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Inventory updated: Wed, Sep 09, 2026 04:02 PM cst
2011 Pott Her Majesty's Secret Service Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2011
Region: USA Red
Color/Type: Red
Size: 750 ML
Tasting Notes:
VM 94 (11/2013): Pott's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Her Majesty's Secret Service Stagecoach Vineyard, from M5 parcel in Stagecoach, is savory, expressive and nuanced to the core. Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, dried flowers, cedar, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The M5 is distinctly savory and perfumed with less overt fruit than some of the other 2011s in the range, the Quixote in particular. There is a lot to like in this distinctive, layered Cabernet Sauvignon from Aaron Pott. (Drink between 2014-2021) Antonio Galloni.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Pott |
2012 |
Actaeon Quixote Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L)  |
$185 |
1 |
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| WA 92 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard comes from a site previously owned by Carl Doumani. (The Quixote Vineyard was recently sold to the Chinese.) This tightly knit, complex 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits notes of forest floor, damp earth, truffles, white chocolate and red and blackcurrants. This complete, refined wine will benefit from several years of cellaring and age nicely for 12-15 years. |
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2014 |
Actaeon Quixote Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$189 |
1 |
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| VM 92 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon is one of the most complete wines in this tasting. Sweet layered aromatics, pliant fruit and silky tannins are the main signatures. All the elements are nicely balanced throughout. Actaeon is sourced from the Quixote vineyard in Stags Leap. This is very nicely done. Antonio Galloni. |
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2009 |
Her Majesty’s Secret Service Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
2 |
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| VM 90 (5/2012): Bright medium ruby. Currant, spicecake, tobacco and loam on the complex, musky nose. At once smooth and juicy, rich and saline, with strong soil tones complicated by dark berry fruit. Lovely sophisticated claret-like texture and weight. The broad finish features dusty, fine-grained tannins and excellent subtle length. |
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2011 |
Her Majesty’s Secret Service Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
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| VM 94 (11/2013): Pott's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Her Majesty's Secret Service Stagecoach Vineyard, from M5 parcel in Stagecoach, is savory, expressive and nuanced to the core. Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, dried flowers, cedar, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The M5 is distinctly savory and perfumed with less overt fruit than some of the other 2011s in the range, the Quixote in particular. There is a lot to like in this distinctive, layered Cabernet Sauvignon from Aaron Pott. (Drink between 2014-2021) Antonio Galloni. |
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2012 |
Her Majesty’s Secret Service Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$239 |
1 |
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| WA 91 (10/2104): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Her Majesty’s Secret Service is another offering from Dr. Krupp’s Stagecoach Vineyard. It exhibits chocolaty, cedary, fruitcake notes, not the density and power of Pott’s other Cabernet Sauvignons, but good spice box and unsmoked cigar tobacco characteristics. Medium to full-bodied and slightly tannic, it is a beautiful wine that I may have underrated. Drink now-2027. |
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2007 |
Kaliholmanok Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
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2012 |
Kaliholmanok Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
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| WA 95+ (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok Kicu Me Vineyard (the name of the indigenous Wappo native Americans who lived on top of Spring Mountain) possesses plenty of blueberry, black raspberry and spring flower characteristics. It comes from geologically diverse soils with lots of the red Aiken dirt present. A full-bodied, layered mouthfeel as well as tremendous density and purity are found in this sensational Cabernet. Slightly more backward than some of its siblings, it should drink well for 12-15+ years. |
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2013 |
Kaliholmanok Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$195 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok, from a site on Spring Mountain, is one of the most sensual wines in Aaron Pott's range. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mint, spice and rose petal meld into the voluptuous, racy finish, all with silky tannins that enrobe the fruit while conveying finesse and pure sensuality. Next to Pott's 2013s, the Kaliholmanok is a bit less powerful and is also likely to be more accessible young. Antonio Galloni. |
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2014 |
Kaliholmanok Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$249 |
1 |
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| VM 93 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok, from a vineyard on Spring Mountain, is the most complete and deeply satisfying of these Cabernets from Aaron Pott. Pliant, creamy and super-expressive, the 2014 offers terrific depth and intensity through to the finish. A host of dark stone fruit, licorice, leather and mint notes are finely-knit in this expressive Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kaliholmanok makes its case more with finesse than power. Antonio Galloni. |
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2007 |
Neruda Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
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2013 |
Original Gangster Grenache |
$72.25 |
1 |
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2007 |
St. Ralph The Liar White Cottage Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
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2007 |
The Arsenal Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
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2011 |
The Arsenal Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
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| VM 93+ (11/2013): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard is one of the more tannic wines in Aaron Pott's range this year. Firm tannins provide the backbone for a core of expressive dark fruit in a powerful, inward wine that needs time to fully come together. Mocha, tar, licorice and smoke add complexity on the brooding finish. Readers will need to be patient here. The combination of intense fruit and underlying structure is compelling. (Drink between 2015-2023). Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
The Arsenal Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
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VM 95 (10/2015): Nothing in particular stands out in the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal. Instead, it is the wine's overall balance that truly impresses. Lavender, mint, sweet spices and red stone fruit are all finely spun into the racy finish. Sadly, this is Pott's last vintage of The Arsenal, as proprietor Rob Greer has opted to keep all of the fruit for his own project. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (10/2015): A big-time wine is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal from the Greer Vineyard in Rutherford. I believe this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is dense purple, with loamy soil undertones interwoven with creme de cassis, blackberry, spice box and cedar wood. The wine is deep, rich opulent and a big-time winner with sweet tannins. This wine should drink well for two decades as well. |
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| | USA White |
| Pott |
2015 |
20m3 Viognier |
$55.25 |
1 |
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| |
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| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Alban Vineyards |
2011 |
Edna Valley Grenache |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2015): From a tiny crop and a shockingly coolor year, the 2011 Grenache has incredible concentration and depth given the conditions. Inky colored with lots of black fruits, smoked beef, tapenade, road tar and licorice, it's full-bodied, thick and dense on the palate, with good acidity. More compact and focused than normal, it will be interesting to follow this beauty over the coming decade. |
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2011 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend Nicked Label |
$139 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (8/2015): Incorporating 10% Syrah, the Grenache-dominated 2011 Pandora comes from a single block of chalky soils in the Seymour's Vineyard. More floral and exotic than the straight Grenache release, it has beautiful currant, blackberry, violets, toasted spice and licorice aromas and flavors all emerging from the glass. Full-bodied, supple and sexy, with great acidity, it's slightly more expansive, sexy and textured than that more concentrated, yet streamlined Grenache release, and as such will drink better in its youth. |
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2011 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$95 |
2 |
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WA 94-96 (8/2015): All of the 2011 Syrahs will be in bottle by the time you read this. The 2011 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard offers a cool-climate, pretty and perfumed style to go with lots of pepper, violets, iodine and dark fruits, with just a hint of vanilla and oak. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, with bright acidity and fine tannin, it's a Northern Rhone look-alike that will have 15-20 years of longevity.
VM 92-94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Energetic black and blue fruit scents, with notes of olive paste and candied violet adding complexity. Shows very good focus and lift to its sweet boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors, gaining weight and sweetness with aeration. Finishes with excellent power and persistence, leaving peppery spice and cola notes behind. Quite Old World in style and structure, showing no excess fat or undue warmth. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Arterberry Maresh |
2011 |
Juliard Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
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WA 94 (10/2013): Intense and seductively bittersweet floral perfume as well as an unusually firm structure and invigorating sense of grip to Maresh’s 2011 Pinot Noir Juliard Vineyard all point toward his inclusion – for the first time in an Arterberry Maresh wine – of stems. The impetus for this approach – or, really, the thing that broke through a mind-set on Maresh’s part that purity of Dundee Hills fruit demanded de-stemming – was the “amazing” experience of David Lett’s last wine, the 2007 South Block (about which I wrote glowingly in Issue 202), for which Lett elected – despite never having done this, and after already having destemmed the grapes – to toss stems back into the fermenter. “If there’s a vineyard to test out stems on,” says Maresh, “I thought: Juliard – savory, meaty, rugged.” Well, this wine is at least two of those things, yet at the same time preserves the buoyancy, vibrant brightness and outright refreshment potential inherent in 2011. The combination of palpable density with levity, fluidity, and energy is quite remarkable. Juicy fresh cherry and red currant inflected by cinnamon and their piquant pits and crunchy seeds are mingled with salted veal stock and meat juices that serve for saliva-inducement, leading to a subtly chewy and invigoratingly, crunchily incisive finish. As this stands open for an hour it takes on a more polished texture while losing none of its dynamic appeal. Expect excitement through at least 2025. “You know what,” Maresh exclaims, “Juliard might be the best vineyard in the whole ----ing Dundee Hills, and I believe in its full potential.”
VM 92 (7/2014): Light, bright red. Intense redcurrant and raspberry aromas show impressive precision and gain weight with air, picking up notes of Asian spices, blood orange and smoky minerals. Brisk, sharply focused red berry flavors stain the palate, showing excellent purity and lift. Floral pastille, cinnamon and star anise flavors dominate the long, nervy finish, which is framed by harmonious silky tannins. Josh Raynolds.
BH 87 (10/2014): A trace of menthol adds a top note to the otherwise very fresh nose of primarily red pinot fruit, briar and discreet floral scents. There is good detail and ample punch to the medium weight flavors that possess a slightly drying and clipped finish that cuts the persistence short. While I like the complexity I fear that this may dry out in time and thus I would suggest drinking it on the younger side with an appropriate dish. (Drink starting 2016). |
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| L' Aventure |
2011 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
3 |
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| VM 94 (7/2014): Blackberry jam, cassis, savory herbs, cloves, lavender and new leather are some of the notes that jump from the glass in the 2011 Estate Cuvee. The high percentage of Petit Verdot in this vintage, along with the nature of the cool growing season, gives the 2011 a sense of energy and tannic backbone to balance the opulent, full-throttle fruit. The finish is layered, nuanced and crystalline. The 100% new oak barrels are very nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
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2011 |
Estate Cuvee Proprietary Blend Lightly Scuffed Label |
$115 |
1 |
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| VM 94 (7/2014): Blackberry jam, cassis, savory herbs, cloves, lavender and new leather are some of the notes that jump from the glass in the 2011 Estate Cuvee. The high percentage of Petit Verdot in this vintage, along with the nature of the cool growing season, gives the 2011 a sense of energy and tannic backbone to balance the opulent, full-throttle fruit. The finish is layered, nuanced and crystalline. The 100% new oak barrels are very nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
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2011 |
Optimus Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
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WA 94 (8/2013): Leading off the 2011s reds, the 2011 Optimus is a rocking value that gives more than a glimpse into the style and quality of this estate. A blend of 50% Syrah, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Petit Verdot and spending 14 months in 70% new French oak, it delivers fantastic black and blue fruits, tobacco, violets and cedar aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, supple and beautifully polished mouthfeel that stays fresh and lively. Gorgeous all around, it will drink nicely through 2021, if not longer.
VM 92 (7/2014): Super-ripe black cherries, plums, cassis, smoke and mocha are some of the many notes that meld together in the 2011 Optimus. Deep, rich and fleshy to the core, the 2011 impresses for its depth and pure voluptuousness. Hints of spice, new leather and menthol add nuance on the striking finish. Optimus is 50% Syrah, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Bedrock Wine Co. |
2011 |
Monte Rosso Vyd. Zinfandel |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (4/2013): Bedrock’s 2011 Zinfandel Monte Rosso is pure seduction. Plums, mocha, black cherry and menthol notes all make an appearance as this flashy, expressive Zinfandel shows off its considerable personality. Here, too, the wine’s creamy texture and impeccable overall balance shine with uncommon elegance. All the elements are in the right place. This is a surprisingly soft wine for Monte Rosso. As such, it will drink well upon release. Readers who prefer tertiary complexity will want to cellar the 2011 for at least a few years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2031. |
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| Belle Glos |
2011 |
Clark & Telephone Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$35 |
3 |
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| Betz Family Winery |
2011 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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VM 93 (11/2013): (67% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak): Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, cocoa powder and musky tobacco on the nose. Gentle and creamy in the mouth for 2011, with harmonious ripe acidity framing the sweet red berry, cherry and cocoa powder flavors. This floral merlot-based wine is supported by firm acids and tannins but comes across as quite feminine in style. Betz notes that 2011 was a very good year for merlot. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (6/2014): Moving to the Bordeaux blends, the 2011 Clos de Betz (67% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) shows the vintage profile with its mid-weight, lively and overall fresh feel. Black currants, spring flowers, mint and hints of lead pencil and cedar flow from the glass and this medium-bodied, lively and balanced red has bright acidity that’s balanced by good concentration and depth. Give it another 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2023. |
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2011 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$115 |
1 |
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VM 93 (11/2013): (67% merlot, 28% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot; aged in 65% new oak): Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, cocoa powder and musky tobacco on the nose. Gentle and creamy in the mouth for 2011, with harmonious ripe acidity framing the sweet red berry, cherry and cocoa powder flavors. This floral merlot-based wine is supported by firm acids and tannins but comes across as quite feminine in style. Betz notes that 2011 was a very good year for merlot. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (6/2014): Moving to the Bordeaux blends, the 2011 Clos de Betz (67% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) shows the vintage profile with its mid-weight, lively and overall fresh feel. Black currants, spring flowers, mint and hints of lead pencil and cedar flow from the glass and this medium-bodied, lively and balanced red has bright acidity that’s balanced by good concentration and depth. Give it another 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2023. |
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2011 |
La Cote Patriarche Syrah (1.5 L) Autographed Bottle |
$145 |
1 |
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VM 94+ (11/2013): Highly nuanced nose combines dark berries, smoke, stony minerality, pepper and flowers. Floral, cool and precise yet silky too; delivers outstanding intensity without weight thanks to ripe, harmonious acidity. Captivating, soil-driven notes of lavender, smoke and garrigue add nuance to the dark berry fruit. Finishes very long, with noble tannins and clear projection of terroir . This can be enjoyed now owing to its utterly seamless texture, but has the depth and energy to enjoy a slow and graceful evolution in bottle. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2014): Coming from the Red Willow Vineyard, on the western side of the Yakima Valley, and from the old Syrah vines planted in the state, the 2011 La Cote Patriarche is more similar to the La Serenne, with its vibrant, lively perfume of blueberry, violets, olive and underbrush. More concentrated on the palate however, it has medium to full-bodied richness that’s cut nicely by juicy acidity and additional minerality that comes through on the finish. Beautifully proportioned, with a rock mid-palate, this lively, elegant and seamless beauty will be better in another 2-3 years, and thrill over the following decade. |
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2011 |
La Cote Rousse Syrah (1.5 L) Autographed Bottle |
$119 |
1 |
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VM 93+ (11/2013): Bright ruby-red. Complex nose melds cranberry, licorice, minerals and smoke. Sappy, smooth and light on its feet, showing terrific lift to its sexy flavors of red berries, flowers, pepper and game. Youthfully sinewy and complex wine with a rising, perfumed finish showing great class. Really high-quality barrels here! Betz noted that he's now working to "take down the overall astringency of the wines through reduced skin contact, generally gentler extraction, and more seed removal." He explained: "Red Mountain fruit does not need any more seed phenolics." Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2014): Darker in color, the opaque-purple 2011 Syrah La Cote Rousse is a richer, fuller Syrah that offers up plenty of chocolaty black fruits, crushed rock, pepper, liquid smoke and iron to go with a medium to full-bodied, balanced, concentrated, yet elegant and classy feel on the palate. Made from 100% Syrah and coming from 65% Ciel du Cheval and 35% Ranch at the End of the Road Vineyards, it has juicy acidity, but also excellent concentration and depth. It should evolve gracefully for 10-12 years. |
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2011 |
La Serenne Syrah (1.5 L) Autographed Bottle |
$89 |
1 |
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VM 93+ (11/2013): Lucid red-ruby color. Aromatic scents of boysenberry and graphite. Lovely spicy, peppery lift and energy to the brooding, primary dark berry flavors. Intense and impeccably balanced wine with a light touch and lovely lingering perfume. This is a moderate 13.8% alcohol, with a relatively low pH (for this wine) of 3.62 and 6.1 grams per liter acidity. Owing to its serious inner-mouth tension, I'd wait a couple years before pulling the cork on this beauty. Incidentally, winemaker Betz cut the percentage of new oak aging from 65% to 45%, and noted that his crop level in 2011 was a good 15% lower than the previous year, partly due to the damaging frost in November of 2010. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2014): Coming from the Boushey Vineyard, which is the highest elevation vineyard of the three Syrahs, the 2011 Syrah La Serenne is 100% Syrah that was aged in a combination of new and neutral barrels. As with the Besoleil, it’s beautifully perfumed and elegant, with Cote-Rotie-like pepper, game and bacon fat to go with notions of blueberry, blackberry and violets. Medium-bodied, juicy, lively and pure, it’s a fabulous and elegant effort to enjoy over the coming decade. |
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2011 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Signed Bottle |
$135 |
2 |
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VM 94+ (11/2013): (blended with 9% petit verdot and 3% merlot): Good bright red-ruby. Musky red berries, licorice, thyme, rosemary and pepper on the scented nose. Creamy-sweet, suave and deep but at the same time precise and youthful, offering lovely perfumed flavors of red berries, cocoa powder (from the Taransaud oak?) and anise. Very intensely flavored cabernet with terrific lift and aromatic persistence and remarkably suave, dusty tannins. Betz describes 2011 as a year with lower total polyphenols, higher acidity and lower pHs than 2010.
WA 92 (6/2014): Made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot that comes mostly from Red Mountain, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille is slightly more reserved and backwards, with notions of dried spices, cured meats, black currant, spring flowers and tobacco leaf reluctantly emerging from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, with solid concentration, especially in the vintage, it has ample tannin that emerge on the mid-palate and focus the finish. It also needs another 2-3 years in the cellar and will have 10-12 years of total longevity at a minimum. |
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| Bevan Cellars |
2011 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$149 |
2 |
|
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| WA 98 (10/2013): The 2011 EE, which also comes from the Tench and Tin Box vineyards, is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits lots of graphite, charcoal embers, a Pessac-Leognan-like smoky barbecue character, black currant liqueur, licorice and a touch of chocolate. Huge, massive, rich fruit oozes across the palate, but there is a refinement and delicacy to it that is almost impossible to believe in view of this wine’s size. Apparently, this cuvee comes from the rich, red soils on the hillsides of Oakville below the well-known Showket Vineyard. This spectacular 2011 should drink well for 10-15 years. |
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2011 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
2 |
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2011 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$79 |
2 |
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| WA 93+ (10/2013): One of the least expensive wines in this portfolio is the 2011 Ontogeny, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Bevan calls this the oddity or contrarian in his line-up of wines, probably because of the high percentage of Petit Verdot in the blend. More earthy than some of its siblings, with less exuberant and boisterous fruit, it is another over-sized, opaque purple-colored wine with lots of roasted meat, bouquet garni and charcuterie notes backed up by plenty of power, blackberry and cassis characteristics. The striking aromatics are followed by a wonderfully lush, velvety wine to drink over the next 7-10 years. |
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| Blankiet |
2011 |
Rive Droite Proprietary Blend |
$103.20 |
1 |
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| VM 92 (6/2014): (92.4% merlot and 7.6% cabernet franc): Good deep red-ruby. Tight, pure, highly perfumed nose combines cassis, lead pencil, licorice and sexy spices, plus a balsamic cedary note. Supple, silky and uncompromisingly dry, showing inviting flavors of cassis, graphite, milk chocolate and cedar. Doesn't have the richness of the best vintages here but there's no shortage of aromatic complexity. |
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| Booker Vineyard |
2011 |
Fracture Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
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WA 97 (8/2013): Up there with the best of the vintage, the 2011 The Fracture is ethereal stuff that’s made with the goal to be the most ready to drink of the lineup. I’m not sure if that goal is met or not, but I can say the wine is utterly brilliant. Seeing only 5-10% stem inclusion, it delivers rocking aromas of cassis, black raspberry, hints of roasted herbs, licorice and chocolate that give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless and textured effort that has both elegance and deep, layered fruit and richness. Hard to resist and a joy to drink, it nevertheless has the balance and depth to evolve gracefully through 2021. Drink 2015-2021.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 Fracture, 100% Syrah, is one of the deepest and richest of these 2011s. A plush, highly expressive mid-palate opens to reveal layers of dark fruit, leather, licorice and melted road tar. The 2011 is endowed with considerable aromatic depth and pure richness. Eric Jensen aged the 2011 in Hermitage and Francois Freres barrels, 50% new.
JS 94 (11/2011): Gorgeous aromas of dark berries with blackberry and blueberry; hints of flowers too. Full and rich with wonderful cocoa, coffee and blackberries. Intensely long. So much going on here. Seductive. One or two years more before striking.
VM 94 (12/2013): (100% syrah and 15% alcohol, the highest in the Booker set this vintage): Inky purple. Pungent, smoke-accented aromas of black raspberry, olive tapenade and floral oils. Very syrah. Lush and complex on the palate, offering potent flavors of cherry-cola, blackberry, violet pastille and star anise. Rich but surprisingly lively syrah, with powerful closing punch and gently chewy, harmonious tannins. |
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2011 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$53 |
1 |
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WA 95 (8/2013): Holding things slightly closer to the vest, the 2011 My Favorite Neighbor (46% Syrah, 40% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon) has full-bodied richness and power to go with classic aromas and flavors of cassis, wild herbs, tobacco and cedar. The Cabernet and Petit Verdot really show here, with the Syrah component adding more plushness on the palate. Firming up nicely on the finish, with ripe, yet notable tannin, this serious 2011 should be given another 2-3 years in the cellar. While it will be hard to resist in its youth, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this drinking nicely at age 15 and beyond. Drink 2015-2026.
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 My Favorite Neighbor is one of the many highlights at Booker this year. Explosive, full-bodied and opulent, the 2011 captures the generous, resonant warmth that is so typical of Paso Robles while at the same time retaining gorgeous balance and proportion. There is so much to like here. What a gorgeous wine! The blend is 46% Syrah, 40% Petit Verdot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon.
VM 91+ (12/2013): (46% syrah, 40% petit verdot and 14% cabernet sauvignon): Inky purple. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit scents are lifted by zesty Asian spice and floral nuances. Ripe and fleshy, offering expansive cassis, blueberry and bitter chocolate flavors and a touch of candied licorice. Closes with firm, youthful tannins, lingering smokiness and a hint of black pepper. The most brooding wine in the Booker lineup this year and the only one that I'd insist on stashing away for another few years. |
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2011 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
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| WA 94 (8/2103): Also more finesse oriented than normal, the 2011 Oublie is a great blend of 38% Syrah, 23% Counoise, 20% Mourvedre and the balance Grenache. Spending 16 months in barrel, it gives up big bing cherry, licorice, pepper and complex underbrush-like qualities to go with a medium to full-bodied, seamless mouthfeel that stays remarkably well- focused and precise. Beautiful stuff that offers both richness and freshness, it will age gracefully for over a decade. Drink 2014-2021. |
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2011 |
Remnant Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
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WA 94 (8/2013): Also superb, the 2011 Remnant (formerly known as the Alchemist) is a kitchen sink blend of 55% Syrah, 14% Tempranillo, 11% Petit Verdot, 10% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre that saw 20% new French oak, 40% once-used barrels and the balance neutral oak. It’s a savory, complex 2011 that offers up plenty of spice, toast and cedar that’s balanced by a core of sweet black raspberry fruit that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, balanced and beautifully textured, this totally compelling red has fine tannin, serious richness and depth, and an overall classy profile. It will have upwards of a decade of longevity. Drink 2014-2021.
VM 94 (7/2013): The 2011 Remnant is gorgeous. Pomegranate, orange peel, cloves, menthol and licorice all add shades of exotic complexity as this full-bodied, explosive wine opens up in the glass. The style is surprisingly soft and voluptuous for the year. Many producers in California eschew press juice in their blends. Eric Jensen, on he other hand, decided to bottle all of that juice, giving birth to the appropriately and colorfully named Remnant. In 2011, Remnant is 55% Syrah, 14% Tempranillo, 11% Petit Verdot, 10% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Ripper Grenache |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (8/2013): Starting out the tasting and absolutely rocking, the 2011 The Ripper checks in as a blend of 100% Grenache that was brought up in equal parts concrete and neutral barrel. Offering up layers of kirsch, dried underbrush, white pepper and hints of spring flowers, it flows onto the palate with a medium to full-bodied, vibrant profile that gains richness and depth with air. Leaning towards the more focused, elegant side of the spectrum, this beauty doesn’t lack for texture or length. Give it a year or three and enjoy through 2023. It’s superb and well worth the effort to track down. Drink 2015-2023.
VM 94 (7/2013): Eric Jensen has done a fabulous job with the 2011 Ripper, no easy feat after the iconic 2010. Expressive floral notes, mint, spices and kirsch all lift out of the glass. The freshness and crystalline purity of the year come through in spades. Jensen aged the 2011 70% in cement and 30% in neutral oak, an approach that worked beautifully. Over the last few years, Ripper has established itself as one of the most distinctive Grenaches in California.
VM 93 (12/2013): (100% grenache and 14.6% alcohol): Deep ruby. Spicy black raspberry and cherry compote on the highly perfumed nose, with zesty mineral and spice notes adding vibrancy. Deeply pitched but lively red fruit flavors show excellent clarity and sweetness, with a jolt of tangy acidity adding spine. The sappy, broad finish is shaped by smooth and harmonious tannins. This wine was raised entirely in used demi-muids. |
|
|
2011 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (7/2013): The 2011 Vertigo is one of the clear highlights of the year in Paso Robles. A rich, resonant wine, the 2011 boasts gorgeous depth and power, especially for the year. The brightness of the vintage comes through on the finish laced with expressive dark Syrah fruit. Floral and spice notes add vibrancy as well as complexity. The 2011 is 69% Syrah, 24% Mourvedre and 7% Grenache. I very much like the sense of purity here.
WA 94 (8/2013): More Syrah heavy, with 62% Syrah, 24% Mourvedre and a splash of Grenache, fermented with 30% stems and aged in 20% new French oak, the 2011 Vertigo is red fruit-driven, with plenty of raspberry, licorice and floral notes flowing to a medium to full-bodied, balanced and lively palate. Gaining more minerality and spice in the glass, it, too, is a knockout effort from Eric. Enjoy it over the coming 7-8 years. Drink now-2021.
VM 94 (12/2013): (69% syrah, 24% mourvedre and 7% grenache): Inky ruby. Suave, vanilla-accented blackberry, blueberry and floral pastille aromas show impressive energy and thrust. Surprisingly elegant, even graceful on the palate, with vibrant, violet-tinged dark berry and bitter cherry flavors complicated by slow-building spicecake and cracked pepper nuances. Silky tannins add structure to the long, alluringly sweet finish, with its lasting floral note. Wine lovers familiar with Eric Jensen's past work will be surprised (pleasantly, I hope) by this wine's finesse. |
|
| Brittan Vineyards |
2011 |
Basalt Block Pinot Noir |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 91+ (6/2016): The 2011 Pinot Noir Basalt Block has a pretty bouquet with red berry fruit, cranberry and wild strawberry, a touch of flint and gravel developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and linear in the mouth, quite masculine and austere. It has a coolness to it, yet well balanced with decent depth on the finish, though I find more energy and delineation on the 2013. I suspect this might repay a couple more years in bottle, hence my plus sign. |
|
| Buccella |
2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$148.75 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (10/2014): A blend of 90-95% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance tiny quantities of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, the dense purple-colored 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, a deep, full-bodied, opulent, precocious, showy style, and 10 years of evolution ahead of it.
VM 91 (12/2014): Buccella's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon has turned out beautifully. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, new leather and licorice meld together in a surprisingly plump, juicy wine for the year. Naturally, the 2011 is a bit lighter than most recent vintages, but the overall balance here is terrific. Winemaker Rebekah Weinburg and consultant winemaker Celia Welch have done a terrific job with their 2011. |
|
| Bunnell Family Cellar |
2011 |
Wine O’Clock Boushey Vyd. Sangiovese |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Cadence |
2011 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2014): (84% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 8% petit verdot; this and the Camerata were aged in 50% new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Exhilarating floral lift to the aromas of redcurrant and nutty oak; very Cabernet Franc. Perfectly integrated acidity energizes this somewhat muscular yet ultimately very suave wine, with the redcurrant and cherry flavors complicated by flowers, dusty dried herbs and minerals. Great subtle density here. Finishes with outstanding length and lift, harmonious smooth tannins, and a building sweetness to its floral perfume. This remarkably classy cab franc-based wine should evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Tapteil Vyd. Red (1.5 L) |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): More ripe, layered and textured, the 2011 Tapteil Vineyard is knockout stuff. Showing impressive black and blue fruits, wild herbs, underbrush and hints of flowers, it is full-bodied, concentrated and has plenty of sweet tannin and integrated acidity. Enjoy this beauty anytime over the coming decade or more. |
|
| Cameron |
2011 |
Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91-92 (10/2013): In thinking about the personality evoked here, I’m imagining a blend of Lafarge Volnay with Erich Weber’s non-malo Saar Spatburgunder! Tasted in pieces from barrel, Cameron’s 2011 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge – eventually around two-thirds Wadenswil and one-third Pommard clones – is dominated by tart, fresh ginger-tinged juicy red fruits shadowed by their distilled counterparts, traits by now firmly associated with its vintage; and while it’s marked by an impression of maceration on their pits and seeds, the tannins still come off as mild and conducive to considerable textural allure even in youth. A saline, sweet, iodine-tinged evocation of lobster shell reduction makes for mouthwatering savor; shitakes add to the umami effect; and even with a stony undertone as well as cyanic fruit pit notes none of the component lots here manages to come off as overly austere. I suspect this will thrill through at least 2022. |
|
| Caymus |
2011 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label; Lightly Scuffed Label |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Cobb |
2011 |
Emmaline Ann Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$50.15 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92 (11/2020): The 2011 Pinot Noir Emmaline Ann Vineyard opens with tar and scorched earth aromas that flesh out to dried red berries and citrus peel notes. The medium-bodied palate maintains a core of dark, broody fruit in a firm frame, and it finishes long and detailed. It's in a great spot for drinking right now.
VM 90 (6/2014): Bright red. Fresh raspberry and cherry-cola on the deeply scented nose and in the mouth. Supple and less tangy than its siblings this year, showing good breadth and a hint of building smokiness. Closes sweet and long, with building floral and spice notes and youthfully gripping tannins. There's a good amount of clay in this vineyard, which gives the wine a roundness virtually every vintage, notes Ross Cobb. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2011 |
Rice-Spivak Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$38.25 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (11/2020): The 2011 Pinot Noir Rice Spivak Vineyard has a pale ruby color and takes time to open to aromas of saline, dried red berries, iodine and wafts of floral potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied and firm, with a slow flourish of spicy red fruits, and it finishes long, delicate and lifted. It’s a very pretty, mature expression of Rice Spivak. |
|
| Constant |
2011 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Merlot |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 91 (5/2014): Bright deep ruby. Aromas of currant, milk chocolate, mocha and truffle. Plush and pliant in the mouth; sweeter than the cabernet franc, with rich mocha and chocolate flavors complicated by a slightly herbaceous truffley character. Finishes with serious ripe tannins and building savory length. Very good merlot. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 84 (10/2013): The 2011 Merlot exhibits a certain lightness and dilution, and lacks substance. |
|
| Culler |
2011 |
Cortese Vyd. Syrah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (11/2013): Sage, rosemary, black olives, earthiness and tobacco all take shape in the 2011 Syrah Cortese Vineyard, a dark, savory wine loaded with personality. The long, energetic finish is particularly of note. There is a lot to like in this medium-bodied, polished Syrah. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Dancing Hares |
2011 |
Mad Hatter Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2011 |
D2 |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2014): A smoking effort, the 2011 D2 checks in as a blend of 56% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot. It offers gorgeous black cherry, black currants, tobacco leaf and hints of chocolate to go with a full-bodied, rich, textured and seamless profile on the palate. Showing both richness and elegance, with building fine tannin, it’s a rock-star Bordeaux blend that will have 10 to 15 years of longevity.
VM 92 (12/2014): Bright red-ruby. Showy aromas of cassis, Cuban cigar tobacco, minerals, licorice and dark chocolate are accented by a suggestion of fennel. Suave, juicy and energetic, already displaying lovely inner-mouth floral character to its dark fruit, menthol and graphite flavors. Shows the sappiness and lift of the vintage but today this is also one of the most expressive of these superb 2011s. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Doyenne Aix Syrah |
$25 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of black raspberry, licorice and pepper. Concentrated, dense and dry, with gripping dark berry flavors complicated by sexy garrigue and gunflint and lifted by a floral topnote. At once ripe and classically dry, conveying the strong acidity of the vintage. Very juicy and long on the aftertaste. This will require at least a few years in bottle to become more pliant but it boasts outstanding potential. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2014): A Provencal styled blend of 71% Syrah and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes all from Red Mountain, the 2011 Doyenne Aix has beautiful richness and texture in the vintage, with ample black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, toast and hints of meatiness all flowing to a clean, beautifully balanced and overall elegant wine that will have 10 - 12 years of overall longevity. Seemingly outstanding in every vintage, it represents a superb value and is well worth checking out. |
|
|
2011 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Slightly richer and more concentrated than the Signature Syrah, yet still playing in the elegant, seamless style of the vintage, the 2011 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard is 100% Syrah that was aged in 35% new French oak. Possessing beautiful black raspberry, currants, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality and hints of graphite, this beauty flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, fabulous purity of fruit and a seamless, silky texture that carries through the finish. Give it a year or two and drink bottles through 2024. |
|
|
2011 |
Doyenne Signature Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2014): A smoking Syrah, the 2011 Doyenne Signature Syrah (which was co-fermented with 2% Viognier) possesses a pure, incredibly elegant style to go with notions of creme de cassis, blackberry, licorice, liquid flowers and hints of wild herbs. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, balanced and integrated, it can be enjoyed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 91+ (12/2014): Bright, deep ruby. Tight, high-pitched aromas of blueberry, blackberry, licorice and black pepper. Extremely youthful and tightly wound, with brisk acidity keeping the intense black fruit, violet and pepper flavors under wraps today. Finishes with excellent length and lift but this will require patience. This wine did not include any Boushey Syrah due to the cool year. |
|
|
2011 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2014): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel (100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in 100% new French oak for 20 to 22 months) is still backward and tight, with slightly reticent aromas of graphite, black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and singed cedar flowing to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated and structured feel on the palate. Showing mostly structure and tannin at present, it needs 3-4 years in the cellar, and assuming it fleshes out, will have a long life ahead of it. I’d like to see more mid-palate depth at this point, but it’s still a superb wine that will have 10-15 years of longevity even on the most conservative side.
VM 94+ (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Knockout nose melds black cherry, cassis, licorice and minerals, with a floral topnote contributing energy. Penetrating, compellingly sappy cassis and huckleberry flavors are complemented by sexy oak. Explosive on the palate, this wonderfully classy cabernet finishes with Outstanding grip and length. Still an infant but should be a Washington classic in six or seven years. |
|
|
2011 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
14 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2014): Good dark red. Aromas of cassis, white pepper and peat complicated by sexy wood spices. Wonderfully silky and sweet, offering a suave fine-grained texture to the inviting flavors of pomegranate, minerals and leather. A highly concentrated and elegant wine, with nothing out of place. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend is from 50-year-old vines, according to Chris Upchurch. Finishes sweet and very long. Superb, and balanced from day one. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 94 (6/2014): Showing awesome complexity (which is one of the hallmarks of this cuvee), the 2011 Harrison Hill is made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Loaded with notions of cherry blossoms, black currants, mineral, tobacco leaf and chocolate, this full-bodied, seamless and supple effort has a classy, elegant profile that should allow it to evolve gracefully for two decades or more. It’s a beautiful 2011 that should not be missed. |
|
|
2011 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2014): Good dark red. Aromas of cassis, white pepper and peat complicated by sexy wood spices. Wonderfully silky and sweet, offering a suave fine-grained texture to the inviting flavors of pomegranate, minerals and leather. A highly concentrated and elegant wine, with nothing out of place. The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend is from 50-year-old vines, according to Chris Upchurch. Finishes sweet and very long. Superb, and balanced from day one. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 94 (6/2014): Showing awesome complexity (which is one of the hallmarks of this cuvee), the 2011 Harrison Hill is made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Loaded with notions of cherry blossoms, black currants, mineral, tobacco leaf and chocolate, this full-bodied, seamless and supple effort has a classy, elegant profile that should allow it to evolve gracefully for two decades or more. It’s a beautiful 2011 that should not be missed. |
|
| Donelan |
2011 |
Cuvee Keltie Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2013): The 2011 Cuvee Keltie, which came in under 14% alcohol, spent 22 months in neutral wood, and 100% whole stems were used. The wine reveals a chocolaty, smoky, bacon-scented nose that at first suggests a French Cote Rotie, but as it hits the palate with its full-bodied creme de cassis, blackberry, charcoal and graphite personality, it moves more toward a single vineyard Hermitage from the likes of Chapoutier. This supple, rich 2011 can be drunk now or cellared for a decade.
VM 92+ (2/2014): The 2011 Syrah Cuvée Keltie is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar from Walker Vine Hill, Obsidian, Richards and Steiner. One of the darker 2011s here, the Cuvée Keltie boasts terrific depth, power and raciness. Black fruit, smoke, licorice and incense flow through to the finish. This resonant, expressive Syrah could use another year or two in bottle to fully assimilate the 80% whole clusters. Today the 2011 is deep, dense and a bit compact, yet full of promise. (Drink between 2015-2023). Antonio Galloni.
JD 91 (6/2019): While the 2011 Syrah Cuvee Keltie isn’t at the same level as the other vintages here, it’s nevertheless a beautiful wine. Medium-bodied notes of cracked pepper, smoked earth, graphite, and sweet black fruits all emerge from this fresh, elegant Syrah that has terrific balance, moderate depth and richness, and outstanding length. It’s drinking nicely today yet is still youthful and lively, and I’m sure will continue drinking nicely for another decade. (Drink between 2019-2029). |
|
|
2011 |
Richards Family Vyd. Syrah |
$49 |
11 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (1/2015): The 2011 Syrah Richards Family Vineyard comes across as compact and dried out, especially on the mid-palate. Attractive savory notes develop in the glass, but the 2011 lacks freshness and depth. Sweet tobacco, crushed flowers, mint and dried cherries add a measure of nuance, but that is not enough to compensate for an overall faded feeling that runs through the wine. I can't help the 2011 may have ultimately spent too much time in barrel. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Two Brothers Pinot Noir |
$50 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 92 (2/2014): Dark red/black cherries, wild flowers, mint and licorice meld together in the 2011 Pinot Noir Two Brothers. Savory notes develop in the glass, adding nuance and aromatic complexity. Hints of sage, sweet tobacco, anise and earthiness meld into a juicy finish supported by firm yet well-integrated tannins that should allow the wine to age nicely for a number of years. The 2011 was fermented with 40% whole clusters and spent 18 months in barrel, 20% new. The sites are Steiner Ranch, Perli, Goldrock Ridge, Walker Vine Hill and a dollop of Gap's Crown. (Drink between 2014-2021). Antonio Galloni.
WA 92 (12/2013): The red wines include the 2011 Pinot Noir Two Brothers which comes from four relatively high elevation sources, three in Sonoma and one in Mendocino. It was aged 18 months in 20% new French oak and finished with 14.4% alcohol. Its medium ruby color is followed by seductive aromas of kirsch, strawberries, loamy soil and a hint of oak in the background. A remarkably successful 2011, it is a medium-bodied, velvety, long Pinot Noir to consume over the next 5-7 years. |
|
| Duckhorn |
2011 |
Rector Vyd. Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon |
$80 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| L' Ecole No. 41 |
2011 |
Estate Ferguson Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91+ (6/2014): A new cuvee for the estate and more focused and tight, the 2011 Estate Ferguson is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Coming completely from the Ferguson vineyard in Walla Walla, it’s a slightly longer term prospect and gives up ample dark berry fruit, scorched earth, charcoal and graphite to go with a medium+-bodied, tight, focused and linear profile. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2025. |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2011 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Elk Cove Vineyards |
2011 |
La Boheme Vyd. Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (10/2013): Elk Cove’s 2011 Pinot Noir La Boheme – from a high-elevation, late-picked site not far from their winery (and also near the Gregory Ranch whose early performances at Bergstrom have so impressed me) – leads with impressively penetrating and high-toned evocations of maraschino, grenadine, kirsch, and sage. Black pepper and cherry pit add to the invigoration and finishing extension of a pungent and tingling if distinctly tannic performance, with saliva-liberating salinity compounding the juicy satisfaction of fresh red berries. Small clusters and berries are the norm on these vines, notes Campbell, but even so he had to drop crop three or four times in 2011 to achieve the sort of concentration he considers site-typical as well as optimal. Look for top-notch performance through 2020. |
|
|
2011 |
Olenik Vyd. Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Roosevelt Vyd. Pinot Noir Heavily Nicked Label |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Shea Vyd. Pinot Noir Scuffed Label |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Epoch Estate Wines |
2011 |
Authenticity Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Paderewski Vyd. Block B Syrah (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Force Majeure |
2011 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series I Red Wine |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2014): Made by Ben Smith, the 2011 Collaboration Series I is pure elegance in a glass. Offering up notions of creme de cassis, violets, sappy green herbs, mint and assorted wild flower like qualities, this beauty flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, integrated acidity and fine tannin that frame the finish beautifully. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and then 12% each of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, aged 28 months in 70% new French oak, it needs another year or two in the cellar, and will evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.
VM 92+ (12/2014): Saturated dark red. Brooding aromas of black fruits, dark chocolate and licorice show a medicinal reserve. Suave and penetrating in the mouth, offering a fine-grained texture and an attractive restrained sweetness to the dark fruit and milk chocolate flavors. Finishes savory and long, with building ripe tannins. This should evolve gracefully in bottle. Stpehen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series II Red Wine |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series III Red Wine |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2014): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of black raspberry, cassis, licorice, brown spices and smoky oak show a liqueur-like quality. At once lush and lively, with enticing inner-mouth violet perfume framing and lifting the flavors of black fruits, licorice and mint. An edge of harmonious acidity restrains the wine’s sweetness today. Finishes with tongue-dusting tannins and a note of exotic smoky oak. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series V Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2014): Starting out and concentrated, structured and full-bodied, with rocking creme de cassis, lead pencil, sweet tobacco and hints of gaminess, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Collaboration Series V is 100% Cabernet that comes from vines planted in 1975 and 1982. Spending 20 months in 100% new French oak, this knockout Washington State Cabernet will be better in another year or three, and have two decades of longevity. It’s a resounding success in this difficult vintage.
VM 91+ (12/2014): Bright, medium red-ruby. Subdued, pure aromas of crushed blackberry, blueberry, licorice pastille and violet, complicated by leather and bitter chocolate nuances. Tightly wound and youthfully backward, with an insidious liquid velvet character currently hidden by strong inner-mouth tension. Finishes with serious tongue-dusting tannins, very good grip and verve, and lingering notes of cassis, smoked meat, leather and exotic oak. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Collaboration Series Reserve Syrah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (6/2013): A new cuvee that might be renamed by the time you read this (I heard more than three different ideas in the 5-10 minutes we spent with the wine), the 2011 Collaboration Series Syrah Special Project is made from 92% Ciel du Cheval Syrah and 8% co-fermented Viognier and Roussanne. Sexy, supple and gorgeously perfumed, it boasts knockout aromatics of black raspberry, peach pit, smoked cherries, bramble and pepper as well as a full-bodied, seamless and voluptuous texture that has no hard edges. It gains focus and detail on the finish, yet will be hard to resist in its youth given the purity of fruit and quality of the texture; nevertheless, it should evolve gracefully. Drink now-2026. |
|
|
2011 |
Collaboration Series V Red Wine |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91+ (12/2014): Bright, medium red-ruby. Subdued, pure aromas of crushed blackberry, blueberry, licorice pastille and violet, complicated by leather and bitter chocolate nuances. Tightly wound and youthfully backward, with an insidious liquid velvet character currently hidden by strong inner-mouth tension. Finishes with serious tongue-dusting tannins, very good grip and verve, and lingering notes of cassis, smoked meat, leather and exotic oak. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Collaboration Series VI Red Wine |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2014): The estate’s Rhone-styled blend is the Collaboration VI. Comprised of 47% Mourvedre, 42% Syrah and 11% Grenache, the 2011 Collaboration Series VI was fermented in concrete eggs (some whole-cluster inclusion) and aged 20 months in 500-liter French oak puncheons. Made by James Mantone (of Syncline), it offers classic white pepper, ground herbs, earth and assorted dark fruit characteristics to go with a medium to full-bodied, pure and beautifully textured feel on the palate. Elegant, fresh and with a terrific finish, it will evolve gracefully for 10-12 years. |
|
|
2011 |
Force Majeure Vyd. Collaboration Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95+ (6/2013): Coming all from the new, incredibly steep estate vineyard located high up near the top of Red Mountain, the 2011 Collaboration Series Cabernet Sauvignon is distinct in the lineup for its deep black currant, tobacco, underbrush, violets and mineral-loaded profile. More rounded and supple on the palate than some of the Ciel du Cheval bottlings, it has a rich, weighty mouthfeel, knockout purity of fruit and enough silky tannin to allow it to evolve gracefully for at least a decade. This is only the fourth leaf for the vineyard and hats off to the Force Majeure crew for having the vision to push the envelope on where grape vines can be planted and for the perseverance to work those steep hillsides. Drink now-2021. |
|
| Frank Family |
2011 |
Reserve Petite Sirah |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Reserve Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Reserve Sangiovese |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Reserve Zinfandel |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Zinfandel |
$25 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Gramercy Cellars |
2011 |
Lagniappe Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2014): Shockingly good, the 2011 Syrah Lagniappe is gorgeous, and certainly, one of the wines of the vintage. Giving up ample smoked meats, red and black currants, spice box, hints of cedar and ground pepper this medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated effort fleshes out nicely on the palate, has ripe tannin and knockout length. Drink it anytime over the coming 10 to 12 years. |
|
| Grgich Hills |
2011 |
Miljenko’s Old Vine Zinfandel Slightly Depressed Cork |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Gundlach Bundschu |
2011 |
Vintage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Scuffed Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hendry |
2011 |
Block 28 Zinfandel Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$25 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Block 7 & 22 Zinfandel |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Janzen Estate |
2011 |
Cloudy’s Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 91 (5/2014): Cabernet Sauvignon Cloudy Vineyard Napa Valley) (from a vineyard in Dutch Henry Canyon between Switchback Ridge and Hourglass): Saturated ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, crushed blackberry and licorice. Densely packed, very ripe and sweet, with a distinctly chocolatey quality to the black fruit flavors. Quite pliant and silky in texture but has good energy too. Finishes with substantial, dusty tannins and noteworthy breadth and length. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 88 (10/2014): Janzen made a very good 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Cloudy’s Vineyard, which comes from the Dutch Henry Canyon sector of Napa Valley. This dark ruby/purple-tinged wine shows more density and richness than the Beckstoffer Vineyards as well as more blackcurrant, cedarwood and licorice notes. Drink it over the next 7-8 years, as none of these 2011s are meant for long-term aging. |
|
| K Vintners |
2011 |
The Hidden Syrah |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2014): Aged in 100% new 500 liter barrels, the 2011 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard is an incredible Syrah that gives up pure aromas and flavors of blackberry, ground pepper, minerality, and dried spices and hints of vanilla in its full-bodied, elegant and seamless profile. Slightly more mid-weight than prior vintages, yet with beautiful concentration and solid mid-palate depth, it has enough tannin and richness to evolve gracefully for over a decade as well. |
|
| Kistler |
2011 |
Cuvee Natalie Silver Belt Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (5/2014): Brilliant ruby. High-pitched aromas of raspberry, cherry-cola, incense and fresh rose, with a zesty mineral nuance adding lift. Juicy, sharply delineated red berry and floral pastille flavors are given spine by tangy acidity. Expands with air, leaving sexy floral pastille and spicecake notes behind on the strikingly long finish. This suave, energetic pinot is already delicious.
WA 91 (12/2013): The 2011 Pinot Noir Silver Belt Vineyard Cuvee Natalie includes more of the Joseph Swan clone than the Kistler Vineyard. It offers hints of strawberries, pomegranate, clove and cinnamon along with crisp, tart acidity, and less texture and depth than the Kistler. |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2011 |
Kanzler Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2014): The 2011 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard is bright, focused and articulate. Cranberry, freshly cut flowers, mint and crushed rocks all lift from the glass. The Kanzler is one of the more pointed, vibrant Pinots in this range, reflecting the qualities of a cool site in a cool vintage. The wine's mid-weight structure argues for near-term drinking. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Kanzler Vyd. Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2014): The 2011 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard is bright, focused and articulate. Cranberry, freshly cut flowers, mint and crushed rocks all lift from the glass. The Kanzler is one of the more pointed, vibrant Pinots in this range, reflecting the qualities of a cool site in a cool vintage. The wine's mid-weight structure argues for near-term drinking. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Koplen Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (2/2014): The 2011 Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard is a wine of real density and power. Big and broad shouldered, the 2011 blossoms in the glass beautifully, filling out its frame very nicely. Plums, black cherries, cloves, menthol and licorice are all woven into the juicy, enveloping finish. The Koplen could use another year or two in bottle to fully come together. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (5/2013): (made from fruit grown in eleven different vineyards and picked between September 16 and October 20; 48% new oak): Deep ruby. Heady scents of raspberry, cherry-cola, floral oil, Asian spices and vanilla. Juicy and penetrating, with superb inner-mouth perfume to its sweet red fruit and candied rose flavors. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with excellent clarity, breadth and persistence.
WA 91 (8/2013): Offering up a supple, perfumed and delicate array of kirsch, crushed berries, spice and forest floor, the 2011 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) flows onto the palate with a light, deft texture, bright acidity and a clean, nicely focused finish. This isn’t a heavy weight and excels on its aromatics and balance more than power or richness. Enjoy it over the coming 4-6 years. Drink now-2019.
JS 90 (6/2012): A fruity and juicy red with dried strawberry and lemon rind character that follows through to a medium body, with fine tannins. Fresh finish. Drink now. |
|
|
2011 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2011 |
Firebelle Red Wine |
$75 |
11 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2014): Bright, full red-ruby. Musky currant, cherry, menthol and tobacco leaf aromas are slightly dulled by a whiff of nutty oak. More vibrant in the mouth than on the nose, offering currant, plum, mocha, milk chocolate and tobacco leaf flavors accented by a peppery herbal quality that runs through the wine. Shows a rather suave texture and a light dusting of tannins. Larkmead did not bottle its "reserve" wines in 2011 (LMV Salon and Solari) owing to the difficult vintage conditions here. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Firebelle Red Wine Nicked Capsule |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (5/2014): Bright, full red-ruby. Musky currant, cherry, menthol and tobacco leaf aromas are slightly dulled by a whiff of nutty oak. More vibrant in the mouth than on the nose, offering currant, plum, mocha, milk chocolate and tobacco leaf flavors accented by a peppery herbal quality that runs through the wine. Shows a rather suave texture and a light dusting of tannins. Larkmead did not bottle its "reserve" wines in 2011 (LMV Salon and Solari) owing to the difficult vintage conditions here. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Napa Valley Red Wine |
$79 |
7 |
|
| |
|
| Law Estate Wines |
2011 |
Audacious Red Wine |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2014): The 2011 Audacious (38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Syrah, 18% Grenache and 8% Petit Sirah) reminds me of a Howell Mountain Cabernet with its creme de cassis and purple fruits, lead pencil shavings, caramelized meats and chalky minerality. As with the other 2011s from this estate, it has full-bodied richness and depth, solid mid-palate concentration and building tannin that comes through on the finish. It's a terrific wine that will have 10-15 years of longevity.
VM 93 (7/2014): The 2011 Audacious might be the most promising of these wines. Beams of acidity and tannin run through the fruit in a vivid, striking wine endowed with tremendous purity and vibrancy. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco and licorice are some of the many notes that add complexity on the finish. What a gorgeous wine this is. The 2011 is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 8% Petite Sirah. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Intrepid Red Wine |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2014): The inky-colored 2011 Intrepid checks in as a blend of 100% Syrah that spent 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels. It's another smoking effort from this estate that gives up classy framboise, black licorice, chocolatey oak and toasted spice to go with a full-bodied, layered and thrillingly pure profile on the palate. Top class all the way, it will be better in another year and have upward of a decade of longevity.
VM 90 (7/2014): Layers of cassis, blackberry jam, spices and new leather all flesh out in the 2011 Intrepid, Law's 100% Syrah. The 2011 is overt and built on pure fruit. This is one of the sweeter wines in the range, partly the result of slightly higher toast levels in the barrels. Although not quite as compelling as the very best wines in the range, the 2011 is unique and poised for far greater things once the vines get older and the winemaking team gains more experience with the site. Antonio Galloni |
|
| Leonetti Cellars |
2011 |
Reserve Proprietary Blend |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (12/2014): (14.1% alcohol; 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 7% each petit verdot and Cabernet Franc): Bright, dark ruby-red. I might have identified this as a white wine from the nose, which offers citrus and gooseberry aromas lifted by a floral topnote. Then pure and intense in the mouth, with an element of citrus zest, suggestions of tropical fruits and a strong sour cherry candy quality that reminded me of a top Pomerol. Very densely packed, savory and dry, with strong acidity giving it a light touch. The wine’s serious tannic spine calls for extended cellaring. A singular wine with great eclat—but will it ever surpass the estate’s flagship cabernet bottling?
WA 93 (6/2014): The 2011 Reserve is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in once-filled French oak barrels. Offering more black cherry, black currant, licorice, tobacco and spring flower-like qualities on the nose, this serious 2011 has fantastic mid-palate depth, integrated acidity and a medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant personality that’s hard to resist. It too will drink beautifully through 2031. |
|
|
2011 |
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (12/2014): (14.2% alcohol; blended with 10% each Merlot and petit verdot plus 5% Malbec): Saturated medium ruby. Pristine aromas of cassis, raspberry liqueur, blueberry, licorice and graphite. Outstanding inner-mouth energy gives this extremely dense wine a wonderfully light touch. The sappy, dry flavors of slightly high-toned red and black fruits are complicated by a saline quality. Wonderfully velvety in the middle palate but dry, classic and still a bit youthfully clenched on the chewy, extremely long back end, where the harmonious tannins coat the front teeth. An Outstanding Bordeaux-like wine that may well merit an even higher rating eight to ten years from now.
WA 94 (6/2014): The best of the 2011s, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is Pauillac-like with its gorgeous creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf and graphite styled aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, pure, silky and layered on the palate, with a broad frame and sweet tannin, it’s already approachable, yet will evolve nicely for 5-7 years and hold for a decade after that. |
|
|
2011 |
Walla Walla Valley Merlot |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2013): Coming from the estate Loess, Seven Hills and Mill Creek Upland vineyards in Walla Walla, the 2011 Merlot is a superb, plush and yet gorgeously elegant and detailed effort that boasts knockout aromatics of spring flowers, black cherry, plum, licorice and dusty mineral on the nose. Already complex and approachable, it nevertheless has full-bodied richness on the palate, as well as a supple, mouth-filling texture, juicy acidity and no hard edges. Drink it over the coming decade. Drink now-2023. |
|
|
2011 |
Walla Walla Valley Reserve Red Wine |
$129 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (12/2014): (14.1% alcohol; 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 7% each petit verdot and Cabernet Franc): Bright, dark ruby-red. I might have identified this as a white wine from the nose, which offers citrus and gooseberry aromas lifted by a floral topnote. Then pure and intense in the mouth, with an element of citrus zest, suggestions of tropical fruits and a strong sour cherry candy quality that reminded me of a top Pomerol. Very densely packed, savory and dry, with strong acidity giving it a light touch. The wine’s serious tannic spine calls for extended cellaring. A singular wine with great eclat—but will it ever surpass the estate’s flagship cabernet bottling?
WA 93 (6/2014): The 2011 Reserve is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in once-filled French oak barrels. Offering more black cherry, black currant, licorice, tobacco and spring flower-like qualities on the nose, this serious 2011 has fantastic mid-palate depth, integrated acidity and a medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant personality that’s hard to resist. It too will drink beautifully through 2031. |
|
| Linne Calodo |
2011 |
Overthinker |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (7/2014): One of the more explosive wines in the range, the 2011 Overthinker bursts from the glass with notable intensity and depth. Raspberry jam, crushed flowers, spices, new leather and menthol meld together in a sumptuous, expressive wine full of character. The 2011 is 45% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 22% Mourvèdre, all from estate-owned vineyards. (Drink between 2014-2019) Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Perfectionist |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (12/2013): (62% syrah, 27% mourvedre, 7% grenache and 4% tannat): Vivid ruby. Vibrant aromas of cassis, licorice and black pepper, with a suave floral overtone. Bright, juicy and tightly wound, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors and hints of candied violet and spicecake. Impressively fresh and focused, with excellent finishing thrust and smooth, harmonious tannins adding shape. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2011 |
Problem Child |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2013): Showing additional richness, the 2011 Problem Child (72% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah and 8% Mourvedre) possesses a sweet core of fruit as well as a medium to full-bodied, voluptuously textured profile. Blackberry, currants, exotic flowers and violets all show on the nose, and it continually changes in the glass and is beautifully complex. Aged in 20% new wood, the fruit is front and center here. Drink 2014-2021. |
|
|
2011 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2013): More Grenache dominated and comprised of 52% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2011 Sticks and Stones is medium-bodied and fresh, with vibrant acidity, fine tannin and an all-around polished, lively feel. Kirsch, blackberry, licorice, pepper and plenty of underbrush all emerge from the glass, and this highlights aromatic complexity and elegance more than richness or power. It will evolve gracefully for 7-8 years. Drink now-2021. |
|
| Long Shadows Wineries |
2011 |
Chester Kidder Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$120 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2015): The 2011 Chester Kidder is a beauty. Coming from a difficult vintage and a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah and 7% Petit Verdot, it spent 30 months in 85% new French oak before being bottled. Inky colored, medium to full-bodied, silky and with fabulous tannin quality, it’s absorbed almost every trace of its oak élevage and offers layers of dark fruits, licorice, chocolate and toasted spice. It has a classic feel and will age effortlessly for another 10-15 years. |
|
|
2011 |
Pedestal Merlot (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Made by Michel Rolland, the Merlot-dominated 2011 Pedestal incorporates a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and gives up ripe, full-throttle aromas and flavors of plum liqueur, licorice, smoked herbs and hints of background meatiness to go with a full-bodied, up-front, layered and downright sexy feel in the mouth. Showing good concentration and an already delicious style, enjoy bottles over the coming decade or so. |
|
|
2011 |
Pirouette Red Wine (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (12/2014): (14.9% alcohol; 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% petit verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec; aged for 22 months in 75% new French oak; made by Augustin Huneeus Sr. and Philippe Melka): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of black fruits, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate and violet. At once juicy and powerful, with ripe acidity giving sharp definition and thrust to the dark berry, violet and coffee flavors. Finishes very long and firmly tannic. The wine’s Cabernet Sauvignon component fermented on its skins for 30 days with native yeasts, but the petit verdot may also have contributed to the wine’s tannic clout. This will need a minimum of six or seven years of additional bottle aging. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Matthews |
2011 |
Blackboard Colombia Valley Red Wine |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2013): (15.4% alcohol; 54% cabernet sauvignon, 28% syrah, 6% each merlot and cabernet franc, 4% petit verdot and 2% malbec): Medium red. Aromas of strawberry, plum and chocolate. Silky and pliant on entry, then moderately concentrated and seamless in the middle, with plum and spicecake flavors complicated by vanilla and cola notes. A rather polite blend, especially in light of its high alcohol, finishing with soft tannins and moderate grip. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
8 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2014): (a Bordeaux blend based on 68% Merlot; the objective here is elegance, while the flagship red is more about structure, according to winemaker Aryn Morell): Full, bright, deep red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, mocha, licorice, tar and tobacco. At once smooth and tight-grained, with intense black fruit-dominated flavors showing very good grip. Carries nicely on the finish, which features broad tannins, firm acidity and suave oak treatment. I like this style. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Colombia Valley Reserve Red Wine |
$40 |
11 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Even more impressive, with smoking raspberry, blackberry, spring flowers, toast and hints of licorice, the 2011 Reserve is medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated (especially in the vintage), layered and elegant, with fabulous purity and freshness. It too has ultra-fine tannin and impressive length on the finish. Made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in 100% new French oak, it will shine through 2025. |
|
|
2011 |
Colombia Valley Syrah |
$20 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2013): Saturated medium ruby. Blackberry, raspberry, licorice and exotic spicecake on the nose, with a faintly jammy quality. At once creamy and bright, with silky berry fruit framed by harmonious acidity and supported by good medicinal reserve. A bit warm throughout but this syrah has excellent creamy depth and finishes with suave tannins and lovely lingering sweetness. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Ste. Michelle |
2011 |
Artist Series Meritage |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2014): Healthy dark red. Bright, inviting aromas of currant, black cherry and woodsmoke; high-quality oak here! Silky and fine-grained, with terrific spicy complexity and restrained sweetness to the flavors of cherry, raspberry, smoke and graphite minerality. Tightly wound and light on its feet, showing less fat than the 2010 bottling but excellent definition and energy. This elegant, long wine features fine-grained tannins and terrific lift. Balanced from the start and built for a graceful evolution in bottle. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Cold Creek Vyd. Cabernet Franc |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Cold Creek Vyd. Red Wine |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$110 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (7/2015): Mount Eden's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a striking interplay of ripe, flamboyant fruit and supporting mountain structure. Fresh, vibrant and energetic to the core, this stunning, beautifully delineated Cabernet Sauvignon might need another decade to show the full breadth of its pedigree, but it's all there. Pinot Noir at Chardonnay get most of the attention and Mount Eden, yet the Cabernet can be every bit as intriguing, just as it is here. The blend includes 5% Merlot, 1% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2020-2037). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (4/2024): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a lovely example of one of the most overlooked vintages in California's modern era. It has unquestionably green and unquestionably beautiful aromas of dried herbs, matcha tea, baking spice and tobacco. The palate is red-fruited, balanced and energetic, finishing on a powdery tannin note with delineated focus. The more successful 2011 California Cabernets have aged remarkably better than their initial reputation would have consumers believe, the Mount Eden bottling being a particularly charming example. |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2011 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 5 Proprietary Blend |
$269 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2015): While I reviewed the 2011 Cumulus Vineyard #5 last year, I was thrilled to be able to retaste it this go around. Showing consistently, with tons of savory, meaty characteristics in its currants, cassis, ground herbs and wood smoke-like aromas and flavors, this is a full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated 2011 that shows the freshness and purity of the vintage, yet backs it up with plenty of texture and length. Give it a few years and enjoy bottles through 2032.
VM 95 (8/2017): The 2011 Next of Kyn - No. 5, from one of the most maligned California vintages in recent memory, is quite attractive, if a bit compact. Although very much light to medium in body next to the other wines in this tasting, the 2011 is full of perfume, freshness and bright fruit. If anything, the 2011 still needs time to develop the full breadth of its aromatic complexity. In this tasting, the 2011 is more reticent than it has been in the past. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Nickel and Nickel |
2011 |
State Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Alexandria Nicole Cellars |
2011 |
Destiny Ridge Vineyards Jet Black Syrah |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Destiny Ridge Vineyards Rock Star Red |
$25 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Onward Wines |
2011 |
Hawkeye Ranch Pinot Noir |
$29 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Outpost |
2011 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2013): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 75% new French oak) reveals attractive scents of blackberries, black currants, charcoal and graphite, full-bodied flavors with impressive richness, a long, opulent mouthfeel and a heady finish. |
|
|
2011 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2013): Even better is the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard, one of the candidates for wine of the vintage. It, too, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is given the same basic elevage as the other wines except the percentage of new French oak increases to 90%. There are 375 cases of this beauty, which may be the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon Outpost has made to date. Abundant notes of creme de cassis, blueberry, acacia flowers (or is it violets?), licorice and wet stones are followed by a full-bodied, superbly concentrated, multidimensional, endearingly textured wine with low acidity and ripe tannin. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. |
|
| Ovid |
2011 |
Proprietary Blend |
$209 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (5/2022): The 2011 Ovid has aged exceptionally well. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berry fruit, cedar, mint and sweet pipe tobacco are all very nicely lifted. Silky and medium in body, the 2011 is super-expressive today. It also appears to have reached an early plateau of maturity, so I would not wait too long on it. Sweet tobacco, dried herbs, mint, licorice and pine linger on the refined finish. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pott |
2011 |
The Arsenal Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (11/2013): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal Greer Vineyard is one of the more tannic wines in Aaron Pott's range this year. Firm tannins provide the backbone for a core of expressive dark fruit in a powerful, inward wine that needs time to fully come together. Mocha, tar, licorice and smoke add complexity on the brooding finish. Readers will need to be patient here. The combination of intense fruit and underlying structure is compelling. (Drink between 2015-2023). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pride Mountain Vineyards |
2011 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2014): There are 1,374 cases of the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which spent 22 months in 40% new French oak. It exhibits classic notes of new saddle leather, unsmoked cigar tobacco, red and blackcurrants, and loamy soil undertones in a full-bodied, intense, opulent, fleshy style. 85% came from Sonoma County and 15% from Napa County. This beauty is on a fast evolutionary track, so drink it during its first 7-8 years of life.
VM 93+ (12/2014): Pride's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is another exceptional wine from this vintage. The cool, late harvest yielded a slightly restrained wine, yet the 2011 Reserve impresses for its balance and overall harmony. Grilled herbs, tobacco and lavender flesh out on the super-expressive, pliant finish. The 2011 could use another year in bottle, but I wouldn't plan on cellaring it for more than a decade give or take. Once the tannins soften, the 2011 will drink nicely for at least a handful of years.
VM 90 (6/2015): (14.4% alcohol; the fruit was picked until November 28 "without botrytis," said Steve Pride, adding that 2011 was "the coldest year in our history"): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Precise aromas and flavors of blackberry, licorice, spices, menthol and espresso accented by flinty minerality, pepper and fresh herbs. Juicy, tight and on the lean side, given a distinctly savory character by slightly peppery acidity. Boasts very good definition, grip and underlying structure--not to mention good length--but will this very cool Cabernet gain in complexity with bottle aging? |
|
| Quilceda Creek |
2011 |
Columbia Valley Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (6/2014): The 2011 Columbia Valley Red Wine offers the classic creme de cassis, graphite, toasted spice and hints of licorice that seems to be present in all of the estate’s Cabernets. Medium to full-bodied, supple and already approachable, it nevertheless has the back-end stuffing to evolve gracefully for upwards of a decade. |
|
|
2011 |
Palengat Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2014): A blend of 61% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2011 Palengat Vineyard has a great bouquet of sweet plum liqueur, blackberry, graphite, lead pencil shavings and toast. This is followed by a full-bodied effort that has beautiful concentration (especially in the vintage), loads of texture and ripe underlying tannic structure. Reasonably approachable now, it will nevertheless evolve gracefully on its overall balance. Enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Rasa Vineyards |
2011 |
In Order to Form a More Perfect Union |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2014): The 2011 In Order To Form A More Perfect Union checks in as a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Giving up plenty of cedar, spice box, spring flowers and black currant styled aromas and flavors, this medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless effort has juicy acidity, excellent concentration (especially in the vintage) and superb underlying structure. It will evolve nicely over the coming 3 to 4 years and drink well through 2026. |
|
| Raymond |
2011 |
District Collection St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Reynvaan Family Vineyards |
2011 |
The Contender Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2014): More mineral driven and tight, with pure black raspberry, blueberry, spice, ground herbs and spiced game, the 2011 Syrah The Contender is full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, textured and long. Incorporating 6% Marsanne and aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it’s always the texture that sets this cuvee apart. Give it another year or two in the cellar and drink it through 2026. |
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|
2011 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2014): The 2011 Syrah Stonessence is a blend of 100% Syrah that competes with the top wines in the vintage. Voluptuous, decadent, layered and full-bodied, with thrilling notes of blackberry, blueberry, underbrush, chocolate and ripe herbs, it has low acidity, superb concentration and a downright sexy style that is just hard to resist. Aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it can be consumed anytime over the coming 10 to 15 years. |
|
| Rhys |
2011 |
Bearwallow Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 91 (1/2014): This is less obviously floral than the Alpine but slightly more aromatically complex with its elegant aromas of violets, plums and red currants. There is really lovely intensity to the delicious middle weight flavors that possess a bit more volume before culminating in a structured, serious and clearly built-to-age finish. Good stuff. Drink 2019+. Outstanding!
VM 90 (7/2013): Sweet tobacco, herbs, licorice and dried black cherries lift out of the glass in the 2011 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard. Subtle floral and savory notes are woven throughout. The 2011 shows lovely energy and depth, but also the modest structure typical of Anderson Valley Pinots in this vintage. I expect the Bearwallow 2011 will drink well pretty much upon release and for at least a handful of years to follow. This is a terrific showing in a vintage that was very tough in the Anderson Valley. The 2011 was made with 35% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni.
WA 90 (4/2015): Like in 2012, the 2011 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is distinctly different than the Santa Cruz Mountain releases in both its aromatics and texture. Giving up loads of underbrush, juniper berry, lavender, currants and sweet kirsch, it hits the palate with medium-bodied depth and richness, nicely integrated acidity and tannin, and a clean, focused finish that lacks length compared to the 2012. Elegant, upfront, complex and classy, drink it over the coming 4-5 years. |
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|
2011 |
Bearwallow Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 91 (1/2014): This is less obviously floral than the Alpine but slightly more aromatically complex with its elegant aromas of violets, plums and red currants. There is really lovely intensity to the delicious middle weight flavors that possess a bit more volume before culminating in a structured, serious and clearly built-to-age finish. Good stuff. Drink 2019+. Outstanding!
VM 90 (7/2013): Sweet tobacco, herbs, licorice and dried black cherries lift out of the glass in the 2011 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard. Subtle floral and savory notes are woven throughout. The 2011 shows lovely energy and depth, but also the modest structure typical of Anderson Valley Pinots in this vintage. I expect the Bearwallow 2011 will drink well pretty much upon release and for at least a handful of years to follow. This is a terrific showing in a vintage that was very tough in the Anderson Valley. The 2011 was made with 35% whole clusters. Antonio Galloni.
WA 90 (4/2015): Like in 2012, the 2011 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is distinctly different than the Santa Cruz Mountain releases in both its aromatics and texture. Giving up loads of underbrush, juniper berry, lavender, currants and sweet kirsch, it hits the palate with medium-bodied depth and richness, nicely integrated acidity and tannin, and a clean, focused finish that lacks length compared to the 2012. Elegant, upfront, complex and classy, drink it over the coming 4-5 years. |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2011 |
Lytton Springs |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (10/2013): The 2011 Proprietary Red Lytton Springs (82% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignan; 14.4% alcohol) was harvested near the end of September. A juicy, rich effort, it displays abundant notes of raspberry and black cherry fruit, medium body, excellent purity, and good weight as well as richness. The strongest effort of these Zinfandel-based wines, it should drink well for 5-6 years. |
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|
2011 |
Lytton Springs Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (10/2013): The 2011 Proprietary Red Lytton Springs (82% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignan; 14.4% alcohol) was harvested near the end of September. A juicy, rich effort, it displays abundant notes of raspberry and black cherry fruit, medium body, excellent purity, and good weight as well as richness. The strongest effort of these Zinfandel-based wines, it should drink well for 5-6 years. |
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| Rivers Marie |
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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| Round Pond |
2011 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 87 (5/2014): Dark ruby-red. Musky aromas of tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, black olive and anise; at once green and a bit tired. Smooth in texture, with red berry flavors joined by spices, licorice and fresh herbs. Not quite as green in the mouth as on the nose but still slightly tart. Tannins are a bit dry. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2011 |
Rutherford Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
|
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2011 |
Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2014): Bright red-ruby. Distinctly riper on the nose than the regular release, offering scents of plum, blackberry, flowers and licorice, plus a gravelly nuance. Juicy and energetic on the palate, showing good density of material but coming across as youthfully tight today. Red fruit flavors are complicated by graphite and mocha notes. Finishes juicy and persistent, with substantial dusty tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Rudius |
2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
|
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2011 |
Fion Bainise Proprietary Blend |
$27.20 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (6/2014): (75% grenache, 23% mourvedre and 2% syrah): Medium red. Good peppery, herbal lift to the aromas of strawberry, raspberry and spices. Supple, savory and dry, in a rather gentle style, with a slightly intrusive greenness to the red berry, licorice and spice flavors; could use a bit more definition and verve. Finishes with dusty, even tannins. |
|
| Mark Ryan |
2011 |
Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2014): Made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Dead Horse Ciel du Cheval Vineyard offers beautiful purity and freshness to go with classic aromas of blackberry, blueberry, charcoal, crushed rock and burnt toast. Full-bodied, fleshy, balanced, with ample tannin, it-s a serious Bordeaux blend that will have upwards of two decades of longevity. |
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|
2011 |
Long Haul Merlot |
$51 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2014): Another outstanding effort from this estate, the Merlot-dominated 2011 Long Haul incorporates 13% Cabernet Franc 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot, all of which were aged 21 months in 73% new French oak. It gives up ripe black fruits, currants, licorice, singed herbs and chocolate to go with a full-bodied, rounded and voluptuous style the palate. Nicely focused, with excellent purity of fruit, it-s already approachable and should be consumed over the coming decade. |
|
| Saxum |
2011 |
Bone Rock James Berry Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97+ (5/2018): The 2011 Syrah James Berry Vineyard Bone Rock opens in the glass with complex aromas of ripe black fruits, rich spice, cracked pepper, licorice and savory notions of grilled meats. On the palate, it's full-bodied, fine-grained and intensely concentrated, with a firm, tight-knit core and unusual energy. The finish is long, precise and penetrating. While the 2011 vintage tends to be tainted by association with the challenges producers faced on California's North Coast, conditions were not so adverse in Paso Robles: at Saxum, the year seems to have produced some of the most tight-knit wines of Justin Smith's career, and the wines have the potential to be unusually long-lived. |
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|
2011 |
Booker Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2014): Beautifully done, and probably the most elegant, seamless version of this cuvee I’ve tasted, the 2011 Booker Vineyard offers terrific aromas and flavors of liquid violets, sappy underbrush, smoked , exotic spices and plenty of crushed rock-like minerality that are all carried by layers of sweet cassis and black raspberry. There’s a northern Rhone-like character here, but it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, fantastic mid-palate concentration, and a seamless, layered and multi-dimensional mouthfeel that’s hard to resist. Made from 67% Syrah and 33% Mourvedre and aged in 300- and 350-liter hogsheads (and fermented with varying degrees of whole cluster), this beautifully pure, polished and complex effort will benefit from short-term cellaring and have over 15 years of overall longevity.
VM 94 (12/2013): Dark purple. Potent aromas of cassis, cherry liqueur, blueberry, Moroccan spices, violet and smoky minerals. Impressively deep but energetic, offering sappy dark fruit flavors laced with notes of mocha, violet, cola, five-spice powder and cracked pepper. Decidedly rich but this comes across as almost elegant, with impressive lift and energy thanks to bright, juicy acidity. The deep, sappy black and blue fruit flavors refuse to let go on the long, spicy finish.
VM 94 (7/2014): Pomegranate, plum, exotic spices, smoke and graphite are some of the many notes that are found in the 2011 Booker Vineyard. An exceptionally beautiful wine, the 2011 possesses remarkable depth and intensity. Expressive floral and citrus overtones develop in the glass, adding considerable brightness and aromatic nuance. Even though the 2011 is gorgeous today, my sense is it is holding back much of its potential. |
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|
2011 |
Broken Stones Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2014): The brilliant 2011 Syrah Broken Stones comes from a cooler block of the James Berry Vineyard and checks in as a blend of 78% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre and 4% Petit Sirah. Relatively forward (especially when compared to the locked up Bone Rock), with fabulous purity and freshness, it exudes notions of creme de cassis, blueberry, pepper, crushed flowers and sweet oak on the nose. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, yet with building richness and rock star length, it’s an elegant version of the cuvee to drink over the coming 15 years or more.
VM 95 (7/2014): A dark, mysterious beauty, the 2011 Broken Stones is laced with expressive dark red and black stone fruits, iron, smoke and French oak. This is one of the more explosive wines in Saxum's range of 2011s. The Broken Stones finishes with substantial depth and power. While oak levels have come down quite a bit here in recent years, Broken Stones is one wine in this range where the oak influence is noticeable. The blend is 78% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre and 4% Petite Sirah.Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2011 |
Heart Stone Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$105 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2014): The 2011 Heart Stone Vineyard is a blend of 58% Syrah, 37% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre that was brought up in mostly concrete, with 20% in puncheons. Showing beautifully from barrel, it didn’t disappoint from bottle and has a perfumed, elegant feel to its purple fruits, lavender, violets, white pepper and underbrush-like aromas and flavors. The whole cluster inclusion shows here, yet it has fantastic purity, fine tannin and integrated acidity. Give it another year in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2025.
VM 93-95 (8/2012): The 2011 Heart Stone Vineyard comes across as a bit more ethereal than some of the other 2011s here, but there is plenty of understated depth and resonance to be found in the dark cherries, sweet herbs, flowers and spices. The 2011 is 41% Syrah, 39% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. The use of 60% whole clusters gives the 2011 much of its aromatic lift. This is very, very beautiful. The 2011 was all done in concrete.
VM 93 (12/2013): (58% syrah, 37% grenache and 5% mourvedre; no new oak and 14.8% alcohol, which is quite low by Saxum standards): Opaque purple. Highly perfumed aromas of dark fruit preserves, violet, olive tapenade and cracked pepper, with an exotic blood orange nuance emerging with aeration. Weighty but surprisingly lithe on the palate, offering sweet blueberry and mulberry flavors and strong floral and spicecake accents. Closes spicy and long, with supple tannins making a late appearance and adding gentle grip. |
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|
2011 |
James Berry Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (8/2014): Reminding me of a top 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape (the 2010 Raymond Usseglio Cuvee Imperiale to be exact), the 2011 James Berry Vineyard is a blend of 69% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, 2% Counoise, and a splash of Roussanne, that was aged in a combination of concrete (Grenache) and larger oak puncheons. A fresh, detailed and more elegant example of the cuvee, it offers gorgeous notes of ripe berry fruit, loads of exotic spice, violets, pepper and lavender to go with a full-bodied, beautifully pure and layered profile on the palate. It’s no blockbuster, but has loads of energy and tension, as well as class and refinement. Give it 2-3 years in the cellar and enjoy it over the following decade or longer.
VM 94 (12/2013): (69% grenache, 15% mourvedre, 13% syrah, 2% counoise and 1% roussanne; 15.5% alcohol): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of red fruit liqueur, lavender and Asian spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Rich and fleshy but lively, offering intense raspberry and cherry-cola flavors and exotic star anise and floral pastille accents. Silky tannins sneak in late and add shape to a long, smooth and alluringly sweet finish. The grenache in this blend was raised in a large concrete vat. |
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|
2011 |
Paderewski Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2014): Kicking off the 2011s and about as seductive and sexy as they come in the vintage, the 2011 Paderewski Vineyard is an eclectic blend of 34% Zinfandel, 31% Mourvedre, 16% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah that comes from a warmer terroir of chalky, calcareous soils. Full-bodied, seamless and perfectly balanced, it offers brilliant aromas and flavors of black raspberry, rose petal, bramble and violets that are to die for. A big wine to be sure, yet it stays remarkably elegant, poised and fresh on the palate, with no hard edges and an approachable, utterly impossible-to-resist profile that keeps you pouring another glass. Enjoy this gorgeous wine anytime over the coming 10-12 years.
VM 94 (12/2013): (34% zinfandel, 31% mourvedre, 16% tempranillo and 10% syrah; 15.7% alcohol): Inky purple. Powerful, expansive aromas of dark berry compote, cola, dark chocolate and licorice, with a smoky mineral quality adding vivacity. Sappy, deeply pitched blackberry and cassis flavors are sharpened by juicy acidity and gain sweetness with air. Shows Outstanding clarity and power on the finish, which features supple tannins and sweet, clinging dark berry preserve and floral pastille notes.
VM 94 (7/2014): One of the more immediate wines in this range of the 2011s, the Paderewski Vineyard, is voluptuous and textured to the core, with huge dark red/black fruit, spice and leather notes. The Paderewski is dense and powerful, with plenty of immediacy but a touch less overall complexity than some of the other wines in the range. Still, the marriage of varieties in this Zinfandel-based red is terrific. In 2011, the Paderewski is 34% Zinfandel, 31% Mourvèdre, 16% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah. |
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|
2011 |
Paderewski Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2014): Kicking off the 2011s and about as seductive and sexy as they come in the vintage, the 2011 Paderewski Vineyard is an eclectic blend of 34% Zinfandel, 31% Mourvedre, 16% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah that comes from a warmer terroir of chalky, calcareous soils. Full-bodied, seamless and perfectly balanced, it offers brilliant aromas and flavors of black raspberry, rose petal, bramble and violets that are to die for. A big wine to be sure, yet it stays remarkably elegant, poised and fresh on the palate, with no hard edges and an approachable, utterly impossible-to-resist profile that keeps you pouring another glass. Enjoy this gorgeous wine anytime over the coming 10-12 years.
VM 94 (12/2013): (34% zinfandel, 31% mourvedre, 16% tempranillo and 10% syrah; 15.7% alcohol): Inky purple. Powerful, expansive aromas of dark berry compote, cola, dark chocolate and licorice, with a smoky mineral quality adding vivacity. Sappy, deeply pitched blackberry and cassis flavors are sharpened by juicy acidity and gain sweetness with air. Shows Outstanding clarity and power on the finish, which features supple tannins and sweet, clinging dark berry preserve and floral pastille notes.
VM 94 (7/2014): One of the more immediate wines in this range of the 2011s, the Paderewski Vineyard, is voluptuous and textured to the core, with huge dark red/black fruit, spice and leather notes. The Paderewski is dense and powerful, with plenty of immediacy but a touch less overall complexity than some of the other wines in the range. Still, the marriage of varieties in this Zinfandel-based red is terrific. In 2011, the Paderewski is 34% Zinfandel, 31% Mourvèdre, 16% Tempranillo, 10% Syrah and 9% Petite Sirah. |
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|
2011 |
Terry Hoage Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$105 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2014): More approachable and a sexy, seamless and layered effort, the 2011 Terry Hoage Vineyard (51% Grenache and 49% Syrah) has a distinct floral quality to go with fabulous creme de cassis, black raspberry, violets and licorice aromas and flavors. Possessing full-bodied richness and an elegant, focused and pure style, it benefits from a decant if drinking anytime soon, and will have over a decade of longevity.
VM 93 (12/2013): (51% grenache and 49% syrah; 15.3% alcohol): Opaque ruby. Highly expressive scents of red- and blackcurrant, cherry, smoky minerals, licorice and flowers. Fresh and precise but deeply concentrated, with sweet red berry compote and cassis flavors, supple texture and an exotic floral pastille quality. Becomes spicier with air and finishes pliant and long, with subtle tannins and a whiplash of peppery spices. |
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| School House |
2011 |
Spring Mountain District Pinot Noir |
$60 |
20 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Spring Mountain District Pinot Noir Scuffed Label |
$60 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Sea Smoke |
2011 |
Ten Pinot Noir |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sheridan Vineyard |
2011 |
Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$94 |
9 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): A wine that was just bottled, the 2011 Block 1 is easily one of the top wines in the vintage. A blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from a southeast facing block in the Sheridan vineyard, it possess a seriously full-bodied, rich and structured style to go with decadent dark fruits, lead pencil, singed cedar and tobacco leaf-like romas and flavors. Give it another year or three and enjoy it over the following 10 to 15 years. |
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|
2011 |
Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2014): A wine that was just bottled, the 2011 Block 1 is easily one of the top wines in the vintage. A blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from a southeast facing block in the Sheridan vineyard, it possess a seriously full-bodied, rich and structured style to go with decadent dark fruits, lead pencil, singed cedar and tobacco leaf-like romas and flavors. Give it another year or three and enjoy it over the following 10 to 15 years. |
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|
2011 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): A cuvee that is slowly becoming more and more Cabernet-dominated, the 2011 L’Orage checks in as a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc that comes from a more south-facing portion of Scott’s Sheridan vineyard. Gorgeous all around, and a smoking success in the vintage, it gives up beautiful black currant, lead pencil, chocolate and smoky nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. Possessing good concentration and plenty of ripe tannin, this beauty will have an easy 10 to 15 years of prime drinking. |
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|
2011 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): A cuvee that is slowly becoming more and more Cabernet-dominated, the 2011 L’Orage checks in as a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc that comes from a more south-facing portion of Scott’s Sheridan vineyard. Gorgeous all around, and a smoking success in the vintage, it gives up beautiful black currant, lead pencil, chocolate and smoky nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. Possessing good concentration and plenty of ripe tannin, this beauty will have an easy 10 to 15 years of prime drinking. |
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| Silver Oak |
2011 |
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2011 |
Patine Grenache |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2015): Coming all from Manfred's Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and a blend of 77% Grenache, 22% Syrah and 1% Viognier (fermented with 25% whole clusters), the 2011 Grenache Patine spent a full 33 months in almost all neutral oak, with just 11% being new. It offers perfumed and spice-laced notes of white pepper, black raspberry, blackberry and ground herbs that flow to a full-bodied, elegant, nicely concentrated 2011 that has nicely integrated acidity, no hard edges and a terrific finish. It's certainly one of the fresher, more elegant Grenaches from Manfred, yet it still has rocking levels of fruit. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy bottles over the following decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2011 Grenache Patine has turned out beautifully. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha, spice and leather meld together in the glass as this savory, beautifully layered wine opens up. Herb, graphite, smoke, sage and tobacco add shades of nuance in a delineated Grenache that captures the best of this cool, late-ripening year. Patine is 77% Grenache, 22% Syra and 1% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions, done with 25% whole clusters and aged for 33 months in French oak barrels, 11% new. |
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| Somnium |
2011 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Spoiled Dog Winery |
2011 |
Malbec |
$10 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2011 |
Pinot Noir |
$10 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Stags' Leap Winery |
2011 |
Ne Cede Malis Petite Sirah |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (10/2014): The sensational 2011 Petite Sirah Ne Cede Malis Estate comes from a plot of old vines planted in 1929. A superstar in 2011, it boasts a dense blue/purple color as well as copious aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, licorice, camphor and incense. Deep, pure and impressively endowed, it is best consumed over the next 10-15 years. |
|
| Stolpman |
2011 |
Hilltops Syrah |
$35 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2013): (from the best sections of the estate vineyards, with roots deep into the limestone): Dark red-ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of mocha, chocolate and wild herbs, with pungent cherry and raspberry fruit emerging only after considerable time in the glass. Initially came across as even less fruity and more savory than the Originals, with a bit less early detail, but aeration brought a tactile, chewy texture and lovely floral lift. The wine's strong underlying energy gives the juicy, very long finish a light touch in spite of the wine's powerful impression of solidity. Lay this highly concentrated syrah down for more complexity. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Orin Swift |
2011 |
The Abstract |
$45 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (12/2012): A voluptuous, hedonistic, and pleasure bent blend that is mostly Grenache, the 2011 Orin Swift Abstract delivers loads of creamy red and blackberry fruit, sweet spice, licorice, bramble, and hints of white chocolate-like aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, decadent, yet gorgeously proportioned and balanced palate. A crowd pleaser for sure, yet even better, with real class and depth, this knockout effort benefits from a decant, and should be consumed over the coming 4-6 years. |
|
|
2011 |
The Prisoner |
$65 |
7 |
|
| |
|
| Tenor Wines |
2011 |
2:2 Proprietary Blend |
$25 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/2014): The only Bordeaux blend produced in the vintage (Morell chose not to produce his 1:1 release) and made from 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Malbec, that spent 18 months in 83% new French oak, the 2011 2:2 Columbia Valley shows uncommon concentrations and density in the vintage. Loaded with dark chocolate fruits, crushed rock, spice and hints of underlying herbs, this medium to full-bodied beauty has a layered, textured feel, rocking mid-palate density and fine tannin comes through on the finish. In short, it’s a superb effort that will have 10 to 12 years of longevity.
VM 92 (12/2014): Bright red-ruby. Alluring aromas of red and black cherry, boysenberry, licorice and minerals. Sweet, fine-grained and elegant, offering as much red as black fruit character along with an element of Belgian chocolate. A lovely midweight with real depth of flavor. Shows the spicy tannins of the vintage, a complicating saline nuance and very good length. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2011 |
Tenor Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/2014): The 2011 Syrah Columbia Valley comes all from fractured basalt and sandy loam soils and spent 16 months in 100% new 500-liter French oak barrels. It’s a drop dead gorgeous Syrah that offers classy black and blue fruits, cracked pepper, violets and slightly green herb/sappy qualities to go with a medium-bodied, pure and textured profile on the palate. Showing integrated acidity and ultrafine tannin, you can feel the cooler nature of the vintage here and this beauty stays remarkably well focused and detailed through the finish. There’s no harm in drinking now, but it will have over a decade of longevity.
VM 90 (12/2014): Bright, full ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, violet, carob, licorice and peppery herbs. Sweet, supple and seamless, but without quite the ripeness or dimension of the brilliant 2012. A chocolatey flavor is juxtaposed with a faint herbal element, giving the wine a lightly medicinal character. Finishes with firm tannins, moderate energy and a lingering blueberry note. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Tensley Wines |
2011 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (7/2013): Black cherries meld into plums and spices, followed by hints of leather, rose petals, mint and licorice. A rich, layered Syrah, the 2011 Colson Canyon Vineyard is one of the most voluptuous wines in this range. With time in the glass, the 2011 continues to blossom nicely, providing some clues as to where the future lies. A distinctly layered, fruit-driven Syrah, the 2011 is flat-out dazzling. Colson Canyon sits above the fog line, making it the warmest site Tensley works with. (Drink between 2014-2023). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (8/2013): The only wine to see some new oak, the 2011 Colson Canyon Syrah is knockout stuff in this vintage! Meaty and complex, with plenty of dark berry fruit, olive, underbrush, violets, licorice and earth, it is full-bodied, deeply concentrated and has a textured, layered feel on the palate. Easily the best Colson Canyon Syrah I’ve tasted from Joey, this knockout effort will have 10-12 years of longevity. Drink 2014-2023.
JD 92 (8/2017): Reminiscent of the 2006, the 2011 Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard offers classic cool-climate characteristics of spice, white pepper and cedar, with complex underbrush and ample dark fruits showing in the background. It lacks the breadth and richness of a top vintage, yet shines for its purity, nuance and elegance. Drink it over the coming decade. (Drink between 2014-2029). |
|
| Terlato Vineyards |
2011 |
Galaxy Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Thomas |
2011 |
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$160 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2015): Vivid red. Smoky, mineral-laced aromas of redcurrant, cherry pit, succulent flowers and orange pith. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors sharpened by zesty acidity. Packs a serious punch and comes off as energetic and lithe, with slowly building tannins giving shape to a long finish tinged with flowers and earth. Here’s an example of a 2011 that offers the vivacity that fans of the vintage love but none of the greenness that plagues many ‘11s It's little wonder that so many Burgundy aficionados, this writer included, count this small producer as one of their favorite New World sources for Pinot Noir. (Drink between 2017-2022). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Venge |
2011 |
Penny Lane Vyd. Sangiovese |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Vineyard 7 & 8 |
2011 |
Correlation Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 91 (8/2016): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Correlation displays a clean, pure nose of camphor, crème de cassis and licorice followed by an opulent, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a long finish. Clearly showing significantly better than when I first tasted it, it should continue to evolve for another 10-12+ years.
VM 90 (5/2014): Bright ruby-red. Highly aromatic, inviting nose offers scents of cassis, licorice, brown spices, tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Supple and surprisingly sweet in the middle, with good concentration and floral lift to the flavors of currant, plum and cola spices. Easygoing and open-knit for the vintage, with the flavor intensity to support its dusty, spicy, peppery tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (5/2022): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 7 & 8 Estate has turned out beautifully. At age ten, the 2011 is endowed with tremendous depth. Moreover, it remains very, very young. Blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, new leather and cloves saturate the palate. There are no hard edges or green notes here, just a very young Spring Mountain Cabernet that still needs time. Harvest took place in early November, meaning very, very late. (Drink between 2023-2036). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (10/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate sings of warm plums, cassis and violets with touches of bay leaves, black soil, pepper and cedar chest. The palate is full-bodied, firm and grainy with a lively line cutting through the intense black and blue berry flavors, finishing long with an herbal lift. |
|
| Andrew Will |
2011 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (9/2016): The 2011 Champoux Vineyard is flat out gorgeous. Elegant, perfumed, layered and complex, with lots of sweet currants, licorice, underbrush and graphite, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra fine tannin and a great finish. A complete, impeccably put together and balanced wine, it can be enjoyed anytime over the coming 10-15 years.
VM 94 (12/2014): Dark red-ruby. Aromas of redcurrant, cocoa powder and rose petal, plus a whiff of game; higher-pitched today than the 2011 Ciel du Cheval. Suave, seamless and sweet but showing outstanding grip as well, with the wine’s inner-mouth floral character providing early sexy appeal and an impression of energy. Best today on the extremely long, perfumed, rising back end, where the tannins fold smoothly into the wine’s fruit. This is splendid. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Sorella Champoux Vyd. |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (9/2016): Closest in character to the Champoux Vineyard release, the 2011 Sorella has a first rate bouquet of lead pencil shavings, graphite, licorice, smoked earth and black currants. Still youthful and lively, it shows the more mid-weight style of the vintage, yet has beautiful balance, pure fruit and fine tannin on the finish. It's a straight up classy wine to enjoy anytime over the coming 10-15 years.
VM 93+ (12/2014): Bright ruby-red. Pungent wild blackberry and boysenberry aromas are complicated by smoke and minerals. Suave and fine-grained, with dark berry, floral and mineral flavors complicated by a whiff of game. Not overly sweet in the early going but shows the persistence and structural support for a slow and graceful evolution in bottle. The ripe, enveloping tannins saturate the teeth and palate. |
|
| Woodward Canyon |
2011 |
Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): One of the standouts in the vintage, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series comes from a number of vineyards throughout Washington (mostly from, Champoux, Canoe Ridge and Sagemoor) and spent 22 months in French oak prior to bottling. Full-bodied, seamless and layered, with fabulous mid-palate, it offers up classic creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, black raspberry, toast and dried soil like aromas and flavors. Count me a fan. This beautifully balanced effort will evolve gracefully for 15 to 20 years. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Baron de Brane |
2019 |
Margaux Ex-Negociant |
$32.99 |
29 |
|
| |
VM 92 (2/2022): The 2019 Baron de Brane is a gorgeous second wine. Succulent black cherry, plum, spice and leather are front and center. This racy Margaux offers a compelling interplay of bright red-toned fruit and silky contours. Drink it over the next handful of years. Tasted two times.
JA 89 (10/2026): Inky plum colour, deep and rich damson and raspberry fruits, with touches of peony aromatics. This is good quality, confident stuff. An upscore from En Primeur.
JD 88 (4/2022): The second wine of Brane-Cantenac, the 2019 Baron De Brane is more Merlot-dominated and has a fleshy, medium-bodied, supple style as well as rock-solid aromatics of black cherries, cedar pencil, and chocolaty herbs. It's already drinking nicely yet should keep for a decade. |
|
|
2023 |
Margaux ex-Negociant |
$35.99 |
55 |
|
| |
JA 92 (4/2024): Baron de Brane once again sets the bar high once again in terms of 2nd wines, with fragrant floral aromatics, nuance and depth from the attack and continuing through the mid palate, firm tannins and concentrated black fruits. 20% new oak.
Decanter 92 (4/2024): Ripe and floral notes on the nose, really quite expressive and open aromatically. There’s a richness to the scents with ripe blackcurrants, cherries and touches of rose and violets too with some milk chocolate. Supple and tart, high acidity, juicy and ripe fruit, with crunchiness, quite lean but there’s great length with freshly picked mint and some cedar and herbal aspects. Crisp and clean, lovely purity and precision. Not so layered or plush but it’s fresh and inviting with lift and a lovely mineral undertone. Accessible. Ageing 12 months, 20% new oak. 14.5 press wine. Almost 100 IPT. 40% of production. (Drink between 2027-2038) |
|
| Ch. Boyd-Cantenac |
2020 |
Margaux |
$49 |
58 |
|
| |
| JA 95 (11/2025): Inky purple in colour with a fist of toasted oak on the aromatics, but here it is skilfully coupled with a punch of cassis and blueberry fruits, and a lift of violet flowers, and creamy smoked caramel. It's exceptionally good, for me the best of the lineup, with clear precision on show. One to look out for, easy to recommend. 80% new oak. Lucien Guillemet owner and winemaker. No external consultant. |
|
| Ch. Capbern |
2019 |
St. Estephe Ex-Negociant |
$32 |
32 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2022): I love the nose on the 2019 Château Capbern, a medium to full-bodied, spicy, rich, tobacco and cedar pencil-filled beauty with ripe yet building tannins, a great mix of richness and freshness, and a blockbuster of a finish. It's incredibly impressive, and while it offers pleasure even today, it deserves 5-6 years of bottle age, and I can't imagine it not evolving for two decades. (Drink between 2027-2042).
VM 89 (2/2023): The 2019 Capbern has improved since I tasted it just after bottling. Finally, it has developed a more elegant bouquet, mainly black fruit fused with cedar and undergrowth scents. It has mustered more classicism. The palate is medium-bodied with a strong graphite element on the entry, fine depth, quite fresh with a structured, gritty finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2045). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Cos Labory |
2018 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$49 |
16 |
|
| |
VM 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Cos Labory is fabulous. An extra kick of richness from the warm year and a bit more Petit Verdot than usual result in a Cos Labory that is wonderfully savory, powerful and layered. Black cherry, plum, cloves, chocolate and dried herbs build as this potent, exotically ripe Saint-Estèphe opens in the glass. Today, the 2018 is dark, brooding and in need of cellaring. Cos Labory is a bit wild, but that just adds to its considerable allure. (Drink between 2025-2043). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Cos Labory has a deep garnet-purple color, bursting from the glass with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry compote and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of roses, unsmoked cigars and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate has a very sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness supporting the rather delicately played fruit, finishing long and earthy/minerally. The structure stands out a little now, which I enjoy, but for those preferring softer, rounder expressions, give this a good 3-5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15-20 years.
JD 90 (3/2021): Lots of rich red and black currants, tobacco, savory spice, and new leather notes emerge from the 2018 Château Cos Labory, a medium-bodied Saint-Estèphe with terrific overall balance, ripe, velvety tannins, lots of character, and outstanding length. It's well worth cellaring and drinking any time over the coming 15+ years. |
|
| Ch. de Francs |
2018 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux |
$20 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (3/2021): Bright cherry and mulberry fruits, a touch of cedary oak, and tobacco all emerge from the 2018 Château De Francs. Medium-bodied, with good overall balance and a clean finish, this is a solid, bistro-style drinker to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years. (Drink between 2021-2027) |
|
| Ch. de Pez |
2019 |
St. Estephe |
$44.99 |
18 |
|
| |
JD 93 (4/2022): Currants, plums, new leather, and cedar pencil notes all emerge from the 2019 Château De Pez, a nicely balanced, medium to full-bodied Saint-Estèphe that has plenty of classic character as well as class. With ripe, polished tannins and terrific purity, it can be drunk any time over the coming 20-25 years. (Drink between 2022-2047)
VM 92 (2/2022): The 2019 de Pez has gained tremendously in weight, power and substance. A wine of breadth and pure power, Pez possesses tremendous resonance and intensity, right out of the gate. Scorched earth, incense, plum, menthol and tar hit the palate. This rich, heady Saint-Estèphe has a ton to offer. Antonio Galloni.
WA 92-94 (6/2020): This year's blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 de Pez comes tumbling out of the glass with an astonishingly beautiful perfume of lilacs, black cherries and black raspberries over a core of stewed plums, clove oil, dark chocolate and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate is jam-packed with energetic black fruits, supported by a firm foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and perfumed. I love where this once-malingering château is headed—bravo to winemaker Nicolas Glumineau from Pichon Lalande! |
|
| Ch. Fonbadet |
2019 |
Pauillac (375 ML) Ex-Negociant |
$22.99 |
22 |
|
| |
JD 93 (4/2022): Blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and some cedary, spicy, lead pencil notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Fonbadet, a medium to full-bodied, rich, mouth-filling Pauillac with plenty of tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, good concentration, and outstanding length. It will evolve for 20+ years if stored properly. (Drink between 2022-2044).
VM 93 (2/2022): The 2019 Fonbadet, impressive from barrel, has a delineated bouquet of blackberry, bilberry and touch of licorice that gains intensity with aeration; this is a Pauillac with ambition. The palate is medium-bodied with grip and density, broad shoulders and a very saline finish. This should age supremely well. (Drink between 2025-2050). Neal Martin.
WA 90 (4/2022): From a 12-hectare estate sandwiched in between Pontet Canet, Pédesclaux and Lafite, the 2019 Fonbadet offers up aromas of cassis, plums, cocoa nib and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, lively and creditably concentrated, it's built around powdery tannins that assert themselves on the youthfully chewy finish. |
|
| Ch. Haut Simard |
2012 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (1/2016): The 2012 Haut-Simard offers good mid-palate depth for the vintage, with a distinctly gamy, pleasantly rustic personality that distinguishes it in the Vauthier family's range of wines. Tobacco, savory herbs, leather and dark-fleshed fruits open into the finish. The tannins are a bit rough around the edges, but otherwise this is a fine effort. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Joanin Becot |
2018 |
Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux ex-Negociant |
$29.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93 (3/2021): Emerging from the team of Beau-Séjour Bécot, the 2018 Château Joanin Bécot is based on 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc coming from the limestone soils of the Côtes de Castillon region. Lots of black cherry and redcurrant fruit as well as leafy herbs, dried flowers, chalky minerality, and camphor emerge on the nose. This carries to a medium-bodied, seamless 2018 with terrific overall balance, ripe yet present tannins, and outstanding length on the finish. Tasting like a topflight Saint-Emilion, it will benefit from a year or so in the cellar and impress for at least a decade. Readers looking for a brilliant Right Bank wine to put in the cellar should jump on this beauty. (Drink between 2021-2033).
WA 92 (4/2023): A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Joanin Bécot exhibits delicate aromas of blueberries, flowers and violets with touches of tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, it’s a lively, rather delicate wine with a fleshy core of fruit and a crystalline texture overlaid with a fresh, penetrating finish that has racy acidity. The wine will offer a broad tasting window.
VM 89 (3/2021): The 2018 Joanin Bécot has retained the earthy, cedar-tinged bouquet that takes a few swirls of the glass to emerge. There is crisp black fruit here, pine fresh. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine grip on the entry and dusky black fruit mixed with tobacco and sage. Almost Left Bank in style toward the graphite-tinged finish. This is fine Joanin that should drink well for 8–10 years. (Drink between 2021-2030). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. La Gurgue |
2016 |
Margaux |
$39 |
26 |
|
| |
| JS 93-94 (4/2017): Tight and chewy with currant and blueberry character. Medium body, a lovely center palate and a subtle finish. Pretty continuation to the 2015. |
|
| Ch. Labegorce |
2016 |
Margaux ex-Negociant |
$42.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JA 94 (3/2023): Concentrated but restrained with old school charm and an abundance of muscular tannins, it's easy to feel the heart of this wine, packed with liqourice, slate, black chocolate, cassis, brambled hedgerow, aniseed and fennel, with plenty of grip. Years ahead of it, an impressive wine in this exceptional vintage, offering good value. Harvest September 4 to October 21. 50% new oak, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck.
JD 94 (2/2019): From an estate on the uptick and showing beautifully on two separate occasions, the 2016 Château Labégorce is a head-turner of a Margaux that’s based on 52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was brought up in 45% new oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. Sexy notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed flowers, sandalwood, and incense all flow to a medium to full-bodied, fabulously textured Margaux that carries ripe tannins, loads of fruit and richness, and a great finish. Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate and the wines now play with the top in the appellation. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more. (Drink between 2022-2042)
WA 93+ (11/2018): The 2016 Labégorce is composed of 52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aged in 45% new and 55% one-year-old French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps out of the glass with gregarious cassis, kirsch and black raspberries, candied violets, dark chocolate and spearmint. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and with exciting intensity, it delivers a fantastically long, fragrant finish. 12,000 cases produced.
VM 93 (4/2026): The 2016 Labégorce has a very pretty nose with blackberry, briar, cedar and well-integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins, a little more acidity than its peers, segueing into a savoury, black pepper-tinged finish that shows admirable persistence and sapidity. This is a classy Margaux that is ageing with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Drink between 2027-2042). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Lilian Ladouys |
2018 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$27.50 |
60 |
|
| |
JA 93 (7/2021): Owed by Jacky Lorenzetti (new owner also of Ch Lafon Rochet in the same appellation), this is one of those surefire estates that delivers St Estèphe power with a touch of luxury. There are layers of ripe black fruits and chewy tannins here, so it will benefit from a few more years in bottle or a serious carafing before drinking. 48hl/h yield, 35% new oak with both 225l and 400l barrels. Converting to organic farming as of 2020.
VM 92 (3/2021): The 2018 Lilian Ladouys is showing nicely now that the wine is in bottle. It has a riper bouquet compared to, say, the Calon-Ségur, more lush – a 2018 with wider appeal, featuring blueberry and cassis scents that soar from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that disguise the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It is not the most powerful Lilian Ladouys in recent years, safeguarding its linearity and strictness all the way through to the finish. But it conveys a sense of classicism and has abundant freshness that should see it age well over the next two decades. (Drink between 2023-2040). Neal Martin.
JD 92 (3/2021): A year-in, year-out value, the 2018 Château Lilian Ladouys checks in as 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new oak. Jammy blueberries, ripe cherries, damp earth, tobacco, and spicy wood notes define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a plump, rounded texture, opulent aromas and flavors, and a great finish. (Drink between 2021-2036) |
|
| Ch. Marsau |
2019 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux |
$29.95 |
60 |
|
| |
| Decanter 93 (1/2022): A svelte, seductive and seriously appealing 100% Merlot grown atypically on clay-dominant soils on one of the highest points of the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux. Wild strawberries, Morello cherries and subtle spices on the nose and palate, softly sweet, generous, round, plump, juicy and mouth filling, all harmoniously packaged and carefully balanced with freshness from start to finish. Complete and evocative with purity of expression. Seek it out. (Drink between 2023-2031) |
|
|
2022 |
Francs Cotes de Bordeaux 2023 en Primeur Release |
$29.95 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 92-94 (5/2023): This medium to full-bodied 2022 Marsau is an attractive wine produced from 100% Merlot. It has a delightfully pure bouquet of peony, violet, iris, menthol and cassis, followed by a crunchy and juicy yet fresh texture and then by a mineral-driven finish of remarkable purity, expressing elegant notes of licorice and pencil lead. Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier have produced a red wine that punches above its weight. Bravo!
JA 92 (5/2023): Floral notes on the aromatics, shows the heavy spice of the vintage with black pepper, rosemary and turmeric notes, begins to lift through the palate as it opens. An unusual spot in Franc Côtes de Bordeaux with a lot of clay in the soils, and this is powerful and concentrated, with a flash of heat on the finish. 12ha vineyard, entirely clay, entirely Merlot, organic since 2018, no till farming, 25hl/h yield. Harvest September 7 to 12, to be aged 80% large oak casks (no new oak), 10% one year old, 10% neutral oak and amphora. |
|
| Ch. Pibran |
2020 |
Pauillac Ex-Negociant |
$39 |
18 |
|
| |
JD 93 (3/2023): Based on 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 50% new oak, the 2020 Château Pibran is a classic wine in the vintage that has a pure, layered, medium to full-bodied style as well as textbook notes of darker berries, cassis, irone, and tobacco. With ripe tannins, a good spine of acidity, and plenty of texture, it's going to evolve for 15-20 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2023-2043).
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2020 Pibran is a potent wine. Black cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and chocolate are nicely dialed up in this rich, heady Pauillac. Soft, plush and exuberant, Pibran is a total charmer. Best of all, it will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring. Bright acids and floral notes lift the finish. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni.
WA 90+ (4/2023): Aromas of cassis, raw cocoa, licorice and loamy soil introduce the 2020 Pibran, a medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety wine framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. |
|
| Ch. Sociando Mallet |
2020 |
Haut Medoc |
$38 |
48 |
|
| |
JS 94 (12/2022): This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo! Neal Martin. |
|
| Clos Sainte Anne |
2018 |
Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux ex-Negociant |
$16.99 |
40 |
|
| |
|
| Esprit de Chevalier |
2020 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$28.99 |
26 |
|
| |
VM 92 (11/2024): The 2020 L'Esprit de Chevalier has a tad too much wood influence on the nose, but there is sufficient fruit to absorb it. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fleshy, lively and detailed, with a dash of white pepper toward the finish. This is another delicious, classically styled Pessac-Léognan. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2026-2042). Neal Martin.
JD 91 (3/2023): The 2020 L'Esprit De Chevalier is more restrained aromatically, yet has outstanding purity in its red and black fruits as well as notes of dried herbs, tobacco, chocolate, and damp earth. It's a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced, and certainly delicious second wine that will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and shine for a decade. (Drink between 2023-2033)
WA 90 (4/2023): Fleshy and demonstrative, the 2020 L'Esprit de Chevalier bursts with aromas of sweet berries, plums and petals. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with polished tannins and an expansive finish, it will drink well young. |
|
| Fleur de Pedesclaux |
2019 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$32.95 |
25 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2022): The 2019 Fleur de Pédesclaux, matured in 30% new oak, has been increasing its Cabernet Sauvignon since 2009, when it was pure Merlot (and also undergoing organic conversion since 2013). Raspberry, blackberry, cedar and light tobacco scents unfurl in the glass. The palate is still quite fleshy and rounded, and lightly spiced, retaining that hint of Chinese five-spice toward the tender finish. A lovely second wine. (Drink between 2023-2033). Neal Martin. |
|
| G. d' Estournel |
2020 |
Medoc ex-Negociant |
$32.99 |
39 |
|
| |
JA 92 (1/2023): So interesting tasting this against a wide range of AOC Médoc wines. It's a more expensive bottle than many of them, but it is confident, crafted and full of personality. Cocoa bean, espresso, plentiful berry fruit, touches of mandarin peel and lemongrass to lift things on the finish, slate texture tannins, good stuff.
JD 89 (2/2023): A terrific wine, the 2020 Goulee By Cos D'Estournel sports a healthy ruby/purple hue as well as ripe aromatics of currants, sandalwood, damp earth, and leafy tobacco. This medium-bodied, silky, juicy, ready-to-go Médoc is perfect for enjoying over the coming 7-8 years. (Drink between 2023-2031)
VM 89 (2/2023): The 2020 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is very pretty and aromatic. Élevage has filled out the layers nicely, but this remains a decidedly aromatic, mid-weight vintage for the château's Médoc. Sweet pipe tobacco, leather, mint, cinnamon and dried cherry build nicely in the glass. The 2020 has come together nicely. (Drink between 2024-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Le C des Carmes Haut Brion |
2022 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$44.95 |
60 |
|
| |
WA 94 (3/2025): The 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion is punching above its weight this year. Unfurling in the glass with a gourmand, lively and vibrant bouquet of raspberry, mulberries, rose, violet and cassis, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered with refined, velvety tannins and a deep core of fruit, concluding with a harmonious, elegant profile that avoids any excess, enhancing its distinctive personality. Guillaume Pouthier, Guillaume Deschepper and their team have done a fantastic job at this address, delivering an exceptional wine.
JD 94 (2/2025): The 2022 C Des Carmes Haut-Brion is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest 1% Petit Verdot that was fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged 12 months in a new foudre (there's a small part in used barrels) followed by four months all in concrete tanks. There are fewer stems in this cuvée as the vines are younger, and it has a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a spicy, peppery, complex perfume of darker berry and plum fruits, spring flowers, tobacco leaf, and a beautiful sense of minerality. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, elegant, and loaded with character, it's a singular Pessac-Léognan that will have two decades of longevity. (Drink between 2025-2045).
VM 92 (2/2025): The 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) from gravelly soils, will be kept for one year in bottle before release. It has 13.3% alcohol, reduced by the 30% whole cluster contribution with infusion rather than maceration, using a coffee plunger concept to push down the cap in the vat. It aged for one year in barrel and one year on foudres. The nose presents blackberry, clove and curry leaf aromas, with a touch more mint than before. The medium-bodied palate has slightly chalky tannins and is fresh thanks to the whole bunch contribution. Quite linear and a little Syrah-like towards the finish, this lovely wine will age well over the next 12 to 20 years. (Drink between 2028-2048). Neal Martin. |
|
| Les Fiefs de Lagrange |
2010 |
St. Julien (375 ML) |
$32 |
58 |
|
| |
| WA 89-91 (5/2011): A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot, this has a very fine nose of blackberry, briary and a touch of black tea. Good definition and purity. The Petit Verdot add a little edginess to this wine that has fine tension if lacking a little length on the saturated, slightly chewy finish. Very good purity and precision though. |
|
| Les Griffons de Pichon Baron |
2019 |
Pauillac Ex-Negociant |
$49 |
20 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2022): The second wine of this great estate, the 2019 Les Griffons De Pichon Baron is a more Merlot-dominated release and is 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 40% new oak. It has a gorgeous nose of ripe blackcurrant and darker cherry fruits as well as tobacco, smoked herbs, violets, and freshly sharpened pencils. Vibrant, pure, and complex aromatically, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, has the vintage's pure, elegant character, terrific depth on the mid-palate, and outstanding length. It's a wonderful, already approachable Pauillac that will deliver the goods over the coming 20+ years. (Drink between 2022-2044).
VM 90 (2/2023): The 2019 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron has a slightly evolved nose, red fruit mixed with melted tar and mixed herbs. The palate is better with firm tannins, fine acidity, quite a solid wine with admirable grip on the finish. Enjoy this over the next 10 to 12 years. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2035). Neal Martin. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Baron de Brane |
2023 |
Bordeaux Blanc ex-Negociant |
$25.95 |
32 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. de Rayne-Vigneau |
2014 |
Sauternes (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2017): A rich, exotic Sauternes, the 2014 de Rayne Vigneau exudes class. A mélange of apricot jam, wild flowers, mint and lemon confit fills out the wine's frame effortlessly. Ample, powerful and super-inviting, the 2014 shows beautifully today. This is one of the more over, extroverted Sauternes of the vintage. (Drink between 2017-2029). Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-96 (4/2015): The Château Rayne-Vigneau 2014 could be one of the standouts of the vintage. It was showing a little new oak on the nose, though readers should note that this sample was taken from a new Burgundy barrel. There are touches of vanilla infusing the honeyed fruit. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry. This is very balanced and poised with superb tension, energetic but classy, a sophisticated Sauternes that feels persistent and long in the mouth. Talented winemaker Anne Le Naour has crafted another beauty from this estate that deserves more respect. |
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| Ch. Rieussec |
2024 |
"R" de Rieussec Bordeaux Blanc Sec ex-Negociant |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JA 94 (4/2025): This is succulent and precise, definitely one to look out, plenty of energy and lift through the palate, elderflower, citrus, white pepper, sage, lime zest, apricot, nectarine, saffron, steel and slate. Great stuff from Rieussec in this vintage. 3.15ph. |
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| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Michele and Patrice Rion |
2023 |
Bourgogne Bons Batons ex-Domaine |
$39.95 |
22 |
|
| |
VM 88-90 (1/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Rouge Bon Baton comes from a parcel adjacent to Ghislaine Barthod's on stonier soils, aged mostly in one-year-old barrels. Lightly perfumed on the nose, this conjures raspberry, strawberry and wild hedgerow scents, more complex than your common or garden Bourgogne Rouge. The palate is medium-bodied with satisfying concentration, not weighty or dense but light on its feet with commendable purity and grip on the finish. Traces of tobacco emerge on the aftertaste. Village Cru in quality. (Drink between 2026-2031). Neal Martin.
JM 87-89 (10/2024): An even purple colour. A very attractive stylish perfumed floral nose, with a little more body than the regular. Not massively concentrated but distinguished in its length. Sound acidity. The flavours stay with you. Drink from 2026-2030.
BH 86-89 (1/2025): A slightly riper and more deeply pitched nose features aromas of dark cherry, poached plum and freshly turned earth. The delicious if not especially dense flavors do possess a lovely sense of underlying tension before culminating in a youthfully austere, lingering and mildly austere finale. This is also very good for its level and worth checking out. Drink 2027+. Outstanding! |
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| Dom. Patrick Javillier |
2023 |
Pernand Vergelesses Rouge ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
50 |
|
| |
BH 89 (4/2025): Here too there is a mentholated top note to the fresh and more deeply pitched nose of poached plum, dark berries and more subtle earth nuances. There is better volume to the solidly concentrated middle weight flavors that possess both a finer texture and a discreet bead of minerality on the balanced, youthfully austere and slightly firmer finale. This is a quality Pernand villages. (Drink starting 2028).
JM 87-89 (12/2024): An even light crimson colour. While there is less fruit evident on the nose, there is more concentration than expected on the palate, with a certain density towards the back, in a crunchy strawberry raspberry style. Once the bouquet develops this will, become an interesting wine. |
|
| Patrice Rion |
2023 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$32.99 |
44 |
|
| |
JM 86-87 (10/2024): A fine red to crimson colour, with an agreeable immediate red fruit nose, no great concentration but nicely made. Perfumed with some cherries, a slight hardness at the finish still needing time to soften – recently racked – and good acidity. Some young vines in this. Drink from 2026-2028.
BH 86-89 (1/2025): (from Chambolle vines.) An expressive and fresh nose offers up notes of red and blue pinot fruit laced with earth and discreet spice nuances. The supple, delicious and fleshy middle weight flavors conclude in a refreshing and long finish where a touch of rusticity eventually surfaces. Solid quality here. Outstanding! |
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|
2023 |
Cotes de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes ex-Domaine |
$39.95 |
32 |
|
| |
VM 89-91 (1/2025): The 2023 Côte de Nuits-Villages comprises two-thirds fruit purchased from Clombanchien, and the rest Domaine fruit from En Luret lieu-dit. Blackcurrant and raspberry combine nicely on the nose, not concentrated per se, yet showing decent clarity and purity. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly granular texture on the entry, lightly peppered though there are no stems in the blend. Focused and harmonious toward the finish, this is a worthy follow-up to the 2022. (Drink between 2027-2037). Neal Martin.
JM 89-90 (10/2024): A mix of their own vines, one third from Au Leurey, and the rest purchases in Comblanchien. There is more depth to the purple colour here. A perfumed nose with a more sensual and floral bouquet redolent of the sunshine. Good acidity behind, medium density, some length. Drink from 2027-2030.
BH 88-91 (1/2025): (mostly from Belle-Vue in Comblanchien with small amounts of Les Loges, Les Leurey and Vaucrains.) This is aromatically similar to the Bon Bâtons but with notably more spice influence. The supple, delicious and energetic medium weight flavors possess a highly seductive, even velvety, texture while displaying very good length and depth on the balanced bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. Drink 2028+. |
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| Pierre Boisson |
2023 |
Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge |
$39.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| Anne Boisson |
2023 |
Bourgogne Aligote |
$33.95 |
24 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Bourgogne Blanc Les Clous Perrons |
$47.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Bessin-Tremblay |
2023 |
Chablis ex-Domaine |
$37.99 |
47 |
|
| |
BH 89-91 (10/2024): Cool and airy aromas include those of Granny Smith apple, citrus rind and ample Chablis character, especially seaweed. The delicious middle weight flavors possess a lovely texture, especially for a villages Chablis, while displaying a subtle materiality on the youthfully austere and lingering finale. Lovely. (Drink starting 2027).
JM 88 (6/2025): Bottled in March 2025. Pale lime green. Fresh and chiselled nose, some lime blossom all as minerals, Plenty of energy, not at all too fleshy, backward. Drink from 2025-2027. |
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| Dom. des Malandes |
2023 |
Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu Ex-Domaine |
$49.95 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 91 (7/2025): The 2023 Chablis Mont de Milieu 1er Cru has a well-focused, quite animated bouquet that unfolds in the glass with touches of orchard fruit and grassy meadow. The palate is balanced with a fine bead of acidity. This is lightly spiced but just needs a little more tension on the finish. Overall, it's a very well-made Mont de Milieu that should age nicely in bottle. Tasted blind at the BIVB offices in Chablis. Neal Martin.
BH 88-90 (10/2024): (from a parcel of .26 ha). A funky nose of leesy reduction and lactic character. By contrast there is good freshness to the rich, generously proportioned and succulent medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a delicious if somewhat short finish. This should improve once it’s racked but it’s awkward today. Drink 2027+ |
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|
2023 |
Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey Ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 90 (7/2025): The 2023 Chablis Vau de Vey 1er Cru, aged 50% in used oak, has a light, fresh apple blossom- and pear-scented nose with hints of pressed white flowers. The palate is well balanced with slightly honeyed citrus fruit and modest weight, though it needs more Neal Martin.
BH 89-91 (10/2024): (from a 3.52 ha parcel aged in 30% wood). A fresh, ripe and expressive nose reflects good Chablis typicity that includes quinine, sea breeze, lemon rind and cool white fleshed fruit. There is fine density to the delicious, intense and solidly voluminous flavors that offer better depth and persistence on the youthfully austere finale. Drink 2028+ |
|
| Dom. Patrick Javillier |
2022 |
Bourgogne Cuvee des Forgets ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
60 |
|
| |
BH 87 (6/2024): Bright aromas of just sliced citrus, white peach and pretty floral nuances are complemented by delicious middleweight flavors that are supported by lemon-tinged acidity on the vibrant, lingering and refreshing finale. Moreover, this is not your usual 'pop and pour' Bourgogne as it has the legs to repay 4 to 7 years of keeping. Worth checking out. Drink 2027+. Outstanding Top Value!
JM 87-89 (10/2023): A similar colour, pale primrose perhaps. A little bit crisper and more classic in bouquet. Delicious white fruit, very balanced, feel the limestone, enough flesh yet with precision as well. A longer and more mineral finish than Forgets. |
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|
2023 |
Bourgogne Cuvee des Forgets ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JM 89-91 (12/2024): To bottle in the New Year. A fine mid lemon yellow with an engaging generosity of fruit already apparent on the nose. The Javilliers have manged to harness freshness with ripeness in a most engaging fashion. Apple and plum fruit throughout, with a fine long finish. Drink from 2026-2029.
BH 87 (6/2025): Smoky aromas include those of apple, pear and a pretty floral top note. There is fine density, particularly in the context of the 2023 vintage, to the attractively textured and punchy flavors that conclude in a supple and lingering finish that is perhaps a bit less dry than usual. Even so, this is lovely and worth considering. (Drink starting 2026).
VM 87 (3/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Cuvée des Forgets has a light grass clipping- and apple blossom-scented nose. The palate is fresh with admirable weight, more expressive than the aromatics at the moment, with citrus peel and a hint of apricot on the finish. Drink over the next five years. (Drink between 2025-2030). Neal Martin. |
|
|
2023 |
Bourgogne Cuvee Oligocene ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 89 (3/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Cuvée Oligocène has a little more evidence of oak on the nose and a touch more yellow fruit than the Cuvée des Forgets. The palate is fresh and lively, mixing citrus lemon with orange rind and a dash of lemongrass towards the finish. Great value as always, this comes recommended. (Drink between 2025-2032). Neal Martin.
JM 89 (12/2024): Bottled end November. A slightly paler lemon yellow. Oligocene proposes a more cerebral aspect after the joyous Forgets. Ther is still an excellent concentration of ripe fruit, with a clear limestone backbone. Very good tension here with some lime notes as well as ripe lemon. Balanced and classy. Drink from 2026-2029.
BH 87 (6/2025): A more layered nose is comprised by notes of petrol, various white orchard fruit, acacia and a whiff of citrus confit. There is a bit more volume to the vibrant and utterly delicious middle weight flavors that retain a fine sense of detail on the drier, longer and more complex finale. This is an excellent Bourgogne and warmly recommended. (Drink starting 2027). |
|
| Dom. Potinet-Ampeau |
2018 |
Bourgogne Aligote ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
59 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Bourgogne Blanc Ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
28 |
|
| |
|
| Patrice Rion |
2023 |
Bourgogne Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$32.99 |
60 |
|
| |
BH 86-88 (6/2025): Fresh and bright aromas include those of pear and apple compote, citrus rind and a hint of spice. There is equally good verve to the delicious and acceptably dense flavors that possess a succulent mid-palate that contrasts mildly with the youthfully austere and balanced finale. This could use better depth so a year, or perhaps two, of cellaring should help. (Drink starting 2026).
JM 86-87 (10/2024): A fine red to crimson colour, with an agreeable immediate red fruit nose, no great concentration but nicely made. Perfumed with some cherries, a slight hardness at the finish still needing time to soften – recently racked – and good ac |
|
| Pierre Boisson |
2022 |
Macon-Villages au Poirier Chanin |
$46.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Macon-Villages Blanc |
$31.99 |
24 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Rully Blanc Les Cailloux |
$42.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Pierre Morey |
2023 |
Bourgogne Aligote |
$31.99 |
20 |
|
| |
VM 88 (3/2025): The 2023 Bourgogne Aligoté, which had been bottled, offers lilting citrus peel and clementine scents on the nose that just need a little coaxing from the glass. The palate is well balanced with an underlying sapidity, slightly viscous in texture with veins of lemongrass towards the persistent finish. This is a fine upstanding Aligoté from Anne Morey. (Drink between 2025-2030).
BH 87 (6/2025): A textbook aligoté nose is comprised by notes of various citrus elements, spice and ripe green apple. The seductive, even suave, middle weight flavors possess excellent punch as well as an almost pungent minerality that seems to build on the bone-dry, youthfully austere and borderline rustic and tannic finale. This is an old school effort that will need a year or two of keeping first. A quality aligoté. (Drink starting 2027). |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. Coursodon |
2021 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
60 |
|
| |
Decanter 92 (9/2022): Sparky herbal notes on the nose, with thyme and rosemary. There’s some roundness on the palate thanks in part down to the oak, which isn't overly dominating. Good presence on the palate thanks to the firm tannins, and a fairly long finish. A good option in 2021. 60-year-old vines, all destemmed, 15% new oak.
JD 90-92 (12/2022): The 2021 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie is rock-solid, offering pretty darker cherry and fresh fig-like notes as well as spice, game, and flowery incense nuances. This medium-bodied, supple, nicely balanced, and textured effort has outstanding potential and will certainly drink nicely right out of the gate. |
|
|
2022 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93 (5/2025): All Syrah aged 15 months in barrel (15% new), the 2022 Saint Joseph Olivaie offers red and black fruits, leafy herbs, sappy flowers, and spicy wood. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced, with ripe tannins, it's a layered, elegant, and impressively made wine in a classic style. Drink bottles over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035.
VM 91 (1/2025): The 2022 Saint-Joseph L'Olivaie mixes leafy accents with graphite, black cherry and a touch of cedar on the elegant aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, round and refreshing, the 2022 is a delicious Saint-Joseph that’s already starting to drink well. Drink between 2025-2030. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie Ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (5/2025): All Syrah, the 2023 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie brings another level of concentration, offering cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and classy oak on the nose. It has terrific purity, medium to full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. The overall balance and purity here are exceptional.
VM 90-92 (1/2025): Cedar, black cherry, wood smoke and pencil shaving introduce the 2023 Saint-Joseph L'Olivaie, a medium-bodied, deeply hued Northern Rhône Syrah. Touching the palate with elevated flavor concentration, the 2023 handles the oak well. I look forward to tasting the bottled version. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2020 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$31.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 93 (12/2022): Saturated violet color. Displays fresh-mineral-accented aromas of fresh red and blue fruits and candied flowers, with hints of savory herbs and black pepper in the background. Juicy and lithe on the palate, offering appealingly sweet cherry and boysenberry flavors and a touch of licorice. Finishes long and smooth, with resonating red fruit character and round, even tannins that come on late. Josh Raynolds.
JD 91 (12/2022): A great introduction to the wines of this terrific vigneron, the 2020 Saint Joseph Silice has classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery herbs, violets, and some obvious minerality on both the nose and palate. These carry to a medium-bodied effort with good acidity, firm yet ripe tannins, and outstanding length.
JS 91 (2/2022): An interesting nose of blackberries and blueberries with some graphite and leather adding interest. Robust structure for a St.-Joseph with plenty of pepper and spice, but the fruit is more than adequate to carry all this. Good length, if not tremendously complex. Sustainable. Drinkable now, but best from 2023. |
|
|
2021 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$28.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 91-93 (12/2022): The 2021 Saint Joseph Silice is also beautiful, with a round, supple, layered style that shines in the vintage. Black raspberries, spice box, dried flowers, and hints of violets give way to a medium-bodied, up-front, charming, layered 2021 that certainly stands out in the vintage.
Decanter 91 (9/2022): Neat, well-balanced and fresh, with sappy acidity. It's a relatively light St-Joseph, as is common for the vintage, but they've found a good balance and reflected the vintage as well as it could be. Gently herbal streak and a touch of juniper. |
|
|
2022 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
28 |
|
| |
JD 94 (5/2025): Showing the least amount of oak in Coursodon's lineup, the 2022 Saint Joseph Silice offers blackberries, peppery herbs, damp earth, and sappy flowers, all with remarkable purity and complexity. All Syrah, destemmed and aged 12 months in barrel, this cooler-fruited effort is terrific. Drink bottles over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2025-2035.
VM 92 (1/2025): The 2022 Saint-Joseph Silice unfolds with ripe black cherry, pencil shaving, black tea, crushed violet and gently leafy subtleties. Medium-bodied at most, the 2022 is a classic, age-worthy Silice that’s gently structured by ripe tannins. Drink between 2025-2035. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2023 |
St. Joseph Rouge Silice Ex-Domaine |
$31.99 |
60 |
|
| |
JD 92-94 (5/2025): The 2023 Saint Joseph Silice shows beautifully, with a pure, balanced, medium to full-bodied style as well as classic Saint Joseph minerality, the vintage's ripe red and darker, almost blue fruits, lots of spice and floral nuances, integrated oak, and outstanding length. All Syrah, destemmed and aged 12 months in barrel, it should shine right out of the gate
VM 90-92 (1/2025): The 2023 Saint-Joseph Silice evokes a classic aromatic profile so typical of the appellation. This accentuates its Syrah elegance through delicate graphite, red and black plum notes as well as spicy subtleties. The medium-bodied 2023 is shaping up to be a refreshing Saint-Joseph, closing with a resonant echo on the bright finish. It is very complete, even at this early stage. Drink between 2025-2033. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Grenache ex-Domaine |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (2/2025): Almost all Grenache the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Séguret Family Grenache was totally destemmed and spent 18 months in wooden conical trunk vats and barrels. It's a ripe, sexy, concentrated Grenache that has a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, black cherries, sandalwood, and peppery herbs. Reminding me of a great Gigondas, it offers medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. It will shine over the coming 10-12 years. |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Grenache ex-Domaine |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (11/2025): This is gorgeous stuff offering black raspberries, violets, blood orange, and tons of peppery garrigue, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality. Based on 98% Grenache and aged 18 months in 600-liter oak containers, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Grenache Family Reserve is medium to full-bodied and has a pure, layered mouthfeel with remarkable purity and fine tannins. It will stand up to just about anything in the region, and there are 375 cases produced. Drink 2025-2040. |
|
|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Syrah Ex-Domaine |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (11/2025): A bigger, richer wine, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Syrah Family Reserve offers blackberries, chalky minerality, pepper, and gamey, meaty nuances. Based on 98% Syrah from vines planted in the 1950s and aged 18 months in oak barrels, it's medium to full-bodied and has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel with ripe tannins. It will continue to drink nicely over the coming decade, and there are 333 cases produced. Drink 2025-2035. |
|
|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Grande Reserve Ex-Domaine |
$27.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (2/2025): The 2022 Cotes du Rhone Villages Segurey Grande Reserve is based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spicy wood, and some meaty nuances all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a broad, layered mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. I love it today yet it's going to have a solid 10-12 years of prime drinking. |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Loubie Rose ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Nana ex-Domaine |
$17.50 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Soubois Rose ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition Ex-Domaine |
$18.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 89 (2/2025): Blackberries, darker cherries, peppery garrigue, and plenty of curshed stone-like notes define the 2022 Cotes Du Rhone Seguret Tradition, a medium-bodied, structured, yet elegant Seguret that has tons of character. |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition ex-Domaine |
$18.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (11/2025): The classic cuvée of this terrific estate, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Tradition offers red and black fruits, crushed stone, garrigue, and pretty floral nuances. Based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah and aged 20% in trunconic oak vats with 80% in concrete vats, it's medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with fine tannins and a good finish. This charming, balanced, elegant Seguret will keep for 5-7 years, and there are roughly 3,250 cases produced. Drink 2025-2032. |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Tradition (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
24 |
|
| |
| JD 88 (11/2025): The classic cuvée of this terrific estate, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Tradition offers red and black fruits, crushed stone, garrigue, and pretty floral nuances. Based on 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah and aged 20% in trunconic oak vats with 80% in concrete vats, it's medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with fine tannins and a good finish. This charming, balanced, elegant Seguret will keep for 5-7 years, and there are roughly 3,250 cases produced. Drink 2025-2032. |
|
| Dom. Duclaux |
2020 |
Cote Rotie La Chana ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
29 |
|
| |
JD 89-91 (2/2022): Starting with the 2020 Côte Rôtie La Chana, which includes 7% Viognier, this has a ripe, up-front, charming style as well as classic Côte Rôtie black raspberry fruits mixed with spice and bacon fat nuances. It's going to drink nicely right out of the gate.
WA 89-91 (1/2022): Blended from several parcels and barrels for my evaluation, the 2020 Cote Rotie La Chana usually contains approximately 7% Viognier and sees no new wood. It shows attractive aromas of raspberries and apricot on the nose, a medium to full-bodied feel on the palate and a savory finish that nicely balances mouthwatering acids and softly dusty tannins. It should drink well for the rest of this decade. |
|
|
2022 |
Cote Rotie La Chana Ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
53 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Cote Rotie La Germine ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| Decanter 92 (10/2022): Spiced raspberry fruits on the nose, with a touch of blood orange. A dry, neat, compact style that will drink well young. Fine tannins reveal a gentle, light-bodied style with a good sense of freshness, if not concentration. Vines on gneiss, blonde soils. 20% whole bunch. Vinified in open concrete tanks. |
|
|
2022 |
Cote Rotie La Germine Ex-Domaine |
$48.99 |
44 |
|
| |
JD 93 (5/2025): Incorporating 3% Viognier, the 2022 Côte Rôtie La Germine reveals a concentrated, rich, nicely structured profile of ripe black and blue fruits, crushed stone, and floral, sappy, gamey nuances. Medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth and a great finish, it was vinified with 20% whole clusters and aged 20 months in barrels and demi-muids (15% new). It, too, should have 10-15 years of longevity. Drink 2025-2035.
VM 89 (1/2025): The 2022 Côte-Rôtie La Germine evokes a fairly simple aromatic profile, opening with red and black cherry notes alongside touches of violet and spice box. Medium-bodied and refreshing, the 2022 is an elegant, early approachable Côte-Rôtie culminating with brightness on the moderately long finish. (Drink between 2025-2030). NIcholas Greinacher. |
|
| Dom. Vincent Paris |
2020 |
Cornas Granit 30 |
$44.99 |
20 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (2/2022): Starting with what could be considered the entry level cuvée, the 2020 Cornas Granit 30 comes from further down the slope, from vines closer to the village. That's obviously not a bad thing, since this plump, full-bodied, beautifully textured Cornas has remarkable purity and elegance as well as richness. Blackberries, blueberries, subtle smoke, graphite, and violets all emerge from the glass, and it has a seamless, incredibly elegant texture.
VM 93 (12/2022): Dark violet color. Dark berry preserve, licorice, olive and exotic spice aromas, with a hint of espresso in the background. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering spice-tinged cherry-cola, blueberry and candied violet flavors with a spicy snap of black pepper. The floral note carries through a very long, dark fruit-driven finish, where gently chewy tannins add shape and closing grip. Josh Raynolds.
Decanter 93 (10/2021): Very herbal, with leafy herbs like tarragon alongside woody herbs such as rosemary. Blueberry and liquorice too. Middleweight style, good concentration of fresh, juicy berry fruit and good persistence. Fresh, intense, gently saline and well-balanced. A good value pick this year. From 10-year-old vines, all destemmed. (Drink between 2022-2028) |
|
| Domaine les Goubert |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Sablet ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
30 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Gigondas Cuvee Florence ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
37 |
|
| |
| JD 91-93+ (10/2023): Slightly deeper hued, the 2021 Gigondas Cuvée Florence has a terrific nose of darker berries, sandalwood, white chocolate, and pepper. It's a concentrated, medium-bodied, balanced 2021 offering solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. Based on Grenache and Syrah that sees an extended élevage in barrels, it should benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and have a solid decade of prime drinking. |
|
|
2024 |
IGP Vaucluse Principaute d’Orange Miss Grenouille ex-Domaine |
$19.99 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Jean-Luc Jamet |
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Rouge l’Enclave Ex-Domaine |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Rouge l’Enclave ex-Domaine |
$35.99 |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
IGP Collines Rhodaniennes Rouge Syrah Valine Ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
28 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Vin de France Syrah Valine ex-Domaine |
$31.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Mourchon |
2022 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Ex-Domaine |
$45.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (11/2025): A cuvée whose quality has soared over the past four to five years, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a brilliant effort in an arguably more challenging, heatwave-driven vintage. Sporting a ruby translucent hue, it boasts a brilliant perfume of ripe black cherries, redcurrants, peppery garrigue, and loamy earth with beautiful aromatic complexity. On the palate it's medium to full-bodied, has a ripe, layered mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a great finish. It's very much in the ripe, forward, sexy style of the vintage yet stays pure, graceful, and is just impossible to resist. It's not a long-term ager, so drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years. Drink 2025-2032. |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Ex-Domaine |
$14.99 |
54 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (11/2025): Lots of peppery red and black berry fruits, garrigue, and spice-driven aromatics emerge from the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône, with a hint of flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a juicy finish. It's one seriously good Côtes du Rhône that you could pretty much put up against anything in the appellation – count me impressed. This should have 10-12 years of prime drinking as well, and I'd be happy with a case in the cellar. Drink 2025-2037. |
|
|
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone ex-Domaine |
$14.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Dom. Coursodon |
2021 |
St. Joseph Blanc Silice ex-Domaine |
$29.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (12/2022): The 2021 Saint Joseph Silice Blanc has a Burgundian-like sense of reduction as well as beautiful quince, white flowers, honeyed minerality, and a kiss of background spice and toastiness. It's medium-bodied and has a clean, classy style that's going to evolve for 7-8 years in cold cellars. |
|
|
2023 |
St. Joseph Blanc Silice ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
44 |
|
| |
JD 92 (5/2025): Based on 100% Marsanne, the 2023 Saint Joseph Silice Blanc reveals melon, honeyed flowers, spice, and toasted notes, showing impressive purity and cleanliness. It's fleshy on the palate, with beautiful balance and good purity, and while it has a slightly hazy color, it remains an impressive white. Drink bottles over the coming 4-6 years. Drink 2025-2031.
WA 91 (3/2025): Fresher and livelier than its Paradis Saint-Pierre counterpart, the 2023 Saint-Joseph Silice Blanc reveals aromas of confit citrus, spring blossoms and pear. Moderately weighted and delicately enveloping, it's juicy and layered with bright acids, concluding with a mouthwatering, floral finish.
VM 90 (1/2025): Flinty elements introduce the 2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc Silice, accompanied by notes of cedar, ripe pear, white peach and lemon flesh. Full-bodied, round and generous, the 2023 bundles vibrant energy and checks out with persistence on the sapid finish. This is an exquisite white Saint-Joseph. Drink between 2025-2027. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2024 |
St. Joseph Blanc Silice Ex-Domaine |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Soubois Blanc Ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
20 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (11/2025): Based on 90% Viognier and 10% Roussanne and aged in demi-muids with weekly bâtonnage for six months, the 2024 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Seguret Soubois Blanc shows a light gold hue and offers crisp stone fruit, honeyed flowers, and a hint of orange blossom. It's medium-bodied, fresh, focused, and crisp, with terrific purity and balance. There are 191 cases produced. Drink 2025-2029. |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Soubois Blanc ex-Domaine |
$22.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. du Tunnel |
2024 |
Saint Peray Cuvee Prestige Ex-Domaine |
$48.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (2/2026): Honeyed melon, crushed stone, mint, and hints of orange blossom all define the 2024 Prestige, an incredibly pure Saint-Péray that has so much to love. It's medium-bodied, has undeniable minerality, and outstanding length. You could put this up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, and while it plays in the fresher style of the vintage, it brings tons of character. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2026-2041. |
|
|
2024 |
Saint Peray Marsanne Ex-Domaine |
$37.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2026): All Marsanne, the 2024 Saint-Péray Marsanne offers a gorgeous nose of honeyed quince, sappy white flowers, spice, and crushed stone. It's medium-bodied and has a focused, juicy, yet still nicely concentrated mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and outstanding length. It plays in the fresh, juicy, focused style of the vintage and will evolve gracefully over the coming decade. Drink 2026-2036. |
|
|
2024 |
Saint Peray Roussanne Ex-Domaine |
$45.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2026): Orchard fruits, honeyed mint, and sappy herb/floral nuances emerge from the 2024 Saint-Péray Roussanne, which is medium-bodied, juicy, fresh, and focused on the palate. I love its overall purity, and it picks up a beautiful sense of salinity with time in the glass. It has another decade or more of longevity ahead of it. Drink 2026-2036. |
|
| Dom. Duclaux |
2021 |
Condrieu Les Caillets ex-Domaine |
$46.99 |
26 |
|
| |
|
| Jean-Luc Jamet |
2021 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc Couzou ex-Domaine |
$25.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 89 (5/2024): The 2021 Côtes du Rhône Couzou Blanc is based on Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier, all from more granitic soils. It has a light gold hue as well as a subtle nose of ripe stone fruits, honeyed orange, and spice, and it's medium-bodied, nicely textured, and nicely balanced on the palate. It has a good sense of freshness, but it's certainly a rich white that's going to shine on the dinner table. |
|
|
2022 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc Couzou Ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
43 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc Couzou ex-Domaine |
$34.99 |
36 |
|
| |
|
| Mourchon |
2024 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc La Source Ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
25 |
|
| |
|
|
2025 |
Cotes du Rhone Blanc La Source ex-Domaine |
$16.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| | Southern France |
| Ch. de Pibarnon |
2020 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$44.99 |
15 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2026): Under seven years of age, this 2020 Bandol Pibarnon keeps all its promises. It has taken time to develop and grow more complex, with delicate oak notes and others more smoky and typical of the terroir: sour cherry jam, leather, and precious wood. The texture is frank, coating, broad, and round, and the balance will confirm itself over the next 10-15 years. Best from 2027-2035. Antoine Petrus |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (5/2026): The 2021 Bandol leans fully into a classical style, opening with licorice, dried herbs, blackberry and peppery undertones as a beautiful spiciness grows steadily in the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, it is shaped by gently chalky tannins that lend real composure. The savoury finish is marked by pepper, subtle fleshiness and understated authority. (Drink between 2028-2046). Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$46.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (5/2026): The 2021 Bandol leans fully into a classical style, opening with licorice, dried herbs, blackberry and peppery undertones as a beautiful spiciness grows steadily in the glass. Medium- to full-bodied, it is shaped by gently chalky tannins that lend real composure. The savoury finish is marked by pepper, subtle fleshiness and understated authority. (Drink between 2028-2046). Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2023 |
Bandol Blanc ex-Chateau |
$49.99 |
27 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (7/2024): The elegant and perfumed 2023 Bandol Blanc from Château de Pibarnon is a real success this year, despite a challenging vintage in the region. It evokes aromas of citrus, spring flowers, curry leaves and white fruits mingled with spicy notes. Medium-bodied, perfectly balanced and fleshy, it has a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and a long, mineral and saline finish. This blend of 55% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc and the rest of a mix of other white grapes is an outstanding wine. |
|
|
2022 |
Bandol Rose ex-Chateau |
$36.99 |
60 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2023): The citrusy, mentholated 2022 Bandol Rosé was crafted with a blend of 65% Mourvèdre and 35% Cinsault and matured six months in barrels. It displays aromas of pomegranate, citrus, spring flowers, iodine, jasmine and crushed stones, followed by a beautifully defined texture, a fleshy core of fruit and racy acids that underpin a delicate, well-delineated and calcareous finish. It's going to drink nicely in its youth, but I suspect it will also age gracefully over the next 2-5 years.
VM 91 (5/2023): The 2022 Rosé is savory and sweet with a rich blend of rosemary, sage and tomato leaf, giving way to dried cherries. It's silky-smooth and round with a buzz of minerality and brisk acidity up front as ginger-spiked nectarine forms toward the close. This tapers off with a salty flourish. Spice and citrus notes keep the mouth watering. Eric Guido. |
|
|
2023 |
Bandol Rose ex-Chateau |
$34.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 93 (5/2025): The 2023 Bandol Rosé is a powerful, classy Rosé that delivers the proverbial “iron fist in a velvet glove.” Deep and rich, the 2023 takes its time in the glass, gradually unfurling layers of waxy cherry fruit, Mediterranean herbs, raspberry liqueur, , crushed oyster shell and dried apricot. There’s an impressive phenolic core and a wealth of complexity here, not to mention a long, long finish. This is a very serious wine with the stuffing to improve in the cellar. Billy Norris.
WA 92+ (7/2024): A blend of 65% Mourvèdre and 35% Cinsault, the 2023 Bandol Rosé from Château de Pibarnon offers up a delicate, complex bouquet of spices, licorice, red berries, lemon, spring flowers and herbs. Medium-bodied, enveloping and beautifully structured, it’s round and juicy with a delicate, lively core of fruit and a mineral, calcareous finish. This is a classical rosé wine from Bandol. |
|
|
2024 |
Bandol Rose ex-Chateau |
$37.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2025): The 2024 Bandol Rosé is another stunning wine from Provence. Revealing a complex, fresh bouquet of red berries, pomegranate, grapefruit and spices, it's medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and round, with a supple, elegant core of fruit supported by moderate tannins, finishing long and delicately saline. |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol Rose Nuances ex-Chateau |
$47.99 |
14 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2026): With the 2021 Bandol Nuances, Pibarnon produces a near-perfect rosé. The pale ruby color leads into spiced, smoky aromas of white pepper, redcurrant jam, and peppery touches, while numerous fine tannins coat the palate to provide power, character, and length. Drink now. Antoine Petrus. |
|
|
2022 |
Bandol Rose Nuances ex-Chateau |
$46.99 |
40 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Le Roc des Anges |
2016 |
Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Asterolide |
$31 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Les Restanques de Pibarnon |
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Bandol ex-Chateau |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| | Alsace |
| Klipfel |
2012 |
Riesling Cuvee Louis Klipfel |
$18 |
18 |
|
| |
|
| | Champagne |
| Charpentier |
NV |
Tradition Brut Champagne |
$38.99 |
57 |
|
| |
|
| | Other France |
| Dom. Richard Rottiers |
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
54 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent was bottled a month before my visit. This has fine purity on the nose. The 20% used oak knits everything together nicely, though not as powerfully as the 2022. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, with fine tannins and red cherry and crushed strawberry notes leading to a smooth, easy-drinking finish. The 2023 is very fine. Neal Martin. |
|
|
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Champ de Cour Ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 92 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Champ de Cour was bottled one month before my visit. It has a lifted and more intense bouquet than the Mortperay, with floral scents of rose and violet emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied and well balanced, with supple tannins and a precise, graceful finish that lingers in the mouth. The 2023 is superb. Neal Martin.
WA 90+ (3/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Champ de Cour, aged in oak barrels, stands out as the most lavish offering of the lineup, showcasing deep sappy notes of prunes, cherries, licorice and cacao powder. However, it maintains a poised balance thanks to a refreshing edge of ginger spice and graphite. Full-bodied and with ripe acidity, the wine exhibits a firm structure that signals its aging potential with tightly woven, youthful tannins. |
|
|
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Dernier Souffle Ex-Domaine |
$27.99 |
59 |
|
| |
VM 93 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Dernière Souffle is bottled a couple of months later than other cuvées. It has redcurrant and cranberry aromas on the nose, with light earthy scents in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy red berry fruit, more grip than the Champ de Cour and more substance on the finish. This positively brims with potential. Neal Martin.
WA 91 (3/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Dernier Souffle is a luscious fruit-forward wine, yet one of refinement, with notes of rose petals, juicy cherries, vine smoke and sweet spices. It's full-bodied, with ripe acidity and a concentrated, sappy-fruited core. This richness is framed by smoothly integrated tannins that impart a velvety texture, with a dimensional finish toned with graphite. This is a generously proportioned wine that will undoubtedly benefit from time in the bottle or, at the very least, a spell in the decanter to unwind. |
|
|
2022 |
Moulin a Vent Mortperay ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (4/2024): The 2022 Moulin-à-Vent Mortperay comes from clayey soils just below Fleurie; the vines here are 70 years old. It aged in old barrels sourced from Chablis. It has another mineral-driven nose but with more roundness and depth than the classic bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, very well-balanced and poised, touches of freshly rolled tobacco on the finish. Excellent. Neal Martin. |
|
|
2023 |
Moulin a Vent Mortperay Ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 90 (4/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Mortperay comes from a parcel next to Fleurie on clay soils. It was bottled in January and offers Morello cherry, rose petal and cassis scents on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with finely knit tannins. This is pure and elegant in style, with touches of sour cherry and raspberry . Neal Martin.
WA 90 (3/2025): The 2023 Moulin-à-Vent Montperay, slated for release in 2025, comes from 80-year-old vines located at the periphery of the Clos de la Roilette in Fleurie. The wine unfurls with a lush bouquet of stewed blueberries and cherries, accented by mocha spice and sweet soil. On the palate, the layered wine unfolds along a horizontal trajectory with subdued acidity that imparts a certain softness and density to its texture. |
|
| Pascal Aufranc |
2018 |
Julienas Les Cerisiers ex-Domaine |
$15.99 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Richard Rottiers |
2023 |
Brouilly Ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
20 |
|
| |
VM 89 (4/2025): The 2023 Brouilly comes from purchased fruit grown on granite soils. Pretty red cherry and crushed strawberry aromas blossom in the glass. The palate is well balanced and transparent, with light tannins. It's a little fleshier than expected, featuring brambly red berry and bergamot notes on the finish. It's lovely, though not long-term. Neal Martin.
WA 89 (3/2025): The 2023 Brouilly, from purchased grapes near Odenas, is a classic bistro wine. It's juicy, with notes of lilacs, raspberries and plums and tones of crushed stones that give the wine some dimension. It's medium to full-bodied, with a balanced density of fruit and bright acidity that keep it fresh. |
|
| | Germany |
| Weingut Georg Gustav Huff |
2020 |
Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Trocken |
$39.99 |
20 |
|
| |
|
| | Italy |
| Antonio Vallana & Figlio |
2020 |
Gattinara |
$43.99 |
22 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (2/2025): Vallana's 2020 Gattinara is powerful, rustic and a bit rough around the edges, and yet it conveys so much genuine, uncomplicated character. Dark fruit, new leather, licorice, dried herbs and mint are some of the notes that take shape as this rambunctious Gattinara gradually opens in the glass. Don't look for finesse here. (Drink between 2025-2035). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cantina Tibaldi |
2023 |
Langhe Favorita ex-Domaine |
$23.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2024 |
Langhe Favorita ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$25.99 |
19 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Roero Arneis Bricco delle Passere Riserva ex-Domaine |
$24.99 |
29 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Roero Arneis Bricco delle Passere Riserva ex-Domaine |
$26.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Roero Roccapalea ex-Domaine |
$29 |
34 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Roero Roccapalea ex-Domaine |
$33.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Caprili |
2023 |
Rosso di Montalcino |
$21.99 |
21 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (1/2025): The bright ruby 2023 Rosso Di Montalcino jumps from the glass with bright mixed berry fruit, peaches, crushed flowers, and sweet tea. The palate is juicy, with a snap of fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a clean finish. This is a total charmer of a Rosso to drink now or over the next 5-6 years. (Drink between 2025-2031). Audrey Frick. |
|
| Cavallotto |
2022 |
Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo ex-Domaine |
$36.95 |
33 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (4/2026): The 2023 Barbera D'Alba Superiore Vigna Cuculo pours a youthful red/purple hue and was fermented in stainless steel before aging 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks. It opens with wild black cherries, delicate rustic earth, incense, and violets. Medium-bodied, it’s vibrant and well-balanced, with fine tannins and a savory citrus lift that carries through the finish. A traditionally raised Barbera with both energy and structure, about 8,000 bottles were produced. Drink 2026-2036. Audrey Frick. |
|
|
2022 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$37.99 |
55 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$42.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (4/2026): The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo is aged for 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks and pours a youthful ruby red color. It offers a ripe perfume that’s a bit shy, but the palate really shines, offering ripe red berries, a bit of rustic earth, fresh tobacco, and incense. Medium-bodied, zesty, and refreshing, with a good balance of sunny pure fruit, fine tannins, and refreshing acidity, it’s a very appealing Nebbiolo to drink now or over the next 8-10 years. A star in this category, no doubt, it’s delicious and I would snap it up. Drink 2026-2036. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Luigi Maffini |
2021 |
Cenito Cilento Aglianico |
$43.99 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (5/2024): Wilted violets and ground cloves complicate a burst of dried wild blueberries and exotic spice as the 2021 Cenito smolders up from the glass. This is pure elegance—silky and polished, yet lifted and energetic, with a textural wave of ripe red and black fruits that flow across a stream of vibrant acidity. A caking of salty minerals mingles with fine tannins as the 2021 tapers off with staining length and youthful structure, leaving a tart blackberry concentration that puckers the cheeks. (Drink between 2026-2034). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2024 |
Kratos Fiano |
$24.99 |
45 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2026): Quite mineral-driven in style, the 2024 Fiano Kratos wafts up with salty sea air, crushed rocks and lemon-spiked green apples. The palate is zesty, with a bump of riveting acidity on the entry to energize its tart orchard fruits. It tapers off with sour lime and a saline saturation. Eric Guido. |
|
| Sottimano |
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo ex-Domaine |
$23.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2025): The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, all young vines from Basarin, is terrific. Pliant and expressive, the 2023 is a superb choice for readers looking for a wine that overdelivers. Macerated cherry, plum, lavender and blood orange open first. Exotic floral and spice overtones develop with a bit of time in the glass. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's textural depth and balance. The 2023 was done a modified, light style of submerged cap maceration for about a week that worked wonders. Élevage was nine months in cask. And the young vines are now nearly 30 years old! Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2023 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (1.5 L) ex-Domaine |
$49.99 |
20 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2025): The 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, all young vines from Basarin, is terrific. Pliant and expressive, the 2023 is a superb choice for readers looking for a wine that overdelivers. Macerated cherry, plum, lavender and blood orange open first. Exotic floral and spice overtones develop with a bit of time in the glass. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's textural depth and balance. The 2023 was done a modified, light style of submerged cap maceration for about a week that worked wonders. Élevage was nine months in cask. And the young vines are now nearly 30 years old! Antonio Galloni. |
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| Tenuta Cocci Grifoni |
2024 |
Tara Pecorino |
$15.99 |
37 |
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| |
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| Tenuta di Carleone |
2022 |
Chianti Classico |
$34.99 |
20 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2025): This is one of the most original wines from the appellation. The Tenuta di Carleone 2022 Chianti Classico sees partial whole-cluster fruit and up to three months of extended fermentation. The wine opens to a medium-garnet color with a shiny element to its appearance. The bouquet is similarly bright and punchy with lots of tart red and blue fruits. Fruit for this 55,000-bottle release is sourced from across this 32-hectare estate in Radda in Chianti. This wine is extremely giving and bright at the moment.
VM 92 (7/2025): The 2022 Chianti Classico is gracious, elegant and polished, as these wines so often are. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, pine and light citrus overtones exalt the natural brightness of Sangiovese. This translucent, weightless Chianti Classico is a real beauty. (Drink between 2025-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Tenuta Santome |
NV |
Prosecco Brut |
$13.50 |
28 |
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| |
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| Ultima Pietra |
2025 |
Gemina Rose |
$40 |
23 |
|
| |
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| | Port |
| Quevedo |
2006 |
Late Bottled Vintage Port |
$29.99 |
52 |
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| |
|
|
2010 |
Quinta Vale d’Agodinho Port |
$49.99 |
15 |
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| |
|
| | USA Red |
| Behrens Family (Erna Schein) |
2005 |
Herrick-Moulds Cabernet Sauvignon |
$50 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 91-94 (6/2007): Medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines currant, iron, mocha and pepper. Sweet, silky and pliant, with a captivating sugar/acid balance. This really vibrates on the palate. Finishes with suave tannins and terrific sappy, peppery length. This has the suavity and balance to age gracefully for a decade or more. |
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| de Negoce |
2017 |
OG N. 123 Napa Valley Merlot |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
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2022 |
OG N. 480 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel |
$15 |
12 |
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| |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2011 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Slightly richer and more concentrated than the Signature Syrah, yet still playing in the elegant, seamless style of the vintage, the 2011 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard is 100% Syrah that was aged in 35% new French oak. Possessing beautiful black raspberry, currants, licorice, crushed rock-like minerality and hints of graphite, this beauty flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, fabulous purity of fruit and a seamless, silky texture that carries through the finish. Give it a year or two and drink bottles through 2024. |
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|
2012 |
Doyenne Grand Ciel Vyd. Syrah |
$25 |
13 |
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| |
WA 93 (6/2015): A similar purple/ruby, semi-opaque color to the Signature Syrah, the 2012 Doyenne Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard has more minerality (no doubt due to coming from Red Mountain) to go with lots of blackberry, graphite, pepper and crushed violet notes. Like the Signature Syrah, it shows the vintage nicely with lots of concentration, integrated acidity and a big finish, where the wine's structure becomes more apparent. It will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 10-15 years of overall longevity.
VM 92+ (11/2015): Good dark red. Lovely perfume of cherry, cranberry, white pepper, spices and dusty flowers. Lovely fine-grained Syrah with a savory restraint to its highly aromatic red berry and spice flavors complicated by a hint of game. Made from a slow-to-ripen Entav clone. Finishing quite firm, even a bit youthfully sullen, this already complex Syrah needs time to evolve. (Drink between 2019-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Donelan |
2013 |
Cuvee Moriah Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (7/2017): The 2013 Cuvee Moriah is 87% Grenache and 13% Syrah that’s all from the Dry Stack Vineyard in the Bennett Valley. It has a gorgeous (as well as complex) bouquet of ripe cherries, cranberry, dried flowers and incense. This carries to an ethereally textured, elegant Grenache that that has sweet fruit, medium-bodied richness and a great finish. It’s not going to make old bones, but it’s going to be impossible to resist over the coming 4-5 years. This may be my favorite vintage of this cuvee to date. |
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| Failla |
2012 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$45 |
12 |
|
| |
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| Girasole |
2019 |
Mendocino Pinot Noir |
$16.99 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Kutch |
2013 |
Falstaff Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$45 |
12 |
|
| |
VM 91 (1/2015): Rose petals, mint, spices and sweet red berries are all laced together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Falstaff Vineyard. This is the most lifted and aromatic of the wines in this range. The 2013 is intensely saline, lifted and perfumed. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy aromatic, mid-weight Pinots. The 2013 is all about precision and nuance. It is also a bit light, even within the context of this style. (Drink between 2015-2025). Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (10/2015): Notes of dried rose petal, anise, herbal tea, red currant and a hint of cinnamon introduce silky-textured medium-bodied flavors that deliver fine length on the dusty, balanced and lingering finale. This too will need a few years but less than either the Sonoma Coast or Bohan, as the overall palate impression is notably finer. Note however that the balance should allow this to age, and improve, gracefully for up to a decade. (Drink starting 2019). |
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| Matthews |
2010 |
Blackboard Colombia Valley Red Wine |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
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. |
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|
2010 |
Colombia Valley Syrah |
$20 |
20 |
|
| |
| VM 91+ (12/2013): (15.4% alcohol; aged in once-used puncheons and once-used barriques ): Saturated bright ruby. Very primary, dark aromas of blackberry, licorice and illegal resiny herbs, lifted by a high-pitched violet perfume. Dense, juicy and suave but quite tightly wound in the style of the vintage. Dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors work more savory than sweet. This very young, long wine finishes with very fine-grained, suave tannins and a hint of bitter chocolate. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Newton |
2019 |
The Puzzle Red Wine |
$49 |
55 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (2/2023): The 2019 Red Blend The Puzzle checks in as mostly Cabernet Sauvignon but includes 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 1.5% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot. This vivid blue-hued 2019 has a great nose of both black and blue fruits as well as sappy green herbs and crushed stone. Almost austere on the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, has firm tannins, good mid-palate depth, and outstanding length. I’d give bottles at least 3-4 years in the cellar. (Drink starting 2026). |
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| Sojourn Cellars |
2022 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ex-Domaine |
$44.99 |
60 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (6/2024): The 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was raised in 50% new French oak and was entirely destemmed. Pouring a youthful, ripe ruby color, it’s highly aromatic with floral and fruity aromas of sweet cola spice, mixed berries, and preserved flowers. Medium-bodied, it retains good energy and freshness as well as wonderful purity on the palate, with fine tannins and a clean, chalky textured finish. It is a beautiful entry to the range and is going to have a wide window for enjoyment over the next 6-8 years. Audrey Frick. |
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| Sullivan |
2003 |
Estate Reserve Merlot |
$50 |
16 |
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| |
|
| Varner |
2014 |
Spring Ridge Vyd. Upper Picnic Bloc Pinot Noir |
$45 |
53 |
|
| |
VM 95 (8/2018): The 2014 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic is all class. Silky tannins and expressive, perfumed aromatics give the wine unreal finesse. Just as compelling on the palate, the 2014 is absolutely exquisite in its understated, nuanced expression of the Santa Cruz Mountains. What a gorgeous wine it is. The Upper Picnic is the most elegant of these four Pinots. (Drink between 2018-2026). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (2/2019): I loved the 2014 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic Block Spring Ridge Vineyard. This beauty boasts fabulous red fruits, spice, dried flowers, and rose petal notes, with a hint of California bay leaf developing with time in the glass. Possessing a silky, rounded, elegant texture, medium body, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish, it’s a truly thrilling Pinot Noir that can be drunk today or cellared for 7-8 years. (Drink between 2018-2026). |
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| Vincent Wine Co. |
2017 |
Bjornson Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$35.99 |
18 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2020): Brilliant red. Highly expressive aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and candied rose, along with a hint of smoky minerality. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show fine definition and back-end lift. Intensely flavored and finely delineated, with an impressively long, perfumed finish that delivers firm mineral cut and resonating florality. (Drink between 2022-2029). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | USA White |
| Bevan Cellars |
2021 |
Dry Stack Vyd. Sauvignon Blanc |
$35 |
13 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (8/2022): A blockbuster of a Sauvignon Blanc, Bevan's 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Stack Vineyard comes from an Italian clone planted in gravelly soil in the Bennett Valley and is raised, I believe, in barrel. Bottled unfiltered so it has touch of haziness in its gold hue, it offers a heavenly bouquet of caramelized lemon zest, mint, orange blossom, honeyed flowers, and brioche. Rich, full-bodied, and opulent, it has incredible concentration, a layered, pure mouthfeel, good freshness, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's not for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors and has the weight and richness of a great Chardonnay. Drink this beauty over the coming 2-3 years. |
|
| Bunnell Family Cellar |
2012 |
Helene Yakima Valley White Wine |
$20 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Convene (Dan Kosta) |
2021 |
Russian River Valley Chardonnay |
$48.99 |
50 |
|
| |
| Decanter 98 (2/2024): Dan Kosta and Shane Finely have worked together since 2006, when Finley, at age 26, began working in the cellar at Kosta Browne. These guys are having a lot of fun with Convene, the label Kosta launched in 2019. After their entry-level bottlings, the Convene label represents the 'Premier Cru' level wines, while DK Grail is the 'Grand Cru' tier. They are unquestionably 'Holy Grail' worthy. Finley and Kosta are big fans of longer ageing and extended lees contact with their Chardonnays. We tasted in February 2024, and they'd just bottled their 2022s. Super expressive nose with wonderful ripe fruit flavours alongside butterscotch and toasty brioche. Wonderfully rich and full-bodied with plenty of salty mineral tension. Partial malolactic fermentation means the wine retains great tension, vibrancy, and freshness. Flavours run the spectrum from Meyer Lemon to apricots and white peaches. Crushed Marcona almonds are entangled in the finish, and I find this a balanced expression of California Chardonnay with the right amount of toasty richness and acidity. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2016 |
Chaleur Estate Blanc |
$30 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Gambal Work |
2017 |
Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$43.99 |
45 |
|
| |
|
| Girasole |
2019 |
Mendocino Chardonnay |
$10 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Hourglass |
2024 |
Estate Sauvignon Blanc |
$33.99 |
24 |
|
| |
JD 94 (12/2025): Based on 86% Sauvignon Blanc/Musque and 14% Semillon from Napa and Sonoma County fruit and aged six months with 30% in oak barrels, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc offers classic, fresh lime, ripe citrus, mint, and stony minerality aromatics. It's medium-bodied, has a bright, fresh, focused, pure mouthfeel, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. There are roughly 2,600 cases produced. Drink 2025-2035. (Drink between 2025-2035).
VM 90 (11/2025): The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is an airy, gracious, aperitif-style white drink now and over the next few years. Citrus peel, sage, tomato leaf and mint are all finely sculpted. (Drink between 2025-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Lewis Cellars |
2016 |
Sonoma County Chardonnay |
$36 |
19 |
|
| |
|
| Scherrer Winery |
2019 |
Scherrer Vyd. Chardonnay |
$43.99 |
14 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Scherrer Vineyard is a powerful, wild wine. Soaring aromatics and a deep structure give this Alexander Valley Chardonnay tons of character. Orchard fruit, mint, tangerine oil and dried flowers all open in the glass. There's something exotic about the 2019 that is undeniably appealing. The creamy, substantial finish is a thing of beauty. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2023 |
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ex-Domaine |
$41.99 |
60 |
|
| |
|
| Stony Hill |
2024 |
Chardonnay |
$43.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| Decanter 94 (2/2026): Fruit from 1967-planted vines, the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Napa Valley, is at Haynes and Quartz Creek on alluvial soils. This wine balances plush fruit, fleshy pears, 30% new oak for 10 months, and only partial malolactic fermentation. This is a wine of elegance that balances white peach flesh, mineral-driven, mountain Chardonnay, and is oh so fresh. (Drink between 2026-2034). |
|
| | Other White |
| Quevedo |
2011 |
Oscar’s White Douro |
$9.99 |
31 |
|
| |
|
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