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Inventory updated: Sat, Dec 20, 2025 06:40 AM cst
We are sorry, but that item has sold out. Please see other wines from this grower and region/vintage below.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Alsace |
| Dom. Trimbach |
2014 |
Pinot Gris Reserve  |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 90+ (2/2016): Straw-green. Intriguing aromas of lemon, green apple, pear and smoke are lifted by notes of lavender and cinnamon. Supple yet quite bright in the mouth, showing good acid cut to the juicy flavors of ripe pear, baked apple and sweet spices. Finishes very dry and pure, with noteworthy persistence and an impression of high acidity. I found this to be extremely lemony ("at 2 g/l residual sugar and roughly 7 g/l total acidity, this is the driest Pinot Gris I have ever made,” admitted Pierre Trimbach), but as the estate holds onto its wines for at least a couple of years prior to releasing them, it's likely this will have rounded out considerably by the time you get a chance to taste it. A resolutely dry, food-friendly, very promising Alsace Pinot Gris. (Drink between 2018-2026). Ian D'Agata.
WA 89 (6/2017): The 2014 Pinot Gris Réserve offers a clear and aromatic bouquet of ripe and intense white fruits along with some white champignon aromas. Bottled with 2.5 grams of residual sugar, this is a very piquant and intense Pinot that is great to have with food thanks to its salinity and grip. It may not be fully ripe, but it's pretty functional. There is almost no hint of suzuki here, at maximum a very tiny bit. |
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|
1990 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$1,100 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 92 (9/1996): Expressive aromas and flavors of pine, mineral and peach give this well-integrated wine good depth and length. A fine example of traditional Alsace Riesling that shows finesse and sophistication. Drinkable now, but it will hold for years to come. 700 cases made. |
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|
2004 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,820.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (12/2006): Pale, bright yellow. Ripe pineapple, liquid stone and exotic honey on the nose, with a spicy lift that suggests an oak influence this wine does not possess. On entry, this is sweeter and creamier than the Frederic Emile, but it livens up quickly in the middle, showing powerful minerality and sharply delineated flavors of liquid stone, pineapple and citrus peel. Still, this conveys a distinctly glyceral impression that suggests more sweetness than its 5 grams of residual sugar, no doubt a function of the 20% or so botrytized berries (in contrast to the Frederic Emile, which included no botrytis). Communicates an impression of power with elegance, finishing minerally and long but not austere. Pierre Trimbach compared this wine to the estate's great 1990. This is already showing more Rosacker terroir than riesling character. About 9,000 bottles were made from 1.5 hectares of vines.
WA 94 (2/2008): The 2004 Riesling Clos Ste-Hune smells deliciously, mysteriously and complexly of grapefruit, blood orange, sassafras, mirabelle distillate, licorice, truffle, musk, lily, and chalk. Creamy and much richer on the palate than its Frederic Emile counterpart, it displays no less sheer density, stony minerality, or penetration. The finish here is truly palate staining, and as multi-faceted as the aromas. It would probably be a shame to uncork a bottle (especially given the aftermarket prices I have been seeing on these wines!) for at least a couple of more years after it is released in 2009. |
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|
2006 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$938.98 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 93 (4/2010): Fresh lime, yellow plum, musk, and intimations of chalk dust in the nose of Trimbach’s 2006 Riesling Clos Ste-Hune usher in a strikingly fresh, firm palate possessed of meat stock and game-like animal undertones. This bottling of barely over 12.5% in alcohol is much more tightly-stitched than the corresponding Frederic Emile, and finishes with penetrating, bright length, combined with overtly crushed stone minerality. No Alsace 2006 of my experience can top this for focus, clarity, or long-term (I would estimate 12-15 years’) aging potential, although the Frederic Emile is in its very different way more striking, as well as more fun to drink now.
WS 93 (10/2011): Bright and focused, with bracing acidity and a strong undercurrent of saline minerality. Flavors of quince, green pear, lemon verbena and dried apricot wrap around the minerally core, but it takes hold again on the finish with lots of lingering notes of white pepper, fleur de sel and hot stone. This purrs like a finely tuned Ferrari, combining both power and finesse. Drink now through 2030. 700 cases made.
VM 91 (12/2008): Good bright, pale yellow. Sexy aromas of pineapple, mint and crushed stone; seems purer than the Frederic Emile. Then more pristine in the mouth as well, with little sign of botrytis to the citrus, stone and mineral flavors. Fatter than the Fred. Finishes broad, juicy and quite dry, with light resiny and fusel hints. A lovely 2006 riesling. |
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|
2008 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$996.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2016): Pale yellow-green. Vibrant aromas of mirabelle, lemon, crushed stone and fresh herbs, with a nuance of Chablis-like oyster shell. Densely packed and youthfully closed, even austere, but hints at lovely high notes of jasmine, lemon verbena and lichee. Wonderfully stylish and intense in the mouth, closing long and precise, with orange zest, mineral and spice notes. This will evolve gracefully for a long time. Ian D'Agata.
JS 95 (9/2015): Aromas of sliced apple, pear, lime rind and camembert. Full-bodied, dense and layered with so much ripe fruit and power. Then acidity takes off. Wow. Coming out next year.
WA 93 (5/2011): The combination of smoky pungency and citric brightness of Trimbach’s 2008 Riesling Clos Ste-Hune is almost eye-wateringly intense – and that’s just on inhaling! In the mouth, the dynamic interplay of energetic, efficacious citrus and white currant with chalk, salt, crushed stone, and apricot kernel will keep you stimulated and intrigued long after the flavors have faded, and that is already a long time. This buoyant, handsomely austere Ste-Hune will not require recharging over the next couple of decades, and in time should put on a truly spectacular display. |
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|
2011 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$920.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2012): Deeper pale green than the Frederic Emile. Very spicy aromas of green apple, chlorophyll and thyme. Enters with lime and green apple notes, then turns riper and richer in the middle, showing more exotic banana and passion fruit qualities with air. Finishes very fleshy, saline and long. This is bigger but not obviously better than the 2011 Frederic Emile and struck me as a rather salty, chunky version of CSH. Ian d'Agata. |
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|
2012 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$713.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 96 (9/2015): This has incredible white pepper and slate aromas and flavors with dried fruits such as lemons, limes and papaya. Full-bodied, dry and very intense. It goes on for minutes. This won't be available until 2019.
WS 95 (7/2017): This sleek, elegant white crackles with acidity. Tightly meshed today, showing more petrol and mineral character than white peach, spice and pine notes, but the density and length should make this a superstar of the cellar. To be released Spring 2020. Best from 2022 through 2035.
WA 95 (10/2015): Cool, aristocratic and iron-rich on the nose where some flinty notes are displayed the 2012 Riesling Clos Ste Hune starts very pure and demanding on the nose. On the palate you can find as much energy and tension as in an electric power station. The wine is very clear, fresh and pure, shows lots of salt on the very elegant and seductive palate. The finish is very long and complex and indicates a terrific aging potential. |
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|
2015 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$722.97 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (3/2017): Bright golden-tinged straw-yellow. Enticing nose of yellow apple, mirabelle, crystallized ginger and white flowers, complicated by lemony minerality. Dense, fresh and juicy, displaying outstanding sugar-acid balance and an opulent mouthfeel that is nicely lifted by penetrating notes of mirabelle, lime, wet stones, lemon peel and almond. While this enters sweet, it finishes very clean and dry. Boasts one of the most fragrant, prettiest and most forward noses I recall in a young CSH. Ian d'Agata. |
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|
2015 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,306.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (3/2017): Bright golden-tinged straw-yellow. Enticing nose of yellow apple, mirabelle, crystallized ginger and white flowers, complicated by lemony minerality. Dense, fresh and juicy, displaying outstanding sugar-acid balance and an opulent mouthfeel that is nicely lifted by penetrating notes of mirabelle, lime, wet stones, lemon peel and almond. While this enters sweet, it finishes very clean and dry. Boasts one of the most fragrant, prettiest and most forward noses I recall in a young CSH. Ian d'Agata. |
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|
2018 |
Riesling Clos Ste. Hune (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$623.99 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (3/2024): The bright-colored 2018 Clos Ste Hune Riesling shows an intense and very concentrated bouquet of ripe fruits and crushed stones. Muschelkalk limestone dominates the palate, which reveals a powerful, dense and still quite bitter Riesling whose compact phenols still cage this dormant Riesling on a stony and saline bed. The finish, however is very potent and long. A bigger glass and more time probably would have helped the wine significantly, because I believe it's greater than this score is suggesting. 13.3% stated alcohol plus four grams per liter of residual sugar. Tasted at the domaine in May 2022. |
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|
2018 |
Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$499.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Ausone |
2021 |
St. Emilion (1.5 L) 2021 en Primeur Release |
$1,350 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 97-100 (4/2022): A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!
VM 93-95 (5/2022): The 2021 Ausone was picked on September 30 for the Merlot and October 4–6 for the Cabernet Franc, with a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc because some of the Merlot was deselected into the Chapelle. Matured in 90% new oak, this has a fragrant and floral bouquet, more iris than violet, revealing a hint of seaweed in the background. The palate is well-defined, quite strict and focused, certainly one of the more mineral-driven Ausones that I have encountered at this stage. The limestone terroir is evident on the finish. Again, this is a little leaner and less flamboyant than recent vintages. Having tasted Ausone at this prenatal stage for over 20 years, I don’t find the thrilling "drive” or the pyrotechnics of the 2001, 2010, 2016 or 2019. Yet this Ausone is compelling in its own uncompromising way, and I wouldn't want it any different. |
|
| Ch. Fleur Cardinale |
2018 |
St. Emilion (1.5 L) |
$100 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 94-95 (4/2019): This is really linear and tight for this winery and shows seriousness and polish. Medium-to full-bodied and a tight, compact palate. Very fresh and long, too. I can see a change to more linear and precise wines here.
WS 93-96 (4/2019): Offers lovely fruit, with exotic plum and boysenberry notes gliding along, carried by a very velvety structure. The long finish has a nice flow, showing a latent anise echo. Seems to be holding back a bit, but there's some serious depth of fruit here. |
|
| Ch. Latour |
2011 |
Pauillac (6.0 L) ex-Negociant |
$5,500 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 96 (3/2014): This has a gorgeous core of steeped plum, boysenberry and black currant coulis flavors, backed by a prominent graphite note that drives through the lengthy finish, where extra hints of anise and sweet tobacco flitter in the background. Regal. Best from 2018 through 2035. 5,835 cases made.
JS 95 (1/2014): The nose is complex, featuring smoke, meat and hints of wood, with currants, olives and berries underneath. Full body with super-velvety tannins. The strong acidity gives the wine an edginess. Love the spicy, subtly fruity finish. Steely. Try in 2020.
VM 95 (4/2022): The 2011 Latour is well-defined on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, cedar, hoisin and a touch of mint. There is impressive intensity here, regal and convincing. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. There is a solid backbone to this wine, plenty of freshness, quite powerful towards the finish with superb persistence. Wonderful. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 93-95 (4/2012): A blend of 84.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Latour represents only 34% of the crop. It hit 13.1% natural alcohol. One of the vintage's most compelling wines, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, open-knit personality with ripe tannin, superb intensity, good purity and harmony, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and lots of crushed rock, floral and black as well as blue fruit notes in addition to hints of ink and forest floor. This beautifully rich, savory Latour will be surprisingly drinkable in 4-5 years, and should age easily for two decades or more. |
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| Ch. Les Carmes Haut Brion |
2021 |
Pessac Leognan (3.0 L) 2021 en Primeur Release |
$525 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2024): The 2021 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is very possibly the wine of the vintage. Vertical and explosive, the 2021 possesses mind-blowing intensity and dynamic energy to burn. The 2021 is a heady, racy wine that captivates all the senses. Tobacco, mocha, cedar, leather, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and plum saturate the palate in a wine that dazzles from start to finish. The 2021 was bottled in late September 2023, much later than most wines, yet it is so expressive today. It was magnificent from barrel, and it is every bit as breathtaking today. Quite simply, Les Carmes is on another level. Bravo! (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (2/2024): The 2021 Les Carmes Haut-Brion has turned out beautifully in bottle, though it is more introverted and brooding than it appeared during en primeur tastings, unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries mingled with spices, loamy soil, licorice, rose petals, gentian and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a concentrated core of fruit framed by ripe but abundant structuring tannins and bright acids, it concludes with a long, palate-staining finish. As readers may remember, it's a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. |
|
| Ch. Marsau |
2022 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux (1.5 L) 2023 en Primeur Release |
$59.95 |
19 |
|
| |
| WA 92-94 (5/2023): This medium to full-bodied 2022 Marsau is an attractive wine produced from 100% Merlot. It has a delightfully pure bouquet of peony, violet, iris, menthol and cassis, followed by a crunchy and juicy yet fresh texture and then by a mineral-driven finish of remarkable purity, expressing elegant notes of licorice and pencil lead. Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier have produced a red wine that punches above its weight. Bravo! |
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| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2022 |
Pauillac (6.0 L) 2023 en Primeur Release |
$7,195 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (5/2023): Moving to the flagship, the 2022 Château Mouton Rothschild is a massive, full-bodied, incredibly powerful 2022 that takes no prisoners with its ripe black and blue fruits, chocolate, graphite, and smoked tobacco-driven aromas and flavors. Deep, unctuous, and concentrated, with velvety tannins, this legendary Mouton is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot that's still resting in new barrel. It will unquestionably play with the top wines in the vintage. Harvest here began the 1st of September and finished on the 26th, and the final wine hit 14% natural alcohol, with a pH of 3.89 and an IPT of 76.
VM 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a powerhouse. Inky, deep and explosive, the 2022 is a real head-turner. The combination of intense dark fruit, strong gravelly/mineral notes and imposing structure clearly bring to mind another great Mouton, and that is the 1986. In a word: magnificent. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-99 (5/2023): A brilliant wine that likely sits somewhere between the 2019 and 2020 in quality, the 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Unwinding in the glass with complex aromas of minty cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and subtle hints of loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit and a fleshy, elegantly muscular profile. Broad-shouldered and seamless, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. This year the grand vin represents some 49% of the estate's production. |
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2022 |
Pauillac (1.5 L) 2023 en Primeur Release |
$1,425 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (5/2023): Moving to the flagship, the 2022 Château Mouton Rothschild is a massive, full-bodied, incredibly powerful 2022 that takes no prisoners with its ripe black and blue fruits, chocolate, graphite, and smoked tobacco-driven aromas and flavors. Deep, unctuous, and concentrated, with velvety tannins, this legendary Mouton is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot that's still resting in new barrel. It will unquestionably play with the top wines in the vintage. Harvest here began the 1st of September and finished on the 26th, and the final wine hit 14% natural alcohol, with a pH of 3.89 and an IPT of 76.
VM 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a powerhouse. Inky, deep and explosive, the 2022 is a real head-turner. The combination of intense dark fruit, strong gravelly/mineral notes and imposing structure clearly bring to mind another great Mouton, and that is the 1986. In a word: magnificent. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-99 (5/2023): A brilliant wine that likely sits somewhere between the 2019 and 2020 in quality, the 2022 Mouton Rothschild is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. Unwinding in the glass with complex aromas of minty cassis, cigar wrapper, violets and subtle hints of loamy soil, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a layered core of fruit and a fleshy, elegantly muscular profile. Broad-shouldered and seamless, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. This year the grand vin represents some 49% of the estate's production. |
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| Vieux Chateau Certan |
1986 |
Pomerol (1.5 L) Heavily Bin-Soiled Label |
$475 |
1 |
|
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| WA 92 (3/1996): This wine is one of the finest efforts from Bordeaux's right bank in the 1986 vintage. The wine remains deep ruby-colored, with a complex nose suggesting cedar wood, fruitcake, Asian spices, roasted herbs, and black currants. In the mouth, there is moderate tannin as well as impressively concentrated flavors that roll across all the palate's sweet spots. Medium to full-bodied and rich, this 1986 admirably marries power with finesse. The wine is still youthful, but is soft and developed enough to be enjoyed immensely. Anticipated maturity: Now-2012. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2001 |
Sauternes (1.5 L) ex-Negociant |
$1,550 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (9/2021): Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. Neal Martin.
WA 100 (8/2019): I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed.
WS 100 (11/2005): (WS #10 wine of 2005) The greatest young Yquem I have ever tasted from bottle. Yellow, with a golden hue and an almost green tint. Intense aromas of botrytis, spices and blanched almonds follow through to honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and pineapple. Full-bodied, sweet, thick and powerful, with layers of fruit and a bright, lively finish. Coats the palate yet remains exciting. So balanced and refined, showing the pedigree that only this Sauternes estate can deliver. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made. |
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|
2022 |
Ygrec "Y" du Yquem Bordeaux Superieur (1.5 L) Ex-Negociant |
$340 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux |
2009 |
Margaux (1.5 L) ex-Negociant |
$599 |
8 |
|
| |
| WS 94 (3/2012): This really sneaks up on you, with laserlike focus to the blanched macadamia nut, honeysuckle, white peach and creamed yellow apple fruit flavors. Very sleek and restrained, with a long, stone-framed finish that's as pure as freshly fallen snow. Best from 2013 through 2023. |
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| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. de Montille |
2015 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts Christiane (1.5 L) Cracked Wax Capsule |
$1,500 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (1/2018): (100% vendange entier; 60% new oak): Good medium red; not particularly dark. Subtle medicinal reserve to the aromas of black cherry and cocoa powder enlivened by a floral topnote. Boasts outstanding density and finesse of texture--no rough edges here!--but still quite tightly wound and in a shell today. Youthfully restrained but the exhilarating balance between almost inky dark fruits and saline minerality is already obvious. This wine has the concentration and tannic clout for the long term but will need extended cellaring to deliver on its full potential; at that point, it should merit an even higher rating. For his part, Brian Sieve believes this fruit was harvested a bit later than ideal (on September 6). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Dom. Denis Mortet |
2012 |
Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (1.5 L) Heavily Bin-Soiled Label; Scuffed Label |
$275 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (11/2014): Healthy dark red. Wild, expressive nose combines raspberry, redcurrant, coffee, game and leather. Ripe, broad and sweet, but also with very good energy and thrust to the flavors of raspberry, milk chocolate and minerals. Really saturates the palate without leaving any impression of undue weight. The serious, ripe tannins should support slow development in bottle. "We're lucky always to have healthy levels of acidity in our Gevrey wines," noted Arnaud Mortet. A splendid village bottling. (Drink between 2019-2026). Stephen Tanzer.
BH 90 (1/2015): The expressive nose is compositionally similar to the straight Gevrey villages cuvée though here the aromas are slightly more complex. The medium weight flavors are also denser and more powerful with ample minerality and solid power that continues onto the palate coating, balanced and gorgeously long finish. This too is a very fine Gevrey villages and absolutely worth your attention. (Drink starting 2020). |
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| Dom. des Lambrays |
2008 |
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru (1.5 L) |
$795 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 93 (1/2011): (produced from two large parcels of differing vine age - one that is approximately two-thirds of the blend and is now 45 years of age and a second, smaller group of vines that is approximately 20+ years of age.) The deeply pitched nose evidences obvious earth and floral influences on the mostly ripe red pinot fruit aromas that complement the rich, pure and detailed medium weight flavors that culminate in a dusty and mouth coating finish where the supporting tannins display a clear stem influence. This is an excellent wine though it may not be to everyone's taste due to the obvious stem character. Drink 2020+. |
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|
2010 |
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru (1.5 L) Signs of Old Seepage |
$850 |
2 |
|
| |
BH 94 (1/2013): (produced from two large parcels of differing vine age - one that is approximately two-thirds of the blend and is now 45 years of age and a second, smaller group of vines that is approximately 20+ years of age; vinified with 100% whole clusters.) A highly expressive and very broad nose of superb aromatic complexity that includes earth, game, spice, red currant, plum, violets and a hint of the sauvage. The round and supple flavors possess outstanding detail and while the complexity doesn't quite match that of the exquisite nose, it's not far behind and this culminates in a beautifully balanced and harmonious finish that delivers striking persistence. I also had a chance to retaste the 2009 and it is bigger, richer and more powerful while the 2010 is much more of a wine of finesse and refinement. In a word, beautiful. Drink 2022+.
VM 93+ (3/2013): Good bright, deep red. Very closed but pure and stylish nose hints at cherry liqueur and spices, with elements of mulch and pepper emerging with air. Dense, tactile and large-boned, but with its flesh somewhat suppressed today. Finishes saline, concentrated and thick, with substantial granular tannins. This needs at least six to eight more years in bottle to expand, and may well deserve an even higher score by 2020. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Dom. Duroche |
2023 |
Clos Vougeot Grand Cru (1.5 L) |
$550 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2023 |
Volnay 1er Cru Les Chevrets (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$199.99 |
7 |
|
| |
| BH 92 (4/2025): (from 25+ year old vines). An elegant, pure and airy nose is beautifully layered with its mix of spicy red and black pinot fruit aromas. The mouthfeel of the middle weight flavors is markedly finer, indeed the word finesse springs to mind, and particularly so on the stony, detailed and well-balanced finale. A wine of lace and grace. Drink 2031+. |
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2023 |
Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets (3.0 L) Ex-Domaine |
$419.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (4/2025): Here the expressive nose is slightly riper and spicier with a similar mix of red and dark berries and exotic tea along with more floral elements. The sleek, caressing and nicely punchy middle weight flavors possess adequate mid-palate density together a refined, long and balanced finale. This is perhaps a bit finer than it usually is with solid development potential. Drink 2031+. |
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|
2023 |
Volnay 1er Cru Les Fremiets (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$199.99 |
10 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (4/2025): Here the expressive nose is slightly riper and spicier with a similar mix of red and dark berries and exotic tea along with more floral elements. The sleek, caressing and nicely punchy middle weight flavors possess adequate mid-palate density together a refined, long and balanced finale. This is perhaps a bit finer than it usually is with solid development potential. Drink 2031+. |
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| Dom. Henri Gouges |
2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges (1.5 L) |
$219 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 90-93 (1/2022): Very ripe yet still reasonably fresh aromas are comprised by notes of roasted plum, black cherry, cassis and earth. The dense, powerful and muscular broad-shouldered flavors are supported by a very firm tannic spine on the robust, serious and very compact finale. This is quite impressive though certainly not typical. Drink 2035+. |
|
| Dom. Pierre Bertheau & Fils |
2010 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 93 (1/2013): A wonderfully, even exuberantly spicy mix of red currant, plum and floral nuances gives way to rich, elegant and impressively refined middle weight flavors that possess impeccable balance on the mineral-driven and utterly delicious finish. This understated and beautifully concentrated effort is a stunner of an Amoureuses that possesses a mouth feel of silk and lace. Drink 2020+. |
|
| Dom. Potinet-Ampeau |
2012 |
Monthelie 1er Cru Les Champs-Fulliots (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$139.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Drouhin |
1995 |
Musigny Grand Cru (1.5 L) Bin-Soiled Label, Signs of Old Seepage |
$1,600 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 93 (5/2007): A marvelously complex nose that is just beginning to display the first hints of secondary aromas (though no sous bois) leads to concentrated black cherry flavors with firm but harmonious tannins underpinned by firm acidity and excellent length where the structure comes across as a dusty element. This is a big wine by the standards of the domaine and is very classy juice that continues to positively evolve and as such, I have extended my suggested drinking window. Drink: 2012+.
WA 90-92 (6/1997): The day I tasted the dark-colored Musigny, it was extremely muted aromatically. On the palate it revealed tightly wound (almost nervous), super-delineated and polished fresh cherries, cassis and violets. Medium-to-full bodied, supple and very long, it is obviously an Outstanding wine but it is closed. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2010.
WS 90 (1/1998): Sexy and racy, with wild raspberry, rose petal, violet, mocha and white chocolate character. Full-bodied, with ripe but firm tannins. Nice finesse. Drink now through 2010. |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2010 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru les Suchots (1.5 L) |
$395 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (4/2013): Very discreet wood sets off exuberantly spicy aromas of plum, cassis and black raspberry liqueur. There is an ultra-sophisticated mouth feel to the silky-textured medium-bodied flavors that are blessed with so much extract that they culminate in an incredibly suave yet balanced finish that is built to age. There is a very mild touch of backend dryness that is likely due to the bottling and will probably round out in time but it does cause me to score this slightly lower than I otherwise might have. Drink 2022+. Outstanding! |
|
| Maison Henri Boillot |
2023 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir (3.0 L) Ex-Domaine |
$189.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 87 (4/2025): (from vineyards in Santenay, Marsannay and the lower portions of Volnay). This is unusually pretty for a Bourgogne with its array of ripe plum and violet scents. There is fine volume to the utterly delicious and solidly concentrated middle weight flavors that display impressive length on the bitter pit fruit-inflected finale where the only nit is a touch of warmth. This is a quality Bourgogne and worth a look, especially for value. Drink 2026+. |
|
|
2023 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$89.99 |
7 |
|
| |
| BH 87 (4/2025): (from vineyards in Santenay, Marsannay and the lower portions of Volnay). This is unusually pretty for a Bourgogne with its array of ripe plum and violet scents. There is fine volume to the utterly delicious and solidly concentrated middle weight flavors that display impressive length on the bitter pit fruit-inflected finale where the only nit is a touch of warmth. This is a quality Bourgogne and worth a look, especially for value. Drink 2026+. |
|
|
2022 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru (1.5 L) ex-Domaine; 1-magnum OWC |
$1,059 |
2 |
|
| |
BH 94 (4/2024): An exuberantly spicy and quite floral-suffused nose features notes of wild currant, cherry and a gamy hint. The super-sleek and even finer yet more powerful larger-bodied flavors display impressive power on the even more complex, balanced and highly persistent finale. This is a big wine yet the balance is such that it could be approached after only 5 to 7 years. Drink 2034+.
VM 93-95+ (1/2024): The 2022 Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is an imposing young wine. A blast of blue fruit, lavender, licorice, gravel, crushed rock and menthol saturates the palate. This bruiser is going to need time to be at its best, but it is pretty impressive, even in the early going. Neal Martin. |
|
| Maison Mommessin |
1993 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (1.5 L) Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$749 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 84 (11/1995): Distinctively smoky and toasty, sporting lovely, silky texture and nice wood. The finish is a bit diluted and alcoholic. Could use more fruit concentration. Try in 1999. |
|
|
1996 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (1.5 L) Signs of Old Seepage |
$1,000 |
6 |
|
| |
| BH 89 (3/2013): I have had two distinctly different experiences with this wine. The most recent example was notably better than the first as it displayed none of the acidic dryness of the first and while, like most '96s, the flavors are not especially dense, there was excellent depth, length and overall balance. Moreover there was a really lovely perfumed and highly complex character to the nose. An excellent Clos de Tart and one that has basically arrived at its peak. For those who might be interested to read how the first bottle performed, please see the big Clos de Tart Progress Report that appeared in Issue 37. Drink Now+. |
|
| Philippe Leclerc |
1983 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru La Combe Aux Moines (1.5 L) Cracked Wax Capsule; Signs of Old Seepage; Bin-Soiled Label |
$255 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 87 (12/1989): The Combe aux Moines has an intense flavor of old wines, a rich, chewy, lush texture, moderate rather than excessive tannins, and a huge finish. It should be superb between 1990-1995. |
|
| Pierre & Marianne Duroche |
2022 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers (1.5 L) |
$475 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| Ch. de Fuisse |
2022 |
Pouilly Fuisse Tete de Cuvee (1.5 L) |
$99.99 |
10 |
|
| |
BH 90 (10/2024): A touch of phenolic character is present on the lightly wood nose of mineral reduction, acacia and essence of pear. The sleek, delicious and vibrant, if not super-dense, flavors are rich to the point of opulence while displaying fine power on the bitter lemon rind-inflected finale where the only reproach is a hint of warmth. This should drink well young but also drink well with a few years of bottle age. (Drink starting 2028).
VM 90 (8/2024): The 2022 Pouilly-Fuissé Tête de Cuvée is raised 60% in oak barrels and the rest in tank, bottled at the end of 2023. This cuvée includes some Premier Crus, including Combettes, which were not bottled separately this year. It has a winsome nose with mint-tinged citrus fruit that opens with gusto in the glass. The palate is well-balanced with a fresh entry. It's spicy with stem ginger and lemongrass towards the lively finish. Maybe it is not the most refined Pouilly-Fuissé, but there is commendable energy in the context of the growing season. (Drink between 2025-2034). Neal Martin. |
|
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2012 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchere (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (10/2015): Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2012 tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère has a captivating, mineral-driven, sea-spray-tinged bouquet that is complex and compelling. The palate is very well balanced with finely tuned acidity, harmonious and poised, though a Puligny-Montrachet that is only just beginning to show what it can do. Cellar this for four to six years and see what comes out the other side, as it could merit an even higher evaluation then.
VM 94 (9/2014): Outstanding lift to the aromas of lime and crushed stone. Silky, smooth and magically light on its feet, displaying Outstanding energy and cut to its lemon, lime and spicy oak flavors. This tastes like it's from another vintage than the Combettes. The bracing, extremely long finish hints at huge dry extract without coming across as phenolic or dry. The crop level here was just 25 hectoliters per hectare, according to Boillot.
BH 93 (6/2014): (from 60+ year old vines and the vineyard is a whopping 4 ha monopole within Perrières.) The nose is markedly reduced and I would strongly suggest decanting this if you're tempted to try a bottle young. The intensely mineral-driven middle weight plus flavors possess Outstanding mid-palate concentration with an abundance of palate coating dry extract, all wrapped in a wonderfully vibrant and highly persistent finish. I very much like the balance as this is a big yet stylish effort that should amply repay medium-term cellaring. Drink 2019+. |
|
|
2012 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchere (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$500 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (10/2015): Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2012 tasting in Beaune. The 2012 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère has a captivating, mineral-driven, sea-spray-tinged bouquet that is complex and compelling. The palate is very well balanced with finely tuned acidity, harmonious and poised, though a Puligny-Montrachet that is only just beginning to show what it can do. Cellar this for four to six years and see what comes out the other side, as it could merit an even higher evaluation then.
VM 94 (9/2014): Outstanding lift to the aromas of lime and crushed stone. Silky, smooth and magically light on its feet, displaying Outstanding energy and cut to its lemon, lime and spicy oak flavors. This tastes like it's from another vintage than the Combettes. The bracing, extremely long finish hints at huge dry extract without coming across as phenolic or dry. The crop level here was just 25 hectoliters per hectare, according to Boillot.
BH 93 (6/2014): (from 60+ year old vines and the vineyard is a whopping 4 ha monopole within Perrières.) The nose is markedly reduced and I would strongly suggest decanting this if you're tempted to try a bottle young. The intensely mineral-driven middle weight plus flavors possess Outstanding mid-palate concentration with an abundance of palate coating dry extract, all wrapped in a wonderfully vibrant and highly persistent finish. I very much like the balance as this is a big yet stylish effort that should amply repay medium-term cellaring. Drink 2019+. |
|
| Joseph Drouhin |
1995 |
Le Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru (1.5 L) |
$1,399 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (4/1997): To no one's surprise, the Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche is Drouhin's finest 1995. Made entirely in 1st year oak (oak barrels that have been used once, not new oak), rich honeysuckle aromas burst from the glass with a touch of honeyed spice. The wine is extremely viscous and fat (my notes say: "wouldn't legally be considered a liquid") and has very ripe flavors of rich, toasted and roasted, lively fruits. This full-bodied, beautifully delineated wine exemplifies Montrachet, as it combines Batard's forward, sultry fruit and Chevalier's elegance and precision. Drink it between 2005-2012.
WS 93 (4/1997): Subtle and classy, this wine is supple with near-perfect balance and spice, ripe fruit, toasted bread and mineral flavors that linger for minutes on the great, racy finish. Full-bodied; try around 2005. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Bernard Levet |
2012 |
Cote Rotie La Peroline (1.5 L) |
$200 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (2/2015): Dark purple. A heady, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes black and blue fruit liqueur, incense, smoked meat and floral pastille, with a minerally nuance lending vivacity. Broad and sappy on the palate, offering intense boysenberry and cherry compote flavors and a wild twist of passion fruit. Densely packed yet lively, finishing with outstanding power and persistence. Even tannins come in late and fold smoothly into the wine's intesne fruit. (Drink between 2018-2035). |
|
|
2016 |
Cote Rotie La Peroline (1.5 L) |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94-96 (6/2018): Inky, vivid purple. Highly perfumed, mineral-laced black and blue fruit, violet, smoked meat and incense qualities on the nose. Fleshy, sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed yet surprisingly lively boysenberry, candied licorice, spicecake and violet flavors enlivened by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Deftly blends richness and finesse and finishes extremely long and youthfully tannic, leaving floral pastille, star anise and dark berry liqueur notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2011 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (3.0 L) OWC |
$439 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2013): Reminiscent of a lighter weight 2009, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape offers up a sweet bouquet of spiced black cherries, plum, truffle, saddle leather and underbrush. Coming from tiny yields (which were down 50% from 2010), this medium to full-bodied 2011 is gorgeously textured and has solid mid-palate depth, terrific purity of fruit and ripe tannin. Relatively approachable and enjoyable even now, it should nevertheless evolve gracefully for 15-20 years. Drink 2015-2031.
JLL **** (10/2013): Dark red, some legs. Crushed nut shells, blackberry jam and prune airs feature on the nose, some weight of sweetness, low-key thyme and laurel. There is plenty in the bouquet for the future. This is tight fit, with plenty of gras at its centre. The attack centres on blueberry, is more coolly fruited than the mid to late palate. It lacks the clear-cut pedigree of 2012, reminds me more of a 2000, open and unpretentious. Its black fruits show openly, while quite refined, grainy bone tannins complete the route. The tannins aren’t up to the standard of the 2010, even 2012, and are a bit gummy. From 2015-16. Bottled June 2013.
VM 91-93 (2/2013): (based on roughly 50% mourvedre this year): Inky ruby. Powerful, expressive aromas of red- and blackcurrant, cherry and licorice, with suave anise and floral overtones. Juicy and precise, with tangy red and dark berry flavors, supple texture and a strong mineral note on the back. Spicy on the finish, which shows very good focus and length. This is impressively elegant and should be drinkable on the young side. |
|
| Chimere |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$1,295 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (4/2019): The 2016 Chimere is another brilliant wine made from a collaboration between Sine Qua Non’s Manfred Krankl and the Maurel Brothers of Clos Saint Jean. The 2016 is a blend of 93% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache, and 2% Grenache Blanc, all from the famed La Crau lieu-dit, that was brought up in new 300-liter barrels. It offers an incredible, singular style in its sweet blackberry and blueberry fruits, incense, crushed flowers, ground pepper, and smoked herb. This lavish, powerful, super-intense effort is nevertheless perfectly balanced and seamless, and it shows the purity and vibrancy of this vintage beautifully. Given its sweet tannins, it's already approachable and delivers incredible pleasure, yet it's going to keep for 20-30 years. |
|
|
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$825 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2020): The 2017 Chimère reminds me a little of the 2011 with its more elegant yet still powerful style. Beautiful notes of black cherries, blueberries, cured meats, pepper, tree bark, and new leather all emerge from the glass, followed by a rich, medium to full-bodied, tight, backward and unevolved Mourvèdre that needs forgotten for 4-5 years. As always, this cuvee is primarily Mourvèdre (it’s normally blended with Grenache and other varieties, even some white varieties) and there are a scant 100 cases made. While I don’t think this beauty hits the heights of the 2016, it’s still a brilliant, singular wine that will evolve for 20 years or more. |
|
|
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$895 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Clos des Papes |
2011 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$209 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2013): One of the stars of the vintage and coming from absurdly low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-bodied, seamless effort that exhibits copious kirsch, ground pepper, dried flowers and underbrush as well as incredibly fine tannin, great mid-palate concentration and ample length on the finish. Relatively forward by this estate’s standards, it will be approachable at an earlier age than normal. Nevertheless, it will have 20+ years of evolution and is an awesome effort in the vintage. Drink 2015-2030.
WS 95 (11/2013): Delivers a beautifully pure and velvety note of cassis that holds sway over an ample range of blackberry paste, blood orange, singed apple wood and bergamot notes. The long finish shows succulent flesh and a buried iron accent. The grip is integrated, the acidity mouthwatering and the depth impressive for the vintage. Best from 2015 through 2030. 9,000 cases made.
VM 93 (2/2014): Vivid ruby. Smoky cherry, red berry and potpourri scents show excellent clarity and pick up spiciness with aeration. Stains the palate with intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors, with a sexy floral pastille quality adding complexity. Finishes with impressive energy and thrust, firmed by fine-grained tannins and piquant minerality. Avril thinks that this will be an ager based on its balance.
JD 92-95 (9/2012): As is normal here, I was able to taste the 2011 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape from numerous foudres and assorted blends, as well as from a single foudre that contains a rough equivalent of the final blend. While 2011 is certainly a more difficult vintage, this estate excelled and has a rare level of depth in concentration, with each sample showing solid intensity on the nose, medium to full-body, and a rich, concentrated mid-palate. I do not think it will compete with the ’06, ’07, or ’10, but will easily be a mid 90-point wine that will delight Clos des Papes lovers.
JLL ***[*] (11/2013): Plum red colour, fair depth. There is a fragrant top note to an open, plum-fruited aroma that proffers a curve of ripeness, a sprinkle of herbs such as rosemary, fennel. The attack feels some of its inherent power - there is that line of near spirit-led glow through it. This has a misleading youth - there are kirsch and similar Mirabelle plum flavours, not young ones. It needs leaving until its middle age, such as 2018. Bosky and sous-bois, damp forest floor notes and tobacco beckon. This isn’t particularly ensemble as it stands; its matter doesn’t show a full façade - I find it facile. With its Pinot Noir implications, here the Southern Rhône is taking the Burgundian route - this works better in the Northern Rhône, where the alcohol levels are much lower. |
|
| Dom. de la Vieille Julienne |
2018 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Trois Sources (1.5 L) |
$129.99 |
31 |
|
| |
VM 92 (6/2023): The 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources is showing wonderfully, opening in the glass with dark cherry and plum aromas, strawberry, leather and a dash of white pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and framed by slightly drying tannins it is well-balanced by refreshing acidity, closing with a savory finish. Due to the presence of mildew, only half the normal amount of production was achieved. Nicholas Greinacher.
JD 95 (10/2020): True to form, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources is a softer, more elegant wine than the Les Hauts-Lieux and offers a gorgeous perfume of black cherries, black licorice, tapenade, violets, herbes de Provence, and jus de viande. Deep, full-bodied, and beautifully layered, it gains weight with time in the glass and is going to benefit from just short-term cellaring. It doesn’t have the concentration for any long-term cellaring yet my money is on it evolving nicely for a solid 10-12 years. |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Grande Reserve (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
15 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (2/2025): The 2022 Cotes du Rhone Villages Segurey Grande Reserve is based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spicy wood, and some meaty nuances all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a broad, layered mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. I love it today yet it's going to have a solid 10-12 years of prime drinking. |
|
| Dom. du Pegau |
2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (1.5 L) |
$189 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2014): One of my favorite wines, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish. Similar in style to a lighter-weight 2010, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 12-15 years.
WS 93 (9/2015): A dark, alluring style, with tobacco, chestnut and alder notes surrounding a core of blackberry, plum and cherry fruit. Lots of garrigue details line the finish, showing a warm paving stone hint. Should settle in nicely in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2023. 6,670 cases made.
VM 93 (4/2015): Opaque ruby. Heady aromas of black and blue fruits, potpourri and Indian spices, with a smoky element emerging with air. Taut and sharply focused on entry, then fleshier and broader in the mid-palate, offering vibrant boysenberry and black raspberry flavors with hints of candied violet, smoked meat and licorice. Finishes spicy and long, with repeating florality and slow-building tannins. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ***[*] (11/2013): Thick, dark robe. Broiled beef first air, a resident power in the bouquet, a wide distribution of force in its black berry. There are torrid, burnt, wild notes, black raisin also. Meaty, roasted aspects start the palate; a big wine, with oaking and deliberate scale, a knight on his charger. A little gras juice emerges near the finish. Big, rather powerful on nose and palate, the power on the palate better integrated than the nose. It will please lovers of tarry, big, unbridled Châteauneuf with its full, resinous style. Decant this. From mid-2016. |
|
| Dom. du Tunnel |
2021 |
Cornas (3.0 L) ex-Domaine |
$209.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 92-94 (12/2022): The 2021 Cornas showed amazingly well, and it brings more ripeness and texture than just about every other Cornas out there. Ripe blackberries, mulberries, spicy herbs, and earth all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with terrific mid-palate depth and ripe tannins. This cuvée comes from a mix of terroirs and will spend 14 months in used barrels. |
|
|
2021 |
Cornas (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$104.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 92-94 (12/2022): The 2021 Cornas showed amazingly well, and it brings more ripeness and texture than just about every other Cornas out there. Ripe blackberries, mulberries, spicy herbs, and earth all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with terrific mid-palate depth and ripe tannins. This cuvée comes from a mix of terroirs and will spend 14 months in used barrels. |
|
| Dom. Jamet |
2003 |
Cote Rotie (1.5 L) Signs of Old Seepage |
$700 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (4/2014): A gorgeous Cote Rotie that does everything right, Jamet’s 2003 Cote Rotie, which was harvested very late for the vintage, offers complex kirsch, framboise, incense, liquid flowers and spiced meat-qualities to go with a full-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. Still youthful and lively, with fabulous density and concentration, this beauty can be enjoyed anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Domaine les Goubert |
2021 |
Gigondas (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$54.99 |
11 |
|
| |
| JD 90-92 (10/2023): Not yet bottled, the 2021 Gigondas has beautiful red fruits, cedary herbs, sandalwood, and Provençal spice notes in a medium-bodied, elegant, finesse-driven package. This cuvée is never the biggest or richest wine in the vintage, but it always shines for its complexity and elegance, and it ages beautifully. |
|
|
2019 |
Gigondas Cuvee Florence (1.5 L) |
$84.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (1/2022): The 2019 Gigondas Cuvée Florence is more concentrated and layered, and this is one of the finest vintages of this cuvée I can remember. Blackberries, sandalwood, cedary garrigue, and hints of tobacco give way to a medium to full-bodied, elegant, yet concentrated 2019 that offers silky tannins and a great finish. Give bottles a handful of years in the cellar and enjoy over the following two decades.
VM 94 (1/2023): Deep ruby. Heady dark berry, cherry-cola, vanilla and floral aromas are complicated by hints of white pepper, incense and espresso. Powerful, smoke-laced blackberry compote, kirsch, mocha and fruitcake flavors show impressive depth and gain sweetness with air. This finishes sweet, broad, youthfully tannic and long, leaving behind intense dark fruit and peppery spice notes. This was aged for two years in barriques, 50% of them new. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Jean-Luc Jamet |
2018 |
Cote Rotie Terrasses (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$149.99 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (12/2022): I loved the 2018 Côte Rôtie Terrasses, which is slightly more supple and elegant than both the 2017 and 2019. Offering darker red, almost blue fruits as well as peppery game, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality, it's medium to full-bodied, has the vintage's pure, balanced, harmonious style, supple tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't have the structure or mid-palate density of the 2019, but is a gorgeously complex, nuanced Côte Rôtie that needs another 3-5 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully. |
|
|
2020 |
Cote Rotie Terrasses (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$139.99 |
20 |
|
| |
JD 93 (5/2024): The 2020 Côte Rôtie Terrasses is terrific and shows the forward, sexy style of the vintage while still being classic Côte Rôtie! Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spring flowers, and a kiss of game all define the bouquet, and it's medium-bodied, with a supple, silky mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a great finish. It stays light on its feet and has a good sense of freshness, and it should evolve gracefully for a decade or more.
WA 91-94 (1/2022): Tasting through several parcels/barrels, the 2020 Cote Rotie Terrasses looks to be a solid effort, marked by slightly vegetal notes up front and almost sherbet-like red fruit flavors. Medium to full-bodied, with decent texture and length, it should be approachable young, with the ability to age at least a decade. |
|
|
2021 |
Cote Rotie Terrasses (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$142.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
IGP Collines Rhodaniennes Rouge Syrah Valine (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$59.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (5/2024): The 2021 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah Valine has a perfumed, exotic nose of red plums, candied violets, and cedary, peppery spice. These carry to a medium-bodied Syrah offering good ripeness, a rounded, juicy mouthfeel, and a good finish. It's not going to make old bones, but it’s another rock-solid wine in the lineup from this terrific producer. |
|
|
2022 |
IGP Collines Rhodaniennes Rouge Syrah Valine (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$59.99 |
11 |
|
| |
|
| M. Chapoutier |
2005 |
Ermitage Rouge L’Ermite (6.0 L) |
$2,999 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 99+ (2/2008): Lastly, from the very dome of the granite hill of Ermitage is the 2005 Ermitage l’Ermite. An extraordinarily powerful wine that probably needs 10-15 years in the bottle (last year I thought 20 was probably conservative), this is a 100-year wine and probably best appreciated by our descendants rather than anyone currently over the age of 30. Dense purple to the rim, with notes of crushed rock, charcoal, roasted meats, and enormous quantities of blue and black fruits, this wine is almost painfully rich and thick, with mouthsearing levels of tannin and zesty acidity. Monumental! Anticipated maturity: 2020-2080. |
|
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2020 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (3.0 L) ex-Domaine |
$789 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 96-97 (3/2022): At first this feels like you’re standing in front of a set of locked gates. Huge power and structure without that much weight, thanks to the wonderful freshness that’s intertwined with the tarry depths of this Hermitage masterpiece. As it aerates smoked bacon, menthol and licorice notes develop, but I’d need much more space to give you all the aromas! The huge tannins at the finish are finely chiseled, suggesting this has decades of life ahead of it. From 40 to 100-year-old syrah vines. From biodynamically grown grapes.
JD 94-96 (6/2022): A barrel sample that was shipped to my office in Colorado, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle reveals a deep purple, almost blue-tinged hue to go with a terrific nose of blue fruits, scorched earth, violets, and charcoal. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated barrel sample that stays fresh and lively, with solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's certainly showing better today than from the domaine, and this is one that, if the trajectory continues, is certainly going to be an impressive Hermitage.
WA 93-95 (1/2022): After the past several vintages, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle will need to add significant richness and concentration if it is to compete at that level. That said, it is still an excellent wine, with classic aromas of crushed stone, cassis, espresso and black olives. It's full-bodied, fine and silky, giving an impression of great elegance on the lingering finish. |
|
|
2020 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (6.0 L) ex-Domaine |
$1,595 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 96-97 (3/2022): At first this feels like you’re standing in front of a set of locked gates. Huge power and structure without that much weight, thanks to the wonderful freshness that’s intertwined with the tarry depths of this Hermitage masterpiece. As it aerates smoked bacon, menthol and licorice notes develop, but I’d need much more space to give you all the aromas! The huge tannins at the finish are finely chiseled, suggesting this has decades of life ahead of it. From 40 to 100-year-old syrah vines. From biodynamically grown grapes.
JD 94-96 (6/2022): A barrel sample that was shipped to my office in Colorado, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle reveals a deep purple, almost blue-tinged hue to go with a terrific nose of blue fruits, scorched earth, violets, and charcoal. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated barrel sample that stays fresh and lively, with solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's certainly showing better today than from the domaine, and this is one that, if the trajectory continues, is certainly going to be an impressive Hermitage.
WA 93-95 (1/2022): After the past several vintages, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle will need to add significant richness and concentration if it is to compete at that level. That said, it is still an excellent wine, with classic aromas of crushed stone, cassis, espresso and black olives. It's full-bodied, fine and silky, giving an impression of great elegance on the lingering finish. |
|
|
2020 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$339 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 96-97 (3/2022): At first this feels like you’re standing in front of a set of locked gates. Huge power and structure without that much weight, thanks to the wonderful freshness that’s intertwined with the tarry depths of this Hermitage masterpiece. As it aerates smoked bacon, menthol and licorice notes develop, but I’d need much more space to give you all the aromas! The huge tannins at the finish are finely chiseled, suggesting this has decades of life ahead of it. From 40 to 100-year-old syrah vines. From biodynamically grown grapes.
JD 94-96 (6/2022): A barrel sample that was shipped to my office in Colorado, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle reveals a deep purple, almost blue-tinged hue to go with a terrific nose of blue fruits, scorched earth, violets, and charcoal. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated barrel sample that stays fresh and lively, with solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's certainly showing better today than from the domaine, and this is one that, if the trajectory continues, is certainly going to be an impressive Hermitage.
WA 93-95 (1/2022): After the past several vintages, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle will need to add significant richness and concentration if it is to compete at that level. That said, it is still an excellent wine, with classic aromas of crushed stone, cassis, espresso and black olives. It's full-bodied, fine and silky, giving an impression of great elegance on the lingering finish. |
|
| | Alsace |
| Gustave Lorentz |
1989 |
Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim (1.5 L) |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Klipfel |
1999 |
Gewurztraminer Kirchberg de Barr Grand Cru Clos Zisser (3.0 L) |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Champagne |
| Krug |
2002 |
Brut Champagne (3.0 L) |
$5,500 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (10/2016): The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond.
WA 97+ (6/2018): Krug's 2002 Brut (ID 415064 – disgorged IV/2015) has an intense citrus color and opens with a generous, intense yet fine and precise bouquet that indicates great depth and elegance. Red fruit flavors on the nose lead to a generously rich yet pure, highly refined and elegant palate, with lots of ripe cherry fruits and delicious yeasty flavors. This is a highly complex and tensioned but beautifully balanced 2002 with a charming dosage that gives perfect roundness. The finish, however, is clear, fresh and well-structured, if not taut, and very mineral. Tasted in Reims in April 2018.
WS 96 (8/2016): Beautifully aromatic, this leads with aromas of ground clove, coffee liqueur and mandarin orange peel, adding crystallized honey, dried cherry, acacia blossom and toasted brioche notes on the expansive palate. Rich in flavor and broad in structure, with verve driving this through to the long, satiny finish. Drink now through 2027.
VM 94 (7/2017): This is perhaps the best bottle of Krug's 2002 Vintage I have tasted. Expansive and creamy on the palate, with lovely finesse and brightness, the 2002 is quite expressive today. I don't see the depth or pedigree that might place this wine among the best examples of the year. Instead, the 2002 Vintage continues to be an underwhelming wine by Krug standards. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pierre Moncuit |
2006 |
Cuvee Nicole Moncuit Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Champagne (1.5 L) |
$289 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2022): The 2006 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Nicole VV Grand Cru, from Les Chétillons, is a rich, overt wine. Hints of almond, dried flowers, spice and chamomile are signs of a Champagne that has reached a plateau in its development. Soft contours add to that impression. The 2006 is a fine choice for readers looking for a mature Champagne that offers a good deal of aromatic and flavor complexity. Dosage is 3.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2022. (Drink between 2022-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pierre Peters |
2002 |
Brut Blanc de Blanc Le Mesnil Cuvee Speciale Les Chetillons (1.5 L) Disgorged March 2010 |
$1,100 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (7/2018): The 2002 Brut Cuvee Speciale Les Chetillons, the original release and aged on crown seal, is tremendous. Wow. Ample, sweeping and dramatic, the 2002 is utterly captivating. Smoke, graphite, ash, apricot jam and pastry are some of the many nuances that come alive in the glass, with a top note of reduction that is very appealing. On this day, the regular release is just a touch ahead of the Oenothèque. It’s hard to say exactly why that is, but I suspect that the post-disgorgement time is optimal. This is the finest bottle of the 2002 I have ever tasted. Disgorged July 2010. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| | Loire |
| Dom. Belargus |
2021 |
Savennieres Rucheres (1.5 L) |
$330 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Spain |
| Pinea |
2018 |
Ribera del Duero PSOUL (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$750 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| | Germany |
| JJ Prum |
2022 |
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese (1.5 L) |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (10/2023): The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is rather shy. The palate tingles with tangerine, ripe, rounded, aromatic, and full of tangy, zesty, sweet, ripe citrus. Wonderfully expressive on the mid-palate and with a subtle finish, full of those vivid aromatics. Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2022 |
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett (1.5 L) |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2023): The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett has the slightest crackle of flint on the shy nose. Fennel and nutmeg appear before orange peel joins in. The palate is light, with a lovely, smooth, lithe backdrop of sweet mandarin and clementine. The 2022 is tart, sweet, ripe, aromatic and rather serene with just a touch of zestiness. Lovely length and much charm. Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2022 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (1.5 L) |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (10/2023): The 2022 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese opens with a notion of baked peach, especially baked peach skin, aromatic, slightly caramelized with concentrated fruit. Peach compote sweeps onto the palate, ripe and still with bite, just as cooked peach flesh appears, expressive and sweet but not overdone. This entire flight is a lesson in restraint. The long finish and aftertaste are tempered with citrus, corralling that expressive peach. Lovely, restrained, elegant. Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2022 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (1.5 L) |
$99.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2023): The 2022 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett does not really want to show itself on the nose. But the palate presents immediate clarity and poise. This is laser-straight elegance, stone and citrus. This shows such pedigree, such clarity. So poised, so mouth-watering, so stony. Anne Krebiehl. |
|
| | Italy |
| Aldo Conterno |
2012 |
Barolo Cicala (1.5 L) |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 95 (3/2016): This is fantastic with cedar, strawberry, walnut and mineral aromas and flavors. Ultra-fine tannins and a clean finish. Balanced and refined. Why wait? But will be even better in 2018.
WS 93 (4/2017): A contemporary style, with a solid base of tannins providing support for macerated cherry, licorice, tobacco, iron and spice flavors. Burly and rangy, but with plenty of character and a long, spicy aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2035. 450 cases made.
WA 90 (6/2016): Like the Barolo Bussia Cicala, the 2012 Barolo Bussia Colonnello steps out with heavy footing. You feel the weight of the vintage, yet the bouquet shows fewer of those brilliant aromatic accents that are so magnificently delivered in cooler vintages. The aromas are all there - wild berry, balsam herb, cola and licorice - but the intensity is somewhat muted. The wine also shows tightness and astringency in terms of tannins that will relax as the wine continues its evolution.
VM 88 (11/2016): The 2012 Barolo Cicala is more delicate than the Colonnello, with slightly better balance of fruit and tannin. Here, too, the wine lacks depth, complexity, and, above all else, the pedigree of this site. The Cicala is a perfectly pleasant wine that is more or less the qualitative equivalent of a straight, non single-vineyard Barolo from a mid-tier producer. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Andrea Oberto |
2011 |
Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 94 (9/2015): A red with dried berry, flowers, stone and dried spices on the nose. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Layers of ripe fruit and tannins. Long and flavorful finish. His vineyard did wonderfully in this hot year. Better in 2017.
VM 93 (3/2015): Oberto's 2011 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata captures all the signatures of this site from its floral, perfumed aromatics to red-fleshed fruit and silky, polished tannins, all delivered with the feminine sensuality that is the truest essence of what Rocche is all about. Freshly cut roses, mint and vivid red berries grace the super-expressive finish. In my view, Rocche is Oberto's flagship. The 2011 has come together quite nicely since I last tasted in barrel. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata (1.5 L) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 94 (9/2015): A red with dried berry, flowers, stone and dried spices on the nose. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Layers of ripe fruit and tannins. Long and flavorful finish. His vineyard did wonderfully in this hot year. Better in 2017.
VM 93 (3/2015): Oberto's 2011 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata captures all the signatures of this site from its floral, perfumed aromatics to red-fleshed fruit and silky, polished tannins, all delivered with the feminine sensuality that is the truest essence of what Rocche is all about. Freshly cut roses, mint and vivid red berries grace the super-expressive finish. In my view, Rocche is Oberto's flagship. The 2011 has come together quite nicely since I last tasted in barrel. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2008 |
Barbaresco Asili (1.5 L) |
$500 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 95 (9/2011): Aromas are full of plums and lemons that follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a fruity, bright finish. A pretty combination of ripe fruit and crisp acidity. Need two years to come together. Triumph for the vintage. Try in 2013.
VM 93 (10/2011): Captivating flower perfume lifts aromas of raspberry, menthol and mint. Seamless in texture but a bit youthfully imploded, offering terrific red fruit intensity without weight. Quite spicy for Asili. Nicely balanced, silky, floral Barbaresco, finishing with continuing spice notes as well as serious, building tannins for Asili.
WS 90 (4/2012): A sweet sawdust aroma turns to cherry and licorice notes in this fleshy red. The tannins add a chewy texture on the finish, as this stays sweet and long. Best from 2013 through 2024. 250 cases made.
WA 88 (10/2011): The 2008 Barbaresco Asili comes across as quite delicate, even frail, in this vintage. It possesses modest depth and inner sweetness in a decidedly understated style. Sweet red cherries, flowers and spices emerge over time, but the wine never comes together in the glass. The light, almost translucent color suggests this is a wine destined for a short life. The 2008 Asili is a major disappointment. It comes across as eviscerated and lacking any depth whatsoever. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016. |
|
|
2014 |
Barolo Falletto (1.5 L) |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2018): This wine was made in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013. The 2014 Barolo Falletto (white label) is fascinating to taste right after the Barbaresco Riserva Asili from the same vintage. There is no doubting the extra muscle mass and power that is obtained in the Barolo appellation, and from the Serralunga d’Alba township specifically. This dramatic Barolo delivers darkness and density. It shows a beautiful appearance with faint highlights of dark ruby that add a subtle sparkle. At this point in its drinking cycle, the wine shows all the characteristic traits of its youth. This means it is more closed and rigid at present. That nervous tightness needs to be factored in when assessing the cellar longevity of this vintage. Hints of the wine’s inner complexity, sheer determination and textural fortitude are already bubbling up from deep inside this firmly layered Nebbiolo. I wanted to mention the tightness of the tannins now. These will undoubtedly serve to carry this wine forward over the coming decades. |
|
| Castello di Ama |
2019 |
Chianti Classico Bellavista Gran Selezione (3.0 L) |
$859 |
2 |
|
| |
| JS 96 (8/2022): Blackberry, brambleberry, bark and mushroom aromas follow through to a full body with deep and chewy tannins and a long finish. This is very structured. Needs time to soften. Drink after 2025. |
|
|
2019 |
Chianti Classico Bellavista Gran Selezione (1.5 L) |
$389 |
3 |
|
| |
| JS 96 (8/2022): Blackberry, brambleberry, bark and mushroom aromas follow through to a full body with deep and chewy tannins and a long finish. This is very structured. Needs time to soften. Drink after 2025. |
|
| Cavallotto |
2016 |
Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe (1.5 L) |
$395 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95+ (2/2022): The 2016 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is a powerhouse. Huge swaths of tannin wrap around a core of dark fruit in a brooding, almost somber Barolo that demands patience. Hints of licorice, spice, leather, menthol, incense and black cherry fruit begin to emerge with time in the glass. I won’t be surprised if the 2016 turns out even better than this note suggests. There is a ton of potential here. I find the combination of power and translucent energy both evocative and quite promising. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$319.99 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (1/2025): Aged in Slavonian oak botti for an impressive 60 months, the organic 2018 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is the big gun from vintner Alfio Cavallotto and his merry team in Castiglione Falletto. This wine is impossibly complex and deep with savory knots that are tied into fabric or rich dark fruit. The bouquet opens to blackberry, plum cola, dried herb, spice and a lingering floral note of lilac or violet. To my palate, the Riserva Vignolo has a little more vertical lift and minerality in this vintage. The Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is more about heft and texture, with dusty tannin. Production is 7,222 bottles.
VM 95 (1/2025): The 2018 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is quite the powerhouse. Sage, menthol, licorice, cloves, dried flowers, scorched earth, leather and gravel infuse the San Giuseppe with all of its classic signatures. A dense, backward Barolo, the 2018 is going to need a handful of years to soften. It is a super-impressive wine for what has turned out to be an irregular vintage. This is beautifully done. (Drink between 2025-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fattoria di Felsina |
2013 |
Berardenga Chianti Clasico Gran Selezione Colonia (1.5 L) |
$350 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (1/2018): Volume, power and breadth are the signatures of the 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia. This is the first vintage in which Colonia falls in line with the rest of the Fèlsina range from a stylistic standpoint. Among other things, the use of French oak is much more measured than it was in Colonia's first vintages. Next to the flagship Rancia, Colonia is a sleeker, and perhaps a bit more polished, although it doesn't quite offer the same direct expression of Sangiovese. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Le Ragnaie |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli (3.0 L) |
$649.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (2/2024): Displaying a slightly darker ruby color than the Petroso, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli takes on more depth and opens to notes of wild raspberries, fresh roses, orange peel, and anise. Medium-bodied, it also takes on more structure, with elegant concentration, ripe tannins, and seamless acidity. Long on the palate, with notes of gravelly earth and Mirabelle plum on the finish, this gorgeous wine demands another year or two in cellar. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli tempts the imagination, blending savory herbs with fresh mint, dusty black cherry and camphor. This is pure elegance on the palate, silky-smooth and supple with cool-toned red fruits complicated by saline minerals as clove mingles with orange nuances toward the close. It finishes surprisingly fresh yet youthfully poised. Edgy tannins add a crunchy sensation, leaving subtle traces of rose petals and an air of worn leather. This harmonious beauty will provide decades of pleasurable drink, yet patience will be required. (Drink between 2026-2040). Eric Guido.
WA 97 (12/2023): The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli has medium-plus concentration and pretty aromas of cherry fruit, redcurrant, crushed mineral, watercolor paint and a generally riper bouquet, certainly when compared to the Passo del Lume Spento. These vines sit at 300 meters in elevation with mixed clay soils (and higher pH) next door to Baricci. It delivers more of a punch, and there is a savory component with leather or mild tobacco that changes with time, eventually transitioning to a point of sweetness. Structurally, this is a very beautiful wine (with 3,800 bottles released). |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli (1.5 L) |
$319.99 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 97 (2/2024): Displaying a slightly darker ruby color than the Petroso, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli takes on more depth and opens to notes of wild raspberries, fresh roses, orange peel, and anise. Medium-bodied, it also takes on more structure, with elegant concentration, ripe tannins, and seamless acidity. Long on the palate, with notes of gravelly earth and Mirabelle plum on the finish, this gorgeous wine demands another year or two in cellar. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli tempts the imagination, blending savory herbs with fresh mint, dusty black cherry and camphor. This is pure elegance on the palate, silky-smooth and supple with cool-toned red fruits complicated by saline minerals as clove mingles with orange nuances toward the close. It finishes surprisingly fresh yet youthfully poised. Edgy tannins add a crunchy sensation, leaving subtle traces of rose petals and an air of worn leather. This harmonious beauty will provide decades of pleasurable drink, yet patience will be required. (Drink between 2026-2040). Eric Guido.
WA 97 (12/2023): The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli has medium-plus concentration and pretty aromas of cherry fruit, redcurrant, crushed mineral, watercolor paint and a generally riper bouquet, certainly when compared to the Passo del Lume Spento. These vines sit at 300 meters in elevation with mixed clay soils (and higher pH) next door to Baricci. It delivers more of a punch, and there is a savory component with leather or mild tobacco that changes with time, eventually transitioning to a point of sweetness. Structurally, this is a very beautiful wine (with 3,800 bottles released). |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Petroso (3.0 L) |
$560 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2023): The character of this wine is more accessible and open-knit. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Petroso is less ethereal but more grounded, with an obvious delivery of fruit (and more primary intensity) framed by caramel, light tobacco leaf, redcurrant, cherry and wild plum. An herbal element comes forward too with white pepper and something fun that recalls cashew celery root. The mouthfeel veers toward chalky, and there is a hint of minerality with wet limestone or rose quartz. It shows managed tannins over mid-weight texture for a very elegant finish.
JD 96 (2/2024): The fourth vintage for this single vineyard, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Petroso takes a medium red color and has a gorgeous aromatic profile in its perfume of jasmine, dried cranberries, tangerine, and thyme. Displaying a Burgundian aesthetic, this medium-bodied Brunello has refined tannins, even, fresh acidity, and a delicate stony texture. It’s a beautiful wine that gently floats off the palate. With a wide drinking window, this is going to be one that’s hard to hold onto, but it will be worth cellaring. Drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Petroso boasts a dark, rich, inviting blend of black raspberries, mint leaves and worn leather. Silky-smooth and elegant in feel, this easily flows across the palate, showcasing crisp red berry fruit enlivened by vibrant acidity. A wall of grippy tannins lingers as the 2019 tapers off primary and intense, promising many years of further development. I expect the Petroso to put on weight over time, which will complete this otherwise gorgeous wine. The potential here is incredibly high. (Drink between 2025-2038). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Petroso (1.5 L) |
$280 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2023): The character of this wine is more accessible and open-knit. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Petroso is less ethereal but more grounded, with an obvious delivery of fruit (and more primary intensity) framed by caramel, light tobacco leaf, redcurrant, cherry and wild plum. An herbal element comes forward too with white pepper and something fun that recalls cashew celery root. The mouthfeel veers toward chalky, and there is a hint of minerality with wet limestone or rose quartz. It shows managed tannins over mid-weight texture for a very elegant finish.
JD 96 (2/2024): The fourth vintage for this single vineyard, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Petroso takes a medium red color and has a gorgeous aromatic profile in its perfume of jasmine, dried cranberries, tangerine, and thyme. Displaying a Burgundian aesthetic, this medium-bodied Brunello has refined tannins, even, fresh acidity, and a delicate stony texture. It’s a beautiful wine that gently floats off the palate. With a wide drinking window, this is going to be one that’s hard to hold onto, but it will be worth cellaring. Drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Petroso boasts a dark, rich, inviting blend of black raspberries, mint leaves and worn leather. Silky-smooth and elegant in feel, this easily flows across the palate, showcasing crisp red berry fruit enlivened by vibrant acidity. A wall of grippy tannins lingers as the 2019 tapers off primary and intense, promising many years of further development. I expect the Petroso to put on weight over time, which will complete this otherwise gorgeous wine. The potential here is incredibly high. (Drink between 2025-2038). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie VV (3.0 L) |
$600 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (12/2023): This wine is a star of the vintage. It is made with fruit from vines planted in 1968 in ancient soils rich in quartz at a very high 600 meters in elevation. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. (the initials stand for “vecchie vigne,” or "old vines") reveals a soulful personality with a very elegant set of aromas and compelling complexity. There is heritage rose, lilac and something earthy like tarragon or marjoram. Underripe cherry and redcurrant are found at the core; however, that ethereal herbal note continues to the palate where it meets a chalky mineral tone. Powdery tannins stick to the side of your mouth for a very long time.
JD 98 (2/2024): A similar medium red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. is another showstopper, with stunning floral and layered aromas of licorice, ripe red cherries, blood orange, and clove. Mouthwatering and structured, this is a noble wine, and while it’s medium-bodied. It’s not for the faint of heart. With ripe, angular tannins that frame this wine, it propels through the palate with notes of saline and vibrant acidity. Long and tension-packed, it demands several years of proper cellaring and feels as though it will improve over the coming two decades at a glacial pace. Drink 2027-2047. Audrey Frick.
VM 95+ (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino VV is youthfully coy in the glass, lifting up with a nuanced blend of dried roses, licorice and clove, excited by hints of spiced oranges. This is cool-toned and saline in character, with silken textures contrasted by crisp red fruits and salty mineral tones that saturate the senses. The 2019 finishes long, primary and with crunchy tannins, yet there are depths of complexity here just waiting to unfold. This is quite forbidding today, yet in five to ten years, I expect a magical experience. (Drink between 2027-2040). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie VV (1.5 L) |
$300 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 99 (12/2023): This wine is a star of the vintage. It is made with fruit from vines planted in 1968 in ancient soils rich in quartz at a very high 600 meters in elevation. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. (the initials stand for “vecchie vigne,” or "old vines") reveals a soulful personality with a very elegant set of aromas and compelling complexity. There is heritage rose, lilac and something earthy like tarragon or marjoram. Underripe cherry and redcurrant are found at the core; however, that ethereal herbal note continues to the palate where it meets a chalky mineral tone. Powdery tannins stick to the side of your mouth for a very long time.
JD 98 (2/2024): A similar medium red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. is another showstopper, with stunning floral and layered aromas of licorice, ripe red cherries, blood orange, and clove. Mouthwatering and structured, this is a noble wine, and while it’s medium-bodied. It’s not for the faint of heart. With ripe, angular tannins that frame this wine, it propels through the palate with notes of saline and vibrant acidity. Long and tension-packed, it demands several years of proper cellaring and feels as though it will improve over the coming two decades at a glacial pace. Drink 2027-2047. Audrey Frick.
VM 95+ (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino VV is youthfully coy in the glass, lifting up with a nuanced blend of dried roses, licorice and clove, excited by hints of spiced oranges. This is cool-toned and saline in character, with silken textures contrasted by crisp red fruits and salty mineral tones that saturate the senses. The 2019 finishes long, primary and with crunchy tannins, yet there are depths of complexity here just waiting to unfold. This is quite forbidding today, yet in five to ten years, I expect a magical experience. (Drink between 2027-2040). Eric Guido. |
|
| Margherita Otto |
2018 |
Barolo (1.5 L) |
$203.15 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (2/2022): The 2018 Barolo from Margherita Otto is a pretty wine, but it also comes across as lacking in freshness, as is evidenced by its forward profile and slightly advanced color. Dried cherry, tobacco, spice, cedar and tobacco open gently with a bit aeration. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more mid-palate depth in bottle. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$219.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (2/2022): The 2018 Barolo from Margherita Otto is a pretty wine, but it also comes across as lacking in freshness, as is evidenced by its forward profile and slightly advanced color. Dried cherry, tobacco, spice, cedar and tobacco open gently with a bit aeration. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more mid-palate depth in bottle. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Roberto Voerzio |
2003 |
Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e della Brunate (1.5 L) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$375 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (6/2014): Leather, iron, smoke, black cherries, plums and menthol wrap around the palate in the 2003 Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate. A huge, hulking wine, the 2003 boasts tons of depth and pure volume. Although not quite as fresh as the Sarmassa, the Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate boasts striking intensity and more than enough depth to drink well for at least another handful of years. Iron, smoke and tobacco wrap around the pulsating finish. (Drink between 2014-2021). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sottimano |
2021 |
Barbaresco Basarin (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$149 |
12 |
|
| |
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 |
|
|
2016 |
Barbaresco Riserva (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$319 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2025): Only produced in the best vintages and held back for a late release, this spectacular wine represents a special selection of fruit from the oldest vines on a 1.5-hectare slope. The Sottimano 2016 Barbaresco Riserva M. Sottimano transports us back to one of the best vintages in this new millennium. Wines from 2016 balance both elegance and power, a difficult feat, and this bottle gives us the added pleasure of tertiary complexity. The bouquet is layered with dried cherry, tarry spice, licorice and rusty nail. The tannins are resolved, and the wine maintains a medium-plus texture. Winemaking for this limited 2,000-bottle release sees long maceration times with submerged cap and aging in large oak casks. |
|
|
2022 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$54.99 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 91 (5/2025): The 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo comes from Basarin and pours a reflective medium red color. It initially benefits from some air on opening to let its more volatile notes blow off and then reveals very pretty aromatics of ripe raspberries, pine needles, mint, and crushed roses. The palate is refreshing and structured, with finely coiled tannins, ripe acidity, and a bit of youthful grip on the finish. For lovers of this estate, it will be well worth snapping up several bottles to enjoy while waiting on the 2021s. Drink 2025-2032. They didn’t produce any Barbaresco in 2022. Audrey Frick.
VM 91 (10/2023): The 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo is Barbaresco in all but name because of its slightly earlier release. Crushed flowers, spice, tobacco, cedar and bright Nebbiolo acids are nicely delineated. In 2022, the Langhe Nebbiolo has a bit more mid-palate richness than in most years, but that is not a bad thing for a wine meant to be enjoyed over the near and medium term. Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (1/2025): Fruit for this wine comes exclusively from the Basarin cru. The Sottimano 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo shows pretty aromas of mint, blueberry and delicate violets. The wine does have a slightly herbal side, resulting in a botanical feel. Fermentation includes 50 days of skin contact, and the results are fresh, lightly tannic and medium in intensity. |
|
| Ultima Pietra |
2020 |
Merito (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$375 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Merito (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$330 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$176 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Toscana Rosso (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$176 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| | Port |
| C. da Silva |
2000 |
Presidential Port (1.5 L) |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | USA Red |
| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
2015 |
Signature Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$249 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Araujo Estate |
2007 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$495 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (6/2010): Good full ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of deep black raspberry, licorice and violet; quite expressive considering it was bottled about a month prior to my visit. Then dense, deep and very primary, with powerful yet suave flavors of blackberry, smoke, licorice, minerals, chocolate and earth spreading out to saturate the palate. An infant today but the wine's superb persistence and finishing perfume suggest it will rank among the best vintages of this bottling. If there is ever a classification of Napa Valley cabernet vineyards, the Eisele Vineyard would clearly be a grand cru. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (12/2010): Since last year’s report I have had the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard on three separate occasions, including recently at the winery. It has definitely improved over last year’s report, but it has not lived up to my barrel tasting reviews. There is no explanation for this other than that the Araujos told me that the wine was bottled three months later than normal, which seems like a negligible reason to explain the differences. A beautiful wine by any standards, it is just not one of the great Eiseles. Its deep plum/ruby/purple hue is accompanied by notes of cassis, blueberries and acacia flowers. This medium-bodied effort seems surprisingly reserved and restrained, but it has put on a little weight, revealing sweet tannin as well as a velvety texture. This offering should drink nicely for 12-15 years.
WS 87 (12/2010): Though a very good wine, this is disappointing considering the producer's history. Trim and focused, with full-bodied flavors built around dried currant, herb, mineral and sage, but ending with a clipped finish of dried berry and herb. Tasted four times, with consistent notes. Drink now through 2017. 1,710 cases made. |
|
|
2010 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) |
$1,200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2012): Araujo’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is a picture perfect example of the year. Vibrant, precise and beautifully chiseled, the 2010 boasts serious depth and concentration. The aromas and flavors are incredibly vivid in this textured, dazzling Cabernet Sauvignon. Hints of dark blue and black fruit, mocha, espresso and grilled herbs flesh out on the huge finish. Today the 2010 is unusually open, but it is almost certain to shut down in bottle over the next 6-12 months. The 2010 is a super-classic Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon from Araujo. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035.
VM 95+ (6/2013): Good full, deep red-ruby. More floral and refined on the nose than the Alta Gracia, offering ineffable aromas of blueberry, brown spices, menthol, bay laurel and cedar. Marvelously silky on entry, then opens out dramatically on the back half, showing insidious, savory flavor concentration but also finishing with Outstanding grip and verve. The very fine-grained, building tannins are perked up by notes of pepper and herbs. This wonderfully poised wine, delivering great richness without any undue weight, displays classic Eisele Vineyard character without any signs of roasted fruit. Understated today, this beauty may well merit an even higher score eight or ten years down the road.
WS 94 (11/2013): Pure, rich and delicious, with a sumptuous core of melted black licorice, dark berry, nutmeg-scented spice, loamy earth and dried herb. Shows impressive focus, density and persistence. Tempting now, but should age well. Best from 2014 through 2028. 1,900 cases made. |
|
| Bella Oaks |
2018 |
Proprietary Red (1.5 L) |
$599 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (1/2021): The 2018 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slips slowly, sensuously out of the glass with expanding notions of blackcurrant pastilles, fresh, ripe blackberries and preserved black cherries with suggestions of iron ore, garrigue and dusty soil plus a waft of black olives. The full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with tons of black fruit and earthy layers supported by firm, finely grained tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. A highly energetic wine with an amazing array of bright sparks—this is an absolute jaw-dropper!
JD 98 (12/2023): I loved the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, a remarkably complex, elegant wine that has so much to love. Cassis, black cherries, hints of black olive, chocolate, and ripe tobacco all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with a concentrated, multi-dimensional character offering beautiful tannins and a great finish. Coming from a tiny site in Rutherford (east of Staglin) that was made famous by Joe Heitz’s single vineyard releases, this world-class beauty is based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was aged in 70% new oak. It’s approachable today yet I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 30+ years if well stored. Nigel Kinsmen has been the winemaker here starting in 2017. (Drink between 2023-2053).
VM 98 (1/2021): A majestic, totally riveting wine, the 2018 Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon soars out of the glass with breathtaking aromatics. The 2018 reveals layer after layer of complexity with time in the glass in a stunning display that is hard to fully describe. Dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, dried herb and floral notes build into the sensual, utterly riveting finish. This is a mind-blowing debut from proprietor Suzanne Deal Booth and winemaker Nigel Kinsman. Wow!! (Drink between 2026-2043). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Bergstrom |
2014 |
Le Pre du Col Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (12/2016): Limpid ruby-red. Vibrant, sharply delineated aromas of raspberry, Asian spices and potpourri are lent urgency by a strong mineral flourish. Juicy, spicy and focused on the palate, with showing vibrant cut and mineral lift to the red berry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors. Finishes impressively long and aromatic, with resonating florality and silky tannins sneaking in late to contribute shape. There's a lot of immediate appeal here, but I'd give this sexy Pinot at least a few more years of rest. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Bevan Cellars |
2016 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$349 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2019): The 2016 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, which is the smallest amount of Cabernet Franc to date. Brought up in new barrels, it has gorgeous blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and just about as seamless and silky as it gets, this is a magical wine to drink over the coming 15 years or more. |
|
|
2016 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$375 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (1/2019): Based on 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was brought up all in new French oak, which has been absorbed beautifully. With terrific intensity in its blue fruits and floral aromatics, this terrific 2016 is full-bodied, powerful, and layered, with ultra-fine tannins that emerge with time in the glass. It has the purity and elegance of the vintage front and center, yet backs it up with both texture and depth. In short, it’s another rock star wine from this estate. |
|
| Bond Estates (Harlan) |
2003 |
Vecina Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$600 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (6/2006): Good medium ruby color. Roasted black fruits and a suggestion of almost port-like ripeness on the nose. Lush, superripe and powerful, with superb density of flavor. With notes ranging from black olive to dark chocolate, this shows a wider range of ripeness than either the highly promising young 2004 or the remarkably lush and sweet 2002 (which I scored 95 on this latest occasion).
WA 93 (12/2006): More difficult to evaluate than its siblings, the 2003 Vecina, which comes from a site near Harlan Estate, is a firm, tannic, backward wine displaying a gravelly, scorched earth, hot rock, black currant, licorice, and herb-scented bouquet. In the mouth, it is tight, rich, and ruggedly constructed with medium to full body as well as a boatload of tannin. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring, and consume it over the following 15. |
|
|
2014 |
Vecina Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$895 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (10/2017): The 2014 Vecina displays a deep garnet-purple color and has a broody, baked blueberries, cassis and anise-laced nose with suggestions of garrigue, dusty earth and bay leaves. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and powerful in the mouth, it offers a lot of latent layers and promises great, great things to come with an incredibly long, layered finish. It needs a bit of time but should cellar beautifully for a good 25 years+.
JD 97 (12/2017): Another awesome wine is the 2014 Vecina and it’s from a vineyard on the western side of the valley, right up next to Harlan Estate. This deep, full-bodied, seriously concentrated 2014 gives up loads of plums, currants, toasty oak, chocolate, and chalky minerality. It picks up a touch of violets with time in the glass, but the theme here is deep, dark fruit and minerality. With the forward, supple style of the vintage, it still has serious concentration and structure, and is going to be long-lived.
VM 97 (3/2018): One of the most expressive wines in this range, the 2014 Vecina is powerful, dense and explosive. Despite its obvious intensity, the 2014 has quite a bit of detail and nuance. Time in the glass unleashes the wine's natural intensity, volume and power. The huge, savory and mineral-drenched finish only adds to the wine's immeasurable beauty. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Chappellet |
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$575 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99+ (10/2014): The dense purple-colored 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Estate (one of Napa’s fashionable go-to terroirs) exhibits a striking bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, raspberries and blackcurrants. This is a compelling wine with profound depth and flavor, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a velvety integration of tannin, acidity and wood. Pushing perfection in Cabernet Sauvignon, this multidimensional, skyscraper-like offering has all the intensity one expects, but it never comes across as heavy. This gives it an ethereal character that is nearly impossible to articulate, but genius is often hard to explain. It is clearly a major superstar of a great vintage.
VM 94+ (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is rich and explosive, with tons of concentration, depth and structure. Dark blue and black fruit, mocha, smoke, menthol, licorice and spices all burst from the glass as this huge, tannic Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its pure class. Readers will have to be patient with the 2012, a wine that will blow the roof off the house with its unbridled power. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Pritchard Hill Estate Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$423.15 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 98 (1/2021): Always one of top wines in a vintage, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is another gorgeous wine with a more plush, supple texture that hides solid underlying structure and tannins. Beautiful notes of blueberries, new leather, camphor, violets, and smoked tobacco all flow to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured beauty that's very much in the style of the vintage. Possessing remarkable purity, flawless balance, and building tannins, give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 25+ years.
VM 96+ (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is bright, punchy and structured. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, lavender, menthol and crushed rocks all come alive in the glass. This searingly tannic, mountain Cabernet needs a good deal of time to open, but when it does, it dazzles. Bright floral notes, blood orange and slightly redder tonalities of fruit develop over time. The Pritchard Hill is a wine for readers who can be patient. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98+ (11/2020): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. It was aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months. The alcohol weighed in at 14.5%. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm cassis, wild blueberries and black raspberries, plus hints of chocolate box, menthol, tapenade, smoked meats and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is bursting with vibrant black fruits, framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. |
|
|
2019 |
Pritchard Hill Estate Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$450.45 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 99 (11/2021): A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is another wonderfully evocative triumph from this family-owned Pitchard Hill pioneer. Deep garnet-purple colored, it storms out of the glass with profound scents of crème de cassis, blackberry preserves, licorice and mulberries, plus hints of unsmoked cigars, wild sage and tar. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers fantastic intensity and great poise, offering fine-grained, ripe tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
JD 98+ (3/2022): The flagship from this great estate is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill, which checks in as a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It has an incredible nose of pure blue fruits as well as flowers, crushed stone, fresh thyme, tobacco, and graphite. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it's nevertheless weightless and light on its feet, with wonderfully integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great finish. This classic, quintessential Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20, 30, if not 40 years if stored correctly. 3800 cases.
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is a potent, massively tannic wine. Black fruit, graphite, licorice, spice, menthol, chocolate and dried herbs abound. A huge, tannic beast, the 2019 is all brawn today and not terribly finessed. This is not a particularly distinguished vintage for Chappellet's flagship. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Charles Krug |
1988 |
Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) |
$850 |
5 |
|
| |
| WS 84 (11/1998): Tasted from magnum. Tart, with crisp tannins and a narrow beam of black cherry and currant. Can age further, but given the sharp acidity and tannins and the lack of depth, don't expect it to improve.--1988 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2002. |
|
| Chimney Rock |
2006 |
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) |
$750 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Cirq |
2019 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$359 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (7/2023): The 2019 Pinot Noir is a jeweled ruby hue and has layered aromas of pristine cherry, cardamom, rose petal, and sweet herbs. It has incredible clarity and focus, with and a silky texture in its notes of raspberry liqueur and violets, and somehow seems to have more depth after the wine is gone. It offers fantastic balance and a sunny feel, with great refinement that lasts for ages. This wine is outstanding. Drink 2023-2032.From winemaker Michael Browne, also of CHEV and co-founder of Kosta Browne, CIRQ only produces a single Pinot Noir wine from their home in the Russian River Valley. |
|
| Colgin |
2018 |
Cariad Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$1,050 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2022): What a thrill it is to taste the 2018 Cariad again. Last year the 2018 was magnificent. It is all that this year too. Powerful and explosive, the 2018 is captivating from the very first taste. Healthy dollops of Cabernet Franc and Merlot add layers to this deep, wonderfully vibrant Napa Valley red. In a big morning tasting at Colgin spanning more than a dozen wines, the 2018 Cariad was a stand out. Superb. (Drink between 2025-2043). Antonio Galloni.
JD 98 (1/2021): The 2018 Cariad isn’t far off and has a wealth of blue fruits, musky earth, spice, and floral notes as well as a deep, rich, layered style on the palate. As with all the 2018s here, the tannin quality is incredible, and it has a plush, sexy, already complex style that’s hard to resist. It’s going to evolve for 25+ years. The blend is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2021-2048)
WA 98 (3/2024): One thing the 2018s from Colgin have in common is a sense of greater tautness and freshness than the 2016s. The 2018 Cariad—a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot—adds dried sage and redcurrants to a base of black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is energetic, framed by fine-grained tannins and hints of pencil shavings on the long, elegant finish. |
|
| Continuum |
2017 |
Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$441.35 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96+ (1/2020): The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard comes across as remarkably primary. Bright red-toned fruit and floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness as well as nuance. Deep and layered on the palate, with superb depth, the 2017 Continuum is easily one of the wines of the year. Even in the early going, it is truly magnificent. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$450.45 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (1/2022): The 2018 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is another magnificent wine from the Mondavi family. Soaring and regal in its intensity, the 2018 possesses breathtaking aromatic presence and tons of the pedigree that have made wines off this site so compelling pretty much since the beginning. Vibrant dark fruit, lavender, sage, mint and mocha build into an impossibly long, silky finish. The 2018 is a flat-out stunner. Antonio Galloni.
JD 97+ (12/2021): Coming all from the Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2018 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot. This is classic 2018 with its dense, concentrated, slightly backward, yet full-bodied and incredibly impressive style. Offering lots of ripe black (black cherry, currant) fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and chocolate-like aromatics, it has terrific concentration, ripe, building tannins, a terrific sense of freshness, and a great finish. It's going to need 5-7 years of bottle age but will have upwards of three decades of overall longevity. |
|
| Dana Estates |
2012 |
Hershey Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$695 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard comes from an 1,800-foot elevation and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested October 19-22. This is a sensational superstar from Howell Mountain with an inky purple color, notes of mocha, mulberry, crème de cassis, graphite and spring flowers. It is dense, full-bodied, opulent and concentrated with sweet but moderate tannin. This is a stunner that should drink well for another 25 or so years.
VM 95-98 (12/2014): Graphite, smoke, dark spices, gravel and blue/purplish fruit emerge from the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard, Dana's Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The flavors are wonderfully vibrant and alive in the glass. A host of spice, menthol, pine and crushed rocks add nuance on the powerful, driving finish. The 2012 Hershey is shaping up to be gorgeous. Tasted from barrel in October 2014, it appears to have a very bright future. This is the first year the See Clone has entered the blend.
VM 93-96 (5/2014): Bright ruby. Tight nose hints at cassis, blueberry, licorice, minerals and menthol. Densely packed and youthfully medicinal, with brooding flavors of black and blue fruits and crushed stone. This classic Howell Mountain cabernet went into a shell in my glass. Finishes with huge, chewy tannins that are well supported by the wine's Outstanding depth. Holds out great potential. |
|
| Detert |
2018 |
Cabernet Franc (1.5 L) |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (1/2021): Detert's 2018 Cabernet Franc is fabulous. It may very well be the single most expressive and distinctive Cabernet Franc in the valley. Deep and inky in the glass, the Detert Franc is marked by soaring aromatics and beams of saline minerality that distinguish it from the Cabernet Sauvignon in this range. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, menthol, licorice and cloves build into the huge, resonant finish. (Drink between 2026-2043). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fairchild Estate |
2016 |
G III Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$475 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2019): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Fairchild G-III, which is from a well-known Beckstoffer property in Rutherford, is heavenly juice. Seeing an extended maceration and 20 months in 80% new French oak, it boasts awesome notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, crushed rocks, and violets. This all flows to a blockbuster styled beauty that has fabulous purity, fine, silky tannins, and incredible opulence paired with purity and elegance. This beauty got more than a few “wow” comments in the notes and should keep for two decades or more. |
|
|
2017 |
G III Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Sigaro Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (12/2017): Very deep inky-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro delivers ripe cassis, black plums and fragrant earth notes with touches of bay leaves, mossy bark and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied with a rock-solid frame of wonderfully fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness, it has a great core of vibrant black fruit flavors, finishing long and pure. 210 cases were made. |
|
|
2016 |
Sigaro Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$480 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (1/2019): Also thrilling, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Fairchild Sigaro comes from a site north of Lake Hennessey and is 100% clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20-22 months in 80% new French oak. Black currants, crushed rocks, graphite, and lead pencil notes all flow to a powerful, tight, backward Cabernet that has incredible minerality and depth. It’s in a much more austere, focused style compared to the Fairchild G-III release, but it’s unquestionably at the same level of quality. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 2+ decades.
WA 96+ (10/2018): From fruit on Pritchard Hill, aged for 20 months in 85% new 225-liter French oak barrels, the deep garnet-black colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro opens with somewhat shy notes of warm blackcurrants, dried mulberries and wild blueberries with hints of plum pudding, spice box, cardamom, wood smoke, black pepper and hoisin. Full-bodied and tightly wound in the mouth, the fruit vibrates with compelling energy and a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins with just enough freshness, finishing long and minerally. 640 cases produced.
VM 95 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro emerges from Fairchild's estate vineyard in Conn Valley. Racy and pliant, with tremendous intensity, the 2016 is impeccable in it balance. As with all of Larry Fairchild's wines, the Sigaro is quite big, and yet all the elements are impeccably balanced. The Sigaro offers striking aromatic complexity and layered fruit for such a big wine, with tannins that are both prominent and yet very well polished. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Stones No. 1 Perrarus Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$425 |
1 |
|
| |
|
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2015 |
Stones No. 2 Perrarus Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$614.25 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Stones No. 3 Perrarus Block Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$565 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Stones No. 3 Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$591.50 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (1/2018): Fairchild's 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 emerges from the Tench vineyard, which is the heart of the valley floor in Eastern Oakville. Dark, sumptuous and explosive, with all of the resonance that is typical of the wines from this district in Oakville, the Tench has much to offer. This heady, full-throttle Cabernet is another winner from Larry Fairchild and Philippe Melka. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Stones No. 3 Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$586.95 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): This full-bodied, remarkably pure, seamless Napa Cabernet comes from the Tench Vineyard outside St. Helena and reveals a saturated purple color as well as sensational notes of blueberries, currants, camphor, scorched earth, and hints of lavender and violets. Deep, layered, still tight and backward, yet with incredible purity and focus, it’s a monumental beauty that’s going to benefit from at least 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 2-3 decades. Hats off to winemaker Philippe Melka and the team at Fairchild Wines for this incredible wine.
VM 97 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 is another superb wine from Larry Fairchild. Dense, powerful and explosive, with tremendous depth, the 2016 captures all the magic of this Oakville site. Black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, spice and menthol infuse this sumptuous, extravagantly rich Cabernet Sauvignon. Sweet, ripe tannins add to the wine's considerable immediacy and sheer appeal. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fantesca |
2015 |
All Great Things- Freedom Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$313.95 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Far Niente |
2005 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$289 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 87 (7/2015): The dusty herb and loamy earth notes show a tarry side. Though the structure is Bordeaux-like in terms of restraint and tightness, this ends a little too clipped.—2005 California Cabernet blind retrospective (September 2015). Drink now through 2021. 14,700 cases made. |
|
| Freemark Abbey |
2010 |
Bosche Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Greer |
2016 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$449 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$449 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (12/2021): In contrast, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is more round and supple, with loads of pure Napa magic in its notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, smoked tobacco, and cedar pencil. Full-bodied, opulent, and loaded with fruit, it still stays pure, precise, and focused, with ripe tannins, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and one incredible finish. I finished my notes with “Awesome.” Both the 2018 and 2019 are incredible, singular wines readers should seek out.
VM 97 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a flat out stunner. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and pedigree to burn. Dark red cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol race across the palate. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of aromas and flavors that add stunning complexity. Iron, scorched earth, tobacco and incense linger on the potent finish. What a wine! (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Gundlach Bundschu |
2011 |
Vintage Reserve Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Scuffed Label |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Vintage Reserve Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Slightly Depressed Cork |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Phelps |
2001 |
Insignia Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$495 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (11/2013): Still a young wine at age 12, the 2001 Insignia exhibits a dense purple color along with a sweet bouquet of camphor, blackberries, cassis, incense and spring flowers. Full-bodied, rich and heady with sweet tannin, stunning concentration and a fabulous finish, this remarkable Insignia has 25 or more years of life ahead of it.
VM 95+ (4/2016): (from an early harvest, like 2015; the first vintage of a ten-year spell without any Cabernet Franc): Dark red with ruby highlights. The aromas of currant, graphite minerality and dark chocolate convey an inviting warmth. Wonderfully suave, fleshy and sweet, especially for its 13.9% alcohol. Deep, broad flavors of raspberry, sandalwood and soy are energized by a subtle mineral quality and harmonious acidity. Outstanding intensity and tight grain here. Finishes with serious but integrated tannins that spread out horizontally on the very long finish. This wonderfully balanced, still-young wine has clearly benefited from the firming influence of its 8% Petit Verdot element, the highest to this point. Incidentally, this was the last vintage of the Insignia with measurable brettanomyces--but it works for me!
WS 88 (6/2011): Enticing aromas of mixed berries, mocha, cedar and tobacco. Full-bodied, focused and intense, with touches of mature flavors that turn simpler and fade on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now. 18,000 cases made. |
|
|
2017 |
Insignia Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$479 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2020): The 2017 Insignia is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from: 46% Las Rocas vineayrd (Stags Leap District), 22% Barboza vineyard (Stags Leap District), 13% Suscol vineyard (South Napa Valley), 10% Yountville vineyard (Oak Knoll District) and 9% Home Ranch (St. Helena). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blueberry pie plus touches of redcurrant jelly, potpourri, clove oil and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gained weight from it's in-barrel offering, boasting rich, decadently perfumed black fruit preserves flavors with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing long and spicy. 7,400 cases were made. |
|
| Kinsman Eades |
2019 |
Anjea Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$800 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (2/2023): Last of the 2019s, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea (always 100% Clone 22 Cabernet Sauvignon) is more floral and aromatic, with perfumed red, blue, and black fruits as well as lots of floral, truffle, chocolate, and tobacco nuances. As with the other 2019s here, the balance is flat-out perfect, and the wine is medium to full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins and a gorgeous finish.
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard is the most sensual of the Kinsman Eades Cabernets, as it always is. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky red fruit, blood orange, mint and crushed flowers. Classy and alluring the Anjea is a total knock-out. It's a tremendous example of Sleeping Lady and the vintage. Readers lucky enough to own it should be thrilled. (Drink between 2026-2039). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (9/2022): Sourced from the Bettinelli Family's Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, the 2019 Anjea offers up a bouquet of mixed cherries and complex baking spices, plus hints of mint and thyme. It's full-bodied, with crisp acids that serve to accentuate the wine's soft tannins, resulting in a slightly hard edge on the long, lingering finish. Give it a few years in the cellar. |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2019 |
Cerise Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$265 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (7/2022): Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is rustic to begin, with accents of tar, tobacco and bay leaves over an intense core of dark red fruit. The palate is full-bodied with abundant, gently chewy tannins, bright freshness and a long, earth-laced finish. |
|
|
2020 |
Cerise Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2023): The 2020 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard pours a rich ruby hue and reveals aromas of anise, red cherry, and pine. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and ripe notes of cranberry cocktail, clove, and orange peel, give it another year and drink 2024-2030. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2021 |
Keefer Ranch Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$289 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2024): The 2021 Pinot Noir Noir Keefer Ranch takes on great foresty aromas of pine needles, Asian spices, toasted cedar, and dried strawberries. Medium-bodied, it feels more linear through the palate, with refreshing, even acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish, with notes of blood orange through the palate. It’s very well-defined and is going to do its best with another year or so in bottle. Drink 2025-2037. |
|
| Lail Vineyards |
2014 |
J Daniel Cuvee Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$377.65 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2016): The flagship wines include the 2014 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from three sources – the family vineyard called Molehill at a 1700-feet elevation on Howell Mountain, the Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard and Heimark Vineyard in Calistoga. A gorgeous 2014, with notes of graphite, mulberry and blackcurrant, this full-bodied, opaque purple wine offers terrific fruit purity, sweet tannin, and a long finish of a good 45+ seconds. It was aged 19 months in 75% new French oak and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. There are 1,064 cases, and it can be drunk now or cellared for another 25 years.
VM 94+ (5/2019): Bright medium ruby. Youthfully medicinal aromas and flavors of black fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Densely packed and fine-grained, conveying terrific purity of fruit framed by harmonious acidity. Quite full but less thick and extractive than the '13, and a bit less port-like than that big boy. Still, this brooding, backward, slightly unsettled wine is difficult to taste today. With its element of reserve and powerful finish, it calls for extended aging. It may well eventually merit an even higher rating. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2018 |
J Daniel Cuvee Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$450.45 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (1/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 75% new. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with seductive notes of crème de cassis, blueberry preserves and Black Forest cake, followed by suggestions of espresso, yeast extract, black truffles and charcoal plus a fragrant waft of violets. Full-bodied, rich and opulently fruited in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, earthy nuances and savory sparks, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant. 1,290 cases were made.
JD 100 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee comes from a mix of terroirs (Howell Mountain, Stags Leap, Oakville, Calistoga) and is brought up in 75% new French oak. Heavenly notes of red and black currants, dried tobacco, sandalwood, flowers, and spice give way to a full-bodied, concentrated, yet weightless texture that carries awesome tannins, no hard edges, and just flawless balance. This majestic, regal wine is going to drink brilliantly for 25 years or more.
VM 96 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is quite restrained in this vintage. Silky and medium in body, with lovely red berry fruit character, the 2018 has a lot to offer. I would cellar it for a few years, as the tannins are pretty clamped down today. As always, the J. Daniel Cuvée is a blend taken from a handful of top sites in Napa Valley. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2007 |
Mole Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$350 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Mole Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Mole Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$495.95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2016 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label; Lightly Scuffed Label |
$275 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2018): The 2016 LMV Salon is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Rose petal, mint, sweet red cherry and espresso open up in a very pretty, aromatically expressive wine. Cabernet Franc takes the leading role in the LMV Salon in 2016, and that comes through very nicely here. Bright, vibrant and full of character, the 2016 hits all the right notes. What a gorgeous wine it is. |
|
| Lazy Susan Ranch (The Vineyardist) |
2009 |
Diamond Mt. District Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Leonetti Cellars |
2018 |
Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Walla Walla Merlot (1.5 L) |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (5/2021): The 2019 Merlot is juicy and up-front, with lots of black cherry and blue fruits as well as medium to full body, ripe, soft, ultra-fine tannins, a good sense of freshness, and classic tobacco, graphite, and spice aromas and flavors. Drink this sexy beauty over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Morlet Family Vineyards |
2015 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$350 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (7/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Morlet Estate is an absolutely gorgeous wine that captures all the personality and pedigree of St. Helena's Northern Corridor. Bright red cherry, red plum, mint and rose petal notes give the 2015 its signature brightness and aromatic lift. Rich and resonant on the palate, but distinctly medium in body, the Morlet Estate is pure class. A rush of red-toned fruit builds into the beautifully persistent finish. This is one of the most distinctive Cabernets in Napa Valley. The purity of the flavors is striking. (Drink between 2020-2040). Antonio Galloni.
JD 96+ (6/2018): More masculine, backward, and austere, with a Chateau Latour-like character, the 2015 Morlet Estate gives up darker fruits, crushed rock, and ample lead pencil-like notions to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, structured feel on the palate. With building tannin and obvious minerality, it’s going to handsomely reward patience. I loved these latest releases from Luc Morlet and family, and they show a sensational mix of classic, balanced, even old-school, characters mixed with killer California fruit. As a whole, the 2014s show more elegance and complexity, with the 2015s possessing more power and richness. These are rockstar wines.
WA 95+ (10/2017): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Morlet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has expressive red currant and black currant notes over hints of cedar chest, bay leaves, tobacco leaf, anise and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with bright, intense red and black fruit layers, supported by fantastically ripe grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and toasty. |
|
| Newton |
2018 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$200 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2023): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard Mount Veeder has plenty of gravelly earth and loamy soil nuances as well as chocolate, red and black fruits, and savory spices. This big, medium to full-bodied, structured wine has serious tannins and is going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age, but it’s seriously good. I suspect it will see its 20th birthday in fine form. (Drink between 2027-2038).
WA 93+ (9/2022): From another part of the Chandon property, now being redeveloped under a 50-year lease, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Estate features bold cassis fruit, with herbal, sage-like complexities. This medium to full-bodied effort is firmly tannic but ripe, with a lingering, fruit-filled finish. Give it a few years in the cellar, then drink it over the next 15 years or so. |
|
|
2018 |
Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$200 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 94+ (2/2023): Another gem, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard Yountville has the vintage’s fresher, vibrant, utterly classic style as well as pure cassis fruits, notes of lead pencil shavings and tobacco, full-bodied richness, and building tannins. It’s a beast of a wine that needs to be forgotten in the cellar for 4-6 years at a minimum. (Drink starting 2027).
WA 92+ (9/2022): From a rocky knoll at the back of the Chandon site, near Dominus and Blankiet, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Estate is herbal, even close to bell pepper but not quite there. Instead, it's nicely complex, with hints of thyme and sage accenting dark fruit notes of black cherries and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, richly tannic and firmly structured, this is another Newton red wine that needs a bit of time to come around. |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2016 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 10 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$519 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 99 (10/2019): Just about pure perfection in a glass, the 2016 No 10 Cumulus Vineyard is an incredible mix of 46% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 18.3% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mourvèdre and Petit Manseng that was mostly destemmed and brought up in 75% new French oak. Awesome notes of blackberries, ground herbs, violets, loamy earth, and chocolate notes give way to a full-bodied, powerful red that has moderate acidity, flawless balance, sweet tannins, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s another off-the-charts, singular wine from an incredible winemaker.
VM 95+ (9/2019): The 2016 No.10 Cumulus Vineyard is rich, sumptuous and racy to the core. Surprisingly open for a wine that has just been bottled, the 2016 is curvy and inviting, with tons of breadth and fleshiness that fully emerge with a bit of air. Hints of mocha, spice and new leather are laced into a core of dark cherry and plum fruit. The 2016 boasts superb concentration, but it also appears to have a bit less energy than some prior vintages, the 2015 in particular. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$585 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2012 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 6 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$745 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (8/2016): A wine that flirts with perfection, the 2012 Cumulus Vineyard #6 is an interesting blend of 38% Syrah, 37% Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and the rest Mourvedre that saw 33 months in 54% new French oak. There’s a tiny 191 cases made, and it’s one of the most singular, exotic wines I’ve tasted. Spice, cedar, chocolate, exotic flowers and an assortment of dark fruits all emerge from this full-bodied, layered blend that hits the palate with serious richness and depth. Yet, like all truly great wines, it’s light, ethereal and never, ever heavy. There’s big structure here as well, so forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+ years.
VM 98 (9/2016): The 2012 No. 6 - Cumulus Vineyard might very well be my favorite of Manfred and Elaine Krankl's 2012s, including naturally the wines of Sine Qua Non. This is the warmest site the Krankls work with and the need to harvest on the earlier side seems to also preserve a bit more verve than is often found in some of the other Sine Qua Non wines. A host of cherry jam, pomegranate, sweet spice, rose petal and mint open up effortlessly, all with striking energy that keeps the wine vibrant and wonderfully alive. The blend is 38% Syrah, 37 % Grenache, 17.4% Petite Sirah and 7.6% Mourvèdre, done with 36% whole clusters and aged in 54% new oak. Sold in cases of 3 bottles and 1 magnum at the price of $1,200.00 per case. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 8 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$635 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2017): Bottled in May of this year, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard No 8 is a match for the sensational 2013. Made from 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional and the balance Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah, fermented with 43% whole clusters and aged in close to equal parts new and used French oak. There’s only 400 cases of this elixir and it offers killer notes of black raspberries, blueberries, violets, licorice, exotic spices and flowers. Perfumed, complex and nuanced, and dare I say, singular, this full-bodied red has a thick, opulent texture, beautiful freshness and sweet tannin on the finish. While it shows the 2014 vintage’s forward fruit characteristic, this puppy has backbone and length. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.
WA 98+ (9/2017): Composed of 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, using 43% whole clusters, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard #8 has a deep garnet-purple color and slightly reticent nose to begin of black cherries, mulberries and black soil with suggestions of menthol, tobacco, incense, sandalwood and chocolate box, plus a fragrant undercurrent of violets. Firm, grainy tannins frame the full-bodied, muscular palate with stacks of flavor layers, finishing with great delineation and finesse. Forget this beauty for three to four years and enjoy drinking it over the next 20+.
VM 95 (9/2017): The 2014 Next of Kyn - No. 8 Cumulus Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine. Next to the 2013, the 2014 comes across as quite supple and downright accessible. A blast of dark red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, lavender and licorice infuse the beautifully layered finish. I imagine the 2014 will drink nicely with just a few years in bottle, although if past vintages are an indication, the wine will need longer than that to be at its very best. The blend is 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, done with 43% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 8 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$725 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2017): Bottled in May of this year, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard No 8 is a match for the sensational 2013. Made from 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional and the balance Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah, fermented with 43% whole clusters and aged in close to equal parts new and used French oak. There’s only 400 cases of this elixir and it offers killer notes of black raspberries, blueberries, violets, licorice, exotic spices and flowers. Perfumed, complex and nuanced, and dare I say, singular, this full-bodied red has a thick, opulent texture, beautiful freshness and sweet tannin on the finish. While it shows the 2014 vintage’s forward fruit characteristic, this puppy has backbone and length. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.
WA 98+ (9/2017): Composed of 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, using 43% whole clusters, the 2014 Cumulus Vineyard #8 has a deep garnet-purple color and slightly reticent nose to begin of black cherries, mulberries and black soil with suggestions of menthol, tobacco, incense, sandalwood and chocolate box, plus a fragrant undercurrent of violets. Firm, grainy tannins frame the full-bodied, muscular palate with stacks of flavor layers, finishing with great delineation and finesse. Forget this beauty for three to four years and enjoy drinking it over the next 20+.
VM 95 (9/2017): The 2014 Next of Kyn - No. 8 Cumulus Vineyard is a dense, powerful wine. Next to the 2013, the 2014 comes across as quite supple and downright accessible. A blast of dark red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, lavender and licorice infuse the beautifully layered finish. I imagine the 2014 will drink nicely with just a few years in bottle, although if past vintages are an indication, the wine will need longer than that to be at its very best. The blend is 38% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Touriga Nacional, 7% Mourvèdre and 6% Petite Sirah, done with 43% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$507.50 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$525 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$595 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$745 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2015 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 9 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) No Capsule |
$625 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (10/2018): A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection in another handful of years, the 2015 No 9 Cumulus Vineyard checks in as a complex blend of 45% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 16.8% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Touriga Nacional, and the rest Viognier that saw 42% stems and 34 months in 40% new French oak. Sensationally perfumed, with powerful notes of blackberries, graphite, crushed rocks, black pepper, and dark chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and incredible purity of fruit. This beauty has everything – richness, acidity, density, tannins, and length. Give it a handful of years and it will keep for 10-15 years. |
|
|
2018 |
Numero Quatro Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$470 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2021): I was able to taste two new releases from the Krankls’ Next of Kyn release. Starting with the 2018 Touriga Nacional Numero Quatro, which also includes 9.1% Syrah, 7.2% Grenache, 6.2% Petite Sirah, and 1.5% Roussanne, it’s a full-bodied, deep, rich monster of a wine that still stays balance and elegant, with a terrific perfume of blue fruits, violets, gravelly earth, and peppery spice. It has building tannins, but the balance is as good as it gets, and it has a finish that won’t quit. Fermented with 35% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 60% new French oak, it’s going to keep for a solid 15 years or more.
VM 98 (10/2021): The 2018 Touriga Nacional – Número Quatro is sourced from Elain and Manfred Krankl's estate vineyard in Oak View. It is a wine of tremendous character and personality. Sadly, production remains tiny, at just over 130 cases. Copious black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, new leather, licorice and spice build in an deep, powerful wine that is loaded with personality. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Numero Quatro Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$575 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2021): I was able to taste two new releases from the Krankls’ Next of Kyn release. Starting with the 2018 Touriga Nacional Numero Quatro, which also includes 9.1% Syrah, 7.2% Grenache, 6.2% Petite Sirah, and 1.5% Roussanne, it’s a full-bodied, deep, rich monster of a wine that still stays balance and elegant, with a terrific perfume of blue fruits, violets, gravelly earth, and peppery spice. It has building tannins, but the balance is as good as it gets, and it has a finish that won’t quit. Fermented with 35% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 60% new French oak, it’s going to keep for a solid 15 years or more.
VM 98 (10/2021): The 2018 Touriga Nacional – Número Quatro is sourced from Elain and Manfred Krankl's estate vineyard in Oak View. It is a wine of tremendous character and personality. Sadly, production remains tiny, at just over 130 cases. Copious black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, new leather, licorice and spice build in an deep, powerful wine that is loaded with personality. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Numero Um Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Oakford Vineyards |
1998 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) |
$400 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 87 (12/2000): Shows-off lots of oak, with toasty vanilla and anise scents, picking up black cherry, coffee, cedar and mocha, finishing with well-integrated tannins. Drink now through 2009. 550 cases made. |
|
|
1998 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) Cracked Wax Capsule |
$400 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 87 (12/2000): Shows-off lots of oak, with toasty vanilla and anise scents, picking up black cherry, coffee, cedar and mocha, finishing with well-integrated tannins. Drink now through 2009. 550 cases made. |
|
|
1998 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) Cracked Wax Capsule |
$800 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 87 (12/2000): Shows-off lots of oak, with toasty vanilla and anise scents, picking up black cherry, coffee, cedar and mocha, finishing with well-integrated tannins. Drink now through 2009. 550 cases made. |
|
|
1998 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$200 |
2 |
|
| |
| WS 87 (12/2000): Shows-off lots of oak, with toasty vanilla and anise scents, picking up black cherry, coffee, cedar and mocha, finishing with well-integrated tannins. Drink now through 2009. 550 cases made. |
|
| Paul Hobbs |
2009 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$499 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2019): Saturated red-ruby. Licorice, black cherry, red- and blackcurrant, sexy soil tones and violet on the nose; conveys a strong impression of site character. Densely packed, full and youthful, conveying strong inner-mouth lift but still a bit monolithic and in need of patience. The wine's inky dark fruit, spice and graphite flavors are firm but not at all hard or spiky. Made from vines picked on the late side, this big boy may not be as graceful as the 2010 but its firm tannic structure should ensure a long, slow evolution. And this classically dry Cabernet boasts excellent definition and inner-mouth tension. Give this wine some time in a decanter if you plan to open a bottle anytime soon. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Perchance |
2019 |
Beckstoffer George III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$400 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2021): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard was brought up all in new barrels. Rocking crème de cassis, chocolate, toasted spice, and smoke tobacco are just some of the nuances here, and it's full-bodied, has an expansive, ripe, opulent mouthfeel, great tannins, and the class to evolve for over two decades. It's another brilliant wine from this team well worth seeking out. (Drink between 2021-2042).
WA 96 (5/2022): Less intricately floral than the 2018 but perhaps a touch riper and more powerful (both are labeled at 14.9% alcohol), Perchance's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III features chocolate overtones to the cassis and black cherry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, with a lingering finish, the wine boasts just enough freshness to keep the finish mouthwatering and compelling sip after sip. Lush and textured, it may be enjoyed now or for up to two decades. |
|
| Pillar Rock |
2001 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$245 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 91 (6/2004): Supple, with rich mocha and brownie flavors and lively currant and spice. While the flavors are concentrated and the wine is well-structured, it offers a sense of finesse and complexity. Drink now through 2010. 580 cases made.
VM 88 (2/2005): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of bitter cherry, espresso and mint, with a light leafy quality. A bit herbal and green yet creamy-sweet in the middle, with a firm shape. Finishes with sweet tannins and good grip. |
|
| Plumpjack |
2000 |
Oakville Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$210 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Pott |
2014 |
Actaeon Quixote Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$194.65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon is one of the most complete wines in this tasting. Sweet layered aromatics, pliant fruit and silky tannins are the main signatures. All the elements are nicely balanced throughout. Actaeon is sourced from the Quixote vineyard in Stags Leap. This is very nicely done. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Kaliholmanok Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$225.25 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok, from a vineyard on Spring Mountain, is the most complete and deeply satisfying of these Cabernets from Aaron Pott. Pliant, creamy and super-expressive, the 2014 offers terrific depth and intensity through to the finish. A host of dark stone fruit, licorice, leather and mint notes are finely-knit in this expressive Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kaliholmanok makes its case more with finesse than power. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Predecessor |
2015 |
Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$379 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Howell Mountain Red Lake Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$386.75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Pride Mountain Vineyards |
2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (10/2015): Pride's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is soft, creamy and voluptuous. Sweet cherry, rose petal, mint, plum, cinnamon, new leather and cedar open up effortlessly in the glass, with silky tannins that add to the wine's sheer appear. The Cabernet Sauvignon captures the open-knit, radiant personality of the vintage to the fullest. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Provenance |
1999 |
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (5/2002): Deep ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines currant, plum syrup, licorice, cedar and tobacco, plus a whiff of dried herbs. Shapely and fairly intense, with subtle sweetness and rather Graves-y flavors of currant, roasted meat and tobacco. Finishes firmly tannic, with a slight dryness emerging with aeration. |
|
| Ramey |
2007 |
Annum Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) |
$1,000 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2009): From Diamond Mountain, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum possesses a dense purple color, full-bodied power, and lots of scorched earth and loamy soil notes intermixed with smoked herbs, creme de cassis, and blackberries. This rich, but backward Cabernet Sauvignon needs 4-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 25+.
WS 95 (8/2010): A bold, rich, expansive style, offering tiers of opulent blackberry and wild berry flavors, with touches of black and red licorice and a notable rustic hot brick wall earthiness, all of it dense, focused, complex and concentrated. Ends with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2020. 1,700 cases made.
VM 92 (4/2018): A rush of black cherry, smoke, torrefaction, new leather and licorice make a strong opening statement in the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum. Rich, powerful and heavily extracted, the 2007 shows the style that was in vogue a decade ago, and yet also retains tremendous depth. It will drink well for another decade or more. The Annum is the most overtly ripe wine in this range. At times, the alcohol peeks through. Otherwise, the 2007 is nicely rendered. Fruit sources are J. Davies and Larkmead. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2005 |
Pedregal Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) |
$925 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2007): Readers looking for a Screaming Eagle look-alike should check out David Ramey’s 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal (85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot), a wine that has put on amazing richness and intensity since last year. Beautifully pure creme de cassis fruit interwoven with notions of spring flowers, espresso roast, and truffles jump from the glass of this wine. Wonderfully sweet, expansive fruit flavors, a massive, full-bodied palate, and superb elegance as well as purity suggest this stunner should drink well for 20-25+ years.
VM 95 (6/2008): Opaque ruby. Exotic perfume of dark berries, kirsch, bitter chocolate and espresso. Deep, supple and sweet, with impressively concentrated cassis and cherry compote flavors. The tannins are substantial but are buried beneath the massive fruit. Sticks to the palate like glue, eventually finishing with strong echoes of bitter cherry and high-octane chocolate. I'm not sure what you'd serve this with as its sheer depth and intensity will overwhelm all but the most full-flavored foods. That said, there's nothing heavy about it whatsoever. Pretty remarkable wine.
WS 86 (11/2008): Very rich, intense and concentrated, though notably herbal and cedary as well, which leaves the currant, mineral, pebble and sage flavors in the background. Best from 2010 through 2015. 750 cases made. |
|
|
2007 |
Pedregal Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (12/2009): Ramey’s sensational 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. Notions of blueberry pie, charcoal, camphor, blackberry, cassis, and smoky oak are followed by a wine with sizeable tannins as well as structure. The extravagant fruit, richness, and intensity result in a remarkable, young Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Napa-s finest areas, the Oakville Corridor.
VM 93-95 (6/2009): Deep ruby-red. Hypnotic bouquet of cherry-cola, cassis, incense, dried rose and smoky minerals. Structured red and dark fruit flavors are improbably graceful and finely etched, picking up brown spice and floral pastille qualities with air. The floral and mineral notes carry through the strikingly pure, very long finish. |
|
| Realm |
2014 |
Moonracer Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$650 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 98 (1/2017): Deep and dark with dark chocolate, blueberries, currants and black licorice. Wet earth, too. Full-bodied and extremely velvety. Generosity balanced out by suggestions of austerity. Polished and beautiful. Superb. Stag's Leap soul. Give it three to four years to come together. Super. Try in 2021.
WA 96 (12/2016): Realm's estate wine comes from their new home vineyard, where all the renovation is taking place, at the 22-acre Stags Leap estate. Only 400 cases were made in 2014 of the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Estate-Moonracer, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot from four separate Cabernet clones. While the wine remains the same, each “bottle” is completely different, which is rather amazing. This wine shows plenty of floral notes, white chocolate, red and blackcurrants, cedar wood and loamy soil undertones. It is a beauty – elegant, yet intense and authoritative. Drink it over the next 20+ years. |
|
| Rhys |
2013 |
Alpine Hillside Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$297.50 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (10/2015): Not made since 2006 and described by Kevin as the ultimate expression of the vineyard, the 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside Vineyard was a cellar selection (done blind) that ended up coming all from the same block of steep, east-facing vines. It has an almost Horseshoe like level of minerality in its gunpowder, flinty minerality, dusty soil, dried roses, and sweet red fruit aromas and flavors. Fresh, vibrant and weightless, yet with rocking depth and texture, it's a serious wine that tastes like the Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir on steroids. It has more fruit and depth than the straight Alpine release, so its actually more enjoyable today, yet will age even better.
VM 96 (7/2015): The 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard Hillside is endowed with a real sense of vertical lift. Beams of tannin give the 2013 much of its energy and overall tension. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, graphite, mint, lavender and spices are all super-expressive, with considerable aromatic intensity added by the inclusion of 100% whole clusters. This powerful yet sleek Pinot won't be ready to drink for a number of years, but it is compelling, even today. Antonio Galloni.
BH 92 (4/2016): An overtly floral-suffused nose offers up cool and admirably pure aromas of red cherry, pomegranate and subtle spice nuances. There is fine energy and volume to the lightly mineral-laden middle weight flavors that possess both good focus and delineation, all wrapped in a dusty and ever-so-mildly austere finale. This is beautifully harmonious and understated and while there is sufficient mid-palate fat to allow it to be enjoyed young, the supporting structure is sufficiently firm to suggest that it will require at least 5 to 7 years to soften and reward at least a decade's worth. Drink 2021+. Outstanding! |
|
|
2013 |
Alpine Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$133.45 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (7/2015): Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, spice and expressive floral notes form a super-appealing backdrop of aromas and flavors in the 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard. Open-knit and super-expressive, the 2013 boasts superb textural balance and finesse. A final burst of red stone fruit and pomegranate hits the finely-knit, delicate finish.
WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard has a touch of darker fruit in its strawberry, cassis, dusty soil and earthy bouquet. This flows to a beautifully textured, seamless Pinot Noir that has sound underlying structure, medium plus-bodied richness and a great finish. Possessing both fruit and structure, it should be accessible for all of its life. |
|
| Rudd |
2016 |
Leslie’s Blend Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$589 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (10/2019): This is the first vintage of this label, named after the recently departed Leslie Rudd, who particularly loved this vineyard. Composed of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 3% Malbec and aged for 22 months in French oak, 38% new, the 2016 Leslie’s Blend Mt. Veeder Estate displays a deep garnet-purple color. WOW - it has a fantastically profound nose of black currant cordial, plum preserves and mulberries with hints of mocha, aniseed, dried bay leaves, tilled soil and oolong tea. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with loads of black fruit and savory layers, featuring a rock-solid frame of ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. Still very youthful, give it another couple of years in bottle and drink it over the next 40 years+.
VM 93 (1/2020): The 2016 Mt. Veeder Estate Leslie's Blend is powerful and dense, with tons of concentration and sheer richness. Gravel, smoke, spice, black fruit, chocolate and leather all develop nicely. In the end, though, the 2016 is dominated by heavy torrefaction notes from the oak, which masks some of the Veeder character. Now that the Edge Hill wines are under the Rudd label, my hope is that this bottling can be refined a bit. There is clearly so much potential here. (Drink between 2022-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Schrader |
2019 |
MMXIX "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,450 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (12/2021): A selection put together by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky is one of the true gems in the vintage, as well as a perfect wine. Thrilling black fruits, crème de cassis, tobacco, tapenade, and iron notes all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied and has a similar purity to the CCS release, with ultra-fine tannins and one hell of an incredible finish. Napa Valley Cabernet, or red wine for that matter, doesn't get any better. Give bottles 2-4 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades or more. |
|
|
2015 |
MMXV "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,275 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (12/2017): A barrel selection coming from the best barrels of Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky has a deep garnet-purple color and savory/meaty nose of yeast extract, chargrill, sauteed herbs and smoked meat over a core of crème de cassis, cigar box, red currant jelly and wild blueberries plus a touch of powdered cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruit preserves, savory and baking spice layers, with a very firm backbone and very long, multilayered finish. 438 cases produced. |
|
|
2016 |
MMXVI "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,375 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky is very deep purple-black in color with a wonderfully pure nose of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry preserves and black cherry pie with nuances of dried bay leaves, dusty soil, garrigue and new leather plus touches of unsmoked cigars and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, concentrated and jam-packed with flavors, the palate is pure hedonism with a solid line of ripe tannins and great freshness, finishing very long. |
|
|
2018 |
MMXVIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,595 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (1/2021): There are few vintages of Old Sparky that don't merit a perfect rating, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky isn't one of them. This flawless wine offers up a wild smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, with loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, lead pencil, violets, blood orange, tobacco, and flowery incense all developing with time in the glass. Deep purple-hued and incredibly full-bodied, it has ripe, silky tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. This magical wine stays weightless and elegant on the palate, never seeming heavy, cumbersome, or over the top, and it's a wine that just begs to be drunk yet will evolve for decades. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another heavenly Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that could come from nowhere else in the world. Life is too short not to have experienced this cuvée! (Drink between 2021-2041) |
|
| Screaming Eagle |
2020 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$4,500 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Screaming Eagle is one of the great surprises of the year. Energetic and vibrant in the glass, the 2020 offers a bit more energy than most readers are likely used to. All the elements are so well balanced. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, menthol, spice, leather and a soft touch of all fill out the layers effortlessly. In 2020 Screaming Eagle is not as immediately alluring as it so often is, so a measure of patience is warranted. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sean Thackrey |
2010 |
Sirius Eagle Point Ranch Petite Sirah (1.5 L) |
$165 |
5 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (5/2014): Deep, bright ruby. Lovely expressive aromas of black raspberry, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate. Concentrated, dense and sweet, with excellent inner-mouth energy and lift to the flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate and flint. Perhaps most impressive today on the very long, ripely tannic back end. Long on personality for the variety. Showed eucalyptus and licorice pastille notes after 72 hours in the recorked bottle without losing its verve. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Seaver Vineyards |
2017 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$370 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon GTS is powerful, dense and brooding, with massive tannins that may never be balanced. Game, licorice, tobacco and graphite add layers of complexity, but it is hard to get past tannins that are huge and overpowering, even within the context of Diamond Mountain. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$390 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$390 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sequoia Grove |
2012 |
Rutherford Bench Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) |
$300 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sherwin Family |
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) Limited Edition Commemorative etched Amerigan Flag |
$425 |
1 |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2014 |
Capo dei Putti Syrah (3.0 L) |
$2,900 |
1 |
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JD 99 (10/2018): Leading off the reds, the extended barrel-aged 2014 Syrah Capo Dei Putti boasts an insane bouquet of cedarwood, white chocolate, caramelized meats, candle way, and assorted red and black fruits. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible elegance, it changed every time I came back to the glass and is a multi-dimensional, riveting red wine from California. A blend of 90% Syrah and the balance Viognier, Petite Sirah, and Grenache, partially destemmed and aged 38 months in 94% new French oak, give this beauty 2-3 years of bottle age, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles over the following 10-15 years.
VM 98 (9/2018): The 2014 Syrah Capo dei Putti, from Eleven Confessions, is another absolutely stunning wine from Elaine and Manfred Krankl. Bright and vibrant in the glass, the 2014 offers tremendous aromatic intensity and freshness to play off the dark Syrah fruit. There is an sense of explosive energy running through the 2014 that adds to the wine's total allure. I would prefer to cellar the Capo dei Putti for at least a few years. I imagine it will always be a wine of gravitas, concentration and power. The 2014 spent 38 months in French oak, 94% new. The blend is 90% Syrah, 3.2% Petite Sirah, 2% Grenache and 4.8% Viognier, done with 43% whole clusters.
WA 96+ (8/2018): The 2014 Syrah Capo dei Putti saw an amazing 38 months in fully 94% new oak, and it was showing superbly when I tasted it, unfurling in the glass with brooding aromas of blackberry preserve, cherries, bay leaf and a remarkably integrated framing of smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, hyper-concentrated and deep, with an incredibly dense core of fruit that's definitely ripe but avoids overt sucrosity—and is complemented by an impressive degree of savory nuance. It's a blocky, dense Syrah that will merit some time in bottle, but it is sure to make a considerable impact whenever it's opened. 896 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were produced. |
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2019 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah (1.5 L) |
$636.65 |
1 |
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| WA 99 (6/2023): The 2019 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is elegant and perfumed and includes 13.1% Grenache, 3.3% Petite Sirah and just a splash—0.8%—each of Viognier and Muskateller (a.k.a Muscat). It was crafted with 13% whole clusters, matured in 66% new French oak for around 39 months and was bottled in January 2022. This gorgeous Syrah opens over several days and never seems to diminish. It offers pure aromas of crème de cassis, tar, salami and ringing tones of violet. The full-bodied palate is incredibly velvety in texture, and despite its concentration and powerful style, it manages noticeable freshness and detail, with that magical violet perfume echoing across the long finish. This will develop gracefully in the cellar over the next two decades or more. 968 cases and 240 magnums were made. |
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2006 |
In the Crosshairs Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,399 |
1 |
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WA 99 (8/2010): The extended barrel aged Grenache, the 2006 In the Crosshairs, will be released in a few months. A blend of 84% Grenache, 12% Syrah, and 4% Viognier from the estate's 11 Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills, this cuvee was aged completely in French oak, many of the barrels being demi-muids. It spent 32 months in wood, which goes against nearly every conventional rule about how Grenache reacts to wood. This contrarian notion is the genius of Krankl. An extraordinary wine, it may turn out to be his greatest Grenache since the 2000 Incognito (a wine that is currently at a magical maturity point). No shy wine at 16.3% alcohol (similar to a top-notch Chateauneuf du Pape), it exhibits a deep plum/ruby/purple color as well as a luxurious bouquet of raspberry jam, kirsch liqueur, lavender, licorice, and spice box. Full-bodied and sumptuously textured with stunning power as well as elegance, this hedonistic and intellectual turn-on should rock and roll (or is it Rock and Rhone?) for another 10-15 years.
VM 96 (12/2010): (includes 12% syrah and 4% viognier) Opaque ruby. A wild bouquet exudes scents of candied red and dark berries, incense, smoked meat and black olive. I'd have guessed that there was a lot more syrah in here. Lush and palate-coating black raspberry and boysenberry flavors are lifted by zesty acidity and complemented by exotic floral pastille and spice flavors. Strikes an impressive balance of richness and vivacity and finishes with Outstanding clarity and smoky, spicy persistence. With air some fine-grained tannins peeked out, but this is really a wall of seductive fruit, floral and spice qualities. |
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2004 |
Ode to E Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,199 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2014): Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2004 Grenache Ode to E is absolutely stellar. There's not too much more to say. Still young, fresh and vibrant, the 2004 is incredibly impressive. Exotic spice, rose petals, raspberry jam all open up in an effortless, nuanced wine bursting at the seams with personality. Exquisitely nuanced and balanced, the 2004 is a gem. Readers who own the 2004 should be thrilled; as it is a magnificent wine by any measure. My favorite age to drink Sine Qua Non wines is around ten years. The Ode to E Grenache delivers the goods, and then some. The blend is 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Shakti Grenache (1.5 L) |
$599 |
1 |
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JD 97 (8/2017): One of the more elegant, ethereal releases from this incredible address, the 2014 Grenache Shakti checks in as blend of 88% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and the rest Touriga Nacional that was fermented with 42% whole clusters and aged 21 months in just 6% new French oak, with the balance in neutral barrels. Its ruby/purple semi-opaque color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of black raspberries, black olive tapenade, leafy herbs, pepper and spring flowers. It’s not a small wine by any measure, yet it’s graceful, lively and elegant on the palate, with a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet, polished tannin, no hard edges and a gorgeous finish. Drink this beautiful Grenache anytime over the coming 15+ years. I loved the 2013s from Manfred Krankl, and these are reminiscent of the 2010s (as are the 2015s). The 2014s are more plush and sexy, with a forward style that’s already impossible to resist. The 2015 reds were all tasted as barrel samples, and these show the firm, structured style of the vintage and I suspect are going to require bottle age to show at their best. I’ve also included the “The Third Twin” releases here, and it, like the Next Of Kyn releases, are released under a separate label and focus on the estate The Third Twin vineyard located outside of Los Alamos.
VM 95-96 (9/2016): The 2014 Grenache Shakti wraps around the palate with sumptuous fruit. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, spice and new leather flesh out as this totally seductive Grenache from Sine Qua Non. Striking aromatics, super-expressive, bright fruit and silky tannins are some of the signatures in a delicious, delicate Grenache that is totally alluring. I suppose the 2014 is not the most structured or complex Grenache ever from Sine Qua Non, but it is a total pleasure bomb. The blend is 88% Grenache, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Touriga Nacional, done with 42% whole clusters. Vineyard sites are 51% Cumulus, 21.5% Eleven Confessions, 18% Third Twin and 9.5% Bien Nacido. I tasted the 2014 from tank just prior to bottling. Antonio Galloni.
WS 90 (7/2017): Dark and brooding, this showcases ripeness and intensity, offering notes of licorice, smoky pepper, beef and dried currant. Tannins frame the finish. Drink now through 2023. 1,150 cases made. |
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2014 |
Testa dei Cherubini Grenache (3.0 L) |
$2,900 |
1 |
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JD 99 (10/2018): As with the extended aged Syrah release, the 2014 Grenache Testa Dei Cherubini (80% Grenache, 15.5% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier) comes all from the estate Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and spent just under 38 months in 25% new French oak, with the balance in neutral barrels (varying sizes). Layers of black raspberry, cassis, white chocolate, white flowers, and Asian spices flow to a full-bodied, supple, powerful Grenache that has silky, silky tannins, a seamless texture, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s already approachable, yet in my experience, this extended elevage results in a very stable wine, and I suspect this beauty will have another two decades of longevity.
WA 98+ (8/2018): The 2014 Grenache Testa dei Cherubini saw fully 37.5 months in wood, some 25% new, but its influence is imperceptible; the wine is strikingly pure and vibrant. Krankl commented that the longer the wines spend in barrel, the more slowly they seem to evolve in bottle. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of juicy red cherries, peonies and plums, it's initially quite reserved, becoming more expressive with air. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered and very concentrated, with strikingly fine-grained, revolved tannins, juicy acids and impressive length and depth. Like the 2015 Le Chemin Vers l'Heresie also reviewed in this report, it's remarkably pure and integrated and ranks as one of the finest Grenache bottlings I've tasted from Sine Qua Non. It's also one wine that will clearly benefit from bottle age, no matter how tempting it may be when it's released in November of this year. The blend includes 15.5% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah and a tiny 0.5% of Viognier, and 895 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were produced.
VM 98 (9/2018): The 2014 Grenache Testa dei Cherubini, from Sine Qua Non's Eleven Confessions vineyard, is positively explosive on the palate. Even so, the 2014 is precise and beautifully delineated, with striking nuance and terrific freshness to balance things out. The blend is 80% Grenache, 15.5% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah and 0.5% Viognier that spent 38 months in 600-liter French oak barrels. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Somnium Cellars |
2014 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
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2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
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2016 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$195 |
1 |
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2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
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2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$175 |
1 |
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| Staglin Family Vineyards |
2017 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$475 |
2 |
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| VM 94+ (12/2018): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is an attractive, racy wine with plush fruit, soft contours and tons of sheer immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, floral notes, spice and mint are all nicely lifted in this enticing, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon from Staglin. The 2017 offers lovely freshness and aromatic presence in a medium-bodied Cabernet that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Teachworth |
2001 |
Manzanita Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$250 |
3 |
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2001 |
Rattlesnake Ridge Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$250 |
4 |
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| Terlato Vineyards |
2008 |
Episode Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
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2009 |
Episode Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$169.15 |
1 |
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2010 |
Episode Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$228.65 |
1 |
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WS 90 (4/2014): Dense and powerful, rustic and tannic, offering a core of dark berry, mocha, cedar and tobacco, marked by chewy, grainy tannins that give the flavors traction. Needs time. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2015 through 2028. 1,000 cases made.
WA 88 (10/2013): The 2010 Proprietary Red Episode (44% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot) is a more Pomerol-styled effort displaying a deep ruby color, lots of mocha and black cherry notes, soft tannins and a round, hedonistic appeal. This elegant, pure 2010 is ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years. |
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| Verite |
2014 |
La Joie Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$568.75 |
1 |
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JD 97+ (12/2017): The estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon dominated release is the 2014 La Joie and it’s an incredible wine based on 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot. Reminding me of a top vintage of Ducru-Beaucaillou (the 2010?) with it’s incredibly classic Cabernet character, it offers thrilling notes of crème de cassis, exotic flowers, liquid rock-like minerality, and graphite and lead pencil nuances. Deep, concentrated, and backward, it has perfect balance, good acidity, and an undeniable Bordeaux-like weight and texture. It’s nowhere near primetime and needs 5-7 years of cellaring and is going to keep for three decades.
VM 97.5 (3/2017): The 2014 La Joie exudes freshness, energy and intensity. Black cherry, plum, licorice, lavender espresso and expressive spiced notes are all beautifully delineated in the glass. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, mint and gently spiced notes are laced into the super-expressive, silky finish. A final kick of Cabernet Sauvignon intensity adds lift in the 2014 La Joie, Vérité's Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (8/2023): Deep ruby-garnet, the 2014 La Joie is alluringly tertiary on the nose with tones of iodine and truffle, old cigars, dried tobacco and blackcurrant. The medium-bodied palate is velvety and seamless, and the wine is showing a structural harmony and ideal balance of fruit and umami character. It's drinking beautifully! |
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2013 |
La Muse Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$605.15 |
2 |
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| WA 96 (8/2023): The 2013 La Muse is maturing gracefully and offers noticeable detail at this stage. Deep garnet in color, its dried wild black and blue berry fruit is complemented by umami-like wafts of shiitake, steak sauce and aniseed. The full-bodied palate is softening and fresh, with a generous core of juicy fruit, heightened complexity from savory notes of maturity and a singular, umami-and-berry finish. It's drinking wonderfully, although it's not quite at its peak. |
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2014 |
La Muse Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$632.45 |
2 |
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WA 100 (8/2016): The 2014 La Muse (2,800 cases ) is a legendary effort. The wine offers an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, incense, Asian spice, cocoa, plum, and a touch of chocolate and barrique. On the palate, more cassis and blackberry come to the forefront. The wine is unctuous, with adequate acidity and a stunning energy underneath the massive fruit and body. This is a spectacularly fragrant and, at the same time, dense wine, with enough structure (somewhat surprising in this vintage) to last 35-45+ years. The final blend was 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.
JD 97+ (12/2017): A gorgeous effort as well, the 2014 La Muse is a Merlot-dominated cuvee blended with 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. This deep ruby/purple-colored beauty boasts a terrific perfume of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, chocolate, and a beautiful earthy minerality. This isn’t your over the top, opulent Merlot and shows incredible class and purity, as well as full-bodied richness, high, yet integrated tannin, impeccable balance and a great finish. It’s not anywhere close to primetime (which is rare for a 2014) and needs 4-5 years at a minimum. It’s going to be incredibly long-lived.
VM 96 (3/2017): A huge, opulent wine, the 2014 La Muse wraps around the palate with tons of super-ripe dark red fruit, chocolate, spice and menthol. La Muse often shuts down after bottling, but the 2014 is still remarkably intense and voluptuous, with soft contours, silky tannins and exceptional balance. The purity of the flavors here is remarkable. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Le Desir Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$614.25 |
2 |
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| WA 99 (10/2015): The 2013 Le Desir represents 2,500 cases. This is the softest of the three wines in 2013, and this blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec emerges with more than half of the cuvée coming from Hillsides in Alexander Valley, 37% from Chalk Hill and the rest tiny dollops from Bennett Valley and Knights Valley. Opaque purple, like its siblings, the wine is showing incredible floral, blueberry and espresso notes, exotic Asian spices, velvety texture, a supple, multilayered mouthfeel and incredible finish, with incense and licorice. This is magnificent young wine, with a good 40-50 years of upside potential. Pierre Seillan is justifiably proud of what he has achieved, and his first vintage of Vérité was only 1998, but they go from strength to strength. |
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2014 |
Le Desir Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$614.25 |
2 |
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JD 99 (12/2017): A blend of 53% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Malbec, the 2014 Le Desir is monumental stuff that has a Château Ausone-like character that’s hard to describe. its vibrant purple color is followed by a to-die-for bouquet of blackcurrants, black raspberries, cedar, tobacco leaf, and charcoal. This gives way to a concentrated, rich, yet incredibly delineated wine that has fine, fine tannin, notable freshness and purity, and a great finish. While blockbuster stuff, it’s for consumers with cold cellars and lots of patience. I’d hide bottles for 7-8 years and it’s going to keep for another 3+ decades.
VM 97 (3/2017): The 2014 Le Désir is the most inward of these 2014s from Vérité. Dark raspberry jam, wild flowers, spice, pencil shavings, mocha, lavender and licorice infuse this deep, powerful, structured Cabernet Franc-based blend. The interplay of dense, sumptuous fruit and aromatic freshness makes for an absolutely compelling wine.
WA 98 (10/2016): The 2014 Le Désir (53% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec) has an inky purple color and a sweet kiss of chocolate, black truffle, forest floor, black raspberry and black currants. Opulent, but again structured and super-dense and pure, this is another massively concentrated wine meant for the long haul (and for our grandchildren). Give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 35-40 years. Remarkably, Pierre Seillan told me that 2014, while a drought year, was not actually that hot in the micro-terroirs he was working, but in terms of quality, it turned out to be the most surprisingly positive vintage he’s ever witnessed. |
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2018 |
Le Desir Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$614.25 |
2 |
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JD 98+ (7/2021): The Cabernet Franc blend of the trio, the 2018 Le Desir is 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and 6% Malbec, and as with all these wines, it was brought up in new barrels. Ruby/purple and not completely opaque, it offers up a classic Cabernet Franc nose of mostly red fruits, spring flowers, damp earth, cedary spices, and truffle. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shines for its incredible elegance and purity more than outright power, yet it still brings plenty of richness. With ultra-fine tannins, perfect balance, and one heck of a great finish, it's another great, great wine from this estate.
WA 97+ (7/2021): Composed of 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec, the 2018 Le Désir was aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it is a little closed to begin, soon unfurling to offer glimpses at notes of kirsch, raspberry preserves and mulberry scents, plus hints of cedar chest, crushed rocks, bay leaves, Sichuan pepper and lavender with a waft of sandalwood. The medium to full-bodied palate has tons of freshness to support the melange of preserved red and black fruits, textured by grainy tannins, finishing with a lingering peppery kick. It may require just a little more time to come around than the La Joie and La Muse, and then I suspect this beauty is going to reward the patient. |
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| Williams Selyem |
2020 |
Estate Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$245 |
2 |
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| | USA White |
| Donelan |
2015 |
Venus Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$119 |
1 |
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| JD 88 (6/2019): The 2015 Venus is cut from the same cloth yet doesn’t have the texture or density of the 2014. White currants, white peach, and citrus notes as well as a touch of salty minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied, elegant, streamlined white that’s going to continue drinking nicely for another 7-8 years (probably longer). |
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| Kistler |
2020 |
Laguna Ridge Vyd. Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$295 |
1 |
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WA 97 (7/2022): Always one of my favorite cuvées from Kistler, the 2020 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard has loads of personality and density. Struck match scents give way to white peaches, lime peel, jasmine, spring butter and pie spices, with a singular streak of alluring herbal character. The palate's mouth-coating, expansive texture and concentrated fruit are balanced by tangy acidity and flinty character on the long finish.
JD 96 (8/2022): Only produced in magnum, the 2020 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard has classic aromatics with the addition of fresh mint and key lime. The palate is more taught with tension and more about its stony mineral texture than mid-palate weight. Long and persistent, this will need 2-4 years in bottle to unfurl and show its full potential, but it will be well worth the wait. Enjoy over the next 15 years. (Drink between 2022-2037). Audrey Frick.
VM 88 (1/2022): The 2020 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (Magnum) has just enough depth to be interesting for a few years. Apricot, tropical fruit, sweet spice and honey are all signatures of a very warm and dry year. The short, abrupt finish suggests near-term drinking is the best course of action. (Drink between 2022-2026). Antonio Galloni. |
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2021 |
Laguna Ridge Vyd. Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$295 |
1 |
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WA 98 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is vibrant yet powerful. Bottled only in magnums, it opens slowly to wafts of matchstick and roasted almonds before revealing its core of lemon and apricot fruit. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, expansive flavors that blossom dramatically from almonds to peach, spring honey and spice, yet its vibrant acidity creates a shimmery feel. It has a luxurious, satiny texture and a hauntingly long finish. Wow!
JD 98 (7/2023): Only produced in magnum, the 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge Vineyard is pure and layered with aromatics of lemon curd, lime blossom, petrol, and green apple. Medium to full-bodied, with wonderful focus and tension, it’s all about that green apple. Its crunchy fruit and fresh, salty citrus make it absolutely delicious, and it offers exceptional balance and length, with ripe, sweet citrus that’s irresistible. Drink it over the next 15 years. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (1/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Laguna Ridge (bottled only in magnum) captures all the best the year had to give. Rich, explosive and wonderfully deep, the 2021 exudes concentration and structure from the very first taste. Crushed rocks, dried lemon peel, white flowers, mint, herbs and incense all build in the glass, with a light touch of reduction that extends into the finish. This complex, dynamic Chardonnay is a stunning wine by any measure. (Drink between 2024-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
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| | Australia |
| Torbreck |
2005 |
The Laird Shiraz (1.5 L) Lightly Scuffed Label |
$1,800 |
3 |
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| WA 100 (12/2010): The Laird is Powell’s new baby, coming from a single 5 acre / 2 hectare vineyard of Shiraz in the Marananga sub-region planted in the 1960s that recently became available for contracting. This is a very different wine from Run Rig. What is most striking about it is the combination of power and elegance in this first vintage, coming from a very good year in the Barossa. Matured for 3 years in new Dominique Laurent “Magic Casks” (Troncais French oak barriques with thicker staves designed for the long aging of Shiraz), 2005 The Laird gives a deep garnet color and pronounced nose that shows savory and spice notes over the fruit, with aromas of hung meat, Peking duck, fertile loam, underbrush, tree bark, anise, cumin seed, menthol, dried roses and lavender over warm black cherries, crush blackberries and fruit cake. The tight-knit, full-bodied palate is very fine with a high level of silt-like tannins and crisp acid running through the concentrated fruit and savory flavors, finishing very long with lingering earth and spice notes. At 14.8% declared alcohol, this is by no means one of the biggest wines in the Barossa, but it is most certainly one of the best. It’s an absolute joy to drink now but it is recommended readers give it 4-5 years more in bottle to soften and marry and enjoy it to 2030+. |
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| | Southern France |
| Ch. de Pibarnon |
2023 |
Ch. de Pibarnon Bandol Rose (1.5 L) ex-Chateau |
$74.99 |
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| | Italy |
| Roberto Voerzio |
2008 |
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Sarmassa (1.5 L) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$350 |
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| | USA Red |
| Next of Kyn |
2017 |
Next of Kyn Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$550 |
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| Ramey |
2007 |
Ramey Annum Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$250 |
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