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Inventory updated: Tue, Aug 18, 2026 04:02 PM cst
2019 Bevan Cellars Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2019
Region: USA Red
Color/Type: Red
Size: 750 ML
Tasting Notes:
WA 98 (5/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is a stunning example of eastern Oakville Cabernet. It's loaded with scents of cassis and red plum and tinged with faint hints of thyme and sage, and it's full-bodied, rich and relatively open-knit. Ripe, plush and layered, gently framed by cedar and vanilla, it's lovely stuff that should drink well for up to two decades.
JD 97 (3/2022): I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard. This beauty is a great representation of this terroir, with mineral-drenched aromas and flavors of blueberries, iron, chocolate, graphite, and candied violets. Deep, rich, and full-bodied, it’s another monster of a wine from Bevan that stays beautifully balanced and seamless.
VM 96 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is packed with inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, licorice, lavender, chocolate incense and spice. This powerful, virile Cabernet needs a few years to unwind, but it is super-impressive, even in the early going. A whole range of bold, savory accents lend character to the searingly intense finish. This is a very typical wine from Tench in its sheer heft. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Bevan Cellars |
2018 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon  |
$360 |
2 |
|
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JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
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2018 |
Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
4 |
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JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
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2013 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$159 |
2 |
|
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WA 96 (10/2015): The 2013 EE Tench Vineyard, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc, is a stunner. This comes from the red, rocky terraces near the Dalla Valle Vineyard on the western Vaca hillsides in Oakville. This wine has great intensity, with notes of scorched earth, jammy blackberry and cassis fruit, some licorice, underbrush and truffle. It is elegant, yet powerful and authoritative, pure and multi-layered, with a phenomenal finish of close to 50 seconds. This wine should drink well for 20-25 years.
VM 96 (10/2015): A wine of superb purity, finesse and richness, the 2013 Red Wine EE Tench Vineyard offers superb balance to match its inviting personality. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the EE is totally alluring from the very first taste. The Franc adds striking floral and savory notes along with a kick of freshness. |
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2014 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
2 |
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WA 94-96 (10/2015): Another wine that could easily end up being rated close to perfect is the 2014 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc. This is an amazingly complex wine already, with forest floor, violets, blueberries and blackberries. It is stunningly rich, with a concentrated, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel.
VM 92 (12/2016): The 2014 Red Wine EE Tench Vineyard is surprisingly seamless and open-knit for such a young wine. Succulent dark cherry, plum, spice, licorice, mocha and chocolate fill out the wine's supple, inviting frame effortlessly. Best of all, the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$349 |
1 |
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| JD 98 (1/2019): The 2016 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, which is the smallest amount of Cabernet Franc to date. Brought up in new barrels, it has gorgeous blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and just about as seamless and silky as it gets, this is a magical wine to drink over the coming 15 years or more. |
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2010 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$109 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (12/2012): The 2010 Red Wine EE is gorgeous. Freshly cut flowers, cassis, menthol, licorice and black cherries burst from the glass. All the elements are nicely balanced in this delicious, totally beautiful wine. Hints of cloves, roasted coffee beans, menthol, and graphite add complexity on a distinctly Cabernet Franc-laced finish. The 2010 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2015-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
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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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2019 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$175 |
1 |
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JD 97 (3/2022): The 2019 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a 60/40 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from two different vineyards. The Cabernet Franc really stands out, and the wine has a complex, forest floor, herbal, bouquet garni-like character as well notes of woodsmoke, iron, and blue fruits. Full-bodied on the palate, it has some background chocolaty oak, a great mid-palate, and a heck of a finish.
WA 96 (5/2022): A 60-40 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard features leafy, minty nuances and hints of tobacco set against a backdrop of redcurrants. Full-bodied and ripe but remarkably elegant, it finishes supple and long, with a delectable silky texture. It's undeniably sexy, but I have to admit I didn't pick up on the "hot chick-just-done-with-Pilates pheromone quality" that Bevan described. |
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2011 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
2 |
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| |
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2013 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$269 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2015): Bevan’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, aged three-fourths in new Taransaud and the rest in Gamba. This wine displays loads of new saddle leather, loamy soil undertones, seductive, sweet, ripe tannin, and luscious, succulent and majestic levels of blackberry and blueberry fruit as well as cassis and Christmas fruitcake. It is an amazing wine to drink over the next 30+ years.
VM 97 (10/2015): An explosive, powerful wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard hits the palate with serious depth and intensity. Black cherry jam, mocha, espresso, spice, new leather and menthol are meld into the huge, powerful finish. The Harbison is all about density, power and voluptuousness, all qualities the 2013 has in spades. Mocha, plum and espresso notes reappear to round things out in style. |
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2015 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (12/2017): There are 1,200 cases of the 2015 Ontogeny and it’s 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple color is followed by a gorgeously pure bouquet of black and blue fruits, crushed flowers (violets, lilies), lead pencil shavings, and damp earth. Deep, full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional on the palate, with incredible purity of fruit and a seamlessness that's hard to describe, it's a gorgeous wine that's fabulous today, yet will keep for two decades or more. |
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2013 |
Impetus Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
1 |
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WA 95 (10/2015): The 2013 The Impetus is an equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 50% new Taransaud, 25% new Darnajou, and 25% new Gamba. It comes from vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa. The Cabernet Franc is accessed from a relatively cool, high-elevation site in Bennett Valley, while the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Napa. Bevan told me that the phenolics of this wine are off the charts analytically, as the wine offers loads of mulberry, forest floor, violet, sweet oak and some underbrush and earth tones. Rich, full-bodied, opulent and fleshy, this wine is already drinking well and should continue to do so for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 The Impetus is a blend of Cabernet Franc from Victoria De Crescenzo's estate vineyard in Bennett Valley and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from Tench. Rich and explosive to the core, the 2013 exudes depth and concentration. Iron, smoke, white pepper, red cherries, plums and exotic spices meld into the deep, resonant finish. Of all the Bevan 2013s, the Impetus should drink well with minimal cellaring. |
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2013 |
McGah Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
2 |
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| |
WA 98 (10/2015): A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard is pushing toward perfection. A beautiful nose of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, graphite and camphor all jump from the glass of this wine of majestic intensity, a magnificent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a super-concentrated and pure finish. It should drink well for another three decades.
VM 95 (10/2015): A big, ripe, opulent wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard races across the palate with layers of blackberry jam, cassis, mocha, plum, cloves and new leather. This is one of the more unctuous, flashy wines in the Bevan range and will appeal most to readers who enjoy the racier side of Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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2014 |
McGah Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$165 |
2 |
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| WA 95 (10/2016): From Rutherford comes the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard. It is a small cuvée of 125 cases. Dense purple to the rim with notes of blackberry, cassis, white flowers, cedar wood and smoky barbecue, the wine is full-bodied, opulent, fleshy and showing extremely well already. This wine will continue to offer considerable pleasure for another 15 or more years. |
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2012 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
7 |
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2010 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
5 |
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| VM 91 (12/2012): The 2010 Ontogeny is one of the more compact wines in this lineup. It has good depth and presence but not the personality or silkiness of the best wines here. Sweet red berries, crushed flowers and menthol add complexity on the finish. In this vintage the Ontogeny is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Merlot. (Drink between 2014-2022). Antonio Galloni. |
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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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2014 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
3 |
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| WA 96 (10/2016): There are 700 cases of the 2014 Ontogeny Proprietary Red, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Totally dry, even though there is a wonderful sucrosity to the fruit. The wine has stunning blackberry and cassis notes, spring flowers, supple tannins and a long, multidimensional mouthfeel. It is a sexy beast for sure and best drunk over the next 15 or so years. |
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2015 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
7 |
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| JD 97 (12/2017): There are 1,200 cases of the 2015 Ontogeny and it’s 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple color is followed by a gorgeously pure bouquet of black and blue fruits, crushed flowers (violets, lilies), lead pencil shavings, and damp earth. Deep, full-bodied, layered and multi-dimensional on the palate, with incredible purity of fruit and a seamlessness that's hard to describe, it's a gorgeous wine that's fabulous today, yet will keep for two decades or more. |
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2010 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
5 |
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| VM 95 (12/2012): The 2010 Proprietary Red Oscar Sugarloaf Mountain is notably sweeter, richer and more powerful than the Impetus, Bevan's other Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend. Chocolate, sweet spices, cloves, black berries and plums all jump from the glass in this full-bodied wine. The 2010 is full-throttle, intense and unapologetically opulent, but it all works, and beautifully. I expect the 2010 to give years of sheer pleasure once it recovers from its current slightly shut down stage. Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$215 |
3 |
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JD 100 (12/2017): Another perfect wine from Bevan is the 2015 Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Proprietary Red Wine and it’s a Cheval Blanc-like blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot brought up all in French oak. This huge, full-bodied, opulent 2015 carries itself like a ballerina and is elegant, weightless and even graceful, with remarkable purity of fruit. Currants, Blueberries, liquid violets, Asian spices and a distinct minerality all emerge from the glass and it has both incredible complexity and richness. Bravo! (Drink between 2018-2038).
WA 98 (2/2021): Sugarloaf is a cooler site in south Napa, above a quarry. It usually allows for a longer hang time, often lending a minty or herbal lift to this label. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain has a powerful nose of black raspberries, black and red plums and warm cassis with hints of tar, eucalyptus, bay leaves and pencil lead with a waft of cedar. The palate is full-bodied with opulent fragrant earth notes and seducing black berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Stunning! |
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2016 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
8 |
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| JD 97 (1/2019): Based on 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was brought up all in new French oak, which has been absorbed beautifully. With terrific intensity in its blue fruits and floral aromatics, this terrific 2016 is full-bodied, powerful, and layered, with ultra-fine tannins that emerge with time in the glass. It has the purity and elegance of the vintage front and center, yet backs it up with both texture and depth. In short, it’s another rock star wine from this estate. |
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2016 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$375 |
2 |
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| JD 97 (1/2019): Based on 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was brought up all in new French oak, which has been absorbed beautifully. With terrific intensity in its blue fruits and floral aromatics, this terrific 2016 is full-bodied, powerful, and layered, with ultra-fine tannins that emerge with time in the glass. It has the purity and elegance of the vintage front and center, yet backs it up with both texture and depth. In short, it’s another rock star wine from this estate. |
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2015 |
Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$249 |
2 |
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WA 99 (12/2017): Very deep purple-black in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard has a crème de cassis, black plums and black cherries-scented nose with touches of garrigue, fragrant earth, espresso and violets with a waft of roses. Full-bodied, rich and ripe with fantastically multilayered, perfumed black fruit flavors, it has a wonderfully velvety yet firm texture with great length and depth defining the finish.
JD 98 (12/2017): From a tiny block in a vineyard in Oakville, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is a head turner that’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. With a deep purple/blue color and killer notes of blueberries, black cherries, chocolate, spice and building minerality, this beauty is full-bodied, concentrated, and pure, with a focused, clean finish that carries ripe tannin and good acidity.
VM 94 (1/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is the deepest and most flamboyant of Russell Bevan's Oakville wines. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, smoke and spice infuse this rich, boisterous Cabernet. Exotic, racy and wonderfully forward, the 2015 exudes character and personality in a decidedly voluptuous style. Antonio Galloni. |
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2019 |
Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179 |
1 |
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WA 98 (5/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is a stunning example of eastern Oakville Cabernet. It's loaded with scents of cassis and red plum and tinged with faint hints of thyme and sage, and it's full-bodied, rich and relatively open-knit. Ripe, plush and layered, gently framed by cedar and vanilla, it's lovely stuff that should drink well for up to two decades.
JD 97 (3/2022): I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard. This beauty is a great representation of this terroir, with mineral-drenched aromas and flavors of blueberries, iron, chocolate, graphite, and candied violets. Deep, rich, and full-bodied, it’s another monster of a wine from Bevan that stays beautifully balanced and seamless.
VM 96 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is packed with inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, licorice, lavender, chocolate incense and spice. This powerful, virile Cabernet needs a few years to unwind, but it is super-impressive, even in the early going. A whole range of bold, savory accents lend character to the searingly intense finish. This is a very typical wine from Tench in its sheer heft. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
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2015 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
3 |
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WA 99 (12/2017): Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro conjures notions of lavender, wild thyme, dusty earth and pencil shavings over a core of red and black currants plus a touch of charcuterie. Full-bodied, rich, ripe and oh-so-seductive, the palate features ripe, velvety tannins and fantastic freshness, lifting the incredibly long, fruity finish.
JD 98 (12/2017): Another gem from this site in Oakville is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro. It gives up complex notes of blackberry jam, tobacco leaf, violets, seaweed and crushed rock, and is stacked on the palate, with full-bodied richness and sweet tannin. It’s a beautifully complete, layered, balanced 2015 that does everything right. Drink it over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2018-2038) |
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2016 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$239 |
6 |
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JD 99 (1/2019): Flirting with perfection and up with the top handful of wines in the vintage, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro comes from a single block in the Tench Vineyard that always stands out. Similarly colored to the straight Tench release, it has slightly more freshness, structure, and purity, with thrilling notes of plums, purple fruits, crushed violets, and a liquid rock-like minerality. It got more than a few expletives in my notes and is sensational on the palate as well, with full body, ultra-fine tannins, and world-class purity of fruit. It’s another brilliant, brilliant wine from winemaker Russell Bevan. (Drink between 2019-2039.)
VM 98 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro emerges from Block 1B South, which lies next to Harbison. Not unsurprisingly, the Calixtro shares much with its neighbor, specifically a vertical sense of structure and a profile rich in mineral and savory overtones. Explosive and dense on the palate, the Calixtro hits all the right notes. Graphite, scorched earth, licorice, lavender, crème de cassis and spice fill out the wine's huge, massive frame. This is another rock star wine from Russell Bevan. (Drink between 2022-2036.) Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (10/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro is deep garnet-purple colored and has a nose of cassis, violets, roses, tea and earth with touches of cast iron pan and camphor. The palate is medium to full-bodied and firm, with very fine-grained tannins, finishing fresh and long. 135 cases produced. |
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2018 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$275 |
1 |
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JD 100 (1/2021): Pure perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro is a vineyard selection from a great site just beside the winery, on the east side of Oakville. Offering a decadent, full-bodied, concentrated style as well as lots of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, spice, and an almost bloody, iron-like character, it’s a heavenly Cabernet that delivers both intellectual and hedonistic pleasure in spades. It already offers pleasure yet should keep for 20+ years. (Drink between 2021-2043.)
WA 99 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it's a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing glimpses at warm cassis, boysenberries and plum preserves scents with hints of charcoal, espresso, tapenade and violets. Full-bodied and rich, with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, it finishes very long and minerally. Only 109 cases were produced. Those lucky enough to secure a few bottles will want to put them away for at least 4-5 years and drink them over the next 25+ years.
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro emerges from Block 1B, which is home to some of the best dirt on the site. A stunning range of mineral and savory inflections races out of the glass, adding layers of complexity to the intense dark fruit. This is far from an easygoing 2018. Readers should plan on cellaring it for at least a few years. (Drink between 2023-2033.) |
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2015 |
Tin Box Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
2 |
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WA 97+ (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard gives a very deep garnet-purple color and nose of dried herbs, red currant jelly and underbrush over a core of plum preserves, crème de cassis and fungi with a waft of mossy bark. Medium-bodied with beautiful elegance and freshness in the mouth, it has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and earthy. Needs time but should age fantastically!
JD 95+ (12/2017): From old Martini Clone Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard will be the last vintage from this cuvee. It’s a masculine, full-bodied, structured beauty that possessing lots of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, cedar and licorice aromas, and flavors. It packs serious fruit but has enough tannin to warrant 3-4 years of bottle age.
VM 95 (1/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box Vineyard is distinguished by a bit more energy, freshness and linearity next to the other Oakville Cabernets in this range. The aromatics are quite open and expressive, but the wine is less expressive on the palate. Bright floral notes, espresso and red cherry fruit open up, but only with considerable reluctance. My instincts say the wine's reticence is a good sign for the future. Readers looking for a showy 2015 Cabernet will find that in other wines in this range, but not here. I would cellar the 2015 for at least a few years. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Two Dog Knoll Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$189 |
1 |
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| WA 96+ (10/2015): Another proprietary red wine, in this case a blend of 55% Petit Verdot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2013 Two Dog Knoll, which comes from the Oakville site. Normally with this much Petit Verdot, I would be worried about rustic tannins, but Bevan has handled it brilliantly. Inky bluish/purple, with notes of blueberry liqueur, brioche, acacia flowers, steak tartare as well as roasted meats and herbs, this is a wine of great intensity. Singular and distinct, it should drink well for 20-25 years as well. |
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2013 |
Two Dog Knoll Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$199 |
1 |
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| WA 96+ (10/2015): Another proprietary red wine, in this case a blend of 55% Petit Verdot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2013 Two Dog Knoll, which comes from the Oakville site. Normally with this much Petit Verdot, I would be worried about rustic tannins, but Bevan has handled it brilliantly. Inky bluish/purple, with notes of blueberry liqueur, brioche, acacia flowers, steak tartare as well as roasted meats and herbs, this is a wine of great intensity. Singular and distinct, it should drink well for 20-25 years as well. |
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2013 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$219 |
2 |
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| |
WA 97+ (10/2015): From a vineyard owned by Screaming Eagle’s former proprietress, Jean Phillips, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote is all Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 7, aged in equal parts new Taransaud and new Darnajou. An amazing wine, opaque purple in color, with sweet cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake, blackberry and cassis as well as some charcoal and incense, this fabulous wine is super-rich and capable of 30 years of further evolution.
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block, from Jeannie Philipps's, Stags Leap property, is fabulous. Inky, deep and mysterious, the 2013 possesses remarkable nuance and detail. Lavender, mint, spice and sage are some of the signatures in a wine endowed with tons of Stags' Leap personality. Sweet lavender, mint and pine meld into the sleek, silky finish. |
|
|
2014 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$250 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 99 (10/2016): Another nearly perfect wine is the 125-case cuvee of 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vixen Block. This is Stags Leap, owned by former Screaming Eagle Vineyard owner and realtor Jean Phillips. A stunning floral nose intermixed with blackcurrant, black cherry, licorice and gravel is followed by a long, multidimensional wine with terrific blue and black fruits, loads of glycerin, sweet tannin and a stunning finish of more than a minute. This is spectacular stuff. Drink it over the next 20 years.
VM 94+ (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is one of the most bold, racy wines in the lineup this year. Intensely aromatic, layered and exquisite, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is a classic Stags Leap Cabernet long on class and intensity. The 2014 still needs time to come together, but it is impressive today. Red and purplish-hued fruits, wild flowers, mint and sage build into the super-expressive finish. Russell Bevan gets virtually all of the fruit of Wildfoote, a property owned by Jean Phillips. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2017): Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote Vineyard offers up a very serious nose of cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with hints of dried lavender, underbrush, Chinese five spice and cigar box, plus a waft of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and densely packed with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, it has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epically long exotic spice nuances. Only 125 cases were produced.
JD 96 (12/2017): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is one of the more refined, elegant wines in the lineup and reveals a perfumed bouquet of white flowers, blue fruits, violets, and spice. It’s seamless and silky on the palate, yet has building underlying tannin and is beautifully balanced. It’s one of those wines that carry loads of intensity and texture yet just glides over the palate. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2018-2038) |
|
|
2016 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$200 |
10 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2019): Leading off the Cabernets and from a site in the Stags Leap AVA, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard offers a thrilling bouquet of blueberries and blackcurrants to go with complex white flowers, violets, and hints of chocolate. With no hard edges, full body, and beautiful fruit, this Cabernet shines for its incredible finesse and elegance yet certainly doesn’t lack for power. It’s a brilliant wine. (Drink between 2019-2039).
VM 96 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is a rich, exotic wine loaded with Stags Leap character. Black cherry, plum, new leather, spice and menthol all flesh out in this potent, dark wine. Dark red and purplish berry fruit and floral notes add brightness. Today, the Wildfoote comes across as quite closed following its bottling, but there is every reason to think it will blossom in a few years' time, as there is quite a bit of energy and persistence. (Drink between 2021-2031.) Antonio Galloni. |
|
| | USA White |
| Bevan Cellars |
2021 |
Dry Stack Vyd. Sauvignon Blanc |
$35 |
16 |
|
| |
| 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. |
|
|
2016 |
Ritchie Vyd. Chardonnay |
$55 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2018): The 2016 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard has intense pink grapefruit, guava and warm pineapple on the nose with suggestions of ginger ale and brioche. The palate is full-bodied and rich with yeasty/toasty notes, finishing very spicy and very long and layered. |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Alban Vineyards |
2019 |
Patrina Alban Estate Vyd. Syrah |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (9/2022): Moving to the reds, the 2019 Patrina offers lots of smoky red and black fruits as well as violets, pepper, and graphite notes. It's forward, charming, textured, and balanced, with plenty of classic Alban character. I'd be happy to drink it. |
|
| Bevan Cellars |
2019 |
EE Napa Valley Red Wine |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (3/2022): The 2019 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a 60/40 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from two different vineyards. The Cabernet Franc really stands out, and the wine has a complex, forest floor, herbal, bouquet garni-like character as well notes of woodsmoke, iron, and blue fruits. Full-bodied on the palate, it has some background chocolaty oak, a great mid-palate, and a heck of a finish.
WA 96 (5/2022): A 60-40 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard features leafy, minty nuances and hints of tobacco set against a backdrop of redcurrants. Full-bodied and ripe but remarkably elegant, it finishes supple and long, with a delectable silky texture. It's undeniably sexy, but I have to admit I didn't pick up on the "hot chick-just-done-with-Pilates pheromone quality" that Bevan described. |
|
| Blankiet |
2019 |
Paradise Hills Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$228.65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Prince of Hearts Rose |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Carter Cellars |
2019 |
Three Kings Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$210 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2021): Leading off the four releases from the To Kalon Vineyard, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The Three Kings boasts a saturated purple color as well as lots of black, chocolaty fruits supported by more gravelly earth and tobacco. A dark, concentrated, structured To Kalon that builds beautifully with time in the glass, I'd happily drink a bottle today, although it will benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring.
WA 97 (5/2023): Carter's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The Three Kings offers up the barest hints of herbal tendrils wrapped around ripe cassis and cherries and rooted in a base of powdered cocoa. Full-bodied, silky and fine on the palate, it's long, concentrated and elegant on the finish.
VM 94 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard The Three Kings is meant to be the most forward of the To Kalon bottlings, and it is. Inky dark fruit, lavender, spice, licorice and chocolate are front and center. Racy, silky curves wrap around a core of supple fruit. Best of all The Three Kings can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. The 2019 is beautifully done. (Drink between 2026-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cayuse |
2019 |
Cailloux Vyd. Syrah |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
| JS 97 (2/2022): An expressive nose of cracked black pepper, black cherry and an array of dried herbs. Medium-to full-bodied with incredible spicy character. So much going on here. Silky, fruit-soaked tannins. The supple dark fruit is accented by peppercorn, dried ginger, bay leaf, basil and oolong. Umami. Superb. Co-fermented with 4% viognier. Drink or hold. |
|
|
2019 |
En Cerise Vyd. Syrah |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2022): Made without the use of Viognier, the 2019 Syrah en Cerise is a firmer and denser expression of Syrah with Walla Walla attitude and swagger. Aromas of dark cherry, smoke and a hint of baking spices with turned earth express beautifully with notions of black plums with black peppercorn. Medium-bodied and with 13.5% alcohol on the label, the palate and mouthfeel are generous as it offers a broad-shouldered structure with a firm tannic edge that is fresh and food-friendly. The wine glides to an impressive finish with lingering hints of sage and olives as the fine-grained tannins continue with persistence.
VM 96 (3/2023): The word “smoky” doesn’t even do this justice, as the 2019 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard smolders up with a savory blend of air-dried and salt-cured meats, cigar ash and grilled sage offset by a dramatically pretty hint of sweet lavender. It’s soft-textured and round, with a core of saline-minerals and brisk acidity propelling tart wild berries across the palate. Peppery yet refined, the 2019 leaves a staining of blackberry concentration and silky tannins. Nuances of rosemary and a hint of bitter cacao slowly fade. It’s the perfect combination of Northern Rhône character with New World fruit. The En Cerise is simply stunning and with a bright fruit ahead of it. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido.
JD 95 (7/2022): More shiitake mushrooms, forest floor, and savory notes emerge from the 2019 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard, which offers more fruit and density with time in the glass. Ripe black cherries, currants, peppery herbs, tobacco, leather, and funky earth all make an appearance on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with ripe yet present tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a good core of fruit. It's one of the earthier, more savory wines in the lineup and should evolve gracefully for 20 years or more. (Drink between 2022-2043). |
|
| Chappellet |
2019 |
Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$215 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 99 (11/2021): A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is another wonderfully evocative triumph from this family-owned Pitchard Hill pioneer. Deep garnet-purple colored, it storms out of the glass with profound scents of crème de cassis, blackberry preserves, licorice and mulberries, plus hints of unsmoked cigars, wild sage and tar. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers fantastic intensity and great poise, offering fine-grained, ripe tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
JD 98+ (6/2022): The flagship from this great estate is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill, which checks in as a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It has an incredible nose of pure blue fruits as well as flowers, crushed stone, fresh thyme, tobacco, and graphite. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it's nevertheless weightless and light on its feet, with wonderfully integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great finish. This classic, quintessential Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20, 30, if not 40 years if stored correctly. 3800 cases. (Drink between 2024-2054).
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is a potent, massively tannic wine. Black fruit, graphite, licorice, spice, menthol, chocolate and dried herbs abound. A huge, tannic beast, the 2019 is all brawn today and not terribly finessed. This is not a particularly distinguished vintage for Chappellet's flagship. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Continuum |
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). |
|
| Robert Craig |
2019 |
Howell Mountain Cuvee Red Wine |
$49 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Cuvée is a new entry-level wine in this range. The addition of Merlot works so well in softening some of the young Howell Mountain contours. Even so, there is plenty of energy underpinning the bright red cherry fruit. Mint, pine and floral accents resonate across the persistent finish. The 2019 is a jewel of a wine and a fabulous value. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Daou Vineyards |
2019 |
Soul of a Lion Cabernet Sauvignon |
$120 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (3/2022): The 2019 Soul Of A Lion is a blend of free-run Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Cabernet Franc (14%), and Petit Verdot (9%), aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque ruby in color, it offers aromatic contrast between dark, savory cherry fruit, chargrill and graphite, and top notes of green pepper and rose petals. The palate explodes with detailed flavors and its tannins are already resolved and chocolaty, with seamless acidity and exotic spicy layers emerging on the extended finish.
VM 96 (7/2022): Inky magenta. Primary, mineral-accented cassis, cherry pit, licorice, roasted coffee and incense aromas reveal oak spice and pipe tobacco flourishes. Shows superb clarity and spicy thrust on the palate, offering sweet black and blue fruit, exotic spice, vanilla and candied rose flavors that deftly blend weight and energy. Youthfully gripping tannins frame a wonderfully long, smoky finish that leaves cherry liqueur and vanilla notes behind. 100% new French oak. (Drink between 2027-2037). Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Davis Estates |
2019 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 89 (12/2023): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid, enjoyable effort. Lots of dark fruits, chocolaty oak, and some spicy, herbal notes give way to a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, textured effort that does a lot right. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years. (Drink between 2023-2031) |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2019 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (5/2023): Honoring four vineyard sites on Red Mountain, Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Klipsun and Upchurch vineyards make up the blend of Four Flags. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags displays a deep ruby core and opens up with juicy dark red fruit essences before offering a firm, dusty nose with oak and elements of vanilla and nutmeg. Full-bodied, the palate displays a rich and round mouthfeel before delivering a firm tannic edge that will take another year to come around before seductive oak essences sway across the mid-palate. It’s a delightful wine that needs additional time in the bottle, so be patient.
JD 94 (7/2022): A blend of four vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags sports a ruby/plum color to go with terrific notes of red and black currants, spicy oak, dried flowers, and hints of tobacco. It has some classic Red Mountain minerality and chocolate on the palate, is medium to full-bodied, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish.
VM 90 (3/2023): The 2019 Four Flags impresses with a mix of wild blueberry, cooling smoke and rubbed sage. It soothes with its silky textures and ripe red and blue fruits, as a pleasant inner sweetness resonates, nicely complemented by zesty acidity. This finishes remarkably fresh with subtly grippy tannins that linger. The 2019 mixes vivid fruit, energy and power in a way that I find wildly appealing. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Grand Ciel Syrah |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (5/2023): Big, bold and broad-shouldered, the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel offers a firm, fresh nose with a rocky and dusty blackberry essence and subtle notes of graphite and baking spices. Full-bodied, firm and focused, the palate reveals fine-grained tannins and a long, spicy and textural finish. It’s still tight and just a baby, so give it another two to three years in the cellar before opening. Your patience will be rewarded. Enjoy with food.
JD 95 (6/2023): All Syrah from a great vineyard on Red Mountain, the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel Vineyard reveals a deep ruby/plum hue (it's not opaque) to go with a great perfume of mulberries, meaty blue fruits, pepper herbs, leather, and hints of iron. Rich, medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has fine tannins, a silky, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for 15-20 years as well. (Drink between 2023-2043).
VM 94 (3/2023): Cracked ashen stones, savory herbs and smoky black currants form the 2019 Syrah Grand Ciel's beguiling bouquet. This is silky and round on the palate, with depths of dark fruit, savory spice and herbal tones that swirl throughout. It leaves the palate caked in salty minerals and a web of fine-grained tannins while tapering off with pretty inner violet florals and a dark fruit concentration. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Minuit Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 91 (5/2023): The 2019 Minuit is a blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is lifted with a juicy fruit frame, offering a firm and sturdy core of ripe fruit. Full-bodied, it offers flavors of dusty black raspberry across the mid-palate with a balanced structure and firm tannic edge. The Minuit continues to evolve on the palate and delivers a seductively long finish. I recommend decanting at least 30 minutes prior to enjoyment.
VM 91 (3/2023): The 2019 Minuit, a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, impresses with its vibrant mix of black raspberries complemented by violet florals and sweet smoke. This is silky-smooth, with a seductively spicy mix of ripe red berries accelerated by juicy acidity that keeps the style wildly fresh. The 2019 is packed full of energy, tapering off wickedly spicy and fresh with only the slightest hint of tannin that lingers on. (Drink between 2024-2030). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Red Willow Vyd. Red Wine |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (5/2023): Mostly Cabernet Franc with 35% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Red Willow opens to a nose of dark cherry with hints of roasted red pepper, black raspberry and soft red and purple florals. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features soft and elegant brown baking spices from the 38% new French oak and exudes a ripe and juicy frame across the mid-palate. The wine continues to unpack and reveal its secrets as persistent flavors of fresh, ripe, picturesque red plum and blackberry skin sway with a food-friendly and delightfully oaky finish.
VM 92 (3/2023): Dusty florals and peppery herbs give way to crushed black raspberries and a dusting of cocoa as the 2019 Red Willow comes to life in the glass. This coasts along the palate, cooling and full of energy, showing its minerality up front. Juicy red and black fruits give way to grippy tannins that settle in toward the close. The 2019 has sneaky concentration that leaves the palate wrapped up in youthful tension, along with fine tannins that will require a number of years to fully mellow. The Red Willow is a blend of 56% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
|
| Diamond Creek |
2019 |
Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon |
$260 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace opens with a striking bouquet redolent of crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon, blood orange and mint. Medium in body and silky, with tremendous fruit purity, the 2019 impresses with its finesse and open-knit personality. There's good energy and tension, but the Red Rock in 2019 is, unusually, a wine of total sensuality. I loved it. (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (9/2022): From a riper, more Californian vintage, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace offers up scents of black cherries, cassis and hints of vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, a bit more tannic than the Gravelly Meadow, with ample concentration and a long finish, framed by rich, velvety tannins. |
|
| Domaine Eden |
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (5/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is such a sexy wine. Plush, deep and seductive, the 2019 is an opulent beauty the likes of which I don't think I have ever tasted here. A rush of black plum, tobacco, incense, dried herbs and licorice makes a strong first impression. Time in the glass brings out the wine's compelling aromatic nuances. Silky and plush, with tremendous depth, the 2019 is a huge overachiever. I loved it. (Drink between 2024-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Emeritus Vineyards |
2019 |
Wesley’s Reserve Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Fait-Main |
2019 |
Becktstoffer Las Piedras Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$239 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2021): Certainly in the same league as the 2018, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is another full-bodied, ripe, incredibly sexy wine that has an incredible bouquet of red and blue fruits, sandalwood, crushed stone, and exotic spices. As with the 2018, it's flawlessly balanced and has a round, lush texture, supple tannins, and a great finish. The 2018 is more straight and classic, and the 2019 is more up-front, sexy, and exuberant. Both are incredible wines.
WA 96+ (11/2021): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras explodes with vibrant scents of blackcurrant preserves, wild blueberries, candied violets and Indian spices, plus wafts of potpourri and tobacco leaf. The full-bodied palate is packed with rich, perfumed black fruit preserves flavors, framed by firm, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a whole array of mineral and exotic spice sparks. |
|
|
2019 |
Bettinelli Sleeping Lady Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 97+ (12/2021): I always love the Cabernet Sauvignon Bettinelli Sleeping Lady Vineyard from winemaker Benoit Touquette and the 2019 is no exception, offering a kaleidoscope-like array of cassis, blueberries, iron, crushed stone, and spice. Nicely focused on the palate, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and straight-up gorgeous, drink it over the coming 15+. (Drink between 2021-2037).
WA 96+ (11/2021): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Bettinelli Sleeping Lady Vineyard charges out of the gate with bold notions of blackcurrant pastilles, stewed plums and blueberry pie, plus hints of rose hip tea, cracked black pepper and tar. Big, concentrated and muscular in the full-bodied mouth, it has ripe, plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and fragrant. |
|
| Fingers Crossed |
2019 |
Til Death Do Us Part Grenache |
$165 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 96 (5/2022): The 2019 Grenache Two Become One comes from four vineyards—The Third Twin, Vogelzang, Bien Nacido and Sebastiano. It is blended with 13% Mourvèdre and 11% Syrah, made with 29% whole clusters, and matured for 20 months in 56% new French oak. Opaque ruby-purple in color, it begins with reticent scents of blackberry jam, tar, licorice, lavender and bouquet garni with touches of coffee beans, taking plenty of time to unfold in the glass. The full-bodied palate surprises with its concentrated, dark berry fruit, framed by seamless acidity and finely grained tannins. It gains complexity over time, offering up more layers as it airs, and it finishes with soaring floral perfume, suggesting it could use a few more years in bottle or a long decant to show at its best. 381 cases were made, and it will be sold as a six-bottle set with one bottle of white wine, two bottles of Syrah and three bottles of Grenache ($685). This was bottled in July of 2021 and tasted May 24, 2022.
JD 96-99 (8/2020): I was able to taste both the 2019 Grenache and Syrah from barrel, both showing beautifully. The 2019 Grenache TBD is slightly more fruit-forward with lots of red and blue fruits as well as sappy flower and violet notes. A finesse-driven Grenache that still brings serious richness and power, it's full-bodied and has silky tannins, terrific balance, and a sensational sense of freshness. |
|
|
2019 |
Two Become One Syrah |
$180 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (5/2022): The 2019 Syrah Two Become One is just as stunning as its 2018 counterpart but will require a bit more time in bottle to blossom completely. Blended with 3% Mourvèdre and 3% Roussanne, it was made with 25% whole clusters and matured for 20 months in 70% new French oak. Opaque purple-black in color, it opens slowly to blackberry jam aromas with layers of graphite, tar, lavender, charcuterie and bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate's concentrated, floral fruits are addictive, and its weightless, silky texture brings you back to the glass again and again. It has a juicy backbone of acidity and a hauntingly long, layered finish, suggesting it will develop over many years in the cellar.
JD 96-98 (8/2021): Moving to the reds, the 2019 Grenache Two Become One, which saw 56% new 600-liter barrels, is a full-bodied, rich, yet always elegant and focused Grenache that has beautiful darker berry fruits as well as notes of orange blossom, pepper, spice, and violets. The blend is 76% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, and 11% Syrah that saw 29% whole clusters. If you get a chance, you should buy it. |
|
|
2019 |
Two Become One Syrah |
$194 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (5/2022): The 2019 Syrah Two Become One is just as stunning as its 2018 counterpart but will require a bit more time in bottle to blossom completely. Blended with 3% Mourvèdre and 3% Roussanne, it was made with 25% whole clusters and matured for 20 months in 70% new French oak. Opaque purple-black in color, it opens slowly to blackberry jam aromas with layers of graphite, tar, lavender, charcuterie and bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate's concentrated, floral fruits are addictive, and its weightless, silky texture brings you back to the glass again and again. It has a juicy backbone of acidity and a hauntingly long, layered finish, suggesting it will develop over many years in the cellar.
JD 96-98 (8/2021): Moving to the reds, the 2019 Grenache Two Become One, which saw 56% new 600-liter barrels, is a full-bodied, rich, yet always elegant and focused Grenache that has beautiful darker berry fruits as well as notes of orange blossom, pepper, spice, and violets. The blend is 76% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre, and 11% Syrah that saw 29% whole clusters. If you get a chance, you should buy it. |
|
| Folded Hills |
2019 |
Santa Ynez Valley Syrah |
$25 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (8/2024): The 2019 Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley) is a blend of Estella clone Syrah from the estate and Stolpman. It is the one wine in this range that is a touch forward and overt. Then again, this is a five-year-old appellation wine. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice and a hint of mocha give this racy Syrah tons of immediacy. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fortunate Son |
2019 |
The Diplomat Red Wine |
$145 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2023): The Merlot-dominated 2019 The Diplomat comes from a handful of sites and would give a great Pomerol a run for its money with its darker red and black fruits, smoky herbs, and earthy goodness on the nose. These carry to a full-bodied, rounded, opulent 2019 with sweet, building tannins and a great finish. Give it a few years. |
|
| Dom. Jean Francois |
2019 |
The Twleve Rows Sanford & Benedict Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (10/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict Vineyard The Twelve Rows is magnificent. Rich and textured on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2019 exudes class. Inky dark fruit, lavender, spice and tobacco are wonderfully vivid. The 2019 is endowed with so much complexity and sheer pedigree. What a wine! (Drink between 2023-2034). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (12/2022): Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir The Twelve Rows features blackberries and blueberries on the nose, with tones of aniseed, clay, dark spices and blood orange. The medium-bodied palate is soft, plush and inviting with intense, savory fruits, seamless acidity and a youthful sheen of new oak spices on the long, gently warming finish.
BH 87 (6/2023): A background hint of volatile acidity adds lift to the vaguely advanced aromas of mostly red berry fruit, spice and soft floral nuances. There is excellent vibrancy to the utterly delicious middleweight flavors that conclude in a dusty and somewhat one-dimensional finish that slowly leans out as it sits on the palate. Despite the description, this is drinkable but with that said, it would be fair to observe that it's not at the level that I have come to expect. Two bottles tried with consistent results. (Drink starting 2028). |
|
| Girasole |
2019 |
Mendocino Pinot Noir |
$16.99 |
16 |
|
| |
|
| Greer |
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$449 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (12/2021): In contrast, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is more round and supple, with loads of pure Napa magic in its notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, smoked tobacco, and cedar pencil. Full-bodied, opulent, and loaded with fruit, it still stays pure, precise, and focused, with ripe tannins, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and one incredible finish. I finished my notes with “Awesome.” Both the 2018 and 2019 are incredible, singular wines readers should seek out.
VM 97 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a flat out stunner. Rich, ample and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and pedigree to burn. Dark red cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol race across the palate. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of aromas and flavors that add stunning complexity. Iron, scorched earth, tobacco and incense linger on the potent finish. What a wine! (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Groth |
2019 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a tasty, easygoing Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next 10-15 years. Bright red/purplish berry fruit, spice and lifted floral notes lend freshness to this attractive, vibrant, mid-weight Cabernet. The 2019 is very nicely done, and is also one of the most approachable wines of the year, even though there is plenty of grip. (Drink between 2025-2027). Antonio Galloni.
JD 91 (5/2022): Classic Napa Cabernet notes of red and black currants, ripe tobacco, violets, and cedary oak emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced, outstanding 2019 that’s perfect for drinking over the coming 10-12 years or so. (Drink between 2022-2034).
WA 87 (9/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features pleasant cherry-scented fruit shot through with herbal nuances on the nose, framed by notes of cedar and vanilla. It's medium-bodied and easy to drink but not very concentrated or textural, with a fluid, facile feel on the palate and a relatively short finish. |
|
| Hall |
2019 |
Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon |
$134.10 |
11 |
|
| |
JD 96 (2/2023): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece is in the same ballpark, with slightly more blue fruits in its bouquet of blueberries, mulberries, violets, and spicy oak. A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, this full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly textured 2019 can be drunk any time over the coming two decades or more. (Drink between 2023-2043).
WA 96 (9/2022): Blended to be a more robust, mountain-driven counterpart to the Kathryn Hall bottling, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece blends fruit from Mount Veeder, Atlas Peak, Sacrashe and Montagne. Aged in 75% new French oak (mostly Taransaud), it delivers scents of cassis, herbal shadings like bay leaf and sage, cedar, dark chocolate and vanilla. It's full-bodied, firm but ripe and velvety, then shows more of a silky, dusty edge on the finish. |
|
|
2019 |
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2023): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, brought up mostly in new barrels. It’s a killer bottle of wine offering lots of ripe black fruits intermixed with savory herbs, melted chocolate, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the lush, round, velvety style of the 2019 vintage and is already impossible to resist. It’s going to evolve for 15+ years if well stored. (Drink between 2023-2039).
WA 93 (9/2022): There are 6,500 cases of the flagship 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall, based largely on fruit from the Sacrashe Vineyard, at the eastern edge of the Rutherford AVA. A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot, aged in 75% new barrels (mainly Taransaud), it's cedary on the nose, with plenty of cassis and black cherries in support. Full-bodied and plush, this well-endowed effort finishes long and softly dusty, with just a touch of alcoholic warmth. |
|
|
2019 |
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$179.10 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Terra Secca Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Hartford Court |
2019 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 94 (7/2021): Readers looking for an incredibly charming, delicious Pinot Noir that’s going to deliver the goods should check out the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley from Hartford Court. Revealing a translucent ruby/plum color, it has a wonderful nose of spiced red and black fruits, candied violets, orange blossom, and incense. Medium-bodied on the palate, it’s wonderfully balanced, with soft, supple tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. Drink this beauty any time over the coming 5-6 years. (Drink between 2021-2027).
VM 91 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir (Russian River) is a terrific appellation-level offering in this range from Hartford Court. Blue/purplish fruit, cinnamon, licorice and spice all grace this expressive, mid-weight Pinot. Enjoy it over the next decade. (Drink between 2021-2031). Antonio Galloni.
WA 90 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, 27% new. It delivers vibrant notes of black cherries, kirsch and mulberries with suggestions of garrigue and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of ripe, juicy black and red berry flavors, supported by soft tannins, finishing with a lively red berry kick. |
|
| Ink Grade |
2019 |
Howell Mtn. Merlot |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
| Decanter 93 (2/2023): An exciting style of Merlot, with impeccable structure and nowhere near the over-extracted style that has become almost de rigueur in Napa. The colour is practically translucent and aromatically seductive with juicy cranberry, elegant cherry, yellow plum and gravel notes. The sappy, grippy tannins are angular and powerful, and there’s plenty of tension to age and see where it goes. |
|
| Kerr Cellars |
2019 |
Wappo Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$160 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2023): Lastly, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Vineyard comes from a great site in the Stags Leap District and is all varietal. Lots of red, blue, and black fruits dominate the bouquet, and it offers more spice, savory herbs, and even a touch of iron with time in the glass. This full-bodied, balanced, textured 2019 has ripe tannins and a gorgeous finish. Drink bottles any time over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2023-2043)
VM 95 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Vineyard emerges from a site on the southern edge of Stags Leap. Inky, plush fruit, gravel, lavender, licorice and spice give this explosive Cabernet a good deal of intensity. The 2019 is plush, deep and full-throttle, with all the elements very nicely balanced. Even so, it would be great to see a bit more nuance here. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2019 |
Anderson Valley Pinot Noir |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| JS 93 (11/2021): Aromas of black and red licorice, black cherries and toasted sage. Full-bodied with a very pleasant nutty character on the palate. Soft tannins. Savory herbs and a blanket of ripe black fruit washes over, carried by subtle but steady acidity. Oak at the finish. Needs a little time to come together. Try after 2023. |
|
|
2019 |
Bootlegger’s Hill Pinot Noir |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill Vineyard evolves in the glass with dried cherry, sassafras, and wild herbs. It has impeccable concentration and length on the palate, which is full of cinnamon, red plum, and forest floor. Hold 1-3 years and drink 2024-2036. Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (7/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill has a medium ruby color and bright aromas of Bing cherry, cranberry and citrus peel with accents of dried herbs, licorice and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh, with appealingly crunchy fruits and a long, spicy finish. Give it another year or two in bottle to unwind. |
|
|
2019 |
Cerise Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (7/2022): Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is rustic to begin, with accents of tar, tobacco and bay leaves over an intense core of dark red fruit. The palate is full-bodied with abundant, gently chewy tannins, bright freshness and a long, earth-laced finish. |
|
|
2019 |
Cerise Vyd. Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$219 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (7/2022): Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard is rustic to begin, with accents of tar, tobacco and bay leaves over an intense core of dark red fruit. The palate is full-bodied with abundant, gently chewy tannins, bright freshness and a long, earth-laced finish. |
|
|
2019 |
Giusti Ranch Pinot Noir |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (7/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Giusti Vineyard has very layered aromas of cinnamon, dried orange peel, cranberries, raspberries, dusty earth and amaro. The medium-bodied palate features layered, spicy fruits along with abundant, grainy tannins and bright acidity. It's elegant but youthfully tense and could use another 2-3 years in bottle. |
|
|
2019 |
Keefer Ranch Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$105 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (7/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Keefer Vineyard is aromatically intense and layered, with aromas of dried cherry, cranberry, blueberry, sage and bergamot, woodsmoke and flint. Medium-bodied, the palate is soft, juicy and alluring, with nuanced flavors and a long, latent finish that hints at layers yet to emerge. Drink it over the next decade. |
|
|
2019 |
Mount Carmel Pinot Noir |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (7/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Mt. Carmel Vineyard is appealingly rustic, featuring scents of dried red cherries and cranberries, resinous herbs, charcuterie and iron. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with earthy, spicy fruits and a long, nuanced finish. |
|
|
2019 |
Rosella’s Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (7/2022): Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard is scented of cranberry, pomegranate, licorice and autumn leaves, with an undercurrent of bitters-like spices. The light-bodied palate is fresh and detailed with pure, spicy layers on the long finish. |
|
|
2019 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$74 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2021): A vibrant, pure, and precise style of Pinot Noir from this region, the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley sports a vivid ruby hue as well as a beautiful array of redcurrants, wildflowers, sappy underbrush, and subtle baking spice nuances. Gorgeous on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied and has a pure, focused textured, silky tannins, and a great finish. Where most Russian River Pinot Noirs are broad and exuberant, this plays it closer to its vest and has an undeniably Burgundian style, with good acidity, tannins, and precision. It's beautifully done and will evolve for 15+ years or more. |
|
|
2019 |
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir |
$89 |
5 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (8/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands comes from a cooler region south of Monterey Bay and was only partially destemmed and fermented in 64% in concrete, 29% in stainless, and the rest in barrel. The aging spanned 14 months in 52% new French oak. It has a more pure, fruit-driven style in its assorted red and blackberry, leafy herb, pepper, and rocky mineral-like aromas and flavors. I love its purity, and it's medium to full-bodied, with flawless balance and a great finish. The purity, balance, and length are exceptional, and it develops more complexity and layers with time in the glass. Drink this beauty over the coming decades. |
|
|
2019 |
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir (1.5 L) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (8/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands comes from a cooler region south of Monterey Bay and was only partially destemmed and fermented in 64% in concrete, 29% in stainless, and the rest in barrel. The aging spanned 14 months in 52% new French oak. It has a more pure, fruit-driven style in its assorted red and blackberry, leafy herb, pepper, and rocky mineral-like aromas and flavors. I love its purity, and it's medium to full-bodied, with flawless balance and a great finish. The purity, balance, and length are exceptional, and it develops more complexity and layers with time in the glass. Drink this beauty over the coming decades. |
|
|
2019 |
Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir |
$89 |
8 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (8/2021): Rocking spiced herbs, red and black fruits along with some meaty, exotic notes all emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills, a complex, medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with a round, expansive, seamless texture that's already a joy to drink. |
|
|
2019 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (7/2021): Another pure, elegant wine from this estate, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers beautiful framboise and dark strawberry fruits to go with complex notes of forest floor, leafy herbs, spice, and damp earth. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with a layered, seamless texture, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. If anything, it's a more approachable, softer wine than the Russian River Valley, although it too should easily keep for a decade. Both Pinot Noirs from this team are brilliant wines. |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2019 |
Firebelle Red Wine |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 92 (5/2022): The 2019 Firebelle is based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon with 43% Merlot, all of which was raised 18 months in 67% new French oak. It has a Bordeaux-inspired nose of darker cherries and currants as well as leather, tobacco, and damp earth. I love it on the palate, where it’s medium to full-bodied, has wonderful purity, and silky tannins. Drink this seamless, elegant, yet still pleasure-bent beauty over the coming 10-15 years.
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Firebelle is fragrant and light on its feet. Crushed raspberry, cedar, tobacco and flowers lend lovely aromatic top notes to this gentle yet flavorful red blend. This is an especially savory style for the Firebelle. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cliff Lede |
2019 |
Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$67 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 93 (3/2022): I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, and readers looking for a great Napa Valley Cabernet under $100 shouldn't hesitate. Deep purple-hued, with classic Cabernet dark red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, chocolate, and graphite, it's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and polished tannins. It's already impossible to resist yet will cruise for 10-15 years in cold cellars. 6812 cases. (Drink between 2022-2037).
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is a heady, potent wine. Blackberry jam, cloves, licorice, new oak, tobacco and leather are all kicked up in this exuberant, flamboyant Cabernet. Readers will find a luscious, full-throttle Cabernet that delivers the goods. The purity of the fruit really stands out. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni.
WA 92 (10/2021): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it skips out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of warm blackcurrants, blackberry preserves and Black Forest cake, plus hints of tree bark and pencil lead. The palate has a beautiful, silt-like texture and a restrained, medium to full-bodied style with earth-laced, crunchy fruit and a savory finish. |
|
| Leonetti Cellars |
2019 |
Walla Walla Merlot (1.5 L) |
$199 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (5/2021): The 2019 Merlot is juicy and up-front, with lots of black cherry and blue fruits as well as medium to full body, ripe, soft, ultra-fine tannins, a good sense of freshness, and classic tobacco, graphite, and spice aromas and flavors. Drink this sexy beauty over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Lerner Project |
2019 |
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96 (3/2022): More iron and bloody nuances as well as blue fruits emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, a nicely balanced, ripe fruit bomb of a wine that holds on to a terrific sense of freshness and purity. It’s another sexy mouthful of great Cabernet from this label to enjoy over the coming 15 years or so. (Drink between 2022-2037).
WA 94 (5/2022): The 2019 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is mainly barrels of Tench Cabernet that weren't considered to fit the single-vineyard profile, plus some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. About 5% of the volume comes from another vineyard. On the nose, it delivers plum and black cherry fruit, plus hints of smoke and vanilla. It's full-bodied, with a bit more structure than the Project 18 offering, coming across as firm without being hard or tough, and it finishes long and silky. |
|
| The Maiden (Harlan) |
2019 |
Proprietary Blend |
$500 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2023): There are roughly 1,000 cases of the 2019 The Maiden, a classy, full-bodied, beautifully textured wine that clearly has some Harlan Estate class and style. Cassis, graphite, integrated oak, and flowers all define the aromatics, and the tannins and purity here are brilliant. It’s a hell of a second wine.
VM 94 (2/2023): The 2019 The Maiden is gorgeous. Creamy, ample and expressive, the Maiden is a terrific introduction to the year. Succulent dark cherry, plum, chocolate, spice, leather, menthol fill out the layers beautifully. Medium in body, with gorgeous up-front fruit and radiance (Drink between 2023-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Mayacamas |
2019 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
25 |
|
| |
|
| Maybach |
2019 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$319 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (12/2021): If you can believe it, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium might be even better, and this beauty tops out my scale. An incredible array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as unsmoked tobacco, iron, hazelnut, and toasty oak all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, ultra-fine, building texture, perfect tannins, and a huge finish. This pure Napa Valley magic is going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and drink brilliantly for another 20-30 years. If this doesn't do it for you, I'd avoid Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon! |
|
| Philippe Melka |
2019 |
CJ Cabernet Sauvignon |
$83 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (10/2022): Under Melka's own label, the entry point is the 2019 CJ Cabernet Sauvignon, which I was told is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot, sourced from several sites around Napa Valley but primarily Soda Canyon. (Statisticians will note that the winery website claims that it's 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.) The nose features gentle cedar notes overlaid on a base of dark loam, cassis and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied and framed by soft tannins, this is drinkable already, but it has enough concentration and length to suggest several years of good drinking. |
|
|
2019 |
CJ Cabernet Sauvignon Nicked Label |
$83 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (10/2022): Under Melka's own label, the entry point is the 2019 CJ Cabernet Sauvignon, which I was told is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot, sourced from several sites around Napa Valley but primarily Soda Canyon. (Statisticians will note that the winery website claims that it's 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.) The nose features gentle cedar notes overlaid on a base of dark loam, cassis and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied and framed by soft tannins, this is drinkable already, but it has enough concentration and length to suggest several years of good drinking. |
|
|
2019 |
Mekerra Proprietary Blend |
$150 |
15 |
|
| |
VM 97 (1/2022): The 2019 Proprietary Red Mekerra is another gorgeous wine from Philippe and Cherie Melka. Deep, rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and tons of character that comes to the fore with time in the glass. Cherry, plum, mocha and soaring Franc aromatics give the 2019 its alluring personality. The tannins need a few years to soften, but the 2019 is so compelling, even today. (Drink between 2024-2039). Antonio Galloni.
JD 97 (12/2021): A blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Mekerra Proprietary Red comes from a higher elevation site in Knights Valley and was brought up in 80% new French oak. It has a gorgeous nose of ripe black cherry and darker berry fruits as well as plenty of spice, flowers, tobacco, and scorched earth. It's gorgeous on the palate with medium to full body, wonderful purity, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous bottle of wine that shines for its elegance and purity as well as its richness. |
|
|
2019 |
Metisse Jumping Goat Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2021): From a site just behind Spotteswoode, the 2019 Metisse Jumping Goat Vineyard is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. More blackcurrants, chocolate, smoked tobacco, and scorched earth notes define the nose, and this ruby/purple-hued beauty is medium to full-bodied with a wonderfully fresh, herbal, classic Cabernet character, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, elegant wine.
VM 97 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Métisse Jumping Goat Vineyard emerges from a site on the other side of St. Helena, closer to Spottswoode and Madrona Ranch. It offers up generous red berry fruit intermingled with strong savory, earthy and tobacco accents that add layers of nuance. This potent, impeccably balanced Cabernet should start to drink beautifully in a few years, once the tannins soften a bit. (Drink between 2025-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Peter Michael Winery |
2019 |
Les Pavots Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (8/2022): The 2019 Les Pavots is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder Petit Verdot. It has unfolding layers of dark minerals, with graphite, boysenberry liqueur, and fresh leather. The palate is expressive of its mountain fruit, with more gripping structure but no harsh edges. This is a remarkable wine to hold a few years and enjoy over the following two decades. Audrey Frick. |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2019 |
Estate Pinot Noir |
$64 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2025): The 2019 Pinot Noir is an outstanding and memorable wine, a tremendously light, bright, and complex reflection of the great site from a great vintage. Lovely aromatics of orange peel, cranberry, and Bing cherry wrap around a supple mid-palate of earthy rose and violet, the tannins unobtrusive and the acidity balanced. Lengthy, the wine takes on different nuances along the mid-palate, showing more forest and black tea, adding a quiet density that stretches to a formidable finish. This wine wows now but should drink well for another 20-25 years. Virginie Boone.
WA 93+ (4/2024): The 2019 Pinot Noir Estate was fermented with 35% whole clusters and aged in 50% new French oak. It has a lively, fragrant, focused nose with potpourri, blood orange, bay laurel and evergreen aromas. The palate is slim and high-toned, supported with structured acidity that softens with aeration. Readers who enjoy Mount Eden's classically proportioned Pinot Noirs might find this a bit angular, but a year or two in the cellar should help it come together. |
|
| Myriad |
2019 |
Beckstoffer Bourn Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$219 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 95 (12/2021): From a site outside of St. Helena, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard is a more mineral-laced, red and blue-fruited effort with some Pauillac-like lead pencil and earthy nuances. With nicely integrated oak, medium to full-bodied richness, and notable tannins, give it 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15. It's another terrific wine in this portfolio. (Drink between 2023-2039).
WA 95 (11/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color. Alluring notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie and fresh black cherries jump out of the glass, plus wafts of bay leaves, truffles and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully savory with lots of herbal sparks among the black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing refreshing.
VM 90 (1/2022): A new wine in this range, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard offers plenty of initial impact, but then loses much of its persistence on the mid-palate and finish. There is no way getting around the young age of these wines. This wine probably should not have been a vineyard designate. (Drink between 2022-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Beckstoffer Bourn Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$249 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (12/2021): From a site outside of St. Helena, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard is a more mineral-laced, red and blue-fruited effort with some Pauillac-like lead pencil and earthy nuances. With nicely integrated oak, medium to full-bodied richness, and notable tannins, give it 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15. It's another terrific wine in this portfolio. (Drink between 2023-2039).
WA 95 (11/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color. Alluring notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie and fresh black cherries jump out of the glass, plus wafts of bay leaves, truffles and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully savory with lots of herbal sparks among the black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing refreshing.
VM 90 (1/2022): A new wine in this range, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard offers plenty of initial impact, but then loses much of its persistence on the mid-palate and finish. There is no way getting around the young age of these wines. This wine probably should not have been a vineyard designate. (Drink between 2022-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Empyrean Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 98 (12/2021): Even better, the 225-case 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Empyrean is a barrel selection made by winemaker Mike Smith. It has more deep, base notes of blackcurrants, cassis, ripe tobacco, black tea, and chocolate. These all carry to a full-bodied, seamless, incredibly sexy 2019 with velvety tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It already has up-front appeal, yet I have no doubt it will evolve for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046).
WA 97 (11/2021): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Empyrean is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing to release notes of blackcurrant preserves, baked black plums and mulberries, plus underlying hints of Indian spice, fragrant earth and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house with firm, ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy.
VM 91 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Empyrean is powerful, dense and super-concentrated. I find the oak overdone, and the wine lacking in freshness as a result of the very pushed, ripe style. (Drink between 2022-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Steltzner Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2022): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard is outrageously beautiful. Dark, vivid and sumptuous to the core, the Steltzner captures all the magic of this great Stags Leap vineyard. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice, mint and blueberry jam all come alive in the glass. This is one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Mike and Leah Smith. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (12/2021): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stelzner Vineyard comes from a corner block in this vineyard and offers a more black-fruited, chocolaty style that turns more floral and violet-tinged with time in the glass. More tobacco and crushed stone, full-bodied richness, good acidity, and ripe tannins all make for a brilliant, seamless, incredibly impressive wine that can be drunk today or cellared for 15+ years. (Drink between 2021-2037).
WA 94+ (11/2021): Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color, delivering pronounced notes of stewed plums, boysenberry preserves and warm cassis, plus suggestions of fruitcake, tobacco leaf and charcuterie. Medium to full-bodied, the generous fruit is supported by chunky tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory. |
|
|
2019 |
Three Twins Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (12/2021): This will be the last vintage from this site, as the vineyard was lost in the fires in 2020. Deep purple-hued, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard offers a beautiful perfume of cassis and blueberry-like fruits as well as candied orange, violets, and leafy herbs. Reminding me of a mountain Cabernet with its focused, nicely structured, vibrant style, it's medium to full-bodied and brings wonderful depth of fruit, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. Drink it any time over the coming two decades. (Drink between 2021-2041) |
|
| de Negoce |
2019 |
OG N. 187 Atlas Peak Syrah |
$15 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
OG N. 221 Ballard Canyon Syrah |
$15 |
7 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
OG. N. 192 Knights Valley Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
4 |
|
| |
| JS 92 (8/2022): An attractive nose of blackcurrant, sliced plum, gravel and grated nutmeg. Medium-to full-bodied with powdery tannins. There is a solid undertone of black fruit accented by some mineral and toasted herbal complexity. Chocolate too. Nicely persistent. Drink now. |
|
| 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). |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2019 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 13 Proprietary Blend |
$260 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 99 (8/2022): Another straight-up awesome wine is the 2019 No 13 Cumulus Vineyard, a blend 29% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah, and 2% Petit Manseng. Kirsch, toasted spices, new leather, graphite, and peppery notes all emerge from this ripe, sexy, seamless, and incredibly compelling red. Full-bodied and concentrated, it stays light on its feet, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. It's brilliant today yet should easily evolve for 15 years or more. (I expect it will evolve like a great Châteauneuf du Pape.)
VM 98 (8/2022): The 2019 No. 13 Cumulus Vineyard is fabulous. Inky and savory, the 2019 offers up a compelling mélange of black fruit, gravel, incense and spice that all come together. The combination of a warm site and a coolish vintage yields a superb, wonderfully complete red. Grippy tannins and a touch of whole cluster savoriness extend the finish. The blend is 29% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre, 24.5% Syrah, 8% Touriga Nacional, 7.5% Petite Sirah and 2% Petit Manseng. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Nickel and Nickel |
2019 |
Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| No Girls |
2019 |
Double Lucky #8 Red Blend |
$49 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 93 (3/2023): The 2019 Double Lucky #8 is smoky in the glass, smoldering up with notes of olive tapenade, musky black currants and rosemary. It’s silky-smooth and supple on the palate, with brisk acidity, enlivening its dark fruits, as saline-tinged minerals add contrast. This leaves salted licorice and hints of sweet spice tapering off with a lovely freshness. While I don’t see the 2019 as a wine for long-term cellaring, it should perform beautifully over the next five to six years. That said, there’s a lot of balanced pleasure to be found here already. The Double Lucky #8 is primarily Grenache with a balance of Syrah and Tempranillo. (Drink between 2023-2028). Eric Guido.
JD 92 (6/2023): Spiced black cherries, framboise, rose petals, and peppery herbs all emerge from the 2019 Double Lucky, a juicy, fruit-forward, complex, layered red offering plenty of classic Rocks funk as well as pure, clean fruit. It's a delicious, balanced red to drink over the coming 7-8 years. (Drink between 2023-2031).
WA 92 (10/2022): The 2019 Double Lucky #8 is black and red-fruited, with a spicy note of cured meat and lavender flowing from the glass along with a delightful mineral essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is broadly-layered and possesses fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity, making me crave charcuterie. The gorgeous wine will remain food-friendly for years and ends with a lingering, spicy grip. |
|
|
2019 |
Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache |
$79 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2022): The 2019 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard opens to a classic, dusty and red-fruited core with savory tones, worn leather and smoked cherry compote. Medium-bodied, the palate offers a fine mineral tension with an essence of umami before swaying to show the more savory and floral side of Grenache. The wine continues to gain complexity before concluding with a gorgeous floral lift, persistent spicy edge and firm tannic finish. Bravo, this is delicious juice!
JD 95 (7/2022): Sporting a translucent ruby hue, the 2019 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard offers up a savory, exotic nose of mulled cherries, darker strawberries, truffle, rose petals, orange tea, and scorched earth. This is always an ethereal, seamless, exotic expression of Grenache, and the 2019 is medium-bodied, has a seamless, incredibly pure, almost Burgundian mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years. (Drink between 2022-2037).
VM 94 (3/2023): The 2019 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard lulls me in with a nuanced mix of dusty violets, wild strawberries, with stems and all, complicated by a whiff of crushed stones. This splashes across the palate, silky and refined yet energetic, with mineral-tinged red fruits that slowly saturate under an air of rosy inner florals. It leaves a reverberation of spicy tension through the finish, while becoming quite mineral and nearly salty in character. Hints of green olive and sage slowly fade. The Grenache from La Paciencia vineyard is refined for 22 months in neutral demi-muids and foudre. I love its savory profile and spicy nature, yet another year or two of cellaring is recommended. The soils of La Paciencia are much sandier than the surrounding vineyards, which tends to add an extra level of elegance to the No Girls portfolio. (Drink between 2023-2029). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2019 |
Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (7/2022): Lastly, the 2019 Tempranillo sports a slightly denser purple/plum color to go with both red and blue fruits supported by complex cedar, sandalwood, tobacco, and saddle leather-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's another seamless, elegant wine from this incredible winemaker that has ultra-fine tannins, a great mid-palate, plenty of density, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous wine that can be drunk today or cellared for two decades if you're so inclined. (Drink between 2022-2042).
VM 95 (3/2023): The 2019 Tempranillo is zesty, thrilling with an old-world bouquet of red currants and dried strawberries complemented by dusty rose, balsam herbs, spiced citrus rinds and worn leather. It’s silky and refined, propelled by vibrant acidity which also helps to enliven and sweeten the tart wild berry fruits within. The 2019 finishes lightly tannic yet full of energy, with blood orange and sour cherry candies that linger on. This is deceptively drinkable today, yet with the balance to excel through medium-term clearing. The No Girls Tempranillo refines for 22 months in a combination of demi-muids and barrels, of which 50% are new. Stunning. (Drink between 2024-2031). Eric Guido.
WA 93 (10/2022): Juicy and dark-fruited, the 2019 Tempranillo la Paciencia opens to fresh and savory aromas in the glass. Medium-bodied, flavors of oak and dusty plum sway with notions of dark cherry and blackberry skin before showcasing a balanced structure with lifting tannins. Displaying finesse and power, the wine glides to a food-friendly finish that will remain crushable for years. Enjoy with food. |
|
| Pahlmeyer |
2019 |
Merlot |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Patz & Hall |
2019 |
Burnside Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Jenkins Ranch Pinot Noir |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Little Boots Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Sanchietti Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Peacock Family |
2019 |
Dona Margarita Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Perchance |
2019 |
Beckstoffer George III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$400 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2021): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard was brought up all in new barrels. Rocking crème de cassis, chocolate, toasted spice, and smoke tobacco are just some of the nuances here, and it's full-bodied, has an expansive, ripe, opulent mouthfeel, great tannins, and the class to evolve for over two decades. It's another brilliant wine from this team well worth seeking out. (Drink between 2021-2042).
WA 96 (5/2022): Less intricately floral than the 2018 but perhaps a touch riper and more powerful (both are labeled at 14.9% alcohol), Perchance's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III features chocolate overtones to the cassis and black cherry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, with a lingering finish, the wine boasts just enough freshness to keep the finish mouthwatering and compelling sip after sip. Lush and textured, it may be enjoyed now or for up to two decades. |
|
| PerUs Wine Co. |
2019 |
Bryn Red Wine |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96 (3/2022): Incorporating lots of Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon as well, the 2019 Bryn Proprietary Red has a full-bodied, round, mouth-filling style as well as ample ripe black cherry, chocolate, roasted herb, and bouquet garni-like aromas and flavors. It’s ripe and has great tannins as well as the balance to continue drinking nicely for 10-15 years. (Drink between 2022-2037).
WA 95 (5/2023): A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon (from Tench Vineyard in Oakville) and 25% Merlot (from Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in South Napa), the 2019 Bryn Proprietary Red Wine boasts big, intense fruit notes of cassis, blueberries and black cherries. Full-bodied and richly concentrated, this is lush, with great length and gently dusty tannins. Great potential here at a reasonable price.
VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Bryn is packed with inky black cherry jam, espresso, licorice, chocolate and savory herbs. Silky and powerful in the glass, the Bryn certainly delivers plenty of impact. It is another powerhouse from PerUs and winemaker Russell Bevan. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Phifer Pavitt |
2019 |
Date Night Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Prisoner Wine Co. |
2019 |
Unshackled |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Provenance Vineyards |
2019 |
Deadeye Proprietary Blend |
$39 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Quintessa |
2019 |
Red Wine |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (2/2024): Still gorgeous, the 2019 Proprietary Red has a more layered, rounded, opulent style while still being pure, balanced, and elegant. Full-bodied, round, and lush, with currants, tobacco, chalky mineral and some graphite notes, it has velvety tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. The blend is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 2% Carmenere, and the rest Petit Verdot, with the élevage spanning 22 months in 60% new French oak. (Drink between 2024-2043).
VM 94 (1/2022): The 2019 Quintessa is one of the best wines I have tasted here in some time. Broad swaths of tannin wrap around a core intense dark plum, mocha, licorice and spice. The 2019 clearly needs a few years in bottle to come together. Quintessa is a large, sprawling property with many different exposures. My feeling is that it may not ultimately be suited to making a single large production flagship wine, but that perhaps a series of smaller production wines might showcase the site better. (Drink between 2024-2036). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (9/2022): The 2019 Proprietary Red Wine is more open and effusive than the 2018 version, with gentle floral nuances set against a backdrop of black cherries and cassis, joined by subtle notes of tobacco, cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, streamlined, silky and lush, nicely balanced and elegant, with a long, softly dusty finish tinged with licorice and caramel. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. |
|
| Rhys |
2019 |
Bearwallow Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 96+ (5/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a powerful, searing wine. I am not sure I have tasted a Bearwallow with this much sheer intensity. Black cherry, mocha, gravel, cloves and licorice imbue this somber, backward Pinot with quite a bit of complexity. Readers should be in no rush here. The 2019 is an exceptional Bearwallow. (Drink between 2027-2039). Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (7/2021): Coming from a site in the Anderson Valley region of Mendocino, the 2019 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard has a classic savoriness in its dried cherry and strawberry fruits as well as loamy soil, spice, and dried herb-like aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, wonderfully balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of up-front appeal, yet I have no doubt it will still be going strong in a decade as well. (Drink between 2021-2032).
BH 92 (10/2021): A more elegant and cooler combination is comprised by notes of red currant, plum and plenty of floral elements. I very much like the texture of the sappy and energetic medium weight flavors that possess a supple mid-palate that contrasts with the dusty, serious and moderately austere finale. This robust and powerful effort is definitely built-to-age and a wine that should amply repay a decade plus of cellaring. (Drink starting 2029). |
|
|
2019 |
Home Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94+ (7/2021): Ample black cherries, sappy herbs, iron, iodine, and gamey, floral notes emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Home Vineyard, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, building tannins, a sappy, grippy mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It's mostly potential at this point, but I love its overall balance and length. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following decade or more. (Drink between 2023-2035).
VM 94 (5/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Home Vineyard is one of the more savory wines in the range. Holiday spice cake, sweet dried cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar and earthy tones are all finely knit together. A Pinot of subtlety and nuance, the Home Vineyard, will appeal most to readers who enjoy understated wines. The 100% whole clusters add quite a bit of savoriness, but not in an exaggerated way. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni.
WA 93 (4/2024): The 2019 Pinot Noir Home Vineyard is lifted and aromatically expressive from the outset, with fresh aromas of cherry blossom, wild strawberry and underbrush. Seamless and svelte on the palate, this finishes on a lively, spry note with mouthwatering acidity and subtle, pleasing tannins. This is ready to enjoy now, but I look forward to following it over the next decade.
BH 91 (10/2021): This is one of the spiciest wines in the range with its array of anise, cinnamon, sandalwood and clove nuances that add breadth to the ultra-fresh essence of red currant, plum and violet. Once again there is a plush and generous mouthfeel to the super-suave medium weight flavors that possess a highly seductive mouthfeel, all wrapped in a dusty, firm and mildly austere finale. While this is one of the few wines that could be enjoyed young, it should also be more than capable of rewarding 6 to 10 years of cellaring. (Drink starting 2026). |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2019 |
Geyserville |
$54 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 94 (5/2022): The 2019 Geyserville marks a pretty huge step up in this range. What a wine! Black cherry, plum, chocolate, cloves, menthol and licorice blast across the palate. Deep and saturated, with tremendous concentration, the 2019 Geyserville is a wine to cellar for at least a few years. Today, it is positively stunning. (Drink between 2027-2039). Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (7/2021): The 2019 Zinfandel Geyserville is 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignan, and the rest Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. This was a cooler vintage yet this wine reveals plenty of ripeness in its black and blue fruits as well as violets, cigar, and toasted spice-like aromas and flavors. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and expansive on the palate, it has some obvious minerality, building tannins, and a great finish. It's not going to match the 2018, but it’s still a complete, nuanced, complex Zinfandel that will keep for 10-15 years. (Drink between 2021-2036). |
|
| The Ringer |
2019 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Rivers Marie |
2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
|
|
2019 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (12/2021): Also dark, concentrated, and dense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard boasts a saturated purple hue to go with lots of smoky black and blue fruits, notes of scorched earth, tobacco, chocolate and lead pencil, full-bodied richness, and a round, lush, seamless style on the palate. It's another killer wine from this team that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. |
|
| Schrader |
2019 |
Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$335 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (12/2021): Another spicy, complex, gorgeous wine in every sense, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Schrader reminds me of the CCS with its pure, seamless, perfectly balanced style. Lots of cassis fruits, notes of flowery incense, baking spices, leather, and unsmoked tobacco, silky tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish all define this beauty, and it's certainly up with the crème de la crème of this great vintage. |
|
|
2019 |
GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2021): Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so. (Drink between 2021-2041).
WA 95 (9/2022): All Clone 337 from F Block, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII delivers masses of black raspberries and cassis, accented by dark chocolate, tobacco and cedar. This full-bodied wine is high-octane stuff, but carries it well, framed by supple tannins and finishing rich, velvety and long. |
|
|
2019 |
Heritage Clone To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$305 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (12/2021): My notes on the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Heritage Clone started with a big "Wow," and it's clearly a structured, serious, incredibly impressive 2019. Giving up plenty of cassis and assorted black and blue fruits, it has a distinct sense of minerality as well as classic Cabernet tobacco, lead pencil, and tobacco leaf nuances. With bright acidity, building tannins, and a concentrated, massive, backward mouthfeel, it needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and should have decades of prime drinking. |
|
|
2019 |
MB To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (12/2021): Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as a powerful, more black-fruited, iron, tobacco, and scorched earth-like aromatic profile, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied, has a rich, powerful attack, great mid-palate density, and brilliant tannins. Coming from a famous block located on the western side of this great vineyard, brought up in new barrels, it's another 2019 that has a rounded, supple, approachable style while also bringing impressive density, depth, and structure. |
|
|
2019 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$289 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 99 (12/2021): A big, muscular, powerful wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 boasts a monster note of blackcurrants, fresh plums, scorched earth, tobacco, and chocolate. This all carries to a full-bodied 2019 with the ripe, savory, concentrated style of the vintage, building tannins, no shortage of fruit, and a great, great finish. It's certainly one of the biggest, richest, more structured wines in the lineup, yet the balance is spot on and everything is in the right places. It's going to take at least 7-8 years for this puppy to shed some of its considerable baby fat and hit maturity, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 20 or 30 years. |
|
|
2019 |
Wappo Hill Vyd. Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$249 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (12/2021): A new wine from this team, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Wappo Hill comes from a famous site in the Stags Leap District and is all Cabernet Sauvignon. At a high level, Stags Leap is a slightly cooler region, and the wines shine for their complexity, and that's certainly the case here. Lots of cassis, violets, graphite, dried flowers, and spicy oak define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, some chalky tannins, and notable freshness and purity. The acidity is higher here, but this still brings plenty of classic Schrader opulence and texture. |
|
| Sea Smoke |
2019 |
Southing Pinot Noir |
$109 |
11 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Southing is a rich, effusive wine. Bright red cherry fruit, rose petal, blood orange cinnamon and orange peel lend brightness to this mid-weight, articulate Pinot. This opens nicely with air, showing lovely density to play off its natural focus. (Drink between 2022-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Southing Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Southing is a rich, effusive wine. Bright red cherry fruit, rose petal, blood orange cinnamon and orange peel lend brightness to this mid-weight, articulate Pinot. This opens nicely with air, showing lovely density to play off its natural focus. (Drink between 2022-2031). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Ten Pinot Noir |
$109 |
11 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Ten is bright, punchy and super-expressive. It shows a bit more depth and textural resonance than the Southing. Sweet red cherry fruit blood orange, plum and spice flesh nicely with a bit of time. There's plenty of energy and persistence to support a number of years of fine drinking. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Ten Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Ten is bright, punchy and super-expressive. It shows a bit more depth and textural resonance than the Southing. Sweet red cherry fruit blood orange, plum and spice flesh nicely with a bit of time. There's plenty of energy and persistence to support a number of years of fine drinking. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Shea Wine Cellars |
2019 |
Shea Vyd. ’Homer’ Pinot Noir |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (2/2022): Glistening ruby. A complex, highly expressive bouquet evokes spice- and mineral-accented red and blue fruits, potpourri, vanilla, cola and incense. Shows fine detail and cut on the palate, offering sappy Chambord, boysenberry, spicecake and candied rose flavors, along with hints of mocha and smoky minerals. Conveys a suave blend of depth and vivacity and finishes extremely long and juicy, with polished tannins adding shape and closing grip. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Sojourn Cellars |
2019 |
Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (7/2021): I continue to just love the wines from this site, and Sojourn’s 2019 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard is a beauty. Lots of plums, darker raspberries, leather, sous bois, and burnt herb notes emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full body, a long, elegant, balanced texture, ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. A seriously good Pinot Noir, it should be better with another year in bottle and keep through 2029 or beyond. (Drink between 2021-2029).
WA 92 (6/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown Vineyard has a medium ruby-purple color and scents of boysenberries and cranberries with touches of watermelon and red flowers. The palate is medium-bodied, silky and deeply fruited with a layered, spicy finish. |
|
|
2019 |
Sangiacomo Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (7/2021): A small step up, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard offers less overt stemmy nuances (I don’t know the whole percentages on any of these) but still has ample spice, underbrush, and redcurrant aromas and flavors. It’s medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant, with terrific tannins. As with most 2019s, it’s already drinking nicely. (Drink starting 2021).
WA 90 (6/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Vineyard has a medium ruby color and aromas of watermelon, cranberries, rhubarb and autumn leaves. The palate is medium-bodied, soft, bright and very spicy with an uplifted, bitters-laced finish. |
|
| Sokol Blosser |
2019 |
Goosepen Block Pinot Noir |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (5/2023): The 2019 Pinot Noir Goosepen Block has a pale ruby color and aromas of briary fruit, earth, spice and flint. The light-bodied palate is bright and chalky with restrained, spicy fruit and a refreshing finish. |
|
| St. Supery |
2019 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (2/2023): I thought the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate was outstanding, with a medium-bodied, fresh, elegant style as well as plenty of pure blue fruits, leafy herbs, and a kiss of minerality. I loved it’s balance, and this charming, delicious Cabernet will keep for 8-10 years, probably longer. (Drink between 2023-2034) |
|
| Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
2019 |
Armillary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$145 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$309 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (2/2023): Coming from a selection from two estate vineyards, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 sports a deep purple hue to go with a brilliant bouquet of pure blue fruits (cassis, blueberries, black raspberries) as well as violets, lead pencil shavings, and chocolaty nuances. Concentrated, powerful, and full-bodied on the palate, it's a structured, tannic wine delivering ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, perfectly integrated oak, and one heck of a great finish. It's probably going to be one of the longest lived 2019s out there. Do your best to hide bottles for 5-7 years, and it will evolve for decades. Bravo! (Drink between 2028-2050).
VM 96 (12/2023): The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23, the estate's top wine, is seriously impressive. It offers a combination of fruit intensity and structure, with an extra sheen of new oak relative to the other Cabernets that works quite well. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, white pepper, gravel and rose petal are nicely dialed up, adding palpable exotic flair. (Drink between 2029-2044). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Cellarius Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Distinguished Vineyards Battuello Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Fay Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Heart of Fay Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Tablas Creek |
2019 |
Esprit de Tablas Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (7/2025): The 2019 Esprit de Tablas opens with a youthfully coiled blend of black cherries and dusty rose complicated by nuances of spiced citrus and clove. It’s seamlessly silky in feel, nearly dense, with crisp mineral tones up front and brisk acidity invigorating its tart wild berry fruits. A gentle tug of fine tannin frames the finish as the 2019 tapers off long and fresh. The 2019 is a cool-toned and classic Esprit de Tablas that’s built for the cellar. I expect this to mature evenly for another 15 years or more. The 2019 growing season started cool but ended quite warm, leading to a compressed harvest, but the fruit that came into the winery was remarkably healthy and perfectly ripe. (Drink between 2028-2040). Eric Guido. |
|
| Tusk Estates |
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$650 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| William & Mary Wine Company |
2019 |
Shifflett Ranch Proprietary Blend |
$92.65 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Williams Selyem |
2019 |
Bucher Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 93 (6/2022): A cool and decidedly restrained nose reluctantly offers up its array of red and dark currant, spiced plum and a hint of herbal tea. The sleek, intense and refined medium weight flavors possess a silky mouthfeel while delivering excellent persistence on the balanced and markedly firm finale. This gorgeously textured and highly promising effort will need to develop more depth to merit my rating but the potential to do so certainly appears to be present. (Drink starting 2029). |
|
|
2019 |
Calegari Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 92 (6/2022): An exuberantly fresh nose blends both red and blue pinot fruit with notes of exotic spice, lilac and violet. Here too the texture of the medium-bodied flavors is super-sleek thanks to the notably fine-grained tannins supporting the intense, delineated and youthfully austere finale. This well-balanced effort could also use better depth, but the underlying material appears to be more than up to the task. Lovely. (Drink starting 2029). |
|
|
2019 |
Central Coast Pinot Noir |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92 (2/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Central Coast has a medium ruby-purple color and a nose of black and red berry fruit with touches of blood orange, earth and licorice. The medium-bodied palate is soft, silky and open, with juicy uplift and loads of spicy accents on the finish. 866 cases produced.
BH 88 (4/2021): Notably ripe aromas feature those of black raspberry, currant and a whiff of poached plum. There is good richness to the decidedly plush and round medium-bodied flavors possess good energy and an appealing mouthfeel on the ever-so-mildly tangy finale. This could easily be enjoyed now or held for the development of better depth. (Drink starting 2024).
VM 88 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir (Central Coast) is laced with dried cherry, tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and earthy notes. This understated, mid-weight Pinot is a terrific choice for drinking over the next few years, while the fruit retains some vibrancy. This is an especially savory style. (Drink between 2021-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Ferrington Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 95 (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard has lifted graphitic minerality, red plum, and pine. The palate is energetic and snappy, with lasting red cherry, fine tannins, and mineral-rich earth. Drink 2024-2038. (Drink between 2024-2038). Audrey Frick.
BH 93 (6/2022): A mentholated top note is present on the vigorously spicy blend of poached plum, dark raspberry, Asian-style tea and an interesting hint of hoisin. There is terrific verve and freshness to the beautifully tension-filled flavors that possess a sophisticated texture along with plenty of sappy dry extract that serves to buffer the very firm tannic spine shaping the impressively long, dusty and austere finale. This built-to-age effort will definitely need an extended stay in a cool cellar if you wish to see it at its peak. This too is excellent. (Drink starting 2031). |
|
|
2019 |
Foss Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (6/2022): Super-fresh aromas of essence of various red berries, plum, violet and a hint of tea give way to plush, round and delicious middle weight flavors that manage to retain solid delineation on the dusty and austere finale that is bold to the point of being robust. This attractive and well-balanced effort isn't especially refined, though it stops short of being rustic. (Drink starting 2027). |
|
|
2019 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 93 (7/2021): Lots of smoky red and black fruits, peppery herbs, forest floor, and floral notes emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, another medium-bodied, ethereal, elegant wine from this estate. It too has some oak to integrate yet has beautiful tannins and a great finish. Give it a year or two as well.
WA 93 (2/2021): Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has lush aromas of wild berry preserves, aniseed, forest floor, potpourri and tea leaves. The medium-bodied palate is deeply fruited, wonderfully spiced and seamlessly structured, with a very long, layered finish.
BH 91 (4/2021): More reserved aromas are composed by notes of red and dark cherry, spice, especially anise and a whiff of violet. The sleeker and finer middle weight flavors possess really lovely delineation as well as solid punch on the firm, dusty and mildly austere finish that offers slightly better balance. This too needs a few years to add depth, but it seems very promising and is worth checking out. (Drink starting 2026).
VM 89 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is a terrific wine in this entry-level part of the range. Supple, open-knit and inviting, the Russian River Pinot captures the essence of the appellation so well. Succulent red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, spice and leather meld into the juicy, inviting finish. (Drink between 2021-2027). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (7/2021): Lots of ripe cherries and mulberries as well as an almost blue fruit quality all emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. Medium-bodied and super elegant, this seamless Pinot Noir shines on all accounts. It has a kiss of background oak to integrate, yet the balance is spot on, its tannins are ripe and polished, and it's just a gorgeous appellation Pinot Noir that readers should snatch up.
WA 92 (2/2021): Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers spicy black fruits on the nose with savory and earthy undertones. The palate is bright and spicy with a finely grained texture and long, uplifted finish. Drink between 2020-2026.
BH 89 (4/2021): Here the very fresh nose is also relatively restrained with fruit that derives more from the red side of the spectrum, along with more discreet spice and floral wisps that include a hint of herbal tea. The delicious and vibrant medium weight flavors are not quite as rich though there is excellent delineation on the mildly edgy and slightly warm if lengthy finish. The balance isn't quite as well dialed in though a few years of keeping may well help. Drink starting 2025.
VM 89 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) marries fruit depth and energy so well, brilliantly capturing so much of what makes the coast such an intriguing appellation. Bright mineral accents perk up a core of dark fruit, with a whole range of floral and savory nuances that linger. Drink between 2021-2029. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Sonoma County Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 94 (7/2021): Lots of ripe cherries and mulberries as well as an almost blue fruit quality all emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. Medium-bodied and super elegant, this seamless Pinot Noir shines on all accounts. It has a kiss of background oak to integrate, yet the balance is spot on, its tannins are ripe and polished, and it's just a gorgeous appellation Pinot Noir that readers should snatch up.
WA 92 (2/2021): Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast offers spicy black fruits on the nose with savory and earthy undertones. The palate is bright and spicy with a finely grained texture and long, uplifted finish.
BH 89 (4/2021): Here the very fresh nose is also relatively restrained with fruit that derives more from the red side of the spectrum, along with more discreet spice and floral wisps that include a hint of herbal tea. The delicious and vibrant medium weight flavors are not quite as rich though there is excellent delineation on the mildly edgy and slightly warm if lengthy finish. The balance isn't quite as well dialed in though a few years of keeping may well help. (Drink starting 2025).
VM 89 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) marries fruit depth and energy so well, brilliantly capturing so much of what makes the coast such an intriguing appellation. Bright mineral accents perk up a core of dark fruit, with a whole range of floral and savory nuances that linger. (Drink between 2021-2029). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Terra De Promissio Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (2/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Terra de Promissio Vineyard is broody on the nose with scents of graphite, woodsmoke, turned earth and licorice over a core of black berry fruit. The palate is soft, spicy, fresh and open with layered, spicy fruits and a long, earth-laced finish. 817 cases were made. Drink between 2020-2028.
VM 92 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Terra De Promissio is a very pretty wine. Holiday spice cake, blood orange, mint, star anise and sweet dried cherry lend striking aromatic nuance. Medium in body, silky and also wonderfully refined, with striking mineral-infused drive, the Terra de Promissio has so much to offer. I very much like the energy here. All the elements are so nicely balanced. What an attractive wine this is. Drink between 2024-2034. Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (4/2021): An elegant, pure and very pretty nose blends notes of spiced plum with those of various dark berry fruit and discreet floral scents. There is very good volume to the solidly concentrated and plush medium-bodied flavors that conclude in a firm, mildly austere and dusty finale. I like the balance of this firm effort that makes clear that it's going to need at least 6 to 8 years to realize its full potential. Drink starting 2027. |
|
|
2019 |
Vista Verde Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (6/2022): This airy and exuberantly fresh nose possesses one of the broadest range of spices in the range with its essence of cherry, red currant and Asian-style tea scents. The sleek, delicious and fleshy medium-bodied flavors also manage to retain good delineation on the dusty, sneaky long and youthfully austere finish. This solidly concentrated effort will need to add depth and is a wine that should repay a decade plus of bottle aging. (Drink starting 2029). |
|
|
2019 |
Weir Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (7/2022): Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard offers deep, pure scents of raspberries, lavender, peppercorn, saline and autumn leaves. The medium-bodied palate is delicate yet concentrated, with a powdery, fresh frame, a rocky mineral streak and detailed floral flavors on the very long, spicy finish. This finessed expression comes from vines planted at about 1,200 feet in elevation in the Yorkville Highlands appellation of Mendocino County, where a lack of coastal influence results in extreme diurnal shifts.
BH 91 (6/2022): A much more restrained nose timidly reveals its aromas of high-toned red berries, anise, violet and a suggestion of lilac. There is excellent intensity to the succulent and caressing yet decidedly powerful flavors that coat the palate with dry extract while exhibiting fine length on the austere, dusty and borderline rustic finale. This very serious effort is already solidly complex, but it does need to flesh out. (Drink starting 2029). |
|
|
2019 |
Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2021): Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors offers plush black fruits laced with youthful, classy new oak that gives way to earth and amaro nuances with time in glass. The medium-bodied palate is polished, finely supported and fresh, and it finishes very long and spice-laced. All elegance and class, I can't wait to taste this with a few years of bottle age. Drink between 2020-2030.
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2019 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors is dense, fleshy and wonderfully inviting. Sweet red cherry, red plum, cedar, tobacco and spice all flesh out in a Pinot that balances suppleness with energy. It is another wine in this range that sizzles with vibrancy. Give it a few years in bottle first. Drink between 2026-2036. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92+ (7/2021): Coming from a site in the Russian River, the 2019 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors is more closed aromatically yet certainly has potential in its ripe red and black fruits and spice-driven aromatics. It shows more floral and violet nuances on the palate and is medium-bodied, with a seamless texture and solid length on the finish. Hide bottles for a year or two and it should evolve nicely for 7-8 years. Drink between 2022-2030.
BH 92 (4/2021): An interesting hint of menthol sits atop the cool aromas of dark raspberry, cranberry and anise. There is a more sophisticated texture to the utterly delicious and vibrant medium weight flavors that are at once rich but well-delineated, all wrapped in a relatively powerful, palate coating and lingering finish. This impressively intense effort does need to develop better depth but that should be easily possible given the density of material and firm tannic spine. Drink starting 2029. |
|
| Yesterday |
2019 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$30 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Ausone |
2021 |
St. Emilion (1.5 L) 2021 en Primeur Release |
$1,350 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 97-100 (4/2022): A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!
JA 95 (4/2022): Violet edging, jewel red depths. There is austerity on the tannins here, but also great depths through the palate, with controlled but juicy loganberry and raspberry fruits, and waves of saffron, creamy red-fruit puree, crushed rock, cold ash and salt-cracker salinity. Subdued, with hidden power and complexity. A tough year for this stable of wines - or rather proof of their exceptionally high standards, making a half production of Simard, no Haut Simard, tiny amounts of Fonbel and almost certainly no Moulin St Georges. The last year that Ausone will be recorded as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, before publication of the new ranking in September 2022. Harvest September 30 to October 6, 100% new oak. In conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master. Average vine age 55 years.
VM 93-95 (5/2022): The 2021 Ausone was picked on September 30 for the Merlot and October 4–6 for the Cabernet Franc, with a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc because some of the Merlot was deselected into the Chapelle. Matured in 90% new oak, this has a fragrant and floral bouquet, more iris than violet, revealing a hint of seaweed in the background. The palate is well-defined, quite strict and focused, certainly one of the more mineral-driven Ausones that I have encountered at this stage. The limestone terroir is evident on the finish. Again, this is a little leaner and less flamboyant than recent vintages. Having tasted Ausone at this prenatal stage for over 20 years, I don’t find the thrilling "drive” or the pyrotechnics of the 2001, 2010, 2016 or 2019. Yet this Ausone is compelling in its own uncompromising way, and I wouldn't want it any different. |
|
| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2020 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-Bottle OWC |
$3,500 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2023): The Grand Vin 2020 Château Cheval Blanc checks in as a blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon that was raised, as always, in 100% new French oak. As usual with Cheval Blanc, it's primarily about finesse and elegance, as well as complexity, and exhibits a deep purple hue as well as a kaleidoscopic bouquet of sweet red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy incense, loamy earth, and smoke tobacco. Absolutely flawless on the palate, it's full-bodied, has perfectly integrated oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This powerful, concentrated Cheval Blanc offers pleasure even today but warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will see its 40th birthday in fine form.
VM 99 (2/2023): The 2020 Cheval Blanc is eternal, seamless and exceptionally beautiful. All the elements are so well put together. Rose petal, blood orange, raspberry jam and cinnamon all take shape in the glass. Above all else, the 2020 Cheval Blanc is a wine of mind-blowing balance. Hints of mocha, raspberry jam, pomegranate and spice emerge with time in the glass. Cheval is quite simply one of the truly great wines of the vintage. Antonio Galloni.
JA 99 (5/2021): Spice, anis, rosemary, blackcurrant leaf, redcurrants, mint and peonies - the full array of aromatics are on display here, and there is an enveloping aspect to the fruit once you get to the body of the wine. The tannins are compact and powerful but they are wrapped in plump raspberry and blackberry brambled fruits. The wine feels full of life, with acidity that pulls the palate forward from the first moment, before austerity kicks in on the finish and closes things in, suggesting an extremely long life ahead. Hard to argue with this. 71% of overall production. The driest year at Cheval Blanc for 50 years (since 1959). Could go up after tasting in bottle, a potential 100 points.
WA 96 (4/2023): The 2020 Cheval Blanc wafts from the glass with aromas of mulberries, plums and cherries mingled with hints of rose petals, licorice, sweet spices and lilac. Full-bodied, broad and voluptuous, it's layered and fleshy, with a ripe core of fruit, sweet tannins and a long, expansive finish. While purists will gravitate toward the purer and more precise and perfumed 2019, the 2020 will appeal to readers who love the richest, most powerful expressions of Cheval Blanc. |
|
| Ch. Clinet |
1989 |
Pomerol |
$694 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2002): One of the great modern-day Bordeaux, the 1989 Clinet still has a saturated purple color and a sweet nose of creme de cassis intermixed with incense, licorice, smoke, and mineral. As the wine sits in the glass, more blueberry and blackberry notes emerge, intermixed with some toasty oak, earth, and spice. This spectacularly concentrated, full-bodied, multi-dimensional wine is the stuff of dreams. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.
MB [*[**]] (9/1998): Three notes. First a double magnum in 1995, very tannic, very oaky but with good nose. Next in 1997 over-extracted and too tannic. Not my favourite syle of wine. More recently, deep, medium intensity, a bit smelly (tannins?0: unusual distinctive flavour, hefty, rich, raw. Its raw tannic finish tamed by spicy beef. |
|
| Ch. Conseillante |
2018 |
Pomerol |
$212.50 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96-98+ (4/2019): The 2018 La Conseillante is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare; Merlot was harvested September 19 to October 1, and Cabernet Franc was harvested on October 4. Very deep purple-black colored, it comes charging out of the gate with energetic notes of wild blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries and warm black plums plus hints of lilacs, damp soil, cardamom and cloves with gentle wafts of cast iron pan and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with elegant black fruit and earthy layers, framed by soft, velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
VM 95-98 (5/2019): The 2018 La Conseillante is magnificent. A wine of real vertical lift and explosiveness, the 2018 is distinguished by its spine of energy, freshness and purity of fruit. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, mocha, lavender spice and mint develop in the glass, but it is the wine's overall sense of harmony that truly stands out. The 2018 showed tremendous vibrancy and vitality, with superb mid-palate richness and phenomenal balance all three times I tasted it. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. The blend is 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc. This is the first vintage that includes a touch of wine aged in amphora, just 3%. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
JD 97-100 (5/2019): The 2018 Château La Conseillante checks in as a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak, with a small amount in amphora. Yields here were a light 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the 2018 is a respectable 13.5% natural alcohol. Winemaker Marielle Cazaux commented that the secret to the vintage was to be a lazy winemaker (i.e. hands off). Her 2018 boasts a saturated purple color as well as incredible purity in its blue and black fruits, spice, liquid flower, and violet-like characteristics. Full-bodied, pure and seamless on the palate as well, it’s flawlessly balanced, with building yet sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It's going to flirt with perfection. Hats off to Marielle for another magical wine from this estate, which has quickly risen into the top echelon of estates in Bordeaux.
JS 97-98 (4/2019): This is a forceful red, showing blueberry and blackberry character with violets and light wet earth. Clarity and beauty with so much transparency and focus. Full-bodied, firm and silky with lots of white-pepper and salt undertones. |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2009 |
St. Julien ex-Chateau 2026 |
$395 |
26 |
|
| |
JD 100 (10/2023): Starting a duo of magical vintages, the 2009 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of those wines that always seems to deliver the goods. A normal blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that hit 13.5% natural alcohol, it has a soaring bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, graphite, and assorted spicy nuances. It's full-bodied, broad, expansive, and flawlessly balanced, and has still present yet sweet, fine-grained tannins. It's in a much sexier, more showy style compared to the 2010, but I suspect it will nevertheless be just about as long-lived. This is pure perfection in wine. (Drink between 2023-2098).
WA 98 (8/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou bursts from the glass with bombastic crème de cassis, black cherry compote and preserved plums notes followed by hints of menthol, hoisin, dusty soil and incense plus fragrant wafts of candied violets and baker’s chocolate. Full bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, the palate offers a beautifully plush texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and layered. An absolute powerhouse!
VM 97 (7/2022): The 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a fantastic wine. Here it bursts from the glass, perhaps less Pauillac-like than previous bottles, beautifully defined with a smorgasbord of red and black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco. There is no hedonism here, just wonderful intensity and focus. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity, very poise yet powerful with a multi-layered finish that just lacquers the mouth. It probably needs another 5-6 years in bottle, but what a wine. Stunning. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Drink between 2025-2065). Neal Martin.
JS 96 (2/2012): The purity of fruit is wonderful in this, with plums, currants and hints of fresh mushrooms. Hints of cloves too. Full-bodied, with chewy, creamy tannins and a bright fresh finish. Super energy and intensity. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Better in 2018. |
|
| Ch. L' Eglise Clinet |
2022 |
Pomerol 2023 en Primeur Release |
$349.95 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 96-98+ (5/2023): Straight-up gorgeous, I'd put the 2022 Château L'Eglise-Clinet up with the top tier Pomerol in the vintage, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it surpass the 2020 as well. Ripe black cherries, violets, spring flowers, graphite, and tobacco all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Compared to the 2005 by owner Noëmie Durantou (who has done an incredible job taking over the estate after the loss of her father), this rich, concentrated, incredibly impressive Pomerol is going to need 7-8 years of bottle age but will evolve for 30 years in cold cellars.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked from 3 to 9 September for the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc on 5 and 9 September, matured in 85% new oak. It has an exquisitely-defined bouquet with succinct floral, pressed iris and clay notes percolating through the black fruit. With breathtaking focus, these scents seem to cast a spell over you. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins that frame the mineral-laden, peppery black fruit. There's not a hair out of place, exuding the essence of this Pomerol estate with an exceptionally long, intense and paradoxically tender finish. It's a wine that may leave you spellbound...just like this barrel sample. Neal Martin.
JA 98 (5/2023): Turns the intensity and exoticism of the vintage on its head, unpacking it carefully, and layering up depth and character. Grilled cedar, fleshy damson and casis fruits, this is all about carefully-considered and delivered juice and flavour. Intense, with balance and carefully-extracted juice, and the precision that you want at L'Eglise Clinet, even in such an ovewheming vintage. 85% new oak, harvest September 3 to 9. Noemie Durantou and Olivier Gautrat. |
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| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2018): Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.
WA 98 (2/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
JD 98 (11/2017): More opulent, sexy and concentrated, the 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a tour de force that has everything you could want from Bordeaux. A huge nose of smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, graphite, cassis, and blackcurrants gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, perfectly balanced beauty that has incredible depth of flavor and intensity, yet with no weight. While the overall impression is upfront and in your face, it has incredible elegance and length on the finish (as well as ripe tannin), and will keep for three decades.
VM 98 (7/2019): The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
2022 |
St. Julien (3X750ML) 3-bottle OWC |
$900 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (5/2023): Looking at the Grand Vin 2022 Château Léoville Las Cases, it has an almost Pauillac-like style in its ripe, powerful aromatics of graphite, lead pencil shavings, cassis, and liquid rock-like minerality. Full-bodied, massively concentrated, and powerful on the palate, it nevertheless stays flawlessly balanced, has just about off-the-charts purity, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. This will clearly rank with the truly greats from this address and reminds me slightly of a mix of the 2016 and 2018. It is not, however, going to be for those looking for instant gratification.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 Léoville Las Cases is stunning. Fine-grained and nuanced, the 2022 Las Cases is breathtaking. Red/purplish fruit, rose petals, lavender, spice and mocha open gradually but what impresses most about the 2022 is its sublime finesse. Silky, plush and exceptionally beautiful, the 2022 Las Cases is shaping up to be one of the wines of the year. Antonio Galloni.
WA 98-100 (5/2023): One of the wines of the vintage this year is the 2022 Léoville Las Cases, a monument in the making that combines unerring classicism with unusual sensuality and charm by the standards of this estate's sometimes youthfully forbidding wines. Exhibiting deep aromas of dark berries, violets, pencil lead, rose petals and tobacco leaf, it's full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with terrific concentration, beautiful purity of fruit, abundant but refined tannins and a long, vibrant finish. On the several occasions that I tasted it, the 2022 was surprisingly open for a young Las Cases, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were to shut down after a few years in bottle. It's a blend of 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot.
JA 97 (5/2023): Heading to Léoville Las Cases in a super ripe year is always a good idea, as the musuclar tannins are balanced by a riper mouthfeel. As quietly confident as you would expect, this is packed with depth and intensity, taking the 2022 vintage and reshaping it in the character of this St Julien powerhouse. Graphite, crushed rocks, liquorice root, cassis, bluberry, slate, saffran, smoked earth, all held in by tannins with grip and length. 3.8ph, and high alcohols for this estate, giving a seductive mouthfeel that is unusual in young Las Cases. 84% new oak, 37hl/h yield. Harvest September 8 to 30. |
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| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2009 |
St. Julien |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (2/2018): The greatest wine I’ve ever tasted from this address is the 2009 Leoville Poyferre, which is a step up over both the 2000 and the 2010. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc that hit 13.9% alcohol, it offers everything you could ask of a wine and reveals a saturated purple color as well as incredible notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, lead pencil, exotic Spices, and dried flowers. Incredibly full-bodied, super concentrated, deep, and opulent, yet still pure, fresh, and lively, it has sweet tannin and a hedonistic vibe that hides its underlying structure. Drink it anytime over the coming three decades.
WA 100 (2/2012): One of the more flamboyant and sumptuous wines of the vintage, this inky/purple-colored St.-Julien reveals thrilling levels of opulence, richness and aromatic pleasures. A soaring bouquet of creme de cassis, charcoal, graphite and spring flowers is followed by a super-concentrated wine with silky tannins, stunning amounts of glycerin, a voluptuous, multilayered mouthfeel and nearly 14% natural alcohol. Displaying fabulous definition for such a big, plump, massive, concentrated effort, I suspect the tannin levels are high even though they are largely concealed by lavish amounts of fruit, glycerin and extract. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.
VM 96 (3/2019): The 2009 Leoville Poyferre has an outstanding bouquet with blackberry, mint and cedar aromas, almost Pauillac in style, very dense and with plenty of horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, saturated tannins that frame layers of blackberry infused with graphite and white pepper. I love the symmetry and control of this Poyferre, in particular its persistent finish. This is a magnificent wine from Didier Cuvelier. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting. Neal Martin.
JS 95 (2/2019): Ripe and creamy but also refined and lively, this is a beautiful 2009 Medoc, the fine tannins adding a lot to the long and silky finish. The obvious bitter chocolate note will either delight you or be a touch too much. Drink or hold. |
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|
2018 |
St. Julien |
$113 |
17 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): Every bit as good as the 2009, and I think better than the 2010 and 2016, the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré is a total thrill that tops out my scale. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible, full-bodied monster of a wine that, despite massive amounts of fruit, tannins, and extract, still stays weightless and ethereal, with incredible purity. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spring flowers, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and cedar pencil, it's extraordinarily concentrated, flawlessly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit. This is a legendary wine in the making. Give bottles 7-8 years, a decade would be even better, and it will keep for 40-50 years. Hats off to the Cuvelier family for another extraordinary wine! (Drink between 2028-2078).
WA 97 (3/2021): A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure.
VM 95 (9/2022): The 2018 Léoville-Poyferré performs similarly to the bottle tasted a few weeks earlier in the UK for my in-bottle round-up, although here I sense more opulence on the nose, perhaps more florality. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, broad and sensual, plummy with that beguiling symmetry on the finish. It needs several years in bottle but it will be well worth the wait. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. (Drink between 2027-2055). Neal Martin. |
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|
2018 |
St. Julien (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$678 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): Every bit as good as the 2009, and I think better than the 2010 and 2016, the 2018 Château Léoville Poyferré is a total thrill that tops out my scale. Based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible, full-bodied monster of a wine that, despite massive amounts of fruit, tannins, and extract, still stays weightless and ethereal, with incredible purity. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spring flowers, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and cedar pencil, it's extraordinarily concentrated, flawlessly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit. This is a legendary wine in the making. Give bottles 7-8 years, a decade would be even better, and it will keep for 40-50 years. Hats off to the Cuvelier family for another extraordinary wine! (Drink between 2028-2078).
WA 97 (3/2021): A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak barriques, the 2018 Léoville Poyferré comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Morello cherries, plum preserves and blackberry pie, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, unsmoked cigars, vanilla pod and sassafras, plus a waft of crushed rocks. The palate is full-bodied, rich and decadent, delivering hedonic black fruits and lots of spicy accents with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and satisfyingly savory. This is a very impressive showing that is delicious out of the gate but has the backbone to give a good 30 years or more of pleasure.
VM 95 (9/2022): The 2018 Léoville-Poyferré performs similarly to the bottle tasted a few weeks earlier in the UK for my in-bottle round-up, although here I sense more opulence on the nose, perhaps more florality. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, broad and sensual, plummy with that beguiling symmetry on the finish. It needs several years in bottle but it will be well worth the wait. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. (Drink between 2027-2055). Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Les Carmes Haut Brion |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (3X1.5L) 3-magnum OWC |
$895 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): The 2018 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a rock star of a wine and is based on a unique blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 29% Merlot that was brought up in 80% new French oak. Offering a deep ruby/purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, violets, damp earth, and truffle, it hits the palate with a full-bodied yet almost understated, building style that carries ripe, supple tannins, gorgeous amounts of smoky black fruits, and an endearing, layered, multi-dimensional texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. A dead ringer for a great vintage of Haut-Brion, it is far from unapproachable today yet needs 7-8 years of bottle age for the fireworks to develop and will have 50-years or more of longevity! Hats off to Guillaume Pouthier for a magical, seamless, singular beauty! (Drink between 2028-2078)
JA 98 (2/2021): A beautiful nuance of salty caramel is clear even on the nose. On the palate, the concentration and focus is immediately clear, uplifted by touches of gentle salinity. There is really a sense of place and of being itself which I always love about this wine. It's closed of course, but with an unrolling of sappy black fruits, and a freshness that gives you confidence in its future. So much pleasure to be had here, with notes of chocolate, peony and liquorice. Extremely successful, as it was en primeur. 3.62pH. 53% whole-bunch fermentation. IPT95. Harvested 13-28 September. Ageing is mostly in large oak casks, 76% new, plus 9% aged in amphorae. (Drink between 2026-2044)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a total knock-out, just as it was from barrel. Soaring in its aromatic intensity, Les Carmes dazzles from the very first taste. Inky red fruits, mocha, new leather, licorice, dried flowers, sage and mint envelop all the senses. Today, the 2018 appears to be slightly closed, but time brings out tons of aromatic energy and nuance. Cabernet Franc plays the leading role, unusual for this part of the region. Franc aromatics and a fair amount of whole cluster savoriness lend energy but also a feeling of richness without weight that is especially appealing. This is a masterpiece from Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier. (Drink between 2026-2048). Antonio Galloni.
WA 96+ (3/2021): The 2018 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is composed of 37% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot. It was made using 52% whole cluster and has 13.75% alcohol. It was aged in 75% new oak barriques, 16% foudres and 9% amphorae. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing before bursting from the glass with vibrant scents blackberry preserves, redcurrant jelly, mulberries and Black Forest cake, leading to an undercurrent of pencil lead, black truffles, cast-iron pan and charcoal with an emerging waft of violets. The elegantly crafted, medium-bodied palate dances with red and black fruits before bursting into earth and mineral sparks. It has a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and savory. The stem tannins lend this wine a firmness and textural interest, which should integrate further with another 5-6 years in barrel, allowing the nuances to shine through even more, then you can continue to enjoy its slow evolution for a further 30+ years. |
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| Ch. Montrose |
2018 |
St. Estephe |
$189 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): A full-bodied powerhouse as well as a perfect wine, the 2018 Château Montrose is a final blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. Boasting a deep purple hue as well as awesome levels of crème de cassis and smoky blackberry fruits and notes of tobacco, lead pencil, scorched earth, and chocolate, it's deep, opulent, and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with no shortage of mid-palate depth, tannins, or length. It reminds me a little of a fresher version of the 2003, although there's more Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018 as well as less Merlot. It has that classic Montrose minerality and backward, mineral-laced style, yet I suspect this will be drinkable in just 5-6 years and should evolve into a modern-day legend from this terroir. (Drink between 2027-2077)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Montrose is dazzling. Whereas so many 2018s are opulent and broad, Montrose is a wine of vertical explosive power. Ripe Cabernet aromatics soar out of the glass, making a strong first impression. Black cherry, leather, licorice, graphite and menthol develop later as the 2018 starts to open in the glass. The energy, vibrancy and drive here are palpable right out of the gate. Montrose is one of real stars of 2018. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2028-2058). Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (6/2021): Silky, young, clear spice notes, more so than in any other vintage in the lineup except for the 2003. Plenty of stuffing through the palate, with blueberry, cassis, hawthorn, tumeric, saffron but also caramel and black chocolate flavours. It's beautiful, well balanced, with intent and poise, and very clearly a wine that will go the distance. Having said that, it's the only wine in the lineup when I even think about the alcohol, suggesting there is a trace of heat, and certainly you feel the sunshine of the year in a way that you rarely do in Montrose - this takes it down for me from my initial En Primeur score. Harvest September 17 to October 5.
WA 95+ (12/2023): A hulking monster of power and extraction, the 2018 Montrose offers up rich aromas of mulberries, cherries, dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied, broad and ample, with a textural attack that segues into a sweet core of fruit framed by ripe but chewy tannins, it's a muscular, dense Montrose with structure to burn, concluding with a lingering, floral finish. While its over 14.5% alcohol is impressively well integrated, Médoc purists will want to gravitate toward the 2016 rather than the 2018. |
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|
2018 |
St. Estephe (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,134 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2021): A full-bodied powerhouse as well as a perfect wine, the 2018 Château Montrose is a final blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that was raised in 60% new French oak. Boasting a deep purple hue as well as awesome levels of crème de cassis and smoky blackberry fruits and notes of tobacco, lead pencil, scorched earth, and chocolate, it's deep, opulent, and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with no shortage of mid-palate depth, tannins, or length. It reminds me a little of a fresher version of the 2003, although there's more Cabernet Sauvignon in 2018 as well as less Merlot. It has that classic Montrose minerality and backward, mineral-laced style, yet I suspect this will be drinkable in just 5-6 years and should evolve into a modern-day legend from this terroir. (Drink between 2027-2077)
VM 97 (3/2021): The 2018 Montrose is dazzling. Whereas so many 2018s are opulent and broad, Montrose is a wine of vertical explosive power. Ripe Cabernet aromatics soar out of the glass, making a strong first impression. Black cherry, leather, licorice, graphite and menthol develop later as the 2018 starts to open in the glass. The energy, vibrancy and drive here are palpable right out of the gate. Montrose is one of real stars of 2018. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2028-2058). Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (6/2021): Silky, young, clear spice notes, more so than in any other vintage in the lineup except for the 2003. Plenty of stuffing through the palate, with blueberry, cassis, hawthorn, tumeric, saffron but also caramel and black chocolate flavours. It's beautiful, well balanced, with intent and poise, and very clearly a wine that will go the distance. Having said that, it's the only wine in the lineup when I even think about the alcohol, suggesting there is a trace of heat, and certainly you feel the sunshine of the year in a way that you rarely do in Montrose - this takes it down for me from my initial En Primeur score. Harvest September 17 to October 5.
WA 95+ (12/2023): A hulking monster of power and extraction, the 2018 Montrose offers up rich aromas of mulberries, cherries, dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied, broad and ample, with a textural attack that segues into a sweet core of fruit framed by ripe but chewy tannins, it's a muscular, dense Montrose with structure to burn, concluding with a lingering, floral finish. While its over 14.5% alcohol is impressively well integrated, Médoc purists will want to gravitate toward the 2016 rather than the 2018. |
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|
2020 |
St. Estephe |
$205 |
10 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2023): Surpassing the 2019 and rivaling the 2016 as this estate's finest vintage of the last few decades, the 2020 Montrose is a monument in the making. Wafting from the glass with aromas of violets, dark berries, licorice, loamy soil, black truffle and subtle spices, it's full-bodied, deep and layered, with a seamless, elegantly muscular profile, terrific purity and energy, beautifully powdery tannins and a long, resonant finish. It checks in at 13.7% alcohol, the same as the superb 2009, but it is even deeper, more vibrant and more complex than the 2009.
JD 98+ (3/2023): The Grand Vin 2020 Château Montrose is brilliant and unquestionably in the lineup of the truly greats from this château, including the 1989, 1990, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2019. With an IPT of 80 and a natural alcohol of 13.4%, its deep, saturated purple hue is followed by quintessential Saint-Estèphe notes of pure cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, acacia flowers, and loamy earth. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless stays incredibly pure, elegant, and seamless, with perfectly ripe tannins. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, is shines even today for its purity and balance, and it should be in the early stages of its prime drink window within a decade. (Drink between 2031-2081).
VM 97 (11/2024): The 2020 Montrose has a gorgeous bouquet with black cherries, raspberry coulis, crushed stone and floral scents. It's quite decadent yet nicely controlled. The palate is very structured with layers of blackberry and bilberry fruit and a touch of white pepper, building toward a spicy and very persistent, almost burly finish. This will need serious cellaring. Outstanding. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2032-2065). Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
2022 |
Pauillac (1.5 L) 2023 en Primeur Release |
$1,425 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (2/2025): Bottled in June of 2024, the 2022 Château Mouton Rothschild checks in as classic blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot that was raised all in new barrels. Incredibly concentrated yet light on its feet and graceful, this inky-hued beauty has sensational notes of cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and chocolate that are to die for. It shows the ripe, opulent style of the vintage yet brings sensational purity, loads of tannins, and a gorgeous finish. For the tech geeks out there, this hit 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.86, and an IPT (tannins) of 76. It has the depth of fruit and texture to offer incredible pleasure even today, yet it deserves a decade of bottle age and will evolve for 50-60 years. It reminds me of a mix of the 2009 and 2010. (Drink between 2035-2095).
JA 99 (2/2024): Inky colour, cassis, cocoa bean, cocoa dusting, crushed rose petals, juice, pep, focus and crystalline character, a serious wine that will power for decades, intense and concentrated but with an oyster shell minerality, delicious quality. A great example of how brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon can be in this part of the world, and why it sets the benchmark globally. This is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy director. 49% of production in the Grand Vin, 27% Petit Mouton. 100% new barrels for ageing, harvest September 1 to 26.
Decanter 99 (1/2025): Spicy liquorice, bitter chocolate, tobacco, cigar, and aniseed on the nose. Round and bright, with juicy, delicate fruit and velvety tannins. Super concentrated yet graceful, layering ripeness, freshness, and stoniness. Controlled power - soft in texture but packed with Cabernet structure. Starts juicy and creamy, then surges with depth and length. Sweet black fruit meets cool, steely minerality, giving complexity and definition. Black liquorice on a sticky finish. Bold for Mouton but outstanding, this is going to deliver for decades. 3.68pH. Ageing 100% new oak. (Drink between 2031-2050).
VM 98 (3/2026): The 2022 Mouton Rothschild has a very expressive, floral bouquet that suggests Margaux, with fabulous delineation and focus. It just seems to billow from the glass. The palate is velvety smooth, with fine acidity and a touch of graphite infusing the black fruit. Restrained and, paradoxically, intense on the finish, this lingers wonderfully in the glass. Deeply impressive. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London. (Drink between 2030-2070). Neal Martin.
WA 97 (3/2025): The 2022 Mouton Rothschild is one of the most muscular, almost brutally powerful wines of the vintage. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums and sweet crème de cassis mingled with notions of espresso roast, pencil lead and petroleum jelly, it's full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with huge reserves of tannin and fruit. A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot that represents 49% of the estate's production, this is a prodigious Mouton that's built for the cellar. |
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| Ch. Tertre Roteboeuf |
2016 |
St. Emilion |
$225 |
13 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is flat-out stunning and also one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses remarkable depth and intensity from the very first taste. The 2016 is exotic, full-throttle and unapologetically hedonistic. At times, Tertre-Rôteboeuf can be a bit rough around the edges, but the 2016 is totally sublime. In a world in which so many wines are copycats, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is an original. And the 2016 is a great, emotionally moving Tertre-Rôteboeuf. This is a magnificent effort from François and Nina Mitjavile. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-98 (4/2017): The 2016 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare between 14-18 October. This year I was hosted by François' daughter Nina Mitjavile, who has been working alongside her father for several years. It has a wonderful bouquet, very pure and fresh. I anticipated that François Mitjavile might have been tempted to pick a little later like others, but it was an assiduous decision to have the fruit in the vat by the 18 October and lock in that freshness. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, extremely well judged acidity, the new oak present at the moment but in proportion with the fruit. This is a stylish Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf, very sensual and luxuriant with layers of crushed strawberry, blood oranges and raspberry fruit. In a word...irresistible. |
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|
2016 |
St. Emilion (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,350 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is flat-out stunning and also one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2016 possesses remarkable depth and intensity from the very first taste. The 2016 is exotic, full-throttle and unapologetically hedonistic. At times, Tertre-Rôteboeuf can be a bit rough around the edges, but the 2016 is totally sublime. In a world in which so many wines are copycats, Tertre-Rôteboeuf is an original. And the 2016 is a great, emotionally moving Tertre-Rôteboeuf. This is a magnificent effort from François and Nina Mitjavile. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-98 (4/2017): The 2016 Le Tertre Roteboeuf is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare between 14-18 October. This year I was hosted by François' daughter Nina Mitjavile, who has been working alongside her father for several years. It has a wonderful bouquet, very pure and fresh. I anticipated that François Mitjavile might have been tempted to pick a little later like others, but it was an assiduous decision to have the fruit in the vat by the 18 October and lock in that freshness. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannin, extremely well judged acidity, the new oak present at the moment but in proportion with the fruit. This is a stylish Le Tertre-Rôteboeuf, very sensual and luxuriant with layers of crushed strawberry, blood oranges and raspberry fruit. In a word...irresistible. |
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| Domaine de Chevalier |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (3X1.5L) 3-Magnum OWC |
$555 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (4/2019): This wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot to be aged for approximately 18 months in oak barriques, 35% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier starts a little closed before bounding out of the glass with bold expressions of fresh blackcurrants, kirsch, black raspberries and fragrant earth plus nuances of lilacs, Sichuan pepper and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate maintains elegance and sophistication, with a lovely ripe, finely grained frame and plenty of freshness to back up the floral and black fruit layers, finishing long and perfumed.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Domaine de Chevalier is magnificent. Bright, lifted and wonderfully nuanced, the 2018 has so much to offer. Olivier Bernard turned out a dazzling Domaine de Chevalier in 2018 that speaks to precision and nuance above all else. Rose petal, mint, savory herbs and crushed rocks add striking aromatic top notes to this stunning, breathtakingly beautiful wine. The tannins need time to soften, but I doubt readers will be in a rush. The 2018 is simply majestic - that's all there is to it. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98 (5/2019): Possibly one of the finest wines ever to come from the Bernard family’s flagship estate near Leognan, the 2018 Domaine de Chevalier checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that hit 13.5% alcohol and will spend 18 months in just 35% new French oak. Its saturated purple/plum color is followed by a mammoth bouquet of cassis, black currants, gravelly earth, smoked herbs, and tobacco. Full-bodied, deep, brilliantly balanced, and seriously concentrated, it has polished tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s a heavenly Graves that will keep for 30+ years.
JS 99-100 (4/2019): Wow. I can’t get over the pureness of fruit in this wine with so much currant, tar and wet-earth character. Flowers, too. So aromatic. Full body, yet pureness and brightness of fruit. Layered. Incredible depth and beauty. 65 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 30 per cent merlot and 5 per cent petit verdot. Greatest ever? |
|
| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2018 |
Pomerol (6X750ML) 6-bottle OWC |
$1,650 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (3/2021): The flagship 2018 Vieux Château Certan is based on 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and was brought up in (I suspect) roughly 50% new French oak. It tips the scale at 14.5% natural alcohol, which is the same as the 2010 (slightly higher than the 2009) and has a pH of 3.78, which is also very close to the 2010. This rock star of a Pomerol offers a kaleidoscopic array of red, black, and blue fruits, white truffle, spring flowers, tobacco, and crushed rock-like minerality on the nose. It has perfectly integrated oak, gorgeous concentration, building yet ultra-fine tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and the large Cabernet Franc component became more and dominant, yet it never truly shut down and was always a joy to drink. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars. Again, the Thienpont family produces a heavenly wine that wine lovers should all have in their cellar. Along with Petrus, Conseillante, Lafleur, and a handful of others, it's one of the appellation's most singular wines.
WA 97-100 (4/2019): The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectare. The wine has a pH of 3.78, 14.4% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Medium to deep garnet-purple—it has a very vibrant color—it drifts effortlessly out of the glass with wonderfully intense, beautifully delineated scents of red roses, black raspberries, kirsch and Darjeeling tea before the powerful, profound black fruits kick in: baked plums, wild blueberries, molten licorice and mulberries with touches of cigar box, cinnamon stick, tapenade and truffles. Full-bodied, rich, densely packed and revealing layer upon layer of red and black fruits with an incredible array of floral and spicy sparks, it has a high level of super ripe, incredibly fine, velvety soft tannins and fantastic freshness (not just from acid but from bright, crunchy fruit). It finishes very long, marvelously layered and with such jaw-dropping brightness from the fruit, the end is almost electric. Incredible.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is a very pretty wine built more on elegance, finesse and aromatic nuance. Relative to the recent past, the 2018 shows a much more mid-weight structure and less of the creaminess of either 2015 or 2016. Much of that is attributable to a blend that includes 30% Cabernet Franc. Lavender, rose petal, mint and blueberry fruit all grace the 2018. Far from an obvious wine, the 2018 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, as it is a wine of total understatement and class. Fine beads of tannin support the understated finish. In 2018, VCC is a wine of refinement and subtlety more than anything else. I don't see the same visceral thrill as in a number of vintages of the recent past. Perhaps that will come in bottle. Antonio Galloni.
JS 99-100 (4/2019): This is a significant VCC with masses of fruit and juicy tannins. It’s fresh, but impresses you with the rich and powerful fruit. A tower of a wine. Incredible depth and density. Thick and muscular. It is 30 per cent cabernet franc, the rest merlot. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2001 |
Sauternes (1.5 L) |
$1,550 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (9/2021): Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. Neal Martin.
WA 100 (8/2019): I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin |
$525 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2009): No Hommage a Jacques Perrin was made in 2008, but the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin is an utterly perfect wine. Composed of 60% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Grenache, this prodigious effort boasts an inky/blue/purple color to the rim in addition to an exceptional bouquet of camphor, roasted meats, blueberries, black cherries, black currants, truffles, beef blood, pepper, and incense. The sumptuous aromatics are followed by a wine of compelling intensity, full-bodied power, perfect balance, laser-like focus, and a finish that lasts more than a minute. The 2007's texture reminds me of the 1998 Jacques Perrin, and the freshness of the fruit and explosive aromatics are to die for. There are only 500 cases of this legend in the making, but for those lucky enough to find any, it will last for 40-60 years.
VM 97 (2/2010): Opaque ruby color. Remarkably complex bouquet of dark berry compote, potpourri, sandalwood, smoked meat and licorice, complemented by a smoky mineral overtone. Broad, palate-coating dark fruit flavors pick up notes of candied flowers and licorice with air and show a pungent Indian spice character. Becomes more floral with air and leaves sweet cherry and floral pastille notes behind. I'd buy all of this that I could afford. |
|
| Jean-Louis Chave |
2015 |
Hermitage |
$495 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 98-100 (4/2018): Not yet bottled, the 2015 Hermitage has perfection written all over it and reminds me of the 2010. Graphite, charcoal, liquid rock, and sensationally pure crème de cassis notes all soar from the glass of this full-bodied, concentrated, opulent 2015. This is a big, sexy beast of a Hermitage, yet it has the classic minerality, purity, and balance shown by just about every wine made from this estate. Forget bottles for 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 4-5 decades.
WA 98-100 (12/2017): After tasting several intermediate blends that will ultimately be combined in some proportion to create the 2015 Hermitage, I would not be surprised to see the final result achieve perfection. Although massively ripe and concentrated, there is still a feeling of balance and elegance in the wines that I fully expect to carry over into the final product. As the blending process isn’t complete, Jean-Louis warned that it was too early to say if there would be a Cuvee Cathelin, which is typically an Outstanding parcel that, for some reason, doesn’t work in the rest of the blend.
VM 97 (4/2018): Youthful purple color. Mineral-accented dark berries, star anise, cola, olive and pungent flowers on the explosively perfumed nose. Offers impressively concentrated, expansive flavors of black raspberry, spicecake, smoked meat and candied flowers that are complicated by licorice candy and dark chocolate notes that sneak in on the back half. Sweet, sappy and precise on the floral- and dark fruit-driven finish, which shows Outstanding clarity and round, harmonious tannins that build smoothly and steadily. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2018 |
Hermitage |
$359 |
10 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2022): I was blown away by the 2018 Hermitage from barrel, and it unquestionably doesn't disappoint from bottle. Reminding me slightly of the 2009, it possesses off-the-charts richness and depth, but like all great wines, stays pure, balanced, and light on its feel. Extraordinary notes of cassis, blue fruits, graphite, violets, and flowers define the bouquet, and this full-bodied, layered, multi-dimensional beauty has ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic. Given its extravagant richness and texture, it should be relatively accessible in just a handful of years yet evolve for three decades or more. (Drink between 2025-2050).
WA 99 (1/2022): Chave's 2018 Hermitage is another in a long list of legends to emerge from this meticulously run estate. Showing remarkably complex aromas of pressed violets, ground cloves and cracked peppercorns against a backdrop of cassis, blueberries and licorice, it's a super effort. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and velvety in feel, it's seamless and long—just the complete package in a wine that's surprisingly approachable, yet should prove capable of aging effortlessly for two decades or more.
VM 97 (12/2022): Opaque ruby. Powerful, smoke- and spice-accented black and blue fruit, exotic spice, olive, cured tobacco, cured bacon and violet aromas show superb clarity and a bright mineral top note. Deeply concentrated and broad on the palate, offering sappy, alluringly sweet cherry, blackcurrant, fruitcake, salty olive and violet pastille flavors plus hints of licorice and allspice. The wonderfully long, penetrating finish features resonating mineral, spice and floral notes and chewy tannins that build steadily. (Drink between 2029-2041). Josh Raynolds. |
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| | Germany |
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2019 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese (1.5 L) |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 100 (8/2020): All of nature's springtime joy and the epitome of autumnal ripeness somehow combine with summer-morning dew to offer one of the greatest off-dry German wines made in modern times. Breathtaking finish, so wonderfully light and filigree. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. |
|
| | Madeira & Sherry |
| Bodegas Toro Albala |
1946 |
Don P.X. Convento Seleccion Pedro Ximenez |
$500 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (8/2013): The 1946 Don PX Convento Seleccion produced with Pedro Ximenez grapes dehydrated under the sun at the time of the Second World War, was only bottled in September 2011. This is an extreme wine, my first descriptor was ultra-mega-super concentrated. It is unbelievably powerful, both in the nose and the palate, full of umami, with sweet cinnamon, Christmas cake, camphor, petrol, lemongrass, Belgian chocolate and butter. Incredibly complex and rich, sweet, balanced and smooth in the palate, it is both very sweet and somehow salty, and with time it develops a black olive note. It combines the texture of the 1962 and the elegance of the 1949. It is as decadent as it gets. 825 bottles were produced. This wine will survive all of us. These wines are kept for generations and offered in very small quantities, but it’s amazing that you can still buy and drink something so old, and I’m even tempted to say that it might represent good value for what it is. A real tour de force sweet wine. Drink it if you ever have the privilege to do so from 2013-2060. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Abreu |
2010 |
Howell Mountain Red Wine |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (11/2013): The 2010 Howell Mountain is simply magnificent. Inky, deep, and full-bodied to the core, the 2010 blasts out of the glass with graphite, pencil shavings, menthol, melted road tar, plum, cassis and licorice notes. The 2010 is an exciting, viscerally thrilling wine that takes hold of the sense and never lets up. Today, it is firing on all cylidners. The Howell Mountain is the only Abreu wine that incorporates Malbec, a variety that seems to work magic here. The 2010 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 5% Merlot.
WA 94-97 (10/2013): An absolute blockbuster, the 2010 Howell Mountain includes Malbec and Petit Verdot blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as a sumptuous perfume of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and wet rocks. This ripe, smoky, intense, full-bodied wine reveals a boatload of tannins, but also richer fruit and a deeper, multidimensional mouthfeel and finish than the 2009, which appears to be more broodingly backward and structured. This appears to be a great success. Consume it over the next 25-30 years. |
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|
2013 |
Thorevilos Red Wine Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
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|
2013 |
Thorevilos Red Wine Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2012 |
Pandora Proprietary Blend Lightly Scuffed Label |
$259 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (8/2016): A perfect wine any way you look at it, the utterly profound 2012 Pandora is 100% Grenache that was brought up all in barrel. Massively concentrated and textured, yet ethereal and nuanced, it offers a huge bouquet of black currants, licorice, smoked herbs, chocolate and toasted spice. Bravo to the team at Alban for this incredible, full-bodied, seamless beauty that's easily one of the greatest wines I've tasted from California. |
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|
2006 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2010): The 2006 Syrah Reva, coming from parcels of dark, volcanic soil, has off-the-chart richness and intensity. This thick, opaque-purple colored wine offers up notes of scorched earth, ground pepper, and blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, licorice, camphor, and tar. The wine is spectacular in every sense. Full-bodied and certainly not for wimps, this is a remarkably concentrated yet very nuanced and intense wine that should age for 20 more years.
JD 98 (11/2010): Truly extraordinary, the 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard is a jaw dropping Syrah, sporting rich, full aromatics of smoky dark fruits, steak tartare, tapenade, and licorice. These carry over to the palate where the wine is perfectly built, possessing awesome concentration, solid, almost burly structure, and a phenomenal texture that coats the palate, but at the same time, stays light, fresh, and clean. I’m a huge fan, and while delicious now, I’ve no doubt this will continue to drink well for 15 to 20 years.
VM 94+ (11/2010): Glass-staining purple. Blackberry, boysenberry and licorice pastille on the nose, with mounting spice and floral notes and a strong wallop of cracked pepper. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit flavors expand with air and pick up strong spicecake and candied flower notes, along with velvety tannins. More backward than the Lorraine today, and showing a darker profile. The finish completely stains the palate and lingers with intense floral and spicy persistence. This is still a baby. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Araujo Estate |
2002 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$312 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98-100 (2/2005): A sleeper selection, it is by no means a second wine in the pejorative sense of the word. A potential candidate for perfection is the exquisite 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard. A 1,650-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot made from extremely low yields, it boasts superb intensity, flavor, elegance, and nobility in addition to a marvelously complex nose of minerals, licorice, cedar, creme de cassis, vanilla, and spice. Exceptionally rich, nuanced, and precise, it is a magnificent expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that offers the elegance of a Bordeaux with the power and potency of Napa Valley Cabernet. A tour de force, this wine can be drunk now or cellared for up to two decades.
VM 95 (6/2005): (includes 2.6% cabernet franc and 1.6% petit verdot) Good saturated ruby-red. Superripe, complex, slightly roasted nose combines black raspberry, dark chocolate, smoked meat, maple syrup, toffee, tobacco and licorice. Dense and aromatic in the mouth, with compelling sweetness and suavity of texture. Wonderfully opulent and seamless red wine. This finishes with huge but utterly fine tannins and lush, lingering flavor. |
|
| Bevan Cellars |
2018 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
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|
2018 |
Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$360 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): I always seem to compare great wines from this site with Haut-Brion, and I think the comparison holds here, although it’s a Haut-Brion on steroids! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, coffee beans, and gravelly earth. All of these carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied and has a deep, layered mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. Hats off to the talented Russell Bevans for another brilliant, singular wine that’s going to keep for 20-25 years. (Drink between 2021-2046.)
WA 100 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with flamboyant scents of redcurrant jelly, Black Forest cake, blackcurrant pastilles and rose oil with suggestions of cast-iron pan, pencil lead and tilled soil plus a waft of fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm, exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, it delivers an incredible mineral and perfumed red fruit firework display finish. Fans of Dr. Crane are going to LOVE this expression, masterfully crafted by Russell Bevan—an absolute must-try! |
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|
2015 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$215 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2017): Another perfect wine from Bevan is the 2015 Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Proprietary Red Wine and it’s a Cheval Blanc-like blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot brought up all in French oak. This huge, full-bodied, opulent 2015 carries itself like a ballerina and is elegant, weightless and even graceful, with remarkable purity of fruit. Currants, Blueberries, liquid violets, Asian spices and a distinct minerality all emerge from the glass and it has both incredible complexity and richness. Bravo! (Drink between 2018-2038).
WA 98 (2/2021): Sugarloaf is a cooler site in south Napa, above a quarry. It usually allows for a longer hang time, often lending a minty or herbal lift to this label. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain has a powerful nose of black raspberries, black and red plums and warm cassis with hints of tar, eucalyptus, bay leaves and pencil lead with a waft of cedar. The palate is full-bodied with opulent fragrant earth notes and seducing black berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Stunning! |
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|
2018 |
Tench Vyd. The Calixtro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$275 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): Pure perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro is a vineyard selection from a great site just beside the winery, on the east side of Oakville. Offering a decadent, full-bodied, concentrated style as well as lots of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, spice, and an almost bloody, iron-like character, it’s a heavenly Cabernet that delivers both intellectual and hedonistic pleasure in spades. It already offers pleasure yet should keep for 20+ years. (Drink between 2021-2043.)
WA 99 (2/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it's a little closed at this youthful stage, revealing glimpses at warm cassis, boysenberries and plum preserves scents with hints of charcoal, espresso, tapenade and violets. Full-bodied and rich, with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, it finishes very long and minerally. Only 109 cases were produced. Those lucky enough to secure a few bottles will want to put them away for at least 4-5 years and drink them over the next 25+ years.
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard The Calixtro emerges from Block 1B, which is home to some of the best dirt on the site. A stunning range of mineral and savory inflections races out of the glass, adding layers of complexity to the intense dark fruit. This is far from an easygoing 2018. Readers should plan on cellaring it for at least a few years. (Drink between 2023-2033.) |
|
| Carter Cellars |
2016 |
The G.T.O. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$895 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon The G T O is very deep purple-black in color. Bam! Out of the gate it produces an incredibly alluring nose of freshly crushed black cherries, blackberry compote, blackcurrant cordial and licorice with nuances of violets, fertile loam, black truffles, unsmoked cigars and a waft of beef drippings. Big, full-bodied and powerful in the mouth—without the least bit of heaviness—the palate gives an awe-inspiring array of earth, black fruit preserves and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing epically long and with fantastic freshness. This is To Kalon giving its all! |
|
| Colgin |
2018 |
Cariad Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$1,050 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 100 (1/2022): What a thrill it is to taste the 2018 Cariad again. Last year the 2018 was magnificent. It is all that this year too. Powerful and explosive, the 2018 is captivating from the very first taste. Healthy dollops of Cabernet Franc and Merlot add layers to this deep, wonderfully vibrant Napa Valley red. In a big morning tasting at Colgin spanning more than a dozen wines, the 2018 Cariad was a stand out. Superb. (Drink between 2025-2043). Antonio Galloni.
JD 98 (1/2021): The 2018 Cariad isn’t far off and has a wealth of blue fruits, musky earth, spice, and floral notes as well as a deep, rich, layered style on the palate. As with all the 2018s here, the tannin quality is incredible, and it has a plush, sexy, already complex style that’s hard to resist. It’s going to evolve for 25+ years. The blend is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2021-2048)
WA 98 (3/2024): One thing the 2018s from Colgin have in common is a sense of greater tautness and freshness than the 2016s. The 2018 Cariad—a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot—adds dried sage and redcurrants to a base of black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is energetic, framed by fine-grained tannins and hints of pencil shavings on the long, elegant finish. |
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|
2021 |
Tychson Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$550 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (3/2024): Supremely rich and concentrated, Colgin's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard nevertheless remains vibrant and energetic. Hints of bay leaf perk up scents of dark chocolate and black cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied, plushly textured palate glides easily into a prolonged finish redolent of loamy earth and red raspberries. Like so many of the world's greatest wines, it's a series of seeming paradoxes—in this case, ripeness and freshness, fruit and earth, density and vibrancy—that complement each other and emerge as an elegant, harmonious whole. |
|
| Diamond Creek |
2013 |
Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$425 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2016): From the biggest of the three vineyards, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill comes from pure volcanic, iron-rich, rocky white tufa of volcanic origin. Marginally speaking, this is bluer and blacker than the Red Rock Terrace or Gravelly Meadow. A tour de force of perfection, this wine offers up crème de cassis, blueberry liqueur, licorice, earth, truffle and graphite. It displays spectacular richness, magnificent balance and texture, and a long, incredibly pure finish of close to a minute. This remarkable, full-bodied elixir should drink beautifully for another 30+ years, if not longer.
VM 97+ (12/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill presents a stunning interplay of ripe, inky fruit and structure. Dazzling from the first impression, the Volcanic Hill exudes richness, with copious amounts of inky blue/purplish fruit, violet, licorice and graphite. This stunning, captivating Cabernet has the potential to offer truly thrilling drinking for a number of decades. The vibrant, salivating finish is a thing of beauty. This south-facing site is the first to be harvested. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (5/2016): Lots of blackberries, plums and cherries on the nose. Full body, ultra-velvety tannins and a long, long finish. A broad and layered red with refined textures. Very long. Juicy. Riper than the Red Rock and Gravelly Meadow. Better in 2019. 608 cases made. |
|
| Dominus |
1991 |
Proprietary Blend ex-Domaine |
$795 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 99 (6/1995): As for the 1991, 6,500 cases were produced of this potentially perfect wine. While this vintage of Dominus contains no Merlot in the blend, every time I taste it I am reminded of a great vintage of Petrus such as 1982, 1989 or 1990. Although different, the 1991 Dominus possesses extraordinary intensity, remarkable opulence, and amazing fruit extraction, all welded to a full-bodied structure. The wine's sensational purity and inner-core of depth must be tasted to be believed. The 1991 will be approachable young because of its sweet tannin, yet it exhibits the potential to last for 25 years. Perhaps 1994 will rival it, but for now, the 1991 is unquestionably the greatest Dominus, as well as a potential legend in the making.
VM 96 (11/2022): This 1991 Dominus was poured blind in Meursault and had me guessing Right Bank, perchance Cheval Blanc! Showing light signs of bricking on the rim, the bouquet unfurls gracefully with melted red fruit, cooked meat, ash and very subtle hints of hung game, all exquisitely defined. Mercurial in the glass, the aromatics seem to broaden out. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a perfect marriage of acidity, fruit concentration and harmony—a wine at that liminal point between primary and secondary phases. Quite savory, I suspected there was more Cabernet Franc in the blend than there actually is (around 10%, to the best of my knowledge). Red fruit, cigar box, touches of rosemary and sage open on long and sensual finish. With one foot in Bordeaux and the other in Napa, the 1991 captures the best of both and is at its absolute peak now. (Drink between 2022-2040). Neal Martin.
Decanter 100 (11/2019): One of the first Napa wines that I fell in love with and still going strong at almost 30 years old, with a good long while ahead of it still. This is delicate yet powerful, a wine that just gets better and better in the glass, showing off the black truffle and undergrowth flavours of a fully mature wine with melted tannins, leather, saffron and rich blackberries. It’s intense and balanced, still opulent and sexy. 40% new oak. Harvest in 1991 was October 6 to 18, but even so they harvested a little earlier in those days than they do today. Dominus is in the Yountville AVA (which was granted in 1999) but in 1991 still Napa Valley AVA. (Drink between 2019-2040) |
|
| Kinsman Eades |
2021 |
Kaannos Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
$475 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2023): Coming from the northern end of Vine Hill Ranch, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaannos is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon raised in 70% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty offers a heavenly perfume of darker, almost blue fruits as well as leafy herbs, flowers, spice cabinet, camphor, and chocolate. I love its complexity on the nose, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a remarkable sense of refinement and elegance, fine yet building tannins, and an incredible finish. This magical, majestic, absolutely jaw-droppingly good Cabernet Sauvignon is a legend in the making. Hide bottles for 5-7 years if you can, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 30-40 years. (Drink between 2028-2063).
VM 99 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kannos Vine Hill Ranch, 100% Clone 4, is rich, expansive and broad. Dark cherry, mocha, spice, leather and tobacco all wrap around the palate in a positively stunning Cabernet. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of earthy, floral and savory notes that add character. This fruit once went to one of the most pedigreed wineries in Napa Valley. This is extremely elegant, and the purity here is just unbelievable. (Drink between 2027-2041). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (7/2024): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Käännös is composed of Clone 4 from Vine Hill Ranch. Notes of ripe cherries and dried herbs dominate the complex, elegant nose, while the full-bodied wine flows easily across the mid-palate in gentle, rich waves of flavor, finishing long, velvety and tannic. |
|
|
2021 |
Kodo Cabernet Sauvignon |
$475 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo emerges from one of the top sites in southern Oakville—a site I consider as elite as it gets, but that can't be named for the time being. A sensational wine, the 2021 saturates the palate with dense dark fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. But, it’s the textural richness, resonance and persistence that impress most. This is a truly unforgettable wine. I would be thrilled to own it. (Drink between 2027-2041). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (7/2024): Sourced from the M-Bar Ranch (western Oakville, across Hopper Creek from Vine Hill Ranch), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kodo offers up dusty earth notes, mixed red and black cherries, some cassis notes and a hint of dried herbs. It's full-bodied, ripe and rich without being heavy, and it's bright on the long, softly tannic finish. Is there just a touch of alcoholic warmth evident? |
|
| Lokoya |
2014 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is beautifully complete, with a layered, multi-dimensional, elegant profile that's more structured than the Diamond Mountain, yet more seamless and approachable than the Howell Mountain. Crème de cassis, Asian spice, smoked earth, incense and sandalwood note all flow to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that has no hard edges, ultra-fine tannin, incredibly purity of fruit and a great finish. As with all these 2014s, it's not about huge richness and opulence and more about purity, nuance and balance. It's a damn near perfect wine that will only get better with 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for three to four decades. Made by winemaker Chris Carpenter and focusing all on Mountain terroirs, I find the wines from Lokoya to be some of the most compelling, singular, and awesome wines made in the Valley. Unfortunately, the prices are ridiculous and beyond the means of most, myself included. (Drink between 2022-2062)
WA 99 (10/2016): Usually my favorite in many vintages, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is the most backward of the 2014s and actually seems to require 4-5 years of bottle age. The wine has the telltale signs of Mt. Veeder – blackberry and blueberry fruit infused with considerable floral nuances. This wine has all that, then hits the palate with a cascade of glycerin, fruit extraction, and layers of blackberry and blueberry fruit. It is full-bodied and opulent, but finishes with some structure and ripe tannin. This is a magnificent wine – full-throttle, extremely pure, and incredibly well-balanced. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the following three decades.
VM 93 (12/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a dense, tightly wound wine. Bright red cherry, iron, pomegranate, chalk, mint and white pepper abound. Deep and layered, in the medium-bodied style of the year, the 2014 exudes Veeder personality and tension. The mid-palate needs time to develop, but this is another highly expressive wine from Lokoya. There is plenty of punch and mountain intensity here. Veeder Peak is the fruit source. (Drink between 2019-2034). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| MacDonald |
2016 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$916.66 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is largely cut from the same cloth yet has just a touch more purity and elegance without sacrificing depth or richness. Just a magical wine any way you look at it, this deep purple-colored beauty reveals a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, camphor, purple iris, and violets. It’s full-bodied and massive, yet still just dances across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. While it’s already hard to resist today (and don’t feel bad for drinking a bottle), it has the purity, balance, and structure to keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to the brothers Alex and Graeme MacDonald for this legendary wine.
VM 97+ (12/2018): I am every bit as enthusiastic about MacDonald's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon today as I was last year, when I tasted it from barrel. So many 2016s are silky and open-knit, but the 2016 here is unusually tightly wound and reticent. Gravel, crème de cassis, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol develop in the glass over time. The 2016 does not have a lot of the charm of so many wines, but that is probably a good thing for its long-term prospects. Today, the 2016 reminds me most of the 2014 because of its mid-weight structure and sinewy tannins. Time in the glass brings out a more red-toned and floral profile, but the 2016 is not going to be anywhere ready to drink for a number of years. The only question is how many. Readers who can find the 2016 should not hesitate, as it is superb. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Maybach |
2019 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$319 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (12/2021): If you can believe it, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium might be even better, and this beauty tops out my scale. An incredible array of red, blue, and black fruits as well as unsmoked tobacco, iron, hazelnut, and toasty oak all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, ultra-fine, building texture, perfect tannins, and a huge finish. This pure Napa Valley magic is going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and drink brilliantly for another 20-30 years. If this doesn't do it for you, I'd avoid Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon! |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$585 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (8/2021): As with the 2017, the 2018 No 12 Cumulus Vineyard is as good as wine gets. Based on 47.7% Syrah, 23.4% Grenache, 21.3% Petite Sirah, 5.6% Mourvèdre, and the remaining 2% a mix of white varieties, aged 32 months in 34% new barrels, its vivid purple hue gives way to a full-bodied blockbuster of a wine that’s loaded with cassis and blue fruits as well as notes of gravelly earth, graphite, ground pepper, and spring flowers. Flawlessly balanced, deep, super-rich, and unctuous, yet with incredible purity, give bottles a year of two and enjoy over the following 15 years or more.
WA 99 (8/2021): This cuvee comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard in Oak View, just south and inland from Santa Barbara, on the road to Ojai. There are now just over 12.5 acres planted at Cumulus. The first plantings of Syrah, Grenache and Roussanne took place in 2004. A little more Grenache was planted in 2005. Then in 2008, small blocks of Petite Manseng, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Mourvedre and Petite Sirah were added, including 3.5 acres on its own roots.
VM 95 (10/2021): The 2018 No. 12 Cumulus Vineyard is a big wine. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. The tannins remain a bit coarse, which makes the wine feel not totally put together. Perhaps the brutal heat spikes in July caused a slight stoppage in ripening, or it could be the stems aren't totally integrated just yet. To be sure, the 2018 doesn't quite have the same textural lushness of most vintages. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the coming years. The 2018 was done with 41% whole clusters and spent 32 months in French oak, 34% new. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pax |
2016 |
Sonoma Hillsides Russian River Valley Syrah |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 100 (4/2018): The 2016 Syrah Sonoma-Hillsides has been nothing less than stunning on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. A wine of extraordinary purity and depth, the 2016 dazzles from the very first taste. The richness and power are simply breathtaking. Bacon fat, smoke, grilled herb and lavender are woven into a graceful, seamless core of inky blue/purplish fruit. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 remains remarkably light on its feet. The Sonoma-Hillsides is a blend of fruit from Castelli-Knight Ranch, Griffin's Lair and Walker Vine Hill, done with 100% whole clusters and aged in a combination of concrete and neutral oak, with no SO2. I am not sure how the 2016 will age, but I am also not sure it will matter, as most bottles will be long gone before that is an issue. Quite simply, the Sonoma-Hillsides is a total pleasure bomb and a modern-day benchmark for Syrah in California. Don't miss it! (Drink between 2018-2026). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Quilceda Creek |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (6/2013): From a hot vintage and incredible any way you look at it, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon has that laser-like focus of a cooler year, yet the voluptuousness and richness of a warmer year. Smoked black fruits, coffee, truffle and pen ink-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this massive, incredibly full-bodied effort and on the palate, it carries itself perfectly with a weightless, yet decadent texture, masses of polished tannin and blockbuster length. More classic and textbook than the 2007, it is every bit as good. Enjoy it over the coming two decades or more. Drink now-2033.
VM 94+ (11/2008): (includes 3% merlot) Bright, saturated medium ruby. Sexy aromas of cassis, black raspberry, minerals, mocha and smoky oak. Juicy, layered and intense, with superb depth of fruit and an impression of breadth rare for Washington cabernet. This superripe wine shows considerably more finesse of tannins than the estate's red blend. This began with a slightly roasted quality but with time in the recorked bottle it appeared to gain in energy and sheer density. This was a vintage that yielded very small berries, noted Alex Golitzin. |
|
| Realm |
2015 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2017): One of the most profound young wines I’ve ever tasted is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane. Of all the high scoring wines in this report, if I had to pick one to put at the top of the heap, this would be it. My notes are filled with expletives, but this majestic, opulent, heavenly red boasts a deep purple color and La Mission Haut Brion-like notes of tobacco leaf, blackcurrants, earthy/rocky minerality, cigar box, blueberries, and Asian spices. Huge, opulent, and voluptuous, with a mid-palate that needs to be tasted to be believed, it has no hard edges, incredible density, ripe tannin, and a great, great finish. Don’t miss it and hats off to winemaker Benoit Touquette.
WA 100 (10/2017): Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard is an absolute stunner, sporting an inky purple-black color and show-stopping nose of crème de cassis and blackberry pie laced with cumin seed, fenugreek, black pepper and cardamom, plus a transporting earthy undercurrent of black loam, moss-covered tree bark and forest floor. The palate delivers a wall of muscular black fruit accented by exotic spices and decadent floral notions, framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epic length and many, many layers. Amazing. Just 325 cases were made.
JS 96 (5/2018): Powerful aromas of dark fruit with rust and crushed stones. Oyster shell, too. Very aromatic. Full-bodied, layered and powerful. Lots of toasted oak, but tight and focused. Needs time to come together. Try in 2022. |
|
|
2013 |
The Absurd Proprietary Blend |
$950 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2015): Another perfect wine (but very limited in production at 200 cases) is the 2013 The Absurd, a blend of 17 components dominated by 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Benoit Touquette told me that this wine is produced with no rules and no restrictions, and is considered their super-blend of the best they have in any given vintage. (I guess I would look stupid if I didn't give it 100 points, given the fact that two other Realm wines already hit that maximum score.) There is something different in this wine, with an opaque purple color for sure, but then there's the cassis, the blackberries, the roasted meats, some spicy pepper, and then an extravagantly rich, cascading palate that seems to be built like a skyscraper, but without one hard edge. This is a seriously endowed, super-rich, incredibly well-balanced wine that should drink well for 25 or more years.
VM 95 (10/2015): A dark, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Absurd is a terrific example of the Realm style at its best. Surprisingly open for such a young wine, the 2013 offers gorgeous textural richness and voluptuousness. Sweet dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, spices and crushed rocks are laced into the powerful yet seamless finish. The Absurd is remarkably nuanced for a wine with this much intensity. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2015 |
Monte Bello |
$235 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 100 (10/2018): Stunning depth, power, purity and elegance. The blackcurrants and plums are fresh and intense on the nose with blueberries and gently herbal notes, too. The palate has a keenly articulated array of vibrant tannins that hold long, fresh and pure. It invokes a sense of wonderment at the finish. So long and so pure. This blend of 77 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 11 per cent merlot, seven per cent petit verdot and five percent cabernet franc, is just at the start of a wonderful journey. Try from 2021.
JD 98+ (2/2019): A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is unquestionably going to be one of monumental vintages of this wine. Deep, incredibly concentrated, and powerful, yet also textured and perfectly balanced, this beauty gives up a huge nose of cassis, plums, spice box, graphite, and vanilla bean. With full-bodied richness on the palate, it starts out tight and firm yet blossoms with time in the glass (I followed this bottle for multiple days) and has an awesome mid-palate, building yet perfectly ripe tannins, and a rock star finish. It's about as classic a Monte Bello as they come and will require 4-6 years of bottle age (or more) and shine for three decades or more.
VM 98+ (8/2017): One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2015 Monte Bello will soon take its place among the greatest Monte Bellos ever made. Powerful, deep and explosive, the 2015 possesses magnificent concentration and richness in every dimension. Even with all of its raciness, the 2015 has terrific aromatic presence and regal tannins. The 2015 is a bit less showy than it has been in the past, but it was also just bottled two weeks before this tasting. Readers who own it will be absolutely thrilled. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (7/2018): At this early stage, the 2015 Monte Bello is all about potential. I followed a bottle over several days and only witnessed improvement. The wine unfurls in the glass with a rich bouquet of cassis, ripe plums, espresso roast, black tea and baking chocolate, lavishly framed by minty, spicy new oak—which is often at its most prominent at exactly this stage, when the wine is shutting down after bottling. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with rich, velvety tannins and beautifully succulent, even tangy acidity that lends amazing lift on the finish. The most obvious analogy is the 2005 vintage, though it also evokes a more elegant version of the 1995 Monte Bello. It's a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that attained 13.5% natural alcohol. Since the wine appears to be shutting down, I'd recommend forgetting it until its tenth birthday. Given its structure and balance, it should enjoy remarkable longevity. |
|
| Schrader |
2013 |
MMXIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, which is essentially made from clone 4 from two separate blocks, clone 6 and clone 337, is another perfect wine from the Schraders. I suppose it’s a little boring to say, and perhaps I can be accused of creating unrealistic expectations on the part of readers, but this is as great as Cabernet can be. Tasting like a first-growth Pauillac, the wine is opaque purple and has a fabulous nose of lead pencil, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry and the telltale cassis. There is also some licorice and sweet oak, the tannins are ripe, and the wine full-bodied. Built like a skyscraper, with an incredible finish (like most of these wines) going on for 50 seconds to a minute, this amazing wine should still be drinking splendidly well at age 25 or 30. |
|
|
2018 |
MMXVIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,595 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (1/2021): There are few vintages of Old Sparky that don't merit a perfect rating, and the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky isn't one of them. This flawless wine offers up a wild smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, with loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, lead pencil, violets, blood orange, tobacco, and flowery incense all developing with time in the glass. Deep purple-hued and incredibly full-bodied, it has ripe, silky tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. This magical wine stays weightless and elegant on the palate, never seeming heavy, cumbersome, or over the top, and it's a wine that just begs to be drunk yet will evolve for decades. Hats off to winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for yet another heavenly Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that could come from nowhere else in the world. Life is too short not to have experienced this cuvée! (Drink between 2021-2041) |
|
| Screaming Eagle |
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$6,399 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (1/2000): It doesn't get any better than 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect wine. Representing the essence of cassis liqueur intermixed with blackberries, minerals, licorice, and toast, this full-bodied, multi-dimensional classic is fabulous, with extraordinary purity, symmetry, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. It has the overall equilibrium to evolve for nearly two decades, but it will be hard to resist upon release. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. |
|
|
2023 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,300 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (12/2025): The epitome of class and elegance, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon offers pure crème de cassis, liquid violets, crushed stone, graphite, and cedar notes on the nose. It's full-bodied on the palate, with remarkably polished tannins, flawless overall balance, and incredible length. This is never the biggest or richest wine in the vintage, yet the sheer level of purity, structure, and depth is absolutely incredible. Compared to the 2021, this is less powerful and made in a more elegant style, yet it's every bit as profound and compelling. It builds beautifully with time in the glass and already offers pleasure yet won't hit prime time for a decade and will cruise for 50+ years. Drink 2035-2075. (Drink between 2035-2075).
VM 98+ (11/2025): The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a huge bouquet that is immediately captivating. Dark fruit, menthol, licorice, cloves, graphite and dried herbs lend considerable aromatic intensity to play off the wine's deeply layered structure. I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Screaming Eagle is the Lafite of Napa Valley. (Drink between 2033-2053). Antonio Galloni.
WA 98 (5/2026): The 2023 Screaming Eagle is approximately 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. At this young age, the various components haven't yet quite harmonized, such that it's possible to pick out black cherries, graham crackers, redcurrants and faintly herbal notes on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is framed by softly dusty tannins yet shows tremendous focus, energy and length on the finish. Impressive. |
|
| Sine Qua Non |
2015 |
"E" Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$450 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 100 (9/2019): The 2015 Grenache E, from Elaine and Manfred Krankl’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard, is stunningly beautiful. Remarkably light on its feet for such a sumptuous wine, the 2015 has so much to offer. Beautifully expressive aromatics make a strong opening impression. Dark red and purplish berry fruit, mint, sweet spice and licorice develop with air, but it is the wine’s overall feel that stands out most. At times, the E is quite powerful, while in other moments it is much more delicate. That contrast makes for an utterly captivating wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (6/2019): This is a single-vineyard Grenache-dominated, barrel-selection blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Elaine Krankl’s initial and a portrait Manfred made of Elaine on the label. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah and 1% Viognier, and 56% was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 28% new.
JD 98+ (10/2019): The 2015 Grenache E comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard and spent a whopping 38 months in 28% new French oak, with the balance in used barrels of varying sizes. An incredible effort that offers complex notes of cured meats, graphite, ground white and black pepper, flowers, and cassis, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a purity level that’s just about off the charts. Showing the concentrated, powerful, structured style of the vintage, give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade or more. |
|
|
2015 |
"E" Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache (1.5 L) |
$800 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (9/2019): The 2015 Grenache E, from Elaine and Manfred Krankl’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard, is stunningly beautiful. Remarkably light on its feet for such a sumptuous wine, the 2015 has so much to offer. Beautifully expressive aromatics make a strong opening impression. Dark red and purplish berry fruit, mint, sweet spice and licorice develop with air, but it is the wine’s overall feel that stands out most. At times, the E is quite powerful, while in other moments it is much more delicate. That contrast makes for an utterly captivating wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (6/2019): This is a single-vineyard Grenache-dominated, barrel-selection blend coming from the Eleven Confessions Estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It bears Elaine Krankl’s initial and a portrait Manfred made of Elaine on the label. The blend is 82% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah and 1% Viognier, and 56% was fermented using whole clusters. It was aged for around 38 months in French oak, 28% new.
JD 98+ (10/2019): The 2015 Grenache E comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard and spent a whopping 38 months in 28% new French oak, with the balance in used barrels of varying sizes. An incredible effort that offers complex notes of cured meats, graphite, ground white and black pepper, flowers, and cassis, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a purity level that’s just about off the charts. Showing the concentrated, powerful, structured style of the vintage, give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade or more. |
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2004 |
Ode to E Grenache (1.5 L) |
$1,399 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2014): Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.
VM 97 (8/2015): The 2004 Grenache Ode to E is absolutely stellar. There's not too much more to say. Still young, fresh and vibrant, the 2004 is incredibly impressive. Exotic spice, rose petals, raspberry jam all open up in an effortless, nuanced wine bursting at the seams with personality. Exquisitely nuanced and balanced, the 2004 is a gem. Readers who own the 2004 should be thrilled; as it is a magnificent wine by any measure. My favorite age to drink Sine Qua Non wines is around ten years. The Ode to E Grenache delivers the goods, and then some. The blend is 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, all from Eleven Confessions. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Verite |
2014 |
La Muse (1.5 L) |
$632.45 |
2 |
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WA 100 (8/2016): The 2014 La Muse (2,800 cases ) is a legendary effort. The wine offers an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, incense, Asian spice, cocoa, plum, and a touch of chocolate and barrique. On the palate, more cassis and blackberry come to the forefront. The wine is unctuous, with adequate acidity and a stunning energy underneath the massive fruit and body. This is a spectacularly fragrant and, at the same time, dense wine, with enough structure (somewhat surprising in this vintage) to last 35-45+ years. The final blend was 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.
JD 97+ (12/2017): A gorgeous effort as well, the 2014 La Muse is a Merlot-dominated cuvee blended with 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. This deep ruby/purple-colored beauty boasts a terrific perfume of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, chocolate, and a beautiful earthy minerality. This isn’t your over the top, opulent Merlot and shows incredible class and purity, as well as full-bodied richness, high, yet integrated tannin, impeccable balance and a great finish. It’s not anywhere close to primetime (which is rare for a 2014) and needs 4-5 years at a minimum. It’s going to be incredibly long-lived.
VM 96 (3/2017): A huge, opulent wine, the 2014 La Muse wraps around the palate with tons of super-ripe dark red fruit, chocolate, spice and menthol. La Muse often shuts down after bottling, but the 2014 is still remarkably intense and voluptuous, with soft contours, silky tannins and exceptional balance. The purity of the flavors here is remarkable. Antonio Galloni. |
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| | Australia |
| Torbreck |
2005 |
The Laird Shiraz (1.5 L) Lightly Scuffed Label |
$1,800 |
1 |
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| WA 100 (12/2010): The Laird is Powell’s new baby, coming from a single 5 acre / 2 hectare vineyard of Shiraz in the Marananga sub-region planted in the 1960s that recently became available for contracting. This is a very different wine from Run Rig. What is most striking about it is the combination of power and elegance in this first vintage, coming from a very good year in the Barossa. Matured for 3 years in new Dominique Laurent “Magic Casks” (Troncais French oak barriques with thicker staves designed for the long aging of Shiraz), 2005 The Laird gives a deep garnet color and pronounced nose that shows savory and spice notes over the fruit, with aromas of hung meat, Peking duck, fertile loam, underbrush, tree bark, anise, cumin seed, menthol, dried roses and lavender over warm black cherries, crush blackberries and fruit cake. The tight-knit, full-bodied palate is very fine with a high level of silt-like tannins and crisp acid running through the concentrated fruit and savory flavors, finishing very long with lingering earth and spice notes. At 14.8% declared alcohol, this is by no means one of the biggest wines in the Barossa, but it is most certainly one of the best. It’s an absolute joy to drink now but it is recommended readers give it 4-5 years more in bottle to soften and marry and enjoy it to 2030+. |
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