2002 Riesling Kaefferkopf at Flickinger Wines

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Other Other 2002 Alsace Other Wines from this Offer

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USA Red

Aubert

2023

Park Avenue Pinot Noir

$140

$110

VM 95 (12/2024): The 2023 Pinot Noir Park Avenue Estate is a new wine in this range. It emerges from a parcel in Sebastopol planted with Calera cuttings from UV. Black cherry, leather, incense and graphite open first, followed by lifted floral and savory notes that add character. The Park Avenue doesn't have the layers of the other Pinots, but it comes very close. This is a seriously impressive debut. Antonio Galloni.

2023

UV Vyd. Pinot Noir

$140

$110

VM 96 (12/2024): The 2023 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is dense, heady and explosive. The purity of the fruit is just superb. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, spice and blood orange all soar from the glass. A wine of depth and textural intensity, the 2023 is just magnificent. So aromatic. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. The UV is the most delicate and refined of the Pinots from Aubert this year. Antonio Galloni.

Bella Oaks

2022

Proprietary Red

$225

$175

WA 97 (6/2025): Despite GM Shae Kinsman's assertion that "it's not a black-fruit expression that comes out of this vineyard," the Bella Oaks 2022 Proprietary Red Wine offers up what I find to be generous amounts of black cherries and cassis, alongside a faint herbal note. A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot—the blenders come from Ecotone for now, while waiting for recent plantings at Bella Oaks to come online—it's a full-bodied wine, rich and somewhere between velvety and silky, with a long, elegant finish. It shows great intensity and length, with no trace of raisining, although I would call it more dark-fruited than red.

Bond

2021

Pluribus

$550

$475

VM 98 (12/2024): The 2021 Pluribus is just as exceptional as it was from barrel. Complex, dynamic and ever-changing in the glass, the 2021 coveys tons of mountain structure. Graphite, crushed rocks, mint, spice, licorice and lavender are all laced together in a dramatic, dense wine endowed with tremendous pedigree. This site on Spring Mountain yields Cabernets loaded with character. (Drink between 2028-2041). Antonio Galloni.

JD 96+ (1/2025): Usually one of the most structured wines in the lineup, the 2021 Pluribus is more medium to full-bodied and elegant, with a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits intermixed with exotic flowers, violets, and graphite nuances. It has a certain exotic edge, is beautifully balanced, has fine tannins, and a great finish. It's another seamless, elegant, very classically built Cabernet Sauvignon from this team that deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will be long-lived. (Drink starting 2029).

Colgin

2021

IX Estate Proprietary Blend

$500

$475

WA 99 (3/2024): Colgin's 2021 IX Estate is a rich, opulent example, with layers of ripe black cherries and dark chocolate punctuated by hints of sage and bay leaf, plus some vaguely floral notes (violets?). Full-bodied, concentrated, velvety and long, it's another terrific wine that showcases the potential of Pritchard Hill, the investment by the owners and the talent of the winemaking team. Drink between 2025-2045.

JD 98+ (12/2023): I’d wager a Napa Valley legend in the making, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon IX Estate comes from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill, and if there was ever a classification of terroirs in the valley, this would check in near the top of the list. Deep purple-hued, with awesome aromatics of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and subtle floral hints, this has that rare mix of power and elegance that defines so many great wines. Full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced, it has no shortage of structure and is going to need 7-8 years, if not a decade, to hit full maturity, where it will hold for 2-3 decades. Drink between 2023-2031.

VM 98 (12/2023): The 2021 IX Estate is such an elegant wine. Sleek, aromatic and refined, the 2021 is one of the most polished young wines I have tasted from this site. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and mint abound. Silky and delineated, the 2021 is exceptionally beautiful and balanced. Clean saline notes and veins of tannin extend the explosive, sublime finish. Drink between 2027-2041. Antonio Galloni.

Dalla Valle

2022

Maya Proprietary Blend

$495

$375

JD 97 (1/2025): Moving to the 2022 Maya, it's the first year since 1989 that has this cuvée includes more Cabernet Franc than Cabernet Sauvignon. (It's 54% Cabernet Franc and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in 75% new barrels.) A fabulous nose of darker currants, leafy herbs, violets, camphor, new leather, and flower notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, polished mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a brilliant finish.

VM 97 (12/2024): The 2022 Maya is a rare Maya that is Cabernet Franc-driven, the first since 1989 with a similar blend. Pliant and layered, the 2022 is sublime. Dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and espresso all build in the glass. A remarkable wine, Maya may very well turn out to be one of the wines of the vintage. It is certainly one of my favorites at this stage and a clear front-runner. Antonio Galloni.

WA 96+ (2/2025): Dalla Valle's 2022 Maya is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, dominated on the nose by scents of dark chocolate and black cherries, plus vaguely leafy notions and hints of dried spices. Tannic and taut, in obvious need of cellaring, this medium to full-bodied wine's tannins are not as deep or richly textural as they can be (as in the 2021, for example), but they remain impressive; and the finish exhibits superb length. The winery's Cabernet Sauvignon is more flattering to taste now, while the Maya may surpass it in time.

Fe Wines

2022

26 Red Wine

$150

$110

WA 93 (2/2025): Marked by scents of mountain bay, sage and black cherries, Fe's 2022 26 is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec, all aged 20 months in approximately 75% new French oak. It's medium to full-bodied and taut yet velvety, with what seems like ample concentration, but it seems to lose impetus on the finish. I have to admit to being (just) slightly disappointed relative to the barrel sample last year. The wine was bottled in June 2024, so perhaps it was still in a bit of a funk when I tasted the bottled wine in November.

VM 89 (12/2024): The 2022 26 is a soft, plummy wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, pipe tobacco, leather, incense and dried flowers build nicely into the open-knit finish. (Drink between 2024-2030). Antonio Galloni.

Futo

2022

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

$395

$350

WA 98 (2/2025): All Cabernet Sauvignon, Futo's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville boasts seductive scents of fine cedar and ripe cherries, beautifully complemented by cinnamon, clove and dry-earth shadings. In the mouth, it's full-bodied but not overdone, plush, velvety and long, delivering tremendous richness without any excessive weight. Complex and complete, this is the real deal.

VM 95 (2/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville is creamy, layered and super-finessed. All the elements are so well balanced. Red cherry/plum fruit, cedar, spice, leather, tobacco and espresso all meld together. This is another wine in the range with superb balance, albeit in the smaller-scale style of the year. (Drink between 2027-2037). Antonio Galloni.

Hundred Acre

2021

Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon

$495

$450

JD 97 (1/2025): Darker currants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and graphite notes all shine in the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Few And Far Between, another sensationally layered, complex, full-bodied, flawless, seamless wine in the lineup.

Kinsman Eades

2021

Aphex Ecotone Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon

$350

$275

VM 97 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Aphex Ecotone Vineyard is a potent, dense wine. Dried herbs, spice, tobacco and earthy notes lend tons of savory nuance. This wild, structured Cabernet is going to need a number of years to come together. It shows tons of energy and depth, even if all the elements aren't totally in harmony at this stage. Nigel Kinsman has done a tremendous job in taming tannins that can be quite fierce at this site. Time in the glass is especially beneficial here. (Drink between 2027-2041). Antonio Galloni.

WA 96 (7/2024): A co-ferment of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc from Ecotone Vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Aphex is dark and plummy, combining black cherries and some earthy notes with a hint of dark chocolate. It's full-bodied, concentrated and rich yet harmonious, with a degree of elegance, no excess weight on the palate and a lingering, softy tannic finish.

2021

Aphex Ecotone Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon

Lightly Bin-Soiled Label

$350

$275

Levy & McClellan

2016

LTD

$350

$290

Next of Kyn

2021

Cumulus Vyd. No. 15 Proprietary Blend

$275

$225

VM 99 (8/2024): The 2021 No. 15 Cumulus Vineyard is a total stunner. It's also a pretty radical departure from most years in that Grenache drives the blend. That comes through in the wine's captivating aromatics and gorgeous, layered fruit. Crushed rose petal, red cherry, plum, mint, mocha and dried herbs infuse the palate with notable depth. The 2021 is flat-out stunning—that’s all there is to it. The blend is 40% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Manseng. There's a touch of stem inclusion (7%), but not much. Drink between 2027-2041. Antonio Galloni.

WA 93 (8/2024): Aged for 30 months in 53% new French oak, the 2021 Cumulus Vineyard No. 15 combines 40% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 22% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Manseng. The nose combines towering red and black fruit aromas supplemented with herbal, citrus and tobacco accents that assemble around a perceptible core of ethanol. The palate is polished and seamless, with a bit more grace than found elsewhere in the lineup, but ultimately defined by similar luxurious, voluptuous textures and sweet-fruited concentration. The finish displays vibrant acidity and rich, swelling, fine-grained tannins but concludes with an alcohol-induced burn. The textures and overall vision on display here are to be admired, but the ultimate complexity, age-worthiness and balance are on their back foot due to the spirituous nature of much of the lineup. Drink between 2024-2030.

2022

Cumulus Vyd. No. 16 Syrah

$250

$190

JD 98 (10/2025): The 16th release of this cuvée, the 2022 No 16 Cumulus Vineyard comes all from the Cumulus Vineyard, which was planted in 2004 around the estate in Oak View. A blend of 78% Petite Sirah, 12.3% Touriga Nacional, 6.7% Mourvèdre, and 3% white varieties, it was fermented with 20% whole clusters and spent 30 months in 36% new French oak. Blackberries, roasted meats, leather, smoke, and iron nuances all flow from this beauty. Full-bodied and balanced, with a deep, layered mid-palate, it's velvety and voluptuous on the palate, with nicely integrated acidity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This is a big, concentrated, powerful wine that's just about overflowing with character. Give bottles 3-4 years if you can and it should keep for 15+ in cold cellars. Drink 2028-2043.

VM 96 (8/2025): The 2022 No. 16 Cumulus Vineyard leads the charge with a healthy proportion of Petite Sirah (78%), most of which is own-rooted, as the Krankls aim to move this cuvée away from Syrah dominance and toward a truer representation of the makeup of their home vineyard. The No. 16 is a monstrous, bombastic wine that's amplified in every dimension. Blackberry preserves, black licorice, star anise, chaparral, French vanilla and powerful peppery nuances saturate the palate with confidence and unashamed opulence. The inclusion of 20% whole clusters across the blend exalts the natural structure of Petite Sirah in a very warm, dry vintage, while the 12.3% Touriga Nacional in the blend provides propulsive, mouthwatering acidity. This could use a couple of years to integrate some of its youthful exuberance. (Drink between 2027-2042). Billy Norris.

Peter Michael Winery

2022

Ma Danseuse Pinot Noir

$145

$120

VM 97 (7/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is the most exuberant and packed of these Pinots Noirs from Peter Michael. It is also the wine that made me notice these wines when I tasted the debut 2009s prior to release. Plush contours frame a core of black cherry fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and blood orange. The French oak is already totally integrated, another sign of an important wine in the making. (Drink between 2027-2038). Antonio Galloni.

WA 96 (3/2025): The 2022 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse begins with youthful new oak spice that gives way to intense black cherry, cranberry, Earl Grey tea and wildflower aromas. The palate is concentrated yet weightless, its highly perfumed flavors structured by silky tannins and succulent acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 453 cases were made.

JD 96 (7/2025): From a cooler, later ripening site in Fort Ross-Seaview, the 2022 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is a saturated red hue and is lush with a sapid aromatic profile of cherry liqueur, crushed flowers, pine resin, and sappy herbs. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a broader structure, with ripe tannins and darker underpinnings. It’s a richly styled wine but has good clarity. Drink 2026-2046. Audrey Frick.

Realm

2022

Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon

$325

$290

WA 96+ (6/2025): A big, muscular wine, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is loaded with black cherry fruit and graced by hints of dark chocolate and mocha. It's the last vintage to include a smidgeon of Petit Verdot (4%), a full-bodied, richly tannic but ripe effort, with a long, harmonious finish.

JD 96 (1/2025): Another wine showing a fresher, juicy style, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard comes from unquestionably one of the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. This deep purple-hued effort offers a lively nose of ripe plums, chocolate, violets, and graphite, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate with fine, nicely integrated tannins, terrific overall balance, and outstanding length. It's a touch more reserved compared to the To Kalon, so give bottles a few years. It should evolve gracefully through at least 2037.

2022

Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon

$375

$325

JD 97 (1/2025): I love the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, which might be the finest 2022 from this estate. Darker berries, red plums, tobacco, incense, and chocolaty nuances all shine here, and this beauty is full-bodied, has a rich, layered mouthfeel, sweet, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It shows the early pick dates with its fresher, vibrant style yet still brings beautiful depth, richness, and concentration. It will keep for 15+ years. (Drink between 2025-2040).

WA 95 (6/2025): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard incorporates 6% Cabernet Franc into the assemblage. Complex aromas range from cedar, loam and dried spices to restrained black cherries and black olives. It's full-bodied, supple, savory and long, with a slightly tannic edge to the finish. It could be a touch more concentrated, but that's nitpicking at this quality level.

VM 92 (12/2024): The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard is supple and juicy, qualities that will be best appreciated on the early side. It offers tons of forward appeal, if not quite the dimension, power of intensity of the best years. There's no way to get past the challenges of the brutal heat here. (Drink between 2025-2032). Antonio Galloni.

2022

The Absurd Proprietary Blend

$700

$650

WA 98 (6/2025): A barrel selection, Realm's 2022 The Absurd boasts compelling aromas of black cherries and red raspberries. It exhibits unusual brightness and lift, while still being full-bodied and richly textured. Sure, it's slightly open-knit, but it's intense, vibrant and characterful, with delicate shadings of violets, stone fruit and spice on the lingering finish.

JD 97 (1/2025): As always, the blend of the 2022 The Absurd isn't released, but it's nevertheless a selection of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon from all the sites this team works with. It's in the running for the wine of the vintage and has a deep, saturated purple hue as well as brilliant aromatics of darker currants, plums, smoke tobacco, violets, and incense, and it picks up a lively sense of minerality with time in the glass. Full-bodied, nicely concentrated, with ample mid-palate depth and ripe tannins, it's a rock solid, sure bet of a 2022 that will evolve gracefully for two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045)

Schrader

2022

Heritage Clone To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon

$250

$190

WA 96 (6/2025): Schrader's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clone To Kalon Vineyard is based on what has become known as Clone 31, about which winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown said, "Commercially nonviable is how I'd describe it—unless you grow it, bottle it and sell it for a lot of money." Scents of black cherries, loam, dried spices and dark chocolate appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky-textured and harmonious. It's a terrific wine from a challenging vintage.

JD 95 (1/2025): Red and black plums, cassis, spice oak, violets, and incense nuances all shine in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone, a pure, concentrated, elegant To Kalon that's full-bodied, has pure, polished tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's a structured, big, burly wine in 2022 that warrants 2-4 years in the cellar. It should keep through at least 2037.

2022

MB To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon

$250

$190

JD 95 (1/2025): Cassis, darker chocolate, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco all emerge from the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block, a beautifully textured, full-bodied 2022 that has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It doesn’t get much better in the vintage, and while it has the upfront appeal of the vintage, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve gracefully for upwards of two decades. (Drink between 2025-2045).

WA 95 (6/2025): Comprising 48 acres planted to several varieties, Mondavi's Monastery Block gets divided up among various brands. Schrader's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Monastery Block To Kalon Vineyard offers up compelling scents of dried herbs (thyme?), cassis and perfumed violets on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated, velvety and perhaps a touch warm; the long finish adds a touch of dark chocolate.

Tor

2023

Black Magic Red Wine

$599

$475

JD 98 (12/2025): Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 21 months in 67% new French oak, the 2023 Black Magic represents a best barrel selection blend offering vibrant blue fruits, cassis, liquid violets, graphite, camphor, and sappy floral notes. It's incredibly concentrated, with a seamless, ultra-pure, focused mouthfeel and notable freshness and acidity in a seamless, sensational, full-bodied style. It needs 4-6 years of cellaring but will keep for 40 years. Drink 2029-2065.

VM 97 (11/2025): The 2023 Black Magic is a blend from Melanson, Vine Hill Ranch and To Kalon. Sumptuous black-toned fruit, gravel, licorice, menthol and chocolate build nicely, growing into a crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures that is truly captivating. It's one of the wines of the vintage at Tor. Antonio Galloni.

WA 96-98 (6/2025): A barrel selection made in the winery as always, Tor's 2023 Black Magic looks to be a pretty complete, compelling example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (with perhaps a bit of Petit Verdot). There's an enticing hint of violets to the blackberries and cassis on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated, structured and firm, with a long, richly textured finish.

USA White

Morlet Family Vineyards

2022

Les Petits Morlet Sauvignon Blanc

$95

$70

WA 95 (10/2024): In effect a second wine for lots that didn't make the cut for La Proportion Dorée (but approximately 85% Sauvignon Blanc), the barrel-fermented 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Les Petits Morlet boasts plenty of expressive gooseberry aromas and ample citrus zest on the nose, but then has a full-bodied palate. Soft and expansive, it's really generous and luxurious in the mouth but balanced by a tart, lingering finish.

JD 94 (6/2024): Displaying a slightly deeper yellow/straw hue, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Les Petits Morlet is entirely Sauvignon Blanc, although it has the addition of the expressive Musqué clone, which is grown on rocky clay-loam soils. The wine is exuberant at this stage, with a more tropical fruited profile coming through on the nose, along with notes of beeswax, golden pear, white grapefruit, and saline. This continues to the palate, which is medium to full-bodied and reveals more intensity through the palate as well, with notes of melon and a ripe, rounded feel. Drink 2024-2034. 125 cases were produced. Audrey Frick.

Vineyard 29

2022

Sauvignon Blanc

$150

$125

JD 95 (3/2025): Like a great Pessac-Léognan Blanc, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc 29 Estate (100% Sauvignon Blanc) offers honeyed lemon, mint, crushed stone, and orange blossom, with hints of toast. Medium to full-bodied, round, fleshy, and textured, it's beautiful, deep, and layered, despite being a touch short on acidity. Drink over the coming 4-6 years. (Drink between 2025-2031)

USA Red

Abreu

2015

Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend

$300

$275

Sold Out

JD 98 (1/2019): The 2015 Los Posadas comes from an estate vineyard on Howell Mountain that lies at 2,000 feet in elevation, above the fog line. This singular effort has a flamboyant, mineral-laced bouquet of black and blue fruits, forest floor, camphor, chocolate, and exotic flowers, and is an incredible expression of this mountain terroir. With great, great intensity, beautiful purity of fruit, and again, this savory, mineral-driven character, it has enough tannins to warrant 2-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 decades. This cuvée is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 14% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Malbec. (Drink between 2021-2061).

VM 97 (12/2018): The 2015 Las Posadas is dark, sensual and totally inviting. Plush fruit and silky tannins push the black plum and blackberry fruit forward. Deep and resonant on the palate, the 2015 exudes class from start to finish. Like the rest of the other Abreu 2015s, the Posadas will drink well upon release. Hints of lavender and spice meld into the pliant, inviting finish. There is so much to like here. (Drink between 2023-2040). Antonio Galloni.

WA 98-100 (10/2016): Abreu is now calling his vineyard on Howell Mountain (a tract of 33 acres with 15 planted) Las Posadas, after the road high on the mountain that seems to be the Fifth Avenue of Howell Mountain vineyard sites. The seamless 2015 Las Posadas Proprietary Red nearly redefines opulence, extravagance, and intensity in its haute couture style. A candidate for perfection, the wine has notes of fruitcake, licorice, black truffle, forest floor, spring flowers, and black fruits that literally soar from the glass and continue across the palate with a cascade of earthly delights. This is a magnificent, almost chillingly perfect wine that has to be tasted to be experienced.

2015

Thorevilos Cabernet Sauvignon

Lightly Scuffed Label

$475

$375

Sold Out

JD 100 (1/2019): Another perfect wine, the 2015 Thorevilos comes in at 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec. This riveting wine boasts heavenly notes of blueberries, cassis, camphor, graphite, and forest floor, with more floral nuances developing with time in the glass. With full body, a powerful, stacked, intense profile, shocking elegance and purity, and a massive finish, hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can – count yourself lucky – and enjoy bottles for just about as long as you'd like. (Drink between 2023-2063)

VM 97 (11/2025): The 2015 Thorevilos is another fabulous wine in this flight of 2015s from David Abreu and Brad Grimes. Elegant and sophisticated, the 2015 offers an intriguing mix of power and finesse. Graphite, pencil shavings and blackberry and cloves are some of the many notes that explode from the glass. What a gorgeous wine this is. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni.

WA 99-100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2015 Thorevilos is, like its siblings, inky blue/black/purple, with incredible amounts of flamboyant, majestic blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with raspberries, spring flowers, wet rocks, truffles and foresty notes. Incredibly intense on the palate, the blueberry and graphite character seems to come forward along with a suggestion of toast. It is an amazingly viscous, thick and juicy wine, but it cuts a ballerina’s silhouette across the palate, as there is no heaviness or boredom. This is an exhilarating elixir – no doubt about it. Moreover, it is another 50-year wine.

Dalla Valle

2022

Cabernet Sauvignon

$190

$170

Sold Out

WA 96 (2/2025): I appear to have underestimated Dalla Valle's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate prior to bottling, as this blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot is now showing more harmony and length. On the nose, intense black cherries join dark, loamy earth scents, while the medium to full-bodied palate is rich and velvety, showing admirable concentration, texture and terrific persistence on the finish.

Fingers Crossed

2022

Life and Death Red Wine

$100

$90

Sold Out

WA 95+ (8/2024): asted prior to its July bottling date, the 2022 White Wine Life And Death is a blend of 69.5% Chardonnay, 26.9% Roussanne and 3.6% Marsanne from the Sanford & Benedict, Bien Nacido and Stolpman Vineyards. It spent 22 months in 85% new French oak. The nose here is a striking combination of waxy and layered aromas of stone fruit, tropical fruits, bright spice tones and an undercurrent of pleasing caramel richness. The palate is lavish and quite full-bodied, displaying impressive power and polish while remaining energetic and focused. It concludes with a succulent, clean acid profile that welcomely braces its otherwise massive frame. This was very enjoyable and should be fascinating to follow through bottling into its aging curve.

2022

Life and Death Syrah

$100

$90

Sold Out

JD 96-99 (8/2024): Dramatically different from the Red Wine, the 2022 Syrah Life & Death reveals a slightly deeper ruby/plum hue as well as a gamey, classic Syrah perfume of blackberries, bouquet garni, ground black pepper, and smoked bacon fat. It's full-bodied, plush, has a round, sexy mouthfeel, and a blockbuster finish.

VM 92-94 (8/2024): The 2022 Syrah Life and Death is another deep, resonant wine. It's the first pure Syrah for Fingers Crossed, in this case from Bien Nacido and Stolpman. Inky dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, dried herbs and mocha fill out the layers. This dense, powerhouse Syrah hits all the right notes, but it’s a baby today. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni.

WA 93 (8/2024): Tasted before bottling, the 2022 Syrah Life And Death is the first single-variety bottling from Fingers Crossed. It was sourced from Bien Nacido and Stolpman Vineyards, fermented with 18% whole clusters and aged for 21 months in 61% new French oak. True to the varietal makeup, the nose is darkly fruited and streaked with hints of black pepper, framed with a dusty, herbal quality that melds with touches of alcoholic heat. The palate is ripe, soft and luscious in texture, transitioning to a gritty, slightly hot finish. This was a moving target in the glass and could improve after bottling, although that back-end burn is problematic.

Tor

2023

Tor Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

$195

$165

Sold Out

Vineyard 29

2019

"29 Estate" Cabernet Sauvignon

$175

$145

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VM 98 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate, 100% Cabernet, shows just how special this site in northern St. Helena planted in 1989 with Grace clone Cabernet is. Copious blackberry jam, espresso, chocolate, licorice and cloves saturate the palate. Readers will find a truly distinctive Cabernet built on aromatic intensity, huge fruit and equally potent tannins. Give it a few years to soften. (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni.

WA 97+ (3/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate, from the original vineyard on an east-facing slope just north of the town of St. Helena, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 85% new French oak. It's less opulent and more classically styled than the Aida, with hints of thyme, sage and bay leaf lacing through cassis and blackberries. Full-bodied, with fine-grained tannins—but plenty of them—it's both mouthfilling and mouth-drying, with a long, gently dusty finish. Again, it could use some time in the cellar, and then it will drink well for two decades or more.

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