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Inventory updated: Fri, Aug 21, 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 |
| Margherita Otto |
2015 |
Barolo  |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
| 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. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (2/2022): The 2018 Barolo from Margherita Otto is a pretty wine, but it also comes across as lacking in freshness, as is evidenced by its forward profile and slightly advanced color. Dried cherry, tobacco, spice, cedar and tobacco open gently with a bit aeration. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more mid-palate depth in bottle. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo |
$92.65 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (2/2022): The 2018 Barolo from Margherita Otto is a pretty wine, but it also comes across as lacking in freshness, as is evidenced by its forward profile and slightly advanced color. Dried cherry, tobacco, spice, cedar and tobacco open gently with a bit aeration. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more mid-palate depth in bottle. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo (1.5 L) |
$203.15 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (2/2022): The 2018 Barolo from Margherita Otto is a pretty wine, but it also comes across as lacking in freshness, as is evidenced by its forward profile and slightly advanced color. Dried cherry, tobacco, spice, cedar and tobacco open gently with a bit aeration. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more mid-palate depth in bottle. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$203.15 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (2/2022): The 2018 Barolo from Margherita Otto is a pretty wine, but it also comes across as lacking in freshness, as is evidenced by its forward profile and slightly advanced color. Dried cherry, tobacco, spice, cedar and tobacco open gently with a bit aeration. It will be interesting to see if the 2018 gains a bit more mid-palate depth in bottle. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Ex-Domaine |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2021 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$871.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Italy |
| Fratelli Alessandria |
2020 |
Barolo Gramolere (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$506.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$700.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo San Lorenzo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$551.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Elio Altare |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$467.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Altesino |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (11/2024): Opening to earthy tones of brimstone and petrichor, the Altesino 2020 Brunello di Montalcino shows the character of a house style that is easily recognized. This elegant wine offers a polished and smooth mouthfeel with finely tuned tannins. The oak is also expertly managed to show some light spice that is deeply integrated into a silky mouthfeel. Of the village Brunellos I tasted from 2020, this one offers excellent quality and will prove easily to locate thanks to its ample release of 110,000 bottles.
JD 95 (1/2025): The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is a youthful red color and is expressive in the glass with notes of ripe strawberries, grenadine, crushed roses, sweet herbs, and licorice candies. Medium-framed, it has refreshing ripe acidity, fine, well-defined tannins, and a clean, even finish with fantastic, elegant length. Offering both refined complexity and true drinking pleasure, with nothing heavy or weighted, it’s fabulous all around, with notes of stone fruit on the finish. A highly appealing Brunello with a lot to enjoy over the coming 15 years, I would be thrilled to have bottles in my cellar to check in on regularly. (Drink between 2025-2040). Audrey Frick.
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino entices the taster with a gorgeous bouquet of fresh strawberries and plums accentuated by sweet herbs and hints of exotic spice. It's soft, round and quite lifted in feel, with vividly pure red berry fruits underscored by a core of brisk acidity. Energy remains high throughout, leaving a tinge of steely minerality and sweet tannins that frame the experience nicely. (Drink between 2026-2034). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$412.98 |
7 |
|
| |
WA 95 (11/2024): Opening to earthy tones of brimstone and petrichor, the Altesino 2020 Brunello di Montalcino shows the character of a house style that is easily recognized. This elegant wine offers a polished and smooth mouthfeel with finely tuned tannins. The oak is also expertly managed to show some light spice that is deeply integrated into a silky mouthfeel. Of the village Brunellos I tasted from 2020, this one offers excellent quality and will prove easily to locate thanks to its ample release of 110,000 bottles.
JD 95 (1/2025): The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is a youthful red color and is expressive in the glass with notes of ripe strawberries, grenadine, crushed roses, sweet herbs, and licorice candies. Medium-framed, it has refreshing ripe acidity, fine, well-defined tannins, and a clean, even finish with fantastic, elegant length. Offering both refined complexity and true drinking pleasure, with nothing heavy or weighted, it’s fabulous all around, with notes of stone fruit on the finish. A highly appealing Brunello with a lot to enjoy over the coming 15 years, I would be thrilled to have bottles in my cellar to check in on regularly. (Drink between 2025-2040). Audrey Frick.
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino entices the taster with a gorgeous bouquet of fresh strawberries and plums accentuated by sweet herbs and hints of exotic spice. It's soft, round and quite lifted in feel, with vividly pure red berry fruits underscored by a core of brisk acidity. Energy remains high throughout, leaving a tinge of steely minerality and sweet tannins that frame the experience nicely. (Drink between 2026-2034). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$453.98 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (11/2024): Opening to earthy tones of brimstone and petrichor, the Altesino 2020 Brunello di Montalcino shows the character of a house style that is easily recognized. This elegant wine offers a polished and smooth mouthfeel with finely tuned tannins. The oak is also expertly managed to show some light spice that is deeply integrated into a silky mouthfeel. Of the village Brunellos I tasted from 2020, this one offers excellent quality and will prove easily to locate thanks to its ample release of 110,000 bottles.
JD 95 (1/2025): The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is a youthful red color and is expressive in the glass with notes of ripe strawberries, grenadine, crushed roses, sweet herbs, and licorice candies. Medium-framed, it has refreshing ripe acidity, fine, well-defined tannins, and a clean, even finish with fantastic, elegant length. Offering both refined complexity and true drinking pleasure, with nothing heavy or weighted, it’s fabulous all around, with notes of stone fruit on the finish. A highly appealing Brunello with a lot to enjoy over the coming 15 years, I would be thrilled to have bottles in my cellar to check in on regularly. (Drink between 2025-2040). Audrey Frick.
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino entices the taster with a gorgeous bouquet of fresh strawberries and plums accentuated by sweet herbs and hints of exotic spice. It's soft, round and quite lifted in feel, with vividly pure red berry fruits underscored by a core of brisk acidity. Energy remains high throughout, leaving a tinge of steely minerality and sweet tannins that frame the experience nicely. (Drink between 2026-2034). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$839.98 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Castello di Ama |
2020 |
Gran Selezione San Lorenzo Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$425.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Vigna Apparita (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,413.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 99 (8/2023): The 2020 L'Apparita will soon take its place among the great Apparitas. Unctuous and layered in the glass, the 2020 possesses exceptional balance and tons of character right out of the gate. Exotic scents of blackberry jam, chocolate, new leather, licorice and smoke are so alluring. Imposing tannins need time to soften, but once that happens readers will be treated to a spectacular Apparita that captures all the best the vintage had to offer. Marco Pallanti waited until mid-September (late for the year) to bring in this fruit. That decision paid off handsomely. (Drink between 2027-2045). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (3/2023): The 2020 L'Apparita opens to a midnight black color and an impenetrable appearance. This Merlot set the benchmark for the grape in Tuscany and continues to do so today, despite the various challenges to an early-ripening variety facing climate change. The 2020 vintage remains rich and opulent, even heavy on the mid-palate, with lots of thick fruit layering and soft tannins. It ends with sweet fruit and barbecue spice. |
|
| Piero Antinori |
2020 |
Solaia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$936.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JA 98 (3/2023): A great vintage of the iconic Solaia, full of cloves, sage, graphite, grilled dried herbs, underbrush and roasted cherry pit. There's fruit too, bilberry and cassis, juicy and mouthwatering, both understated and exuberant, ensuring a Tuscan fingerprint despite its majority Cabernet Sauvignon construction. Has grip and length, and effortless charm, reflecting an excellent vintage with low yields after a hot dry summer. Antinori family showing once again why this wine, that comes from 20ha the sunniest slopes of the Tignanello estate, set at 350-400m altitude, is so hard to resist. Winemaking director Renzo Cotarella.
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Solaia is an infant. I expected a more exuberant wine, but the 2020 is built along more classic lines. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, smoke, pencil shavings and spice all open effortlessly. As always, Solaia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but it is a Cabernet that is distinctly Italian, with plenty of Tuscan acid and structure driving through the mid-palate and into the finish. The 2020 is a terrific example of the recent stylistic shift at Antinori. In the past, richness and opulence were qualities of a vintage that would have been amplified in the vineyard and cellar. Today, the aim is to capture a more balanced expression of these kinds of vintages, and that very much comes through. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (5/2023): Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight. The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit color this full-bodied Tuscan red. |
|
|
2020 |
Solaia (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,044.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JA 98 (3/2023): A great vintage of the iconic Solaia, full of cloves, sage, graphite, grilled dried herbs, underbrush and roasted cherry pit. There's fruit too, bilberry and cassis, juicy and mouthwatering, both understated and exuberant, ensuring a Tuscan fingerprint despite its majority Cabernet Sauvignon construction. Has grip and length, and effortless charm, reflecting an excellent vintage with low yields after a hot dry summer. Antinori family showing once again why this wine, that comes from 20ha the sunniest slopes of the Tignanello estate, set at 350-400m altitude, is so hard to resist. Winemaking director Renzo Cotarella.
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Solaia is an infant. I expected a more exuberant wine, but the 2020 is built along more classic lines. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense, smoke, pencil shavings and spice all open effortlessly. As always, Solaia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but it is a Cabernet that is distinctly Italian, with plenty of Tuscan acid and structure driving through the mid-palate and into the finish. The 2020 is a terrific example of the recent stylistic shift at Antinori. In the past, richness and opulence were qualities of a vintage that would have been amplified in the vineyard and cellar. Today, the aim is to capture a more balanced expression of these kinds of vintages, and that very much comes through. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (5/2023): Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight. The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit color this full-bodied Tuscan red. |
|
|
2020 |
Tignanello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,192.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (8/2023): The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and mocha later. Time in the glass brings out striking dimension. In 2020, Tignanello is wonderfully sleek and racy, with fine tannins that lie below a core of bright, sculpted fruit. The balance here is just sublime. I can't wait to revisit the 2020 with age. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Argiano |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$396.99 |
21 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Solengo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$218.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Solengo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$384.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Solengo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$533.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2020 |
Barbaresco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$116.99 |
11 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.
JD 93-94 (5/2023): Just off the bottling line, I was the first in the world to taste the 2020 Barbaresco from bottle with Aldo Vacca. It pours a jewel ruby, which Aldo thought was probably pre-bottle shock. A pretty wine with aromas of ripe raspberry (almost liqueur), sweet licorice, and fresh violets, it is medium to full-bodied, with pure, ripe fruit of red cherry, blood orange, dusty earth, and pressed flowers. This is a lovely wine out of the gates, and it will be interesting to see how it settles. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$291.98 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.
JD 93-94 (5/2023): Just off the bottling line, I was the first in the world to taste the 2020 Barbaresco from bottle with Aldo Vacca. It pours a jewel ruby, which Aldo thought was probably pre-bottle shock. A pretty wine with aromas of ripe raspberry (almost liqueur), sweet licorice, and fresh violets, it is medium to full-bodied, with pure, ripe fruit of red cherry, blood orange, dusty earth, and pressed flowers. This is a lovely wine out of the gates, and it will be interesting to see how it settles. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Montefico Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$506.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$178.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$443.99 |
8 |
|
| |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Ovello Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$405.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Ovello Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$446.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Pora Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$405.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$178.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$443.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Marchesi di Barolo |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$357.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Biondi Santi |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,178.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Jacopo Biondi Santi |
2020 |
Schidione Castello di Montepo Toscana IGT |
$239 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Brovia |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$368.99 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (1/2025): The Brovia 2020 Barolo is a beautifully balanced wine that delivers a twofold punch of intensity and complexity. Village Barolo hardly gets better than this. The wine shows extreme sharpness and focus with small berry fruit, mica rock, blue flower and toasted coriander seed. Fruit represents a blend of Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d'Alba, so you get the aromatic focus of the first village with the power and intensity of the second. This is one of the best blended Barolos on the market today.
VM 92 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo is an absolute joy. Deep, layered and super-expressive, the 2020 is striking in its sheer appeal. Readers will find a generous Barolo that drinks well today. The Brovia Barolo is typically a 10-15-year wine. I imagine that will be the case here as well. Cedar, new leather, kirsch, pine, mint and red-toned fruit build into the caressing finish. The straight Barolo is built on a core of fruit from Brea and Gianetto, plus bits from Rocche di Castiglione, Villero and Garblèt Sue'. It is aged exclusively in 100HL Slavonian oak. (Drink between 2024-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2020 |
Barolo Garblet Sue (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$700.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Villero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$821.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| G.B. Burlotto |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$962.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Castelletto (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,169.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Vigneto Cannubi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,257.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Il Caggio |
2020 |
Ipsus Chianti Classico Gran Selezione |
$319 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2024): This is a special limited-production project imagined by the Mazzei family in Castellina in Chianti. This noble clan owns some of the area's most promising vineyards, including the legendary, forest-lined Siepi. Not too far way is the spine of a hill that extends over to the Sangiovese vines used to make this wine. The Caggio 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ipsus is engineered to produce fruit brightness, freshness and transparency. The wine succeeds each year I have tasted it (with the first vintage being 2015), but I think special props should be given in a vintage like 2020, which veered toward the warm side of the spectrum. Indeed, Ipsus offers primary fruit first and foremost; however, hints of smoke and light spice also appear. There is cherry versus cumin seed or cassis versus cardamom. The wine shows good fruit weight and length, despite its elegant frame.
VM 94 (7/2024): The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ipsus is gorgeous. Cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers, spice and blood orange open first in the aromatics. Layered and quite broad, the 2020 exudes class. About 40% of the lots saw submerged-cap maceration, which added a sense of classicism. There is also an element of exoticism that is palpable. Pretty floral and savory overtones reappear on the finish. This such a distinctive wine. (Drink between 2024-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Caiarossa |
2020 |
Caiarossa Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$360.98 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Dott G. Cappellano |
2020 |
Barolo Otin Fiorin Pie Franco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,234.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$549.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,441.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Arnaldo Caprai |
2020 |
Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anniversary (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$582.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta di Carleone |
2020 |
Il Guercio Toscana IGT |
$58.99 |
41 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (7/2022): The 2020 Il Guercio (Sangiovese) is airy, gracious and perfumed. Crushed red berry fruit, flowers, white pepper, orange zest and mint lend notable aromatic presence to this mid-weight, eccentric Sangiovese. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Il Guercio is one of the most distinctive wines in all of Chianti Classico. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Uno Toscana IGT |
$74 |
44 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2023): The 2020 Uno, the estate's top bottling is another super-distinctive wine in this range from Tenuta di Carleone. Readers will want to cellar the 2020 for at least a year, as it is rather tightly wound at this stage. Vibrant acids cut through a core of Sangiovese fruit in this nervy, taut wine. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Castelgiocondo (Frescobaldi) |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$254.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Lamaione Merlot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$396.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Castellare di Castellina |
2020 |
I Sodi di San Niccolo Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$483.99 |
1 |
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| Cavallotto |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$339.99 |
5 |
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| JD 90 (5/2024): The 2020 Barbera D’Alba Vigna Cuculo is a crowd pleaser of a wine, coming from vineyards just south of the Bricco Boschis. Pouring a deep magenta color, it’s plush with notes of ripe plum, candied flowers, and cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, it has good richness with good lift on the finish and is approachable now. Drink 2024-2030. Audrey Frick. |
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2020 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis ex-Domaine |
$83.99 |
60 |
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WA 94 (1/2025): Opening to a dark Nebbiolo color, the organic Cavallotto 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a little richer in this vintage. The quality of aromas also takes on a bigger profile with dried blackberry, licorice and earthy black truffle. This apparently comes from the fruit but is also shaped by the wine's long aging regime that sees 36 months in Slavonian oak casks. As a result, the delicate mineral and floral nuances that are an important feature of this wine are less prominent in 2020. This is a release of 18,582 bottles.
JD 93 (5/2014): A youthful saturated red/ruby color, the 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis leaps from the glass with tangy aromas of sour cherries, orange peel, clove (it smells like heffeweisen), and dried earth. The palate is lovely, revealing a refined structure, ripe, velvety tannins, and a pure core of concentration with a ripe yet weightless feel. It has good depth and remains fresh, and its structure lasts long on the finish, but so does its fruit. I liked the palate more than the nose at this stage, and it’s likely going to improve with time in bottle over the next 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick.
VM 93 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis is beautifully rich and resonant right out of the gate. Black cherry, blackberry, licorice, cloves, leather and scorched earth are amplified in this decidedly dense, large-scaled Barolo from Cavallotto. There’s a good bit of finesse here, but the 2020 could stand to shed some baby fat. Even so, there is certainly no harm in drinking this now. What a gorgeous Barolo this is. Antonio Galloni |
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2020 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$524.99 |
2 |
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WA 94 (1/2025): Opening to a dark Nebbiolo color, the organic Cavallotto 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a little richer in this vintage. The quality of aromas also takes on a bigger profile with dried blackberry, licorice and earthy black truffle. This apparently comes from the fruit but is also shaped by the wine's long aging regime that sees 36 months in Slavonian oak casks. As a result, the delicate mineral and floral nuances that are an important feature of this wine are less prominent in 2020. This is a release of 18,582 bottles.
JD 93 (5/2014): A youthful saturated red/ruby color, the 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis leaps from the glass with tangy aromas of sour cherries, orange peel, clove (it smells like heffeweisen), and dried earth. The palate is lovely, revealing a refined structure, ripe, velvety tannins, and a pure core of concentration with a ripe yet weightless feel. It has good depth and remains fresh, and its structure lasts long on the finish, but so does its fruit. I liked the palate more than the nose at this stage, and it’s likely going to improve with time in bottle over the next 12-15 years. Drink 2026-2040. Audrey Frick.
VM 93 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis is beautifully rich and resonant right out of the gate. Black cherry, blackberry, licorice, cloves, leather and scorched earth are amplified in this decidedly dense, large-scaled Barolo from Cavallotto. There’s a good bit of finesse here, but the 2020 could stand to shed some baby fat. Even so, there is certainly no harm in drinking this now. What a gorgeous Barolo this is. Antonio Galloni |
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2020 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$313.99 |
8 |
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| Cerbaiona |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,052.99 |
10 |
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| Ceretto |
2020 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$797.99 |
1 |
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| Pio Cesare |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$487.99 |
5 |
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2020 |
Barolo Ornato (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$732.98 |
7 |
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| Michele Chiarlo |
2020 |
Barbaresco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$609.99 |
4 |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Reyna (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$453.99 |
8 |
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| Le Chiuse |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$187.99 |
5 |
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| Domenico Clerico |
2020 |
Arte (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$327.99 |
8 |
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| Giacomo Conterno |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$185.97 |
3 |
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2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$475.97 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Cerretta (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$475.97 |
5 |
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2020 |
Barolo Arione (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$549.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Barolo Arione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,441.99 |
1 |
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| Aldo Conterno |
2020 |
Barolo Bussia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,617.98 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barolo Bussia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$683.99 |
3 |
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| Giacomo Conterno |
2020 |
Barolo Cascina Francia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$565.99 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barolo Cascina Francia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,564.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Barolo Cerretta (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$565.99 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barolo Cerretta (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,082.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Barolo Cerretta (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,649.99 |
2 |
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| Aldo Conterno |
2020 |
Barolo Cicala (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,636.98 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barolo Colonnello (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,636.98 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barolo Romirasco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,081.98 |
5 |
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2020 |
Barolo Romirasco (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$872.99 |
2 |
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| Conterno Fantino |
2020 |
Barolo Sori Ginestra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$522.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Barolo Vigna del Gris (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$571.99 |
5 |
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| Conti Costanti |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$161.99 |
5 |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$396.99 |
10 |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$372.99 |
19 |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$573.98 |
3 |
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| Damilano |
2020 |
Barolo Lecinquevigne Lightly Scuffed Label |
$39 |
3 |
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| Luigi Einaudi |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$571.99 |
6 |
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2020 |
Barolo Costa Grimaldi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$443.99 |
10 |
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| Fattoria di Felsina |
2020 |
Fontalloro (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$443.99 |
2 |
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| San Filippo |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucere (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$736.99 |
3 |
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| Cascina Fontana |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$487.99 |
1 |
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| Castello di Fonterutoli |
2020 |
Siepi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$522.99 |
5 |
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JS 98 (6/2022): Graphite and lead pencil is coming through, together with violets and blackberries. Some tar and asphalt, too. Full-bodied, yet creamy and crunchy, with agile liveliness that goes on for minutes. Fabulous length. Drinkable already, but will age gracefully for decades.
WA 95 (6/2022): Equal parts Merlot and Sangiovese, the Mazzei 2020 Siepi is a terrific vintage in a long line of wines that I had the pleasure of tasting through last year in a complete retrospective. The first vintage produced was 1992. The soils in the Siepi vineyard are especially deep, and the site is surrounded by forests to keep it cool. These conditions give rise to abundant aromas of sweet black cherry, underbrush and blue wild flower. This is a medium to full-bodied Tuscan red that shows enormous elegance and depth. |
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| Fontodi |
2020 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$483.99 |
2 |
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2020 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,639.98 |
2 |
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2020 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$552.97 |
9 |
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2020 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$272.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$771.99 |
2 |
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| Fossacolle |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$334.99 |
20 |
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| Fuligni |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$396.99 |
10 |
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JD 97 (1/2025): A bright red color with orange highlights, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is very pretty, with a delicate rustic hint that I find quite attractive. It reveals attractive red fruit on the nose, with notes of cranberries, wild herbs, and just a subtle hint of saddle leather and blood orange. Mid-weight, it’s light on its feet while delivering wonderful energy and freshness, with snappy ripe red fruit, a refreshing, angular feel, and mouthwatering saline and acidity. This is certainly one of the highlights of the 2020 vintage. Drink 2025-2040. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (11/2024): Rich and exuberant in the glass, the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino bursts with autumnal spices, crushed raspberries, shaved cedar and dusty rose. It impresses further with a core of ripe red berry fruits that saturate deeply, displaying a pleasant inner sweetness offset by a salty core of minerality. The 2020 leaves the palate drenched in primary concentration with a tart cranberry, licorice resonance and grippy tannins, all while maintaining a remarkably fresh persona. The 2020 has a large-scale feel with expertly maintained balance. (Drink between 2027-2038). Eric Guido.
WA 94+ (11/2024): Here is another very elegant expression from a sunny vintage that successfully hones in on a bright, fruit-forward drinking style. The Fuligni 2020 Brunello di Montalcino shows dark fruit aromas, spruce pine cone, wildflowers and light spice. It wraps smoothly over the palate with an elegant, mid-weight texture. |
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| Angelo Gaja |
2020 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,600.99 |
3 |
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| JD 94-96 (5/2023): A pale ruby, and blended from 14 vineyard sites, the 2020 Barbaresco was tasted as a barrel sample. Spicy and pure, it is full of red berries with Asian spice and white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with elegance and refinement throughout, approachable and fine tannins, no harsh edges, and a long-lasting floral finish. This seem to be a vintage that will drink well early but have plenty of longevity as well. Audrey Frick. |
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2020 |
Barbaresco (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,554.98 |
5 |
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| JD 94-96 (5/2023): A pale ruby, and blended from 14 vineyard sites, the 2020 Barbaresco was tasted as a barrel sample. Spicy and pure, it is full of red berries with Asian spice and white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with elegance and refinement throughout, approachable and fine tannins, no harsh edges, and a long-lasting floral finish. This seem to be a vintage that will drink well early but have plenty of longevity as well. Audrey Frick. |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Costa Russi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,134.98 |
9 |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,250.98 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,556.98 |
9 |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Sori Tildin (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,991.98 |
2 |
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2020 |
Barbaresco Sori Tildin (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,341.98 |
9 |
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2020 |
Barolo Sperss (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,694.98 |
1 |
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2020 |
Barolo Sperss (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,987.98 |
7 |
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2020 |
Langhe Conteisa (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,298.98 |
1 |
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2020 |
Langhe Conteisa (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,512.98 |
7 |
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| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Barbaresco Asili Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,702.99 |
20 |
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| Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,230.99 |
25 |
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| Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa |
2020 |
Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$348.99 |
5 |
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| Giodo |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$299.98 |
12 |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$758.98 |
26 |
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| Bibi Graetz |
2020 |
Testamatta Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$478.99 |
2 |
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| Elio Grasso |
2020 |
Barolo Gavarini Chiniera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$489.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Mate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$506.99 |
1 |
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| Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) |
2020 |
Bolgheri (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$814.99 |
1 |
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| I Suoli |
2020 |
Spumante Rose Brut Nature |
$29 |
3 |
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| Isole e Olena |
2020 |
Cepparello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$686.99 |
1 |
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VM 97+ (8/2023): The 2020 Cepparello is dense, powerful and soaring in intensity. A dark, almost somber Cepparello, the 2020 possesses remarkable depth from start to finish. Black cherry, plum, gravel, dried herbs and lavender build in a vivid, stunningly beautiful Cepparello that hits all the right notes. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (5/2023): Supple and smooth, the 2020 Cepparello brings Sangiovese to soaring heights in a manner only Paolo De Marchi can manage. This is his second to last vintage before he would retire and sell this historic estate. The wine opens to medium to full-bodied concentration with dark plum and redcurrant. Those cede to sweet spice, earth, crushed stone, rusty nail and candied orange peel. Give the wine more time to flesh out with cellar age. It registers a powerful 15% alcohol content. |
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2020 |
Collezione de Marchi Cabernet Sauvignon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$764.99 |
2 |
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| Tenuta San Leonardo |
2020 |
Vallagarina (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$257.99 |
10 |
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2020 |
Vallagarina (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$509.99 |
10 |
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2020 |
Vallagarina (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$617.99 |
10 |
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2020 |
Vallagarina (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,323.99 |
20 |
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| Le Macchiole |
2020 |
Messorio IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,215.99 |
10 |
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2020 |
Paleo Rosso (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$609.99 |
10 |
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JD 97 (1/2023): The 2020 Paleo offers up more concentration of color with a hint of purple. Aromatically, this moves into some black fruit as well as red fruits of boysenberry, violets, pencil shavings, and cedar. Full and round, with ripe tannin and a round mouthfeel, it offers iron-rich earth, mixed berries, and a floral finish. It feels sunny and warming without being baked and is a more generous wine to drink 2024-2044. Audrey Frick.
VM 97 (8/2023): The 2020 Paleo Rosso is classy, elegant and wonderfully polished. Crushed flowers, spice and blood orange lend brightness. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, Paleo Rosso offers tons of depth. Historically it has aged quite well. I expect that will be the case here also, as the 2020 exudes balance from start to finish. The 2020 spent 18 months in 100% French oak, with 5% of the wine aged in amphora. Antonio Galloni. |
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2020 |
Scrio IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$908.99 |
4 |
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| Margherita Otto |
2020 |
Barolo Ex-Domaine |
$109 |
3 |
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| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
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2020 |
Barolo (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$229 |
1 |
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| JD 96 (5/2024): Medium red with a tinge of orange, the 2020 Barolo is fresh and spicy, with aromas of raspberries, mint, anise, and fresh leather. Medium-bodied, it has ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, clean finish. Its fruit perfume lasts long on the back palate, and it has a weightless feel. A very pretty and elegant red, give it another year or two and drink over the following 15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Il Marroneto |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$736.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Bartolo Mascarello |
2020 |
Barolo |
$299 |
3 |
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| |
| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2020 Barolo is a very pretty, delicate wine. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, tobacco and dried flowers are all nicely lifted. Medium in body, with fine tannins, the 2020 is impeccably balanced. Today, the 2020 comes across as understated, gracious and classy in a style that is more delicate than it is powerful. Tasted next to the 2019, the 2020 appears to have a bit more mid-palate resonance that is not fully expressive at this stage. This spent 55 days on the skins, including a period of submerged-cap maceration. Antonio Galloni. |
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2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,441.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 94 (1/2024): The 2020 Barolo is a very pretty, delicate wine. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, tobacco and dried flowers are all nicely lifted. Medium in body, with fine tannins, the 2020 is impeccably balanced. Today, the 2020 comes across as understated, gracious and classy in a style that is more delicate than it is powerful. Tasted next to the 2019, the 2020 appears to have a bit more mid-palate resonance that is not fully expressive at this stage. This spent 55 days on the skins, including a period of submerged-cap maceration. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello |
2020 |
Barolo Monprivato (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,088.98 |
4 |
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| |
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| Bartolo Mascarello |
2020 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$481.98 |
1 |
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| |
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| Massolino |
2020 |
Barbaresco Albesani (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$451.99 |
3 |
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2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$392.99 |
2 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo Margheria (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$654.99 |
2 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo Parafada (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$438.98 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo Parussi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$571.99 |
7 |
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| Mastrojanni |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$396.99 |
19 |
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| |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d’Asino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,324.99 |
10 |
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| |
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| Miani |
2020 |
Rosso Miani (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$753.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Monsanto |
2020 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Poggio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$672.99 |
3 |
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| |
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2020 |
Chianti Classico Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$264.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Silvio Nardi |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$157.99 |
24 |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$282.99 |
4 |
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| |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (5.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$423.99 |
3 |
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| |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$379.99 |
20 |
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| |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$270.99 |
12 |
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| |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Vigneto Manachiara (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$672.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Casanova di Neri |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$330.99 |
18 |
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| |
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2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$700.99 |
3 |
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| |
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| La Ca' Nova |
2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$272.98 |
2 |
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| |
| VM 95 (10/2022): The 2020 Barbaresco Montestefano is a dense, plush wine, in other words classic Montestefano. Like all the Barbarescos here, the Montestefano is relatively open, which will surely please readers who can't or don't want to cellar their wines. Dark Nebbiolo fruit intermingled with spice, leather, incense and licorice build into the creamy, resonant finish. The 2020 is a gorgeous wine; the only real problem is that it is not quite the 2019! Antonio Galloni. |
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| Oddero |
2020 |
Barolo Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$987.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo Villero (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$317.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Barolo Villero (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$809.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Fratelli Odero |
2020 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$341.99 |
3 |
|
| |
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| Tenuta dell' Ornellaia |
2020 |
Le Serre Nuove (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$408.97 |
3 |
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| |
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2020 |
Le Volte (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$195.97 |
4 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Massetino Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$863.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$911.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
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2020 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,394.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Giorgio Pelissero |
2020 |
Barbaresco Vanotu (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$337.99 |
4 |
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| |
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| Emidio Pepe |
2020 |
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$729.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Petrolo |
2020 |
Galatrona |
$84 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 97 (6/2022): Subtle yet intense aromas of black fruit and violets. Extremely perfumed. Crushed stones. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a mouth-feel of velvet that goes on for minutes. Refined and fresh. Al-dente fruit. From organically grown grapes. Better in three to four years.
WA 96 (6/2022): The Petrolo 2020 Galatrona is a pure expression of organic Merlot and the estate's headline wine. It was first created in 1994 when Luca Sanjust's second child, Lucia, was born. Despite the summer heat that became a challenge for winemakers in many corners of Tuscany, Galatrona shows terrific results in 2020. The vineyard is located in a cool and thickly forested position almost exactly between Florence, Arezzo and Siena. The vintage has a classic quality with a subtle bouquet that grows in intensity as the wine opens in the glass. Aromas of cherry, toasted almond and dried mint fuel a long and very elegant finish. The oak tannins are soft and sweet, and the wine boasts long-lasting flavors. |
|
|
2020 |
Galatrona (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$544.97 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 97 (6/2022): Subtle yet intense aromas of black fruit and violets. Extremely perfumed. Crushed stones. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a mouth-feel of velvet that goes on for minutes. Refined and fresh. Al-dente fruit. From organically grown grapes. Better in three to four years.
WA 96 (6/2022): The Petrolo 2020 Galatrona is a pure expression of organic Merlot and the estate's headline wine. It was first created in 1994 when Luca Sanjust's second child, Lucia, was born. Despite the summer heat that became a challenge for winemakers in many corners of Tuscany, Galatrona shows terrific results in 2020. The vineyard is located in a cool and thickly forested position almost exactly between Florence, Arezzo and Siena. The vintage has a classic quality with a subtle bouquet that grows in intensity as the wine opens in the glass. Aromas of cherry, toasted almond and dried mint fuel a long and very elegant finish. The oak tannins are soft and sweet, and the wine boasts long-lasting flavors. |
|
| Luigi Pira |
2020 |
Barolo Margheria (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$452.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Poggio di Sotto |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,142.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$525.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,210.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta le Potazzine |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$683.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Alfredo Prunotto |
2020 |
Barolo Bussia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$531.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Fattoria le Pupille |
2020 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$218.97 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Saffredi Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$515.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Le Ragnaie |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$443.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli |
$133.99 |
12 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (1/2025): Pouring a bright red color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli shows off a very pretty side of this vintage, with notes of wild strawberries, chili flake, dried earth, orange peel, and thyme. Medium-bodied, it’s elegant and mineral-driven, with angular tannins, the most linear feel in the range, and an evenly tapering finish. It is not the most obvious wine in the range, but it may very well prove to be one of the best wines from Montosoli in 2020. Drink over 2027-2047. Audrey Frick.
WA 97 (11/2024): The Le Ragnaie 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli (with 4,400 bottles created) comes from a celebrated site on the north side of the appellation at 300 meters in elevation. Montosoli is characterized by very special shale galestro clay soils that are brittle and friable. These conditions result in extremely focused aromatic characteristics of wet stone, blue flower and blood orange. That note of violet or lavender is exceptional. The wine finishes with a salty note, and don't underestimate that firm tannic bite. Only eight Montalcino estates have access to fruit from Montosoli.
VM 94 (11/2024): The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli opens with an alluring bouquet that blends mentholated herbs and hints of camphor with crushed blackberries and a tinge of sour citrus. It's round and supple with dark red fruits and sweet inner herbal tones that ride a stream of fresh acidity. Fine tannins remain, yet the 2020 maintains fantastic freshness, finishing long with a resonance of licorice and tart blackberry that lingers on. (Drink between 2027-2036). Eric Guido. |
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|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Fornace |
$119.99 |
12 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (1/2025): The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Fornace is a spectacular way to close out the wines of 2020 from Le Ragnaie. Aromatic of grenadine, sweet balsamic herbs, leather, and licorice candies, the palate really sets itself apart, with fine tannins, mouthwatering, salted, ripe orange citrus, iron-rich earth, and a clean, stony, driving finish. Persistent and long, it’s going to need another couple of years in cellar. Drink 2027-2047. Audrey Frick.
WA 96 (11/2024): This wine usually shows a more relaxed character compared to the other bottles in this series of single-vineyard wines from Le Ragnaie. The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Fornace draws its fruit from a vineyard located at 380 meters in elevation not too far from Mastrojanni. The site was once at the bottom of an ancient seabed, and there are round limestone rocks as a result. That theme of "roundness" is transferred to the palate, where the wine offers layers of plush and supple fruit. Like the others, it ages in large oak casks for 3.5 years and is bottled directly from the botte. Only 3,000 bottles were created. In a tasting of his cru wines, Riccardo Campinoti serves this wine last because it delivers a bigger sense of concentration and textural density (while remaining within the transparency of the house style). |
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|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie VV |
$150 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 98 (1/2025): The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Ragnaie V.V. is a cut above the rest in this vintage and really over-delivers, bringing all the best elements of this vintage into rich contrast. Revealing ripe aromatics of kirsch, fresh leather, sweet tobacco, blood orange, and anise, the palate is saturated and pure, with incredible lift while also having notable depth, and it has an incredibly long-lasting finish, with crystalline salty accents. This powerful wine is going to benefit from time in bottle, but it feels as though it’s going mature at a very slow rate despite its youthful appeal now. Drink it over the coming 20 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 97 (11/2024): This is an outstanding wine from Le Ragnaie. Showing unescapable mineral definition, the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Ragnaie V. V. sees fruit sourced from the estate's oldest vines, which were planted in 1968 on sandstone soils (with quartz inclusions) at 600 meters above sea level. The bouquet is bright and fragrant, but the wine also has a salty or harder edge that gives it good runway to age and evolve. I love its elegantly built structure.
VM 96 (11/2024): The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino V.V. entices with a darkly floral blend of wilted violets and stone dust, giving way to pine shavings, spiced orange peels and crushed blackberries. It's elegant, with silken textures and polished red and black fruits that ride a wave of fresh acidity as violet inner florals amass toward the close. An air of potpourri resonates above a bed of fine-grained tannins as a bitter tinge of citrus-laced blackberry fades slowly. The 2020 V.V. is the most complete and classic wine from Le Ragnaie's lineup this year—in a word, spellbinding. (Drink between 2027-2038). Eric Guido. |
|
| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2020 |
Vigna d’Alceo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$884.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Renato Ratti |
2020 |
Barolo Marcenasco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$161.99 |
24 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Marcenasco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$378.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$281.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’ Annunziata (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$736.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Giuseppe Rinaldi |
2020 |
Barolo Bussia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,113.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Le Brunate (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$828.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Le Brunate (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,144.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Tre Tine (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,739.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Francesco Rinaldi & Figli |
2020 |
Barolo Cannubbi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$663.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Serafino Rivella |
2020 |
Barbaresco Montestefano (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$678.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Roagna |
2020 |
Barbaresco Paje (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,125.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo La Pira (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$382.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo La Pira (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,080.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Bruno Rocca |
2020 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$483.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Rabaja (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$736.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Albino Rocca |
2020 |
Barbaresco Ronchi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$348.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Castello Romitorio |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$401.99 |
11 |
|
| |
|
| Girolamo Russo |
2020 |
Etna Rosso San Lorenzo Piano delle Colombe |
$176.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo Piano delle Colombe is more open-knit compared to the 2019 vintage (I had the opportunity to taste the two side by side). This is a lovely wine with fine fiber and delicate fruit notes of wild berry, crushed stone and white pepper. The 2019 vintage has a certain magic that does not completely manifest here (in this hot vintage). However, the wine shows the supreme elegance of Etna. |
|
| Castello Della Sala (Antinori) |
2020 |
Cervaro della Sala Chardonnay Umbria IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$623.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Salvioni |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino Cerbaiola (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$962.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| San Giusto A Rentennano |
2020 |
Percarlo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$298.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Percarlo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$871.99 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Elio Sandri |
2020 |
Barolo Perno (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$553.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Luciano Sandrone |
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$214.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Aleste (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$264.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Aleste (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$468.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Le Vigne (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$245.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$571.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Paolo Scavino |
2020 |
Barolo Bric del Fiasc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$654.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sette Ponti |
2020 |
Oreno (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$442.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera |
2020 |
Toscana Sangiovese (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,487.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Canalicchio di Sopra |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$396.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Sottimano |
2020 |
Barbaresco Basarin ex-Domaine |
$59.95 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 94 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Basarin is just now starting to open aromatically, although it remains quite pointed in its acid and tannin profile. Sweet macerated cherry, tobacco, cedar and incense are nicely lifted in this classic, mid-weight Barbaresco. This is such a gorgeous wine. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (5/2023): A generous sweet perfume of pressed violets, ripe cherry, cinnamon, and incense emerges from the 2020 Barbaresco Basarin. The tannins are more giving here, and its fruit expands through the palate, with refreshing acidity and wonderful balance and purity. It is drinking well now and will continue to improve over the coming 10-15 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (8/2023): With fruit from the village of Neive, the 2020 Barbaresco Basarin is a generous and fleshed-out wine with soft fruit tones and plenty of bold cherry. Sottimano Maggiore likes to work with ambient yeasts and submerged cap. This is a fruit-forward Nebbiolo from a warm vintage. It shows above average concentration, but not by much, and feels quite smooth and supple to the palate. Production is 9,000 bottles. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine |
$79.95 |
41 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Cottá is another fabulous wine in this range from Sottimano. Dark and super-classic in bearing, the 2020 has tremendous stature along with a darker and more somber personality than usual. The balance here is just mind-blowing. Scorched earth, leather, tobacco and incense infuse the finish with tons of nuance to complement its muscular personality. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (5/2023): Moving to the 2020 Barbaresco Cotta, fantastic mineral-tinged aromas of crushed stones, pencil shavings, and blackberry are followed by a medium-bodied red with a ripe yet linear feel and crunchy red fruits of red plum, orange rind, and clove. I liked this for its more tension-packed and energetic feel and stony texture. Drink 2025-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 94+ (8/2023): A wine from Sottimano that also draws its fruit from the village of Neive (and Barbaresco, because these 2.8 hectares of vines are on the border), the 2020 Barbaresco Cottá shows an austere character with pronounced rust or iodine aromas that are neatly layered into dark fruit and dried cherry. The wine sports a generous, medium-weight texture that offers a good amount of textural firmness to the palate. Give this pretty wine a little more time to flesh out. 9,000 bottles were produced. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Curra ex-Domaine |
$89.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Currà is an infant, but it is stellar. Wild, savory and intensely perfumed, the 2020 is super-expressive of place. The Currà is the deepest of the 2020s, also the most backward. I would not be in any rush to open bottles. Black fruit, leather, tobacco and cloves add to an impression of brooding intensity. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2025): This wine is released one year later than the other Barbarescos in this portfolio. The Sottimano 2020 Barbaresco Currá reveals an open-knit character with immediate tones of tart cherry, dried raspberry and lavender sachet. There is an inherent sweetness to those fruit and floral aromas, and the wine remains contained in terms of mouthfeel thanks to its mid-weight texture. Fruit comes from a 1.5-hectare parcel in Nieve with 40- and 50-year-old vines. Given the warmth of the vintage, I recommend a near- or medium-term drinking window for this 3,000-bottle release. |
|
| Speri |
2020 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Monte Sant’Urbano (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$625.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta San Guido |
2020 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,722.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Cantina Terlano |
2020 |
Terlaner I Grand Cuvee (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$812.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Cantina Tibaldi |
2020 |
Roero Roccapalea ex-Domaine |
$29 |
34 |
|
| |
|
| Trediberri |
2020 |
Barolo Berri (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$143.99 |
24 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo Berri is the bomb. Rich, racy and explosive, the 2020 Berri remains one of the very best wines in this young estate's history. It has started to close down a bit, especially in its aromatics, but its purity of fruit—the quality I have always admired most—is still very much present. What a wine! (Drink between 2026-2038). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (5/2024): Tasted from the bottle, the 2020 Barolo Berri is a ripe ruby color and is fruity on the nose, with black raspberries, fresh lavender, candied orange, and wet stones. It has a rounded feel on the palate, with ripe tannins and offers a more immediate feel. It’s gorgeous now but also has a great mineral backbone and the freshness and elegance to age gracefully. This approachable red is going to drink well over the next 12-15 years. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Berri (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$273.99 |
10 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2025): The 2020 Barolo Berri is the bomb. Rich, racy and explosive, the 2020 Berri remains one of the very best wines in this young estate's history. It has started to close down a bit, especially in its aromatics, but its purity of fruit—the quality I have always admired most—is still very much present. What a wine! (Drink between 2026-2038). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (5/2024): Tasted from the bottle, the 2020 Barolo Berri is a ripe ruby color and is fruity on the nose, with black raspberries, fresh lavender, candied orange, and wet stones. It has a rounded feel on the palate, with ripe tannins and offers a more immediate feel. It’s gorgeous now but also has a great mineral backbone and the freshness and elegance to age gracefully. This approachable red is going to drink well over the next 12-15 years. Audrey Frick. |
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|
2020 |
Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$498.99 |
9 |
|
| |
|
| Tua Rita |
2020 |
Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscana (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$377.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscana (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$364.97 |
8 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Perlato del Bosco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$237.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Redigaffi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$430.97 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Syrah (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$512.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Ultima Pietra |
2020 |
Merito ex-Domaine |
$175 |
48 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Merito (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$375 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso |
$80 |
24 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Toscana Rosso (1.5 L) Ex-Domaine |
$175 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| G.D. Vajra |
2020 |
Barolo Coste di Rose (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$578.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Ravera (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$566.98 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Dolcetto D’Alba Coste & Fossati |
$24 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (9/2021): The 2020 Dolcetto d'Alba Coste & Fossati offers a bit more depth than the straight Dolcetto but with the energy that runs through all the 2020s here. Dark cherry fruit, leather, spice, tobacco and dried herbs lend notable complexity. This is beautifully done. (Drink between 2022-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Valdicava |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$232.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$478.99 |
30 |
|
| |
|
| Eduardo Valentini |
2020 |
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,551.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,318.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Antonio Vallana & Figlio |
2020 |
Gattinara |
$43.99 |
22 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (2/2025): Vallana's 2020 Gattinara is powerful, rustic and a bit rough around the edges, and yet it conveys so much genuine, uncomplicated character. Dark fruit, new leather, licorice, dried herbs and mint are some of the notes that take shape as this rambunctious Gattinara gradually opens in the glass. Don't look for finesse here. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Spanna |
$19.99 |
10 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2026): The 2020 Colline Novaresi Spanna is pliant and supple, with no hard edges and an engaging personality that is all charm. Crushed red berry fruit, white pepper, chalk, mint and orange peel bristle with energy. Impeccable in its balance and sheer allure, the 2020 is a total delight. (Drink between 2026-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Vietti |
2020 |
Barbaresco Masseria (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$502.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barbera d’Alba Scarrone (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$313.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 93 (5/2023): The 2020 Barbera D'Alba Vigna Scarrone takes on a deeper, more layered character, with floral boysenberry, violet, and cedar. It has medium to full body, with a stony mouthfeel and notes of mocha, turned earth, and fresh black plum. A bit of delicate smokiness works nicely into its framework, and it has a long finish. Drink 2024-2034.
VM 94 (12/2022): The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Scarrone is stellar. Rich and expansive, the 2020 is laced with the essence of dark cherry fruit, rose petal, cinnamon, leather and mocha are front and center. All the elements all come together so effortlessly. Floral and spice notes reappear on the finish. This is such a classy and polished Barbera. Antonio Galloni. |
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2020 |
Barolo Brunate (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Brunate (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$623.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Castiglione (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$374.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Cerequio (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Cerequio (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$653.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Lazzarito (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Lazzarito (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,203.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Lazzarito (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$678.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
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2020 |
Barolo Monvigliero (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$632.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Ravera (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Barolo Ravera (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$678.99 |
18 |
|
| |
|
| Zenato |
2020 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$392.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Ausone |
2021 |
St. Emilion (1.5 L) 2021 en Primeur Release |
$1,350 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 97-100 (4/2022): A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!
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. |
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| 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. |
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|
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. |
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|
2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$678 |
1 |
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| |
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. |
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| Ch. Les Carmes Haut Brion |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (3X1.5L) 3-magnum OWC |
$895 |
1 |
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| |
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. |
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| 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. |
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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. |
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2020 |
St. Estephe |
$205 |
10 |
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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. |
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| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2022 |
Pauillac (1.5 L) 2023 en Primeur Release |
$1,425 |
1 |
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| |
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. |
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|
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. |
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| 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? |
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| 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. |
|
| | 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. |
|
| | 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. |
|
|
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? |
|
| 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 |
1 |
|
| |
| 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 |
|
| |
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. |
|
| Realm |
2015 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
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. |
|
|
2013 |
The Absurd Proprietary Blend |
$950 |
1 |
|
| |
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. |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2015 |
Monte Bello |
$235 |
2 |
|
| |
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. |
|
| Schrader |
2013 |
MMXIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
2 |
|
| |
| 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. |
|
|
2018 |
MMXVIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,595 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (1/2021): There are few vintages of Old Sparky that don't merit a perfect rating, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky isn't one of them. This flawless wine offers up a wild smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, with loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, lead pencil, violets, blood orange, tobacco, and flowery incense all developing with time in the glass. Deep purple-hued and incredibly full-bodied, it has ripe, silky tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. This magical wine stays weightless and elegant on the palate, never seeming heavy, cumbersome, or over the top, and it's a wine that just begs to be drunk yet will evolve for decades. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another heavenly Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that could come from nowhere else in the world. Life is too short not to have experienced this cuvée! (Drink between 2021-2041) |
|
| Screaming Eagle |
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$6,399 |
1 |
|
| |
| 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. |
|
|
2023 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,300 |
3 |
|
| |
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. |
|
| Sine Qua Non |
2015 |
"E" Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$450 |
3 |
|
| |
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. |
|
|
2015 |
"E" Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache (1.5 L) |
$800 |
1 |
|
| |
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. |
|
|
2004 |
Ode to E Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,399 |
1 |
|
| |
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. |
|
| 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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| | Germany |
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2019 |
Weingut Hermann Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese (1.5 L) |
$149 |
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