| |
Inventory updated: Sat, Oct 05, 2024 10:50 AM cst
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Alsace |
| Dom. Bott-Geyl |
2000 |
Furstentum Grand Cru Gewurztraminer VT (500 ML) |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2000 |
Sonnenglanz Grand Cru Gewurztraminer SGN (500 ML) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2000 |
Sonnenglanz Grand Cru Pinot Gris SGN (500 ML) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2000 |
Sonnenglanz Grand Cru Gewurztraminer VT (500 ML) |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2000 |
Sonnenglanz Grand Cru Pinot Gris VT (500 ML) |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Marcel Deiss |
2000 |
Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Vin  |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2002): On the palate, this gorgeously expansive offering is thick, medium-bodied, lush, and elegant. A profound wine, it is immensely powerful yet graceful and harmonious. Armed with a huge depth of fruit, its personality exhibits honeyed tea, mineral, white fruit, juniper berry, clove, raspberry, and peach flavors that linger interminably. Prodigiously balanced and densely-packed, this gem has the capacity to age for twenty years or more.
VM 95-98 (8/2001): Flamboyant aromas of lime, minerals, flowers and mint. Extremely dense and dusty; boasts an amazingly chewy, tactile quality. In fact, this extraordinary wine, despite its 80 grams per liter residual sugar, seemed almost dry next to the tokay SGN from the same vineyard. Already shows incredible inner-mouth complexity. Clings to the palate in a way that few wines from Alsace, or from anywhere else, can match.
WS 93 (8/2004): A full-bodied, opulent white, displaying apricot, peach, smoke and stone aromas and flavors married to an open-knit, broad profile. There's enough acidity for balance and it has a luxurious, lingering finish. Riesling with Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and others. Drink now through 2008. 500 cases made. |
|
|
2000 |
Schoenenbourg Grand Cru |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2000 |
Rotenberg |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Rene Mure |
2000 |
Clos Saint Landelin Gewurztraminer VT |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Zind Humbrecht |
2000 |
Riesling Brand Grand Cru |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2002): "If there can ever be a perfect vintage for a vineyard, 2000 was that way for Brand," said Olivier Humbrecht. He added that the 2000 Riesling Brand "is like the 1989 or 1998 yet not as sweet and with additional richness, acidity, and botrytis." Its exuberant nose displays poached pears, white peaches, liquid minerals, and apricots. On the palate, this medium to full-bodied wine is immensely rich, ample, and plump. Layers of tea-laced minerals vie with copious white fruits for the taster's attention. Intricately laced, its powerful character lasts throughout its exceedingly long finish. This prodigious wine will be at its best between 2007 and 2020.
WS 94 (12/2002): Fabulous. Full-bodied, dense and complex, this is one of the Rieslings of the vintage. Rich, with exotic, botrytis-tinged flavors of orange and honey accenting the melange of tropical fruit, pear, gingerbread and mineral aromas and flavors on a firm, broad framework. A hint of sweetness balances the bright acidity, but this needs rich food to match its opulence. Delicious now, but will improve over time. Drink now through 2010. 150 cases imported.
VM 91-94 (8/2001): Perfumed nose melds spring flowers, lime and pungent mint. Quite powerful on the palate, with enough alcohol and acidity to buffer the wine sweetness. Conveys a tactile impression of extract. This tastes fairly dry today and will be dryer still by the time the fermentation stops. Olivier figured it would end up with about 15 grams per liter residual sugar. |
|
|
2000 |
Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal SGN (375 ML) |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2003): Produced from 14 hectoliter per hectare yields, the 2000 Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Selection de Grains Nobles sports 147 grams of residual sugar per liter. Candied orange rinds, yellow plums, apricots and peaches are interspersed with smoke in the nose of this jammy, syrupy wine. A massive, hugely concentrated effort is crammed with spices, pepper, and a myriad of super-ripe yellow fruits. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2040.
VM 97 (12/2003): Full, bright gold. Exotic, roasted botrytis aromas of toffee, creme brulee and white raisin. Thick and explosively ripe in the mouth; the most roasted in character of all these SGNs but kept fresh by its superb concentration of acidity. Shows a strong flavor of vanilla on the extremely long aftertaste. These 2000 SGNs are a bit less seamless and more phenolic than the remarkably smooth 2001s, but that's splitting hairs: they all made me weak in the knees.
WS 96 (8/2003): A concentrated sweet white exuding honey, caramel, apricot and orange peel aromas and flavors that orbit around a core of bright acidity. Seamless in texture and structure, with a caressing finish. Drink now through 2015. 130 cases made. |
|
|
2000 |
Pinot Gris Heimbourg SGN (375 ML) |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2003): Caramel, brown sugar, peaches, and apricots make up the nose of the 2000 Pinot Gris Heimbourg Selection de Grains Nobles. A wide, lush, intense wine of enormous depth (9 hectoliter per hectare yields), it bastes the palate with jammy peaches, apricots, plums, and spices. This exceptionally well-balanced effort reveals a magnificently long, flavorful finish. This velvety-textured offering can be drunk over the next 30-40 years
VM 94+ (12/2003): Medium gold color. Superripe aromas of dried fruits, honey, marzipan and clove; a bit less high-toned than the Rotenberg SGN. Superripe, spicy and powerful, combining great ripeness and harmonious acidity. But this is less expressive and a bit more aggressive today than the Rotenberg.
WS 94 (8/2003): Packed with botrytis, lending concentration and honey, dried fruit and citrus notes, this has lively acidity and a thick texture, yet retains freshness and elegance. Still, it's monolithic in flavor now; needs time to show its multifaceted character. Best from 2005 through 2020. 75 cases made. |
|
|
2000 |
Pinot Gris Rotenberg SGN (375 ML) |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (10/2003): Sporting 150 grams of residual sugar per liter, the 2000 Pinot Gris Rotenberg Selection de Grains Nobles explodes from the glass with stupendous aromatics of botrytis-laced peaches, spices, and apricots. Sweet yellow fruits are found in this powerful, plush, oily-textured offering. Projected maturity: 2006-2030+.
VM 95 (12/2003): Yellow-gold color. Captivating, vibrant aromas of candied apricot and orange. Supersweet and juicy; less thick than the last couple of 2001 SGNs, thanks to acidity that's almost shockingly strong for 2000 even if it's lower than that of the 2001s. High-toned, racy, sexy SGN that will need time to unwind.
WS 95 (8/2003): Plush and mouthcoating, yet never heavy, this dessert white vibrates with spice, honey and dried tropical fruit. Really intense and focused on the palate, with enough acidity to drive the flavors to a long conclusion. Long aftertaste of mint and honey. Drink now through 2020. 140 cases made. |
|
|
2000 |
Riesling Clos Windsbuhl VT |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (10/2002): Minerals, clove-spiked pears, and peaches make up the aromatic profile of the 2000 Riesling Clos Windsbuhl Vendanges Tardives. This spectacular wine combines exceptional power and richness with magnificent detail and balance. Medium to full-bodied, plump, exuberant, and intense, its feminine flavor profile is dominated with spiced red berries. Drink it between 2007 and 2020+. |
|
| | Australia |
| Glaetzer |
2005 |
Amon-Ra Barossa Valley Shiraz Bin-Soiled Label |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2006): The profound 2005 Shiraz Amon Ra is fashioned from a dry grown, 100- to 110 year-old vineyard, and spends 14 months in a combination of 100% new French and American barrels as well as 300-liter hogsheads. A saturated purple color is followed by scents of creme de cassis, incense, licorice, black raspberries, graphite, and sweet wood. It unfolds beautifully on the palate to reveal terrific richness, full-bodied power, great definition, and lovely elegance. This exquisite Shiraz is still young, but it possesses a degree of accessibility. It should age for two decades. It is a superb example of cutting edge winemaking being utilized on ancient Shiraz vines in the Barossa.
WS 92 (5/2007): Smooth, round and spicy, with star anise and soy sauce overtones to the rich cherry and toast flavors, lingering on the generous finish. Has depth and impressive detail. Best from 2008 through 2015. 1,000 cases made. |
|
| Kaesler |
2005 |
The Bogan Shiraz |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2006): Aged in new and one-year-old American oak, and made in a completely different style, the 2005 Shiraz The Bogan (from 25- to 105-year-old vines) is a dense purple-colored effort displaying an exuberant nose of toast, blackberries, cassis, cherries, and damp earth. It is full-bodied and powerful with fabulous purity and texture as well as a blockbuster finish. This is a classic example of Barossa Shiraz at its finest. Enjoy it over the next 12-15 years.
VM 93 (7/2007): Inky violet. Explosively perfumed bouquet of creme de mure, blueberry, vanilla, rose, clove and cinnamon. Velvety in texture and strikingly sweet, with powerful dark berry and cherry flavors underscored by strong vanillin oak. But this doesn't come off as woody, thanks to immensely concentrated dark berry fruit, which seems to explode on the aftertaste. Wonderfully expressive shiraz with the depth and balance to repay cellaring. But it's hard to resist today. |
|
| Massena Winery |
2005 |
The Eleventh Hour Shiraz |
$29 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2006): From 60- to 100-year old vines that were saved from the bulldozer during the infamous Barossa “vine pull” (hence the name), the 2005 Shiraz Eleventh Hour was cropped at .5 tons of fruit per acre, and aged in 100% French oak, of which 5% was new. Sweet, pure aromas of blackberries, blueberries, crushed pepper, and flowers jump from the glass of this inky/purple-colored Shiraz. As one might expect from such tiny yields, it is a wine of great intensity, massive body, and tremendous purity, definition, and length. While still primary, it gives all the indications of being a modern day classic that should last and improve for 15-20 years. |
|
| Shirvington |
2005 |
Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2006): A gorgeous effort, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon screams blueberries, creme de cassis, licorice, cedar, and spice box. The oak component can not stand up to the lavish, extravagant amounts of fruit and glycerin. This intense, full-bodied, surprisingly pure and elegant Cabernet should last at least a decade.
WS 89 (6/2007): Bright and lively, this pulses with blueberry and currant fruit that's nicely framed with refined tannins and enough acidity to keep it fresh. Drink now through 2010. 775 cases made. |
|
| Two Hands |
2005 |
For Love or Money Semillon (500 ML) |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Bellevue |
2000 |
St. Emilion Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (6/2010): This was the breakthrough vintage for this fabulous terroir that had been under-exploited for so many years. A collaboration between Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt, this medium to full-bodied, pure blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc reveals aromas reminiscent of a liqueur of crushed rocks, black currants, and raspberries. The tannins are still present, and the wine is firmer than I expected, but it is loaded. Made in a distinctive, singular, elegant style, it will be even better in 5-6 years, and should last for two decades thereafter - longer than I originally predicted.
WS 91 (3/2003): Impressive fruit in this wine, with crushed plums and spices. Full- to medium-bodied, with super silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. A refined and beautiful wine. Best after 2008. |
|
| Ch. Calon-Segur |
2000 |
St. Estephe |
$179 |
13 |
|
| |
WA 94 (4/2003): A dense, traditionally crafted wine for those with patience, the 2000 Calon-Segur rivals the estate's finest wines of the last two decades, the 1995, 1988, and 1982. But be forewarned, this wine has already closed down, something totally in character with all top vintages from this estate. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc exhibits a plum/purple color along with gorgeous aromas of creosote intermixed with spring flowers, black cherries, cassis, licorice, and stony, liquid minerals. A powerful, tannic, full-bodied and opulent wine, it possesses considerable structure that is reasonably well-concealed by considerable glycerin and intensity. Look for it to be at its best between 2012-2040. Patience, patience, patience!
NM 93+ (11/2011): Tasted at Kettners in London just after the August riots, the millennial Calon-Segur is a great wine that has a 30-40 year lifespan. That bouquet is still so bloomin’ broody and takes a while to open, eventually and reluctantly offering crisp red-berried fruits interlaced with graphite and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm tannic structure and very good balanced with a fan of truffle and a touch of espresso towards the masculine finish. Nice grip and persistency here. Excellent.
WS 93 (3/2003): Lovely berry, spice and leather aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with firm and silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. A harmonious wine. Not quite what it was from barrel, but Outstanding all the same. Racy Calon. Best after 2010.
VM 90+ (6/2003): Full red-ruby. Musky aromas of tart red berries, smoke and meat, with a light medicinal nuance. Suave on entry, then rather tightly wound, even a bit youthfully dry. Fairly rich wine, but the redcurrant, smoke and spice flavors are presently dominated by solid underlying structure. Finishes firmly tannic, with sneaky persistence. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Canon La Gaffeliere |
2000 |
St. Emilion |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (4/2003): This is a triumphant 2000, flamboyant, super-concentrated, yet classic in proportions. Lavish notes of roasted espresso, melted chocolate, creme de cassis, toasty new oak, and Asian spices jump from the glass of this sensationally perfumed, rather ostentatious 2000. It is enormously concentrated and pure, with low acidity and exquisite balance. Remarkably, in spite of its large size, viscosity, and opulence, it is fresh and delineated. Potentially the finest Canon-la-Gaffeliere made to date, this impeccably made wine will drink well between 2006-2022. |
|
|
2000 |
St. Emilion Wine-Stained Label |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (4/2003): This is a triumphant 2000, flamboyant, super-concentrated, yet classic in proportions. Lavish notes of roasted espresso, melted chocolate, creme de cassis, toasty new oak, and Asian spices jump from the glass of this sensationally perfumed, rather ostentatious 2000. It is enormously concentrated and pure, with low acidity and exquisite balance. Remarkably, in spite of its large size, viscosity, and opulence, it is fresh and delineated. Potentially the finest Canon-la-Gaffeliere made to date, this impeccably made wine will drink well between 2006-2022. |
|
| Ch. Les Carmes Haut Brion |
2000 |
Pessac Leognan |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2010): This is a slight upgrade for this wine, which seems to be approaching full maturity but is in no danger of losing fruit or declining for at least another 10 years. It is one of the most elegant wines of the vintage, with an ethereal nose of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, and hints of bay leaf and graphite, while unsmoked cigar tobacco and plum also make an appearance in the strikingly complex aromatics and flavors. The wine is medium-bodied, not a blockbuster by any means, but a wine of terrific balance, purity, symmetry, and style. Drink it over the next 20 years.
WS 90 (3/2003): Gorgeous wine. Very ripe, with exotic fruit and smoky, earthy undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish. Much better than what I tasted from barrel. Best after 2006. 2,000 cases made.
VM 89-92 (6/2001): Medium bright ruby. Superripe, liqueur-like aromas of red berries, roast coffee, tobacco and roasted stones. Chewy, very intense, slightly roasted flavors fill the mouth. Almost exotically ripe. Finishes with big, chewy tannins and excellent persistence. A very strong vintage for this wine. |
|
| Ch. Cos d'Estournel |
2000 |
St. Estephe |
$259 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 96 (9/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. This is a fantastic Cos d’Estournel that I was unsure about out of barrel, but is now blossoming with age. It is adorned with a lovely nose: blackberry, wild hedgerow, espresso, a touch of chocolate and sandalwood. Very fine definition and vigour. The palate is full-bodied with ripe tannins, superb symmetrical structure, dense, obdurate black fruits, a saline note, very well balanced, very focused, broadening out nicely towards the ravishing, supple finish. Excellent. Drink 2015-2040.
MB [[*****]] (3/2001): Subtle, fragrant but low-keyed and harbouring sweaty, leathery tannins; sweet, almost fruit salad- delectable. Tannic of course. Will keep well.
WS 96 (3/2003): (Wine Spectator #2 wine of 2003): Absolutely gorgeous on the nose, with currants, blackberries and freshly cut flowers. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a solid core of fruit. This goes on and on on the palate. The essence of class and refinement. Relatively good value, considering the superb quality. No better Cos since 1989. Best after 2010. 20,830 cases made.
JS 95 (4/2014): Hits you instantly with loads of spice—curry, cinnamon and cardamom. It’s full-bodied, rich and refreshing, and persistent on the palate with spice and cherry. A real beauty.
WA 91 (6/2010): Showing some lightening at the edges as well as some amber, this is the least impressive of the greatest vintages for Cos d’Estournel between 2000 and 2009. It is an Outstanding wine, but it is closer to maturity and lacking the concentration, texture, and overall compelling aromatics of more recent vintages. The wine displays roasted herbs intermixed with licorice, incense, black cherry, and black currant fruit. Medium-bodied, rather than full, elegant, with some spicy tannins and a nice sweet finish, compared to the other top classified growths, this wine is on a much faster evolutionary track and can be drunk now and over the next 15 or more years.
VM 90 (6/2003): Full ruby-red. Cassis, minerals, cedar and a floral note on the nose, along with an herbal currant leaf component. Juicy and tight; hints at the power of the vintage but misses out on the sweetness and pliancy of the best examples. Offers a reasonably seamless texture but the firmly tannic finish seems a bit herbaceous following the 2001. |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2000 |
St. Julien |
$259 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 97 (10/2010): Tasted at Farr’s Ducru-Beaucaillou dinner at the Ledbury. Consistent notes when compared to last year with a spellbinding bouquet: blackberries, smoke, a touch of dried herbs and pine needles with stunning delineation and vibrancy. The palate is full-bodied with Outstanding mineralite and a sense of symmetry that is beyond both the very impressive 1995 and 1996. It still needs another five or six years, but will be worth the wait.
JS 96 (4/2014): Wonderful rose and currant aromas with hints of mint. It’s full-bodied yet very finely textured, with good fruit concentration and length. Continuing to improve in the bottle.
WA 95 (6/2010): A stunning wine from Ducru Beaucaillou which showcases its great terroir, this elegant but substantial 2000 has a dense purple color that has hardly budged since it was first bottled. Displaying a floral note, with hints of boysenberries, black raspberries, black currants and a touch of background oak, the wine has superb concentration and density, but still has some substantial tannins that are not yet fully resolved. I originally predicted that it should be drinkable from 2010-2030, but I would modify that now to 2015-2035.
WS 95 (3/2003): Fantastic aromas of blackberries, wild berries and minerals. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied and very tight, with big, silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Superb. A muscular Ducru. Best after 2010. 17,500 cases made.
VM 92+ (5/2003): Bright ruby-red, less saturated than the 2002. Very pure aromas of cassis, minerals and mocha, with a hint of raw berries. Juicy, pure and tightly wound, with intense flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate, espresso and licorice. Broadens impressively on the long, aromatic, suave finish, showing lovely grip and class. Finer than Borie's 2000 Grand Puy Lacoste and in need of longer aging but not clearly stronger. |
|
| Ch. La Fleur Petrus |
2000 |
Pomerol |
$239 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (4/2003): A wine of superb concentration and dazzling intensity, the impressive 2000 Lafleur-Petrus is tasting even better out of bottle than it did from cask. A deep saturated purple-colored, full-bodied, powerful example that is clearly in a class with the 1998, it may be the finest Lafleur-Petrus made in the last 50 years. The 2000 exhibits plenty of cocoa, black cherry, plum, and currant fruit, a large framework, and impressive concentration as well as power. I always thought this was an improved "bigger" version of the 1975, and I have no reason to think otherwise based on its performance from bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
VM 92 (6/2003): Bright ruby-red. Superripe, highly perfumed aromas of raspberry, tobacco, minerals and spices. Sweet, lush and deep, with liqueur-like red fruits complicated by notes of tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Very silky, voluminous Pomerol with real sweetness and inner-mouth perfume. A thoroughly seductive vintage for this chateau.
WS 92 (3/2003): Very silky young red. Bright aromas of pressed flowers and blueberries. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Subtle red. Solid. Needs time. Best after 2010. 3,600 cases made. |
|
| Ch. Gruaud Larose |
2000 |
St. Julien |
$165 |
3 |
|
| |
WS 95 (3/2003): Absolutely wonderful aromas of flowers, currants and citrus. Full-bodied, yet very, very refined, with a center core of fruit that tastes like crushed raspberries and goes on and on. Greatest wine from this estate since 1945. Best after 2010. 18,750 cases made.
WA 94 (4/2003): This saturated bluish-black/purple-colored wine seems at first closed and broodingly backward. In the mouth, it is dense, textured, full-bodied, pure, yet, at the same time, closed. This wine is large-sized, with high tannin but equally high extract and richness. The wine will require patience, and seems to me to be the best effort Gruaud Larose has put forth since their sumptuous 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.
NM 93 (1/2012): Tasted at The Ledbury Gruaud Larose lunch, this bottle is consistent with previous encounters. The nose has very good lift, opening up a little more with age with blackberry, tobacco and showing a touch of crushed stone this time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins but bold and there is much more cohesion than the 1999. There is a hint of Hoi Sin towards the finish that is still dominated by blackberry, cedar and graphite. It needs another five or six years to really come round, but great potential.
VM 93 (6/2003): Bright ruby. Liqueur-like aromas of roasted black raspberry, leather and grilled nuts. Lush, sweet and thick, with an almost unctuous texture and terrific volume. A wine of compelling sweetness and chewiness, not to mention sheer mouthfilling size. Finishes with huge, broad, sweet tannins and lingering notes of blackcurrant, coffee and leather. Classic, thoroughly ripe Gruaud-Larose. |
|
| Ch. Haut Bergey |
2000 |
Pessac Leognan |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (4/2003): A stunning achievement from this unheralded vineyard, the saturated ruby/purple-colored 2000 displays a striking perfume of cigar smoke, scorched earth, roasted espresso, and intense black cherry/currant fruit. It possesses luxurious richness, medium to full body, sweet tannin, and a seamless, silky-textured finish that lasts for nearly 45 seconds. This brilliant achievement satisfies both the hedonistic and intellectual senses. Moreover, it is a good value, and surprisingly accessible in spite of its density. A bottle kept open for 5 days never revealed any oxidation ... always a good barometer of a wine's aging potential. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. |
|
| Ch. Lafleur Gazin |
2000 |
Pomerol |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2014 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$1,029.98 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (3/2017): The 2014 Leoville Barton is one of the must-buys of the vintage. Now in bottle, it has a very pure bouquet that gains intensity in the glass, laden with blackberry and raspberry coulis scents, cold wet stone, a wonderful mineralite that becomes more conspicuous with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, a fine line of acidity that lends this precision and nervosite. There is class and sophistication in situ, not a powerful Leoville Barton, but beautifully poised. This is just a brilliant forerunner to the 2015 and it should represent great value.
VM 94 (3/2018): The 2014 Leoville Barton has a crisp, poised bouquet with graphite tinged black fruit, hints of crushed flower and clove, nicely define and gaining definition with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, beautifully judged acidity, sophisticated and poised, fanning out with confidence towards the fresh, energetic finish. This is a succinct and beautifully crafted Saint Julien with many years of drinking enjoyment to give. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Neal Martin.
WS 94 (3/2017): This has a solid core of cassis, blueberry confiture and plum sauce flavors, wrapped with warm ganache and licorice snap notes, kept honest by graphite rivets along the finish. This has lots of muscle, but stays lean and long. Best from 2020 through 2035. 11,667 cases made.
JS 94 (2/2017): Very aromatic with cherries and blackberries. Hints of flowers. Full body, lightly chewy yet ultra-fine tannins and a fresh finish. Tangy and delicious. Racy. Better in 2021.
JD 93 (11/2017): While a solid step back from the sensational 2015, the 2014 Leoville Barton is still a beauty. Possessing medium-bodied notes of cassis, sweet oak, spice and flowers, this impeccably balanced Saint-Julien is incredibly classy, layered and pure on the palate. While this cuvee can be backward and difficult to taste young, the 2014 has a supple, beautifully textured, fresh style that’s already approachable. Nevertheless, a few years in the cellar will do it well, and it should keep for two to three decades. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2000 |
St. Julien |
$189 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 97 (6/2010): The plushest, most ostentatious and dramatic of all the Leovilles in 2000, this wine is already sumptuous, displaying some nuances in its huge nose of vanilla bean, black chocolate, jammy black cherries, cassis, and graphite in a flamboyant style. Opulent, savory, rich, and full-bodied, it is a head-turning, prodigious wine and a complete contrast to the extracted behemoth of Leoville Barton and the backward, classic Leoville Las Cases. The Poyferre’s low acidity, sweet tannin and an already gorgeous mouthfeel make it a wine to drink now as well as over the next 25 or more years.
NM 95 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. A sensuous, ripe, harmonious bouquet soars seductively from the glass; red-berried fruit, leather, scorched earth, orange peel and a touch of marmalade. Very good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, lovely focus and purity, seamless texture, cedar and smoke laced black fruits with a touch of graphite towards the finish. This 2000 just does not put a foot wrong. Bravo Didier! Drink 2013-2035.
WS 95 (12/2015): Pure and focused, with some still-primal blueberry reduction and plum sauce flavors at first, moving to hints of black currant and fig paste. As this moves along, it shows more development, picking up bay, smoldering cigar and warm ganache notes through the finish. Rich and long, and just starting to hit its stride. Drink now through 2028. 20,000 cases made.
JS 93 (4/2012): This has spices, meat, dark and ripe fruits, and a light sultana character. Full-bodied, tight and firm with a beautiful freshness and great length with notes of licorice and citrus skin. Fascinating stuff. Leave this alone for at least a couple of years. Should be better after 2012.
VM 90 (5/2003): Good full medium ruby. Subdued, slightly roasted nose combines cassis, cherry and chocolate mint. Chocolatey-sweet but less deep and expressive than the '02 and '01. Offers good currant and cherry flavors but seems a bit dry-edged and medicinal for a 2000, without quite the harmony of components of the subsequent vintages here. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2000 |
Pauillac |
$225 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2011): Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully over the last eleven years, this wine is still an adolescent, but it exhibits admirable purity, texture, mouthfeel and power combined with elegance. One of the all-time great examples of Lynch Bages, the 2000 is just beginning to drink well yet promises to last for another 20-25+ years.
WS 96 (7/2016): This has a dense but well-defined core of currant and fig paste flavors supported by a gorgeous graphite spine. Long and authoritative, with notes of bay, pepper, leather and juniper slowly emerging on the finish. Terrific structure and integration give this a chiseled feel. No rush here.—2000 Bordeaux blind retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2033.
JD 95 (4/2021): Finally rounding the corner, the 2000 Château Lynch-Bages is mature, with classic Pauillac darker currants, lead pencil, tobacco leaf, and spice-laced aromatics. With a deep plum color and slight lightening at the edges, it's medium to full-bodied and has a layered texture as well as integrated tannins. A classic, elegant, yet still powerful Lynch-Bages, it delivers plenty of sweet fruit and a great finish. It benefits from an hour of air and will certainly hold at this stage for another 10-15 years with no issues.
JS 95 (4/2014): Another wonderful 2000 coming out of its long sleep. Beautiful aromas of berry, tobacco, herb and spice that follow through to a full palate with round, textured tannins and lots of fruit.
VM 94+ (1/2012): (71% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot, 11% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; 5.5 g/l total acidity; 13.3% alcohol): Deep ruby-red. Knockout aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, mocha and cedar complicated by scorched earth and tobacco. Big, ripe and dense, with flavors similar to the aromas and a seamless, rich texture. Though powerful and rich, with a sensual mouthfeel, it maintains a graceful, light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with ripe, fine-grained tannins and excellent length. Still an infant, but clearly a great vintage for this property. Ian d'Agata. |
|
| Ch. Monbousquet |
2000 |
St. Emilion |
$99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (4/2003): From an unheralded terroir, this Monbousquet was made from extremely low yields of 28-30 hectoliters per hectare. Aged sur lie and bottled unfined and unfiltered, it exemplifies proprietor Perse's enormous efforts. Black and blue to the rim, this wine represents the essence of this terroir. Its saturated black/purple color is accompanied by extraordinary aromatics of sweet blackberries, chocolate, coffee, incense, new saddle leather, and vanilla. Remarkable intensity, lively acidity, and abundant tannin provide definition and grip. This is the most intense, muscular, and "biggest" Monbousquet made to date, and that is saying something considering the 1998 and 1999! So be prepared, it is remarkable wine. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018.
VM 92 (6/2003): Bright ruby-red. Roasted currant and black cherry scents complicated by sexy oak. At once chewy and silky in the mouth, with complex, fresh flavors of plum, redcurrant, vanilla, coffee, smoky oak and woodsy underbrush. Finishes sweet and long, with thoroughly ripe tannins. This was bottled in February of this year after 28 months in barrel; it wasn't too long ago that this wine received barely 18 months of elevage.
WS 89 (7/2003): Big and juicy, with a slightly barnyard character. This shows loads of fruit, with dark chocolate and berry. Meaty, rustic finish. Slightly too rustic to be Outstanding. Best after 2006. 6,665 cases made. |
|
| Clos de l' Oratoire |
2000 |
St. Emilion Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (4/2003): This is one of St-Emilion's foothill (pieds de cotes) vineyards planted with 90% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The vinification is classic Stephan von Neipperg and Stephane Derenoncourt. Undoubtedly the finest effort this property has yet produced, the black-colored 2000 offers up sexy notes of espresso, chocolate, Asian spices, black cherry liqueur, and blackberries. Opulent, chewy, and powerful, this deep, full-bodied wine has layers of ripe fruit, huge power, yet a classic, well-delineated style. A brilliant wine. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2019.
VM 90 (6/2003): Medium ruby. Roasted red and black fruits and a meaty nuance on the nose. Sweet, fat and very ripe; seems more Pomerol in style than St. Emilion. Finishes with full, ripe tannins. "A bon-bon, not an intellectual wine," says proprietor Stephan von Neipperg. |
|
| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2000 |
Pessac Leognan Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$185 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2010): This wine stands out as a sensational effort just a few years away from full maturity. A 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine displays loads of scorched earth and smoky barbecue scents along with blueberry, black raspberry and black currant. The wine is expansive, has a savory, broad palate and a full-bodied mouthfeel, yet possesses vivid purity and uplift. The tannins are still present, but they are sweet and well-integrated. This wine should hit full maturity in another year or two and last for at least 20 more years.
JS 94 (10/2016): A soft and rich red now with so much meat, chocolate, stone and even game. Then there's dark and bright fruit under. Full body, velvety tannins and a fresh finish.
WS 92 (12/2015): Showing some considerable maturity, with prominent smoldering tobacco and cedar notes at the fore, followed by steeped blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors and a finish that courses with warm tar and singed bay leaf depths. Underneath, though, the tannins are rich and long, so this may stay at this point for some time. -2000 Bordeaux blind retrospective. Drink now through 2026. 7,333 cases made.
VM 91 (5/2003): Red-ruby. Smoky, highly aromatic nose of plum liqueur, raspberry, violet, tobacco, hot rocks and tomato. Dense, sweet and gamey, with slightly medicinal raw currant fruit complicated by tomato and tobacco leaf. This shows a lot of Graves character. Finishes with firm but sweet tannins and very good breadth. |
|
| Ch. Pavie Macquin |
2000 |
St. Emilion |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (4/2003): A wine of great density, concentration, and intensity, the opaque blue/purple 2000 Pavie Macquin needs considerable aeration, but with decanting the prodigious bouquet of graphite, camphor, blackberry, blueberry, mineral, coffee, and smoky oak finally makes an appearance. Persuasive, expansive, full-bodied, and muscular, this enormously endowed, rich wine looks set for a long life, at least three decades. A terrific effort that rivals the compelling 1998. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.
VM 92 (6/2003): Medium ruby-red. Superripe, inviting aromas of raspberry, game, coffee and woodsmoke. Fat, lush and mellow, with rich raspberry, game and truffle flavors. This boasts a velvety, utterly seamless texture, with perfectly integrated acids giving the wine shape. Really expands in the mouth, displaying the volume and generosity of the vintage's best examples. Finishes with big but lush tannins and lingering sweet fruit.
WS 92 (3/2003): Complex aromas of crushed ripe fruit, with mineral and tobacco undertones. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Tight and muscular. Very fine indeed. Best after 2010. 4,165 cases made. |
|
| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron |
2000 |
Pauillac |
$249 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (6/2010): This is one of the great wines of the vintage, and certainly a candidate for one of the finest wines made at this estate under the management of Christian Seeley and proprietor AXA. Showing incredibly well at two tastings of 2000s, the wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of incense, melted asphalt, and creme de cassis as well as hints of new saddle leather and licorice. It is superbly concentrated and very pure, with excellent texture and opulence. The acidity seems low, the tannin high but well-integrated. This is a compelling 2000 that is just closing in on its window of maturity and should stay there for at least 20 or more years. Bravo!
NM 95 (3/2012): Tasted at Roberson’s Pichon Lalande/Pichon Baron vertical. Let’s face it: the nose completely blows away the Pichon-Lalande 2000, so much more fruit concentration and complexity with mulberry, boysenberry, lavender and a touch of leather. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, superb weight, very smooth and caressing, lovely weight towards the still quite oaky finish.
VM 94 (6/2003): Good full red-ruby. Complex nose combines plum, mocha, minerals, tobacco and burnished oak. A bit tight on entry, then expands and explodes toward the back, showing dense, insinuating flavors of black fruits and licorice. Chewy, sharply delineated Pichon-Baron with excellent underlying backbone and broad, palate-coating tannins. An Outstanding vintage for this estate.
WS 93 (3/2003): Fantastic aromas of currants, berries and hints of minerals. Cool and sleek. Full-bodied, with a lovely underbelly of ripe fruit and medium, silky tannins. Best Pichon Baron I have tasted since 1990. Best after 2010. |
|
| Ch. Rauzan-Segla |
2000 |
Margaux |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 95 (3/2003): Tight and muscular, with a solid core of fruit and racy tannins. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins, yet silky and refined. This is very, very toned and serious. A wine for long-term aging. Best after 2010. 8,330 cases made.
VM 91 (6/2003): Perfumed, classy aromas of dark berries, spices, licorice and bitter chocolate; a real essence of Margaux. Rich but sappy, with cassis, blackberry, boysenberry and dark chocolate flavors nicely firmed by ripe acidity. Finishes long and firmly tannic, with excellent spine and grip. By far the highest of these three vintages in tannins.
WA 90 (4/2003): While the bottled 2000 still reveals a certain sternness in addition to tough tannin, it is sweeter and more expansive and flavorful. The dark ruby/purple color is saturated and impressive. With coaxing, notes of lead pencil shavings, black currants, earth, cedar, and spice box emerge from a relatively closed, firm, medium to full-bodied wine or, as the French would say, a classic vin de garde (for long-term cellaring). Although austere, it is a classic, authoritatively flavored effort that requires patience. I would like to see sweeter tannin and more flesh built into the mid-palate, but there is no denying the classicism and purity of this 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. |
|
| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2000 |
St. Emilion |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (4/2003): Combining remarkable elegance allied to considerable power and depth, this is the finest wine from Troplong Mondot since the staggeringly great 1990. Its saturated purple color is followed by aromas of ink, creme de cassis, graphite, and toasty oak. Full-bodied and powerful, with excellent balance, this is a wine of extraordinary richness and massiveness yet surreal freshness as well as vibrancy. The finish lasts for over 45 seconds and nearly conceals some hefty tannins. With fabulous definition, richness, and intensity, this is a compelling 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2026.
VM 92+ (6/2003): Good saturated ruby-red. Expressive, thoroughly ripe aromas of blackberry, violet and game. Sweet on entry, then lush and densely packed in the middle, with terrific depth of flavor and backbone. Very ripe yet cool flavors of blackberry, espresso and licorice. A powerfully constituted wine that will need a good decade of bottle aging. But, in contrast to the 2001 and 2002 vintages, here the strong tannins are beautifully distributed and fine. A great success for this chateau. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 91 (3/2003): Lovely berry, cherry and spice, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a pretty mineral and berry aftertaste. A sexy and refined red. Best after 2009. 7,080 cases made. |
|
| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Francois Lamarche |
2017 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru les Chaumes (6x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$1,133.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Leroy |
2001 |
Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Les Narbantons (6x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$30,914.99 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 91 (1/2003): Bigger and certainly earthier than the Fremières and fine as it is, this simply cannot match the elegance, precision and knock out depth of the former wine. That said, the Narbantons is a very fine wine in its own right with smoked meat and ripe though not roasted earth aromas and rich, intense, sappy and almost robust flavors and exceptionally good length. Terrific quality. Drink 2009-2016. Outstanding!
VM 90 (3/2003): Good deep red. Ripe aromas of black raspberry, smoky oak and earth. Sweet, dense and vinous, with currant and licorice flavors and a solid mineral underpinning. Chewy and rich. Lalou Bize says this began with 13% natural alcohol and was chaptalized less than a degree. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Combottes (3x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$17,308.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 94 (4/2009): A more discreet and naturally cooler nose of extract of red pinot and blue berry fruit that is also spicy and elegant but here the coolness of the vineyard comes into play in the form of a certain reserve, particularly on the delicious and mineral suffused medium plus weight flavors that possess superb focus and really lovely detail on the layered, wonderfully complex and tautly muscular finish that goes on and on. An impressive Combottes. Drink 2019+. |
|
| | Champagne |
| Louis Roederer |
2006 |
Cristal Rose Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$2,898.99 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (5/2015): One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2006 Cristal Rose is simply stunning. A vertical, towering wine, the 2006 Cristal Rose is a thrill a minute, with a compelling interplay of aromatics and exquisitely layered fruit, all supported by a real feeling of phenolic intensity. While the 2007 is seductive, the 2006 is virile and imposing, with the statuesque lift of a Giacometti sculpture. All the elements meld together in a complete, alluring Champagne that will continue to drink beautifully for many decades. In 2006, the Pinot Noir was already being farmed biodynamically, while the Chardonnay was still under conversion. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| | Germany |
| J.J. Christoffel Erben |
2003 |
Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2004): Slate, black currants, and minerals are found in the aromatic profile of the 2003 Riesling Spatlese Urziger Wurzgarten. Medium-bodied, it reveals a juicy, polite personality filled with apples, candied lemons, and zesty citrus fruits. Projected maturity: 2006-2012. |
|
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2003 |
Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Auslese |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2004): Undoubtedly the finest 2003 Auslese I tasted is Donnhoff’s majestic 2003 Riesling Auslese Norheimer Dellchen. Its immensely complex aromas reveals a plethora of fresh herbs, minerals, slate, and apples. On the palate, this wine reveals a depth of stupendous proportions. Powerful, yet refined, it has the ethereal qualities that mark this brilliant winemaker’s best cuvees. Combining the vintage’s sensual nature with exquisite precision and refinement, this gem displays crystalline minerals enrobed in red berries whose effects linger throughout its long, sublime finish. Wow! Projected maturity: 2007-2030. Bravo to Helmut Donnhoff for this magical line-up!
WS 93 (3/2005): This expressive auslese provides a glimpse in to the future. Firm and ripe, with red berry, vanilla, citrus and mineral flavors, it merely hints at its charms. Balanced and long, give it a few years to open. Best from 2007 through 2020. |
|
| Herbert Kerpen |
2003 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese |
$29 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Muller-Catoir |
2003 |
Gimmeldinger Schlossel Rieslaner Beerenauslese (375 ML) |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2003 |
Haardter Burgergarten Rieslaner Beerenauslese (375 ML) |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| JJ Prum |
2003 |
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 91 (2/2005): Aromatic, this Riesling shows delicacy and balance in its floral, apricot and citrus notes. It's airy and appealing, with a mouthwatering tanginess. Drink now through 2020. |
|
|
2003 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 94 (3/2005): Stunning. Very aromatic and expressive, offering rose, apricot, lime and mineral notes allied to a clear, gossamer frame. Well-balanced, though somewhat soft in structure. Forward today, the finish should pick up more intensity with age. Best from 2008 through 2028.
WA 88 (12/2004): About a third of this wine was poured out, then the bottle was violently shaken to help rid it of CO2 and to allow the SO2 to blow-off some. It was then allowed to rest and aerate before being tasted. The 2003 Riesling Auslese Wehlener Sonnenuhr displays hints of minerals lurking below its wafts of sulfur. A seamless, creamy-textured wine, it is easygoing, plump, and exhibits flavors reminiscent of poached pears, cotton candy, and sweet minerals. Drink it between 2010 and 2020. |
|
| Willi Schaefer |
2003 |
Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2003 |
Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel (375 ML) Signs of Seepage |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2003 |
Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2003 |
Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Franz Karl Schmitt |
2003 |
Niersteiner Pettenthal Riesling Auslese |
$39 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Schloss Schonborn |
2003 |
Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Spatlese |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Selbach-Oster |
2003 |
Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Eiswein (375 ML) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Robert Weil |
2003 |
Kiedrich Grafenberg Riesling Auslese (375 ML) |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Italy |
| Allegrini |
1999 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2004): The impressive 1999 Amarone della Valpolicella is from a vintage which was anything but easy, but apparently created few problems here. Rich, jammy, and spicy aromas are followed by full and voluminous flavors, broad and warmly alcoholic with abundant super-ripe fruit and notes of chocolate, solid but voluptuous and extremely long on the finish. Drink: 2005-2020. |
|
| Elio Altare |
1999 |
Barolo Vigneto Arborina |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 96 (7/2004): This smells like a fruit bowl. Is it Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir from Côte de Nuits? Fabulous. Full-bodied, with soft, refined tannins and a generous palate of ultrarich yet refined fruit. You could drink it now but it will reward those who are patient. From the 25-acre Arborina vineyard in Annunziata. Best after 2009. 550 cases made.
WA 95 (5/2006): 1999 Barolo Arborina—Dark ruby. The Arborina takes thing to another level entirely, with an extraordinary nose and aromas that literally blossom out of the glass. There is wonderful continuity on the palate, where the wine displays profoundly expressive notes of red fruit, minerals, and menthol in a richer, weightier style than the normale with notable length and concentration yet maintaining a graceful sense of balance and poise. Altare is single-handedly responsible for elevating the quality, and therefore prestige, of the Arborina vineyard even though he is the first to say it is not a first class site. Yet his interpretation transcends place, and this is simply a must-have wine.
VM 94 (12/2002): Full, bright, deep red. Superripe aromas of strawberry, tobacco and cedary oak; smells considerably deeper than the '98 Arborina. Then lush, layered and perfumed in the mouth; a very silky wine with a solid underlying backbone. Complicating note of tobacco. Finishes with serious but thoroughly ripe tannins and excellent persistence. |
|
| Altesino |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 95 (10/2004): Deep, dense aromas of porcini and wild strawberry turn to fresh tobacco. Full-bodied, with tight and refined tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. A big, muscular, powerful Montosoli. Austere now; needs years of bottle age. Best after 2009. 1,500 cases made
WA 91 (4/2005): The single-vineyard 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli, riper and icier in aroma than the regular bottling, full and with interesting notes of anisette and tar, features flavors of an important richness and density, slightly backward but very substantial and sustained. The additional intensity on the finish suggests another fifteen years of good drinking ahead.
VM 86 (10/2004): Bright, dark red. Very ripe nose shows a distinctly party quality. Sweeter and fatter than the basic bottling, with notes of herbs and licorice, but offers less definition and verve, despite possessing rather strong acidity. Finishes with dusty, drying tannins. A rather awkward combination of roasted flavors and ungiving texture. |
|
|
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli Scuffed Label |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 95 (10/2004): Deep, dense aromas of porcini and wild strawberry turn to fresh tobacco. Full-bodied, with tight and refined tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. A big, muscular, powerful Montosoli. Austere now; needs years of bottle age. Best after 2009. 1,500 cases made
WA 91 (4/2005): The single-vineyard 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli, riper and icier in aroma than the regular bottling, full and with interesting notes of anisette and tar, features flavors of an important richness and density, slightly backward but very substantial and sustained. The additional intensity on the finish suggests another fifteen years of good drinking ahead.
VM 86 (10/2004): Bright, dark red. Very ripe nose shows a distinctly party quality. Sweeter and fatter than the basic bottling, with notes of herbs and licorice, but offers less definition and verve, despite possessing rather strong acidity. Finishes with dusty, drying tannins. A rather awkward combination of roasted flavors and ungiving texture. |
|
| Poggio Antico |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 93 (7/2010): Offers lavender, berry and delicate cassis, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very pretty and balanced. There's no use holding back this beautiful Brunello.—'99 Brunello blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 1,760 cases made.
VM 91+ (8/2006): The estate's 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva appears to be in a very shut-down stage at the moment. A deep ruby, it shows notable concentration and great length on the palate, yet it isn't terribly expressive either in its aromas and flavors, showing just the barest hint of its dark, massive fruit. That said this wine's texture is absolutely gorgeous and my sense is that I caught it at an awkward stage. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Altero |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (9/2004): Saturated ruby. Explosive aromas of fraise des bois, coffee, smoke, truffle, woodsmoke and earth; reminded me of Clos de la Roche. Very dense, broad and supple, with Burgundian notes of underbrush, truffle and flowers. Finishes with big, broad, tongue-dusting tannins and superb length. This is denser and more muscular than this winery's "regular" bottling, but shows less early sweetness and a bit less finesse and complexity today. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Castelgiocondo (Frescobaldi) |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 95 (5/1994): A tight and chewy wine, with full body and lots of raisin and spice character. Impressive, ripe tannins. Thick and powerful; needs time in the bottle. From one of the most serious producers in Montalcino now. Best after 2007. 21,660 cases made.
WA 91 (4/2005): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino is, for me the best produced to date (though there will unquestionably be a Riserva from the vintage next year), a blackish garnet with a sizeable and warm nose of plums, resin, liquorice, and chocolate and a substantial, firm, and intense palate, sustained and lingering on the aftertaste.
VM 89+ (10/2004): Good medium ruby color. Superripe aroma of kirsch Sweet, dense and a bit youthfully musclebound, with concentrated flavors of black cherry, blackberry and Valrhona chocolate. Still a bit folded in on itself, but this is solid, young and built to age. May ultimate merit an Outstanding rating. |
|
| Cavallotto |
1999 |
Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (1/2006): 1999 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe— Dark ruby. This classic Barolo exemplifies all of the best qualities of this great terroir, with layers of sweet dark fruit, licorice, tar, menthol, scorched earth and tobacco flavors that coat the palate with great purity of expression and persistence on the palate. Less immediate than the 2000, the richly structured 1999 San Giuseppe will benefit from at least a few years of cellaring, but aged bottles of this wine have proven to be exceptional and well worth the wait.
VM 90+ (12/2004): Medium red. Subdued but pure aromas of red berries, menthol and spices. Juicy and tightly wound; showing limited fat today and rather dominated by its structure but not at all spiky. Offers subtle inner-mouth perfume and minerality. Finishes juicy, with firm, slightly drying, old-style tannins and very good length. Needs patience.
WS 90 (2/2006): Plum and berry aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with very fine tannins and a fresh finish. Refined wine. Pretty thing. Best after 2005. 1,110 cases made. |
|
| Domenico Clerico |
1999 |
Barolo Pajana Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (5/2006): 1999 Barolo Pajana—Dark ruby. Clerico’s 1999 Pajana is simply an outrageous wine. It explodes out of the glass with an aromatic nose and masses of heady, sumptuous dark fruit, prune, plum, and licorice sensations that burst onto the palate in an extraordinary expression of Nebbiolo that leaves me speechless. An awesome effort and a benchmark wine for the appellation. Highly recommended. 95/drink after 2009.
WS 95 (11/2003): Layers and layers of fruit. Intense aromas of blackberry, tobacco, mineral and dried mushroom. Full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and rich and wonderful fruit. Long, long finish. Goes on and on. I like it better than the Outstanding 1998. Clerico is a master again. Best after 2010. 550 cases made. |
|
| Aldo Conterno |
1999 |
Barolo Cicala |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (11/2002): Bright full red. Highly aromatic, minerally nose of raspberry, spice and underbrush; less open today than the Colonnello but very pure and noble. Wonderfully sweet on entry, then considerably less evolved in the middle palate. A powerful, penetrating wine with superb acidity and grip. Firmly tannic, tough and long, but the tannins are nonetheless buried under explosive fruit. The Colonnello is gentler and sweeter on the back today, but this rather masculine Barolo has uncanny persistence. One of the stars of the vintage. The Conterno 1999 Barolos all say 14% alcohol on the label, but the actual level is even higher, according to Franco.
WA 92 (5/2006): 1999 Barolo Cicala—Medium ruby. Owing to its poor soils, Cicala always gives the firmest wines, and this 1999 is no exception. It offers attractive mineral, menthol, and tobacco aromas, along with plenty of sweet fruit on a deceptively medium bodied frame of great length. It should drink well to at least age 25.
WS 91 (11/2003): Refined and aromatic. Very pretty dried flowers on the nose, with hints of plum and other ripe red fruit. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a ripe fruit finish. Best after 2006. 800 cases made. |
|
| San Filippo (Fanti) |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 90 (10/2004): Balanced and silky red with lovely character of plums and light toasted oak that verges on cedar. Medium- to full-bodied, with good fruit and a fresh finish. Elegant and refined, like a beautiful Sangiovese should be. Best after 2006. 2,500 cases made. |
|
| Angelo Gaja |
2019 |
Barolo Sperss (3x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$1,507.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (5/2023): The 2019 Barolo Sperss is rich with dark mineral earth, black cherry, and Earl Grey tea. Long and mouthwatering, it has a powerful structure while retaining finesse. It is fantastically balanced, with gripping tannins, fresh acidity, and notes of forested earth and ripe red berries. A wine for the long haul, this is another great and noble wine to drink over the coming three decades. Audrey Frick.
VM 98 (10/2023): A wine of stature and breeding, the 2019 Barolo Sperss is pure Serralunga power. Dark toned fruit, lavender, licorice, gravel and crushed rocks soar from the glass. There is plenty of the brooding intensity and tannic heft that are such signatures, but the 2019 is also wonderfully refined. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Elio Grasso |
1999 |
Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Mate Lightly Scuffed Label |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
1999 |
Barolo Runcot |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 92 (12/2004): Wonderful perfumes of blackberries and vanilla follow through to a full-bodied palate with firm tannins yet a silky and a medium-long finish. Very well-crafted. Best after 2006. 580 cases made, 200 cases imported. |
|
| Lisini |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (4/2005): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino shows what the house can do when the sun shines. The classic garnet color is followed by the equally recognizable aromas of plums, tar, and leather, and the powerful, lengthy, mineral-laced flavors indicate that this is a wine built to age. Drink: 2005-2017.
VM 91 (8/2006): Lisini's 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolaia presents generous sensations of over-ripe jammy fruit and alcohol with great concentration and expansiveness on the palate and a sublime, long finish. Made in a powerful, seamless style, Ugolaia is clearly a wine crafted to impress, and indeed initially it succeeds, but upon closer reflection it comes across as somewhat one-dimensional in its expression.
WS 87 (12/2009): There's a slightly amber hue to this red, with cooked fruit, meat and jam on the nose. Full-bodied, with jammy, rustic fruit and a medium finish. Starting to fade. Drying. Disappointing really.—'99 Brunello blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. 2,500 cases made. |
|
| Casanova di Neri |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto |
$229 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (8/2006): Neri's 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is simply an unforgettable wine. Boasting tremendous concentration and deep, rich color, this potent Brunello exudes vibrant layers of tar, scorched earth, licorice, mineral and dark fruit that captivate the taster in an extraordinary display of power and finesse. Constantly revealing new shades of nuance as it opens in the glass, it is one of the most unique and utterly compelling wines I tasted on my recent trip to Montalcino. I imagine it will still offer great drinking at age twenty. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Petrolo |
2015 |
Galatrona (6x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$582.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| La Poderina |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 96 (5/2004): Incredible richness to this red, with layers of blackberry, licorice and treacle tart on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, with loads of silky tannins and a long, long finish. Seductive stuff- even better than 1997. Get it. Best after 2006. 4,375 cases made.
WA 91 (4/2005): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino, fresh and dark in color, shows much floral and mineral Sangiovese character in its red currant and wild cherry nose and a broad and enveloping palate, rich and smooth in texture and admirably long on the flow. Drink: 2005-2016.
VM 88+ (10/2004): Fresh medium ruby. Aromatic nose combines roasted berries, chocolate and spicecake. Sweet, concentrated and primary, with rather clenched, medicinal flavors of dark berries and minerals. Cleanly made but not yet showing much nuance. Almost brutal in the mid-palate, but the tannins are fairly supple. |
|
| Il Poggione |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 95 (5/2005): Wonderful aromas of crushed berries and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with loads of fruit and big, velvety tannins. Goes on and on. Best ever from here. Best after 2006. 2,500 cases made. |
|
| Roagna |
2012 |
Barolo La Pira (6x750ML)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$749.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (10/2017): The 2012 Barolo Pira is deep, dense and voluptuous, especially for the vintage. There is plenty of Roagna structure, but the tannins are nearly buried by the sheer density of the fruit. Sweet herbs, tobacco, underbrush, menthol and licorice give the Pira a wild, unrestrained side that I personally find hugely appealing. If there is one wine readers should not miss in this set of new releases, the 2012 Pira is it. What a wine! Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Salvioni |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Cerbaiola |
$250 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (5/2016): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino is exceptional. One of the most dazzling, captivating wines in this vertical, the 1999 possesses fabulous textural depth allied to energy. The aromatics are just beginning to show the first signs of tertiary nuance, while the vibrant, saline finish suggests the 1999 still has plenty to say. Readers lucky enough to own the 1999 can look forward to another decade-plus of superb drinking. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Poggio San Polo |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Livio Sassetti |
1999 |
Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93+ (10/2004): Deep red. Ineffable, deep aromas of wild strawberry, blackberry, espresso, underbrush and sweet oak. Densely packed and sweet, with strong minerality contributing to the impression of extract. A big, mouthfilling wine that's rich and broad but also quite vibrant. Finishes impressively long and bright, with horizontal, very fine tannins.
WA 91 (4/2005): The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino is a big wine, but with the shapeliness which always characterizes this producer’s wines. The ripe and ample notes of red fruit, leather, liquorice, and game are followed by the classic smoothness and melting tannins of Sassetti wines, continuous and caressing and with a rise in the intensity and sense of solidity on the finish. Deceptively ready, it will easily last another dozen years. |
|
| Tenuta San Guido |
2018 |
Sassicaia (3x1.5L)
ETA 120-180 Days; No cancellations or returns |
$1,956.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Castello del Terriccio |
1999 |
Lupicaia |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (8/2003): 90% cabernet sauvignon with 10% merlot) Dark ruby with a violet core; quite opaque. Incredibly sweet and sensuous aromas of crushed dark berry fruit. Intense blackberry fills the mouth, along with bittersweet chocolate and mint; very concentrated. The big, round tannins are leavened by a layer of refreshing acidity and the very long finish is sustained by a distinct mineral element. A wine of compelling richness.
WS 89 (9/2002): Lots of currants and berries, with hints of smoke and minerals. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long, succulent, ripe fruit aftertaste. Refined. Ridiculous price. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best after 2004. 2,500 cases made. |
|
| | Other White |
| Kracher |
2002 |
Zwischen Den Seen TBA #10 Scheurebe (375 ML) |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2002 |
Zwischen Den Seen TBA #5 Scheurebe (375 ML) |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2005): #5 Scheurebe Trockenbeerenauslese Zwischen den Seen displays vividly Scheurebe-typical aromas of sage, peppermint, grapefruit and honey. Startlingly bright and juicy on entry, this builds strength and powers to intense, scintillating flavors of grapefruit, candied citrus rinds, honey and high-toned sweet herbal distillates joined less by the typical cassis than by a lovely note of Maine blueberries. The feel is creamy yet at the same time the wine remains invigoratingly sharp. The endlessly reverberating finish pulls out all the stops from a rich, nut oil-flavored, malty low register through the range of vivid citrus and blue fruit to high-toned distilled berry and herb notes. #5, Kracher explains, was racked early and then rushed, reductively, into bottle. You might say it’s Scheurebe with a look over his shoulder at (long-time Muller-Catoir winemaker) Hans-Gunter Schwarz.
WS 93 (5/2006): This is a moderately thick sweetie, with plenty of pure grapefruit, fig, almond and spice flavors all wrapped inside an inviting texture. There's also a freshness that extends onto the finish. Fig and vanilla cream linger on the long aftertaste. Drink now through 2015. 37 cases imported.
VM 91 (12/2005): Medium yellow-gold. Expressive aromas and flavors of grapefruit zest, mandarin orange and flint. Quite silky on the palate, with sweetness wonderfully countered by soft vegetal spiciness and a lemony underpinning. This uncomplicated, very approachable, precise sweet wine will gain complexity with extended bottle aging. Drink now to 2020. |
|
|
2002 |
TBA #7 Nouvelle Vague Grande Cuvee (375 ML) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2005): The #7 Grande Cuvee Trockenbeerenauslese Nouvelle Vague -as usual from Chardonnay and Welschriesling - smells of apple jelly, pineapple, litchi, mango and banana with overtones of cherry and marzipan. Full and rich on the palate, this handles its enormous sweetness by preserving juicy essences of its diverse fruits and displaying only a subtle, lovely hint of caramelization (although more will surely emerge as the wine matures). Even the marzipan note seems to be imbedded with fresh almonds, and a subtle sense of citrus zest and berry skin tartness is woven into the whole. The nearly endless, palate saturating finish reprises most of the aforementioned themes, and with the past as guide one can safely predict there is much else to come.
WS 96 (5/2006): Amazingly lush and unctuous, with an impressive silkiness and loads of buttercream, vanilla, ripe pear and baked apple flavors. Balanced, thick and ripe, with plenty of structure. The elegant finish is filled with lots of hot toddy notes. Chardonnay and Welschriesling. Drink now through 2020. 50 cases imported.
VM 96 (12/2005): Deep golden yellow. Initially closed on the nose, but showed delicate apple, cinnamon and soft leafy aromas as it opened in the glass. Notes of pumpernickel and smoky oak add complexity to the clear, pure core of fruit. Thick and opulent but fine-grained and harmonious. Finishes with extremely persistent, bell-clear fruits and minerals. Although expressive and seamless today, this wine will require several more years to show its inherent complexity due to its tremendous concentration. Drink 2010 to 2035. |
|
|
2002 |
Zwischen Den Seen TBA #6 Scheurebe (375 ML) Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| | Port |
| Croft |
1994 |
Port |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 96 (4/1997): The essence of grapes. Full-bodied and tannic, yet very classy and refined. It's got grip, but rather than smashing you over the head with structure, it seduces gently with its wonderful, well-toned muscles. Best Croft since '45. Best after 2010. 3,500 cases made.
FTLOP 92 (5/2008): Dark ruby and nearly opaque. Expansive nose of prune and raisins with black cherry fruit. Sweet, smooth and a complex mid-palate, with full-bodied expressiveness and easy to approach. Stacked with boysenberry and mocha flavors, in synch now with good length on the aftertaste. A solid VP that should drink well now through 2020.
WA 90 (10/1996): The 1994 Croft exhibits an impressive dark ruby/purple color, and a developed, forward, more evolved style than expected. It is moderately sweet, full-bodied, expansive, pure, and rich, but made in an up-front, flattering style. Although Outstanding, it is not one of the superstars of the vintage. It will keep for twenty years. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2020. |
|
| Dow |
1994 |
Port |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2016): The 1994 Vintage Port is set for re-release. It has about 92 grams per liter of residual sugar. It's a beauty, with all that Dow power and structure that I've loved over the years--even after some hours of decanting. Intensely concentrated in flavor, without being jammy, this lingers on the gripping finish after starting with a touch of mint. Serious and brooding, it is not yet as complex and as developed as it could be--but this is Port and that will come in time. Be patient. In the meanwhile, if you must crack this now, give it a few hours in a decanter, to state the obvious. This is a terrific Dow's VP that is still growing and improving. It is still about its potential in some ways and it may well exceed expectations. It will certainly acquire even more complexity with more cellaring. Personally, I would try to give it at least another decade in the cellar.
WS 97 (12/1999): A blackstrap, powerful Port. Black, with intense aromas of raspberries, raisins, flowers and stems. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a long, rich finish. Tannins pull at your palate. A wine for the future.--Dow vertical. Best after 2008. 13,000 cases made.
MB [***[*]] (10/1998): The Symingtons, at their tasting in March 1996, informed us that they started picking at Quinta do Bomfim on 16 September, which is pretty early, and that the wine had the 'violets aroma of a great yaer'. It was certainly impressive, with a sort of waxy fruit, not at all spirity despite its youthfulness. More recently, still opaque; complete, opulent; laden with fruit and flesh, very dry finish. Very good future. Drink 2006-2030. |
|
| Fonseca |
1992 |
Guimaraens Port |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Graham's |
1994 |
Port |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2016): The 1994 Vintage Port is going to be re-released. It has about 100 grams per liter of residual sugar. With a big eucalyptus note up front, this is elegant in the mid-palate with controlled tannins. Sweet and easy in some ways, this is readily approachable now, perhaps not at peak, but more expressive than the relatively brooding Dow's, also reviewed. The hint of caramel and raisins mixed with sugar makes this irresistible. It is sexy and intriguing.
WS 95 (4/1997): A big, tough, young vintage Port that's closed and difficult to taste. Emits lovely aromas of chocolate, berry and plum, and is full-bodied with lots of sweet, fruit flavors and masses of velvety tannins. Long, sweet finish. Best after 2010. 11,000 cases made.
MB [*[****]] (9/1999): Wonderful wine, its richness masking its 20% brandy at the Symington tasting in April 1996. I also noted an excellent '94 bottled in 1999 on a British Airways flight to New York in September 1999. Great wine. Drink 2006-2030. |
|
| Quinta do Infantado |
1992 |
Port |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Quinta do Noval |
1994 |
Port |
$135 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Quinta do Vesuvio |
1994 |
Port |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 96 (4/1997): Terrific aromas of berries and violets, with a hint of mint. Full-bodied and lightly sweet, with fine, silky tannins that build on the palate and caress the tongue. Outstanding concentration and harmony. Greatest VesUvio this century. Best after 2010. 5,000 cases made.
FTLOP 95 (7/2009): Consumed a couple of glasses of this at Stewart and Jody's wedding on the waterfront. I knew Stewart had decanted this for friends to enjoy later during the reception. It had only a couple of hours in decanter, but that mattered not. This showed beautifully on a very special occasion and it was the perfect wine to have in glass when we all toasted the bride and groom. Dark inky garnet-purple color and fully opaque. Briar patch and brambly notes of blueberry and boysenberry with cocoa powder undertones. The Vesuvio was dense and intense, but at such a nice stage in its evolution at 15. Lush flavors of primary plum and blackberries, ripe and sweet with tannins that were powerful but not astringent. The finish lasted as long as the bride & groom's kiss.
WA 92 (10/1996): This impressive wine, with an opaque ruby/purple color, reveals excellent richness, layers of flavor, well-integrated alcohol and tannin, moderate sweetness, and a long, heady finish. Pure and impressively built, it should drink well in 5-7 years. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025. |
|
|
1994 |
Port Nicked Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 96 (4/1997): Terrific aromas of berries and violets, with a hint of mint. Full-bodied and lightly sweet, with fine, silky tannins that build on the palate and caress the tongue. Outstanding concentration and harmony. Greatest VesUvio this century. Best after 2010. 5,000 cases made.
FTLOP 95 (7/2009): Consumed a couple of glasses of this at Stewart and Jody's wedding on the waterfront. I knew Stewart had decanted this for friends to enjoy later during the reception. It had only a couple of hours in decanter, but that mattered not. This showed beautifully on a very special occasion and it was the perfect wine to have in glass when we all toasted the bride and groom. Dark inky garnet-purple color and fully opaque. Briar patch and brambly notes of blueberry and boysenberry with cocoa powder undertones. The Vesuvio was dense and intense, but at such a nice stage in its evolution at 15. Lush flavors of primary plum and blackberries, ripe and sweet with tannins that were powerful but not astringent. The finish lasted as long as the bride & groom's kiss.
WA 92 (10/1996): This impressive wine, with an opaque ruby/purple color, reveals excellent richness, layers of flavor, well-integrated alcohol and tannin, moderate sweetness, and a long, heady finish. Pure and impressively built, it should drink well in 5-7 years. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025. |
|
| Warre |
1994 |
Port |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 95 (4/1997): (WS #15 wine of 1997) A great surprise for the vintage. Displays fabulous concentration and complex character with its layers of very sweet fruit, chocolate and cherry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins. Long finish with plenty of grip. Beautiful wine. Best after 2008. 13,000 cases made.
JD 94 (3/2018): The 1994 Vintage Port is pure finesse and elegance. Cedarwood, blackberry liqueur, plums, and exotic spices are followed by a medium to full-bodied, elegant, seamless beauty that has a terrific mix of richness and freshness. It’s a beautiful wine.
WA 94 (10/1996): One of the finest Warres I have ever tasted, this opaque purple-colored wine is made in a drier style (a la Dow), yet it is expressive, extremely full-bodied, with superb richness, purity, and well-integrated alcohol and tannin. It possesses a great mid-palate as well as impressive length. Tasters should take note of the wealth of peppery, licorice-scented and flavored raspberry and blackcurrant fruit. Look for it to be ready to drink in 10-12 years, and keep for 30+. This is a profound example of Warre vintage port.
MB [*****] (4/1996): Said to have a 'typical cistus nose' i.e. resinous. Anyway, the most intensely dark of all the Symington's '94s. Very sweet, lovely flavour, perfect balance, good length. Lasted tasted April 1996. Great future. Drink 2006-2026. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. de Beaurenard |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Boisrenard Bin-Soiled Label |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 97 (4/2006): Loaded with rich, dark layers of black currant, blackberry, truffle, tar, mocha and bittersweet cocoa, this pumps out both fruit and terroir on the gripping finish. Immense in scale and depth, this is hard to lay off now, but should be even more impressive when it drops its muscle to show more elegance (that will take a while, though). Best from 2008 through 2030. 1,665 cases made.
WA 94 (2/2006): The structured and backward, inky ruby/purple-colored 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Boisrenard offers notes of chocolate, cocoa, smoke, creme de cassis and black cherry liqueur. Some licorice also makes it into the picture. The wine is full-bodied, layered, softer than previous vintages, with tremendous voluptuousness to the texture as well as an expansive, broad, persistent finish. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.
VM 94 (2/2006): Deep, dark red color. Highly expressive, very ripe aromas of dark cherry, plum liqueur, black cardamom, bitter chocolate, espresso and exotic oak spices. An enormous, outsized wine, with broad, sweet dark fruit and mocha flavors accented by pepper and oak spice. Boasts a lush, even unctuous texture, but as rich and reflective of the vintage as this is, there is also wonderful focus and energy. |
|
| Dom. Charvin |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$69 |
3 |
|
| |
WS 96 (5/2006): Terrific example of the vintage--this is loaded with the pepper, garrigue, grilled herb and briary tannins, all backed by powerful layers of dark currant, plum and blackberry fruit. Lingering hint of dried orange peel adds further dimension. Best from 2007 through 2030. 2,730 cases made.
JD 95 (1/2009): The 2003 Charvin Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a big, mouth full of a wine that gives up rich raspberry and plum notes mixed with hoisin sauce, roasted herbs and licorice aromas. On the palate, it's full bodied, concentrated and possesses a very un-charvin like, substantial, full texture that leads into a long finish. A gorgeous wine.
JLL **** (3/2007): Good, mid-plus depth of red in the robe. On the nose, this is completely out of step with most 2003 Châteauneufs - it offers mild red jam, baked red fruits, flowers, coffee, and is a bit hidden. The palate delivers earthy, gummy fruit that flows continuously. It ends on a note of chocolate and a solid feel that suggests there is more to come, especially around 2011 onwards. Gains marked attitude, more thrust with air. The finish is brewed.
VM 94 (12/2008): Bright red. Complex nose displays ripe red berries, cherry skin, tobacco, potpourri and smoky minerals. Fleshy but focused, with pure, juicy red berry and cherry preserve flavors, supple texture and completely hidden tannins. Sweet and silky enough to drink now, but this wine's balance and freshness will allow for a slow and positive development. I scored this at 94 points on release and will stick with that.
WA 93 (2/2006): Peppery and earthy, with notes of roasted herbes de Provence, sweet cherry jam, the seaweed wrapper used in sushi bars (nori) with a touch of fig, the soft, round, generously endowed, complex 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape shows a dark garnet color and plenty of glycerin, alcohol, and fruit. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. |
|
| Clos des Papes |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2006): The 2003 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape (the # 2 wine in the Wine Spectator’s annual winefest) has long been one of the most profound wines of the vintage. It somehow manages to offer the vintage’s character in power, high glycerin, and huge volume, but retains remarkable elegance and finesse that is so much in keeping with the style of Clos des Papes. The wine has a dense ruby/purple-tinged color and a wonderfully sweet nose of framboise, blackberry, and kirsch liqueur intermixed with Chinese black tea and licorice. The wine is full-bodied and voluptuous, but once past all the glycerin and beautiful, dense fruit of this full-bodied wine, there is striking purity, elegance, finesse, and surprising freshness. Still primary, it looks set to have a long life of 20-25 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.
WS 97 (11/2005): Lilting and perfumy, with a grace that belies the vintage, this offers layer upon layer of raspberry, boysenberry, floral, mineral and mocha flavors that glide to a long, silky, refined finish. So seductive, you almost miss how powerful it is--a masterful job of winemaking. Drink now through 2030.
JLL ****[*] (12/2012): Slight ruby, full red inside the robe. Has a baked, very broad spread to the nose. An air of redcurrant, their small berries, peek out, come with a light floral note. It is young and has potential for a fine showing - this is unusual for 2003. The palate has a gummy, red fruit jam debut, with an inset of spice and tasty, enjoyable tannins on the finish. It moves on to toffee and date-pepper flavours. Interesting wine of unusual characteristics and make-up with a salty note even on the end. It is solid, but is starting to give, and also is mentally stimulating. The exit is peppery. It will tick over thanks to its tannin. “It is still tannic; it becomes beau after 2 hours in a decanter, is “masculine". I rate it as the year when we best harvested, waiting and finishing on 4 October. The tannins are good, and better than they would have been had we harvested at the end of August like many domaines," Vincent Avril.
JD 94 (3/2012): While not the best bottle of the 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape I’ve had, this is still a stunning Châteauneuf-du-Pape and one of the top wines of the vintage. Gorgeously perfumed, intense, and complex, with thrilling amounts of kirsch liqueur, saddle leather, licorice, and sweet spice, this bottle was medium-full bodied and relatively tight and un-giving on the palate. It opened slightly over the evening, but still needs another 2-3 years of bottle age to fully flesh out.
VM 94 (2/2006): Deep red color. Positively explosive aromas of fresh cherry, redcurrant, blackberry and candied licorice ("the most kirsch I've ever found in a wine," says Avril). Huge and mouthfilling, with serious weight but also excellent purity to the lush, powerful fruit. Deeply pitched dark chocolate and espresso add even more heft to the flavors, and roasted herbs contribute lift. For all of these elements, the wine is elegant, finishing with Outstanding energy and focus. |
|
| Jean Michel Gerin |
2003 |
Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (2/2006): The outrageously rich, full-bodied 2003 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places boasts an inky/purple color as well as a rich, sumptuous nose of creosote, camphor, blackberries, minerals, acacia flowers, and pain grille. A wine of enormous richness, generosity, and complexity, it should age effortlessly for 15 or more years. |
|
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2003 |
Hermitage La Chapelle |
$179 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 96 (2/2006): Deceptively graceful at first, with a Burgundian-like perfume, this quickly delivers a torrent of fruit--blackberry, boysenberry and black currant--that cascades over itself, pushed from behind by flavors of mocha, mineral, tar and violets. Long, sweet and pure through a densely structured finish. Best from 2008 through 2030. 4,000 cases made.
WA 95+ (2/2006): The finest example of this cuvee since 1990, the 2003 Hermitage La Chapelle (50,000 bottles rather than the normal 96,000+ were produced) possesses an inky/purple color as well as a tremendous bouquet of creme de cassis, crushed flowers, truffles, and licorice. Full-bodied and powerful (15% natural alcohol) with good freshness and definition, this big, rich, dense, reassuringly great La Chapelle should be cellared for 5-8 years, and drunk over the following 20-25.
VM 92 (2/2006): Deep, saturated ruby. Intensely spicy aromas of blackberry, bitter cherry, tobacco and minerals, with a complicating note of black pepper that became more pronounced with air. This is quite fresh and lively for the vintage, showing tangy red and dark berry flavors and a solid, chewy texture. Finishes with considerable finesse.
JLL *** (2/2006): Dark robe; some soaked fruit aroma, is bound together, has floral traces, smoky. "Elegant", simmered red fruit berry flavour, as if tannins tamed in the cellar. Degree of tannin at the end, which is ripe and pretty soft. Length OK.
NM 85-87 (3/2006): As someone spellbound by the legendary 1978 just a few months ago, this makes the weaknesses of this 2003 all the more apparent. Lifeless nose: touch of stewed prune and liquorices. The palate has some peppery black fruits, a touch of plum, but surprisingly light tannins and bugger all persistency. Perhaps this was a bad bottle? Too alcoholic for me. |
|
| Dom. de la Janasse |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (2/2006): Gorgeously sweet aromas of black raspberries, cherries, and flowers jump from the glass of the inky ruby/purple-colored 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin. With a structured mouthfeel, superb intensity, moderately high tannin, and a long, heady, concentrated finish, it will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 15+ years. |
|
| Patrick Lesec |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Bargeton Bin-Soiled Label |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. La Milliere |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Unique Vieilles Vignes |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 91 (2/2006): Medium red color. The juicy, bright aromas of jammy raspberry, gingerbread, molasses, cured meat and mocha build and gain in sweetness in the glass. Distinctly wild on the palate, showing flavors of strawberry, aged beef and espresso. Fresh, vibrant and long on the finish, which features finely integrated tannins and a note of tobacco. Josh Raynolds.
WA 87 (12/2004): A newcomer that is just beginning to exploit its potential, this estate is owned by Aime and Michel Arnaud. The 2003 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes Cuvee Unique possesses more flavor and intensity than its light ruby color suggests. Sweet, seductive kirsch liqueur characteristics combined with pepper and spice box tumble from the glass of this medium-bodied, savory, fleshy red. Enjoy it over the next 1-3 years. |
|
| Clos du Mont Olivet |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 93 (5/2006): Juicy mix of red currant, blackberry and plum fruit, with lots of cocoa, mineral and tobacco notes as well. Fruit-filled finish shows a nice loamy undertow, with hints of blood orange and musk. Fine, traditional-style Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with the increased amplitude of the vintage. Best from 2007 through 2020. 5,830 cases made.
VM 91 (1/2006): Deep red.
WA 89 (2/2006): The 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tradition shows the tell-tale resiny, cherry, spicy nose, muscular, firm, somewhat hard tannin, but medium to full body, plenty of herbes de Provence and kirsch, and a moderately long finish. Give it 1-2 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following decade. |
|
| Dom. du Pegau |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2014): Starting with the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve, this wine showed spectacularly on release, closed down for a few years, and has now emerged, at close to full maturity, and is straight-up fabulous. Out of the entire tasting, it remained my favorite. Giving up gorgeous blackberry, currants, garrigue, pepper and beef blood, it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied texture that carries layers of sweet fruit, awesome concentration and blockbuster length. Tasting like the essence of both this estate and the terroir, it’s an incredible wine that I’m happy to taste/drink anytime. It will continue to evolve gracefully, but I see no reason to delay gratification.
JD 99 (11/2008): Close to my 12th bottle of the 2003 Domaine du Pegaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee and this was one of the more tight and compact bottles. The aromas are dense and pure with stunning cassis and dark fruit intermixed with licorice, meat and leather notes. The palate is full bodied, amazingly tannic and structured with gorgeous fruit, texture and length. If I had to pick just one wine to drink, this would be it.
WS 97 (6/2006): (WS #5 wine of 2006) Offers aromas of freshly crushed plum and blackberry with a Port-like headiness, then pumps out dark berry fruit, bramble, licorice, tar and pain d'epices flavors before a flitter of game and garrigue on the finish. Dense and muscular, but also luxurious. Best from 2008 through 2030. 5,830 cases made. |
|
| Dom. Roger Perrin |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Rayas |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Bin-Soiled Label |
$1,200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2006): The 2003 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape has gone from strength to strength and now looks to be the finest vintage since the monumental 1995. Deep ruby to the rim with that classic Rayas nose of flowers, kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, crushed rocks, and minerals, the wine is dense and concentrated, with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet yet silky tannin, fabulous persistence, and a blockbuster finish that just goes on and on. This is a reassuringly profound Rayas that seems to suggest that Emmanuel Reynaud has finally figured out this cold-climate terroir in a warm climate appellation. This wine should be given 3-4 years of bottle age, and drunk over the following 20+ years.
JD 94 (3/2011): Silky and perfumed as well as not showing any of the over-ripeness of the vintage, the 2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve possesses beautiful aromatics of kirsch, black tea, garrigue, and green peppercorn that are wrapped around loads of sweet Grenache fruit. Perhaps less intense than other top vintages of this wine, it still shows the telltale Rayas aromatic profile. Medium to full bodied on the palate, the wine is stunningly textured, well balanced and fresh, firming up nicely on the finish with subtle tannin and good energy. Drinking well now, I see nothing that would keep this from continuing to deliver over the next 10 to 15 years.
WS 93 (6/2006): Lovely perfume, with tightly woven red and black cherry, graphite, incense, mineral and sous bois notes that stay fresh and focused thanks to finely imbedded acidity. Stylish finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,500 cases made. |
|
| Dom. Roger Sabon |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige Lightly Scuffed Label |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 95 (9/2005): Dense raspberry, plum, licorice, tar and bacon notes are supported by thick, muscular tannins in this concentrated, showy red. A bit of a brute now (though floral and mineral hints chime in too) so cellar. If you do, you'll have a classic example of the vintage. Best from 2007 through 2025. 1,250 cases made.
WA 92 (2/2006): Broad, expansive, rich, and impressively endowed, the dark ruby/purple-colored 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige is dense, chewy, and meaty with high levels of alcohol, hints of roasted meats, kirsch liqueur, herbes de Provence, creme de cassis, and melted licorice. It is a broad, mouthfilling Chateauneuf du Pape that is classic and substantial. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.
VM 86 (2/2006): Pale ruby color. Meaty, earthy and pungent on the nose, with powerful black cherry and plum liqueur aromas accented by notes of black tea, smoked meat and cracked pepper. Turns riper and more roasted as it opens, the dark fruit qualities becoming hotter and sharper. This clearly displays the roasted character of the vintage. |
|
| Clos Saint Jean |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 99 (9/2008): Clos St. Jean's 2003 Deus-Ex Machina hits all of my sweet spots and is reminiscent of the 2001 Mordoree with its thickness, unreal concentration and ripeness. The nose is massive with ripe blackberry, plum, licorice and meaty aromas that are about as good as it gets. The palate is full bodied, thick and unbelievably concentrated with a fantastic texture, huge underlying structure and amazing extract. This shows masses of ripe, mouth coating tannins on the long, long finish. Not traditional; not subtle; absolutely fantastic!
WA 95+ (2/2006): The richest and most structured wine, and also the deepest in color (a dark purple) is the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus-Ex Machina. They should have called it “the sex machine." An explosive nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, melted licorice, smoke and resiny notes is followed by a broad, expansive, full-bodied wine with moderate tannin, massive fruit, and a huge finish that lasts for almost 40+ seconds. This is stunning wine that can be drunk early on or cellared for up to 15 or more years.
VM 93 (12/2008): Deep ruby. Very rich nose displays powerful cherry, cassis and blueberry aromas. Really showing the fruit today, with deep dark fruit compote flavors and a suggestion of spicecake. The finish really hangs in there. This is still a baby but possesses serious depth and potential. I called this 92(+?) on release.
WS 92 (11/2005): Dense, modern style, with lots of cocoa and toast covering the black currant, mineral and tar flavors. Thick, almost loamy finish will need some cellaring, but there's superb concentration and depth here. Best from 2006 through 2020. 200 cases imported. |
|
| Dom. St. Prefert |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Le Vieux Donjon |
2003 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (2/2006): The powerful 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape comes closest in character to the 1990 (which is still drinking beautifully). Its dark ruby/plum/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of resiny pine forest interwoven with creme de cassis, black cherries, melted licorice, and smoky herbs. In the mouth, gamy, meaty flavors emerge along with black currants, cherries, and a hint of the sushi wrapper called nori. Full, rich, and moderately tannic, this 2003 requires another 1-3 years of bottle age, and should keep for 12-15 years.
JD 93 (8/2010): Starting out slightly port like, the 2003 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape blossoms with an hour of air, showing plum sauce and blackberry liqueur like aromas that are supported by beef blood, rusty iron and garrigue. This is followed up by a full bodied, hedonistic wine that’s loaded with ripe fruit, a lush texture and a long finish. While this is showing beautifully, if you’re not a fan of the 2003 vintage in general, this isn’t going to change your mind and the wine shows the ripe, heady nature of the vintage. Regardless, I’m a fan and recommend drinking remaining bottles over the next 5 to 8 years.
VM 93 (2/2006): Dark red. Sweet, exotic aromas of blackberry, cassis, molasses, bitter chocolate and dried flowers. Richly textured and dense, offering ripe dark berry flavors and nuances of floral pastilles and dark chocolate. A fat, unctuous wine that also boasts excellent purity of fruit and length, with soft, rounded tannins.
WS 93 (11/2005): Hard as nails now, this is packed with ultraripe plum and blackberry fruit all supported by brawny, muscular tannins that romp through a licorice- and tar-filled finish. May be ferocious for some, but those who sock it away in the cellar will be rewarded. Best from 2008 through 2025. 5,000 cases made.
JLL **** (6/2008): Red plum colour; broad, baked red fruits aroma with the ripeness moving the air to prune - this is a deep bouquet, with violet and nutty moments as well. The life in the bouquet moves into the palate, which fronts up well with full, appealing red fruits, a touch of kirsch about the flavour. This is vigorous in the good sense of the word, a mouth filler. It ends on charged elements, and is over 15%. An abundant wine. It may be regaining its fruit after a dry spell - “we find it a bit drier than in its youth, it dried especially during the winter of 2007-08," Claire Michel. |
|
| | Spain |
| Bodegas Aalto |
2005 |
Ribera del Duero P.S. |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (2/2008): The 2005 Aalto PS is 100% Tinto Fino from vineyards over 60 years of age. It was aged for 32 months in 70% new French oak. Saturated in appearance, the wine offers up notes of pain grille, balsamic, crushed stone, floral notes, and wild black fruits. Exceptionally powerful, focused, and beautifully proportioned, this full-bodied wine is dense, rich, and structured for the long haul. Give this super-long, impressive effort a decade in the cellar and drink it from 2018 to 2040. Patient purchasers will be well rewarded. |
|
|
2005 |
Ribera del Duero Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2008): The 2005 Aalto, made from 100% Tinto Fino, is a deep purple color with an enticing nose of wood smoke, bacon, floral notes, spice box, and blackberry. This leads to a powerful, layered, intense wine already beginning to show complex flavors. Structured for 5-7 years of further evolution, this strong effort will be at its best from 2015 to 2030.
VM 93 (10/2008): Opaque purple color. Intensely perfumed nose displays spicy dark berry and floral character, with zesty minerals and black tea adding complexity. Pliant blackberry and cherry flavors are impressively fresh, becoming deeper and sweeter with air. An admirably balanced wine, playing depth against vivacity and finishing with Outstanding clarity and length. This is the most elegant example of this bottling I've tasted. |
|
| Bodegas J.C. Conde |
2005 |
Neo Punta Esencia Ribera del Duero |
$69 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2010): The 2005 Neo Punta Esencia is a large-scaled behemoth with lots of fruit and the structure to match. It presents a superb aromatic array of toasty new oak, mineral, truffle, violets, licorice, and blackberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, weighty, and powerful leading to a rich, full-flavored finish. It should easily have a 30 year lifespan. |
|
| Bodegas & Vinedos Pintia |
2005 |
Pintia Toro Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2008): Bodegas Pintia is owned by Vega Sicilia. Pintia is located further west along the Duero River inside the warmer D.O. of Toro. The estate owns 96 hectares of land. The first vintage released was the 2001. As for the 2005 Pintia, it is 100% Tinta de Toro aged for one year in new French and American oak. Opaque purple-colored, it offers a complex perfume of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry. This leads to a full-bodied, ripe, layered wine with intense flavors, serious complexity, and exceptional length. It has enough structure to unfold for another 4-6 years and drink well through 2025.
VM 92 (8/2008): Inky purple. Alluring bouquet of blackberry and blueberry preserves, cherry-cola and vanillin oak spices. Broad, fleshy and deep, with sweet flavors of dark berries, floral pastille and vanilla beans. The rich fruit nicely absorbs the oak element on the long, velvety finish. Leaves a wide swath of creamy dark fruits and licorice in its wake. Pretty sexy stuff.
WS 89 (2/2009): This solid red delivers ripe plum and blackberry fruit, backed by meat and mineral notes over firm tannins. Harmonious, with a bitter chocolate finish. Drink now through 2012. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 13,500 cases made. |
|
| Rotllan Torra |
2005 |
Tirant Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| | USA Red |
| Kistler |
2015 |
Laguna Ridge Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 8 (1/2018): The 2015 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge (formerly Kistler Vineyard) is just as riveting from bottle as it was from tank. Inky, deep and explosive, the 2015 hits the palate with a rush of blue/purplish fruit, creme de cassis, lavender, menthol, game, white flowers and incense. Vivid and spectacularly rich, this full-throttle Pinot has so much to offer. The tannins need time to soften, but all the elements are in the right place. A flourish of floral and savory notes add the closing layers of complexity. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Maybach |
2015 |
Amoenus Cabernet Sauvignon |
$169 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2017): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Amoenus Cabernet Sauvignon features vibrant, youthful crushed blackberry and black currant notes with touches of wild thyme, charcoal, pencil shavings and damp soil. Full-bodied, richly fruited and packed with vivacious black fruit and savory layers, it has lovely, ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing with great persistence. 240 cases produced.
JD 97 (12/2017): From a site in the northern part of the Valley, in Calistoga, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus offers a perfect expression of this ripe, sexy vintage. Loaded with notions of blackberry jam, toasted spice, dried flowers and licorice, it has a beautiful opulence and sweetness of fruit that stays balanced, elegant and fresh. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in 80% new French oak, it has awesome tannin quality, a majestic, layered personality, and will drink nicely for three decades. |
|
| Merry Edwards |
2015 |
Georgeanne Pinot Noir Lightly Scuffed Label |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (4/2018): The medium ruby-purple colored 2015 Pinot Noir Georganne Vineyard has a beautifully enticing nose of Black Forest cake, red roses and mulberries with wafts of potpourri, fragrant earth and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate sports wonderfully ripe, grainy and firm tannins with matching freshness supporting the layered perfumed fruit, finishing on a compelling mineral note. 665 cases produced. |
|
|
2015 |
Coopersmith Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Olivet Lane Pinot Noir |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sea Smoke |
2015 |
Ten Pinot Noir |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Turley Wine Cellars |
2015 |
Fredericks Vyd. Zinfandel |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Hayne Vyd. Petite Sirah Slightly Raised Cork |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93-96 (12/2016): The 2015 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard possesses a gorgeous structural spine to balance the intense, inky fruit. Chocolate, plum, spice and succulent red cherry notes abound in this creamy, super-expressive Petite. In 2015, the Hayne is ample, deep and beautifully rendered. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Pesenti Vyd. Zinfandel |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Ueberroth Vyd. Zinfandel |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 94 (3/2018): Impressive for its combination of power and refined structure, this offers bold black cherry, licorice and clove aromas paired with expressive blackberry and savory cracked pepper flavors that build depth on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 832 cases made. |
|
| | USA White |
| Brewer Clifton |
2015 |
Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay |
$22 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Kistler |
2015 |
Hyde Vyd. Chardonnay |
$145 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard reveals tantalizing notions of fresh grapefruit, lemongrass, key lime pie and orange peel with nuances of croissant, blanched almonds and beeswax plus a hint of coriander seed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with citrusy freshness, complemented by a satiny texture and fantastic freshness, finishing long and chalky. |
|
|
2015 |
Kistler Vyd. Chardonnay |
$169 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 97 (4/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard is stellar. In this range, the Kistler Vineyard Chardonnay is distinguished by its bright aromatics, lift and nuance, all of which confer a great deal of freshness. This hillside site, with its myriad exposures, volcanic ash soils and a mix of Wente and Mount Eden clone Chardonnay on St. George rootstock yields Chardonnays of unparallelled class and distinction. This is a dazzling wine from Kistler. Antonio Galloni.
WS 89 (7/2018): Juicy white peach, nectarine and tangerine flavors provide the entertainment in this white, with a pithy citrus skin edge to the texture that should wane with time. Drink now through 2023. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,375 cases made. |
|
|
2015 |
McCrea Vyd. Chardonnay |
$119 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2015 |
Stone Flat Vyd. Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (1/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay Stone Flat Vineyard is marked by expressive citrus and floral notes, with a bit more lift, translucence and brighter acids than the Durrell, which lies a few feet away and is planted with the same clonal material, but on different rootstock. Even with all of the natural richness of the year, the Stone Flat is quite gracious and delicate. Bright, saline notes extend the finish nicely. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Trenton Roadhouse Chardonnay |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (4/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse is deep, powerful and quite expressive, with a distinctive stony character that marks the mid-palate. Orchard fruit and floral notes appear later, but the Trenton Roadhouse is defined by its center of minerality and savory notes that dominate over the more obvious expression of fruit that is found in some of the other wines. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2015 |
Vine Hill Vyd. Chardonnay |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (4/2018): The 2015 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard offers striking finesse to play off a tropically-leaning profile that is somewhat unusual for this wine. Scents of tangerine, pineapple, mint and dried flowers are nicely delineated. Medium in body but with superb depth, the 2015 has a lot to say. The 2015 finishes with substantial weight and gravitas that only add to its considerable appeal. Over the last year, the fruit expression has become more overt than it was at the outset. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Merry Edwards |
2015 |
Sauvignon Blanc |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Peter Michael Winery |
2015 |
Ma Belle-Fille Chardonnay |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (10/2017): Bursting forth with extravagant tropical and floral notes, the 2015 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille has nuances of honey-nut pastry (baklava), ginger, cedar and spice cake. Medium-bodied, the pineapple and passionfruit flavor layers are lifted by a seamless backbone and supported with a decadent creaminess, finishing long and spicy. 2,304 cases were made. |
|
|
2015 |
L’Apres Midi Sauvignon Blanc |
$49 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2016): Two terrific whites that Peter Michael should get more recognition for are the Sauvignon Blanc L’Après-Midi and the equal-parts Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon called Coeur à Coeur. The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc L’Apres-Midi, which is 88% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Semillon is certainly one of California’s most exciting Sauvignons, with a texture of Chardonnay and exotic mango, honeysuckle, ripe melon and wet-rock scented fragrance, medium to full body, and striking precision and vibrancy. This is a terrific wine, as it has been in almost every vintage they have produced. Drink: now-2020. |
|
| Rombauer |
2015 |
Carneros Chardonnay |
$20 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Stags' Leap Winery |
2015 |
Chardonnay |
$20 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|