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Inventory updated: Sat, Oct 05, 2024 10:50 AM cst
Over 95pts Under $95
Today at Flickinger Wines we are pleased to offer an array of excellent scoring 95pt wines that are all below $95. Treasures abound, happy hunting!!
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Giscours |
2010 |
Margaux (375 ML)  |
$55 |
23 |
|
| |
JS 95 (11/2013): Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really Outstanding. Better in 2017.
WS 94 (3/2013): Features a lightly firm, singed alder frame around a core of dark plum, cherry and cassis bush notes. Taut tar and warm paving stone notes fill in on the finish. Shows serious, well-embedded grip, and the core of fruit is spot on. This has the range, length and cut for the cellar. Best from 2014 through 2030.
NM 93 (6/2015): Tasted at the Château Giscours vertical, the 2010 Château Giscours is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked between September 27 and October 14. I contrasted this directly against the superb 2009, but I still maintain that this has the upper hand, albeit in a different style. The aromatics are very focused with black fruit, violets, fig and mineral scents that are very well defined. But you need patience - this is not as immediate as the previous vintage. The palate delivers, delivers and delivers brilliant delineation and poise, more freshness than it knows what to do with, an intensity that is supremely well focused and length in the mouth. There is even a dab of mint chocolate making a surprise appearance on the aftertaste. This is a very impressive Giscours.
VM 90+ (7/2013): Bright ruby-red. Cassis, blackberry and licorice pastille on the nose. Then sweet, juicy and energetic in the mouth, with complex flavors of plum, currant, cedar, tobacco and spices along with a gamey nuance. Firmly built but not hard. Finishes with serious but fine-grained tannins and a note of licorice. Still a bit strict today, this wine has the structure to repay aging. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. La Gomerie |
2009 |
St. Emilion |
$89 |
11 |
|
| |
NM 95 (1/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The La Gomerie ‘09 is turning out to be a little beauty. It has a very elegant, fleshy bouquet of ripe red cherries, wild strawberry and a hint of marmalade. It is very well defined and pure. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, succulent tannins. It is powerful but refined with a very classy, caressing finish. Delicious – what a great Saint Emilion La Gomerie is becoming.
VM 93 (7/2012): Bright red-ruby. Inviting aromas of blackcurrant, mocha, cocoa powder, licorice, mint and flowers. Concentrated, fine-grained and vibrant, with highly perfumed flavors of dark berries, cocoa powder, mocha and potpourri spices. Finishes smooth and very long, with nicely integrated tannins. A lovely vintage for this all-merlot bottling. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91 (2/2012): This wine now exhibits the evolved, full-bodied, opulent style for which this 100% Merlot cuvee is renowned. Abundant mocha, cranberry liqueur, kirsch, licorice and subtle espresso roast and smoke (from new barriques) characteristics are found in this attractive St.-Emilion. Some of the concerns I had early on were not evident in the bottle, although I do not believe the 2009 is as flashy and concentrated as La Gomerie’s greatest efforts can be. Drink the 2009 over the next 15+ years.
WS 89 (7/2012): Polished and supple, this red offers cocoa, black cherry, toast and tobacco flavors. A bit loose on the palate, but generous and fresh. Drink now through 2018. |
|
| Ch. Langoa Barton |
2020 |
St. Julien 2020 en Primeur Release |
$44.95 |
7 |
|
| |
JD 95 (3/2023): Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2020 Château Langoa Barton comes from a mix of different sites in Saint-Julien, which makes it a great representation of the vintage and appellation. The blend is 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a beautiful bouquet of red and black cherries, currants, leafy tobacco, and cedar pencil, with a touch of damp earth that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of mid-palate depth and richness, velvety tannins, and a great finish. This plush, up-front, expansive, wonderfully textured Saint-Julien will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and cruise for two decades. It's the finest example from this château I've tasted. Bravo!
VM 93 (2/2023): The 2020 Langoa Barton has quite a plush, violet-tinged bouquet, higher-toned than the Léoville Barton, though without the same unerring complexity. This just wants to go out and have fun. The palate has an irresistible rondeur, velvety smooth with black plum, hints of cassis and a sweet and persistent finish. Joyful. Neal Martin.
JS 93-94 (4/2021): Very pretty blackberry and blueberry character with blackcurrants and mint. It’s medium-to full-bodied with linear, tight tannins that are polished and fine. |
|
| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2017 |
Pauillac (375 ML) |
$65 |
12 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2020): A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, the 2017 Chateau Lynch-Bages sports an inky color as well as a powerful, full-bodied style. Rocking blackcurrants, chocolate, smoked tobacco, and obvious minerality all emerge from this beautiful, concentrated wine that has building tannins, the more elegant, silky style of the vintage, a great mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. It's going to hit the ground running in about 5-7 years and cruise 20 years or more in cool cellars.
VM 94 (3/2020): The 2017 Lynch-Bages is such a pretty and engaging wine; as always, it is a wine of pure and total seduction. Lush, open-knit and very pretty with ripe red and purplish fruit. There is a slight bit of edginess in the tannin that needs to be resolved, but cellaring should take care of that. Antonio Galloni.
WS 94 (3/2020): This leans toward the austere side of Pauillac, with a slightly bracing iron and chalk frame around a core of red and black currant fruit, liberally laced with savory and cedar notes. Exhibits ample length and cut, showing really pure and beautifully defined currant flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2040.
JS 95 (12/2019): This is a focused and tight Lynch with beautiful blackcurrants, slate, graphite and lead pencil. Medium to full body. Very fine tannins and brightness. Linear line of tannins that runs nicely through the wine. A blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. |
|
| Ch. Monbousquet |
2018 |
St. Emilion |
$59 |
5 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (4/2019): The 2018 Monbousquet is composed of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested September 27 to October 9 with yields of 39 hectoliters per hectare. The wine has a pH of 3.78 and 14.38% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it sashays out of the glass with beautiful, flamboyant red roses, chocolate box and molten licorice scents over a core of crème de cassis, plum preserves and Morello cherries plus fragrant wafts of underbrush, lavender and cloves. Full-bodied, rich and wonderfully elegant, the palate delivers layers of black fruits and spices, wrapped in a cashmere shawl of tannins, finishing very long and incredibly perfumed.
WS 94-97 (4/2019): Lushly fruited, with creamy boysenberry and plum preserve flavors gliding through, this is going to be for the hedonist crowd. Extra anise and spice notes fill in, revealing steady grip through the finish.
VM 89-92 (5/2019): The 2018 Monbousquet is a dense, richly textured Saint-emilion. Black cherry plum, chocolate, leather, smoke and spice are boldly sketched. Ample and resonant in the glass, Monbousquet has quite a bit to offer in 2018. At this early stage, though, it is especially brooding. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92-94 (5/2019): The 2018 Monbousquet is a smoking wine that has tons of fruit and charm, yet it’s also balanced, pure, and elegant. Blackcurrants, smoked earth, chocolate, and graphite notes all give way to a concentrated, sexy, seamless wine that has fabulous tannins as well as length. This wine always delivers fruit and texture, but it also possesses beautiful purity and elegance in 2018. It should be snatched up by readers.
JS 94-95 (4/2019): Very refined and savory with a lovely core of dark fruit and round tannins. Silky and oozing with finesse and class. |
|
| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2019 |
Pessac Leognan (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$44.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 98 (4/2022): As to the Grand Vin 2019 Château Pape Clement, it reveals a dense purple hue to go with stunning aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, lead pencils shavings, scorched earth, and tobacco. Beautifully balanced, with flawless tannins, this full-bodied Pessac has that rare mix of elegance and power, a great mid-palate, and again, perfect balance. It's one of the gems of the vintage and has some accessibility today given its purity and balance, yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will cruise for 20-25 years or more in cold cellars. The blend is equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new French oak.
VM 97 (2/2022): The 2019 Pape Clément is just as impressive as it was en primeur. It shows all of the textural richness that is so typical of Bernard Magrez's wines, but with an extra kick of freshness that provides energy as well as a sense of proportion. A wine of stature, the 2019 is so classy. Succulent black cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and licorice are all beautifully delineated. But more than anything else, I find the wine's energy really impressive. This is a fabulous vintage for Pape Clément. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (4/2022): The 2019 Pape Clément has turned out well in bottle, delivering a rich bouquet of cherries, blackcurrants, plum liqueur and blackberries mingled with notions of burning embers, licorice and a nicely integrated framing of new oak. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's a layered, fleshy wine, with a deep core of ripe but lively fruit, plenty of powdery tannin and a long, expansive, discreetly heady finish. This is a powerful, dramatic Pessac with a transatlantic accent and will drink well with only a few years' bottle age. |
|
|
2020 |
Pessac Leognan (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$44.99 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2020 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Dark, virile and imposing, the 2020 is a rare vintage of Pape Clément that is vertical and statuesque in feel. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves infuse the palate with tremendous depth. In a word: magnificent. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (12/2022): Lots of blackberry, iodine and crushed stone here. Some black pepper and graphite, too. Full body and medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open in the mouth. So much going on. Iodine and iron undertones with some raw mushroom bring you back for more. Muscular. This is for the cellar. Drink after 2027.
WS 95 (11/2022): This is snazzed up with flashy toast, but there's ample mulberry, cassis and plum compote fruit to soak it up, while notes of licorice and sweet spice fill in the background. A late tug of warm earth keeps this grounded. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2028 through 2038.
JD 97+ (3/2023): I loved the 2020 Château Pape Clément, and this beauty is up there with the top wines in Pessac. Checking in as equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 18 months in 90% barrels and 10% in foudre, it offers a deep purple hue to go with a powerful, concentrated profile displaying both red and black fruits, lots of spicy, chocolate, flowery incense nuances, full-bodied richness, and an almost salty, bloody character on the finish. This beauty shows the concentrated yet utterly classic, focused, elegant style of the vintage and has so much to love. It's going to be even better with 4-6 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form.
WA 96-98 (5/2021): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Pape Clement comes barreling out of the glass with bold notes of cassis, plum preserves and licorice, giving way to scents of cedar chest, crushed rocks, charcoal and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly coiled with beautiful tension and a firm, finely grained texture locking in the layers of black fruits and minerals, finishing with great length and energy. The blend this year is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot, aging mainly in French oak barriques, 66% new, with about 10% aging in large oak foudres. The wine will spend approximately 18 months in barrels. |
|
| Ch. Phelan Segur |
2018 |
St. Estephe |
$47 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (4/2019): The 2018 Phelan Segur is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, harvested from September 14 to October 4. The wine comes in at 14% alcohol, 3.8 pH and has an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Deep purple-black in color, it springs from the glass with bright, vibrant notes of raspberry preserves, kirsch and ripe blackcurrants with hints of rose petals, tilled black soil, spice cake and warm plums plus a waft of star anise. Medium to full-bodied with a solid backbone of grainy tannins and seamless freshness, the palate sports a taut, muscular fruit profile with loads of bright red fruit sparks and a long, earthy finish.
WS 90-93 (4/2019): Lively, with juicy plum and black cherry fruit, supported by tobacco and toast accents in the end. An alluring whiff of incense swirls through the slightly dusty finish.
VM 91-94 (5/2019): The 2018 Phelan Segur is another in a strong series of wines from this re-born property. Deep and persistent on the palate, the 2018 has a lot to offer. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, menthol, spice and licorice all build in a super-expressive, delineated yet dense Saint-Estèphe loaded with personality. The 2018 finishes with serious intensity and structure. Technical Director Fabrice Bacquey opted for cooler macerations and short cuvaisons, especially for the Merlots, as the fruit was especially rich and the wines extracted easily, while the Cabernets were fermented more or less as usual. Yields were 49 hectoliters per hectare, a bit higher than the 20-year average of 44 and inline with other recent vintages such as 2015, 2016 and 2017. The blend is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92-94+ (5/2019): The 2018 Château Phelan Segur is another winner from director Veronique Dausse that does everything right. A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, its deep purple color is followed by a deep, rich, medium to full-bodied Saint-Estèphe that has thrilling purity of fruit, terrific concentration, and ripe tannins. You can’t go wrong on this one. It will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years or more. It should match or exceed the brilliant 2016.
JS 95-96 (4/2019): This is the most powerful Phelan Segur I have ever tasted. A solid core of dense fruit and layered tannins that are so refined and polished. Remains fresh, energetic and bright. Yet, there’s plenty of harmony and balance. |
|
| Ch. Prieure Lichine |
2016 |
Margaux
ETA Q4 2024 |
$57 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 96 (1/2019): The 2016 Prieure-Lichine is all class. Floral, silky and nuanced to the core, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total seduction. Freshly cut flowers, vibrant red fruit and creamy tannins all add to the wine's undeniable allure. In 2016, Prieure-Lichine is all class, not to mention one of the sleepers of the vintage. Don't miss it! Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JS 93 (1/2019): A very suave, polished Margaux that delivers iodine and dark-stone aromas and a wealth of ripe, plush dark fruit that follows through to the palate in attractive, fleshy and juicy mode. Try from 2022.
WS 92 (3/2019): A restrained style, with a beam of cherry, cassis, lilac and sandalwood flavors, revealing a good fleshy feel and solid depth throughout. Light perfume and tobacco hints give the finish some added range. No fireworks here, just balance and focus. Best from 2021 through 2032. 19,167 cases made.
WA 92 (3/2019): The 2016 Prieure-Lichine has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and a bold, intensely scented nose of warm blackcurrants, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of cedar chest, tobacco, dried herbs and iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has bags of class with lovely, vibrant black berries flavors and earthy sparks framed by ripe grainy tannins, finishing long and refreshing.
JD 88 (2/2019): The medium ruby-colored 2016 Château Prieure-Lichine is a touch lean and firm, yet has impressive notes of spring flowers, damp underbrush, and loads of minerality. Possessing both red and black fruit, present tannins, and good balance, it’s a solid, enjoyable effort that would be even better with a touch more flesh. |
|
| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2018 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$93.99 |
15 |
|
| |
WA 93-95+ (4/2019): The 2018 Troplong Mondot is blended of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, with 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.56. Deep garnet-purple in color, it begins slowly with bold, bright black raspberries, ripe black plums, fresh blackberries and Morello cherries notes, giving way to underlying scents of tobacco, wild sage, Sichuan pepper, black olives, truffles and Marmite toast with hints of crushed stones and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers wonderfully fresh, energetic black fruit with a downright racy line of freshness (uncommon for this vintage) and firm, rounded tannins, finishing long with lots of mineral, earth and dried herbs layers giving beautiful electric sparks.
WS 95-98 (4/2019): This offers a lovely display of boysenberry, cherry and plum fruit, yet stays refined and focused, relying on purity as this glides through. Has weight but feels silky, with a flinty mineral hint adding cut on the finish.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Troplong Mondot is a remarkable wine. All the elements fall into place in a stunning, aromatically intense Troplong Mondot that is full of character. There is a level of precision and vibrancy in the 2018 that is simply breathtaking. Black cherry, raspberry, mocha, flowers, mint and spice all meld together in this captivating, arrestingly beautiful Saint-emilion. New oak is 60%, with lower toast levels than what was common just a few years ago. The blend is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94-96 (5/2019): Deeper colored, the 2018 Troplong Mondot is a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, cassis, crushed flowers, and beautiful earthy minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ultra-pure, balanced on the palate, it has a beautiful chalky minerality on the finish. While the style has changed dramatically with the arrival of Aymeric de Gironde, the quality is nevertheless world-class.
JS 97-98 (4/2019): The focus to this wine sets a new standard for Troplong Mondot with density and minerality that I have not encountered for decades. Lots of slate and white-pepper character. Tight and very dense. Full body. Balanced. Wild mineral character and freshness here. Precise. |
|
| Ch. Trotte Vieille |
2019 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$78.99 |
6 |
|
| |
| JS 96-97 (6/2020): A really classy, beautiful red with seduction and force at the finish. Aromas and flavors of currants, wet earth and truffles, as well as mushrooms. Full bodied, tight and tannic. Toned and steely. A new, traditional style. 49% cabernet franc, 48% merlot and 3% cabernet sauvignon. |
|
| Clos de Sarpe |
2016 |
St. Emilion
ETA Q4 2024 ex-Negociant |
$84.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 97 (2/2019): An off-the-hook Saint-Emilion, the inky colored 2016 Château Clos de Sarpe is mostly Merlot but includes 15% Cabernet Franc. A beautiful, floral character gives way to more blueberry, raspberry, spice, and cedar notes, and it's medium to full-bodied, fresh, and elegant on the palate, with thrilling purity of fruit. It's still tight and reserved at the moment, with a focused feel on the palate, but has tons of potential. Give bottles 5-7 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15+. Tasted twice.
WA 95 (11/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Clos de Sarpe (composed of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc) is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal provocative Black Forest cake, Chinese five spice and cigar box notes with nuances of sandalwood, kirsch, rose hip tea and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, the palate is oh-so-seductive with a beautiful velvety texture and tons of freshness lifting the decadent fruit to a long spicy finish.
VM 94 (1/2019): The 2016 Clos de Sarpe is an exotic, full-throttle wine. Expressive floral, white pepper and espresso notes add a super-appealing upper register of aromatic intensity to a core of ripe, red cherry/plum fruit. Sumptuous and racy, Clos de Sarpe remains one of the most distinctive wines being made in Bordeaux today. The 2016 is a bit less over the top than some of the vintages that precede it, but Clos de Sarpe still pushes the outer edges of ripeness and overall intensity. I find it absolutely compelling, but there is no question Clos de Sarpe is not a wine for all palates. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases |
2019 |
St. Julien 2019 en Primeur release |
$53.95 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 92-94+ (6/2020): The 2019 Le Petit Lion blend this year is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 43% Merlot, harvested from the 20th of September to the 9th of October. The alcohol weighed in at 14.01% with a pH of 3.55 and an IPT of 75. It is aging in French oak barriques, 30% new. Managing director Pierre Graffeuille informed me that this wine is mainly a blend of the younger vines of Leoville Las Cases—three- to 20-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines—with some of the old Merlot (40-70 years) from the Las Cases enclosure. "It is a great combo to add old Merlot to young Cabernet Sauvignon!" he commented. Sporting a deep purple-black color, scents of Black Forest cake, blueberry preserves and ripe, black plums come bounding out of the glass, shadowed by hints of menthol, potpourri, spice cake and clove oil plus a waft of aniseed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with energetic, juicy black fruits, framed by amazing freshness and ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with a lively, invigorating lift. This is very different from the grand vin and yet is a wonderful alternative expression of the vineyard. For true fans of Las Cases, I would really recommend buying both this and the grand vin, because together they create an even more interesting story of the vintage at this incredible property!
VM 91-93 (6/2020): The 2019 Le Petit Lion is a blend of old-vine Merlot and younger vine Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep and savory in the glass, the Petit Lion is wonderfully expressive today. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2019, as it has quite a bit of tannin lurking beneath all the rich fruit. More than anything else, it is the wine's persistence and finish that really stands out. Antonio Galloni.
JS 95-96 (6/2020): This is really beautiful with blackcurrants, spice, black olives and blueberries. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. It’s bright and focused. Excellent second wine from Las Cases. One of the best. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Clos des Papes |
2021 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$77.95 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 93-95 (11/2022): While production was down 40% due to the frost, Vincent was able to make a beautiful 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape that readers will love to have in the cellar. All about finesse and elegance, it reveals a classic Clos des Papes nose of both red and black fruits as well as tons of floral, pepper, and spicy notes. These carry to a medium-bodied 2021 that has good ripeness (the alcohol is 15%), a supple, silky mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's not far off the style of the 2020, and while it doesn't have the density of a top vintage, it nevertheless has balance, complexity, and elegance, and will have 15+ years of longevity. |
|
| Dom. Coursodon |
2020 |
St. Joseph Rouge l’Olivaie ex-Domaine |
$48.99 |
5 |
|
| |
VM 95 (12/2022): Inky magenta. Heady aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, incense, exotic spices, violet and olive paste. Densely packed and energetic on the palate, offering intense dark berry preserve, cherry-cola, floral pastille and salty olive flavors, plus a hint of minerality and building spiciness. Finishes subtly chewy, focused and impressively long, with well-knit tannins adding grip to echoing dark fruit and floral notes. Roughly 15% new oak here. Josh Raynolds.
JD 94+ (12/2022): Brilliant stuff, the 2020 Saint Joseph Olivaie comes from older vines in the southern part of the appellation. Its deep purple/plum color is followed by a great bouquet of cassis and ripe blue fruits as well as spice, leather, and flowery incense. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it's already hard to resist yet will evolve gracefully for a solid decade or more. A brilliant Saint-Joseph, it reminds me slightly of a great Le Méal from Hermitage. |
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|
2020 |
St. Joseph Rouge Paradis St. Pierre ex-Domaine |
$69.99 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 96 (12/2022): Vivid purple. Powerful, smoke- and spice-accented blackberry, cherry-cola and violet aromas show excellent delineation and pick up olive and allspice notes with aeration. Sweet and broad in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated dark berry liqueur, vanilla, smoked meat and floral pastille flavors and a suggestion of exotic spices. The impressively long finish features bright mineral and floral notes and velvety, even tannins that sneak in late. Two-thirds whole clusters and about 10% new oak. Josh Raynolds.
JS 95 (2/2022): Very pure forest-berry and violet aromas. Beautiful interplay of sweet fruit and generous, fine tannins, plus delicate spice make this a stunning St.-Joseph. Very graceful with a long, refined finish that pulls you back for more of this masterpiece. Sustainable. Drink or hold.
JD 93-95+ (2/2022): The flagship from this estate, the 2020 Saint Joseph Le Paradis Saint Pierre comes from a single parcel of old vines and granite soils and will spend 15 months in demi-muids. It's always the most granite-influenced wine in the lineup, and the 2020 has a deep purple hue as well as a tight, focused, mineral-drenched style in its ripe black and blue fruits as well as peppery herbs, violet, and smoked game-like aromas and flavors. I love its overall balance, and it has plenty of structure and a great finish, as well as the focused, elegant style of the vintage. It's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15+. |
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|
2020 |
St. Joseph Rouge Sensonne ex-Domaine |
$69.99 |
25 |
|
| |
VM 96 (12/2022): Saturated ruby. Deeply pitched blackberry, cherry-cola, cassis, vanilla and pungent floral qualities on the intensely perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Sappy and densely packed yet energetic as well, offering kirsch, dark berry preserve, mocha, licorice and candied violet flavors and a hint of salty olive. Shows superb clarity, a repeating vanilla note and an emphatic mineral lift on a youthfully tannic finish that hangs on with strong, dark fruit-driven persistence. Josh Raynolds.
JD 95 (12/2022): One of the flagships from this estate, the 2020 Saint Joseph La Sensonne is 100% Syrah from old vines, aged entirely in new barrels. Its deep purple hue is followed by a great nose of smoked meats, violets, ground pepper, and both cassis and blackberry-like fruits. With full-bodied richness, a round, layered mouthfeel, background oak, and a great finish, this tour de force from Saint Joseph is more Hermitage than Saint Joseph. It will keep for 10-15 years in cold cellars.
JS 94 (2/2022): Full-on smoked-bacon and dry-earth aromas are married to a slew of forest berries and damson plums. Excellent balance of generous fruit and plush tannins on the full body. The tannins build to a crescendo at the long, complete finish. Sustainable. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.
WA 94-96 (1/2022): Jerôme Coursodon was not entirely sure this barrel and its neighbors would be bottled on their own as the 2020 Saint Joseph la Sensonne, but he indicated there was a strong possibility. Sourced from old vines, matured entirely in new oak from Taransaud (in this case) and Chassin, this cuvée features strong overtones of toast and mocha, but there is also plenty of cherry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, with tremendous length and vibrancy on the finish, it looks to be another hugely successful wine from this family estate in Mauves. |
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| Dom. de la Vieille Julienne |
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hauts-lieux |
$79.98 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (11/2021): The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux includes slightly more Mourvèdre and comes from a cooler parcel in the northern part of the appellation. It has another level of purity and precision compared to the Trois Sources and has extraordinary notes of blueberries, cassis, black licorice, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality. Incredibly concentrated, massive, and yet perfectly balanced, it has no hard edges and is just an incredible tasting experience. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years. |
|
|
2020 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hauts-lieux |
$79.95 |
9 |
|
| |
JD 97 (11/2022): The 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux comes from a cooler, higher elevation parcel and also includes slightly more Mourvedre, both of which give this cuvée a more firm, structured profile, especially in its youth. Awesome red, blue, and black fruits as well as black licorice, liquid violet, and peppery garrigue define the bouquet, and it's full-bodied, with a great mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a salty, almost bloody character on the finish. It shows the more charming nature of the 2020 vintage yet still deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will have over two decades of longevity.
VM 94 (6/2023): Pungent aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, red and black plum, raspberry and garrigue introduce the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Hauts-Lieux. It is a deep, full-bodied wine with ample concentration, perfectly balanced by lively acids, concluding with a savory finish. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Trois Sources |
$66 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 96+ (11/2021): More cassis, morello cherry, Asian spice, and a beautiful sense of minerality and loamy earth emerge from the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources, a full-bodied, concentrated blend of 60% Grenache, 15% each of Cinsault and Syrah, and the balance Mourvèdre. Coming all from the estate’s sandy soils in the northern part of the appellation, this incredibly concentrated, textured wine has perfect balance, building tannins, and a great finish. Give this beauty another 4-5 years in the cellar and drink it over the following two decades or more. |
|
|
2020 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Trois Sources |
$64.95 |
8 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (11/2022): Leading off the three Châteauneuf du Pape releases, the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Les Trois Source comes from three different terroirs located in the northern part of the appellation, just across the street from the domaine. Roasted Provençal garrigue, black licorice, black raspberries, Asian spices, and a hint of cassis all define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with a layered, medium to full-bodied profile that has silky tannins and no hard edges. It's much more up-front and approachable than the more structured Les Hauts-Lieux and is going to drink fabulously well over the coming 15+ years. |
|
| Dom. des Bosquets |
2022 |
Gigondas La Colline
ETA Q3 2024 |
$59.99 |
34 |
|
| |
JD 92-94+ (10/2023): The 2022 Gigondas La Colline should be outstanding, yet it certainly doesn't have the opulence or richness of prior vintages. Beautiful black raspberries, spring flowers, camphor, and loamy earth notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, elegant, pretty Grenache (it's 100% Grenache) with ripe tannins and a great finish. It's another 2022 that will demand bottle age.
VM 94-96 (1/2024): Grenache-lovers: Buckle up for the promising 2022 Gigondas La Colline. This bold and time-demanding wine combines fragrant floral, red fruit and spicy aromatics with terrific structure and remarkable intensity. Vinified with 40% whole clusters and coming in at 15.3% alcohol, this layered 2022 red needs a few years in bottle to settle down. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
|
2022 |
Gigondas Le Lieu Dit
ETA Q3 2024 |
$59.99 |
32 |
|
| |
JD 94-96 (10/2023): Coming from a cooler terroir of pure sand soils just beside the estate, the 2022 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit (100% Grenache) offers up loads of ripe strawberry fruit supported by floral, camphor, and loamy soil nuances. With medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a seamless mouthfeel, this is a Burgundy lover’s Grenache that will benefit from just a few years in the cellar and evolve for 15+ in cold cellars.
VM 93-95 (1/2024): The gorgeous 2022 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit dazzles right away. Pronounced raspberry and strawberry notes mingle with scents of mango, fresh mint and a dash of white pepper. Look out for this single-varietal Grenache—it bursts with personality and complexity. Despite its 15.4% alcohol and full body, this 2022 red feels remarkably light on its feet. This cuvée emerges from 60-year-old vines grown on a parcel with a distinctive cooling influence, derived from its northwestern exposure at the edge of a forest. Fermentation included 30% whole clusters. Nicolas Greinacher. |
|
| Dom. du Caillou |
2001 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2004): The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Quartz’s Burgundian-like perfume of liquid rocks intermixed with blueberries, blackberries, licorice, and cherries is accompanied by exquisite concentration, extraordinary purity, and a tremendously perfumed style with minerality as well as underlying structure. This is a fabulously elegant yet full-bodied, concentrated offering that could be called the Musigny of Chateauneuf du Pape. The 2001 only hints at its ultimate potential, but it is soft enough to be drunk now. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2016.
VM 93 (2/2004): Deep ruby-red. Brooding aromas of medicinal dark fruits and bitter chocolate; showing its syrah side today. Then superripe and sweet, with a terrific creamy middle and deep red fruit flavors. This manages to be extremely primary and bright yet also pliant and approachable. Finishes with very ripe, sweet tannins and terrific length. Distinctly finer than the regular bottling.
JD 92 (3/2011): The 2001 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz (first produced in 1999) is a blend of 85% Grenache (from Les Cassanets) and 15% Syrah (from Les Bedines), all destemmed, with the Grenache aged for 18 months in oak vats and foudres, while the Syrah is aged for 18 months in new oak barrels. Very bright and edgy on the nose, with a touch of detracting volatile acidity peaking through, the wine shows loads of dark fruits, violets, spice, and mineral aromatics, medium to full body, an Outstanding, seamless texture, and racy acidity that carries the finish. Very well balanced, and with ample fruit, this is still quite youthful and borderline primary. If not for the VA, I would have scored this noticeably higher. |
|
| Dom. du Tunnel |
2021 |
Cornas Vin Noir ex-Domaine |
$79.99 |
29 |
|
| |
| JD 93-95 (12/2022): The 2021 Cornas Vin Noir is even better and clearly a candidate for the wine of the appellation. Ripe blackberries, smoked herbs, cured meats, iron, and spice all flow to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, balanced Cornas offering ripe, velvety tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Bravo. |
|
| Dom. Duclaux |
2020 |
Cote Rotie Maison Rouge ex-Domaine |
$74.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 92-95 (1/2022): The 2020 Cote Rotie Maison Rouge comes from 1.5 hectares in the gneiss-laden northern portion of the lieu-dit, and includes no Viognier. Purple raspberries and black olives cavort on the nose, framed by subtle notes of baking spices. It's medium to full-bodied, expansive, rich and silky, with a long, elegant finish. It should be drinkable on release, yet cellar well for at least a decade.
JD 91-93 (2/2022): The 2020 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge is terrific, offering ample black raspberry and darker berry fruits as well as spring flowers and peppery spice nuances. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium-bodied and has a supple, seamless texture, impressive tannins, and a great finish. It's unquestionably an outstanding wine, and I'd be happy to drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Le Vieux Donjon |
2022 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$57.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 93-95 (10/2023): As to the red from this great estate, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape checks in as a classic blend of 75% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault that raised in concrete and foudre. It shows the perfumed, ripe, yet also elegant style of the vintage and has beautiful red and black fruit, some classic Provençal, spicy, garrigue nuances, medium to full body, a great mid-palate, and ripe tannins. It's going to a forward, approachable Vieux Donjon that will also evolve for 10-15 years if well stored. |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2003 |
Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (2/2006): Gorgeous aromas of mango, papaya and coconut, with a lush, creamy palate loaded with tropical fruit, macadamia nut, floral and mineral flavors. Long and powerful, but precise from start to finish. Hard to lay off now, but should be dreamy when mature. Drink now through 2020. 2,100 cases made.
WA 93 (2/2006): The compelling 2003 Hermitage Chevalier de Sterimberg is a blend of two-thirds Roussanne and one-third Marsanne, it tastes like a blend of liqueur of rocks, licorice, honeysuckle, and waxy orange marmalade. Given this cuvee’s low acidity, it is hard to know how it will age, but I would not be surprised to see it last for 20 or more years.
VM 90 (2/2005): (two-thirds marsanne and one-third roussanne) Very pale color. Superripe aromas of exotic fruits, orange peel and menthol. Big, rich and exotic, but kept fresh by sound acids and vibrant notes of orange peel and minerals. This has lovely fruit and cut for this heatwave vintage. Finishes with excellent length. Drink this young, or forget it for ten years. |
|
| | Loire |
| Bernard Baudry |
2018 |
Chinon La Croix Boissee |
$49 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (10/2021): The ripeness of the 2018 vintage gives an almost Syrah/Viognier character to the Chinon La Croix Boissee, which offers sweet black fruit and a creamy apricot note. Sumptuous yet never ever opulent, it's almost as if the wine's just done a yoga class. Plentiful tannins give the inside of your cheeks a chalky rub, while there's surprising freshness considering the ripeness, leading to a lengthy finish. This is a baby that will turn out to be a great adult. Rebecca Gibb. |
|
| | Germany |
| Fritz Haag |
2020 |
Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$49 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (9/2021): The 2020 Juffer Sonnenuhr GG is excitingly clear, fresh and precise on the nose. Lush and round on the palate, this is an intense and tensioned, finely grippy, long and salty JSU whose energy, precision and freshness is outstanding. Tasted in Wiesbaden in August 2021. |
|
|
2019 |
Juffer Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (4/2020): The 2019 Brauneberg Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken GG is very fine, flinty, delicate and charming on the precise and beautifully articulated slatey and herbal nose that also displays highly refined and discreet tropical fruit aromas. However, the nose is remarkably shy at this early stage. On the palate, this is a lithe Juffer Sonnenuhr with great finesse and a pure, mineral, persistently salty and crunchy finish that doesn't show much fruit and power at this stage. This seems to be a rather ascetic yet piquant and salty Riesling, and I am curious how the wine will develop over the next six months. The finish is very long, intense and still dominated by yeasty notes. This will develop to a spectacular JSU with time. |
|
| JJ Prum |
2022 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese
ETA Q4 2024 |
$54.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JS 96 (12/2023): Here’s a very classic Mosel Spatlese with exactly the combination of richness, elegance and delicacy that makes this category unique. Such delicate white peach and sliced pear, rose and honeysuckle aromas. Very long finish that is as succulent as it is refined. You just want to linger there for as long as you can. Drink or hold. |
|
| Peter Lauer |
2020 |
Kupp Fass 18 Grosses Gewachs |
$54.99 |
7 |
|
| |
JS 95 (7/2021): Complex nose of wet ferns, wild berries and smoke. As cool and still as it is deep in the woods, this concentrated, tightly wound wine is just beginning to open up. Very classic, stony finish with noble austerity. Drinkable now, but best from 2023. Screw cap.
WA 92+ (9/2021): Lauer’s 2020 Kupp GG Fass 18 shows a clear and pure yet intense, still a bit yeasty bouquet. The palate is quite rich and powerful but elegant, revealing a Kupp that needs some years to develop more finesse and charm. The wine is quite intense and lush and provided with tannins that still dry the palate a bit. Tasted in Wiesbaden in August 2021. |
|
| Weingut Emrich-Schonleber |
2022 |
Monzinger Fruhlingspatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs
ETA Q4 2024 |
$69.99 |
21 |
|
| |
| VM 93-95 (9/2023): The 2022 Riesling Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Grosses Gewächs opens with a sunny, friendly creaminess, and a slight overtone of mango sets an accent. The palate is serene, bright, absolutely focused on lemon and a little lemony pith, but with a luminous, slender creaminess. The textural aspect holds spice, which is not apparent yet but will reveal itself. It also gives structure to this light, bright, filigree wine. Subtle length extends that lovely, gentle pithiness. Anne Krebiehl. |
|
|
2020 |
Monzinger Fruhlingsplatzchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$74.95 |
5 |
|
| |
JS 97 (9/2021): A breathtaking wine that has all the mineral depth and concentration you associate with a Grand Cru, but also a wide spectrum of very fine citrus and berry aromas. Then it splash lands in an explosion of fresh-herb aromas. Drink or hold.
WS 96 (8/2021): The 2020 Frühlingsplätzchen GG is very pure and fresh on the precise and stony, pretty reductive and herbal nose that needs lots of air to open up. Crystalline and pure on the palate, this is a bone-dry, refined, enormously salty and piquant Riesling from partly red slate, loam and quartzite plots. The finish is pure, fresh and precise, very long and expressive. Tasted from a bottle that was opened three days earlier, it is much more charming and open on the nose, showing an intense and complex bouquet of crushed stones, lemons and white fruits. The palate is round and elegant, much lusher and long, but it still has long-lasting salinity on the finish. A gorgeous Frühlingsplätzchen that today comes from stonier plots than in the beginning of the GG saga. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021. |
|
|
2020 |
Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs |
$83 |
6 |
|
| |
JS 99 (7/2021): Enormously fine and subtle nose. The ravishing but very delicate apricot aroma pulls you into the profound mineral depths of this dry-riesling masterpiece. The salty minerality at the finish just doesn’t want to stop and gives you a great feeling of how the most dramatic landscapes of this region look. Drink or hold.
WA 96 (9/2021): The 2020 Halenberg GG is pure, precise and fresh on the nose that offers flinty notes of crushed stones, herbs and lemons. Crystalline, refined and juicy on the palate, this is a dense and intense, tightly structured and persistently salty Halenberg with fine tannins and great purity. Tasted from a bottle that was opened three days before, the bouquet is deep and intense but pure and salty with ripe lemon and crushed stone aromas. The palate is full, dense and tight, with serious tannin structure and lingering salinity. The combination of both wines is amazing and combines purity and freshness with complexity and elegance. The salty finish is the leitmotiv of all three versions. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021. |
|
| Weingut Georg Gustav Huff |
2020 |
Hipping Riesling Alte Reben |
$39.99 |
4 |
|
| |
| JS 96 (11/2021): So much star fruit, pink grapefruit and white peach on the nose, knocking you back slightly in the first moment. As bright as a rocket leaving the launch-pad in the direction of Mars, this dry riesling from the red soils of one of Nierstein’s top sites is super-straight and focused, the breathtaking, fresh finish intensely citrus and mineral. Drink or hold. |
|
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2007 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2009): Gardenia, peony, and resinous herbs in the nose of Donnhoff's 2007 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese give way to a palpably extract-rich palate of vibratory intensity, suffused with stony, saline, and tactile suggestions of mineral matter, yet at the same time rich orchard fruits. If the Krotenpfuhl was painted with water colors, the medium here is definitely oil, exhibiting both dynamic and intricate brush work as well as dense layering. This masterpiece - picked simultaneously with the corresponding Grosses Gewachs - was only beginning to show its depth in the spring and needed almost six months in bottle to really shine forth. Take as long as fate permits you to savor this; I can't imagine it disappointing a quarter century or more from now.
WS 94 (4/2009): Bright and expressive, evoking apricot, nectarine and orange, with accents of sweet corn and vanilla custard. If the flavors were colors they would be neon, like a Pucci print. Drink now through 2028.
VM 93+ (2/2009): Tantalizing aromas of papaya, sweet herbs and incense. Discreet but intense black cherry fruit rises from the mid-palate, accompanied by brilliant acidity. Animated and finely spiced, with a deep, long finish. I may be underrating this. |
|
|
2011 |
Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2013): High-toned, distillate-like herbal extracts along with ripe fresh strawberry, apple and quince inform the scintillating nose and electrical charged palate of Donnhoff’s 2011 Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese. “We were able to just keep waiting on this site," he explains, “so that even this lightest wine from the Brucke was picked only in the last days of (regular) harvest." Hints of pits and seed, along with black tea, nut oils, zesty citrus, and myriad mineral impingements add to a sense of quickening that goes well beyond mere invigoration in this gem’s strikingly persistent, shimmeringly vibrant finish. I was left with salivary glands palpitating and arms covered in gooseflesh. It will probably be hard to resist such a wine at any point over the next quarter century, but those with the requisite remaining life expectancy should make an effort to defer for the duration the pleasure of at least the last bottle or two.
WS 91 (4/2013): Fruity and expressive, with a lush spiciness to the ripe apple and baked peach flavors. Intense glazed apricot and jellied citrus notes linger on the juicy, sumptuous finish. Drink now through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 56 cases imported. |
|
| | Italy |
| Allegrini |
1996 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2000): Very impressive, an unquestionably fine dry red. The Outstanding, dark purple-colored 1996 Amarone offers a knock-out nose of wood charcoal intermixed with black truffles, melted asphalt, blackberries, and roast beef. Amazingly rich and full-bodied, but not heavy, this chewy, thick, exceptionally pure, harmonious offering should drink well for 10-15+ years. Its low acidity and gorgeously ripe fruit provide immediate accessibility. |
|
|
1996 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Lightly Wrinkled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2000): Very impressive, an unquestionably fine dry red. The Outstanding, dark purple-colored 1996 Amarone offers a knock-out nose of wood charcoal intermixed with black truffles, melted asphalt, blackberries, and roast beef. Amazingly rich and full-bodied, but not heavy, this chewy, thick, exceptionally pure, harmonious offering should drink well for 10-15+ years. Its low acidity and gorgeously ripe fruit provide immediate accessibility. |
|
| Caparzo |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino La Casa
ETA Q4 2024 |
$67.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 95 (2/2024): Ripe and inviting, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna La Casa pours a deep ruby/red color and reveals intertwining notes of kirsch, fresh leather, dried roses, and sweet Mediterranean herbs. It’s elegant and full-bodied, with ripe tannins, a plush texture, and wonderful length that floats away gently. It’s a very attractive wine with a weightless feel and has an open window for enjoyment over the coming 10-12 years.
WA 95 (12/2023): The Caparzo 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa offers a balanced presentation of candied cherry, dried fruit and toasted spice. This is a lovely and joyous wine with velvety soft tannins and good inner energy that adds dimension and depth to the mouthfeel. Vigna La Casa is a contemporary expression from Montalcino with extra fruit concentration and structure, and the results are carefully balanced throughout. Some 14,000 bottles were made. |
|
| Caprili |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$44.99 |
24 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is remarkably pretty, wafting up with a blend of violets and lavender before giving way to steeped plum lifted by mint. This is racy and sleek, with cooling acidity and mineral tones that excite the palate. Juicy acidity enlivens tart wild berry fruits. The 2019 finds its center through the finish, as fine tannins emerge and a crunchy sensation lingers. Licorice and bitter blackberry notes taper off slowly. In a word, fantastic. The balance of complexity, structure and energy places the 2019 very high in my book. Eric Guido. |
|
| Casanova di Neri |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino
ETA Q3 2024 |
$68 |
33 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2023): The Casanova di Neri 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows thick fruit fabric with stitchings of underbrush, pressed rose, bright cherry, tobacco and balanced oak spice. This wine definitely has a special groove. It offers a ripe, round texture with good acidity followed by fine, chalky tannins. This is impressive quality for 109,600 bottles produced. In fact, this is one of the best village Brunellos from Giacomo Neri and his family made so far. |
|
| Castellare di Castellina |
2019 |
I Sodi di San Niccolo Toscana IGT
ETA Q4 2024 |
$94.99 |
34 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (8/2023): The 2019 I Sodi di San Niccolò is another fabulous wine from Castellare. At this stage, the 2019 is an infant. The purity of the fruit is compelling. Despite its considerable intensity, the 2019 appears to have less forbidding tannins than in many years, which should allow it to drink well with minimal cellaring. Blood orange, sweet spice, leather and cedar linger on the stylish finish. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2019 |
Sammarco |
$69.98 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 96 (9/2023): A blend of (organic and biodynamic) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, the 2019 Sammarco is more austere and even robust compared to the punchier style prized throughout this portfolio. This is a firmly grounded wine, with a bigger baseline of aromas, spanning black fruit, baked plum, spice, tobacco and crushed limestone. You feel the natural concentration of the 2019 vintage and beautifully managed tannins in this wine. This is a release of 25,837 bottles and 292 magnums.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2019 Sammarco is a very pretty, elegant wine with gorgeous aromatic intensity from the Cabernet Sauvignon that makes up the majority of the blend this year. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, dried cherry, incense and crushed leaves lend notable aromatic presence to this young, nascent Sammarco. Time in the glass brings out striking inner perfume and sweetness. In 2019, Sammarco is more finesse than power. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Castello di Ama |
2019 |
Gran Selezione San Lorenzo Chianti Classico |
$44.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 95 (9/2023): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo draws its fruit from various sites selected throughout the estate, and for that reason, it is often the most representative wine from Castello di Ama (despite its more approachable price). This vintage is especially interesting, showing a more formal quality of tannins for longer aging potential and softly extracted dark fruit that sets it apart. Vintner Marco Pallanti likens 2019 to 2004 or 2016, some of the best vintages in recent memory. The wine is partially aged in new oak, and the percentage of new barrels used depends on the vintage conditions. This edition sees 20% new oak, medium toast and fine grains. The team is working with lower temperatures during fermentation with more numerous pump-overs for the first couple of weeks, then the wine is left alone. Fresh cherry fruit, blackberry, spice and grilled herb emerge.
VM 94 (7/2022): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is a wild, beautifully layered wine. Touches of Merlot and Malvasia Nera lend striking complexity and dimension to a mid-weight yet fleshy Gran Selezione. Iron, cured meats, spice, leather and dried leaves all take shape in this deceptively mid-weight yet deep, highly expressive Gran Selezione. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Gran Selezione San Lorenzo Chianti Classico (1.5 L) |
$89.99 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 95 (9/2023): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo draws its fruit from various sites selected throughout the estate, and for that reason, it is often the most representative wine from Castello di Ama (despite its more approachable price). This vintage is especially interesting, showing a more formal quality of tannins for longer aging potential and softly extracted dark fruit that sets it apart. Vintner Marco Pallanti likens 2019 to 2004 or 2016, some of the best vintages in recent memory. The wine is partially aged in new oak, and the percentage of new barrels used depends on the vintage conditions. This edition sees 20% new oak, medium toast and fine grains. The team is working with lower temperatures during fermentation with more numerous pump-overs for the first couple of weeks, then the wine is left alone. Fresh cherry fruit, blackberry, spice and grilled herb emerge.
VM 94 (7/2022): The 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is a wild, beautifully layered wine. Touches of Merlot and Malvasia Nera lend striking complexity and dimension to a mid-weight yet fleshy Gran Selezione. Iron, cured meats, spice, leather and dried leaves all take shape in this deceptively mid-weight yet deep, highly expressive Gran Selezione. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cavallotto |
2018 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis ex-Domaine |
$68.99 |
35 |
|
| |
JD 95 (5/2023): The 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis pours a deep ruby and has spiced and enveloping aromatics of cigar box, leather, pure red cherry, and turned earth. This medium-bodied red is approachable and graceful, with moderate tannins and good concentration in its notes of Earl Grey tea, blood orange, and raspberry liqueur. Drink 2024-2044. Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (6/2022): The Cavallotto 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis (a certified organic wine) is a lovely expression with fruit from one of the most beautiful sites in Castiglione Falletto, measuring 7.3 hectares. The wine is streamlined and tight with forest berry, blackcurrant and spice. It is taut and silky, showing fruit that has been shaped by cool nights and warm days. Bricco Boschis always delivers a special sense of sharpness and focus. Production is 23,747 bottles and 1,333 magnums.
VM 92+ (2/2022): Cavallotto’s 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis is a powerhouse. A blast of sweet dark cherry, menthol, licorice, gravel and incense hits the palate. Youthful and quite strapping in terms of its presence, the 2018 holds quite a bit of promise. That’s the good news. But readers will have to be patient, as the tannins are quite searing at this stage for a wine that has typically been a bit more forthcoming. This is an especially serious edition of the Bricco Boschis Barolo. Antonio Galloni.
WS 92 (9/2022): A firmly structured, dry Barolo, with a core of cherry and plum shaded by earth and tobacco elements. Turns austere, picking up an underlying mineral streak on the finish. Best from 2025 through 2038. |
|
| Elio Grasso |
2019 |
Barolo Gavarini Chiniera |
$88.99 |
9 |
|
| |
JD 98 (5/2023): The 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is just superb, with layers of pure fruits and spices interwoven with vibrant cherry liqueur, candied roses, incense, and baking spice. Harmonious and balanced from the start, it offers ripe tannins, a seamless spine of fresh acidity, and fantastic length that leaves me wanting more. As it opens, it reveals more nuanced notes of apricot and saline earth. An outstanding medium to full-bodied red, this is one to cellar for a few years, as it has a ways to go before its full spectrum is revealed. Drink 2026-2050. Audrey Frick.
WA 97 (8/2023): With vines adjacent to forests on white chalky soils, the Elio Grasso 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a luminous and very beautiful wine. Vintner Gianluca Grasso called this "the helicopter vintage" because he actually rented a helicopter to fly over the vines for 45 minutes to dry them from rain right before harvest. As he tells it, this was a costly but good decision because 15 minutes after he finished harvesting on October 26, heavy rain came and lasted an entire week. Thanks to these dramatic measures, the grape skins were excellent, and maceration with submerged cap lasted 55 days. That's how perfect the skins were. This balanced wine shows extreme precision and elegance.
VM 96 (1/2023): The 2019 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is classically austere and just gorgeous right out of the gate. Soaring aromatics and fine, sculpted fruit race out of the glass. Crushed rose petal, cinnamon, orange peel and mint are all beautifully delineated. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2019 is going to need years to be at its best, yet it has that embryonic inner sweetness that characterizes the very finest wines here. Superb. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2019 |
Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate |
$88.99 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (8/2023): Very different from the Gavarini Chiniera, the 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Maté shows more bite, structure and a bigger tannic impact. Fruit was harvested a bit earlier, but healthy grape skins allowed for 52 days of maceration. This wine shows beautiful intensity and fullness with dark fruit, earth, hazelnut and dark plum. Surrounded by forests, the greenery gives balance to this wine by moderating temperatures. In fact, this site saw up to 10 degrees Celsius drops in diurnal temperatures, leading to thick skins and ideal phenolic ripeness.
JD 97 (5/2023): Another remarkable wine from this outstanding and tension-packed vintage, the 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate takes on a bit more introspective nature, with black cherry, cracked peppercorn, licorice, and wet asphalt. Full-bodied, it offers sweet tannins and notes of balsamic herbs, violets, leather, and black raspberry that move through the palate at a glacial pace without feeling weighted. I would recommend cellaring for a few years, after which it will be perfect for winter weather evenings by the fireside over the coming decades. Drink 2026-2050. Audrey Frick.
VM 95 (1/2023): The 2019 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is rich, dark and explosive. Dark-fleshed fruit, cloves menthol, licorice, scorched earth, leather and dried flowers are some of the notes that infuse the 2019 with character. Deep and resonant, with tremendous depth, the Ginestra is a wine of unbridled intensity. Swaths of tannin wrap around the huge, substantial finish. This virile, strapping Barolo is quite simply classic Ginestra. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Elvio Cogno |
2017 |
Barolo Cascina Nuova |
$53.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JS 95 (3/2021): Attractive dried strawberry with cherry and tar on the nose. Full-bodied with powerful tannins that are dusty and intense. Very flavorful and long. Solid as a rock. Needs at least three or four years to soften and come together.
WA 93 (6/2021): This wine is a sure bet from Elvio Cogno and such a steal. The 2017 Barolo Cascina Nuova delivers ample intensity and power. In this regard, it keeps faithfully in line with the expectations of a hot vintage that rendered more concentrated and sweeter fruit. However, the expert winemaking team at this estate has been able to manage any excesses or hints of over-ripeness. These are solid results with 20,000 bottles available.
JD 93 (5/2021): The 2017 Barolo Cascina Nuova is perfumed with ripe cherry, licorice, tar, and dried roses. The palate is ripe and refreshing, with a fairly classic build noted by red plum, tobacco leaf, and turned earth. This wine is beautiful and inviting out of the gates or drink 2022-2036.
WS 93 (11/2021): This is focused and almost creamy in texture, boasting cherry, strawberry, almond, tar and earth flavors. Multifaceted and just when you think it's accessible, the dense, dusty tannins emerge. Fresh and long. Best from 2025 through 2045. 1,700 cases made, 500 cases imported. |
|
|
2017 |
Barolo Ravera |
$84.99 |
24 |
|
| |
JD 97 (5/2021): The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042.
WA 94 (6/2021): The Ravera cru is seeing renewed energy and interest, thanks to the hard work of the Elvio Cogno team. They believed in Novello from the very beginning, and today a wine like the 2017 Barolo Ravera shows special confidence and pride. This pretty Barolo made with a blend of Nebbiolo clones (Lampia and Michet) reveals a slow succession of aromas with dark cherry and blackberry. The results are lasting, contoured and beautifully focused, thanks to mineral notes of rusty iron or brick. Nuanced notes of licorice and campfire ash round off the finish. Production is 13,000 bottles.
JS 94 (3/2021): Cherry and candied strawberry with flowers and some dried earth. Full-bodied, layered and chewy. Lots of wet earth and mushroom to the red fruit. Tight now. Try after 2023.
WS 93 (11/2021): A tightly wound, linear red, this reveals steeped cherry and plum flavors, with shadings of tar, eucalyptus and licorice. The dense matrix of tannins rules the finish, yet this shows nice equilibrium overall. Best from 2025 through 2043. 1,100 cases made, 350 cases imported. |
|
| Fuligni |
2013 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 97 (4/2018): Luminous red. High-pitched aromas of sour red cherry, raspberry, rose, stainless steel, white pepper and minerals. Dense and silky in texture but displays great juiciness, clarity and floral lift; the lively but harmonious acidity really lifts and frames the bright red and mineral flavors. Totally saturates the palate and yet comes off as virtually weightless. This hauntingly beautiful wine showcases everything Brunello can be when made from an ultra-competent producer farming Sangiovese vines that grow in what is a real grand cru section of the much too large Brunello di Montalcino denomination. Ian d'Agata.
JS 96 (1/2018): A balanced and firm red with plum, light chocolate, walnut and spice character. Medium to full body and silky tannins. I love the flavorful finish. Drink in 2021.
WA 93 (2/2018): The Fuligni 2013 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits a dark garnet color with copper-like highlights at the rim. The wine is sophisticated and austere in character, and the fruit tones are etched and firm. All of these qualities contribute to the overall sense of finesse and pedigree presented by Fuligni. Dark cherry and dried fruit segue to mineral aromas and campfire ash. The wine maintains a somewhat serious and introspective quality throughout. This Annata Brunello shows more nuance compared to the 2012 Riserva.
WS 92 (6/2018): A rich style, displaying cherry, strawberry, floral and wild herb aromas and flavors. Tightly wound, with iron, sanguine and tobacco notes rolling out on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2034. 2,333 cases made. |
|
|
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino |
$89.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2023): Dusty and floral, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a perfumed blend of dried roses, cherries, mint and lavender candies. It’s elegant and seamlessly silky on the palate, enveloping the senses with ripe red berry fruits contrasted by a bitter clove tinge. A core of brisk acidity maintains a lovely balance as a web of fine tannins saturates the palate, and a pleasantly chewy sensation remains. The 2019 is classic to the core. Eric Guido. |
|
| Girolamo Russo |
2020 |
Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo |
$62.08 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens to a hint of salinity or minerality that is specific to this site. Those linear aromas tend to frame a tight core of wild fruit, white cherry, apricot and mountain flowers like blue bonnet or Sicilian ginestra, which grows with yellow blooms on the flanks of the volcano. The wine's interesting saltiness cedes directly to the mouthfeel. The tannins are more prominent in this vintage. You should get very good aging potential from this bottle.
VM 93.5 (9/2023): The remarkably pretty 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo d'Mezzo opens with a whiff of sweet spice that gives way to dried roses, cinnamon and clove. This is surprisingly juicy and energetic in feel, with crisp red fruits propelled by vibrant acidity as citrus adds cheek-puckering tension toward the close. The 2020 finishes dramatically long with a saturating concentration and edgy tannins that curl the tongue as sour cherry hints fade. This is deceivingly open and giving yet remarkably complex. I suggest checking in on one for its primary fruit but then cellaring the rest to unveil their underlying power. Eric Guido. |
|
|
2020 |
Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo |
$68.95 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo opens to a hint of salinity or minerality that is specific to this site. Those linear aromas tend to frame a tight core of wild fruit, white cherry, apricot and mountain flowers like blue bonnet or Sicilian ginestra, which grows with yellow blooms on the flanks of the volcano. The wine's interesting saltiness cedes directly to the mouthfeel. The tannins are more prominent in this vintage. You should get very good aging potential from this bottle.
VM 93.5 (9/2023): The remarkably pretty 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo d'Mezzo opens with a whiff of sweet spice that gives way to dried roses, cinnamon and clove. This is surprisingly juicy and energetic in feel, with crisp red fruits propelled by vibrant acidity as citrus adds cheek-puckering tension toward the close. The 2020 finishes dramatically long with a saturating concentration and edgy tannins that curl the tongue as sour cherry hints fade. This is deceivingly open and giving yet remarkably complex. I suggest checking in on one for its primary fruit but then cellaring the rest to unveil their underlying power. Eric Guido. |
|
|
2021 |
Etna Rosso San Lorenzo |
$66.99 |
12 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (6/2023): The Girolamo Russo 2021 Etna Rosso San Lorenzo is a very exciting wine with so much energy and verve. It opens to lean-bodied concentration with a brilliant ruby shine. The wine shows a long array of wild fruit and tiny berry aromas backed by crushed white pepper and crushed stone. San Lorenzo is one of the most impressive interpretations of Etna. I highly recommend you try and cellar this wine. |
|
| Livio Sassetti |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Pertimali |
$67.99 |
5 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2023): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is a spice box of a wine, opening with a burst of camphor and dried flowers, giving way to crushed blackberries, sage and cloves. This is surprisingly energetic and racy in style. Vibrant acidity propels depths of dark red fruits and inner floral as salty minerals saturate. The 2019 finishes structured and long yet still lively, leaving violet inner florals and hints of currant to taper off slowly. The combination of power, depth and energy makes this impossible to ignore. Eric Guido. |
|
| Luigi Pira |
2017 |
Barolo Marenca |
$59.85 |
12 |
|
| |
JS 96 (6/2021): Really gorgeous aromas of dried strawberries with hazelnut and cedar undertones, following through to a full body with real density of fruit and dusty, chewy tannins that finish long and intense. Vivid transparency at the end. Try after 2025.
WA 93 (6/2021): The Luigi Pira 2017 Barolo Marenca reveals a bright note of sweet cherry or redcurrant that pops first from the bouquet. That pretty red fruit intensity is quickly followed by spice, earth, toasted hazelnut and candied orange peel. This is a graceful and smooth expression from a site in Serralunga d'Alba that is almost exclusively farmed by the Pira family, mostly replanted in 1990 and is said to be noted for its powerful Barolo.
JD 93 (6/2021): Floral and perfumed, the 2017 Barolo Marenca is laced with crushed rose petals, cherry lozenge, and fresh earth. On the palate, this red is inviting and pure, offering notes of raspberry, and black tea before showing its true Serralunga character and noble structure beneath. It’s finesse and elegance up front leads to a deceiving desire to say it would be for youthful drinking, though it will be worth holding out for 2-5 years to enjoy 2024-2042. |
|
| M. Marengo |
2017 |
Barolo Brunate |
$68.99 |
29 |
|
| |
JS 95 (6/2021): A red with lovely ripe strawberry, spice and some flowers and leather. Dried orange peel, too. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins that are slightly mouth-puckering. It’s structured and rather powerful. Needs time to soften. Give it three or four years to soften. Try after 2024.
VM 94 (2/2021): The 2017 Barolo Brunate shows why this is such a highly-regarded site. Powerful and deep, the 2017 has enough fruit and pedigree to keep the formidable tannins in check. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, leather, licorice and menthol gain volume as the 2017 opens in the glass. This brooding Barolo needs time in bottle, but it is pretty compelling, even in the early going. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2021): With fruit from La Morra, the 2017 Barolo Brunate presents a taut and tight bouquet of candied cherry, violets, orange peel and iron ore. The aromas are fluid and agile, yet they are also quite polished and focused. Indeed, this Brunate offers the greatest degree of complexity and sheer depth in this portfolio from the Marengo family of La Morra. Again, we see those extra tight tannins that are such a common feature of Barolo wines from the hot and dry 2017 vintage. This was a release of 4,800 bottles. |
|
| Poderi Colla |
2017 |
Barolo Dardi Le Rose Bussia |
$59.99 |
11 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (10/2021): The 2017 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is superb. Classy and poised, the 2017 captures all the personality of Bussia. The Colla Barolos typically need a few years to shine. I imagine that will be the case here as well. As attractive as the 2017 is today, the best is yet to come. Crushed flowers, spice, sweet pipe tobacco and incense lend considerable nuance to a core of sweet Nebbiolo fruit. What a pretty wine this is. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Sottimano |
2020 |
Barbaresco Cotta ex-Domaine |
$67.89 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Cottá is another fabulous wine in this range from Sottimano. Dark and super-classic in bearing, the 2020 has tremendous stature along with a darker and more somber personality than usual. The balance here is just mind-blowing. Scorched earth, leather, tobacco and incense infuse the finish with tons of nuance to complement its muscular personality. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (5/2023): Moving to the 2020 Barbaresco Cotta, fantastic mineral-tinged aromas of crushed stones, pencil shavings, and blackberry are followed by a medium-bodied red with a ripe yet linear feel and crunchy red fruits of red plum, orange rind, and clove. I liked this for its more tension-packed and energetic feel and stony texture. Drink 2025-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 94+ (8/2023): A wine from Sottimano that also draws its fruit from the village of Neive (and Barbaresco, because these 2.8 hectares of vines are on the border), the 2020 Barbaresco Cottá shows an austere character with pronounced rust or iodine aromas that are neatly layered into dark fruit and dried cherry. The wine sports a generous, medium-weight texture that offers a good amount of textural firmness to the palate. Give this pretty wine a little more time to flesh out. 9,000 bottles were produced. |
|
|
2019 |
Barbaresco Curra ex-Domaine |
$85.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2023): Released one year later than the other Barbarescos in this portfolio, the Sottimano 2019 Barbaresco Currá brings the intensity up a notch and not just in terms of dark fruit and cassis. The wine's mineral profile is more pronounced and, in careful moderation, so is the oak toast and spice delivery. There are more distinct elements here, all played forward with great intensity, that ultimately reach a place of excellent balance and endurance. Sadly, only 2,000 bottles emerged from this 1.6-hectare vineyard site in Neive.
VM 94 (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco Currà is another stellar wine in this range from Sottimano. Deep and authoritative, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and textural intensity. Incisive Currà tannins are present, but they are pretty much buried by the sheer richness of the fruit. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Fausoni ex-Domaine |
$67.89 |
19 |
|
| |
VM 97 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Fausoni is one of the most captivating wines I have ever tasted here. Bright, focused and vertical in bearing, the 2020 possesses tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions. Macerated red cherry, mint, white pepper, tobacco and cedar add lift and energy throughout. Moreover, the typically incisive Fausoni tannins are beautifully integrated. . Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (5/2023): The darkest-fruited of all the wines presented by Sottimano, the 2020 Barbaresco Fausoni is from 50-year-old vines grown at the lowest elevation of the estate (220 to 240 meters). The wine is generous with aromas of blackberry, lavender, and candied licorice. Full-bodied and ripe with ample tannins, it is expansive with red and black raspberry, tea leaf, and turned soil. It has wonderful depth without being heavy, with a seamless structure. It will benefit from another year in bottle before drinking over the coming 10-15 years. Audrey Frick.
WA 93 (8/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Fausoni offers a lot of brightness and an especially linear style that can be traced to bright berry flavors and dusty mineral notes of crushed limestone. This wine gives us a good peek at the compelling nuance that can be coaxed forward with Nebbiolo aged in large oak casks, even in a hot and sunny growing season such as this. The wine concludes on a dry note. Some 5,000 bottles were made. |
|
|
2018 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$64.99 |
35 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2022): The 2018 Barbaresco Pajorè is quite closed. It shows all the translucent elegance of all the wines in the range. Spice, mineral, melted road tar, rose petal, leather and lavender bring out the darker, more balsamic inflections of Nebbiolo. This potent, structured Barbaresco is quite backward today. Readers need to be especially patient. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (6/2021): With fruit from Treiso, the 2018 Barbaresco Pajore shows a lot of shape and depth, all supported by generous but carefully balanced fruit. The bouquet is layered with summer cherry and dried cassis, with earthy tones, camphor ash and powdered licorice. You also get a whiff of crushed flowers or roses. This is an extremely silky and elegant wine with only 6,000 bottles produced.
JD 94 (5/2021): Of the 2018s, the 2018 Barbaresco Pajore has the darkest profile, with dried cherry, tobacco, mint, and cedar. Savory with blood orange, red plum skin, and turned earth, more firm tannins build, with more modest acidity. Drink 2024-2035. |
|
|
2019 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$63.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2022): Here's a beautifully elegant and fine expression of Nebbiolo from Treiso. The Sottimano 2019 Barbaresco Pajoré shows an earthy personality with crushed stone and potting soil that frame a pretty core of red and purple fruits. I love the depth and complexity of this wine and the slightly more structured tannins that give this wine power and importance.
VM 93+ (10/2022): The 2019 Barbaresco Pajorè is dense and quite closed in on itself. Then again, that is Pajorè. There's terrific depth and density here, but not quite the power of some recent releases. That's not a bad thing, as the more restrained style allows the nuance to come through. This is an especially refined edition of the Pajorè. Today, the Pajorè is quite compact and a bit of a bruiser, but there's terrific fruit intensity that just needs time to blossom. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2020 |
Barbaresco Pajore ex-Domaine |
$65.89 |
36 |
|
| |
VM 97 (10/2023): The 2020 Barbaresco Pajorè is deep, sensual and mysterious, as wines from this great site tend to be. Black cherry, lavender, new leather and balsamic overtones infuse the Pajorè with tremendous complexity and textural resonance. The 2020 is still an infant, but its potential is evident. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (5/2023): Pouring a rich garnet, the 2020 Barbaresco Pajore is fleshy and ripe, with a pleasant touch of rustic aromas of saddle leather, black cherry, and balsamic herbs. This medium to full-bodied red is ripe with meaty tannins, rounded black raspberry fruit, potting soil, and mouthwatering salinity on the finish. It is a ripe yet very attractive wine to hold another 6-12 months and drink 2024-2040. Audrey Frick.
WA 94 (8/2023): The Sottimano 2020 Barbaresco Pajoré (with 6,000 bottles made) is a tight and elegant wine with mid-weight structure. The bouquet is very expressive with dried cherry, blackcurrant, iron ore and blue flower. Sottimano succeeds in crafting very linear and precise wines, and that is certainly the message delivered by this wine from the Pajoré Vineyard in the village of Treiso. It ends on a dry, chalky note. |
|
| | Port |
| Churchill Graham |
2000 |
Port |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| FTLOP 93-95 (6/2006): After a slightly disappointing showing of their 1994 vintage Porto, there was an exponential improvement from the 1994 to 1997 Churchill VP. Having tasted the 1999 Quinta da Gricha it was evident that Johnny Graham was on course to actualize full potential and would be making wines to compete with the usual suspects. The Churchill 2000 has arrived. The grapes from Quinta da Gricha and Quinta do Rio add further concentration and depth to the Churchill blend ... and it shows. Control of the grape growing was the missing ingredient in past vintages and that has now been rectified as the Graham brothers own their own quintas & grapes. The 2000 shows a dark, opaque oxblood color with wild strawberry, raspberry and a touch of oak present on the nose. A dense, chewy wine with blackberry jam flavor and black currants in a full-bodied, burly style of Porto. I feared I was having a tannic attack but it was just the incredibe! le grip that was part of this classic finish. Churchill has finally nailed it in 2000. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Arietta |
2002 |
Variation One Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2005): The stunning 2002 Variation One (70% Merlot and 30% Syrah) exhibits an exotic, opulent personality with a deep purple color, and sweet aromas of cocoa, new saddle leather, black raspberries, cassis, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, with beautifully integrated oak (all of these wines are aged in 100% new French wood), wonderful sweetness, tremendous delineation, and laser-like clarity and transparency of character. A beauty, it is ideal for drinking over the next 10-15 years.
VM 93+ (5/2005): ((100) Good medium ruby. Brooding, medicinal aromas of inky black fruits. Tougher today than the 2003 from barrel, but offers Outstanding flavor intensity and clarity, with notes of black raspberry, spice, licorice and chocolate emerging with aeration. Less obviously sweet today than the 2003 (I might have picked this blind as a classic Bordeaux blend including petit verdot and cab franc), but finishes with superb breadth of tannins. "The H Block is an homage to more refined Old World wines," notes Kongsgaard, "while this is more California exotic." |
|
|
2002 |
Variation One Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2005): The stunning 2002 Variation One (70% Merlot and 30% Syrah) exhibits an exotic, opulent personality with a deep purple color, and sweet aromas of cocoa, new saddle leather, black raspberries, cassis, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, with beautifully integrated oak (all of these wines are aged in 100% new French wood), wonderful sweetness, tremendous delineation, and laser-like clarity and transparency of character. A beauty, it is ideal for drinking over the next 10-15 years.
VM 93+ (5/2005): ((100) Good medium ruby. Brooding, medicinal aromas of inky black fruits. Tougher today than the 2003 from barrel, but offers Outstanding flavor intensity and clarity, with notes of black raspberry, spice, licorice and chocolate emerging with aeration. Less obviously sweet today than the 2003 (I might have picked this blind as a classic Bordeaux blend including petit verdot and cab franc), but finishes with superb breadth of tannins. "The H Block is an homage to more refined Old World wines," notes Kongsgaard, "while this is more California exotic." |
|
|
2003 |
Variation One Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (6/2006): Medium ruby. The nose is at once cool and exotic, with expressive, explosive aromas of black cherry, raspberry, smoked meat, iris and brown spices. Wonderfully sweet and dense in the mouth, saturating every square millimeter of the palate. A magical combination of syrah energy and merlot breadth. Finishes horizontal and with great persistence, with a strong element of baking spices. A great California red blend.
WA 92 (12/2005): The 2003 Variation One (60% Merlot and 40% Syrah) exhibits a scorched earth/primordial character in the nose, along with hints of white chocolate, espresso, and black fruits. Pure, rich, and dense, with a singular personality and a complex style, it is firmer and more tightly knit than it was from barrel. Give it another 1-2 years of bottle age and consume over the next 10-12 years. |
|
| Behrens & Hitchcock |
2003 |
Kenefick Ranch Cuvee |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (2/2005): The 2003 Kenefick Ranch Cuvee (a 400-case lot of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of smoke, blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, white chocolate, and espresso roast. Dense, opulent, and full-bodied, with a terrific texture as well as palate penetration, and a 40-45 second finish, it is capable of lasting a decade or more.
VM 91+ (6/2005): Medium ruby. Cool, pure aromas of cassis, licorice and violet. Juicy, dry and lively, with excellent flavor intensity and enticing floral lift. I would have guessed this had some cabernet franc. Quite tightly wound after the bottling, and currently showing its tannic side. But this will almost certainly merit a higher rating with four or five years of additional bottle aging. In this vintage, Les Behrens used a mechanical punchdown tank for the Kenefick Ranch cabernet sauvignon-an approach that was used for more wines in 2004. |
|
|
2003 |
Kenefick Ranch Cuvee Torn Label |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (2/2005): The 2003 Kenefick Ranch Cuvee (a 400-case lot of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of smoke, blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, white chocolate, and espresso roast. Dense, opulent, and full-bodied, with a terrific texture as well as palate penetration, and a 40-45 second finish, it is capable of lasting a decade or more.
VM 91+ (6/2005): Medium ruby. Cool, pure aromas of cassis, licorice and violet. Juicy, dry and lively, with excellent flavor intensity and enticing floral lift. I would have guessed this had some cabernet franc. Quite tightly wound after the bottling, and currently showing its tannic side. But this will almost certainly merit a higher rating with four or five years of additional bottle aging. In this vintage, Les Behrens used a mechanical punchdown tank for the Kenefick Ranch cabernet sauvignon-an approach that was used for more wines in 2004. |
|
| Chalk Hill |
2015 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (6/2018): The 2015 Estate Red is deep garnet-purple colored and delivers a good amount of oak-inspired notions to begin over a core of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry pie, preserved plums and chocolate box with hints of vanilla pod and cigar box. Big, concentrated and full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruit preserves, framed by ripe, firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a woody note. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the next 20. |
|
| Donelan |
2013 |
Cuvee Christine Syrah |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (7/2017): There’s just over 900 cases of the 2013 Syrah Cuvee Christine and it’s 100% Syrah made with the idea to highlight the variety from Sonoma County. It has more minerality and savoriness than the Kobler Family as well as a darker, ruby color and incredible notes of gamey meats, black fruits, wood smoke, charcoal and pepper. With full-bodied richness, ripe tannin and a killer finish, this beauty has sensational purity of fruit and continues to gain depth and richness with time in the glass. It’s just another sensational Syrah from this team that rivals anything coming out of France or California today. |
|
|
2015 |
Obsidian Vyd. Syrah |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 95+ (6/2018): The 2015 Syrah Obsidian Vineyard is another structured, tannic, backward 2015 from this estate. Smoked earth, Graves-like cold fireplace, lots of meatiness and ample dark fruit all emerge from this medium to full-bodied effort that has serious tannin, integrated acidity, and a great finish. The cellar is going to be your friend. |
|
| Horsepower Vineyards |
2014 |
The Tribe Vyd. Syrah |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (6/2017): From a site that's next to En Chamberlin that's planted with a 4x4 spacing (the Sur Echalas is 3x3), the 2014 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers more fruit (blackberry, black cherry) as well as beautiful notes of violets, rose petal, pepper and earth. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral puncheons, this full-bodied beauty has fine tannin, juicy acidity and a great finish. It's in direct contrast to the more masculine, meaty, umami style of the Sur Echalas Vineyard. Give it 2-3 years and it too will be long lived!
VM 93 (10/2017): (13.2% alcohol; this 3-1/2-acre vineyard planted to small-berried Alban Syrah clones--Baron described them as Petit Serine--is situated next to En Chamberlain): Bright ruby-red. Captivating black pepper lift to the aromas of purple fruits, violet, leather and smoke; reminded me of Cornas. Dense, savory, rich and dry, with its purple fruit flavors currently overshadowed by saddle leather and salty minerality, plus a hint of peppery rawness. Finishes with plush, fine-grained tannins. Despite this wine's plump, savory, high-pH mouth feel, it needs time to blossom in the bottle. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 93 (7/2017): Balances power and finesse, with distinctive plum, bacon fat and black olive aromas and dense yet polished blackberry and stony mineral flavors that lead to big but refined tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 520 cases made. |
|
| Kosta Browne |
2021 |
Giusti Ranch Pinot Noir |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (6/2024): The ripe red-hued 2021 Pinot Noir Giusti Ranch was raised in 34% new French oak for 18 months and has a great nose, with ripe, concentrated aromas of kirsch, rosemary, preserved roses, and dark spices. Medium-bodied, it carries wonderful depth and intensity to the palate, with fantastic structure, ripe tannins, mouthwatering, fresh acidity, and a long, earth-noted finish with incense and black truffle. It’s a phenomenal wine that’s going to have some real longevity over the next 10-15 years. |
|
| No Girls |
2012 |
Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Tempranillo |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2015): There are 298 cases of the 2012 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard and it’s unquestionably the best vintage of this wine to date. Offering fabulous intensity in its strawberry, raspberry, spice, pepper and floral bouquet, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant texture and a seamless, lengthy finish. This wows with its purity and finesse-driven style more than for weight or richness, and it should evolve nicely given its overall balance. Drink 2016-2024.
VM 92 (11/2015): (done entirely in neutral barrels and concrete): Moderately saturated pale red. Old World nose offers scents of raspberry, cranberry, smoke, flint, peony, rose petal and pink peppercorn. A juicy, pure wine with lovely precision and finesse, with the red berry flavors complicated by saline minerality; the mouthfeel here is distinctly Burgundian. Finishes with slightly edgy tannins and acidity but still offers considerable early appeal for its sheer verve. A fascinating Washington Grenache. Elizabeth Bourcier, who is "assistant vigneronne" at Cayuse, has recently taken over responsibility for the No Girls wines. She noted that the crop level here was just 1.2 tons per acre; the Paciencia vineyard is situated just north of Armada, in the Rocks district. |
|
|
2014 |
Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (6/2017): Deeper ruby/purple in color, the 2014 Tempranillo la Paciencia is vinified in concrete tank, then moved to take tank for malolactic fermentation, then into 20% new French demi-muids. Charcoal, beef blood, black currants, roasted herbs and smoked meats all emerge from this rich, full-bodied, concentrated and tannic beauty that has incredibly finesse, elegance and length. It's another wine that builds with time in the glass, has ample fruit authority, and is going to keep for two decades. |
|
|
2015 |
Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo |
$95 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (4/2018): Lastly, the 2015 Tempranillo La Paciencia offers ample cedarwood, bloody meat, blackcurrants, and violets aromatics in a rich, full-bodied, beautifully layered package. It carries the most weight and depth of the cuvees from Boucier, as well as tannin, yet it’s already impossible to resist. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Pax |
2004 |
Griffin’s Lair Syrah |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94-97 (12/2005): One of my favorite Pax offerings, the deep purple-colored 2004 Syrah Griffin’s Lair is much lower in alcohol in 2004 (14.8%) than in previous vintages. Lovely aromas of blackberries, cassis, new saddle leather, roasted meats, and smoky barbecue are followed by a full-bodied wine with fabulous intensity, definition, and length. It requires 2-3 years of bottle age, and should last for two decades, making it one of the longest lived Pax Syrahs to date.
VM 93+ (6/2006): Medium ruby. Spicy aromas of raw plum, smoked meat, pepper and exotic fruits. Lush, pliant and sweet, with a distinctly saline quality to the creamy flavors of game, beef blood, black licorice, mint and woodsmoke. Chewy but not heavy. The vines in the Petaluma wind gap typically produce tiny berries, notes Mahle. Boasts a large tannic structure yet shows lovely sweetness. And the alcohol here is a moderate 14.8%.
WS 88 (3/2007): A massive youngster, dense, tannic and highly extracted, with gamy, meaty scents joining a mix of wild berry and blueberry. Not for the faint of heart, the tannins are swarming on the finish, yet there's a wonderful range of beef stew flavors. Drink now through 2011. 446 cases made. |
|
|
2004 |
Walker Vine Hill Vyd. Syrah |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (12/2005): A stunning effort, the black/purple-tinged 2004 Syrah Walker Vine Hill boasts tremendous intensity along with notes of creosote, blackberry liqueur, cassis, and flowers offered in a structured, dense, chewy style. It requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 12-15.
VM 92+ (6/2006): (15.5% alcohol, 75% whole clusters, 80% new oak; from a parcel of vines planted in 1991 and facing due south): Deep ruby. Youthfully compressed aromas of crystallized black cherry, violet, bitter chocolate and menthol. Offers a pungent, deep core of black fruit, mineral and mint flavors, with some new oak showing. At once powerful and fine-grained; this coats the entire palate. Finishes with huge tannins, firm minerality and lingering sweetness. Rather youthfully compact today and built to age. |
|
| Reynvaan Family Vineyards |
2015 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (4/2018): The most expensive Syrah from Matt is the 2015 Syrah Stonessence and there’s a scant 325 cases made. Its deep ruby/plum color is followed by a salty, bloody Syrah that has loads of complexity, full-bodied richness, sweet tannin, and a big finish. Black raspberries, peppery herbs, dry aged beef, and hints of lavender all emerge from the glass and while it’s already singing, it’s going to evolve gracefully for 10-15 years. |
|
| Rhys |
2012 |
Horseshoe Vyd. Syrah |
$65 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 95 (7/2015): A more savory style of Syrah (relative to the Skyline) emerges from the 2012 Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard. Grilled herbs, rose petals, iron and a host of ferrous notes make a strong first impression. Here the flavors are rich, broad and expansive, mirroring the wine's large-scaled frame. The 2012 is quite impressive today, but it won't be ready to drink for at least a few years. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94 (4/2015): A stunner, the 2012 Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard sports an inky ruby/purple color to go with loads of back raspberry, cassis, licorice, toasted spice and sappy flowers. Deep, rich, full-bodied and textured, with good acidity keeping it honest, this bares more than a passing resemblance to a top-flight Cornas. It needs 2-3 years of cellaring and will keep for over a decade. |
|
| Sean Thackrey |
2003 |
Orion Rossi Vyd. Proprietary Blend Lightly Scuffed Label |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2006): The blockbuster 2003 Orion is 100% Syrah from Napa’s Rossi Vineyard. It boasts an inky/blue/purple hue as well as a sumptuous perfume of creosote, blueberries, blackberries, graphite, and incense. Superb character and nuance are offered in a full-bodied, powerful, rich yet brilliantly etched style. This beauty should drink well for a decade or more. |
|
| Shea Wine Cellars |
2017 |
Shea Vyd. ’Homer’ Pinot Noir |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2020): Bright ruby-red. Highly expressive red and blue fruit preserve, baking spice, vanilla and incense aromas are complemented by a smoky mineral flourish. Juicy, seamless and expansive on the palate, offering sweet black raspberry, boysenberry, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors energized by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Shows noteworthy tension and spicy lift on a long, energetic finish that features well-knit tannins and resonating florality. 21% whole clusters and two-thirds new oak. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Stonestreet |
2012 |
Cougar Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (10/2015): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Cougar Ridge seems similar to the Monolith, with an opaque purple color, a big, sweet kiss of cassis and blackberry, licorice, camphor and, again, wet rocks conveying its minerality. It is interesting that this is the wine that has the lowest percentage of new French oak its aged in, coming in at 31%. |
|
|
2015 |
Monolith Cabernet Sauvignon |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (6/2018): Crème de cassis, cedarwood, graphite, and crushed violets all define the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith, which is medium-bodied, concentrated, and moderately tannic on the palate. It’s nicely balanced and certainly promising, but I wouldn't open bottles for at least 4-5 years. This cuvée comes from vines planted in 1989 and spent 20 months in just under 50% new French oak. 257 cases. Stonestreet falls under the Jackson Family umbrella and focuses on higher elevation, mountain sites. The wines, made by Lisa Valtenbergs, are rock-solid across the board.
VM 92 (7/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith is powerful, deep and concentrated. There is no shortage of intensity in the 2015, but the chunky, big tannins do convey and impression of wildness and rusticity. Aside from living up to its name, the 2015 is also very young. It will be interesting to see what a bit more bottle age adds. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93+ (2/2019): Made of 100% Cabernet aged 20 months in 47% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith opens with bold notions of black cherry preserves, black raspberries, blackcurrant cordial and mocha with hints of tar, licorice, wild sage and cedar chest. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and built like a brick house with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness supporting the generous fruit, finishing long and earthy. |
|
|
2013 |
Rockfall Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (2/2016): A big, sweeping wine, the Stonestreet 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall is also the most vivid and complete of these Cabernets. Mocha, black cherry jam, spice, licorice and leather are some of the signatures. The Rockfall is unusually polished for such a big, mountain wine. With time in the glass, the Rockfall gains volume and intensity. Today, the 2013 is naturally quite young, but it is shaping up to be a gem. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (10/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall Vineyard comes from a high-elevation site of 2,000 to 2,200 feet. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in 66% new French oak. This vineyard is a south-facing micro-terroir with lots of rocks, and the wine smells of mountain garrigue intermixed with black cherry, blackberry and cassis. The wine is dense, full-bodied, rich and rugged, but not rustic. It is a full-bodied, massive, rather backward and primordial wine for those with the patience to cellar it. Forget it for 5-8 years, and drink it over the following 40+ years. |
|
| Tensley Wines |
2007 |
Colson Canyon Vyd. Syrah |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (8/2009): The brilliant 2007 Syrah Colson Canyon is Tensley's biggest production single vineyard Syrah. Like the other wines, it is aged in 80% neutral and 20% new French oak barrels, and is bottled with no fining or filtration. This blockbuster effort is as black as a moonless night. It offers up stunning notes of graphite, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, licorice, barbecue smoke, and a deep meaty character. The layered palate feel as well as the enormous richness and length result in one of the finest Syrahs being produced in California's Central Coast. It should evolve over the next 10-15 years.
JD 94 (11/2009): The largest scaled and most hedonistic of the Tensley wines I was able to taste, the 2007 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard is packed with freshly crushed berries, jam, earth, subtle meat and spice aromatics. Big, sweet and intense, the wine is full bodied on the palate with a silky, light texture and a long, decadent finish where gobs of fine grained tannins come out. The sweetness to the fruit and the upfront, lush texture will make this hard to resist young.
WS 94 (2/2009): (Wine Spectator #22 wine of 2009) Firm and musclebound, with rich, chewy tannins. Full-bodied, this is the most complex and potent of the 2007 Tensleys, offering layers of earthy wild berry, sage, mineral, dried currant and floral scents. Drink now through 2016. 1,259 cases made. |
|
| Turley Wine Cellars |
2003 |
Hayne Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95 (2/2005): The 2003 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard displays the telltale squid ink-like color with some purple hues, and a stupendous nose of pure, black fruits intermixed with minerals, licorice, and incense. Full-bodied, with massively extracted flavors but incredibly well-balanced and vibrant, this wine needs 5-10 years of bottle-age and should age effortlessly for a quarter of a century. |
|
|
2007 |
Hayne Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95-97 (12/2008): A colossal Petite Syrah is the 2007 Hayne Vineyard. Its opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of graphite, blackberries, blueberries, licorice, camphor, and crushed rocks. It is enormously endowed and extremely powerful, with teeth-staining extract, and an amazing finish that lasts nearly a minute. This is truly great Petite Syrah, but purchasers should be prepared to cellar it for 8-10 years, and watch it unfold brilliantly over the following 25-30. |
|
|
2009 |
Hayne Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (5/2015): (14.5% alcohol): Saturated ruby to the rim. Superb lift to the aromas of crushed blackberry, blueberry, violet, expresso and German chocolate cake. Superconcentrated, velvety and sweet but with excellent energy giving shape to the mouth-saturating flavors of dark berries, rose petal and tar. Finishes with very dense but ripe tannins and outstanding subtle lingering perfume. This could probably be enjoyed now with a piece of fatty meat but I'd still hold my bottles. The Hayne Petite Sirah previously spent about 20 days on its skins but with this vintage winemaker Tegan Passalacqua increased total maceration time to 40 days or more, but with no punchdowns of the cap. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Library Vyd. Petite Sirah |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (12/2010): It was difficult to chose a favorite although the 2009 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge, Hayne Vineyard and Library Vineyard are the three greatest in terms of concentration, depth and potential complexity. As I have said so many times, Petite Sirah is by far the most underrated varietal in California, so it is reassuring to see how many producers continue to make remarkable wines with around 13-14% alcohol as well as 20-40+ years of aging potential. |
|
| | USA White |
| Arrowood Vineyards |
1995 |
Special Select Late Harvest Preston Ranch White Riesling (375 ML) |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/1996): Arrowood's nectar-like sweet wines made during his 16-year tenure at Chateau St. Jean remain the reference points for Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese-styled wines made in California. Fortunately for consumers, Arrowood has continued to produce small quantities of these gems. This 1995 White Riesling boasts an amazing deep golden color, a fabulous honeyed nose, syrupy, viscous, pineapple and apricot-like flavors, fine acidity, only 8.8% alcohol, and a rich, pure TBA-like finish. This wine will last for a decade or more. For sweet wine lovers, this is another winemaking tour de force. |
|
| Eisele Vineyard |
2017 |
Sauvignon Blanc (375 ML) |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (10/2018): Bottled in late July, the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a real step up from previous vintages, springing from the glass with vibrant lime cordial, orange blossom and grapefruit notes with touches of allspice, honeysuckle, ripe pears, white peaches and struck flint. Medium-bodied with a suggestion of satin to the texture and a fantastic intensity of exuberant citrus fruits and mineral notes, it delivers a very long, refreshing finish. This should age beautifully! |
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| Hirsch Vineyards |
2021 |
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (2/2024): The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is precise and detailed despite its inherent generosity. The nose offers pure crushed apple, flint, dried hay and jasmine aromas. The medium-bodied palate features highly concentrated, savory and floral fruit. It has a luxuriously satiny texture, refreshing acidity and a long, nuanced finish.
VM 94 (8/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is fabulous. Creamy and yet also phenolic, the 2021 captures all the magic of this site. Dried herbs, orange peel, lemon confit, dried flowers, chamomile and a whole range of mineral notes all grace this super distinctive Chardonnay from the Hirsch family. Antonio Galloni.
JD 93 (11/2023): The 2021 Chardonnay pours a medium straw color and jumps from the glass with sea spray, lime blossom, green apple candy, and delicate flinty lift. It’s medium bodied but has a fantastic silky texture, with a hint of pineapple, Meyer lemon, and bread dough. It has a lovely viscosity and has freshness without harsh edges. Drink 2023-2033. |
|
| Rhys |
2013 |
Alpine Vyd. Chardonnay Signs of Old Seepage |
$94 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (10/2015): The star of the whites was the 2013 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard. Tasting like a Grand Cru Chablis with its incredibly pure lemon curd, flinty minerality, brioche and white flowers, it's medium to full-bodied, laser focused, crisp and crystalline on the palate. It's a stunning Chardonnay that will compete with the creme de la creme of Chardonnays.
VM 93 (7/2015): The 2013 Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard is gorgeous from the very first taste. Chiseled and finely cut, the 2013 boasts considerable energy, tension and focus. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint and white pepper are all given an extra kick of brightness. Antonio Galloni. |
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| | Australia |
| Torbreck |
2003 |
The Factor |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2005): The 2003 The Factor (100% Shiraz aged 24 months in old French oak) is a riveting effort that displays the exquisite talent of David Powell. Its smoky perfume of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cherries, acacia flowers, and espresso roast is followed by a full-throttle, multi-layered palate as well as a 60-second finish. This stunning Shiraz should drink well for 10-15+ years. |
|
| | Argentina |
| Cheval des Andes |
2020 |
Mendoza Red Wine
ETA Q4 2024 |
$83 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2023): The 2020 Cheval des Andes was harvested from the last of February for the first time ever. They now harvest using cold trucks (for the first time), and they also started earlier in the morning, which he reckons was very good for the precision of the wine. The final blend was 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, which makes a comeback as it was not used since 2016. This is slightly riper than 2019, with a little more alcohol (14.5%) and with very good structural tannins but saving the freshness, and it has the spicy side from the Petit Verdot (Gabillet talks about white pepper). The wine has the ultra sleek and polished texture and the elegance and the balance that is the signature here; the wine is very clean and precise. I see very good regularity across the three vintages I tasted next to each other—this 2020 and the 2018 and 2019. Overall, this is a triumph over the adverse conditions of the vintage.
JS 97 (7/2023): Ripe, baked dark cherries with spices and some violets. Hints of graphite, cocoa powder, incense and black pepper. Dried rose petals. A slightly fuller Cheval des Andes with tense, silky tannins and a lingering, generous finish. Ripe, but still has lots of restraint and precision. 49% malbec, 49% cabernet sauvignon with a 2% petit verdot. 24% of the malbec comes from Altamira and all the rest of the fruit come from Las Compuertas. Drink or hold.
VM 96 (9/2023): The 2020 Cheval des Andes is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley and Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo. Aged in French oak barrels, it’s purple in the glass with a garnet sheen. The nose reveals a well-judged approach to the warmth of 2020, featuring ripe plum, redcurrant, mint and hints of white pepper over a bed of bay leaf and cedar. It’s dry and velvety on the palate, with rich, polished tannins that deliver a juicy, balanced mouthfeel. The balsamic notes and rich palate reflect the year’s character, while the finish is dynamic and long-lasting. Joaquin Hidalgo |
|
| Tapiz |
2014 |
Las Notas de Jean Claude Malbec |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (3/2021): The super-classical 2014 Las Notas de Jean Claude is a superb red blend of 84% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot from their vineyard in San Pablo in the Uco Valley at some 1,350 meters in altitude. This is taken from a specific plot planted 19 years ago and selected by consultant Jean-Claude Berrouet of Petrus fame. This wine is all about elegance, balance and finesse and goes well beyond the varieties, which play a secondary role. The palate reveals very fine tannins and superb acidity; it's ripe and full of flavors and nuance. Beautiful. 13,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2016. |
|
| | Other White |
| Kracher |
2005 |
TBA #7 Nouvelle Vague Grande Cuvee (375 ML) |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (12/2007): Medium golden yellow. Aromas of ripe yellow apple, dried fruits, discreet blossom honey, wild raspberry, subtle roasted oak and cinnamon spice. Orange, apricot, apple and chocolate flavors saturate the entire mouth, and strong minerality extends the finish. An elegant acid structure gives this wine sharp definition. Offers tremendous potential for further development. Drink from 2010 to 2030.
WA 94 (6/2008): The Chardonnay-Welschriesling blend 2005 #7 Grande Cuvee Trockenbeerenauslese Nouvelle Vague offers impressive aromatic complexity, suggesting brown-spiced apple and quince jellies, glazed pineapple, dried apricots, honey, musk, and truffle. Tactile spice and surprising fresh fruit character derive contrast in the mouth from creamy, oily textural richness and suggestions of nut brittle and chocolate. This finishes with uncanny freshness and lift for a wine so rich and nobly rotten. Look for a good two decades of interesting evolution here.
WS 93 (6/2008): Rich glazed apricot and pineapple flavors fill this fruity dessert white. Concentrated spice and glazed mango notes carry through to the creamy finish. Drink now through 2018. 312 cases made. |
|
|
2007 |
Zwischen Den Seen TBA #7 Welschriesling (375 ML) |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (11/2009): Medium golden yellow. Sharply defined aromas and flavors of apple and pear. Unctuous in its texture, with flavors of lemon verbena and prune and a subtle note of sponge cake. In spite of its extreme sweetness, this round wine is quite juicy thanks to a solid core of acidity and plenty of chalky minerals. Has a long and very promising life ahead of it. Peter Moser. |
|
|
2005 |
Zwischen Den Seen TBA #9 Scheurebe (375 ML) |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (11/2007): Medium golden yellow. The nose is complex, sweet and inviting, offering notes of grapefruit zest, spiced pear, honey, flint and lichee. Juicy gooseberry, lichee and passion fruit flavors are given definition and brilliant vibrancy by brisk lemony acidity. An impeccably balanced and bracing wine that finishes extremely long, with a powerful impression of extract. Offers tremendous potential for aging. Peter Moser. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. Malartic Lagraviere |
2020 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc |
$66.95 |
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Sold Out
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| | Burgundy White |
| Dom. William Fevre |
2007 |
Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses |
$89 |
|
Sold Out
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| Vincent Girardin |
2002 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Le Cailleret |
$60 |
|
Sold Out
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2002 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles |
$60 |
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| | Southern France |
| Chateau de la Negly |
2001 |
Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Porte du Ciel |
$89 |
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Sold Out
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| | Alsace |
| Dom. Trimbach |
2014 |
Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile |
$65 |
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Sold Out
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| | USA White |
| Pahlmeyer |
2021 |
Napa Valley Chardonnay |
$85 |
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Sold Out
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| Peter Michael Winery |
2021 |
Ma Belle-Fille Chardonnay |
$90 |
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