| |
Inventory updated: Tue, Aug 18, 2026 04:02 PM cst
2017 Continuum Proprietary Blend
Vintage: 2017
Region: USA Red
Color/Type: Red
Size: 1.5 L
Tasting Notes:
VM 96+ (1/2020): The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard comes across as remarkably primary. Bright red-toned fruit and floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness as well as nuance. Deep and layered on the palate, with superb depth, the 2017 Continuum is easily one of the wines of the year. Even in the early going, it is truly magnificent. Antonio Galloni.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Continuum |
2008 |
Premiere Napa Valley Proprietary Blend  |
$350 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (2/2019): The 2008 Proprietary Red is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot, and 71% of the fruit this year came from the Continuum estate on Pritchard Hill. It has a deep garnet-brick color and reveals an earthy, spice box, bouquet garni and fruitcake-scented nose with wafts of balsamic, prunes and iron ore. Full-bodied with a good core of dried berries and mineral sparks in the mouth, it has a firm, chewy texture and finishes a little rustic. |
|
|
2012 |
Proprietary Blend |
$195 |
14 |
|
| |
VM 96 (12/2014): Ripe, silky tannins wrap around the palate in the 2012 Continuum. Bright red cherry, plum, spice, menthol and hard candy meld together effortlessly in the glass. The 2012 captures the polished, refined side of the vintage. This is perhaps the most refined wine I have ever tasted from Continuum. The flavors are bright and focused, while the new oak has been decidedly toned down, both of which allow the personality of these breathtaking hillsides sites to shine. The 2012 is the first Continuum to be made entirely with estate grown fruit.
VM 93-96 (5/2014): (I tasted what Tim Mondavi described as close to the final blend): Bright, dark ruby-red. Urgent crushed blueberry and cassis aromas are complemented by licorice and wild herbs on the brooding nose and palate ("a noble baby," says Mondavi). Extremely young but already utterly seamless, delivering an uncanny combination of density and finesse. Compellingly lush and pure, with serious underlying power currently masked by sweet fruit. Really wonderfully managed tannins here. Promises to be the best vintage yet from this superb estate. |
|
|
2015 |
Proprietary Blend |
$238 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 98+ (3/2018): Bottled just a few months ago, the 2015 Continuum is shaping up to be a real gem. The flavors are dark, bold and incisive. In 2015, poor weather during flowering took with it 50% of the production in Continuum's prime Cabernet Sauvignon blocks. As a result, the 2015 has a high percentage (31%) of Cabernet Franc. Today, the Franc is keeping the wine a bit clenched, but that should be less of an issue as time passes. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$441.35 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96+ (1/2020): The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard comes across as remarkably primary. Bright red-toned fruit and floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness as well as nuance. Deep and layered on the palate, with superb depth, the 2017 Continuum is easily one of the wines of the year. Even in the early going, it is truly magnificent. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Proprietary Blend |
$248 |
27 |
|
| |
VM 98 (1/2022): The 2018 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is another magnificent wine from the Mondavi family. Soaring and regal in its intensity, the 2018 possesses breathtaking aromatic presence and tons of the pedigree that have made wines off this site so compelling pretty much since the beginning. Vibrant dark fruit, lavender, sage, mint and mocha build into an impossibly long, silky finish. The 2018 is a flat-out stunner. Antonio Galloni.
JD 97+ (12/2021): Coming all from the Sage Mountain Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2018 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot. This is classic 2018 with its dense, concentrated, slightly backward, yet full-bodied and incredibly impressive style. Offering lots of ripe black (black cherry, currant) fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and chocolate-like aromatics, it has terrific concentration, ripe, building tannins, a terrific sense of freshness, and a great finish. It's going to need 5-7 years of bottle age but will have upwards of three decades of overall longevity. |
|
|
2019 |
Proprietary Blend |
$229 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 98 (5/2022): Continuum's 2019 Proprietary Red is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, all from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Aged in two-thirds new French oak, with the balance in second or third-use barrels and a single concrete amphora, it's remarkably dark in hue, a deep, saturated purple in the glass. On the nose, it's floral and herbal yet fruit-driven, with violets, sage and bay leaf adding nuance to black cherries, while the palate is full-bodied, plush and silky. There's an enticing yin-yang to the interplay between high-toned herbals and bass notes of dark chocolate in this dense, concentrated effort that finishes lush and long. It's a magnificent wine that should drink well for at least two decades.
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is elegant, plush and sensual like few vintages I can remember tasting on release. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, dried flowers and raspberry jam infuse the 2019 with tons of nuance. Time in the glass brings out lovely energy to balance things out. What a gorgeous, classy wine this is. (Drink between 2026-2039). Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (1/2025): The 2019 Continuum is ripe, upfront, and sexy, which is very much in the style of the vintage. Beautiful red and black currants, new leather, and an almost garrigue/wild herb character define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, polished yet still mountain tannins, and incredible length. I love it today, yet it clearly has another two decades of longevity ahead of it. (Drink between 2025-2045). |
|
|
2021 |
Proprietary Blend |
$279 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2023): The 2021 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard is a heady, bombastic wine with a huge fruit profile and equally imposing tannins. In so many vintages, Continuum can be quite racy and seductive, but 2021 is not one of those years. Readers will have to be especially patient here. Lavender, mocha, crème de cassis and cloves build into the substantial, resonant finish. The blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. It will be interesting to see if the tannins soften. Today, the 2021 is a brute. Let's see what time brings. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Alban Vineyards |
2017 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah Corroded Capsule |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (9/2021): The beautiful 2017 Syrah Reva has a more elegant, streamlined, layered style that's already drinking nicely. Ample red and black fruits, bacon fat, olive, violets, and briny mineral nuances all define this classic Alban Syrah, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless mouthfeel, impeccable balance, and ripe tannins. It's certainly the more discrete, understated red in the lineup, yet this is a wine that builds with time in the glass and has perfect tannins, a terrific sense of freshness, and a great finish. It will keep for 15+ years in cold cellars. |
|
| Arietta |
2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely gorgeous. Powerful, dark and statuesque in bearing, the 2017 is endowed with superb balance, not to mention a ton of sheer class. Inky dark purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and new leather infuse the 2017 with striking layers of depth and complexity. This is such a gorgeous wine. (Drink between 2022-2037). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93+ (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid effort in this more challenging vintage. Deep purple-colored, with plenty of plum, graphite, crushed violets, and chocolaty notes, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, present tannins, outstanding balance, and a great finish. It's well worth seeking out and will have two decades of longevity. (Drink between 2020-2040)
WA 91 (10/2019): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon gives baked plums and warm cassis scents with notes of dried herbs, tobacco, tapenade and underbrush. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firm, with nice freshness and well-played tannins, finishing with good length and balance. |
|
| Aubert |
2017 |
UV Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$129 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2018): Aubert's 2017 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is pliant, open-knit and super-expressive. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, earthiness, dried flowers and cherry fruit are all laced together in this very pretty, nuanced Pinot. Despite its recent bottling, the 2017 UV is bright, lifted and super-expressive. The blend of Calera and Vosne-Romanee clones works beautifully. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| B Cellars |
2017 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Beaux Freres |
2017 |
Belles Soeurs Cuvee Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91-92 (6/2019): Vivid red. Fragrant, spice-accented red and dark berries, candied rose and a hint of musky sassafras on the incisive nose. Bright and focused on the palate, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that spread out and turn sweeter with air. Juicy and seamless in style, finishing with solid, minerally thrust, even tannins and resonating floral and red berry notes. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2017 |
Sequitur Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
The Beaux Freres Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94-95 (6/2019): Deep red. High-pitched cherry, black raspberry and rose scents are complemented by hints of succulent herbs, exotic spices and musky flowers. Shows impressive energy and focus on the palate, offering juicy dark berry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors given a spicy edge by a hint of star anise. Closes smooth, appealingly sweet and very long, with fine-grained tannins adding framework and gentle grip. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Belle Glos |
2017 |
Clark & Telephone Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Booker Vineyard |
2017 |
Vertigo 22 Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (10/2019): The same 65% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, and 5% Grenache as the classic Vertigo, yet aged 22 months in barrel, the 2017 Vertigo 22 boasts a deep purple color as well as a mammoth-sized bouquet of blackberries, dry-aged meats, melted licorice, crushed violets, and white chocolate. Deep, massively concentrated, yet with a level of purity that's just about off the charts, this thrilling Syrah blend from Jenson will stand up the best from Sine Qua Non, Saxum, and John Alban. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Cirq |
2017 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$155 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (5/2020): I loved the 2017 Pinot Noir last year, and it didn't disappoint this go-round. Coming from a mix of sites in the Russian River Valley, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by rocking notes of black raspberries, kirsch, sappy flowers, violets, and Asian spices. These all carry to an elegant, incredibly seamless Pinot Noir that has awesome tannins, no hard edges, and just a plush, sexy style that begs to be drunk. Nevertheless, its balance and purity will all keep this drinking nicely for a solid decade. (Drink between 2020-2030)
WA 93 (12/2019): From several different vineyards, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a gregarious nose of blackberry jam, underbrush, tar, oodles of ripe red berries, potpourri, black tea leaves and a very spicy undercurrent—lush, deep and still very youthful. Medium to full-bodied, it explodes in the mouth with loads of spicy ripe fruits firmly knit by grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long and flavorful. This is a big, powerful and delicious expression, a Pinot with so much stuffing. This will be released in the fall of 2020.
VM 92 (1/2020): The 2017 Pinot Noir Estate is an attractive mid-weight Pinot, supple but also much more refined than previous wines. Ripe red/purplish berry fruit, spice and sweet floral overtones all meld together nicely. Although quite attractive, the 2017 is much lighter in feel and overall weight than previous releases. (Drink between 2020-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Dalla Valle |
2017 |
Maya Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$700 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (10/2019): The 2017 Maya is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Cabernet Franc and was bottled one week before I tasted it. Very deep purple-black in color, it opens with profound earthy notions of truffles, damp soil, crushed rocks and tar over a core of Black Forest cake, black raspberries, blueberry compote and aged meat plus touches of wilted roses and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is solidly structured with firm, fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness lifting the multilayered blue and black fruits with a long, perfumed finish. Stunning.
JD 97+ (1/2020): The tiny production 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Maya is another thrilling wine. The normal blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in two-thirds new French oak, it offers a full-bodied, concentrated, yet sensationally elegant style as well as fab notes of crème de cassis, chocolate, graphite, and scorched earth. It’s a primordial example of this cuvée that has ripe tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Do your best to give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age. (Drink between 2024-2054).
VM 96 (1/2020): The 2017 Maya is not only gorgeous, it also appears to have handled the rigors of the growing season more successfully than the others. Ripe red cherry and plum fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and spice all build as this racy, sumptuous wine shows off its considerable allure. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are just magic here. (Drink between 2023-2042). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2017 |
D2 |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92 (10/2020): A blend of 66% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 D2 Proprietary Red Wine opens to a nose of dusty plum, silky cherry skin and black raspberry before showing hints of baking spice, dusty flower petals and baked earth. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is expressive and balanced across the mid-palate with lifting tannins and energetic acidity to make it food-friendly. Lingering flavors of cedar and sage persist in the mouth, as the wine stretches its legs on the winding finish, highlighting the red berry frame. D2 has always been a crowdpleaser, and the 2017 bottling continues that winning streak. The wine spent 20 months in French oak barrels (68% new) and then rested in bottle for eight months.
VM 91 (12/2020): Bright, moderately saturated red-ruby. Savory scents of blackberry, blueberry, cocoa powder, spices and tobacco leaf. Suave, savory and fine-grained, showing a restrained sweetness and a light touch to its raspberry, pomegranate, spice and cocoa flavors. Hints of cedar and herbs add complexity. Doesn't offer quite the breadth or palate-saturating density of the 2016 but graceful, pliant, seamless, savory and persistent, with sweet, dusty tannins in the background. (Drink between 2021-2026). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 91 (4/2020): The largest production cuvée from Delille, the D2 is named after the D2 highway that runs from the town of Bordeaux up into the Médoc. It’s always a quality wine, and the 2017 D2 sports a deep purple/ruby color as well as Bordeaux-like notes of cedary herbs, lead pencil, tobacco, damp earth, and blackberries. Medium-bodied, balanced, and silky, it’s unquestionably an outstanding wine that has a decade (or more) of prime drinking ahead of it. |
|
|
2017 |
Doyenne |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (12/2020): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice and lavender on the reticent nose. Concentrated, dark and a bit youthfully brooding but already showing a rich, pliant texture and terrific breadth. Cassis, licorice and mineral flavors are accented by dusty herbs, with a note of bitter chocolate emerging with air; nicely avoids the peppery pungency of the 2016 version. This very backward wine possesses the stuffing and energy to evolve gracefully but even today there are no rough edges. Blacker in its fruit character and a bit tighter-grained than the Métier, with as much acidity as smooth tannins to support aging. Serious juice! (Drink between 2021-2027). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91+ (10/2020): Bold and juicy, the 2017 Doyenne is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of blackberry, currants and cassis leap out of the glass with precision, a soft rockiness and chocolate essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is poised and delightful, delivering pleasure with a rich and ripe berry-laced expression. The wine remains chocolaty and plummy on the winding finish. The wine aged for 20 months in French oak, over 50% first fill.
JD 91 (4/2020): A 60/40 split of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Doyenne is modeled after the reds from Provence (think Trevallon) and offers outstanding notes of ripe black fruits, Asian spices, leafy herbs, and a hint of herbes de Provence. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it’s balanced, has ripe, polished tannins, and is already hard to resist. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming decade. |
|
|
2017 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four separate vineyards on Red Mountain and is brought up mostly in new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by rock star notes of crème de cassis, toasted spices, lead pencil, crushed, and savory herbs. It’s beautiful on the palate as well and offers medium to full-bodied richness, impeccable balance, and a great finish. It will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity.
WA 93+ (10/2020): Made from a blend of the four vineyards on Red Mountain—the Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Klipsun and Upchurch vineyards—the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags has an even balance of mineral tension, freshness of fruit and elegant baking spices on the nose. Trying the other bottles of the range side by side, I can see the identity of the Four Flags, as each vineyard imparts flavors into the wine, like completing a puzzle to discover and display an image. Medium to full-bodied, the wine expresses blackberry skin, dusty red cherry, savory dried spices and elements of baked earth, with firm tannins across the mid-palate and ending with expressions of dried currants and crushed rocks.
VM 92+ (12/2020): Bright ruby-red. Brooding, very dark aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate, crushed rock, herbs and violet. Penetrating, inky flavors of black and blue fruits, licorice pastille, herbs and minerals. This is very tightly wound and not yet showing its texture or sweetness. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and lovely building violety length. Very backward right now, even a bit tough and herbal, this Cabernet Sauvignon will need time in the cellar to express itself. My sample showed much more finesse of texture with extended aeration. (aged for 20 months in 100% new oak) (Drink between 2024-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2017 |
Metier Red Blend |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (12/2019): Healthy moderately saturated dark red. Raspberry, strawberry and red licorice aromas convey a slightly high-toned candied quality in a positive way. Silky, nicely concentrated, graceful blend with lovely sweetness and a light touch to its wild red berry, spice and floral flavors. Wonderfully lively, fine-grained but firm wine with noteworthy complexity, smooth ripe tannins and sneaky persistence. (This wine included the Grenache fruit that was used to make a separate varietal bottling in 2016.) Perhaps not quite the structure of the '16 version but I'm splitting hairs. Stephen Tanzer.
JD 90 (4/2020): Lots of darker red and black berry fruits as well as notes of peppery meat and spice emerge from the 2017 Metier. It’s medium-bodied and has silky tannins, outstanding balance, and an already upfront, charming, undeniably delicious style. A Rhone-like blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, this cuvée ages gracefully, and the 2017 will keep for at least a decade.
WA 89 (12/2019): The 2017 Metier is a blend of 39% Grenache, 39% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah and 3% Cinsault and opens to aromas of red cherry, dusty raspberry and spiced black plum on the nose, exposing a clean and open-knit core. It shows some tight minerality on the palate with red and black spices, and the dried earth tones win out and linger on the finish, moving toward a tannic grip. I have had better expressions of the Metier in years past and will take a closer look at this bottling next year. |
|
|
2017 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (12/2020): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Inky blackberry, cassis, violet and black olive on the nose. Wonderfully smooth and mouthfilling, with black fruit, violet and bitter chocolate flavors offering superb concentration and sexy sweetness. Here, too, the tannins are serious but utterly suave, and the finishing flavors of dark berries and violet build inexorably. This savory, brisk, clearly delineated Syrah should evolve gracefully in the cellar. Not a gamey style but primary, dense and built to age, finishing with palate-saturating tannins. Plusher in its youth than the more tightly wound 2016, this will give more early pleasure. (aged for 20 months in 35% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 92 (4/2020): While not at the level of the 2016, the 2017 Syrah Signature is nevertheless a beautiful effort, and readers looking to see what top grade Syrah from Washington tastes like should give it a whirl. Deep purple-colored with complex notes of blue fruits, lavender, and ground pepper, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a wonderfully balanced mouthfeel, good concentration and the elegance and purity to evolve for 10-12 years.
WA 91+ (10/2020): A blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier, the 2017 Syrah Signature displays a dark ruby core with a purple rim and offers aromas of blackberry jus with hints of smoke and black pepper, followed by baked earth and dried violets. Medium to full-bodied, the wine unfolds across the mid-palate to reveal flavors of black raspberry, black tea and bitter dark chocolate and shows youthful tannins that will lend longevity. It ends with a sensation of black cherry skin on the lingering finish. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 20 months in French oak, one-third of which was first fill. It certainly checks all the boxes. Nice wine. |
|
| Duckhorn |
2017 |
Napa Valley Merlot |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Emeritus Vineyards |
2017 |
La Combette Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hall |
2017 |
Eighteen Seventy-Three Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Justin |
2017 |
Savant Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 91 (10/2020): The 2017 Savant is a blend of 65% Syrah and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in about 50% new French oak. It has a medium ruby-purple color and pretty notes of graphite, licorice, cedar and mint leaves with blackcurrant fruit. The palate is medium to full-bodied, grainy, ripe and juicy with a long finish. It's approachable right now but will age for another 3-5 years in bottle.
VM 91 (12/2020): Bright purple. Smoke- and spice-accented cassis, cherry liqueur and cola scents are sharpened by a zesty mineral element. Deep-pitched black/blue fruit flavors pick up vanilla and mocha accents with air. Shows good focus and repeating smokiness on the clinging, youthfully tannic finish, which leaves a sweet dark berry note behind. (Drink between 2022-2030). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2017 |
Cerise Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir |
$63 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2020): Aged in 40% new French oak for 11 months, the medium ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands offers a wonderful perfume of cranberry jelly, raspberry and strawberry preserves, boysenberry and rose petal perfume with blood orange and Earl Grey tea leaves, underbrush and pink peppercorn hints. Light to medium-bodied, it's silky, perfumed and elegant with very finely dispersed tannins and juicy freshness lifting the long, understated finish. Lovely! 2,400 cases produced. |
|
|
2017 |
Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (2/2020): Aged 15 months in 42% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has a medium ruby-purple color and gives up cinnamon toast, raspberry coulis, macerated strawberries and rosewater perfume with accents of musk, lilac, blood orange and scorched earth—what a gorgeous perfume! Medium-bodied, it slowly builds in amplitude in the mouth, releasing gobs of perfumed red berry fruits. It has a sturdy but finely grained frame and seamless freshness, finishing very long, layered and fantastically perfumed. Wow! 2,650 cases produced. |
|
|
2017 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (6/2019): Moving to the two reds, the appellation 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast reveals a ruby/purple, translucent color as well as a stunning perfume of black raspberries, cassis, crushed violets, spice box, sweet earth. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful depth, a kiss of background oak, and a great finish. Mostly destemmed and aged 17 months in 40% new French oak, it's a brilliant wine to drink over the coming decade or more. |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 93 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a real overachiever in its peer group. Wonderfully layered and vibrant, the 2017 is just magnificent. All the elements come together in a sublime, wonderfully nuanced Cabernet. Larkmead ultimately decided not to bottle their Dr. Olmo Cabernet and instead used that wine (which was fabulous from barrel) to improve this blend - which it most certainly did. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92+ (1/2020): Starting with the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, it comes all from the estate in the north part of the valley and is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It has a deep, serious bouquet of scorched earth, graphite, crushed rocks, new saddle leather, and smoked tobacco all ground by a core a ripe dark fruit. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, building tannins, and the classic, focused style of the vintage, it's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. |
|
|
2017 |
Firebelle Red Wine |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (1/2020): The 2017 Firebelle, Larkmead's Merlot-based wine, is laced with sweet red cherry, spice, mint, cedar, tobacco and orange peel. Medium in body, silky and nicely lifted, the 2017 is decidedly understated for Larkmead. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, give or take, because of its mid-weight structure. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2019): A blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 LMV Salon (White Label) has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh blackcurrants, kirsch and black raspberries with touches of bouquet garni, forest floor, charcoal and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with ripe red and black fruits and a firm, rugged texture, possessing just enough freshness to deliver a long, earth-laced finish. 470 cases were made.
VM 92+ (1/2020): Cabernet Franc, with its bright, high-toned aromatics, takes the lead in the 2017 LMV Salon. Sweet dried red cherry, mint, tobacco and wild flowers are all nicely lifted throughout. Supple and racy with tons of immediacy, the 2017 is already inviting, although it will develop more nuance with time in bottle. Even just a bit of air brings out an attractive fleshiness. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$119 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92 (12/2019): A blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 LMV Salon (White Label) has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh blackcurrants, kirsch and black raspberries with touches of bouquet garni, forest floor, charcoal and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with ripe red and black fruits and a firm, rugged texture, possessing just enough freshness to deliver a long, earth-laced finish. 470 cases were made.
VM 92+ (1/2020): Cabernet Franc, with its bright, high-toned aromatics, takes the lead in the 2017 LMV Salon. Sweet dried red cherry, mint, tobacco and wild flowers are all nicely lifted throughout. Supple and racy with tons of immediacy, the 2017 is already inviting, although it will develop more nuance with time in bottle. Even just a bit of air brings out an attractive fleshiness. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Solari Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is dark, fleshy and enveloping in feel. Black cherry, plum, tobacco, chocolate, licorice and grilled herbs add myriad shades of complexity, but searing tannins need time in bottle to soften. Pretty floral and savory notes develop in the course of time. The 2017 will reward readers who can wait. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Linne Calodo |
2017 |
In My Dreams |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2020): Deep, brilliant ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented red and dark berry and spice-cake aromas are complemented by suave floral and incense accents that expand as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and broad on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry, cherry liqueur, star anise and lavender pastille flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Smoothly plays richness off energy and finishes spicy and extremely long, with lingering florality and smooth tannins that add shape and subtle grip. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2017 |
In My Dreams |
$55 |
7 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2020): Deep, brilliant ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented red and dark berry and spice-cake aromas are complemented by suave floral and incense accents that expand as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and broad on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry, cherry liqueur, star anise and lavender pastille flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Smoothly plays richness off energy and finishes spicy and extremely long, with lingering florality and smooth tannins that add shape and subtle grip. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2017 |
Outsider Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2020): Brilliant violet. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays fresh black and blue fruit, vanilla and succulent herb qualities; candied violet, licorice and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering mineral-laced cassis, cherry compote and fruitcake flavors that show superb depth and spicy peppery bite. Tightens up slowly on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish framed by velvety, well-knit tannins. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds.
JD 92 (10/2019): Mostly Zinfandel blended with 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan, aged 20 months in 16% new French oak, the 2017 Outsider is one of the more exotic wines in the lineup, showing lots of mulberry and blackberry fruits, exotic spice, candied orange rind, and dried herb aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied beauty has good acidity, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a wonderful sense of weightlessness on the palate. It’s another sweetly fruited, opulent wine from Trevisan. (Drink between 2019-2027). |
|
|
2017 |
Outsider Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2020): Brilliant violet. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays fresh black and blue fruit, vanilla and succulent herb qualities; candied violet, licorice and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering mineral-laced cassis, cherry compote and fruitcake flavors that show superb depth and spicy peppery bite. Tightens up slowly on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish framed by velvety, well-knit tannins. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds.
JD 92 (10/2019): Mostly Zinfandel blended with 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan, aged 20 months in 16% new French oak, the 2017 Outsider is one of the more exotic wines in the lineup, showing lots of mulberry and blackberry fruits, exotic spice, candied orange rind, and dried herb aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied beauty has good acidity, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a wonderful sense of weightlessness on the palate. It’s another sweetly fruited, opulent wine from Trevisan. (Drink between 2019-2027). |
|
| MacDonald |
2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (3X750ML) |
$1,900 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (1/2020): The soils in this part of To Kolan are rockier, and with the old vines, everything was harvested well in advance of the devastating fires in 2017. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a more Bordeaux-like austerity that’s common in the vintage as well as beautiful notes of pure crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and lead pencil. Deep purple-hued, full-bodied, rich, and balanced, it has a terrific blend of power and elegance. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.
VM 95+ (1/2020): MacDonald's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a soft, pretty and open-knit wine that shows the modest structure of the year. All of the vineyard signatures are present, but very much in miniature. The tannins are nicely balanced and integrated. More than anything, though, I am pleasantly surprised by how well the 2017 has come along over the last year. Readers should expect a bright, tightly wound Cabernet with a good bit of energy and freshness, but less of the textural opulence of most years. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| The Maiden (Harlan) |
2017 |
Proprietary Blend |
$285 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2017 The Maiden is a deep, super-expressive wine. I am quite surprised by how rich the 2017 is, given a year in which many wines are on the lighter side. Dark red cherry and red plum fruit is front and center. There is some nervousness in the tannin so, even though The Maiden is the second wine of Harlan Estate, it needs at least a few years in bottle. This is a terrific showing. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (1/2021): Bottled in February, the 2017 Maiden is a top notch 2017 that’s going to evolve gracefully for two decades or more. Lots of assorted currant and berry fruits as well as notes of charcoal, graphite, and spice emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with an elegant texture, present tannins, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful wine. (Drink between 2021-2043) |
|
| Philippe Melka |
2017 |
CJ Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Metisse Jumping Goat Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (1/2020): The 2017 Métisse Jumping Goat Vineyard is another absolutely stunning wine in this range from Philippe and Cherie Melka. Rich and vertical, with tons of explosive energy, the 2017 is infused with tremendous drive as well as nuance. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, spice and espresso all build as this racy, voluptuous red show off its personality. This truly remarkable wine is one of the real highlights of the year. In a word: sensational. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (1/2020): A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 8% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Metisse Jumping Goat sports a deep purple color as well as notes of cassis, graphite, white flowers, and ample minerality. Rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure, and balance, it's a classy, elegant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 15-20 years. (Drink between 2020-2035).
WA 92 (10/2019): The 2017 Metisse Jumping Goat Vineyard is made up of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot—Merlot was declassified this vintage because of the heat. Grapes were picked in early September. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive black cherries, black raspberries and cassis notes plus hints of pencil lead, bouquet garni and lavender. Medium-bodied, the palate is laden with fresh, crunchy black fruits and a firm, chewy frame, lifted by fantastic vivacity on the finish. |
|
| Memento Mori |
2017 |
Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$239 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Meyer Family Cellars |
2017 |
Spitfire Cabernet Sauvignon |
$39 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2017 |
Estate Pinot Noir Nicked, Bin-Soiled Label |
$63 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (9/2020): The 2017 Pinot Noir is a very pretty, open-knit wine. Crushed rose petal, sweet red berry, mint, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco give the 2017 striking aromatic presence. In 2017, the Mount Eden Pinot is a decidedly forward, silky wine that looks like it will offer its best drinking sooner rather than later. The 2017 was done with 33% whole clusters and saw 50% new barrels. (Drink between 2020-2029). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91+ (4/2024): The 2017 Pinot Noir Estate saw the usual fermentation with one-third whole clusters and élevage in 50% new French oak. The nose opens with straightforward red-fruited aromas, gaining woodsy, herbal and dried flower notes over time. The palate follows suit in its monotypic structure, gaining a bit of grip and refreshment on the finish with some coaxing. This is undoubtedly more primed for early consumption rather than a long life in the cellar, although it could gain complexity over the next few years. |
|
|
2017 |
Estate Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$130 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 93 (9/2020): The 2017 Pinot Noir is a very pretty, open-knit wine. Crushed rose petal, sweet red berry, mint, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco give the 2017 striking aromatic presence. In 2017, the Mount Eden Pinot is a decidedly forward, silky wine that looks like it will offer its best drinking sooner rather than later. The 2017 was done with 33% whole clusters and saw 50% new barrels. (Drink between 2020-2029). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91+ (4/2024): The 2017 Pinot Noir Estate saw the usual fermentation with one-third whole clusters and élevage in 50% new French oak. The nose opens with straightforward red-fruited aromas, gaining woodsy, herbal and dried flower notes over time. The palate follows suit in its monotypic structure, gaining a bit of grip and refreshment on the finish with some coaxing. This is undoubtedly more primed for early consumption rather than a long life in the cellar, although it could gain complexity over the next few years. |
|
| Myriad |
2017 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2020): I was blown away by the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III, which has to be one of the best wines to come from this site in some time. Full-bodied notes of blue fruits, iron, bay leaf, and violets all emerge from the glass, and it opens up beautifully with time. As with all of Mike’s 2017s, the tannins are terrific, it’s flawlessly balanced, and just a stunning wine. It too will have 20 years or more of longevity. (Drink between 2020-2040).
VM 92 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III is one of the most overt wines in this range. Super-ripe dark plum, chocolate, spice, espresso and licorice are all kicked up a few notches here. Powerful and opulent to the core, the Georges III offers tons of immediacy, if a bit less nuance than is found in some of the other wines. Readers looking for a Myriad Cabernet to drink young without a ton of fuss will love the 2017. It is such an expressive and inviting wine. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (10/2019): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard gives up baked black currants, blackberry pie and red currant jelly scents with wafts of red roses, fragrant soil, unsmoked cigars, tapenade and Indian spices. The palate is full-bodied, firm, grainy, muscular and tightly wound with a fragrant finish. |
|
| de Negoce |
2017 |
OG N. 123 Napa Valley Merlot |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Newton |
2017 |
The Puzzle Red Wine |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 94 (10/2019): Lots of blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors. Tar, too. Full body. Round, polished tannins and a solid, chewy finish. A cabernet sauvignon-based Bordeaux blend that shows integrity for the vintage. Better after 2021.
JD 92 (1/2020): Based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon yet blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon The Puzzle offers a saturated purple color to go with a big, smoky nose of black fruits, dark chocolate, violets, and graphite. Nicely textured, full-bodied, and polished on the palate, with good tannins, it's a terrific wine in this vintage that will keep for 15+ years or more. |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2017 |
Numero Tres Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (8/2020): The third time the Krankls have released a Touriga Nacional-dominated release, I'd say the 2017 Touriga Nacional Numero Tres is the finest yet. If you'd told me this variety could produce a wine of this quality a decade ago, I'd have thought you were crazy, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Based on a blend of 80% Touriga Nacional, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, and 6% Grenache, it comes 100% from the Cumulus Vineyard in Oak View and spent 33 months in 60% new French oak. There are a tiny 89 cases produced. Its deep purple hue is followed by a majestic bouquet of black cherries, cassis, blackberries, toasted spices, and flowery incense. With medium to full-bodied richness, a flawlessly balanced, elegant texture, silky tannins, and a saliva-inducing finish, it has one of the longest finishes in a wine I've encountered. I have no idea how this will evolve over the long-term, but I can't imagine it not benefiting from 2-4 years of bottle age and drinking brilliantly for at least 10-15 years. |
|
| Ovid |
2017 |
Experiment F2.7 Proprietary Blend |
$119 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Passing Time |
2017 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (4/2020): Moving to the flagship appellation blends, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, all aged 21 months in 80% new French oak. Deep purple/plum-colored, with notes of tobacco leaf, damp earth, chocolate, and assorted darker fruits, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, supple texture, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and shows the more classic, elegant style of the vintage nicely. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles.
VM 94 (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blue and black fruits and licorice are lifted by floral and herbal nuances. A very stylish, silky Cabernet Sauvignon with terrific inner-mouth violet lift and sexy oak tones to its fine-grained flavors of dark berries and cocoa powder. Concentrated, savory and very long; more pliant than the 2016 version owing to its nobility of tannins. Very classy juice--and showing brilliantly today. (the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Klipsun and Red Mountain vineyards, the Cab Franc from Bacchus; 80% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2030). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (12/2019): The 2017 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon has splashes of 7% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc added in to round out the blend. The nose is lush with a clean expression that will age beautifully for the next decade. The wine has a blackberry and red cherry core, with dusty plum and soft savory notes that add to the complexity. The mouthfeel is still youthful and currently showing well, with a tight mineral expression and approachable tannins, ending with a long, spicy finish. The wine will be ready a touch sooner than the 2016s and will bring pleasure. |
|
|
2017 |
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (4/2020): More minerality as well as notes of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spice, graphite, and scorched earth emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain (there is 3% Merlot). This rich, structured yet beautifully balanced Red Mountain Cabernet is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and long. Give this super-intense, pure, structured 2017 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 20 years or more. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles. (Drink between 2023-2045).
WA 94 (12/2019): Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich black-fruited core on the finessed nose, with a wet minerality and dried red florals. The full-bodied palate turns a touch tarter, with the fruit set moving from blackberries to black raspberries with a dusty minerality. The wine has a tight grip and lingers on the finish with good focus and balance. The 2017 vintage is showing really well, and it is a safe bet to add this to your cellar. |
|
|
2017 |
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2020): Coming from a mix of the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley reveals a deep purple hue as well as beautiful floral, lavender, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, and just terrific balance, it's another gorgeous wine from this team that can be drunk today or cellared for 15 years or more. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles. (Drink between 2020-2035).
WA 94 (12/2019): Starting with a rocky minerality that shines through on the nose, the 2017 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows a good core of red and black fruit that highlights the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards. The dark red fruit lingers over the palate with a rocky and softly savory spiced tension, giving way to structured tannins that build on the back end of the mid-palate. The wine is focused on the well-framed finish, with blackcurrant and black raspberry jus sprinkled with a rustic and rocky tension. It's a nicely made wine that drinks well. I want a second sip. |
|
| Patria |
2017 |
Price Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Price is sensual, racy and inviting, as wines from St. Helena tend to be. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, spice, mint and floral notes all meld together in an unctuous, dense Cabernet that will drink well with minimal cellaring. There is so much to like. The Price is, once again, the most immediate of the three wines in this range. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Peacock Family |
2017 |
Dona Margarita Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| La Pelle |
2017 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Phelps |
2017 |
Insignia Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,644.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2020): The 2017 Insignia is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from: 46% Las Rocas vineayrd (Stags Leap District), 22% Barboza vineyard (Stags Leap District), 13% Suscol vineyard (South Napa Valley), 10% Yountville vineyard (Oak Knoll District) and 9% Home Ranch (St. Helena). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blueberry pie plus touches of redcurrant jelly, potpourri, clove oil and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gained weight from it's in-barrel offering, boasting rich, decadently perfumed black fruit preserves flavors with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing long and spicy. 7,400 cases were made. |
|
| Le Pich (Purlieu) |
2017 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Le Pich Cabernet Sauvignon - an entry-level wine from Julien Fayard - is a blend from multiple vineyards across Napa Valley. Bold, powerful and savory, the 2017 offers plenty of immediacy in an explosive, heady style. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, while the fruit remains vibrant and juicy. (Drink between 2019-2025). Antonio Galloni.
WA 86 (10/2019): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Pich offers lifted black and blue fruit preserves with a subtle undercurrent of sautéed herbs, underbrush and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, the palate is just a tad hollow / skeletal with a firm frame of chewy tannins and rustic finish. |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2017 |
Boatman Ranch Vyd. Zinfandel |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (5/2020): Coming from the Alexander Valley and 92% Zinfandel and 8% Petite Sirah, the 2017 Zinfandel Boatman offers a big, powerful bouquet of candied violets, plums, sandalwood, and incense. Rich and medium-bodied, it has a light, elegant texture, and good balance. It's another charming, delicious, classic Zinfandel from this terrific estate. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years or so. (Drink between 2020-2028) |
|
| Saddleback Cellars |
2017 |
Chloe’s Blend Red Wine |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Sandlands |
2017 |
Contra Costa County Red Table Wine |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2019): The 2017 Red Table Wine is a blend of Carignane and Mataro, two varieties that are especially complementary here. Super-ripe red cherry, rose petal, mint, cedar and sweet tobacco are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge. Silky, nuanced and light on its feet, the 2017 is very pretty. As is the case with all of these wines, the integration of the whole clusters is impeccable. The blend is 65% Carignane and 35% Mataro. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Refosco |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2019): The 2017 Refosco, another oddity in this range, is sourced from Casa Nuestra, a site in St. Helena that sells the rest of their fruit to Turley. There is good varietal character in the inky blue and black fruit, along with hints of lavender, rose petal, sage and mint. Supple and silky, with lovely aromatic delineation, the Refosco will drink well upon release. Readers should note that the Sandlands wine is made from a generic version of the Refosco grape and not the Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso that can produce wines of notable structure and distinction. (Drink between 2019-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Schrader |
2017 |
CCS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$285 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2020): Another wine in the running for the wine of the vintage is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS, which, as always, is all Cabernet aged in new Darnajou barrels. This full-bodied, magical 2017 has incredibly polished, silky tannins as well as a mammoth-sized texture and mouthfeel. Loaded with notions of blueberries, white flowers, graphite, candied violets, and incense, it’s one of those wines that carries incredible richness and depth yet never seems heavy or cumbersome. The 2017 doesn’t get much better, and this beauty can be drunk today or cellared for two decades. |
|
|
2017 |
MB To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$315 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus. |
|
|
2017 |
Monastery Block To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$265 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus. |
|
|
2017 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2020): In the top handful of wines in the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (which was harvested the morning of the fires) that spent 20 months in 92% new French oak. This is a powerhouse of a wine that’s loaded with fruit and richness, yet it still just glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Dense purple-hued, with lots of chocolaty black and blue fruits, incense, and spice as well as unsmoked tobacco, give bottles 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades |
|
| Sea Smoke |
2017 |
Southing Pinot Noir |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Ten Pinot Noir |
$99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Seaver Vineyards |
2017 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
5 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon GTS is powerful, dense and brooding, with massive tannins that may never be balanced. Game, licorice, tobacco and graphite add layers of complexity, but it is hard to get past tannins that are huge and overpowering, even within the context of Diamond Mountain. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$299 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon GTS is powerful, dense and brooding, with massive tannins that may never be balanced. Game, licorice, tobacco and graphite add layers of complexity, but it is hard to get past tannins that are huge and overpowering, even within the context of Diamond Mountain. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Slacker (Linne Calodo) |
2017 |
Wanna Be Red Wine |
$30 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Somnium |
2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$140 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
2017 |
Armillary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$215 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95 (10/2019): A barrel sample, the 2017 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon is very deep purple-black colored with pronounced notes of crème de cassis, mocha, plum preserves and unsmoked cigars with touches of dried herbs, fragrant soil and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a great intensity of ripe black fruit and grainy tannins with just enough freshness and a long, slightly chewy finish. |
|
|
2017 |
Cellarius Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Distinguished Vineyards Battuello Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Distinguished Vineyards Soda Ranch Canyon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Heart of Fay Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Staglin Family Vineyards |
2017 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$475 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2018): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is an attractive, racy wine with plush fruit, soft contours and tons of sheer immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, floral notes, spice and mint are all nicely lifted in this enticing, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon from Staglin. The 2017 offers lovely freshness and aromatic presence in a medium-bodied Cabernet that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| The Third Twin (Sine Qua Non) |
2017 |
Third Twin Vyd. Graciano |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| The Vineyardist |
2017 |
Calarcadia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$160 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Calarcadia Vineyard is dense, plush and super-expressive. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, white flowers, mint, blood orange and cinnamon all run through the 2017. I am really impressed with the wine's freshness and nuance, both of which took considerable effort to achieve. Medium in body, exotic and alluring, the 2017 is one of the best wines of the year. Sadly, production is just above 200 cases—which is about half of normal. (Drink between 2022-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| 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. |
|
| Williams Selyem |
2017 |
Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and is youthfully shy, slowly offering scents of raspberry preserves, red and black cherries and touches of cured meats, peppercorn, autumn leaves, dried rose petal and potpourri. It's light to medium-bodied, rounded and silky with slowly evolving earth and spice layers, a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long with baking spice touches. This is very youthfully coiled, and my score may look conservative a year from now. 1,289 cases produced. |
|
|
2017 |
Estate Pinot Noir |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2019): Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard opens with crushed blueberry and blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon and vanilla touches plus licorice, loamy earth, dried leaves and tobacco/cedar hints. Medium-bodied, rounded and wonderfully silky and concentrated, it offers lovely flavor layers, a youthfully firm frame of tannins and great juicy freshness on the amazingly long, layered and energetic finish. This will reward another few years of cellaring.
JD 95 (12/2020): One of the standouts in the lineup, the 2017 Pinot Noir Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard just about jumps out of the glass with its foresty, pine, spice, and mulled red and black fruit-driven aromatics. These all carry over on the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has bright, juicy acidity, elegant tannins, and the class to evolve for a decade. (Drink between 2020-2030).
VM 94+ (5/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard is powerful and tightly wound, with less of the appeal found in most of these 2017s. That shouldn't be too much of an issue in another few years' time, but readers should plan on being patient. There is not much Russian River charm on display today. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
BH 93 (4/2020): This is also appealingly cool and restrained with spicier aromas of both red and dark pinot fruit along with hints of Asian-style tea. The middle weight flavors possess a highly attractive texture despite not being particularly dense though there is already fine complexity on the dusty, compact and sneak long finish. This bitter cherry pit-inflected effort appears to have very good development potential and is a wine that will definitely need at least some patience in order to better harmonize. (Drink starting 2028). |
|
|
2017 |
Olivet Lane Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (6/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane is another beautiful Russian River release from this estate that offers a big nose of wild strawberries, candied cherries, violets, mint, and sandalwood. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it's beautifully balanced, has moderate tannins, and a great finish, with its acidity there yet nicely tucked in behind beautiful fruit. It's not a heavyweight yet stays light, balanced, and incredibly satisfying. Drink it over the coming decade or more. (Drink between 2019-2029).
WA 94+ (4/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple with a poignant nose of blueberry, red berry preserves, Earl Grey tea leaves, warm blackberry and dusty earth. Light to medium-bodied with a concentrated core of perfumed fruits, it offers wonderful freshness and a soft frame of tannins, with baking spices coming through on the finish.
VM 94 (5/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard is soft, open-knit and inviting. Red berry fruit, silky tannins and expressive floral/spice overtones give the 2017 much of its undeniably allure. I imagine the 2017 will provide readers with a long window of drinking pleasure. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (10/2019): A restrained and once again very cool nose grudgingly offers up notes of both red and dark berries that are laced with spice and floral wisps. The sleek, intense and delicious medium weight flavors possess the finest mouth feel in the range along with better length on the more completely balanced finale. While there is a hint of dryness here as well, it's quite subtle and I suspect that time will eventually dissipate it. (Drink starting 2027). |
|
|
2017 |
Sonoma County Pinot Noir |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (6/2019): The appellation 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma County sports a medium ruby color as well as classic sweet red fruits, flowers, incense, and dried forest floor. Readers looking for a beautiful introduction into this estate can't go wrong with this and it’s medium-bodied, has a light, ethereal texture, integrated acidity and tannins, and a beautiful finish. It's classic, old-school, and damn good. |
|
|
2017 |
Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (5/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors is another wine in this range that is all about understatement and nuance. Medium in body yet also quite deep and resonant, the Westside Road Neighbors is succulent and inviting from the very first taste. Black cherry, plum, violet and cloves all add to the wine's dark-ish leaning flavor profile. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Spain |
| Dominio de Pingus |
2012 |
Flor de Pingus (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$694.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (9/2014): Vivid ruby. Heady aromas of fresh blackberry, boysenberry and smoky minerals are complicated by pungent hints of vanilla, violet and allspice. Lush, intensely flavored and focused, offering deep dark berry and cherry compote flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Finishes smooth, sweet and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and fully absorbed tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2013 |
Flor de Pingus (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$671.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Flor de Pingus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,377.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Flor de Pingus (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$688.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (1/2023): There is around 20% new oak in the 2020 Flor de Pingus, and because it has a little younger vines (there was a land-consolidation project in La Horra in 2006!), there'll be some Garnacha starting in 2021 and maybe some oak vats for aging too. All this shows the direction, where he found structure and volume in the palate, with textured tannins. It's harmonious and elegant, aromatic and floral, perfumed and showy, with contained ripeness and around 14% alcohol. The palate is quite powerful, with abundant but fine tannins. 110,000 bottles were filled in July 2022. |
|
|
2021 |
Flor de Pingus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,269.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Flor de Pingus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,326.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Pingus (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,037.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2010): The 2006 Pingus is a spectacular effort. A glass-staining saturated opaque purple, it delivers an other-worldly perfume of smoke, lavender, mineral, scorched earth, and an amalgam of kinky black fruits. Voluptuous on the palate in a measured way, it has superb balance, layered, complex flavors, ripe tannin that is entirely covered by the fruit, and a decade of aging potential. This monumental wine will evolve effortlessly for 10-15 years and offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2036.
VM 95 (10/2008): Opaque purple. Powerful, mineral-driven aromas of blackberry, blueberry, creme de cassis, incense and floral oils. Fresh dark berry flavors are youthfully crunchy and strikingly pure, with mounting spiciness and minerality. Silky tannins add support to the broad, palate-staining fruit but quickly fade away, allowing the exotic dark berry flavors to stand out. The mineral element clings impressively on the long, sappy, sweet finish. A superb showing, and no doubt the last time I'll get to try this as it costs more per bottle than my car is worth. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2007 |
Pingus (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$13,880.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2010): Vintage conditions required a stricter selection for the 2007 Pingus. The aromatics are more brooding but seriously multifaceted. Smoke, pencil lead, truffle, Asian spices, blackberry, and licorice notes are followed by a chewy, dense, rich, powerful wine with fully integrated oak, savory black fruits, ripe tannins, and a decade of aging potential. Drink it from 2020 to 2037 if not longer.
VM 95 (10/2009): Glass-staining ruby. Pungent, mineral-driven aromas of black raspberry, bitter cherry, smoky minerals and potpourri, plus a sexy smoky note of cola. Sweet and powerful, with brilliant definition and intensity to the ripe dark berry and cherry flavors. Lush and creamy but energetic, with silky tannins giving shape to the expansive fruit. Highly concentrated but very young wine with a strong, sappy, penetrating finish that echoes the floral note. This is a weighty wine but there's no excess fat or thickness. Stash it away for at least another six years. |
|
|
2011 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,701.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Pingus (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,150.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Pingus (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,271.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Pingus (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,400.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,840.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,968.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,993.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Pingus (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,367.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,663.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Pingus (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,252.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Pingus (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,893.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Pingus (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,100.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Psi Ribera del Duero |
$31 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (10/2021): The 2019 PSI combines their knowledge of the vineyards and their new winery. They learned a lot in 2018, a more heterogeneous vintage, and their sorting machine for grapes had to work a lot. 2019 was more homogeneous, an easier harvest when most people made better wine. In the winery, they invested in a simple building but top technology. They used some 10% Garnacha in the blend, which was done one year after aging the lots separately. It really reminds me of the young wines from Ribera del Duero from the early 1990s, with some aromas of orange peel, earthy and smoky (very mild) and with fine-grained tannins. It has good ripeness at 14% alcohol and integrated acidity but great balance. It showcases the style of the 2019s here, fresher than expected and still a sunny vintage, when 2018 was more crystalline. A triumph over the natural conditions of the year. |
|
|
2019 |
Psi Ribera del Duero Nicked Label |
$31 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (10/2021): The 2019 PSI combines their knowledge of the vineyards and their new winery. They learned a lot in 2018, a more heterogeneous vintage, and their sorting machine for grapes had to work a lot. 2019 was more homogeneous, an easier harvest when most people made better wine. In the winery, they invested in a simple building but top technology. They used some 10% Garnacha in the blend, which was done one year after aging the lots separately. It really reminds me of the young wines from Ribera del Duero from the early 1990s, with some aromas of orange peel, earthy and smoky (very mild) and with fine-grained tannins. It has good ripeness at 14% alcohol and integrated acidity but great balance. It showcases the style of the 2019s here, fresher than expected and still a sunny vintage, when 2018 was more crystalline. A triumph over the natural conditions of the year. |
|
|
2015 |
Dominio de Pingus Pingus (3x750ML) |
$2,819.99 |
|
Sold Out
|
| |
|
|