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Inventory updated: Fri, May 29, 2026 05:00 PM 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 |
| | Champagne |
| Louis Roederer |
2006 |
Brut Nature By Philippe Starck Champagne  |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (6/2016): The 2006 Brut Nature is Roederer's first non-malolactic, zero dosage vintage Champagne; it is equipped with a distinctive label from French designer Philippe Starck. Based on 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Meunier and 20% Chardonnay from late ripening plots on dark clay soils in Cumières (which are picked and processed together), the Brut Nature shows a great purity and freshness on the delicate nose. Pure, lean and mineral on the palate, this is a finesse-full and very straight, lemon-fresh and tension-filled fizz with a very good finish. Disgorged in March 2014. |
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|
1996 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,332.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (3/2015): As good as the 1995 Cristal (Late Disgorged) is, the 1996 may be even a touch better, as it has a bit more volume and also more layers of intensity. Taut yet wonderfully explosive, with fabulous energy, the 1996 captures all the best qualities of the vintage. In most 1996 retrospectives, Cristal makes a case for itself as one of the wines of the year, so it is not so surprising to see the Late Disgorged version show so well. Readers who can find the 1996 are in for a real treat. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
1999 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,721.98 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2005): One of the finest Champagnes I have ever brought to my lips, the 1999 Cristal bursts from the glass with fresh hazelnut and apple scents. Elegant, deep, and silky-textured, this medium to full-bodied beauty is immensely concentrated, pure, packed with apple flavors, and astoundingly long in the finish. Louis Roederer does not display a disgorgement date or consumer friendly lot number on its non-vintage Brut. This is regrettable as it has consistently been one of the finer bottlings in this category.
JS 97 (3/2012): From the family collection, disgorged ten years after harvest, slightly lower than original dosage. A warm year, the hottest since 1959 at the time, this has high ripeness and plenty of spice, a touch reductive, gentle citrus peel and some candied tropical fruits, clear chalk, dried honey and brioche too. The palate has a compression to it, smooth and finely layered texture here, some flesh and some succulent texture, generous dried red cherry fruit flavours pressed together with layers of more savoury autolysis. Complex and textural Champagne.
VM 92+ (11/2006): Light gold. Vibrant, tangy aromas of apple, pear, white peach and minerals. Wound tight right now, only reluctantly offering up flavors of fresh orchard fruits, herbs and pepper. Finishes zesty and long. Seems less deep than the 1997 bottling; is this just in a sullen, youthful stage? Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2000 |
Cristal Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$822.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2007): Bright gold. Deep, subtly smoky nectarine and musky yellow plum aromas are energized by a suave mineral quality. Broad and fleshy, with deep, chewy pear, pit fruit and buttered toast flavors. A serious style, with velvety texture and excellent finishing punch. This has the concentration to repay cellaring but is open-knit enough to enjoy on the young side. |
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|
2000 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,346.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2007): Bright gold. Deep, subtly smoky nectarine and musky yellow plum aromas are energized by a suave mineral quality. Broad and fleshy, with deep, chewy pear, pit fruit and buttered toast flavors. A serious style, with velvety texture and excellent finishing punch. This has the concentration to repay cellaring but is open-knit enough to enjoy on the young side. |
|
|
2004 |
Cristal Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,264.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2010): (55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay) Light, bright gold. Spicy citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by chalk, white flowers and a touch of smokiness. Taut, linear lemon and orange rind flavors give way to deeper pear in the mid-palate and pick up notes of honeysuckle and toasted grain with air. Still very young but shows excellent promise. Finishes with good mineral cut and sappy persistence. |
|
|
2005 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,082.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 96 (3/2012): The complexity and youthful freshness here makes a striking Champagne that offers immense pleasure and a certain richness and depth that reflects the style of the vintage with some warmth reflected in the wine. The nose has rich citrus and stone fruits, some white flowers, light creamy honey notes and fresh sweet pastry, it has a toasty thread that has built quickly in the wine. Plenty of body on the palate, it has a wealth of assertive citrus and more exotic fruits too, the power and concentration undeniable, the length impressive and the balance impeccable. Already great drinking here. Slightly higher chardonnay component at around 45%.
VM 94 (12/2012): Bright yellow-gold. Heady floral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with smoky mineral and floral overtones adding complexity. Velvety and chewy in texture, offering deep, juicy orange and poached pear flavors and suave honey and chamomile nuances. Blends precision with power, finishing with a distinct mineral quality and excellent persistence. Josh Raynolds.
WA 93 (11/2012): The 2005 Cristal stands out for its exceptional inner perfume and elegance. Soft, delicate and pretty, the 2005 is a relatively immediate Cristal with all of the signatures very much in the right place. The 2005 doesn't have the opulence of the 2002 nor the focus of the 2004, but it is a very pretty, if somewhat small-scaled version of this iconic Champagne. I would drink the 2005 while the 2002 and 2004 age. Although Cristal has an impeccable track record when it comes to aging, personally I would not push it with the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.
BH 93 (10/2015): Like the 2006 this is notably ripe with plenty of yeast, brioche and orchard fruit characters but in this case there is no tropicality. There is fine mid-palate density to the relatively powerful and very rich flavors that possess excellent complexity on the lingering finish that really fans out as it sits in the mouth. Like many 2005s this is not an especially refined vintage for Cristal nor does it possess the effervescent punch it usually does. Those aspects duly noted, this certainly cannot be faulted in terms of richness and complexity and for my taste, this is probably drinking about as well as it's going to though I underscore that it should drink well for many years to come. Drink now+. |
|
|
2005 |
Cristal Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,083.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 96 (3/2012): The complexity and youthful freshness here makes a striking Champagne that offers immense pleasure and a certain richness and depth that reflects the style of the vintage with some warmth reflected in the wine. The nose has rich citrus and stone fruits, some white flowers, light creamy honey notes and fresh sweet pastry, it has a toasty thread that has built quickly in the wine. Plenty of body on the palate, it has a wealth of assertive citrus and more exotic fruits too, the power and concentration undeniable, the length impressive and the balance impeccable. Already great drinking here. Slightly higher chardonnay component at around 45%.
VM 94 (12/2012): Bright yellow-gold. Heady floral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with smoky mineral and floral overtones adding complexity. Velvety and chewy in texture, offering deep, juicy orange and poached pear flavors and suave honey and chamomile nuances. Blends precision with power, finishing with a distinct mineral quality and excellent persistence. Josh Raynolds.
WA 93 (11/2012): The 2005 Cristal stands out for its exceptional inner perfume and elegance. Soft, delicate and pretty, the 2005 is a relatively immediate Cristal with all of the signatures very much in the right place. The 2005 doesn't have the opulence of the 2002 nor the focus of the 2004, but it is a very pretty, if somewhat small-scaled version of this iconic Champagne. I would drink the 2005 while the 2002 and 2004 age. Although Cristal has an impeccable track record when it comes to aging, personally I would not push it with the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.
BH 93 (10/2015): Like the 2006 this is notably ripe with plenty of yeast, brioche and orchard fruit characters but in this case there is no tropicality. There is fine mid-palate density to the relatively powerful and very rich flavors that possess excellent complexity on the lingering finish that really fans out as it sits in the mouth. Like many 2005s this is not an especially refined vintage for Cristal nor does it possess the effervescent punch it usually does. Those aspects duly noted, this certainly cannot be faulted in terms of richness and complexity and for my taste, this is probably drinking about as well as it's going to though I underscore that it should drink well for many years to come. Drink now+. |
|
|
2006 |
Cristal Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$614.98 |
38 |
|
| |
VM 97 (5/2014): Broad, ample and resonant on the palate, the 2006 Cristal dazzles with its pure richness and volume. Readers need to give the 2006 another 4-5 years in bottle, perhaps longer, as the wine appears to be shutting down a bit. Tasted next to the 2002, today the 2006 is a bit less opulent but just as intense, layered and deep. This is a fabulous showing. 10,000 cases imported in the US.
VM 95 (12/2013): (Made from 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay; 20% of the wine was aged in oak; no malo, as usual): Light, bright gold. Heady mineral- and smoke-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas, with notes of fig, toasted nuts and sweet butter adding complexity and depth. Powerful, palate-staining poached pear and orange flavors are given spine by a smoky mineral quality, picking up floral and spicecake notes with air. Rich but lively and precise, finishing with superb clarity, power and spicy persistence. Drinking this Champagne now would be a shame given this cuvee's track record for aging.
JS 94 (12/2013): This is very approachable with dried mangoes and lemons plus hints of yeast. Full body, dried friut and a pretty, tangy finish. Balanced and delicious. Drink now.
WA 93 (11/2013): Roederer’s 2006 Brut Cristal is striking in its sense of lift and delicacy, serving as one of many instances where those bringing preconceptions of this vintage’s warmth and ripeness of fruit to their experience may be pleasantly surprised. A nose of fresh apple, fennel and cucumber sets up associations with a slaw or salad that are crisply, lusciously and refreshingly redeemed on the palate. A garland of honeysuckle and heliotrope complements subtle suggestions of raw almond and vanilla, while alkaline and iodine notes as well as cooling but pungent green herbal notes add to the soothing yet stimulating finish. This exceptionally poised, refined, and buoyant performance is apt to gain depth with a few years’ bottle age. |
|
|
2006 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,539.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (5/2014): Broad, ample and resonant on the palate, the 2006 Cristal dazzles with its pure richness and volume. Readers need to give the 2006 another 4-5 years in bottle, perhaps longer, as the wine appears to be shutting down a bit. Tasted next to the 2002, today the 2006 is a bit less opulent but just as intense, layered and deep. This is a fabulous showing. 10,000 cases imported in the US.
VM 95 (12/2013): (Made from 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay; 20% of the wine was aged in oak; no malo, as usual): Light, bright gold. Heady mineral- and smoke-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas, with notes of fig, toasted nuts and sweet butter adding complexity and depth. Powerful, palate-staining poached pear and orange flavors are given spine by a smoky mineral quality, picking up floral and spicecake notes with air. Rich but lively and precise, finishing with superb clarity, power and spicy persistence. Drinking this Champagne now would be a shame given this cuvee's track record for aging.
JS 94 (12/2013): This is very approachable with dried mangoes and lemons plus hints of yeast. Full body, dried friut and a pretty, tangy finish. Balanced and delicious. Drink now.
WA 93 (11/2013): Roederer’s 2006 Brut Cristal is striking in its sense of lift and delicacy, serving as one of many instances where those bringing preconceptions of this vintage’s warmth and ripeness of fruit to their experience may be pleasantly surprised. A nose of fresh apple, fennel and cucumber sets up associations with a slaw or salad that are crisply, lusciously and refreshingly redeemed on the palate. A garland of honeysuckle and heliotrope complements subtle suggestions of raw almond and vanilla, while alkaline and iodine notes as well as cooling but pungent green herbal notes add to the soothing yet stimulating finish. This exceptionally poised, refined, and buoyant performance is apt to gain depth with a few years’ bottle age. |
|
|
2007 |
Cristal Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$608.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (7/2015): Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has produced yet another in a string of superb Champagnes with the 2007 Cristal. Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2007 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. The aromatics alone are captivating, but then the wine opens on the palate, revealing layer after layer of flavor to match a multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic personality that will leave Champagne lovers weak at the knees. The 2007 is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir, which is to say a bit more Chardonnay-leaning than is the norm. The 2007 is striking today, but it should also age effortlessly for several decades. It is also without question one of the very finest new releases of the year. |
|
|
2007 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,636.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (7/2015): Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has produced yet another in a string of superb Champagnes with the 2007 Cristal. Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2007 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. The aromatics alone are captivating, but then the wine opens on the palate, revealing layer after layer of flavor to match a multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic personality that will leave Champagne lovers weak at the knees. The 2007 is 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir, which is to say a bit more Chardonnay-leaning than is the norm. The 2007 is striking today, but it should also age effortlessly for several decades. It is also without question one of the very finest new releases of the year. |
|
|
2008 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,108.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2018): The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.
JS 100 (1/2018): Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.
VM 99 (12/2019): The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.” Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (3/2020): Disgorged in September 2017 with 7.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Cristal was produced from 37 of the 45 parcels that are candidates for inclusion in this cuvee—some 40% of which were farmed organically back in 2008—and it's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The finest young Cristal in decades, the wine wafts from the glass with a pure and vibrant bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, clear honey, warm brioche, citrus zest and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, intense and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, searingly chalky finish. Pristinely balanced, there are some 500,000 bottles of this legend-in-the-making. |
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2008 |
Cristal Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,055.99 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2018): The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.
JS 100 (1/2018): Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.
VM 99 (12/2019): The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.” Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (3/2020): Disgorged in September 2017 with 7.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Cristal was produced from 37 of the 45 parcels that are candidates for inclusion in this cuvee—some 40% of which were farmed organically back in 2008—and it's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The finest young Cristal in decades, the wine wafts from the glass with a pure and vibrant bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, clear honey, warm brioche, citrus zest and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, intense and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, searingly chalky finish. Pristinely balanced, there are some 500,000 bottles of this legend-in-the-making. |
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|
2009 |
Cristal Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$554.98 |
40 |
|
| |
JS 97 (10/2016): A very rich and full-bodied Cristal that harks back to 2006 or 1989 in style. It's round and rich, which underlies the ripeness of the vintage. Lots of dried-apple and pineapple character with bread dough and flan flavors. The bubbles are so fine you almost don't notice them. Very vinous style. Drink now.
VM 96 (7/2017): Rich, creamy and radiant, the 2009 Cristal captures all of the natural generosity of the vintage while also retaining a good bit of freshness and aromatic intensity. Immediate and totally sensual in its allure, the 2009 will drink well with minimal cellaring. All things considered, at this stage, the 2009 comes across as relatively restrained for a wine from a warm year. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2012 |
Cristal Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$597.99 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 98 (12/2019): The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (7/2019): Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.
WA 97+ (12/2019): Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself. |
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2012 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,508.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (12/2019): The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (7/2019): Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.
WA 97+ (12/2019): Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself. |
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2012 |
Cristal Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$825.97 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 98 (12/2019): The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (7/2019): Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.
WA 97+ (12/2019): Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself. |
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2013 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,597.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (11/2021): The 2013 Cristal is a wine of extraordinary precision and tension. Searing acids drive a bold, racy Champagne that won’t be ready to offer its best drinking anytime soon. In recent vintages, Cristal has been quite open on release. That is far from the case with the 2013. Readers should plan on being quite patient. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont-sur-Vesle) and 40% Chardonnay (Mesnil, Avize, Cramant). Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon was especially selective and used only 30 out of the potential 45 plots that are typically available for Cristal. About 32% of the lots were done in oak, the rest in steel, with the malolactic fermentation blocked across the board. It was an October harvest, the sort of harvest that has become increasingly rare in Champagne. Lecaillon describes the summer as similar to 2012, but adds the vines were a month behind in their development. In tasting, the 2013 reminds me of the 1996 in its austerity, even more so than the epic 2008. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Cristal Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$848.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (11/2021): The 2013 Cristal is a wine of extraordinary precision and tension. Searing acids drive a bold, racy Champagne that won’t be ready to offer its best drinking anytime soon. In recent vintages, Cristal has been quite open on release. That is far from the case with the 2013. Readers should plan on being quite patient. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont-sur-Vesle) and 40% Chardonnay (Mesnil, Avize, Cramant). Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon was especially selective and used only 30 out of the potential 45 plots that are typically available for Cristal. About 32% of the lots were done in oak, the rest in steel, with the malolactic fermentation blocked across the board. It was an October harvest, the sort of harvest that has become increasingly rare in Champagne. Lecaillon describes the summer as similar to 2012, but adds the vines were a month behind in their development. In tasting, the 2013 reminds me of the 1996 in its austerity, even more so than the epic 2008. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2014 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,539.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2022): The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. A dazzling, vibrant Champagne, the 2014 impresses with a stunning combination of fruit density and linear energy that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of 2012 and 2008. At times, the bubbles feel totally wrapped up in waves of creamy, resonant fruit to the point the mousse is barely perceptible, especially with aeration. The flavors are bright and finely sculpted, leaning very much into the citrus, floral and mineral end of the spectrum.
JS 97 (6/2022): Lots of mineral and oyster-shell aromas with light toasted-bread and pie-crust undertones. Hints of caramel, apple and pear tart, too. Medium to full body with phenolic intensity and length. Intense at the finish, with driving acidity and length. Generous and expressive. Dosage 7g/L. Very drinkable now, but even better in 2025.
WA 96 (2/2022): The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that's girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that's simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn't come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window. This bottle was disgorged in June 2021 with seven grams per liter dosage.
JD 96 (2/2022): It’s always educational, and a treat, to taste the latest vintage of Louis Roederer’s flagship Cristal Champagne. This cuvee is sourced from 45 separate plots covering just under 200 acres spread between the villages of Verzeny, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Aÿ, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant. The vineyards are farmed either organically or biodynamically and are planted to a 60/40 split of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Each parcel is vinified separately and for the 2014, only 39 parcels made the final selection, with the blend being roughly 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The wine has the malolactic fermentation blocked and is brought up in a mix of 32% oak and 68% tank. This was a warmer year that saw fabulous springtime weather, a slightly cooler, rainy summer, and a great end of the year. The 2014 fits in nicely in recent vintages and has a style all its own, showing a fleshy, round, nicely concentrated style reminiscent of the 2012 yet not quite the precision of either the 2008 or 2013. Gorgeous and classic Cristal stone fruit, chalky minerality, white flowers, almond paste, and subtle toast emerge on the nose and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, almost creamy texture, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s surprisingly approachable yet I’ve no doubt it will evolve nicely given its mid-palate depth and overall balance. It’s beautiful today and a terrific Cristal to enjoy over the coming two decades or so. It’s unquestionably more approachable than either the 2013 or 2008, but not far off qualitatively. |
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|
2015 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,573.99 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (5/2023): I have tasted the 2015 Cristal three times so far - once as part of an extensive vertical I will be reporting on shortly, and then later in my office. Those tastings paint a portrait of a complex Champagne that is still finding its center. Tasted at the maison, the 2015 is rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous textural intensity and also a good bit of energy to back it up. Citrus confit, spice, ginger, chalk and dried flowers abound in a Champagne endowed with tremendous aromatic presence in a style that offers notable richness, but lighter than vintages such as 2012. There is a bit of the savoriness that is such a signature of the year, but it is nicely integrated in the wine’s fabric. Two later tastings in my office strongly suggest the 2015 has already started to shut down a bit, which is a shame, as it may be hard to read for some time to come. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 2022. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (4/2023): If the 2014 vintage was especially open and demonstrative, the 2015 Cristal is going to require more patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp stone fruits, white flowers, crushed mint and subtle hints of buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a deep, concentrated and rather introverted core of fruit framed by chalky extract and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse. This is a serious, vinous Champagne that has considerable substance to age and may well evolve along the lines of the lovely 1985. |
|
|
2016 |
Cristal Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,580.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2000 |
Cristal Rose Champagne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$878.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2002 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,289.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Cristal Rose Champagne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$660.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2005 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,938.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Cristal Rose Champagne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$683.97 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (5/2015): One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2006 Cristal Rose is simply stunning. A vertical, towering wine, the 2006 Cristal Rose is a thrill a minute, with a compelling interplay of aromatics and exquisitely layered fruit, all supported by a real feeling of phenolic intensity. While the 2007 is seductive, the 2006 is virile and imposing, with the statuesque lift of a Giacometti sculpture. All the elements meld together in a complete, alluring Champagne that will continue to drink beautifully for many decades. In 2006, the Pinot Noir was already being farmed biodynamically, while the Chardonnay was still under conversion. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2006 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,493.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (5/2015): One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2006 Cristal Rose is simply stunning. A vertical, towering wine, the 2006 Cristal Rose is a thrill a minute, with a compelling interplay of aromatics and exquisitely layered fruit, all supported by a real feeling of phenolic intensity. While the 2007 is seductive, the 2006 is virile and imposing, with the statuesque lift of a Giacometti sculpture. All the elements meld together in a complete, alluring Champagne that will continue to drink beautifully for many decades. In 2006, the Pinot Noir was already being farmed biodynamically, while the Chardonnay was still under conversion. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2007 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,716.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,906.98 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 99 (7/2018): As a group, the 2008 Champagnes are focused and tightly wound. The 2008 Cristal Rose has plenty of those qualities, but what places it in a truly rarified category is its sheer depth and verticality. Vinous, powerful and resonant, the 2008 Cristal Rose has more than enough stuffing to support decades of cellaring. For starters, it won’t be ready to drink for another 5-10 years. This is a positively monumental, towering Champagne from Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon and his team. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,548.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2012 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,082.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (7/2020): Just about as good as it gets, the 2012 Cristal Rosé is a magical effort based on 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. It’s a powerful, medium to full-bodied, incredibly textured rosé offering a huge amount of salty, chalky minerality as well as awesome notes of white cherries, orange blossom, caramelized apples, and toasted bread. It shows the ripe, rounded richness of the 2012 vintage yet has bright, racy acidity, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. It opens up nicely with air and will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age, and it should evolve for 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2022-2054).
VM 98 (11/2024): In this setting, the 2012 Cristal Rosé is a cut above the 2012 Cristal. The Rosé’s explosive energy and vibrancy are both compelling, and also a very fine match for the food. Time in the glass brings out the breadth and creaminess of the year. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and 45% Chardonnay from Mesnil and Avize. This is a terrific showing. We are off to the races. (Drink between 2026-2052). Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (3/2020): The 2012 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with a beautiful bouquet of fresh peach, bergamot, strawberries, tangerine and blanched almonds that's still quite reserved. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and strikingly complete, its vinous attack segueing into a multidimensional core that exemplifies the ideal of power without weight, built around a racy but integrated spine of animating acidity and complemented by an exquisitely refined mousse. All the concentration of the 2012 vintage is on display, but it's rendered with terrific finesse. Decidedly youthful and introverted—indeed, I spent several hours with a bottle to compose this note—the 2012 will really come into its own with five or six years in the cellar and displays all the attributes necessary for considerable longevity. It's a blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay that saw no malolactic fermentation, and it was disgorged with eight grams per liter dosage. |
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|
2012 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,965.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (7/2020): Just about as good as it gets, the 2012 Cristal Rosé is a magical effort based on 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. It’s a powerful, medium to full-bodied, incredibly textured rosé offering a huge amount of salty, chalky minerality as well as awesome notes of white cherries, orange blossom, caramelized apples, and toasted bread. It shows the ripe, rounded richness of the 2012 vintage yet has bright, racy acidity, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. It opens up nicely with air and will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age, and it should evolve for 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2022-2054).
VM 98 (11/2024): In this setting, the 2012 Cristal Rosé is a cut above the 2012 Cristal. The Rosé’s explosive energy and vibrancy are both compelling, and also a very fine match for the food. Time in the glass brings out the breadth and creaminess of the year. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and 45% Chardonnay from Mesnil and Avize. This is a terrific showing. We are off to the races. (Drink between 2026-2052). Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (3/2020): The 2012 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with a beautiful bouquet of fresh peach, bergamot, strawberries, tangerine and blanched almonds that's still quite reserved. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and strikingly complete, its vinous attack segueing into a multidimensional core that exemplifies the ideal of power without weight, built around a racy but integrated spine of animating acidity and complemented by an exquisitely refined mousse. All the concentration of the 2012 vintage is on display, but it's rendered with terrific finesse. Decidedly youthful and introverted—indeed, I spent several hours with a bottle to compose this note—the 2012 will really come into its own with five or six years in the cellar and displays all the attributes necessary for considerable longevity. It's a blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay that saw no malolactic fermentation, and it was disgorged with eight grams per liter dosage. |
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|
2012 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,522.97 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 99 (7/2020): Just about as good as it gets, the 2012 Cristal Rosé is a magical effort based on 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay. It’s a powerful, medium to full-bodied, incredibly textured rosé offering a huge amount of salty, chalky minerality as well as awesome notes of white cherries, orange blossom, caramelized apples, and toasted bread. It shows the ripe, rounded richness of the 2012 vintage yet has bright, racy acidity, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. It opens up nicely with air and will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age, and it should evolve for 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2022-2054).
VM 98 (11/2024): In this setting, the 2012 Cristal Rosé is a cut above the 2012 Cristal. The Rosé’s explosive energy and vibrancy are both compelling, and also a very fine match for the food. Time in the glass brings out the breadth and creaminess of the year. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir from Aÿ and 45% Chardonnay from Mesnil and Avize. This is a terrific showing. We are off to the races. (Drink between 2026-2052). Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (3/2020): The 2012 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with a beautiful bouquet of fresh peach, bergamot, strawberries, tangerine and blanched almonds that's still quite reserved. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and strikingly complete, its vinous attack segueing into a multidimensional core that exemplifies the ideal of power without weight, built around a racy but integrated spine of animating acidity and complemented by an exquisitely refined mousse. All the concentration of the 2012 vintage is on display, but it's rendered with terrific finesse. Decidedly youthful and introverted—indeed, I spent several hours with a bottle to compose this note—the 2012 will really come into its own with five or six years in the cellar and displays all the attributes necessary for considerable longevity. It's a blend of 56% Pinot Noir and 44% Chardonnay that saw no malolactic fermentation, and it was disgorged with eight grams per liter dosage. |
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|
2013 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,284.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 99 (4/2024): Tasted from magnum, the 2013 Cristal Rosé is ravishing. Dense, creamy and powerful, the 2013 captures all the qualities of the vintage, specifically the interplay of rich fruit from the warm summer and cooler inflections from a year that started late and ended late with a rare October harvest. Today, the 2013 is deep and beautifully seamless, but it is also young – far too young to be at its best. Dosage is 6.5 grams per liter, a bit less than for the standard bottlings, a decision taken to balance longer aging on the lees and a bit more residual sugar that is always left in the magnums after fermentation. Readers who can find the 2013 in magnum will experience one of the greatest thrills in wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,589.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 99 (4/2024): Tasted from magnum, the 2013 Cristal Rosé is ravishing. Dense, creamy and powerful, the 2013 captures all the qualities of the vintage, specifically the interplay of rich fruit from the warm summer and cooler inflections from a year that started late and ended late with a rare October harvest. Today, the 2013 is deep and beautifully seamless, but it is also young – far too young to be at its best. Dosage is 6.5 grams per liter, a bit less than for the standard bottlings, a decision taken to balance longer aging on the lees and a bit more residual sugar that is always left in the magnums after fermentation. Readers who can find the 2013 in magnum will experience one of the greatest thrills in wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Cristal Rose Champagne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$513.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,446.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,606.98 |
14 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Champagne |
| Dom Perignon |
1990 |
Oenotheque Champagne Scuffed Label |
$1,050 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2005): Silvery gold color, with a very fine mousse. Absolutely stunning aromatics: pungent iodine, oyster shell, oatmeal, toasted wheat and bitter lemon. This smells like top-notch Chevalier-Montrachet from a great vintage. Broad and deep but also very fresh and bright, with suave, toasty citrus and smoke flavors accented by exotic spices. This expands impressively on the back, finishing with great impact, and impression of strong extract, and notes of bacon fat, toffee and minerals. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Rivers Marie |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a gorgeous, rich wine layered with mint, tobacco, spices, cedar and licorice. It shows gorgeous textural depth and tons of aromatic nuances. This is a fabulous wine loaded with class and personality. It isn’t the biggest wine here, but it is exceptionally polished. Wow! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. |
|
|
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2012): The estate’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Juicy dark berries, flowers, mint and cloves all come together nicely in the glass. Today, the 2010 is open and expressive, with soft, silky tannins and tons of near-term appeal, all qualities entry-level Cabernets should have. The 2010 is mostly valley floor fruit, with dollops of Panek, Corona and GIII. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. |
|
|
2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2014): Rivers-Marie's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon brings together the richness of the year along with pretty savory notes that balance some of the more overt fruit. Iron, smoke, cedar and dried red cherries are all laced into the super-expressive finish. This is one of very best Napa Valley Cabernets in its price range. The 2012 was made from three sites; Pellet (Calistoga) and Bourn and Bressler, both in St. Helena. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is plump, juicy and expressive. Sweet and open-knit in style, the 2013 is best enjoyed young, while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Sweet red cherry, plum and pomegranate add a final burst of energy on the close. (Drink between 2017-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2012 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is a killer effort. Sweet blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit along with notes of vanilla, toast, licorice, incense and spice box emerge from this full-bodied, classic Napa Cabernet. With good acidity, ripe tannin and a broad, savory, multidimensional mouthfeel, this fabulous wine represents 200 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 75% new oak. The finished alcohol is 14.3%. It should drink well for 15-20 years.
VM 93 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from a single block in what is widely considered the best part of the Larkmead estate. Dark black fruit, graphite, game, smoke and pencil shavings wrap around a core of dark fruit in a powerful, explosive Cabernet built on intensity and inner sweetness, although time in the glass brings out the wine's more seductive qualities. This broad, ample Cabernet Sauvignon should drink beautifully for a number of years. This is a strong debut vintage for the Calistoga Cabernet. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, which comes from the so-called Olmo clone (the same as the Eiesle clone), exhibits an opaque purple color, sweet creme de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as licorice, wet pebbles giving it minerality, and a long, full-bodied, opulent texture. This stunning wine comes from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from the most historic portion of Larkmead, where the Olmo clone (said to be the precursor to Eisele clone) and pure Cortina soils yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Dense and powerful, with distinctly earthy, savory notes, the 2013 delivers serious intensity and explosiveness. Readers will have to be patient, however, as the 2013 needs time to be at its best. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 92 (12/2016): A dark, brooding wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga captures the personality of this site nicely. Smoke, scorched earth, tar, licorice and plum give the wine much of its dark, imposing personality. This is an especially virile wine, but Thomas Brown has done a very good job in softening some of the contours. The Calistoga Cabernet emerges from one of the choicest parcels at Larkmead. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (3/2018): Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mint and pomegranate rush onto the palate in the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga). Even with all its ripeness, the 2015 has quite a bit of depth and textural resonance, not to mention tons of personality. The Calistoga Cabernet emerges from one of the choicest areas in Larkmead. My only hesitation at the moment with the 2015 is the tannins, which are a bit grainy and suggest that ripening was not totally even. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga) is driving and intense, with savory, earthy notes that give the wine its distinctive personality. This powerful Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon possesses tremendous depth and muscle, both signatures of Larkmead, one of the top vineyard sites in Calistoga, and Napa Valley, for that matter. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is deep garnet-purple colored, charging out of the gate with savory notions of sautéed herbs, beef drippings and truffles with a core of crème de cassis , baked plums and mulberries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid backbone of firm, velvety tannins and really compelling earthy undertones to all that decadent black fruit, finishing long and layered. |
|
|
2009 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$90 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard, from a site on the Oakville bench, is the richest of these 2009 Cabernets from Rivers-Marie. It bursts from the glass with jammy, opulent fruit and a big, full-bodied personality. Blue and black fruit, mint, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the finish. The 100% new oak comes through here. I am not sure this wine needs all the oak and makeup. There is plenty of pedigree already. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. |
|
|
2010 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard has come together beautifully since I last tasted it. A rich sumptuous wine, the 2010 caresses the palate with layers of dark fruit, spices, menthol and licorice. The dark fruit and intense spices are pure Oakville. The French oak, which was quite noticeable last year, has integrated beautifully. The Corona is totally different than the Panek, but just as beautiful. In 2010 I have a slight preference for the Corona over the Panek, but both are striking and absolutely delicious. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. |
|
|
2012 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2014): The opaque purple-hued 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Crona Vineyard, from gravelly, stony soils in the western Oakville hills, is the most intense, massive, structured and tannic wine of this group of 2012s. Aged in 75% new oak (250 cases produced), it offers up notes of licorice, graphite, vanillin, baking spices, blueberries and blackberries along with stupendous extract, richness and structure. Drink it over the next 20+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard has also turned out beautifully, which is indeed saying something, as Corona is a site that does not perform consistently from year to year. Dark cherry jam, graphite, blueberry compote, tobacco and sweet French oak blossom in a powerful, radiant Cabernet endowed with real breadth and volume. I suspect the Corona will drink well earlier than some of the other wines in this range, specifically the Calistoga and Lore Cabernets. This is one of the very best Coronas I can remember tasting at Rivers-Marie. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (10/2015): Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the western Oakville hills, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard is a backward, almost first-growth Pauillac style of wine, with notes of lead pencil, licorice, wet stones, cedar wood and fruitcake. Fine-grained tannins are significant, giving the wine considerable grip and earthiness. This is a big, backstrapping, broodingly primordial style of wine that clearly will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. |
|
|
2014 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
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| WA 96+ (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard comes from the western Oakville hillside that was once an old gravel quarry. Blue/purple with notes of earth, crushed rock, blueberry and blackberry fruit, this is a relatively tannic, backward style compared to the other Cabernets with plenty of minerality, a muscular structure, full-bodied mouthfeel and loads of blue, red and black fruits. This is impressive and potentially fabulous with a great upside, but needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for up to 30 years. |
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2011 |
Gioia Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
1 |
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| VM 89 (7/2013): The 2011 Pinot Noir Gioia Vineyard is one of the more immediate wines in the range. It has some of the brambly qualities found in the Summa, but with more fruit, the result of the warmer micro climate in this parcel. Today my impression is that the 2011 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later, as the fruit will likely start dropping out after a few years, but it is quite pretty today. Licorice, savory herbs, mint and anise are some of the aromas and flavor that add complexity on the finish. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
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| VM 96 (12/2018): Time has been kind to the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb, a wine that is positively stellar today. Dark and explosive, with tremendous energy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Beams of tannin give the 2016 a backbone of energy and structure that will allow it to develop nicely in bottle for many years to come. Thomas Brown and his team crafted a striking wine that captures the essence of one of the most singular sites in Napa Valley. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
3 |
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JD 99 (1/2021): Lastly, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is a true superstar in the vintage and reminds me of a great vintage of Château Margaux with its exotic bouquet of blue fruits, sandalwood, spring flowers, menthol, and lead pencil shavings. These all carry to a powerful, full-bodied 2018 with a weightless texture, building tannins, flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's not a wine that hits you over the head with fruit, but it builds incrementally on the palate and has perfect balance as well as the class and depth to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years. (Drink between 2025-2056)
VM 98 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is distinguished in this range by its strong aromatic signatures. Blood orange, sage, mint, licorice, pine and raspberry jam are all beautifully lifted. In the glass, the Herb Lamb is powerful and deep, yet also a bit reticent today. I would give it a few years to soften. There is so much going on here. Herb Lamb is a complex site divided into three macro areas. Sadly, much, if not all, of the property was lost in the 2020 fires. (Drink between 2024-2035). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored, offering up gregarious scents of black cherry pie, warm cassis, garrigue and kirsch with emerging hints of blackberries, wild blueberries and roses. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully muscular in the mouth, it has great tension and firm, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and earthy. |
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2019 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
2 |
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| JD 99 (12/2021): The Herb Lamb Vineyard was lost in the fires of 2020, so this will be the last vintage of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard. As with the Oakville Terraces release, it's a borderline perfect wine that has a captivating bouquet of cassis, blackberries, charcoal, lead pencil shavings, and even a hint of menthol. With full-bodied richness and depth, a concentrated, structured, yet seamless mouthfeel, and one great finish, it's another incredible wine from the team at Rivers-Marie. As with most 2019s, it has up-front appeal, yet my money is on a solid two decades of development. |
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2023 |
Joy Road Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (1/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Joy Road Vineyard is classy, elegant and polished. Silky tannins envelop a core of dark blue/purplish fruit, new leather, licorice and spice. Medium in body, yet fleshy and quite deep, the 2023 is a rockstar all the way. (Drink between 2027-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
3 |
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WA 97+ (10/2015): Another killer effort from Rivers-Marie is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard, from a steep and rocky single vineyard in the Vaca foothills of eastern Napa above the Rudd Winery. The wine comes across with fabulous intensity and loads of blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit, licorice, camphor and incense. This is great stuff, backward, as all of these 2013s tend to be. It’s the smallest of these cuvees, with about 250 cases, or ten barrels produced. This wine is another one to benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more.
VM 97 (10/2015): The undisputed crown jewel in this lineup, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is every bit as fabulous in bottle as it was from barrel. Here the impression is of explosive energy and pure verticality. A rush of dark red and black fruit, melted road tar, cloves, licorice and leather punctuates the explosive, creamy finish. All the magic of eastern Oakville comes through in spades. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
1 |
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WA 96+ (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is another magnificent wine from the Oakville corridor on the hills near Dalla Valle and the Pedregral Vineyard of David Ramey. Wonderful notes of fruitcake, cedar wood, spice box, blackcurrant and blackberry along with espresso and spice jump from the glass of this terrific wine that is powerful, concentrated and multidimensional, but still somewhat youthful and backward. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25-30 years.
VM 94 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is the deepest and most explosive of these 2014s. Vivid and chiseled in the glass, the 2014 exudes energy, with tons of intensely mineral and savory overtones. Rose petal, lavender, mint and sage all flesh out nicely in the glass. This collection of small parcels on the eastern hillsides of Oakville often yields wines of notable distinction. That is once again the case in 2014. This is a special wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
2 |
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| WA 98 (12/2017): Deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard has a wonderfully expressive, savory nose of char-grilled meat, truffles, sauteed herbs and Bovril with a core of crème de cassis, blackberry tart, menthol, mocha and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply sings with intense black fruits accented with loads of savory layers, framed by grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing with epic length. 232 cases produced. |
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2016 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
3 |
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| VM 97+ (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is sensational. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 2016 expresses all the best this rugged hillside site has to offer. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, smoke and dark spice explode from the glass. In most vintages, the Lore is massively tannic, but the 2016 has tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance. It is one of the best – maybe the best – Rivers-Marie Cabernet I have ever tasted. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$213 |
3 |
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| VM 97+ (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is sensational. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 2016 expresses all the best this rugged hillside site has to offer. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, smoke and dark spice explode from the glass. In most vintages, the Lore is massively tannic, but the 2016 has tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance. It is one of the best – maybe the best – Rivers-Marie Cabernet I have ever tasted. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
4 |
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WA 98 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon coming from a single vineyard in Oakville. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal tantalizing scents of boysenberries, chocolate-covered cherries and crushed black and red currants with hints of menthol, tobacco leaf, violets, cinnamon stick and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with perfumed black fruits, backed up by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Just stunning. Give it a good 4-5 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20 years+.
JD 97+ (1/2021): From a great site in Oakville, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard boasts a rich, full-bodied style offering ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and textbook Cabernet notes of ripe black currants, cassis, smoked tobacco, loamy soil, and chocolate. I love its overall purity as well as its balance, and while it's already accessible today, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2023-2045).
VM 97+ (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is magnificent. Strong savory and mineral notes add aromatic complexity to play off the dense, plush fruit that is typical of these wines. Intriguing and complex, the Lore captures all of the magic of this site in Eastern Oakville. The tannins need a bit of time to soften. Even in the early going, the Lore is superb. It is, as always, the most structured Cabernet in the range. (Drink between 2025-2033). Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and intense, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum fruit, and chocolate flavors are pushed forward. The soft, polished tannins give this fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon tons of near and medium term appeal. (Drink between 2017-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Wrinkled Label |
$99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and intense, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum fruit, and chocolate flavors are pushed forward. The soft, polished tannins give this fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon tons of near and medium term appeal. (Drink between 2017-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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2006 |
Occidental Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
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VM 90+ (6/2008): Bright deep red, the darkest of these three pinots. Enticing aromas of raspberry, mocha and earthy underbrush. A bit more firm and less pliant than the Sonoma Coast bottling, but with more intensity to the raspberry and spice flavors. This boasts excellent acidity and the highest alcohol (14.3%) of this trio of pinots. Not surprisingly, it's tightly wound today; more vertical while the Summa is more horizontal.
BH 90 (10/2008): A really pretty set up of moderately deeply pitched red and dark berry fruit aromas that carry a whiff of underlying earth precedes round and relatively forward middle weight flavors that possess good if not exceptional depth plus a very subtle hint of minerality and fine length. While this will certainly age, it is already accessible and with the right foods, could easily be enjoyed now. |
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2011 |
Occidental Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (4/2013): Black cherries, plums, spices and new leather all come to life in the 2011 Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, the 2011 impresses for its nuance. The 2011 is a bit lighter than most recent vintages, but at the same time, the wine retains a buoyancy and vibrancy that is hugely appealing. Saline notes support the bright finish. This is a gorgeous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. |
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2013 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
6 |
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WA 98+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard comes from a five-acre, valley-floor vineyard just north of St. Helena near Vineyard 29's Aida. There are 450 cases of this magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of Mediterranean herbs intermixed with licorice, blackberry and cassis jump from the glass of this opaque purple wine. Stunningly proportioned, full-bodied, super-intense, with great purity, structure and depth, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for three decades.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, from a site on the valley floor, shows all the voluptuousness and raciness that is typical of this sector in the northern reaches of St. Helena. Dark red cherry, plum, pomegranate and spice blossom as this full-bodied, racy Cabernet shows off its personality. There is just enough acidity to give the aromatics enough lift to balance the super-ripe fruit. As always, the Panek is a very showy wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
3 |
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| WA 96 (12/2017): Deep purple-black, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard gives up compelling notes of fenugreek, turmeric and cumin seed over a core of blackberry compote, chocolate-covered cherries and smoked meat plus a touch of scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features layers of vibrant black fruit plus earth and exotic spice accents, supported by fine tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. 300 cases produced. |
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2016 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$135 |
2 |
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| VM 95 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard has turned out beautifully. There is a sense of energy to the red cherry and plum fruit that gives this wine a natural measure of pure excitement. Red cherry jam, raspberry preserves, mint, spice and pomegranate meld together in a racy, sensual Cabernet that captures all the best vintage has to offer. Two thousand sixteen is a terrific vintage for the Panek. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
1 |
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JD 98 (1/2021): Dense purple, with a blockbuster styled nose of jammy blueberries, currants, smoke tobacco, violets, and candied orange zest, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is full-bodied and has a wealth of material, with ripe, silky tannins and the vintage’s more focused, inward, almost backward style. Nevertheless, this is brilliant stuff that needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will evolve for 30+ years. (Drink between 2025-2058)
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard dazzles from start to finish. Silky, plush tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit as this opulent, full-throttle Cabernet opens in the glass. The Panek is a very typical Cabernet for this northern sector of St. Helena where the wines are plush and racy. All the elements come together so effortlessly. Bright acids and sweet floral overtones lift the finish. Best of all, the 2018 will be ready to deliver maximum pleasure pretty much upon release. This is the first year in which Rivers-Marie had access to all the fruit. I suspect being able to choose the best blocks explains much of the elevated quality here. In a word: stunning. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color, offering expressive notes of fresh, ripe red and black currants, juicy plums and Black Forest cake with hints of tilled soil, underbrush, black olives and tar plus a waft of bay leaves. The palate is medium to full-bodied and built like a brick house, featuring very firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing with long-lingering earthy/savory nuances. |
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2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
2 |
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| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
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2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
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2006 |
Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
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| BH 92 (10/2008): A wonderfully complex nose is highly expressive, offering notes of black cherry and spiced raspberry that lead to equally complex middle weight flavors that possess good detail and a lovely layering effect on the solidly persistent finish. This is not especially dense in the manner of the 2004 and 2005 versions though the extract confers the sense of concentration on the delicious backend. A study in balance and grace. |
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2005 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
4 |
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| BH 91 (10/2007): Here the nose is, not surprisingly, quite similar to that of the Old Vines Summa if perhaps not quite as complex and nuanced that leads to balanced, intense and pure flavors brimming with dry extract and excellent length on the youthfully austere finish. This is quite impressive as well and like the Occidental, it should age well. Drink 2011+. |
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2006 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
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BH 91 (10/2008): An admirably fresh and beautifully complex nose features spicy deep red cherry and ripe red pinot fruit aromas that complement perfectly the rich, mouth coating and balanced medium weight flavors that benefit from fine levels of dry extract and solid length. While the alcohol is the same as the Willow Creek, there is no undue warmth either. Lovely and absolutely worth a look at this understated, stylish and classy offering. Drink 2010+.
VM 91 (6/2008): Pungent aromas of wild berries, herbs, underbrush and smoke lifted by an enticing lavender perfume. Less fruity but more minerally and bright than the basic bottling, offering a rather silky texture and some attractive high-toned notes of perfumed red fruits. I like this pinot's restrained sweetness and its classically dry finish. Owner/winemaker Thomas Brown told me that the tiny quantities of fruit he had to work with in 2005 were difficult to manage, and that the 2006s were easier to make. Still, yields in the latter year were in the modest 1 to 2.5 tons-per-acre range. |
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2023 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (1/2025): The 2023 Pinot Noir Summa Vineyard is one of the more overtly structured wines in the range. Brisk acids and beams of supporting tannin give the 2023 a decidedly old-school feel that is quite attractive. Readers who find the Rivers-Marie Pinots on the fruitier side will find a wine of notable restraint and energy here. (Drink between 2027-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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2006 |
Willow Creek Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
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| BH 91 (10/2008): A lovely and nicely deep nose of raspberry, red cherry and touches of both spice and earth lead to round and silky flavors that offer fine intensity and a naturally sweet finish that displays just a bit of backend warmth. It's not enough to upset the balance but neither is it invisible. Overall, I like the sappy and seductive texture and this should age well over the medium term yet drink well early. In a word, lovely. Drink 2011+. |
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2019 |
Rivers Marie Oakville Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
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