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Inventory updated: Fri, Jan 17, 2025 04:02 PM cst
100pt Perfection
Flickinger Wines has a fantastic selection of 100-point wines from prominent producers from across the globe all available in-stock or arriving shortly. This list is dominated by a who's who of California and Bordeaux’s greatest wines from Petrus to Promontory, Maybach to Margaux and many more. Every wine here is a highlight, so take the time to browse this incredible list and add some of these perfect wines to your collection today - happy hunting!
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Monday, November 18, 2024. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Ausone |
2021 |
St. Emilion  2021 en Primeur Release |
$645 |
1 |
|
| |
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!
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. |
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|
2021 |
St. Emilion (1.5 L) 2021 en Primeur Release |
$1,385 |
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!
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. La Fleur Petrus |
2020 |
Pomerol |
$219 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2023): The finest vintage from this address I've ever tasted, as well as a perfect wine, the 2020 Château La Fleur-Petrus reveals a dense purple hue to go with a deep, layered, full-bodied, yet flawlessly balanced style carrying a smorgasbord-like array of red and black fruits, chocolate, dried flowers, spicy oak, and damp earth. It's not a powerhouse in the style of Trotanoy, Vieux Château Certain, or say, Clinet, but is all about finesse, elegance, and complexity. This magical Pomerol will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-30 years in cold cellars. (Drink between 2027-2057)
WA 96 (4/2023): Unwinding in the glass with aromas of minty blackberries, loamy soil, black truffles and petroleum jelly, the 2020 La Fleur-Pétrus is full-bodied, ample and enveloping, with a rich, layered core of fruit framed by supple, polished tannins, concluding with a broad, licorice-inflected finish. As in 2019, it outshines Trotanoy as the star of the Mouiex Pomerol portfolio.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 La Fleur-Pétrus is a gorgeous, polished wine. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate lend tons of immediacy and primary fruit character. Suave on the palate, with exquisite length, La Fleur-Pétrus is a wine of total sensuality. In 2020, ripeness is pushed to the edge, while the new oak is a bit present. Bright acids and sweet floral notes linger on the long, beautifully delineated finish. This is a bit more extroverted than I remember en primeur, but superb just the same. (Drink between 2030-2060) |
|
| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2009 |
Pessac Leognan |
$619 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2012): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2009 La Mission-Haut-Brion stood out as one of the most exceptional young wines I had ever tasted from barrel, and its greatness has been confirmed in the bottle. A remarkable effort from the Dillon family, this is another large-scaled La Mission that tips the scales at 15% alcohol. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (47% of each) and the rest Cabernet Franc, it exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a magnificent bouquet of truffles, scorched earth, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, subtle smoke and spring flowers. The wine’s remarkable concentration offers up an unctuous/viscous texture, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, sweet, sumptuous, nearly over-the-top flavors and massive density. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime La Mission-Haut-Brion, the 2009 will take its place alongside the many great wines made here since the early 1920s. The good news is that there are nearly 6,000 cases of the 2009. It should last for 50-75+ years. Given the wine’s unctuosity and sweetness of the tannin, I would have no problem drinking it in about 5-6 years. The final blend was 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc.
JS 98 (2/2012): What a gorgeous nose of ripe dark fruits such as bramble berries, blueberries and currants, with hints of orange flowers. This is so tight and focused, with laser-guided tannins. It starts very slowly and then builds and builds and builds on the palate. Currants and blackberries galore, yet a tangy, firm and creamy textured tannin structure. Racy, muscular structure. Try in 2021.
VM 97+ (7/2012): Bright, deep ruby. Brooding, complex cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose of uncommon depth, offering notes of cassis, cigar box, minerals, cedar and dry herbs. Extremely pure and fresh, with massive but still totally unevolved flavors of blackcurrant, dark plum and minerals. I love this wine's impeccable balance and smooth, tactile finish. A monumental La Mission with Outstanding persistence.
NM 96 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The La Mission Haut-Brion ‘09 has an opulent bouquet, a lot of glycerine - opulent and sensual. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins. Good concentration here with fine depth, a lot of sweet black spicy fruit with a tingling, umami like pepperiness towards the rounded, generous finish. This is voluptuous and irresistible. Tasted January 2013.
WS 96 (3/2012): This is forcefully rendered, with dark tar, espresso and chocolate up front, backed by dense layers of fig sauce, currant reduction and smoldering black tea leaves. There's dense flesh and great drive on the finish, which has serious grip. Best from 2016 through 2035. 6,000 cases made. |
|
|
2009 |
Pessac Leognan |
$625 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2012): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2009 La Mission-Haut-Brion stood out as one of the most exceptional young wines I had ever tasted from barrel, and its greatness has been confirmed in the bottle. A remarkable effort from the Dillon family, this is another large-scaled La Mission that tips the scales at 15% alcohol. A blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (47% of each) and the rest Cabernet Franc, it exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a magnificent bouquet of truffles, scorched earth, blackberry and blueberry liqueur, subtle smoke and spring flowers. The wine’s remarkable concentration offers up an unctuous/viscous texture, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, sweet, sumptuous, nearly over-the-top flavors and massive density. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime La Mission-Haut-Brion, the 2009 will take its place alongside the many great wines made here since the early 1920s. The good news is that there are nearly 6,000 cases of the 2009. It should last for 50-75+ years. Given the wine’s unctuosity and sweetness of the tannin, I would have no problem drinking it in about 5-6 years. The final blend was 47% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc.
JS 98 (2/2012): What a gorgeous nose of ripe dark fruits such as bramble berries, blueberries and currants, with hints of orange flowers. This is so tight and focused, with laser-guided tannins. It starts very slowly and then builds and builds and builds on the palate. Currants and blackberries galore, yet a tangy, firm and creamy textured tannin structure. Racy, muscular structure. Try in 2021.
VM 97+ (7/2012): Bright, deep ruby. Brooding, complex cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose of uncommon depth, offering notes of cassis, cigar box, minerals, cedar and dry herbs. Extremely pure and fresh, with massive but still totally unevolved flavors of blackcurrant, dark plum and minerals. I love this wine's impeccable balance and smooth, tactile finish. A monumental La Mission with Outstanding persistence.
NM 96 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The La Mission Haut-Brion ‘09 has an opulent bouquet, a lot of glycerine - opulent and sensual. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins. Good concentration here with fine depth, a lot of sweet black spicy fruit with a tingling, umami like pepperiness towards the rounded, generous finish. This is voluptuous and irresistible. Tasted January 2013.
WS 96 (3/2012): This is forcefully rendered, with dark tar, espresso and chocolate up front, backed by dense layers of fig sauce, currant reduction and smoldering black tea leaves. There's dense flesh and great drive on the finish, which has serious grip. Best from 2016 through 2035. 6,000 cases made. |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
2009 |
Pauillac
ETA Q1 2025 Ex-Chateau |
$950 |
4 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2012): The second you put your nose in the glass, you know that it is 100 points. The combination of sweet tobacco, fresh flowers, currants and sultanas on the nose leaves me breathless. Turns to cocoa powder and freshness. The palate re-enforces the show, with phenomenally polished tannins. Fabulous class. Could be a remake of the phenomenal 1959. Try in 2022.
WA 99+ (3/2012): The main reason the 2009 Lafite Rothschild did not receive a perfect score is because the wine has closed down slightly, but it is unquestionably another profound Lafite, their greatest wine since the amazing 2003. Among the most powerful Lafites ever made (it came in at 13.59% alcohol), the final blend was 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. The selection was incredibly severe with only 45% of the crop being utilized. A tight, but potentially gorgeous nose of graphite, black currants, licorice and camphor is followed by a full-bodied wine revealing the classic elegance, purity and delineated style of Lafite. It is phenomenally concentrated with softer tannins than the 2005, the 2003's voluptuous, broad, juicy personality, and low acidity. There are several vintages that I thought were a replay of their colossal 1959, most notably 1982 and 2003, but 2009 is also one to keep an eye on. It is still extremely youthful and seems slightly more backward than I would have guessed based on the barrel tastings, but it needs 10-15 years of bottle age, and should last for 50+.
WS 98 (3/2012): This is stunning for its ability to take massively endowed fig, currant paste and crushed plum fruit flavors and harness them with ultrasuave freshly roasted espresso, black tea and ganache notes. A seductive style, long and velvety, with the dense core of black fruit and smoldering iron just waiting and waiting. Best from 2020 through 2040.
VM 96+ (7/2012): (a blend of 82.5% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot, and 0.5% petit verdot; 13.8% alcohol; 75 IPT; a 43% selection of the total crop). Deep ruby-red. Classic Lafite aromas of cassis, cedar and graphite are lifted by a fragrant violet note. Then pure and vibrant on the palate, with seamless flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, iron and flint. The very smooth tannins provide plenty of support to the fruit flavors, while the wine's harmonious acidity really draws out the finish. This Outstanding Lafite is all about grace--in contrast to Latour's power. |
|
|
2020 |
Pauillac (1.5 L) Ex-Negociant |
$1,550 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2023): Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2020 Château Lafite-Rothschild is a sensational effort checking in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that hit 12.8% natural alcohol and a pH of 3.94. As Lafite as Lafite gets, this ultra-classic reveals a dense ruby/plum hue as well as a tight, yet layered bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and subtle spice. Flawlessly balanced, deep, concentrated, and layered, it has an incredible mid-palate, building, perfect tannins, and a finish that leaves you salivating. Refined, elegant, and perfection are the buzz words here. Unfortunately, it's not for the instant gratification crowd, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this require 15 years to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window. It will probably hit its 100th birthday in fine form.
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2020 Lafite-Rothschild, which contains the highest proportion of Merlot since the 2016, hit the bull's eye from barrel. Revisiting the wine in the bottle since July, it still bursts from the glass with copious blackberries, touches of blueberry and juniper, pencil lead and a hint of crushed stone. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, quite linear and "correct" - a quintessential Lafite-Rothschild in many ways. It gently builds in the mouth while keeping a restraint on things, finishing with fine sapidity yet a little more juiciness than you would have found a decade or two earlier. This has the potential to evolve beautifully over several decades. Neal Martin.
JS 99-100 (4/2021): Rather ethereal and so refined with finesse, focus and brightness that provides incredible energy and pedigree. It’s full-bodied with ultra fine tannins that go on and on. Superb presence with tannins that melt into the wine. This is 12.8%. I love the wine. Lots of dark fruit and fresh tobacco. Lead pencil, too. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 1% petit verdot.
WA 96-98 (5/2021): Displaying a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Lafite Rothschild takes a little swirling and coaxing to unlock scents of freshly crushed blackcurrants, boysenberries and spiced plums, followed by emerging nuances of red roses, raspberry preserves, underbrush and unsmoked cigars, with a waft of cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate is an exercise in elegance and finesse, featuring tightly wound layers of red and black berries and loads of mineral sparks, framed by finely grained tannins and well-poised tension, finishing with fantastic length and the most stunning perfume. Magnificent achievement. This 2020 is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, coming in at 12.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.9. |
|
| Ch. Latour |
2009 |
Pauillac 2024 Ex-Chateau Release; 1-Bottle OWC |
$1,250 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 100 (2/2012): A breathtaking combination of dried flowers and minerals, with dark fruits such as currants and blackberries. Full-bodied, with fabulous fruit concentration, yet its compacted. Velvety tannins. So much fruit and beauty. It's the quality of the tannins that are magic. It is the famous 1959 all over again. Amazing. Try in 2022.
WA 100 (2/2012): A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot with just under 14% natural alcohol, the 2009 Latour is basically a clone of the super 2003, only more structured and potentially more massive and long lived. An elixir of momentous proportions, it boasts a dense purple color as well as an extraordinarily flamboyant bouquet of black fruits, graphite, crushed rocks, subtle oak and a notion of wet steel. It hits the palate with a thundering concoction of thick, juicy blue and black fruits, lead pencil shavings and a chalky minerality. Full-bodied, but very fresh with a finish that lasts over a minute, this is one of the most remarkable young wines I have ever tasted. Will it last one-hundred years? No doubt about it. Can it be drunk in a decade? For sure.
WS 99 (3/2012): This seems to come full circle, with a blazing iron note and mouthwatering acidity up front leading to intense, vibrant cassis, blackberry and cherry skin flavors that course along, followed by the same vivacious minerality that started things off. The tobacco, ganache and espresso notes seem almost superfluous right now, but they'll join the fray in due time. The question is, can you wait long enough? Best from 2020 through 2040. 9,580 cases made.
NM 97 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Latour '09 has a comparatively exotic bouquet with macerated small dark cherries, mango sorbet, and blackcurrant and vanilla pod. There is a floral component that lends it a Margaux like veneer. The palate is medium-bodied with firm grip on the entry. There is a pleasing saline edge, firm grip with a pleasing crescendo towards the opulent but controlled, delineated finish. Perhaps it is showier than its peers, but why not? And there is enormous grip and weight on the finish, making this an impressive Latour for long-term ageing.
VM 96+ (8/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Latour '09 has a comparatively exotic bouquet with macerated small dark cherries, mango sorbet, and blackcurrant and vanilla pod. There is a floral component that lends it a Margaux like veneer. The palate is medium-bodied with firm grip on the entry. There is a pleasing saline edge, firm grip with a pleasing crescendo towards the opulent but controlled, delineated finish. Perhaps it is showier than its peers, but why not? And there is enormous grip and weight on the finish, making this an impressive Latour for long-term ageing. |
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| Ch. Margaux |
2015 |
Margaux |
$1,275 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (11/2017): The grand vin is the 2015 Château Margaux and it’s as good a wine as I’ve ever tasted. Coming from just over one-third of the total production and a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, brought up in 100% new French oak, its deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, hints of toasty oak, and cedar wood. Incredibly elegant and finesse-driven, yet packed with fruit, depth, richness, and structure, it has as much class as you can fit inside a glass. While the vintage provides plenty of upfront charm, this is a wine to cellar for at least a decade, and enjoy over the following 40+ years.
JS 100-100 (4/2016): The greatest Margaux ever made. More than perfection. Full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins. Black currant, mineral and floral character. It starts slowly and seems almost endless on the palate. Seamless. I want to sing! This is the wine that Margaux never made in some of the classic vintages like 1961, 1959 and 1945. Maybe it's the 1900 all over again? Breathtaking.
WA 98-100 (4/2016): The 2015 Château Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all together representing 35% of the total production at the estate. Raised entirely in new oak, it has a lucid garnet color. The bouquet is aimed directly at the senses - there is no dilly-dallying about, as it almost knocks you off your stool with its intense mineralite embroidered into this iridescent, graphite-tinged nose. The focus and penetration here ranks among the finest that I have tasted at this estate since first coming here in 1997. The palate is astonishingly well balanced, perfectly poised with super-fine tannins wrapped around pure blackberry, bilberry, graphite and cedar fruit. Like the Pavillon Rouge this year, there is a Pauillac-like sense of authority and aristocracy, leavened by Margaux-inspired femininity that completes that standout 2015 on the Left Bank. Beg for a bottle and worry about the cost later. Post script: I composed this tasting note five days before the passing of Paul Pontallier. It is a final gift from a gifted winemaker.
VM 95-98 (4/2016): The 2015 Margaux is a super-classic wine. In 2015, most Margauxs are notably intense, but Château Margaux expresses the richness of the year in its surprising tannic backbone and overall structure. Far from an up-front or sensual wine, the 2015 Margaux is likely to require considerable cellaring. It is a tightly-wound wine that manages to be both powerful and crystalline in its translucent purity. The 2015 is a wine of real density and yet so very much Margaux. About 35% of the crop went into the Grand Vin. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Margaux |
$1,499 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (11/2017): The grand vin is the 2015 Château Margaux and it’s as good a wine as I’ve ever tasted. Coming from just over one-third of the total production and a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, brought up in 100% new French oak, its deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, hints of toasty oak, and cedar wood. Incredibly elegant and finesse-driven, yet packed with fruit, depth, richness, and structure, it has as much class as you can fit inside a glass. While the vintage provides plenty of upfront charm, this is a wine to cellar for at least a decade, and enjoy over the following 40+ years.
JS 100-100 (4/2016): The greatest Margaux ever made. More than perfection. Full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins. Black currant, mineral and floral character. It starts slowly and seems almost endless on the palate. Seamless. I want to sing! This is the wine that Margaux never made in some of the classic vintages like 1961, 1959 and 1945. Maybe it's the 1900 all over again? Breathtaking.
WA 98-100 (4/2016): The 2015 Château Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all together representing 35% of the total production at the estate. Raised entirely in new oak, it has a lucid garnet color. The bouquet is aimed directly at the senses - there is no dilly-dallying about, as it almost knocks you off your stool with its intense mineralite embroidered into this iridescent, graphite-tinged nose. The focus and penetration here ranks among the finest that I have tasted at this estate since first coming here in 1997. The palate is astonishingly well balanced, perfectly poised with super-fine tannins wrapped around pure blackberry, bilberry, graphite and cedar fruit. Like the Pavillon Rouge this year, there is a Pauillac-like sense of authority and aristocracy, leavened by Margaux-inspired femininity that completes that standout 2015 on the Left Bank. Beg for a bottle and worry about the cost later. Post script: I composed this tasting note five days before the passing of Paul Pontallier. It is a final gift from a gifted winemaker.
VM 95-98 (4/2016): The 2015 Margaux is a super-classic wine. In 2015, most Margauxs are notably intense, but Château Margaux expresses the richness of the year in its surprising tannic backbone and overall structure. Far from an up-front or sensual wine, the 2015 Margaux is likely to require considerable cellaring. It is a tightly-wound wine that manages to be both powerful and crystalline in its translucent purity. The 2015 is a wine of real density and yet so very much Margaux. About 35% of the crop went into the Grand Vin. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Petrus |
1990 |
Pomerol Base Neck Fill; Slightly Raised Cork |
$4,300 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (6/2009): The 1990 Petrus remains incredibly young, one of the least evolved wines of the vintage (along with Montrose and Beausejour-Duffau). This dense ruby/purple-colored effort is beginning to hint at the massive richness and full-bodied intensity lurking beneath its wall of tannin. The vintage’s sweetness, low acidity, and velvety tannins are present in abundance, and the wine is massive in the mouth as well as incredibly pure and well-delineated. I thought it would be drinkable by now, but it appears another 5-10 years will pass before it begins to reach its plateau of maturity. This wine is capable of lasting at least four more decades. An incredible achievement!
JS 100 (6/2016): This is a legend and lives up to it. Dense and opulent with layers of ripe, powerful, pure and rich fruit across the board. I have been lucky enough to drink this a number of times and it doesn't change.
NM 98 (10/2011): Tasted at Hof van Cleve in Belgium. The 1990 has one of those bouquets where a choir of angels seem to sing from heaven when you take you first sniff. It is utterly compelling, with crystalline dark fruits, truffle and even an outrageous hint of melted marshmallows. The palate possesses brilliant tension, quite edgy for a 1990 with ebullient dark fruits, Vervain tea, a touch of dark plum and something sweet like fresh fig. There is an effortless quality to the 1990 that is completely entrancing, and of course, a length that is longer than Southend Pier (the longest in the world.) Brilliant.
WS 98 (10/2004): That hasn't changed. A classy wine that's almost as great as the awesome '89. Expressive and sophisticated, with wonderful ripe fruit and vanilla aromas. The palate is extremely silky with superb flavor concentration. It's very muscular but refined and toned. Still too young to open.--Petrus non-blind vertical. Best after 2007. 3,700 cases made.
VM 97 (11/1993): Black-ruby to the rim. Remarkably vibrant red and black fruit, mineral, and licorice nose has an almost Chambolle-like framboise tang to it. Massive on the palate; tremendous extract. As dense as this is now, it already shows remarkable clarity and depth of flavor. Powerful structure and length, with extraordinary subtlety of flavor. Based on the bottle sampled, this is an early candidate for wine of the vintage.
MB [*[***]?] (6/2000): First tasted from cask in June 1991. Dense, full of fruit and flesh. Less tannic than the '89. Twelve months later, a week before bottling, a potential 5 stars. Next tasted blind, at the frequently mentioned Eigensatz tasting of 144 of the world's top '90s. It was in good company, including La Tache, Pavillon Ermitage, Latour, La Turque (eastily top of the 'flight') and so forth. It had nothing to be ashamed of. Coincidentally it was again set against La Turque in a Rodenstock 'flight' (also blind) of '90s in 1996. Only half a point separated them, the Petrus tough and tannic. The following year at the Union des Grands Crus dinner, before Christie's best-ever one-owner sale: deep and velvety; full of fruit and flesh. Very impressive, very tannic. Most recently, the last of Eddie Penning-Rowsell's '10-year' first growth tasting of the '90s: still very deep; thick, chunky, fleshy nose but one could smell the sweaty tannins; fairly sweet, full, rich, complete but with a dry, rather coarse finish. Well, I suppose it is gilt-edged and will soften with time. A matter of taste. Drink 2015-2025. |
|
| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Lalande |
1982 |
Pauillac Base Neck Fill; Signs of Old Seepage; Bin-Soiled Label |
$800 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2022): Several years ago, I purchased a case of the 1982 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande from a frigid Alsatian cellar where it had lain undisturbed since release, and from these bottles, it continues to very much merit a three-digit score. One of the most flamboyant, sensual wines of the vintage, it offers up a sweet bouquet of blackcurrants and blackberries mingled with notions of orange rind, violets, licorice and pipe tobacco. Full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with melting tannins, ripe acids and a long, cedar-inflected finish, it continues to deliver magical drinking. Having drunk the 1982 six or seven times this year, however, I am forced to concede that bottles that show this level of vibrancy and flare aren't so easy to find, so now is a great time to start pulling corks in earnest. This may not prove to be the very longest-lived wine of the vintage, but its star certainly did burn bright!
NM 98 (11/2012): Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. The Pichon-Lalande ’82 almost embarrasses the Pichon Baron ’82. It has a seamless nose of blackberry, cassis, graphite and cedar, again, with an almost sorbet-like freshness and vitality that you want to keep returning to repeatedly. The palate is beautifully defined with filigree tannins and so much freshness and poise, a citric theme from start to finish. There are notes of blackberry, cedar, graphite and a spray tan of glycerine. This is a Pauillac that challenges the First Growths and I would argue with the exception of Latour, is equal to them.
MB [*****] (4/2001): With and without food. Masses of notes - well, 20 to date, most over the past decade: prettily coloured, well-upholstered, delectable. Sweetness and fruit. Being an '82, dry finish. Last noted at the La Reserve tasting of '82's, Just tuck in.
WS 95 (11/1998): A voluptuous red. Very dark ruby-garnet. Aromas of currant, meat and berries. Full-bodied and velvety, with lovely ripe berry and earth and a long, ripe finish of caressing texture. This has always been a great wine. I marvel at it each time I taste it.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. Drink now.
VM 95 (8/2002): Deep red-ruby color. Liqueur-like aromas of currant, cedar, lead pencil, truffle and smoked meat. Magically sweet and silky in the mouth, with superb depth of flavor and a complete absence of rough edges. A huge wine with utterly compelling sweetness and great terroir character. Powerful if somewhat unrestrained. Finishes ripely tannic, long and sweet. Many tasters still rank this among their two or three favorites of the vintage. Drink now to 2015. |
|
|
1982 |
Pauillac Very Top-Shoulder Fill; Bin-Soiled Label; Uneven Cork |
$800 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2022): Several years ago, I purchased a case of the 1982 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande from a frigid Alsatian cellar where it had lain undisturbed since release, and from these bottles, it continues to very much merit a three-digit score. One of the most flamboyant, sensual wines of the vintage, it offers up a sweet bouquet of blackcurrants and blackberries mingled with notions of orange rind, violets, licorice and pipe tobacco. Full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with melting tannins, ripe acids and a long, cedar-inflected finish, it continues to deliver magical drinking. Having drunk the 1982 six or seven times this year, however, I am forced to concede that bottles that show this level of vibrancy and flare aren't so easy to find, so now is a great time to start pulling corks in earnest. This may not prove to be the very longest-lived wine of the vintage, but its star certainly did burn bright!
NM 98 (11/2012): Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. The Pichon-Lalande ’82 almost embarrasses the Pichon Baron ’82. It has a seamless nose of blackberry, cassis, graphite and cedar, again, with an almost sorbet-like freshness and vitality that you want to keep returning to repeatedly. The palate is beautifully defined with filigree tannins and so much freshness and poise, a citric theme from start to finish. There are notes of blackberry, cedar, graphite and a spray tan of glycerine. This is a Pauillac that challenges the First Growths and I would argue with the exception of Latour, is equal to them.
MB [*****] (4/2001): With and without food. Masses of notes - well, 20 to date, most over the past decade: prettily coloured, well-upholstered, delectable. Sweetness and fruit. Being an '82, dry finish. Last noted at the La Reserve tasting of '82's, Just tuck in.
WS 95 (11/1998): A voluptuous red. Very dark ruby-garnet. Aromas of currant, meat and berries. Full-bodied and velvety, with lovely ripe berry and earth and a long, ripe finish of caressing texture. This has always been a great wine. I marvel at it each time I taste it.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. Drink now.
VM 95 (8/2002): Deep red-ruby color. Liqueur-like aromas of currant, cedar, lead pencil, truffle and smoked meat. Magically sweet and silky in the mouth, with superb depth of flavor and a complete absence of rough edges. A huge wine with utterly compelling sweetness and great terroir character. Powerful if somewhat unrestrained. Finishes ripely tannic, long and sweet. Many tasters still rank this among their two or three favorites of the vintage. Drink now to 2015. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Etienne Guigal |
2020 |
Cote Rotie La Landonne |
$375 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98-100 (2/2022): The undisputed star of the cellar this vintage (at least at this stage), the 2020 Cote Rotie La Landonne is not only unbelievably complex on the nose—with an awesome stew of vegetal-herbal nuances blended with cassis and smoked meat—but full-bodied, concentrated, velvety-textured and remarkably long and tannic. Patience will be required.
JD 98-100 (3/2024): I think the star of the show in 2020 will be the 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, and this is one I can't wait to taste from bottle. It's slightly more elegant and supple compared to the massive 2019, yet it has a similar style in its extravagant dark fruits, truffle, game, iron, and smoked meat-like aromas and flavors. It's a powerful, full-bodied, concentrated Côte Rôtie that's going to need to be forgotten for 8-10 years, although if you ever wanted to try a truly great young La Landonne, this might be the one given its incredible fruit and texture.
VM 97-100 (3/2024): The potentially perfect 2020 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is riveting. Bringing together all the finest elements of the Guigal house style, it explodes from the glass with smoky blackberry jam, menthol, crushed rocks, cured meat, iodine, licorice, cloves and black olive tapenade. Charged with a massive tannic core, this concentrated powerhouse dazzles with off-the-charts intensity yet total clarity and focus. Built like a skyscraper, the 2020 will surely be a long-distance runner. Nicholas Greinacher. |
|
|
2010 |
Hermitage ex Voto
ETA Q4 2024 |
$315 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2014): At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the 2010 Hermitage Ex Voto is as good as it gets. Following some of the most concentrated, rich Cote Roties ever made, it still ratcheted up the concentration level with its massive, palate saturating levels of gamey dark fruits, cassis, licorice, chocolate, graphite and powdered rock. It this beauty doesn’t make fireworks go off in your head, I don’t know what will. Full-bodied, deeply concentrated and structured, yet also fine, elegant and delineated, it is nothing short of incredible. Give this awesome Hermitage 5-6 years in the cellar and feel free to drink it anytime over the following 4-5 decades.
WS 98 (11/2014): This has lavish range, with intense steeped plum, anise, pain d'epices, singed apple wood and fruitcake notes layered together, framed by smoldering charcoal and sweet tobacco accents and riveted to a tarry spine. Expands like a fractal in the glass to display enormous depth and length. Features mouthwatering cut from start to finish despite the heft. An extremely impressive wine that will need some time to stretch out fully. Best from 2018 through 2040. 600 cases made. |
|
| | Spain |
| Dominio de Pingus |
2003 |
Pingus |
$895 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2005): Saturated purple-ruby. Superripe aromas of black raspberry, gunflint, chocolate, minerals, flowers and sexy nutty oak. Wonderfully lush, creamy and sweet, with extraordinary concentration of dark fruit, mineral and floral flavors. A wine with no corners, and hard to scrape off your palate. Broad on entry, then expands to a new dimension on the back half. Finishes with Outstanding persistence and noble tannins that coat the incisors. The wine's oak component strikes this taster as particularly suave and harmonious. Stephen Tanzer.
NM 94 (8/2012): Although I would not regard the 2003 Pingus as a perfect wine, it remains a fantastic Ribera del Duero. It has a scintillating bouquet of dark cherries, graphite, black truffle, Indian ink and liquorice that is incredibly precise. The palate is rounded and opulent on the entry: an unashamedly luscious wine with a silky-smooth texture. It is generous and perhaps a little more forward than I was expecting, but it is a Pingus that is impossible to dislike. Drink now-2025+.
WA 96-100 (6/2005): A candidate for perfection, the profound 2003 Pingus possesses an awesome smoky, blackberry, and cassis-scented nose intermixed with hints of espresso roast, lead pencil shavings, cedar, and subtle new oak. Sensational concentration, a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol, and wood, and a blockbuster finish lasting nearly a minute result in one of the most profound wines ever made in Spain. It should age effortlessly for two decades or more. |
|
| | Italy |
| Castello di Ama |
2019 |
Chianti Classico La Casuccia Gran Selezione (3.0 L) |
$899.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 100 (7/2022): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is stunning. What a wine! In this vintage, the aromatics are huge and expansive, a theme that comes through on the palate as well. Cedar, tobacco, dried leaves, incense and blood orange all race out of the glass. The 2019 is mind-blowing in its intensity, pedigree and overall balance. It's the wine of the vintage in Chianti Classico. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto la Casuccia is a wine of intensity, volume and power. Yet it also shows impeccable balance thanks to the deft hands of the estate winemaking team. I find this edition of la Casuccia, with fruit from a steep vineyard that faces the Castello, to be especially full and rich. Fruit weight and concentration is indeed a characteristic of this classic growing season, and this wine wears it well. You are treated to plenty of blackberry, spice, tobacco and grilled herb. |
|
|
2019 |
Chianti Classico La Casuccia Gran Selezione (1.5 L) |
$449.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (7/2022): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is stunning. What a wine! In this vintage, the aromatics are huge and expansive, a theme that comes through on the palate as well. Cedar, tobacco, dried leaves, incense and blood orange all race out of the glass. The 2019 is mind-blowing in its intensity, pedigree and overall balance. It's the wine of the vintage in Chianti Classico. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (2/2023): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto la Casuccia is a wine of intensity, volume and power. Yet it also shows impeccable balance thanks to the deft hands of the estate winemaking team. I find this edition of la Casuccia, with fruit from a steep vineyard that faces the Castello, to be especially full and rich. Fruit weight and concentration is indeed a characteristic of this classic growing season, and this wine wears it well. You are treated to plenty of blackberry, spice, tobacco and grilled herb. |
|
| Catina Terlano |
2021 |
Terlaner I Grand Cuvee
ETA Q1 2025 |
$270 |
3 |
|
| |
JS 100 (4/2024): Classic peach stone aroma with an elegance reminiscent of Corton Charlemagne, full of flintstone minerality, lime blossom and pink grapefruit. Initially delicate on the palate, with concentrated fruit, weight and vibrancy, with great harmony and balance. A tight structure between fruit and acidity leads to a long, fruity and very refreshing finish. Drink now or store for decades.
VM 96+ (3/2024): Intense and mineral from the start, the 2021 Terlaner I Primo Grande Cuvée opens with a beguiling blend of flint stones, camphor and white smoke, giving way to dried peaches and apricots. It sweeps across the palate, ripe in style yet refined, with silken textures, taking on a saline tinge as tart orchard fruits cascade throughout, complicated by a spicy hint of ginger. Long, long, long, the 2021 lingers on, youthfully tense and gently tannic, with a crunchy feel and sensation of liquid stone that remains under an air of pretty inner florals. The potential is off the charts. This is a I Primo for the ages. Eric Guido. |
|
| Piero Antinori |
2021 |
Solaia Ex-Negociant |
$350 |
16 |
|
| |
VM 100 (7/2024): Antinori's 2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago. More than anything else, the 2021 is a fine example of the style Antinori favors these days, an approach that favors finesse more than opulence. Dark plum, mocha, licorice, chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol build effortlessly in the glass. Oak and tannin are impeccably balanced. The 2021 spent 18 months in wood, three months in once-used barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 15 months in 100% new barrels for the rest of its aging. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (3/2024): All said and done, the Marchesi Antinori 2021 Solaia is a monument to perfect winemaking. This coiffed supermodel does not show a single hair follicle out of place. However, it doesn't quite have the same sex appeal of the Tignanello. In my conversations with Estate Manager Renzo Cotarella during this tasting, it was expressed this way: "Tignanello is unexpected. Solaia is expected." Whereas Tignanello is a wine of vertical lift and energy, Solaia is a wine of lasting power. The wine offers generous depth and layering with soft tannins and some of the spicy pink peppercorn you get from the 9% Cabernet Franc (added to 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Sangiovese). The finish is extremely velvety and soft, but I notice that the flavors seem to become sweeter and riper the longer this wine stays in the glass. This newest release will hit the market in September. |
|
|
2021 |
Solaia
ETA Q1 2025 Ex-Negociant |
$350 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 100 (7/2024): Antinori's 2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago. More than anything else, the 2021 is a fine example of the style Antinori favors these days, an approach that favors finesse more than opulence. Dark plum, mocha, licorice, chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol build effortlessly in the glass. Oak and tannin are impeccably balanced. The 2021 spent 18 months in wood, three months in once-used barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 15 months in 100% new barrels for the rest of its aging. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (3/2024): All said and done, the Marchesi Antinori 2021 Solaia is a monument to perfect winemaking. This coiffed supermodel does not show a single hair follicle out of place. However, it doesn't quite have the same sex appeal of the Tignanello. In my conversations with Estate Manager Renzo Cotarella during this tasting, it was expressed this way: "Tignanello is unexpected. Solaia is expected." Whereas Tignanello is a wine of vertical lift and energy, Solaia is a wine of lasting power. The wine offers generous depth and layering with soft tannins and some of the spicy pink peppercorn you get from the 9% Cabernet Franc (added to 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Sangiovese). The finish is extremely velvety and soft, but I notice that the flavors seem to become sweeter and riper the longer this wine stays in the glass. This newest release will hit the market in September. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Bond Estates (Harlan) |
2019 |
Vecina Proprietary Blend |
$590 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (2/2023): The 2019 Vecina is pure perfection, with a full-bodied, rich, concentrated, yet ultra-pure style that literally stopped me in my tracks. Cassis, currants, graphite, iron, violets, and spicy oak are just some of the nuances here, and this beauty is perfectly balanced, with that rare mix of richness and elegance. This world-class, regal, incredibly impressive Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for three decades.
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2019 Vecina is a dense, explosive wine that also reflects a move towards greater freshness and energy in the Bond wines. There's so much to the 2019, but it clearly is going to need a few years in bottle to be at its best. Dark red-toned fruit, cedar, tobacco and expressive savory notes suggest a bright future lies ahead. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Chappellet |
2015 |
Pritchard Hill Estate Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$469 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (5/2018): A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill has gone a little reticent at this stage, offering quiet notions of blackberry pie and blueberry tart with sparks of dried herbs, earth and savory/meaty suggestions. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a built-like-a-brick-house structure framing the massive fruit, it finishes long with exotic spices coming through.
VM 96+ (2/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is dense, powerful and voluptuous in the glass, and yet it very much retains a classic sense of structure that is one of the signatures of Chappellet wines. Dark red-toned fruit, licorice, smoke, dark spice and dried flowers all meld together. Sumptuous and forward, with terrific depth, the 2015 has a lot to offer. The 100% new French oak is beautifully integrated, even at this early stage. A year ago, the 2015 was hugely tannic. Since then, the tannins have softened and the 2015 has developed into a much more elegant wine. Antonio Galloni.
JD 100 (12/2017): Also inky colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill comes from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill and spent 22 months in new French oak. It has a similar level of purity, as well as incredible minerality, to go with notes of crème de cassis, scorched earth, crushed rock, and graphite. Reminiscent of liking a rock with its insane level of minerality, this full-bodied beauty is tight and closed on the palate, yet is just loaded with potential. It’s only for those with cold cellars and needs forgotten for 7-8 years, but will keep for 4-5 decades. Bravo! |
|
| Cliff Lede |
2013 |
Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon |
$325 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry reveals a rather inky, bluish/purple color. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, this wine is super-youthful and still tastes somewhat like a barrel sample. It’s bursting with upside potential. Inky purple to the rim, with notes of crème de cassis, black cherry liqueur, licorice, spice and a touch of vanilla, this is a full-bodied, concentrated and an utterly profound wine that may represent the greatest wine that Cliff Lede has made to date. Forget it for another 5-6 years and drink it over the following 30 years. |
|
| Colgin |
2016 |
Cariad Proprietary Blend |
$525 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2018): The 2016 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it has wonderful purity of black fruits—preserved plums, blackcurrants and black raspberries—with nuances of iron ore, crushed rocks, fertile loam, cedar chest and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, concentrated, muscular and built like a brick house, it has very firm, grainy tannins and refreshing acidity, finishing incredibly long and mineral. This should be very, very long lived.
VM 100 (12/2018): The highlight in this range today, the 2016 Cariad is utterly magnificent. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot give the wine soaring aromatic intensity and striking savoriness to play off the racy, forward fruit. Time in barrel has done wonders to meld all the elements together. Today, the Cariad is dense, explosive and super-expressive. And yet my sense is that the 2016 still has quite a bit of room to grow. Even at this early stage, the 2016 is a total stunner. The symbiosis of David Abreu fruit and Allision Tauziet's winemaking makes for an electric, unforgettable 2016. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 98+ (1/2019): Coming from the Madrona Ranch and a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2016 Cariad is a more powerful, concentrated, burly effort that has a massive amount of black and blue fruits, charcoal, savory herbs, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. This beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, loads of tannins, a deep, stacked mid-palate, and a huge finish. Where the Tychson Hill is power married to elegance, this beauty is more power and structure. It needs at least a decade of cellaring. |
|
|
2016 |
IX Estate Proprietary Blend |
$479 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): Another perfect wine is the 2016 IX Estate, which is made from 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot, all from the hillside vineyard at the estate, high up on Pritchard Hill. It’s another ethereal, pure, seamless wine that does everything right. Huge notes of crème de cassis, ground herbs and tobacco, graphite, chocolate, and spring flower notes all emerge from this full-bodied 2016 that has building tannins, incredible depth of fruit, no hard edges, and a terrific finish. I wrote “wow” three times in my notes on this beauty. Hide bottles for 3-5 years if you can, and it’s capable of lasting for 3-4 decades. It’s another magical wine from winemaker Allison Tauziet that just could not be any better.
WA 100 (3/2024): A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot from this picture-perfect property above Lake Hennessey, Colgin's 2016 IX Estate is a stunning effort. Subtle herbal nuances, including hints of of licorice, intertwine among bunches of black cherries and pencil shavings to form a dusting atop baskets of cassis. Complex and intense, this full-bodied wine is almost creamy in texture, with tannins so fine-grained as to almost be liquid in feel, then becoming silky on the elegant, lingering finish. Wow. |
|
|
2018 |
Tychson Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$590 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill is straight-up off-the-charts and one of the true gems in the vintage. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of crème de cassis, white flowers, spice, tobacco, and classy oak, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, and just perfect integration of its fruit, tannins, and acidity. I’d happily enjoy a bottle today, but smart money would give these a solid 4-5 years in the cellar and it should keep for 30-40 years.
WA 100 (11/2020): Opaque purple-black in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard jumps from the glass with bold, gregarious scents of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and warm cassis plus nuances of roses, star anise and candied violets with gentle wafts of dark chocolate and cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense with a whole fireworks display of floral sparks going off among the red and black fruits, framed by exquisitely ripe, finely pixilated tannins, finishing long and mineral laced. This edifying beauty takes Napa Valley elegance and grace to a whole new level.
VM 98 (1/2022): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill is seamless, elegant and supremely beautiful. There's not a thing out of place. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark-fleshed fruit, with hints of chocolate, spice, leather and dried herbs that make an appearance with time in the glass. The Tychson Hill shows just how magical this vintage is. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Tychson Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$595 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill is straight-up off-the-charts and one of the true gems in the vintage. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of crème de cassis, white flowers, spice, tobacco, and classy oak, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, and just perfect integration of its fruit, tannins, and acidity. I’d happily enjoy a bottle today, but smart money would give these a solid 4-5 years in the cellar and it should keep for 30-40 years.
WA 100 (11/2020): Opaque purple-black in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard jumps from the glass with bold, gregarious scents of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and warm cassis plus nuances of roses, star anise and candied violets with gentle wafts of dark chocolate and cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense with a whole fireworks display of floral sparks going off among the red and black fruits, framed by exquisitely ripe, finely pixilated tannins, finishing long and mineral laced. This edifying beauty takes Napa Valley elegance and grace to a whole new level.
VM 98 (1/2022): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill is seamless, elegant and supremely beautiful. There's not a thing out of place. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark-fleshed fruit, with hints of chocolate, spice, leather and dried herbs that make an appearance with time in the glass. The Tychson Hill shows just how magical this vintage is. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Dana Estates |
2013 |
Helms Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) Scuffed Label |
$850 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (9/2016): Unique aromas of citrus fruit such as tangerines and oranges which combine with plums, black cherries, and blackcurrants. Lemon rind, too. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give the wine a precise and focused finish that lasts for minutes. Laser-guided. A savory and subtle, minerally finish. This redefines the greatness of Napa Valley wine and California. 282 cases made.
WA 97 (10/2015): The 57-acre estate vineyard includes the Helms Vineyard in Rutherford, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and usually produces small quantities of less than 300 cases. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms is sensational. Its opaque purple color, which is common among the 2012 and 2013 Bordeaux varietals in Napa, leads to a spectacularly flamboyant and aromatic nose of earth, graphite, blackberry and cassis. The wine is rich, full-bodied, and again, concentrated, pure and dense, with sweet melted tannins nicely integrated, along with the French oak (about 100% new). This wine has a good 30+ years of upside to it.
VM 95 (10/2015): Dana's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms Vineyard opens with exquisite, floral-laced aromatics. Rose petal, mint, hard candy, sweet red cherry and cinnamon are all nicely delineated in the glass. Plump, forward and generous, the 2013 Helms is surprisingly approachable today for the year, but there is plenty of stuffing and structure underneath. Antonio Galloni.
WS 90 (11/2016): Though massive and extracted, this is also approachable, as the core of dark berry, cedary oak, dried herb and tobacco leaf gives this a distinct flavor and textural presence. The level of tannin may be a concern. Best from 2019 through 2030. 281 cases made. |
|
| Dominus |
2018 |
Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$625 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It's going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!
JS 100 (5/2021): This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.
WA 99+ (2/2021): Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+.
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Dominus is wild and exotic from the first taste. Lifted aromatics make a strong opening impression. There is something exuberant about the 2018 that is hard to describe. The 2018 is not a huge Dominus, nor is it massively structured, but the intensity of the flavors is remarkable just the same. Dark raspberry, spice, leather and cedar are some of the many notes that open over time. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Eisele Vineyard |
2015 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$995 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2017): Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon charges from the gate with exuberant red and black cherries notes, black currants and mulberries with a beautiful roses and lavender perfume, plus hints of sandalwood and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, concentrated and downright explosive in the mouth, it is still wearing loads of gorgeous puppy-fat fruit flavors, offering suggestions of the complex, multilayered blockbuster that it will emerge into. The structure deserves its own mention: wonderful, seamless freshness and oh-so-fine, pixelated tannins, with an extraordinary persistence of fruit and mineral nuances. Wow. |
|
| Fairchild Estate |
2016 |
Stones No. 3 Tench Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$645 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): This full-bodied, remarkably pure, seamless Napa Cabernet comes from the Tench Vineyard outside St. Helena and reveals a saturated purple color as well as sensational notes of blueberries, currants, camphor, scorched earth, and hints of lavender and violets. Deep, layered, still tight and backward, yet with incredible purity and focus, it’s a monumental beauty that’s going to benefit from at least 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 2-3 decades. Hats off to winemaker Philippe Melka and the team at Fairchild Wines for this incredible wine.
VM 97 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 3 is another superb wine from Larry Fairchild. Dense, powerful and explosive, with tremendous depth, the 2016 captures all the magic of this Oakville site. Black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, spice and menthol infuse this sumptuous, extravagantly rich Cabernet Sauvignon. Sweet, ripe tannins add to the wine's considerable immediacy and sheer appeal. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Fingers Crossed |
2018 |
Just Between Us Syrah |
$345 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Another killer wine, and one that tops out on my scale, the 2018 Syrah Off The Record checks in as 93% Syrah, 2% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, and the rest 3% Roussanne that saw just 22% stems and spent 20 months in 68% new French oak. Dense purple-hued, with awesome notes of smoked black fruits, smoked game, ground pepper, beef blood, spice, and violets, this beauty is full-bodied and elegant, with a perfect mid-palate and a great, great finish. Only the second release from this winery, this incredible Syrah seemingly has one foot in California with its ripe, sexy fruit and one foot in the Northern Rhone with its gamy, meaty, peppery, and wildly complex style. While it doesn’t have the same weight as say Sine Qua Non, Alban, or Andremily, it’s flawlessly balanced, insanely complex, and has a style all its own. It will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age and will cruise for 10-15 years as well. Don’t miss it! |
|
| Harlan Estate |
2015 |
Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$2,500 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2019): The 2015 Harlan Estate is a beast of a wine that shows the sexy, opulent style of the vintage married to the classic structure and depth of this estate. A downright smorgasbord of blackcurrants, blackberries, crushed rocks, graphite, smoky camphor, cured meats, and dried tobacco aromas all emerge from the glass, and it shows the deep, concentrated style of the vintage yet still has awesome complexity and nuances. Deep, powerful, and structured, yet opulent and incredibly sexy on the palate, it reminds me of the 2002. A brilliant wine from this estate, it's already approachable given its wealth of fruit yet has the tannic backbone and density to keep for 3-4 decades or more.
WA 100 (10/2018): Bottled in early 2018, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Harlan Estate is a little closed, slowly unfurling to reveal black cherries, crème de cassis and plum pudding with nuances of potpourri, baking spices and tilled soil plus wafts of garrigue and wild sage. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated with exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and fantastic poise and depth with a long, decadently fruited finish.
WS 97 (10/2019): A huge red, with powerfully rendered dark fig, macerated black currant and steeped boysenberry fruit framed by a bittersweet chocolate note. With time in the glass, the fruit unwinds slowly, allowing anise and loam accents to fill in on the fleshy finish. There's some serious heft here through the back end too, with a long echo of smoldering tobacco and a great tug of dark earth. Best from 2022 through 2040. 1,839 cases made.
VM 97 (12/2018): The 2015 Harlan Estate has developed into an arrestingly beautiful wine. Racy and sumptuous, the 2015 is already quite showy, with tons of dark cherry, plum, mocha, espresso, licorice, spice and tobacco character. Today, the 2015 comes across as a bit brooding and hard to read, although some of the rougher edges in the tannins I saw last year have softened. Even so, I would prefer to cellar 2015 for at least a few years. There is so much to look forward to. Antonio Galloni.
JS 99 (12/2018): Incredible aromas of fresh flowers, such as roses and violets, and blackcurrants. Full body and defined levels of fruit and tannins too. Love the brightness and texture. An excellent finish. Production was down by a third because of bad berry set. Try in 2021. |
|
| Hundred Acre |
2012 |
Few and Far Between Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) |
$3,900 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (8/2015): Woodbridge’s vineyard tucked away near the famous Eisele Vineyard, now owned by Château Latour, produces the wine known as the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Few and Far Between Vineyard. This is another luxurious, exceptionally concentrated and loaded wine with great intensity, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, unbelievable amounts of blackberry, cassis and blueberry fruit, crushed rock minerality, and a floral note. It is easily the most backward of the five Cabernet Sauvignons I tasted from Woodbridge in 2012. The wine is super-intense, displays plenty of tannin, but is silky and well-integrated. This wine needs at least 4-5 years of cellaring, and should keep for 30-50 years, as it promises to be one of the modern-day legends from Napa.
WS 95 (10/2015): A gorgeous Cabernet that flirts with opulence, this is pure and juicy, with a mix of rich dark berry, cherry, plum and cassis flavors, supported by a minerally, crushed rock foundation that merges with the medley of berry notes on the long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2030. 600 cases made. |
|
|
2015 |
The Ark Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$595 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (12/2018): Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard is a total rock star even at this incredibly youthful stage, strutting the stage with flamboyant freshly crushed red and black currants, black cherries, black raspberries and cassis scents with spectacular lilacs and fragrant earth accents plus sparks of cast iron pan, garrigue and grilled meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with amazing energy, packing wonderfully vibrant black fruits, red berries and mineral flavors into a firm, finely grained frame, finishing very long and beautifully lifted. |
|
|
2014 |
Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon |
$650 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith opens with compelling crème de cassis, wild blueberries, anise, chocolate mint and black earth scents plus suggestions of candied violets, cinnamon stick, tar, cigar box and smoked meats. Full-bodied, rich, super firm and built like a brick house, the palate offers layer upon layer of very tightly wound, subtly nuanced flavors leading to a very long, very perfumed and minerally finish. If any Hundred Acre wine can live for 100 years, this is certainly a contender.
JD 98 (2/2023): Surprisingly, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith has a touch more density than the 2013 and offers sensational notes of darker currants, cedarwood, tobacco, woodsmoke, and spring flowers. As with all the wines from this incredible estate, the balance is spot on, it has gorgeous tannins, and incredible length on the finish. |
|
|
2014 |
Wraith Cabernet Sauvignon |
$725 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith opens with compelling crème de cassis, wild blueberries, anise, chocolate mint and black earth scents plus suggestions of candied violets, cinnamon stick, tar, cigar box and smoked meats. Full-bodied, rich, super firm and built like a brick house, the palate offers layer upon layer of very tightly wound, subtly nuanced flavors leading to a very long, very perfumed and minerally finish. If any Hundred Acre wine can live for 100 years, this is certainly a contender.
JD 98 (2/2023): Surprisingly, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith has a touch more density than the 2013 and offers sensational notes of darker currants, cedarwood, tobacco, woodsmoke, and spring flowers. As with all the wines from this incredible estate, the balance is spot on, it has gorgeous tannins, and incredible length on the finish. |
|
| Kapcsandy Family |
2013 |
Grand Vin State Lane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$425 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2016): Little can be added to the greatness of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine (600 cases) is truly stunning in its dense, crème de cassis and blackberry-scented nose with a hint of barbecue smoke and forest floor. Tasting like a ripe vintage of Château Latour from Pauillac, the wine has amazing richness and a savory, expansive mouthfeel, but tiptoes across the palate like a ballerina. A wine of magnificent richness and intensity, but vibrancy, purity and overall equilibrium, this is a staggeringly great wine and another tribute to the Kapcsándy family’s extraordinary professionalism and meticulous attention to detail in their vineyard.
JS 98 (4/2016): Incredible black currant, blueberry, stone, oyster shell and violet. Subtle and complex. Sweet tobacco. Full body, superb density and flavor. Great length and structure. A wine that is complete and complex. So much aging potential. Linear and dense. Better in 2022. |
|
| Lail Vineyards |
2018 |
J Daniel Cuvee Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$495 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 99 (1/2021): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 75% new. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with seductive notes of crème de cassis, blueberry preserves and Black Forest cake, followed by suggestions of espresso, yeast extract, black truffles and charcoal plus a fragrant waft of violets. Full-bodied, rich and opulently fruited in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, earthy nuances and savory sparks, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant. 1,290 cases were made.
JD 100 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee comes from a mix of terroirs (Howell Mountain, Stags Leap, Oakville, Calistoga) and is brought up in 75% new French oak. Heavenly notes of red and black currants, dried tobacco, sandalwood, flowers, and spice give way to a full-bodied, concentrated, yet weightless texture that carries awesome tannins, no hard edges, and just flawless balance. This majestic, regal wine is going to drink brilliantly for 25 years or more.
VM 96 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is quite restrained in this vintage. Silky and medium in body, with lovely red berry fruit character, the 2018 has a lot to offer. I would cellar it for a few years, as the tannins are pretty clamped down today. As always, the J. Daniel Cuvée is a blend taken from a handful of top sites in Napa Valley. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Maybach |
2013 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2015): There are roughly 600 cases of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, all of which comes from the Weitz Vineyard on the eastern Vaca Mountain hillside of Oakville at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the Silverado Trail. This is shallow soil interspersed with loads of pebbles and stones. This wine is incredible first-growth material – a magical Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color, an extraordinary nose of blackberry and cassis, white flowers, crushed rock and minerality followed by a full-bodied majestic mouthfeel with phenomenal balance, purity and overall equilibrium. Stunningly rich and impressive, this wine will hit its peak in 8-10 years and has the potential to last 40-50 years. For those who keep track of such things, the wine was completely aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels. |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$350 |
3 |
|
| |
| 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 |
$449 |
15 |
|
| |
| 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) |
$1,095 |
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 |
$375 |
6 |
|
| |
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. |
|
|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend |
$395 |
7 |
|
| |
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. |
|
|
2018 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 12 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$820 |
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. |
|
|
2020 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 14 Proprietary Blend |
$299 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2023): Lastly, and a perfect wine if there ever was one, the 2020 No 14 Cumulus Vineyard comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard in Oak View and is based on 41% Grenache, 27% Petite Sirah, 25% Syrah, and the balance Mourvèdre and a tiny amount of Petit Manseng. Aged 30 months in just 23% new French oak, it just about jumps out of the glass with its ripe blackberries, spice, leather, sandalwood, and peppery, savory herb-driven aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness and depth, building, velvety tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and awesome length on the finish, it's a wine I wish I could pour for every reader, it's that singular and impressive. I love it today yet see no reason it shouldn’t evolve gracefully for two decades. |
|
|
2020 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 14 Proprietary Blend |
$439 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2023): Lastly, and a perfect wine if there ever was one, the 2020 No 14 Cumulus Vineyard comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard in Oak View and is based on 41% Grenache, 27% Petite Sirah, 25% Syrah, and the balance Mourvèdre and a tiny amount of Petit Manseng. Aged 30 months in just 23% new French oak, it just about jumps out of the glass with its ripe blackberries, spice, leather, sandalwood, and peppery, savory herb-driven aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness and depth, building, velvety tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and awesome length on the finish, it's a wine I wish I could pour for every reader, it's that singular and impressive. I love it today yet see no reason it shouldn’t evolve gracefully for two decades. |
|
|
2020 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 14 Proprietary Blend |
$445 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2023): Lastly, and a perfect wine if there ever was one, the 2020 No 14 Cumulus Vineyard comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard in Oak View and is based on 41% Grenache, 27% Petite Sirah, 25% Syrah, and the balance Mourvèdre and a tiny amount of Petit Manseng. Aged 30 months in just 23% new French oak, it just about jumps out of the glass with its ripe blackberries, spice, leather, sandalwood, and peppery, savory herb-driven aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness and depth, building, velvety tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and awesome length on the finish, it's a wine I wish I could pour for every reader, it's that singular and impressive. I love it today yet see no reason it shouldn’t evolve gracefully for two decades. |
|
| Promontory (Harlan) |
2016 |
Penultimate |
$475 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 100 (1/2021): Deep garnet-purple, the 2016 Promontory comes barreling out of the glass with bold scents of black cherries, blueberry pie and licorice, leading to a slowly emerging core of crème de cassis, dark chocolate, black soil and truffles plus touches of cumin seed, mossy bark and beef drippings. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with muscular fruit, backed by a rock-solid structure of very firm, exquisitely ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic tension. The finish is both powerful and beautifully nuanced, hedonic and cerebrally gratifying. This singularly stunning expression of Napa Valley is to be released by the winery in 2021.
JD 100 (1/2021): The 2016 Estate is pure perfection and a legend in the making. Featuring incredible purity of fruit as well as powerful notes of crème de cassis, gravelly earth, cedar pencil, and chocolate, it has the fresher, pure, classic style of this great vintage front and center. With full-bodied richness and depth, it has an almost Château Latour-like stature and majestic quality, and it should have a similar evolution, requiring 7-8 years to hit its early drink window yet evolve for 20-30 years or more.
VM 99 (1/2022): The 2016 Promontory is every bit as magnificent as it has always been. A wine of dimension and breadth, the 2016 is so captivating in the way it engages all the senses. Unlike many Napa Valley Cabernets, Promontory, especially in structured years like 2016, really benefits from aeration. That time brings out striking floral and mineral nuance while releasing the fruit as the tannins gently melt. Hints of sage, lavender, graphite and mint lend brilliance to this beautifully sculpted, taut Cabernet Sauvignon. What a wine. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Realm |
2018 |
The Absurd Proprietary Blend |
$925 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): As always, the 2018 Absurd is a cellar selection of what the estate thinks is the absolute best they can do in the vintage, and in this reviewer’s opinion, they succeed brilliantly. (I’ve rated four of the five vintages I’ve tasted 100 points.) The 2018 reveals a dense purple/blue color to go with a monster bouquet of blackcurrants, scorched earth/burning embers, tobacco, lead pencil shavings, chocolate, and gravelly earth. I’ve often compared this wine to a great Pessac from Bordeaux given its incredible minerality and cold fireplace-like nuances, and the 2018 has these in spades. Concentrated, full-bodied, and built like a skyscraper, it builds beautifully with time in the glass and has incredible purity, silky, polished tannins, and a dense, layered mid-palate. As with the majority of Realm’s 2018s, the cellar is going to be your friend, since this needs a good 5-7 years of bottle age, but it will be incredibly long-lived. Hats off to winemaker Benoit Touquette and the entire team at Realm for yet another magical, legendary wine.
WA 99 (10/2020): The 2018 The Absurd—the estate's über-blend of the best elements from the vintage—displays a deep garnet-purple color, offering alluring notes of baked plums, crème de cassis and boysenberries with suggestions of chocolate box, aniseed, iron ore and candied violets plus a perfumed hint of Indian spices. The full-bodied palate is an exercise in decadence, coating the mouth in black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, supported by velvety tannins and beautifully integrated freshness, finishing epically long and fragrant. |
|
| Scarecrow |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$1,050 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2015): The prodigious 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, including fruit from some of the oldest Cabernet vines still in existence in Napa. This full-bodied classic displays notes of forest floor, earth, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice and some pen ink. It is dense, full-bodied, prodigiously rich, massive in intensity, yet relatively light on its feet. This great ballerina of a wine has extraordinary ripeness but pulls back from the edge before going over the top. There are 1,000 cases of this classic, which should age effortlessly for 30+ years.
VM 97 (10/2015): The 2013 Scarecrow is magnificent. Rich, opulent and intense, the 2013 is a prototypical modern Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with tons of ripeness, no hard edges and exceptional polish. A host of ferrous, savory notes abound, but as usual here, Scarecrow is really about the whole package. The 2013 is still recovering from its recent bottling, but it is pretty special, even at this early stage. Antonio Galloni.
WS 95 (10/2016): A dense, muscle-bound style that gives no quarter, with rich, chewy, grainy, extracted chocolate, dark berry, graphite and cedar flavors, balanced by aromatic notes of cassis and dark berry. Offers a gutsy, tannic texture, but shows a glimpse of elegance and refinement that time should reward. No rush here. Best from 2020 through 2035. 1,800 cases made. |
|
|
2018 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,695 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (1/2021): Pure perfection in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Scarecrow’s 2018 reveals a dense purple hue as well as an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, toasted spices, chocolate, darker currants, and graphite. This carries to a full-bodied, dense, off-the-charts sexy 2018 that has the vintage’s purity and freshness backed up by flawless balance, a layered mouthfeel, and building yet elegant tannins. This cuvee is hard to resist given its texture and wealth of fruit, but it will ideally be given 3-5 years and should evolve for 30 years or more.
WA 98 (11/2020): Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Scarecrow is deep garnet-purple in color, slipping slowly, measuredly out of the glass with sensuous notes of blackberry pie, blackcurrant pastilles and Morello cherries, leading to hints of raspberry leaves, oolong tea, cardamom and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of energy, delivering vivacious, mineral-sparked black fruit preserves flavors with a firm, grainy texture and a refreshing lift on the long, long finish. Simply gorgeous!
VM 97 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows why this Rutherford site is so highly regarded. A Cabernet of pedigree and stature, the 2018 Scarecrow makes a strong opening statement. Seemingly endless waves of fruit completely bury the tannins. A bit of coaxing releases an exotic melange of gravel, spice, smoke, grilled herb and licorice nuances that meld into the super-concentrated dark fruit. This is another stellar effort by the team led by winemaker Celia Welch and vineyard manager Mike Wolf. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Schrader |
2019 |
MMXIX "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,299 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (12/2021): A selection put together by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky is one of the true gems in the vintage, as well as a perfect wine. Thrilling black fruits, crème de cassis, tobacco, tapenade, and iron notes all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied and has a similar purity to the CCS release, with ultra-fine tannins and one hell of an incredible finish. Napa Valley Cabernet, or red wine for that matter, doesn't get any better. Give bottles 2-4 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades or more. |
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|
2019 |
MMXIX "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,450 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (12/2021): A selection put together by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Old Sparky is one of the true gems in the vintage, as well as a perfect wine. Thrilling black fruits, crème de cassis, tobacco, tapenade, and iron notes all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied and has a similar purity to the CCS release, with ultra-fine tannins and one hell of an incredible finish. Napa Valley Cabernet, or red wine for that matter, doesn't get any better. Give bottles 2-4 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades or more. |
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|
2016 |
MMXVI "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$2,050 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky is very deep purple-black in color with a wonderfully pure nose of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry preserves and black cherry pie with nuances of dried bay leaves, dusty soil, garrigue and new leather plus touches of unsmoked cigars and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, concentrated and jam-packed with flavors, the palate is pure hedonism with a solid line of ripe tannins and great freshness, finishing very long. |
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| Screaming Eagle |
1997 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$6,900 |
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. |
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|
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,700 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 100 (1/2022): The 2019 Screaming Eagle is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse that stand apart from the generally more potent style of so many wines in this vintage. Deep, sensual and beautifully layered, the 2019 is simply magnificent from the very first taste. A whole range of red/purplish fruit, spice, leather, dried herb and blood orange accents give the 2019 its vivid, wonderfully detailed personality. Because of its price, both on release and in the secondary market, Screaming Eagle is the most talked about wine in Napa Valley. It is hype or not? All I can say is that I was very fortunate to drink a number of older vintages during lockdown and all those wines lived up to their reputations. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2019 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$3,900 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 100 (1/2022): The 2019 Screaming Eagle is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse that stand apart from the generally more potent style of so many wines in this vintage. Deep, sensual and beautifully layered, the 2019 is simply magnificent from the very first taste. A whole range of red/purplish fruit, spice, leather, dried herb and blood orange accents give the 2019 its vivid, wonderfully detailed personality. Because of its price, both on release and in the secondary market, Screaming Eagle is the most talked about wine in Napa Valley. It is hype or not? All I can say is that I was very fortunate to drink a number of older vintages during lockdown and all those wines lived up to their reputations. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2021 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,400 |
5 |
|
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VM 100 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most brooding, explosive young wines I have ever tasted here. The natural concentration of this drought vintage comes through loud and clear. Huge, youthful tannins reinforce the wine’s potent feel. Waves of graphite, leather, licorice, grilled herbs and lavender saturate the palate, perfectly playing off a core of intense dark fruit. I usually have no issue drinking these wines on the younger side, but the 2021 really does need time. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98+ (2/2023): As with the Flight, I was able to taste through multiple barrels destined for the 2021 Screaming Eagle. Pure cassis and assorted dark fruits, some classic graphite and lead pencil notes, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality were present in all of the barrels, and this will be a medium to full-bodied, elegant expression of Screaming Eagle. I wouldn't expect too many fireworks right on release (although it will offer pleasure), but it should hit its stride about 7-8 years after release and have a long life. |
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|
2021 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$2,900 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 100 (12/2023): The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most brooding, explosive young wines I have ever tasted here. The natural concentration of this drought vintage comes through loud and clear. Huge, youthful tannins reinforce the wine’s potent feel. Waves of graphite, leather, licorice, grilled herbs and lavender saturate the palate, perfectly playing off a core of intense dark fruit. I usually have no issue drinking these wines on the younger side, but the 2021 really does need time. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98+ (2/2023): As with the Flight, I was able to taste through multiple barrels destined for the 2021 Screaming Eagle. Pure cassis and assorted dark fruits, some classic graphite and lead pencil notes, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality were present in all of the barrels, and this will be a medium to full-bodied, elegant expression of Screaming Eagle. I wouldn't expect too many fireworks right on release (although it will offer pleasure), but it should hit its stride about 7-8 years after release and have a long life. |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Grenache |
$395 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard comes all from the estate vineyard located on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills and is even more Grenache-dominated, checking in at close to 84% Grenache with 9% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, and the rest Viognier. Aged a whopping 38 months in 52% new barrels, it has an insane bouquet of black raspberries, herbes de Provence, violets, mulled cherries, sandalwood, and new leather. As complex and nuanced as they come, this full-bodied beauty has awesome purity of fruit, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, sweet, fine-grained tannins, and a great, great finish. It's one of those wines that makes you run out of adjectives. One of the finest examples of Grenache to pass my lips, give it 2-3 years and enjoy over the following two decades. |
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|
2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$359 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. |
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|
2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$395 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. |
|
|
2018 |
Eleven Confessions Vyd. Syrah |
$435 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2022): The 2018 Syrah Eleven Confessions Vineyard is pure gold and Syrah doesn't get any better, no matter what region you're talking about. Incredible notes of ripe cherries, currants, ground black and white pepper, cured meats, and saddle leather all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate. Opening up with time in the glass, it certainly offers pleasure today yet warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity. Hats off to the Krankl family for another utterly magical wine. |
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|
2014 |
Piranha Waterdance Syrah (1.5 L) |
$695 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (9/2017): Blended of 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and 1% Graciano, sourced from 34% The Third Twin, 35% Eleven Confessions and 31% Cumulus (all estate vineyards), the provocative, inky purple colored 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance was made using 26% whole cluster and hits the scent scene with exuberant, pure crème de cassis, blackberry cordial and blueberry coulis notes with hints of espresso, licorice, garrigue and menthol, plus a gorgeous underlying perfume of red roses. The full-bodied palate is oh-so-elegant and pretty, revealing very finely pixelated tannins that beautifully frame the almost electric intensity, culminating in an epically long, licorice and chocolate-laced finish. Too stunning for mere words and rude to even try-just drink it. 1,839 cases and 600 magnums were produced.
VM 95-97 (9/2016): A striking, vibrant wine, the 2014 Syrah Piranha Waterdance is beautifully focused and energetic from start to finish. Plum, blueberry, lavender, mint, violet and sweet spices all take shape in the glass. This is an especially nuanced, sculpted Syrah long on class and personality. There is so much to like here. The 2014 is 81% Syrah, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Touriga Nacional and % Graciano, done with 26% whole clusters, all from Sine Qua Non's estate vineyards: 35% Eleven Confessions, 34% Third Twin and 31% Cumulus. Antonio Galloni.
WS 94 (9/2017): Rich, ripe and powerfully built, with deep and expressive smoky beef, cracked pepper and currant flavors that charge like a bull toward big but polished tannins. Best from 2019 through 2025. 1,800 cases made. |
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|
2010 |
Stockholm Syndrome Grenache |
$850 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (8/2014): The current release of the estate vineyard (a.k.a. the extended barrel-aged cuvee), the 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome is an incredible effort that I couldn’t find a fault with. A blend of 75% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier, all from the Eleven Confession Vineyard, it spent just under 30 months in 22% new and 78% used French oak prior to bottling. Locked and loaded, it knocks it out of the park with its cassis, licorice, smoked duck, spice-box and exotic herb-styled bouquet. The palate follows suit and while it has the expected depth and richness of the estate, it’s seamless, elegant and lively, with perfect balance, ultra-fine tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. It doesn’t get any better and count yourself lucky if you can latch onto a couple of these. It will thrill for 15-20 years.
VM 96 (7/2014): The 2010 Grenache Stockholm Syndrome has an explosive energy to it that takes hold of the senses and never lets up. A distinctly dark side of Grenache comes through in an intense, opulent, full-throttle wine endowed with superb intensity and tons of fruit. Hints of over ripeness appear, especially on the finish, but that isn't enough to detract from the pure pleasure the 2010 delivers.
VM 94 (12/2013): (made from fruit grown in the Krankl's Eleven Confessions vineyard; 75% grenache, 22% syrah, 2% viognier and 1% roussanne; 15.7% alcohol): Brilliant ruby. Vibrant aromas of fresh blueberry, smoky Indian spices and minerals, with a sexy floral overtone. Then rich and pliant in the mouth, with sappy blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that come off surprisingly lithe for the wine's power. Finishes spicy and very long, with fine-grained tannins fading into the wine's plush fruit. |
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|
2012 |
The Writing on the Wall Petite Sirah (1.5 L) |
$4,495 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 98 (8/2015): The 2012 Petite Sirah The Writing on the Wall is beyond beautiful. Wonderfully delineated and nuanced, with none of the edginess or rusticity Petite often shows, The Writing on the Wall is a real stunner. Bold red cherry, pomegranate, spice and sweet floral notes are all underpinned by veins of acidity and tannin that give the wine its freshness and polish. The 2012 is 94% Petite Sirah and 6% Viognier, done with fully destemmed fruit and aged for 23 months in French oak, 20% new. Vineyard sources are 80% Third Twin, 14% Cumulus and 6% Eleven Confessions. Manfred and Elaine Krankl take Petite Sirah into a whole new realm. Unfortunately, The Writing on the Wall is also one of the rarest wines Sine Qua Non has ever made. Just 350 magnums were sold, all of them in the Sine Qua Non art label book box set. That is a real shame, as most readers will never have a chance to experience just how moving the 2012s is. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97-100 (8/2014): The 2012 Petite Sirah The Writing on the Wall should be the greatest Petite Sirah to ever come out of California (or the world?). Made from 94% Petite Sirah and 6% Viognier and aged in 80% old hogsheads and 20% in new French oak, it’s bottled only in magnum and will be sold along with the new Sine Qua Non label art book. A massive, full-bodied effort that offers incredible depth and richness without ever seeming heavy or cumbersome, it offers up blockbuster-styled aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, crushed rocks, beef blood and licorice. It should age for decades. |
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| Verite |
2008 |
La Muse Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$375 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (6/2011): A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec (52% Chalk Hill, 45% Alexander Mountain Estate and 3% Bennett Valley fruit), the 2008 may have even greater intensity and richness than the 2007. Still young and unformed, it exhibits phenomenal richness and equilibrium as well as a finish that lasts nearly a minute. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by notions of black fruits, forest floor, truffles and spring flowers. It should age for 25-30+ years.
VM 93+ (5/2012): (90% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 3% malbec): Bright red-ruby. Inviting nose offers cherry, raspberry and chocolate truffle. Explosive on the front half, with sexy spices lifting and intensifying the redcurrant fruit. Today the wine's tannins give the finish a slightly dry quality but the intensity and subtle persistence of this wine suggest that it simply needs time. Pierre Seillan typically does a pre-fermentation cold soak lasting four or five days, then about eight days of fermentation and no post-fermentation maceration. The malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels of various toast levels and from numerous French forests.
WS 91 (11/2012): Shows great structure and intensity, with appealing notes of leather and cedar akin to a Bordeaux. Aromas of black cherry and bay leaf lead to firm flavors of plum, dried herb and mineral that finish with firm tannins. Needs time. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2015 through 2020. |
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|
2014 |
La Muse Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$695 |
2 |
|
| |
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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| | USA White |
| Morlet Family Vineyards |
2019 |
Coup de Coeur Chardonnay |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98-100 (1/2021): Coup de Coeur is a barrel-selection blend of Morlet's Chardonnay vineyards, using exclusively Old Wente clone selection. A barrel sample to be bottled in February 2021, the 2019 Chardonnay Coup de Coeur comes skipping out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of fresh pineapple, passion fruit, pink grapefruit and lime blossoms with suggestions of fresh ginger, almond croissant and chalk dust. The medium to full-bodied palate has an electric intensity of citrus and tropical fruit layers with compelling tension and a beguiling, mineral-tinged finish.
JD 100 (12/2021): Lastly, the 2019 Chardonnay Coup De Coeur is a top barrel selection by Luc Morlet, and it's a magical Sonoma Coast release that tops out my scale. White flowers, lemon curd, honeyed toast, almond paste, and chalky mineral are just some of the nuances here, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, incredible texture, integrated acidity, and one heck of a long finish. It's slightly richer and more opulent than the other two releases, yet it has this brilliant minerality, a weightless mouthfeel, and does everything right. As with the other 2019s, it needs another 6-12 months of bottle age and will evolve for at least a decade.
VM 95 (1/2022): The 2019 Chardonnay Coup de Cœur is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar. It stands out for its aromatic presence and brightness. Orchard fruit, mint, white flowers and white pepper lend brilliance to this textured yet gracious, impeccably balanced Chardonnay from Luc and Jodie Morlet. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Peter Michael Winery |
2022 |
Cuvee Indigene Chardonnay (1.5 L) |
$400 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97-100 (2/2024): I tasted the 2022 Chardonnay Cuvée Indigène from tank as bottling was taking place at Peter Michael Winery. Brown sugar and meringue aromas give way to intense peach cobbler and jasmine underpinned by stony notes. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, shimmery citrus and spice flavors, and its luxurious, satiny texture drives a hauntingly long finish. |
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|
2015 |
Point Rouge Chardonnay |
$425 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 100 (10/2017): The 2015 Chardonnay Point Rouge is pure pedigree and class, showing all the elegance and seamlessness of a truly top-tier Chardonnay. Opening with tightly furled citrus and spiced apple notes over salty almond, cashew, allspice, anise and ginger, plus wafts of orange blossom and crushed rocks, the medium-bodied palate is wonderfully well poised, with seamless flavor layers intermingled with just enough freshness, finishing long and beautifully perfumed. Wow. 292 cases were made. |
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2017 |
Point Rouge Chardonnay |
$400 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (2/2020): The 2017 Chardonnay Point Rouge slowly releases scents of candied ginger and citrus peel before being coaxed into giving up loads of savory suggestions of pie crust, shaved almonds and bread dough with a core of peach preserves, honey-drizzled pears and lemon tart plus a hint of crème caramel. Medium to full-bodied, the satiny palate possesses bags of poise and finesse with softly spoken freshness and loads of savory/toasty layers, finishing long with compelling mineral notes coming through. Already a WOW wine, I can't wait to see this after 3-4 years in bottle.
JD 100 (6/2019): Pure perfection in California Chardonnay, the 2017 Chardonnay Point Rouge comes from a selection of the top barrels in the vintage. It too is rich and powerful, yet it has an incredible sense of minerality as well as a huge perfume of exotic flowers, orange blossom, crushed rock, salty sea breeze, and earth. As with most wines in the vintage, it has an incredible purity of fruit as well as integrated yet bright, racy acidity. It's a thrill a minute and is going to come together nicely with a year or two of bottle age and keep for over a decade. |
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| | Australia |
| Torbreck |
2005 |
The Laird Shiraz (1.5 L) Lightly Scuffed Label |
$1,500 |
3 |
|
| |
| 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+. |
|
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
2000 |
Pauillac |
$1,395 |
|
Sold Out
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2018 |
Pauillac |
$779 |
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| | Rhone Red |
| Clos des Papes |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$199 |
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| | USA Red |
| Alban Vineyards |
2005 |
Lorraine Alban Estate Syrah |
$250 |
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| Bond Estates (Harlan) |
2016 |
St. Eden Proprietary Blend |
$495 |
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| Colgin |
2015 |
Tychson Hill Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$625 |
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| Dalla Valle |
2019 |
Maya Proprietary Blend |
$495 |
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| Hundred Acre |
2018 |
Deep Time Cabernet Sauvignon |
$535 |
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| Joseph Phelps |
2002 |
Insignia Proprietary Blend |
$329 |
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| Promontory (Harlan) |
2014 |
Proprietary Blend (3X750ML) |
$2,097 |
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| Ridge Vineyards |
2019 |
Monte Bello (1.5 L) |
$409 |
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| Scarecrow |
2014 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$899 |
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| Shafer Vineyards |
2007 |
Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$995 |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2013 |
Jusqu’a l’Os Grenache (1.5 L) |
$895 |
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2013 |
Le Supplement Syrah (1.5 L) |
$895 |
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| Tor |
2021 |
Black Magic Red Wine |
$475 |
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| Turley Wine Cellars |
2012 |
Hayne Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$69 |
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| | USA White |
| Aubert |
2012 |
Lauren Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$159 |
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| Kongsgaard |
2021 |
The Judge Chardonnay |
$650 |
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