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Inventory updated: Tue, Aug 18, 2026 04:02 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 |
| | Italy |
| Fratelli Alessandria |
2015 |
Barolo Monvigliero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$461.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Elio Altare |
2015 |
Barolo Vigneto Arborina (6x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,007.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Arborina is soft, pretty and sensual. The warmth of the vintage has softened the typically hard young Arborina tannins, which in turn gives the wine more near-term approachability than is often the case. Floral, cedar and tobacco notes add an attractive upper register to this very pretty and nuanced Barolo from Altare. (Drink between 2023-2040). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (6/2019): Tasted at the winery, I found the 2015 Barolo Arborina to be the most open and accessible of all the wines tasted during this session, perhaps to a fault. This vintage lacks some of the crunch and the nervousness of Nebbiolo in its youth, and I can't help but feel that the wine is slightly flattened out by the heat of the vintage. Dried berry and cherry is followed by spice and saddle leather. I am adjusting the drinking window downward as a result. Serve it alongside barbecued ribs. (Drink between 2020-2030). |
|
| Altesino |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$724.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (3/2021): Warm with baking spice, the 2015 Brunello Riserva has comforting aromas of cherry pie and purple plum. Full of ripe fruit, the palate gives way to more vinous, savory characteristics of cherry pit, black licorice, and tea leaf. The 2015 was aged for four years in new and used Slavonian oak. This is a contemplative wine in the Altesino lineup which deserves time to show what its potential will hold. Cellar 3-5 years and enjoy 2025-2035. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Castello di Ama |
2015 |
Gran Selezione San Lorenzo Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$615.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (2/2019): A bold, racy wine, the 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo captures all the exuberance of the year while retaining a good bit of structure. Like all the Ama wines, the San Lorenzo packs a serious punch in its dark flavors and intense, muscular feel. The San Lorenzo is essentially a second selection of lots from the dual flagship Gran Seleziones La Casuccia and Bellavista. Lavender, spice and menthol add the closing shades of nuance. The blend is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot and Malvasia Nera. More importantly, the San Lorenzo is another very serious wine in this range. (Drink between 2020-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Poggio Antico |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$462.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| JS 97 (9/2019): This understated Brunello delivers dried cherries, cumin, terracotta, rust and bark. The full-bodied palate presents an intricately detailed tapestry of finely interwoven tannins, interspersed with compressed, vibrant cherries and gilded in colorful, gleaming acidity. The finish is vivacious and polished and very long. Drink from 2024. |
|
|
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Altero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$821.99 |
8 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (1/2020): One of the first things I notice in the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Altero is the increased richness or concentration (especially compared to the estate's classic Brunello from the same vintage). That wine is slightly more streamlined and contoured compared to the Altero that wears a heavier mantle made with thicker fiber and texture. This impression is especially evident on the bouquet where you pick up a hint of extra softness or ripeness that comes thanks to this warm vintage. The bouquet offers sensations of dried cherry skin or plum with sweet spice and moist potting soil. If you love classic Brunello, I would recommend the estate's annata expression. The Altero is more contemporary and international instead. Some 15,000 bottles were made. The bottles were filled in July 2018 and released in January 2020. |
|
|
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$870.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Piero Antinori |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Pian delle Vigne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$429.97 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Solaia (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,293.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (9/2018): There is a magical infinity, a continuous loop of compatibilities, between the icon wines of Tuscany and the 2015 vintage. The stunning 2015 Solaia is solid evidence of this perfect alignment. This was a warm vintage that shows less favorably in my opinion in different parts of Italy and with other grapes that render their most elegant performances in the cooler vintages. I would put pure expressions of Nebbiolo and Sangiovese in this category. However, Tuscany and many of her great blended reds (made partially or fully with international grapes) operate according to a different logic. To me, their maximum expression comes when you can taste that Tuscan sunshine beaming from within. Its rays are brilliant and warm. They shine across the senses with opulence and intensity. The very name Solaia evokes the concept of sunshine and this unique Tuscan wine archetype I am referring to. With the 2015 vintage, Solaia is liquid sunshine not just in name but also in fact. The bouquet is immediately soft and sensual with dark fruit, spice and sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel shows intensity and power, but you don't get any heavy residue from the dry extract (measured at 33 grams per liter). Indeed, the wine feels glossy, tonic and fresh. It is composed of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and a tiny part Cabernet Franc. There is a bit of crunch or snap that comes thanks to the more acidity-prone Sangiovese grape (the wine measures 3.5 in pH). Finally, the tannins are beautifully sweet and ripe. This wine is meticulously executed, and the 2015 vintage lives up to an ideal of what we imagine Solaia to be. It will be released about a week after this review is published. Some 80,000 bottles were produced.
JS 100 (9/2018): The nose to this Solaia is truly phenomenal with currants, blackberries, roses and violets. So perfumed. Full-bodied and everything is in check and harmony with polished tannins that last for minutes. Purity and focus. Is it the greatest Solaia ever? So drinkable already, but this is a wine for ages ahead. |
|
|
2015 |
Tignanello (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$445.97 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2019): The 2015 Tignanello is a wine of extraordinary finesse. Ample, creamy and voluptuous, the 2015 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark raspberry jam, rose petal mint and wild flowers are some of the many notes that are laced throughout. Intense and explosive, but also remarkable vibrant, the 2015 is one of the finest Tignanellos in recent memory. The 2015 also represents a bit of a shift in winemaking philosophy that favors picking fruit a bit earlier than in the past and also blending earlier than was the case in the previous period spanning 2004-2014, when the components were aged separately and then blended just before bottling. Lastly, at 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 has a bit more Sangiovese than is the norm, which contributes to the wine's freshness and energy. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (1/2019): Fantastic aromas of dark berries, sandalwood and Spanish cedar that are ever so deep. Full body, an incredible spin of polished tannins and bright acidity. Incredible depth. Like looking over the edge of a skyscraper. Powerful and structured. A great Tignanello. A little more sangiovese than usual. Best since the legendary 1997?
WA 96 (9/2018): The 2015 Tignanello is a wine that opens, like a fully blossomed rose, right in front of you. This vintage is immediately accessible, generous and opulent. The wine will surely flesh out and gain focus with more bottle age, but one of the best qualities of this vintage is just how beautiful the wine tastes straight out of the gate. The fruit is beautifully ripe with fresh blackberry and cherry nuances, spice, leather, sweet tobacco and smoke. Up until this vintage, the various blending components that make up Tignanello were vinifed in separate lots. Starting with 2015, the wine is blended sooner in order to achieve better overall integration. The entire Tignanello estate counts 130 hectares of vines, but the single-vineyard "Tignanello" that makes this wine is 57 hectares. Some 340,000 bottles were produced. |
|
|
2015 |
Tignanello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,283.97 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2019): The 2015 Tignanello is a wine of extraordinary finesse. Ample, creamy and voluptuous, the 2015 dazzles from the very first taste. Dark raspberry jam, rose petal mint and wild flowers are some of the many notes that are laced throughout. Intense and explosive, but also remarkable vibrant, the 2015 is one of the finest Tignanellos in recent memory. The 2015 also represents a bit of a shift in winemaking philosophy that favors picking fruit a bit earlier than in the past and also blending earlier than was the case in the previous period spanning 2004-2014, when the components were aged separately and then blended just before bottling. Lastly, at 85% Sangiovese and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 has a bit more Sangiovese than is the norm, which contributes to the wine's freshness and energy. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (1/2019): Fantastic aromas of dark berries, sandalwood and Spanish cedar that are ever so deep. Full body, an incredible spin of polished tannins and bright acidity. Incredible depth. Like looking over the edge of a skyscraper. Powerful and structured. A great Tignanello. A little more sangiovese than usual. Best since the legendary 1997?
WA 96 (9/2018): The 2015 Tignanello is a wine that opens, like a fully blossomed rose, right in front of you. This vintage is immediately accessible, generous and opulent. The wine will surely flesh out and gain focus with more bottle age, but one of the best qualities of this vintage is just how beautiful the wine tastes straight out of the gate. The fruit is beautifully ripe with fresh blackberry and cherry nuances, spice, leather, sweet tobacco and smoke. Up until this vintage, the various blending components that make up Tignanello were vinifed in separate lots. Starting with 2015, the wine is blended sooner in order to achieve better overall integration. The entire Tignanello estate counts 130 hectares of vines, but the single-vineyard "Tignanello" that makes this wine is 57 hectares. Some 340,000 bottles were produced. |
|
| Argiano |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$955.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Azelia |
2015 |
Barolo Bricco Fiasco (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,521.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Barolo Margheria (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$521.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2015 |
Barbaresco (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$758.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco, bottled in March 2018, is surprisingly potent. Then again, the 2015 is the product of a warm year often characterized by wines with rich fruit and equally big, sometimes coarse, tannins. Succulent red cherry, mint, white pepper and crushed flowers all show the finessed side of Nebbiolo. A hint of new oak needs time to fully integrate, but that should not be an issue in time. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$854.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (2/2020): The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano rounds out this series of wines from Produttori del Barbaresco. Ample and resonant on the palate, the Montestefano shows all the natural breadth that is so typical of this site. On the palate, the Montestefano is rich and explosive, with tremendous depth and fabulous overall balance. Dark cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and spice build into the dark, sumptuous finish. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$402.98 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (2/2020): The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano rounds out this series of wines from Produttori del Barbaresco. Ample and resonant on the palate, the Montestefano shows all the natural breadth that is so typical of this site. On the palate, the Montestefano is rich and explosive, with tremendous depth and fabulous overall balance. Dark cherry, plum, espresso, licorice and spice build into the dark, sumptuous finish. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,152.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (7/2020): The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a stunning wine. The aromas rise from the glass with purpose, clarity and extreme definition. This is indeed a very special wine, thanks to the direct and linear quality of fruit and the elegant tannins that build the long finish. The Nebbiolo grape is elevated to a beautiful plain or plateau, where it shows off its naked beauty in a clear and unobstructed manner. The wine affords us a panoramic view of the Piedmont grape, planted in the white tuffaceous marl soils of Rabajà.
VM 93+ (2/2020): The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà hits the palate with a blast of dark cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, smoke and spice. Somber and imposing, the Rabajà shows plenty of its typical breadth and body, but, not surprisingly, it is also closed and in need of time. There is good energy here, if not quite the visceral thrill of the very best years. (Drink between 2022-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$954.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Marchesi di Barolo |
2015 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$512.99 |
4 |
|
| |
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2015 |
Barolo Cannubi (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$176.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Barolo Sarmassa (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$213.99 |
5 |
|
| |
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2015 |
Barolo Sarmassa (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$567.99 |
10 |
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|
| Biondi Santi |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,250.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 97 (12/2021): The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva pulls you close to the glass with a deep and seductive display of black raspberry preserves complemented by sweet sage, dried roses and pipe tobacco. With further coaxing, it gains in volume and lift, taking on hints of mint and camphor. This greets the palate with undeniable elegance, casting velvety waves of violet-tinged wild berries and sweet spices across a motivating core of juicy acidity, as a subtle coating of round tannins forms toward the close. While structured and incredibly long, energy remains high, as nuances of cherry pits offset by sour citrus and hints of cedar fade. It’s amazing to experience such energy and purity from a young Biondi Santi Riserva. As pretty as the Annata released last year was, I worried that the extended aging for the Riserva might rob the wine of some of its fruit; instead it is the complete opposite, as this contains the depth and complexity of the best wines of the vintage. I can’t wait to see how the 2015 matures over the next several decades. Eric Guido. |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,112.99 |
2 |
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| |
WA 97+ (2/2021): The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino exudes dark, velvety fruit and concentration while maintaining the signature elegance, suppleness and lithe personalty that distinguishes the iconic Il Greppo estate. I found this new release to be quite distinctive and exquisitely beautiful, setting it apart from many of the past vintages we are most familiar with. This 2015 edition is dark, exuberant and bold, but precise, focused and sharp as well. It will live for years in your cellar, but tasted now in its infancy, the wine shows blackberry, dried cherry, plum and dark cassis. Those dark fruit tones segue to a rich presentation of tar, spice, earth, tobacco and sweet balsam herb. The bouquet offers seamless and smooth transitions. This warm and sunny growing season favored richness and phenolic weight. Wines from Biondi-Santi are made for the long haul, and the fresh acidity that characterizes this estate is the principle reason why. However, I'd argue that this wine from 2015 will evolve over the years not only thanks to the freshness but more so thanks to the important structure of this solid and profound wine.
JD 97 (3/2021): The 2015 Brunello is highly complex, with pine resin, clove, blood orange, and rose-hip. It offers a grounding richness and warmth from the vintage while maintaining transparency and lift. Structured and with a long finish, this bottle showed no sign of demise over several days. Cellar 1-5 years and enjoy over the next 20 years. (Drink between 2021-2041). Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (11/2020): The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Annata is an understated beauty that takes some time to blossom in the glass. It’s a sweetly spiced and floral expression of the vintage, blending ripe cherries and strawberries with dusty earth, hints of sage and violets. A refreshing air of mint and lavender develops over time. It’s elegance personified on the palate, seamless and silky-smooth, with a classic and pure expression of red fruits and saline-minerals, as fine tannins slowly mount toward the close. Hints of licorice, white pepper and savory herbs linger through the lightly structured finale. While youthfully firm, the 2015 is already so enjoyable today, yet a few years of cellaring will reveal even further depths. I tasted the 2015 tasted multiple times over the course of a day and it only got better with air. Simply stunning! (Drink between 2024-2034). Eric Guido. |
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| Brovia |
2015 |
Barolo Villero (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$626.98 |
1 |
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| G.B. Burlotto |
2015 |
Barolo Monvigliero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,557.99 |
1 |
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| |
VM 98 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Monvigliero is a wine of pure and total seduction. The warm vintage has filled out the wine's frame beautifully. The interplay of ripe, succulent 2015 fruit and aromatic intensity from the whole clusters yields a positively stunning, breathtaking wine of the very highest level. Once again, Burlotto's Barolo Monvigliero takes a place among the most compelling wines of the vintage. Readers who can find it should not hesitate! Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (6/2019): I mentioned that slightly wild side of Verduno in a previous review for Comm. G.B. Burlotto. For further clarity on this point, put your nose into the beautiful 2015 Barolo Monvigliero. This is a subdued and graceful wine that grows in intensity the longer it stays in the glass. The wine offers blue flower aromas with violets, wild rose, cumin seed, saffron and crushed mineral. This wine plays its best cards when you focus on the smallest details, and then suddenly, those tiny brush strokes explode into a big-picture, panoramic view of one of the most celebrated vineyard sites in Barolo.
JS 94 (11/2019): The swirling, aromatic nose is entrancing here. The flowery charm is undeniable and the palate has an ethereal frame of fine tannins, carrying beautifully defined, ripe red-cherry flavor. The use of whole clusters works very well here, adding life and lift to this riper vintage. This is a beautiful 2015. Drink or hold. |
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|
2015 |
Barolo Vigneto Cannubi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,815.99 |
1 |
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| Giovanni Canonica |
2015 |
Barolo Paiagallo |
$225 |
1 |
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| Dott G. Cappellano |
2015 |
Barolo Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,475.99 |
1 |
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| VM NR (2/2020): The 2015 Barolo Barolo Rupestris is a classic Rupestris built on texture, volume and resonance. Of course, the 2015 still needs quite a bit of time in bottle to come together, but it is wonderfully deep and fleshy today. Hints of dried flowers, sage, mint and crushed raspberry develop in the glass, but more than anything, the Rupestris is a wine of breadth and resonance. The 2015 marries hedonistic pleasure with classicism in a wine that is truly compelling. |
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| Castelgiocondo (Frescobaldi) |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$168.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$399.99 |
60 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Ripe al Convento Riserva (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$605.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Ripe al Convento Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$423.99 |
18 |
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2015 |
Lamaione Merlot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$510.99 |
36 |
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| Castellare di Castellina |
2015 |
I Sodi di San Niccolo Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$756.97 |
1 |
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VM 98 (8/2019): The 2015 I Sodi di San Niccolò is just stratospheric. That's pretty much all there is to it. Plush, deep and explosive, the 2015 possesses magnificent depth. The 15% Malvasia Nera gives tannic backbone and energy to balance the wine's natural richness. Sweet red cherry, cedar, smoke, tobacco and licorice build in a racy, flamboyant Sodi that hits all the right notes. In a word: stunning! (Drink between 2023-2040). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (9/2019): The 2015 I Sodi di S. Niccolò is another beautiful new release from Castellare di Castellina. This is a seamlessly executed expression of Sangioveto (an antique name for Sangiovese) with a smaller part Malvasia Nera from a sunny vintage that produced generous and exuberant fruit across the board. White pepper, spice, wild rose and toasted anise seed appear on the close. The finish is soft and yielding with sweet tannins. Present this gorgeous red alongside a roasted pheasant. |
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| Cavallotto |
2015 |
Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe |
$189 |
5 |
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JD 98 (5/2021): The 2015 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is ripe with dried plum, saddle leather, crushed rock, and tar. Revealing a mineral-rich earth and full structure, with black tea, dried porcini, and cherry pit, it is warming with a wintery feel. This is a great one to lay down and check in on in 4-6 years. Drink 2025-2050. Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (2/2021): Cavallotto’s 2015 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe rounds out this trio of new releases. A big, strapping wine, the 2015 possesses remarkable intensity to match its classic, mid-weight frame. Like all of these Barolos, it seems to have less overt fruit and more classicism. Camphor, licorice, menthol, pine, underbrush and scorched earth all run through the 2015, a big, brawny Riserva that will delight for many years to come. The 2015 San Giuseppe is what Barolo is all about. It’s a must for Cavallotto fans. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$746.99 |
1 |
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JD 98 (5/2021): The 2015 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is ripe with dried plum, saddle leather, crushed rock, and tar. Revealing a mineral-rich earth and full structure, with black tea, dried porcini, and cherry pit, it is warming with a wintery feel. This is a great one to lay down and check in on in 4-6 years. Drink 2025-2050. Audrey Frick.
VM 96 (2/2021): Cavallotto’s 2015 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe rounds out this trio of new releases. A big, strapping wine, the 2015 possesses remarkable intensity to match its classic, mid-weight frame. Like all of these Barolos, it seems to have less overt fruit and more classicism. Camphor, licorice, menthol, pine, underbrush and scorched earth all run through the 2015, a big, brawny Riserva that will delight for many years to come. The 2015 San Giuseppe is what Barolo is all about. It’s a must for Cavallotto fans. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Barolo Riserva Vignolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,033.99 |
9 |
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JD 97 (5/2021): Lifted and savory aromatics initially jump out of the 2015 Barolo Riserva Vignolo, with graphite, incense, brushed leather, and dried sour cherry. Full and balanced, with dried currant, tobacco leaf, and clove, it has a powerful, noble structure. This is a wine with layered complexity that is hard to pin down. Drink 2024-2050. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (2/2021): The 2015 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is a powerful, tightly wound wine that is going to need a few years to soften. Its gorgeous, translucent elegance is impossible to miss. Sweet red berry fruit, gravel, rose petal, mint, licorice and darker earthy tones all run through this compelling, beautifully layered Riserva. Impressive. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ceretto |
2015 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,120.99 |
2 |
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| |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili Bernardot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$719.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Bricco Rocche (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,106.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$750.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Prapo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$786.99 |
1 |
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| Pio Cesare |
2015 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$556.99 |
2 |
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| JS 96 (1/2019): Complex aromas of smoke, ash and dark fruits with a precision and intensity. Layered and gorgeous. Loads of dark fruit and perfume. Full-bodied with round and wonderfully polished tannins. Wonderful length and richness Goes on for minutes. Try in 2023 but already goes. |
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2015 |
Barolo Ornato (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$645.99 |
1 |
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| Le Chiuse |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$802.97 |
3 |
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| Domenico Clerico |
2015 |
Barolo Aeroplan Servaj (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$650.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$667.99 |
5 |
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2015 |
Barolo Pajana (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$553.97 |
1 |
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| Elvio Cogno |
2015 |
Barolo Ravera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$650.99 |
6 |
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WA 94 (6/2019): The 2015 Barolo Ravera shows a deep concentration and dark fruit intensity. This warm-vintage Barolo opens with a ripe and soft bouquet that brings out some nice cherry notes with creamy black fruit at the back. The finish is soft and luscious. There is so much fruity succulence here that the wine should stand up to a gamey dish of liver pâté or pasta with wild boar.
VM 93 (2/2019): Soaring aromatics make a strong opening statement in the 2015 Barolo Ravera. Bright, precise and finely sculpted, the Ravera captures all the best the 2015 vintage has to offer. Kirsch, sweet mint, hard candy and expressive floral notes are given an extra kick of inner sweetness from the natural energy of Ravera. There is so much to look forward to as the 2015 develops in bottle. This is a stellar showing (Drink between 2023-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Giacomo Conterno |
2015 |
Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$825.97 |
1 |
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WA 94 (6/2017): Boasting immediate depth and dimension, the 2015 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia is a commanding and confident wine. Tasted from barrel, the wine's color is dense and very dark. Youthful fruit tones of blackberry confit and black currant give the wine a solid aromatic foundation. That base creates an appropriate framework for ethereal notes of licorice, black olive, spice and campfire ash. It is very difficult to achieve this level of complexity with Barbera, but Roberto Conterno does so with flawless perfection. The mouthfeel is round and plump, but the opulence of the wine is also reined in by its lively acidity.
VM 93-95 (2/2017): The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Francia is distinguished by its streaks of mineral and savory underpinnings. Bright and focused to the core, as wines from Francia always are, the 2015 impresses for its length, persistence and finesse. I would have a hard time choosing between the 2015 Barberas. The Cerretta is perhaps a bit more ample and immediate, while the Francia has a dimension of salivating minerality that is its most distinctive signature. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barbera d’Alba Cerretta (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,002.99 |
1 |
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VM 93-95 (2/2017): The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Cerretta is remarkably vivid and striking in its beauty. Dark red cherry, blueberry, violet and lavender infuse a rich, creamy Barbera built on silkiness, texture and nuance. Succulent and yet translucent, the 2015 is shaping up to be a real winner. The 2015 Cerretta is an immense wine with which to begin a walk around the many casks that line the walls at this hallowed winery in Monforte. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (6/2017): The beautiful 2015 Barbera d'Alba Cerretta shows ripe fruit and evident roundness. The Barbera grape likes a little extra heat and that's exactly what it got during the very warm 2015 growing season. The wine shows an inky dark appearance with little light penetration. The aromas are characterized by fullness and seamless transitions that segue to black fruit, plum, spice, tar and smoky tobacco. This special wine explores the deep and unexpected inner workings of the Barbera grape, offering a surprising level of complexity and nuance along the way. Despite the hot vintage, it does not lack in refreshing acidity. |
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| Aldo Conterno |
2015 |
Barolo Bussia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$638.97 |
1 |
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JS 96 (1/2019): Gorgeous aromas of dark berries, cedar and very ripe fruit that follow through to a full body, deep and dense tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Plush. Drink from 2022.
WA 93 (6/2019): The 2015 Barolo Bussia is painted in the broadest of brush strokes when compared to the other wines tasted this year, which each hail from their own specific micro cru within the larger Bussia vineyard. This makes sense, because this wine sees fruit sourced from a much wider net. You do get a great sense of the vintage intensity and succulence with pretty layers of sweet fruit, rose, tilled earth and delicate button mushroom. This wine shows its pedigree with confidence. Some 15,000 bottles were made. |
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| Giacomo Conterno |
2015 |
Barolo Cascina Francia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,589.99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (6/2019): Next comes 50-hectoliter botte number 88 that houses the upcoming 2015 Barolo Francia. Again, this wine will be bottled by the time you read this, with Conterno's newest vintages hitting the market in October. What impresses most here is the supreme elegance of the wine. It speaks in hushed whispers, enunciating promises of depth, complexity and mysterious intrigue. The wine unfolds slowly, revealing new elements with each swirl of the glass. Together, these aromas build in intensity and stature to become a magnificent Barolo with a capital B. The bouquet exudes elegance and complexity that will carry it through the ages. When I tasted this wine from barrel last year, I described it as demure. One year later, the wine is bursting with confidence, character and moxie.
VM 95-98 (2/2019): Conterno's 2015 Barolo Francia is exquisitely balanced and harmonious from the very first taste. Soaring aromatics and seemingly endless layers of fruit open up in the glass, but there is something about the wine's completeness that is deeply thrilling. Seamless and expansive on the palate, with tremendous resonance, the 2015 Francia is simply magnificent. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Cascina Francia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,787.99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (6/2019): Next comes 50-hectoliter botte number 88 that houses the upcoming 2015 Barolo Francia. Again, this wine will be bottled by the time you read this, with Conterno's newest vintages hitting the market in October. What impresses most here is the supreme elegance of the wine. It speaks in hushed whispers, enunciating promises of depth, complexity and mysterious intrigue. The wine unfolds slowly, revealing new elements with each swirl of the glass. Together, these aromas build in intensity and stature to become a magnificent Barolo with a capital B. The bouquet exudes elegance and complexity that will carry it through the ages. When I tasted this wine from barrel last year, I described it as demure. One year later, the wine is bursting with confidence, character and moxie.
VM 95-98 (2/2019): Conterno's 2015 Barolo Francia is exquisitely balanced and harmonious from the very first taste. Soaring aromatics and seemingly endless layers of fruit open up in the glass, but there is something about the wine's completeness that is deeply thrilling. Seamless and expansive on the palate, with tremendous resonance, the 2015 Francia is simply magnificent. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Cerretta (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,304.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2019): After our tasting of the two Barbera wines, we moved over to 40-hectoliter cask number 101 to get our first taste of Conterno's finished (or nearly finished, as the wine had not been bottled yet) Nebbiolo. The 2015 Barolo Cerretta is influenced by the warm conditions of the vintage with plenty of ripe and succulent fruit, although this vintage differs from the similarly warm 2017 and 2011 harvests in that the 2015 growing season had more moisture locked within the soil. Consequently, this vintage tends to offer cool-climate tannins and structure, giving the wine the ample backbone it needs to carry all those luscious dark nuances. The wine is ripe, profound and makes your mouth salivate.
VM 93-96 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Cerretta is so silky, sensual and finessed that it almost doesn't really feel like a Serralunga Barolo at all. Floral overtones and bright, red cherry and plum fruit add to an impression of total elegance. This is such a pretty wine. Naturally, it is still very early for the 2015, a wine that will spend another 8 months or so in cask prior to bottling. Even so, the future is very bright. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Aldo Conterno |
2015 |
Barolo Granbussia Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,242.98 |
1 |
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| Giacomo Conterno |
2015 |
Barolo Monfortino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,307.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Aldo Conterno |
2015 |
Barolo Romirasco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,843.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Conterno Fantino |
2015 |
Barolo Mosconi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$610.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2015 |
Barolo Sori Ginestra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$557.98 |
2 |
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2015 |
Barolo Vigna del Gris (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$570.99 |
6 |
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| Conti Costanti |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$714.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$915.99 |
3 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$473.99 |
2 |
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| |
|
| Fanti |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$989.99 |
10 |
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| San Felice |
2015 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio |
$45 |
6 |
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| VM 92 (8/2019): The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio da San Felice is 80% Sangiovese and 20% other native grapes. Perfumed and lifted, with a touch more aromatic nuance than the straight Il Grigio, the 2015 has much to offer, even if the two wines aren't all that differentiated. (Drink between 2020-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Cascina Fontana |
2015 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$605.99 |
1 |
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| Fontodi |
2015 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$280.97 |
4 |
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VM 99 (8/2019): The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. The blend of sites, all in higher altitude spots near the center of town, yields a gorgeous, riveting wine of the very highest level. Dense and brooding, with magnificent energy as well as nuance, the 2015 Flaccianello is positively stunning. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (7/2019): This retrospective gave me the opportunity to taste the excellent 2015 vintage side by side with the highly anticipated 2016 vintage. These two years are famously in a tight race across Tuscany for supremacy. I'm ready to tip my hat at 2016. In comparison, the 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is slightly broader in the shoulders and heavier in the gait. There is more meat on these bones, and the 2015 vintage presented vintners with near-perfect growing conditions in which one textbook part of the vegetative cycle transitioned directly to the next. The wine is dark, exuberant and profound, and the quality of the tannins is superb, fine and firm. One difference with the 2016 vintage is that the 2015 is a tad more accessible and ready. You can wait and cellar it for thirty years, or pop the cork sooner if you don't have the patience to wait. |
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2015 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$814.97 |
3 |
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VM 99 (8/2019): The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. The blend of sites, all in higher altitude spots near the center of town, yields a gorgeous, riveting wine of the very highest level. Dense and brooding, with magnificent energy as well as nuance, the 2015 Flaccianello is positively stunning. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (7/2019): This retrospective gave me the opportunity to taste the excellent 2015 vintage side by side with the highly anticipated 2016 vintage. These two years are famously in a tight race across Tuscany for supremacy. I'm ready to tip my hat at 2016. In comparison, the 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is slightly broader in the shoulders and heavier in the gait. There is more meat on these bones, and the 2015 vintage presented vintners with near-perfect growing conditions in which one textbook part of the vegetative cycle transitioned directly to the next. The wine is dark, exuberant and profound, and the quality of the tannins is superb, fine and firm. One difference with the 2016 vintage is that the 2015 is a tad more accessible and ready. You can wait and cellar it for thirty years, or pop the cork sooner if you don't have the patience to wait. |
|
| La Fornace |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$714.99 |
20 |
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| |
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| Dal Forno |
2015 |
Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$748.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Elena Fucci |
2015 |
Aglianico del Vulture Titolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$332.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Angelo Gaja |
2015 |
Barbaresco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$535.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 95 (9/2018): A rich and layered Barbaresco with cedar and plums, as well as light leather and rose aromas that follow to a full yet balanced palate and a chewy finish. Very polished. Drink in 2020, but already beautiful.
VM 94 (10/2018): Gaja's 2015 Barbaresco is gorgeous. Deep, pliant and resonant, the 2015 exudes class from the very first taste. Today, the aromatics are not especially open or expressive, but it is the wine's depth and overall sense of harmony that really carry the day. Hints of orange peel, spice and rosewater give the 2015 an exotic aromatic top register that is hugely appealing. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. The 2015 is a wonderfully complete and harmonious wine, but it really does need a few years in the cellar to fully unwind. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,384.99 |
1 |
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| |
JS 95 (9/2018): A rich and layered Barbaresco with cedar and plums, as well as light leather and rose aromas that follow to a full yet balanced palate and a chewy finish. Very polished. Drink in 2020, but already beautiful.
VM 94 (10/2018): Gaja's 2015 Barbaresco is gorgeous. Deep, pliant and resonant, the 2015 exudes class from the very first taste. Today, the aromatics are not especially open or expressive, but it is the wine's depth and overall sense of harmony that really carry the day. Hints of orange peel, spice and rosewater give the 2015 an exotic aromatic top register that is hugely appealing. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. The 2015 is a wonderfully complete and harmonious wine, but it really does need a few years in the cellar to fully unwind. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Costa Russi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,072.99 |
2 |
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VM 96 (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Costa Russi is once again striking in 2015. Vertical and lifted, with tremendous energy, the 2015 has so much to offer. Once the most easygoing of the three Barbaresco crus, Costa Russi has inched up in quality in recent years. The 2015 shows the suave mid-palate and raciness that is so typical of this wine, and yet it also has much more obvious structural underpinnings than once was the case. I can't wait to see how it ages. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (6/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Costa Russi was about to be bottled before I tasted it. Like the other wines from this warm vintage, you are treated to extra plushness and roundness with dark berry fruit intensity. This wine also offers unexpected mineral tones that come off as crushed oyster shell and talc powder. These add to the drying, almost nervous, tension you feel in the mouth. |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,144.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,200.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,981.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Darmagi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,871.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 91 (10/2018): The 2015 Darmagi (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is gracious, medium in body and fragrant. In this vintage, Darmagi is decidedly medium in body, with more of a red-fruit leaning profile than in the past. Soft, silky and inviting, the 2015 has a lot to offer. At the same time, the 2015, while attractive, is not as varietally expressive as it can be in the finest years. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Langhe Conteisa (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,308.99 |
8 |
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| VM 97 (11/2019): The 2015 Barolo Conteisa is a heady, exotic wine, and also one of the most complete, alluring Conteisas I have ever tasted. Conteisa is usually a wine of grace and understatement. The 2015, on the other hand, is a bold, sweeping Barolo that saturates the palate with stunning depth and volume. Even with all of its intensity, the 2015 remains vibrant. This is such a complete, harmonious wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2015 |
Barbaresco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$958.99 |
9 |
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| |
JS 95 (10/2017): Very perfumed and pretty with cherry, dried fruit and orange peel. Hints of sandalwood, too. Full body, layered and refined. Smoke, tar and spice aftertaste to the fruit. Drink in 2019.
VM 94 (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Asili is all class. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, orange peel, wild flowers and sweet spice lift from this vibrant, beautifully delineated Barbaresco. The 2015 doesn't quite have the sweetness or inner perfume of the best Giacosa Asilis, but it is nevertheless a very pretty and expressive wine that pulses with energy and personality. It is also one of the most tighly wound 2015 Barbarescos I tasted. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2018): In 2013, the father and daughter winemaking team of Bruno and Bruna Giacosa decided not to produce their Barbaresco Asili. They made a Rabajà expression instead. Asili was vinified separately again in 2014 and more recently to create the impressive 2015 Barbaresco Asili. This wine was bottled one year ago in July and has been on the market since February. This expression offers accessible and generous fruit tones, with blackcurrant and dark plum. The wine delivers big inner power with evident tannic firmness and a point of astringency on the finish. All it needs is more time in the bottle. |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Asili (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$982.97 |
1 |
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| |
JS 95 (10/2017): Very perfumed and pretty with cherry, dried fruit and orange peel. Hints of sandalwood, too. Full body, layered and refined. Smoke, tar and spice aftertaste to the fruit. Drink in 2019.
VM 94 (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Asili is all class. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, orange peel, wild flowers and sweet spice lift from this vibrant, beautifully delineated Barbaresco. The 2015 doesn't quite have the sweetness or inner perfume of the best Giacosa Asilis, but it is nevertheless a very pretty and expressive wine that pulses with energy and personality. It is also one of the most tighly wound 2015 Barbarescos I tasted. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2018): In 2013, the father and daughter winemaking team of Bruno and Bruna Giacosa decided not to produce their Barbaresco Asili. They made a Rabajà expression instead. Asili was vinified separately again in 2014 and more recently to create the impressive 2015 Barbaresco Asili. This wine was bottled one year ago in July and has been on the market since February. This expression offers accessible and generous fruit tones, with blackcurrant and dark plum. The wine delivers big inner power with evident tannic firmness and a point of astringency on the finish. All it needs is more time in the bottle. |
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2015 |
Barolo Falletto Nicked Label |
$195 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Falletto (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,122.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,065.99 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94 (6/2019): Bottled in July of last year, the 2015 Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche is a daring and absolutely profound expression of Nebbiolo with the depth, thickness and volume you can expect from a warm vintage such as this. This wine is a veritable bomb of aromatic intensity with thick layers of dark fruit, spice and crushed stone that all vie for your attention in equal measure. The mouthfeel is characterized by thick fiber and lasting succulence, all capped with fresh acidity and a firm tannic backbone. This Barolo is classic Giacosa. |
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2015 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,366.97 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 94 (6/2019): Bottled in July of last year, the 2015 Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche is a daring and absolutely profound expression of Nebbiolo with the depth, thickness and volume you can expect from a warm vintage such as this. This wine is a veritable bomb of aromatic intensity with thick layers of dark fruit, spice and crushed stone that all vie for your attention in equal measure. The mouthfeel is characterized by thick fiber and lasting succulence, all capped with fresh acidity and a firm tannic backbone. This Barolo is classic Giacosa. |
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| Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa |
2015 |
Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$664.97 |
2 |
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| Giodo |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$280.97 |
5 |
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| |
|
| Bibi Graetz |
2015 |
Testamatta Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$592.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Testamatta Toscana IGT (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,227.98 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Elio Grasso |
2015 |
Barolo Gavarini Chiniera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$551.99 |
1 |
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| |
| JS 98 (1/2019): Extremely perfumed, showing lots of rose, lavender and dark-berry character. Full body with intense density and chewiness that gives the wine great structure. Lots of flavor and focus at the finish. Needs five to six years to finish. Drink in 2024. |
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2015 |
Barolo Runcot Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$379.99 |
4 |
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2015 |
Barolo Runcot Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,093.99 |
12 |
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|
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2015 |
Barolo Runcot Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$535.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Marchese di Gresy |
2015 |
Camp Gros Martinenga Barbaresco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$297.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) |
2015 |
Bolgheri
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$205.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Bolgheri (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,136.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Matarocchio Bolgheri
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$437.97 |
16 |
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VM 97+ (4/2018): Another vivid wine, the 2015 Matarocchio marries freshness with power and depth. In 2015, the 100% Cabernet Franc Matarocchio has a more red fruit and floral profile than it has in the past. Dense and voluptuous in the glass, the 2015 retains a surprising level of nuance for such a richly-textured wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (9/2018): The 2015 Matarocchio (all Cabernet Franc) is a gorgeous wine, but it does not reach the stunning heights achieved in the knock-out 2013 vintage. This wine was not produced in 2014, and only 5,000 bottles were made in this vintage. Compared to the 2013 edition, this wine appears to have a slightly smaller aromatic range. This gives it a very focused and direct approach. In other words, this vintage is more vertical than it is horizontal in its delivery. The tannins are a more evident here and more nervous or crunchy. The wine is composed of deep, dark and penetrating fruit, with bitter chocolate and savory tobacco. It also shows a salty mineral note that makes your mouth salivate. This vintage of Matarocchio needs a few more years of bottle aging to gain in volume. |
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| Isole e Olena |
2015 |
Cepparello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$600.98 |
2 |
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WA 95 (10/2018): The 2015 Cepparello is not immediately accessible. Indeed, the wine took some time to open, and I kept going back to my sample bottle throughout the afternoon at different intervals to check on its progress. There is no doubting the enormous potential of its aging trajectory nor the considerable depth of fruit in its current youthful state. However, all those aromatic elements of fruit, spice, tar, tobacco and grilled herb still need to find harmony before they sing in chorus. The mouthfeel is chiseled and tight, and this is where you really sense the potential of its longevity. Some 42,000 bottles were made. This wine is aged in mostly French oak, with 5% American oak.
JS 96 (7/2018): Shows lots of black cherries, cranberry tea, caramelized orange peel, roasted herbs and citrus peel. Full-bodied with ripe and quite round tannins that frame layers of cherries. Bright and fresh, yet rich and long at the same time. The sangiovese character really springs out of the glass. Drink in 2020. |
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| Tenuta San Leonardo |
2015 |
Vallagarina (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$303.99 |
5 |
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| Margherita Otto |
2015 |
Barolo |
$85 |
1 |
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| WA 92 (6/2019): The Margherita Otto 2015 Barolo shows a sweet and soft approach with ripe cherry, plum, spice and savory leather. This is a broad-shouldered Barolo with dark concentration and a rather heavy, fully textured personality. The wine is richer and more endowed than your standard Barolo, but that extra weight and density is very much part of the package of the warm 2015 vintage. |
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| Il Marroneto |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,158.99 |
1 |
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| Bartolo Mascarello |
2015 |
Barolo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$852.97 |
1 |
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| VM 97 (2/2020): The 2015 Barolo is outrageously beautiful. Best of all, it will drink well with minimal cellaring. Rich, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2015 is such a showy and expressive wine. Bright red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mint, star anise and dried flowers are all given an extra kick of textural richness in this flashy, exceptionally ripe Barolo. I loved it. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,809.99 |
2 |
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| VM 97 (2/2020): The 2015 Barolo is outrageously beautiful. Best of all, it will drink well with minimal cellaring. Rich, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2015 is such a showy and expressive wine. Bright red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mint, star anise and dried flowers are all given an extra kick of textural richness in this flashy, exceptionally ripe Barolo. I loved it. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$764.98 |
4 |
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| VM 97 (2/2020): The 2015 Barolo is outrageously beautiful. Best of all, it will drink well with minimal cellaring. Rich, sumptuous and super-expressive, the 2015 is such a showy and expressive wine. Bright red cherry, red plum, blood orange, mint, star anise and dried flowers are all given an extra kick of textural richness in this flashy, exceptionally ripe Barolo. I loved it. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello |
2015 |
Barolo Monprivato (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,310.99 |
1 |
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WA 97+ (7/2023): This is a true beauty. The Giuseppe Mascarello 2015 Barolo Monprivato borrows from the best of the Nebbiolo playlist. You get precision, abundance, focus and depth presented in proud and elegant fashion. Monprivato in Castiglione Falletto shows its worth as one of the best-performing sites in both 2015 and 2016. This warmer growing season presents red and purple fruit with cherry, plum and dried blackberry. A second wave of aromas washes over the senses with spice, licorice, tar and crushed limestone. The mouthfeel is stitched tightly together with interwoven layers of acidity, tannin and fleshy fruit.
VM 91 (2/2021): The 2015 Barolo Monprivato is a pretty, easygoing Barolo. Ripe red berry fruit and soft contours give the 2015 a real sense of immediacy. Soft and supple, with silky contours, it will drink well right out of the gate. The 2015 is not terribly complex, but it is nicely done. This is the best of the three bottles I have tasted so far. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Massolino |
2015 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$342.99 |
2 |
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2015 |
Barolo Margheria (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$575.99 |
5 |
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2015 |
Barolo Parafada (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$230.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Parafada (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$741.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Parussi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$533.99 |
3 |
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2015 |
Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$930.98 |
2 |
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| Mastroberardino |
2015 |
Taurasi Radici Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$466.99 |
2 |
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| Mastrojanni |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$594.99 |
2 |
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| Mauro Molino |
2015 |
Barolo Gallinotto (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$749.99 |
1 |
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| Montevertine |
2015 |
Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,368.99 |
1 |
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| VM 97 (2/2019): The 2015 Le Pergole Torte captures all the radiance and intensity of the vintage. Deep, powerful and resonant, the 2015 will be a racy wine once it emerges from its recent bottling. As always, the Pergole Torte is differentiated from the Montevertine by its greater textural richness and perfume. In 2015, Pergole Torte is exotically ripe and flamboyant, not to mention utterly captivating. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Fiorenzo Nada |
2015 |
Barbaresco Manzola |
$55 |
2 |
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| VM 93 (10/2018): The 2015 Barbaresco Manzola is beautifully lifted and gracious in the glass. Rose petal, sweet red cherry, mint, wild flowers and cinnamon are nicely woven together in this very pretty and expressive Barbaresco. As was the case last year, my impression is that the heat of 2015 helped produce a flashy, racy Barbaresco with relatively soft contours that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The 2015 is such an attractive wine. (Drink between 2020-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Silvio Nardi |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$189.99 |
7 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$494.99 |
3 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$731.99 |
1 |
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| Casanova di Neri |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$503.99 |
3 |
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| JS 94 (7/2019): There’s beauty and drinkability to this wine that really is enticing with blueberry and cherry aromas, as well as hints of hot stone and licorice. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a fresh and polished finish. Shows focus and brightness. Very drinkable now, but better in a year or two. Try in 2021. |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$974.99 |
1 |
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JS 100 (1/2021): This is a momentous wine with incredible power and structure that has so much minerality and crushed-stone character to the black cherries and blueberries. Full-bodied and tannic, yet the tannins are layered and polished with a glorious, creamy and juicy texture that coats your mouth. It goes on for minutes. Incredible wine. Try after 2025.
WA 98+ (11/2020): Of these new releases from this benchmark estate, the Casanova di Neri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is my favorite wine. This Riserva is larger than life with ripe fruit, raspberry, cherry, spice, cola, root beer, mesquite and cedar. The wine offers a flashy and generous quality of fruit that unfolds over time with a multifaceted and multi-layered presentation. One thing that stands out here is the acidity that is bracing and tart at first but then succumbs to an important supporting role, rendering lasting freshness and persistence to the finish. With time, you get a flash of cherry and crème de cassis that seals the deal.
VM 95 (11/2020): The 2015 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is remarkably fresh and balanced despite its large-scale persona. Minty herbs give way to raspberry and cherry with exotic spices and a hint of pine resin. It boasts depths of silky textures; yet it remains juicy and full of energy, displaying ripe red and black fruits, laced with salty minerals, as hints of cinnamon and baker’s chocolate form toward the close. Fine tannins come forward on the finish, tugging at the cheeks, yet all under an air of sweet spice and violet florals. As young as this is today, it’s hard to put the glass down, and I can only imagine the depths that will be revealed with five or more years of cellaring. Eric Guido. |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova (1.5 L) |
$249 |
2 |
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| JS 99 (9/2019): The purity of fruit in this wine really strikes you with black cherries, combined with sage, lavender and rosemary. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with incredible tannin structure that gives the wine an endless mouth feel of caressing tannins, acidity and fruit. There’s a fabulous saltiness and oyster-shell undertone to the fruit. Unique. Drinkable already, but this year there’s the structure to last decades. |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$596.97 |
7 |
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| JS 99 (9/2019): The purity of fruit in this wine really strikes you with black cherries, combined with sage, lavender and rosemary. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with incredible tannin structure that gives the wine an endless mouth feel of caressing tannins, acidity and fruit. There’s a fabulous saltiness and oyster-shell undertone to the fruit. Unique. Drinkable already, but this year there’s the structure to last decades. |
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| La Ca' Nova |
2015 |
Barbaresco Montestefano (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$366.98 |
1 |
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| Col d' Orcia |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$213.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$405.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (5.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$651.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$530.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Nastagio (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$259.99 |
6 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Nastagio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$745.99 |
6 |
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|
| Orma |
2015 |
Orma Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$487.97 |
2 |
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JS 98 (8/2017): Plenty of ripe blackberry and incense. Opens up beautifully in the glass. So perfumed. Full body and seamless tannins that coat your palate with a silky texture. Wonderfully framed with complex fruit. Drink in 2021 but already gorgeous.
WA 94 (10/2017): The 2015 Orma is absolutely rich in intensity and thick in extract. The sunny 2015 vintage is all about exuberance and gosh you do get that here. This is a viscerally exciting wine with a large load of dark fruit, blackberry and crème de cassis. Those fruity tones segue to spice, leather, tobacco and barbecue smoke. Roasted espresso bean and dusty chocolate appear on the full-bodied finish. This is a complete, rich and nicely extracted red wine from the Tuscan Coast. The blend is 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. |
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| Tenuta dell' Ornellaia |
2015 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,249.99 |
1 |
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| VM 99 (4/2018): The 2015 Masseto is simply extraordinary. Soft, silky and seamless, the 2015 possesses remarkable balance and harmony from the very first taste. What surprises me most about the 2015 is how fresh and vibrant the flavors are. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint, and wild flowers are all beautifully lifted in this exquisitely perfumed, gracious Masseto. Despite the warm, drought conditions of the early summer, the 2015 is a wine of mid-weight structure, polish and restraint. In this tasting, it positively dazzles. I can't remember ever tasting a young Masseto with this much pure harmony. Other vintages have been super-impressive upon release. The 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2013 all come to mind. But the 2015 has a level of pure sensuality and allure none of those vintages had when young, with the possible exception of the 2004. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,631.99 |
1 |
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| VM 99 (4/2018): The 2015 Masseto is simply extraordinary. Soft, silky and seamless, the 2015 possesses remarkable balance and harmony from the very first taste. What surprises me most about the 2015 is how fresh and vibrant the flavors are. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint, and wild flowers are all beautifully lifted in this exquisitely perfumed, gracious Masseto. Despite the warm, drought conditions of the early summer, the 2015 is a wine of mid-weight structure, polish and restraint. In this tasting, it positively dazzles. I can't remember ever tasting a young Masseto with this much pure harmony. Other vintages have been super-impressive upon release. The 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2013 all come to mind. But the 2015 has a level of pure sensuality and allure none of those vintages had when young, with the possible exception of the 2004. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,519.99 |
1 |
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VM 98 (4/2018): The 2015 Ornellaia is a dream wine with magnificent balance. All the elements are in the right place. In most vintages, Ornellaia needs time to fully come together, but the 2015 is just impeccable, even in the early going. The warm vintage notwithstanding, winemaker Axel Heinz crafted and Ornellaia is more about finesse and power. The potent, bruising tannins Ornellaia can show as a young wine are nowhere to be found. Bright raspberry jam, mint, white flowers and pomegranate are some of the many notes that punctuate the finish in a memorable Ornellaia that will go down among the great vintages produced at this reference-point estate. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (9/2018): The blackberry and blueberry aromas with fresh sage and bay-leaf character are impressive. Stone, graphite and mineral undertones. Full-bodied and silky and refined tannins. Dusty. Elegance and polish. Shows greatness in strength and refinement. A dialed-in, dialed-back Ornellaia. Drink in 2022. |
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| Paitin |
2015 |
Barbaresco Serra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$426.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Sori Paitin (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$485.99 |
1 |
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| Petrolo |
2015 |
Galatrona (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$641.99 |
1 |
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| E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) |
2015 |
Barolo Cannubi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$819.99 |
6 |
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JS 99 (1/2019): Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.
WA 95 (6/2019): My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover's face.
VM 92 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is silky, perfumed and gracious, all qualities that are remarkable in this vintage. Even so, the Cannubi remains a soloist more than an orchestra. Floral and spice notes add lift to this super-expressive, nuanced Barolo from Chiara Boschis. Overall, though, the 2015 is a touch slender and not quite as expressive as the two other Barolos in the range. The 2015 was aged 2/3rds in cask and 1/3rd in barrique. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Mosconi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$530.99 |
1 |
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JS 97 (1/2019): Aromatic depth here, drawing you in with cascading layers of flowers and leaves, fresh-tilled earth laced with woody spices, white pepper and fresh red fruit. The palate carries a very sturdy frame of fine, dense tannins. This is placed in the top league of 2015 Barolo wines. Long and succulent build through the finish. Try from 2024.
WA 94 (6/2019): All of the wines from Chiara Boschis are more vinous this year, more natural. They feel authentic, genuine and traditional. They show an extra degree of richness or texture, and the 2015 Barolo Mosconi is no exception. Its dark and spicy notes are very polished and graceful in this vintage but with considerable tightness to the tannins that will soften with time. This wine offers ample volume and girth, but it carries its weight with elegance. Once the bottle has reached maturity, it would be a great pairing match to rabbit.
VM 93 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Mosconi is striking in this vintage. The natural richness of the year seems especially well suited to this Monforte site, where the wines tend to be born with a natural sense of textural breadth and volume. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather and menthol grow in the glass in a full-bodied, virile Barolo that speaks to power above all else. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Poggio di Sotto |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,115.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 96 (4/2020): Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine. Ian d'Agata. |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,055.99 |
5 |
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| JD 98 (3/2021): The 2015 Brunello Riserva is austere upon opening and requires air to fully express its potential this early. It is perfumed and translucent, with raspberry fruit leather, black licorice, and rose petal. The palate is structured with drying tannins and mouthwatering acidity, noted by violets, dried herbs and crisp cherry fruit. The warmth of the 2015 vintage is present, though it remains refreshing, tension-driven, and persistent. The 2015 Riserva was aged in large Slavonian barrels for 52 months, and only 1300 bottles were produced. It is a wonderful and immensely pleasurable wine that will be a joy to revisit if the unlikely opportunity should ever arrive. Audrey Frick. |
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| Il Poggione |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$79 |
16 |
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WA 97 (1/2020): The Il Poggione 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows a darker and more concentrated appearance than many of its peers. The wine is beautifully abundant and fragrant in the most exuberant and expressive manner. You will recognize aromas of moist soil, tobacco and smoke. Candied cherry hovers over the entire bouquet. Fruit is sourced from older vines (all over 25 years old). Il Poggione occupies a special spot within the Montalcino appellation, and the area always produces slightly more concentrated and powerful wines. I find that to be particularly true in this gorgeous 2015 vintage. I am also very attracted to that almost dusty note of crushed mineral that rides long on the full-bodied finish. Il Poggione's Brunello is also distinguished by firm, youthful tannin that need a few more years to unwind.
VM 97 (4/2020): Il Poggione 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers up a dark, earthy, almost animal-like expression, showing black soil and undergrowth, giving way to crushed black cherry, dusty spice, and dried florals which lift the experience. On the palate, soft, fleshy textures usher in fresh cherry and strawberry, as brisk acids add energy, with savory herbs and minerals saturating, as the 2015 Il Poggione’s fruit nearly masks its structural core. The finish is long yet fresh, with classic, fine tannins, dried red fruits and pretty inner floral tones lingering throughout this perfectly balanced expression. The 2015 s pure class and built for the cellar. (Drink between 2024-2044). Eric Guido. |
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| Cantine dei Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema |
2015 |
Carema Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$286.97 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (4/2020): The 2015 Carema Riserva is dark, powerful (for Carema) and also wonderfully appealing. Dried cherry, tobacco, smoke, licorice and dried herbs infuse the 2015 with tons of aromatic and flavor nuance. The 2015 also has quite a bit of mid-palate density and the persistence to drink well with just about anything. I find it incredibly appealing, and, frankly, a total knockout, breathtaking wine. (Drink between 2020-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Fattoria le Pupille |
2015 |
Saffredi (6X750ML) 6-Bottle OWC |
$534 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (3/2019): The 2015 Saffredi is a powerful, racy wine. Even so, I don't find the nuance, clarity or freshness that made the 2015 so complete last year. Part or all of that may be attributable to multiple bottlings. My feeling on the subject is very simple. Multiple bottlings inevitably lead to bottle variation, and that is just unacceptable at this level. (Drink between 2020-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$237.97 |
2 |
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| VM 95 (3/2019): The 2015 Saffredi is a powerful, racy wine. Even so, I don't find the nuance, clarity or freshness that made the 2015 so complete last year. Part or all of that may be attributable to multiple bottlings. My feeling on the subject is very simple. Multiple bottlings inevitably lead to bottle variation, and that is just unacceptable at this level. (Drink between 2020-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$587.97 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 95 (3/2019): The 2015 Saffredi is a powerful, racy wine. Even so, I don't find the nuance, clarity or freshness that made the 2015 so complete last year. Part or all of that may be attributable to multiple bottlings. My feeling on the subject is very simple. Multiple bottlings inevitably lead to bottle variation, and that is just unacceptable at this level. (Drink between 2020-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Guiseppe Quintarelli |
2015 |
Alzero Cabernet Franc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,429.96 |
1 |
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| Le Ragnaie |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$468.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$755.99 |
2 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$755.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Fornace (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$503.99 |
1 |
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| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2015 |
Sammarco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$580.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (9/2019): The 2015 Sammarco (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese) shines the brightest spotlight onto the Cabernet Sauvignon element, and you can immediately make out the distinctive sharpness and structure of that variety. The bouquet offers notes of black fruit, toasted spice and grilled herb, along with wild flower, terracotta and tilled earth. There is some spice on the close, and the tannins do leave their mark with youthful astringency. Give the wine some time in the cellar, and one day it will be fantastic with a tagliatelle and porcini.
VM 94 (8/2019): The 2015 Sammarco is a wine of exquisite and total finesse. Understated and nuanced, as few wines are in 2015, Sammarco is sublime. Wild flowers, cedar, spice, leather and mint give the 2015 striking aromatic dimension. On the palate, the 2015 is subtle and classy. In 2015, the Merlot crop was a bit higher than normal as newer plantings entered production, and that is reflected in the blend here as well. Because of that, the 2015 is an unusually open, forthcoming Sammarco. In fact, I can't remember tasting a young Sammarco with this much early appeal. I can't wait to see how it ages. The 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Sangiovese, with the Cabernet and Merlot aged in concrete and tonneaux, and the Sangiovese exclusively in cask. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Renieri |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$601.99 |
2 |
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| VM 92 (4/2020): The Renieri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is dark and intense in its aromatics, displaying a mix of earthy mineral and soil tones, offset by crushed black cherry, savory herbs, leather, and spice. On the palate, soft, fleshy textures usher in ripe cherry fruits, offset by a mix of brisk acids and saturating minerals, as hints of exotic spice buzz upon the senses, leaving a coating of fine tannin in their wake. The finish is long and structured, flexing its hulky tannins, as only a hint of dried black cherry, minerals, and spice linger. The 2015 Renieri needs time and lots of it, but I believe its primary fruit and acids will one day tame the massive structure that is currently dominating the wine’s personality. Eric Guido. |
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| Giuseppe Rinaldi |
2015 |
Barolo Tre Tine (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,964.99 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (6/2019): This wine celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2016. Representing its 99th birthday, the 2015 Barolo Tre Tine is a blend of fruit from Ravera (60%), Le Coste (20%) and Cannubi San Lorenzo (20%). These sites encountered some challenges with hail in the 2014 vintage that resulted in a 30% loss of fruit. The Rinaldi family saw hail in the Brunate and Cerequio area in 2016. But the 2015 vintage saw smooth sailing and what winemaker Marta Rinaldi calls "a return to normalcy." She says fermentations proceeded beautifully and without any holdups. This Barolo opens to a medium-dark garnet color with bright fruit tones followed by licorice, tar and delicate balsam herb. The wine offers a degree of softness that comes through in the quality of the tannins and the texture of the mouthfeel. |
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2015 |
Barolo Tre Tine (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,154.99 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (6/2019): This wine celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2016. Representing its 99th birthday, the 2015 Barolo Tre Tine is a blend of fruit from Ravera (60%), Le Coste (20%) and Cannubi San Lorenzo (20%). These sites encountered some challenges with hail in the 2014 vintage that resulted in a 30% loss of fruit. The Rinaldi family saw hail in the Brunate and Cerequio area in 2016. But the 2015 vintage saw smooth sailing and what winemaker Marta Rinaldi calls "a return to normalcy." She says fermentations proceeded beautifully and without any holdups. This Barolo opens to a medium-dark garnet color with bright fruit tones followed by licorice, tar and delicate balsam herb. The wine offers a degree of softness that comes through in the quality of the tannins and the texture of the mouthfeel. |
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| Rivetto |
2015 |
Barolo Leon Reserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$262.99 |
5 |
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2015 |
Barolo Leon Reserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$666.99 |
5 |
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| Roagna |
2015 |
Barbaresco Paje (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$912.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo La Pira (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$822.99 |
1 |
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| WA 94 (6/2021): The Roagna 2015 Barolo Pira represents a more ample production of 12,582 bottles. This is a tight and articulate wine, with bright cherry fruit, pressed lilac and soft spice. Like the other wines from this deeply tradition-minded estate, there is an evident note of balsam herb that adds lift and vertical intensity to the bouquet. |
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| Castello Romitorio |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$426.99 |
2 |
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| VM 95 (4/2020): The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it's soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long. Eric Guido. |
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| Podere Salicutti |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$697.99 |
2 |
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| Salvioni |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Cerbaiola (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$919.99 |
1 |
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WA 96+ (10/2020): After skipping over the 2014 vintage, Salvioni comes out swinging with the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola. This is a classic Brunello, with one foot firmly planted in a sense of place and the other in varietal purity. You really can't ask for more in a world-class Brunello such as this, hailing from a highly ranked vintage. Thanks to the sunny and warm growing season, the fiber and texture of this wine is a little looser and thicker compared to the cooler 2013 vintage. This beautiful wine, by contrast, delivers a knockout blow of saturated color loaded with dark cherry and blackberry aromas, all backed by spice, potting soil, crushed rocks, iron ore, ash, violets and blood orange. There is a subtle point of softness or sweetness on the finish that is a signature of this vintage.
VM 96 (4/2020): An earthy display of mineral-encased red fruits and wild herbs lifts from the glass, as the bouquet of the 2015 Salvioni Brunello di Montalcino evolves into a dark mix of ripe black cherry and dusty spices with overarching floral notes. On the palate, soft, enveloping ripe red fruits open up in an unexpectedly approachable and alluring display, with hints of sweet spice and inner florals. With more time, the flavors turn more to the savory spectrum, adding hints of dried herbs, with cascading minerals, all pushed forward by brisk acidity. The finish is long, as its staining red fruits are offset by zesty spices and acids, revealing just a hint of fine tannin beneath it all. This is an especially forward and easy-to-like expression of Salvioni, which I’m tempted to start drinking early, yet there’s enough primary fruit and acids to carry it over the medium term in the cellar. (Drink between 2022-2035). Eric Guido. |
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| San Giusto A Rentennano |
2015 |
Percarlo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$312.99 |
3 |
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| VM 98 (2/2019): The 2015 Percarlo, the estate's 100% Sangiovese, towers in the glass with huge, dark fruit to match its powerful, vertical structure. Ample and expansive on the palate, with huge textural depth, the 2015 is a total stunner. The darker, more muscular side of Sangiovese emerges in this gorgeous, absolutely stunning wine. Black cherry, lavender, spice and smoke overtones fill out the wine's big frame effortlessly. Proprietor Luca Martini di Cigala aged the 2015 in a combination of cask and tonneau. The 2015 Percarlo is a riveting wine readers will not want to miss. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Percarlo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$667.99 |
1 |
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| VM 98 (2/2019): The 2015 Percarlo, the estate's 100% Sangiovese, towers in the glass with huge, dark fruit to match its powerful, vertical structure. Ample and expansive on the palate, with huge textural depth, the 2015 is a total stunner. The darker, more muscular side of Sangiovese emerges in this gorgeous, absolutely stunning wine. Black cherry, lavender, spice and smoke overtones fill out the wine's big frame effortlessly. Proprietor Luca Martini di Cigala aged the 2015 in a combination of cask and tonneau. The 2015 Percarlo is a riveting wine readers will not want to miss. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Percarlo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,100.99 |
1 |
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| VM 98 (2/2019): The 2015 Percarlo, the estate's 100% Sangiovese, towers in the glass with huge, dark fruit to match its powerful, vertical structure. Ample and expansive on the palate, with huge textural depth, the 2015 is a total stunner. The darker, more muscular side of Sangiovese emerges in this gorgeous, absolutely stunning wine. Black cherry, lavender, spice and smoke overtones fill out the wine's big frame effortlessly. Proprietor Luca Martini di Cigala aged the 2015 in a combination of cask and tonneau. The 2015 Percarlo is a riveting wine readers will not want to miss. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Luciano Sandrone |
2015 |
Barolo Aleste (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$419.97 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Aleste (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$712.99 |
8 |
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2015 |
Barolo Le Vigne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$676.99 |
5 |
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WA 95+ (6/2019): Luciano Sandrone expected this would be a beautiful year for Nebbiolo, with fruit showing the qualities of an important wine all throughout the growing season and right up to harvest. And yes, the 2015 Barolo le Vigne did turn out to be a great vintage, with a full aromatic array of perfumed rose, lavender and violet. For all of its generosity and expressiveness, with just a beautiful bouquet that sings out a seductive mezzo-soprano aria, be forewarned that in the mouth this is followed by rigidity and nervousness. That explosive bouquet might mislead you into thinking this is a rather evolved wine, but you certainly feel its youth on the palate. To be frank, this was an easy year to make wine, and it's not a big surprise that this edition of le Vigne turned out to be as classic and as good as it is. It should get even better with time.
VM 95 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Le Vigne is a wine of pure and extreme grace. Silky and nuanced on the palate, with tremendous character, the 2015 is all class. Rose petal, mint and sweet red berry fruit are laced together in this super-expressive Barolo. Medium in body, with radiant fruit and brisk tannins, the 2015 Le Vigne is a terrific example of the vintage at its best. Today, the 2015 is decidedly reticent. I have seen Le Vigne open up with time in bottle. I imagine that will be the case here as well, although the wine is quite closed down at this stage. Vineyard sources are Baudana, Villero, Vignane and Merli. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Vite Talin
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$501.99 |
6 |
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| Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Rennina (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$862.99 |
2 |
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| Livio Sassetti |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$503.99 |
1 |
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| Podere Poggio Scalette |
2015 |
Piantonaia Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$798.97 |
1 |
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| Paolo Scavino |
2015 |
Barolo |
$45 |
1 |
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| WA 93 (6/2019): For a few years running now, this has been one of the Scavino family’s signature bottles. The goal here is to aim higher than your standard “base” or “classico” Barolo. The Paolo Scavino 2015 Barolo is made with a complicated blend of fruit from seven vineyard sites spread clear across the appellation from Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba and more townships. Each parcel is fermented separately, and some parcels are split into two or more individual fermentations. In order to maintain the highest quality standards, some 10% of the fruit is sold off as bulk, and once the overall selection is whittled down, the best fruit remains in-house. This is a compact and darkly saturated wine with bold blueberry and blackberry fruit. The wine shows a steady center of gravity in this warm, fruit-driven vintage. |
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2015 |
Barolo Bric del Fiasc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$757.99 |
2 |
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JS 96 (4/2019): The redcurrant-compote character really pops out here, before dried cranberries, licorice and spice box all come to the fore. Tannic and very expansive, sweeping through a whole array of red berries via linear acidity and wrapping itself up in a long finish. Drink from 2023.
WA 95+ (6/2019): From the Scavino family’s home-turf vineyard, the 2015 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc (with fruit from Castiglione Falletto) delivers structure, firmness and power. This is a classic interpretation of a historic cru, and the wine offers linear, crisp lines. Fruit from this site was fermented separately for the first time to make this wine in 1978. The family had long recognized the consistently superior quality of the fruit from this location, and they saw its special potential. Enrico Scavino told me about the rush of adrenaline and pride that washed over him when he first tasted this wine with his peers Gaja and Conterno during those Golden Years of the past and saw the enthusiasm their eyes. This is the go-to Barolo if you want to taste classic Scavino.
VM 95 (11/2019): The 2015 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is dark and imposing on the palate, yet not quite as forbidding as it can be. A Barolo of size and heft, the 2015 has a lot to say, but it won't be ready to drink anytime soon. Black cherry, smoke, leather, iron, licorice, menthol and graphite notes infuse the 2015 with layers of nuance to complement its brooding, sepia-toned personality nicely. The 2015 is a beguiling Barolo, but it needs cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Bricco Ambrogio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$601.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Cannubi |
$94 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (11/2019): The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is another heady, dense wine in this range. Here, too, there is a ton of potential, but at present the 2015 is fruity and primary. I would give it a good few years for some of the baby fat to melt away. Even with all of its textural richness, the 2015 has quite a bit of underlying detail and nuance that emerges with just a bit of aeration. There is plenty to look forward to, that much is clear. (Drink between 2023-2040). Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Monvigliero |
$69 |
1 |
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| VM 93 (11/2019): The 2015 Barolo Monvigliero is undoubtedly a pretty wine, even if it appears to be somewhat of a work in progress. Bright floral notes, spice and sweet red cherry/plum fruit give the Monvigliero considerable immediacy as well as appeal. Even so, my impression is that the best is yet to come for this bottling. (Drink between 2020-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,224.99 |
1 |
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| Sesti |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$584.99 |
1 |
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| Sette Ponti |
2015 |
Oreno (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$574.99 |
3 |
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| Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera |
2015 |
Toscana Sangiovese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,312.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Toscana Sangiovese (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,822.99 |
1 |
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| Canalicchio di Sopra |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$531.97 |
3 |
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| Tenuta San Guido |
2015 |
Le Difese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$215.97 |
1 |
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2015 |
Le Difese (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$236.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,994.97 |
2 |
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JS 98 (1/2018): Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. Approachable now but will reward more in five to six years. A classic Sassicaia.
WA 97 (2/2018): Having followed this wine's evolution in barrel for the past few years, it is an honor to evaluate the final product. This Sassicaia has blossomed since my previous encounters with it as a young, awkward adolescent. The long-awaited 2015 Bolgheri Sassicaia represents a tremendous effort that comes together with seamless precision and focus. This is a confident and proud red wine from Tuscany. Starting with the primary material at hand, you sense the quality of fruit thanks to the wine's beautifully dark appearance and the rich texture it offers to the palate. The acidity is integrated, but more freshness still would have been welcomed in my view (and would also contribute to its longevity). The bouquet is amplified both in terms of volume and length. Its playlist includes dark berry fruit, spice, leather, licorice and roasted coffee bean. Yet, the mouthfeel is extremely graceful and silky. The wine's undisputed pedigree is showcased on the palate. It should also be noted that this edition of Sassicaia feels more ready and open to me. It will age and evolve beautifully, but the 2015 Sassicaia can also be enjoyed in the medium-term. This wine is all about the here and now.
VM 95 (4/2018): The 2015 Sassicaia is powerful and dense in the glass, with a level of concentration that is unusual. In most vintages, Sassicaia is a wine of restraint. Although the 2015 is by no means overdone, it exudes richness and textural resonance in all of its dimensions. A rush of black cherry, mocha, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice and underbrush builds as this powerful, creamy wine shows off its muscle. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Tua Rita |
2015 |
Perlato del Bosco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$232.99 |
2 |
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2015 |
Redigaffi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$557.97 |
1 |
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JS 99-100 (10/2017): This is an extremely intense and dense Redigaffi yet it remains lively and agile. Full body and powerful tannins that are polished and long. It goes on for minutes. So compacted and structured but always reserved. Acid balance is just right. Can't wait to taste it in bottle. Made from organic grapes.
WA 97 (11/2017): No surprise, Tua Rita delivers yet another unbelievable edition of its legendary Merlot from Coastal Tuscany. The 2015 Redigaffi is a blockbuster, a beautiful and expressive blockbuster at that. This vintage delivers a unique level of intensity and power that is very much linked to the easily ripened fruit obtained in this warm and sunny vintage. Despite that inner bulk and power, the wine reveals an elegant sense of harmony and depth. Etched mineral or graphite notes segue to black fruit, spice, leather, mocha and toasted espresso bean. The wine is structured and firm in terms of mouthfeel.
VM 95 (4/2018): Just bottled a few weeks ago, the 2016 Redigafi is rich, powerful and explosive, with serious depth and volume in all of its dimensions. A host of chocolate, mocha, espresso, licorice and smoke overtones give the wine nuance to match its intense, super-ripe purplish and black-fleshed fruit. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Syrah (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$475.99 |
1 |
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| Valdicava |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$912.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,534.99 |
1 |
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| VM 95+ (11/2020): There’s a mentholated freshness to the 2015 Madonna del Piano Riserva which draws you in, as a seductive display of crushed black cherries, cinnamon, sage and sweet white smoke holds your attention firm. It’s silky in feel yet far more lifted than expected, with wave after wave of tart wild berries and savory spices which drench the palate in concentrated fruit, as if you can feel the skins, pips and all. Just when you think that the 2015 will release you from its structured clenches, its coating of grippy tannins comes forward, and it remains throughout the tension-filled and purple-tinged finale. This will require many years of cellaring to reveal its charms, coming across as far more structured than most other Brunello Riservas from the vintage; yet there’s plenty of fruit to keep pace throughout the wine's evolution. Eric Guido. |
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| Vietti |
2015 |
Barolo Lazzarito (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$826.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Lazzarito (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$426.97 |
3 |
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2015 |
Barolo Ravera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$850.99 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Ravera is once again the head of the class at Vietti. Bright, sculpted and wonderfully nuanced, the Ravera is very pretty. Floral aromatics and the pointed, brilliant fruit that is such a Ravera signature are very much in evidence. Hints of blood orange, mint, crushed rocks and flowers add shades of complexity as the 2015 gradually opens up in the glass. This is one of the finer wines of the year. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Ravera (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$496.99 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Ravera is once again the head of the class at Vietti. Bright, sculpted and wonderfully nuanced, the Ravera is very pretty. Floral aromatics and the pointed, brilliant fruit that is such a Ravera signature are very much in evidence. Hints of blood orange, mint, crushed rocks and flowers add shades of complexity as the 2015 gradually opens up in the glass. This is one of the finer wines of the year. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Barolo Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$938.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,015.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$655.96 |
1 |
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| Roberto Voerzio |
2015 |
Barolo Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,541.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barolo Cerequio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,510.99 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (11/2020): Gorgeous notes of black cherries, tobacco, and licorice emerge from the 2015 Barolo Cerequio, and this beauty is about as seamless and sexy as they come. More spice, toasted almonds, and dried flower notes develop with time in the glass, and it has magical tannins, medium-bodied richness, and a great, great finish. Give bottles 2-4 years and it’s going to impress for a good 2-3 decades. (Drink between 2022-2053) |
|
|
2015 |
Barolo La Serra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,342.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Ausone |
2021 |
St. Emilion (1.5 L) 2021 en Primeur Release |
$1,350 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 97-100 (4/2022): A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!
JA 95 (4/2022): Violet edging, jewel red depths. There is austerity on the tannins here, but also great depths through the palate, with controlled but juicy loganberry and raspberry fruits, and waves of saffron, creamy red-fruit puree, crushed rock, cold ash and salt-cracker salinity. Subdued, with hidden power and complexity. A tough year for this stable of wines - or rather proof of their exceptionally high standards, making a half production of Simard, no Haut Simard, tiny amounts of Fonbel and almost certainly no Moulin St Georges. The last year that Ausone will be recorded as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, before publication of the new ranking in September 2022. Harvest September 30 to October 6, 100% new oak. In conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master. Average vine age 55 years.
VM 93-95 (5/2022): The 2021 Ausone was picked on September 30 for the Merlot and October 4–6 for the Cabernet Franc, with a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc because some of the Merlot was deselected into the Chapelle. Matured in 90% new oak, this has a fragrant and floral bouquet, more iris than violet, revealing a hint of seaweed in the background. The palate is well-defined, quite strict and focused, certainly one of the more mineral-driven Ausones that I have encountered at this stage. The limestone terroir is evident on the finish. Again, this is a little leaner and less flamboyant than recent vintages. Having tasted Ausone at this prenatal stage for over 20 years, I don’t find the thrilling "drive” or the pyrotechnics of the 2001, 2010, 2016 or 2019. Yet this Ausone is compelling in its own uncompromising way, and I wouldn't want it any different. |
|
| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2020 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-Bottle OWC |
$3,500 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2023): The Grand Vin 2020 Château Cheval Blanc checks in as a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that was raised, as always, in 100% new French oak. As usual with Cheval Blanc, it's primarily about finesse and elegance, as well as complexity, and exhibits a deep purple hue as well as a kaleidoscopic bouquet of sweet red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy incense, loamy earth, and smoke tobacco. Absolutely flawless on the palate, it's full-bodied, has perfectly integrated oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc offers pleasure even today but warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will see its 40th birthday in fine form.
VM 99 (2/2023): The 2020 Cheval Blanc is eternal, seamless and exceptionally beautiful. All the elements are so well put together. Rose petal, blood orange, raspberry jam and cinnamon all take shape in the glass. Above all else, the 2020 Cheval Blanc is a wine of mind-blowing balance. Hints of mocha, raspberry jam, pomegranate and spice emerge with time in the glass. Cheval is quite simply one of the truly great wines of the vintage. Antonio Galloni.
JA 99 (5/2021): Spice, anis, rosemary, blackcurrant leaf, redcurrants, mint and peonies - the full array of aromatics are on display here, and there is an enveloping aspect to the fruit once you get to the body of the wine. The tannins are compact and powerful but they are wrapped in plump raspberry and blackberry brambled fruits. The wine feels full of life, with acidity that pulls the palate forward from the first moment, before austerity kicks in on the finish and closes things in, suggesting an extremely long life ahead. Hard to argue with this. 71% of overall production. The driest year at Cheval Blanc for 50 years (since 1959). Could go up after tasting in bottle, a potential 100 points.
WA 96 (4/2023): The 2020 Cheval Blanc wafts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, plums and cherries mingled with hints of rose petals, licorice, sweet spices and lilac. Full-bodied, broad and voluptuous, it's layered and fleshy, with a ripe core of fruit, sweet tannins and a long, expansive finish. While purists will gravitate toward the purer and more precise and perfumed 2019, the 2020 will appeal to readers who love the richest, most powerful expressions of Cheval Blanc. |
|
| Ch. Clinet |
1989 |
Pomerol |
$694 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2002): One of the great modern-day Bordeaux, the 1989 Clinet still has a saturated purple color and a sweet nose of creme de cassis intermixed with incense, licorice, smoke, and mineral. As the wine sits in the glass, more blueberry and blackberry notes emerge, intermixed with some toasty oak, earth, and spice. This spectacularly concentrated, full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine is the stuff of dreams. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.
MB [*[**]] (9/1998): Three notes. First a double magnum in 1995, very tannic, very oaky but with good nose. Next in 1997 over-extracted and too tannic. Not my favourite syle of wine. More recently, deep, medium intensity, a bit smelly (tannins?0: unusual distinctive flavour, hefty, rich, raw. Its raw tannic finish tamed by spicy beef. |
|
| Ch. Conseillante |
2018 |
Pomerol |
$212.50 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96-98+ (4/2019): The 2018 La Conseillante is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare; Merlot was harvested September 19 to October 1, and Cabernet Franc was harvested on October 4. Very deep purple-black colored, it comes charging out of the gate with energetic notes of wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries and warm black plums plus hints of lilacs, damp soil, cardamom and cloves with gentle wafts of cast iron pan and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with elegant black fruit and earthy layers, framed by soft, velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
VM 95-98 (5/2019): The 2018 La Conseillante is magnificent. A wine of real vertical lift and explosiveness, the 2018 is distinguished by its spine of energy, freshness and purity of fruit. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, mocha, lavender spice and mint develop in the glass, but it is the wine's overall sense of harmony that truly stands out. The 2018 showed tremendous vibrancy and vitality, with superb mid-palate richness and phenomenal balance all three times I tasted it. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. The blend is 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc. This is the first vintage that includes a touch of wine aged in amphora, just 3%. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
JD 97-100 (5/2019): The 2018 Château La Conseillante checks in as a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak, with a small amount in amphora. Yields here were a light 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the 2018 is a respectable 13.5% natural alcohol. Winemaker Marielle Cazaux commented that the secret to the vintage was to be a lazy winemaker (i.e. hands off). Her 2018 boasts a saturated purple color as well as incredible purity in its blue and black fruits, spice, liquid flower, and violet-like characteristics. Full-bodied, pure and seamless on the palate as well, it’s flawlessly balanced, with building yet sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It's going to flirt with perfection. Hats off to Marielle for another magical wine from this estate, which has quickly risen into the top echelon of estates in Bordeaux.
JS 97-98 (4/2019): This is a forceful red, showing blueberry and blackberry character with violets and light wet earth. Clarity and beauty with so much transparency and focus. Full-bodied, firm and silky with lots of white-pepper and salt undertones. |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2009 |
St. Julien ex-Chateau 2026 |
$395 |
26 |
|
| |
JD 100 (10/2023): Starting a duo of magical vintages, the 2009 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of those wines that always seems to deliver the goods. A normal blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that hit 13.5% natural alcohol, it has a soaring bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, graphite, and assorted spicy nuances. It's full-bodied, broad, expansive, and flawlessly balanced, and has still present yet sweet, fine-grained tannins. It's in a much sexier, more showy style compared to the 2010, but I suspect it will nevertheless be just about as long-lived. This is pure perfection in wine. (Drink between 2023-2098).
WA 98 (8/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou bursts from the glass with bombastic crème de cassis, black cherry compote and preserved plums notes followed by hints of menthol, hoisin, dusty soil and incense plus fragrant wafts of candied violets and baker’s chocolate. Full bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, the palate offers a beautifully plush texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and layered. An absolute powerhouse!
VM 97 (7/2022): The 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a fantastic wine. Here it bursts from the glass, perhaps less Pauillac-like than previous bottles, beautifully defined with a smorgasbord of red and black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. There is no hedonism here, just wonderful intensity and focus. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity, very poise yet powerful with a multi-layered finish that just lacquers the mouth. It probably needs another 5-6 years in bottle, but what a wine. Stunning. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Drink between 2025-2065). Neal Martin.
JS 96 (2/2012): The purity of fruit is wonderful in this, with plums, currants and hints of fresh mushrooms. Hints of cloves too. Full-bodied, with chewy, creamy tannins and a bright fresh finish. Super energy and intensity. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Better in 2018. |
|
| Ch. L' Eglise Clinet |
2022 |
Pomerol 2023 en Primeur Release |
$349.95 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 96-98+ (5/2023): Straight-up gorgeous, I'd put the 2022 Château L'Eglise-Clinet up with the top tier Pomerol in the vintage, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it surpass the 2020 as well. Ripe black cherries, violets, spring flowers, graphite, and tobacco all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Compared to the 2005 by owner Noëmie Durantou (who has done an incredible job taking over the estate after the loss of her father), this rich, concentrated, incredibly impressive Pomerol is going to need 7-8 years of bottle age but will evolve for 30 years in cold cellars.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked from 3 to 9 September for the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc on 5 and 9 September, matured in 85% new oak. It has an exquisitely-defined bouquet with succinct floral, pressed iris and clay notes percolating through the black fruit. With breathtaking focus, these scents seem to cast a spell over you. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins that frame the mineral-laden, peppery black fruit. There's not a hair out of place, exuding the essence of this Pomerol estate with an exceptionally long, intense and paradoxically tender finish. It's a wine that may leave you spellbound...just like this barrel sample. Neal Martin.
JA 98 (5/2023): Turns the intensity and exoticism of the vintage on its head, unpacking it carefully, and layering up depth and character. Grilled cedar, fleshy damson and casis fruits, this is all about carefully-considered and delivered juice and flavour. Intense, with balance and carefully-extracted juice, and the precision that you want at L'Eglise Clinet, even in such an ovewheming vintage. 85% new oak, harvest September 3 to 9. Noemie Durantou and Olivier Gautrat. |
|
| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2018): Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.
WA 98 (2/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
JD 98 (11/2017): More opulent, sexy and concentrated, the 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a tour de force that has everything you could want from Bordeaux. A huge nose of smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, graphite, cassis, and blackcurrants gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, perfectly balanced beauty that has incredible depth of flavor and intensity, yet with no weight. While the overall impression is upfront and in your face, it has incredible elegance and length on the finish (as well as ripe tannin), and will keep for three decades.
VM 98 (7/2019): The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
2022 |
St. Julien (3X750ML) 3-bottle OWC |
$900 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (5/2023): Looking at the Grand Vin 2022 Château Léoville Las Cases, it has an almost Pauillac-like style in its ripe, powerful aromatics of graphite, lead pencil shavings, cassis, and liquid rock-like minerality. Full-bodied, massively concentrated, and powerful on the palate, it nevertheless stays flawlessly balanced, has just about off-the-charts purity, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. This will clearly rank with the truly greats from this address and reminds me slightly of a mix of the 2016 and 2018. It is not, however, going to be for those looking for instant gratification.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 Léoville Las Cases is stunning. Fine-grained and nuanced, the 2022 Las Cases is breathtaking. Red/purplish fruit, rose petals, lavender, spice and mocha open gradually but what impresses most about the 2022 is its sublime finesse. Silky, plush and exceptionally beautiful, the 2022 Las Cases is shaping up to be one of the wines of the year. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98-100 (5/2023): One of the wines of the vintage this year is the 2022 Léoville Las Cases, a monument in the making that combines unerring classicism with unusual sensuality and charm by the standards of this estate's sometimes youthfully forbidding wines. Exhibiting deep aromas of dark berries, violets, pencil lead, rose petals and tobacco leaf, it's full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with terrific concentration, beautiful purity of fruit, abundant but refined tannins and a long, vibrant finish. On the several occasions that I tasted it, the 2022 was surprisingly open for a young Las Cases, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were to shut down after a few years in bottle. It's a blend of 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot.
JA 97 (5/2023): Heading to Léoville Las Cases in a super ripe year is always a good idea, as the musuclar tannins are balanced by a riper mouthfeel. As quietly confident as you would expect, this is packed with depth and intensity, taking the 2022 vintage and reshaping it in the character of this St Julien powerhouse. Graphite, crushed rocks, liquorice root, cassis, bluberry, slate, saffran, smoked earth, all held in by tannins with grip and length. 3.8ph, and high alcohols for this estate, giving a seductive mouthfeel that is unusual in young Las Cases. 84% new oak, 37hl/h yield. Harvest September 8 to 30. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2009 |
St. Julien |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (2/2018): The greatest wine I’ve ever tasted from this address is the 2009 Leoville Poyferre, which is a step up over both the 2000 and the 2010. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc that hit 13.9% alcohol, it offers everything you could ask of a wine and reveals a saturated purple color as well as incredible notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, lead pencil, exotic Spices, and dried flowers. Incredibly full-bodied, super concentrated, deep, and opulent, yet still pure, fresh, and lively, it has sweet tannin and a hedonistic vibe that hides its underlying structure. Drink it anytime over the coming three decades.
WA 100 (2/2012): One of the more flamboyant and sumptuous wines of the vintage, this inky/purple-colored St.-Julien reveals thrilling levels of opulence, richness and aromatic pleasures. A soaring bouquet of creme de cassis, charcoal, graphite and spring flowers is followed by a super-concentrated wine with silky tannins, stunning amounts of glycerin, a voluptuous, multilayered mouthfeel and nearly 14% natural alcohol. Displaying fabulous definition for such a big, plump, massive, concentrated effort, I suspect the tannin levels are high even though they are largely concealed by lavish amounts of fruit, glycerin and extract. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.
VM 96 (3/2019): The 2009 Leoville Poyferre has an outstanding bouquet with blackberry, mint and cedar aromas, almost Pauillac in style, very dense and with plenty of horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, saturated tannins that frame layers of blackberry infused with graphite and white pepper. I love the symmetry and control of this Poyferre, in particular its persistent finish. This is a magnificent wine from Didier Cuvelier. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2019): Ripe and creamy but also refined and lively, this is a beautiful 2009 Medoc, the fine tannins adding a lot to the long and silky finish. The obvious bitter chocolate note will either delight you or be a touch too much. Drink or hold. |
|
|
2018 |
St. Julien |
$113 |
17 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): Every bit as good as the 2009, and I think better than the 2010 and 2016, the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré is a total thrill that tops out my scale. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible, full-bodied monster of a wine that, despite massive amounts of fruit, tannins, and extract, still stays weightless and ethereal, with incredible purity. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spring flowers, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and cedar pencil, it's extraordinarily concentrated, flawlessly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit. This is a legendary wine in the making. Give bottles 7-8 years, a decade would be even better, and it will keep for 40-50 years. Hats off to the Cuvelier family for another extraordinary wine! (Drink between 2028-2078).
WA 97 (3/2021): A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure.
VM 95 (9/2022): The 2018 Léoville-Poyferré performs similarly to the bottle tasted a few weeks earlier in the UK for my in-bottle round-up, although here I sense more opulence on the nose, perhaps more florality. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, broad and sensual, plummy with that beguiling symmetry on the finish. It needs several years in bottle but it will be well worth the wait. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. (Drink between 2027-2055). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$678 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): Every bit as good as the 2009, and I think better than the 2010 and 2016, the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré is a total thrill that tops out my scale. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible, full-bodied monster of a wine that, despite massive amounts of fruit, tannins, and extract, still stays weightless and ethereal, with incredible purity. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spring flowers, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and cedar pencil, it's extraordinarily concentrated, flawlessly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit. This is a legendary wine in the making. Give bottles 7-8 years, a decade would be even better, and it will keep for 40-50 years. Hats off to the Cuvelier family for another extraordinary wine! (Drink between 2028-2078).
WA 97 (3/2021): A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure.
VM 95 (9/2022): The 2018 Léoville-Poyferré performs similarly to the bottle tasted a few weeks earlier in the UK for my in-bottle round-up, although here I sense more opulence on the nose, perhaps more florality. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, broad and sensual, plummy with that beguiling symmetry on the finish. It needs several years in bottle but it will be well worth the wait. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. (Drink between 2027-2055). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Les Carmes Haut Brion |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (3X1.5L) 3-magnum OWC |
$895 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty! (Drink between 2028-2078)
JA 98 (2/2021): A beautiful nuance of salty caramel is clear even on the nose. On the palate, the concentration and focus is immediately clear, uplifted by touches of gentle salinity. There is really a sense of place and of being itself which I always love about this wine. It's closed of course, but with an unrolling of sappy black fruits, and a freshness that gives you confidence in its future. So much pleasure to be had here, with notes of chocolate, peony and liquorice. Extremely successful, as it was en primeur. 3.62pH. 53% whole-bunch fermentation. IPT95. Harvested 13-28 September. Ageing is mostly in large oak casks, 76% new, plus 9% aged in amphorae. (Drink between 2026-2044)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a total knock-out, just as it was from barrel. Soaring in its aromatic intensity, Les Carmes dazzles from the very first taste. Inky red fruits, mocha, new leather, licorice, dried flowers, sage and mint envelop all the senses. Today, the 2018 appears to be slightly closed, but time brings out tons of aromatic energy and nuance. Cabernet Franc plays the leading role, unusual for this part of the region. Franc aromatics and a fair amount of whole cluster savoriness lend energy but also a feeling of richness without weight that is especially appealing. This is a masterpiece from Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier. (Drink between 2026-2048). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (3/2021): The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is composed of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. It was made using 52% whole cluster and has 13.75% alcohol. It was aged in 75% new oak barriques, 16% foudres and 9% amphorae. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing before bursting from the glass with vibrant scents blackberry preserves, redcurrant jelly, mulberries and Black Forest cake, leading to an undercurrent of pencil lead, black truffles, cast-iron pan and charcoal with an emerging waft of violets. The elegantly crafted, medium-bodied palate dances with red and black fruits before bursting into earth and mineral sparks. It has a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and savory. The stem tannins lend this wine a firmness and textural interest, which should integrate further with another 5-6 years in barrel, allowing the nuances to shine through even more, then you can continue to enjoy its slow evolution for a further 30+ years. |
|
| Ch. Montrose |
2018 |
St. Estephe |
$189 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): A full-bodied powerhouse as well as a perfect wine, the 2018 Château Montrose is a final blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. Boasting a deep purple hue as well as awesome levels of crème de cassis and smoky blackberry fruits and notes of tobacco, lead pencil, scorched earth, and chocolate, it's deep, opulent, and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with no shortage of mid-palate depth, tannins, or length. It reminds me a little of a fresher version of the 2003, although there's more Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018 as well as less Merlot. It has that classic Montrose minerality and backward, mineral-laced style, yet I suspect this will be drinkable in just 5-6 years and should evolve into a modern-day legend from this terroir. (Drink between 2027-2077)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Montrose is dazzling. Whereas so many 2018s are opulent and broad, Montrose is a wine of vertical explosive power. Ripe Cabernet aromatics soar out of the glass, making a strong first impression. Black cherry, leather, licorice, graphite and menthol develop later as the 2018 starts to open in the glass. The energy, vibrancy and drive here are palpable right out of the gate. Montrose is one of real stars of 2018. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2028-2058). Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (6/2021): Silky, young, clear spice notes, more so than in any other vintage in the lineup except for the 2003. Plenty of stuffing through the palate, with blueberry, cassis, hawthorn, tumeric, saffron but also caramel and black chocolate flavours. It's beautiful, well balanced, with intent and poise, and very clearly a wine that will go the distance. Having said that, it's the only wine in the lineup when I even think about the alcohol, suggesting there is a trace of heat, and certainly you feel the sunshine of the year in a way that you rarely do in Montrose - this takes it down for me from my initial En Primeur score. Harvest September 17 to October 5.
WA 95+ (12/2023): A hulking monster of power and extraction, the 2018 Montrose offers up rich aromas of mulberries, cherries, dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied, broad and ample, with a textural attack that segues into a sweet core of fruit framed by ripe but chewy tannins, it's a muscular, dense Montrose with structure to burn, concluding with a lingering, floral finish. While its over 14.5% alcohol is impressively well integrated, Médoc purists will want to gravitate toward the 2016 rather than the 2018. |
|
|
2018 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,134 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): A full-bodied powerhouse as well as a perfect wine, the 2018 Château Montrose is a final blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. Boasting a deep purple hue as well as awesome levels of crème de cassis and smoky blackberry fruits and notes of tobacco, lead pencil, scorched earth, and chocolate, it's deep, opulent, and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with no shortage of mid-palate depth, tannins, or length. It reminds me a little of a fresher version of the 2003, although there's more Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018 as well as less Merlot. It has that classic Montrose minerality and backward, mineral-laced style, yet I suspect this will be drinkable in just 5-6 years and should evolve into a modern-day legend from this terroir. (Drink between 2027-2077)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Montrose is dazzling. Whereas so many 2018s are opulent and broad, Montrose is a wine of vertical explosive power. Ripe Cabernet aromatics soar out of the glass, making a strong first impression. Black cherry, leather, licorice, graphite and menthol develop later as the 2018 starts to open in the glass. The energy, vibrancy and drive here are palpable right out of the gate. Montrose is one of real stars of 2018. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2028-2058). Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (6/2021): Silky, young, clear spice notes, more so than in any other vintage in the lineup except for the 2003. Plenty of stuffing through the palate, with blueberry, cassis, hawthorn, tumeric, saffron but also caramel and black chocolate flavours. It's beautiful, well balanced, with intent and poise, and very clearly a wine that will go the distance. Having said that, it's the only wine in the lineup when I even think about the alcohol, suggesting there is a trace of heat, and certainly you feel the sunshine of the year in a way that you rarely do in Montrose - this takes it down for me from my initial En Primeur score. Harvest September 17 to October 5.
WA 95+ (12/2023): A hulking monster of power and extraction, the 2018 Montrose offers up rich aromas of mulberries, cherries, dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied, broad and ample, with a textural attack that segues into a sweet core of fruit framed by ripe but chewy tannins, it's a muscular, dense Montrose with structure to burn, concluding with a lingering, floral finish. While its over 14.5% alcohol is impressively well integrated, Médoc purists will want to gravitate toward the 2016 rather than the 2018. |
|
|
2020 |
St. Estephe |
$205 |
10 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2023): Surpassing the 2019 and rivaling the 2016 as this estate's finest vintage of the last few decades, the 2020 Montrose is a monument in the making. Wafting from the glass with aromas of violets, dark berries, licorice, loamy soil, black truffle and subtle spices, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a seamless, elegantly muscular profile, terrific purity and energy, beautifully powdery tannins and a long, resonant finish. It checks in at 13.7% alcohol, the same as the superb 2009, but it is even deeper, more vibrant and more complex than the 2009.
JD 98+ (3/2023): The Grand Vin 2020 Château Montrose is brilliant and unquestionably in the lineup of the truly greats from this château, including the 1989, 1990, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2019. With an IPT of 80 and a natural alcohol of 13.4%, its deep, saturated purple hue is followed by quintessential Saint-Estèphe notes of pure cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, acacia flowers, and loamy earth. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless stays incredibly pure, elegant, and seamless, with perfectly ripe tannins. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, is shines even today for its purity and balance, and it should be in the early stages of its prime drink window within a decade. (Drink between 2031-2081).
VM 97 (11/2024): The 2020 Montrose has a gorgeous bouquet with black cherries, raspberry coulis, crushed stone and floral scents. It's quite decadent yet nicely controlled. The palate is very structured with layers of blackberry and bilberry fruit and a touch of white pepper, building toward a spicy and very persistent, almost burly finish. This will need serious cellaring. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2032-2065). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2022 |
Pauillac (1.5 L) 2023 en Primeur Release |
$1,425 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (2/2025): Bottled in June of 2024, the 2022 Château Mouton Rothschild checks in as classic blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot that was raised all in new barrels. Incredibly concentrated yet light on its feet and graceful, this inky-hued beauty has sensational notes of cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and chocolate that are to die for. It shows the ripe, opulent style of the vintage yet brings sensational purity, loads of tannins, and a gorgeous finish. For the tech geeks out there, this hit 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.86, and an IPT (tannins) of 76. It has the depth of fruit and texture to offer incredible pleasure even today, yet it deserves a decade of bottle age and will evolve for 50-60 years. It reminds me of a mix of the 2009 and 2010. (Drink between 2035-2095).
JA 99 (2/2024): Inky colour, cassis, cocoa bean, cocoa dusting, crushed rose petals, juice, pep, focus and crystalline character, a serious wine that will power for decades, intense and concentrated but with an oyster shell minerality, delicious quality. A great example of how brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon can be in this part of the world, and why it sets the benchmark globally. This is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy director. 49% of production in the Grand Vin, 27% Petit Mouton. 100% new barrels for ageing, harvest September 1 to 26.
Decanter 99 (1/2025): Spicy liquorice, bitter chocolate, tobacco, cigar, and aniseed on the nose. Round and bright, with juicy, delicate fruit and velvety tannins. Super concentrated yet graceful, layering ripeness, freshness, and stoniness. Controlled power - soft in texture but packed with Cabernet structure. Starts juicy and creamy, then surges with depth and length. Sweet black fruit meets cool, steely minerality, giving complexity and definition. Black liquorice on a sticky finish. Bold for Mouton but outstanding, this is going to deliver for decades. 3.68pH. Ageing 100% new oak. (Drink between 2031-2050).
VM 98 (3/2026): The 2022 Mouton Rothschild has a very expressive, floral bouquet that suggests Margaux, with fabulous delineation and focus. It just seems to billow from the glass. The palate is velvety smooth, with fine acidity and a touch of graphite infusing the black fruit. Restrained and, paradoxically, intense on the finish, this lingers wonderfully in the glass. Deeply impressive. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London. (Drink between 2030-2070). Neal Martin.
WA 97 (3/2025): The 2022 Mouton Rothschild is one of the most muscular, almost brutally powerful wines of the vintage. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums and sweet crème de cassis mingled with notions of espresso roast, pencil lead and petroleum jelly, it's full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with huge reserves of tannin and fruit. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot that represents 49% of the estate's production, this is a prodigious Mouton that's built for the cellar. |
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| Ch. Tertre Roteboeuf |
2016 |
St. Emilion |
$225 |
13 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is flat-out stunning and also one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses remarkable depth and intensity from the very first taste. The 2016 is exotic, full-throttle and unapologetically hedonistic. At times, Tertre-Rôteboeuf can be a bit rough around the edges, but the 2016 is totally sublime. In a world in which so many wines are copycats, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is an original. And the 2016 is a great, emotionally moving Tertre-Rôteboeuf. This is a magnificent effort from François and Nina Mitjavile. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-98 (4/2017): The 2016 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare between 14-18 October. This year I was hosted by François' daughter Nina Mitjavile, who has been working alongside her father for several years. It has a wonderful bouquet, very pure and fresh. I anticipated that François Mitjavile might have been tempted to pick a little later like others, but it was an assiduous decision to have the fruit in the vat by the 18 October and lock in that freshness. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, extremely well judged acidity, the new oak present at the moment but in proportion with the fruit. This is a stylish Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf, very sensual and luxuriant with layers of crushed strawberry, blood oranges and raspberry fruit. In a word...irresistible. |
|
|
2016 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,350 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is flat-out stunning and also one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses remarkable depth and intensity from the very first taste. The 2016 is exotic, full-throttle and unapologetically hedonistic. At times, Tertre-Rôteboeuf can be a bit rough around the edges, but the 2016 is totally sublime. In a world in which so many wines are copycats, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is an original. And the 2016 is a great, emotionally moving Tertre-Rôteboeuf. This is a magnificent effort from François and Nina Mitjavile. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-98 (4/2017): The 2016 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare between 14-18 October. This year I was hosted by François' daughter Nina Mitjavile, who has been working alongside her father for several years. It has a wonderful bouquet, very pure and fresh. I anticipated that François Mitjavile might have been tempted to pick a little later like others, but it was an assiduous decision to have the fruit in the vat by the 18 October and lock in that freshness. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, extremely well judged acidity, the new oak present at the moment but in proportion with the fruit. This is a stylish Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf, very sensual and luxuriant with layers of crushed strawberry, blood oranges and raspberry fruit. In a word...irresistible. |
|
| Domaine de Chevalier |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (3X1.5L) 3-Magnum OWC |
$555 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (4/2019): This wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot to be aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 35% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier starts a little closed before bounding out of the glass with bold expressions of fresh blackcurrants, kirsch, black raspberries and fragrant earth plus nuances of lilacs, Sichuan pepper and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate maintains elegance and sophistication, with a lovely ripe, finely grained frame and plenty of freshness to back up the floral and black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier is magnificent. Bright, lifted and wonderfully nuanced, the 2018 has so much to offer. Olivier Bernard turned out a dazzling Domaine de Chevalier in 2018 that speaks to precision and nuance above all else. Rose petal, mint, savory herbs and crushed rocks add striking aromatic top notes to this stunning, breathtakingly beautiful wine. The tannins need time to soften, but I doubt readers will be in a rush. The 2018 is simply majestic - that's all there is to it. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98 (5/2019): Possibly one of the finest wines ever to come from the Bernard family’s flagship estate near Leognan, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that hit 13.5% alcohol and will spend 18 months in just 35% new French oak. Its saturated purple/plum color is followed by a mammoth bouquet of cassis, black currants, gravelly earth, smoked herbs, and tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, brilliantly balanced, and seriously concentrated, it has polished tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s a heavenly Graves that will keep for 30+ years.
JS 99-100 (4/2019): Wow. I can’t get over the pureness of fruit in this wine with so much currant, tar and wet-earth character. Flowers, too. So aromatic. Full body, yet pureness and brightness of fruit. Layered. Incredible depth and beauty. 65 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 30 per cent merlot and 5 per cent petit verdot. Greatest ever? |
|
| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2018 |
Pomerol (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,650 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (3/2021): The flagship 2018 Vieux Château Certan is based on 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and was brought up in (I suspect) roughly 50% new French oak. It tips the scale at 14.5% natural alcohol, which is the same as the 2010 (slightly higher than the 2009) and has a pH of 3.78, which is also very close to the 2010. This rock star of a Pomerol offers a kaleidoscopic array of red, black, and blue fruits, white truffle, spring flowers, tobacco, and crushed rock-like minerality on the nose. It has perfectly integrated oak, gorgeous concentration, building yet ultra-fine tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and the large Cabernet Franc component became more and dominant, yet it never truly shut down and was always a joy to drink. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars. Again, the Thienpont family produces a heavenly wine that wine lovers should all have in their cellar. Along with Petrus, Conseillante, Lafleur, and a handful of others, it's one of the appellation's most singular wines.
WA 97-100 (4/2019): The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectare. The wine has a pH of 3.78, 14.4% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Medium to deep garnet-purple—it has a very vibrant color—it drifts effortlessly out of the glass with wonderfully intense, beautifully delineated scents of red roses, black raspberries, kirsch and Darjeeling tea before the powerful, profound black fruits kick in: baked plums, wild blueberries, molten licorice and mulberries with touches of cigar box, cinnamon stick, tapenade and truffles. Full-bodied, rich, densely packed and revealing layer upon layer of red and black fruits with an incredible array of floral and spicy sparks, it has a high level of super ripe, incredibly fine, velvety soft tannins and fantastic freshness (not just from acid but from bright, crunchy fruit). It finishes very long, marvelously layered and with such jaw-dropping brightness from the fruit, the end is almost electric. Incredible.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is a very pretty wine built more on elegance, finesse and aromatic nuance. Relative to the recent past, the 2018 shows a much more mid-weight structure and less of the creaminess of either 2015 or 2016. Much of that is attributable to a blend that includes 30% Cabernet Franc. Lavender, rose petal, mint and blueberry fruit all grace the 2018. Far from an obvious wine, the 2018 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, as it is a wine of total understatement and class. Fine beads of tannin support the understated finish. In 2018, VCC is a wine of refinement and subtlety more than anything else. I don't see the same visceral thrill as in a number of vintages of the recent past. Perhaps that will come in bottle. Antonio Galloni.
JS 99-100 (4/2019): This is a significant VCC with masses of fruit and juicy tannins. It’s fresh, but impresses you with the rich and powerful fruit. A tower of a wine. Incredible depth and density. Thick and muscular. It is 30 per cent cabernet franc, the rest merlot. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2001 |
Sauternes (1.5 L) |
$1,550 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (9/2021): Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. Neal Martin.
WA 100 (8/2019): I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin |
$525 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2009): No Hommage a Jacques Perrin was made in 2008, but the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin is an utterly perfect wine. Composed of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Grenache, this prodigious effort boasts an inky/blue/purple color to the rim in addition to an exceptional bouquet of camphor, roasted meats, blueberries, black cherries, black currants, truffles, beef blood, pepper, and incense. The sumptuous aromatics are followed by a wine of compelling intensity, full-bodied power, perfect balance, laser-like focus, and a finish that lasts more than a minute. The 2007's texture reminds me of the 1998 Jacques Perrin, and the freshness of the fruit and explosive aromatics are to die for. There are only 500 cases of this legend in the making, but for those lucky enough to find any, it will last for 40-60 years.
VM 97 (2/2010): Opaque ruby color. Remarkably complex bouquet of dark berry compote, potpourri, sandalwood, smoked meat and licorice, complemented by a smoky mineral overtone. Broad, palate-coating dark fruit flavors pick up notes of candied flowers and licorice with air and show a pungent Indian spice character. Becomes more floral with air and leaves sweet cherry and floral pastille notes behind. I'd buy all of this that I could afford. |
|
| Jean-Louis Chave |
2015 |
Hermitage |
$495 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (4/2018): Not yet bottled, the 2015 Hermitage has perfection written all over it and reminds me of the 2010. Graphite, charcoal, liquid rock, and sensationally pure crème de cassis notes all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, concentrated, opulent 2015. This is a big, sexy beast of a Hermitage, yet it has the classic minerality, purity, and balance shown by just about every wine made from this estate. Forget bottles for 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 4-5 decades.
WA 98-100 (12/2017): After tasting several intermediate blends that will ultimately be combined in some proportion to create the 2015 Hermitage, I would not be surprised to see the final result achieve perfection. Although massively ripe and concentrated, there is still a feeling of balance and elegance in the wines that I fully expect to carry over into the final product. As the blending process isn’t complete, Jean-Louis warned that it was too early to say if there would be a Cuvee Cathelin, which is typically an Outstanding parcel that, for some reason, doesn’t work in the rest of the blend.
VM 97 (4/2018): Youthful purple color. Mineral-accented dark berries, star anise, cola, olive and pungent flowers on the explosively perfumed nose. Offers impressively concentrated, expansive flavors of black raspberry, spicecake, smoked meat and candied flowers that are complicated by licorice candy and dark chocolate notes that sneak in on the back half. Sweet, sappy and precise on the floral- and dark fruit-driven finish, which shows Outstanding clarity and round, harmonious tannins that build smoothly and steadily. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2018 |
Hermitage |
$359 |
7 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2022): I was blown away by the 2018 Hermitage from barrel, and it unquestionably doesn't disappoint from bottle. Reminding me slightly of the 2009, it possesses off-the-charts richness and depth, but like all great wines, stays pure, balanced, and light on its feel. Extraordinary notes of cassis, blue fruits, graphite, violets, and flowers define the bouquet, and this full-bodied, layered, multi-dimensional beauty has ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic. Given its extravagant richness and texture, it should be relatively accessible in just a handful of years yet evolve for three decades or more. (Drink between 2025-2050).
WA 99 (1/2022): Chave's 2018 Hermitage is another in a long list of legends to emerge from this meticulously run estate. Showing remarkably complex aromas of pressed violets, ground cloves and cracked peppercorns against a backdrop of cassis, blueberries and licorice, it's a super effort. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and velvety in feel, it's seamless and long—just the complete package in a wine that's surprisingly approachable, yet should prove capable of aging effortlessly for two decades or more.
VM 97 (12/2022): Opaque ruby. Powerful, smoke- and spice-accented black and blue fruit, exotic spice, olive, cured tobacco, cured bacon and violet aromas show superb clarity and a bright mineral top note. Deeply concentrated and broad on the palate, offering sappy, alluringly sweet cherry, blackcurrant, fruitcake, salty olive and violet pastille flavors plus hints of licorice and allspice. The wonderfully long, penetrating finish features resonating mineral, spice and floral notes and chewy tannins that build steadily. (Drink between 2029-2041). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | Germany |
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2019 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese (1.5 L) |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 100 (8/2020): All of nature's springtime joy and the epitome of autumnal ripeness somehow combine with summer-morning dew to offer one of the greatest off-dry German wines made in modern times. Breathtaking finish, so wonderfully light and filigree. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. |
|
| | Madeira & Sherry |
| Bodegas Toro Albala |
1946 |
Don P.X. Convento Seleccion Pedro Ximenez |
$500 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (8/2013): The 1946 Don PX Convento Seleccion produced with Pedro Ximenez grapes dehydrated under the sun at the time of the Second World War, was only bottled in September 2011. This is an extreme wine, my first descriptor was ultra-mega-super concentrated. It is unbelievably powerful, both in the nose and the palate, full of umami, with sweet cinnamon, Christmas cake, camphor, petrol, lemongrass, Belgian chocolate and butter. Incredibly complex and rich, sweet, balanced and smooth in the palate, it is both very sweet and somehow salty, and with time it develops a black olive note. It combines the texture of the 1962 and the elegance of the 1949. It is as decadent as it gets. 825 bottles were produced. This wine will survive all of us. These wines are kept for generations and offered in very small quantities, but it’s amazing that you can still buy and drink something so old, and I’m even tempted to say that it might represent good value for what it is. A real tour de force sweet wine. Drink it if you ever have the privilege to do so from 2013-2060. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Abreu |
2010 |
Howell Mountain Red Wine |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (11/2013): The 2010 Howell Mountain is simply magnificent. Inky, deep, and full-bodied to the core, the 2010 blasts out of the glass with graphite, pencil shavings, menthol, melted road tar, plum, cassis and licorice notes. The 2010 is an exciting, viscerally thrilling wine that takes hold of the sense and never lets up. Today, it is firing on all cylidners. The Howell Mountain is the only Abreu wine that incorporates Malbec, a variety that seems to work magic here. The 2010 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 5% Merlot.
WA 94-97 (10/2013): An absolute blockbuster, the 2010 Howell Mountain includes Malbec and Petit Verdot blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as a sumptuous perfume of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and wet rocks. This ripe, smoky, intense, full-bodied wine reveals a boatload of tannins, but also richer fruit and a deeper, multidimensional mouthfeel and finish than the 2009, which appears to be more broodingly backward and structured. This appears to be a great success. Consume it over the next 25-30 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Thorevilos Red Wine Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 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 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Thorevilos Red Wine Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 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 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2012 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend Lightly Scuffed Label |
$259 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (8/2016): A perfect wine any way you look at it, the utterly profound 2012 Pandora is 100% Grenache that was brought up all in barrel. Massively concentrated and textured, yet ethereal and nuanced, it offers a huge bouquet of black currants, licorice, smoked herbs, chocolate and toasted spice. Bravo to the team at Alban for this incredible, full-bodied, seamless beauty that's easily one of the greatest wines I've tasted from California. |
|
|
2006 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2010): The 2006 Syrah Reva, coming from parcels of dark, volcanic soil, has off-the-chart richness and intensity. This thick, opaque-purple colored wine offers up notes of scorched earth, ground pepper, and blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, licorice, camphor, and tar. The wine is spectacular in every sense. Full-bodied and certainly not for wimps, this is a remarkably concentrated yet very nuanced and intense wine that should age for 20 more years.
JD 98 (11/2010): Truly extraordinary, the 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard is a jaw dropping Syrah, sporting rich, full aromatics of smoky dark fruits, steak tartare, tapenade, and licorice. These carry over to the palate where the wine is perfectly built, possessing awesome concentration, solid, almost burly structure, and a phenomenal texture that coats the palate, but at the same time, stays light, fresh, and clean. I’m a huge fan, and while delicious now, I’ve no doubt this will continue to drink well for 15 to 20 years.
VM 94+ (11/2010): Glass-staining purple. Blackberry, boysenberry and licorice pastille on the nose, with mounting spice and floral notes and a strong wallop of cracked pepper. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit flavors expand with air and pick up strong spicecake and candied flower notes, along with velvety tannins. More backward than the Lorraine today, and showing a darker profile. The finish completely stains the palate and lingers with intense floral and spicy persistence. This is still a baby. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Araujo Estate |
2002 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$312 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98-100 (2/2005): A sleeper selection, it is by no means a second wine in the pejorative sense of the word. A potential candidate for perfection is the exquisite 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard. A 1,650-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot made from extremely low yields, it boasts superb intensity, flavor, elegance, and nobility in addition to a marvelously complex nose of minerals, licorice, cedar, creme de cassis, vanilla, and spice. Exceptionally rich, nuanced, and precise, it is a magnificent expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that offers the elegance of a Bordeaux with the power and potency of Napa Valley Cabernet. A tour de force, this wine can be drunk now or cellared for up to two decades.
VM 95 (6/2005): (includes 2.6% cabernet franc and 1.6% petit verdot) Good saturated ruby-red. Superripe, complex, slightly roasted nose combines black raspberry, dark chocolate, smoked meat, maple syrup, toffee, tobacco and licorice. Dense and aromatic in the mouth, with compelling sweetness and suavity of texture. Wonderfully opulent and seamless red wine. This finishes with huge but utterly fine tannins and lush, lingering flavor. |
|
| Bevan Cellars |
2018 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
|
|
2018 |
Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
|
|
2015 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$215 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2017): Another perfect wine from Bevan is the 2015 Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Proprietary Red Wine and it’s a Cheval Blanc-like blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot brought up all in French oak. This huge, full-bodied, opulent 2015 carries itself like a ballerina and is elegant, weightless and even graceful, with remarkable purity of fruit. Currants, Blueberries, liquid violets, Asian spices and a distinct minerality all emerge from the glass and it has both incredible complexity and richness. Bravo! (Drink between 2018-2038).
WA 98 (2/2021): Sugarloaf is a cooler site in south Napa, above a quarry. It usually allows for a longer hang time, often lending a minty or herbal lift to this label. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain has a powerful nose of black raspberries, black and red plums and warm cassis with hints of tar, eucalyptus, bay leaves and pencil lead with a waft of cedar. The palate is full-bodied with opulent fragrant earth notes and seducing black berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Stunning! |
|
|
2018 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$275 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): Pure perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro is a vineyard selection from a great site just beside the winery, on the east side of Oakville. Offering a decadent, full-bodied, concentrated style as well as lots of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, spice, and an almost bloody, iron-like character, it’s a heavenly Cabernet that delivers both intellectual and hedonistic pleasure in spades. It already offers pleasure yet should keep for 20+ years. (Drink between 2021-2043.)
WA 99 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it's a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing glimpses at warm cassis, boysenberries and plum preserves scents with hints of charcoal, espresso, tapenade and violets. Full-bodied and rich, with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, it finishes very long and minerally. Only 109 cases were produced. Those lucky enough to secure a few bottles will want to put them away for at least 4-5 years and drink them over the next 25+ years.
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro emerges from Block 1B, which is home to some of the best dirt on the site. A stunning range of mineral and savory inflections races out of the glass, adding layers of complexity to the intense dark fruit. This is far from an easygoing 2018. Readers should plan on cellaring it for at least a few years. (Drink between 2023-2033.) |
|
| Carter Cellars |
2016 |
The G.T.O. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$895 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The G T O is very deep purple-black in color. Bam! Out of the gate it produces an incredibly alluring nose of freshly crushed black cherries, blackberry compote, blackcurrant cordial and licorice with nuances of violets, fertile loam, black truffles, unsmoked cigars and a waft of beef drippings. Big, full-bodied and powerful in the mouth—without the least bit of heaviness—the palate gives an awe-inspiring array of earth, black fruit preserves and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing epically long and with fantastic freshness. This is To Kalon giving its all! |
|
| Colgin |
2018 |
Cariad Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$1,050 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2022): What a thrill it is to taste the 2018 Cariad again. Last year the 2018 was magnificent. It is all that this year too. Powerful and explosive, the 2018 is captivating from the very first taste. Healthy dollops of Cabernet Franc and Merlot add layers to this deep, wonderfully vibrant Napa Valley red. In a big morning tasting at Colgin spanning more than a dozen wines, the 2018 Cariad was a stand out. Superb. (Drink between 2025-2043). Antonio Galloni.
JD 98 (1/2021): The 2018 Cariad isn’t far off and has a wealth of blue fruits, musky earth, spice, and floral notes as well as a deep, rich, layered style on the palate. As with all the 2018s here, the tannin quality is incredible, and it has a plush, sexy, already complex style that’s hard to resist. It’s going to evolve for 25+ years. The blend is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2021-2048)
WA 98 (3/2024): One thing the 2018s from Colgin have in common is a sense of greater tautness and freshness than the 2016s. The 2018 Cariad—a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot—adds dried sage and redcurrants to a base of black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is energetic, framed by fine-grained tannins and hints of pencil shavings on the long, elegant finish. |
|
|
2021 |
Tychson Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$550 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (3/2024): Supremely rich and concentrated, Colgin's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard nevertheless remains vibrant and energetic. Hints of bay leaf perk up scents of dark chocolate and black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied, plushly textured palate glides easily into a prolonged finish redolent of loamy earth and red raspberries. Like so many of the world's greatest wines, it's a series of seeming paradoxes—in this case, ripeness and freshness, fruit and earth, density and vibrancy—that complement each other and emerge as an elegant, harmonious whole. |
|
| Diamond Creek |
2013 |
Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$425 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2016): From the biggest of the three vineyards, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill comes from pure volcanic, iron-rich, rocky white tufa of volcanic origin. Marginally speaking, this is bluer and blacker than the Red Rock Terrace or Gravelly Meadow. A tour de force of perfection, this wine offers up crème de cassis, blueberry liqueur, licorice, earth, truffle and graphite. It displays spectacular richness, magnificent balance and texture, and a long, incredibly pure finish of close to a minute. This remarkable, full-bodied elixir should drink beautifully for another 30+ years, if not longer.
VM 97+ (12/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill presents a stunning interplay of ripe, inky fruit and structure. Dazzling from the first impression, the Volcanic Hill exudes richness, with copious amounts of inky blue/purplish fruit, violet, licorice and graphite. This stunning, captivating Cabernet has the potential to offer truly thrilling drinking for a number of decades. The vibrant, salivating finish is a thing of beauty. This south-facing site is the first to be harvested. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (5/2016): Lots of blackberries, plums and cherries on the nose. Full body, ultra-velvety tannins and a long, long finish. A broad and layered red with refined textures. Very long. Juicy. Riper than the Red Rock and Gravelly Meadow. Better in 2019. 608 cases made. |
|
| Dominus |
1991 |
Proprietary Blend ex-Domaine |
$795 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 99 (6/1995): As for the 1991, 6,500 cases were produced of this potentially perfect wine. While this vintage of Dominus contains no Merlot in the blend, every time I taste it I am reminded of a great vintage of Petrus such as 1982, 1989 or 1990. Although different, the 1991 Dominus possesses extraordinary intensity, remarkable opulence, and amazing fruit extraction, all welded to a full-bodied structure. The wine's sensational purity and inner-core of depth must be tasted to be believed. The 1991 will be approachable young because of its sweet tannin, yet it exhibits the potential to last for 25 years. Perhaps 1994 will rival it, but for now, the 1991 is unquestionably the greatest Dominus, as well as a potential legend in the making.
VM 96 (11/2022): This 1991 Dominus was poured blind in Meursault and had me guessing Right Bank, perchance Cheval Blanc! Showing light signs of bricking on the rim, the bouquet unfurls gracefully with melted red fruit, cooked meat, ash and very subtle hints of hung game, all exquisitely defined. Mercurial in the glass, the aromatics seem to broaden out. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a perfect marriage of acidity, fruit concentration and harmony—a wine at that liminal point between primary and secondary phases. Quite savory, I suspected there was more Cabernet Franc in the blend than there actually is (around 10%, to the best of my knowledge). Red fruit, cigar box, touches of rosemary and sage open on long and sensual finish. With one foot in Bordeaux and the other in Napa, the 1991 captures the best of both and is at its absolute peak now. (Drink between 2022-2040). Neal Martin.
Decanter 100 (11/2019): One of the first Napa wines that I fell in love with and still going strong at almost 30 years old, with a good long while ahead of it still. This is delicate yet powerful, a wine that just gets better and better in the glass, showing off the black truffle and undergrowth flavours of a fully mature wine with melted tannins, leather, saffron and rich blackberries. It’s intense and balanced, still opulent and sexy. 40% new oak. Harvest in 1991 was October 6 to 18, but even so they harvested a little earlier in those days than they do today. Dominus is in the Yountville AVA (which was granted in 1999) but in 1991 still Napa Valley AVA. (Drink between 2019-2040) |
|
| Kinsman Eades |
2021 |
Kaannos Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$475 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2023): Coming from the northern end of Vine Hill Ranch, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaannos is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon raised in 70% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty offers a heavenly perfume of darker, almost blue fruits as well as leafy herbs, flowers, spice cabinet, camphor, and chocolate. I love its complexity on the nose, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a remarkable sense of refinement and elegance, fine yet building tannins, and an incredible finish. This magical, majestic, absolutely jaw-droppingly good Cabernet Sauvignon is a legend in the making. Hide bottles for 5-7 years if you can, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 30-40 years. (Drink between 2028-2063).
VM 99 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kannos Vine Hill Ranch, 100% Clone 4, is rich, expansive and broad. Dark cherry, mocha, spice, leather and tobacco all wrap around the palate in a positively stunning Cabernet. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of earthy, floral and savory notes that add character. This fruit once went to one of the most pedigreed wineries in Napa Valley. This is extremely elegant, and the purity here is just unbelievable. (Drink between 2027-2041). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (7/2024): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Käännös is composed of Clone 4 from Vine Hill Ranch. Notes of ripe cherries and dried herbs dominate the complex, elegant nose, while the full-bodied wine flows easily across the mid-palate in gentle, rich waves of flavor, finishing long, velvety and tannic. |
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|
2021 |
Kodo Cabernet Sauvignon |
$475 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo emerges from one of the top sites in southern Oakville—a site I consider as elite as it gets, but that can't be named for the time being. A sensational wine, the 2021 saturates the palate with dense dark fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. But, it’s the textural richness, resonance and persistence that impress most. This is a truly unforgettable wine. I would be thrilled to own it. (Drink between 2027-2041). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (7/2024): Sourced from the M-Bar Ranch (western Oakville, across Hopper Creek from Vine Hill Ranch), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo offers up dusty earth notes, mixed red and black cherries, some cassis notes and a hint of dried herbs. It's full-bodied, ripe and rich without being heavy, and it's bright on the long, softly tannic finish. Is there just a touch of alcoholic warmth evident? |
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| Lokoya |
2014 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is beautifully complete, with a layered, multi-dimensional, elegant profile that's more structured than the Diamond Mountain, yet more seamless and approachable than the Howell Mountain. Crème de cassis, Asian spice, smoked earth, incense and sandalwood note all flow to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that has no hard edges, ultra-fine tannin, incredibly purity of fruit and a great finish. As with all these 2014s, it's not about huge richness and opulence and more about purity, nuance and balance. It's a damn near perfect wine that will only get better with 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for three to four decades. Made by winemaker Chris Carpenter and focusing all on Mountain terroirs, I find the wines from Lokoya to be some of the most compelling, singular, and awesome wines made in the Valley. Unfortunately, the prices are ridiculous and beyond the means of most, myself included. (Drink between 2022-2062)
WA 99 (10/2016): Usually my favorite in many vintages, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is the most backward of the 2014s and actually seems to require 4-5 years of bottle age. The wine has the telltale signs of Mt. Veeder – blackberry and blueberry fruit infused with considerable floral nuances. This wine has all that, then hits the palate with a cascade of glycerin, fruit extraction, and layers of blackberry and blueberry fruit. It is full-bodied and opulent, but finishes with some structure and ripe tannin. This is a magnificent wine – full-throttle, extremely pure, and incredibly well-balanced. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the following three decades.
VM 93 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a dense, tightly wound wine. Bright red cherry, iron, pomegranate, chalk, mint and white pepper abound. Deep and layered, in the medium-bodied style of the year, the 2014 exudes Veeder personality and tension. The mid-palate needs time to develop, but this is another highly expressive wine from Lokoya. There is plenty of punch and mountain intensity here. Veeder Peak is the fruit source. (Drink between 2019-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| MacDonald |
2016 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$916.66 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is largely cut from the same cloth yet has just a touch more purity and elegance without sacrificing depth or richness. Just a magical wine any way you look at it, this deep purple-colored beauty reveals a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, camphor, purple iris, and violets. It’s full-bodied and massive, yet still just dances across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. While it’s already hard to resist today (and don’t feel bad for drinking a bottle), it has the purity, balance, and structure to keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the brothers Alex and Graeme MacDonald for this legendary wine.
VM 97+ (12/2018): I am every bit as enthusiastic about MacDonald's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon today as I was last year, when I tasted it from barrel. So many 2016s are silky and open-knit, but the 2016 here is unusually tightly wound and reticent. Gravel, crème de cassis, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol develop in the glass over time. The 2016 does not have a lot of the charm of so many wines, but that is probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. Today, the 2016 reminds me most of the 2014 because of its mid-weight structure and sinewy tannins. Time in the glass brings out a more red-toned and floral profile, but the 2016 is not going to be anywhere ready to drink for a number of years. The only question is how many. Readers who can find the 2016 should not hesitate, as it is superb. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Maybach |
2019 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$319 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (12/2021): If you can believe it, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium might be even better, and this beauty tops out my scale. An incredible array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as unsmoked tobacco, iron, hazelnut, and toasty oak all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, ultra-fine, building texture, perfect tannins, and a huge finish. This pure Napa Valley magic is going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and drink brilliantly for another 20-30 years. If this doesn't do it for you, I'd avoid Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon! |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$585 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pax |
2016 |
Sonoma Hillsides Russian River Valley Syrah |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 100 (4/2018): The 2016 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides has been nothing less than stunning on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. A wine of extraordinary purity and depth, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. The richness and power are simply breathtaking. Bacon fat, smoke, grilled herb and lavender are woven into a graceful, seamless core of inky blue/purplish fruit. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 remains remarkably light on its feet. The Sonoma-Hillsides is a blend of fruit from Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffin's Lair and Walker Vine Hill, done with 100% whole clusters and aged in a combination of concrete and neutral oak, with no SO2. I am not sure how the 2016 will age, but I am also not sure it will matter, as most bottles will be long gone before that is an issue. Quite simply, the Sonoma-Hillsides is a total pleasure bomb and a modern-day benchmark for Syrah in California. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2018-2026). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Quilceda Creek |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2013): From a hot vintage and incredible any way you look at it, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon has that laser-like focus of a cooler year, yet the voluptuousness and richness of a warmer year. Smoked black fruits, coffee, truffle and pen ink-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this massive, incredibly full-bodied effort and on the palate, it carries itself perfectly with a weightless, yet decadent texture, masses of polished tannin and blockbuster length. More classic and textbook than the 2007, it is every bit as good. Enjoy it over the coming two decades or more. Drink now-2033.
VM 94+ (11/2008): (includes 3% merlot) Bright, saturated medium ruby. Sexy aromas of cassis, black raspberry, minerals, mocha and smoky oak. Juicy, layered and intense, with superb depth of fruit and an impression of breadth rare for Washington cabernet. This superripe wine shows considerably more finesse of tannins than the estate's red blend. This began with a slightly roasted quality but with time in the recorked bottle it appeared to gain in energy and sheer density. This was a vintage that yielded very small berries, noted Alex Golitzin. |
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| Realm |
2015 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$550 |
1 |
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JD 100 (12/2017): One of the most profound young wines I’ve ever tasted is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane. Of all the high scoring wines in this report, if I had to pick one to put at the top of the heap, this would be it. My notes are filled with expletives, but this majestic, opulent, heavenly red boasts a deep purple color and La Mission Haut Brion-like notes of tobacco leaf, blackcurrants, earthy/rocky minerality, cigar box, blueberries, and Asian spices. Huge, opulent, and voluptuous, with a mid-palate that needs to be tasted to be believed, it has no hard edges, incredible density, ripe tannin, and a great, great finish. Don’t miss it and hats off to winemaker Benoit Touquette.
WA 100 (10/2017): Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is an absolute stunner, sporting an inky purple-black color and show-stopping nose of crème de cassis and blackberry pie laced with cumin seed, fenugreek, black pepper and cardamom, plus a transporting earthy undercurrent of black loam, moss-covered tree bark and forest floor. The palate delivers a wall of muscular black fruit accented by exotic spices and decadent floral notions, framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epic length and many, many layers. Amazing. Just 325 cases were made.
JS 96 (5/2018): Powerful aromas of dark fruit with rust and crushed stones. Oyster shell, too. Very aromatic. Full-bodied, layered and powerful. Lots of toasted oak, but tight and focused. Needs time to come together. Try in 2022. |
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2013 |
The Absurd Proprietary Blend |
$950 |
1 |
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WA 100 (12/2015): Another perfect wine (but very limited in production at 200 cases) is the 2013 The Absurd, a blend of 17 components dominated by 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Benoit Touquette told me that this wine is produced with no rules and no restrictions, and is considered their super-blend of the best they have in any given vintage. (I guess I would look stupid if I didn't give it 100 points, given the fact that two other Realm wines already hit that maximum score.) There is something different in this wine, with an opaque purple color for sure, but then there's the cassis, the blackberries, the roasted meats, some spicy pepper, and then an extravagantly rich, cascading palate that seems to be built like a skyscraper, but without one hard edge. This is a seriously endowed, super-rich, incredibly well-balanced wine that should drink well for 25 or more years.
VM 95 (10/2015): A dark, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Absurd is a terrific example of the Realm style at its best. Surprisingly open for such a young wine, the 2013 offers gorgeous textural richness and voluptuousness. Sweet dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, spices and crushed rocks are laced into the powerful yet seamless finish. The Absurd is remarkably nuanced for a wine with this much intensity. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ridge Vineyards |
2015 |
Monte Bello |
$235 |
2 |
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JS 100 (10/2018): Stunning depth, power, purity and elegance. The blackcurrants and plums are fresh and intense on the nose with blueberries and gently herbal notes, too. The palate has a keenly articulated array of vibrant tannins that hold long, fresh and pure. It invokes a sense of wonderment at the finish. So long and so pure. This blend of 77 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 11 per cent merlot, seven per cent petit verdot and five percent cabernet franc, is just at the start of a wonderful journey. Try from 2021.
JD 98+ (2/2019): A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is unquestionably going to be one of monumental vintages of this wine. Deep, incredibly concentrated, and powerful, yet also textured and perfectly balanced, this beauty gives up a huge nose of cassis, plums, spice box, graphite, and vanilla bean. With full-bodied richness on the palate, it starts out tight and firm yet blossoms with time in the glass (I followed this bottle for multiple days) and has an awesome mid-palate, building yet perfectly ripe tannins, and a rock star finish. It's about as classic a Monte Bello as they come and will require 4-6 years of bottle age (or more) and shine for three decades or more.
VM 98+ (8/2017): One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2015 Monte Bello will soon take its place among the greatest Monte Bellos ever made. Powerful, deep and explosive, the 2015 possesses magnificent concentration and richness in every dimension. Even with all of its raciness, the 2015 has terrific aromatic presence and regal tannins. The 2015 is a bit less showy than it has been in the past, but it was also just bottled two weeks before this tasting. Readers who own it will be absolutely thrilled. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (7/2018): At this early stage, the 2015 Monte Bello is all about potential. I followed a bottle over several days and only witnessed improvement. The wine unfurls in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, ripe plums, espresso roast, black tea and baking chocolate, lavishly framed by minty, spicy new oak—which is often at its most prominent at exactly this stage, when the wine is shutting down after bottling. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with rich, velvety tannins and beautifully succulent, even tangy acidity that lends amazing lift on the finish. The most obvious analogy is the 2005 vintage, though it also evokes a more elegant version of the 1995 Monte Bello. It's a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that attained 13.5% natural alcohol. Since the wine appears to be shutting down, I'd recommend forgetting it until its tenth birthday. Given its structure and balance, it should enjoy remarkable longevity. |
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| Schrader |
2013 |
MMXIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
2 |
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| WA 100 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, which is essentially made from clone 4 from two separate blocks, clone 6 and clone 337, is another perfect wine from the Schraders. I suppose it’s a little boring to say, and perhaps I can be accused of creating unrealistic expectations on the part of readers, but this is as great as Cabernet can be. Tasting like a first-growth Pauillac, the wine is opaque purple and has a fabulous nose of lead pencil, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry and the telltale cassis. There is also some licorice and sweet oak, the tannins are ripe, and the wine full-bodied. Built like a skyscraper, with an incredible finish (like most of these wines) going on for 50 seconds to a minute, this amazing wine should still be drinking splendidly well at age 25 or 30. |
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2018 |
MMXVIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,595 |
1 |
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| JD 100 (1/2021): There are few vintages of Old Sparky that don't merit a perfect rating, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky isn't one of them. This flawless wine offers up a wild smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, with loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, lead pencil, violets, blood orange, tobacco, and flowery incense all developing with time in the glass. Deep purple-hued and incredibly full-bodied, it has ripe, silky tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. This magical wine stays weightless and elegant on the palate, never seeming heavy, cumbersome, or over the top, and it's a wine that just begs to be drunk yet will evolve for decades. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another heavenly Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that could come from nowhere else in the world. Life is too short not to have experienced this cuvée! (Drink between 2021-2041) |
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| Screaming Eagle |
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$6,399 |
1 |
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| WA 100 (1/2000): It doesn't get any better than 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine. Representing the essence of cassis liqueur intermixed with blackberries, minerals, licorice, and toast, this full-bodied, multi-dimensional classic is fabulous, with extraordinary purity, symmetry, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. It has the overall equilibrium to evolve for nearly two decades, but it will be hard to resist upon release. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. |
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2023 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,300 |
3 |
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JD 100 (12/2025): The epitome of class and elegance, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon offers pure crème de cassis, liquid violets, crushed stone, graphite, and cedar notes on the nose. It's full-bodied on the palate, with remarkably polished tannins, flawless overall balance, and incredible length. This is never the biggest or richest wine in the vintage, yet the sheer level of purity, structure, and depth is absolutely incredible. Compared to the 2021, this is less powerful and made in a more elegant style, yet it's every bit as profound and compelling. It builds beautifully with time in the glass and already offers pleasure yet won't hit prime time for a decade and will cruise for 50+ years. Drink 2035-2075. (Drink between 2035-2075).
VM 98+ (11/2025): The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a huge bouquet that is immediately captivating. Dark fruit, menthol, licorice, cloves, graphite and dried herbs lend considerable aromatic intensity to play off the wine's deeply layered structure. I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Screaming Eagle is the Lafite of Napa Valley. (Drink between 2033-2053). Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (5/2026): The 2023 Screaming Eagle is approximately 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. At this young age, the various components haven't yet quite harmonized, such that it's possible to pick out black cherries, graham crackers, redcurrants and faintly herbal notes on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is framed by softly dusty tannins yet shows tremendous focus, energy and length on the finish. Impressive. |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2015 |
"E" Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$450 |
3 |
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VM 100 (9/2019): The 2015 Grenache E, from Elaine and Manfred Krankl’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard, is stunningly beautiful. Remarkably light on its feet for such a sumptuous wine, the 2015 has so much to offer. Beautifully expressive aromatics make a strong opening impression. Dark red and purplish berry fruit, mint, sweet spice and licorice develop with air, but it is the wine’s overall feel that stands out most. At times, the E is quite powerful, while in other moments it is much more delicate. That contrast makes for an utterly captivating wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (6/2019): This is a single-vineyard Grenache-dominated, barrel-selection blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Elaine Krankl’s initial and a portrait Manfred made of Elaine on the label. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah and 1% Viognier, and 56% was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 28% new.
JD 98+ (10/2019): The 2015 Grenache E comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard and spent a whopping 38 months in 28% new French oak, with the balance in used barrels of varying sizes. An incredible effort that offers complex notes of cured meats, graphite, ground white and black pepper, flowers, and cassis, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a purity level that’s just about off the charts. Showing the concentrated, powerful, structured style of the vintage, give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade or more. |
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2015 |
"E" Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache (1.5 L) |
$800 |
1 |
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VM 100 (9/2019): The 2015 Grenache E, from Elaine and Manfred Krankl’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard, is stunningly beautiful. Remarkably light on its feet for such a sumptuous wine, the 2015 has so much to offer. Beautifully expressive aromatics make a strong opening impression. Dark red and purplish berry fruit, mint, sweet spice and licorice develop with air, but it is the wine’s overall feel that stands out most. At times, the E is quite powerful, while in other moments it is much more delicate. That contrast makes for an utterly captivating wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (6/2019): This is a single-vineyard Grenache-dominated, barrel-selection blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Elaine Krankl’s initial and a portrait Manfred made of Elaine on the label. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah and 1% Viognier, and 56% was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 28% new.
JD 98+ (10/2019): The 2015 Grenache E comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard and spent a whopping 38 months in 28% new French oak, with the balance in used barrels of varying sizes. An incredible effort that offers complex notes of cured meats, graphite, ground white and black pepper, flowers, and cassis, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a purity level that’s just about off the charts. Showing the concentrated, powerful, structured style of the vintage, give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade or more. |
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2004 |
Ode to E Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,399 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2014): Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2004 Grenache Ode to E is absolutely stellar. There's not too much more to say. Still young, fresh and vibrant, the 2004 is incredibly impressive. Exotic spice, rose petals, raspberry jam all open up in an effortless, nuanced wine bursting at the seams with personality. Exquisitely nuanced and balanced, the 2004 is a gem. Readers who own the 2004 should be thrilled; as it is a magnificent wine by any measure. My favorite age to drink Sine Qua Non wines is around ten years. The Ode to E Grenache delivers the goods, and then some. The blend is 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Verite |
2014 |
La Muse (1.5 L) |
$632.45 |
2 |
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WA 100 (8/2016): The 2014 La Muse (2,800 cases ) is a legendary effort. The wine offers an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, incense, Asian spice, cocoa, plum, and a touch of chocolate and barrique. On the palate, more cassis and blackberry come to the forefront. The wine is unctuous, with adequate acidity and a stunning energy underneath the massive fruit and body. This is a spectacularly fragrant and, at the same time, dense wine, with enough structure (somewhat surprising in this vintage) to last 35-45+ years. The final blend was 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.
JD 97+ (12/2017): A gorgeous effort as well, the 2014 La Muse is a Merlot-dominated cuvee blended with 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. This deep ruby/purple-colored beauty boasts a terrific perfume of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, chocolate, and a beautiful earthy minerality. This isn’t your over the top, opulent Merlot and shows incredible class and purity, as well as full-bodied richness, high, yet integrated tannin, impeccable balance and a great finish. It’s not anywhere close to primetime (which is rare for a 2014) and needs 4-5 years at a minimum. It’s going to be incredibly long-lived.
VM 96 (3/2017): A huge, opulent wine, the 2014 La Muse wraps around the palate with tons of super-ripe dark red fruit, chocolate, spice and menthol. La Muse often shuts down after bottling, but the 2014 is still remarkably intense and voluptuous, with soft contours, silky tannins and exceptional balance. The purity of the flavors here is remarkable. Antonio Galloni. |
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| | Australia |
| Torbreck |
2005 |
The Laird Shiraz (1.5 L) Lightly Scuffed Label |
$1,800 |
1 |
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| WA 100 (12/2010): The Laird is Powell’s new baby, coming from a single 5 acre / 2 hectare vineyard of Shiraz in the Marananga sub-region planted in the 1960s that recently became available for contracting. This is a very different wine from Run Rig. What is most striking about it is the combination of power and elegance in this first vintage, coming from a very good year in the Barossa. Matured for 3 years in new Dominique Laurent “Magic Casks” (Troncais French oak barriques with thicker staves designed for the long aging of Shiraz), 2005 The Laird gives a deep garnet color and pronounced nose that shows savory and spice notes over the fruit, with aromas of hung meat, Peking duck, fertile loam, underbrush, tree bark, anise, cumin seed, menthol, dried roses and lavender over warm black cherries, crush blackberries and fruit cake. The tight-knit, full-bodied palate is very fine with a high level of silt-like tannins and crisp acid running through the concentrated fruit and savory flavors, finishing very long with lingering earth and spice notes. At 14.8% declared alcohol, this is by no means one of the biggest wines in the Barossa, but it is most certainly one of the best. It’s an absolute joy to drink now but it is recommended readers give it 4-5 years more in bottle to soften and marry and enjoy it to 2030+. |
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