ground pepper, and Provençal garrigue notes define the nose, and it’s a darker, richer, slightly more powerful wine than usual, while still showing the inherent elegance and finesse this cuvee always shows. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 15-20. Don’t miss it! |
|
| Dom. de la Vieille Julienne |
2005 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2014): The most masculine and structured of the group, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape is locked and loaded, with serious concentration, big tannin and no shortage of length on the finish. Coming from a year that featured a cool summer and then scorching temps around harvest, this beauty doles out loads of creme de cassis, licorice, graphite and crushed rock-like minerality, as well as a seamless, perfectly balanced profile. Give it another 2-3 years and drink it through 2025.
VM 93+ (1/2008): Inky ruby. Ripe, powerful boysenberry and blueberry aromas are deepened by musky tobacco and dark chocolate. Weighty dark berry flavors verge on thick; initially brooding but brightens with air, picking up an energetic, stony character. Red fruits build on a long, sappy finish. A serious style, and not for those who demand elegance. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Trois Sources |
$63.99 |
23 |
|
| |
| JD 96+ (11/2021): More cassis, morello cherry, Asian spice, and a beautiful sense of minerality and loamy earth emerge from the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources, a full-bodied, concentrated blend of 60% Grenache, 15% each of Cinsault and Syrah, and the balance Mourvèdre. Coming all from the estate’s sandy soils in the northern part of the appellation, this incredibly concentrated, textured wine has perfect balance, building tannins, and a great finish. Give this beauty another 4-5 years in the cellar and drink it over the following two decades or more. |
|
| Dom. du Pegau |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (10/2020): Lastly, and tasted from bottle, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Reservee showed brilliantly, with the beautiful, Provençal character of the vintage as well as classic Pegau notes of red and black currants, smoked herbs, cured meats, new leather, and ground pepper all front and center. More in the style of the 1999 or 2005 than say the 2007 or 2009, it’s medium to full-bodied, has beautiful concentration, ample structure and tannins, and a focused, backward mouthfeel that’s going to benefit from bottle age. This beauty will evolve for 30 years or more.
WA 95 (9/2020): Pegau's distinctive violet and garrigue aromas are on full display in the 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee, backed by plummy fruit and velvety tannins. It's medium to full-bodied, concentrated and rich, with ample length and hints of mocha and licorice on the finish. Not as sexy out of the gate as some vintages, I'd give it another year or two in the cellar, then drink it over the next decade or so. |
|
|
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee |
$55 |
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. |
|
| Dom. du Tunnel |
2021 |
Cornas Vin Noir ex-Domaine |
$71.99 |
18 |
|
| |
| JD 93-95 (12/2022): The 2021 Cornas Vin Noir is even better and clearly a candidate for the wine of the appellation. Ripe blackberries, smoked herbs, cured meats, iron, and spice all flow to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, balanced Cornas offering ripe, velvety tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Bravo. |
|
| Dom. du Vieux Telegraphe |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$92 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (7/2018): Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful yet elegant with powdery tannins and essence-like red fruit. Super-fleshy, supple and dense core, then strong at the edges. Layer upon layer peels away on the finish. Resounding finesse and equilibrium, showing the full potential of the plateau La Crau. Drink or hold.
JD 97 (8/2018): Bottled just last week, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a classic, gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, currants, violets, salty minerality, nori (seaweed wrapper) and licorice. Full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant, with fine tannin, and a huge finish, this is classic Vieux Telegraphe all the way that has the balance to drink now. |
|
| Dom. Duclaux |
2020 |
Cote Rotie Maison Rouge ex-Domaine |
$72.99 |
57 |
|
| |
WA 92-95 (1/2022): The 2020 Cote Rotie Maison Rouge comes from 1.5 hectares in the gneiss-laden northern portion of the lieu-dit, and includes no Viognier. Purple raspberries and black olives cavort on the nose, framed by subtle notes of baking spices. It's medium to full-bodied, expansive, rich and silky, with a long, elegant finish. It should be drinkable on release, yet cellar well for at least a decade.
JD 91-93 (2/2022): The 2020 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge is terrific, offering ample black raspberry and darker berry fruits as well as spring flowers and peppery spice nuances. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium-bodied and has a supple, seamless texture, impressive tannins, and a great finish. It's unquestionably an outstanding wine, and I'd be happy to drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
|
2022 |
Cote Rotie Maison Rouge Ex-Domaine |
$74.99 |
48 |
|
| |
JD 96 (5/2025): Coming from a more granitic site in the southern part of the appellation, the deeper ruby/plum-hued 2022 Côte Rôtie Maison-Rouge offers up a stunningly pure, layered, medium to full-bodied style intermixed with ample red, blue, and black fruits, along with classic floral, gamey, and mint herb aromatics. Made from 100% Syrah and aged 20 months in 40% new French oak, it shows fine yet building tannins and a great finish. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2025-2040.
VM 91 (1/2025): Graphite, shy vanilla, cedar, black cherry and meaty subtleties introduce the 2022 Côte-Rôtie Maison-Rouge. Checking in at 13% alcohol, it easily outperforms the La Germine of the same vintage, offering more flavor concentration, length and refinement. The classic 2022 draws to a close with a juicy finish balanced by fresh acidity. (Drink between 2026-2032). Nicholas Greincaher. |
|
| Dom. Garon |
2018 |
Cote Rotie Les Rochins |
$84.99 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 98 (11/2020): Even deeper hued, the black/blue 2018 Côte Rôtie Les Rochins offers a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, smoked meat, chocolate, liquid violets, and crushed stone. With full-bodied richness, a seamless, ultra-fine texture, gorgeous tannins, and a big, mineral-drenched finish, it brings a more masculine, powerful style while staying light on its feet. This is another magical Côte Rôtie from the Garon family that should be snatched up by readers.
VM 95 (12/2022): Glass-staining violet. An expansive, complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented dark berries, licorice, incense, exotic spices and smoky bacon. Broad and alluringly sweet on the palate, offering intense cassis, cherry-vanilla, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that slowly firm up through the back half. Closes on a resonating cherry note, with steadily building tannins and lingering spice and mineral notes. (Drink between 2026-2036). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Domaine les Goubert |
2020 |
Gigondas Cuvee Florence (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$89.99 |
22 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (3/2023): While the classic cuvée is brought up all in tank, the 2020 Gigondas Cuvée Florence spends over a year in barrels, and it always has a touch of oak in its aromatics in its youth, but this integrates nicely with just few years of bottle age. More closed aromatically, it has slightly darker fruits as well as notes of peppery garrigue, cedarwood, and spice. Nicely concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and structured, this is another great vintage for this estate. Give bottles 4-5 years if you can, and this will see its 20th birthday in fine form. |
|
| Jean-Luc Jamet |
2017 |
Cote Rotie Terrasses |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (12/2022): A gem of a Côte Rôtie, the 2017 Côte Rôtie Terrasses shows the sunnier style of the vintage yet brings impressive purity, precision, and balance. Vibrant red fruits, flowers, herbes de Provence, and subtle gamey nuances define this perfumed, complex, exotic Côte Rôtie. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's beautifully balanced, has fine, polished tannins, and outstanding length. It blossoms with air and is going to continue drinking fabulously well over the coming 15-20 years. |
|
| Le Vieux Donjon |
2015 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (10/2017): I loved the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape from Claire Michel and it’s a classic blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, mostly from rolled stone terroirs, that was partially destemmed and brought up all in foudre. It’s a downright sexy, voluptuous 2015 offering textbook notes of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, herbes de Provence, and incense. It picks up more dark fruit with time in the glass, is full-bodied, has plenty of fat and glycerin, and ample tannin, although they’re so polished you have to hunt for them. This gorgeous example of traditionally made Châteauneuf du Pape that’s going to drink beautifully for 15+ years.
WA 93 (10/2017): These days, Vieux Donjon is one of the few estates in the region making only a single cuvee (Close des Papes is another). The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a floral, violet-scented wine that's supple and ripe. Only medium to full-bodied, it showcases complex garrigue and licorice notes rather than oodles of red fruit and comes to a long, silky finish. |
|
|
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
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. |
|
|
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$67 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (8/2019): The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a beautiful, elegant wine that also makes the most of this terrific vintage. Deep, rich, yet fabulously pure notes of blackcurrants, ground pepper, garrigue, and crushed flowers all emerge from the glass, followed by medium to full body, a stacked mid-palate, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. It's still backward and holding things a little close to its vest, yet it's a magical wine in the making. Give bottles 3-5 years of cellaring (although it's far from unapproachable today) and enjoy over the following two decades. It's as classic as it gets. The 2017 is a classic blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, brought up all in foudre.
WA 95 (8/2019): One of the few estates where the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape actually eclipses the 2016, this is a top-flight effort. Black cherries and red raspberries combine with dried spices in a complex swirl of fruity and savory elements, garnished with sprigs of garrigue. Full-bodied, round and rich, this velvety wine should drink well through at least 2035.
VM 94 (12/2019): Limpid ruby-red. A highly perfumed, expansive bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, garrigue and exotic spices, and a smoky mineral note emerges as the wine opens up. Sweet and broad on the palate, offering juicy raspberry, cherry compote, spicecake and candied lavender flavors that tighten up slowly on the back half. Conveys both power and finesse and betrays no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins come in late on a very long, spicy finish that leaves suave floral and red fruit preserve notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2009 |
Crozes Hermitage Dom. de Thalabert |
$50 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2011): The greatest Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert since the magnificent 1990 is the 2009. Jaboulet has nearly 100 acres in this appellation, and the 2009, which is bursting with potential, represents a great buy for Syrah lovers. Its dense purple color is followed by an explosive bouquet of blackberries, sweet cherries, licorice, Provencal olives, graphite and subtle smoke. Full-bodied with silky tannins as well as a terrific mouthfeel and palate penetration, this gorgeous offering should drink well for 15 or more years.
VM 92 (4/2012): Dark purple. Blackberry, kirsch and violet on the nose, with smoky minerals and cracked pepper gaining strength with air. Juicy dark berry flavors smoothly combine depth and vivacity, with zesty minerality carrying into the finish. Finishes sweet and very long, with resonating spiciness and florality. |
|
| Pierre Amadieu |
2016 |
Gigondas Le Pas de l’Aigle Bin-Soiled Label; Lightly Scuffed Label |
$44 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (9/2019): A beautiful wine, the flagship 2016 Gigondas Le Pas De L'Aigle is a normal blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah that spent a full two years in oak casks before bottling. Ruby/purple-colored with intense notes of black raspberries, cassis, garrigue, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and building tannins that give plenty of cut and definition on the finish. Taking plenty of time to open up, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and shine for 10-15 years. It’s a class act. (Drink between 2021-2036).
WA 93 (8/2019): Amadieu's top cuvée, the 2016 Gigondas le Pas de l'Aigle is 90% old-vine Grenache and 10% Syrah planted at 400 meters above sea level (near the top of the appellation). Hints of clove, leather and cedar accent a mix of red and black fruit, including hints of cola. Medium to full-bodied, this concentrated, complex wine should be at its best in another year or two and drink well for the next 4-5 years. |
|
|
2016 |
Gigondas Le Pas de l’Aigle Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$44 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (9/2019): A beautiful wine, the flagship 2016 Gigondas Le Pas De L'Aigle is a normal blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah that spent a full two years in oak casks before bottling. Ruby/purple-colored with intense notes of black raspberries, cassis, garrigue, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and building tannins that give plenty of cut and definition on the finish. Taking plenty of time to open up, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and shine for 10-15 years. It’s a class act. (Drink between 2021-2036).
WA 93 (8/2019): Amadieu's top cuvée, the 2016 Gigondas le Pas de l'Aigle is 90% old-vine Grenache and 10% Syrah planted at 400 meters above sea level (near the top of the appellation). Hints of clove, leather and cedar accent a mix of red and black fruit, including hints of cola. Medium to full-bodied, this concentrated, complex wine should be at its best in another year or two and drink well for the next 4-5 years. |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Dom. du Tunnel |
2023 |
Saint Peray Cuvee Prestige ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
11 |
|
| |
JD 95 (5/2025): Based on 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, the 2023 Saint-Péray Cuvée Prestige reveals a light gold hue and brilliant aromatics of stone fruits, ripe melon, honeysuckle, and subtle spicy, toasty nuances. Medium-bodied and pure on the palate, it has a layered, elegant profile with terrific freshness and the classic salinity of the appellation on the finish. This was fermented with native yeasts and aged in third- and fourth-fill barrels. Drink 2025-2030.
WA 93+ (3/2025): A blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, the 2023 Saint-Péray Cuvée Prestige is another real success at this address. Despite its elegantly introverted character, it offers aromas of almonds, white flowers, spices and pear. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, incisive and enrobing with good depth at the core and a long, mineral finish, it's a classic and a very well crafted Saint-Péray with a broad drinking window.
VM 93 (1/2025): The 2023 Saint-Péray Cuvée Prestige is complex, with honeysuckle, chamomile, jasmine, white peach and lemon flesh notes. Medium-bodied and sleek, it features a chalky finish with solid tension. This will be best enjoyed after another year in bottle. It's not quite at the level of the standout 2022s, but this is still quite enjoyable. (Drink between 2026-2030.) Nicholas Greinacher. |
|
| | Southern France |
| Clos Cibonne |
2017 |
Cotes de Provence Cuvee Hommage a Marius Slightly Raised Cork |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (1/2021): Diaphanous peach skin color. A hugely complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe, spice-accented red berries, citrus fruits, dried flowers and botanical herbs, with a saline mineral overtone. Stains the palate with vibrant, sharply focused redcurrant, strawberry, blood orange, nectarine candied lavender and honey flavors that show a hint of saltiness and superb depth to go with the wine's energy. Refuses to let up on the penetrating, seamless and mineral-driven finish, which strongly echoes the floral and pit fruit notes. - Josh Raynolds (Drink between 2023-2034). |
|
| | Alsace |
| Dom. Hugel |
2014 |
Riesling Grossi Laue |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (4/2024): The 2014 Riesling Grossi Laüe is harvested from four parcels across the midslope of the marls of the Schoenenbourg Grand Cru. From a cool vintage, with a cool, rainy summer where the autumn made the vintage. This sends out only gentle notions of chamomile tincture with emerging highlights of clear honey but with an ethereal lift and a lovely smokiness that allows you to stash this way. The palate is serene, gorgeously smooth and emollient with its cooling, soothing, chamomile-scented, fresh gentleness. This is a Riesling like a caress, like a balm, while cooling, healing and soothing. The 2014 is long and understated, just about opening up but perfectly equipped to go the distance, a wine of equanimity and class. (Bone-Dry) (Drink between 2024-2050). Anne Krebiehl. |
|
| Dom. Marcel Deiss |
2018 |
Grasberg |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (3/2023): From reddish Jurassic limestone soils, the golden-yellow colored 2018 Grasberg "La colline où pousse l'herbe" offers a deep, precise and smoky bouquet of dried, sweet figs intermingled with pure and elegant terroir aromas. Lush, dense and rich but immediately saline and even crystalline on the first palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and elegant, concentrated, piquant, stimulating and bitter-finishing Grasberg with enormous extract, fine tannins and blood orange and lemon peel flavors on the aftertaste. Very long and yet not as smooth and generous as the 2019, the 2018 is certainly a wine with great aging potential. 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2022. |
|
| Dom. Ostertag |
2018 |
Pinot Gris A360P Grand Cru Muenchberg |
$89 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (3/2023): Vinified in pièces from Vosges oak for eight months and in stainless steel until the bottling in autumn of the following year, the 2018 Grand Cru Muenchberg Pinot Gris A360P offers a very clear and intense, concentrated but pure and elegant nose with fresh lemon and terroir aromas that include chalky notes along with sandstone and flinty volcanic notes. Full-bodied, pure and fresh on the palate, this is an elegant, complex and tonic, very energetic Pinot Gris with fine bitters and an uplifting mineral freshness on the long and intense finish. This is a great and complex wine from a great, bright and radiant vintage. 14% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in May 2022. |
|
| Dom. Weinbach |
2000 |
Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Ste. Catherine L’Inedit |
$50 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2002): The exceptional 2000 Riesling Schlossberg l'Inedit bursts from the glass with super-ripe exotic aromas. Its lush character bastes the palate with unending layers of chamomile-laced minerals and pears. Satin-textured, highly expressive, and deep, this wine's intricate personality is exceedingly long in the finish. |
|
| | Loire |
| Bernard Baudry |
2018 |
Chinon La Croix Boissee |
$45 |
19 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (10/2021): The ripeness of the 2018 vintage gives an almost Syrah/Viognier character to the Chinon La Croix Boissee, which offers sweet black fruit and a creamy apricot note. Sumptuous yet never ever opulent, it's almost as if the wine's just done a yoga class. Plentiful tannins give the inside of your cheeks a chalky rub, while there's surprising freshness considering the ripeness, leading to a lengthy finish. This is a baby that will turn out to be a great adult. Rebecca Gibb. |
|
| Dom. Huet |
2015 |
Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux 1er Trie |
$64 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (10/2016): The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is super clear, ripe and aromatic on the nose, highly elegant and with lovely flinty flavors. Intense and concentrated, with great finesse and vitality, this is a highly elegant and perfectly balanced wine with a persistent grip and salinity. Great balance and harmony. |
|
| Vincent Pinard |
2019 |
Sancerre Grand Chemarin |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (8/2021): The 2019 Sancerre Le Grand Chemarin is a tender and wonderfully elegant style that shows excellent concentration. It remains understated, with fine grip on the finish. The wine has a mouth-coating texture, no doubt due to the limestone soils but also the Pinards’ careful handling. This caresses the mouth with its restrained pear and ripe, apple fruit. It's wonderfully welcoming at the beginning, but the finish is structured. Wherever the wine is in your mouth, it always exudes a sense of balance. (Drink between 2023-2035). Rebecca Gibb. |
|
| | Other France |
| Dom. Louis Claude Desvignes |
2017 |
Morgon Javernieres |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (9/2018): The superb 2017 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières wafts from the glass with a kaleidoscopic bouquet of black cherries, wild blueberries, licorice and dried rose petals. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with striking concentration and depth, structured around finer, more elegant tannins than the regular Côte du Py bottling. The finish is incredibly long.
VM 93 (10/2019): Brilliant violet. Deep-pitched blackberry, cherry preserve, cola and licorice scents, along with suggestions of star anise, smoky minerals and candied flowers. Shows impressive concentration and breadth on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry liqueur flavors that turn sweeter as the wine opens up. Chewy tannins shape the finish, which lingers with superb, dark-fruit-dominated persistence and resonating florality. (Drink between 2022-2029). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2017 |
Morgon Javernieres Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (9/2018): The superb 2017 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières wafts from the glass with a kaleidoscopic bouquet of black cherries, wild blueberries, licorice and dried rose petals. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with striking concentration and depth, structured around finer, more elegant tannins than the regular Côte du Py bottling. The finish is incredibly long.
VM 93 (10/2019): Brilliant violet. Deep-pitched blackberry, cherry preserve, cola and licorice scents, along with suggestions of star anise, smoky minerals and candied flowers. Shows impressive concentration and breadth on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry liqueur flavors that turn sweeter as the wine opens up. Chewy tannins shape the finish, which lingers with superb, dark-fruit-dominated persistence and resonating florality. (Drink between 2022-2029). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2018 |
Morgon Javernieres Bin-Soiled Label |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2019): Desvignes's 2018 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières is superb, bursting from the glass with a captivating bouquet of violets, raspberries, dark chocolate and smoky blackberries. On the palate, it's full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a deep and multidimensional core, succulent acids and powdery tannins. Beautifully balanced and structurally refined despite its power and concentration, this is worth a special effort to seek out. |
|
|
2020 |
Morgon Javernieres |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (8/2021): The 2020 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières is brilliant, unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries, spices, rose petals, loamy soil and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with impressive reserves of ripe tannin and sapid fruit, it's seamless and lively, concluding with a long, resonant finish. As ever, this is built to age, and it will reward patience, even if its youthful charms are considerable. |
|
| | Spain |
| Bodegas J.C. Conde |
2001 |
Neo Punta Esencia Ribera del Duero Scuffed Label |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (4/2004): A brilliant effort from 80-year old Tempranillo vines, aged 20 months in new French oak, and bottled without filtration, Fernandez has hit the bull’s eye with the impressively endowed 2001 Neo Punta Esencia. More similar to a Bordeaux first or second-growth than a Spanish Ribera del Duero, it boasts an inky/ruby/purple color as well as a sensational perfume of espresso roast, graphite, black currant liqueur, and pain grille. Full-bodied and youthful, tasting more like a barrel sample than a finished wine, it is loaded with potential and built for the long haul. My instincts suggest cellaring it for 2-3 years, and drinking it over the following 10-15. |
|
| Pinea |
2021 |
Ribera del Duero 17 ex-Domaine |
$64 |
47 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (7/2025): A youthful, memorable exploration of 100% Tempranillo made in a refined and modern style, the 2021 Tempranillo 17 by Pinea opens in a wealth of silky tannins and rounded red berry fruit. Fantastic acidity complements its power, complexity, and length to result in something remarkably sophisticated, with well-etched characteristics of oak spice, vanilla, cacao nib, and balsamic. The fruit is all blackberries. There’s no doubt a good amount of concentration in the wine, yet it feels weightless on the palate. Extremely impressive, it should age with ease another 15-20 years. |
|
| Raul Perez |
2021 |
Ultreia de Valtuille Bierzo Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$63 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (10/2023): The 2021 Ultreia Valtuille was produced with the clay part of their Villegas plot, as the sandy part was used for the new Ultreia Villegas bottling but introduced the lower part of the vineyard with more soil and more clay. They produced more or less the same amount as in previous years, some 18 barriques; but in 2021, they introduced foudres for part of the wine, and in this first year, the foudre was newer (they used it to ferment a white before). They also started renewing their barrels, so the wines show a little more oak than usual. It has moderate alcohol and mellow acidity, and it seems like the longer cycle and the slow ripening burned some acidity. |
|
|
2021 |
Ultreia el Rapolao Bierzo Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$63 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2023): The 2021 Ultreia Rapolao aged exclusively in a 1,000-liter oak foudre that was used before for a white wine and seems to have marked the wine with abundant toasty notes and a spicy twist, with notes of toasted sesame seeds even if the wine only spent 10 months in wood. It has medium-ripeness, moderate alcohol (13%) and a medium-bodied palate with a tender mouthfeel and oak-related flavors in the finish. Is it going to digest the oak nicely? 1,200 bottles produced. |
|
| | Germany |
| Schafer-Frohlich |
2024 |
Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$88.99 |
20 |
|
| |
| VM 95-97 (9/2025): The 2024 Riesling Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Grosses Gewächs is from a site where 65% of the fruit was lost to frost. This is comprised of pretty much all that could be picked from this porphyry site in the middle and upper terraces of the slope. It vibrates with yeastiness imbued with vivid passion fruit aromas. The palate is straight as an arrow and naked in its stoniness yet buffered in its lemony freshness. Linearity, slenderness and brightness make this ring long. (Bone-dry) Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2024 |
Felseneck Riesling Kabinett |
$46.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (9/2025): The 2024 Riesling Bockenauer Felseneck Kabinett trembles with flintiness. It was picked from three terraces that turn southwest, getting sun just a little later but basking in the evening sun, especially later in the year. The palate is absolutely light, pure, stony and salty, with a spray of citrus fruit. This may be Kabinett, it may have residual sweetness, but the 2024 is not sweet at all. It is full of slate and lemon notes of absolute brightness and precision, like a Japanese blade. (Dry). Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2024 |
Felseneck Riesling Spatlese Goldkapsel |
$59.99 |
10 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (9/2025): The 2024 Riesling Bockenauer Felseneck Spätlese Goldkapsel was made from the oldest vines in the site that are up to 55 years old. A touch of moss mixes in with that flinty, lemony smoke note. Utter finesse, weightlessness and linearity define the palate. This cuts like a diamond, with far more precision than power and more depth than muscle. It is exquisite, merely medium sweet and such a well of lemon purity and verve. (Medium). Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2024 |
Fruhlingsplatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$87.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 94-96 (9/2025): The 2024 Riesling Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Grosses Gewächs hails from red Permian sandstone and vines that are at least 50 years old. Superb savor holds red clover, red apple and tangy citrus notes. All the freshness is subsumed into a beautiful, smooth, elongated core that stretches onto the cool, salty, tingling finish. (Bone-dry). Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2024 |
Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$87.99 |
23 |
|
| |
| VM 95-97 (9/2025): The 2024 Riesling Monzinger Halenberg Grosses Gewächs, from Devonian slate, has a gorgeous flinty lift and smoky allure. A touch of lemon flickers between smoke and flint but takes over on the palate. More air adds superb zesty freshness. Its linearity, directness and direction drill deep into the stone. This may be slender, but it leaves a distinct impression. The 2024 is pure, profound and supple yet so svelte. (Bone-dry). Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2024 |
Stromberg Riesling Grosses Gewaches |
$88.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 97-99 (9/2025): The 2024 Riesling Bockenauer Stromberg Grosses Gewächs was largely made from 100-year-old vines (Fröhlich's oldest) rooted in porphyry. Its flinty reduction is perfumed with crushed passion fruit foliage and chervil. This has sinus-clearing lift and absolute poise. The palate is taut, bright and concentrated, with an immense zestiness of tangerine and grapefruit notes. They tingle with aroma and yet this has the firmest, sveltest core. The 2024 is thrilling, pure, long, pervasive and otherworldly. (Bone-dry). Anne Krebiehl. |
|
| Thomas Haag |
2016 |
Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96 (4/2018): The 2016 Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese displays clear, fresh and exotic fruit with a highly delicate slate spiciness. Lush and highly elegant, with mouth-filling but highly refined and elegant fruit and very fine crystallinity, this is a terribly fine and filigreed as well as sensual and persistent Helden Auslese. Perfectly balanced, with a mouthwatering and charming finish. Tasted March 2018.
VM 91 (1/2018): Very ripe but fresh peach and muskmelon are mingled with pink grapefruit and lightly shrouded in musky, dusty scents. The glycerol-rich, subtly creamy palate is lusciously fruity with the grapefruit serving to enhance an exotic sense of ripeness but also to supply a modicum of welcome citric juiciness and zest. Hints of brown spice add to the allure of an impressively persistent finish, albeit not one exhibiting the clarity, brightness or mineral dimension displayed by the best wines in this latest Schloss Lieser collection. While Haag reports having harvested very little nobly rotten fruit, this wine certainly strikes me as significantly influenced by botrytis, with both virtues and drawbacks. (Drink between 2017-2035). David Schildknecht. |
|
| Weingut Emrich-Schonleber |
2022 |
Monzinger Fruhlingspatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$66.99 |
15 |
|
| |
| VM 93-95 (9/2023): The 2022 Riesling Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Grosses Gewächs opens with a sunny, friendly creaminess, and a slight overtone of mango sets an accent. The palate is serene, bright, absolutely focused on lemon and a little lemony pith, but with a luminous, slender creaminess. The textural aspect holds spice, which is not apparent yet but will reveal itself. It also gives structure to this light, bright, filigree wine. Subtle length extends that lovely, gentle pithiness. Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2021 |
Monzinger Fruhlingsplatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$69 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 97 (12/2022): Werner Schönleber served the 2021 Frühlingsplätzchen GG after the Halenberg, which has never been the case here in 20 years, but knowing Werner's passion for the purity and freshness of this terroir, this makes completely sense. I remember I liked the 2019 Frühlingsplätzchen better than the Halenberg when it was young, and also from the 2021 vintage I adore the purity, brightness and flinty finesse of the Frühlingsplätzchen which is definitely the brighter, uplifted and purer Riesling. The finish is enormously salty and savory and reveals lemon fruit bitters on the aftertaste. This is life from stone, and it has a damn serious, very long and saline finish. Natural cork. 12% stated alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in August 2022.
JS 95 (7/2022): Complex nose of pink and yellow grapefruit, peach and spring flowers. A super-elegant, dry Nahe riesling that marries plenty of juicy fruit with excellent concentration and vibrant minerality that leaps out at you. A slew of wild-berry and rose-hip character adds to the excitement at the dangerously crisp, wet-stone finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. |
|
| Weingut Georg Gustav Huff |
2020 |
Hipping Riesling Alte Reben |
$39.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 96 (11/2021): So much star fruit, pink grapefruit and white peach on the nose, knocking you back slightly in the first moment. As bright as a rocket leaving the launch-pad in the direction of Mars, this dry riesling from the red soils of one of Nierstein’s top sites is super-straight and focused, the breathtaking, fresh finish intensely citrus and mineral. Drink or hold. |
|
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2016 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (375 ML) AP 77530101317 |
$49 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (4/2018): “You had to search all across the surface of Hermannshöhle to find any significant amount of botrytis this year,” explained Dönnhoff, adding that this wine, no less than last year’s remarkable pair of TBAs, was only possible thanks to the much larger share of this site that the Dönnhoffs control since they swapped Kupfergrube for Hermannshöhle with Gut Hermannsberg. Ripe white peach, pear, fig and pineapple colorfully, almost riotously dominate the nose and the luscious, glycerol-slicked, dense yet delightfully buoyant palate. Piquant peach kernel and pear seed supply welcome counterpoint and green herbal notes provide counteracting coolness, while an influx of quince reminds me of this year’s two Spätlesen, though here it takes jellied form. The wine’s high residual sugar is completely tamed, so if “Auslese Goldkapsel” has you imagining something conspicuously sweet, think again. But the taming isn’t thanks to extreme acidity. “You have to be careful that nobly sweet Riesling remains taut [straff] but doesn’t become too harsh [streng],” observed Dönnhoff. “I mean, there are BAs and TBAs nowadays that need decades before they would even become pleasant to drink!” Not a problem here. The finish is sustained as energetically as it is richly. (375 ml.) “You had to search all across the surface of Hermannshöhle to find any significant amount of botrytis this year,” explained Dönnhoff, adding that this wine, no less than last year’s remarkable pair of TBAs, was only possible thanks to the much larger share of this site that the Dönnhoffs control since they swapped Kupfergrube for Hermannshöhle with Gut Hermannsberg. Ripe white peach, pear, fig and pineapple colorfully, almost riotously dominate the nose and the luscious, glycerol-slicked, dense yet delightfully buoyant palate. Piquant peach kernel and pear seed supply welcome counterpoint and green herbal notes provide counteracting coolness, while an influx of quince reminds me of this year’s two Spätlesen, though here it takes jellied form. The wine’s high residual sugar is completely tamed, so if “Auslese Goldkapsel” has you imagining something conspicuously sweet, think again. But the taming isn’t thanks to extreme acidity. “You have to be careful that nobly sweet Riesling remains taut [straff] but doesn’t become too harsh [streng],” observed Dönnhoff. “I mean, there are BAs and TBAs nowadays that need decades before they would even become pleasant to drink!” Not a problem here. The finish is sustained as energetically as it is richly. (Drink between 2018-2046). David Schildknecht. |
|
|
2018 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (375 ML) |
$45 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (6/2020): Like its Brücke counterpart, this Auslese reflects genuinely botrytis-free grapes, said Dönnhoff, but ones that were too numerous and too high in sugar to use elsewhere, “and certainly not in the Grosses Gewächs, which would then have ended up with 14% alcohol.” Sea breeze on the nose intimates the sweet-saline savor of raw scallop that emerges on this wine’s lusciously lingering, mouthwateringly umami-rich finish. White peach and quince preserves feature throughout, reinforced on the soothingly creamy palate by nougat-like nut essences. There is an animating, juicy fresh-fruit aspect as well, and a wonderful sense of both focus and transparency to stony and ore-like nuances. (Drink between 2020-2050). Dvid Schildknecht. |
|
|
2021 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
JS 99 (7/2022): This shimmers like gold, and the succulence of this wine makes it extremely hard not to swallow, then to immediately reach for the bottle. Very dense and complex, with a level of energy that makes you wonder where it comes from and how this could be possible. Super-long finish that’s so intense and delicate. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.
WA 95 (8/2022): From the southeast-facing part of the vineyard, the 2021 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese is very clear, pure and flinty on the concentrated nose. Sweet, refined and very elegant on the palate, this is a weightless, saline and filigreed, playful Spätlese with great balance and delicacy. Not dramatic but quiet and in beautiful balance. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022. |
|
|
2013 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (375 ML) AP 77530102114 |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (1/2015): The 2013 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese has a very clear and precise bouquet of slightly cooked apples and lemons. Piquant on the palate this is a very bright, firmly structured and salty wine with a great and complex length. It is precise and very juicy but always piquant and salty. A great and stimulating Auslese. |
|
|
2019 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| JS 97 (8/2020): If you dream of the great German rieslings of the 1970s and 1980s, then this is a wine for you, even though it is riper and more concentrated than those icons of the past. In spite of the abundant generosity, this has a very long, distinctly cool finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. |
|
|
2021 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (7/2022): What an expressive and exotic nose this remarkable Spatlese has, but that’s really the least of it. The giant energy and mineral freshness are like a whale rising from the depths and blowing water out if its spout. Then comes a cornucopia of fruit at the finish, the brilliance and finesse of which makes it really hard to describe. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.
WA 94 (8/2022): Pure, precise and bright on the nose, with delicately flinty and spicy aromas, the 2021 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese is a fabulously piquant and stimulating Spätlese with mineral intensity, complexity, grip and tension, as if there were electric wires in this wine. It's enormously vital and stimulating. 8.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in July 2022. |
|
| Weingut Max Ferd. Richter |
2019 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett |
$35 |
14 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2020): From 80-year-old vines predominantly from the original Sonnenuhr plot below the sundial, the 2019 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett opens with still reductive, sulfuric yet also beautifully floral, bright and elegant fruit aromas that indicate remarkable delicacy. Round and finessed on the elegant and refined palate, this is a very intense, sweet and persistently salty-mineral WSU with great finesse and length. Persistently salty. Tasted at the domain in September 2020. |
|
| | Italy |
| Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino |
2013 |
Barolo Cascina Dardi-Bussia |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (9/2018): This is a terrific wine that absolutely stands out in a crowd. The 2013 Barolo Riserva Bussia Cascina Dardi is a studied and careful Nebbiolo that shows delightful intensity, with precision, balance and sharpness, and an equally generous mouthfeel. That clarity of aromas is impressive. You get wild berry, pressed rose, black licorice and polished river stone. This wine ages in oak for 48 months. With only 6,000 bottles made, this wine is worth seeking out. |
|
|
2013 |
Barolo Riserva Cascina Dardi-Bussia |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (9/2018): This is a terrific wine that absolutely stands out in a crowd. The 2013 Barolo Riserva Bussia Cascina Dardi is a studied and careful Nebbiolo that shows delightful intensity, with precision, balance and sharpness, and an equally generous mouthfeel. That clarity of aromas is impressive. You get wild berry, pressed rose, black licorice and polished river stone. This wine ages in oak for 48 months. |
|
| Altesino |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$64 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (1/2020): The Altesino 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful depth and latitude, with broad fruit aromas of dark cherry and cassis that recall the warmth and golden sunlight of the vintage. The wine is deceivingly streamlined in terms of mouthfeel, but that slim and buttoned-down backbone supports a broad range of flavors and sensations, from lavender essence and camphor ash to moist soil and toasted spice. All of these elements are delivered with impressive harmony and unity, and I expect that this wine will continue on a slow, steady and satisfying aging trajectory over the next 10 years or more. Fruit is sourced from across 21 hectares of vines with tufaceous limestone soils and Alberese rock, which contributes to the freshness and balanced structure of the wine. The wine was bottled in June 2019 (with 150,000 bottles made), and this wine was released in January 2020.
JS 95 (9/2019): Terracotta, earth, iron filings, cedar and leather make for an undergrowth-driven Brunello 2015, which doesn’t fall short in the fruit department either, where there are red plums and red cherries. The tannins are neatly stacked, one on top of the other, with tidy acidity drawing in vibrant fruit and keeping it taut throughout. Balanced and stylish. Drink from 2023.
VM 93 (4/2020): Altesino's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers a rich yet classic expression of Sangiovese fruit, showing ripe red berries coated in dusty earth tones, with hints of leather and dried florals completing the picture. On the palate, brisk acids frame silky textures, creating a polished expression of red and black fruits, savory spice and saline-minerals. The finish is long yet fresh, as cooling mint and licorice tones carry remnants of red berry fruit hovering above a core of fine tannins. Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$49.95 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2023): The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality).
JD 95 (2/2024): Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick.
VM 94 (12/2023): A dark ruby color in the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a beguiling blend of dusty earth, crushed rocks, savory herbs and dried roses. This is racy and sleek, with vividly ripe wild berry fruits elevated by orange and sage, all guided by vibrant acidity. Grippy tannins take control through the finish, yet the mouth is left watering for more as a bitter licorice tinge and dark chocolate adds a crunchy sensation. Eric Guido. |
|
| Argiano |
2010 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$90 |
3 |
|
| |
| JS 98 (12/2014): An unforgiving and powerfully structured wine with fabulous grilled meat and granite stone character with dried berry and flower petal. Full body, chewy and intense. Great structure and extremely long and intense. Sexy austerity. Gets the juices going. Best ever from here. Reminds me of the great Argianos of the 1970s but now! Better in 2017 or 2018. |
|
|
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 97 (10/2020): A very polished red with cloves and caramel, on top of black cherries, mushrooms and forest floor. Black olives, too. It's full-bodied with polished tannins and lovely depth all the way through. Lightly chewy. Juicy black-cherries and savory black-olive character. Complex. Drink after 2025.
VM 94 (11/2020): The 2016 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino shows sweet herbs and tobacco with hints of mocha and cedar spice box. It’s silky in texture, coasting across a medium-bodied frame while giving way to tart red berries, with grippy tannins mounting toward the close. A cooling wave of minty herbs and licorice adds much needed freshness, bringing the 2016 into balance throughout the youthfully structured finale. While this was hard to read and quite backward upon opening, it blossomed beautifully in the glass over time. Eric Guido.
WA 94 (11/2020): The Argiano 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows a lovely transparency to its appearance and follows with lifted red fruit aromas, cassis, wild cherry and blue flower. It is made with a simple approach, fermented in cement tank and aged slowly in oak, and the fruit comes from a 22-hectare site with limestone marl soils. It delivers a lightness and a weightlessness that is not often ascribed to this vintage. No worries, the power of 2016 comes through at the very end in terms of tannins and structure. This ample release of 115,000 bottles will be ready to drink after 2023 when the wine has had time to open and flesh out. |
|
| Azelia (Luigi Scavino) |
2015 |
Barolo San Rocco |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2019): There is a lot of fruit ripeness in the 2015 Barolo San Rocco, with blackberry, wild berry, plush softness, spice and licorice. The fruit is nicely balanced and shows bright intensity. Located in Serralunga d'Alba, San Rocco was purchased by Luigi Scavino's father in the 1990s. The vines are 65 years old today.
VM 93+ (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo San Rocco is the most potent and structured of the Azelia Barolos. Swaths of tannin enshroud this tightly wound, classically austere Barolo. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a few years. This is one of the more reticent young Barolos I have tasted at Azelia. (Drink between 2023-2041). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Brovia |
2020 |
Barolo |
$54 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (1/2025): The Brovia 2020 Barolo is a beautifully balanced wine that delivers a twofold punch of intensity and complexity. Village Barolo hardly gets better than this. The wine shows extreme sharpness and focus with small berry fruit, mica rock, blue flower and toasted coriander seed. Fruit represents a blend of Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba, so you get the aromatic focus of the first village with the power and intensity of the second. This is one of the best blended Barolos on the market today.
VM 92 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo is an absolute joy. Deep, layered and super-expressive, the 2020 is striking in its sheer appeal. Readers will find a generous Barolo that drinks well today. The Brovia Barolo is typically a 10-15-year wine. I imagine that will be the case here as well. Cedar, new leather, kirsch, pine, mint and red-toned fruit build into the caressing finish. The straight Barolo is built on a core of fruit from Brea and Gianetto, plus bits from Rocche di Castiglione, Villero and Garblèt Sue'. It is aged exclusively in 100HL Slavonian oak. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$54 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (1/2025): The Brovia 2020 Barolo is a beautifully balanced wine that delivers a twofold punch of intensity and complexity. Village Barolo hardly gets better than this. The wine shows extreme sharpness and focus with small berry fruit, mica rock, blue flower and toasted coriander seed. Fruit represents a blend of Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba, so you get the aromatic focus of the first village with the power and intensity of the second. This is one of the best blended Barolos on the market today.
VM 92 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo is an absolute joy. Deep, layered and super-expressive, the 2020 is striking in its sheer appeal. Readers will find a generous Barolo that drinks well today. The Brovia Barolo is typically a 10-15-year wine. I imagine that will be the case here as well. Cedar, new leather, kirsch, pine, mint and red-toned fruit build into the caressing finish. The straight Barolo is built on a core of fruit from Brea and Gianetto, plus bits from Rocche di Castiglione, Villero and Garblèt Sue'. It is aged exclusively in 100HL Slavonian oak. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo Rocche di Castiglione |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2022): Alex Sanchez makes memorable wines. His Brovia 2018 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione hits close to home, as this vineyard in Castiglione Falletto is especially elegant and well managed. The wine shows pinpoint precision with small berry nuances, wildflower and crushed stone. The mineral signature adds beautiful focus.
VM 89 (2/2022): Brovia's 2018 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione opens with pretty aromatics that are such a signature of this site. Crushed flowers, mint, tobacco, cedar and sweet red cherry lend quite a bit of perfume. On the palate, the Rocche is a bit light, but it offers good balance and a fine sense of proportion within the context of the year. It's hard to get past the short, abrupt finish. The charm and seduction of Rocche are missing. (Drink between 2024-2038). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Castellare di Castellina |
2009 |
Coniale Toscana IGT |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (8/2013): A super rich Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2009 Coniale mirrors the same themes of elegance and abundance seen in the other wines from Castellare di Castellina. Black fruit, leather and spice add muscle and staying power. Despite the wine’s massive power and concentration, it also reveals unmistakable finesse in the way its various elements are so seamlessly integrated. Tiny details of tar, black licorice and rosemary sprig add to its overall complexity and give it an all-Italian personality. The aging potential is great. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2033. |
|
| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2015 |
Sammarco |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 98 (7/2019): I love the meatiness to this wine, but also the purity of fruit; think charcuterie, prosciutto, bay leaf, capsicum, blueberries, blackcurrants and crushed stones. You just can’t get over the way this manages to deliver a powerful, muscular package with stunning finesse and poise. The tapestry of intricate texture and detail is wrought in a flashy but sincere and heartwarming style. The balance takes your breath away. Best ever from here. Impossible to resist now, but better from 2025.
WA 95 (9/2019): The 2015 Sammarco (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese) shines the brightest spotlight onto the Cabernet Sauvignon element, and you can immediately make out the distinctive sharpness and structure of that variety. The bouquet offers notes of black fruit, toasted spice and grilled herb, along with wild flower, terracotta and tilled earth. There is some spice on the close, and the tannins do leave their mark with youthful astringency. Give the wine some time in the cellar, and one day it will be fantastic with a tagliatelle and porcini. |
|
|
2019 |
Sammarco |
$65.99 |
16 |
|
| |
WA 96 (9/2023): A blend of (organic and biodynamic) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, the 2019 Sammarco is more austere and even robust compared to the punchier style prized throughout this portfolio. This is a firmly grounded wine, with a bigger baseline of aromas, spanning black fruit, baked plum, spice, tobacco and crushed limestone. You feel the natural concentration of the 2019 vintage and beautifully managed tannins in this wine. This is a release of 25,837 bottles and 292 magnums.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2019 Sammarco is a very pretty, elegant wine with gorgeous aromatic intensity from the Cabernet Sauvignon that makes up the majority of the blend this year. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, dried cherry, incense and crushed leaves lend notable aromatic presence to this young, nascent Sammarco. Time in the glass brings out striking inner perfume and sweetness. In 2019, Sammarco is more finesse than power. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cavallotto |
2015 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2019): I had tasted this wine from barrel last year, and the wine was already shaping up beautifully back then. Staying the course, the 2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis shows extreme elegance and finesse. These are the characteristics of what is surely one of the most beautiful vineyard sites in Barolo. The Bricco Boschis cru affords a panoramic view onto much of the Langhe, with snowcapped Alps in the background. Barolo from Castiglione Falletto tends to show characteristics that are very fine, precise and linear. That's fundamentally what you get here despite the more exuberant and fleshy 2015 vintage. This wine is truly beautiful. Some 27,700 bottles were made.
VM 91 (11/2019): Cavallotto's 2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis is pretty and open-knit, not to mention incredibly delicious in the early going. In some vintages, the Bricco Boschis can be imposing, but the 2015 is radiant and supple, with no hard edges and tons of sheer appeal. Bright red fruit, floral and spice overtones build as this racy, inviting Barolo shows off its considerable appeal. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (5/2023): The 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis pours a deep ruby and has spiced and enveloping aromatics of cigar box, leather, pure red cherry, and turned earth. This medium-bodied red is approachable and graceful, with moderate tannins and good concentration in its notes of Earl Grey tea, blood orange, and raspberry liqueur. Drink 2024-2044. Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (6/2022): The Cavallotto 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis (a certified organic wine) is a lovely expression with fruit from one of the most beautiful sites in Castiglione Falletto, measuring 7.3 hectares. The wine is streamlined and tight with forest berry, blackcurrant and spice. It is taut and silky, showing fruit that has been shaped by cool nights and warm days. Bricco Boschis always delivers a special sense of sharpness and focus. Production is 23,747 bottles and 1,333 magnums.
VM 92+ (2/2022): Cavallotto’s 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a powerhouse. A blast of sweet dark cherry, menthol, licorice, gravel and incense hits the palate. Youthful and quite strapping in terms of its presence, the 2018 holds quite a bit of promise. That’s the good news. But readers will have to be patient, as the tannins are quite searing at this stage for a wine that has typically been a bit more forthcoming. This is an especially serious edition of the Bricco Boschis Barolo. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Elvio Cogno |
2017 |
Barolo Cascina Nuova |
$61.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 95 (3/2021): Attractive dried strawberry with cherry and tar on the nose. Full-bodied with powerful tannins that are dusty and intense. Very flavorful and long. Solid as a rock. Needs at least three or four years to soften and come together.
WA 93 (6/2021): This wine is a sure bet from Elvio Cogno and such a steal. The 2017 Barolo Cascina Nuova delivers ample intensity and power. In this regard, it keeps faithfully in line with the expectations of a hot vintage that rendered more concentrated and sweeter fruit. However, the expert winemaking team at this estate has been able to manage any excesses or hints of over-ripeness. These are solid results with 20,000 bottles available.
JD 93 (5/2021): The 2017 Barolo Cascina Nuova is perfumed with ripe cherry, licorice, tar, and dried roses. The palate is ripe and refreshing, with a fairly classic build noted by red plum, tobacco leaf, and turned earth. This wine is beautiful and inviting out of the gates or drink 2022-2036. |
|
|
2013 |
Barolo Ravera |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 97 (2/2017): Wonderful complexity and subtlety here with firmness. Aromas of orange peel, stones, walnuts and dark fruits. Medium to full body, plenty of fruit and a racy finish. A beauty. Drink or hold.
WA 95 (8/2017): This is a stunningly precise expression of Nebbiolo that shows exceptionally well in this vintage. The 2013 Barolo Ravera benefits from slightly higher altitudes that help to develop the singular linearity and focus of the wine. If many other celebrated crus, such as Cannubi and Brunate, exist at 250 to 350 meters, Ravera starts at 380 meters. That higher positioning means that fruit is harvested as much as ten days after the other sites. This wine offers a savory vein with iron and pencil shaving. But it also fills out generously over the palate with dark fruit and spice. This Barolo promise a long aging future.
VM 93+ (2/2017): The 2013 Barolo Ravera is dark, powerful and inviting. Here the flavors tend towards the darker end of Nebbiolo spectrum, with firm supporting tannins that add to an impression of power. Sweet spice, leather and plum notes develop as the wine gains volume in the glass. Today, the 2013 is powerful and tightly wound. Historically, the Ravera has needed a few years to unwind. I expect that will be the case here as well. |
|
| Fattoria di Felsina |
2004 |
Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2008): I have tasted Felsina’s 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia on at least three separate occasions and have never been anything less than deeply impressed. This is a serious Chianti endowed with endless layers of sweet dark cherries, smoke, minerals, flowers and sweet toasted oak. With air the layers fill out, revealing an expansive, richly-textured wine of pure breed. At times the wine has been incredibly primary and brooding, while at other times it has shown the sheer power it holds in reserve. This is a great effort from Felsina. Simply put, it is a wine fit for kings and queens. Rancia also happens to be one of the finest values in wine today. Needless to say, it is highly recommended. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.
VM 95 (8/2007): Impressive dark ruby color. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, plum, mint and cigar box, all lifted by a mineral element. Dense and rich, combining pinot noir-like texture and refinement with syrah-like flavors of rare meat and raspberry liqueur. This boasts a wonderfully tactile feel and a remarkably long, palate-staining finish. A great Chianti with loads of personality. |
|
|
2010 |
Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2013): The 2010 Chianti Classico Reserva Rancia is chiseled and focused. It offers a full spectrum of Sangiovese characteristics with balsamic herb and medicinal tones followed by crushed stone and delicate clove or nutmeg. Rancia is equally impressive in the mouth with firm structure and enduring fruit flavors. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. |
|
|
2016 |
Fontalloro |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (5/2019): The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more.
VM 96 (8/2019): The 2016 Fontalloro is bold, hearty and deeply flavored, with all of the Sangiovese wildness that is so typical of Fontalloro. Ripe dark cherry, grilled herbs, smoke, leather, game and incense are some of the many aromas and flavors that open up in a potent, virile Fontalloro loaded with personality and character. In so many ways, 2016 is THE archetype of what Fontalloro is - a Sangiovese that is a bit wild and unruly but also full of charm. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fattoria Galardi |
2006 |
Terra di Lavoro Roccamonfina IGT |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (8/2010): I am thrilled with the 2006 Terra di Lavoro, which easily lives up to the praise I bestowed upon it last year. This wasn’t an easy vintage for Galardi. The weather was uneven, and a drastic selection was necessary in the cellar. Overall production was even lower in 2006 than in 2005, but the estate’s commitment to quality paid off in a big way. The 2006 Terra di Lavoro presents an intriguing combination of compelling inner sweetness wrapped around a firm, imposing frame. This is a very Barolo-like Terra di Lavoro that gradually opens up to reveal is pedigree, with endless layers of fruit and an eternal finish. Readers who own the 2006 are fortunate, but significant patience is required. This is a majestic Terra di Lavoro. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2036.
JS 95 (8/2013): Fresh aromas of herbs and dark fruits such as blackberries and bramble berries. It's minerally too with a volcanic ash undertone. Full and silky with lots of fruit and a long, intense finish. Superb quality. Beautiful now. Made from organically grown grapes: 80 percent Aglianico and 20 percent Piedirosso. |
|
| Fattoria le Pupille |
2018 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96+ (1/2021): The 2018 Saffredi is a regal, elegant, supremely polished wine. It may very well be the most refined Saffredi I have ever tasted. Silky in its first impression, with striking aromatic presence and exceptional balance, the 2018 is a total knock-out. Sweet red cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and cinnamon accents develop over time, but it is the wine’s overall balance and poise that are so impressive today. The 2018 is an absolutely gorgeous Saffredi. It spent 20 months in French oak barrels, about 65% new. Don’t miss it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 97 (7/2020): A fantastic nose to this with currant, sage, rosemary and rose-petal character. Sweet tobacco and spicy chocolate, too. Very complex. The palate shows lovely depth of fruit with blackberries, blackcurrants and fine tannins. It’s racy and refined with a direct, focused palate. Just a baby. A blend of cabernet sauvignon 60%, merlot 32% and petite verdot 8%. This needs at least two or three years to soften. Try in 2023.
WA 96 (11/2020): The Fattoria le Pupille 2018 Saffredi borrows quite a bit from all of the grapes that make up the blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot). These balanced results open to a round bouquet of dark fruit, black cherry and plum. As the wine warms in the glass, it shows spice, cured tobacco and campfire embers. This is a full-bodied expression, but not excessively so. It puts forth immediate elegance with carefully measured tannins and a fitting postscript of fresh acidity. This newest vintage of Saffredi should be hitting the market now, but if you buy it, you should plan on cellaring it. |
|
| G.D. Vajra |
2017 |
Barolo Bricco dell Viole |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96 (5/2021): The 2017 Barolo Bricco Delle Viole is the darker fruited of the G.D. Vajra sites and has rounded floral aromatics of crushed roses, resin, and cranberry cocktail. The palate is ripe and inviting, with building structure and notes of fresh red cherry, blood orange, and clove. The warmth of the vintage is felt without sacrificing lift. Drink 2025-2050The G.D. Vajra estate is based within the commune of Barolo, where Giuseppe and Aldo Vajra helm the winemaking responsibilities. Giuseppe, who took more of a leadership role in 2008, has been instrumental in continuing to develop the family estate, while Isonzo Vajra leads in vineyard management. Most recently they have completed the expansion of their cellar space, and they are also releasing their wines a touch later to allow the additional time in bottle to soften any harsh edges. As of the 2019 vintage, both the G.D.Vajra and Luigi Baudana estates are certified organic. (Drink between 2025-2050).
VM 95 (2/2021): The 2017 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is classy and elegant to the core. Medium in body and wonderfully translucent, the 2017 captures all of the finesse of this site. Naturally, the 2017 also shows the ripeness of the year, but it retains its sublime sense of poise. The 2017 Bricco delle Viole is one of the clear stand outs of the year. (Drink between 2025-2042). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (6/2021): The G.D. Vajra 2017 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is packed with medium dark cherry fruit and plum. The wine also shows a savory side, with spice, hazelnut cream, licorice and lightly fragrant potting soil. This vintage sits solid on the palate, wrapping thickly over the senses, thanks to its creamy, fruit-driven consistency and well-managed tannins. These vines are high in elevation, ranging from 400 to 480 meters in altitude. Those higher elevations are key to interpreting a vintage that saw heat such as this. |
|
| Girolamo Russo |
2021 |
Etna Rosso San Lorenzo |
$73.99 |
10 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is a very exciting wine with so much energy and verve. It opens to lean-bodied concentration with a brilliant ruby shine. The wine shows a long array of wild fruit and tiny berry aromas backed by crushed white pepper and crushed stone. San Lorenzo is one of the most impressive interpretations of Etna. I highly recommend you try and cellar this wine. |
|
| Le Ragnaie |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$63.95 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2024): A beautiful cologne lifts from the glass of the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino, which pours a red/orange-tinged color. Aromas of wild cherries, truffles, bittersweet chocolate, and dried orange peel are followed by a medium to full-bodied red with fine, coiled tannins, a linear feel, and refreshing lift all the way through the finish. I love the tertiary notes that come through, and this wine will only improve and gain in complexity over time. Drink 2025-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 95 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows delicate aromas of blue flower, redcurrant, cranberry and potting soils. It has all the basic components of a classic Sangiovese. Fruit is sourced from across the estate vineyard holdings ranging from 200 to 600 meters above sea level, or the ceiling of the appellation. Baking spice is delivered to the palate with silky, almost glossy tannins. The mouthfeel is extremely fine. This is a very Burgundian Brunello, with 38,500 bottles made.
VM 93 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly in the glass, dusty and floral, with depths of dark red fruit and exotic spice. This is silky smooth with medium-bodied textures and vibrant acidity that propels its tart wild berry fruits and mineral tones as rosy inner florals race across the palate. It tapers off with admirable length and concentration. Crunchy tannins frame the experience without slowing its momentum. The 2019 is a gorgeous blend of vintage and house style. Don't miss it. (Drink between 2025-2035). Eric Guido. |
|
| Luigi Maffini |
2021 |
Pietraincatenata Fiano |
$39.99 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (6/2023): The 2021 Fiano Pietraincatenata takes things to a whole new level. A mesmerizing blend of grapefruit, lime zest and peach finds a beautiful balance through a whiff of sweet smoke as this warms in the glass. It's silky upon entry yet salty to the core. An intense burst of citrus and minerals complicates its green apple fruit. The 2021 lingers incredibly long, full of tension and invigorating, yet still aching for the cellar. The 2021 is simply gorgeous today, yet still a youngster. Lose a few in the cellar and reap the rewards. Luigi Maffini knocked this one out of the park. (Drink between 2025-2031). Eric Guido. |
|
| M. Marengo |
2017 |
Barolo Brunate |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 95 (6/2021): A red with lovely ripe strawberry, spice and some flowers and leather. Dried orange peel, too. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins that are slightly mouth-puckering. It’s structured and rather powerful. Needs time to soften. Give it three or four years to soften. Try after 2024.
VM 94 (2/2021): The 2017 Barolo Brunate shows why this is such a highly-regarded site. Powerful and deep, the 2017 has enough fruit and pedigree to keep the formidable tannins in check. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, leather, licorice and menthol gain volume as the 2017 opens in the glass. This brooding Barolo needs time in bottle, but it is pretty compelling, even in the early going. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2021): With fruit from La Morra, the 2017 Barolo Brunate presents a taut and tight bouquet of candied cherry, violets, orange peel and iron ore. The aromas are fluid and agile, yet they are also quite polished and focused. Indeed, this Brunate offers the greatest degree of complexity and sheer depth in this portfolio from the Marengo family of La Morra. Again, we see those extra tight tannins that are such a common feature of Barolo wines from the hot and dry 2017 vintage. This was a release of 4,800 bottles. |
|
| Montepeloso |
2009 |
Eneo |
$53 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (6/2012): The 2009 Eneo is impressive for its sensual personality and overall finesse. Dark red cherries, flowers, licorice, tobacco and flowers all come together beautifully in the glass as this refined, elegant wine shows off its pedigree. Layers of flavor build to the textured, suave finish. This Sangiovese-based red has maintained considerable freshness and vibrancy. Sweet floral and spiced notes linger on the understated finish. The blend is 45% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 15% Marselan and 5% Alicante Bouschet. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Eneo Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (6/2012): The 2009 Eneo is impressive for its sensual personality and overall finesse. Dark red cherries, flowers, licorice, tobacco and flowers all come together beautifully in the glass as this refined, elegant wine shows off its pedigree. Layers of flavor build to the textured, suave finish. This Sangiovese-based red has maintained considerable freshness and vibrancy. Sweet floral and spiced notes linger on the understated finish. The blend is 45% Sangiovese, 35% Montepulciano, 15% Marselan and 5% Alicante Bouschet. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2010 |
Eneo |
$54 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (8/2013): One of the great wines of this vintage, the 2010 Eneo is dazzling. Subtle hints of earthiness, new leather, smoke, bacon fat, tobacco and savory herbs meld into a core of expressive dark red/black fruit. Nuanced and delicate, yet immensely powerful, the 2010 Eneo has it all. The 2010 keeps getting better and better in the glass. I imagine it will be spectacular in another few years. Actually, it already is. Eneo is the largest production of Montepeloso's three top reds, which will make it easier to find. Readers will not want to miss the superb wine. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are the core of Eneo, while dollops of Alicante and Marsellan round out the blend. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Montevetrano |
2008 |
Montevetrano Rosso Colli di Salerno IGT |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (8/2010): The 2008 Montevetrano is almost impossibly young at this stage. Loaded with the essence of black cherry liqueur, minerals and spices, the wine conquers the palate with layers of richly structured fruit. The 2008 is full of raw, vinous energy, yet it is possible to get a sense of the brilliant future that lies ahead from the way the wine continues to develop beautifully in the glass. In 2008 climactic conditions were much more normal than 2007, with a healthy alternation of temperatures that favored the development of expressive aromatics and firm structure. Today the 2008 looks to be a fabulous Montevetrano, but my sense is it is first headed for a period of stubbornness before it emerges once again. (Drink between 2018-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Paolo Scavino |
2016 |
Barolo |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (7/2020): Showing Enrico Scavino's signature at the bottom of the label, this is a classic expression of Barolo. The Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo offers impeccable balance and an all-pleasing approach. There is something for everyone, especially die-hard Nebbiolo lovers, with energy, power, aromatic finesse and elegant tannins. Fruit for this wine is sourced from a half-dozen vineyard sites from across the appellation, so you get some of the power of Serralunga d'Alba and the precision of Castiglione Falletto. The scope of this wine is wide and broad, offering sweeping panoramic views of this unique grape from Piedmont. This is a terrific value.
VM 89 (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo is supple, forward and easy to like. Sweet macerated cherry, mint, cinnamon and orange peel are nicely pushed forward in this racy, beautifully open-knit Barolo from the Scavino family. Drink it over the next handful of years. The 2016 is just lovely, and a real pleasure to drink. (Drink between 2021-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pio Cesare |
1997 |
Barolo |
$89 |
8 |
|
| |
JS 95 (6/2013): Holding on beautifully, with lovely prunes, crushed flowers, and cedar on the nose and palate. Round textured with a ripe, caressing, sleek finish.
WA 90-92 (6/2001): The 1997 Barolo was performing well prior to bottling. Broad, sweet, fat flavors with considerable glycerin and alcohol are present in this full-bodied, structured, powerful, muscular Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020.
VM 89-90 (12/2000): Good deep red-ruby. Very ripe, slightly rustic aromas of gun flint, leather and licorice. Fat, sweet and rich, with gun flint, leather and mineral flavors. Substantial chewy tannins show a hint of astringency. |
|
|
1997 |
Barolo Signs of Old Seepage |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
JS 95 (6/2013): Holding on beautifully, with lovely prunes, crushed flowers, and cedar on the nose and palate. Round textured with a ripe, caressing, sleek finish.
WA 90-92 (6/2001): The 1997 Barolo was performing well prior to bottling. Broad, sweet, fat flavors with considerable glycerin and alcohol are present in this full-bodied, structured, powerful, muscular Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020.
VM 89-90 (12/2000): Good deep red-ruby. Very ripe, slightly rustic aromas of gun flint, leather and licorice. Fat, sweet and rich, with gun flint, leather and mineral flavors. Substantial chewy tannins show a hint of astringency. |
|
| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2019 |
Barbaresco Bin-Soiled Label |
$39 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94-95 (5/2023): There is a more pronounced mineral and delicately spiced character to the 2019 Barbaresco, with notes of wet asphalt and kirsch and vibrant purity. It has elegant concentration, with fine coiled tannins in its hints of tea leaves, bergamot, and ripe wild raspberry, and has a more pronounced structure, This is a fantastic expression. Drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick.
JS 93 (8/2022): This is extremely floral and bright on the nose with lavender, violets and dark berries. Orange peel too. Full-bodied and solid with firm tannins and a tight finish. Better in 2024.
VM 91 (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco is a gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next 15-20 years, give or take. Sweet, floral and open, the 2019 offers lovely brightness and energy to match its mid-weight, nervy feel. Sweet dried cherry, mint, crushed flowers and savory notes all grace this soft, understated Barbaresco from the Produttori. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva |
$74 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95+ (10/2018): One of the many highlights in this range, the Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is superb. A big enrobing wine, the Montestefano wraps around the palate with stunning depth. Today, the Montestefano is utterly embryonic, and yet it exudes depth, resonance and pure class. The Montestefano is one of the more complete wines in the range because of the way it deftly balances fruit intensity and structure. Readers will have to be patient, though. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Barbaresco Ovello Riserva |
$74 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (10/2018): The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is bright and piercing, as it so often is, and yet it also has more than enough fruit to fill out its mid-weight, energetic frame. Pine, mint, crushed rocks and sweet red plum build into the huge, piercing finish. The Ovello is another wine in this range that demands patience. Even in the early going it is super impressive. The 2014 s an unusually dense, packed Ovello. It should be terrific in another few years' time. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Renato Corino |
2010 |
Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (1/2014): A big, sweeping wine, Corino's 2010 Barolo Rocche Annunziata bursts from the glass with layers of sweet, intensely perfumed dark red fruit, flowers, mint, licorice and sweet spices. A vivid, striking wine, the 2010 flows across the palate with superb depth and purity. The creamy, textured finish is pure Rocche. This may very well be the finest Rocche Renato Corino has ever made, and that includes the 1990.The young Nebbiolo tannins are there, but they are virtually covered by the richness of the fruit. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Siro Pacenti |
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (3/2021): The aromatics of the 2016 Pelagrilli are dark fruited and luxurious, with supple oak, warm baking spice, vanilla, and fresh black plum. The palate is consistent and inviting, with silky tannin and a rounded mouthfeel, with notes of cocoa and dried black cherry. Modern styled, it displays generous wood tones that are polished and which I believe will be well-integrated with some time. Enjoy over the next 15 years.Located northeast of the town of Montalcino, Giancarlo Pacenti has helmed this estate since 1988, when he first began to bottle the family’s wine under the Siro Pacenti label. (Drink between 2021-2036). Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (11/2020): Siro Pacenti is the estate behind some of the most contemporary and fruit-froward wines made in Montalcino. That said, the wines can sometimes feel a bit monotone and lacking in nuance because of the very powerful oak (especially when tasted this young). For sure, the Siro Pacenti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is decidedly more focused on black fruit aromas rather than red fruit brightness, and it follows through with a healthy delivery of cedar, toasted spice, pencil shaving and campfire ash. Blackberry, fresh prune and plum cede to those oak-driven aromas. Like the other wines from this producer, I found that the oak tannins are not approachable in the near term. You really need to give this wine more time in the bottle. Siro Pacenti farms beautiful and carefully manicured vineyards on the north side of Montalcino.
VM 92 (12/2021): Tart cherries come together with nuances of dried flowers, citrus and old spice box as the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli opens in the glass. It’s silky and round, yet a core of salty minerality creates a savory tension, as bright red berries and inner florals amass toward the close. This finishes lightly structured with tart fruits and a hint of wild herbs. The Pelagrilli comes from the winery’s vineyards in the north, where the higher content of clay adds an attractively plush weight, which, coupled with 24 months in barrique, makes for a wonderfully opulent but balanced wine. (Drink between 2023-2030). Eric Guido. |
|
| Sottimano |
2021 |
Barbaresco Basarin ex-Domaine |
$71.89 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 95 (5/2025): A jeweled ruby color, the 2021 Barbaresco Basarin reveals more depth on the nose, with elegant aromas of cedar, preserved cranberries, licorice, pretty hints of BBQ spices, and pressed flowers. While it remains medium-framed, it fills and expands on the palate, with broad-shouldered, ripe tannins, even acidity, and notes of dark stones on the finish. It’s deceptive upfront, with a generous ripeness of fruit initially masking its more noble underlying structure. Drink this over the next 15 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 95 (1/2025): Andrea Sottimano says 2021 was one of the best vintages he has seen. There was a lot of snow during the winter that created abundant water reserves lasting throughout the summer. It was a late-ripening vintage, with cool nights, and Andrea harvested until his birthday on October 24th. The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is expressive and complex with very precise aromas of cassis, navel orange, pulverized stone and licorice root. The tannins are chalky, and the wine offers a pretty sense of lingering sweetness. Winemaking is traditional, with up to three months of submerged cap and aging in botti. Fruit comes from a three-hectare site in Neive with old vines on white soils. Production is 9,000 bottles.
VM 94 (10/2024): The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is fabulous. Rich, ample and seductive, the Basarin marries the charm that is so typical of this sector with the breadth and structure of Barbaresco. These two qualities are evident in tasting this after the 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo. Transparent and vibrant, the 2021 has so much to offer. Crushed rose petals, mint, orange peel, spice, tobacco and incense build into the long, sustained finish. This is even better than it was last year. Antonio Galloni |
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|
2021 |
Barbaresco Basarin ex-Domaine |
$71.89 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 95 (5/2025): A jeweled ruby color, the 2021 Barbaresco Basarin reveals more depth on the nose, with elegant aromas of cedar, preserved cranberries, licorice, pretty hints of BBQ spices, and pressed flowers. While it remains medium-framed, it fills and expands on the palate, with broad-shouldered, ripe tannins, even acidity, and notes of dark stones on the finish. It’s deceptive upfront, with a generous ripeness of fruit initially masking its more noble underlying structure. Drink this over the next 15 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 95 (1/2025): Andrea Sottimano says 2021 was one of the best vintages he has seen. There was a lot of snow during the winter that created abundant water reserves lasting throughout the summer. It was a late-ripening vintage, with cool nights, and Andrea harvested until his birthday on October 24th. The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is expressive and complex with very precise aromas of cassis, navel orange, pulverized stone and licorice root. The tannins are chalky, and the wine offers a pretty sense of lingering sweetness. Winemaking is traditional, with up to three months of submerged cap and aging in botti. Fruit comes from a three-hectare site in Neive with old vines on white soils. Production is 9,000 bottles.
VM 94 (10/2024): The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is fabulous. Rich, ample and seductive, the Basarin marries the charm that is so typical of this sector with the breadth and structure of Barbaresco. These two qualities are evident in tasting this after the 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo. Transparent and vibrant, the 2021 has so much to offer. Crushed rose petals, mint, orange peel, spice, tobacco and incense build into the long, sustained finish. This is even better than it was last year. Antonio Galloni |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine |
$74.95 |
54 |
|
| |
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. |
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|
2021 |
Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine |
$66.95 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 97 (5/2025): The 2021 Barbaresco Cotta also sports a bright red color in the glass. It has a pure and seductive nose leading with aromas of wild raspberries, anise, sweet tea, and floral perfume. The palate is inviting and more approachable out of the gate, with ripe tannins, a floating, medium-bodied frame, and pretty notes of apricot lingering on the finish. It’s hard to resist now, but it should have plenty of longevity over the coming 15-20 or more years. Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (10/2024): The 2021 Barbaresco Cottá is quite the powerhouse. As usual, it is marked by a huge mid-palate of fruit, but more classic winemaking these days keeps that in check while also adding the notable structural dimension to balance things out. Black cherry, licorice, incense, graphite, tobacco and scorched earth all build in a virile, potent Barbaresco to treasure for the next two decades. This has come together beautifully since I tasted it last year. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2014 |
Barbaresco Curra ex-Domaine |
$89.99 |
35 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2019): Whoa, this is a wine with great potential, but the 2014 Barbaresco Currá needs at least another two years to just chill out. It's way too tightly wound at the moment. This vineyard is right next door to Cottà, but the Currà (the accents here reflect the real spelling of these MGA crus) is a whole different animal altogether. The soil that lies underground accounts for the difference. This Barbaresco is closed and hard if released too early, and this vintage definitely needs more time to show that elegance, which is bound to be remarkable when it does. The fabric of the mouthfeel is different, to say the least, but there is much more complexity as well. Some 3,000 bottles were made.
VM 94 (10/2017): Bright aromatics and veins of incisive tannin give the 2014 Barbaresco Currà its energy and drive. Like all of these 2014s, the Currà has a bit more volume and textural depth than is typically the case, along with sweeter, riper tannins. To be released in 2018. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Barbaresco Curra ex-Domaine |
$82.99 |
26 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2023): Released one year later than the other Barbarescos in this portfolio, the Sottimano 2019 Barbaresco Currá brings the intensity up a notch and not just in terms of dark fruit and cassis. The wine's mineral profile is more pronounced and, in careful moderation, so is the oak toast and spice delivery. There are more distinct elements here, all played forward with great intensity, that ultimately reach a place of excellent balance and endurance. Sadly, only 2,000 bottles emerged from this 1.6-hectare vineyard site in Neive.
VM 94 (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco Currà is another stellar wine in this range from Sottimano. Deep and authoritative, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and textural intensity. Incisive Currà tannins are present, but they are pretty much buried by the sheer richness of the fruit. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Barbaresco Curra ex-Domaine |
$89.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Currà is an infant, but it is stellar. Wild, savory and intensely perfumed, the 2020 is super-expressive of place. The Currà is the deepest of the 2020s, also the most backward. I would not be in any rush to open bottles. Black fruit, leather, tobacco and cloves add to an impression of brooding intensity. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2025): This wine is released one year later than the other Barbarescos in this portfolio. The Sottimano 2020 Barbaresco Currá reveals an open-knit character with immediate tones of tart cherry, dried raspberry and lavender sachet. There is an inherent sweetness to those fruit and floral aromas, and the wine remains contained in terms of mouthfeel thanks to its mid-weight texture. Fruit comes from a 1.5-hectare parcel in Nieve with 40- and 50-year-old vines. Given the warmth of the vintage, I recommend a near- or medium-term drinking window for this 3,000-bottle release. |
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|
2021 |
Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine |
$71.95 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (5/2025): The 2021 Barbaresco Fausoni is a bright red color and leads with a detailed and elegant bouquet of dried roses, pomegranate, toasted incense, and dusty earth. It’s bright and medium-bodied, with focused acidity, finely coiled and nervous tannins, and a clean, savory finish. It feels a bit wound up, but who are patient should be rewarded over the coming 15 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 96+ (10/2024): The 2021 Barbaresco Fausoni is bright, nervy and finely cut. Crushed rocks, white pepper, incense, red fruit, pink grapefruit and orange peel all scream out of the glass. Nervy and sinewy, with tons of top-end brightness, the Fausoni is a rock star. But it's also a wine for readers who appreciated the more linear, classically austere style of Barbaresco. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine |
$71.95 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (5/2025): The 2021 Barbaresco Fausoni is a bright red color and leads with a detailed and elegant bouquet of dried roses, pomegranate, toasted incense, and dusty earth. It’s bright and medium-bodied, with focused acidity, finely coiled and nervous tannins, and a clean, savory finish. It feels a bit wound up, but who are patient should be rewarded over the coming 15 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 96+ (10/2024): The 2021 Barbaresco Fausoni is bright, nervy and finely cut. Crushed rocks, white pepper, incense, red fruit, pink grapefruit and orange peel all scream out of the glass. Nervy and sinewy, with tons of top-end brightness, the Fausoni is a rock star. But it's also a wine for readers who appreciated the more linear, classically austere style of Barbaresco. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$85.99 |
10 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2022): The 2018 Barbaresco Pajorè is quite closed. It shows all the translucent elegance of all the wines in the range. Spice, mineral, melted road tar, rose petal, leather and lavender bring out the darker, more balsamic inflections of Nebbiolo. This potent, structured Barbaresco is quite backward today. Readers need to be especially patient. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2021): With fruit from Treiso, the 2018 Barbaresco Pajore shows a lot of shape and depth, all supported by generous but carefully balanced fruit. The bouquet is layered with summer cherry and dried cassis, with earthy tones, camphor ash and powdered licorice. You also get a whiff of crushed flowers or roses. This is an extremely silky and elegant wine with only 6,000 bottles produced.
JD 94 (5/2021): Of the 2018s, the 2018 Barbaresco Pajore has the darkest profile, with dried cherry, tobacco, mint, and cedar. Savory with blood orange, red plum skin, and turned earth, more firm tannins build, with more modest acidity. Drink 2024-2035. |
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|
2019 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$67.99 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2022): Here's a beautifully elegant and fine expression of Nebbiolo from Treiso. The Sottimano 2019 Barbaresco Pajoré shows an earthy personality with crushed stone and potting soil that frame a pretty core of red and purple fruits. I love the depth and complexity of this wine and the slightly more structured tannins that give this wine power and importance.
JD 94 (5/2021): Of the 2018s, the 2018 Barbaresco Pajore has the darkest profile, with dried cherry, tobacco, mint, and cedar. Savory with blood orange, red plum skin, and turned earth, more firm tannins build, with more modest acidity. Drink 2024-2035.
VM 93+ (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco Pajorè is dense and quite closed in on itself. Then again, that is Pajorè. There's terrific depth and density here, but not quite the power of some recent releases. That's not a bad thing, as the more restrained style allows the nuance to come through. This is an especially refined edition of the Pajorè. Today, the Pajorè is quite compact and a bit of a bruiser, but there's terrific fruit intensity that just needs time to blossom. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Barbaresco Pajore |
$65.89 |
3 |
|
| |
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. |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$65.89 |
9 |
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| |
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. |
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| Talenti |
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (11/2020): The Talenti 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a balanced and symmetrical wine with bright red cherry on the one hand and pretty spice and balsam herb on the other. The wine pours from the bottle with dark color saturation and ruby highlights. It shows no signs of fading, and that bright color intensity is a common thread in this vintage. There is a good amount of Sangiovese acidity that reinforces the lifted and buoyant style achieved here. It ages in both tonneau and botte for 30 months. Production is 35,000 bottles.
VM 94 (11/2020): The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a striking display of balsamic-tinged cherry and autumnal spice with a twist of sour citrus really appealing to the senses. It’s silky and pliant with a gorgeous display of ripe red and hints of black fruit. There’s a sweet and sour element here that I find quite attractive, as the 2016 gains a tactile feel toward the close through a mix of brisk acids and rounded tannins. The length and classic structure on the finish completes the expression, leaving dark florals and mineral earth tones. Talenti remains one of the best values in age-worthy Brunello in the market. That said, it’s also worth checking in on a bottle early to enjoy all of its primary intensity. Eric Guido. |
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| Trediberri |
2020 |
Barolo Berri |
$59 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo Berri is the bomb. Rich, racy and explosive, the 2020 Berri remains one of the very best wines in this young estate's history. It has started to close down a bit, especially in its aromatics, but its purity of fruit—the quality I have always admired most—is still very much present. What a wine! (Drink between 2026-2038). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (5/2024): Tasted from the bottle, the 2020 Barolo Berri is a ripe ruby color and is fruity on the nose, with black raspberries, fresh lavender, candied orange, and wet stones. It has a rounded feel on the palate, with ripe tannins and offers a more immediate feel. It’s gorgeous now but also has a great mineral backbone and the freshness and elegance to age gracefully. This approachable red is going to drink well over the next 12-15 years. Audrey Frick. |
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| | Port |
| Taylor |
2011 |
Port |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96-98 (6/2013): The 2011 Taylor’s Vintage 2011 has a multifaceted, Pandora’s Box of a nose that is mercurial in the glass: cassis at first before blackberry and raspberry politely ask it to move aside, followed by wilted rose petals and Dorset plum. Returning after one 45 minutes that nose has shut up shop. The palate is sweet and sensual on the entry, plush and opulent, with copious black cherries, boysenberry and cassis fruit, curiously more reminiscent of Fonseca! It just glides across the palate with a mouth-coating, glycerine-tinged finish that has a wonderful lightness of touch, demonstrating how Vintage Port is so much more accessible in its youth nowadays. But don’t let that fool you into dismissing the seriousness or magnitude of this Outstanding Taylor’s. Tasted May 2013. |
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| | USA Red |
| Agharta |
2005 |
Black Label Syrah |
$45 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (2/2011): After the mind-blowing 2004 Agharta Syrah, I had high expectations that it would be followed by additional great wines, and those hopes were answered with the 2005 Black Label, a blend of 97% Syrah, 2% Grenache and 1% Viognier. Aged 64 months (which must be a record in California) in 30% new French oak, it is another spectacular effort from winemaker/proprietor Pax Mahle. It boasts a gorgeously dense plum/purple color as well as stunning notes of black raspberries, gun flint, blackberries, licorice and camphor. This complex red builds incrementally on the palate resulting in a full-bodied, concentrated, complex wine that is bursting at the seams and loaded with potential. It should continue to evolve for another 12-15+ years. |
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| Alban Vineyards |
2011 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94-96 (8/2015): All of the 2011 Syrahs will be in bottle by the time you read this. The 2011 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard offers a cool-climate, pretty and perfumed style to go with lots of pepper, violets, iodine and dark fruits, with just a hint of vanilla and oak. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, with bright acidity and fine tannin, it's a Northern Rhone look-alike that will have 15-20 years of longevity.
VM 92-94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Energetic black and blue fruit scents, with notes of olive paste and candied violet adding complexity. Shows very good focus and lift to its sweet boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors, gaining weight and sweetness with aeration. Finishes with excellent power and persistence, leaving peppery spice and cola notes behind. Quite Old World in style and structure, showing no excess fat or undue warmth. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Anakota |
2009 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (1/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard explodes from the glass with wonderfully profound, expressive notions of baked plums, Black Forest cake, chargrill, molten rocks, tapenade and woodsmoke with nuances of dried flowers, bay leaves, truffles and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied and firm, with fantastic freshness, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and savory layers, finishing on a lingering savory note.
VM 93 (7/2019): Bright medium ruby. Musky aromas of blue and black fruits, violet, licorice and minerals, complicated by a liqueur-like suggestion and some sexy oak tones. Densely packed and fine-grained, conveying lovely inner-mouth mineral lift as well as a distinct thickness of texture to its flavors of dark fruits, spices and crushed rock. This wonderfully suave yet penetrating Cabernet offers a terrific combination of sweetness, vibrancy and definition. Finishes tactile and very long. Delicious! (14.5% alcohol) (Drink between 2019-2033). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2010 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2013): The same can be said for the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard. However, it offers sweeter tannins as well as slightly more evolved and complex aromas of unsmoked, high class cigar tobacco, graphite, blackberries, cassis, spring flowers and a distinctive minerality. Although deep, full-bodied and backward, the sweet fruit and tannin provide a more upfront character than the 2009. It, too, is a 30-50-year wine.
VM 93 (5/2020): Bright ruby to the rim. Musky aromas of mountain blackberry and minerals, plus a whiff of leather and a violet high note. Plush, broad and utterly seamless on entry, but with the lively violet element giving definition to the fully ripe, sweet black fruits in the middle palate. A wave of fine tannins dusts the palate and teeth on the sweet but youthfully medicinal back end, which boasts terrific, slow-building length. This beauty delivers wonderfully plush fruit and considerable power without coming across as hot. (from a vineyard planted at 750 feet) (Drink between 2020-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2010 |
Helena Montana Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard is cut from the same cloth. Its opaque purple color and sweet creme de cassis fruit intermixed with crushed rock and forest floor notes lead to a broad, rich, full-bodied mouthfeel with excruciatingly high tannins and intense power and richness. It should be forgotten for at least a decade.
VM 93+ (5/2020): Saturated ruby to the rim. The nose shows more mineral lift but less fruit expressiveness than the Helena Dakota, offering hints of blackberry, cassis, menthol, flowers and spices. Sweet, dense and fine-grained but quite powerful too, conveying strong rocky minerality and verve. A bit less pliant on the finish than the Helena Dakota but the firm tannins are ripe and suave. Really stains the palate with violet. A higher-pitched wine than the Helena Dakota and a bit more tightly wound, reflecting its vineyard's somewhat higher altitude, but with its lovely floral lift and superb definition, this boasts outstanding potential for further development in bottle. (from a vineyard at 950 feet) (Drink between 2022-2037). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
2006 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2009): The 2006 Eloge’s dark plum/ruby color is followed by a sweet kiss of plum, black cherry, earth, licorice, and spice box, a medium to full-bodied wine, abundant tannin, and impressive concentration, purity, and overall complexity. Reasonably evolved, and extremely seductive aromatically, with a slightly structured finish, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years. It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot. |
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|
2008 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2010): One of the few wineries to make a 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve that eclipsed its 2007 counterpart is Anderson’s Conn Valley. A spectacular effort that is as black as a moonless night, this full-bodied wine boasts abundant aromas of creme de cassis, camphor and subtle oak presented in a voluptuously textured, full-bodied style with terrific richness and depth. Great intensity and opulence as well as a layered mouthfeel make for a remarkable wine that should age for 20-30+ years.
VM 90 (12/2011): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve comes across as a bit chunky and four-squared. Dark berries, worn-in leather, licorice and spices are some of the notes that flow from this medium bodied Cabernet. This is pleasing despite some elements of rusticity. Sweet herbs, licorice and leather linger on the finish. I especially like the way the wine blossoms in the glass. |
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|
2009 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (12/2012): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is rich, sumptuous and totally gorgeous. Plums, black currants, blackberries, menthol, licorice and sweet herbs jump from the glass as this intense, full-bodied wine shows off its considerable personality. Layers of fruit flow effortlessly as the 2009 continues to open up over time. This is a gorgeous 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 92 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is quite a bit juicier than the 2008. Layers of dark red fruit, flowers, licorice and oak are some of the notes that flow from the glass. The percentage of new oak (60%) is up a little over previous years, but the wine won't be released until next year, and there is more than enough fruit to think the 2009 will shape up beautifully with more time in bottle. |
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|
2010 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (11/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is fabulous. It is also the best of the 2010s at the estate. A rich, powerful Cabernet, the 2010 captures the essence of the vintage. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, spices and tobacco all take shape in the glass. Today, the 2010 is firing on all cylinders. A huge, explosive finish rounds things out in style. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Andrew Will |
2007 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 95 (9/2016): Shockingly good and rivaling the Sorella in terms of quality, the 2007 Champoux Vineyard (52% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot) offers layered, floral characteristics intermixed with ample wild herbs, olive, dark fruits and earth. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with seriously impressive purity and length on the finish, its impeccable balance will keep this drinking nicely through 2031.
VM 91+ (11/2009): Bright ruby-red. Medicinal blackberry and violet aromas are accompanied by a slightly decadent quality. Deep, broad and rich, conveying an extremely ripe dried-fruit impression. This is most impressive today on the back half, where it spreads out impressively to coat the palate, and where the big, broad tannins serve to accentuate rather than cut off the wine's fruit. Stphen Tanzer. |
|
|
2008 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2011): The 2008 Champoux Vineyard is made up of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. It sports an inviting bouquet of sandalwood, rose petal, Asian spices, a hint of leather, black currant, and blackberry. This is followed by a succulent, plush, pleasure-bent wine that deftly conceals enough structure to evolve for 5-7 years. It offers a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2028+.
VM 91 (11/2011): Bright ruby-red. Spicy redcurrant and nutty oak on the nose and palate. Sweet, broad and concentrated, with concentrated currant fruit given a slightly dry edge by substantial dusty tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2012 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 95 (1/2018): Chris's 2012 Champoux Vineyard is a sensational wine that offers rich, full-bodied notes of black currants, toasted spice, minerality, plums and wild herbs in a concentrated, deep, layered profile. A serious, concentrated and age-worthy wine, give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Bravo! (Drink between 2020-2040)
WA 94+ (6/2015): One of the more backwards, structured efforts, the 2012 Champoux Vineyard is a blend of 64% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon that was raised in 35% new French oak. Full-bodied, serious and loaded with tannin, it offers impressive currant and darker fruits, tobacco leaf and crushed rock like aromas and flavors that continue to gain depth and richness with time in the glass. It should hit full maturity at around age 10, and nicely for a decade or more after that.
VM 94 (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Brooding aromas of blackberry, cassis, black cherry and chocolate, with a hint of violet lift from the Cabernet Franc. Supple, saline and vinous, offering superb energy and definition to its concentrated purple fruit and cocoa powder flavors. Conveys a strong impression of soil character. Finishes with a firm spine of fine-grained tannins and terrific verve and length. An outstanding showing today. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2015 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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WA 97 (6/2018): The 2015 Champoux Vineyard is stunning, busting from the glass with a precocious bouquet of ripe cherries, minty blackberries, violets and anise. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and almost voluptuous, with velvety, melting tannins that frame a succulent core of beautifully delineated fruit. The finish is long and fragrant. Infinitely seductive and exquisitely balanced, I struggle to remember an Andrew Will Champoux that was quite this delicious straight out of the gates, yet the wine clearly has the potential to evolve for two decades. The 2015 is a blend of 51% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
JD 96 (4/2018): The 2015 Champoux is a beauty. Concentrated, rich, full-bodied and layered, it offers a rocking nose of blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, iodine, and salty minerality. Ripe, rounded, and opulent, yet with good freshness and purity, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for two decades. I was able to taste both the 2014s and 2015s from Vashon Island-based Andrew Will, which is run by Chris Camarda. As always, Chris releases two appellation blends (Esploso and Sorella) and a bevy of single vineyard blends from some of the top sites in Washington State (Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Mays’ Discovery, and Two Blondes. Readers looking for classic, age-worthy Bordeaux blends from the United States can’t go wrong here and these wines continue to fly too far under the radar. Give these a try! (Drink between 2020-2040).
VM 92+ (11/2018): Bright ruby-red. Brooding aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate and violet Concentrated, sappy, dense and energetic, conveying a pungent, slightly herbal inky character that suggests somewhat less consistent ripeness than the Sorella is showing today. The primary flavors of cassis, blackberry, violet and herbs show a strong medicinal element. This densely packed but lively wine finishes with serious but smooth tannins that call for patience. An impressively structured Merlot-based blend. (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2016 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
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JD 97 (4/2019): One of the finest examples of this cuvée I’ve tasted is the 2016 Champoux Vineyard, which comes from one of the top terroirs in the state and is in the slightly cooler Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The blend in 2016 is 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc, all aged 18 months in just 25% new French oak. Young, full-bodied, and primordial, it has incredible potential but is going to need 4-5 years of bottle age. Thrilling notes of blueberries, cassis, lead pencil shavings, and bouquet garni all define the bouquet and it has remarkable purity and elegance. It picks up more floral and high-toned notes with time in the glass and is a brilliant bottle of wine that will keep for 2-3 decades. Readers looking for classic, age-worthy Bordeaux blends that will stand up with the best out there need to give the wines of Andrew Will a serious look. These are classic, balanced wines that deserve more attention in the market. (Drink between 2019-2044).
WA 94+ (12/2019): A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Champoux Vineyard opens with a rich and ripe expression of dark, dusty fruit interlaced with supporting oak tones on the nose. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, dark cherry, black plum and cassis flood the palate with a structured focus and mineral tension. The fruit structure becomes a touch grippy across the mid-palate, showing firm tannins and representing a style that plays the middle ground between the Ciel du Cheval and Two Blondes bottlings in the same range. The wine ends with a long, complex finish—worth your time and money.
VM 92+ (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, cassis and bitter chocolate on the nose; displaying more oak today than the Ciel du Cheval. Densely packed and still rather tight, showing a higher pitch than the Ciel du Cheval blend, with less early pliancy and sweetness but more penetration to its flavors of dark berries and black cherry accented by licorice and bitter chocolate. A bit more powerful on the firm, long, resounding finish but less nuanced today than the Ciel. This may need more time for its firm dusty tannins to soften. Like the Ciel, this is a Merlot-heavy wine with real shape and structure. (15.1% alcohol) (Drink between 2022-2030). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2012 |
Ciel du Cheval Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
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WA 95 (9/2016): A gorgeous wine that's loaded with that candied lavender, violets, lead pencil shavings, black cherries and licorice aromas and flavors that define this terroir, the 2012 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is full-bodied, elegant and silky on the palate. It has polished tannin, impeccable balance between its alcohol, tannin and acidity, and a great finish. It's another beauty that will still benefit from short term cellaring and keep through 2032.
VM 92+ (12/2014): Saturated medium ruby. Superripe aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate and black walnut. Lush, sweet and chocolatey, with some very ripe notes to its dark fruit and nutty oak flavors. A bit musclebound and unrefined today, in need of time in bottle to shed some of its baby fat. Finishes with big, chewy, tongue-dusting tannins and repeating notes of burnished oak. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2010 |
Sorella Champoux Vyd. |
$75 |
2 |
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VM 94+ (11/2013): Deep, dark bright ruby. Pungent aromas and flavors of black raspberry, blueberry, licorice and lavender are accented by a minty high note. Sweet, dense and inviting; at once seriously structured and light on its feet. This very intense, youthful wine finishes very long, with harmonious acidity, noble broad tannins and a savory saline complexity. From a crop level under three tons per acre, according to Chris Camarda, and it shows. Another beauty for the cellar. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 94 (6/2013): The top wine of the estate, the 2010 Sorella (meaning “sister” in Italian and made to honor Chris’ sister) is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc that spent the standard 21 months in barrel. Loaded with promise, it has a decidedly pure, classy and detailed bouquet of black currant, graphite, licorice, roasted meats and singed herbs. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it still holds onto the overall elegance and finesse driven style of the estate and delivers a seamless texture, chewy tannin and serious minerality on the finish. As with Chris’ other 2010s, short-term cellaring is warranted here and upwards of two decades of longevity should be expected. Drink 2015-2030. |
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2012 |
Sorella Champoux Vyd. |
$85 |
4 |
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JD 97 (1/2018): Similar to the Champoux release, the 2012 Sorella is another killer wine from Chris Camarda. Its inky purple color is followed by classic Cabernet notes of crème de cassis, spiced plums, graphite, and crushed rock, and it has a firm, tannic style on the palate that just begs for bottle age. Forget this beauty for 5-6 years and enjoy bottles through 2042. (Drink between 2022-2040).
WA 96 (9/2016): Continuing to drink brilliantly, the 2012 Sorella is up with the creme de la creme of the vintage. Its deep ruby color is followed by a full-bodied, rich and layered 2012 that boasts fabulous notes of creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, graphite, mineral and toasted bread. Like all of Chris's 2012s, it's still a baby, yet its impeccable balance and purity allow it to dish out tons of pleasure, even today. Nevertheless, it needs 3-5 years of cellaring and will have 25-30 years of overall longevity.
VM 93 (12/2014): Bright medium ruby. Superripe aromas of blackberry, cassis, mocha, coffee and molten bitter chocolate, complemented by nutty oak tones. Plush, dense and fine-grained, offer outstanding concentration and a lightly saline character to the flavors of dark berries, mocha and coffee. Nicely vinous for all its ripeness even if it doesn’t show quite the lift or grip of the Champoux Vineyard blend. The big, tongue-dusting tannins arrive late, allowing the fruit to glisten on the long finish. This has plenty of structure to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
Sorella Champoux Vyd. |
$85 |
2 |
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WA 98 (6/2018): The 2015 Sorella is superb, unwinding in the glass with a youthful but already complex bouquet of crushed cassis, cherries, pencil shavings, subtle cigar smoke and espresso roast. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a rock-solid core, juicy acids and a beautifully fine-grained but firm chassis of structuring tannins. If it's the most promising of these 2015s from Chris Camarda, it's also the most backward and in need of cellaring, and as the track record of this bottling demonstrates, its tenth birthday will be just the beginning of the excitement.
JD 96+ (4/2018): The flagship 2015 Sorella Champoux Vineyard is another include Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend that’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Cassis, black raspberries, toasted spice, candle wax and graphite notes all emerge from this tight, concentrated, fresh beauty that really needs 4-5 years of bottle age. A wine that gains depth with time in the glass, it has fine tannin, beautiful balance, and a classic, elegant style. I was able to taste both the 2014s and 2015s from Vashon Island-based Andrew Will, which is run by Chris Camarda. As always, Chris releases two appellation blends (Esploso and Sorella) and a bevy of single vineyard blends from some of the top sites in Washington State (Champoux, Ciel du Cheval, Mays’ Discovery, and Two Blondes. Readers looking for classic, age-worthy Bordeaux blends from the United States can’t go wrong here and these wines continue to fly too far under the radar. Give these a try! (Drink between 2022-2042).
VM 91+ (11/2018): Dark ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of blackberry and licorice are lifted by violet and spice notes. Suave and expressive, conveying a distinctly juicy character to its dark berry and spice flavors. Already shows a captivating glossiness to its fruit but its firm tannic spine calls for some patience. (Drink between 2019-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2016 |
Sorella Champoux Vyd. |
$85 |
2 |
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JD 99 (4/2019): Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Sorella checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% each of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. Coming all from the Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, its saturated purple color is followed by a La Mission Haut Brion-like bouquet of black and blue fruits, gravelly, minerality, smoke tobacco, and chocolate. Deep, multi-dimensional, full-bodied, and with beautiful complexity, it’s a magical wine as well as the finest wine from this estate to date. Bravo! Readers looking for classic, age-worthy Bordeaux blends that will stand up with the best out there need to give the wines of Andrew Will a serious look. These are classic, balanced wines that deserve more attention in the market. (Drink between 2022-2047).
WA 96+ (12/2019): The 2016 Sorella is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. The plump, juicy nose exudes aromas of luxurious, elegant fruit characteristics of ripe blackberry and dark plum along with a layered core of oak and a structured floral bouquet. Exciting and thought-provoking on the full-bodied palate, fruit and oak spices radiate with the precision and focus of world-class wine, building to a plushier, fruit-forward expression on the mid-palate yet showing a mineral focus. The finish is long and winding, with layers that continue to evolve in the mouth, unfolding to a generous and intricate lingering expression. Only 472 cases were made, and it will be your lucky day if you can add some of this stellar wine to your cellar. Bravo!
VM 91+ (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Brooding scents of blackberry, blueberry, licorice, menthol and graphite. Dense but sharply delineated and penetrating, with black and blue fruit flavors conveying terrific energy and juiciness that mask the wine's thickness. Still, this can't quite match the more Merlot-based Champoux Vineyard blend for density. This wine boasts serious Cabernet Sauvignon structure, finishing with lovely mounting violet lift and length. Firmly tannic but not hard. This, too, should evolve slowly but even today it's balanced and enjoyable. I suppose it's a bit more tannic and less pliant than the Andrew Will '16s that contain more Merlot, but none of these wines lack for definition or spine. (15.2% alcohol; just 30% new oak; Will Camarda noted that the winery is cutting back on use of new barrels) (Drink between 2021-2029). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2007 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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WA 96 (8/2010): Andrew Wills' flagship wine is called Sorella; the 2007 Sorella, sourced entirely from the Champoux Vineyard, one of Washington's finest sites, is made up of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Aromas of toasty oak, espresso, Asian spices, incense, black currant, and blackberry lead to a firmly structured wine with impeccable balance and serious aging potential. This pleasure-bent offering will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2032, perhaps longer.
VM 91+ (12/2009): (72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 3% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and berry skin aromas are lifted by a floral note. Supple, sweet and densely packed, with savory and floral notes adding interest to the smooth dark berry flavors, and ripe, harmonious acidity giving shape and energy to the wine. Youthfully medicinal in a positive way. Finishes with big, broad tannins and flavors of dark fruits and licorice pastille that dust the entire palate. This may ultimately merit an even higher score. |
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2007 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
3 |
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WA 96 (8/2010): Andrew Wills' flagship wine is called Sorella; the 2007 Sorella, sourced entirely from the Champoux Vineyard, one of Washington's finest sites, is made up of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Aromas of toasty oak, espresso, Asian spices, incense, black currant, and blackberry lead to a firmly structured wine with impeccable balance and serious aging potential. This pleasure-bent offering will offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2032, perhaps longer.
VM 91+ (12/2009): (72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 10% merlot and 3% petit verdot) Bright ruby-red. Cassis, black cherry and berry skin aromas are lifted by a floral note. Supple, sweet and densely packed, with savory and floral notes adding interest to the smooth dark berry flavors, and ripe, harmonious acidity giving shape and energy to the wine. Youthfully medicinal in a positive way. Finishes with big, broad tannins and flavors of dark fruits and licorice pastille that dust the entire palate. This may ultimately merit an even higher score. |
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2008 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
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VM 95 (10/2011): (80% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc and 6% merlot): Red-ruby. Sexy aromas of plum, brown spices and cedary oak. Sweet, fresh and concentrated, with brisk, intense flavors of raspberry, sandalwood and cocoa powder. Terrific lift to the fruit. Finishes impressively long, with noble tannins and palate-staining sweetness. A knockout.
WA 92 (8/2011): The 2008 Sorella lacks the mind-boggling personality of the great 2007 although it is still an Outstanding effort. It displays a bit of heat and lacks the length of its predecessor. |
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| Arietta |
2018 |
Variation One Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
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| VM 96 (1/2021): The 2018 Variation One is positively stellar. Deep, inky and explosive, with striking depth, the 2018 is a meaty, powerful wine loaded with character. Black cherry fruit, chocolate, game, licorice and dried wild herbs infuse the 2018 with tremendous density. Co-fermented Syrah and Merlot are magical here. The 2018 opens beautifully with a bit of time in the glass, but its best days clearly lie ahead. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Arterberry Maresh |
2016 |
Maresh Vyd Pinot Noir |
$59 |
3 |
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| VM 95 (6/2019): Translucent red. Vibrant, spice- and mineral-accented red berry liqueur and floral pastille aromas pick up succulent herb and smoky mineral nuances with air. Juicy and animated on the palate, offering expansive raspberry, cherry preserve, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and turn sweeter on the back half. Closes extremely long and floral, with resonating red fruit and mineral character and silky, enrobed tannins that lend subtle grip. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Beau Vigne |
2013 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
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| WA 96 (12/2015): A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet has a similar style but seems even more opaque purple, with loads of blueberry and blackberry fruit, some white flowers, licorice, baking spices and a touch of asphalt. It has a long, full-bodied, massively rich mouthfeel and finish, without any heaviness. It’s a beauty to drink over the next quarter century as well. |
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2006 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
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| WA 96 (12/2008): Absolutely profound is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which clearly puts Beau Vigne alongside the Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet as one of the stars of Stags Leap. A wine of great intensity, exceptional power, and admirable grace as well as equilibrium, this full-bodied 2006 offers beautifully sweet creme de cassis, licorice, spice box, and toasty oak characteristics. Multidimensional, with a layered mid-palate, and a finish that lasts 45+ seconds, it will benefit from some bottle age, although it is accessible enough to be drunk now. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. This small boutique operation (nine acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and one acre of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) sits on a knoll in the Stags Leap viticultural area. Although somewhat under the radar among the top Napa producers, Beau Vigne’s offerings are very impressive. |
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2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
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| WA 94+ (12/2009): More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. While neither as charming nor accessible as the Juliet, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. |
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2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
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| WA 94+ (12/2009): More backward and structured, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve possesses copious black fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes as well as a boatload of tannin. While neither as charming nor accessible as the Juliet, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. |
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2013 |
Romeo Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
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| WA 95 (12/2015): The opaque purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Romeo (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot) displays notes of coffee beans and blackberries as well as some toast and charcoal embers. It is ripe and full-bodied, with a layered mouthfeel, and stunning purity and richness. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. |
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| Becklyn Cellars |
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$84.15 |
1 |
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| WA 94+ (12/2015): No doubt a major sleeper of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense, opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful crème de cassis notes, blackberry fruit in the background, judicious use of oak, a full-bodied mouthfeel with no hard edges, sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 15-20 years. |
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2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
3 |
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| WA 94+ (12/2015): No doubt a major sleeper of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense, opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful crème de cassis notes, blackberry fruit in the background, judicious use of oak, a full-bodied mouthfeel with no hard edges, sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 15-20 years. |
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| Behrens & Hitchcock |
2003 |
Kenefick Ranch Cuvee Torn Label |
$40 |
1 |
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WA 93-95 (2/2005): The 2003 Kenefick Ranch Cuvee (a 400-case lot of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of smoke, blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, white chocolate, and espresso roast. Dense, opulent, and full-bodied, with a terrific texture as well as palate penetration, and a 40-45 second finish, it is capable of lasting a decade or more.
VM 91+ (6/2005): Medium ruby. Cool, pure aromas of cassis, licorice and violet. Juicy, dry and lively, with excellent flavor intensity and enticing floral lift. I would have guessed this had some cabernet franc. Quite tightly wound after the bottling, and currently showing its tannic side. But this will almost certainly merit a higher rating with four or five years of additional bottle aging. In this vintage, Les Behrens used a mechanical punchdown tank for the Kenefick Ranch cabernet sauvignon-an approach that was used for more wines in 2004. |
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| Betz Family Winery |
2008 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
6 |
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WA 95 (8/2010): The Bordeaux-styled wines begin with the 2008 Clos de Betz, a multi-regional blend from four renowned vineyards, and composed of 66% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot. It was aged for 16 months in 65% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it surrenders an expressive nose of pain grille, graphite, Asian spices, a hint of balsamic, black currant, and blackberry. On the palate it admirably combines elegance with power. It has superb concentration, incipient complexity, layers of fruit, and a lengthy finish. Give it 6-8 years of additional cellaring and then drink it through its 25th birthday.
VM 93 (12/2010): Deep, full ruby-red. Dark berries, licorice, bitter chocolate and graphite on the nose and palate. Densely packed but showing superb energy and lift to the flavors of dark berries, cocoa powder and violet. There's nothing rustic about these classy wines. Finishes with terrific clarity and lively minerality. |
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2014 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
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WA 95 (6/2017): Possessing the highest percentage of Merlot ever for the cuvee (at least until the 2015), the 2014 Clos de Betz is 71% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot that’s just under half from Red Mountain fruit and the rest from Columbia Valley sites. Notes of cassis, licorice, damp herbs, chocolate and earth all flow to a medium to full-bodied, supple, elegant and incredibly polished 2014 that needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for 10-15 years.
JD 95 (4/2018): Including the highest percentage of Merlot ever, the 2014 Clos de Betz checks in as 71% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot. It offers a beautiful bouquet of cassis, licorice, violets, and earthy, herbal notes as well as a medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant style on the palate. It’s tight and closed, yet has remarkable purity and depth. Give bottles 2-3 years of bottle age.
VM 94 (11/2016): Bright, dark red-ruby. Alluring floral lift to the aromas of blackberry, cassis, Bing cherry, sweet spices and anise. Sweet, plush wine with great sex appeal to its intense, pliant flavors of amarena cherry, flint and spicy oak. Really remarkable--and not at all stewed--for Merlot from a hot year; Betz noted that he picked these vines early, "with tension and vitality." Finishes very long and smooth, with suave, perfectly supported tannins dusting the front teeth. A great, velvety Merlot-based wine from Washington. Betz adds some Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to wine "to provide more structure, nuance and color." (Drink between 2018-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2015 |
Heart of the Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
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JD 97 (7/2022): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart Of The Hill shows the riper style of the vintage and brings beautiful richness while staying balanced, pure, and even elegant. Cassis, darker berry fruits, flowery incense, and lead pencil notes all define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, brings tons of fruit, has sweet tannins, and a great finish.
WA 95+ (6/2018): A chewy, muscular wine with considerable upside, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Heart of the Hill unfurls in the glass with notions of creamy cassis, plums, espresso roast and dark chocolate. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with considerable tannin and extract that will require some time to resolve. It's well-balanced and intense, and those tannins are ripe, so I suspect the only missing ingredient is time.
VM 91 (10/2017): Bright, dark red-ruby. Very primary aromas and flavors of cassis, blackberry and licorice. Larger-scaled but less detailed than the Père de Famille, as this wine is made from the robust clones 2 and 8 of Cabernet Sauvignon. Juicy and tightly wound; less sweet and less sensual than the Père de Famille. Still, the substantial dusty tannins are nicely integrated. This wine reminded me a bit of a Napa Valley Cabernet. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2012 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
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| WA 96 (6/2014): A cuvee that’s not produced in every vintage, the 2012 Cote Patriarche comes all from the Red Willow vineyard and mostly from the oldest Syrah vines planted in Washington. Inky purple in color, with mineral-laced blackberry, cassis, crushed flowers, smoked earth and licorice, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, a seamless texture and an overriding sense of elegance that carries through the finish. Knockout stuff, it too will have 15+ years of longevity. |
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2012 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (6/2014): More mineral-driven, with savory spices, dried earth and floral notes balanced by a rocking core of fruit, the 2012 Syrah La Cote Rousse is more backwards and reticent than the La Serenne, and will need short-term cellaring to unwind. Possessing full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, high, yet sweet tannin, and a terrific finish, this awesome Syrah will be at its best from 2017-2027. |
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2007 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
2 |
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WA 95 (10/2009): The 2007 Pere de Famille is made up of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot sourced predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA with small contributions from Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley. Purple/black in color it reveals a brooding aromatic array of wood smoke, scorched earth, pencil lead, violets, black currant and blackberry. Full-bodied on the palate, it is a bit more dense, opulent, and succulent than the Clos de Betz, admirably combining elegance and power. The pure finish lasts for over 60-seconds. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2027.
VM 95 (12/2009): Bright, deep ruby-red. Pungent cabernet aromas and flavors of red, black and blue fruits complicated by dried thyme and a floral topnote. The extremely intense yet silky palate offers a stunning wave of sweetness that will take several years to express itself fully. Most impressive today on the rising but wonderfully subtle finish, which is supported by serious tannic spine and goes on and on. These 2007 reds combine the structure of the 2005s with the added juiciness of the 2006s, says Betz, who appears to have made his finest set of wines to date. |
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2011 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
2 |
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VM 94+ (11/2013): (blended with 9% petit verdot and 3% merlot): Good bright red-ruby. Musky red berries, licorice, thyme, rosemary and pepper on the scented nose. Creamy-sweet, suave and deep but at the same time precise and youthful, offering lovely perfumed flavors of red berries, cocoa powder (from the Taransaud oak?) and anise. Very intensely flavored cabernet with terrific lift and aromatic persistence and remarkably suave, dusty tannins. Betz describes 2011 as a year with lower total polyphenols, higher acidity and lower pHs than 2010.
WA 92 (6/2014): Made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot that comes mostly from Red Mountain, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is slightly more reserved and backwards, with notions of dried spices, cured meats, black currant, spring flowers and tobacco leaf reluctantly emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, with solid concentration, especially in the vintage, it has ample tannin that emerge on the mid-palate and focus the finish. It also needs another 2-3 years in the cellar and will have 10-12 years of total longevity at a minimum. |
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2014 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
4 |
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JD 97 (4/2018): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille is a cellar selection of top barrels from throughout the Columbia Valley. It’s deeper colored than the Clos de Betz and has sensational notes of crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and assorted floral notes. With terrific purity, finesse and elegance, this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is going to evolve for two decades or more.
VM 95 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Discreet, very pure aromas of cassis and black cherry complicated by mineral, spice and floral nuances. Highly concentrated and savory, conveying a 3-D texture as well as terrific definition to its flavors of black cherry, saline minerality and dried herbs. Wonderfully elegant, energetic, flavorful wine with real éclat. Really saturates the palate with flavor without leaving any impression of weight. Finishes with substantial dusty but fine-grained tannins and outstanding lingering fruit. This will need time in bottle to unwind. (Drink between 2019-2029). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (5/2023): Dense and chewy, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille is intense and firm with black-fruited notions that dominate the nose. Aromas of baked earth and blackberry skin present with a firm, tight, almost rugged sensation. Full-bodied, the mouthfeel is broad and expressive with a chewy, tannic edge that will best be paired with food to act as its sparring partner. |
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| Blankiet |
2016 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
1 |
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| JD 96 (1/2019): Lastly, the 2016 Prince of Hearts Red is based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. It’s another seamless, elegant wine from the estate that has remarkable complexity in its sandalwood, spice box, chocolate, and cassis and blueberry-like fruits. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and ultra-fine tannins, it can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years. It’s another beautiful wine from this team that has both power and finesse. |
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| Booker Vineyard |
2013 |
Tempranillo |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (8/2015): Competing with Epoch's top-notch Tempranillo as the best example of the variety in California, Jensen's 2013 Tempranillo is a blockbuster that's not made in every vintage. Black cherries, currants, leather, dried herbs and savory spices all emerge from this full-bodied, thick and unctuously textured beauty. It has the classic tannic grip of the variety, yet that's paired with the hallmark texture and purity of the estate. This is an awesome wine any way you look at it.
VM 92 (9/2015): Opaque ruby. The nose displays an array of dark fruit and floral scents, along with suggestions of pipe tobacco and woodsmoke. Sweet and generous in style, offering broad, edge-free flavors of blackberry and bitter cherry. Closes smooth and very long, with gentle tannins providing shape. This hefty, seamless example of Tempranillo will be delicious in its youth but also has the depth to age. (Drink between 2019-2026). Josh Raynolds. |
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2014 |
Tempranillo |
$95 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 97-99 (8/2016): Possibly one of the greatest expressions of this variety yet from the US, the inky colored 2014 Tempranillo offers classic notes of smoked black plums, cedary spice, charred meats and chalky minerality, with more and more floral notes emerging with time in the glass. Big, full-bodied and tannic, forget it for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following decade or more. |
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2010 |
Alchemist 22 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 94-96 (8/2012): In my view, the 2010 Alchemist 22 is the wine that seems to gain the most through the extended time in barrel, as the tannins have an element of polish that isn’t found in the regular bottling. Perfumed aromatics are woven throughout an expressive core of dark red fruit, licorice, tar and mint. The overall impression is one of seamless beauty and tons of promise. This is a fabulous showing from Booker and proprietor Eric Jensen. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Estate 24 Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2016): The 2014 Estate Ext 24 is the, you guessed it, the extended aged version of the Estate cuvee. This was previously called the Alchemist and in 2014 is made from 51% Tempranillo, 28% Syrah, 13% Petit Verdot and 8% Grenache. Getting a few expletives in my rough notes, this beauty sports a deep purple color as well as thrilling aromatics, full-bodied richness, building, firm tannin and straight up awesome purity. The Tempranillo structure is front and center, so I suspect short term cellaring will be the name of the game. |
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2013 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (8/2015): Formerly labeled as the Alchemist, the 2013 Booker Estate is 84% Syrah, 11% Tempranillo and the rest a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Inky colored, deep, savory and spicy, with the Tempranillo front and center at the moment, it offers lots of dark fruits, truffle, dried spice and meaty aromatics, full-bodied richness and enough tannic grip to warrant another year or two in bottle.
VM 94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Deeply perfumed, complex bouquet of dried cherry, licorice, potpourri and smoky minerals, with a subtle note of raw meat. Very sweet and creamy on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that gain depth and spiciness with air. Picks up notes of candied flowers and vanilla on the back end, finishing with superb energy, suave tannins and lingering sweetness. Josh Raynolds. |
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2010 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
3 |
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| |
VM 95-97 (8/2012): The 2010 Fracture (Syrah) shows off gorgeous purity and finesse in its rich dark fruit. This is a decidedly overt, flashy wine, yet it also possesses stunning aromatics and impeccable, world-class balance. Layers of fruit built to the huge, opulent finish. I can hardly wait to taste this from bottle. In 2010, 100% of the fruit was de stemmed. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94-97 (6/2012): Not yet bottled and tasted out of barrel, the 2010 Booker Vineyard Syrah Fracture is possibly the most impressive vintage of this to date. A blend of 100% Syrah that’s aged all in French oak, it delivers a stunning bouquet of smoked black fruits, toast, chocolate, roasted meats, and crushed flowers that gives way to a full-bodied, structured, and elegantly put together palate. Chewy, ripe tannin frames the finish beautifully, and this is impressive. It should benefit from short term cellaring on release, and have a fairly broad drink window. |
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2011 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97 (8/2013): Up there with the best of the vintage, the 2011 The Fracture is ethereal stuff that’s made with the goal to be the most ready to drink of the lineup. I’m not sure if that goal is met or not, but I can say the wine is utterly brilliant. Seeing only 5-10% stem inclusion, it delivers rocking aromas of cassis, black raspberry, hints of roasted herbs, licorice and chocolate that give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless and textured effort that has both elegance and deep, layered fruit and richness. Hard to resist and a joy to drink, it nevertheless has the balance and depth to evolve gracefully through 2021. Drink 2015-2021.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 Fracture, 100% Syrah, is one of the deepest and richest of these 2011s. A plush, highly expressive mid-palate opens to reveal layers of dark fruit, leather, licorice and melted road tar. The 2011 is endowed with considerable aromatic depth and pure richness. Eric Jensen aged the 2011 in Hermitage and Francois Freres barrels, 50% new.
JS 94 (11/2011): Gorgeous aromas of dark berries with blackberry and blueberry; hints of flowers too. Full and rich with wonderful cocoa, coffee and blackberries. Intensely long. So much going on here. Seductive. One or two years more before striking.
VM 94 (12/2013): (100% syrah and 15% alcohol, the highest in the Booker set this vintage): Inky purple. Pungent, smoke-accented aromas of black raspberry, olive tapenade and floral oils. Very syrah. Lush and complex on the palate, offering potent flavors of cherry-cola, blackberry, violet pastille and star anise. Rich but surprisingly lively syrah, with powerful closing punch and gently chewy, harmonious tannins. |
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2012 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96 (8/2014): There are roughly 293 cases of the 2012 Fracture to go around, and it checks in as a blend of 100% Syrah that was aged 18 months in French oak. A big, rich and decadent effort, it’s another spectacular effort from this estate that does everything right. Creme de cassis, chocolate, spice-box, graphite and ground pepper all come together beautifully here, and this beauty has a forward, supple and full-bodied style that’s hard to resist. More elegant and open than past vintages, I’d drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, but it will evolve for longer. |
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2014 |
Fracture Syrah |
$85 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 95 (9/2016): Dark purple. A heady, assertively perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, sandalwood, Indian spices and smoky minerals, and a suave floral pastille topnote builds in the glass. Deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry and boysenberry flavors unfold slowly, picking up allspice, black cardamom and cola nuances on the back half. Shows Outstanding clarity and power on the sweet, supple finish, which is given shape by smooth, steadily building tannins. I've no doubt that this wine will reward patience, but it's awfully delicious right now. Josh Raynolds. |
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2015 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97 (9/2017): “I want my softest, most textured, rounded Syrah with density and gentle tannins to go into this label,” winemaker Eric Jensen informed me. Produced from 100% Syrah, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Fracture has a vibrant nose of crushed red currants and black cherries with hints of bay leaves, cloves, aniseed and forest floor, plus a touch of roses. Full-bodied and beautifully structured, it has a lively backbone supporting the dynamic fruit, finishing with a beautiful herbal lift.
JD 96 (8/2017): Leading off the 2015s, the 2015 Fracture is 100% Syrah that was brought up mostly in new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant Paso Syrah that delivers loads of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spices and crushed flower-like aromas and flavors. A more elegant, streamlined example of this cuvee, it shows the freshness of the vintage, supple tannin and a charming, elegant style that’s a dream to drink. It is already approachable, yet will still be better with another year or two in bottle. |
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2016 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
2 |
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| JD 98 (11/2018): The base 2016 Fracture is another flat-out awesome wine from Jenson that has everything you could want from a Syrah grown on limestone soils on the west side of Paso Robles. Made from 100% Syrah aged in 70% new French oak, it offers a huge nose of blackcurrants, toasty oak, espresso, smoke tobacco, and crushed flowers. Deep, massively concentrated, and textured, it still glides across the palate with thrilling purity of fruit and has a great, great finish. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
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2013 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 93-95 (8/2014): A new cuvee, the 2013 Fulldraw is a GSM blend of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 17% Mourvedre. While it’s from young vines, you wouldn’t know it by tasting it, and it has a serious, mineral-laced profile to go with full-bodied, richness, incredible purity and lots of finely polished tannin. It should easily be an Outstanding wine and thrill for 5-8 years. |
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2014 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (8/2016): First made last year, the 2014 Fulldraw checks in as a mix of 46% Syrah, 33% Grenache and 21% Mourvedre that was raised mostly in barrel. Its inky purple color is followed by a rockin', sweet, layered bouquet of creme de cassis, black plums, vanilla bean, licorice and cured meats. A classic Paso Robles GSM blend, with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, tons of sweet fruit and beautiful purity, it benefits from a decant and will shine for upwards of a decade.
VM 94 (9/2016): Bright violet. Ripe red and blue fruits, candied lavender, incense and a hint of spicecake on the highly fragrant nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense black currant and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows impressive depth and vivacity, with no rough edges. The spice and floral notes come back strong on the strikingly persistent, seamless finish, which features smooth, harmonious tannins and a lingering suggestion of sappy red fruit. Josh Raynolds. |
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2015 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96 (8/2017): The 2015 Fulldraw comes from a site located just beside Jensen’s estate Booker Vineyard and is 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah. It has a gorgeous, Châteauneuf du Pape-like (it reminds me of Domaine de Marcoux’s Vieilles Vignes cuvée) perfume of red and black fruits, spice-box, incense, fennel and cured meats. Ethereally textured and elegant, yet also ripe, powerful and concentrated, it has ripe tannin, it’s an incredible wine that builds with time in the glass. While beautiful today, it will be even better with short term cellaring and keep through 2027.
WA 95 (9/2017): A blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah, the 2015 Fulldraw has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and opens with black and blue fruit notes of blackberries and blueberries with suggestions of licorice, tree bark and black soil, plus a waft of lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate has bags of elegance, with restrained, understated beauty and wonderful freshness, finishing long with velvety tannins supporting the perfumed fruit. |
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2015 |
Jada Vyd. Rhone Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2016): From a hillside vineyard just off of Vineyard Drive road (near Denner) that has lots of clay soils (so more water retention and better canopy development, which is very different from Booker Vineyard), the 2015 Jada Vineyard checks in as a mix of 55% Syrah and 45% Grenache that saw 25% stems and aging all in barrel. Full-bodied, rich, unctuous and downright sexy, with lots of jammy blackberry, cassis, roasted herbs and melted licorice (there are some floral notes hiding in there as well), it's another stacked red from Jensen that readers shouldn't miss. |
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2010 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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| |
WA 94-96 (8/2012): Booker’s 2010 My Favorite Neighbor bursts from the glass with a heady array of blueberries, dark cherries, spices, violets, mint and licorice. The 2010 stands out for its huge fruit and impeccable balance. Proprietor Eric Jensen planned to give the wine a full 24 months in oak. This is another compelling wine full of promise. The blend is 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Petit Verdot and 23% Syrah. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.
VM 92 (12/2012): (made from 44% cabernet sauvignon, 33% petit verdot and 23% syrah): Bright purple. Spicy cherry, cassis and blueberry aromas are brightened by cracked pepper and rose, with a slow-building vanilla note adding sweetness. Pliant, deeply concentrated dark berry flavors show very good precision and energy, with an exotic building floral pastille note adding vibrancy. Shows impressive power on the finish, which offers a bitter cherry pit character and noteworthy persistence. |
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2011 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$53 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (8/2013): Holding things slightly closer to the vest, the 2011 My Favorite Neighbor (46% Syrah, 40% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon) has full-bodied richness and power to go with classic aromas and flavors of cassis, wild herbs, tobacco and cedar. The Cabernet and Petit Verdot really show here, with the Syrah component adding more plushness on the palate. Firming up nicely on the finish, with ripe, yet notable tannin, this serious 2011 should be given another 2-3 years in the cellar. While it will be hard to resist in its youth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this drinking nicely at age 15 and beyond. Drink 2015-2026.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 My Favorite Neighbor is one of the many highlights at Booker this year. Explosive, full-bodied and opulent, the 2011 captures the generous, resonant warmth that is so typical of Paso Robles while at the same time retaining gorgeous balance and proportion. There is so much to like here. What a gorgeous wine! The blend is 46% Syrah, 40% Petit Verdot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon.
VM 91+ (12/2013): (46% syrah, 40% petit verdot and 14% cabernet sauvignon): Inky purple. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit scents are lifted by zesty Asian spice and floral nuances. Ripe and fleshy, offering expansive cassis, blueberry and bitter chocolate flavors and a touch of candied licorice. Closes with firm, youthful tannins, lingering smokiness and a hint of black pepper. The most brooding wine in the Booker lineup this year and the only one that I'd insist on stashing away for another few years. |
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2014 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 97-99 (8/2016): Hold onto your hats with this one, the 2014 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend will see 24 months in barrel, and there will only be a single cuvee in 2014. This insanely good barrel sample gives up serious, inky, yet pure notes of violets, licorice, black raspberries, creme de cassis and graphite to go with building tannin, a stacked mid-palate and blockbuster length. I'd like to have a case of it in the cellar. |
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2012 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2014): There are roughly 293 cases of the 2012 Fracture to go around, and it checks in as a blend of 100% Syrah that was aged 18 months in French oak. A big, rich and decadent effort, it’s another spectacular effort from this estate that does everything right. Creme de cassis, chocolate, spice-box, graphite and ground pepper all come together beautifully here, and this beauty has a forward, supple and full-bodied style that’s hard to resist. More elegant and open than past vintages, I’d drink bottles over the coming 4-5 years, but it will evolve for longer. |
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2016 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (11/2018): The 2016 Oublie offers exotic notes of ripe blueberries, crushed violets, peppery spice, and blood orange in its full-bodied, beautifully pure, elegant profile. It has ripe tannins, good acidity, and is an undeniably beautiful wine. A blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre that saw plenty of stems, drink this sexy red any time over the coming 7-8 years. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
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2012 |
Remnant 24 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2014): Still in barrel, the 2012 Remnant 24 (identical blend to the regular release) will see 24 months in oak before bottling. It’s also worth noting that since there was no My Favorite Neighbor produced in 2012, this cuvee received all of the grapes that would normally go into that cuvee. While billed as a catch-all blend, it tastes like anyone else’s top wine and offers loads of sweet black fruits, damp underbrush, chocolate and roasted herbs to go with a full-bodied, rich, layered and downright sexy profile. There’s no shortage of tannin here either, so a year of cellaring is recommended. It will have 10-15 years of longevity, but bottles wouldn’t last that long at my house. |
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2010 |
Remnant Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (8/2012): The 2010 Remnant is gorgeous and utterly refined from the very first taste. Dark red cherries plums, licorice, incense, mint and spices are some of the many notes that jump from the glass in this delineated, fragrant red. The appropriately named Remnant is 60% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo, 11% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache and 4% Counoise, all what Jensen calls 'super-press juice,' which is the part of the press many winemakers don't even use in their final blends. In other words, Remnant is essentially a wine made from leftovers. Frankly, this a bit of a miracle in the glass, but everything works together beautifully. That can only mean that Booker is a great site, and Eric Jensen knows how to coax the very best from his vines.
VM 93 (11/2012): Dark purple. Powerful aromas of candied dark berries, licorice and mocha, with smoke and allspice nuances that build with air. Lush and expansive, offering ripe black and blue fruit flavors lifted by gentle acidity. Closes sweet, supple and very long, with pliant tannins and resonating spiciness. Josh Raynolds.
JD 93 (6/2012): Even more structured and firm, the 2010 Booker Vineyard Remnant is a blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Tempranillo, 11% Mourvedre, 5% Grenache, and 4% Counoise that contains a touch of press wine, and was fermented with 50% whole cluster and aged all in neutral oak for 16 months. Very masculine and edgy, with aromas of blackberry and currant fruit intermixed with dark chocolate, pan drippings, and bloody meat, this full-bodied blend is savory, chewy, and concentrated on the palate. The edgy quality of the Tempranillo really shows in the tannin structure and this will benefit from 1-2 years (or more) of bottle age, and have an interesting evolution. |
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2011 |
Ripper Grenache |
$89 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96+ (8/2013): Starting out the tasting and absolutely rocking, the 2011 The Ripper checks in as a blend of 100% Grenache that was brought up in equal parts concrete and neutral barrel. Offering up layers of kirsch, dried underbrush, white pepper and hints of spring flowers, it flows onto the palate with a medium to full-bodied, vibrant profile that gains richness and depth with air. Leaning towards the more focused, elegant side of the spectrum, this beauty doesn’t lack for texture or length. Give it a year or three and enjoy through 2023. It’s superb and well worth the effort to track down. Drink 2015-2023.
VM 94 (7/2013): Eric Jensen has done a fabulous job with the 2011 Ripper, no easy feat after the iconic 2010. Expressive floral notes, mint, spices and kirsch all lift out of the glass. The freshness and crystalline purity of the year come through in spades. Jensen aged the 2011 70% in cement and 30% in neutral oak, an approach that worked beautifully. Over the last few years, Ripper has established itself as one of the most distinctive Grenaches in California.
VM 93 (12/2013): (100% grenache and 14.6% alcohol): Deep ruby. Spicy black raspberry and cherry compote on the highly perfumed nose, with zesty mineral and spice notes adding vibrancy. Deeply pitched but lively red fruit flavors show excellent clarity and sweetness, with a jolt of tangy acidity adding spine. The sappy, broad finish is shaped by smooth and harmonious tannins. This wine was raised entirely in used demi-muids. |
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2012 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (8/2014): The 2012 The Ripper (always 100% Grenache), which checks in at 13.6% alcohol, is a fabulous effort that was brought up all in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. Loaded with notions of kirsch, dried flowers, rose petal and underbrush, it’s about as seamless and elegant as this cuvee gets, yet it’s still no lightweight and has full-bodied richness and depth. Showing plenty of fine tannin on the finish, it is hard to resist now, but should have a solid 10-12 year drink window.
VM 94 (7/2014): A dark, voluptuous wine, the 2012 Ripper bursts from the glass with dark red and black stone fruits, spices, new leather and menthol flesh out in the glass. In 2012, the Ripper is much darker and riper than normal, with less varietal character than has been the case of late. In 2012, Eric Jensen managed the canopies to get as much hang time as possible, which resulted in extended hang time and a harvest that was about three weeks later than normal. Personally, I have enjoyed Booker's Ripper most when the Grenache characteristics are emphasized to a greater degree. The 2012 was done entirely in neutral 500 liter barrels. |
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2012 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79.20 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (8/2014): The 2012 The Ripper (always 100% Grenache), which checks in at 13.6% alcohol, is a fabulous effort that was brought up all in neutral 500-liter French oak barrels. Loaded with notions of kirsch, dried flowers, rose petal and underbrush, it’s about as seamless and elegant as this cuvee gets, yet it’s still no lightweight and has full-bodied richness and depth. Showing plenty of fine tannin on the finish, it is hard to resist now, but should have a solid 10-12 year drink window.
VM 94 (7/2014): A dark, voluptuous wine, the 2012 Ripper bursts from the glass with dark red and black stone fruits, spices, new leather and menthol flesh out in the glass. In 2012, the Ripper is much darker and riper than normal, with less varietal character than has been the case of late. In 2012, Eric Jensen managed the canopies to get as much hang time as possible, which resulted in extended hang time and a harvest that was about three weeks later than normal. Personally, I have enjoyed Booker's Ripper most when the Grenache characteristics are emphasized to a greater degree. The 2012 was done entirely in neutral 500 liter barrels. |
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2015 |
Ripper Grenache |
$67 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96+ (9/2017): Made from 100% Grenache, the 2015 The Ripper (Grenache) has a pale to medium garnet-purple color and charges out of the gate with vibrant raspberry, black cherry and wild strawberries with hints of dried flowers, cinnamon stick and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, the palate is packed with spicy red berry coulis flavors, paved with plush tannins and finishes with loads of layers. |
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2016 |
Ripper Grenache |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (11/2018): The 2016 Ripper reminds me of a top vintage of Marcoux Vieilles Vignes cuvée from Châteauneuf du Pape with its huge nose of kirsch, blackberries, ground herbs, blueberries, graphite, and melted licorice. This beauty is full-bodied and powerful, yet also elegant, seamless, and graceful on the palate, with fine tannins and a huge finish. It’s an incredible Grenache. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. (Drink between 2018-2030). |
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2017 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (10/2019): Bottled in February of this year, the 100% Grenache 2017 Ripper has a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, white flowers, licorice, and subtle background oak. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has wonderful purity, fine tannins, and a great finish. |
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2010 |
The Alchemist Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (6/2012): The 2010 Booker Vineyard The Alchemist (80% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Sirah and in 50% new French oak) is much more in the typical Booker Spectrum and is a classic, textbook Paso Robles blend. Offering up chocolate-laced aromas of blackberry, raspberry, spice, smoke, and tar, this full-bodied, powerful blend is voluptuous and gorgeously textured, while still showing the focused profile of the 2010 vintage. Beautifully pure, layered, and rich, this beauty will age gracefully for a decade or more. |
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2010 |
Vertigo 22 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93-95 (8/2012): Booker's 2010 Vertigo 22 wraps around the palate with dark red fruit, flowers, mint and spices. The extra time in barrel has given the Vertigo 22 a dimension of seamlessness and total integration the regular bottling doesn't have. At the same time, some of the vibrancy and pure energy of the regular Vertigo has been dampened ever so slightly. Readers will find much to admire in both. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Vertigo 22 Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (11/2018): The same blend as the straight Vertigo (52% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and 18% Mourvèdre), the 2016 Vertigo 22 offers a similar profile of deep, decadent notes of blueberries, graphite, smoked earth, and asphalt. More closed, backward, and dense than the classic cuvée, this full-bodied, incredibly layered, multi-dimensional effort needs 2-3 years or bottle age and will cruise in cold cellars over the following 10-15 years. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. (Drink between 2018-2046). |
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2012 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95-97 (8/2014): Still in barrel, the 2012 Vertigo 24 release shows a similar level of purity to go with killer aromatics (black raspberry, bouquet garni and licorice), full-bodied richness and a layered, decadent style on the palate. It has a tad more richness and depth than the straight bottling, and is an incredible red.
VM 91-93 (7/2014): The 2012 Vertigo 24 has a little more tannic spine than the straight Vertigo. Dark red stone fruits, spices, mint and new leather are all very much alive. Although quite supple and expressive, the 2012 also has plenty of drive and energy. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-96 (8/2015): The extended barrel-aged release of the Vertigo cuvee, the 2013 GSM Vertigo EXT was still in barrel at the time of this tasting. Similar in style, with full-bodied depth and richness, it has more toasted bread, meaty, bloody notes and spice as well as a sexy, voluptuous and seamless style on the palate. I actually prefer the earlier bottling release at present, but this is still and knockout wine. |
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|
2014 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (8/2016): Another blockbuster barrel sample is the 2014 GSM Vertigo EXT, which is 68% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre and the rest Grenache (there's less Grenache than normal in the 2014). Violets, cassis, licorice and black raspberries all flow to a rich, concentrated blend that's much more supple, rounded and forward than the 2015, while still showing plenty of grip and focus. |
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|
2011 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 Vertigo is one of the clear highlights of the year in Paso Robles. A rich, resonant wine, the 2011 boasts gorgeous depth and power, especially for the year. The brightness of the vintage comes through on the finish laced with expressive dark Syrah fruit. Floral and spice notes add vibrancy as well as complexity. The 2011 is 69% Syrah, 24% Mourvedre and 7% Grenache. I very much like the sense of purity here.
WA 94 (8/2013): More Syrah heavy, with 62% Syrah, 24% Mourvedre and a splash of Grenache, fermented with 30% stems and aged in 20% new French oak, the 2011 Vertigo is red fruit-driven, with plenty of raspberry, licorice and floral notes flowing to a medium to full-bodied, balanced and lively palate. Gaining more minerality and spice in the glass, it, too, is a knockout effort from Eric. Enjoy it over the coming 7-8 years. Drink now-2021.
VM 94 (12/2013): (69% syrah, 24% mourvedre and 7% grenache): Inky ruby. Suave, vanilla-accented blackberry, blueberry and floral pastille aromas show impressive energy and thrust. Surprisingly elegant, even graceful on the palate, with vibrant, violet-tinged dark berry and bitter cherry flavors complicated by slow-building spicecake and cracked pepper nuances. Silky tannins add structure to the long, alluringly sweet finish, with its lasting floral note. Wine lovers familiar with Eric Jensen's past work will be surprised (pleasantly, I hope) by this wine's finesse. |
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|
2012 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2014): The 2012 Vertigo is a blend of 57% Syrah, 32% Mourvedre and 11% Grenache that spent 18 months in French oak. It has fabulous purity to go with notions of sweet red and black berries, crushed flowers, licorice and rose petal on the nose. This flows to a medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless red that has no hard edges, building richness, and a graceful, lightly textured feel that never seems heavy or cumbersome. It will thrill for upward of a decade. |
|
|
2013 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2014): The 2013 Vertigo (45% Syrah, 29% Mourvedre and 26% Grenache) has an almost Cornas-like purple fruit, liquid violets and caramelized meat profile that gives way to a layered, seamless and vibrant wine that has excellent concentration and a big finish. Despite being a big, rich wine, it has a pretty, elegant style that should allow it to shine on release. |
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|
2014 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (8/2016): A big, rich, structured effort, the 2014 GSM Vertigo is 68% Syrah, 26% Mourvedre and 6% Grenache. Sporting a saturated purple color, it offers fabulous notes of cassis, blackberries, crushed rock, licorice and dried Provencal herbs (lavender, thyme) in a full-bodied, rich package. One of the more tannic wines from Eric, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will have a decade or more of longevity. |
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|
2015 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (8/2017): A blend of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 37% Mourvèdre, the 2015 Vertigo is another blockbuster 2015 from Jensen. It’s deep ruby color is followed by a sweet bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, strawberries, violets, and chocolaty oak. It’s a round, supple, incredibly sexy GSM that has full-bodied richness, loads of power and depth, yet also shows the more charming, forward style of the 2015 vintage in Paso Robles. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.
WA 95 (9/2017): Comprised of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 17% Mourvèdre, the 2015 GSM Vertigo has a medium garnet-purple color and nose of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and licorice with touches of dried Provence herbs, chocolate box and black pepper. Full-bodied and nicely played with firm, ripe, rounded tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous, bright fruit, it finishes long and spicy. |
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|
2016 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (11/2018): I suspect the finest vintage to date, the 2016 Vertigo is a rock star effort and one of the top wines to ever come out of Paso Robles. Just loaded with notions of blueberries, incense, ground pepper, and crushed flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional, layered texture, no hard edges, and incredible purity of fruit. A blend of 52% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 18% Mourvèdre brought up in 50% new French oak, it’s a monumental wine from Paso Robles to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years. Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyards continues to make a ripe, sexy, pedal-to-the-metal syle of wine and these latest 2016s don’t disappoint. |
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|
2017 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$74.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (10/2019): I loved the 2017 Vertigo from barrel, and it didn’t disappoint from bottle. A blend of 63% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, and the rest Grenache and Petite Sirah, brought up in 65% new French oak, this full-bodied, massively endowed 2017 has complex notes of blue fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spices. As with all Eric’s 2017s, it’s rich and concentrated yet has remarkable purity and elegance at the same time. It’s one of the finest GSM blends out there and will shine for at least 8-10 years. (Drink between 2019-2029).
VM 96 (2/2020): Brilliant purple. Blackberry, blueberry, cola, exotic spices, vanilla and pungent flowers on the deeply perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Compellingly sweet, lush and broad in the mouth, showing hefty dark berry preserve, candied violet and fruitcake flavors that pick up mocha, vanilla and star anise nuances on the back half. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with velvety tannins, lingering florality and outstanding clarity. 60% new French oak. (Drink between 2024-2034).
WA 93 (2/2020): The 2017 Vertigo is a blend of 65% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache aged in 65% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in color, the nose opens with tar, chargrill and loamy earth scents, slowly offering up game meats, black currants, dried violets and dried black cherries with a chocolatey undercurrent. Full-bodied, rich and slowly blossoming in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy frame and just enough freshness, finishing long and still youthfully coiled. |
|
| Boudreaux Cellars |
2008 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2022): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is immaculate, with a lush and focused nose that is still compact and primary. Full-bodied, the wine expands on the palate, revealing focus, precision and power with a still-tight frame and firm tannic edge. The Cabernet concludes with long, lingering flavors of black plum essence, oak spices and notions of crème de cassis. Even though it’s a 2008, it has plenty of life left; so be patient, and reward your future self. |
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| Cadence |
2012 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2015): I think the most approachable in the lineup, the 2012 Bel Canto has a complex, perfumed style in its dried flowers, dried spices, vanilla and black cherry and black raspberry-like fruit profile. A blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot that spent 20 months in 50% new French oak, it’s full-bodied, concentrated and structured on the palate, yet has perfect balance and a great texture. Few in the US are doing Cabernet Franc better this, and I suspect it will hold nicely for 15-20 years. |
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|
2014 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2018): The 2014 Bel Canto is also showing very well indeed with a few years of bottle age, opening in the decanter and glass with notes of cassis, cigar wrapper, loamy soil, pencil shavings and black truffle. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and deep, with beautifully suave structuring tannins and a deep core of concentrated fruit. The finish is long, complex and finely delineated. While this elegant, Bordelais-styled blend is already drinking well, I suspect it still has two decades of life and evolution ahead of it. |
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|
2012 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2015): Sensational stuff, the 2012 Camerata (91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc) is big, burly effort that offers classic Red Mountain structure and depth. Giving up lots of black cherry, crushed rocks, dried violets and graphite, it is savory, powerful and concentrated on the palate. It needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will hold for two decades after that. |
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| Ceritas |
2019 |
Cuvee Annabelle Pinot Noir |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (1/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Annabelle is a dark, brooding wine. Black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and cloves infuse the Annabelle with tons of depth. This well-exposed site on Fort Ross-Seaview produces rich, thick-skinned grapes. All of that intensity comes through in a broad, ample Pinot that will reward readers with years of fine drinking. All this needs is time in the cellar. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Cuvee Annabelle Pinot Noir |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (8/2022): From an exceptionally windy, exposed site at 1800 feet, the 2020 Pinot Noir Cuvee Anabell is highly aromatic of fresh alpine herbs, wild raspberry, and fresh soil. The palate is more structured, with darker fruit of fresh red plum skin, turned earth, and spice. This wine will benefit from time in bottle to integrate its structure. Drink it over the next 15 years.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2020 Pinot Noir Annabelle is another seriously impressive wine in this range from Ceritas. It offers lovely depth and textural richness. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, menthol and spice all meld together in this very pretty Pinot. The 2020 was made from one of the two blocks Ceritas has here. (Drink between 2023-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Chalk Hill |
2007 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2010): Perhaps the finest Estate Red to date is the 2007. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by blackberry, cassis, cedar, and licorice characteristics, supple tannins, a more accessible personality, full body, and admirable purity, texture, and length. Drink this beauty over the next 2-3 decades.
VM 91 (6/2010): (51% cabernet sauvignon, 24% malbec, 13% merlot, 11% petit verdot and 1% carmenere) Inky ruby. Highly aromatic nose combines cassis, cherry skin, cured tobacco and smoky oak. Supple on entry, offering sweet dark fruit flavors, then tightly wound in the middle, with a sappy quality to the dark berry liqueur and smoky herb flavors. Showing a lot of exotic character right now, much of which seems oak-derived, but there's a concentrated dark fruit as well. The smoky note gains power toward the back, which shows rather suave tannins and lingers with very good intensity. |
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| Chapter 24 |
2016 |
The Last Chapter Pinot Noir |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (8/2018): Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Last Chapter is a bit reduced to begin, giving way to ripe black cherries and blackcurrant liqueur notes over a savory/meaty core, with tilled black earth, floral perfume and exotic spice hints. The palate explodes with ripe black fruits: black cherry, blackcurrant and baked plum with layers of smoked meat, perfume and spice, with firm, structuring tannins and tons of freshness lifting the amazingly long, savory, mouthwatering finish. Wow! Hide this away for 3-5 years before opening.
VM 94 (6/2019): Limpid ruby-red. Suave, mineral-accented aromas of raspberry and boysenberry preserves, potpourri, incense and mocha, along with a hint of allspice that builds in the background. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit, spicecake and floral pastille flavors supported by a spine of zesty acidity. Shows outstanding clarity and repeating florality on a strikingly long, penetrating finish that's framed by round, even tannins. (Drink between 2023-2032). Josh Raynolds. |
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| Charles Smith |
2013 |
Royal City Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2016): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2013 Syrah Royal City is as expansive, sexy and voluptuous as they get in the vintage, hands down. It’s deep ruby/purple color is followed by incredible notes of wild herbs, lavender, gamey meats, olive paste and sweet dark berry fruits. Full-bodied, relatively forward and charming, it still packs a wealth of material and has building tannin, all suggesting it will drink nicely for 10-15 years.
VM 92 (11/2016): Medium red. Raspberry, pepper and herbs on the nose. Boasts lovely sweetness but also a distinctly savory quality to its red fruit and floral flavors. This Syrah manages to combine power and restraint, not to mention very good definition. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins and subtle length. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Corliss |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 94-97 (11/2010): Full red-ruby. Plum, tobacco and loam on the shy nose. Wonderfully rich and suave in the mouth, with ineffable floral lift to the deep, sweet flavors of cherry, plum and minerals. Outstanding cabernet in the making-by any standard. Most impressive today on the explosively long back end, where the wine's huge structure is currently hidden by sheer material. Incidentally, this is the first vintage to include some estate fruit (from Red Mountain). It will be a treat to taste this wine alongside a half dozen of Washington's other cabernet superstars a decade hence. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2013): More perfumed and lively aromatically, yet more firm and backwards on the palate, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a knockout 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 30 months in 70% new French oak. Classically styled, with black currants, toasty oak, violets, licorice and background meatiness, it is a full-bodied, structured and age-worthy 2008 that will evolve gracefully for 15+ years. It improves over the evening but should ideally be given another handful of years in the cellar. Drink now-2028+.
VM 94+ (11/2011): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of blueberry, cocoa powder and licorice; one can smell the sexy Taransaud barrels here. Silky on entry, then sweet and superconcentrated in the middle, spreading out to saturate the entire palate with dark berry and coffee flavors. A wine of extraordinary energy and clarity. Most impressive today on the echoing, juicy finish, where the ripe tannins are already in perfect harmony with the wine's fruit. As with the Corliss Red Wine, I would not be at all surprised if this wine merited an even higher score by the time it's released in the fall of 2013. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (1/2024): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon captivates with an initial burst of black raspberry and clove, then closes in on itself, coming across as youthfully brooding. This is racy and sleek, traversing sweet and sour with its tart wild berry fruits and spices. It's the acidity that really shines here, enlivening the palate while forcing the mouth to water. The 2010 tapers off with notes of hard red candies, licorice and rose. What a darling. (Drink between 2023-2029). Eric Guido. |
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|
2008 |
Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (6/2013): Just about as good, the Bordeaux blend 2008 Corliss (formerly reviewed as Red Wine) is comprised of 34% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec that spent 30 months in 65% new French oak. Almost a meal on its own, it has full, rich aromas and flavors of currants, smoked herbs, milk chocolate and potpourri to go with a full-bodied, beautifully textured and balanced palate. Youthfully structured and tannic, it needs another 1-2 years of bottle age and will keep for 10-15 years.
VM 93+ (11/2011): Good red-ruby. Sexy aromas of plum, pie cherry, Asian spices, minerals and cocoa powder, with a floral quality from the cabernet franc component. At once suave and penetrating, with terrific energy and definition to the flavors of sweet cherry, minerals and spices. This classy, vibrant wine finishes with sweet, broad tannins and terrific lift and length. It will no doubt be even more complex and harmonious by the time it's released in late 2013. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2012 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (6/2015): The 2012 Chaleur Estate is truly terrific, with classic Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, chocolate and damp earth. Almost Bordeaux-like in its structure and focus on the palate, it has nicely integrated acidity, beautiful concentration and plenty of tannic grip that comes through on the finish. While not lacking in texture or concentration, the overall impression here is one of focus, purity and balance, and it won't hit prime time for another 4-7 years. This is a young, beautifully put together Washing State Cabernet Sauvignon that will have 25 years or more of overall longevity.
VM 94+ (11/2015): (the blend here is almost identical to that of the Harrison Hill): Bright medium ruby. Coolish aromas and flavors of blueberry, redcurrant, plum liqueur, cocoa powder, licorice, graphite and tobacco leaf. Cool, suave and deep, communicating Outstanding intensity and floral lift. Finishes with utterly noble, firm tannins and superb building length. This beauty reminded me of a top Saint-Julien wine. |
|
|
2014 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2017): A more open, charming and sexy red compared to the 2013, Delille's 2014 Chaleur Estate comes all from Red Mountain and is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot. Aged 20 months in new French oak, this beauty offers a gorgeous bouquet of creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, chocolate and espresso roast. Reminding me of a first or second growth Pauillac from a warm year, with more mineral, tobacco and earth coming through with air, this full-bodied, impeccably balanced 2014 has sweet tannin, nicely integrated acidity and a good finish. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.
VM 94 (10/2017): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blueberry, plum, cocoa powder and violet are lifted by sexy spicy oak. Very rich, large-scaled and densely packed, boasting outstanding breadth to its flavors of currant, chocolate, anise and brown spices. Classically dry, very deep wine with an intriguing salinity and outstanding chocolatey length. As with a couple of the other DeLille wines from Bordeaux varieties, this one is complicated by captivating Christmas spices. (Drink between 2019-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2015 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (4/2018): While I always think of the Harrison Hill release as the Margaux in the lineup, the Chaleur is much more Pauillac/Saint Julien in style. The 2015 Chaleur Estate checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. It’s a full-bodied, deep, concentrated effort that offers terrific cassis and black cherry fruits, graphite, scorched earth, licorice, and crushed rock-like minerality. Like all the 2015s from Delille, it has an elegant, pure, focused style and is beautifully balanced. Owner/Winemaker Chris Upchurch compared the 2015s from Washington State to the 2009s from Bordeaux, and given the sweltering heat in 2015, I understand the comparison. However, the 2015s come across as more focused and classic in style, in part, I suspect to the vines shutting down throughout the summer and I think the true phenolics actually lag the 2012s, 2014s, and 2016s. These wines are concentrated, have notable purity, and building tannin. They’re going to benefit from short-term cellaring. As usual, I tasted the barrel samples during my visit at the estate and the bottled wines at my office in Colorado. (Drink between 2018-2030).
VM 93 (11/2018): Dark red-ruby. Aromas of cassis, raspberry, blueberry and licorice, plus a whiff of lead pencil. Plush, sexy and sweet, boasting complex, highly concentrated flavors of dark berries, spicy oak and cocoa powder. Finishes very rich but quite primary, with terrific lingering boysenberry fruit and a rather muscular framework. A large-scaled, spicy Red Mountain blend with serious old-vines complexity and depth--and balanced from the start. According to winemaker Jason Gorski, this Cabernet was picked in October even in this very warm growing season. (14.2% alcohol) (Drink between 2019-2027). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92+ (6/2018): Offering up aromas of cassis, menthol, loamy soil and cherries, the 2015 Chaleur Estate is medium to full-bodied, rich and chewy, with a nice core of fruit but rather assertive, chewy tannins that might equally easily be derived from barrel or seeds. I suspect this will always be rather firm and tannic, but I wouldn't bet against it mellowing with time. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. |
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|
2016 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Pungent lift to the aromas of cassis, boysenberry, violet, wild herbs and licorice. Dense, intense and fine-grained, with an exciting balance of sweetness and acidity to the flavors of dark berries, licorice and cocoa powder. Boasts a serious tannic spine for extended aging. The berries were larger than normal in 2016, noted Gorski, but the production here was still just under three tons per acre. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2018 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (3/2022): Showing more tar and scorched earth tones than the Harrison Hill, the 2018 Chaleur Estate presents an exotic bouquet of Arabica bean mingled with blue and black fruits and loamy soil undertones. The palate is elegant and silky, as refined tannins caress the layers of boysenberry, black cherry cordial and spice box. Gorgeous now, but this has a long way to go. (Drink between 2021-2036). Own Bargreen.
JD 94+ (5/2021): One of the flagships from this reference point estate, the 2018 Chaleur Estate checks in as 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. Solid notes of red and black currants, tobacco, dried flowers, and lead pencil define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a concentrated, balanced texture, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. As with all of these 2018s, it's not a blockbuster, but it has a wonderful complexity as well as elegance.
WA 94 (10/2021): A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Chaleur Estate begins with a classy and expressive nose offering enticing aromas of dusty black cherry, dark plum, a lush and velvety expression of blackberry reduction, cinnamon-spiced black raspberries and elegant oak tones in the glass. Full-bodied, the round and juicy nature of the wine parades with finesse and precision, displaying flavors of dusty dark red fruit with elements of baked earth, savory herbs and ripe, concentrated fruit tones. The mid-palate sways with finesse and elegance, offering energetic acidity with fine-grained silky tannins, ending with a long, perfectly ripe finish. Persistent flavors of graphite and pencil shavings linger with elements of black cherry skin and bitter dark chocolate over the elongated finish as it uncoils on the aftertaste, marking another fabulous vintage for Chaleur Estate. |
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|
2012 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2015): The limited production 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags is an off-the-hook effort. Decadent, layered, unctuous and rich, with classic Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, lead pencil, crushed rock and graphite, this awesome 2012 hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, a stacked, rich, concentrated mid-palate, and loads of sweet tannin that are almost completely hidden under all of the wine's fruit and texture. Given the wealth of material here, it's already hard to resist, but don't let that fool you, this has the balance, concentration and structure to keep for 2-3 decades. It's a sensational Cabernet from this team that should not be missed.
VM 93 (11/2015): (14% alcohol; from Klipsun, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Upchurch vineyards): Dark ruby-red. Knockout nose combines spicy red and black fruits, tobacco, minerals and black pepper, plus a complicating medicinal aspect. Delivers Outstanding concentration and a fine-grained texture, showing lovely floral lift and a classic juicy Red Mountain Cabernet character. The tannins communicate an impression of finesse but this wine is nonetheless still tight on the back end. Combines the "plum brandy of Klipsun, the Latour-like focus of Grand Ciel, blueberries and minerals from Ciel, and the floral character of Upchurch," according to Chris Upchurch. |
|
|
2013 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2016): Up there with the incredible 2012, yet in a more focused, tight, backwards style, the inky colored 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four separate vineyards (Klipsun, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Upchurch) and exhibits classic Red Mountain characteristics of black fruit, smoked herbs, licorice, graphite and dusty minerality on the nose. Possessing serious intensity, full-bodied richness, ripe, yet present tannin and a fabulous finish, it needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years, and it will drink beautifully through 2038.
VM 93 (11/2016): Deep ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice and crushed rock, plus a very ripe suggestion of plum brandy that winemaker Chris Upchurch says is from the Klipsun fruit. Wonderfully dense, fine-grained and broad, combining Latour-like saline, gravel and graphite notes with the vibrant blueberry and mineral aspect of Ciel du Cheval. Seriously structured, sharply focused, very pure wine with lovely floral lift and elegance. Finishes with sweet tannins and outstanding breadth. (Drink between 2018-2025). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2016 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97 (4/2019): One of the gems in the lineup is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags. This thrilling, sensational Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful perfume of red currants, spice box, new leather, and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and thrillingly textured, it offers balance, remarkable purity, and a finish that won’t quit. While Red Mountain is known for producing powerful, structured wines, this is all about finesse and elegance. It will drink nicely for two decades. (Drink between 2019-2039).
WA 94 (12/2019): Named for the four famous vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags immediately shows power and elegance on the nose, with a fresh core of fruit and minerality, showcasing rich and velvety oak tones. The wine is rich and complex on the medium to full-bodied palate that's overflowing and expressive, with good depth and breadth, balanced tannins and the lifting support of oak spices and energetic acidity. It lingers long, with a tannic edge that will settle down with time, making it ready for food now.
VM 92+ (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice, black pepper and minerals on the nose. Densely packed, fine-grained and nicely concentrated but a bit youthfully unforthcoming today, showing limited sweetness and early appeal. I find this a bit peppery, if not lean, in the early going, with a distinct coolness in the style of some '16s. Finishes savory and persistent, with a smooth dusting of tannins and some peppery herbs in a varietal way. Lay this one down. (made from three clones) (Drink between 2022-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2018 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (5/2021): All Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (78% new French oak), the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags showed brilliantly, offering a Pauillac-like nose of smoky red and blue fruits, lead pencil, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and concentrated, it has lots of velvety tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It ranks with the top Cabernets from the appellation and is a stunning wine. Drink bottles over the coming 20-25 years.
WA 94+ (10/2021): Displaying a magenta core, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags blossoms in the glass with elements of cinnamon-spiced cherries, crème de cassis and plum reduction with a floral and dusty essence. Medium to full-bodied, this 100% Cabernet is ripe with a firm tannic edge while offering flavors of blackberry jus and a steady mineral-laced sensation across the mid-palate. The wine glides to an elongated finish with lasting flavors of graphite, black plum and dusty flowers.
VM 94 (3/2022): Already quite nicely evolved, the 2018 Four Flags evokes black tea, exotic spice and chocolate aromas alongside a great wall of dark fruits. Full-bodied and intense, with sagebrush and scorched earth undertones, this is drinking beautifully right now and will continue to cellar well for another 15 years - or more! (Drink between 2021-2035). Owen Bargreen. |
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|
2019 |
Grand Ciel Syrah |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (5/2023): Big, bold and broad-shouldered, the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel offers a firm, fresh nose with a rocky and dusty blackberry essence and subtle notes of graphite and baking spices. Full-bodied, firm and focused, the palate reveals fine-grained tannins and a long, spicy and textural finish. It’s still tight and just a baby, so give it another two to three years in the cellar before opening. Your patience will be rewarded. Enjoy with food.
JD 95 (6/2023): All Syrah from a great vineyard on Red Mountain, the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard reveals a deep ruby/plum hue (it's not opaque) to go with a great perfume of mulberries, meaty blue fruits, pepper herbs, leather, and hints of iron. Rich, medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has fine tannins, a silky, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for 15-20 years as well. (Drink between 2023-2043).
VM 94 (3/2023): Cracked ashen stones, savory herbs and smoky black currants form the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel's beguiling bouquet. This is silky and round on the palate, with depths of dark fruit, savory spice and herbal tones that swirl throughout. It leaves the palate caked in salty minerals and a web of fine-grained tannins while tapering off with pretty inner violet florals and a dark fruit concentration. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
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|
2010 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
11 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2013): More complex, deep and mineral-driven, the awesome 2010 Harrison Hill (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) comes from the tiny Snipes Mountain AVA and the second oldest planting of vines in the state. Loaded with notions of smoked herbs, crushed stone, tobacco, bay leaf, black currant and hints of saddle leather, it flows seamlessly onto the palate with full-bodied richness, brilliant extract and serious persistence on the finish. Despite have knockout richness, it’s also silky, weightless and elegant, with juicy acidity lifting up the finish. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15 years or more. Drink 2016-2028+.
VM 92 (11/2013): (65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Cassis, blackberry and a nutty nuance on the nose. Fat, lush and sweet; showing a much more open-knit texture today than the Lot 1 cabernet. Seamless and long, with tannins thoroughly buffered by dark fruit. |
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|
2010 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2013): More complex, deep and mineral-driven, the awesome 2010 Harrison Hill (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot) comes from the tiny Snipes Mountain AVA and the second oldest planting of vines in the state. Loaded with notions of smoked herbs, crushed stone, tobacco, bay leaf, black currant and hints of saddle leather, it flows seamlessly onto the palate with full-bodied richness, brilliant extract and serious persistence on the finish. Despite have knockout richness, it’s also silky, weightless and elegant, with juicy acidity lifting up the finish. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15 years or more. Drink 2016-2028+.
VM 92 (11/2013): (65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Cassis, blackberry and a nutty nuance on the nose. Fat, lush and sweet; showing a much more open-knit texture today than the Lot 1 cabernet. Seamless and long, with tannins thoroughly buffered by dark fruit. |
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|
2015 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 97 (6/2018): Incorporating 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, as well as the fruit of Washington State's oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines (planted in 1962), the 2015 Harrison Hill is superb, wafting from the glass with notes of cassis, cherries, black tea, sweet cocoa nib and subtle pencil shavings. On the palate, it's full-bodied, velvety and layered, with superb depth and dimension, its tannins abundant but beautifully pixelated and its finish tangy and lingering. I'd expect this absolutely superb Bordeaux blend to see out its 30th birthday in style, but plan on cellaring it for 4 or 5 years at the bare minimum to allow it to realize all its considerable potential. Effortlessly balanced, this was my favorite of the DeLille Cellars wines reviewed here.
JD 96 (4/2018): I always find a subtle Château Margaux-like quality in this cuvée and the 2015 Harrison Hill is no exception. Beautiful notes of sandalwood, sweet cassis, blueberries, forest floor, and graphite are just some of the nuances here. Hitting the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, it has sweet, elegant tannins, beautiful balance, and a terrific sweetness of fruit that keeps you coming back to the glass. It needs a healthy decant if drinking anytime soon and will be even better with 3-4 years of bottle age, at which point it will drink nicely for two decades or more. The blend of the 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged all in New French barrels.
VM 94 (11/2018): Dark red with ruby tones. Aromas and flavors of black raspberry and licorice are lifted by a floral topnote. At once juicy and deep, conveying an uncanny creaminess of texture (the oldest vines here were planted in 1962 but even the youngest are now 24 years of age). Seriously complex wine with captivating sweetness of fruit complicated by a savory herbal quality and sexy oaky lift (75% new). Executive winemaker Chris Upchurch noted that this fruit smells like cannabis when it's crushed. Delivers a remarkable combination of texture, sweetness and weightlessness and finishes extremely long, with suave tannins and no edges. A great vintage for this bottling. (14% alcohol) (Drink between 2020-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2018 |
Red Willow Vyd. Red Wine |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (5/2021): A Cabernet Franc-dominated wine, the 2018 Red Willow Blend checks in as 57% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, all brought up in 36% new French oak. It's another gorgeous 2018 from this team revealing incredible purity and elegance as well as richness. Blue fruits, forest floor, flowers, and graphite are just some of the nuances and it's medium to full-bodied, with a seamless, elegant texture and a slightly bloody, salty character on the finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's an awesome Cabernet Franc.
VM 94 (3/2022): The 2018 Red Wine Red Willow is a silky, elegant wine that blends 57% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, it offers florals combined with sagebrush, blackberry compote and black licorice underpinnings. Fresh, vibrant and silky-smooth on the attack, this seamlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Highly refined yet showing good weight, this outstanding Left Bank-inspired red blend will satisfy for at least another decade to come. (Drink between 2021-2034). Owen Bargreen. |
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2013 |
Shaw Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2016): A new cuvee from this estate and from a vineyard in the northeast portion of Red Mountain, the sensational 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Shaw Red Mountain Vineyard is a big, concentrated Cabernet that offers tons of blackcurrants, graphite, crushed rock, licorice and sweet oak in a full-bodied, seamless and elegant package. Possessing fabulous purity and tons of tannic grip, a good portion of which are covered by sweet fruit, this beautiful wine is certainly approachable now due to its balance and purity of fruit, but needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 15-20 years.
VM 91 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and bitter chocolate. Densely packed, sweet and rich; an almost California-like bomb of dark berries and chocolate. Finishes ripely complex and long, but without the complexity of the best red wines from this producer. (Drink Between 2017-2022). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Den Hoed |
2009 |
Andreas Wallula Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2013): My favorite of these new releases, and possessing a fantastic mix of richness and structure, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Andreas is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 30 months in 90% new French oak. Featuring knockout richness and depth, this massively fruited, yet elegant effort offers up aromas of black currants, licorice, tobacco leaf, mint and mulled spices to go with an unctuous, chewy texture on the palate. Count me a fan of this big, rich, butremarkably balanced and fresh wine. There’s certainly some tannin present on the palate, but the overall impression here is one of polish and richness. Enjoy it over the coming decade or so. Drink now-2024+.
VM 90 (11/2013): Good full, bright ruby. Very ripe, savory aromas of dark cherry and bitter chocolate. Mellow and deep on the palate, showing an inviting nutty quality to the raspberry, redcurrant and plum fruit flavors. Finishes with broad, ripe tannins and noteworthy persistence. Offers a lovely balance between its body and its acid/tannin structure. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Dom. Drouhin |
2022 |
Cuvee Laurene Pinot Noir |
$64 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (8/2024): The medium ruby-colored 2022 Pinot Noir Laurene is more layered and complex, with a cologne consisting of cedar, leather, black cherries, wild raspberries, umami savory notes, and mossy earth. Medium-bodied, it has more structure and slightly broader shoulders, with ripe tannins and evenly balanced, ripe acidity. It’s only going to improve with time and will drink well over the next 20 years. (Drink between 2024-2044). Audrey Frick.
VM 94+ (8/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Laurène is spicy, revealing an intense burst of crushed cherries and strawberries complemented by hints of clove and a cascade of dusty rose. This is juicy in style with ripe red berry fruits that saturate as saline minerals amass toward the close. Violet and lavender tones linger through the lightly structured finish, leaving a pleasant tart blackberry tinge that slowly fades. (Drink between 2026-2036). Eric Guido. |
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| Donelan |
2014 |
Cushing’s Block Barbed Oak Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (7/2017): Coming from a single block in the Barbed Oak Vineyard located in Bennet Valley, the 2014 Pinot Noir Cushing’s Block is a ripe, sweetly fruited and downright sexy beauty that offers classic Pinot fruit as well as complex forest floor, rose petals and spring flowers aromas and flavors. This medium-bodied, plush, incredibly elegant 2014 has a silky texture, fine tannin and a great finish. While it’s drinking beautifully today it will easily keep for a decade. It’s much more seamless and approachable than either of the 2013s.
WA 94+ (2/2017): Coming from the Calera clone planted to gravelly soil, this vintage of Cushing’s Block was produced with 30% whole cluster and aged in French barrels for 16 months, 25% new. Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Cushing’s Block gives pronounced earthy notes of forest floor, damp earth and fungi over scents of warm cranberries, pomegranate, red currants and violets. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of opulent red fruits accented by earthy/herbal notes, it has a solid frame of grainy tannins and lively acid, finishing with great length.
VM 93 (3/2017): An addition to the range, 2014 Pinot Noir Cushing's Block emerges from Barbed Oak Vineyard in Bennett County. Dark red cherry, plum, blood orange and exotic spice give the wine its alluring personality. Deep, pliant and expressive, the 2014 is a real beauty. This is an impressive debut. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Kobler Family Vyd. Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2017): Coming from the Green Valley region of the Russian River Valley (this is a cooler terroir), the 2013 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard is always cofermented with a big chunk of Viognier (10% in 2013) and is aged mostly in neutral oak. It offers an ethereal, elegant and seamless style as well as classic notes of black raspberries, white pepper, rose petals and white cherries (no doubt from the Viognier). Nuanced and deep, with a great finish, it’s never the largest scaled wine in the lineup, but it shines for it complexity and incredible elegance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. |
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2013 |
Walker Vine Hill Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97+ (7/2017): One of the larger scaled examples of this cuvee I’ve tried, the 2013 Syrah Walker Vine Hill saw only partial destemming and 20 months in 25% new French oak. Reminding me a great vintage of Hermitage Les Bessards from Delas, it boasts phenomenal notes of crème de cassis, graphite, roasted herbs, melted licorice and burning embers. Rich, voluptuous, seriously ripe and decadent, yet with density, tannin and structure, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring (it needs an hour decant or more if drinking today) and will have two decades of overall longevity. This is what great California Syrah tastes like! |
|
| Figgins Estate |
2009 |
Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2012): Bottled in July of last year and comprising a roughly 60-40 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend (Petit Verdot didn’t make the cut this year due to the late frost), Figgins’ 2009 Estate Red is stunningly scented with perfumed essence of iris and violet as well as ripe dark berries and high-toned, resinous green herbs and geranium. The effect is like Merlot contributing Chartreuse liqueur! (Is this a sweet spot to plant that grape or what?) The palate combination of seamless high ripeness and satiny polish with levity, billowing inner-mouth florality and sheer energy is utterly uncanny, and the finish is so juicy you’ll need a napkin. If you’ve visited the site, it’s hard not to imagine its airy openness reflected here in liquid form. And this is a libation you’re likely to desire following for at least the next dozen years. (And perhaps its tannins will become more evident in the mid term.)
VM 93 (11/2012): (65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% merlot): Good deep red-ruby. Aromas of dark berries, cocoa powder and licorice. Dense, silky and rich, with a lovely creamy sweetness to the slightly high-toned black raspberry fruit. A compellingly sweet blend with suave, fully ripe tannins and Outstanding black raspberry persistence. |
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|
2010 |
Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2013): On another level, the 2010 Estate Red Wine is something to behold! A blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon – yet with smaller portions of Merlot and Petit Verdot – aged in 75% new and 25% 1-year-old French oak barrels for 20 months, it has a decidedly dark fruit profile with Pauillac-like aromas of black raspberry, creme de cassis, coffee bean, graphite, mineral and toasted bread all emerging from the glass. Deep, rich and layered, with a full-bodied, concentrated and structured feel on the palate, it fleshes out beautifully with air and is up there with the creme de la creme of the vintage and region. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age (or more) and will have 20-25 years of evolution. Drink 2016-2035. Coming from an estate vineyard that’s located on the eastern edge of the Walla Walla Valley, off of Mill Creek Road and at an elevation of roughly 1,750 feet, these wines are made by Chris Figgins (of Leonetti) and show classic profiles. As the score suggests, this is one producer not to miss! |
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2012 |
Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (6/2015): The Figgins 2012 Estate Red Wine is flat-out knockout stuff. Layered, gorgeously concentrated, full-bodied, and balanced, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend gives up sensational notes of cassis, black raspberry toasted bread and sweet spice on the nose. Ultra-pure, elegant and silky, it has the texture to drink nicely today, yet will age effortlessly for two decades or more. Coming from the higher elevation, eastern edge of Walla Walla (1500-1750 feet above sea level), it spent 22 months in 70% new French oak and 30% in once used barrels. This is one of the top Cabernets coming out of Washington and readers should not miss it.
VM 92+ (11/2015): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of cassis, black cherry and cocoa powder convey a cool medicinal reserve; much blacker than Chris Figgins's Leonetti Reserve. Juicy and firm, showing excellent acid cut to the flavors of red and darker fruits, spices and herbs. Tightly wound and solidly tannic today, this wine will require patience. A second bottle of equal quality showed a more tactile texture and more of a blue-fruit character. (Drink between 2020-2030). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Force Majeure |
2014 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2017): Like the Epinette cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is showing incredibly well from bottle. Checking in as a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it saw an extended maceration and spent 22 months in 85% new French oak. It has a beautifully fresh, focused bouquet of black currants, graphite, smoked earth and chocolate, as well as full-bodied richness, good acidity and fine, polished tannin that builds with time in the glass. It's a terrific Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. |
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|
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (4/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is a beautiful effort. Sporting a deep ruby/purple color and terrific notes of blackcurrants, cassis, crushed rocks, lead pencil shavings, and chocolate, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, powerful, yet still elegant profile that carries incredible fruit and richness, yet no sense of weight. With beautiful purity of fruit, a balanced, layered style, building tannin, and a great finish, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will cruise for two decades in the cellars. Now focusing almost exclusively on their Red Mountain estate vineyards, Force Majeure is making some of the most compelling wines in Washington State, as well as in the United States. Winemaker Todd Alexander (previously at Bryant Family in Napa Valley) came on board in 2014 and today the wines show another level of purity and finesse, all while not sacrificing depth of fruit or texture. Both the 2015s and 2016 are terrific wines, with a small edge going to the 2016s. Trust me, these are gorgeous wines you need to try. (Drink between 2020-2040) |
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|
2016 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 99 (4/2019): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is a thrilling effort from winemaker Todd Alexander that rates with some of the most monumental wines to come out of Washington State. Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from their estate vineyard on Red Mountain, brought up in mostly new barrels, it reveals a saturated purple color that's followed by a rich, primordial bouquet of crème de cassis, espresso roast, crushed rock, and graphite. It needs considerable air to start to show its potential yet is a full-bodied, powerful wine that has subtle oak, plenty of sweet tannins, and a huge, layered finish that won't quit. It's the tannin management that's truly spectacular. This brilliant wine needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will keep for 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2023-2048).
VM 93 (11/2018): Saturated bright ruby! Pungent, primary, essence-of-Cabernet aromas of cassis, black cherry, graphite, licorice pastille, tobacco leaf, mint and herbs, lifted by a violet topnote. Wonderful dense, thick, saline and sweet, showing a very ripe, chewy, slightly chocolatey character that reminded me of a Napa Valley cult Cabernet. (I should note that winemaker Todd Alexander previously spent four years as winemaker at Bryant Family Vineyard.) But this wonderfully savory wine may well have more energy than its Napa equivalents. Finishes very long, with huge, thick, totally ripe, palate-saturating tannins but no hard edges. Shows an almost caramelly Pomerol-like creaminess in the mouth, with its green qualities receding into the background. This wine lacks only the refinement for an even higher score. This appears to have been little affected by its recent bottling in August but I wonder if it will shut down in bottle over the coming year or so. (Drink between 2019-2025). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93+ (12/2019): Opening with a fresh core of black fruit and minerality on the nose, the 2016 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon wafts with blackberry, crème de cassis and dusty purple flowers. Full-bodied in the mouth, the wine is strict and rigid, with a lingering spice through the mid-palate. It continues to show a mineral tension with dusty black fruit, spiced plum and nuanced oak flavors on the long, thoughtful finish. 450 cases were produced, and this wine will age especially well. |
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2010 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series I Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2013): Made by Ben Smith of Cadence with the overall intent to show elegance and refinement in a Washington blend, the 2010 Collaboration Series I checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance equal parts Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Borderline opaque purple in color, it offers a perfumed, civilized bouquet of fresh black raspberry, damp underbrush, pencil shavings, toast and violets to go with a full-bodied, gorgeously balanced and pure mouthfeel on the palate that carries a light texture and ripe tannin. All from the first-rate Ciel du Cheval vineyard and aged in 70% new French oak, it is an elegant, ethereal and age-worthy blend that will evolve gracefully for 3-4 years and have upwards of 10-12 years or more of ultimate longevity. Drink 2016-2025.
VM 92+ (11/2013): (64% cabernet sauvignon, and 12% each cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot; includes cabernet sauvignon plantings dating back to 1982 and 1975; made by Ben Smith; five of the eight barrels were new): Good dark red. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, coffee, mocha and sexy coconutty oak are lifted by a minty high note. Fine-grained and suave, in a distinctly cooler style for the year. Firm acidity and a pronounced medicinal reserve contribute to the impression of solid structure. Finishes with very smooth tannins and excellent length. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2008 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2013): More exotic and meaty, with serious coffee bean, roasted herbs, game, smoke and blacker styled fruit, the 2008 Ccollaboration Series Reserve Syrah also comes from the top-class Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in Red Mountain and is 100% Syrah (previous vintages had small amounts of Viognier co-fermented). Made by Ben Smith (Cadence Winery) and aged for 38 months in all-new French oak, it is a serious, age-worthy effort that has full-bodied richness, awesome concentration and a detailed, focused finish. More backwards and dense than normal for this cuvee (both the 2005 and 2006 were much evolved and open-knit on release), it integrated its oak component beautifully over the multiple days I followed the bottle and only improved with air. Give bottles another 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 10-15 years. Drink 2016-2026. |
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|
2009 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2013): The 2009 Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah is similar to the 2005 and 2006 Reserve Syrahs with its up-front, sexy and almost slutty kirsch and blackberry liqueur-styled fruit, graphite, roasted meats, dried flowers and underbrush-like aromas and flavors. Despite the extended time in barrel, it remains supremely pure and fresh, which, let me tell you, is not always the case with wines that have spent over three years in barrel! Full-bodied, supple and hard to resist, with a core of sweet fruit, a layered, rich texture and a big finish, it is ready to go now and I see no reason to delay gratification. A decade or more of longevity is most likely on the conservative side. Drink now 2022. |
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|
2011 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series V Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2014): Starting out and concentrated, structured and full-bodied, with rocking creme de cassis, lead pencil, sweet tobacco and hints of gaminess, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Collaboration Series V is 100% Cabernet that comes from vines planted in 1975 and 1982. Spending 20 months in 100% new French oak, this knockout Washington State Cabernet will be better in another year or three, and have two decades of longevity. It’s a resounding success in this difficult vintage.
VM 91+ (12/2014): Bright, medium red-ruby. Subdued, pure aromas of crushed blackberry, blueberry, licorice pastille and violet, complicated by leather and bitter chocolate nuances. Tightly wound and youthfully backward, with an insidious liquid velvet character currently hidden by strong inner-mouth tension. Finishes with serious tongue-dusting tannins, very good grip and verve, and lingering notes of cassis, smoked meat, leather and exotic oak. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2012 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series V Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 97 (6/2015): Made by Chris Gorman, the 2012 Collaboration Series V Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel du Cheval is a blockbuster. Big, bombastic, full-bodied and decadent, it still stays classy and elegant, with lively black raspberry, cassis, caramelized cherries, crushed flowers and high-class oak all emerging from the glass. Enjoy this pedal-to-the-metal Cabernet over the coming two decades.
VM 89 (11/2015): (14.9% alcohol; made by Chris Gorman): Dark ruby-red. Cassis, licorice, chocolatey oak and a whiff of leather on the slightly medicinal nose. Densely packed and full, conveying an almost port-like sweetness to the flavors of cassis, black cherry and licorice. This chewy, plush wine is a bit youthfully clenched today; perhaps a few years of cellaring will bring more complexity. Finishes with tongue-dusting tannins and very good length. |
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|
2010 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series VI Red Wine |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (6/2013): A brilliant Southern Rhone-like blend of 56% Mourvedre, 38% Syrah and 6% Grenache that was fermented all in concrete and aged in neutral French oak puncheons, the 2010 Collaboration Series VI was made by James Mantone of Syncline Wines. Spectacular, with vividly defined aromas of blackberry, pepper, flowers, underbrush and licorice, it flows onto the palate with lively acidity, polished tannin and an elegant, seamless texture that has no hard edges and an overall classy, refined feel. Already approachable and complex, it will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink nicely for 10-12 years.
VM 91+ (11/2013): Good bright, medium ruby-red. High-toned aromas of red berries, red pepper and licorice, plus a whiff of tree bark. At once sweet and bright, with the red fruit flavors accented by spices and pepper. Lovely energetic, intense mourvedre here. A very successful blend with sound natural acidity. Most of the Force Majeure Vineyard's mourvedre fruit was stolen in 2010, with the thieves leaving only the outside rows intact. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2011 |
Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (6/2013): A new cuvee that might be renamed by the time you read this (I heard more than three different ideas in the 5-10 minutes we spent with the wine), the 2011 Collaboration Series Syrah Special Project is made from 92% Ciel du Cheval Syrah and 8% co-fermented Viognier and Roussanne. Sexy, supple and gorgeously perfumed, it boasts knockout aromatics of black raspberry, peach pit, smoked cherries, bramble and pepper as well as a full-bodied, seamless and voluptuous texture that has no hard edges. It gains focus and detail on the finish, yet will be hard to resist in its youth given the purity of fruit and quality of the texture; nevertheless, it should evolve gracefully. Drink now-2026. |
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|
2010 |
Collaboration Series V Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2013): The most full-throttle of the lineup, the 2010 Collaboration Series V is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, from Ciel du Cheval blocks planted in 1975 and 1982, that was aged in 100% new French oak. Made by Chris Gorman, it offers up a decadent array of creme de cassis, smoked herbs, chocolate, roasted meats and freshly sharpened pencil-like qualities on the nose. Full-bodied, seamless and even elegant on the palate, yet with layers of fruit and texture, it has clean, integrated acidity, superb polish to its tannin and big minerality that emerges on the finish. Certainly impressive now, it still needs another 3-4 years of bottle age and will shine for 15 years or more. Drink 2015-2028+ |
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|
2010 |
Collaboration Series VI Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (6/2013): A brilliant Southern Rhone-like blend of 56% Mourvedre, 38% Syrah and 6% Grenache that was fermented all in concrete and aged in neutral French oak puncheons, the 2010 Collaboration Series VI was made by James Mantone of Syncline Wines. Spectacular, with vividly defined aromas of blackberry, pepper, flowers, underbrush and licorice, it flows onto the palate with lively acidity, polished tannin and an elegant, seamless texture that has no hard edges and an overall classy, refined feel. Already approachable and complex, it will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink nicely for 10-12 years. Drink now-2025.
VM 91+ (12/2013): (56% mourvedre, 38% syrah and 6% grenache; made by James Mantone of Syncline; fermented in square concrete bins and 500-liter puncheons): Good bright, medium ruby-red. High-toned aromas of red berries, red pepper and licorice, plus a whiff of tree bark. At once sweet and bright, with the red fruit flavors accented by spices and pepper. Lovely energetic, intense mourvedre here. A very successful blend with sound natural acidity. Most of the Force Majeure Vineyard's mourvedre fruit was stolen in 2010, with the thieves leaving only the outside rows intact. |
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|
2012 |
Force Majeur Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (6/2015): Made by Todd Alexander and coming from the new estate vineyard, the 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is backward and structured, with gorgeous dark fruits, scorched earth, graphite and crushed rock giving way to a full-bodied, concentrated tannic feel on the palate. This is a serious effort that will need a decade of cellaring, yet should have 25+ years of overall longevity.
JD 95+ (1/2018): The 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the estate vineyard located high up on Red Mountain. It offers a perfumed, masculine and mineral-laced bouquet of crushed violets, blueberries, plums and wild herbs to go with a full-bodied, rich, structured style on the palate. While there's plenty of upfront fruit, it has building tannin, tons of minerality, and a great finish, all suggesting it needs short term cellaring. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15-20 years. (Drink between 2020-2040).
VM 92 (11/2015): Bright, dark ruby. Black cherry, cassis, minerals and licorice on the tight nose, with a faint herbal quality. Sweet flavors of dark berries and spices show lovely plushness and depth. Nicely concentrated but still a bit youthfully clenched and a bit dry on the back end, even if the tannins are fine-grained and suave. Very impressive Cabernet but extremely primary today and in need of patience. This bottling comes from the winery's steep estate vineyard on Red Mountain. (Drink between 2019-2025). Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2013 |
Force Majeur Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (6/2015): Made by Todd Alexander and coming from the new estate vineyard, the 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is backward and structured, with gorgeous dark fruits, scorched earth, graphite and crushed rock giving way to a full-bodied, concentrated tannic feel on the palate. This is a serious effort that will need a decade of cellaring, yet should have 25+ years of overall longevity. |
|
|
2011 |
Force Majeure Vyd. Collaboration Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95+ (6/2013): Coming all from the new, incredibly steep estate vineyard located high up near the top of Red Mountain, the 2011 Collaboration Series Cabernet Sauvignon is distinct in the lineup for its deep black currant, tobacco, underbrush, violets and mineral-loaded profile. More rounded and supple on the palate than some of the Ciel du Cheval bottlings, it has a rich, weighty mouthfeel, knockout purity of fruit and enough silky tannin to allow it to evolve gracefully for at least a decade. This is only the fourth leaf for the vineyard and hats off to the Force Majeure crew for having the vision to push the envelope on where grape vines can be planted and for the perseverance to work those steep hillsides. Drink now-2021. |
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|
2012 |
Force Majeure Vyd. Red Mountain Syrah |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97+ (6/2015): Getting a few “wows” and expletives in the notes, the 2012 Estate Syrah is 100% of the variety and comes from the estate’s new vineyard perched high up on the upper slopes of Red Mountain. Reminding me of a young vintage of Guigal’s Cote Rotie La Turque, it exhibits sensational notes of black raspberry, graphite, cured meats, lavender and toasted spices. These all flow seamlessly to a full-bodied, dense, concentrated and pure 2012 that has building, fine tannin and a blockbuster finish. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar, and enjoy bottle through 2032. |
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| Gallica |
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, plush wine. Despite its initial richness, there is plenty of underlying tannin. Sweet floral notes are woven throughout. The 2009 bursts with energy, precision and sheer class. It is a dazzling effort. Far from an easygoing 2009, the wine shows the more structured side of the vintage. It is likely to require at least a few years in bottle. The 2009 is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak barrels, 81% new. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 92+ (5/2012): Good full ruby. Subdued aromas of cassis, violet and licorice, plus a whiff of sweet butter. Then dense, juicy and vibrant in the mouth, with lovely definition and floral lift to the youthfully medicinal flavors of black cherry, tar and dark chocolate. Finishes with a serious spine of dusty tannins and lingering notes of truffle and spices. Lay this one down. |
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|
2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (9/2014): A huge, voluptuous wine, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely gorgeous. In this vintage, the blend includes 10% Cabernet Franc, which seems to add structure and aromatic nuance. The 2012 is going to need time to shed some baby fat, but it is strikingly beautiful, even at this early stage. This voluptuous, racy Cabernet is pure 2012. (Drink between 2018-2031). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (10/2014): Far superior to the 2011 is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from an Oakville source. It offers notes of baking spices, cedarwood, forest floor, blackcurrants and toasty barrique. Medium to full-bodied, opulent and voluptuous with low acidity as well as melted tannins, it can be enjoyed over the next decade. |
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| Goodfellow Family Cellars |
2019 |
Lewman Vyd. Heritage No. 16 Pinot Noir |
$84 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (9/2023): Sourced from the Lewman Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the 2019 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 16 pours a deep ruby hue and is highly expressive of wild roses, red cherry, menthol, and cinnamon. Medium-bodied, it has fine tannins and a linear, more complete feel, with notes of orange peel citrus and toasted cedar on the long finish. It’s a very attractive wine to enjoy over the next 8-10 years. (Drink between 2023-2033). Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (2/2022): Shimmering garnet. Vibrant red fruit, floral and exotic spice scents, along with hints of incense and musky earth. Sappy, energetic and penetrating on the palate, offering intense raspberry and cherry flavors and building blood orange and candied rose nuances. Delivers a serious punch but comes off lithe. The impressively long, finely detailed finish features polished tannins and reverberating floral and spice notes. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds.
WA 94 (7/2024): The 2019 Pinot Noir Heritage No. 16 comes from the Lewman Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. It has detailed scents of red cherries, black tea leaves, violet, iron and mushrooms. The palate is seamless and silky with fresh, saline-tinged fruit and a delicate, earthy finish. |
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| Gramercy Cellars |
2010 |
Lagniappe Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2013): More rich, full and voluptuous, while still not losing the house style, the 2010 Syrah Lagniappe is a knockout Syrah that easily matches the brilliant 2009. Perfumed, intense and complex, with Northern Rhone-like aromas of wild berry fruit, smoked bacon, lavender and black pepper, it flows onto the palate with a classically constructed, firm mouthfeel that carries vibrant acidity, beautiful richness and a great finish. A 100% Syrah from Red Willow, Minick and S J R vineyards that spent 23 months in 14% new French oak, it builds brilliantly in the glass and will thrill for 10-12 years. Drink now-2022. |
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|
2013 |
Lagniappe Syrah |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2016): Slightly more fruit driven than the meaty, peppery John Lewis release, the 2013 Syrah Lagniappe is a drop dead gorgeous Syrah that does everything right. Its almost opaque purple color is followed by a complex, layered bouquet that includes ample black and blue fruits, ground pepper, lavender, olive and hints of bacon fat. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, layered, silky 2013 that has a great mid-palate, juicy acidity and a great finish. I’d happily drink it today, but it should be at its best from 2018-2028. |
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|
2013 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (6/2016): The 243-case 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a beautiful, elegant Cabernet that incorporates 12% Merlot and comes from the Bacchus, Phinny Hill and Loess vineyards. Aged 22 months in 65% new French oak, it offers tons of toasted bread, espresso roast, lead pencil shavings and dried herbs to go with a core of black cherry and darker currant-like fruits. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, impeccably balanced, and with terrific length, it shows the more streamlined style of the vintage, yet has enough density and depth to reward short-term cellaring, and drink well for two decades or more after that. |
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| Grand Reve |
2006 |
Collaboration I Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2009): The 2006 Collaboration I is the same blend but spent “only” 23 months in barrel. It reveals a similar aromatic and flavor profile but appears to be just a bit more forward, succulent, and voluptuous. It will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2025. |
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2007 |
Collaboration I Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94+ (6/2011): A Bordeaux blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot, the 2007 Grand Reve Vintners Collaboration Series I is made by Ben Smith of Cadence Winery and is aged for 23 months in 70% new French oak and the rest in 1-year-old barrels. The wine boasts full-scaled, complex aromatics of sweet crème de cassis, spice box, sage, tobacco, and hints of mint on the nose. This is followed by a full bodied, beautifully put together wine that has a rounded, soft texture, perfectly ripe fruit, good acidity, and a blockbuster finish that’s loaded with fine grained, polished tannin. Given the fruit and texture, this is superb now, however, it should continue to evolve positively for 3-5 years, and have a solid 15-20 year drink window.
VM 91 (11/2011): Good full red. Strawberry, raspberry, mocha and red licorice on the slightly medicinal nose. Juicy and vibrant, with harmonious acidity giving energy and definition to the cabernet-dominated flavors of red berries, spices, mocha and fresh herbs. Plenty of flavor depth here without any heaviness. Finishes with suave tannins and excellent length. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2007 |
Collaboration I Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
9 |
|
| |
JD 94+ (6/2011): A Bordeaux blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 13% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot, the 2007 Grand Reve Vintners Collaboration Series I is made by Ben Smith of Cadence Winery and is aged for 23 months in 70% new French oak and the rest in 1-year-old barrels. The wine boasts full-scaled, complex aromatics of sweet crème de cassis, spice box, sage, tobacco, and hints of mint on the nose. This is followed by a full bodied, beautifully put together wine that has a rounded, soft texture, perfectly ripe fruit, good acidity, and a blockbuster finish that’s loaded with fine grained, polished tannin. Given the fruit and texture, this is superb now, however, it should continue to evolve positively for 3-5 years, and have a solid 15-20 year drink window.
VM 91 (11/2011): Good full red. Strawberry, raspberry, mocha and red licorice on the slightly medicinal nose. Juicy and vibrant, with harmonious acidity giving energy and definition to the cabernet-dominated flavors of red berries, spices, mocha and fresh herbs. Plenty of flavor depth here without any heaviness. Finishes with suave tannins and excellent length. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2007 |
Collaboration II Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2011): The 2007 Collaboration II was made by Ross Mickel. It is a blend of 40% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, with the balance Viognier and Roussanne aged in 40% new French oak. Exotic spices, underbrush, brier, game, black cherry, and blueberry aromas compose the nose of this layered, plush, succulent southern Rhone impersonator. This lengthy effort can be approached now but will evolve gracefully for several years and drink well through 2019. |
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2007 |
Collaboration III Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (6/2012): Showing a beautifully sweet bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, smoked meat, crushed rock like minerality, and hints of lavender and flowers, the 2007 Collaboration Series III Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is 100% Syrah that was aged in 33% new French oak. Upfront and fruit forward on the nose, it turns more savory on the palate, showing a full-bodied, concentrated mid-palate, brilliant purity of fruit, and a dry, structured finish that still has some tannin to integrate. Give bottles another 3-4 years in the cellar, and then drink over the following decade.
VM 92 (11/2010): Bright, full medium ruby. Pure but laid-back aromas of cherry, raspberry, licorice, menthol and flowers. Juicy, spicy and ripe, with lovely intensity to its red fruit and floral flavors. A note of soft citrus fruit adds complexity and an element of delicacy. The suave, building finish displays excellent energy and a hint of black pepper. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2008 |
Collaboration III Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
5 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2011): Made by Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan Winery, the 2008 Grand Reve Vintners Syrah Collaboration Series III is 100% Syrah that was aged in 40% new French Burgundy barrels. Paul McBride describes the goal of this wine as highlighting the style of Washington State Syrah, and I can say that this delivers on all marks. A big, upfront wine, with brilliantly pure blackberry, ground pepper, licorice, and spice aromas literally jumping from the glass, it’s both intense, and yet restrained and elegant at the same time. More graphite and chocolate like notes develop on the palate, where the wine is full bodied and seamless, possessing superb balance, amazing purity of fruit, and an excellent finish where dusty tannin emerge. While there’s no harm in drinking now, after seeing how the ’06 is developing, this should really be given 3-6 years in the cellar, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this drinking superbly in 2025 or later. A drop dead gorgeous example of what Washington State can do with Syrah! |
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2006 |
Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2011): Like the ’05 Reserve Syrah, the 2006 Grand Reve Vintners Reserve Syrah is made by Ben Smith, sees a dash of co-fermented Viognier, and gets an extended stint in 100% new French oak. Downright sexy and upfront, with a huge perfume of crème de cassis, raspberry ganache, spice cabinet, licorice, graphite, and dried meats on the nose, the wine is full bodied in the mouth, showing gorgeous fruit and a brilliant, creamy, and mouth filling texture that stays light and airy. There’s not a hard edge to be found, and the sheer seamlessness and approachable nature makes this a joy to drink. Given how approachable it is, I don’t see any reason to hold off, however, it should have at the least a decade of prime drinking. |
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|
2006 |
Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2011): Like the ’05 Reserve Syrah, the 2006 Grand Reve Vintners Reserve Syrah is made by Ben Smith, sees a dash of co-fermented Viognier, and gets an extended stint in 100% new French oak. Downright sexy and upfront, with a huge perfume of crème de cassis, raspberry ganache, spice cabinet, licorice, graphite, and dried meats on the nose, the wine is full bodied in the mouth, showing gorgeous fruit and a brilliant, creamy, and mouth filling texture that stays light and airy. There’s not a hard edge to be found, and the sheer seamlessness and approachable nature makes this a joy to drink. Given how approachable it is, I don’t see any reason to hold off, however, it should have at the least a decade of prime drinking. |
|
| Hartford Court |
2012 |
Far Coast Pinot Noir |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2014): An outrageously superb effort, the 2012 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard sees 25% new oak. It offers a flowery, black cherry, forest floor and underbrush-scented bouquet. Deep, full-bodied, stunningly concentrated, pure, rich and expansive on the palate, this knock-out wine should drink well for 10 years.
VM 92 (5/2014): Bright ruby. Deeply pitched red fruit preserve, anise and incense aromas are lifted by a sexy floral element. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry and rose pastille flavors, picking up notes of mocha and vanilla with air. Distinctly energetic and pure, with a seamless texture and a firm spine of acidity contributing structure. Finishes sweet, floral and very long, with subtle tannins building slowly and fading smoothly into the wine's fruit. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2015 |
Hailey’s Block Pinot Noir |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (6/2018): From the cooler Green Valley region of the Russian River, the 2015 Pinot Noir Hailey’s Block was completely destemmed and spent 16 months in 27% new French oak. Hailey's Block is a block within the Arrendell Vineyard, named after Don and Jennifer Hartford's daughter. It’s another beautifully Burgundian wine from this estate that offers crisp black cherry, crushed rock, charcoal, and wood smoke aromas and flavors. It’s fresh, focused, and youthful, with fine tannin and high yet integrated acidity. Give it a year or three and it will keep for a decade or more.
WA 94 (12/2017): Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Hailey's Block gives up Bing cherry, ripe raspberries and pomegranate notes with touches of baking spices, tree bark and wild thyme. Medium-bodied, very finely crafted and refreshing in the mouth, it has lovely silken-textured tannins framing the vibrant fruit, finishing long.
VM 92 (4/2018): The 2015 Pinot Noir Hailey's Block is tightly wound and reticent next to the other wines in the range, but it nevertheless offers striking purity in its raspberry, blood orange and pomegranate flavors. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 for at least a year or two, as it is not ready to offer maximum pleasure just yet. (Drink between 2020-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Seascape Pinot Noir |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (6/2019): Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2016 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard comes from a ridgetop vineyard located west of the town of Occidental. Aged 17 months in 27% new French oak, it offers a savory, marine-influenced bouquet of wild strawberries, cranberries, rose petals, and Asian spices. With medium to full body, supple tannins, and a great, great finish as well as a singular character, this magical Pinot Noir from this team will benefit from a year in bottle and keep for over a decade. (Drink between 2020-2030).
WA 97+ (10/2018): The 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple colored and opens with vibrant cranberries, pomegranate and Bing cherries scents with touches of underbrush, wild sage, red roses and mossy bark with a waft of tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs in the elegant red fruit and earthy layers, finishing on a long, lingering, provocative mineral note.
VM 92 (5/2019): The 2016 Pinot Noir Seascape Vineyard is wonderfully fragrant and lifted. Dried cherry, autumn leaves, spice, crushed flowers, mint and raspberry are all laced together in this effortless, lilting Pinot. The Seascape is one of the more delicate, lithe wines in this range from Hartford Court. (Drink between 2019-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Warrior Princess Block Zena Crown Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97 (6/2019): Coming from the Eola-Amity Hills region of Oregon, the 2016 Pinot Noir Warrior Princess is world class all the way, and I’d put this up against any Pinot Noir out there. Medium ruby-colored with a beautiful perfume of black cherries, blackberries, violets, wood smoke, and earth, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, incredible balance, subtle background oak, and a great, great finish. This is a complete, beautiful Pinot Noir that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade. Unfortunately, there are only 352 cases produced. (Drink between 2021-2031).
WA 93 (2/2019): The 2016 Pinot Noir Warrior Princess comes from several blocks in the Zena Crown vineyard, aged for 16 months in 29% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with bold black cherries, black raspberries and blueberry scents with hints of spice cake, red roses and red licorice plus a touch of underbrush. Full, rich and packed with perfumed black fruits, it has a plush texture and refreshing lift on the finish. |
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| Hayfork |
2008 |
Lewelling Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2010): Some investment in patience will be warranted with this wine, which is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from the Llewelling Ranch at the base of St. Helena’s western hills. Aged in 100% new French oak, the wine is tight and restrained, but bursting with potential. Oodles of minerality, black currants, graphite, tobacco leaf, and spice box are all present in this deep, full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine. However, the tannins are still present and the wine in need of 4-5 years of cellaring. It should keep for 20-30 years. |
|
|
2012 |
Lewelling Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch, which is actually a great value in the scheme of Napa pricing, is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot that was aged for 20 months in 70% new French oak. The wine displays gorgeous licorice, lead pencil shavings, black currants, loamy soil undertones and a touch of barrique. Dense purple, it has a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel and a stunning finish with good acidity and velvety, well-integrated tannin, alcohol and wood. This is a scrumptious, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 15 or so years. |
|
| Hunnicutt |
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2015): Hunnicutt’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, is stunning. Overseen by winemaker Kirk Venge, the son of legendary Nils Venge, this 568-case cuvée a is terrific. Sweet blackberry fruits jump from the glass, the wine broad, savory and full-bodied with beautiful purity and intensity. It’s also a great value in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon given the quality. Drink it over the next 20 years. |
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| Jonata Winery |
2016 |
Fenix Merlot Bin-Soiled Label |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (10/2018): Incorporating a big chunk of Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), the Merlot-dominated 2016 Fenix offers a saturated purple color as well as a powerful, full-bodied, decadent style in its blackcurrants, black cherries, chocolate, lead pencil, and leafy herb aromas and flavors. With a stacked mid-palate, thrilling purity, and an expansive, layered, heavenly profile, it's one of the finest Merlots coming out of California. It will flirt with perfection at maturity. (Drink between 2020-2040).
VM 95 (9/2018): Jonata's Merlot-based 2016 Fenix is bright, focused and taut, all qualities that lend energy to a core of raspberry jam, chocolate, spice and floral notes. Somewhat shy today, the 2016 needs a few years in bottle to blossom. I especially like the wine's energy and restrained yet powerful style. (Drink between 2021-2031). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93+ (9/2019): A blend of 58% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 70% new French oak, the 2016 Fenix has a deep ruby color and nose of warm red and black cherry, chocolate, dried green herbs, cedar, graphite, blackberry pie, plum and dried flowers—dense but classic. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with luscious dark fruits, firmly framed by grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and chocolaty. Delicious! |
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|
2010 |
Todos Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2013): Looking at the entry level effort, and almost making me wonder why you would pony up the money for the La Sangre when you can get this level of quality at less than half the price, the 2010 Todos, which is over 75% Syrah, offers up knockout aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness and a seamless, layered profile that is hard to resist. Blackberry liqueur, caramelized beef, chocolate and flowers are just some of the nuances here and this pure, polished 2010 can be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade. Drink now-2020. |
|
| Jones Family Vineyard |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2009): A gorgeous offering, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes from a hillside vineyard located between St. Helena and Calistoga. Its dense blue/purple color is accompanied by complex aromatics of white flowers, creme de cassis, blueberry pie, charcoal, and a hint of subtle oak. With full-bodied power, stunning purity, concentration, and texture, an undeniable minerality, and a 45-second finish filled with fruit and tannin, this may be the finest wine yet produced by Jones Family Vineyards. It should evolve for 20-25 years. |
|
| Juslyn |
2005 |
Perry’s Blend Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2008): The full-bodied 2005 Perry’s Blend (88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is a combination of estate fruit and purchased grapes. It is a wine of extraordinary elegance and precision, displaying a sweet, expansive nose of spring flowers, black currants, and hints of blueberries as well as crushed rocks. An ethereal lightness and overall harmony give the wine a Bordeaux-like framework. It possesses terrific purity and depth, and a sweetness to the tannin that suggests it can be drunk now or cellared for 15+ years. |
|
|
2009 |
Perry’s Blend Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2013): A sexy, upfront, lush, opulently-styled effort, the 2009 Perry’s Blend Estate is a 440-case blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. This crowd-pleaser boasts medium to full body, a dense plum/purple color, and sweet black raspberry and blueberry fruit intermixed with notions of flowers, espresso and white chocolate. Enjoy this stunning red wine over the next 10-15 years.
VM 92 (12/2012): The 2009 Red Blend Perry's Blend impresses for its silky fruit and sensual, totally inviting personality. Freshly cut flowers, spices and raspberries all meld together in this graceful, medium-bodied wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced, while the Spring Mountain tannins are largely tamed. The 2009 is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2014-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2005 |
Spring Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
7 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2008): More backward, but also revealing the noble sweetness of tannin that is so important for this varietal, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain Estate exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue as well as sweet aromas of black currants, white chocolate, camphor, and spring flowers. Beautiful purity, ripe tannins, full body, and a 45-second finish result in a dazzling example of Spring Mountain Cabernet. However, patience is warranted. Give this wine 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 15+ years.
VM 88 (5/2016): Medium red-ruby. Wild aromas of black cherry, mocha, truffle, leather and game. Sauvage and savory in the mouth, conveying moderate concentration but a pliant texture to its dark fruit and animal flavors. Dusty tannins will not get in the way of enjoying this rather easygoing wine 2016. Perhaps a bit dry on the aftertaste but there's little in the way of Spring Mountain rigidity here. (Drink between 2016-2020). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| K Vintners |
2012 |
The Hustler Syrah |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (6/2015): Still in barrel at the time of this tasting, the 2012 Syrah The Hustler is a blockbuster-styled Syrah that's overflowing with notions of sweet red and black fruits, toasted bread, cured meats and cedar. Only made in special vintages (it was previously made in '03, '07 and '09) and aged 38 months in French oak, it's full-bodied, decadent and layered, with a weightless, elegant, seamless feel. Coming all from the Morrison Lane Vineyard (it's actually the Morrison Lane Syrah with extended barrel aging), it should be ready to go on release and dish out tons of pleasure over the following decade or more. The extended elevage has given this a more upfront feel, yet I suspect it will also allow it age more slowly as well. |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (12/2009): Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (nearly 4,000 cases produced) is a great buy for a world-class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a dense purple color, notes of charcoal, creme de cassis, graphite, and forest floor, and a ripe, opulently fruity, rich, full-bodied style. Its endearing silkiness, multi-dimensions, and mature, sweet tannins suggest it has two decades of life ahead of it.
VM 91+ (6/2010): (includes 3% merlot and 1% cabernet franc) Good full ruby. Pungent aromas of raspberry, currant, graphite, dried herbs, violet and loam, along with a whiff of dark tobacco; smells like a Graves. Less giving on the palate than the nose suggests, with a firm edge of acidity keeping the flavors under wraps today. Finishes with youthfully strict tannins. Winemaker Smith notes that he has not added either water or acid to any of the Larkmead reds since the 2004 vintage. |
|
|
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (12/2009): Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (nearly 4,000 cases produced) is a great buy for a world-class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a dense purple color, notes of charcoal, creme de cassis, graphite, and forest floor, and a ripe, opulently fruity, rich, full-bodied style. Its endearing silkiness, multi-dimensions, and mature, sweet tannins suggest it has two decades of life ahead of it.
VM 91+ (6/2010): (includes 3% merlot and 1% cabernet franc) Good full ruby. Pungent aromas of raspberry, currant, graphite, dried herbs, violet and loam, along with a whiff of dark tobacco; smells like a Graves. Less giving on the palate than the nose suggests, with a firm edge of acidity keeping the flavors under wraps today. Finishes with youthfully strict tannins. Winemaker Smith notes that he has not added either water or acid to any of the Larkmead reds since the 2004 vintage. |
|
|
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
11 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in 60% new French oak) reveals a Medoc-like nose of cedarwood, damp earth, black currants and hints of bay leaf and unsmoked cigar tobacco. Opulence, purity and density combined with a thick, full-bodied mouthfeel and a superb finish all suggest a wine that can be drunk now or cellared for two decades. |
|
|
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2012): Larkmead’s entry-level 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate captivates all of the senses from the very first taste. A huge, opulent yet structured Cabernet, the 2010 shows off tons of richness, power and structure, all while maintaining considerable detail and nuance. Black currants, melted road tar and asphalt blast thorough to the intense, palate-staining finish. I can’t imagine this being ready to drink before its 10th birthday. The 2010 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. This is a great 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030. |
|
| Law Estate Wines |
2011 |
Audacious Red Wine |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2014): The 2011 Audacious (38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Syrah, 18% Grenache and 8% Petit Sirah) reminds me of a Howell Mountain Cabernet with its creme de cassis and purple fruits, lead pencil shavings, caramelized meats and chalky minerality. As with the other 2011s from this estate, it has full-bodied richness and depth, solid mid-palate concentration and building tannin that comes through on the finish. It's a terrific wine that will have 10-15 years of longevity.
VM 93 (7/2014): The 2011 Audacious might be the most promising of these wines. Beams of acidity and tannin run through the fruit in a vivid, striking wine endowed with tremendous purity and vibrancy. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco and licorice are some of the many notes that add complexity on the finish. What a gorgeous wine this is. The 2011 is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2010 |
Intrepid Red Wine |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2013): Even better and one prodigious Syrah, the 2010 Intrepid (100% Syrah) dishes out smoking notes of dark crushed berries, spring flower, coffee bean, edgy minerality and hints of chocolate that flow to a full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional wine that carries its richness and depth effortlessly. Serious stuff, it is a classic Paso Robles Syrah that should not be missed! |
|
|
2011 |
Intrepid Red Wine |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2014): The inky-colored 2011 Intrepid checks in as a blend of 100% Syrah that spent 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels. It's another smoking effort from this estate that gives up classy framboise, black licorice, chocolatey oak and toasted spice to go with a full-bodied, layered and thrillingly pure profile on the palate. Top class all the way, it will be better in another year and have upward of a decade of longevity.
VM 90 (7/2014): Layers of cassis, blackberry jam, spices and new leather all flesh out in the 2011 Intrepid, Law's 100% Syrah. The 2011 is overt and built on pure fruit. This is one of the sweeter wines in the range, partly the result of slightly higher toast levels in the barrels. Although not quite as compelling as the very best wines in the range, the 2011 is unique and poised for far greater things once the vines get older and the winemaking team gains more experience with the site. Antonio Galloni |
|
| Lewelling Vineyards |
2007 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2009): The classic 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like proprietor Alfred Tesseron’s over-achieving 5th growth Pauillac, Chateau Pontet Canet moved to Napa. Bursting with creme de cassis, flower, lead pencil, and spice characteristics, it is a dense, pure, full-bodied wine with a terrific texture. This is a gorgeously harmonious, seamless Cabernet Sauvignon with awesome concentration as well as aging potential. Drink it now and over the next 25 years. |
|
|
2008 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2010): I would love to taste the spectacular 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon in a blind tasting with recent vintages of the famed Pauillac, Pontet-Canet. After spending 16 months in 100% new French oak, it offers an opaque purple color along with classic notes of creme de cassis intermixed with subtle burning ember, charcoal and oak aromas. The glorious perfume is accompanied by a full-bodied, stunningly concentrated, multilayered wine with spectacular length as well as a silky personality. It can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more. It’s a tour de force! |
|
|
2015 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (12/2017): The base 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is no entry level wine and offers incredible purity and elegance in its blue fruits, cassis, graphite, and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. This beauty has classic, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon richness, polished tannin, no hard edges, and a great finish. Tasting just like a slightly toned-down version of the Wight Vineyard (Bordeaux lovers will probably prefer this cuvee as it’s slightly more classic in style) it’s a beautiful, layered, multi-dimensional Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 15+ years. I loved both the 2014s and 2015s from Lewelling, but have to give the nod to the 2015s, which have that extra dimension. |
|
|
2008 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2010): The slightly more expensive, opaque purple-hued 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard (aged 18 months in 100% new French oak) is essentially a barrel selection. Obviously, the more structured wines with more density and aging potential were chosen for this cuvee. Very backward compared to the Napa bottling, the Wight Vineyard exhibits more graphite and toast along with creme de cassis, smoke and floral characteristics. Deep, rich and reserved with plenty of tannin, it needs time in the bottle, so cellar it for 4-5 years and drink it over the following three decades. |
|
|
2009 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is a huge wine bursting with dark red fruit, flowers and sweet spices. The 2009 needs quite a bit of bottle age to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive, even at this early stage. Firm yet silky tannins frame the textured, generous finish. This seamless, highly expressive wine should drink well for at least a handful of years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029. |
|
|
2015 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (12/2017): The flagship cuvee from this estate is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard and it’s always a cellar selection of top lots from the estate vintage. I was able to taste this cuvee from two bottles and this is an undeniably majestic, ethereal effort from the Weight Family. Huge amounts of blue fruits, spring flowers, sandalwood, lavender, and potpourri notes all literally soar from the glass and this beauty has just about everything you could want in a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With a full-bodied, deep, concentrated style, incredible complexity, hints of background oak, and layers of sweet tannin, give bottle 2-3 years of bottle age and drink over the following 2-3 decades. Bravo! I loved both the 2014s and 2015s from Lewelling, but have to give the nod to the 2015s, which have that extra dimension. (Drink between 2018-2048) |
|
| Lewis Cellars |
2018 |
Mason’s Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (1/2021): More cassis and blue fruits emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's, a more focused, backward wine offering full-bodied richness, a solid spine of acidity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. With lots of camphor, graphite, and toasted spice-like aromatics, hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15. (Drink between 2025-2041). |
|
| Lillian Winery |
2007 |
Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (3/2011): Missing from the Rhone Ranger report last November was the 2007 Lillian Winery Syrah. Sporting stunning purity and depth on the nose, the wine possesses decadent blackberry and cassis fruit aromas that are complemented by subtle meat, pepper, tar, and wild herb nuances that come through more with air. Layered and complex on the nose, the wine is full bodied on the palate with a gorgeously rich texture, perfect balance, superb mid-palate depth, and a very long, focused finish. Very pure, and showing solid complexity even at this young stage, this classic California Syrah should evolve over the next 3 to 6 years, and drink well for 15+ years.
VM 94 (12/2010): Opaque purple. A kaleidoscopic bouquet evokes black raspberry, cola, incense and olive tapenade, with a sexy floral quality that gains power with aeration. Lush, palate-staining dark berry preserve flavors are complemented by exotic spice and violet pastille qualities and are lifted by zesty minerality. Gains weight with air but retains its energy, finishing spicy, smoky and with Outstanding persistence. |
|
| Linne Calodo |
2017 |
In My Dreams |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2020): Deep, brilliant ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented red and dark berry and spice-cake aromas are complemented by suave floral and incense accents that expand as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and broad on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry, cherry liqueur, star anise and lavender pastille flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Smoothly plays richness off energy and finishes spicy and extremely long, with lingering florality and smooth tannins that add shape and subtle grip. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2012 |
Overthinker |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (9/2015): Inky purple. Spicy black and blue fruits, incense, violet and Asian spices on the flamboyantly perfumed nose. Densely packed, mineral-tinged blueberry and bitter cherry flavors show superb depth and vivacity and a seamless texture, with zero excess fat. Juicy, precise and alluring sweet, delivering an uncanny blend of richness and energy. Sappy and focused on the gently tannic, penetrating finish, with the berry and floral notes echoing. (Drink between 2021-2028) Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2012 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2014): The 2012 Sticks and Stones is a smoking blend of 63% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre and 18% Syrah. Cherry blossom, cassis, wild flowers and licorice can all be found in this full-bodied, supple and elegant wine. It has no hard edges, but thrilling purity and a sexy style that keeps you coming back to the glass. Bottles wouldn't last long at my house, but this will evolve gracefully on its balance and purity. |
|
| Long Shadows Wineries |
2012 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2015): Up there with the Pedestal release in term of quality, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather is made by Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards in Napa Valley. It’s always a 100% Cabernet and in 2012, offers sensational notes of sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, tobacco leaf, graphite and lead pencil shavings. Deep, concentration, rich and tannic, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring, but will evolve nicely through 2032.
VM 93+ (11/2015): (14.4% alcohol; 3.86 pH; winemaker Randy Dunn added back a bit of stems for more structure): Deep ruby-red. Pure, varietally accurate aromas and flavors of cassis, bitter chocolate, violet and dried herbs. Wonderfully smooth, pliant and suave but with terrific penetration too; really fills the mouth with perfume. Spreads out horizontally to saturate the palate, with the huge, building tannins in perfect harmony with the wine's fruit. Splendid tannin management here. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| My Favorite Neighbor |
2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$44 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (9/2020): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (this was reviewed as the “My Favorite Neighbor” in last year’s report) is similarly deep purple/ruby-hued and has slightly more red fruits with lots of black raspberry, cassis, toasted spice, unsmoked tobacco, and incense aromas and flavors. It almost has a Margaux-like perfume and is medium to full-bodied, seamless, and wonderfully balanced on the palate. Some chalky minerality comes through with time in the glass, and it has plenty of tannins and a great finish. It’s not an over-the-top blockbuster and impresses just as much for its elegance as its richness.
VM 94 (12/2020): Dark, bright-rimmed purple. Deeply perfumed aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, sandalwood and potpourri take on a smoky mineral nuance and a spicy top-note with air. Palate-staining blackberry, cassis, cherry-vanilla, spice-cake and mocha flavors are joined by suggestions of candied rose and cola on the back half. Finishes on an alluringly sweet dark berry preserve note, with well-knit, gently gripping tannins and sharp definition. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (3/2022): Blended with a bit of Syrah and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep ruby-purple color and an alluring fragrance of cassis, violet, aniseed, bitter chocolate and coffee beans. It's notable this vintage for Goldilocks ripeness and seamless lift, offering a chocolate-like texture and very long finish.
JD 95 (9/2021): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is more elegant and focused, with medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, redcurrants, green tobacco, and cedary spice. I love its texture, it has ripe, polished tannins, plenty of sweet fruit, and a great, great finish, all while staying in a relatively compact, and again, elegant package. As I’ve written in the past, it would cost three to four times the price from Napa. It’s worth noting the change in appellation from Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo County, which probably allows for a wider range of fruit.
VM 93 (7/2022): Saturated ruby. Aromas of ripe black and blue fruits are complemented by vanillin oak and incense flourishes. Sappy and fleshy on the palate, offering intense black currant, cherry cola and candied licorice flavors and a hint of mocha. The vanilla note repeats on the finish, which hangs on with strong, subtly tannic persistence. (Drink between 2025-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2016 |
Proprietary Blend |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2018): The 2016 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 11% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black colored, it reveals intense cassis, ripe plums and wild blueberries with touches of licorice, tilled soil and black pepper with a waft of floral notions. Full, rich, chocolaty and oh-so-seductive, it fills the mouth with generous crushed black berries flavors framed by rounded tannins and finishing long and spicy. |
|
| Myriad |
2016 |
Steltzner Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (7/2018): Coming all from the Martini clone and raised in 100% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard is a rich, powerful expression of Stags Leap that offers full-bodied notes of blackcurrants, espresso roast, black licorice, and just a hint of flowers. This concentrated, yet incredibly pure, Cabernet has a great mid-palate, sweet tannins, and some obvious oak to integrate. It's an extraordinary wine yet is still primordial and in need of a good 3-4 years of bottle age. 98 cases. |
|
| O'Shaughnessy |
2008 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (12/2010): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is comprised of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest six other grapes - Merlot, Malbec, St. Macaire (how often do you see that!), Petit Verdot, Carmenere, and Cabernet Franc - and is aged 20 months in three-fourths French oak. It has a dense purple color, a wonderful, crystalline nose of crushed rock, camphor, creme de cassis and spring flowers, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. The tannins are moderately high, but they are soft and well-integrated. This is a wine of tremendous intensity and plenty of up-side. Give this wine 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 20-25 years.
VM 93 (6/2011): (81% cabernet sauvignon, along with merlot, cabernet franc, malbec, petit verdot, carmenere and St. Macaire; as with the 2004 and 2006 bottlings, this wine includes all seven varieties planted in this vineyard): Bright ruby-red. Perfumed nose offers plum, black cherry, graphite, mocha, cedar, chocolate mint and sexy toasty oak (75% new). Compellingly sweet and pliant, with a velvety texture given shape by harmonious acidity. Still a bit ungiving on the firmly tannic finish, which hints at menthol. This very rich, pure wine needs time in bottle to develop more complexity and should be long-lived. |
|
| Outpost |
2007 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2009): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is their finest regular offering to date. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon possesses a dense, full-bodied personality, an inky/purple color, plenty of graphite, subtle toast, blueberry and blackberry fruit, striking minerality, a layered texture (something Thomas Brown seems to get in all of his wines), and a long finish. It is the kind of Cabernet Sauvignon that seems to pass the torch of quality and greatness from the old boys who started here, but have now been dramatically surpassed in quality by newcomers such as Outpost and nearby neighbor O’Shaughnessy, to name a few.
VM 91+ (5/2010): Good medium ruby. Dark berries, minerals and licorice on the nose. Sweet and creamy in the mouth, with noteworthy intensity to the cassis and black cherry fruit. Tannins are powerful but round and sweet. |
|
| Passing Time |
2014 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97 (8/2024): Another rock star wine from this team, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc), offers up a Pauillac-like style in its darker currants, iron, lead pencil, and obvious minerality. These give way to a more medium to full-bodied Cabernet with beautiful concentration, integrated oak, ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster finish. I’d gladly put this up with the all-time greats from the state. As with the Walla Walla Valley release, it has at least another decade of prime drinking, and I suspect even more. (Drink between 2024-2034).
WA 97 (6/2017): Another sensational red from this team is the 2014 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s easily the finest wine I’ve tasted from this team. Made from 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 5% Cabernet France brought up mostly in new barrels, it offers incredible purity and precision, building tannin, full-bodied richness and a tight, focused style on the palate. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, give bottles 2-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades or more.
VM 93 (11/2016): Bright, dark ruby-red. Black plum, sweet dark berries and spices are lifted by a floral element on the nose. Plush, sweet and pliant, conveying strong energy as well as a sense of power to the very concentrated black cherry, dark berry, violet and fresh herb flavors. Finishes with serious but suave palate-saturating tannins and terrific spicy breadth and length. At once large-scaled and sophisticated, and built to age. (Drink between 2018-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2015 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (4/2019): Tons of smoked black fruits, high-class smoke tobacco, graphite, and background oak emerge from the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills. Deep, full-bodied, tannic, and concentrated, it’s a powerhouse wine that needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will keep for 25+. (Drink between 2023-2043).
VM 93 (10/2017): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Alluring violet lift to the mouthfilling aromas of cassis, black cherry, violet, licorice and black olive. Silky, fine-grained and light on its feet, offering a plush, edge-free texture to the flavors of cassis, cocoa powder and coriander. Terrific, lightly saline vinosity and peppery lift here. A classic, elegantly styled Cabernet in an Old World style, finishing suave and very long, with noble tannins, restrained sweetness and terrific lift. Impeccably balanced wine. (Drink between 2018-2026). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 87 (6/2018): Aromas of plum preserve, berry fruit liqueur and charred new oak introduce the 2015 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, a firm, astringently tannic wine with overripe flavors of fig and prune and a somewhat diffuse but simultaneously chewy finish. While some of Passing Time's 2015s are undeniable successes in their overtly sun-kissed, fruit-forward register, this bottling wasn't one of my favorites. |
|
|
2016 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2019): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, hitting 14.8% natural alcohol, that comes mostly from the Discovery and Champoux vineyards, with the Merlot coming from Klipsun Vineyard on Red Mountain. Its deep purple color is followed by a textbook Cabernet Sauvignon nose of crème de cassis, smoke tobacco, pencil lead, damp earth and spice-driven aromas. Developing beautifully with time in the glass, it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure, balanced, and multi-dimensional on the palate, with sweet tannins and an awesome finish. As with all these wines from Chris, it's seamless, silky, and beautifully balanced, and a fabulous wine. It needs 5-7 years of bottle age to hit prime time and is going to evolve gracefully over the following 2-3 decades. Tasted three times. Trust me on this one, it’s a magical wine. (Drink between 2024-2044).
VM 94 (11/2018): Bright medium ruby. Black cherry and menthol aromas are sweetened by a very rich suggestion of chocolate. Mouthfilling and edge-free, with its remarkably sexy dark berry and violet flavors accented by mint and menthol. Conveys a strong impression of ripe fruit further sweetened by the 80% new oak. Finishes with strong but well-distributed tannins and building flavors of black fruits and violet. With its breadth, dimension and refinement of texture, this wine is quite distinctive in the Passing Time line-up--in fact, it makes the Red Mountain Cabernet seem a bit inky by comparison. While it's already exciting to taste today, it has the stuffing to age. (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (12/2019): A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon has a clean and focused core of black fruit surrounded by dusty floral tones and sweet tobacco. Coming from the Champoux and Discovery vineyards, the wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate and has excellent mineral tension that gives way to building tannins. It ends with good focus on the long, contemplative finish that whispers with a quiet strength. |
|
|
2017 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (4/2020): Moving to the flagship appellation blends, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, all aged 21 months in 80% new French oak. Deep purple/plum-colored, with notes of tobacco leaf, damp earth, chocolate, and assorted darker fruits, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, supple texture, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and shows the more classic, elegant style of the vintage nicely. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles.
VM 94 (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blue and black fruits and licorice are lifted by floral and herbal nuances. A very stylish, silky Cabernet Sauvignon with terrific inner-mouth violet lift and sexy oak tones to its fine-grained flavors of dark berries and cocoa powder. Concentrated, savory and very long; more pliant than the 2016 version owing to its nobility of tannins. Very classy juice--and showing brilliantly today. (the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Klipsun and Red Mountain vineyards, the Cab Franc from Bacchus; 80% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2030). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (12/2019): The 2017 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon has splashes of 7% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc added in to round out the blend. The nose is lush with a clean expression that will age beautifully for the next decade. The wine has a blackberry and red cherry core, with dusty plum and soft savory notes that add to the complexity. The mouthfeel is still youthful and currently showing well, with a tight mineral expression and approachable tannins, ending with a long, spicy finish. The wine will be ready a touch sooner than the 2016s and will bring pleasure. |
|
|
2018 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (5/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills offers a Graves-like style and reminds me of a great vintage of Haut-Bailly with its full-bodied, sexy, weightless style as well as darker currant fruits and notes of tobacco leaf, damp earth, and cedarwood. A wine that pretty much stopped me in my tracks during my tastings, it is already impossible to resist yet is going to cruise for two decades in cold cellars. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, from a blend from Discovery, Champoux, and Wallula vineyards, aged 21 months in 80% new French oak.
WA 94+ (11/2021): Made with the addition of 9% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon hails from three separate vineyards within the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Deep and brooding in the glass, robust aromas of pristine black fruit sachet out of the glass with elegant oak tones of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Full-bodied, the palate is generously layered, offering a complex drinking experience with flavors of crème de cassis, spiced plum chutney and black cherries along with elements of damson flower, hibiscus and wet river rocks. Possessing impeccable balance, the wine is currently a touch tannic in its youth, and I would recommend additional cellaring before opening. Still, it should have no problems aging for more than a decade. Persistent flavors of blackberry jus sway over the long, winding and complex finish.
VM 94 (12/2020): Bright full ruby. Suave, scented nose combines cassis, blackberry, licorice, spices, black pepper and bitter chocolate, plus a touch of herbs. Densely packed, savory and quite suave, with dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors conveying terrific inner-mouth definition and lift. Youthfully medicinal, sappy and juicy but not hard, with harmonious acidity perfectly balancing the wine's subtle sweetness. Finishes with firm, serious, tooth-dusting tannins and slowly building violet-tinged length. I like this! A very classy, suave wine (like the 2017 version), with the backbone to evolve gracefully. Already long on personality but this is still an infant. (Drink between 2022-2033). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2019 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
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JD 98 (7/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is based on 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It has a gorgeous bouquet of darker currants, chocolate, spice, and dried tobacco to go with a medium to full-bodied, round, supple, seamless style on the palate. With a layered, expansive mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and wonderful purity, this classic, world-class Cabernet will stand toe to toe with the best out there. While it already offers pleasure today (I followed this bottle for multiple days), it will cruise for 20-30 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2022-2052).
VM 94 (3/2022): The rich, viscous 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills combines plenty of cassis, loamy soil and anise tones with shades of blueberry compote and garrigue on the palate. Fresh and lithe, with a great sense of tension and a touch less dense than the 2018 edition, this delicious effort will provide drinking enjoyment for another 15 years. (Drink between 2021-2036). Owen Bargreen.
WA 93 (11/2021): Consisting of 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon displays a deep magenta core with a dark ruby edge. Still fresh and vibrant in the glass, ripe dark red fruits waft on the nose with elegant oak tones with the essence of brown baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tight and shows gobs of complexity but will need additional time in bottle before consuming. Although it doesn’t have the shine of the previous vintage, you can bet that this will perform well until its 15th birthday. Only 6,000 bottles were made after the wine rested in 70% new French oak. |
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2014 |
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
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JD 96 (8/2024): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is almost beautiful, and I love that it shows an incredible sense of elegance and purity, which can be hard to find in older Red Mountain releases. Blended with 3% Cabernet Franc, it’s still youthful and has medium to full-bodied richness, terrific tannins, and flawless balance. I love it today, yet I see no reason it shouldn’t evolve for another decade or more. (Drink between 2024-2034).
WA 95 (6/2017): The inkiest, most vibrantly colored of the lineup, the Cabernet Sauvignon (there’s 3% Cabernet Franc) dominated 2014 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon sports a textbook Red Mountain bouquet of plums, blackcurrants, liquid violets and dried earth. Rich, full-bodied, concentrated and layered, it's a beautiful wine that's going to benefit from short term cellaring and keep for two decades.
VM 91+ (11/2016): Full medium ruby. Pungent, expressive aromas of blueberry, licorice and camphor. Tight and penetrating in the mouth, showing less obvious fruit sweetness in the early going than the Horse Heaven Hills bottling, but complex, savory and plenty ripe. This backward, youthfully bound-up, powerfully structured wine from Klipsun vineyard fruit showcases the strong Red Mountain tannins and will require patience. (Drink between 2020-2029). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2017 |
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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JD 95+ (4/2020): More minerality as well as notes of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spice, graphite, and scorched earth emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain (there is 3% Merlot). This rich, structured yet beautifully balanced Red Mountain Cabernet is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and long. Give this super-intense, pure, structured 2017 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 20 years or more. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles. (Drink between 2023-2045).
WA 94 (12/2019): Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich black-fruited core on the finessed nose, with a wet minerality and dried red florals. The full-bodied palate turns a touch tarter, with the fruit set moving from blackberries to black raspberries with a dusty minerality. The wine has a tight grip and lingers on the finish with good focus and balance. The 2017 vintage is showing really well, and it is a safe bet to add this to your cellar. |
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2018 |
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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JD 97+ (5/2021): If the Horse Heaven Hills releases is Graves-like, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is the Pauillac in the lineup and has a more concentrated, austere style that needs lots of air to show at its best. Gorgeous cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as notes of graphite and lead pencil along with a terrific sense of chalky minerality give way to a full-bodied, powerful yet still elegant Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Delivering building tannins and good acidity, it will need 7-8 years of bottle age to hit maturity and should see its 30th birthday in fine form. This wine is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, brought up in 75% new French oak, and the vineyard sources are Klipsun and Red Mountain Vineyard.
WA 94 (10/2021): Instantly impressive in the glass, the 2018 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon sashays with focus, power and finesse. Juicy dark red fruit notions explode from the glass with elements of cigar box, juicy tobacco, cinnamon and baking spices from the use of 80% new French oak. Full-bodied and textured, with incredible complexity, the wine unravels to reveal layers of ripe fruit, oak and earth with a balanced structure across the mid-palate. Ending with a long, lingering and juicy finish, the Cabernet will continue to deliver pleasure through the middle of the next decade. Only 3,300 bottles were filled after the wine rested for 21 months in French oak. It’s a resounding success. Bravo! |
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2019 |
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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| |
JD 96+ (7/2022): I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain, which has classic Red Mountain minerality and structure while staying perfectly balanced and elegant. Offering both red and blue fruits as well as notes of smoked tobacco, crushed stone, graphite, and white flowers, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It's another stunning wine in this lineup. Hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can, and it should keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2026-2050).
VM 94 (3/2022): The astonishingly good 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain by Passing Time revels in its full-bodied and pleasure-driven black fruit core. The soft mouthfeel, crisp acidity and wonderful length really add to the enjoyment. This beautiful wine is already nicely evolved and will be sure to provide drinking enjoyment for another 15-20 years. (Drink between 2021-2036). Owen Bargreen. |
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2018 |
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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JD 97 (5/2021): Another one of the top wines in the vintage is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley, which is all Cabernet sourced from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyard. It spent 21 months in 60% new French oak. Gorgeous tobacco, bouquet garni, lavender, and a hint of menthol emerge from the glass, and it has loads and red and black fruits, full-bodied richness, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s as seamless as they come yet will still benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and should have 30 years of longevity.
WA 95 (7/2021): Exploding from the glass, the 2018 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has certainly filled in its shoes since the last time I tasted it. Generous, expressive and juicy, aromas of blackberry jus, spiced cherry compote and chocolate-covered blueberries sway with elegant oak tones of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Full-bodied, the wine offers bold and rich flavors of bitter dark chocolate, crème de cassis, Chambord, elegant oak expressions and fine-grained tannins. The wine continues to evolve with persistence and elegance on the finish, lasting for more than a minute on the aftertaste. The wine rested for 21 months in 60% new French oak. Run, don't walk to get some of this into your cellar. |
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2019 |
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
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JD 96 (7/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley comes from a mix of the Seven Hills (61%) and Pepper Bridge (39%) vineyards and is all Cabernet aged 20 months in 60% new French oak. Decadent cassis, ripe plum, currants, tobacco leaf, and chocolaty spice notes define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a plush, expansive mouthfeel, tons of sweet fruit, and a great finish. It brings beautiful sweetness of fruit yet is structured and balanced, with the capacity to evolve for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2022-2047).
VM 94 (3/2022): The delightful 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley is another dense yet finesse-driven wine made by the talented Chris Peterson. Graphite and scorched earth tones play well with sagebrush and heady dark fruit flavors on the palate. Firm tannins and chocolate undertones frame this beautiful wine, which is drinking well now but has a long way to go in the cellar. (Drink between 2021-2036). Own Bargreen. |
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| Pax |
2018 |
Sonoma Hillsides Sonoma County Syrah |
$45 |
7 |
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VM 96 (1/2020): The 2018 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides is gorgeous. Inky dark fruit, spice, licorice and dried herbs all flesh out with a bit of coaxing. At this stage, the 2018 is remarkably primary, but there is tremendous intensity and richness waiting to emerge more fully. Although the 2018 doesn't quite have the aromatic breadth and layers of the 2016, it is a superb, vivid wine that Pax fans will want to own. The Sonoma-Hillsides is a blend of fruit from Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffins Lair and Nellessen. The grapes are crushed by foot, using 100% whole clusters, and undergo carbonic maceration, an approach that works so well with this fruit. Aging is done in concrete. (Drink between 2020-2028). Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (12/2020): A step up over the 2017, the 2018 Sonoma has a classy, Saint Joseph-like vibe in its ripe blue fruits, lavender, violets, ground pepper, and earthy, gamey aromas and flavors. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a beautiful floral character, bright acidity, and a clean finish. This beautiful, elegant wine should drink nicely for 4-5 years. It was not destemmed and spent a short 10 months in tank prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. (Drink between 2020-2025). |
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2004 |
The Emerald Pool Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
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WA 94-96+ (12/2005): The 2004 Syrah Alder Springs The Emerald Pool, from a new block of the Alder Springs Vineyard, was fashioned from fruit grown in pure volcanic/gravel soils. The result is a wine offering notes of scorched earth, smoked meats, blackberries, cassis, and flowers. With more than 16% alcohol, superb stuffing, texture, and intensity, this beauty possesses tremendous power interwoven with considerable elegance and definition. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.
VM 92+ (6/2006): Saturated ruby. Tarry, raw cassis and kirsch complicated by star anise, pepper and a whiff of white fruit on the nose. Highly concentrated and densely packed, with powerful dark fruit flavors complicated by spices, pepper, minerals, burnt cinders and sexy woodsmoke. Distinctly feral wine ("the evil side of syrah," comments Mahle). Finishes with outsized tannins. |
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2004 |
The Emerald Pool Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah Cracked Wax Capsule |
$55 |
1 |
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WA 94-96+ (12/2005): The 2004 Syrah Alder Springs The Emerald Pool, from a new block of the Alder Springs Vineyard, was fashioned from fruit grown in pure volcanic/gravel soils. The result is a wine offering notes of scorched earth, smoked meats, blackberries, cassis, and flowers. With more than 16% alcohol, superb stuffing, texture, and intensity, this beauty possesses tremendous power interwoven with considerable elegance and definition. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.
VM 92+ (6/2006): Saturated ruby. Tarry, raw cassis and kirsch complicated by star anise, pepper and a whiff of white fruit on the nose. Highly concentrated and densely packed, with powerful dark fruit flavors complicated by spices, pepper, minerals, burnt cinders and sexy woodsmoke. Distinctly feral wine ("the evil side of syrah," comments Mahle). Finishes with outsized tannins. |
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| Peirson Meyer |
2009 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Signed Bottle |
$59 |
4 |
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VM 95+ (12/2012): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is typical of the year in this part of Napa Valley, where the wines are rich, broad and voluminous. Less floral and refined today than the 2008, the 2009 is built on a serious core of deep, expressive fruit. Juicy dark raspberries, flowers, spices and mint are layered into the generous finish. The 2009 could use another year in bottle to shed some baby fat, but it is exceptionally beautiful and polished, even today. There is so much hidden potential here.
WA 88 (10/2013): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the vintage’s chunky, monolithic, tannic style with notes of dark fruits, white chocolate and earthy undertones. It will be even better with a few more years of bottle age, and should keep for 12-15 years. |
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| Quilceda Creek |
2021 |
Columbia Valley CVR Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
3 |
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JD 96 (7/2024): Possibly the finest rendition of this cuvée to date, the 2021 CVR Columbia Valley Red Wine is exceptional, and while a second wine, it's up with the top-tier wines in the vintage. Ripe cassis, spicy oak, dried tobacco, and flowery incense notes all define the aromatics, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a plush, layered, elegant mouthfeel, and a gorgeous finish. It's one of those do-not-miss wines. Drink bottles over the coming 15 years.
VM 94 (1/2024): The 2021 Red Wine CVR Columbia Valley is wonderfully spicy and bright, lighting up the senses with a burst of sweet spice and cherries, complemented by violet pastille and hints of lavender. This is seamlessly silky with a measured inner sweetness. It casts crisp wild berry fruit across the palate as a coating of dusty tannins forms, adding a more tactile feel. It finishes long, with a staining of cocoa and blueberry preserves, leaving the palate nicely refreshed. This seductive and sun-kissed rendition of CVR aims to please. (Drink between 2025-2031). Eric Guido.
WA 94 (3/2024): A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 CVR Columbia Valley Red Wine showcases a bright profile of just-ripe, juicy red fruit that bursts with freshness, revealing layers of complexity. Flavors of dark cherry, plum reduction and a dusty blackberry essence rush over the palate of this medium to full-bodied wine with a ripe attack, succulent, melting tannins and a well-balanced structure. Concluding with a long, lingering and food-friendly finish, this impressive blend is perhaps the best CVR to date. The wine aged 20 months in 100% French oak. |
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2009 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
1 |
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WA 97 (6/2013): Much more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the 2009 Palengat (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot) shows the warmer vintage with ripe red and black fruit, licorice, roasted meat and hints of singed herbs on the nose. Fantastically polished on the palate, with silky tannin, full-bodied richness and a layered mouthfeel, it is a knockout effort that will have 15-20 years of prime drinking. Drink now-2029.
VM 93 (12/2012): Good full ruby. Aromas of blackcurrant and licorice. Rich, deep and concentrated, with an almost Kahlua-like liqueur quality to its dense, exotic flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, mocha and orange peel. Very rich blend with an impressively long finish featuring fine tannins and hints of licorice pastille, dark berries, sexy Taransaud spices and black walnut. From vines planted at 3 x 6 feet, according to Paul Golitzin, "about as dense as it gets in this state." |
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| Ramey |
2012 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (9/2019): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum contains 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc. It's deep ruby with wonderful aromas of laurel leaf, beef drippings, prosciutto, star anise, fenugreek, crème de cassis and crushed black cherries with dried flowers and a sanguine/iron streak. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers that Ramey lushness, fully fruited, spiced and rounded in the mouth with wonderfully ripe, fine-grained tannins and good freshness, finishing very long and layered. This seems to have only just shed its baby fat. 675 cases were made. |
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2008 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
5 |
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| WA 95 (2/2012): The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon impresses for its layers of dark, plush fruit. Hints of cassis, grilled herbs, tobacco and cedar develop in the glass, adding further complexity and depth. Firm tannins frame the long finish. This is a very classic and beautiful Cabernet. In 2008 the blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, sourced from a number of sites, including Somerston, DeSantis, Lamoreaux and Snowden. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2028. |
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| Rasa Vineyards |
2008 |
Creative Impulse DuBrul Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
6 |
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| JD 95 (6/2011): Rasa’s 2008 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse DuBrul Vineyard is a beauty! A blend of 69% Cabernet and 31% Merlot that was aged for 30 months in 60% new French oak, the wine delivers brilliant aromas of black currant and brambly blackberry styled fruits that are intermixed with lead pencil, meat juice, tobacco, and background floral nuances. This is followed by a full bodied, impressively balanced wine that possesses a mouth-filling, rich texture that stays light and airy, good acidity, sweet fruit, and a long, structured finish. It should evolve positively for 3-5 years, and drink well through 2025. A serious, beautifully done wine. |
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2009 |
In Order to Form a More Perfect Union |
$69 |
5 |
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| JD 96 (6/2012): The first vintage for this wine and a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 23% Cabernet Franc that was aged in 60% new French oak, the 2009 Rasa Vineyards In Order to Form a More Perfect Union delivers spectacular aromatics, a seamless, full-bodied texture, and blockbuster length on the finish. Showing notes of crème de cassis, tobacco, charred toast, sweet oak, and spice cabinet on the nose, this stays gorgeously light, elegant, and fresh on the palate, while at the same time showing fantastic intensity, a concentrated mid-palate, and ripe tannin that emerges with more time in the glass. This is impressive any way you slice it, and while it is no doubt a spectacular drink now, it deserves 4-5 years of bottle age, and should keep for upwards of two decades. |
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2009 |
Plus One Kiona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
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| JD 95 (6/2012): Showing superb Cabernet character, as well as the minerality and tannin structure of Red Mountain, the 2009 Rasa Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Plus One Kiona Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged half in new French oak, and half in neutral barrel. It exhibits classic Cabernet aromas of black currant and creamy blackberry styled fruit that’s intermixed with notions of freshly crushed stone, roasted meats, sweet oak, and spice box on the nose. This flows to a full-bodied, gorgeously proportioned wine that has fantastic concentration, a layered, seamless texture, and building tannin that emerges with time in the glass. There’s plenty of structure here; give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar, and then plan on drinking over the following 15+ years. |
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2007 |
Principia Reserve Syrah |
$89 |
2 |
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| JD 96 (5/2010): A reserve release and 100% Syrah from 5 vineyards (the bulk of the blend is from Les Collines), the 2007 Rasa Vineyards PRINCIPIA is named after Sir Isaac Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (known as Principia). The wine is aged for 23 months in 30% new French oak and offers up a spectacular bouquet of blackberry and cassis fruit, spice, graphite, crème brûlée, and smoke. This puppy is decadent but also fresh and edgy. On the palate, it’s beautifully balanced with medium to full body, a light, seamless texture and a exceptionally long finish. One of the top wines from Washington, this is beautiful now and should continue to drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. (Drink between 2010-2025) |
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2008 |
Principia Reserve Syrah |
$79 |
5 |
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| JD 94+ (6/2011): A blend of 100% Syrah that’s sourced from 4 separate vineyards (Les Collines Vineyard, Seven Hills Vineyard, Lewis Vineyard, and Portteus Vineyard), the 2008 Rasa Vineyards Syrah Principia Reserve saw 30 months in 24% new French oak. Starting out reticent and slightly closed on the nose, it yields first-rate aromas of smoky black fruits, spiced meats, toast, coffee grinds, and crushed flowers with air. Full bodied on the palate and brilliantly textured, the wine possesses notable balance, beautifully sweet, polished fruit, and a long finish that picks up a chocolatey edge. While I prefer the ’07, this is still a straight up stunning Syrah that should easily evolve and drink well for 15+ years. |
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2012 |
Tilting at Windmills Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
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| WA 95 (6/2014): Also Grenache-dominated, yet incorporating 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah, the 2012 Tilting At Windmills is also rock star stuff. Decadently styled, with creme de cassis, melted licorice, road tar and spice, this full-bodied effort has superb mid-palate depth, an unctuous texture and sweet tannin that coats the palate on the finish. It’s impressive and will have a decade or more of longevity. |
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| Reynvaan Family Vineyards |
2010 |
The Contender Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2013): Even richer, the 2010 Syrah The Contender has a serious, deep and layered profile with notions of blackberry, smoked plums, ground pepper, big minerality, lavender and hints of gamey beef all emerging from the glass. These characteristics carry over to the palate where the wine is full-bodied, beautifully polished, concentrated and structured. Showing masses of finely honed tannin on the finish, this knockout effort will evolve gracefully for 12-15+ years or more. Drink 2015-2027.
VM 93+ (11/2013): (includes 4% marsanne): Good deep red. Initially subdued nose opened with air to show varietally accurate scents of raspberry, woodsmoke, game and brown spices. Sweet, plush and impressively deep, with an impression of baby fat leavened by firm acidity and a saline underpinning. The red fruit and game flavors carry well on the rising, very long finish, which features building, seamless tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2011 |
The Contender Syrah |
$55 |
3 |
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| WA 95 (6/2014): More mineral driven and tight, with pure black raspberry, blueberry, spice, ground herbs and spiced game, the 2011 Syrah The Contender is full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, textured and long. Incorporating 6% Marsanne and aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it’s always the texture that sets this cuvee apart. Give it another year or two in the cellar and drink it through 2026. |
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2012 |
The Contender Syrah |
$55 |
3 |
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| WA 96 (6/2015): A classic Rocks Syrah, the 2012 Syrah The Contender is a deep, rich, full-bodied beauty that boasts terrific notes of ripe plums, blackberries, truffle and wild herbs. Incorporating 3% Marsanne (which also give the texture some oomph), it has a big, layered, seamless texture, no hard edges and sweet tannin. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
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2010 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
1 |
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| WA 96 (6/2013): Coming all from the estate’s The Rock vineyard and a 100% Syrah, the 2010 Syrah Stonessence doesn’t disappoint and has the peppered beef, salty minerality, lavender, pepper and black and blue tinged fruit profile that can be found, to varying degrees, in all of Matt’s wines. Full-bodied, concentrated and ethereally textured, it has a core of vibrant acidity, ripe tannin and a blockbuster finish. Possibly the most age-worthy in the lineup, I would give bottles another 3-4 years of bottle age, yet certainly, for those that can’t delay gratification, there’s ample pleasure to be found now. It will shine for 12-15+ years or more as well. Drink 2016-2027. |
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2011 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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| WA 97 (6/2014): The 2011 Syrah Stonessence is a blend of 100% Syrah that competes with the top wines in the vintage. Voluptuous, decadent, layered and full-bodied, with thrilling notes of blackberry, blueberry, underbrush, chocolate and ripe herbs, it has low acidity, superb concentration and a downright sexy style that is just hard to resist. Aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it can be consumed anytime over the coming 10 to 15 years. |
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2012 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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WA 98 (6/2015): Even better, and possibly the greatest wine ever for this estate, the 2012 Syrah Stoneessence could merit a three-digit score in a few years. Made from 100% Syrah from their estate vineyard in The Rocks region of Walla Walla. This terroir always yields a perfumed, gamy complexity and this beauty doesn’t disappoint, with loads of cassis, smoked meats, olive tapenade, violets and lavender all literally soaring from the glass. The palate doesn’t disappoint either, and is full-bodied, seamless, perfectly balanced and layered, with a stacked mid-palate and an awesome finish. Give this insanely good Syrah 2-3 years and enjoy through 2027.
VM 94 (11/2015): (13.9% alcohol; 100% Syrah): Moderately saturated red-ruby. Captivating, deep aromas of dark berries, smoked meat, flowers and brown spices, plus a saline oyster shell note. Very intense, densely packed dark berry flavors show terrific thrust, not to mention compelling personality for such a primary wine. Finishes strong and long, with a saline nuance and building tannins that remain under control. A knockout Washington Syrah. |
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2013 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$75 |
3 |
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| WA 93-69 (6/2015): Also lacking some of the weight found in the '12, the 2013 Syrah Stonessence saw only 5% stem inclusion to go with a similar elevage as the '12. It's still full-bodied and concentrated, however, and offers classic raspberry, big minerality, cracked pepper and some Cornas-like iron and bloody notes. Shining for its complexity and elegance, it should merit a score in the upper end of this range if it puts on weight in bottle. |
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2014 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
1 |
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| WA 96+ (6/2017): The 2014 Syrah Stonessence checks in as 100% Syrah that's all from the In The Rocks Vineyard in the rocks region of Walla Walla. Notes of blackberries, blueberries, crushed violets and peppery herbs all emerge from this tight, backward, concentrated Syrah that has thrilling purity. With air, it shows a touch more meat and game, but it desperately needs 2-3 years of cellaring and will keep for a decade or more after that. It’s a killer bottle of wine! |
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2015 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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| JD 96 (4/2018): The most expensive Syrah from Matt is the 2015 Syrah Stonessence and there’s a scant 325 cases made. Its deep ruby/plum color is followed by a salty, bloody Syrah that has loads of complexity, full-bodied richness, sweet tannin, and a big finish. Black raspberries, peppery herbs, dry aged beef, and hints of lavender all emerge from the glass and while it’s already singing, it’s going to evolve gracefully for 10-15 years. |
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|
2016 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (4/2019): The 2016 Syrah Estate Stonessence (100% Syrah) is similarly purple-colored and has a gamier, more exotic profile. Plums, blackberries, blueberries, cured meats, ground pepper, and iron notes all flow to a powerful, medium to full-bodied Syrah that has a singular, layered character. It shows the more elegant, seamless style of the vintage and is a beautiful, beautiful wine. Bravo! (Drink between 2019-2034) |
|
| Rhys |
2012 |
Alpine Vyd. Pinot Noir Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (7/2014): The 2012 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is one of the more reticent, backward wines in the range today. Firm tannins provide the underlying framework for an impeccable, pure Pinot long on crystalline energy and intensity. The flavors really pulsate here, while expressive floral and savory overtones add an attractive upper register. This is a rare 2012 that is going to need at least a few years in bottle to show at its best. The Alpine was done with 50% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93+ (4/2015): Coming from a site close to where the Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from, the 2012 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is more structured in 2012, with beautiful balance and focus in its whole cluster-influenced bouquet of Asian spices, smoked earth, black cherry and big mineral-like characteristics. Firm, tight, edgy and backwards, with good acidity and a medium to full-bodied, structured palate, this smoking Pinot Noir needs short-term cellaring, but will be long-lived.
BH 92 (1/2015): A subtle application of wood blends into the ripe plum and dark raspberry suffused nose where again there are pretty floral and spice notes. There is fine verve and a more elegant mouth feel to the delicious and relatively round medium weight flavors that possess fine depth and really lovely balance on the lingering finish. I really like the delivery as it's lacy but serious and like the straight pinot noir this should drink well young yet age effortlessly thanks to the impeccably good balance. Drink 2020+. Outstanding! |
|
|
2010 |
Family Farm Vyd. Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (8/2012): A drop-dead gorgeous wine, the 2010 Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard boasts stunning richness, depth and power. Juicy dark berries, wild flowers, licorice, tar, smoke and game emerge from the glass. The balance of aromatics, fruit and structure is simply fabulous. Fans of the Rhys wines will flip over the Family Farm in 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2022. Antonio Galloni.
BH 89 (1/2013): (San Mateo County, 12.7%.) There is substantial wood showing and the dark berry fruit and violet aromas are almost overwhelmed. The wood is also present on the delicious, round and solidly well-concentrated medium-bodied flavors that possess good punch and a seductive mouth feel, all wrapped in a persistent finish where the wood rounds off and slightly sweetens it. There is very good material here and thus it's entirely possible that the wood will be successfully integrated in time but at the moment it is too much for my preference. Drink 2017+. |
|
|
2008 |
Horseshoe Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
BH 95 (10/2010): An exceptionally densely fruited nose that is intensely floral and nuanced with stone, spice and soft earth hints complements to perfection the impressively concentrated medium weight plus flavors that brim with dry extract such that the very firm tannins are rendered almost invisible at present though I suspect that they will become more visible as the baby fat recedes. This broad-scaled effort should age for up to a decade and last several more. Magnificent. Drink 2016+. Outstanding.
WA 87 (2/2011): The 2008 Syrah Horseshoe Ranch (also fermented with 100% stems and aged in 25% new French oak) comes from a parcel planted at a 1,600 foot elevation. While it was impressive from barrel last year, it now reveals more tannin as well as a muscular, masculine, austere, angular, brittle style. Hints of tea, earth and red currants are buried under the hard, sinewy, charmless tannins. This wine may become desiccated unless it fleshes out and reveals more depth of fruit. There is always a delicate balance between the concentration of fruit, ripeness and tannic structure. It is prudent to be skeptical when the tannins dominate a wine’s fruit characteristics so dramatically. It will be interesting to taste this offering in 3-4 years as it is certainly going to last given the acid and tannin profiles. However, I do not know whether it will ever develop much charm or generosity. |
|
|
2010 |
Horseshoe Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 95 (8/2012): The 2010 Pinot Noir Horseshoe Vineyard is another wine with superb integrity in its fruit and terrific overall balance. Juicy red berries, hard candy. flowers, mint and spices are all woven together nicely. The whole clusters are very nicely balanced. There is wonderful focus and vibrancy throughout, leading to a weightless, totally gracious finish. Antonio Galloni.
BH 90 (1/2013): Here the floral dark berry fruit and spice-tinged nose is presently marked by the toasty wood though an hour or so of air helps to dissipate it. There is good volume and mid-palate density to the delicious, round and nicely detailed medium-bodied flavors that exhibit noticeable bitterness on the otherwise attractively long finish. The extended aeration also helped to largely, if not completely, dissipate the bitterness and it seems clear that this will be one of those wines that is best left to slumber in the cellar for several years first as it's conspicuously awkward today. |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2018 |
Geyserville Proprietary Blend |
$39 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2021): The 2018 Geyserville is a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. It's incredibly alluring, offering up layers of warm, tricolored fruits and loads of spicy accents on the nose, with a dusty, mineral-tinged undercurrent that adds to its appeal. In the mouth, it's generously fruited and fantastically juicy, its silt-like tannins providing just enough support, and it finishes very long and layered. 9,900 cases produced.
JD 95 (5/2020): A wine that always delivers, the 2018 Geyserville from Ridge comes all from a multitude of sites in the Alexander Valley and checks in as 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, and the rest Alicante Bouschet. It has a big, cedary bouquet of red and black plums, sandalwood, potpourri, and Asian spices that develops and fills out nicely with time in the glass. This carries to a more medium-bodied Zinfandel that has wonderful purity of fruit, present yet ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This structured yet ethereal example of this cuvée ranks with the finest vintages to date. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years. (Drink between 2020-2035) |
|
|
2013 |
Lytton Springs Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2015): The 2013 Lytton Springs has really come together over the last year, far exceeding my early expectations. Powerful and explosive in the glass, the 2013 boasts tons of inky blue/purplish fruit, mocha, spices, new leather, lavender and licorice. Readers will have to give the Lytton Springs at least a few years to shed some baby fat, but it is nearly impossible to resist, even at this early stage. Once again, the team at Ridge has produced an absolutely compelling Lytton Springs. The 16% Petite Sirah in the blend adds an unmistakable air of gravitas. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2021 |
Lytton Springs Zinfandel |
$39 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (11/2023): The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous. Bright and vibrant to its core, the 2021 impresses with its poise. Readers will find a Lytton Springs that is very much in reserve, as opposed to the rest of the 2021s in this report, all of which are more approachable. Salivating acids and veins of tannin lend shape and persistence, but the 2021 needs time. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, rose petal and sage are some of the notes that linger on the close. (Drink between 2028-2046). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (5/2024): The 2021 Lytton Springs is based on 72% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, and the rest Carignan, Alicante Bouschet, Cinsault, and Counoise. This deep ruby/purple-hued effort has a juicy, lively, medium-bodied style as well as both red and blue fruits, some peppery, herbal, spicy nuances, lots of floral character, and ripe, polished tannins. It shines for its fresher, focused, elegant profile, and its purity of fruit is top-notch. It will evolve for 10-12 years. (Drink between 2024-2036). |
|
| Rivers Marie |
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga has a very deep purple-black color and opens with absolutely seducing crushed black cherries, blueberries and black raspberry aromas plus underlying violets, rose hip tea, spice box, powdered cinnamon and dusty earth notes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly knit, revealing great tension and depth with the firm, fine-grained frame, finishing long and refreshing. 204 cases were made.
JD 97 (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga always comes from the Larkmead vineyard just north of Calistoga. Aged 20 months in 80% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a sweet bouquet of cassis, blackberry jam, liquid violets, and brambly spice. Pure, opulent, and incredibly sexy, it stays elegant and graceful on the palate with awesome purity of fruit. Drink it anytime over the coming 2+ decades.
VM 93 (3/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a gorgeous entry-level wine. Pliant and supple, the 2015 offers considerable near and medium term appeal. Mocha, espresso and plum flesh out in this ample, juicy Cabernet from Rivers-Marie. This is a fabulous appellation-level wine. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is graced with exquisite finesse and silkiness in its red fruit and sweet tannin. Layers of seamless fruit caress the palate in this stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 Panek is subtle, understated and totally classy. The Panek is clone 6 and 7 Cabernet, aged in 80% new barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. |
|
| Robert Craig |
2007 |
Affinity Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2009): The 2007 Affinity exhibits more graphite, but in essence is similarly elegant, with supple tannins (although more velvety than in the 2006), very young, primary black and blue fruit notes, and superb concentration, texture, and length. This is an exceptionally promising wine that is still hiding behind a rather primary display of fruit. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 15 or possibly 20 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Diamond Mtn. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District, which is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, but treated almost identically to the other wines (18 months in 90% new French oak) is another big-time winner from Robert Craig. Backward and dense, but gorgeously pure blackberry and almost blood-like meaty notes combine with earth, spice and subtle oak to create a back-strapping, muscular, full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine with a good 20-25 years of upside. This was hard not to get blown away by, but it patience is needed, and 4-5 years is suggested. |
|
|
2009 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain bursts from the glass with expressive layers of roasted coffee beans, graphite, scorched earth and tar. It is a massive wine, yet shows remarkable balance and harmony from start to finish. Layers of racy black fruit build towards the muscular, virile finish. Simply put, this is a stunning example of Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain. The 2009 Howell Mountain is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 7% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029+. |
|
|
2012 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes from an elevation of nearly 2,300 feet and tiny yields of 1.8 tons of fruit per acre. From red, rocky volcanic soils, it is a spicy, rich wine with dark mountain fruits, a hint of graphite and white chocolate (or is it mocha?). This is full-bodied, magical stuff that should drink well for at least ten years. |
|
|
2009 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a big, broad-shouldered wine loaded with class and personality. Firm tannins provide the backdrop for layers of dark red fruit in this super-expressive, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. Tar, licorice, menthol, iron and smoke nuances develop in the glass, adding a sense of gravitas. This is a striking, totally beautiful wine from Robert Craig. The 2009 Mount Veeder is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. |
|
|
2012 |
Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2014): Another mountain wine, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain, comes from a vineyard at 2,000-feet elevation in rock-imbued volcanic soils. Deep ruby/purple, it has glorious notes of blueberry and black raspberry, a touch of graphite and spring flowers. The wine is a full-bodied, opulent and impressively made classic Spring Mountain Cabernet that should continue to drink well for 10-12 years. |
|
| Robert Foley Vineyards |
2004 |
Claret |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2006): The inky/purple-hued, seamless 2004 Claret boasts gorgeous aromas of creme de cassis, blackberries, smoke, licorice, espresso roast, and spring flowers. With sensational concentration, full body, a voluptuous mouthfeel, decent acidity, and sweet tannin, it can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 years.
VM 92+ (6/2007): (90% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot) Saturated medium ruby. Very dark aromas of blackberry, licorice, minerals, tar and molten chocolate. Wonderfully ripe, thick and supple but not overly sweet. In fact, this tannic, brooding, youthfully backward wine is distinctly clenched today and not yet expressing its inherent complexity. Finishes with a medicinal austerity and big, dusty tannins. This boasts terrific fruit but needs four or five years of cellaring. |
|
| Robert Keenan |
2008 |
Mernet Reserve Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2010): The 2008 Mernet Reserve Proprietary Red (350 cases produced) is composed of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. I’ve never liked the name that much, but I sure love the wine. Another prodigious effort from Keenan, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as a sweet nose filled with blackberry, black currant and cherry fruit intermixed with mocha and chocolate. Full-bodied and rich with an enticing suppleness as well as admirable length and texture, it should drink well for 15 or more years. For those who haven’t noticed, Michael Keenan appears to be ratcheting up the quality with every new vintage. Bravo!
VM 88 (5/2018): Bright, dark medium ruby. Blackberry and licorice aromas show a faintly weedy quality and a violet high note. A juicy wine with moderate flesh to its flavors of black fruits, herbs and spices, plus a hint of stewed tomato. Not my favorite style but nicely filled in and pliant, with a touch of sweetness even if the Merlot herbacity comes through. Finishes with serious, tongue-dusting tannins and a slight mounting dryness. This Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend isn't going anywhere but there's no hurry to drink it. (Drink between 2018-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Rudius |
2012 |
Knockmore Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill - Knockmore comes from a small parcel on Pritchard Hill directly across the street from Ovid and backed up to the well-known Colgin IX Estate Vineyard. As Jeff Ames says, this is "a fantastic neighborhood." The wine, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, was also bottled unfined and unfiltered after 18 months in about 70% new French oak. This is another small cuvee of only about 100 cases. Fabulous flavors of black raspberries, blackcurrants and spring flowers jump from the glass of this wine, which seems to be a characteristic of many of the same wines in the neighborhood. Deep ruby/purple in color, it's sexy, opulent, lush and much in keeping with the 2012 style. This multi-dimensional, layered, velvety textured wine is loaded. There's not a hard edge to it, and the impression is one of extravagance and lavish, rich fruit. It's already showing burgeoning complexity and should continue to develop even more fragrance and compelling attributes over the next 15-20 years. This is a beauty. |
|
| Sbragia Family |
2007 |
Wall Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2010): One of my favorite offerings is the brilliant 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Wall Vineyard. From an 1,800 foot elevation vineyard, it is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. Black raspberry, blueberry, licorice, incense and graphite characteristics are accompanied by an opaque purple color, gorgeous complexity and richness and hints of toasty oak as well as flowers. The wine is generous, savory and expansive, but the wealth of extravagant fruit nearly hides abundant tannin in the finish. This brilliant Cabernet is actually underpriced for its quality. Drink it over the next two decades. |
|
| Sebastiani |
2013 |
Gravel Bed Alexander Valley Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (3/2016): The 2013 Gravel Bed Proprietary Red is a Bordeaux blend which I assume is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes from the rockiest sites that Sebastiani owns in Sonoma County. This is a spectacular wine, with blueberry and blackberry fruit, some notes of gravel (as the name suggests), full-bodied opulence, and a multi-layered, almost skyscraper-like mouthfeel, yet it is light on its feet for such great intensity and richness. This is a stunner and another tour de force from winemaker Mark Lyon. This full-bodied classic should drink well for 25-30 years. |
|
| Shafer Vineyards |
2021 |
One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 96 (12/2023): More Cabernet-dominated, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five checks in as 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, and a splash of Malbec. It has incredible purity in its cassis, graphite, lead pencil, and camphor on the nose and a concentrated, medium to full-bodied, layered style on the palate that stays tighter and more compact than the TD-9. (Drink between 2026-2044).
VM 94 (12/2024): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is fabulous. Ample and resonant, the 2021 is captivating right out of the gate. Dark cherry, plum, gravel, incense, licorice and dark spice all meld together. The One Point Five is potent and a bit brooding, but it is done in the more restrained style that is the norm here these days. (Drink between 2025-2036). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (12/2023): An excellent wine, still arguably a decent value in the context of Napa Valley Cab, Shafer's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five features attractive aromas of ripe cherries, cedar and vanilla, plus hints of mocha and loam. Full-bodied, ripe and velvety, it offers more concentration, tannins and length than the winery's TD-9. The question consumers will have to answer is whether it is worth the step up in price. |
|
| Sheridan Vineyard |
2011 |
Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): A wine that was just bottled, the 2011 Block 1 is easily one of the top wines in the vintage. A blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from a southeast facing block in the Sheridan vineyard, it possess a seriously full-bodied, rich and structured style to go with decadent dark fruits, lead pencil, singed cedar and tobacco leaf-like romas and flavors. Give it another year or three and enjoy it over the following 10 to 15 years. |
|
|
2011 |
Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$94 |
8 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): A wine that was just bottled, the 2011 Block 1 is easily one of the top wines in the vintage. A blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from a southeast facing block in the Sheridan vineyard, it possess a seriously full-bodied, rich and structured style to go with decadent dark fruits, lead pencil, singed cedar and tobacco leaf-like romas and flavors. Give it another year or three and enjoy it over the following 10 to 15 years. |
|
|
2012 |
Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2015): The most muscular and masculine in the lineup, the 2012 Block 1 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 28 months in new French oak. It's a serious, structured and backward effort that has lots of spicy oak, coffee bean, graphite and licorice-laced blackcurrants on the nose. These flow to a full-bodied, dense, concentrated and chewy Cabernet that will need 2-4 years of cellaring and have 15-20 years or more of longevity. |
|
|
2007 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
9 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2010): The 2007 L’Orage is made up of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc aged in 75% new French oak for 28 months before bottling without fining or filtration. Purple/black in color with a superb, brooding nose of herbs, lavender, Asian spices, tobacco, black currant, and blackberry On the palate it is full-bodied, opulent, dense, rich, and intensely flavored. The oak, tannin, and alcohol are totally harmonious, and all that is missing is another decade of cellaring. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2017 to 2037. |
|
|
2008 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2011): The 2008 L’Orage is composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Cabernet Franc aged for 26 months in 50% new oak. Super-fragrant notes of clove, cinnamon, incense, violets, black currant, and blackberry are followed by a wine that deftly combines elegance and power. Concentrated, ripe, and lengthy, this nicely proportioned wine will evolve for 4-5 years and drink well through 2028. |
|
|
2013 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2016): The classic blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, the smokin' good 2013 L'Orage shows lots of Cab Franc character in its forest floor, dried flowers, sappy underbrush and darker fruit driven profile. Picking up more textbook Cabernet notes of lead pencil shavings and cassis with time in the glass, this full-bodied beauty has no hard edges, beautifully polished and sweet tannin, and terrific persistence and elegance on the finish. It's already hard to resist given its seamless personality, yet it will be even better with 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well for over two decades. |
|
|
2014 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2017): Always Cabernet Sauvignon based, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc, from the same two blocks, the 2014 L'Orage from Sheridan Vineyard is a seriously good, hedonistic, pleasure bent beauty that does everything right. Cassis, leafy herbs, smoke tobacco, lead pencil shavings and incense notes all give way to a full-bodied, decadent, sexy red that has the concentration and depth to keep for 10-15 years. It tastes like a blend of Pontet Canet and Shafer Hillside Select. |
|
|
2006 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2009): There are only 250 cases of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve sourced from the tenderloin (Block 1 ) of the Sheridan Vineyard and aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it exhibits a brooding bouquet of toasty oak, cocoa, cassis, blackberry, and incense. Dense, rich, and super-concentrated on the palate, the wine is mouth-filling, focused, and splendidly balanced. It will reward 6-8 years of cellaring and drink well through 2030. |
|
|
2007 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (8/2010): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve had 140+ days of hang-time with its canopy with picking extended through November 3. Purple/black, opaque, and brooding, it delivers an other-worldly bouquet of wood smoke, lavender, licorice, espresso, Asian spices, incense, a hint of balsamic, blackberry, and black currant. Dense, rich, loaded, and totally pleasure-bent, this phenomenal effort is remarkably fresh and symmetrical despite its size and power. It will easily see its 30th birthday but that is a conservative estimate. |
|
|
2006 |
Reserve Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (10/2009): The 2006 Syrah Reserve is a spectacular effort. Yields for the wine were 1 ton per acre with no crop thinning. It was aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. Fragrant aromas of vanilla, chocolate, and coconut are reminiscent of an Almond Joy candy bar. Add notes of bacon, smoked meat, and blueberry to the mix and it becomes an exotic, kinky elixir. Mouth-filling, extravagantly rich, and succulent, the wine’s finish lingers for over one minute. So flavorful that it can actually be enjoyed now with 2 hours of decanting, it will benefit from 2-3 years of further bottle age and drink well for at least a decade. |
|
|
2007 |
Reserve Syrah |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (8/2010): The 2007 Syrah Reserve was aged in 100% new French oak for 30 months. Purple/black and brooding, it offers up an exotic amalgam of smoked meat, game, bacon, blueberry, and plum. Velvety smooth, layered, and opulent, this chewy, powerful Syrah has remarkable power and length. It is hard to resist now but it should easily evolve for a decade and drink well through its 30th birthday. |
|
|
2008 |
Singularity Syrah |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (8/2011): The 2008 Singularity is a cuvee of 100% Syrah aged in 100% new French oak for 30 months. Room-filling aromas of smoked meat, game, lavender, foresty notes, mocha, plum, and blueberry lead to a wine of both finesse and power. Mouth-coating, rich, and already complex, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and drink well through 2023. |
|
|
2010 |
Singularity Syrah |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2013): Even more ripe and exotic on the nose, with notions of espresso roast, lavender, smoked duck, charred herbs and black fruits, the 2010 Singularity (100% Syrah aged 30 months in 100% new French oak) flows onto the palate with a gorgeously full, rich texture that carries layers of fruit, juicy acidity and ripe tannin that emerges on the finish. A massive, decadently styled wine that walks a fine line on the oak profile, with a subtle sheen of charred wood, it nevertheless manages to hold everything together and is a thrill ride of a Syrah. It should shine for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2012 |
Singularity Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2015): While not produced in 2011 due to frost damage, the 2012 Singularity is a gorgeous Syrah, from yields of less than a half-ton per acre, that was aged in 100% new French oak. Inky colored and downright voluptuous, with decadent notes of roasted meats, mulled black fruits, chocolate and pepper, it hits the palate with massive amounts of fruit, a stacked, concentrated mid-palate and sweet tannin that round out the finish nicely. Enjoy this full-throttle, pedal-to-the-metal red over the coming decade or more. |
|
|
2013 |
Singularity Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2016): The La Turque of Washington state, Scott Greer's 100% Syrah 2013 Singularity is a sensational wine that always comes from the same parcel of Sheridan Vineyard and is raised all in new French oak barrels. It offers a meaty, rich, chocolaty, dark fruit and espresso-scented personality to go with a full-bodied, rich concentrated feel on the palate that always stays graceful and balanced. It's a big, rich wine, but it's never cumbersome, heavy or over the top; for the multiple days I followed this bottle, it held up beautifully. It's one of the Syrahs of the vintage, and while it's certainly a joy to drink today, it deserves 5-6 years of cellaring and will have two decades (or more) of longevity. Bravo to Scott for this stunning effort! |
|
| Snowden |
2006 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2008): The prodigious 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8+% Petit Verdot, and about 5% Cabernet Franc) reveals aromas of flowers, espresso roast, blackberries, and creme de cassis. This exuberant, rich, full-bodied Cabernet coats the palate, but is neither heavy nor overbearing. Sweet, substantial, well-integrated tannins along with decent acidity, and a stunningly long, 50-second finish make for a compelling glass of young, but promising Cabernet Sauvignon. This 2006 should hit its peak in 3-5 years, and last for 25 or more..
VM 94 (6/2009): Dark ruby. Currant, minerals, dark chocolate, tobacco, loam, smoke, roast coffee and spicebox scents on the complex nose. Lush, concentrated and broad, with a seamless texture and a captivating restrained sweetness. A wine with serious stuffing, and a step up in intensity and suavity from the Ranch bottling. Finishes very long, with slowly mounting flavors and sweet tannins. |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2019 |
Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (7/2021): I continue to just love the wines from this site, and Sojourn’s 2019 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard is a beauty. Lots of plums, darker raspberries, leather, sous bois, and burnt herb notes emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full body, a long, elegant, balanced texture, ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. A seriously good Pinot Noir, it should be better with another year in bottle and keep through 2029 or beyond. (Drink between 2021-2029).
WA 92 (6/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of boysenberries and cranberries with touches of watermelon and red flowers. The palate is medium-bodied, silky and deeply fruited with a layered, spicy finish. |
|
| Switchback Ridge |
2007 |
Peterson Family Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2009): The monster 2007 Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard is a massively concentrated, huge, tannic wine that needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring and should keep 20 years. It will be another legend for Petite Sirah, but unless you are a patient connoisseur, few people will ever get to see it at its best.
VM 91 (6/2010): Opaque ruby-blue color. Brooding aromas of black fruits and licorice. Dense, powerful and sweet; a black hole of a wine, with powerful tannins spreading out to saturate the entire palate. This serious, broad, highly concentrated petite sirah is a bit chunkier than the cabernet and will require a lot of patience. Has the sheer fruit to outlast its tannins, but will it become more interesting? |
|
| Tenor Wines |
2010 |
1:1 Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
13 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (6/2014): Looking at the top, Cabernet Sauvignon dominated release, the 2010 1:1 Columbia Valley incorporates slightly more Merlot than normal and checks in as 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 8% Malbec that spent 20 months in 100% new French oak. It offers fabulous purity in its cassis, licorice, toasted spice, graphite and lead pencil shaving like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, tight, focused and elegant, with integrated acidity and building tannin that comes through with additional time in the glass, this rock star Bordeaux blend will have upwards of two decades of longevity.
VM 90+ (11/2013): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Reticent aromas of cassis, black raspberry, spicecake, graphite, violet and bitter chocolate, plus a distinct herbal complexity. Offers a lovely restrained sweetness to its sappy flavors of raspberry, cherry, currant and spices. Good texture and extract here, as well as exotic spice and wild herb notes to provide mid-palate lift. With its serious dusty tannins and brisk acidity, this promising but youthfully bound-up wine needs time to unwind. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Tensley Wines |
2007 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2009): The brilliant 2007 Syrah Colson Canyon is Tensley's biggest production single vineyard Syrah. Like the other wines, it is aged in 80% neutral and 20% new French oak barrels, and is bottled with no fining or filtration. This blockbuster effort is as black as a moonless night. It offers up stunning notes of graphite, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, licorice, barbecue smoke, and a deep meaty character. The layered palate feel as well as the enormous richness and length result in one of the finest Syrahs being produced in California's Central Coast. It should evolve over the next 10-15 years.
JD 94 (11/2009): The largest scaled and most hedonistic of the Tensley wines I was able to taste, the 2007 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is packed with freshly crushed berries, jam, earth, subtle meat and spice aromatics. Big, sweet and intense, the wine is full bodied on the palate with a silky, light texture and a long, decadent finish where gobs of fine grained tannins come out. The sweetness to the fruit and the upfront, lush texture will make this hard to resist young. |
|
|
2008 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2010): The 2008 Syrah Colson Canyon exhibits notes of scorched earth, smoked meats, blackberries, cassis, and flowers. The complex, northern Rhone-like bouquet is followed by the exuberant, unapologetic, ripe fruit of California. Boasting extraordinary intensity as well as abundant smoky barbecue notes, stunning, full-bodied opulence, and a powerful, layered mouthfeel, this terrific Syrah should drink well for 10-12 years. Fortunately, there are 1,650 cases available. As longtime readers know, Tensley has two wines (200 cases each) that are offered in magnum only. |
|
|
2011 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (7/2013): Black cherries meld into plums and spices, followed by hints of leather, rose petals, mint and licorice. A rich, layered Syrah, the 2011 Colson Canyon Vineyard is one of the most voluptuous wines in this range. With time in the glass, the 2011 continues to blossom nicely, providing some clues as to where the future lies. A distinctly layered, fruit-driven Syrah, the 2011 is flat-out dazzling. Colson Canyon sits above the fog line, making it the warmest site Tensley works with. (Drink between 2014-2023). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (8/2013): The only wine to see some new oak, the 2011 Colson Canyon Syrah is knockout stuff in this vintage! Meaty and complex, with plenty of dark berry fruit, olive, underbrush, violets, licorice and earth, it is full-bodied, deeply concentrated and has a textured, layered feel on the palate. Easily the best Colson Canyon Syrah I’ve tasted from Joey, this knockout effort will have 10-12 years of longevity. Drink 2014-2023.
JD 92 (8/2017): Reminiscent of the 2006, the 2011 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard offers classic cool-climate characteristics of spice, white pepper and cedar, with complex underbrush and ample dark fruits showing in the background. It lacks the breadth and richness of a top vintage, yet shines for its purity, nuance and elegance. Drink it over the coming decade. (Drink between 2014-2029). |
|
|
2012 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (8/2013): I wasn’t able taste through a full lineup of Tensley’s 2012, but what I was able to taste was certainly impressive. Overflowing with fruit and texture, the 2012 Syrah Colson Canyon has a stacked mid-palate, sweet tannin and a seamless, pure feel that I suspect will be hard to resist in its youth yet also age gracefully. It should certainly compete with, if not surpass, the fantastic 2011. Drink 2014-2027.
VM 93 (12/2013): Inky purple. Pungent dark fruit liqueur, cherry-cola and potpourri on the deeply scented nose, with hints of smoky minerals and black pepper adding complexity. Lush cassis and cherry compote flavors show impressive power, with exotic candied violet and Indian spice qualities building in the glass. Dusty tannins add grip to a long, sweet, and penetrating finish. A rich and lively wine. |
|
| Three Sticks |
2021 |
One Sky Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$85 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (1/2024): The 2021 Pinot Noir One Sky Vineyard emerges from Bill Price's estate vineyard on Sonoma Mountain. Translucent and finely cut, the One Sky is so refined. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper all give the 2021 notable brilliance. Vibrant saline notes shape the exquisite finish. (Drink between 2025-2033). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Turley Wine Cellars |
2011 |
Hayne Vyd. Zinfandel |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95 (12/2012): Turley’s 2011 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard, the product of a very late harvest, is another drop-dead gorgeous wine. Dark red fruit, cinnamon and mocha are some of the layers of aroma and flavor that blossom to fill out the wine’s big, broad-shouldered frame. Vibrant, rich and intense, the Hayne is one of the clear standouts in this lineup of 2011s. It is a dazzling wine in every way. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. |
|
| Upchurch Vineyard |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2016): About as sexy as Red Mountain gets, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch Vineyard offers almost overflowing notes of creme de cassis, graphite, licorice and building minerality to go with a full-bodied hedonistic, voluptuous and luxuriously textured style on the palate. Coming from a site on the southern end of the appellation and aged in new oak (there's a splash of Merlot in here as well), this beauty has tons of sweet fruit, ripe tannin and an already approachable, hard to resist style. I'm sure there's plenty of tannin hidden in here, but they're covered by layers of fruit and certainly don't detract. This fabulous 2013 can be enjoyed today, or cellared for 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Brambly blackcurrant, cocoa powder and dusty oak on the nose. Wonderfully suave, fine-grained Cabernet with terrific concentration and complexity to its flavors of cassis, huckleberry, violet and licorice. This remarkably suave, broad wine shows a restrained sweetness and a very long, ripely tannic, edge-free finish that's as much about red fruits as black. If this wine doesn't have quite the complexity and grip of the 2012, it's not far off. (Drink between 2018-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (6/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch Vineyard is showing very well from bottle, unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackcurrants, crème de cassis, licorice, subtle cigar ash and a judicious framing of new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, richly tannic and layered, with a deep core of dark fruit, juicy balancing acids and a serious structural chassis. The upside here appears to be considerable, so cellar it for another 4 or 5 years, then follow it for two decades.
JD 94 (4/2018): The top cuvée is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from a tiny parcel at the southern end of Red Mountain. It's a classic expression of this terroir and offers lots of red and black currant fruit, dried earth, graphite, and leafy herbs aromas and flavors. Like the Counterpart cuvée, it's tight and structured, with good acidity, and short-term cellaring is going to be your friend. It's a gorgeous wine, though, that's going to have 2-3 decades of overall longevity. Chris Upchurch releases his own wine under his Upchurch label which is sourced exclusively from his estate vineyard on Red Mountain. (Drink between 2018-2038).
VM 94 (11/2018): Bright, full ruby. Cassis, blackberry, licorice and a whiff of mocha on the nose. A step up in sweetness and pliancy--not to mention depth of flavor--from the Counterpart blend, but still with terrific floral lift to its red fruit flavors. (Upchurch uses an old Oakville clone that retains acidity well.) This plush wine delivers a near-perfect combination of ripeness and structure (like the best Red Mountain wines) and spreads out horizontally to saturate the palate on the long, building aftertaste. Upchurch's vines are only ten years old but the high quality of the site is already obvious. His 18.5 acres include 2 of Merlot. (Drink between 2020-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Venge |
2013 |
Silencieux Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2015): Deep ruby/purple with a seamless integration of oak, alcohol, wood and tannin, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Silencieux is a smoothly textured, dense ruby/purple-colored wine with enormous fruit extract, loads of blueberry and blackberry notes, a touch of oak and charcoal. It's full-bodied, opulent and easier to drink than the two blockbuster 2012s. Drink now through 2031. |
|
|
2015 |
Silencieux Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (12/2017): Starting out, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Silencieux is a pretty, complex, balanced beauty that offers loads of mulberry, blackberry, spicy oak, and forest floor aromas and flavors. It’s upfront, frontend loaded, seamless, and already impossible to resist, and is well worth checking out. It’s not going to make old bones but it’s one seriously delicious Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers the goods. |
|
| Walter Hansel |
2018 |
Cuvee Alyce Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (9/2020): Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce opens slowly to alluring aromas of smoked cranberries, red cherries and black raspberries laced with licorice, bergamot and dried lavender. The palate is medium-bodied and super silky with addicting freshness, absolutely packed with layered, detailed flavors, and it finishes very long and elegant. Wow!
VM 93+ (1/2020): The 2018 Pinot Noir Cuvée Alyce is bright, floral and super-finessed. This mid-weight, focused Pinot has so much to offer. Red/purplish fruit, blood orange, lavender and spice are all finely-knit Pinot from Hansel. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural depth and resonance. I would give the 2018 at least a year or two in bottle. (Drink between 2022-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Winter Estate |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2007): The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon may be even better than the 2004. A striking, inky/ruby/purple color offers up notes of black currants, licorice, graphite, forest floor, and spice box. Flawlessly constructed with sweet tannin, good acidity, and superb purity, this is a tour de force in winemaking. Possessing both elegance and authoritative flavors, it should drink effortlessly for two decades. |
|
| Woodward Canyon |
1999 |
Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2012): I was thrilled to have an opportunity to taste Woodward Canyon’s 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series, inasmuch as this long, relatively cool and even-ripening vintage appears – in hindsight, anyway – as one of the most exciting in Washington’s viticultural history. This bottling featured fruit from Champoux Vineyard along with contributions from Klipsun and Pepperbridge. Scents of still fresh cherry, nutmeg, sealing wax, nut oils, iodine, and tobacco presage the complex and richly-, juicily-fruited palate performance of a wine that scarcely betrays its age. The combination of soothing textural richness with clarity and back-end vivacity is typical for the very best Washington Cabernet; subtle soy and salinity help stimulate the salivary glands, and this stains the palate in a vibrant, veritable peacock’s tail of a finish. Rick Small and Kevin Mott explain that growers got burned (though anything but literally!) in 1993 when for the first time in the memory of most of them, the fruit failed to adequately ripen. Thus, as 1999 stretched on – far cooler than normal – they were willing to take what was then an unusual step of dropping crop, a step that contributed critically to this vintage’s success. |
|
| | USA White |
| Accendo Cellars |
2016 |
Sauvignon Blanc |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2017): Composed of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Musque and a splash of Semillon, the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc has pink grapefruit, green mango, ripe pears and baking bread notions with touches of beeswax and crushed stones. Medium-bodied, very finely crafted and refreshing in the mouth, it has a lovely silky texture and fantastic intensity of tropical flavors with a long steely finish. |
|
| Araujo Estate |
2014 |
Eisele Vyd. Sauvignon Blanc |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 98 (6/2016): A new more precise and lively style for the white here compared to the past. This is extremely aromatic with sliced apple, peach, pear and mineral aromas. Full to medium body, bright acidity. Very energetic. Creamy texture. A saltiness comes through. Some phenolic tension too. This is aged a year on less in oak barrels and only 15% new. About 600 cases, half the original. |
|
| Bevan Cellars |
2016 |
Ritchie Vyd. Chardonnay |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2018): The 2016 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard has intense pink grapefruit, guava and warm pineapple on the nose with suggestions of ginger ale and brioche. The palate is full-bodied and rich with yeasty/toasty notes, finishing very spicy and very long and layered. |
|
| DuMol |
2014 |
Chloe Chardonnay |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (3/2017): The 2014 Chardonnay Chloe Ritchie-Lorenzo Old Vines is just as exciting today as it was last year. A wine of energy, tension and breadth, the 2014 has it all. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and peach infuse a deeply expressive, voluptuous Chardonnay that will drink well for at least a handful of years, although the explosive finish suggests a year or two in bottle is not a bad thing. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Chardonnay Chloe gives expressive guava, pink grapefruit and pineapple notes with touches of candied ginger, praline and brioche. Medium to full-bodied with a beautifully oily texture and packed with tropical fruit flavors, it finishes long and toasty. |
|
|
2014 |
Clare Chardonnay |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Chardonnay Clare has a white peach, preserved lemons and yuzu-scented nose with underlying touches of cedar, buttered toast and shaved almonds. The palate is bold and intensely fruited with a pleasant oiliness, yet it is medium-bodied, finishing long with lovely purity.
VM 94 (3/2017): The 2014 Chardonnay Clare Hyde Vineyard is gorgeous, but it is also tightly wound and reticent. Readers will have to be patient here. Smoke, slate, graphite, earthiness and dried herbs wrap around a core of orchard fruit. This is a decidedly virile, powerful style, but all the elements are very nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Clare Chardonnay |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (6/2018): The Clare Chardonnay is sourced from the Hyde Vineyard on the Napa Valley side of Carneros, planted to Old Wente clone vines that are now 22 years old. The 2015 Chardonnay Clare is a doppelganger for a great Meursault, featuring gloriously seductive pink grapefruit, lemon meringue pie and mandarin peel scents with hints of lime blossoms, fresh ginger, struck match and toasted almonds. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense, with layer upon layer of electrically charged citrus and floral notes, framed by lively acid and a silken texture, finishing very long and very minerally. Wow!!
JD 97+ (6/2018): Serious notes of citrus blossom, pineapple, and mint emerge from the 2015 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, and it has some serious oomph in both its aromas and flavors. Concentrated, still tight and slightly angular, yet with riveting purity and elegance, it’s a tour de force in California Chardonnay that needs another year in bottle and will keep for 10-15 years.
VM 96 (4/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay Clare Hyde Vineyard is quite a bit more expressive from bottle than it was from tank. A hint of reduction adds freshness to the naturally rich, opulent Hyde fruit. Racy and layered on the palate, with tremendous richness, the 2015 is a wonderfully complete and deeply satisfying wine with a very bright future. In 2015, the Clare did not finish its malolactic fermentation. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Estate Chardonnay |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (2/2017): The 2014 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard reveals very pretty notes of peach blossoms and candied ginger over a core of nectarines, acacia honey, baking bread and marzipan. Medium-bodied with a silken texture and wonderful intensity of yeasty/savory flavors, it has a great frame of freshness and epic length. A beautiful, truly elegant style.
VM 94 (3/2017): As always, the 2014 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard is one of the most phenolic, powerful wines in the range. This high density site produces powerful Chardonnays largely because of less direct sunlight that hits the fruit. Savory herbs, graphite, lemon confit and baked apple are some of the signatures, but, above all else, the Estate is a wine of tension, explosive energy and pure breadth. Accordingly, it is best cellared for at least a few years. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Hyde Vyd. Chardonnay |
$90 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (6/2024): The upper third of the Hyde Vineyard goes into this bottling and the lower part goes into the HHS. The nose of the 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is spectacular, with notes of honeycomb, fresh pear, white flowers, and honeyed lemon. The palate offers incredible texture and vibrant fresh acidity, with an elegant feel and a long, long finish. A mouthwatering white, it's going to be worth laying down and checking in on in a few years. Drink 2026-2038. 22 barrels produced. (Drink between 2026-2038) . Audrey Frick.
WA 95+ (7/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, from 32-year-old vines, was harvested on August 15, a week earlier than ever before, grape grower Andy Smith notes. Frost in the spring drastically lowered Chardonnay yields at Hyde (only 475 cases were made), although what remained was "immediately fantastic," Smith says. It opens with the seashell and saline touches characteristic of this vineyard, before unfurling exotic scents of lemongrass, stone fruit, toast and smoky flint. The light-bodied palate is youthfully coiled and electric. Its saline-tinged flavors are complemented by shimmery acidity and a silken texture, and it has a very long finish. |
|
|
2023 |
Lorenzo Vyd. Chardonnay |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 97 (1/2026): The 2023 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard is just as impressive as it was when I tasted it from barrel. Rich, unctuous and oily, the 2023 is all class. Lemon confit, marzipan, dried herbs and tangerine oil are all amplified by 50-year-old vines on clay-rich soils. This is one of the great wines of the United States. (Drink between 2028-2038) . Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (9/2025): The 2023 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1974. Grapes were harvested on October 5, and the wine was matured for 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels, followed by six months in tank. Initial wafts of matchstick and crème brûlée give way to white fruits, lime peel and alluring herbal undertones. The medium-bodied palate is silky and energetic with understated, flinty flavors and a long, tensile finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 240 cases were made. |
|
| Ferren Wines |
2022 |
Zephyr Farms Vyd. Chardonnay |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (7/2025): Coming from a cooler and later ripening site, the 2022 Chardonnay Zephyr Farm Vineyard has such a sense of place with its coastal and vibrant feel. It has a savory touch that I love, with a fantastic freshness, and the palate is bright and focused, with a great, compact feel. And while it has the electricity I come to expect from this site, there’s just a touch more rounded opulence to even things out, so it isn’t austere, finishing with notes of delicate oak spice. Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (8/2025): The 2022 Chardonnay Zephyr Vineyard is a rare new addition to the Ferren portfolio. It comes from Mt Eden and Old Wente selection vines that are around 20 years old, located between the towns of Freestone and Sebastopol. On the nose, a well of apple and peach is accented by nuances of elderflower, vanilla, meringue and roasted almonds. The light-bodied palate is bright and flinty with latent fruit at this early stage. It combines a soft, ethereal texture with vibrant acidity, and it has a long, dynamic finish. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar. |
|
| Morlet Family Vineyards |
2022 |
Les Petits Morlet Sauvignon Blanc |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2024): In effect a second wine for lots that didn't make the cut for La Proportion Dorée (but approximately 85% Sauvignon Blanc), the barrel-fermented 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Les Petits Morlet boasts plenty of expressive gooseberry aromas and ample citrus zest on the nose, but then has a full-bodied palate. Soft and expansive, it's really generous and luxurious in the mouth but balanced by a tart, lingering finish.
JD 94 (6/2024): Displaying a slightly deeper yellow/straw hue, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Les Petits Morlet is entirely Sauvignon Blanc, although it has the addition of the expressive Musqué clone, which is grown on rocky clay-loam soils. The wine is exuberant at this stage, with a more tropical fruited profile coming through on the nose, along with notes of beeswax, golden pear, white grapefruit, and saline. This continues to the palate, which is medium to full-bodied and reveals more intensity through the palate as well, with notes of melon and a ripe, rounded feel. Drink 2024-2034. 125 cases were produced. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2010 |
Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2013): Mount Eden's 2010 Chardonnay is stunning. Honeysuckle, tangerine, apricot, and crème brulee literally jump from the glass A vivid, exotic wine, the 2010 is constantly changing in the glass. Stylistically, the 2010 is a little richer than Mount Eden fans are used to, but all the elements are in the right place. The 2010 verges on the edge of tropical aromas and flavors that are quite rare for young Mount Eden Chardonnays. Ideally, the 2010 is best left alone for a few years to allow some of the baby fat to drop off. I imagine it will always be a bit on the exotic side. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2012 |
Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (4/2024): The 2012 Chardonnay Estate is an impressive and intricate example of this iconic California wine. From the first pour, clean, intense aromas of crushed stones, pineapple, honeysuckle and citrus zest bound from the glass. The palate is succulent, tensile and lively, with a multilayered and impressively youthful finish. Considering the amount of money one can easily shell out for California Chardonnay, the degree to which Mount Eden overdelivers, especially in this early 2010s era, is hard to overstate. |
|
|
2010 |
Santa Cruz Mountains Reserve Chardonnay |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (4/2024): The 2010 Chardonnay Reserve began life as the Estate bottling, spending 10 months in barrels before being transferred to stainless tank for an additional year. The extra dimension gained through this process is remarkable, exuding a pedigree that the Estate bottling often glimpses but doesn't quite reach. The nose is reminiscent of a classic Meursault of yesteryear, with a linear, lifted nose of hazelnut, yuzu curd and crushed stones. The palate is concentrated but light on its feet with a dramatic and expansive finish. At nearly a decade and a half of bottle age, I suspect this is not even halfway through its prime.
VM 94 (7/2015): The 2010 Chardonnay Reserve is the brightest and also the airiest of the four Reserves Mount Eden has made so far, largely the result of a growing season in which rainfall was well above the historical average. Round, succulent and beautifully textured, the 2010 offers attractive scents of tropical fruits, yellow orchard fruit and white pepper. It will be interesting to see how much body and texture the 2010 acquires with further time in bottle. Today the 2010 remains tightly wound and in need of further cellaring. (Drink between 2016-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pahlmeyer |
2015 |
Napa Valley Chardonnay |
$79 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2016): The 2015 Chardonnay, which comes from both Old Wente and Dijon clones, is off the estate property on Atlas Peak. It has that noteworthy greenish hue to its light-gold color, which I consider a high-sign of quality. Orange blossom, tangerine oil, mango, subtle smoky wood, a full-bodied texture, terrific purity and acidity, great fruit and a long, long finish are the stuff of great California Chardonnay. This cuvée also has a phenomenal track record for aging for at least 7-10 years, and in certain vintages even longer.
VM 89 (12/2016): The 2015 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) is a very pretty, racy, voluptuous Chardonnay. Apricot, chamomile, mint, new French oak, butter, vanillin and lightly honeyed notes give the 2015 much of its extroverted, flamboyant personality. Even with all of its richness, though, the 2015 is a relatively mid-weight wine in its structure but with a decidedly overt, oak-influenced personality. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Napa Valley Chardonnay |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 96 (1/2019): Bottled in August, the 2017 Chardonnay Napa Valley offers Aubert-like notes of white flowers, white peach, tangerine, flower oil, and white flowers. It's rich, layered, so pure and balanced, and is just a class act as well as one of the top Chardonnays in this report. (Drink between 2019-2030).
WA 93+ (10/2018): Composed entirely of fruit from Atlas Peak and bottled two weeks ago, the 2017 Chardonnay gives very pretty white peaches, pink grapefruit, honey-drizzled pears and lime blossoms with touches of nutmeg, marzipan and baker’s yeast. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight, very pleasant phenolic grip to the texture and bags of stone fruit and pear layers, finishing on a lovely savory note.
VM 92 (12/2018): Pahlmeyer's 2017 Chardonnay (Napa Valley) is a pretty, very supple wine. Orchard fruit, chamomile, sage, mint and apricot are nicely pushed forward in this open-knit, creamy Chardonnay. Beautifully balanced and racy, the 2017 has a lot to offer. The Napa Valley Chardonnay is a blend of fruit from the estate and Antinori's Antica property on Atlas Peak. This is an attractive wine, especially within the context of the vintage. (Drink between 2018-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2022 |
Napa Valley Chardonnay |
$85 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 95 (12/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay is dense and powerful. In that sense, it is perhaps a bit more typical than the 2023 tasted alongside it. Dried pear, apricot, chamomile, marzipan, tangerine oil, flowers and light tropical accents all build in the glass. This is the only Chardonnay from Pahlmeyer in 2022, and it is terrific. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (7/2024): Winemaker Katie Vogt started picking for Pahlmeyer's 2022 Chardonnay in August, with just a couple of blocks hanging into September. As always, it's all fermented in roughly 90% new François Frères barrels. The nose boasts scents of toasted hazelnuts and white peaches, plus hints of cashew and grilled pineapple. In the mouth, this vintage is full-bodied, broad and expansive—perhaps a bit warm. Fruit this vintage came from Antinori, Hyde, Toyon, Stagecoach and Waters Ranch (Pahlmeyer's estate vineyard). |
|
| Perchance |
2022 |
Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Chardonnay Ex-Domaine |
$95 |
44 |
|
| |
JD 95-97 (2/2024): The 2022 Chardonnay Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard is stunning stuff, and this is one I can't wait to taste from bottle. Reminding me of a great Chardonnay from Aubert with its ripe pineapple, lemon oil, candlewax, and honeyed flower notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and that rare mix of richness and freshness. This will spend 15 months in barrels, and there are roughly 150 cases.
WA 93 (10/2024): Composed of Clone 96 planted in 1995 and barrel fermented in 100% new French oak, half of the 2022 Chardonnay Beckstoffer Carneros Lake Vineyard underwent malolactic fermentation. It boasts a subtle honeyed element, plus ripe melon and pear notes. Full-bodied, plump and generous, with a long, richly textural finish, it's a beauty to enjoy over the next several years. |
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| Peter Michael Winery |
2023 |
Mon Plaisir Chardonnay |
$95 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2025): The 2023 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir is a dense, powerful wine. It is also one of the most reticent Chardonnays in this range. Apricot pit, peach, pear, white flowers, mint, white pepper and slate emerge, but only with great reluctance. This is a wine for readers who can be patient. What a beauty. (Drink between 2027-2038) . Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (7/2025): From the first vineyard of the estate, the 2023 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir has a similar bright yellow hue and a more focused feel with notes of lime zest, crushed stones, melon, sweet spices, and vanilla. The palate is full-bodied, with focused acidity, and feels more tension-driven, with a long, mouthwatering finish that floats off the palate with a mineral-toned feel. It will take time to open it, but it should have a good deal of longevity. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 95+ (2/2026): The 2023 Chardonnay Mon Plaisir has arresting scents of flint, candle smoke, crème brûlée and spice over a core of peach and guava fruit. The full-bodied palate is elegantly styled with a silky texture, taut acidity and nuanced but youthfully coiled flavors. Concentrated and energetic, it will benefit from several years in the cellar. 1,117 cases were made. |
|
| Ramey |
2016 |
Rochioli Vyd. Chardonnay |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (6/2019): One of my favorite releases from Ramey, the 2016 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard comes from a Grand Cru site in the Russian River and has incredibly classic notes of white flowers, tart citrus, and subtle orchard fruits. It’s one of those wines that’s both powerful and elegant, with medium to full body, a great mid-palate, integrated acidity, and just everything in the right places. It’s a beautiful, layered, age-worthy Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years. (Drink between 2019-2034).
WA 94+ (4/2019): This is the second vintage of a Rochioli vineyard-designate Chardonnay made by Ramey. Grapes were sourced from vines planted between 1989 and 2005 and were fermented in barrel with bâtonnage, then aged in 21% new French oak for 20 months. The nose of the 2016 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard opens with Meyer lemon, pulverized stone, lime peel and soft white flowers with touches of nuts and cream. Medium to full-bodied, it offers wonderful savory flavor layers of honeycomb and hazelnut with a gorgeous velvety texture and great length plus lots of mineral sparks coming through on the finish. 901 cases were produced, which will be released in June of 2019.
VM 94 (5/2019): The 2016 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard is powerful and dense in its first impression. It is also one of the more phenolic, structured Chardonnays in the range. There is a real sense of weight and textural resonance that runs through the fruit. Hints of lemon confit, dried flowers and dried pear meld into the creamy, layered finish. (Drink between 2020-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Rhys |
2010 |
Alpine Vyd. Chardonnay |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 95 (5/2012): Pale yellow, with a green hue. More mineral-driven than the Horseshoe bottling, displaying scents of candied citrus fruits, pear, anise, honeysuckle and sea salt. Pure and incisive on the palate, with strikingly pure lime, lemon and pear flavors complicated by floral and mineral qualities. Lingers with Outstanding intensity, leaving notes of iodine, licorice and lime zest behind.
WA 94 (8/2012): The 2010 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard is a much deeper, vertical wine that fills out all layers of dimension and flavor. Crushed rocks, white flowers and lemon are some of the notes that flow from this powerful, intense Chardonnay. The Alpine is all about tension and energy. I loved it. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. |
|
| Rivers Marie |
2013 |
B. Thieriot Vyd. Chardonnay |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2015): One of the greatest young Chardonnays I’ve ever tasted certainly has to be the 2013 Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard, from the very old vineyard planted in 1990 with the Robert Young clone of Chardonnay. It was cropped at 1.5 tons of fruit per acre and aged in Louis Latour cooperage. This amazing wine shows notes of poached pear, honeysuckle and hints of white peach and pineapple, is stunningly rich and full-bodied, but has great acidity and a remarkable finish pH of 3.1, which is incredible, given the intensity and power of this Chardonnay. Look for it to age well for up to a decade or more.
VM 95 (1/2015): The 2013 Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard is one of the most exotic, tropical Chardonnays I have tasted from Rivers-Marie. Rich, ample and voluptuous in the glass, the 2013 possesses remarkable breadth and intensity. Orange peel, crème brulee, smoke and mango meld together in a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay with a distinct Chassagne-like sense of oiliness. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Shafer Vineyards |
2018 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$50 |
9 |
|
| |
JD 95 (1/2021): Tasted out of bottle, the 2018 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is beautifully done, with a vibrant yet rich style carrying notes of buttered lemon, orange blossom, white flowers, and toasted bread. With bright acidity, terrific overall balance, and a great finish, this is classic Napa Valley Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years. I wouldn't be surprised to see it keep even longer as well. (Drink between 2021-2030).
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2018 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is gorgeous. Tangerine oil, white flowers and light tropical accents grace the Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay. Creamy and yet delicate, with lovely balance. The 2018 has so much to offer. Drink this understated, classy Chardonnay over the next handful of years. (Drink between 2021-2025). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (11/2020): The 2018 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch bursts from the glass with oak-laced apple pie, peach preserves and ripe pineapple scents plus hints of allspice, candied ginger and praline. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a gorgeous satiny texture and loads of stone fruit and tropical fruit layers, finishing on a lingering spicy note. |
|
|
2019 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$50 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2023): Always one of my favorite Chardonnays from Napa, the 2019 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is no exception and offers a richer, concentrated, yet brilliantly balanced profile that carries classic caramelized citrus, orange, and stone fruits as well as spicy oak and brioche in the background. It’s a serious, concentrated, textured Chardonnay that does everything right. I wish there were more Chardonnay being produced in this style today.
VM 93 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is bright, fragrant and light on its feet. Lemon peel, tropical fruit, jasmine and mint lend striking aromatic nuance to a Chardonnay that balances the energy that is typical of this wine today with attractive, exotic accents that add wonderful nuance. (Drink between 2022-2026). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (11/2021): The 2019 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch gallops out with bold scents of ripe yellow apple, spiced pears and beeswax, plus hints of nutmeg, orange blossoms and cedar. Full-bodied with a lively line cutting through the dense stone fruit and spicy flavors, it finishes on a toasty oak note. |
|
|
2022 |
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 95 (12/2023): I love the 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch. It's a richer, broad, yet still fresh and lively Chardonnay with ripe citrus and pineapple fruits, medium to full body, a layered mouthfeel, and terrific toast, brioche, honeysuckle, and lemon oil aromatics. It will keep for 4-6 years, if not longer, but I love it today. (Drink between 2023-2028).
WA 94 (12/2023): A modern-day classic, Shafer's 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch continues the tradition, delivering pristine pineapple notes alongside hints of citrus curd, pencil shavings and mocha. Full-bodied, round and generous, this no-malolactic-fermentation Chardonnay harmoniously tapers down into a clean, crisp finish. The only quibble with this vintage is that it may show a touch of alcoholic warmth.
VM 91 (12/2023): The 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is bright, focused and aromatic, as is the style these days. Light tropical notes add an exotic flair as lemon peel, lime, white flowers and crushed rocks linger. The 2022 spent nine months in 40% new oak and the rest in tank and a bit of neutral oak. (Drink between 2023-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Walter Scott |
2018 |
X Novo Vyd. Chardonnay |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 95 (9/2020): Limpid, green-hued straw. A complex, assertively perfumed bouquet evokes Anjou pear, peach nectar, orange zest and vanilla, along with suggestions of sea salt and pungent flowers. A smoky mineral quality builds in the glass, energizing densely packed Meyer lemon, orchard and pit fruit and chamomile flavors that are braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Clings impressively on the strikingly long, mineral-driven finish, which features suggestions of smoky lees and ripe citrus fruits. 40% new oak. (Drink between 2022-2029). Josh Raynolds.
WA 93 (12/2020): The 2018 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard opens with gunflint and roasted almonds with golden apples, spices and cured meats. The palate is light-bodied, delicately styled and savory without losing the intensity of flinty, nutty flavors, and it finishes long and lifted. |
|
| Williams Selyem |
2017 |
Olivet Lane Vyd. Chardonnay |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (4/2019): The 2017 Chardonnay Olivet Lane Vineyard has an open, gregarious nose of baked apple pie and peach cobbler with honeysuckle, roasted almonds, Greek yogurt and spice. Medium to full-bodied, it offers lots of savory fruit layers in the mouth with great juicy acidity and a long, honeyed/nutty finish. 368 cases produced. |
|
| | Australia |
| D'Arenberg |
2006 |
The Dead Arm Shiraz |
$58 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (2/2009): D’Arenberg’s flagship is the 2006 The Dead Arm Shiraz. Opaque purple-colored, the nose is reticent but gives up aromas of meat, bacon, game, truffles, blueberry, and blackberry. Firm, layered, and complex, this beautifully rendered Shiraz demands a decade of cellaring. It will be superb from 2018 to 2036. |
|
| Elderton |
2004 |
Command Shiraz |
$85 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2010): Medium garnet in color, the 2004 Shiraz Command Elderton Estate is a little mute at this stage, revealing subtle to moderate aromas of leather, sandalwood and spice over warm blackberry plus some mocha. Full-bodied with medium-firm fine tannins, complex evolving flavors and a great line of acid, the finish is very long. Give it another year or 2 for the nose to emerge from this closed stage and drink it 2012 to 2022+.
VM 92+ (10/2007): Dark purple. Bright red and dark berry scents display impressive focus and clarity, with subtle baking spice and vanilla notes adding complexity. Very fresh-in fact almost painfully young-with nervy raspberry and cherry flavors supported by silky tannins and a jolt of acidity on the back. This opened up a bit with air, but really should be cellared for at least another five years. |
|
| Glaetzer |
2002 |
Amon-Ra Barossa Valley Shiraz |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2004): The flagship offering, the 2002 Shiraz, is produced from 90- to 100-year-old dry-farmed vineyards that yielded a microscopic .25-1 ton of fruit per acre. Aged 15 months in 100% new American oak barrels and hogsheads, its inky/purple color is accompanied by tantalizing aromas of charcoal, acacia flowers, blackberry liqueur, blueberries, and cassis. This deep, full-bodied, smoky, rich, full-throttle Shiraz is remarkably well-balanced as well as intense. Give it 1-3 more years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 10-15. |
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| Shirvington |
2004 |
Shiraz |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2005): The sensational 2004 Shiraz’s inky/purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, blueberries, and creme de cassis. It offers wonderful purity, plenty of stuffing, toasty espresso notes from new oak barrels, admirable intensity, and a tremendous finish. Drink it over the next decade. Former winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis have left Shirvington and the wine is now being made by Kim Johnston. Little has changed, although the 2004s appear to be more streamlined and delicate than their 2003 and 2002 counterparts.
VM 90 (10/2007): Dark purple. Ripe blackberry and boysenberry on the nose, with a strong vanillin overtone lending a confectionery character. Sweet dark berry and kirsch flavors teeter toward the liqueur side but are firmed by silky tannins, gaining a pleasingly bitter licorice quality with air. A captivating blend of sweet, ripe dark berry fruit and oak spice, with surprising poise and energy on the close. Not for those with old-fashioned tastes but undeniably alluring, with impressive concentration and a luscious personality. |
|
| Two Hands |
2004 |
Lily’s Garden Shiraz |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2006): Even better than the Harry & Edward’s Garden is the 2004 Shiraz Lily’s Garden from McLaren Vale. With this cuvee, about 25% new American oak is added to the regime of French wood. Full-bodied with stunning, dusty, loamy soil characteristics interwoven with blackberry, cassis, cherry, and plum-like fruit, this rich, pure, intense Shiraz should be consumed over the next 10-12+ years.
VM 93 (7/2006): Lily'S Garden Mclaren Vale Saturated violet. Smoky, chocolate-tinged blackberry and cassis on the nose, with accents of vanilla and fresh flowers. Firm and youthful, with dark berry flavors showing impressive sweetness and depth. Gains richness and volume with aeration, taking on a candied plum quality on the finish. Fine-grained tannins come up on the back end. A great combination of structure, power and sweet fruit. This was raised in 23% new American oak hogsheads but the wood influence is subtly sweet and not at all intrusive. |
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| | Argentina |
| Cheval des Andes |
2016 |
Mendoza Red Wine |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (3/2019): Super refined and beautiful with flowers, spices, dried fruit and hints of stones. Medium to full body with very fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Shows great finesse and depth. Savory character, as always, but in check. Drink in 2022.
WA 97+ (8/2019): The new vintage to be released in September 2019 is the 2016 Cheval des Andes, which was cropped from a completely unusual year—cooler than the average and with an exceptional amount of rain (around 600 liters), yet the wine has achieved exceptional freshness. It's 13.9% alcohol, and there's more red fruit on the nose, which is subtle and elegant, a little closed at first, shy and subtle. They have done great adjustments in the elevage, with the wine matured in 30% to 40% 400-liter barrels and only some 40% new wood. It's 58% Malbec (approximately 50/50 from Luján and Valle de Uco, where they have 15 hectares in Altamira), 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This has less structure than the 2015, but there's more tension; this is a wine that should develop beautifully in bottle. This is a vintage of precision and with great aging potential. I think this wine is the most elegant produced so far. Bravo! 64,000 bottles produced.
VM 95 (9/2019): Bright, dark red-ruby. Wild, musky scents and flavors of black raspberry, black pepper, olive tapenade, licorice and rocky salinity. Plush, savory and seamless; a mouthcoating Malbec-based blend with superb depth and palate presence. As concentrated as this wine is, it's medium-bodied in the style of this cooler year but also remarkably nuanced and harmonious from the start, communicating an impression of restrained sweetness. Finishes extremely long and edge-free, with noble tannins and palate-saturating breadth. Incidentally, with this 2016, Cheval des Andes is now made entirely with estate fruit, from their properties in La Compuertas and Altamira. (aged in 70% new oak). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2020 |
Mendoza Red Wine |
$78.85 |
60 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2023): The 2020 Cheval des Andes was harvested from the last of February for the first time ever. They now harvest using cold trucks (for the first time), and they also started earlier in the morning, which he reckons was very good for the precision of the wine. The final blend was 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, which makes a comeback as it was not used since 2016. This is slightly riper than 2019, with a little more alcohol (14.5%) and with very good structural tannins but saving the freshness, and it has the spicy side from the Petit Verdot (Gabillet talks about white pepper). The wine has the ultra sleek and polished texture and the elegance and the balance that is the signature here; the wine is very clean and precise. I see very good regularity across the three vintages I tasted next to each other—this 2020 and the 2018 and 2019. Overall, this is a triumph over the adverse conditions of the vintage.
JA 97 (7/2023): Crushed raspberry plum in colour, vibrant and concentrated, juicy and balanced, has precision and succulence and carefully thought out delivery of tannins, grilled spices, nutmeg, liqourice, bilberry, damson and pomegranite. Great stuff, playing at a high level. Gérald Gabillet winemaker and director, LVMH owners.
JS 97 (7/2023): Ripe, baked dark cherries with spices and some violets. Hints of graphite, cocoa powder, incense and black pepper. Dried rose petals. A slightly fuller Cheval des Andes with tense, silky tannins and a lingering, generous finish. Ripe, but still has lots of restraint and precision. 49% malbec, 49% cabernet sauvignon with a 2% petit verdot. 24% of the malbec comes from Altamira and all the rest of the fruit come from Las Compuertas. Drink or hold.
VM 96 (9/2023): The 2020 Cheval des Andes is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley and Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo. Aged in French oak barrels, it’s purple in the glass with a garnet sheen. The nose reveals a well-judged approach to the warmth of 2020, featuring ripe plum, redcurrant, mint and hints of white pepper over a bed of bay leaf and cedar. It’s dry and velvety on the palate, with rich, polished tannins that deliver a juicy, balanced mouthfeel. The balsamic notes and rich palate reflect the year’s character, while the finish is dynamic and long-lasting. Joaquin Hidalgo |
|
|
2022 |
Mendoza Red Wine |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 99 (4/2025): The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). The 2022 vintage allowed for a slower ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, which take prominence in this blend alongside 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aging was carried out in 40% 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 35% 400-liter barrels and 25% 2,500-liter foudres, with 50% new oak. A bouquet of bright fruit—raspberry, blueberry and delicate cassis—and complementary bay leaf and mint tones give way to a touch of ash and mild bell pepper. Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine. Joaquin Hidalgo.
JA 98 (7/2025): Fragrant, exceptional quality, a standout in the lineup. Concentrated black cherry and damson fruits, nuanced pulses of orange peel and pomegranate, gunsmoke and peony flowers. Gérald Gabillet winemaker, at this joint venture between Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes. Fermented and aged in a mix of 225l barrels, 400l barrels and 2,500l casks, 50% new oak - almost entirely French, with some Austrian, Slovenian and German.
WA 97 (8/2025): Soon to be released through La Place de Bordeaux, the 2022 Cheval des Andes opens with an exotic, spice-driven bouquet, supplemented by lifted herbal notes and a vibrantly red-fruited and perfumed backdrop. The palate is similarly energetic, melding an elegantly rich, polished texture with a slender, tensile energy. It concludes with a long, persistent and high-toned finish that gradually unfurls a sturdy structure of supremely refined tannins. This is an excellent counterpoint to the comparatively darker and more open-knit 2021, showcasing a brighter, more tenacious profile while sacrificing none of the grace, nuance and textural attention to detail that has come to define Cheval des Andes. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. |
|
| Vina Cobos |
2009 |
Marchiori Vyd. Malbec |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2011): The Cobos wines include the 2009 Cobos Malbec Marchiori Vineyard which somehow manages to raise the bar another notch. Satin-textured, suave, remarkably rich, and already complex, it deftly combines elegance and power in a wine that is likely to evolve for 6-8 years |
|
| | Other White |
| Nikolaihof |
2010 |
Steiner Hund Riesling |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 95 (11/2015): The nose here fascinates in a distinctively Nikolaihof manner. Elusive suggestions of moss and lichen on wet stone, mothball and salt spray, along with herbal and floral essences introduce a palate performance that adds to their presence roasted peanut, white asparagus, almond and pear for an effect at once satiny and soothing, juicy and subtly piquant. The combination of mouthwatering salinity and mineral intrigue to the nearly endless finish resembles a mouthful of oyster with its green innards and briny liquor. This remarkable libation was bottled in the spring of 2014. David Schildknecht.
WA 93 (4/2015): The 2010 Riesling Steiner Hund is a pure and cool, rather vegetal than fruity flavored Riesling with flinty notes along with aromas of fennel seeds and celery. Still very young, restrained and edgy on the palate, this full-bodied, very pure and mineral wine with its firm and long, tension-filled structure does not show any flesh or juiciness at the moment. However, I wouldn't call it ascetic, just a little bit drying. This densely woven Riesling is much too rich and too electrifying in the mouth and too long and powerful in the finish to end up as a joyless wine. However, I suppose this promising, firmly structured long-distance runner will never get that round and juicy, but will remain a vital and scraggy (in a positive sense) wine for many years. I would keep it for another 7-10 years before I retaste it again. |
|
|
2014 |
Steiner Hund Riesling |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2018): Like its remarkable Vom Stein counterpart, I tasted this wine after it had been racked to tank, a few months before its December 2017 bottling, then again from bottle in the course of 2018. The penetrating nose is dominated by white peach, white currant and lime, anticipating the brightly juicy palate impression. But suggestions of crushed stone, bittersweet iris, clam stock, radish, kelp and smoky black tea add increasing intrigue as the wine opens to the air and is worked over in the mouth. There is underlying firmness but also a suggestion of silkiness born of lengthy lees exposure in cask, and the sense of levity, remarkably, is that of a typical Nikolaihof Federspiel more than of a Smaragd. The vibrant finishing influx of alkali, crushed stone, iodine, mineral salts, mustard seed and white pepper is almost savagely intense, practically stinging – taking matters in an at once mouthwatering and invigorating but also slightly austere direction. Here’s further proof for any who remain skeptics that the 2014 vintage – its challenges and vicissitudes notwithstanding – has at its very best delivered some of the Wachau’s and neighboring Lower Austria’s most exciting and potentially ageworthy wines of the past two decades. Tasting the outstanding 2013 alongside, this 2014 came nipping right at its heels: attention au chien! David Schildknecht. |
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