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Inventory updated: Fri, Jul 24, 2026 04:02 PM cst
2006 Rivers Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2006
Region: USA Red
Color/Type: Red
Size: 750 ML
Tasting Notes:
BH 92 (10/2008): A wonderfully complex nose is highly expressive, offering notes of black cherry and spiced raspberry that lead to equally complex middle weight flavors that possess good detail and a lovely layering effect on the solidly persistent finish. This is not especially dense in the manner of the 2004 and 2005 versions though the extract confers the sense of concentration on the delicious backend. A study in balance and grace.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Rivers Marie |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2008 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Cabernet Sauvignon  |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a gorgeous, rich wine layered with mint, tobacco, spices, cedar and licorice. It shows gorgeous textural depth and tons of aromatic nuances. This is a fabulous wine loaded with class and personality. It isn’t the biggest wine here, but it is exceptionally polished. Wow! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. |
|
|
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2012): The estate’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Juicy dark berries, flowers, mint and cloves all come together nicely in the glass. Today, the 2010 is open and expressive, with soft, silky tannins and tons of near-term appeal, all qualities entry-level Cabernets should have. The 2010 is mostly valley floor fruit, with dollops of Panek, Corona and GIII. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. |
|
|
2012 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2014): Rivers-Marie's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon brings together the richness of the year along with pretty savory notes that balance some of the more overt fruit. Iron, smoke, cedar and dried red cherries are all laced into the super-expressive finish. This is one of very best Napa Valley Cabernets in its price range. The 2012 was made from three sites; Pellet (Calistoga) and Bourn and Bressler, both in St. Helena. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is plump, juicy and expressive. Sweet and open-knit in style, the 2013 is best enjoyed young, while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Sweet red cherry, plum and pomegranate add a final burst of energy on the close. (Drink between 2017-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2012 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is a killer effort. Sweet blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit along with notes of vanilla, toast, licorice, incense and spice box emerge from this full-bodied, classic Napa Cabernet. With good acidity, ripe tannin and a broad, savory, multidimensional mouthfeel, this fabulous wine represents 200 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 75% new oak. The finished alcohol is 14.3%. It should drink well for 15-20 years.
VM 93 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from a single block in what is widely considered the best part of the Larkmead estate. Dark black fruit, graphite, game, smoke and pencil shavings wrap around a core of dark fruit in a powerful, explosive Cabernet built on intensity and inner sweetness, although time in the glass brings out the wine's more seductive qualities. This broad, ample Cabernet Sauvignon should drink beautifully for a number of years. This is a strong debut vintage for the Calistoga Cabernet. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2013 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, which comes from the so-called Olmo clone (the same as the Eiesle clone), exhibits an opaque purple color, sweet creme de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as licorice, wet pebbles giving it minerality, and a long, full-bodied, opulent texture. This stunning wine comes from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from the most historic portion of Larkmead, where the Olmo clone (said to be the precursor to Eisele clone) and pure Cortina soils yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Dense and powerful, with distinctly earthy, savory notes, the 2013 delivers serious intensity and explosiveness. Readers will have to be patient, however, as the 2013 needs time to be at its best. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (3/2018): Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mint and pomegranate rush onto the palate in the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga). Even with all its ripeness, the 2015 has quite a bit of depth and textural resonance, not to mention tons of personality. The Calistoga Cabernet emerges from one of the choicest areas in Larkmead. My only hesitation at the moment with the 2015 is the tannins, which are a bit grainy and suggest that ripening was not totally even. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Calistoga) is driving and intense, with savory, earthy notes that give the wine its distinctive personality. This powerful Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon possesses tremendous depth and muscle, both signatures of Larkmead, one of the top vineyard sites in Calistoga, and Napa Valley, for that matter. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga is deep garnet-purple colored, charging out of the gate with savory notions of sautéed herbs, beef drippings and truffles with a core of crème de cassis , baked plums and mulberries. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid backbone of firm, velvety tannins and really compelling earthy undertones to all that decadent black fruit, finishing long and layered. |
|
|
2009 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$90 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard, from a site on the Oakville bench, is the richest of these 2009 Cabernets from Rivers-Marie. It bursts from the glass with jammy, opulent fruit and a big, full-bodied personality. Blue and black fruit, mint, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the finish. The 100% new oak comes through here. I am not sure this wine needs all the oak and makeup. There is plenty of pedigree already. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. |
|
|
2010 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Roberto Corona Vineyard has come together beautifully since I last tasted it. A rich sumptuous wine, the 2010 caresses the palate with layers of dark fruit, spices, menthol and licorice. The dark fruit and intense spices are pure Oakville. The French oak, which was quite noticeable last year, has integrated beautifully. The Corona is totally different than the Panek, but just as beautiful. In 2010 I have a slight preference for the Corona over the Panek, but both are striking and absolutely delicious. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. |
|
|
2012 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2014): The opaque purple-hued 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Crona Vineyard, from gravelly, stony soils in the western Oakville hills, is the most intense, massive, structured and tannic wine of this group of 2012s. Aged in 75% new oak (250 cases produced), it offers up notes of licorice, graphite, vanillin, baking spices, blueberries and blackberries along with stupendous extract, richness and structure. Drink it over the next 20+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard has also turned out beautifully, which is indeed saying something, as Corona is a site that does not perform consistently from year to year. Dark cherry jam, graphite, blueberry compote, tobacco and sweet French oak blossom in a powerful, radiant Cabernet endowed with real breadth and volume. I suspect the Corona will drink well earlier than some of the other wines in this range, specifically the Calistoga and Lore Cabernets. This is one of the very best Coronas I can remember tasting at Rivers-Marie. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (10/2015): Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the western Oakville hills, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard is a backward, almost first-growth Pauillac style of wine, with notes of lead pencil, licorice, wet stones, cedar wood and fruitcake. Fine-grained tannins are significant, giving the wine considerable grip and earthiness. This is a big, backstrapping, broodingly primordial style of wine that clearly will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. |
|
|
2014 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard comes from the western Oakville hillside that was once an old gravel quarry. Blue/purple with notes of earth, crushed rock, blueberry and blackberry fruit, this is a relatively tannic, backward style compared to the other Cabernets with plenty of minerality, a muscular structure, full-bodied mouthfeel and loads of blue, red and black fruits. This is impressive and potentially fabulous with a great upside, but needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for up to 30 years. |
|
|
2016 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2018): Time has been kind to the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb, a wine that is positively stellar today. Dark and explosive, with tremendous energy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Beams of tannin give the 2016 a backbone of energy and structure that will allow it to develop nicely in bottle for many years to come. Thomas Brown and his team crafted a striking wine that captures the essence of one of the most singular sites in Napa Valley. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Herb Lamb Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (1/2021): Lastly, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is a true superstar in the vintage and reminds me of a great vintage of Château Margaux with its exotic bouquet of blue fruits, sandalwood, spring flowers, menthol, and lead pencil shavings. These all carry to a powerful, full-bodied 2018 with a weightless texture, building tannins, flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. It's not a wine that hits you over the head with fruit, but it builds incrementally on the palate and has perfect balance as well as the class and depth to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 25-30 years. (Drink between 2025-2056)
VM 98 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is distinguished in this range by its strong aromatic signatures. Blood orange, sage, mint, licorice, pine and raspberry jam are all beautifully lifted. In the glass, the Herb Lamb is powerful and deep, yet also a bit reticent today. I would give it a few years to soften. There is so much going on here. Herb Lamb is a complex site divided into three macro areas. Sadly, much, if not all, of the property was lost in the 2020 fires. (Drink between 2024-2035). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (2/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored, offering up gregarious scents of black cherry pie, warm cassis, garrigue and kirsch with emerging hints of blackberries, wild blueberries and roses. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully muscular in the mouth, it has great tension and firm, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and earthy. |
|
|
2014 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is another magnificent wine from the Oakville corridor on the hills near Dalla Valle and the Pedregral Vineyard of David Ramey. Wonderful notes of fruitcake, cedar wood, spice box, blackcurrant and blackberry along with espresso and spice jump from the glass of this terrific wine that is powerful, concentrated and multidimensional, but still somewhat youthful and backward. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25-30 years.
VM 94 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is the deepest and most explosive of these 2014s. Vivid and chiseled in the glass, the 2014 exudes energy, with tons of intensely mineral and savory overtones. Rose petal, lavender, mint and sage all flesh out nicely in the glass. This collection of small parcels on the eastern hillsides of Oakville often yields wines of notable distinction. That is once again the case in 2014. This is a special wine. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is sensational. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 2016 expresses all the best this rugged hillside site has to offer. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, smoke and dark spice explode from the glass. In most vintages, the Lore is massively tannic, but the 2016 has tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance. It is one of the best – maybe the best – Rivers-Marie Cabernet I have ever tasted. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$213 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 97+ (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is sensational. Dark, powerful and explosive, the 2016 expresses all the best this rugged hillside site has to offer. Graphite, crushed rocks, menthol, licorice, smoke and dark spice explode from the glass. In most vintages, the Lore is massively tannic, but the 2016 has tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance. It is one of the best – maybe the best – Rivers-Marie Cabernet I have ever tasted. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon coming from a single vineyard in Oakville. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a fair bit of swirling to reveal tantalizing scents of boysenberries, chocolate-covered cherries and crushed black and red currants with hints of menthol, tobacco leaf, violets, cinnamon stick and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with perfumed black fruits, backed up by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Just stunning. Give it a good 4-5 years in bottle and drink it over the next 20 years+.
JD 97+ (1/2021): From a great site in Oakville, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard boasts a rich, full-bodied style offering ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and textbook Cabernet notes of ripe black currants, cassis, smoked tobacco, loamy soil, and chocolate. I love its overall purity as well as its balance, and while it's already accessible today, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2023-2045).
VM 97+ (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is magnificent. Strong savory and mineral notes add aromatic complexity to play off the dense, plush fruit that is typical of these wines. Intriguing and complex, the Lore captures all of the magic of this site in Eastern Oakville. The tannins need a bit of time to soften. Even in the early going, the Lore is superb. It is, as always, the most structured Cabernet in the range. (Drink between 2025-2033). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and intense, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum fruit, and chocolate flavors are pushed forward. The soft, polished tannins give this fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon tons of near and medium term appeal. (Drink between 2017-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Wrinkled Label |
$99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97 (10/2016): The Cabernets start with the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. This is fabulous – 100% Olmo clone that is the same as the Eisele clone. Opaque purple, this wine was aged 20 months in a relatively small percentage of new oak. Blackberry, cassis, spring flowers and vanilla all jump from the glass of this fabulous, concentrated, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that is dense, pure and terrific. Alcohol levels are relatively modest at 14.3%. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 91 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and intense, all qualities that make it an excellent choice for drinking now over the next few years. Sweet red cherry, plum fruit, and chocolate flavors are pushed forward. The soft, polished tannins give this fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon tons of near and medium term appeal. (Drink between 2017-2024). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2006 |
Occidental Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 90+ (6/2008): Bright deep red, the darkest of these three pinots. Enticing aromas of raspberry, mocha and earthy underbrush. A bit more firm and less pliant than the Sonoma Coast bottling, but with more intensity to the raspberry and spice flavors. This boasts excellent acidity and the highest alcohol (14.3%) of this trio of pinots. Not surprisingly, it's tightly wound today; more vertical while the Summa is more horizontal.
BH 90 (10/2008): A really pretty set up of moderately deeply pitched red and dark berry fruit aromas that carry a whiff of underlying earth precedes round and relatively forward middle weight flavors that possess good if not exceptional depth plus a very subtle hint of minerality and fine length. While this will certainly age, it is already accessible and with the right foods, could easily be enjoyed now. |
|
|
2011 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$105 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93 (11/2013): Rivers-Marie's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard is drop-dead gorgeous. Plums, mocha, cloves, violets and lavender are some of the many notes that meld together in the glass. One of the more juicy, expressive wines of the year, the 2011 delivers the goods and then some. This is a fairly immediate Cabernet Sauvignon with tons of early appeal. Mocha, dark red berries, lavender reappear on the finish, adding lift and considerable perfume.
WA 91-93 (12/2012): An impressive wine for the year, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard shows gorgeous depth and overall harmony. Savory herbs, crushed rocks, dark red fruit and sweet floral notes are all supported by precise veins of minerality that add tension. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2023. |
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2013 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard comes from a five-acre, valley-floor vineyard just north of St. Helena near Vineyard 29's Aida. There are 450 cases of this magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of Mediterranean herbs intermixed with licorice, blackberry and cassis jump from the glass of this opaque purple wine. Stunningly proportioned, full-bodied, super-intense, with great purity, structure and depth, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for three decades.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, from a site on the valley floor, shows all the voluptuousness and raciness that is typical of this sector in the northern reaches of St. Helena. Dark red cherry, plum, pomegranate and spice blossom as this full-bodied, racy Cabernet shows off its personality. There is just enough acidity to give the aromatics enough lift to balance the super-ripe fruit. As always, the Panek is a very showy wine. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$135 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard has turned out beautifully. There is a sense of energy to the red cherry and plum fruit that gives this wine a natural measure of pure excitement. Red cherry jam, raspberry preserves, mint, spice and pomegranate meld together in a racy, sensual Cabernet that captures all the best vintage has to offer. Two thousand sixteen is a terrific vintage for the Panek. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
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2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
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|
2006 |
Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 92 (10/2008): A wonderfully complex nose is highly expressive, offering notes of black cherry and spiced raspberry that lead to equally complex middle weight flavors that possess good detail and a lovely layering effect on the solidly persistent finish. This is not especially dense in the manner of the 2004 and 2005 versions though the extract confers the sense of concentration on the delicious backend. A study in balance and grace. |
|
|
2005 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (10/2007): Here the nose is, not surprisingly, quite similar to that of the Old Vines Summa if perhaps not quite as complex and nuanced that leads to balanced, intense and pure flavors brimming with dry extract and excellent length on the youthfully austere finish. This is quite impressive as well and like the Occidental, it should age well. Drink 2011+. |
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|
2006 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
BH 91 (10/2008): An admirably fresh and beautifully complex nose features spicy deep red cherry and ripe red pinot fruit aromas that complement perfectly the rich, mouth coating and balanced medium weight flavors that benefit from fine levels of dry extract and solid length. While the alcohol is the same as the Willow Creek, there is no undue warmth either. Lovely and absolutely worth a look at this understated, stylish and classy offering. Drink 2010+.
VM 91 (6/2008): Pungent aromas of wild berries, herbs, underbrush and smoke lifted by an enticing lavender perfume. Less fruity but more minerally and bright than the basic bottling, offering a rather silky texture and some attractive high-toned notes of perfumed red fruits. I like this pinot's restrained sweetness and its classically dry finish. Owner/winemaker Thomas Brown told me that the tiny quantities of fruit he had to work with in 2005 were difficult to manage, and that the 2006s were easier to make. Still, yields in the latter year were in the modest 1 to 2.5 tons-per-acre range. |
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2006 |
Willow Creek Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (10/2008): A lovely and nicely deep nose of raspberry, red cherry and touches of both spice and earth lead to round and silky flavors that offer fine intensity and a naturally sweet finish that displays just a bit of backend warmth. It's not enough to upset the balance but neither is it invisible. Overall, I like the sappy and seductive texture and this should age well over the medium term yet drink well early. In a word, lovely. Drink 2011+. |
|
| | USA White |
| Rivers Marie |
2013 |
Joy Road Vyd. Chardonnay |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (1/2015): Slate, graphite, dried pear, almonds, crushed flowers and sage emerge from the 2013 Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard. The flavor profile is quite a bit more floral and savory than the other Chardonnays in the range, with the fruit pushed a bit into the background. The Joy Road is the most subtle and layered of the Rivers-Marie Chardonnays. In many ways, it is the most evocative as well. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| 21 Grams |
2006 |
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (11/2009): Dark red. Plum, redcurrant, tobacco and strong cedary oak on the nose. Dense and chewy but bright, with very good intensity to the flavors of redcurrant, plum, raspberry and nutty oak. Harmonious acidity gives the fruit a penetrating quality and helps it absorb its strong layer of oak. Finishes supple, smooth and long, with lovely sweetness. Very well done: I note that I rated this wine ahead of the cabernet bottlings from both Waters and Gramercy Cellars. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2006 |
Edna Valley Grenache |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (11/2008): Inky ruby. Brooding aromas of cherry, mulberry, plum jam and smoky minerals; smells almost like syrah. Brighter red berries on the palate, complicated by candied licorice, Asian spices and an exotic cured meat quality. A serious rendition of grenache, finishing with excellent chewy persistence and lingering dark berry and licorice notes. This will reward cellaring. |
|
|
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. |
|
| Alpha Omega |
2006 |
Proprietary Blend Signed Bottle |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (12/2009): The Outstanding 2006 Proprietary Red Wine (56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) exhibits sweet plum, black currant, coffee, and chocolate notes intertwined with notions of herbs and new oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and impressively textured with good length, it should drink well for 10-12 years. |
|
| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
2006 |
Eloge Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2009): The 2006 Eloge’s dark plum/ruby color is followed by a sweet kiss of plum, black cherry, earth, licorice, and spice box, a medium to full-bodied wine, abundant tannin, and impressive concentration, purity, and overall complexity. Reasonably evolved, and extremely seductive aromatically, with a slightly structured finish, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years. It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot. |
|
|
2006 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2009): The unfined, unfiltered 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spends two years in French oak and another year in the bottle before being released. This cuvee has a long track record of aging (the 1990 and 1991 are still going strong). The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 offers notes of new saddle leather, black currants, autumnal vegetation/forest floor, cassis, and cherries, superb richness, and a full-bodied, powerful finish. Cellar it for 5-6 years, and drink it over the following 25 years. |
|
|
2006 |
Right Bank Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2009): The unfined, unfiltered 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve spends two years in French oak and another year in the bottle before being released. This cuvee has a long track record of aging (the 1990 and 1991 are still going strong). The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 offers notes of new saddle leather, black currants, autumnal vegetation/forest floor, cassis, and cherries, superb richness, and a full-bodied, powerful finish. Cellar it for 5-6 years, and drink it over the following 25 years. |
|
| Anthill |
2006 |
Abbey-Harris Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (5/2008): Deep red. Sexy strawberry, raspberry and blood orange on the nose, along with Asian spices and smoky minerals. Deeper-pitched on the palate, offering supple red and dark berry liqueur flavors, with energetic, spicy minerality adding vivacity. For such richness of fruit this is almost shockingly lithe and precise. Finishes with serious grip, juiciness and persistence. Pretty stunning stuff. Josh Raynolds.
BH 92 (10/2008): The nose immediately serves notice that you're on to something special here with its airy spice infused red and blue pinot fruit aromas that possess real depth as well as a beguiling touch of violets where the latter element can also be found on the rich, focused, sweet and intense flavors that, exactly like the 2005 so amply demonstrated, exude a clear sense of place, all wrapped in a dusty, pure, energetic and impressively long finish. In particular, I really like the mouth feel and it reminds me a bit of the Demuth in this sense as the vinification found the sweet spot between perfect extraction and the supporting elements. Terrific and absolutely recommended. (Drink starting 2012) |
|
| Arnot-Roberts |
2006 |
Clajeux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Aubert |
2006 |
UV-SL Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Beau Vigne |
2006 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2008): Absolutely profound is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which clearly puts Beau Vigne alongside the Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet as one of the stars of Stags Leap. A wine of great intensity, exceptional power, and admirable grace as well as equilibrium, this full-bodied 2006 offers beautifully sweet creme de cassis, licorice, spice box, and toasty oak characteristics. Multidimensional, with a layered mid-palate, and a finish that lasts 45+ seconds, it will benefit from some bottle age, although it is accessible enough to be drunk now. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. This small boutique operation (nine acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and one acre of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) sits on a knoll in the Stags Leap viticultural area. Although somewhat under the radar among the top Napa producers, Beau Vigne’s offerings are very impressive. |
|
| Behrens Family (Erna Schein) |
2006 |
Homage to Ed Oliveira Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah |
$30 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2008): Another brilliant effort from Lisa and Les Behrens is the 2006 Homage to Ed Oliviera Alder Sp rings Vineyard. This 300-case cuvee of 84% Syrah and 16% Petite Sirah displays black and blue fruits, raspberries, lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, and wet stones. Dense, full-bodied, lush, and succulent, revealing oodles of fruit and glycerin as well as a hedonistic, blockbuster, fruit-driven style, it should age effortlessly for 5-10 years. |
|
| Betz Family Winery |
2006 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (12/2008): (a blend of 52% merlot; 30% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 5% malbec) Bright red-ruby color. Subdued but pure and highly complex nose features candied cherry and red berries, brown spices, flowers and sexy dried herbs. Wonderfully silky and subtle on entry, then juicy and sharply delineated but quite closed in the middle, with terrific acidity and a strong spice character contributing to the impression of purity and lift. The note of cherry candy follows through on the palate. I'd give this youthfully tight wine five years in the cellar. Incidentally, winemaker Bob Betz told me that as of 2008 there will be no cabernet franc or malbec in this cuvee.
WA 93 (12/2008): The Bordeaux-styled wines start with the 2006 Clos de Betz, a blend of 61% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It was aged for 16 months in 70% new French oak. Purple/black in color, it reveals a fragrant nose of pain grille, pencil lead, scorched earth, black cherry, blackberry, and plum. This leads to a smooth-textured, intense, layered wine with superb depth and concentration and enough stuffing to evolve for 4-6 years. It will reach its peak by 2012 and remain at that level through 2026. |
|
| Boudreaux Cellars |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (12/2012): The Boudreaux 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon - sourced from nine disparate and prestigious vineyards all mentioned in small print on the front label - was wisely moved to wooden tank after its second year in barrique lest the tannins of this high-heat vintage become too drying. As it is, a faint drying spot does creep into the finish, but as with a number of Boudreaux wines I tasted, the positive flavors outlast that; and there is sappy primary fruit retention by way of classic dark cherry and cassis. Alkali, smoky black tea, peat and red licorice complement that fruit character on the nose as well as on a surprisingly polished, expansive palate. A note of tar or asphalt in the finish makes me think "Syrah?" I would plan on enjoying this rather unusual wine over the next year or two, notwithstanding how well the corresponding 2003 - from a vintage Newsome calls "along similar lines" - shows when tasted alongside. |
|
| Brick House |
2006 |
Le Dijonnais Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2016): After ten years, the 2006 Pinot Noir les Dijonnais appears to have a more youthful visage compared to the 2007. The nose is well defined with black cherries, iodine and oyster shell aromas that unfurl in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh acidity, quite structured in the mouth, the tannins exerting an insistent grip, very saline towards the finish that delivers both a pastille-like purity and a twist of bitterness. This is an intriguing ten-year-old wine that should continue to give drinking pleasure over the next 6-10 years. |
|
|
2006 |
Le Dijonnais Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir Torn Label |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2016): After ten years, the 2006 Pinot Noir les Dijonnais appears to have a more youthful visage compared to the 2007. The nose is well defined with black cherries, iodine and oyster shell aromas that unfurl in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh acidity, quite structured in the mouth, the tannins exerting an insistent grip, very saline towards the finish that delivers both a pastille-like purity and a twist of bitterness. This is an intriguing ten-year-old wine that should continue to give drinking pleasure over the next 6-10 years. |
|
| Cadence |
2006 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2008): (94% cabernet sauvignon and 6% cabernet franc) Initially withdrawn nose reveals musky plum, dark cherry and herbs with aeration. Lush in texture, with a silky sweetness; boasts good juicy acidity yet comes off as a tad chunky today. Perhaps best today on the rising finish, which shows a penetrating quality. Entirely from the three-year-old Cara Mia estate vineyard and not showing the depth or complexity of a wine from older vines. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Caldwell |
2006 |
Estate Grown Block 15 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Chappellet |
2006 |
Signature Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (6/2009): Full ruby-red. Aromas of currant, tobacco, graphite and crushed rock. Sweet, plush and nicely deep, with a silky texture to the flavors of plum, currant and spicecake. Quite sweet, even a bit exotic, for this bottling. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins and plenty of spicy, chocolatey oak. |
|
| Chimney Rock |
2006 |
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (6.0 L) |
$600 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Constant |
2006 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (6/2009): Aromas of plum, cassis, menthol and dark chocolate, with complicating licorice and graphite nuances. Lush and nicely concentrated; a step up in sweetness from the Claret, with good energy to the currant, plum, mocha and chocolate flavors. This one is slightly herbal in a positive way. Finishes with dusty, building tannins and lingering berry and mineral flavors. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Corliss |
2006 |
Red Wine |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2011): The 2006 Red is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot aged in 73% new oak for 33 months. This loaded effort delivers a sexy concoction of toasty oak, exotic spices, and assorted black fruits that titillates the nose. Deftly combining power and elegance, it should see its 20th birthday in peak form. |
|
| Corra |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 91 (6/2009): Bright ruby-red. Blueberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, licorice and menthol on the nose. Supple and lush on the palate, with captivating cassis, mineral and melted chocolate flavors; showed a strong graphite quality with air. This boasts a compellingly creamy texture and finishes with substantial sweet tannins. A very nicely balanced 2006, built to age but already offering considerable appeal. This is consulting winemaker Celia Masyczek's own project, made from vines on Pritchard Hill as well as in Rutherford and Oakville.
WA 89-91 (12/2008): Still in barrel, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the vintage’s more muscular, masculine style along with high tannins as well as plenty of concentration and substance. Still unformed, it needs more time to sort out its big-framed personality. It should turn out to be Outstanding, but whether or not it will compete with the gorgeous elegance of the beautiful 2005 remains to be seen. |
|
| Coup de Foudre |
2006 |
Cuvee 37.2 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 87 (12/2009): The 2006 Blend 37.2 Cuvee (91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc) exhibits plenty of mocha, berry, chocolate, and licorice notes as well as a ton of new oak. The tannins are slightly gritty, and that problem is exacerbated by the oaky component. Nevertheless, there is a lot going on in this solidly made red. If the oak dissipates and the tannins fall away, an excellent wine should emerge in 4-5 years. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2006 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94 (11/2009): (100% cabernet sauvignon) Good deep ruby-red. Blackberry, blueberry, minerals and violet on the precise, vibrant nose. Sharply delineated and refined, with terrific energy and cut to the flavors of dark berries, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate. There's a lightly leafy cabernet nuance and a note of graphite that remind me of a top Medoc wine. A real essence of Washington cabernet, finishing with broad, silky tannins and superb persistence.
WA 94 (8/2010): The 2006 Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon (100% varietal from the DeLille owned Grand Ciel Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA) sports a captivating bouquet of wood smoke, herbs, balsamic, espresso, blackberry, and a hint of chocolate. Elegant on the palate with loads of savory fruit and spice elements, it personifies the phrase of the iron fist in the velvet glove. It will evolve for several more years and easily see its 20th birthday. |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2006 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Robert Foley Vineyards |
2006 |
Claret Lightly Scuffed Label |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 91+ (6/2009): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, plum and licorice. Sweet and densely packed, with dark berry and graphite flavors along with a slight dried-fruit character. I find this a bit low-pitched for a Foley wine despite its sound ripe acidity. Finishes with chewy, slightly dry tannins that call for at least a few years of aging. This is all cabernet sauvignon in 2006, from vineyards on Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak and Calistoga.
WA 89+ (12/2008): Foley’s flagship cuvee, the 2006 Claret (a blend of Bordeaux varietals) exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue as well as a sweet bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberries, spice, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied with gritty tannins in the background, but nice length, texture, and purity, it should merit an Outstanding score after another 1-2 years of bottle age. It will keep for 10-12 years. |
|
| Force Majeure (Grand Reve) |
2006 |
Collaboration I Red Wine |
$65 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2009): The 2006 Collaboration I is the same blend but spent “only” 23 months in barrel. It reveals a similar aromatic and flavor profile but appears to be just a bit more forward, succulent, and voluptuous. It will deliver prime drinking from 2012 to 2025. |
|
|
2006 |
Collaboration IV Red Wine |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2011): Like the ’05 Reserve Syrah, the 2006 Grand Reve Vintners Reserve Syrah is made by Ben Smith, sees a dash of co-fermented Viognier, and gets an extended stint in 100% new French oak. Downright sexy and upfront, with a huge perfume of crème de cassis, raspberry ganache, spice cabinet, licorice, graphite, and dried meats on the nose, the wine is full bodied in the mouth, showing gorgeous fruit and a brilliant, creamy, and mouth filling texture that stays light and airy. There’s not a hard edge to be found, and the sheer seamlessness and approachable nature makes this a joy to drink. Given how approachable it is, I don’t see any reason to hold off, however, it should have at the least a decade of prime drinking. |
|
|
2006 |
Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2011): Like the ’05 Reserve Syrah, the 2006 Grand Reve Vintners Reserve Syrah is made by Ben Smith, sees a dash of co-fermented Viognier, and gets an extended stint in 100% new French oak. Downright sexy and upfront, with a huge perfume of crème de cassis, raspberry ganache, spice cabinet, licorice, graphite, and dried meats on the nose, the wine is full bodied in the mouth, showing gorgeous fruit and a brilliant, creamy, and mouth filling texture that stays light and airy. There’s not a hard edge to be found, and the sheer seamlessness and approachable nature makes this a joy to drink. Given how approachable it is, I don’t see any reason to hold off, however, it should have at the least a decade of prime drinking. |
|
| Ghost Block |
2006 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2009): Better balanced is the impressive 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by plenty of creme de cassis, charcoal, roasted herb, and licorice notes. Medium to full-bodied and ripe with elegance, substance, and well-integrated tannins, it should drink well for 15-20 years. |
|
| Gramercy Cellars |
2006 |
John Lewis Reserve Syrah |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2008): Full red-ruby. Deep, varietally expressive aromas of cherry, cola, bacon fat, smoked meat and pepper, complicated by a cool, minerally graphite component. Lush and chewy with extract but quite dry, with lovely grip to the flavors of red fruits and minerals. Very suave and expressive syrah, with a subtle sweetness of fruit and excellent slow-mounting persistence. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2006 |
Lagniappe Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (12/2008): ( blended with 3% viognier; fermented with 40% whole clusters) Full, dark red. Aromas of boysenberry and fruity peppercorn, plus a whiff of licorice. Supple and velvety but adamantly dry, with pungent herb and spice flavors currently dominating the berry fruit in the mid-palate. Plump in the middle but quite firm on the back end, with a hint of bitter fruit skin. A grown-up style that should be flexible at the dinner table. |
|
| Grgich Hills |
2006 |
Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 84 (12/2009): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits notes of chocolate, red and black currants, and camphor, but high acids and high tannin give the wine a monochromatic, clipped, lean character that will not age out. Rather, the wine is likely to dry out. |
|
|
2006 |
Estate Grown Merlot |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Yountville Selection Cabernet Sauvignon |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hall |
2006 |
Darwin Red Wine |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 90+ (12/2008): Not surprisingly, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly more tannic and firmer, revealing aromas of creosote, coffee beans, black currants, and toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied with a more aggressive structure as well as more noticeable astringency to the tannins, but with the necessary depth of fruit and concentration for balance, it should drink well for 12-15 years.
VM 90 (5/2009): Full red-ruby. Currant, chocolate, loam and a whiff of meat on the nose. Sweet, lush and creamy, with rather exotic flavors of currant and chocolate liqueur. A satisfying mouthful of cabernet, finishing with substantial fine-grained, dusty tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2006 |
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Scuffed Label |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90+ (12/2008): Not surprisingly, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly more tannic and firmer, revealing aromas of creosote, coffee beans, black currants, and toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied with a more aggressive structure as well as more noticeable astringency to the tannins, but with the necessary depth of fruit and concentration for balance, it should drink well for 12-15 years.
VM 90 (5/2009): Full red-ruby. Currant, chocolate, loam and a whiff of meat on the nose. Sweet, lush and creamy, with rather exotic flavors of currant and chocolate liqueur. A satisfying mouthful of cabernet, finishing with substantial fine-grained, dusty tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Keever |
2006 |
Inspirado Red Bordeaux Blend |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Korbin Kameron |
2006 |
Cuvee Kristin Cabernet Sauvignon |
$30 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2006 |
Garys’ Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (6/2008): Dark red. Vibrant red and dark berry aromas are complemented by baking spices, licorice and musky underbrush. Energetic, sharply defined raspberry and wild strawberry flavors are nicely concentrated but the wine is light in body, with a surprisingly elegant personality and good lift. Gains energy on the finish, which is impressively spicy, fresh and long. |
|
|
2006 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$59 |
8 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$59 |
9 |
|
| |
VM 91 (6/2008): Medium red. Energetic red berries, minerals and fresh flowers on the nose, complicated by Asian spices and pungent herbs. Racy and sharply focused, offering tangy redcurrant and wild strawberry flavors. Bracing minerality adds cut to the long, spicy finish.
BH 86 (10/2008): A Maraschino cherry nose that displays attractive spice hints a soupçon of menthol moves into round, supple and nicely rich flavors that possess a distinctly edgy finish where the tannins are not well integrated into the finish, which is also distinctly warm. I like the complexity but the delivery isn't one of harmony. Drink 2009+. |
|
| Herb Lamb Vineyards |
2006 |
HL Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Lamborn Family |
2006 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2006 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2008): Equally prodigious are the 800 cases of 2006 LMV Salon Proprietary Red, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the rest the other three Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot). Spicy, chocolatey espresso roast notes intermixed with spring flowers and a hint of bay leaf are followed by a full-bodied wine with oodles of black currant and cherry fruit. The sweetness of the tannins, the breadth and savory mouthfeel, as well as the layered texture, make for an exceptional glass of sumptuous wine. It should drink nicely for 15+ years.
VM 91 (8/2019): Good dark red-ruby. Less high-toned than the '06 Solari. Aromas of black raspberry, dark cherry, mocha and licorice show less of the spicy high tones of the '06 Solari. In a rather powerful style, like the Solari, with dark fruit, graphite and licorice flavors dominating. Here the tannins come across as a bit rough but still supported by the wine's strong fruit and extract. Less suave than the Solari but softened considerably with aeration, showing an attractive sweetness and emerging soil tones. (15.5% alcohol) (Drink between 2019-2029). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2006 |
The Lark Proprietary Blend |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2008): A new cuvee, the 2006 The Lark (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) comes from the proprietor’s favorite block, which was once identified by the late Harold Olmo as his choice for Cabernet Sauvignon. It is only four barrels, or 100 cases, so I’ll keep my notes short. The wine displays beautiful sweetness and opulence in a style very much like the Solari, and at this stage it seems hard to differentiate from that wine. |
|
| Lillian Winery |
2006 |
Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2009): The second release from Maggie Harrison, previously an apprentice at Sine Qua Non, the 2006 Syrah from Lillian is even better than the excellent 2005. Totally sourced from the White Hawk Vineyard, and aged in 65% new oak for 23 months, there are 508 cases of this beautiful Syrah. Notes of creme de cassis, blackberries, spice, incense, flowers, ground pepper, licorice, and subtle smoke are followed by a full-bodied, layered, multidimensional, big (15.6% alcohol) Syrah. Beautifully balanced, elegant, and pure, it should age gracefully for a decade or more.
VM 92 (11/2009): Inky purple color. Exotic, powerfully scented bouquet of boysenberry, cherry-cola, vanilla, sandalwood and dried rose. Deep, sweet and smoky, offering palate-coating dark berry liqueur, bitter chocolate and candied vanilla flavors, with strong spiciness and florality providing lift: nothing remotely shy about this wine. The finish echoes the vanilla and smoke notes and clings with velvety tannins and great tenacity. A real head-turner, and even more baroque than the excellent 2005. This needs a peppery piece of grilled red meat. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Littorai |
2006 |
Hirsch Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (6/2008): Medium red with an amber edge. High-toned aromas of cherry, raspberry and spice. Juicy, spicy flavors of red berries, cherry skin, rose petal and licorice. Good chewy extract here. A clean, fresh wine with considerably more grip and lift than the Savoy. Finishes broad and long, with fine tannins. |
|
|
2006 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (6/2008): Good fresh red. Very pure, perfumed aromas of raspberry, minerals and blood orange. Juicy, vibrant and precise, with red berry and mineral flavors of noteworthy finesse. In texture, this reminded me of Chambolle. Finishes juicy, sharply delineated and long. Very classy wine-and at the low end in alcohol for this collection, at 13.7%. |
|
| Long Shadows Wineries |
2006 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (10/2009): The 2006 Feather is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee made by Randy Dunn of Napa Valley fame. The wine was sourced from several prime vineyards and aged for 22 months in new French oak. The nose gives up aromas of toasty oak, scorched earth, Asian spices, black currant, and blackberry. Firm and structured yet elegant on the palate, there are layers of fruit and enough tannin to evolve for another 4-6 years. The wine will be at its best from 2013 to 2026. |
|
|
2006 |
Pedestal Merlot |
$60 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2009): The 2006 Pedestal features Michel Rolland who was at Long Shadows on the day of my tasting to do some blending. His wine is 86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak. Purple-colored, it offers an alluring bouquet of sandalwood, pencil lead, spice box, incense, black currants, and black cherry. Seamless on the palate, this plush wine has layers of ripe, savory flavors, well-concealed tannin, excellent aging potential, and a 60-second finish. It will provide much pleasure between 2013 and 2026.
VM 91 (11/2009): (Michel Rolland's blend, consisting of 86% merlot, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot and 2% malbec; aged in 85% new oak) Good bright ruby-red. Sweet, creamy aromas of redcurrant and sexy sandalwood. Fat, rich and sweet, with a ripeness verging on overripe. The wine's big tannins initially overwhelmed the merlot character, but this big, broad, distinctly New World wine showed increasing fruit flavor with extended aeration. Finishes with broad, serious tannins that call for patience. |
|
|
2006 |
Pirouette Red Wine |
$59 |
10 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2009): ( this joint project of Agustin Huneeus, Sr. and Philippe Melka is a blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 15% petit verdot, 6% cab franc and 5% syrah) Good deep ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of dark raspberry, mocha and spices, with a sweetness from the Taransaud barrels. Broad and sweet in the mouth: I would have guessed this had some residual sugar but I suspect the wine's glyceral quality is largely due to the fact that much of it was fermented in 400-liter barrels with native yeasts. Finishes with big, chewy tannins that build with air without losing their essential suavity. This wine, as well as the Chester Kidder, spends up to 42 days on its skins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Matthews |
2006 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2009): Dark red. Expressive aromas and flavors of currant, plum, tobacco, graphite and chocolatey oak. Supple and juicy, with moderate sweetness and flesh. Slightly tart acidity gives shape and lift to this blend, which finishes with dusty, building, oak-driven tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Maybach |
2006 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2008): The 2006 Materium may be an even greater achievement as it is an undeniably brilliant success in a less consistent vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Full-bodied and powerful with surprisingly silky tannins, it exhibits abundant black fruit, charcoal, and loamy soil characteristics as well as a 40-45-second finish. This stunning 2006 should age effortlessly for 25+ years.
VM 93 (6/2009): Deep, bright ruby-red. Very ripe, soil-driven aromas of currant, blueberry, black cherry, menthol, smoke and tobacco, complicated by mint and creosote. Densely packed and very ripe but with a suave character and harmonious acidity. Smoke, mint and rocky notes complicate the dark fruit flavors. Finishes with big, broad tannins and excellent length. This 100%-cabernet sauvignon wine, made from the Weitz Vineyard above Dalla Valle, has a pH under 3.6 with alcohol of 15.5%, according to winemaker Thomas Brown. |
|
| Merus |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92+ (12/2008): Although closed at present, Merus’ inky/purple-colored 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon displays enormous power and richness. It is a massive, blockbuster-styled effort possessing black fruits, plenty of spicy oak, hints of licorice and graphite, and mouth-staining tannins and extract in the finish. Forget it for 4-5 years, and drink it over the following 20-25.
VM 92+ (6/2009): (blended with 3% malbec and 2% petit verdot) Saturated ruby. Dusty black raspberry, blackberry, spices and licorice pastille on the nose, with hints of meat, dark chocolate and eucalyptus. Less sweet and harmonious than the young 2007 sample, showing a rather tightly wound quality and a medicinal aspect to its dark fruit flavors. Finishes with serious, even somewhat tough tannins. In a disjointed stage now and in need of patience. |
|
| Modus Operandi |
2006 |
Antithesis Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Robert Mondavi |
2006 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2008): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville reveals more licorice, spice, box, cedar, black cherries, and black currants in its complex, moderately intense aromatics. Full-bodied with outstanding concentration and moderate tannin, it displays the potential to improve for a decade, and last for 15-20 years thereafter. |
|
|
2006 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (12/2008): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville reveals more licorice, spice, box, cedar, black cherries, and black currants in its complex, moderately intense aromatics. Full-bodied with outstanding concentration and moderate tannin, it displays the potential to improve for a decade, and last for 15-20 years thereafter. |
|
| Ch. Montelena |
2006 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$120 |
11 |
|
| |
VM 92 (6/2009): Bright ruby-red. Blackberry, cassis and boysenberry aromas complemented by licorice, violet, menthol and bitter chocolate. Juicy, intensely flavored and quite fresh but a bit youthfully disjointed, with a firm tannin/acid spine supporting the crushed dark berry and menthol flavors. The wine's substantial tannins will need time to knit, but this wine retains good aromatic freshness.
WA 91+ (12/2010): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate appears to have completely shut down, not surprising as Montelena’s Cabernet Sauvignons typically need plenty of time. The 2006 reveals medium to full body, austere tannins and lots of red and black fruits, dusty, loamy soil undertones and a hint of herbs/tobacco leaf. Give it another 4-5 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 20+. |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 93+ (2/2010): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color as well as more subtle smoke, graphite, damp earth, creme de cassis, and blackberry characteristics, and a youthful, full-bodied mouthfeel with impressive concentration, texture, and length. This blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc from high elevation vineyards (2,000 feet) is capable of lasting two decades or more.
VM 93 (11/2009): Ruby-red color. Cherry preserves, cassis, pipe tobacco and dried flowers on the nose, with a sexy note of oak spice emerging with air. Juicy and gently sweet red and dark berry flavors are complemented by notes of bitter chocolate and cherry pit, with a hint of spicy tobacco on the back end. At once deep and graceful, with strong finishing cut and a lingering note of bitter cherry. I prefer this bottling to the excellent 2005 and find it more accessible as well. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Outpost |
2006 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2008): From a 9-acre parcel, the full-bodied 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard includes some Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the blend. It reveals a floral cocktail-like bouquet intermixed with lead pencil shavings, blue and black fruits, good freshness, and laser-like focus. A powerful, rich, layered effort, it ranks a few notches above their regular offering. It should evolve for two decades. |
|
| Plumpjack |
2006 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91-93 (12/2007): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2006 Estate possesses a dark ruby/purple color, firm tannin, a dense constitution, and plenty of sweet black fruit characteristics intermixed with notions of new oak and scorched earth. It is more broodingly backward than the 2005, and appears to have a longer time line. |
|
| Pride Mountain Vineyards |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90 (12/2009): The top end offerings include the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Last year I reviewed the 2005 (although it was listed as the 2006), which did not turn out nearly as well as the 2006. The deep ruby/purple-hued 2006 exhibits notes of cassis, tar, crushed rocks, chocolate, and berry fruit in a full-bodied, fleshy format. It should drink nicely for a decade.
VM 89 (6/2009): Medium ruby-red. Subdued aromas of plum, currant, tar, earth, roasted herbs and cedary spices. The palate offers better definition and energy than the merlot, with nicely perfumed mountain berry and cedar flavors offering sneaky intensity. Finishes with a serious dusting of tannins and good life and length. |
|
| Rivers Marie |
2006 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Occidental Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 90+ (6/2008): Bright deep red, the darkest of these three pinots. Enticing aromas of raspberry, mocha and earthy underbrush. A bit more firm and less pliant than the Sonoma Coast bottling, but with more intensity to the raspberry and spice flavors. This boasts excellent acidity and the highest alcohol (14.3%) of this trio of pinots. Not surprisingly, it's tightly wound today; more vertical while the Summa is more horizontal.
BH 90 (10/2008): A really pretty set up of moderately deeply pitched red and dark berry fruit aromas that carry a whiff of underlying earth precedes round and relatively forward middle weight flavors that possess good if not exceptional depth plus a very subtle hint of minerality and fine length. While this will certainly age, it is already accessible and with the right foods, could easily be enjoyed now. |
|
|
2006 |
Summa Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
BH 91 (10/2008): An admirably fresh and beautifully complex nose features spicy deep red cherry and ripe red pinot fruit aromas that complement perfectly the rich, mouth coating and balanced medium weight flavors that benefit from fine levels of dry extract and solid length. While the alcohol is the same as the Willow Creek, there is no undue warmth either. Lovely and absolutely worth a look at this understated, stylish and classy offering. Drink 2010+.
VM 91 (6/2008): Pungent aromas of wild berries, herbs, underbrush and smoke lifted by an enticing lavender perfume. Less fruity but more minerally and bright than the basic bottling, offering a rather silky texture and some attractive high-toned notes of perfumed red fruits. I like this pinot's restrained sweetness and its classically dry finish. Owner/winemaker Thomas Brown told me that the tiny quantities of fruit he had to work with in 2005 were difficult to manage, and that the 2006s were easier to make. Still, yields in the latter year were in the modest 1 to 2.5 tons-per-acre range. |
|
|
2006 |
Willow Creek Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (10/2008): A lovely and nicely deep nose of raspberry, red cherry and touches of both spice and earth lead to round and silky flavors that offer fine intensity and a naturally sweet finish that displays just a bit of backend warmth. It's not enough to upset the balance but neither is it invisible. Overall, I like the sappy and seductive texture and this should age well over the medium term yet drink well early. In a word, lovely. Drink 2011+. |
|
| Rudius |
2006 |
Spirit Rock Alder Springs Vyd. Syrah |
$38 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Saxum |
2006 |
Heart Stone Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2009): A blend of 38% Syrah, 36% Grenache, and 26% Mourvedre, the 2006 Heart Stone Vineyard offers up scents of flowers, lavender, black cherries, raspberries, blackberries, underbrush, and forest floor. Justin Smith uses a lot of whole clusters in his fermentation, which seems to give his wines structure as well as nuance. This is the most French-like of Saxum’s 2006s, and it comes across like a restrained, northern Rhone-like effort that is only hinting at its ultimate potential. It will benefit from 1-3 years of cellaring, and should evolve for 10-15 years.
VM 92 (12/2008): ( 38% syrah, 36% grenache and 26% mourvedre) Bright red. Sexy, strongly floral aromas of strawberry, black raspberry and candied flowers, with a suave Christmas spice quality. Sappy and sweet, with vivid red fruit and floral pastille flavors and a seductive overlay of cinnamon and mace. Bright minerals add lift and cut to the sappy finish. This was fermented with about 35% whole clusters. |
|
| Sheridan Vineyard |
2006 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2009): The 2006 L’Orage is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc aged for 26 months in 50% new French oak. Opaque purple/black in color, it has an alluring perfume of pain grille, spice box, creme de cassis, and blackberry. Rich, layered, and opulent on the palate, this weighty effort has fully integrated its oak and the lengthy finish suggests a long life ahead. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2026. |
|
|
2006 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2009): There are only 250 cases of the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve sourced from the tenderloin (Block 1 ) of the Sheridan Vineyard and aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it exhibits a brooding bouquet of toasty oak, cocoa, cassis, blackberry, and incense. Dense, rich, and super-concentrated on the palate, the wine is mouth-filling, focused, and splendidly balanced. It will reward 6-8 years of cellaring and drink well through 2030. |
|
|
2006 |
Reserve Syrah |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (10/2009): The 2006 Syrah Reserve is a spectacular effort. Yields for the wine were 1 ton per acre with no crop thinning. It was aged for 30 months in 100% new French oak. Fragrant aromas of vanilla, chocolate, and coconut are reminiscent of an Almond Joy candy bar. Add notes of bacon, smoked meat, and blueberry to the mix and it becomes an exotic, kinky elixir. Mouth-filling, extravagantly rich, and succulent, the wine’s finish lingers for over one minute. So flavorful that it can actually be enjoyed now with 2 hours of decanting, it will benefit from 2-3 years of further bottle age and drink well for at least a decade. |
|
| Sine Qua Non |
2006 |
In the Crosshairs Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,499 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (8/2010): The extended barrel aged Grenache, the 2006 In the Crosshairs, will be released in a few months. A blend of 84% Grenache, 12% Syrah, and 4% Viognier from the estate's 11 Confessions Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills, this cuvee was aged completely in French oak, many of the barrels being demi-muids. It spent 32 months in wood, which goes against nearly every conventional rule about how Grenache reacts to wood. This contrarian notion is the genius of Krankl. An extraordinary wine, it may turn out to be his greatest Grenache since the 2000 Incognito (a wine that is currently at a magical maturity point). No shy wine at 16.3% alcohol (similar to a top-notch Chateauneuf du Pape), it exhibits a deep plum/ruby/purple color as well as a luxurious bouquet of raspberry jam, kirsch liqueur, lavender, licorice, and spice box. Full-bodied and sumptuously textured with stunning power as well as elegance, this hedonistic and intellectual turn-on should rock and roll (or is it Rock and Rhone?) for another 10-15 years.
VM 96 (12/2010): (includes 12% syrah and 4% viognier) Opaque ruby. A wild bouquet exudes scents of candied red and dark berries, incense, smoked meat and black olive. I'd have guessed that there was a lot more syrah in here. Lush and palate-coating black raspberry and boysenberry flavors are lifted by zesty acidity and complemented by exotic floral pastille and spice flavors. Strikes an impressive balance of richness and vivacity and finishes with Outstanding clarity and smoky, spicy persistence. With air some fine-grained tannins peeked out, but this is really a wall of seductive fruit, floral and spice qualities. |
|
| Sineann |
2006 |
Resonance Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90+ (6/2008): Vivid red color. Exotically perfumed nose offers spiced raspberry, cherry, blackberry, dried flowers and patchouli, with a suave vanilla undertone. Deeper bitter cherry and cola flavors are gently firmed by dusty tannins and given lift by orange peel and tangy minerals. Finishes fresh and firm, with the bitter cherry and cola qualities repeating. I suspect that this will reward cellaring. |
|
|
2006 |
Resonance Vyd. Reserve Pinot Noir |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2008): The 2006 Pinot Noir Resonance Reserve is a selection of the four best barrels. It reveals a similar personality but with more grip and depth and splendid integration of the oak, tannin, and acidity leading to a seamless, pure close. Peter Rosback makes one other Pinot Noir but you’ll have to be one of the fortunate few to get a reservation at Napa Valley’s The French Laundry restaurant where it is sold exclusively to diners. |
|
| W.H. Smith |
2006 |
Piedra Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2006 |
Sangiacomo Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 90 (10/2008): An admirably elegant, pure and refined nose features mostly red berry fruit nuanced with a subtle crushed herb note as well as a discreet touch of spice that is also picked up by the detailed, silky and utterly delicious flavors that are at once intense and detailed while delivering a certain generosity on the admirably long finish. A lovely wine that is worth a look. (Drink starting 2011). |
|
| Soos Creek |
2006 |
Champoux Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Stags' Leap Winery |
2006 |
The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Torn Label; Bin-Soiled Label |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Sterling Vineyards |
2006 |
Napa Valley Sangiovese |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Switchback Ridge |
2006 |
Peterson Family Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2008): That is not the case with the dense ruby/purple-hued 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard. Beautiful aromas of sweet blackberries, cassis, forest floor, and spring flowers jump from the glass of this full-bodied, opulent, moderately tannic wine. Its textured, layered mouthfeel displays no aggressiveness. Drink this beauty over the next 10-15 years.
VM 92 (6/2009): Bright, moderately saturated ruby-red. Currant, tar, smoke and violet on the nose. Dense and superripe, with an almost exotic quality to the dark berry, spice and forest floor flavors, but also harmonious framing acidity. This is really stuffed with fruit. Finishes with substantial but fine tannins. A big boy with very good texture and depth. |
|
|
2006 |
Peterson Family Vyd. Merlot |
$52 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 89 (6/2009): Medium red. Superripe but subdued plummy aroma. Ripe, lush and moderately concentrated, but with a classically dry, restrained quality. A serious, minerally and youthfully tight style of merlot, evolving slowly: give it plenty of air if you plan to open it anytime soon.
WA 87 (12/2008): The 2006 Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard reveals an evolved dark plum/garnet color followed by notes of animal fur intermixed with chocolate and ripe berry fruit. In the mouth, the wine is soft and supple, but tails off in the mid-palate and finish, revealing some lightness as well as shortness. While charming and sensual, it lacks concentration. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. |
|
|
2006 |
Peterson Family Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 92+ (6/2009): Good saturated medium ruby. Aromas of crushed black fruits and rare steak. Densely packed, sweet and chewy, with terrific depth of flavor; the note of bloody rare steak carries through in the mouth. This outsized wine finishes with big, chewy, youthfully tough tannins that need aging. As young as this is, it's easier to taste today than the merlot as there's considerably more material here.
WA 91+ (12/2008): The blockbuster 2006 Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard boast an inky/blue/purple color as well as copious quantities of blueberry jam intermixed with truffles, incense, and a hint of charred meat. This full-bodied, powerful, rich, unevolved, backward Petite Sirah should be forgotten for 4-5 years, and drunk over the following two decades. |
|
| Turley Wine Cellars |
2006 |
Dusi Vyd. Zinfandel |
$52 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (6/2008): Good bright ruby-red. Superripe aromas of berry liqueur, dark chocolate and fruity pepper, with some distinctly exotic high tones. Lush, sweet, seamless and superripe, boasting terrific depth of fruit and bright framing acidity. This is magically light on its feet for a wine with 16.4% alcohol. Finishes very long, with suave tannins. Downright thick but not at all cloying.
WA 91-93 (12/2007): The 2006 Zinfandel Dusi Vineyard, another Paso Robles site, is a whopper at 16.4% alcohol, but has terrific fruit, slightly caramelized Amarone-like licorice, tar, and blackberry fruit, with decent acidity and a full-bodied mouthfeel with high glycerin. Drink it over the next 4-6 years. |
|
|
2006 |
Moore "Earthquake" Vyd. Zinfandel |
$52 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 89-92 (6/2008): Bright medium red. Cherry, pepper and smoke, along with an intriguing flinty quality, on the slightly reduced nose. Moderately sweet and fat, with the smoke and flint nuances carrying through on the palate. Currently a rather atypical Moore, as it doesn't yet show the explosive fruit this bottling often displays. This is 15% alcohol "at the most," notes winemaker Jordan, adding that the fruit was harvested very late.
WA 88-90 (12/2007): One of my favorite Zinfandels is the Zinfandel Moore Earthquake Vineyard, but the 2006 was just not singing. It is an elegant style, with high acidity, and restrained and somewhat understated when comparing it with previous examples from this vineyard. We’ll see how it behaves. |
|
|
2006 |
Tofanelli Vyd. Zinfandel Torn Label |
$52 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90-93 (12/2007): Deep berry fruit intermixed with some caramelized herbs, spice box, and earth characterize the dark ruby 2006 Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard. The wine exhibits purity, richness, and a heady finish.
VM 90-93 (6/2008): Bright red-ruby. Enticing nose offers raspberry, mocha and Tellicherry pepper. Silky on entry, then creamy and voluminous in the middle, with a strong spice character. Superrich if a bit youthfully aggressive, finishing with big but ripe tannins and lingering spice. Still in tank. |
|
|
2006 |
Vineyard 101 Zinfandel |
$52 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (6/2008): Good red-ruby. Sappy, resiny aromas of red fruits and illegal herbs. Sweet and pungent in the mouth, with fascinating juicy flavors of red berries, wild anise and fruity pepper. Finishes long and perfumed, with fine-grained tannins and considerable complexity. Very distinctive wine.
WA 91-93 (12/2007): One of the long-standing old-vine Zinfandel vineyards is Turley’s Zinfandel Vineyard 101 from Alexander Valley. Always showing considerable amounts of generous fruit, pepper, herbs, and cherry liqueur, this wine is a bit deeper in 2006 than it was in 2005; it is attractive, supple-textured, and a beauty. |
|
| Clos du Val |
2006 |
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Venge |
2006 |
Scout’s Honor Napa Valley Proprietary Blend |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Vice Versa |
2006 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2009): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, licorice pastille, minerals and chocolatey oak on the nose. Dense but juicy, with good energy but a youthfully clenched character to its dark berry flavors. Spreads out nicely to coat the palate on the back end, finishing with substantial dusty tannins and building oakiness. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Williams Selyem |
2006 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 91 (6/2008): Bright red. Vivid red berry, cherry and blood orange aromas are complemented by fresh rose and dusty minerals. Racy strawberry and raspberry flavors are impressively precise, with tangy orange zest and floral pastille qualities adding verve. Gentle tannins emerge with air and extend through the long, spicy finish.
BH 87 (10/2008): A high-toned and slightly candied crushed red berry fruit nose trimmed in a very subtle touch of wood spice merges into round, forward and supple light to barely medium-bodied flavors that possess fine intensity and while this is definitely on the fruit-driven side, there is reasonably good depth and persistence on the ever so slightly warm finish. Drink 2009+. |
|
| Zepaltas |
2006 |
La Cruz Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$30 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2008): Medium red, with a slight haze. Fresh red berries and pomegranate on the nose, with lavender and baking spices building with air. Zesty redcurrant and wild berry flavors are sharply focused and lithe, picking up sexy vanillin oak spice on the back end. Finishes juicy, brisk and minerally. Fans of full-throttle New World pinots are liable to be puzzled by this. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Germany |
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2005 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (375 ML) |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (2/2007): Rich golden yellow. Bright, crisp nose dominated by candied peach, lemon oil and acacia honey. The lusciously sweet tropical-fruit palate maintains a remarkable delicacy in spite of the wine's richness and depth. The long, glossy finish is underscored by a refined spiciness. |
|
|
2006 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$836.98 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$429.98 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2007 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$432.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2009): Donnhoff's 2007 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese leads with an unusually floral aromatic display, and the palate impression is so honeyed you'd think it were Bienenauslese (selected by bees). There is remarkable density here, with site-typical layering of flowers, orchard fruits, citrus, berries, along with smoky, peat-like, stony mineral suggestions that become more prominent as the wine takes on air. The finish is almost luxuriantly rich by Hermannshohle standards. But I am sure this wine will find more to say with time and not fall silent for 30 years or more. |
|
|
2010 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (375 ML) |
$50 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 94 (2/2012): Rich golden yellow. Luscious aromas of candied pineapple, lemon oil and acacia honey on a bed of smoky botrytis. The succulent weight of papaya fruit is levitated by crisp minerality on the palate. A fine balance of creamy fruit and herbal spice on the seductive, very long finish.
WA 93 (12/2011): Smoky black tea wafts over quince preserves and almost overripe pear on the nose and the glossy, subtly creamy, yet bright palate of Donnhoff's 2010 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule. Nut paste and a savory smoked meat dimension contribute complexity to this lusciously lingering Auslese, but one that " like its Brucke counterpart' does not capture the dynamic spirit of the 2010 vintage to quite the extent of its Spatlese siblings, and would benefit (might well, in time) from a bit more focus. Still, this will impress regardless for at least two decades. |
|
|
2012 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (375 ML) |
$45 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2013): Rich golden yellow. Luscious aromas of candied pineapple, lemon oil and acacia honey. The succulent weight of papaya fruit levitates with crisp minerality on the palate. Finishes with a fine balance of creamy lingering fruit and herbal spices. Joel B. Payne. |
|
|
2015 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (375 ML) AP 77530102016 |
$39 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2017): Headily decadent aromas of overripe peach and musk melon, peony and lily set the tone for a creamy, enveloping, lusciously fruit-saturated palate. There is enough fresh fruit acidity and salinity to lend the long finish animation and mouthwatering savor, though for now this misses the dynamic or the focus of its Spätlese counterpart, let alone of the Brücke Auslese. (Drink between 2017-2036). David Schildknecht. |
|
|
2018 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (375 ML) AP 7753010 24 19 |
$45 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (6/2020): Like its Brücke counterpart, this Auslese reflects genuinely botrytis-free grapes, said Dönnhoff, but ones that were too numerous and too high in sugar to use elsewhere, “and certainly not in the Grosses Gewächs, which would then have ended up with 14% alcohol.” Sea breeze on the nose intimates the sweet-saline savor of raw scallop that emerges on this wine’s lusciously lingering, mouthwateringly umami-rich finish. White peach and quince preserves feature throughout, reinforced on the soothingly creamy palate by nougat-like nut essences. There is an animating, juicy fresh-fruit aspect as well, and a wonderful sense of both focus and transparency to stony and ore-like nuances. (Drink between 2020-2050). Dvid Schildknecht. |
|
|
2007 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$429.98 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$712.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,208.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$676.97 |
1 |
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2017 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$826.99 |
1 |
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2021 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$823.99 |
1 |
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2022 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$714.99 |
1 |
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2007 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$750.97 |
1 |
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WA 96 (10/2009): Gardenia, peony, and resinous herbs in the nose of Donnhoff's 2007 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese give way to a palpably extract-rich palate of vibratory intensity, suffused with stony, saline, and tactile suggestions of mineral matter, yet at the same time rich orchard fruits. If the Krotenpfuhl was painted with water colors, the medium here is definitely oil, exhibiting both dynamic and intricate brush work as well as dense layering. This masterpiece - picked simultaneously with the corresponding Grosses Gewachs - was only beginning to show its depth in the spring and needed almost six months in bottle to really shine forth. Take as long as fate permits you to savor this; I can't imagine it disappointing a quarter century or more from now.
VM 93+ (2/2009): Tantalizing aromas of papaya, sweet herbs and incense. Discreet but intense black cherry fruit rises from the mid-palate, accompanied by brilliant acidity. Animated and finely spiced, with a deep, long finish. I may be underrating this. |
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2012 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese |
$55 |
6 |
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2019 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese (1.5 L) |
$149 |
1 |
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| JS 100 (8/2020): All of nature's springtime joy and the epitome of autumnal ripeness somehow combine with summer-morning dew to offer one of the greatest off-dry German wines made in modern times. Breathtaking finish, so wonderfully light and filigree. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. |
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2013 |
Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese (375 ML) AP 77530102214 |
$49 |
5 |
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| WA 93 (1/2015): Only made in vintages with a high ripeness (a pre-selection of the GG) the 2013 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese offers ripe and shortly cooked apple as well as pineapple aromas along with some volcanic rocks on the nose leading to a sweet, rich and piquant Riesling which shows its great talents not before the finish which is pure and salty but again sweet and sensual. The finish displays citric flavors and black bread but there is no heaviness or botrytis opulence at all in this wine. |
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2016 |
Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$540.97 |
1 |
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2012 |
Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese |
$49 |
6 |
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2019 |
Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$304.97 |
3 |
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2019 |
Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$256.97 |
5 |
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2021 |
Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$276.97 |
6 |
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2005 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese (375 ML) AP 7753010 14 06 |
$59 |
6 |
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| VM 92 (2/2007): Rich golden- yellow color.The nose offers l uscious yellow plum, honeysuckle and sweet spice, layered with a delicate hint of botrytis.Smoky pineapple jam and an elevated minerality animate the palate. Dense, juicy and long on the finish. Joel B. Payne. |
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2006 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$786.98 |
2 |
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2007 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$750.99 |
4 |
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WA 98 (9/2009): Incredible nose of candied orange peel, preserved ginger and honeysuckle with a touch of wet pebbles. The palate is packed with minerals and spiced fruits. A high level of lively acidity perfectly balances the seductive sweetness. Very long, minerally finish.
VM 94 (2/2009): Rich golden yellow. Passion fruit, a floral nuance and a bit of licorice on the nose. Pineapple and honey give way to brisk spicy acidity on the palate. A well-balanced, vivid auslese that finishes smoky and long, with an almost salty minerality. |
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2010 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese (375 ML) |
$50 |
5 |
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| WA 94 (12/2011): Picked-out, like its Hermannshohle counterpart, in the last, early-November days of harvest, Donnhoff's 2010 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese gold capsule was, he estimates, "perhaps 50% affected by botrytis, and dry botrytis, no mere rot." Candied lime rind and marzipan; lily and honeysuckle; white peach and salted caramel inform this wine's haunting nose and rich yet buoyant palate, with the mouthwatering savor that characterized the corresponding Spatlese undiminished. This needs some time in bottle to better focus, and it will be interesting to see whether it develops more sense of cut and brightness. But it's already irresistible, and almost sure to prove worth following for a quarter century or more. |
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2013 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese AP 77530102114 |
$99 |
3 |
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| WA 94+ (1/2015): The 2013 Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Auslese has a very clear and precise bouquet of slightly cooked apples and lemons. Piquant on the palate this is a very bright, firmly structured and salty wine with a great and complex length. It is precise and very juicy but always piquant and salty. A great and stimulating Auslese. |
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2006 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$592.97 |
1 |
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| VM 92 (1/2008): Rich golden yellow. Luscious aromas of passion fruit, pineapple and sweet lime mingle with a delicate hint of botrytis. A bright spiciness along with elevated minerality enliven the palate. Finishes smoky and long. Joel B. Payne. |
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2007 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$545.97 |
4 |
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| WA 98 (9/2009): Incredible nose of candied orange peel, preserved ginger and honeysuckle with a touch of wet pebbles. The palate is packed with minerals and spiced fruits. A high level of lively acidity perfectly balances the seductive sweetness. Very long, minerally finish. |
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2006 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,125.98 |
3 |
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2019 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese (3x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$917.99 |
2 |
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2019 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Beerenauslese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,344.99 |
1 |
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2009 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$249.98 |
2 |
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2011 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$440.97 |
1 |
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| WA 96 (2/2013): High-toned, distillate-like herbal extracts along with ripe fresh strawberry, apple and quince inform the scintillating nose and electrical charged palate of Donnhoff’s 2011 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese. “We were able to just keep waiting on this site," he explains, “so that even this lightest wine from the Brucke was picked only in the last days of (regular) harvest." Hints of pits and seed, along with black tea, nut oils, zesty citrus, and myriad mineral impingements add to a sense of quickening that goes well beyond mere invigoration in this gem’s strikingly persistent, shimmeringly vibrant finish. I was left with salivary glands palpitating and arms covered in gooseflesh. It will probably be hard to resist such a wine at any point over the next quarter century, but those with the requisite remaining life expectancy should make an effort to defer for the duration the pleasure of at least the last bottle or two. |
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2012 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese |
$49 |
6 |
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2019 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML) |
$330 |
1 |
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| JS 97 (8/2020): If you dream of the great German rieslings of the 1970s and 1980s, then this is a wine for you, even though it is riper and more concentrated than those icons of the past. In spite of the abundant generosity, this has a very long, distinctly cool finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. |
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2019 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese |
$55 |
4 |
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| JS 97 (8/2020): If you dream of the great German rieslings of the 1970s and 1980s, then this is a wine for you, even though it is riper and more concentrated than those icons of the past. In spite of the abundant generosity, this has a very long, distinctly cool finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. |
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2022 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$332.99 |
4 |
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2011 |
Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$908.99 |
1 |
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2021 |
Schlossbockelheim Felsenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$617.97 |
1 |
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2007 |
Schlossbockelheim Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,125.98 |
2 |
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WA 99 (10/2009): The over-ripe pear and quince featured in other nobly sweet wines of this collection are very much present in Donnhoff's 2007 Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese, along with aromas of distilled gentian, gardenia, lemon oil, freshly baked bread, and white truffle. The intensity of inner-mouth perfume here - orchard fruit, floral, and herbal distillates - is nearly beyond belief. Pear nectar, quince preserves, apple jelly, liquid gardenia, brown spices, and a certain saline and smoky suggestions of things mineral inform a finish of trance-inducing duration. This amazing elixir - harvested largely in the Turmchen section of the site - should be worthy of 40 years cellaring. When Donnhoff laughingly referred to this as the year of Felsenberg, he was not in fact kidding, nor was he referring just to the sheer number of bottlings!
VM 97 (1/2009): Rich golden yellow. Sublime aromas of candied citrus fruits, lemon oil and acacia honey. The succulent weight of papaya fruit levitates over the wine's understated minerality. The palate-staining finish boasts an impeccable balance of creamy fruit, smoky botrytis and herbal spices. An Outstanding effort for the vintage! |
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2018 |
Schlossbockelheim Felsenberg Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$431.99 |
4 |
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2022 |
Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$395.99 |
5 |
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2007 |
Schlossbockelheimer Kupfergrube Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$354.99 |
3 |
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2018 |
Weingut Hermann Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$119 |
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2019 |
Weingut Hermann Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese |
$69 |
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2018 |
Weingut Hermann Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$119 |
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