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Inventory updated: Mon, Feb 09, 2026 04:00 PM cst
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Alsace |
| Klipfel |
2004 |
Riesling Grand Cru Kirchberg (375 ML) Very Heavily Torn Label |
$19.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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2004 |
Riesling Grand Cru Kirchberg (375 ML) Torn Label; Gold Capsule |
$19.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2004 |
Riesling Grand Cru Kirchberg (375 ML) Torn Label; Blue Capsule |
$19.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| | Australia |
| Penfolds |
2006 |
Grange (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,541.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Angelus |
2002 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,629.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 91 (4/2005): A successful offering for the vintage, the 2002 exhibits a deep ruby/purple/plum color as well as a sweet, forward style with black fruits intermixed with espresso roast, lavender, and Provencal herbs. Medium to full-bodied, lush, and round, with fine purity, ripeness, and surprising body and sweetness for a right bank 2002, it can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years.
VM 90 (6/2005): Full ruby-red. Slightly roasted aromas of black raspberry, cassis, smoked meat, truffle, leather and espresso. Sweet, plump and pliant, with a firm edge of acidity framing the currant, licorice and leather flavors. Fresher in the mouth than the full-blown nose would suggest; more dominated by its 58% cabernet franc component. Finishes with big, sweet tannins. |
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2003 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,629.99 |
1 |
|
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WA 93 (4/2006): Kudos to proprietor Hubert Bouard, who has been making brilliant wines at this estate since the mid- to late-1980s. A blend of 58% Cabernet Franc and 42% Merlot, the beautiful 2003 (14% alcohol; 6,500 cases produced) is somewhat tightly knit, but it reveals a perfumed nose of rose petals, blackberries, menthol, and cedar. This broad, sweet 2003's supple attack is followed by a tannic mid-section. The wine does not appear to be as dense or structured as the 2004. Given the high percentage of Cabernet Franc, it is likely to put on considerable weight in the bottle. This beauty is slightly different not only because of the torrid vintage conditions, but also because it incorporates the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever utilized at Angelus. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2023.
VM 92 (6/2006): Deep ruby-red. Very ripe yet fresh on the nose: cherry, raspberry, graphite, chocolate, minerals. Lush, velvety and sweet, with unusual vivacity for a 2003 from the right bank thanks to the 50% cabernet franc component. Really coats the mouth with flavors of black raspberry, currant and chocolate. Not yet hugely complex, but the wine's freshness, ripe tannins and superb persistence suggest that aging will bring greater nuance. Has the stuffing to buffer its chewy tannins. This was bottled in September of 2005. |
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|
2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,017.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97-99 (6/2020): Composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Angelus was harvested from the 13th of September until the 4th of October. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sashays out of the glass with gregarious scents of Morello cherries, lilacs, chocolate box and potpourri with a core of Black Forest cake, blueberry crumble, fragrant soil and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the intensity on the palate builds from delicate, beguiling nuances with ethereal weight to a full-on fireworks display of flavor sparks, framed by fantastic freshness and very finely pixilated tannins, finishing long, layered and invigorating.
VM 96-98 (6/2020): The 2019 Angelus has a sophisticated bouquet with extraordinarily pure blackberry, raspberry, inkwell and crushed iris petals scents, like the Carillon but HD in terms of its clarity. The palate is beautifully defined on the entry, the Cabernet component steering it towards say, Figeac or Cheval Blanc stylistically. It already feels very harmonious, the satin-like texture is supported by real substance and grip on the finish, perhaps more density than some of its peers. This is an outstanding Angelus, one likely to surpass the 2016, a wine that will give 30-40 years of pleasure, maybe more. Neal Martin.
JD 96-99 (6/2020): The grand vin 2019 Château Angelus, a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, is certainly up with the top wines in the vintage. (It actually reminds me a little of a more elegant version of the 2005.) Deep purple-hued, with a blockbuster bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, spice box, violets, spring flowers, and chocolate, it has a terrific sense of minerality, full-bodied richness, building tannins, and an incredible sense of elegance pair with power. A quintessential example of the style now emerging from this estate, it's going to need 5-7 years of bottle age to hit maturity (it won't disappoint in its youth either) and will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years.
JS 98-99 (6/2020): An extremely refined and sharpened Angelus with super fine tannins and sweet ripe fruit in the center palate. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and so very polished. Silky. Very subtle. Bright blue fruit, black fruit and stones. Supple and minerally. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. |
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| Ch. Ausone |
2015 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,029.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (11/2017): An utterly perfect wine from Alain Vauthier, the 2015 Château Ausone offers off the hook notes of crème de cassis, black raspberries, toasted spice and dried flowers, with more floral and mineral characteristics developing with time in the glass. Amazingly deep, full-bodied, pure and ethereally textured, with building density and tannin, it’s one of those wines that need to be tasted to be believed. Unfortunately, the production is minuscule (and expensive). A wine that will make your heart rate jump, give it 4-5 years of cellaring and I suspect it will keep for as long as you’d like to hang on to bottles. It’s a tour de force in wine and the wine of the vintage in 2015.
JS 99 (2/2018): Very intense and aromatic Ausone with rose petals, fresh herbs, dark berries and raspberries. Full body and great intensity and brightness. Purity and focus reminiscent of crushed grapes. Such beauty, greatness and elegance to this wine. Goes on for minutes. Needs four or five years to come completely together but so long and beautiful. Try drinking in 2021.
WA 99 (2/2018): Composed of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot aged in French oak barrels, 85% new, for 20 months, the 2015 Ausone features a deep garnet-purple color and comes bounding out of the glass with expressive plum preserves, wild blueberries and cherry pie aromas plus fragrant nuances of roses, licorice, Indian spices, baker’s chocolate, new leather and cedar chest plus a touch of underbrush. Big, rich, opulent and full-bodied in the mouth, it is laden with bold blue and black fruits, superbly supported by very firm, very finely grained tannins and wonderfully seamless freshness, finishing with long-lingering exotic spice hints.
VM 97-100 (4/2016): The 2015 Ausone is the embodiment of class. A seamless, mind-blowing wine, the Ausone boasts extraordinary purity and finesse. The flavors are deep and unctuous throughout, and yet the wine is remarkably vivid. A host of sweet floral notes and exotic spices are fused into the eternal finish. In 2015, Ausone is as good as it gets. Readers who can find the 2015 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent. All I can tell readers is that it took the most extraordinary discipline to spit this wine during my tasting. It is every bit that profound. The 2015 is 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot that will spend 20 months in French oak, 85% new. The Merlot was brought in between September 29 and October 2, while the Franc came in between October 8 and 10. Antonio Galloni. |
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2021 |
St. Emilion
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$847.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97-100 (4/2022): A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2021 Ausone is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild blueberries and raspberries mingled with rose petals, violets, exotic spices, vine smoke and blood orange, it's full-bodied, seamless and sensual, with a satiny attack that segues into a deep, layered mid-palate of breathtaking precision and intensity without weight. Built around bright acids and ultra-refined tannins and concluding with a resonant, perfumed finish, this profound young Ausone represents the essence of this great limestone terroir. I am not in the habit of drinking six-month-old Bordeaux cask samples, but this is one wine that would have sorely tempted me to make an exception to that rule if my appointment at the estate hadn't been one of the first of the day!
JA 95 (4/2022): Violet edging, jewel red depths. There is austerity on the tannins here, but also great depths through the palate, with controlled but juicy loganberry and raspberry fruits, and waves of saffron, creamy red-fruit puree, crushed rock, cold ash and salt-cracker salinity. Subdued, with hidden power and complexity. A tough year for this stable of wines - or rather proof of their exceptionally high standards, making a half production of Simard, no Haut Simard, tiny amounts of Fonbel and almost certainly no Moulin St Georges. The last year that Ausone will be recorded as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, before publication of the new ranking in September 2022. Harvest September 30 to October 6, 100% new oak. In conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master. Average vine age 55 years.
VM 93-95 (5/2022): The 2021 Ausone was picked on September 30 for the Merlot and October 4–6 for the Cabernet Franc, with a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc because some of the Merlot was deselected into the Chapelle. Matured in 90% new oak, this has a fragrant and floral bouquet, more iris than violet, revealing a hint of seaweed in the background. The palate is well-defined, quite strict and focused, certainly one of the more mineral-driven Ausones that I have encountered at this stage. The limestone terroir is evident on the finish. Again, this is a little leaner and less flamboyant than recent vintages. Having tasted Ausone at this prenatal stage for over 20 years, I don’t find the thrilling "drive” or the pyrotechnics of the 2001, 2010, 2016 or 2019. Yet this Ausone is compelling in its own uncompromising way, and I wouldn't want it any different. |
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|
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,692.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96-98 (5/2023): The Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more.
VM 95-97+ (5/2023): The 2022 Ausone was picked from 5 to 30 September and matured for 20 months in French oak. These aromatics take a little time to open in the glass. Once they do, they are precise with wilted iris flowers infusing the black fruit and background pencil box and incense hints. The palate is medium-bodied with silver bead acidity threaded through the blackberry and bilberry fruit. Fresh and focused, this Ausone possesses a structured finish with a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Elegant in style, this Ausone almost creeps up in you and seduces, intellectual and persistent in the mouth. Upon departing, I couldn't help wondering if I had witnessed this Saint-Émilion demonstrates its full potential, hence the plus sign against my score. 14.4% alcohol. Neal Martin
WA 94-96+ (5/2023): A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience.
JA 98-100 (5/2023): Intense and concentrated, with fennel, aniseed and liqourice root. Where Chapelle d'Ausone celebrates a wave of opulence in the vintage, this focuses more clearly on black tea, slate, intense black chocolate. Precise and well cut, this is creamy and exuberant without sacrificing elegance and balance. Amazing depths of flavour and grip. A true En Primeur sample where you know you are a long long way from this being ready to drink. The first year, incidentally, of not Premier Grand Cru Classé A, although the ranking has not been featured on the label since 2012. No irrigation at Ausone. 100% new oak. Harvest September 5 to 27. 7.25ha. Conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Pauline Vauthier owner and winemaker. Potential 100. |
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|
2022 |
St. Emilion (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,961.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 96-98 (5/2023): The Grand Vin from this hallowed terroir is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was fermented in wooden vats and will spend 20 months in new barrels. Its saturated purple hue is followed by an up-front, sexy, full-bodied Ausone offering a wealth of fruit as well as notes of black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of spring flowers. Concentrated and incredibly pure, with silky tannins on the palate, it has the texture and fruit to almost shine even now but should still evolve for 30 years or more.
VM 95-97+ (5/2023): The 2022 Ausone was picked from 5 to 30 September and matured for 20 months in French oak. These aromatics take a little time to open in the glass. Once they do, they are precise with wilted iris flowers infusing the black fruit and background pencil box and incense hints. The palate is medium-bodied with silver bead acidity threaded through the blackberry and bilberry fruit. Fresh and focused, this Ausone possesses a structured finish with a pinch of black pepper on the finish. Elegant in style, this Ausone almost creeps up in you and seduces, intellectual and persistent in the mouth. Upon departing, I couldn't help wondering if I had witnessed this Saint-Émilion demonstrates its full potential, hence the plus sign against my score. 14.4% alcohol. Neal Martin
WA 94-96+ (5/2023): A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Ausone unwinds in the glass with aromas of plums, raspberries and cherries complemented by hints of crushed mint and spices, framed by a lavish patina of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and rather muscular, it's deep and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by a serious chassis of rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. Given its imposing levels of structuring extract, it will require patience.
JA 98-100 (5/2023): Intense and concentrated, with fennel, aniseed and liqourice root. Where Chapelle d'Ausone celebrates a wave of opulence in the vintage, this focuses more clearly on black tea, slate, intense black chocolate. Precise and well cut, this is creamy and exuberant without sacrificing elegance and balance. Amazing depths of flavour and grip. A true En Primeur sample where you know you are a long long way from this being ready to drink. The first year, incidentally, of not Premier Grand Cru Classé A, although the ranking has not been featured on the label since 2012. No irrigation at Ausone. 100% new oak. Harvest September 5 to 27. 7.25ha. Conversion to organic farming since 2020, Philippe Baillarguet cellar master, Pauline Vauthier owner and winemaker. Potential 100. |
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| Ch. Batailley |
2009 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$544.98 |
2 |
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JS 96 (5/2013): Yummy young Sauternes with caramel, honey, dried apples, pears, and tarte tatin. Full body, layered and compacted. Medium sweet and a flavorful finish. So much to come still. Give it three or four years to understand all it has.
WA 94 (2/2012): The finest Batailley I have had in many years, the dense purple-colored 2009 exhibits a boatload of tannin as well as sweet, caramelized, black currant fruit intermixed with hints of charcoal, cedarwood and smoke, a full-bodied mouthfeel and the aforementioned high, but sweet, well-integrated tannin displaying no jaggedness. Batailley often requires considerable patience as it can be one of the longest-lived Pauillacs. Atypically for Batailley, the 2009 should be ready to drink in 5-7 years and keep for three decades. |
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| Ch. Belair-Monange |
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,112.99 |
1 |
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| Ch. Bellegrave |
2018 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$370.99 |
35 |
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| Ch. Beychevelle |
2017 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$701.99 |
4 |
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VM 92-95 (5/2018): The 2017 Beychevelle is absolutely gorgeous. Creamy and beautifully layered on the palate, Beychevelle exudes exotic richness in its ripe red/purplish berry fruit. Even though the 2017 is rather flamboyant in style, it retains quite a bit of brightness to play off its more extroverted leanings. Beychevelle was impressive on the several times I tasted it. Antonio Galloni.
JS 93-94 (4/2018): Very fine tannins already with a solid core of blackberry and blueberry character. Hints of flowers. Full-bodied, well-integrated and tight, not to mention fresh and long.
JD 92-94 (4/2018): Only 52% of the production went into the 2017 Château Beychevelle (they normally shoot for 60%), and the blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that’s still aging in 60% new oak. This inky purple-colored beauty gives up loads of blue fruits, black cherries, underbrush, and a touch of minerality in a medium to full-bodied, pretty, elegant package that’s very much in the style of the vintage. This estate has been on a serious roll lately, and the 2017 isn’t going to break the trend. Tasted twice.
WA 90-92 (4/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Beychevelle opens with gregarious cassis and blackberry pie notes with touches of baking spices and underbrush plus a waft of lavender. Medium-bodied with a great core of ripe black fruits, it has a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins and balancing freshness, finishing long. The final blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4 Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. |
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2018 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,320.99 |
2 |
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WA 94-96+ (4/2019): The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Beychevelle wafts sensuously from the glass with fragrant Black Forest cake, potpourri, star anise and black tea scents over a core of black raspberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch with touches of fallen leaves and lavender. Full-bodied and packed with fragrant red and black fruit layers, it has a firm, velvety texture and fantastic freshness lifting the very long, perfumed finish. Beautiful! Anticipated time in barrel is 18 months, 60% new and 40% second fill. The tentative blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.
VM 93-96 (5/2019): The 2018 Beychevelle is an exceptional, utterly vivid wine. Deep and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2018 has so much to offer. Super-ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, licorice, new oak and chocolate infuse this unctuous, spectacularly ripe Saint-Julien. Beychevelle is exotic, flamboyant and full-throttle, not to mention absolutely stunning. The high presence of Merlot in the blend gives Beychevelle much of its sensuality. What a wine! The 2018 is 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95-97+ (5/2019): Showing beautifully both times I was able to taste it, the 2018 Château Beychevelle checks in as a blend of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that's aging in 60% new French oak. This ultra-pure, refined, gorgeously layered Beychevelle offers terrific notes of black cherries, blackberries, cassis, violets, and damp earth. Deep, concentrated, and layered on the palate, it has a thrilling sense of purity and elegance as well as building structure. This is the third vintage vinified in the new cellar, and the 2018 represents a selection of 50% of the total production. It hit 14.5% alcohol with a healthy pH of 3.74 and a massive IPT of 81. Hats off to director Romain Ducolomb for another brilliant wine that I suspect will surpass both the 2015 and 2016!
JS 93-94 (4/2019): This is concentrated with a solid core of fruit, yet it’s energetic and driven with plenty of pretty and forceful tannins. Dusty texture. Persistent finish. |
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2021 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,320.99 |
1 |
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2021 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$693.99 |
4 |
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| Ch. Brane-Cantenac |
2015 |
Margaux (24x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,281.98 |
1 |
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VM 96 (2/2018): The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is powerful, structured and explosive in feel. A deep, resonant wine, the 2015 boasts off the charts ripeness allied to formidable structure and tannic heft. I imagine the 2015 is going to need a number of years to become approachable and more than that to be at its best. The dark stone fruit, smoke, tobacco, spice and leather flavors pack a huge punch, but it is the wine's balance that places it among the elite on the Left Bank in 2015. Brane-Cantenac is a total pleasure bomb. I can't wait to taste it with a little bottle age. Antonio Galloni.
JA 96 (11/2017): Right from the attack this has beautiful intensity and focus, with tannins covered by a layer of silk. A dash of violet and white pepper comes in from the Carmenère and Cabernet Franc two-step (from now on you can expect this partnership to appear more regularly). This is frankly delicious, the generous berry fruits reverberating with some wonderful notes of coffee bean and charcoal smoke, outlined by a mouthwatering minerality. A step up in poise and texture from the 2014. 39% of production.
JD 94 (11/2017): The 2015 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a mix of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Carmenere brought up in roughly 75% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty excels on all accounts and gives up gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil, spice and hints of toasted bread. Polished, impeccably balanced, concentrated, and with ripe tannin, it’s a rock star in 2015 that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo!
WA 94 (2/2018): The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carménère. As usual, this Margaux takes a little time to open up in the glass, eventually revealing scents of blackberry, cedar, mint and a light sprinkling of pencil shavings. That minty element becomes more prominent with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine line of acidity. I adore the harmony and texture of this Brane-Cantenac: very svelte and silky on the surface but underneath there is backbone and very fine focus. The finish has a touch of chalkiness, quite saline in the mouth with a long, persistent finish. What an outstanding Margaux this is going to be although like many great vintages it will require several years in bottle. |
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| Ch. Certan de May |
2022 |
Pomerol (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$942.99 |
3 |
|
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| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
2000 |
St. Emilion
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,228.99 |
1 |
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VM 100 (11/2017): A wine of exquisite aromatic depth and grace, the 2000 Cheval Blanc is fully captivating. All the elements fall into place in an effortless, gracious wine. It’s frankly hard to move past the 2000 Cheval, because at this point, I want nothing to compete with it. Antonio Galloni.
WA 99 (6/2010): Coming out of a relatively dormant state, this 2000 is a spectacular Cheval Blanc. Of recent vintages, I think only the 2009 can give it a run for its money. A blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc, the wine has a sweet nose of menthol, melted licorice, boysenberry, blueberry, and cassis. A broad wine with compelling purity, a layered texture, and sweet tannin, with hints of coffee and earth in the background, this is by far the best Cheval Blanc since 1990 and before 2009. It is a legend in the making and can actually be drunk now, as the tannins have nearly melted away. This is a beauty with incredibly complex aromatics. Drink it over the next 25-30 years.
JD 98 (6/2019): Closed and backward over the past decade, the 2000 Chateau Cheval Blanc seems to have turned the corner and is drinking spectacularly well today, with the hallmark elegance and complexity of this estate front and center. Sweet red and black fruits, spice box, dried flowers, and forest floor notes all develop with time in the glass, and it has a balanced, resolved style on the palate that’s a joy to drink. The 2000 is blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc, and while mature, it has another two decades or more of prime drinking ahead of it.
VM 98 (2/2012): The 2000 Cheval Blanc was pure seduction. Espresso, plums and graphite were some of the many notes that emerged from this warm, expressive Cheval Blanc. Immensely harmonious and balanced, the 2000 was firing on all cylinders. Although I am quite sure the 2000 will continue to evolve positively, I also can't blame those who want to enjoy it today. Everything was simply in the right place.
VM 94+ (10/2011): (a blend of 53% merlot and 47% cabernet franc; 43 h/h): Deep ruby. Penetrating blackcurrant, menthol, herbal, cocoa and tobacco aromas. Rich, ripe and dense, with a chocolatey, voluptuous mouth feel but also plenty of acidity to provide lift to the blackcurrant, plum and licorice flavors. Dominated by its merlot component, this wine finishes long and suave, with lingering notes of blackberry and black truffle. Although it's hard to resist this wine's thick creamy fruit, amazing balance and very polished tannins, I find it lacks the sheer complexity of great vintages of Cheval Blanc in which cabernet franc is prevalent. Finishes very long, and still extremely young.
JS 94 (3/2011): A very nice nose of blackberries, dark chocolate, and flowers. Full bodied and smokey, with a meaty, mushroom, tobacco, and berry character. Wonderfully long, long finish to this muscular wine with fine tannins. This is still evolving but needs another five or six years. |
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2005 |
St. Emilion (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$13,226.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (6/2015): The 2005 from Cheval Blanc is a quintessentially elegant, beautiful, deep bluish/ruby-colored wine from St.-Emilion, with raspberry, blueberry, and floral notes, impressive density, great precision, freshness and purity. Full-bodied, but extremely light on its feet, I don’t mean to gush, but it is super-intense, rich and just so meticulously crafted! This is another fabulous wine and a perfect expression for this vintage. It is difficult to forget the gorgeous blueberry and raspberry fruit, full body, sweet tannin, a multi-layered texture, and purity and palate presence of this stunning wine. Drink it over the next 20 years. P.S. In 2005, this was 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot.
VM 100 (11/2015): The 2005 Cheval Blanc is another wine that is utterly mesmerizing from the moment it is opened. Exquisite in its aromatics, the 2005 Cheval is sublime on the palate, where the interplay of Merlot and Cabernet Franc proves to be captivating. In a night of truly spellbinding wines, the Cheval makes a deep impression because of its overall finesse and nuance. Along with the Margaux and Haut-Brion, the Cheval speaks to total refinement and polish. The Cheval is of course not one of the bigger, more imposing wines of the night, but it is among the most complete, which makes it the perfect wine to close out an incredible night. When we first opened the 2005, I thought it might very well be the wine of the night. A few hours later, it was every bit as impressive. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (11/2015): Always a fabulous nose of black fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and spices. It's full-bodied with beautifully dense tannins reminiscent of cashmere. A long, long finish rounds out this beautiful wine. It would be better to leave it alone until 2020 but so hard not to revel in its splendor now. |
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| Domaine de Chevalier |
2019 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Negociant |
$83.99 |
36 |
|
| |
WA 94-96+ (6/2020): Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Domaine de Chevalier was harvested from the 23rd of September to the 13th of October. The alcohol weighed in at a modest 13%. It is aging in French oak barrels, 35% new, for around 18 months. Deep garnet-purple in color, it shoots from the glass with vibrant, intense scents of warm blueberries, blackberry preserves and fresh blackcurrants plus hints of spice box, violets, crushed rocks and pencil lead with a hint of menthol. The medium-bodied palate gives an appearance of weight from its sheer energy, offering bags of fresh, crunchy berry layers and a solid backbone of firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and pure.
VM 95-97 (6/2020): The 2019 Domaine de Chevalier has the potential to be one of the wines of the vintage. Regal and soaring in the glass, with tremendous intensity, the 2019 is pure magic. An exotic melange of ripe red plum, gravel, spice, cured meats and incense develops with time in the glass. Effortless and wonderfully nuanced, the 2019 is a fabulous wine in the making. Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-98+ (6/2020): Reminding me of the 2016, the 2019 Domaine De Chevalier checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a classy bouquet of crème de cassis, damp earth, tobacco leaf, and spring flowers. With medium to full-bodied richness, stunning purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a good spice of acidity, this beautiful, classic, quintessential Chevalier will need 5-7 years of bottle age yet keep for 4-5 decades in cold cellars. Tasted twice.
JS 96-97 (6/2020): The chocolate, walnut, dark-fruit and stone character is attractive. It’s full-bodied and very tight and linear with chewy yet polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of intensity and complexity here, as always. |
|
| Ch. Clerc Milon |
2005 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,332.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (4/2008): Clerc-Milon’s 2005 has moved ahead of its stablemate, d’Armailhac. A blend of nearly equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon (48%) and Merlot (40%), and the rest Cabernet Franc, it exhibits plenty of charcoal, roasted coffee, smoke, blackberry, and cassis notes along with a meaty-like character to its flavors and texture. Full-bodied with surprisingly high tannin as well as gorgeous depth and a multidimensional mouthfeel, this stunning Pauillac should be at its finest between 2014-2030.
VM 92 (6/2008): Full ruby-red. Superripe, almost syrupy aromas of cassis, licorice, graphite and coffee. Full, seamless and sweet, with a ripeness verging on exotic; but this is fat with fruit. An outsized Clerc-Milon with a relatively high 13.2% alcohol but also very good energy in the mouth. Finishes with terrific breadth and substantial ripe tannins. "This was very restrained in the barrel but is really opening up in bottle," noted Dhalluin. A superb showing today. |
|
| Ch. Conseillante |
2016 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,580.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 99-100 (4/2017): This is the greatest Conseillante in modern times. Full body and incredible tannins that are polished and velvety. The texture lasts for minutes. I am speechless. What a young and awe-inspiring wine! |
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| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
2005 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,141.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (4/2008): The 2005 Ducru Beaucaillou is a 10,000-case blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot (they used to produce 18,000-20,000 cases). It is an exceptionally powerful wine with a dense purple color, superb intensity, and a beautiful, sweet nose of spring flowers, raspberries, blueberries, graphite, and creme de cassis. Full-bodied with fabulous concentration, exceptionally high tannin, good acidity, and massive layers of richness that build incrementally on the palate, this monumental effort is more structured than their Outstanding 2003. It may be the finest wine produced at this estate since the 1982 and 1961 Ducrus. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050.
VM 94 (6/2008): Good deep ruby-red. Wonderfully sweet, aromatic nose combines currant, chocolate and cedary oak. Fat, lush and silky, with atypical volume to the flavors of plum, tobacco and chocolate. Wonderfully supple, plump wine with layers of flavor, thoroughly sweet tannins and compelling aromatic persistence. Today the wine's substantial baby fat is masking its impressive underlying power. According to Borie, this 2005 combines the best traits of the chateau's 2003 and 2000. |
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|
2016 |
St. Julien |
$267.99 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 100 (10/2023): An absolute legendary wine that's as good as anything out there, the 2016 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is reminiscent of the 2010, yet perhaps with a touch more opulence. A total blockbuster of a wine, it offers huge minerality as well as pure crème de cassis, liquid violets, graphite, and hints of tobacco that all emerge on the nose, and this fabulous Ducru-Beaucaillou is full-bodied, massively concentrated, and structured, yet somehow never loses its overarching sense of purity, balance, and elegance. This ultra-classic beauty deserves another decade of bottle age and will evolve gracefully for another 3-4 decades. Hats off to proprietor Bruno Borie for another incredible achievement. (Drink between 2033-2063)
JA 99 (9/2019): Hugely different in personality from the 2015, this is powerful and sombre. It's inky in colour and feel, with black olive, liquorice and cigar smoke alongside cinnamon, black pepper and Cabernet character of blackcurrant bud. This is intense and powerful and is going to keep on delivering through the years, thanks to its stunning ageing capacity. This is first-growth quality, and it has claws and is not afraid to use them. 100% new oak. (Drink between 2026-2044.)
JS 99 (1/2019): Super perfumed, attractive violets with a thread of fresh blueberries, cassis, blackberries and dark plums, delivering a very enticing impression. Beautiful ripeness here. The tannins are perfectly ripe and layers meld into each other, carrying deep, graceful and plush, velvety dark fruit long into the vibrant and seductive, chocolate-laced finish. Great potential.
WA 98+ (8/2020): Very deep purple-black in color, the 2016 Ducru-Beaucaillou delivers a pronounced, enticing nose of baked plums, blueberry preserves, fruitcake and boysenberry with suggestions of lilacs, mocha, hoisin and exotic spices plus a waft of cedar chest. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, the palate has layer upon layer of black fruit preserves and spicy nuances, matched by a very firm, grainy frame, finishing with epic length and depth.
VM 97 (7/2022): The 2016 Ducru-Beaucaillou was picked 24 September to 10 October, matured in 100% new oak for 18 months. It has an ethereal bouquet, the purest on any Ducru-Beaucaillou, with copious dark cherries, violet and mineral scents, a touch of forest floor emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a little more red fruit towards the finish than the 2018 tasted alongside and maybe just beginning to close up to mature over the long-term. What a fantastic wine, one that will vie with the 2009 and maybe the 2018 as one of the peaks. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Drink between 2028-2060.) Neal Martin. |
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|
2019 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,233.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97-100 (6/2020): This year the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. The alcohol weighed in at 14.2%, while the pH is 3.8 and the IPT is 88. It will mature for 18 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou explodes from the glass with bombastic notes of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and plum preserves plus hints of candied violets, dark chocolate, licorice, wild fungi, crushed rocks and tilled soil with a touch of mossy bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is a tightly wound coil poised to spring out with layer upon layer of minerals, rich black fruits and floral notes, framed by very firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and electric freshness, finishing long and incredibly layered. WOW!
VM 96-98 (6/2020): I tasted the 2019 Ducru Beaucaillou four times in 12-hour intervals from opening. It has a splendid bouquet centered around black fruit laced with graphite, Montecristo cigars and hints of sage and cedar. This is one of the most Pauillac-like Ducrus that I have encountered at this stage. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, pitch perfect acidity and a sensual, satin-like texture that could seduce from miles away. There is a sense of completeness surrounding this Second Growth, charming you surfeit with nobility and outstanding in terms of persistence. Fabulous. Neal Martin.
JD 97-100 (6/2020): Just as concentrated yet more elegant, the flagship 2019 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou checks in as a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot raised in new French oak. It offers a gorgeous bouquet of pure crème de cassis and blueberry fruit that just screams of Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep purple-hued, with plenty of lead pencil, graphite, and floral notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, straight-up awesome tannins, and a monster of a finish. It's another magical wine in the making from this château. Give bottles a decade in the cellar if you can (it's going to be incredibly enjoyable in its youth as well), and it will evolve for 40-50 years or more.
JS 99-100 (6/2020): A very powerful Ducru with intense tannins and backbone, showing blue fruit, black tea and tobacco. Full-bodied with impressive structure and so much tannin. It goes on for minutes. Very traditional. Owner Bruno Borie said it is a wine to last forever and I have to agree. 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot. |
|
| Clos l' Eglise |
2005 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$892.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (4/2008): The 2005 Clos l’Eglise gives the brilliant 2001, 2000, and1998 a run for their money. Time will tell if it eventually eclipses those three sensational efforts. A huge, sweet nose of creme brulee intermixed with black cherry liqueur, blackberries, tar, caramel, and mocha/coffee soars from the glass of this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Opulence, superb intensity, abundant quantities of sweet toasty oak, a full-bodied richness, and excellent purity as well as depth suggest it will age effortlessly for over two decades. This is a brilliant Pomerol from proprietor Helene Garcin and her consulting winemaker, Dr. Alain Raynaud.
VM 95 (6/2008): (14% alcohol) Full red-ruby. Superripe, even decadent aromas of plum, redcurrant and caramel; very Pomerol. Like liquid silk in the mouth, with an extravagant sweetness and lushness to the middle palate. Wonderfully fine-grained and rich, with its fruit component in the background today. The finish goes on and on, and is almost shockingly vibrant. In terms of aromatic persistence, this was one of the longest wines of my week on the Right Bank. A compelling wine. |
|
| Ch. Figeac |
2018 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,206.99 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 98 (3/2021): Reminiscent of the 2016 with its incredible purity and elegance, the 2018 Château Figeac offers a terrific perfume of crème de cassis, redcurrants, dried earth, tobacco, lead pencil, spring flowers, and exotic spice-driven nuances. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it's flawlessly balanced, has silky, polished tannins, and a stunning sense of purity. It doesn't have the sexiness of the 2015, but it's very much in the style of the 2018 vintage with its pure, elegant, haut couture-like style. And it doesn't show a hint of its 100% new oak élevage. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 20-30 years. It's not the biggest or richest Saint- Emilion, yet the balance, finesse, and elegance are something to behold. I think it's going to check in behind the 2015 (and maybe the 2019) when all is said and done, but it's unquestionably one of the greatest Figeac in the past 20-30 years. The blend is 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, raised all in new oak. Another big “Bravo” to the talented director, Frédéric Faye!
VM 98 (3/2021): The 2018 Figeac is a regal, aristocratic Saint-Émilion. Vertical in feel, Figeac possesses stunning energy and vibrancy right out of the gate. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice, rose petal and spice all open with a bit of coaxing. Figeac is a bit restrained today, but it won't be an issue in another few years' time. Figeac is not an obvious wine, but it is superb. Antonio Galloni.
JA 97 (3/2022): Love this vibrant, succulent and welcoming Figeac, great reflection of an excellent vintage in St Emilion. Has plenty of juicy damson and raspberry fuits on the opening beats, with gourmet black pepper and smoked caramel, and velvety tannins that wrap themselves around the fruit and carry it right through the palate. Drawn out finish also, with flecks of lemongrass acidity and slate minerality. Well balanced yet succulent, a little atypical perhaps of Figeac in its upfront charms, but hard to disagree with - and the mint leaf finish brings things back into line. Harvest Sptember 17 to October 12, 100% new oak for ageing. |
|
| La Closerie de Fourtet |
2016 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$558.99 |
7 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$558.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Le Gay |
2017 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$573.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (2/2020): Showing beautifully in my tastings, the 2017 Chateau Le Gay makes the most of this solid vintage. Almost all Merlot from a great terroir on the plateau of Pomerol, it reveals a purple/ruby hue as well as medium to full-bodied notes of black cherry and cassis fruits, toasted spice, spring flowers, and damp earth. Shining more for its complexity and elegance than sheer power, it nevertheless has wonderful fruit, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15-20 years. |
|
| Ch. La Croix de Gay |
2018 |
Pomerol (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$683.99 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 91 (3/2021): Showing nicely, the 2018 Château La Croix De Gay offers a rich, nicely concentrated, textured style as well as notable purity in its smoky black fruits, charcuteries, spice, dried herbs, and cedary aromas and flavors. It packs plenty of richness on the mid-palate, has ripe yet present tannins, subtle background oak, and outstanding length on the finish. It's impressive but needs 3-4 years at a minimum in the cellar and will cruise for 10-15 years. (Drink between 2024-2039).
WA 89 (3/2021): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Croix de Gay is still wearing a bit of its oak, opening with cedar and clove notes before giving way to a core of boysenberries, stewed black cherries and baked plums with touches of bouquet garni and pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate offers soft acidity and a light chewiness to match the understated black fruit preserves flavors, finishing earthy. Drink between 2022-2036.
VM 87 (3/2021): The 2018 La Croix de Gay is a bold, hearty wine. Dark red fruit, iron, dried herbs, licorice, earthiness and gravel, along with firm tannins, add to the wine's rustic personality. Drink it over the next decade or so. (Drink between 2021-2030). Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2019 |
Pomerol (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$612.99 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 89 (4/2022): The Merlot-dominated (there's 3% Cabernet Franc) 2019 Château La Croix De Gay has an incredibly floral, almost exotic bouquet that includes plenty of spiced red and black cherry fruits, notes of sappy herbs, iron, and chocolate, medium-bodied richness, soft tannins, and a juicy, elegant profile geared for drinking over the coming decade. (Drink between 2022-2032).
WA 88 (4/2022): The 2019 La Croix de Gay opens in the glass with rich aromas of plummy fruit, orange rind, toasty new oak and spices. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with rather chewy tannins and a somewhat rustic profile, it will likely round out with a little bottle age. Drink between 2023-2039.
VM 86 (2/2023): The 2019 La Croix de Gay is rather muddled on the nose and comes across rather Bretty. The palate is hard on the entry with graphite and seaweed notes, but it feels just a bit dry and mealy towards the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2024-2030). Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Gruaud Larose |
2020 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,162.99 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 96 (3/2023): Coming from the talented Virginie Salette (the head winemaker since 2017) and tiny yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare, the 2020 Château Gruaud Larose is 79% Cabernet, 14% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, which continues the trend at this estate toward more and more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Beautifully done, with a terrific sense of finesse, it offers a great nose of both red and black fruit as well as leafy tobacco, spring flowers, licorice, and spicy oak. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and wonderfully balanced, with fine tannins, it shows the focused, inward, almost understated style of the vintage without any rusticity or austerity. It needs a solid 7-8 years of bottle age, if not a decade, and is going to be very long-lived. Bravo.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 Gruaud-Larose is a powerful, dense wine. Super-ripe dark cherry, kirsch, menthol, licorice, rose petal and espresso infuse the palate with tons of intensity. Unctuous and flamboyant, the 2020 also offers a good bit of energy to keep things in balance. The 2020 is very much an extrovert, a gorgeous extrovert at that. Sweet floral and spice accents, along with a kick of sweet French oak, linger. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Haut-Brion |
2022 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,083.99 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (2/2025): A blockbuster of a wine from this château, the 2022 Château Haut-Brion is based on 53.6% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc. It's slightly deeper hued than its sibling, the La Mission Haut-Brion, and brings a slightly firmer, more masculine style in its smoky blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, violet, and tobacco-driven aromas and flavors. As good as it gets on the palate, this sensationally layered, seamless Haut-Brion has medium to full-bodied richness, a sensationally pure, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, building yet polished tannins, and an incredible finish. It deserves at least a decade in the cellar (it's clearly enjoyable even today), and I suspect it will evolve for 50-75 years or more, given its balance, concentration, and structure. (Drink between 2035-2110).
VM 98 (2/2025): The 2022 Haut-Brion retains captivating floral scents on the nose, with peony, violet and plenty of incense combining with intense blackberry and blueberry fruit. It builds in the glass over ten minutes, only then revealing its underlying mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, offering more substance and a tad more grip compared directly to the 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion. Alternating between the two, I am more drawn to the First Growth as the finish delivers greater complexity and precision. This is an awesome Haut-Brion for the ages. (Drink between 2030-2065). Neal Martin.
WA 97+ (3/2025): The 2022 Haut-Brion, which was bottled in May 2024, lives up to the high expectations I had set for it and then some. Revealing a dense, complex and precise bouquet of dark berries, pencil lead, cedar box, rose and spices intertwined with discreet notes of oak, it's full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of tannins and an enveloping core of fruit that retains energy and purity, concluding with youthful grip. Given the inherent quality of the terroir, time is likely to be very kind to this vintage, allowing it to integrate and mature gracefully.
JA 96 (5/2023): Stately, inky colour, this is impressively vivid and energetic despite the intensity of the construction. Fresh fig character, black chocoate, cinnammon, turmeric, creamy bilberry and blackberry fruits, with clove and sandalwood spice, and a slow build of texture and contrast from the slate tannins as they draw out the flavours. Harvest August 29-19 September. 3.9ph. Less Cabernet Sauvignon than usual due to tiny yields. |
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|
2022 |
Pessac Leognan (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,604.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (2/2025): A blockbuster of a wine from this château, the 2022 Château Haut-Brion is based on 53.6% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc. It's slightly deeper hued than its sibling, the La Mission Haut-Brion, and brings a slightly firmer, more masculine style in its smoky blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, violet, and tobacco-driven aromas and flavors. As good as it gets on the palate, this sensationally layered, seamless Haut-Brion has medium to full-bodied richness, a sensationally pure, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, building yet polished tannins, and an incredible finish. It deserves at least a decade in the cellar (it's clearly enjoyable even today), and I suspect it will evolve for 50-75 years or more, given its balance, concentration, and structure. (Drink between 2035-2110).
VM 98 (2/2025): The 2022 Haut-Brion retains captivating floral scents on the nose, with peony, violet and plenty of incense combining with intense blackberry and blueberry fruit. It builds in the glass over ten minutes, only then revealing its underlying mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, offering more substance and a tad more grip compared directly to the 2022 La Mission Haut-Brion. Alternating between the two, I am more drawn to the First Growth as the finish delivers greater complexity and precision. This is an awesome Haut-Brion for the ages. (Drink between 2030-2065). Neal Martin.
WA 97+ (3/2025): The 2022 Haut-Brion, which was bottled in May 2024, lives up to the high expectations I had set for it and then some. Revealing a dense, complex and precise bouquet of dark berries, pencil lead, cedar box, rose and spices intertwined with discreet notes of oak, it's full-bodied, dense and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of tannins and an enveloping core of fruit that retains energy and purity, concluding with youthful grip. Given the inherent quality of the terroir, time is likely to be very kind to this vintage, allowing it to integrate and mature gracefully.
JA 96 (5/2023): Stately, inky colour, this is impressively vivid and energetic despite the intensity of the construction. Fresh fig character, black chocoate, cinnammon, turmeric, creamy bilberry and blackberry fruits, with clove and sandalwood spice, and a slow build of texture and contrast from the slate tannins as they draw out the flavours. Harvest August 29-19 September. 3.9ph. Less Cabernet Sauvignon than usual due to tiny yields. |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
2020 |
Pauillac (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,684.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (3/2023): Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2020 Château Lafite-Rothschild is a sensational effort checking in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that hit 12.8% natural alcohol and a pH of 3.94. As Lafite as Lafite gets, this ultra-classic reveals a dense ruby/plum hue as well as a tight, yet layered bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and subtle spice. Flawlessly balanced, deep, concentrated, and layered, it has an incredible mid-palate, building, perfect tannins, and a finish that leaves you salivating. Refined, elegant, and perfection are the buzz words here. Unfortunately, it's not for the instant gratification crowd, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this require 15 years to hit the early stages of its prime drinking window. It will probably hit its 100th birthday in fine form.
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2020 Lafite-Rothschild, which contains the highest proportion of Merlot since the 2016, hit the bull's eye from barrel. Revisiting the wine in the bottle since July, it still bursts from the glass with copious blackberries, touches of blueberry and juniper, pencil lead and a hint of crushed stone. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins, quite linear and "correct" - a quintessential Lafite-Rothschild in many ways. It gently builds in the mouth while keeping a restraint on things, finishing with fine sapidity yet a little more juiciness than you would have found a decade or two earlier. This has the potential to evolve beautifully over several decades. Neal Martin.
JS 99-100 (4/2021): Rather ethereal and so refined with finesse, focus and brightness that provides incredible energy and pedigree. It’s full-bodied with ultra fine tannins that go on and on. Superb presence with tannins that melt into the wine. This is 12.8%. I love the wine. Lots of dark fruit and fresh tobacco. Lead pencil, too. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot and 1% petit verdot.
WA 96-98 (5/2021): Displaying a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Lafite Rothschild takes a little swirling and coaxing to unlock scents of freshly crushed blackcurrants, boysenberries and spiced plums, followed by emerging nuances of red roses, raspberry preserves, underbrush and unsmoked cigars, with a waft of cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate is an exercise in elegance and finesse, featuring tightly wound layers of red and black berries and loads of mineral sparks, framed by finely grained tannins and well-poised tension, finishing with fantastic length and the most stunning perfume. Magnificent achievement. This 2020 is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, coming in at 12.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.9. |
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|
2022 |
Pauillac (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,977.99 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 97-99 (5/2023): The 2022 Château Lafite-Rothschild is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that was harvested between the 31st of August and the 24th of September. It's a richer, more opulent wine compared to the more classic 2020 (although the pH is higher in the 2020) and has a deep, full-bodied, concentrated profile as well as classic Lafite aromatics of spicy red and black fruits, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and tobacco. Deep, rich, and concentrated, it nevertheless stays pure and flawlessly balanced, with ample, ripe tannins and a great finish. It's going to have some up-front appeal by Lafite standards but should still require a decade of bottle age. Director Eric Koher compares this to the 2005, but this modern-day clone of the 1959 is one of the most powerful, concentrated Lafites I've tasted.
VM 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Lafite-Rothschild was picked from 31 August to 24 September and apart from the 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, there is 17.5% pressed wine in the blend. The IPT is slightly lower than 2020. There is 13.6% alcohol this year, higher than 2018 and 2019. It has an intense bouquet with blackberry, crushed stone, touches of pencil box and undergrowth, very Lafite-Rothschild in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly judged acidity, linear and focused. Compared to vintages a couple of decades ago, there is mid-palate weight, yet it retains classicism and transparency, while delivering quite a gentle but insistent grip on the finish. Perpetually the most deceptive of First Growth, one should not doubt its long-term potential. Neal Martin.
WA 95-97+ (5/2023): A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Lafite Rothschild unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, sweet soils tones, cigar box and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, it's the most tensile of the first growths this year, with a layered, concentrated but youthfully introverted mid-palate, lively acids and a long, saline finish. It checks in at a rather high pH of 3.85, which belies its incisive profile, from a harvest that extended from August 31 to September 24.
JA 97 (5/2023): Saturated inky colour, with intense ruby reflections. This is a classically constructed Lafite, with clear power to the tannins and intense spice, a little more upfront and concentrated than you find in many En Primeur vintages at this property but it exemplifies balance and confidence. Fully in control, delivering estate signature with finesse and understatement, with pulses of graphite, slate, bitter almond and cocoa bean. Takes its time to uncurl in the glass, leaving you plenty of time to admire its architecture. Give it a good decade at least. 17.5% of press wine, 3.85ph, 41% Lafite of overall production. Harvest August 31 to September 24, earliest since 1893. 100% new oak, Eric Kohler techincal director. Potential upscore in bottle. |
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| Ch. Lafleur |
2011 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,274.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2022 |
Pomerol (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,908.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 100 (3/2025): The 2022 Lafleur has turned out even better in bottle than I anticipated. Wafting from the glass with exotic aromas of mulberries, potpourri, iris, blood orange and incense, it's full-bodied, dense and layered, with a deep and multidimensional core of sweet, succulent fruit underpinned by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, expansive, rose-inflected finish. Élevage has brought a sense of harmony and classicism to the volume and richness that were already apparent en primeur, delivering a Lafleur for the ages.
JD 98+ (2/2025): The Grand Vin 2022 Château Lafleur checks in as 51% Bouschet (an older selection of Cabernet Franc) and 49% Merlot brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. It's a ripe, incredibly powerful Lafleur that has a rare mix of voluptuousness as well as a dense, structured core. Red and black currants, iron, bloody meats, truffly earth, and violet notes are just some of its nuances, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a broad, layered, expansive mouthfeel, tons of ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It needs to be forgotten for a solid decade but will evolve for 30-40 years. (Drink between 2035-2075).
VM 98 (2/2025): The 2022 Lafleur was a deeply impressive Pomerol when tasted from barrel. As Baptiste Guinaudeau mentioned, the 2022 vintage was driven by energy and not dominated by the sun, which differentiates it from the 2019 or 2020. The 2022 possesses incredible purity on the nose, with layers of black fruit, graphite and just a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is medium-bodied and quite linear in style, with firm tannins, strong pencil box notes and a sharp and precise finish. It lingers temptingly in the mouth, yet at the same time you know this will need many years to reach its peak. Awesome. (Drink between 2032-2075). Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Lafon Rochet |
2020 |
St. Estephe ex-Negociant |
$38.99 |
60 |
|
| |
VM 92-94 (5/2021): The 2020 Lafon-Rochet was picked September 15–20 and marks the first collaboration between consultants Jean-Claude Berrouet and Eric Boissenot, who both worked on the blending. It has a really lovely bouquet of blackberry, briar and faint estuarine scents, hints of crushed iris flower emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and modest depth, and quite fleshy; lip-smacking salinity urges you to take another sip. Intriguingly, it comes across a tad Pomerol-like on the finish, completing a top-notch Lafon-Rochet that may well end up at the top of my banded score. NEal Martin.
JD 93-95+ (5/2021): I loved the 2020 Château Lafon-Rochet, a rich, powerful, concentrated Saint-Estèphe that stays beautifully balanced and elegant. Lots of pure cassis and darker currant fruits as well as tobacco, chocolate, and damp herb notes define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take 7-8 years to hit the early stages of maturity, but it's a brilliant wine. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with an alcohol of 13.5 and a pH of 3.68. Tasted twice.
JS 93-94 (4/2021): Blackberry and spice with firm, chewy tannins that show polish and focus. It’s medium-to full-bodied with excellent energy. Blackberry and blackcurrant character on the finish with a touch of cedar and spice. |
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| Ch. Larcis-Ducasse |
2005 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,016.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (6/2015): With an unbelievable nose of licorice, tapenade, black cherry and blackcurrant liqueur, as well as full body, super-sweet tannin, and astonishing richness and length, this prodigious effort in 2005 announced the resurrection of this great terroir on the slopes near Château Pavie. Dark garnet/plum/purple, this is compelling stuff and drinkable already, but capable of lasting another 25-30 years. This beauty is not to be missed! Only 3,000 cases were produced, from a blend of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
VM 94 (6/2008): Ruby-red. Superripe, vibrant nose offers cherry, blueberry, blackberry, mocha and fruity dark chocolate. Rich and wonderfully fine-grained, with excellent acidity leavening the impression of superripeness and giving cut to the intense dark berry, plum and mineral flavors. Finishes very long and lush, with a fine dusting of tannins and noteworthy subtlety. With its 14.5% alcohol, this is a big boy, but its energy and balance are impressive for such an opulent wine. |
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|
2020 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$536.97 |
2 |
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JD 99 (3/2023): The Grand Vin comes from a tiny 11.15-hectare vineyard that has been in the Gratiot family since 1893. Located on the south-facing Côte Pavie, between Château Pavie and Château Bellefont-Belcier and consisting of clay on top of limestone soils, the vineyard has recently been going through a replanted phase using a selection massale and a higher density planting. The grapes are hand-sorted, vinification occurs all in concrete and spans four weeks, with the élevage in 50% new French oak. A normal blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Château Larcis Ducasse reminds me of the 2005 and is up with the top handful of wines on the Right Bank. It has a brilliant perfume of red and black fruits, white truffle, leafy tobacco, and Asian spices. This carries to a full-bodied, concentrated, powerful Larcis-Ducasse with ultra-fine yet building tannins, perfect balance, a stacked mid-palate, and one heck of a great finish. It's going to flirt with perfection in 7-8 years (I'm probably underrating it a point) and have 30 years of overall longevity. Tasted numerous times with consistent results.
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2020 Larcis Ducasse is a real showstopper. Bright and vertical in feel, the 2020 possesses tremendous energy to match its super-classic build. Beams of tannin and acid give the wine its shape. Dark cherry and pomegranate fruit are pushed forward, with a kick of blood orange acidity that lends freshness. Graphite, dried herbs, menthol, spice and cedar emerge with some coaxing, but the 2020 is very young and very primary. That of course bodes so well for its future. The 2020 is quite simply a thrilling Larcis and one of the very finest values in all of Bordeaux. Antonio Galloni.
JS 97-98 (4/2021): Blackberry and asphalt with cool minerals and a hint of mint. It’s full-bodied and chewy with intense flavors and a long, flavorful finish. Lots of chalk and an almost salty undertone.
WA 96-98 (5/2021): The 2020 Larcis Ducasse has a deep purple-black color, leaping from the glass with bold notions of redcurrant jelly, plum preserves, kirsch and red roses, followed by hints of licorice, fragrant earth and spice cake, with a touch of woodsmoke. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with fragrant red berries and profound black fruit preserves, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and lovely tension, finishing very long and fantastically layered. Absolutely, stunningly singular. |
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| Ch. Laroque |
2022 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$287.96 |
7 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (5/2023): Another impressive performance from this estate, the 2022 Laroque offers up aromas of sweet berries, violets, iris and exotic spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered palate with a rich core of fruit that's framed by lively acids, concluding with a taut, chalky finish. Once again, it's the result of a strict selection that sees only 45% of the production released as the grand vin.
VM 92-94 (5/2023): The 2022 Laroque is bright, focused and full of energy. In this vintage, Laroque is especially refined. Dark plum, graphite, licorice, spice, lavender and mocha are nicely laced together in this gracious, finely cut Saint-Émilion. Bright saline accents lend notable brightness throughout. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95-97 (5/2023): Clearly one of the new superstars in the appellation, Château Laroque is located on the cooler, eastern edge of Saint-Emilion and consists of pure, classic upper plateau limestone soils. The estate covers a whopping 54 hectares, which gives director Davie Suire ample flexibility when putting together the Grand Vin. Looking at the 2022 Laroque, it's a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc from healthy yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare, representing just 45% of the total production, and it will spend 16-18 months in 50% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty offers a classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. It’s medium to full-bodied, has incredible purity, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s unquestionably another beautiful vintage for this chateau that readers will love.
JA 97 (5/2023): You just know that this estate is well placed to succeed in the vintage, and this really does walk the line of ripeness and salinity, such gorgeous definition and vivid energetic fruit. Stretches out through the palate also, has a relaxed confidece to it that is quite unusual in such a full--on vintage. Really impressive, Beaumartin family, David Suire director. |
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| Ch. Laroze |
2015 |
St. Emilion (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$565.99 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 94 (11/2017): Checking in as 62% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc that was brought up in roughly 70% new oak, the 2015 Château Laroze is straight up gorgeous. Cassis, black cherries, spring flowers, lead pencil shavings and hints of tobacco all give way to a ripe, sexy, concentrated Saint-Emilion that has sweet, polished tannin, plenty of mid-palate depth and a great finish. This beauty builds with time in the glass, is seamless, and just a sensational drink.
WA 93 (2/2018): The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Laroze hits the ground running with vibrant, expressive red currants, black raspberries and warm plums scents with touches of violets, chocolate-covered cherries and lavender plus a waft of fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, finely crafted and elegantly styled with plush, come-hither tannins and plenty of youthful, exuberant red and black fruit layers, it finishes with bags of perfume and polish. Very classy!
JS 92 (2/2018): Balance and focus to this medium to full-bodied red with chocolate, plums and cedar undertones. Firm and polished tannins. Savory finish. Drink in 2020. |
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|
2018 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$558.99 |
3 |
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| |
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| Ch. Latour |
2010 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,280.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (3/2020): The 2010 Latour is deep garnet in color, and—WOW—it erupts from the glass with powerful crème de cassis, Black Forest cake and blackberry pie scents plus intense sparks of dried roses, cigar boxes, fragrant earth and smoked meats with aniseed and crushed rocks wafts. Full-bodied, concentrated and oh-so-decadent in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy texture and lovely freshness carrying the rich, opulent fruit to an epically long finish. It is incredibly tempting to drink now, but I suspect this hedonic experience isn't a scratch on the mind-blowing, otherworldly secrets this time capsule will have to reveal given another 7-10 years in bottle and continuing over the following fifty years++.
JS 100 (2/2013): The aromas of flowers such as roses, violets and lilacs jump from the glass then turn to dark berries such as blueberries and blackberries. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and dense and intense with a chocolate, berry and currant character. This is juicy and rich with wood still showing a bit, but it's all coming together wonderfully. Muscular yet toned. Another perfect wine like the 2010. Try in 2022.
VM 100 (4/2020): The 2010 Latour can be summed up in two words: “The King.” It convincingly asserts its superiority over other 2010s, including First Growths, in terms of its aromatic complexity, precision, balance, intensity, complexity and persistence. Simply a faultless Latour that ranks among its greatest achievements. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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|
2014 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,217.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 97+ (3/2022): The 2014 Latour is one of the very finest wines of a vintage that favored the northern Medoc. Mingling aromas of wild berries and cassis with hints of cigar wrapper, loamy soil, black truffles and classy new oak, it’s full-bodied, rich and concentrated, its broad attack segueing into a deep, tightly wound mid-palate that’s framed by powdery, chalky tannins and bright acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. This classically balanced, youthfully structured young wine looks set to enjoy prodigious longevity. It’s reminiscent of a modern-day version of a cooler vintage such as 1996, though of course these days maturity is more complete and selection even more rigorous than was the case two decades ago.
JD 96 (11/2017): Deeper, richer, more concentrated, and stately than the Les Forts De Latour, the 2014 Château Latour is the wine of the vintage from the Medoc. Possessing a flawless, full-bodied, sexy and surprisingly open style on the palate, it’s relatively closed aromatically and only reluctantly gives up notes of cassis, chocolate, and lead pencil shavings. With incredible tannin quality, a layered, concentrated mid-palate, perfect balance and a great finish, it’s a classic Latour, as well as one of the few 2014s that demands cellaring. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and I suspect it will continue drinking nicely over the following three decades.
VM 96 (1/2022): The 2014 Latour captures the personality of the year in its linear, lithe construction. It's a decidedly understated Latour that is more about finesse than brawn. Bright red cherry/plum fruit, spice, mint and sweet tobacco open over time, but at this level, wines are more about a feel, an expression of place and a vintage. The 2014 Latour embodies all the best this cool, late-ripening growing season had to offer. I loved the 2014 when it was first shown, about five years ago, and I love it today. It is a super-classic Pauillac. Antonio Galloni.
JS 99 (1/2017): So much violets, licorice, pencil, flowers and currants define this on the nose before it moves to fresh mushrooms. It’s full-bodied yet compacted with tension and a compressed center palate. Incredible, fine-grained tannins and energy. The length is truly great. Should be even more beautiful in 2024. Give it time. |
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|
2016 |
Pauillac 2025 ex-Chateau Release; Prooftag |
$779 |
26 |
|
| |
| JS 98-99 (4/2017): A muscular Latour with a vibrant depth of fruit and power. Superb length and polish. Full-bodied, tight and closed. Fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Steely and edgy. Strong, regal wine. |
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| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2003 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,763.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (12/2010): This has intense aromas of souis bois, mushroom, flowers, spices and ripe berry tart. Full and very rich, with layers of round tannins and intense flavors. This is opulent and wild. So good for a baby but wait until 2017.
WA 96 (8/2014): A spectacular success, the opaque plum-colored 2003 Leoville Barton is still on the young side of its plateau of maturity. It exhibits a striking bouquet of forest floor and black currants as well as a full-bodied, exuberant, youthful style, an opaque plum/ruby color, a lot of complexity, and striking depth and richness. This is a profound, stunning effort from Anthony Barton and his team. Bravo! It should continue to provide immense pleasure for 20-30 years.
VM 93 (6/2006): Good medium ruby. Explosive nose of black raspberry, coffee and leather. Hugely rich, dense and sweet, with deep flavors of currant, plum and chocolate complicated by underlying minerality. Wonderfully dense and full on the back end, with broad tannins and palate-staining length. Today, the 2005 comes off as dry by comparison. A standout of the vintage, and likely to be long-lived in the context of the year. |
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|
2005 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,887.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (8/2022): The 2005 Léoville Las Cases is a classic that numbers among the wines of the vintage in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, incense, burning embers, sweet soil tones, dark chocolate and cigar wrapper, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a vibrant core of fruit, lively acids and sweet, powdery tannins. More elegant and refined than the hulking, uncompromising 2006, the 2005 is nevertheless a powerful, tightly wound wine that will reward further bottle age, even if it's actually quite expressive today.
VM 98 (4/2021): The 2005 Léoville Las Cases is a classic that numbers among the wines of the vintage in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, incense, burning embers, sweet soil tones, dark chocolate and cigar wrapper, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a vibrant core of fruit, lively acids and sweet, powdery tannins. More elegant and refined than the hulking, uncompromising 2006, the 2005 is nevertheless a powerful, tightly wound wine that will reward further bottle age, even if it's actually quite expressive today. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (12/2010): This offers aromas of spices, dried dark fruits, meat and berries. Full and muscular on the palate, with strong tannins and a long, long finish. This is very powerful and chewy, but a little bit tight. This is a wine for the cellar. Don't touch this until 2018. |
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|
2022 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$658.99 |
10 |
|
| |
WA 96-97+ (5/2023): One of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts, the 2022 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with deep aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, spices and tobacco leaf, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's vibrant, pure and seamless, with beautifully classy tannins and a long, penetrating finish. The 2022 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc; and it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements which translate into enhanced purity and precision.
JD 94-96+ (5/2023): The 2022 Château Léoville Barton is another pretty, elegant wine from this talented team. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful perfume of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and violets. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's surprisingly approachable yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up over the course of its élevage. |
|
| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
2005 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,461.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (8/2012): A stunningly complex and complete nose of flowers, dark fruits, and minerals. Very perfumed and subtle at the same time. The palate is full, yet tight and powerful with perfect tannins and a long, long finish. The quality of the tannins is phenomenal, please leave this alone for ten years. Pull the cork in 2020.
VM 98 (11/2015): A wine for the ages, the 2005 Leoville Las Cases is slow to come out of the gate, but its beauty and pedigree are evident. The 2005 Las Cases is one of the only wines in this tasting that still needs time in bottle, something that won't come as a surprise to fans of this St. Julien estate. The 2005 offers plenty of the typical Las Cases power, but it is also remarkably nuanced and translucent for a wine of its sheer size. When all is said and done, it is in my top three or four wines of the night. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97+ (6/2015): This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. |
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| Ch. Louis |
2015 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$683.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
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2016 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$683.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2001 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$984.97 |
1 |
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| |
VM 90+ (6/2004): Bright red-ruby. Currant, herbs and smoke on the nose. Rich and suave on entry, then rather closed and austere in the middle palate, with moderately ripe, nicely delineated flavors of currant, cherry, smoke and mint. Best today on the back end, which features broad tannins and subtle lingering flavor.
WA 88 (8/2011): The fully mature 2001 exhibits aromas of tapenade, bay leaf, licorice, red and black currants, damp earth and new saddle leather. Medium-bodied and atypically elegant and charming for a Lynch Bages with soft, fully resolved tannin and a moderately long finish, it is much lighter than a great vintage such as 2000. |
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|
2008 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,697.97 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2011): A sensational effort for the vintage, this textured, opulent, superb Lynch Bages is already strutting its stuff and should easily last for 20 years. Medium to full-bodied with an opaque dense purple color, notes of flowers and cassis, a layered texture that builds incrementally in the mouth and tremendous purity and depth, it can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more. Bravo!
JS 93 (12/2010): Wonderful purity of fruit here with flowers, clean fruit with strawberries and currants. Full bodied with fine tannins and floral and fruity with ultra fine tannins and elegance. Give it four to five years.
VM 90+ (7/2011): Bright red-ruby. Dark berries, redcurrant, licorice and mint on the nose. Sweet, tactile, chewy and rich, with a firm edge of acidity giving cut and definition to the flavors of crushed cherry, redcurrant, minerals and spices. The building tannins come across as smooth. An elegantly styled Pauillac with a firm spine of acids and tannins for aging. |
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|
2013 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$724.97 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (8/2023): The 2013 Lynch-Bages is one of the better Pauillacs in this vintage. With lively black fruit on the nose, there's some essence of mineralité and tension. A cassis hint emerges with time. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. Touches of cola infuse the black fruit. It's sweet on the finish with blood orange and herbaceousness on the aftertaste. Thoroughly enjoyable, given the growing season. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Malescot St. Exupery |
2019 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$341.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (6/2020): The 2019 Malescot St. Exupery is richer and more flamboyant on the nose compared to its Margaux peers with ravishing red berry fruit, vanilla, iodine and touches of cassis, becoming increasingly floral with aeration. The palate has a cashmere texture on the entry matched by well judged acidity. Wonderful cohesion here, harmonious and focused with veins of black pepper and allspice towards the finish that feels reassuringly long. Deee-licious! Neal Martin.
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Wow. This is so perfumed and mesmerizing with currant, floral and blackberry character. It’s full-bodied, yet so refined and polished with wonderfully fine-grained and crafted tannins. The finish goes on and on. |
|
|
2019 |
Margaux (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$350.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95-97 (6/2020): The 2019 Malescot St. Exupery is richer and more flamboyant on the nose compared to its Margaux peers with ravishing red berry fruit, vanilla, iodine and touches of cassis, becoming increasingly floral with aeration. The palate has a cashmere texture on the entry matched by well judged acidity. Wonderful cohesion here, harmonious and focused with veins of black pepper and allspice towards the finish that feels reassuringly long. Deee-licious! Neal Martin.
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Wow. This is so perfumed and mesmerizing with currant, floral and blackberry character. It’s full-bodied, yet so refined and polished with wonderfully fine-grained and crafted tannins. The finish goes on and on. |
|
|
2020 |
Margaux (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$260.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 97 (12/2022): Lots of blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose, together with walnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied and very layered, with super depth and plushness, offering currant, crushed-stone and bitter-chocolate flavors. Very lush for this wine, but velvety and structured at the same time. Needs four to six years of bottle age. Try after 2027.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 Malescot Saint Exupéry is absolutely gorgeous. Deep and silky (that is not a typo) Malescot shows a level of finesse that is truly remarkable. There is still plenty of textural intensity, but also greater elegance than in the recent past. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, incense and blood orange all run through this wonderfully sumptuous, expressive Margaux. Give this a few years in bottle. Superb. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94+ (3/2023): Beautiful cassis, smoky oak, graphite, blackberries, and scorched earth notes emerge from the 2020 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, another incredibly impressive wine from Margaux in the vintage. With medium to full-bodied richness, it has plenty of mid-palate depth, the building, firmer tannins of the vintage, fabulous purity of fruit, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.
WA 95-97 (5/2021): Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery prances out of the glass with showy scents of ripe black and red currants, black cherries, raspberry leaves and ground cloves, plus wafts of lilacs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit layers with a firm, grainy texture and well-balanced acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. |
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2020 |
Margaux (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$377.99 |
1 |
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JS 97 (12/2022): Lots of blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose, together with walnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied and very layered, with super depth and plushness, offering currant, crushed-stone and bitter-chocolate flavors. Very lush for this wine, but velvety and structured at the same time. Needs four to six years of bottle age. Try after 2027.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 Malescot Saint Exupéry is absolutely gorgeous. Deep and silky (that is not a typo) Malescot shows a level of finesse that is truly remarkable. There is still plenty of textural intensity, but also greater elegance than in the recent past. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, incense and blood orange all run through this wonderfully sumptuous, expressive Margaux. Give this a few years in bottle. Superb. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94+ (3/2023): Beautiful cassis, smoky oak, graphite, blackberries, and scorched earth notes emerge from the 2020 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, another incredibly impressive wine from Margaux in the vintage. With medium to full-bodied richness, it has plenty of mid-palate depth, the building, firmer tannins of the vintage, fabulous purity of fruit, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.
WA 95-97 (5/2021): Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery prances out of the glass with showy scents of ripe black and red currants, black cherries, raspberry leaves and ground cloves, plus wafts of lilacs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit layers with a firm, grainy texture and well-balanced acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. |
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2020 |
Margaux (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$377.99 |
1 |
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JS 97 (12/2022): Lots of blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose, together with walnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied and very layered, with super depth and plushness, offering currant, crushed-stone and bitter-chocolate flavors. Very lush for this wine, but velvety and structured at the same time. Needs four to six years of bottle age. Try after 2027.
VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 Malescot Saint Exupéry is absolutely gorgeous. Deep and silky (that is not a typo) Malescot shows a level of finesse that is truly remarkable. There is still plenty of textural intensity, but also greater elegance than in the recent past. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, incense and blood orange all run through this wonderfully sumptuous, expressive Margaux. Give this a few years in bottle. Superb. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94+ (3/2023): Beautiful cassis, smoky oak, graphite, blackberries, and scorched earth notes emerge from the 2020 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, another incredibly impressive wine from Margaux in the vintage. With medium to full-bodied richness, it has plenty of mid-palate depth, the building, firmer tannins of the vintage, fabulous purity of fruit, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.
WA 95-97 (5/2021): Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery prances out of the glass with showy scents of ripe black and red currants, black cherries, raspberry leaves and ground cloves, plus wafts of lilacs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit layers with a firm, grainy texture and well-balanced acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. |
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| Ch. Margaux |
2018 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,686.99 |
1 |
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JD 100 (3/2021): Based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Château Margaux is a magical, incredibly sexy expression of this Château that sports a dense purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blueberries, cassis, acacia flowers, scorched earth, sandalwood, and violets. Incredibly concentrated and full-bodied on the palate, it nevertheless has an almost Burgundian sense of finesse and elegance, with an ethereal texture, silky yet massive amounts of tannins, notable freshness, and brilliant length. The alcohol hit a whopping 14%, which is high by this estate's standards, but everything is flawlessly integrated, the balance is perfect, and I certainly can't find anything that could be better. This 2018 is going to be relatively drinkable at an early age (do your best to hide bottles for 7-8 years) yet last for 75+.
WA 100 (3/2021): The 2018 Château Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, representing 36% of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal tantalizing scents of crème de cassis, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of redcurrant jelly, rose oil, dark chocolate and cedar chest plus a touch of star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit, fragrant earth and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid structure of exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless backbone of freshness, finishing with fantastic length. This is classic Margaux at its most seductive, although it is, rather amazingly, approachable and absolutely delicious right now. But, to enjoy its full glory, you will want to cellar it for at least 6-8 years and then watch it metamorphize over the next 40+ years.
JS 100 (1/2021): So much ash, tobacco and earth to the bright blackberry and currant aromas. Flowers too. Fresh. Full-bodied with seamless tannins that spread across your palate and caress every square centimeter. It’s shows loads of ripe-berry, cherry, currant and chocolate character, as well as walnut and light cedar. Then the finish goes on for minutes. Extremely refined and elegant, despite the structure. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 4% merlot and 2% petit verdot. A joy to taste, but drink after 2025.
VM 98+ (3/2021): The 2018 Margaux is an infant. Today, the tannins are unusually searing, but then again, the 2018 is a wine in which all the elements are dialed up to the maximum. Time in the glass releases the fruit, revealing a luxurious, opulent Château Margaux built for the cellar. Cedar, tobacco, dried flowers and mint develop with a bit of coaxing. Rich, deep and utterly beguiling, the 2018 is a dramatic wine that will thrill readers lucky enough to own it. Antonio Galloni. |
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2022 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,095.99 |
1 |
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JD 97-99 (5/2023): The Grand Vin 2022 Château Margaux checks in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc that's pulled from just 40% of the total production. It's a classic Château Margaux with its overriding sense of elegance and purity, yet it's certainly in the style of the vintage with its depth, richness, and concentration. Cassis, blueberries, acacia flowers, and spice all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless, layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. The alcohol hit 14.5, and I suspect the pH is relatively high (which is common in the vintage), yet this remains pure, balanced, and is absolutely show-stopping stuff.
VM 97-99 (5/2023): The 2022 Château Margaux is a total stunner. Ripe, opulent and explosive, the 2022 possesses tremendous depth and textural intensity from start to finish. There’s a purity to the fruit that is just striking. The 2022 is a dark, unusually opulent Margaux, with a dense core of fruit, but a good deal of vibrancy to balance things out. Black cherry, lavender, spice and a kiss of new French oak build in the glass, but it is the wine’s delineation and intensity that are most captivating. Vibrant saline notes linger on the seamless, supremely elegant finish. Unforgettable. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96-97 (5/2023): A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2022 Château Margaux is one of the most powerful wines ever produced at this estate, wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, dark berries, violets, burning embers, smoked tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich, velvety and seamless, with a bright core of fruit and a long, heady finish. With the highest analytical measure of tannins since 2010, and an alcohol level a touch above 14%, this is certainly a largerscaled Château Margaux, yet at this early stage, everything appears to be kept in check.
JA 98-100 (5/2023): Stunning in its density and construction, with a gorgeous balance that starts with red rose aromatics and slides into creamy and intense raspberry, damson, loganberry and cassis fruits. The intense structure of the vintage is on display, here with velvety tannins giving shape and contrast by a push and pull of slate, graphite, cloves, turmeric, cardamom and white pepper. Bitter dark chocolate ending, a character of the year but here delivered with a blast of cooling mint leaf. Philippe Bascaules director, harvest September 8 to 27, 25hl/h yield. 100% new oak, to be monitored carefully over ageing because this is the first time they have seen this level of alcohol in the Cabernet Sauvignon. 40% of the crop is into this 1st wine, one of the highest in years. Harvest September 8 to 27. They are slowly changing the row orientation in the vineyard at Margaux, begun last year but a 50 year project, and introducing more Cabernet Franc through field grafting (wanting to get up to maybe 15% of plantings, currently 5%). |
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| Ch. Marquis d'Alesme |
2018 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$635.97 |
1 |
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WA 94-96 (4/2019): The 2018 Marquis d'Alesme Becker is from the lieu-dit Les Terrasses de Margaux. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and it has 14.5% alcohol. It is to be aged 18 months in 65% new and 35% two-year-old barrels. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive black cherries, warm plums, crème de cassis and red roses scents with touches of baking spices, potpourri and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and opulent, it completely fills the palate with hedonic black fruit preserves and spices, framed by firm, velvety tannins and finishing with fantastic length.
JS 94-95 (4/2019): This is a wonderful wine with dark berries, wet earth and dark tea. Full body, firm and striking tannins and a long, flavorful finish. |
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| Ch. Montrose |
2005 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,397.98 |
1 |
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WA 98 (2/2022): The 2005 Montrose continues to show brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with notes of blackcurrant, red fruits, loamy soil, black truffles and cigar ash. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's still brooding and tannic, with lively acids and an imposing chassis of structuring—and artery-cleansing—extract. Still an adolescent, it's one of the last unrepentantly old-school vintages of Montrose, and Médoc purists couldn't own enough. While this remains a very youthful wine, it is now apparent that the 2005 will, at maturity, surpass the 1989 and 1990.
VM 97 (4/2021): The 2005 Montrose is spectacular. Bright, perfumed and vertically explosive, the 2005 possesses remarkable energy right out of the gate. In 2005, Montrose doesn't quite have the heft that it can, but that actually works to its advantage. Readers will find a wine that marries elegance with power so well. Gravel, dried herb, lavender and mocha lend striking complexity to the dark fruit in this gorgeous, regal Montrose. If anything, the 2005 still needs more time in bottle! Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (11/2015): his continues to be very tight yet I loved drinking it the other night at dinner. Loads of spices, berries, meat, cloves and chocolate on the nose. Full body with soft, silky tannins and lots of rich fruit. Still chewy. This is just starting to open up now. Drink or hold.
JD 95 (12/2018): The 2005 Montrose continues to drink beautifully, with a complex yet powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, black raspberries, new saddle leather, tobacco leaf, and spice. This beauty has a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, a supple style, sweet tannins, and is a charming, layered and ready to go Montrose that has loads to love. It continues to be surprisingly accessible and is a beauty to drink over the coming two decades. |
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2022 |
St. Estephe (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,249.99 |
1 |
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JD 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 Château Montrose is a classic blend of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new oak from a variety of coopers. Another absolutely brilliant wine in the vintage, it offers a saturated purple hue as well as an essence of Montrose-like bouquet of currants, blueberries, damp earth, violets, graphite, and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, and powerful, it nevertheless has a riveting sense of purity, precision, and finesse that's hard to believe. Given its balance and purity of fruit, as well as the quality of the tannins, it's going to offer incredible pleasure with just 4-6 years of bottle age (a decade would be best) yet be just about immortal if well stored.
VM 97-99 (5/2023): The 2022 Montrose was picked 2 to 22 September comprising all four grape varieties and all the Cabernet Franc, with 13% pressed wine, matured in 60% new oak. There is 14.5% alcohol this year, which is less than 2018. It has an extremely pure nose with black cherries and blueberry. Quite floral in style with hints of blood orange percolating through with time. The palate is very precise with exceptional mineralité and tension. Very focused, superb concentration, with what is becoming Montrose's trademark sense of symmetry and sustained aftertaste, this could be the finest Saint-Estèphe in 2022. Neal Martin.
WA 99-100 (5/2023): The 2022 Montrose is such a compelling wine that assigning it a bracketed score seems a mere formality. A brilliant terroir, impeccable viticulture, perfectly timed harvest dates and judicious extraction have aligned to deliver a monument in the making, reminiscent of a far purer, more precise, modern-day version of the 1990 vintage at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets, iris, pencil lead and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, deep and authoritative, its velvety attack segueing into a layered, elegantly muscular core that's framed by supple, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this only confirms Montrose's status as a de facto first growth and unquestionably one of the contemporary Médoc's very greatest estates.
JA 97 (5/2023): The intensity and the depth of expression is clear from the start, with ripe damson and fig fruits, incense and espresso given balance and tension by pomegrante, slate, lemongrass and mandarin rind. Unrolls to show the depth and class of Montrose, has density without shouting, keeping the estate signature and character. The first full vintage for Pierre Grafeuille as estate director, working alongside long time technical director Vincent Decup. 12% press wine, pretty much exactly the same as ever, this really is a vineyard that delivers consistency. |
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| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
1999 |
Pauillac (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,512.99 |
1 |
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WA 93 (4/2002): The beautiful 1999 Mouton Rothschild may be a modern day clone of their 1962 or 1985. Its saturated ruby/purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of cedar wood, creme de cassis, wood smoke, coffee, and dried herbs. The wine is forward, lush, and full-bodied. It is already complex as well as succulent, fleshy, and long. Tannin in the finish suggests more nuances will emerge in 4-5 years. It is a complex, classic Mouton. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.
JS 93 (11/2015): A spicy Bordeaux with berries and hints of currants. Full, super round and soft –surrounded by vanilla and blueberry pie. Lovely. Just coming around now. Delicious. |
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| Pauillac de Latour |
2011 |
Pauillac (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,030.98 |
2 |
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| |
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| Ch. Pavie |
2009 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,813.97 |
1 |
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JD 100 (3/2019): Similar in style to the blockbuster 2005, the 2009 Pavie is another magical, legendary wine from the Perse family that tops out on my scale. Made from 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 80% new French oak, its saturated purple color is followed by a massive bouquet of blackcurrants, scorched earth, chocolate, graphite, and lead pencil, with an incredible sense of minerality. Deep, full-bodied, and remarkably concentrated and intense, it still stays perfectly balanced and weightless, with building yet sweet tannins. It’s still a baby yet is a magical drink today given its opulence, purity and balance. Drink this magical wine any time over the coming 50-60 years.
WA 100 (8/2015): While the Perses may think the 2005 is the summit of winemaking at Pavie, this vintage certainly gives serious competition to both the 2005 and 2000. It is certainly the most opulent and luxuriously rich wine Pavie has ever made (and that is saying something). Pavie’s style of low yields, ripe fruit and serious extraction does produce, even in lighter vintages, a very concentrated and dense wine, but in the great years, the results are legendary. This wine has an inky purple color and a stunningly sweet, ripe nose of mulberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, licorice and incense. The oak still has some presence in the aromatics, as well as in the full-bodied, very concentrated, skyscraper-like mouthfeel and texture. This wine feels almost as if you could lose your palate in it, it is so dense and deep, yet at the same time it possesses silky tannins and rather remarkable purity, balance, and a good 60-second-plus finish. This is an amazing wine and probably will be drinkable in 5-10 years (although actually it could be drunk now because of the vintage’s voluptuous texture), and again, seems to have 50 or more years of longevity. It is clearly a modern Bordeaux legend.
JS 98 (4/2012): This is a powerful wine with mineral and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with firm tannins yet they are very polished and beautiful. It goes on for minutes. It is so layered and deep. It needs at least 10 years before opening. It is a dense and deep wine.
VM 96 (3/2019): The 2009 Pavie has a gorgeous bouquet, very pure and refined with seamlessly integrated oak and wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, perfectly judged acidity. Fine grip with compelling tension on the finish. This shimmers with energy. Easily, this is the best bottle that I have encountered over the years. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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| Les Aromes de Pavie |
2015 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
8 |
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| |
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| Ch. Pavie |
2022 |
St. Emilion (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,488.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 96-98+ (5/2023): Released in a special bottle to celebrate the 25th harvest of Gerard Perse, the 2022 Château Pavie checks in as 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, which is in line with recent vintages, although one important factor is that both Pavie Decesse and Bellevue Mondot will no longer be produced and will are now incorporated into the Château Pavie. Given the quality of those two releases, I don't see that affecting the quality of the Grand Vin. The 2022 sports a deep, saturated purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of ripe cassis, blackcurrants, espresso roast, violets, and chalky minerality. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it has a layered, opulent mouthfeel, velvety tannins, integrated oak, and a great finish. This is another heavenly Pavie that's going to shine with just 5-7 years of bottle age and evolve for 30-40 years or more.
VM 94-96 (5/2023): The 2022 Pavie is a unique wine that celebrates a number of milestones for the château. It marks the 20th anniversary of Pavie under the helm of Gerard and Chantal Perse, who have taken this once sleepy property to brilliant highs. Two thousand twenty-two is also the first vintage for Pavie since the incorporation of the Pavie Decesse and Bellevue Mondotte properties. From my perspective, it is always sad to see the loss of historical estates, even if they are relatively small because it is a loss of culture. In terms of the wine, it is superb. Black fruit, mocha, chocolate, licorice and spice add to an impression of virile intensity. Many recent vintages of Pavie have hinted towards a more vibrant style, but the 2022 is very strongly marked by the heat and drought of the year, the yields that are lower than typical and the harvest that started late in relative terms. In my view, the 2022 is a bit pushed, at least today. Huge tannins and a strong torrefaction oak imprint need time to soften, and that may or may not happen with élevage. Antonio Galloni.
JA 95 (5/2023): Wonderfully intense and concentrated, this is an impressive Pavie, muscular, intense and well constructed. It has an exuberance to the aromatics that is striking, with incense, baked damson, milk chocolate and creamy black cherry fruits, almost overwhelming until the limestone fingerprints hit in the mid palate to add tentson and salinity, even a hint of savoury freshness. Powerful, will take the full ten years to come around. 75% new oak. Buno Lacoste consultant. First year with the inclusion of Pavie Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte, bringing it to 42ha, which is the biggest fully classified footprint, with 30ha on the plateau. Harvest 19 to October 1. 10th anniversary of classification and 25th harvest of Gerard Perse. |
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| Ch. Pavie Macquin |
2018 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,103.97 |
1 |
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WA 95-97 (4/2019): The 2018 Pavie Macquin is deep garnet-purple colored and a little closed to begin, slowly revealing subtle notions of dark chocolate, candied violets and rose hip tea over a core of plum preserves, blueberry compote and cherry coulis plus wafts of woodsmoke and crushed stones. Full-bodied, the palate has a seriously impressive structure of ripe, firm, velvety tannins and bold freshness carrying off all that rich black fruit, finishing very long and mineral laced.
VM 92-95 (5/2019): The 2018 Pavie Macquin is terrific. Ample, creamy and flamboyant, Pavie Macquin possesses extraordinary richness and intensity. Super-ripe dark cherry, raspberry, chocolate, spice, new leather, lavender and violets build in a wine of real pedigree. To be sure, Pavie Macquin is a big wine that is going to need a number of years in bottle to be at its best. The flamboyant style may not appeal to every palate. Today, the new oak is a bit imposing, but elevage should take care of that. Tasted three times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 97-99 (5/2019): From a cooler, pure limestone terroir just over the hill from Château Pavie, the 2018 Château Pavie Macquin offers an incredible assortment of red and black fruits, cedary spice, white truffle, graphite, and beautiful minerality. Showing the cooler, complex, concentrated style of the vineyard, it's full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with no shortage of extract or tannins. The wine always has a healthy pH and needs bottle age to show at its best. A solid 7-8 years are warranted here, and it will keep for 2-3 decades. The 2018 is 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, representing 90% of the total production. I think this estate has been underrated in the market and it can still be found for reasonable prices. It ages beautifully and I doubt you could have too much in the cellar.
JS 97-98 (4/2019): This is a decadent and beautiful young wine with wild aromas and flavors of meat, wet earth and plums. Very complex. Full-bodied yet soft and very velvety. The tannins melt into the wine, as if they aren’t there. Extremely long finish. 78 per cent merlot, 20 per cent cabernet franc and two per cent cabernet sauvignon. |
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| Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux |
2019 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,043.99 |
3 |
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WA 92-94+ (6/2020): The 2019 Pavillon Rouge is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, accounting for 47% of the crop. The alcohol came in at 14.2%, the IPT was 75, and the pH was 3.66. Deep garnet-purple in color, it begins a little closed and broody, soon unfurling to offer notes of tar, black licorice, cracked peppercorns and woodsmoke over a core of Morello cherries, boysenberries and warm cassis plus an earthy touch of forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant, refreshing and wonderfully refined, with beautifully ripe, plush tannins and impressive freshness lifting the black fruit and earthy layers with a long finish. It should age beautifully!
VM 92-94 (6/2020): A gorgeous wine, the 2019 Pavillon Rouge represents 27% of the crop. All of the radiance of the year is on display. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, spice, cedar and new leather are all kicked up a few notches, with silky tannins that wrap it all together. Even with all of its obvious richness, the 2019 possesses notable energy as well as freshness.
JD 94-96 (6/2020): Starting with the second wine of this great estate, the 2019 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge reveals a saturated purple color as well as young, unevolved notes of blue and black fruits, unsmoked tobacco, chocolate, and spring flowers. It has a wonderful freshness and purity yet is still a rich, powerful wine. Full-bodied, concentrated yet seamless, it's an incredible second wine and possibly the finest Pavillon Rouge I've tasted.
JS 96-97 (6/2020): Succulent and gorgeous with such supple tannins, yet it’s full bodied and very rich. It’s very savory, too. Dense, yet polished on the palate, showing fresh, minerally and salty notes. You want to drink it already. 27% of the crop and a blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot, the rest petit verdot and cabernet franc. |
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| Ch. Pedesclaux |
2015 |
Pauillac (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$144.99 |
3 |
|
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JS 94 (2/2018): Currants and blueberries with hints of flowers and perfume. Stones, too. Full body, a dense center palate, layers of ripe tannins and citrus rind. Layered and structured. Plush. A very serious wine from this estate. Best ever? We will see. Try in 2022.
JD 90 (11/2017): From an estate on the upswing, the 2015 Château Pedesclaux is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated effort that includes a big chunk of Merlot (42%) and a small amount of Petit Verdot. It offers a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced and silky personality as well as top-notch notes of blackberries, dried flowers, and cedary spice. With fine, polished tannin, no hard edges, and impressive purity of fruit, drink it anytime over the coming two decades. |
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| Fleur de Pedesclaux |
2019 |
Pauillac ex-Negociant |
$32.95 |
60 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (2/2022): The 2019 Fleur de Pédesclaux, matured in 30% new oak, has been increasing its Cabernet Sauvignon since 2009, when it was pure Merlot (and also undergoing organic conversion since 2013). Raspberry, blackberry, cedar and light tobacco scents unfurl in the glass. The palate is still quite fleshy and rounded, and lightly spiced, retaining that hint of Chinese five-spice toward the tender finish. A lovely second wine. (Drink between 2023-2033). Neal Martin. |
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| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Baron |
2020 |
Pauillac (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,811.99 |
1 |
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JS 99 (12/2022): Fabulous aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, crushed stone, graphite and lead pencil. Some violets and other flowers, too. Full-bodied with incredibly encompassing tannins that are like the finest velvet in texture. The structure is superb, with so much tension and focus. Seamless. This could be the new 1990 or better. Try after 2028.
VM 98 (2/2023): The 2020 Pichon Baron is every bit as magnificent as it was en primeur. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive power, the 2020 offers up an exotic mix of dark red/black fruit, espresso, licorice, menthol, gravel and dried herbs. This potent, driving Pauillac needs time to come together. It marries the fruit intensity of a warm year with the driving energy of a cool year. The 2020 is a gorgeous Pichon Baron. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95-97+ (5/2021): The 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot aging for an estimated 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. The production of the grand vin represents 48% of the harvest this year. Opaque purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notions of blackberry pie, preserved plums and crème de cassis, plus suggestions of Chinese five spice, chocolate mint, graphite and cedar chest with a touch of violets. The medium-bodied palate is built like a brick house, featuring firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the taut, muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy.
JD 96-98 (5/2021): The inky hued 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot that spent 18 months in 70% new barrels. It's a dense, rich, powerful 2020 offering loads of pure cassis and almost blue fruits as well as full-bodied richness, a round, lush, incredibly sexy texture, sweet tannins, and ample classic Pauillac lead pencil, tobacco, and violet aromas and flavors. It's unquestionably in the same ballpark as the 2015, 2016, and 2018, and given its sweet tannins and beautifully integrated acidity, it should have some up-front appeal as well, yet still age at a glacier pace. |
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|
2022 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,095.99 |
2 |
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JD 96-98 (5/2023): I loved the Grand Vin 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, which is based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that will spend 18 months in 70% new oak. It's not the most showy or exuberant 2022, yet it shines for its incredible class and purity, as well as balance. It has a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated profile (no surprise) with its focused, precise, inward style that still brings gorgeous depth and richness. Cassis, graphite, espresso roast, crushed stone and spring flowers are just some of its nuances, and where many 2022s are broad and mouth-filling, this stays tight, compact, and focused, with a wonderful mix of elegance, concentration, and richness. The 2022 is pulled from 48% of the total production, and it's going to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age and have 50+ years of overall longevity.
VM 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Pichon Baron is marvelous. It continues a series of vintages that have been absolutely compelling. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, rose petal and blood orange lend considerable brightness throughout. More than anything else, the 2022 impresses with its precision and magnificent balance. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95-97 (5/2023): An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures.
JA 94 (5/2023): You are firmly wading through intense, sculpted Pauillac tannins here, gripping from the first moments with their structure and intent. Blocks of intense chocolate, slate, liquorice and black chocolate, this feels vertical and concentrated, could let more light in at this stage but that should come over ageing. Petit Verdot vinified in amphora, and they did a cold soak for every plot this year for the first time. 70% new barrels and 30% from barrels of one vintage. |
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2022 |
Pauillac (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$394.99 |
1 |
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JD 96-98 (5/2023): I loved the Grand Vin 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, which is based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that will spend 18 months in 70% new oak. It's not the most showy or exuberant 2022, yet it shines for its incredible class and purity, as well as balance. It has a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated profile (no surprise) with its focused, precise, inward style that still brings gorgeous depth and richness. Cassis, graphite, espresso roast, crushed stone and spring flowers are just some of its nuances, and where many 2022s are broad and mouth-filling, this stays tight, compact, and focused, with a wonderful mix of elegance, concentration, and richness. The 2022 is pulled from 48% of the total production, and it's going to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age and have 50+ years of overall longevity.
VM 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Pichon Baron is marvelous. It continues a series of vintages that have been absolutely compelling. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, rose petal and blood orange lend considerable brightness throughout. More than anything else, the 2022 impresses with its precision and magnificent balance. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95-97 (5/2023): An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures.
JA 94 (5/2023): You are firmly wading through intense, sculpted Pauillac tannins here, gripping from the first moments with their structure and intent. Blocks of intense chocolate, slate, liquorice and black chocolate, this feels vertical and concentrated, could let more light in at this stage but that should come over ageing. Petit Verdot vinified in amphora, and they did a cold soak for every plot this year for the first time. 70% new barrels and 30% from barrels of one vintage. |
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2022 |
Pauillac (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,095.99 |
1 |
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JD 96-98 (5/2023): I loved the Grand Vin 2022 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron, which is based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that will spend 18 months in 70% new oak. It's not the most showy or exuberant 2022, yet it shines for its incredible class and purity, as well as balance. It has a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated profile (no surprise) with its focused, precise, inward style that still brings gorgeous depth and richness. Cassis, graphite, espresso roast, crushed stone and spring flowers are just some of its nuances, and where many 2022s are broad and mouth-filling, this stays tight, compact, and focused, with a wonderful mix of elegance, concentration, and richness. The 2022 is pulled from 48% of the total production, and it's going to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age and have 50+ years of overall longevity.
VM 96-98 (5/2023): The 2022 Pichon Baron is marvelous. It continues a series of vintages that have been absolutely compelling. Bright red-toned fruit, spice, rose petal and blood orange lend considerable brightness throughout. More than anything else, the 2022 impresses with its precision and magnificent balance. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95-97 (5/2023): An unusually gourmand, sensual wine from this estate, the 2022 Pichon-Longueville Baron bursts with aromas of crème de cassis, sweet dark berries, licorice, lilac and pencil shavings. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with excellent concentration and a rather rich, supple profile. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, it's the result of sub-block by sub-block picking and cooler than usual fermentation temperatures.
JA 94 (5/2023): You are firmly wading through intense, sculpted Pauillac tannins here, gripping from the first moments with their structure and intent. Blocks of intense chocolate, slate, liquorice and black chocolate, this feels vertical and concentrated, could let more light in at this stage but that should come over ageing. Petit Verdot vinified in amphora, and they did a cold soak for every plot this year for the first time. 70% new barrels and 30% from barrels of one vintage. |
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| Confidences de Prieure Lichine |
2016 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$263.99 |
1 |
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| Ch. Rauzan-Segla |
2021 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$395.99 |
3 |
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| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2013 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$507.99 |
1 |
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2021 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$431.99 |
1 |
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JA 95 (4/2022): The natural density that they have at Troplong was extremely helpful in a vintage like 2021. This is a little more reserved than a typical year, but very much delivers signature power. Expect gunsmoke, fern and raspberry leaf alongside cherry pit and saffron salinity, black cherry fruits, rosebud, anis, fennel spice, all with the powerful and concentrated signature of limestone. I was here on the last day of harvest, and I remember how healthy the grapes were. This is the first vintage where the cellar has been completely finished, moving from 20 to 42 tanks. No chaptilisation (but the natural 13.5%abv is extremely rare at this late ripening property, and a real indication of how long it took for sugars to climb in this vintage).
VM 95-97 (5/2022): The 2021 Troplong Mondot is shockingly raw and untamed, but in the very best sense of those terms. A wine of energy and pure power, the 2021 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, but it is certainly very impressive in the early going. The 2021 clocks in at 13.5%, which has not been seen here since the 1990s. The 2021 is not an easy wine to taste at this stage, as it is not fully formed. I won't be surprised if the 2021 turns out even better than this note suggests. It is a dazzling wine by any measure, and a far cry from the wines of decade ago, when the malolactic fermentations were often not finished when en primeur samples were presented! Superb. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93-96 (4/2022): The 2021 Troplong Mondot shows considerable promise, exhibiting aromas of plums and wild berries mingled with notions of sweet spices, rose petals, vine smoke and raw cocoa, followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless palate endowed with impressive intensity and texture. Built around beautifully refined, powdery tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a long, mouthwateringly saline finish. Macerations here were long but gentle, including a long cold soak before fermentation, and the blend, after much deliberation, is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Tasted four times. |
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| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2022 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,071.99 |
2 |
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JD 98-100 (5/2023): One of the wines of the vintage, without a doubt, the 2022 Vieux Château Certan comes from healthy yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare and is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Jaw-droppingly good in every sense, its deep purple hue is followed by a massive array of black cherries, violets, red plums, chocolate, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied Pomerol with a voluptuously layered mouthfeel, perfect tannins, and a great, great finish. I never find Vieux Château Certan to have the overt power and structure of Petrus, or the feminine elegance of Conseillante, but it's unrivaled in its texture, seamlessness, and purity. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. And I'll be a buyer.
VM 98-100 (5/2023): The 2022 Vieux Château Certan is a wine of tremendous sophistication and polish. I expected to see a more opulent VCC, but the 2022 is surprisingly delicate and nuanced. The blend is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, which means all the Cabernets at the château were used in Grand Vin. Perhaps that explains the wine’s construction, favoring length, persistence and aromatics more than size. Crème de cassis, lavender, spice and licorice hints linger on the super-expressive finish. There’s really not much more to say except that the 2022 is magical. “Real heat started in June," explained Alexandre Thienpont. “We had 15mm of rain over two days in mid-August that really helped. Even so, yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare, so lower than 2020. Berries weighed less athan a gram and juice yields were low.” Antonio Galloni.
WA 97-99 (5/2023): A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (very similar to the 2019), the 2022 Vieux Château Certan is a magical wine of exemplary harmony and balance. Offering up complex aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with notions of exotic spices, licorice, iris, violets and loamy soil, it's full-bodied, supple and seamless, its sweet structuring tannins entirely concealed by a multidimensional core of pure, vibrant fruit. This sensual, perfumed Pomerol is likely to rank alongside the 2019 and 2016 in the pantheon of recent Vieux Château Certan vintages.
JA 96 (5/2023): Firm tannic frame, with ink, graphite, violet flowers and red roses, even hints of black truffles at this young age, a sign of the exuberance of the vintage and one that will no doubt increase with age. A little less Cabernet Franc in the blend than usual because they have one plot uprooted right now. The aromatics are explosing, but things are more serious on the palate, with grip and austerity, and it will need a good eight to ten years in bottle to soften. Beautiful nutmeg and clove spice, with a mouthwatering finish. 35hl/h yield. 65% new oak. Oldest vines date back to 1958. 75% new oak. |
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| Ch. Vieux Maillet |
2019 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$652.99 |
3 |
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| La Violette |
2017 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,180.99 |
1 |
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WA 94-96+ (4/2018): Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Violette is a little reticent to begin, unfurling to give crushed blackberries and blackcurrants notes with touches of forest floor, truffles, cast iron pan and star anise. The palate is exquisitely balanced and intense, with firm, ripe tannins and seamless freshness framing the rock-solid, muscular fruit, finishing very long.
JS 94-95 (4/2018): This shows substantial fruit and tannin concentration with plenty of dark-berry and dark-chocolate character. Full body, a rounded texture and a delicious finish. A wine that will please in its youth.
JD 93-96 (4/2018): The 2017 La Violette is another silky, elegant effort that has a Burgundian flare. Black cherries, blueberries, violets, white flowers, and spice characteristics all emerge from this seamless 2017 that is as classy, silky and pure as they come. Total class and up with the crème de la crème of the vintage.
VM 89-91 (5/2018): The 2017 Kirwan has a slightly smudged bouquet that does not quite deliver the detail of its peers: raspberry preserve and crushed strawberry at first, then light sous-bois and smoke aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly angular tannin, not as cohesive as I would have liked although I appreciate the cracked black pepper note on the aftertaste. This is a château that I feel can produce great Margaux however, the 2017 does not possess the nuance and complexity of the best examples from the appellation. Neal Martin. |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Le Petit Cheval Blanc |
2020 |
Bordeaux Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$403.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) is fabulous. Rich, creamy and wonderfully expansive, the 2020 is just gorgeous. Lemon confit, white flowers, passion fruit and a touch of oak all grace this wonderfully expressive dry white from Cheval Blanc. I especially like how the 2020 gains freshness with aeration, always a good sign with whites. There’s tremendous precision and class here. Antonio Galloni. |
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2021 |
Bordeaux Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$434.97 |
1 |
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JD 95 (4/2024): The 2021 Château Cheval Blanc Petit Cheval Blanc is gorgeous and comes from a parcel just to the west of the château. A blend of 83% Sauvignon and 17% Sémillon brought up in 50% new wood, it has a killer nose of crushed citrus, orange blossom, and chalky minerality to go with a medium-bodied, vibrant, racy, yet beautifully concentrated and textured style on the palate. I love its overall balance, it has remarkable purity, and I suspect it will provide over a decade of prime drinking.
VM 94 (2/2024): THe 2021 Le Petit Cheval (Blanc) is fabulous. Silky and intensely aromatic, with tons of Sauvignon Blanc character, the 2021 is all raciness. Pear, slate, mint, crushed rocks, lime and white pepper abound, all framed by brisk acids and gorgeous saline undertones. The 2021 is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. It aged for 22 months, mostly in foudres and wood uprights. What a wine! |
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| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2017 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,015.99 |
1 |
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WA 96-98 (4/2018): Blended of 76.2% Semillon and 23.8% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Blanc gives up seriously intense notes of jasmine, grapefruit, lime zest and yuzu with touches of crushed rocks and lemongrass. The palate is medium-bodied with electric intensity and incredible tension, finishing long with many citrus fruit and mineral layers.
JS 96-97 (4/2018): This is really layered yet tight and focused with searing minerality that gives it tension and energy. Full-bodied, bright and precise. Impressive. 76% semillon and 24% sauvignon blanc.
JD 94-96+ (4/2018): The 2017 La Mission de Haut Brion Blanc is a Semillon-dominated blend of 76.2% Semillon and 23.8% Sauvignon that was harvested between 22nd and 31st of August. It’s another fresh, vibrant white from the vintage that has sensational notes of lemon curd, white flowers, crushed rock, and just a touch of honeyed citrus. It’s medium to full-bodied, clean and elegant, and will drink beautifully for two decades or more.
VM 93-95 (5/2018): The 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc was picked 22 to 31 August and matured in 38% new oak. It is very precise on the nose with lovely scents of orange blossom, Cornice pear, nettle and yellow flowers. The palate is well balanced with a slight waxiness on the entry. There is an underlying resinous quality to this La Mission Blanc with citrus lemon, Granny Smith apples, stem ginger and tangible mineralite towards the finish. This is a classy, sophisticated La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, one that is surpassed by the nascent Haut-Brion Blanc at the moment, but may have a trick up its sleeve with age thanks to the high proportion of Semillon. Neal Martin. |
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2018 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,409.99 |
1 |
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2019 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,954.99 |
3 |
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WA 94-96+ (6/2020): The La Mission Haut-Brion 2019 Blanc is composed of 69.9% Semillon and 30.1% Sauvignon Blanc, harvested from the 30th of August until the 10th of September. The estimated label alcohol degree is 14%. Notions of freshly squeezed limes, grapefruit juice and white peaches come wafting out of the glass followed by suggestions of yuzu zest, coriander seed, underripe pineapple, wet pebbles and green mango with a touch of fennel. The medium to full-bodied palate offers layer upon layer of citrus fruits and mineral accents wrapped in a beautiful satiny texture and featuring seamless freshness, finishing long and chalky.
VM 96 (6/2020): The 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc, 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc is a total stunner. Freshly cut flowers, mint, apple, citrus and sage are all finely cut in a chiseled, crystalline white of magnificent beauty. The Blanc is so deep and fully flavored, yet remains taut and light on its feet. It is a truly remarkable wine by any measure. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc is a more Semillon-dominated release (compared to the Haut-Brion Blanc) and checks in as 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn't have quite the same exotic, mineral-laced style of the Haut-Brion Blanc yet offers brilliant notes of white peach, honeysuckle, white flowers, key lime pie, and a building sense of minerality. It's a rich, powerful, full-bodied white with a mouthfilling texture, ample mid-palate density, and a blockbuster of a finish.
JS 98-99 (6/2020): This is a juicy, savory white with dried apples and peaches and saltiness at the same time. Very classic, but even more precise. Layered and powerful. Exciting. Semillon and sauvignon blanc, as always. |
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2021 |
Pessac-Leognan Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,604.99 |
2 |
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| Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte |
2021 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$855.99 |
2 |
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| VM 96-98 (5/2022): The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is one of the great white wines of the vintage. Soaring in its aromatic intensity and sheer volume, the 2021 saturates every corner of the palate with its unctuousness and richness. Even with all of that volume, the 2021 remains bright and sculpted. Crushed rocks, lemon confit, orchard fruit, white pepper and mint build into the memorable finish. The 2021 is positively stunning, that's pretty much all there is to it. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. Suduiraut |
2021 |
Sauternes (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$437.99 |
2 |
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2022 |
Sauternes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$464.99 |
2 |
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VM 92-94 (5/2023): The 2022 Suduiraut is laced with hints of tangerine peel, spice, vanillin, chamomile and dried flowers. It offers a lovely mix of botrytis-inflected flavors and textures while also showing quite a bit of freshness. The 2022 is done in the lighter style the château favors these days. My impression is that it is still coming together, as the wine shows a very slight lack of cohesion that is not typical. Antonio Galloni.
JD 97-99 (5/2023): One of the finest Sauternes I've been lucky enough to taste in some time, the 2022 Château Suduiraut is 100% Sémillon that hit 13.9% natural alcohol, with 190 grams per liter of residual sugar. Still resting in 70% new barrels, this monster of a Sauternes offers a huge nose of honeyed citrus, orange marmalade, spice, brioche, and almond paste. Full-bodied, rich, and massively concentrated, nevertheless, it somehow stays flawlessly balanced, fresh, and light on its feet.
JA 92 (5/2023): Amber in colour, with tropical fruits of passion fruit and mango on the opening beats, clear depth of flavour and contrast provided by orange peel and aniseed bitterness, low acidity. Luscious, silky, powerful, enjoyable. Pierre Montégut technical director, 7hl/h yields, 70% new barrels 30% from barrels of one vintage. |
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| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Marquis d' Angerville |
2020 |
Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,589.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Arnoux-Lachaux |
2015 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Reignots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,097.98 |
1 |
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2017 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Chaumes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,349.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Francois Bertheau |
2020 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,335.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Sylvain Cathiard |
2016 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$11,912.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Robert Chevillon |
2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Bousselots (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,362.99 |
1 |
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WA 91-93 (1/2019): The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Bousselots is very promising, bursting from the glass with a fragrant bouquet of rose petal, orange rind and small red berries. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and succulent with tangy acids, melting tannins and a long, perfumed finish.
BH 90-92 (1/2019): There is a lovely perfumed quality to the very fresh red currant and newly turned earth scents where a trace of the leather creeps in. I very much like the texture of the medium-bodied and lightly stony flavors that possess very good mid-palate density as well as solid power on the firm and serious but not really rustic finale. At least some patience will be required.
VM 90 (1/2019): The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Bousselots 1er Cru has a very pure bouquet that does not have quite the charm and complexity of the Les Chaignots. The lightly spiced palate is medium-bodied with pastille-like red berry fruit and good structure toward the chalky-textured finish. I like the linearity of this saline, marine-influenced Nuits Saint-Georges, but I need to find more substance. |
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|
2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Cailles (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,895.99 |
1 |
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VM 93 (1/2022): The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Cailles 1er Cru has a focused bouquet of dark cherries with blueberry and briary touches and well-integrated oak. The medium-bodied palate delivers sappy blackberry and raspberry fruit, fine delineation and good grip. Quite spicy and peppery toward the finish. This is a vivacious Nuits Saint-Georges with plenty of matière . Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting.
JD 93 (9/2021): Light to mid purple, there are some slightly herbaceous vegetal touches which should clear, and indeed they do to show ripe purple fruit with excellent clarity. There’s density and complexity, charcoal and chocolate, making an interesting complex wine. |
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2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,388.99 |
1 |
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| VM 91 (1/2019): The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Chaignots 1er Cru has a very well defined, floral bouquet of seductive, elegant red cherry and crushed strawberry aromas, a level up from the Village Cru. The pure, poised palate is medium-bodied, with fine-grained tannin and a light spicy note toward the elegant finish. It reminds me of Mugneret-Gibourg, which is no bad thing in my book. Neal Martin. |
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2017 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,600.99 |
1 |
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VM 93 (1/2022): The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains 1er Cru has a fresh, tertiary nose with perhaps just a touch of brettanomyces, though it opens nicely with aeration, a pleasant ferrous element coming through. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and fresh, with sappy red berry fruit, fine delineation and a prudent sprinkling of white pepper toward the finish. This is a well-crafted Nuits Saint-Georges with plenty of personality. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2017 tasting. (Drink between 2023-2042). Neal Martin.
BH 92-94 (1/2019): Relatively generous wood fights a bit with the otherwise cool and pure aromas of extract of cassis, plum, humus, earth and suggestions of the sauvage. As is usually the case chez Chevillon, this is a very powerful wine with imposing size and weight with fine mid-palate density thanks to the abundant dry extract that also helps to buffer the very firm tannic spine that really emerges on the beautifully long finale. (Drink starting 2033).
WA 93-95 (1/2019): As usual, the 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vaucrains is the most structured, tight-knit wine in the Chevillon cellar, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and rich soil, framed by smoky new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, richly tannic and concentrated, with imposingly broad shouldered structure and a deep, reserved core. Again, patience will be required and rewarded. |
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2018 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,362.99 |
1 |
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| BH 89-92 (1/2020): (from a 1.5 ha parcel that blends 40+ and 60+ year old vines.)Discreet but still discernible wood sets off cool, pure and elegant aromas of various dark berries, plum and a touch of freshly turned earth. There is a lovely sense of refinement to the still sleekly muscular and powerful middle weight flavors that possess a sappy mouthfeel on the ever-so-mildly austere, long and serious finale. Drink 2028+. |
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| Dom. Jean-Jacques Confuron |
2019 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,766.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Dom. Coquard Loison-Fleurot |
2021 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,514.99 |
9 |
|
| |
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| Dom. de Courcel |
2012 |
Pommard 1er Cru Grand Clos des Epenots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$924.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Dujac |
1999 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,966.97 |
3 |
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BH 92 (3/2004): There is a certain reserve and distance present in this wine that the other wines don't have. Slightly austere with a mineral essence that tends to suppress the pinot baby fat lurking beneath the surface. The potential here is enormous yet it is largely hidden and unlike many '99s, this is not at all showy but rather calm and deliberate. All the components are here for a long and slow evolution but it may take 10 to 15 years to realize its awesome potential. Try from 2010+.
VM 91+ (4/2002): Saturated deep red. Tight, liqueur-like nose hints at cherry pie, lead pencil and varnish. Sweet but quite backward, showing more backbone than mid-palate flesh today. Tannins are on the tough side, but there are subtle lingering cherry and mineral flavors on the aftertaste.
WA 92 (8/2001): Earth, stones, blackberries, and cassis can be discerned in the nose of the 1999 Clos De La Roche. On the palate, this dark fruit, mineral, and spice-flavored wine is medium-bodied, firmly structured, and tightly wound. It has Outstanding depth of fruit, as well as copious quantities of ripe tannins. Projected maturity: 2004-2012. |
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2011 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,541.99 |
1 |
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| BH 91 (1/2014): (the blend is <70% Ruchots with the balance in Clos Sorbe and Charrières; there is no Millandes in the blend in 2011) A perfumed and attractively airy nose features notes of floral and spice on the various red berry fruit aromas. There is lovely purity and intensity to the medium-bodied flavors that possess an appealing mouth feel before terminating in a dry, clean and mildly austere finish that delivers superior depth and length. Drink 2021+. Outstanding! |
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2018 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,385.97 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Duroche |
2020 |
Gevrey Chambertin (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$836.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Dom. Faiveley |
2018 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Les Ouvrees Rodin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,169.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Fourrier |
2017 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Cherbaudes Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,403.99 |
1 |
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| BH 90-93 (1/2019): Once again there is a lovely coolness and restraint to the quite pure aromas of gently earthy red and dark currant scents. The vibrant and beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors possess a caressing and rich mouthfeel though the solidly long and complex finish progressively tightens up as it sits on the palate. This should be approachable young but amply reward mid-term cellaring. |
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2019 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques Vieilles Vignes (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,465.99 |
1 |
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VM 96 (12/2023): The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru, which I never tasted from barrel, has a sublime bouquet that is the paragon of Pinot's transparency. Perfumed with joyous red fruit, crushed stone and a touch of wilted rose petal, the aromatics whisk you to the famed walled vineyard. The palate is beautifully balanced with slightly chalky tannins and a surfeit of energy and tension. It’s quite linear and strict toward the finish that just loses its initial crystalline quality. But still, this is a very great wine from Jean-Marie Fourrier. Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting. Neal Martin.
JM 98 (9/2023): Solid, rich dark crimson. Dark berry fruit, again evidently quite ripe yet showing a sense of balance. This style of bouquet I find enormously pleasing. Layers of flavour on the palate, a vibrant minerality, nuanced all the way through, no excessive alcohol, though the fruit is certainly ripe, and a velvet touch to the finish that is matched by a fresher feel. Brilliant wine! |
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2019 |
Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,061.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Jean-Marie Fourrier |
2020 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Aux Echanges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$889.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Geantet Pansiot |
2018 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Le Poissenot (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,333.99 |
3 |
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2019 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Le Poissenot (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,333.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Machard de Gramont |
2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Gaudichots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,918.99 |
2 |
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| Dom. Jean Grivot |
2018 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$726.99 |
1 |
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2022 |
Vosne Romanee (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$691.99 |
4 |
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2023 |
Vosne Romanee (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$712.99 |
4 |
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| Dom. Robert Groffier |
2014 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,492.99 |
1 |
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2016 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,020.99 |
2 |
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| Dom. Anne Gros |
2016 |
Clos de Vougeot Le Grand Maupertui Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,488.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Anne-Francoise Gros |
2019 |
Savigny les Beaune 1er Cru Le Clos des Guettes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$526.99 |
1 |
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2021 |
Beaune 1er Cru Boucherottes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,025.99 |
2 |
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2022 |
Beaune 1er Cru Boucherottes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$575.99 |
5 |
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| Dom. A&F Gros |
2022 |
Clos de Vougeot Le Grand Maupertuis Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,672.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Dom. Alain Hudelot-Noellat |
2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaumonts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,221.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2021 |
Richebourg Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,370.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2022 |
Bourgogne Pinot Noir (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$341.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2018 |
Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,572.99 |
1 |
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| BH 92-94 (1/2020): The 2018 Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru has a very attractive, pure, well-defined bouquet of red cherries, wild strawberry, sous-bois and light orange pith aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. A little peppery in style, with a touch of brown spice toward the finish. This is a well-crafted Chapelle-Chambertin. Neal Martin. |
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2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru les Suchots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,180.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
Clos St. Denis Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,071.99 |
1 |
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| BH 93-96 (4/2021): A plethora of spice nuances are present on the emphatically floral-suffused nose of red raspberry, earth and a whiff of exotic tea, all of which is trimmed in wood and menthol nuances. The plump, round and highly seductive flavors possess both good mid-palate density and a very sophisticated mouthfeel that continues onto the relatively powerful and highly persistent finale. The intrinsic class of a fine CSD is very much present and this is seriously impressive. Drink 2036+. |
|
| Dom. Michel Lafarge |
2020 |
Bourgogne Passetoutgrain ’L’Exception’ (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$278.97 |
1 |
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| |
| BH 86-89 (4/2022): A peppery and earthy nose features mostly ripe red berry scents. The nicely textured and delicious middle weight flavors possess unusually good depth and persistence in the context of what is typical for the genre. Worth considering. Drink starting 2024. |
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2020 |
Bourgogne Rouge (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$373.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Francois Lamarche |
2017 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,589.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
La Grande Rue Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,954.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Louis Latour |
2013 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru Les Quatre Journaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,690.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Georges Lignier |
2016 |
Clos St. Denis Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$828.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Lignier Michelot |
2019 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$753.99 |
1 |
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| BH 93 (1/2022): An intensely floral-suffused nose speaks of equally cool aromas of red pinot fruit and a beautiful array of spice elements. There is terrific vibrancy to the dense and muscular but sleek medium weight plus flavors that possess lovely definition, all wrapped in a mouth coating, mineral-driven and powerful finale. This built-to-age and firm effort is finer, if not quite as dense, as the Chenevery but even so it is already more complete. Excellent though patience again suggested. Drink 2033+. |
|
| Maison Mommessin |
2009 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,812.99 |
2 |
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VM 96 (2/2019): The 2009 Clos de Tart Grand Cru is a wine that turns everything up to 11. It was picked from September 15 at 29.4hl/ha with 13.6° alcohol, then matured for 17 months in new oak. There was some whole bunch here, although I do not know the exact percentage. The incredibly intense, powerful bouquet of red cherries, kirsch and cranberry is augmented by light floral scents, although there is more glycerin here than I recollect on previous bottles. The palate is medium-bodied, muscular and well-balanced, offering firm, grippy tannins that lacquer the mouth. As I have observed before, with aeration this becomes more clenched and more like the 2010 in style, though I seek a little more detail on the finish, where the precocity of the growing season blurs the edges. Give it another three to five years. Tasted at a private Clos de Tart dinner in London. Neal Martin.
WA 95+ (4/2012): The 2009 Clos de Tart saturates the palate with exotic, ripe red fruit. The quality of the fruit gives an impression of near seamlessness despite the wine’s considerable volume and depth. Tar, licorice and smoke are some of the many notes that wrap around the intense, powerful finish. There is more than enough depth and pure pedigree to allow the 2009 to enjoy a long life in the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2024-2044.
BH 93 (1/2012): Soft floral and toasty oak notes add breadth to the notably ripe nose, indeed this is much riper than its 2010 counterpart. Aromas of plum, chocolate and subtle spice notes merge into supple but broad-shouldered flavors that possess good energy and excellent depth on the velvety yet very firm finish that is at once supported and shaped by the solidly structured, indeed even robust finish. This is a very serious wine that was expressly built to age and it should improve for out to 20 years if kept in quality storage conditions. Drink 2026+. |
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2018 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,490.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. de Montille |
2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$892.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Denis Mortet |
2020 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,051.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. JF Mugnier |
2003 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$14,070.99 |
1 |
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2017 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuees (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,037.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Ponsot |
2004 |
Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,726.97 |
1 |
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VM 93 (4/2007): Good deep red. Superripe, slightly decadent aromas of red cherry, leather and underbrush. Plush, fat and large-scaled; a full-blown expression of soil, with notes of smoke and game. This boasts extraordinary sweetness for the vintage, remaining just this side of over the top. Just a hint of nut skin on the finish. Very sexy wine.
BH 92 (1/2007): (the aggregate size of this holding is a whopping 3.4 ha and Ponsot is easily the largest holder in Clos de la Roche). A stunningly complex mixture of earthy and animale red and black pinot fruit aromas lead to brooding, intense and jaw droppingly powerful and concentrated, chewy and complex flavors that possess a seriously long finish. There isn't quite the raw depth of the Clos St. Denis at this point but it's a very high quality '04. Drink 2015+. |
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|
2009 |
Clos St. Denis Tres Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,988.98 |
2 |
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2012 |
Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,042.99 |
1 |
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|
| Laurent Ponsot |
2021 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,580.99 |
2 |
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| Dom. Prieure-Roch |
2017 |
Vosne Romanee Clos Goillotte (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,274.99 |
3 |
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|
| Dom. E. Rouget |
2023 |
Savigny Les Beaune (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,060.99 |
3 |
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| Dom. Georges Roumier |
2011 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,837.99 |
1 |
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WA 92 (2/2014): The 2011 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras has blacker and earthier fruit compared to the village cru, but here there is more volume and intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, slightly grainy tannins. There is lovely balance here: a little more forward than I was expecting, but generous with impressive complexity on the finish. This forms a fine introduction to the delights of Christophe’s wines. Drink 2016-2030.
VM 92 (4/2014): Good bright red. Exotic red berry liqueur, flowers, passion fruit and peach on the nose. Fat and sweet for this cru; softer and less refined than the 2012 version. Still, this shows better inner-mouth tension than the Combottes and finishes firmer, with chewy tannins.
BH 91 (1/2014): (From a 1.75 ha parcel of vines averaging 35 to 40 years of age). A gorgeously perfumed and intensely floral-suffused nose evidences hints of stone, red berries, anise and a bit of earth. There is really lovely detail and intensity to the precise, dusty and tension-filled medium-bodied flavors that exude a fine minerality on the mouth coating, linear, mildly austere and highly persistent finish where a saline nuance appears. This is quite good. Drink 2021+. Outstanding! |
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| Dom. Armand Rousseau |
2017 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,453.99 |
1 |
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2017 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,586.99 |
1 |
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2019 |
Ruchottes Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,417.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$12,263.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,203.99 |
1 |
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| |
BH 99 (1/2022): A distinctly cool and exuberantly fresh nose features reticent wonderfully spiced notes of various dark berries along with forest floor nuances that include humus and earth. The intensity of the imposingly broad-shouldered and muscular flavors is borderline painful with impressive power on the hugely long finish that is supported by incredibly dense but quite fine-grained tannins. This is magnificent and a wine of class and grace that will justly vie for wine of the vintage honors when it's time for such assessments. It's extremely rare that I put 30-year initial drinking windows for modern red Burgundies, but my prediction is that this stunningly brilliant wine will age glacially. Drink 2050+.
JM 96-100 (11/2021): An imperial robe as we have come to expect. The bouquet is very backward, no problem there either, all about the fruit, the new wood is irrelevant. Starts slowly then builds immaculately, still too early really to see the detail. As always it is about grace style intensity and length rather than overt muscle, all the finesse one can want. Long and lovely. |
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2021 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,361.99 |
1 |
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|
| Dom. Gabriel Tortochot |
2015 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$667.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Comte de Vogue |
1999 |
Musigny Grand Cru Cuvee Vieilles Vignes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$15,101.98 |
1 |
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| |
VM 97 (3/2018): (tasted from a 375-milliter bottle): Very bright red with ruby tones; looks like a young wine. Deep, dark red and black fruit aromas are complicated by cinnamon, black pepper, roast coffee and a hint of truffley underbrush. Wonderfully rich but classy and reserved, and not a bit heavy. Utterly silky, plush, energetic wine with a relaxed quality to its lively dark fruit and dark chocolate flavors. Finishes classically dry, with beautifully buffered tannins and captivating building sweetness. Amazingly, this 375-milliliter bottle seems still short of its peak, so I would imagine that well-stored 750s still need time. I'd guess 2022-2042 for 750s. Stephen Tanzer.
BH 94 (1/2002): In contrast to the general style of the vintage, this is aromatically austere though with coaxing, reveals wonderfully complex aromas of a simply incredible array of black fruits, earth, spice, crushed herbs and notes of chocolate with flavors that are huge but fine, powerful but subtle and rich yet detailed with a stupendously long finish that offers intense minerality. This is genuinely stunning juice and not to be missed. Drink 2010-2025. |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2016 |
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,902.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Maison Henri Boillot |
2023 |
Meursault 1er Cru Goutte d’Or (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,290.99 |
2 |
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| JM 94-96 (10/2024): Mid lemon yellow, with a pure sunny white fruit nose, not demonstrative. Much classier stone fruit in the mouth, with a citrus energy towards the back. Well integrated oak, great persistence, this is a very noble Goutte d’Or. Drink from 2030-2036. |
|
| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2024 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchere (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,444.98 |
4 |
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| JM 93-96 (10/2025): Mid yellow. There is a little touch of patisserie on the nose, showing the additional breadth of fruit on Henri Boillot’s favourite vineyard. That’s what gives the gourmandise to the wine, says Henri. This seems to have all the aspects with an excellent mineral backbone holding the fruit together. Lime blossom and acacia he finds, from the adjacent trees which flower at the same time. Very fine long finish. Drink from 2030-2036. |
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2024 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,411.98 |
1 |
|
| |
| JM 92-95 (10/2025): Vibrant mid lemon yellow. More perfumed, rather than electric on the nose, but the electricity shows up clearly in the mouth. Pure white fruit with a riper mandarin note hovering. Very clean and clear cut on the palate, with great persistence. Makes one salivate. Drink from 2030-2036. |
|
| Pierre Boisson |
2019 |
Meursault Les Grand Charrons (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,957.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Anne Boisson |
2019 |
Meursault Sous La Velle (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,726.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Bouchard Pere et Fils |
2014 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,766.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Francois Carillon |
2019 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,180.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,634.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey |
2015 |
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,838.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Puligny Montrachet Le Trezin (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,572.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,488.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| BH 92-94 (6/2021): Drink 2029+. |
|
| Joseph Drouhin |
2017 |
Le Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,603.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. de Fuisse |
2022 |
Pouilly Fuisse Les Clos (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$533.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean-Michel Gaunoux |
2020 |
Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$855.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2016 |
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,721.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,427.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Comte Lafon |
2022 |
Meursault (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,502.98 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Hubert Lamy |
2021 |
St. Aubin 1er Cru Derriere Chez Edouard (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$838.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 93 (6/2024): Decidedly cool and restrained aromas are comprised by notes of just sliced citrus and green apple along with hints of white flowers and wet stone. The gorgeously textured middleweight flavors are borderline painfully intense before culminating in a sleek, chiseled and dry finale that is noticeably less austere. This relatively powerful effort is very much built-to-age and a wine that will need at least 5 to 6 years of keeping first. Excellent. Drink 2023+. |
|
| Dom. Leflaive |
2019 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,961.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Meursault 1er Cru Sous le Dos d’Ane (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,448.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Alvina Pernot |
2022 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,485.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Laurent Ponsot |
2020 |
Corton Charlemagne Cuvee de Kalimeris Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,577.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee du Perce-Neige (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$321.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Corton Charlemagne Cuvee de Kalimeris Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,051.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean-Claude Ramonet |
2016 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,406.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,570.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,221.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,238.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Boudriotte Rouge (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$746.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Rapet |
2020 |
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,052.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Jean-Marc Roulot |
2021 |
Bourgogne Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$898.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Etienne Sauzet |
2020 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,102.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| JM 96-98 (10/2021): Mid lemon yellow. This has the weight which should have. The nose does indeed speak of Montrachet with a measured opulence. The weight on the palate transcends those which have gone before, there is a grip from the barrel and a little toast (a new Chassin barrel and one year old François Frères). Very long and relatively fine finish. Extremely good. |
|
| Dom. Comte de Vogue |
2022 |
Musigny Blanc Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,667.99 |
1 |
|
| |
BH 95 (6/2024): A ripe yet distinctly cool nose combines notes of citrus confit, spice, Granny Smith apple, white peach and an all but invisible application of wood. The super-sleek but almost painfully intense larger-bodied flavors possess a mouthfeel that is akin to rolling rocks around the mouth on the bone-dry, youthfully austere and compact, indeed very tautly wound, finale that goes on and on. This is terrific and as good a vintage for this wine as I have seen since the 2015 when they began declaring it as Musigny Blanc again. It won't be easy to find but this is one to strongly consider. Drink 2034+.
JM 94-96 (11/2023): Bottled end October. Fine pale lemon colour with a definite green tint. Tense powerful crisp fruit, the crunchy side of orchard fruit, then builds in richness to the back, before rediscovering its minerality to finish. Notably persistent, I can see the point in Musigny Blanc more easily than I used to! |
|
| | Champagne |
| Bollinger |
2007 |
Grande Annee Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$951.97 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Krug |
2006 |
Clos du Mesnil Champagne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,460.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
NV |
27th Edition Brut Rose Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,308.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
NV |
Brut Grande Cuvee 162nd Edition Champagne (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,571.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
NV |
Brut Grande Cuvee 166th Edition Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,546.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Pierre Peters |
2015 |
Cuvee Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,346.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (5/2023): The 2015 Brut Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons offers up a beguiling mix of dried fruits, herbs, smoke, graphite and citrus peel. Powerful and driving, the 2015 has a lot to offer. It's an intriguing Chétillons, that is for sure. Today, the wine's textural richness and savoriness are in a sort of tension with each other. It will be interesting to see which direction this ends up going, but the evolution this far has been quite positive. I am cautiously optimistic here, especially given the high extract. Disgorged: July 2022. Dosage is 4.7 grams per liter. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pol Roger |
2012 |
Cuvee Winston Churchill Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,223.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (11/2021): Pol Roger's flagship Brut Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill is fabulous in 2012. Rich, open-knit and seductive, the 2012 will drink well right out of the gate, although it certainly has the pedigree to age well for decades. Lemon confit, chamomile, dried flowers, mint, spice and a kick of brioche infuse the 2012 with notable textural richness and resonance. Time in the glass brings out gorgeous aromatic lift to round things out. The 2012 is classy and polished all the way. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Salon |
2015 |
Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,055.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Jacques Selosse |
NV |
Exquise Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,664.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 91 (10/2018): Moderately golden color. While there is limited oxidative character on the overtly yeasty nose that reflects notes of apple cider and lemon rind, there is still enough to notice. In the same vein, there is excellent richness to the concentrated, suave and intense medium-bodied flavors that possess first-rate complexity and power if limited refinement. The mousse is dense and abundant if not especially fine on the very dry but not really austere bitter lemon-inflected finale. Like virtually all of the Selosse wines, I would describe this as particular but if your taste runs to mildly oxidative Champagne, you will very likely love this. By contrast, if you prefer pure and racy examples, this may impress you less. |
|
| Taittinger |
2012 |
Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,009.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (5/2022): The 2012 Comtes de Champagne is gorgeous. Warm and resonant in the glass, the 2012 Comtes shows all the allure that makes this vintage so appealing. The combination of bright citrus, mineral and floral notes typical of Comtes, enhanced by the soft contours of the vintage, makes for an inviting, open-knit Champagne that is quite showy right out of the gate. Light tropical accents on the finish add an exotic flair. Usually I recommend cellaring just-released Comtes, but that won’t be necessary here. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| | Chile |
| Sena |
2018 |
Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$601.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (8/2022): All the different variables were in perfect equilibrium for the 2018 Seña. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carménère, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot aged for 22 months in 85% new barrels and 15% in foudres. Its hue is garnet red with a purplish sheen. The intense, complex nose offers plum, blackcurrant and blackberry, subtle notes of mint and spice, and cedar from the aging process. Terse on the palate with refined, firm but delicate tannins that deliver both flavor and structure, the freshness is precise before the lengthy finish. Joaquin Hidalgo.
WA 98 (8/2020): The 2018 Seña shows the fresher side of the Ocoa zone of the Aconcagua Valley through a Bordeaux blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot; there are small differences, but nothing substantial. As I've seen in other wines from the very complete 2018 vintage, the grapes ripened thoroughly and achieved more flavors and nuances, and the wines are slightly higher in alcohol (14% this year versus 13.3% in 2017, but in reality it's 13.8% ). But the wine seems to have more of everything. The grapes fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete vats and matured in new barriques and Stockinger foudres for 22 months, a similar formula as the one used for Viñedo Chadwick. This is a very elegant vintage of Seña, a year with a slow ripening so that the grapes achieved very good ripeness and full development of aromas and flavors, making the wine nuanced and complex, with depth but also freshness and finesse—floral and expressive. The tannins are very fine, polished and elegant, and the wine is long and complex, mixing the best f 2015 and 2016, coming through as a very complete year. It's still a little young and should develop nicely in bottle; it's approachable now, but if you can hold it a little bit more, it should be even better. This has to be the finest vintage of Seña to date. Comparing it with the Chadwick from the same year, there is more freshness and a little more complexity and clout coming form the cooler zone and the palette of varieties used that give more options to achieve more nuance. |
|
| | Germany |
| Weingut Hermann Donnhoff |
2021 |
Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$829.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Egon Muller |
2013 |
Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,569.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| JJ Prum |
2018 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$306.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (10/2020): The 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett offers a deep and flinty, stony and herbal bouquet that needs some time to open up. Remarkably deep and complex, round and textured on the palate, this is a charming, mouth-filling and intense WSU with serious grip and length. Still far from being evolved, this is a richer, more complex Kabinett that will start to impress in 5-10 years. Stimulatingly salty on the finish. Tasted at the domain in September 2020. |
|
|
2018 |
Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$442.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2020): The 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese is coolish, precise and flinty on the elegant and complex yet always bright and seductive nose that offers lush and precise white stone fruit aromas. Intense and refined on the palate, this is a dense, highly elegant, tightly structured and sustainable Spätlese with a long and stimulatingly salty finish. A fabulous and serious WSU Spätlese. Tasted at the domain in September 2020. |
|
| | Italy |
| Altesino |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$671.99 |
4 |
|
| |
JS 97 (9/2019): A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures of vivacious red fruit. A beautiful, nimble Brunello 2015. Drink from 2024.
WA 96+ (1/2020): Altesino's 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli shows those celebrated characteristics of this special vineyard cru that are always portrayed with pronounced mineral intensity, with highlights of crushed granite and pencil shaving. Indeed, Altesino's five-hectare Montosoli vineyard sees a greater concentration of clay schist Galestro rock, and the vineyard altitude (at 350 meters above sea level) adds to the wine's perceived freshness. In this case, those mineral notes are applied with small brush strokes, as the core of the wine is occupied by wild fruit and forest berry. Medicinal herb and rosemary essence appear quietly at the back. This is a very compact and bright wine with young tannins and solid structure. It has all the attributes you look for in a candidate that can withstand long cellar aging. I'd suggest waiting five years or more before popping this cork. Some 19,000 bottles were filled in July 2019, and the wine was released in January 2020.
VM 96 (4/2020): The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli has a dark, hauntingly beautiful bouquet, displaying ripe blackberry and cherry with spicy, dark florals, as well as a hint of animal musk, which manages to ground the experience in the earth. On the palate, velvety textures, offset by tart red and black fruits, with juicy acidity maintain balance, as sweet cherries and rosemary give way to a core of minerality and hints of fine tannin. It finishes long and elegant, showing dark inner florals, ripe blackberry and lingering sweet spices. It’s interesting to taste this next to the classic Brunello from 2015, as I find them to be equally enjoyable, but for completely different reasons. Eric Guido. |
|
| Piero Antinori |
2018 |
Tignanello (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,206.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (2/2021): The 2018 Tignanello is a wine of breathtaking purity. Impossibly silky and persistent, the 2018 is all class, all the way. In many ways, the 2018 reminds me of the 2004 because of its finesse , but it has an extra degree of nuance that reflects important strides that have been made at the estate in the intervening years. Winemaking today is more gentle, while new oak is also less intrusive. The result is a Tignanello that bristles with class. The purity of the flavors alone is mesmerizing. Bright red-toned berries, mocha, spice, cedar, new leather and licorice are some of the many notes that linger on a finish framed by silky, perfectly ripe tannins. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Biondi Santi |
2009 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,264.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Capanna |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$968.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$513.99 |
11 |
|
| |
|
| Dott G. Cappellano |
2019 |
Barbera d’Alba Gabutti (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$701.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ceretto |
2020 |
Barolo Prapo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,181.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,451.99 |
13 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Barolo Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,043.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Barolo Prapo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,181.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili Bernardot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$940.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Barbaresco Bricco Asili (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,451.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Fontodi |
2019 |
Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$306.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Fuligni |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,043.99 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 97 (11/2024): The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a seductress, containing an array of cinnamon, clove, allspice, black cherry and hints of bay. It sweeps across the palate with a radiant and classic feel, with vividly ripe red fruits and sweet spices perfectly guided by a core of brilliant acidity. Its minerality comes through in the finish, tactile and saline in form. A web of fine-grained tannins wrap the senses with youthful poise, nuances of cedar and inner rose. The 2019 is spellbinding and built for the cellar. What a beauty. (Drink between 2028-2046). Eric Guido.
WA 95 (11/2024): Fuligni's 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva reveals a sultry and savory side with medium-grained tannins and extra textural buffering that surrounds a core of dark blackberry fruit. The alcohol content is high at 15%, but this full-bodied vintage does a very good job of covering up those excesses. This Riserva closes with hints of root beer and sauna wood. |
|
| La Gerla |
2021 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$443.98 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
2011 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche Riserva (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,942.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2017): Here we have the venerated red label. The Bruno Giacosa 2011 Barolo Riserva Falletto Vigne Le Rocche commands attention and respect. The wine successfully, and somewhat magically, turns the tables on the overdone exuberance of the warm vintage and the natural heft that is inherent to Serralunga d'Alba. It does a great job of reining in all that power and transforming it into streamlined elegance instead. The wine opens to a dark and penetrating color and an immediately expressive bouquet. Thick layers of dark fruit, iron-rich earth, balsam herb, Darjeeling tea, dried ginger and cherry cola rise from the bouquet. The wine's Falletto signature is very strong. This is a Grande Vino with the proverbial capital G and capital V. |
|
| Mastrojanni |
2021 |
Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Loreto (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$424.98 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Monsanto |
2023 |
Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$274.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Casanova di Neri |
2017 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$499.99 |
30 |
|
| |
WA 94 (2/2022): The Casanova di Neri 2017 Brunello di Montalcino delivers unexpected grace and a floral profile that is not common to find in this scorching-hot and dry vintage. In faithful Casanova di Neri fashion, the wine is bold and dark in appearance, and although the bouquet is dominated by purple and black fruits, there is a brief interlude of fresh garden rose or lilac. That little moment changes up the momentum of this wine in a most positive way by allowing for a harmony of low tones and high tones that are well matched here. The wine is robust, structured and velvety to the palate, but ultimately this expression is far more delicate than I would have ever expected for a 2017 Brunello. This is a nice surprise.
VM 92 (12/2021): Dusty florals, musky cherry and raspberry with hints of mentholated herbs waft up from the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino. This is enveloping and soft, with sweet exotic spices and juicy, vibrant acidity giving way to tart wild berries and rosy inner florals. There’s amazing length, hard red candies and violets, and sweet tannin that goes on and on, creating a somewhat chewy yet also fresh expression. The 2017 benefits from all of the fruit that would usually go into the single-vineyard Cerretalto Brunello, though even with it, production is down by 35%. That said, this is stunning juice.
JS 91 (11/2021): A firm and chewy 2017 that is slightly austere but still provides a lively and dark-fruited palate. Medium to full body. Give this a year or two to soften. Try after 2023 |
|
| Tenuta dell' Ornellaia |
2015 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,164.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 99 (4/2018): The 2015 Masseto is simply extraordinary. Soft, silky and seamless, the 2015 possesses remarkable balance and harmony from the very first taste. What surprises me most about the 2015 is how fresh and vibrant the flavors are. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint, and wild flowers are all beautifully lifted in this exquisitely perfumed, gracious Masseto. Despite the warm, drought conditions of the early summer, the 2015 is a wine of mid-weight structure, polish and restraint. In this tasting, it positively dazzles. I can't remember ever tasting a young Masseto with this much pure harmony. Other vintages have been super-impressive upon release. The 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2013 all come to mind. But the 2015 has a level of pure sensuality and allure none of those vintages had when young, with the possible exception of the 2004. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,451.99 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 100 (6/2019): Not yet released, the 2016 Masseto is sensational and unquestionably one of the greatest expressions of Merlot in the world. As always, it's 100% Merlot from a single vineyard that has a complex, diverse set of soils and expositions, causing harvest at times to be spread over as much as three weeks. Aged two years in oak, its deep purple color is followed by a powerful bouquet of black cherries, cassis, spicy oak, damp earth, green tobacco, and spring flowers. It's full-bodied, concentrated and masculine on the palate, with serious minerality, yet it stays flawlessly balanced with magical purity of fruit. With no shortage of concentration and structure, this primordial powerhouse of a Merlot needs 4-6 years of bottle age yet should evolve for decades. Merlot, or wine for that matter, doesn’t get any better!
VM 98+ (4/2021): The 2016 Masseto is simply stunning. Fresh, vibrant and full of energy, the 2016 dazzles from start to finish. I can’t remember tasting a young Masseto with this combination of fruit density and silkiness. Just as it was from barrel, the 2016 Masseto is a wine of magnificent balance and proportion. The polish and sensuality of the tannins is simply remarkable for a young Masseto, especially compared to just a few years ago, when Masseto was often a bruiser right out of the gate. Two thousand sixteen was a year with a long summer and some drought, but no real extremes. Acidity is in line with vintages like 2006, but gentler winemaking with fewer pumpovers than in the past has given birth to a wine that is more finessed than those of the preceding decade. Drink 2026+. |
|
| Guiseppe Quintarelli |
2011 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,877.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Francesco Rinaldi & Figli |
2018 |
Barolo Le Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$634.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| San Giusto A Rentennano |
2021 |
La Ricolma (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,189.97 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| Canalicchio di Sopra |
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$493.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2016 |
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$654.98 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Tenuta San Guido |
2006 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,594.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2009): The 2006 Sassicaia may very well go down as one of the all-time great recent vintages for this Tuscan thoroughbred. The year started off very warm but by August evening temperatures had moderated, leaving the fruit with a stunning combination of ripeness, perfume, acidity and tannin. The wine is simply glorious, that’s all there is to it. Layers of dark fruit meld into smoke, leather, violets, menthol, earthiness and tar as this profound wine opens up in the glass. The creamy, silky finish lasts an eternity, as waves of fruit caress the tannins with breathtaking elegance. Everything is in the right place in this magical Sassicaia. This is one for the ages. In a word: Awesome. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2031.
VM 95 (10/2010): (85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc) Bright red-ruby. Complex nose melds red cherry, blackcurrant, minerals, dried herbs and a delicate oaky vanillin nuance; the fruit aromas show an almost roasted quality without going over the top. Sweet, concentrated and nicely fresh, with an impression of strong extract and a hint of exotic fruits to the flavors of ripe red and dark berries, chocolate, plum and wild herbs. The candied fruit quality carries through on the long, smooth finish, where there's a trace of heat and hints of menthol and minerals. A very successful Sassicaia but, in my notebook, just a little below the lofty heights of the 2001 or 2004. But given the quality of this wine, that's quibbling. Ian d'Agata.
JS 95 (4/2012): Sweet tobacco and berry with hints of currants. Full, soft and silky. Lots of fruit and a long finish. It's subtle, dense and sophisticated. Please give this another five years to really show what it has. |
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|
2014 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,749.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
|
2021 |
Sassicaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,074.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (1/2024): Here it is: A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia offers impeccable balance, excellent freshness and absolutely no signs of over-ripeness. The fruit balance is ideal with a hint of crunch and lasting tension from pulp and skins. The tannins are deftly managed with firm grip and enough velvetiness to add volume and length. There is no greenness on the bouquet that instead offers mulled herbs and spice, with cinnamon and clove, layered delicately between mostly red and some purple berry fruits. Redcurrant, blueberry, sweet pomegranate and Rainier cherry run strong in this vintage. A fragrant hint of heritage rose emerges with time. The oak tones are geared toward gingerbread, hazelnut, cigar, sandalwood and something like a grilled sweet red pepper. To the palate, it offers nice weight with no heavy glycerin, and a rinse of acidity that adds to the wine’s natural energy, brightness and viscosity. That marked freshness opens the wine up to long aging potential, but you still need to give it more time in bottle.
JD 99 (3/2025): The 2021 Sassicaia is remarkable for being simultaneously complex yet transparent. In the glass, it displays a bright jeweled ruby red hue. On my second tasting of this wine, the nose was much more expressive than in my initial tasting the previous day, offering pure aromas of raspberry, pretty lifted spices and lavender, dusty earth, and fresh Mediterranean herbs, and as it opens, it develops notes of rhubarb, incense, and sandalwood. The palate is pure and expressive, with well-defined, ripe tannins, seamless acidity, and refreshing saltiness, but its shining pure fruit is what stands out and will shine for decades to come. (Drink between 2025-2045). Audrey Frick.
VM 98.5 (2/2024): The 2021 Sassicaia is one of the best young Sassicaias I can remember tasting, certainly on par with anything in recent memory. The preference here is picking on the earlier side relative to many neighboring properties, which is one of the reasons Sassicaia is always a wine of refinement more than opulence. At the same time, Sassicaia can be light. Not in 2021. All the elements came together during a long growing season to produce a rich, deep wine that marries textural intensity with classicism. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and spice all race across the palate. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural intensity and sheer power. The 2021 is one of the most concentrated Sassicaias on record. That allowed for long macerations, as long as 20 days for some Cabernets. Aging was 25 months in French oak barrels (95% French, 5% a mix of Hungarian and Slavonian wood), 40% new, 40% once-used barrels and 20% in twice-used barrels. One of the recent developments here is some bâtonnage in aging, which is used to build texture. That approach worked well in 2021. In a word: magnificent. (Drink between 2029-2051). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Tua Rita |
2017 |
Redigaffi (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$556.99 |
10 |
|
| |
JS 97 (8/2019): This is a glorious young merlot with flowers, blackberries, hazelnuts and chocolate on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, layered and creamy with ripe and firm tannins. Wonderful depth and length. Better in 2022 and onwards, but already a glorious young red to try.
WA 96 (8/2019): The 2017 Redigaffi has a few surprises up its sleeve, the most unexpected of which are those floral aromas of rose and lavender that lift so gently from the bouquet. These are absolutely counterintuitive given the heat and power of this vintage. This Redigaffi is a delicate wine in terms of its aromatic display despite the density and extract that is delivered to the palate. It carries a touch of bitterness or tannic dryness on the close to go along with its 15.5% alcohol content. The mouthfeel is tight, focused and sharp. This is a really beautiful and interesting Merlot that skirts around the hot vintage, yet it ultimately leaves you with marked determination and bold fruit flavors. |
|
|
2019 |
Redigaffi (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$399.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 98 (8/2021): Aromas of violets, blackberries and black truffles follow through to a full body with firm, silky tannins with lots of texture that’s caressing and enticing. Such polish and beauty. Very long and powerful. So much structure this year. 100% merlot. Best after 2024.
WA 97 (10/2021): I am a big fan of the 2019 vintage and, in most cases, prefer it to the 2018 vintage that is often harder to read (with alternating spells of cool and heat). But in the case of this wine, I like both vintages about the same for different reasons. The 2019 Redigaffi feels elegant and less hearty compared to its previous edition. This important Merlot-based wine delivers an immediate quality of fruit, with pretty freshness that renders a very lively and vivid mouthfeel. This is a sharp and well-defined interpretation of the grape with black cherry, granite and cooling menthol-like endnotes. |
|
| G.D. Vajra |
2017 |
Barolo Albe (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$391.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Roberto Voerzio |
2017 |
Barolo Cerequio (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$768.99 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (1/2023): Roberto Voerzio's 2017 Barolo Cerequio comes across as washed out, with only modest depth and little expression of place. Barolos from Cerequio all have distinctive signatures, very few of which are present here. In its best vintages, the Voerzio is an exhilarating, thrilling Barolo. I see none of that here. Perhaps the 2017 will be better once the searing tannins soften. We will see. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2018 |
Barolo La Serra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,628.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Franck Balthazar |
2021 |
Cornas Cuvee Casimir Balthazar (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$764.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2015 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$559.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 99 (10/2017): A classic blend of mostly Mourvèdre, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin is a blockbuster that’s certainly the wine of the vintage. Possessing an inky purple color to go with an incredible bouquet of blueberries, garrigue, olive tapenade, beef blood and pepper, it's rich, full-bodied, powerful and layered, with sweet, ripe tannin. It's a more approachable example of this cuvee that past vintages, yet will keep for 3 decades or more.
WA 98 (10/2017): As this was bottled only a week before I tasted it, I suspect this rating will prove to be conservative once a few months have passed. The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin is another prodigious version of this wine. How many wines in this world can be so huge yet so lacking the feeling of weight? There's plenty of layered spice but also a core of raspberries; rich tannins, yet no real astringency; and a long finish without any apparent heat. Wow! |
|
| Dom. Henri Bonneau |
2018 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,890.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| M. Chapoutier |
2011 |
Ermitage Le Pavillon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,589.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$473.98 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Pierre Gonon |
2023 |
St. Joseph (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,022.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Etienne Guigal |
2014 |
Cote Rotie La Landonne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,728.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97-99 (1/2018): Probably the wine of the vintage is the 2014 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, a beauty that gives up everything you could want from Côte Rôtie. Cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, crushed rocks and peppery meat notes all emerge from this concentrated, full-bodied 2014 that has a Bordeaux like tannin structure. It certainly bucks the vintage stereotype and has real density and depth. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years.
WA 96-98 (12/2017): The 2014 Cote Rotie La Landonne offers complex aromas of smoke, pressed flowers, cured meats, black olives and asphalt. Full-bodied, rich and quite firm, it doesn’t show the early appeal of the other 2014s, yet it should ultimately be the pick of the three and the most long-lived. Impressive. |
|
| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2011 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$963.99 |
1 |
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| |
JD 95 (3/2019): From a vintage that continues to deliver the goods, the 2011 Hermitage La Chapelle is one sexy, flamboyant beauty that shows the more sweetly fruited and charming style of the vintage beautifully. Sweet black raspberry and framboise notes give way to more tapenade, fennel, and mineral characteristics, and it’s full-bodied, powerful, and layered on the palate, with sweet tannins. It’s beautiful today yet will evolve for another two decades or more.
JS 97 (12/2014): A gorgeous intensity of plum, spice and grilled meat on the nose. Cloves and hints of dried spices. This is a big, structured La Chappelle. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A bit austere and muscular but gorgeous. Tar, spice, dried meat and asphalt. Needs to be aged for at least another five or six years. This is another 1991 in the making.
WA 95 (12/2013): The 2011 Hermitage la Chapelle continues to shine (I wrote "love it" in the notes) and shows the sunnier, perfumed style of the vintage. Black raspberry, crushed rocks, olive and licorice all emerge from this full-bodied, open, sweetly fruited Hermitage. It has plenty of sweet tannin and will last for 20+ years.
VM 94 (4/2014): (made from yields that ranged from 10 to 19 hectoliters per hectare, according to Caroline Frey): Inky ruby. Heady aromas of candied dark berries, incense, violet and licorice, with a smoky topnote that gains strength with aeration. Offers sweet, palate-staining blueberry and cherry-cola flavors that are lifted and sharpened by juicy acidity. Broad, supple and spicy on the finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and sexy floral pastille and spicecake nuances. This wine is one of the standouts of the vintage in the entire Rhone Valley this vintage. (If you're fortunate enough to own any of the 2010 La Chapelle count your blessings because it's a stunner. While it's years--maybe even decades--away from optimal drinking, there's remarkable depth and power to its black and blue fruit and violet pastille qualities. There are tannins, to be sure, but they fold effortlessly into the wine's lush fruit right now. If you have a few bottles in your cellar, give one a try to see just how impressively it shows in its youth, then hold the rest for later--probably much later.) Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Ch. Rayas |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$20,332.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (3/2012): More rich, concentrated, and serious than the Pignan, the 2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve boasts a decadent bouquet of kirsch, blackberry liqueur, smoked meat, and mineral that carries into a beautifully proportioned, perfectly balanced palate. Full-bodied and very rich, with a seamless, mouth coating texture, notable focus and precision, and plenty of length, this is better than the ’05 and ’06, and possibly up there with the stunning ’90 and ’95. Only time will tell, but there no denying that this is a classic, gorgeous Rayas!
VM 97 (1/2010): Bright ruby. Red berry, cherry and Asian spice aromas are lifted by sexy notes of rose petal and blood orange. Impressively pure and perfumed, with remarkable precision and cut to its concentrated but lively flavors of cherry and black raspberry. The weightless, mineral-driven character of this wine is something else. In a distinctly delicate, feminine style, with superb finishing cut and energy. This will probably cost a fortune when it lands in the U.S. , unfortunately. Josh Raynolds.
WA 95 (2/2017): The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape was slightly more impressive in its youth, and it's dropped a fair bit of color and is more upfront than I expected. Nevertheless, it's still a beautiful, elegant Rayas that offers classic notes of framboise, flower garden, strawberry jam and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, seductive and elegant on the palate, with that seamless style that's rarely found outside of this address, drink it anytime over the coming decade or more. |
|
| Rene Rostaing |
2020 |
Cote Rotie Cote Blonde (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,089.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97-99 (1/2022): My favorite of the 2020s from Rostaing—at least until I try the wines again next year—is the 2020 Cote Rotie la Cote Blonde. Scents of crushed stone and red raspberries give the impression of seamless transmission of terroir allied to incredible fruit purity. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it's an amazing expression of Cote Rotie that should age effortlessly for a couple of decades.
JD 95-97 (2/2022): Moving to the single parcel releases, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is about as pretty and seamless as they come, with gorgeous black raspberry fruit as well as spice, loamy earth, and subtle minerality on both the nose and palate. It’s concentrated and structured yet shines for its purity and finesse. |
|
| Dom. de Vieux Telegraphe |
2019 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$551.97 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (11/2021): The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is ruby/purple-hued and has the classic translucent color of the domaine. It's more precise and focused than the Telegramme and will need more time, but it offers a complex, gorgeous bouquet of red and black fruits, crushed stone, wild fennel, and ground pepper. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and elegant, do your best to hide bottles for 5-7 years and it's going to keep for two decades. |
|
| Alain Voge |
2020 |
Cornas Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$501.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Etienne Guigal |
2018 |
Hermitage Blanc ex Voto (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,522.99 |
1 |
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| |
| JD 100 (11/2020): Built for the long haul, the 2018 Hermitage Ex Voto Blanc is a majestic, noble white that could only come from this incredible, south-facing hillside in Hermitage. Revealing a light gold hue as well as notes of quince, honeyed minerality, toasted spices, orange marmalade, and spring flowers, this deep, rich, and full-bodied white has absorbed just about every trace of its oak élevage and has a concentrated, rich, yet focused and lengthy style. This cuvée had a more oaky, opulent style in the past, but today it comes across as a much more pure, elegant wine while not giving an inch with regard to density, texture, and concentration. As with just about every top Hermitage Blanc today, this offers plenty of immediate pleasure with its pure, fresh, mineral-laced style. Don't discount how much pleasure these wines can offer in their youth and always ignore the "always too young" crowd. This 2018 is going to evolve gracefully and drink brilliantly for 5-7 years, then (maybe) go into a closed, almost oxidative stage, only to emerge after 5-7 years and evolve for decades. |
|
| | Southern France |
| Dom. Tempier |
2022 |
Bandol Rose (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$937.99 |
1 |
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|
| | Spain |
| CVNE |
2005 |
Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$625.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2013): The 2005 Imperial Gran Reserva is firing on all cylinders. Smoked cured meats, balsamic notes of beeswax, antique shop and incense define the complex and elegant nose. The medium-bodied palate reveals an impressively powerful wine which manages to feel light on its feet. I needed to swallow a bit of wine to make sure; yes, it’s truly elegant and classic. This is a great wine, which transports you to the old Grand Reservas of yesteryear. It delivers great quality at a great price Drink 2016-2023.
VM 93 (10/2013): (a blend of 85% tempranillo, 10% graciano and 5% mazuelo that was aged in French and American oak for 24 months): Deep red. Heady aromas of cherry, redcurrant, vanilla and rose oil, with a smoky nuance and a hint of cured tobacco. Sappy, penetrating, appealingly sweet red fruit flavors put on weight with air while maintaining vivacity. This impressively balanced and focused gran reserva finishes with silky tannins and excellent cut and persistence. One for the cellar. |
|
| R. Lopez de Heredia |
2013 |
Vina Gravonia Blanco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$556.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| La Rioja Alta |
1997 |
Gran Reserva 904 Rioja (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$738.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Benjamin Romeo |
2020 |
Contador (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,305.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
| | USA Red |
| Robert Craig |
2006 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (84% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is a stunning wine with an opaque purple color and sweet, broad notes of licorice, plum, blueberry, blackberry, and cassis, as well as a hint of crushed rock. The oak is subtle and the wine savory, rich, and full-bodied, with remarkably sweet tannins, especially for a mountain Cabernet in 2006. This wine is approachable, although it promises to evolve for 20 or more years. |
|
|
2006 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
2 |
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| |
| WA 93 (12/2009): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder (81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot) plays it slightly closer to the vest, and at least at this tasting, seemed to be the most backward and tannic of these wines, which surprised me. There is some creme de cassis fruit intermixed with lead pencil shavings and an almost truffle-like note, but the wine is backward and foreboding. A muscular wine, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age, but should certainly be another 20+-year wine. |
|
|
2007 |
Affinity Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2009): The 2007 Affinity exhibits more graphite, but in essence is similarly elegant, with supple tannins (although more velvety than in the 2006), very young, primary black and blue fruit notes, and superb concentration, texture, and length. This is an exceptionally promising wine that is still hiding behind a rather primary display of fruit. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 15 or possibly 20 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (12/2009): Interestingly enough, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was also closed. However, it didn’t take long to coax some spice box, cedar, cassis, truffle, and chocolate out of the aromas. In the mouth, the wine is dense, full-bodied, but again, very tannic, almost atypically so for a 2007. I would forget it for at least 3-4 years and drink it over the following two decades. |
|
|
2009 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain bursts from the glass with expressive layers of roasted coffee beans, graphite, scorched earth and tar. It is a massive wine, yet shows remarkable balance and harmony from start to finish. Layers of racy black fruit build towards the muscular, virile finish. Simply put, this is a stunning example of Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain. The 2009 Howell Mountain is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 7% Merlot and 2% Malbec. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029+. |
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2009 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a big, broad-shouldered wine loaded with class and personality. Firm tannins provide the backdrop for layers of dark red fruit in this super-expressive, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. Tar, licorice, menthol, iron and smoke nuances develop in the glass, adding a sense of gravitas. This is a striking, totally beautiful wine from Robert Craig. The 2009 Mount Veeder is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. |
|
|
2010 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is an effortless and totally gracious wine. It doesn’t have the overt weight and power of the Mt. Veeder bottling, instead all the elements are much more subtle. Make no mistake, there is plenty of underlying structure, power and depth. The essence of raspberry jam, flowers, mint and sweet spices is layered in the elegant finish. This is another wine that will require further time in bottle to show its best. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. |
|
|
2010 |
Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District is surprisingly open for the vintage and its provenance. It is the most accessible of the 2010 Cabernets I tasted from Robert Craig this year. Layers of dark red fruit, Chambord, cloves and mint linger on the subtle, perfumed finish. This is one of the more feminine 2010s in the lineup. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. |
|
|
2013 |
Diamond Mtn. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District, which is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, but treated almost identically to the other wines (18 months in 90% new French oak) is another big-time winner from Robert Craig. Backward and dense, but gorgeously pure blackberry and almost blood-like meaty notes combine with earth, spice and subtle oak to create a back-strapping, muscular, full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine with a good 20-25 years of upside. This was hard not to get blown away by, but it patience is needed, and 4-5 years is suggested. |
|
| Gargiulo Vineyards |
2018 |
Money Road Ranch Merlot |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hunnicutt |
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2015): Hunnicutt’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, is stunning. Overseen by winemaker Kirk Venge, the son of legendary Nils Venge, this 568-case cuvée a is terrific. Sweet blackberry fruits jump from the glass, the wine broad, savory and full-bodied with beautiful purity and intensity. It’s also a great value in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon given the quality. Drink it over the next 20 years. |
|
| Lewelling Vineyards |
2007 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2009): The classic 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like proprietor Alfred Tesseron’s over-achieving 5th growth Pauillac, Chateau Pontet Canet moved to Napa. Bursting with creme de cassis, flower, lead pencil, and spice characteristics, it is a dense, pure, full-bodied wine with a terrific texture. This is a gorgeously harmonious, seamless Cabernet Sauvignon with awesome concentration as well as aging potential. Drink it now and over the next 25 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (12/2009): Even more profound is the nearly perfect 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard. The finest Cabernet I have ever tasted from this estate, it has everything the Napa Cabernet possesses, along with a few more layers, slightly more aromatic and flavor intensity, and a finish that goes on for close to a minute. The tannins are just as sweet, but there are more of them. This is a prodigious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with all the creme de cassis one could ever want intermixed with charcoal, acacia flowers, licorice, and a hint of background oak. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 2-3 decades. Kudos! |
|
|
2009 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is a huge wine bursting with dark red fruit, flowers and sweet spices. The 2009 needs quite a bit of bottle age to shed its baby fat, but it is impressive, even at this early stage. Firm yet silky tannins frame the textured, generous finish. This seamless, highly expressive wine should drink well for at least a handful of years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029. |
|
|
2010 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa offers notes of creme de cassis, licorice, charcoal and toasty oak in a spicy, medium to full-bodied, pure, upfront, drinkable style, especially for a 2010. This beauty should continue to age nicely for a decade or more. |
|
|
2010 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2013): Richer and fuller-bodied with denser fruit and more structure is the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard. Exhibiting copious quantities of black currants intermixed with notions of camphor, spring flowers and toasty oak as well as a full-bodied mouthfeel, terrific intensity and purity, a voluptuous texture, and some tannin lurking under the lavish fruit and glycerin. It can be drunk now or cellared for another 15-20 years. |
|
|
2013 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (10/2015): The inky purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon displays plenty of classic creme de cassis and lead pencil shavings along with some licorice, charcoal and vanilla notes. It is full-bodied and opulent, with good integration of sweet tannin and bright acids. This wine is still young but approachable, and certainly capable of evolving for 10-15+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (10/2015): Very Pauillac-like (as usual), the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight has a similar character, with loads of creme de cassis, smoke, licorice and graphite as well as a full-bodied texture, dense, rich fruit, impressive purity and ripe tannin. This is a beauty, but interestingly, it doesn’t show the dramatic difference in quality that it often does at such a young age, although that may well evolve. Give it several more years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades. |
|
|
2014 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (12/2017): The base 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon isn’t far behind the Wight Vineyard release and offers similar blue and black fruits, gorgeous notes of graphite, lead pencil and cedar, full-bodied richness, and ripe, present tannin. Slightly more firm and tannic than the top cuvee, it will benefit from short-term cellaring, and keep for 10-15 years. I loved both the 2014s and 2015s from Lewelling, but have to give the nod to the 2015s, which have that extra dimension. (Drink between 2018-2033) |
|
|
2014 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight ratchets up the concentration level. The fruit is deeper, denser, the wine slightly fuller-bodied, but nevertheless shares the same style of licorice, crème de cassis, cedar wood and well-integrated, subtle oak. It is a full-bodied classic from Napa that should drink nicely for 20 or more years. The poor person’s Screaming Eagle? |
|
|
2015 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (12/2017): The base 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is no entry level wine and offers incredible purity and elegance in its blue fruits, cassis, graphite, and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. This beauty has classic, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon richness, polished tannin, no hard edges, and a great finish. Tasting just like a slightly toned-down version of the Wight Vineyard (Bordeaux lovers will probably prefer this cuvee as it’s slightly more classic in style) it’s a beautiful, layered, multi-dimensional Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 15+ years. I loved both the 2014s and 2015s from Lewelling, but have to give the nod to the 2015s, which have that extra dimension. |
|
|
2015 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (12/2017): The flagship cuvee from this estate is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard and it’s always a cellar selection of top lots from the estate vintage. I was able to taste this cuvee from two bottles and this is an undeniably majestic, ethereal effort from the Weight Family. Huge amounts of blue fruits, spring flowers, sandalwood, lavender, and potpourri notes all literally soar from the glass and this beauty has just about everything you could want in a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With a full-bodied, deep, concentrated style, incredible complexity, hints of background oak, and layers of sweet tannin, give bottle 2-3 years of bottle age and drink over the following 2-3 decades. Bravo! I loved both the 2014s and 2015s from Lewelling, but have to give the nod to the 2015s, which have that extra dimension. (Drink between 2018-2048) |
|
| Linne Calodo |
2007 |
Outsider |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2010): The last 2007 to be released is the 2007 Outsider, a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. Trevisan’s great strength in blending Zinfandel with Rhone varietals continues to make him the leading practitioner of these types of blends. Taking advantage of some of the old Zinfandel planted in limestone in the Paso Robles area, he does a marvelous job turning out a wine that tastes more like a Rhone Ranger than a Zinfandel. The lovely, briary fruit of this wine intermixed with some new saddle leather, earth, spice, pepper, and herbs is just beautiful. It has loads of fruit, a lush texture, medium to full body, and a heady finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Outsider Scuffed Label |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2010): The last 2007 to be released is the 2007 Outsider, a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. Trevisan’s great strength in blending Zinfandel with Rhone varietals continues to make him the leading practitioner of these types of blends. Taking advantage of some of the old Zinfandel planted in limestone in the Paso Robles area, he does a marvelous job turning out a wine that tastes more like a Rhone Ranger than a Zinfandel. The lovely, briary fruit of this wine intermixed with some new saddle leather, earth, spice, pepper, and herbs is just beautiful. It has loads of fruit, a lush texture, medium to full body, and a heady finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. |
|
|
2007 |
Sticks and Stones |
$79 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94 (11/2009): A blend of 63% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 12% Syrah, the 2007 Linne Calodo Sticks and Stones boast stunning aromatics of perfumed red fruits, bramble, meat, clove and spice. Complex and nuanced on the nose, the palate is medium to full bodied with sweet fruit, awesome fruit and a long finish.
WA 94 (8/2009): The 2007 Sticks and Stones is a blend of 63% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre, and 12% Syrah. This cuvee always comes across like a Paso Robles version of a Chateauneuf du Pape. Elegant as well as substantial, the 2007 exhibits sweet kirsch liqueur, raspberry, lavender, and dusty, loamy soil characteristics, medium to full body, and ripe tannin. Enjoy this beauty over the next 7-8 years.
VM 91 (12/2009): (63% grenache, 25% mourvedre and 12% syrah) Deep, bright red. Spicy red berries, flowers and minerals on the pungent nose. Juicy and bright, with harmonious acidity giving vivacity to the sweet red berry fruit. Becomes creamier as it sits in the glass, picking up a note of spicecake. This lively wine should put on weight with a couple more years of bottle aging. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and very good energy. |
|
|
2009 |
Outsider |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (8/2011): The 2009 Outsider is a rich, sensual wine bursting with fruit. It reveals marvelous depth and balance. Layers of dark fruit, menthol and mint wrap around the intense finish. I especially like the pliancy and generosity here. Outsider is 78% Zinfandel and 20% Syrah and 2% Mourvèdre. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2009 |
Overthinker |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2009 |
Problem Child |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2011): The 2009 Problem Child shows off gorgeous inner perfume, juicy red cherries, menthol and licorice, all of which come together beautifully in this gorgeous wine. The intensity of the fruit flows gracefully to the striking, inviting finish. There is weightless, transparent quality along with expressive aromatics that makes this a totally beguiling wine. The blend is 76% Zinfandel, 15% Syrah and 9% Mourvedre. The unique qualities of Zinfandel add considerable character to this unique, gorgeous red. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. |
|
|
2009 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (8/2011): The 2009 Sticks and Stones is a gorgeous wine laced with fragrant red cherries, plums, flowers, spices and sweet herbs, all of which come together beautifully. Soft and textured throughout, the 2009 Sticks and Stones shows gorgeous length and an attractive, open-knit personality. Bright red fruit notes reappear on the finish. In 2009 the blend is 64% Grenache, 29% Mourvèdre and 7% Syrah. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2010 |
Booker Red |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2013): (44% syrah, 32% grenache and 24% mourvedre): Opaque ruby. Smoke-accented cherry-cola, cassis and blueberry aromas, with hints of olive tapenade, violet and incense building with air. Plush, palate-coating and broad, with very good depth to its spicy dark berry and floral pastille flavors. Shows alluring sweetness on the finish, supported and shaped by velvety tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2010 |
Overthinker |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (11/2013): (42% grenache, 35% syrah and 23% mourvedre): Vivid ruby. Powerful dark berry and cherry pit scents are lifted by notes of white pepper, candied flowers and allspice. Cherry-cola and boysenberry flavors show impressive clarity and breadth, picking up spicecake and lavender pastille nuances with aeration. Closes with striking energy and lift, leaving sweet blue fruit and Asian spice notes behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2010 |
Problem Child |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (11/2012): (77% zinfandel, 16% syrah and 7% mourvedre): Dark ruby. High-pitched, floral aromas and flavors of redcurrant and cherry, with an exotic touch of Asian spices. Sappy and pure, displaying a silky texture and impressive energy. Notes of licorice and allspice come up with air and carry through the long, spicy, seamless finish. There's a pinot-like elegance to this wine that I find fascinating and inviting. Josh aynolds. |
|
|
2010 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (8/2012): The 2010 Sticks and Stones is a gorgeous, vibrant wine laced with sweet red cherries, licorice, mint and spices. There is a purity and sheer finesse here that is striking. Sweet floral notes add lift on the finish. This is a stunning, medium-bodied wine built on freshness, acidity and length. In 2010 the blend is 71% Grenache, 19% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. What a great way to start this tasting. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Overthinker |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (7/2014): One of the more explosive wines in the range, the 2011 Overthinker bursts from the glass with notable intensity and depth. Raspberry jam, crushed flowers, spices, new leather and menthol meld together in a sumptuous, expressive wine full of character. The 2011 is 45% Grenache, 33% Syrah and 22% Mourvèdre, all from estate-owned vineyards. (Drink between 2014-2019) Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2011 |
Problem Child |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2013): Showing additional richness, the 2011 Problem Child (72% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah and 8% Mourvedre) possesses a sweet core of fruit as well as a medium to full-bodied, voluptuously textured profile. Blackberry, currants, exotic flowers and violets all show on the nose, and it continually changes in the glass and is beautifully complex. Aged in 20% new wood, the fruit is front and center here. Drink 2014-2021. |
|
|
2011 |
Perfectionist |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (12/2013): (62% syrah, 27% mourvedre, 7% grenache and 4% tannat): Vivid ruby. Vibrant aromas of cassis, licorice and black pepper, with a suave floral overtone. Bright, juicy and tightly wound, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors and hints of candied violet and spicecake. Impressively fresh and focused, with excellent finishing thrust and smooth, harmonious tannins adding shape. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2011 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2013): More Grenache dominated and comprised of 52% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2011 Sticks and Stones is medium-bodied and fresh, with vibrant acidity, fine tannin and an all-around polished, lively feel. Kirsch, blackberry, licorice, pepper and plenty of underbrush all emerge from the glass, and this highlights aromatic complexity and elegance more than richness or power. It will evolve gracefully for 7-8 years. Drink now-2021. |
|
|
2013 |
Problem Child |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (9/2015): Saturated ruby. A heady, explosively perfumed bouquet displays scents of ripe raspberry, incense and rose oil, with an intense spicy nuance adding lift. Stains the palate with potent red fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, with juicy acidity providing spine. Youthfully firm tannins build slowly through the strikingly long finish, which strongly repeats the red fruit and floral qualities. (Drink between 2021-2026). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2013 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2015): A sensational expression of California Grenache, Matt's 2013 Sticks and Stones gives up tons of sweet cherries, raspberries, crushed, flowers and spice characteristics in a medium to full-bodied, pure, elegant profile. Made from 70% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and 8% Syrah, it shines for its overall balance, purity of fruit and light, ethereal mouthfeel that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's already drinking great so don't be afraid to crack open a bottle. It should still be going strong in 2022. |
|
| Long Shadows Wineries |
2004 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2006 |
Pedestal Merlot |
$60 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2009): The 2006 Pedestal features Michel Rolland who was at Long Shadows on the day of my tasting to do some blending. His wine is 86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak. Purple-colored, it offers an alluring bouquet of sandalwood, pencil lead, spice box, incense, black currants, and black cherry. Seamless on the palate, this plush wine has layers of ripe, savory flavors, well-concealed tannin, excellent aging potential, and a 60-second finish. It will provide much pleasure between 2013 and 2026.
VM 91 (11/2009): (Michel Rolland's blend, consisting of 86% merlot, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot and 2% malbec; aged in 85% new oak) Good bright ruby-red. Sweet, creamy aromas of redcurrant and sexy sandalwood. Fat, rich and sweet, with a ripeness verging on overripe. The wine's big tannins initially overwhelmed the merlot character, but this big, broad, distinctly New World wine showed increasing fruit flavor with extended aeration. Finishes with broad, serious tannins that call for patience. |
|
|
2006 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (10/2009): The 2006 Feather is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee made by Randy Dunn of Napa Valley fame. The wine was sourced from several prime vineyards and aged for 22 months in new French oak. The nose gives up aromas of toasty oak, scorched earth, Asian spices, black currant, and blackberry. Firm and structured yet elegant on the palate, there are layers of fruit and enough tannin to evolve for another 4-6 years. The wine will be at its best from 2013 to 2026. |
|
|
2006 |
Pirouette Red Wine |
$59 |
10 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2009): ( this joint project of Agustin Huneeus, Sr. and Philippe Melka is a blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 15% petit verdot, 6% cab franc and 5% syrah) Good deep ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of dark raspberry, mocha and spices, with a sweetness from the Taransaud barrels. Broad and sweet in the mouth: I would have guessed this had some residual sugar but I suspect the wine's glyceral quality is largely due to the fact that much of it was fermented in 400-liter barrels with native yeasts. Finishes with big, chewy tannins that build with air without losing their essential suavity. This wine, as well as the Chester Kidder, spends up to 42 days on its skins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2007 |
Pedestal Merlot |
$70 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2010): The 2007 Pedestal Merlot is the project of Michel Rolland. This latest release is composed of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged for 20 months in 80% new French oak. It reveals a fragrant nose of sandalwood, incense, sage, cinnamon, black cherry, and black currant. Elegant on the palate despite its ample size, it is loaded with succulent fruit set off by enough ripe tannin to support an additional 3-4 years of cellaring. It will deliver prime drinking from 2013 to 2027.
VM 92 (12/2010): (Michel Rolland's wine) Sweet aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and flowers. Plump, ripe and dry, with a pliant, layered texture to the flavors of raspberry, chocolate, tobacco and loam. Very merlot. I like the combination of sweet mid-palate fruit and the classically dry, broad finish. |
|
|
2007 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (8/2010): The 2007 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) is produced by Randy Dunn. It is a multi-regional blend of Cabernet with the Dionysus and Weinbau Vineyards as the principal sources. It was aged for 22 months in 90% new French oak. Deep purple-colored, it exhibits a classy bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, earth notes, violets, and black currant. Supple and layered on the palate, it displays enough underlying structure to evolve for 5-6 years. With outstanding volume and grip, it will offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2027. |
|
|
2007 |
Pirouette Red Wine |
$59 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (8/2010): The 2007 Pirouette is produced by Agustin Huneeus, Sr. and Philippe Melka. It is a Bordeaux-style blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc with the balance Petit Verdot and Malbec. It was aged in 70% new French oak for 22 months. Medium purple in color, it sports an incipiently complex nose of Asian spices, incense, violets, mineral, black currant, and blackberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied, mouth-filling wine with ample ripe tannin, excellent balance, and 4-6 years of aging potential. Drink this pleasure-bent offering from 2014 to 2027. |
|
|
2009 |
Chester Kidder Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2013): A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, 17% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 30 months in 100% new French oak, the 2009 Red Wine Chester-Kidder is made by Long Shadow’s manager, Gilles Nicault, and comes from a variety of vineyards in the Columbia Valley. A big, rich wine that does everything right, it has an inky purple color to go with intense creme de cassis, raspberry, toast and spiced meat aromas on the nose. Surprisingly polished and supple on the palate, with juicy acidity, it has layers of fruit, a medium to full-bodied texture and serious length on the finish. Enjoy it over the coming 10-12 years. Drink now-2025. |
|
|
2009 |
Pirouette Red Wine |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (12/2012): (58% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 3% malbec; 15% alcohol): Deep, bright medium ruby. Ripe, inviting aromas of cassis, black raspberry, blackberry and black licorice. Large-scaled, sweet and rich; wonderfully glossy in the mouth, with concentrated dark fruit flavors complemented by a strong element of sweet oak. This big boy finishes with lovely lingering perfume, excellent length and terrific tannic grip. This wine fermented in 400-liter wood barrels with wild yeasts. Today, this joint project of Augustin Huneeus Sr. and Philippe Melka is my early favorite among these 2009s. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Pirouette Red Wine (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (12/2012): (58% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 3% malbec; 15% alcohol): Deep, bright medium ruby. Ripe, inviting aromas of cassis, black raspberry, blackberry and black licorice. Large-scaled, sweet and rich; wonderfully glossy in the mouth, with concentrated dark fruit flavors complemented by a strong element of sweet oak. This big boy finishes with lovely lingering perfume, excellent length and terrific tannic grip. This wine fermented in 400-liter wood barrels with wild yeasts. Today, this joint project of Augustin Huneeus Sr. and Philippe Melka is my early favorite among these 2009s. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2009 |
Pedestal Merlot |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2012): (83% merlot, 12% cabernet sauvignon and 5% malbec): Bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, melted licorice and minerals. Sweet, ripe and strong, with a distinctly sappy quality to its black cherry and sexy oak flavors. This struck me as more masculine than the 2008 version and every bit as fresh--and in need of longer bottle aging. Finishes classically dry and long, with solid backbone. |
|
|
2009 |
Pedestal Merlot (1.5 L) |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (12/2012): (83% merlot, 12% cabernet sauvignon and 5% malbec): Bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of black cherry, melted licorice and minerals. Sweet, ripe and strong, with a distinctly sappy quality to its black cherry and sexy oak flavors. This struck me as more masculine than the 2008 version and every bit as fresh--and in need of longer bottle aging. Finishes classically dry and long, with solid backbone. |
|
|
2010 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2013): Showing the most sweet fruit and oak of the lineup, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather is made by Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards in Napa Valley. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spends 22 months in 100% French oak, it is loaded with sweet black raspberry jam, creme de cassis, charred toast and crushed flower-like nuances that flow to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured Cabernet that builds in tannin and depth with air. Gorgeously pure and seamless, it needs 3-4 years in the cellar and will evolve gracefully for 12-15 years. Drink now-2025.
VM 91+ (11/2013): Good bright ruby. Medicinal, extremely primary aromas of cassis, blueberry and musky dusty spices. Creamy and deep but youthfully closed, showing strong medicinal reserve to the black fruit, licorice and graphite flavors. A painfully backward 2010, very tight and tannic today and in need of extended cellaring. A classic Randy Dunn cabernet. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$130 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2013): Showing the most sweet fruit and oak of the lineup, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather is made by Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards in Napa Valley. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spends 22 months in 100% French oak, it is loaded with sweet black raspberry jam, creme de cassis, charred toast and crushed flower-like nuances that flow to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured Cabernet that builds in tannin and depth with air. Gorgeously pure and seamless, it needs 3-4 years in the cellar and will evolve gracefully for 12-15 years. Drink now-2025.
VM 91+ (11/2013): Good bright ruby. Medicinal, extremely primary aromas of cassis, blueberry and musky dusty spices. Creamy and deep but youthfully closed, showing strong medicinal reserve to the black fruit, licorice and graphite flavors. A painfully backward 2010, very tight and tannic today and in need of extended cellaring. A classic Randy Dunn cabernet. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Pedestal Merlot (1.5 L) |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2013): A big, rich Merlot that’s made by famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland, the 2010 Merlot Pedestal (81% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers knockout aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, black raspberry, crushed flowers, licorice and big minerality to go with a medium to full-bodied, supple and sexy palate that firms up beautifully on the finish. There’s big fruit here, yet overall, it remains perfectly balanced and has sound underlying tannic structure. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following decade or more. Drink now-2020. |
|
|
2011 |
Pedestal Merlot (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Made by Michel Rolland, the Merlot-dominated 2011 Pedestal incorporates a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and gives up ripe, full-throttle aromas and flavors of plum liqueur, licorice, smoked herbs and hints of background meatiness to go with a full-bodied, up-front, layered and downright sexy feel in the mouth. Showing good concentration and an already delicious style, enjoy bottles over the coming decade or so. |
|
|
2011 |
Chester Kidder Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$120 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2015): The 2011 Chester Kidder is a beauty. Coming from a difficult vintage and a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah and 7% Petit Verdot, it spent 30 months in 85% new French oak before being bottled. Inky colored, medium to full-bodied, silky and with fabulous tannin quality, it’s absorbed almost every trace of its oak élevage and offers layers of dark fruits, licorice, chocolate and toasted spice. It has a classic feel and will age effortlessly for another 10-15 years. |
|
|
2011 |
Pirouette Red Wine (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (12/2014): (14.9% alcohol; 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% petit verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec; aged for 22 months in 75% new French oak; made by Augustin Huneeus Sr. and Philippe Melka): Bright red-ruby. Aromas of black fruits, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate and violet. At once juicy and powerful, with ripe acidity giving sharp definition and thrust to the dark berry, violet and coffee flavors. Finishes very long and firmly tannic. The wine’s Cabernet Sauvignon component fermented on its skins for 30 days with native yeasts, but the petit verdot may also have contributed to the wine’s tannic clout. This will need a minimum of six or seven years of additional bottle aging. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2018 |
Chester Kidder Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$110 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (7/2022): The 2018 Chester-Kidder Red Wine is based on 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 30 months in 85% new French oak. It's another brilliant wine from this team and has vibrant plum and darker, almost blue fruits as well as spicy oak, chocolate, graphite, and scorched earth aromas and flavors. Balanced and medium to full-bodied, with a terrific sense of freshness as well as building tannins, it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and have two decades of longevity. |
|
|
2018 |
Feather Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$135 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (5/2021): The classic 2018 Feather (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) comes from the Weinbau and Wallula Vineyards and spent 22 months in 90% new French oak. It has a wonderfully pure nose of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, dried flowers, and tobacco that carries to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Cabernet with a wonderful sense of purity, balance, and elegance, all while bringing plenty of fruit and structure. I actually like it today, yet it has enough tannins to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and should be long lived. (Drink between 2023-2038) |
|
| Matthews |
2006 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
12 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2009): Dark red. Expressive aromas and flavors of currant, plum, tobacco, graphite and chocolatey oak. Supple and juicy, with moderate sweetness and flesh. Slightly tart acidity gives shape and lift to this blend, which finishes with dusty, building, oak-driven tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Blackboard Colombia Valley Red Wine |
$15 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2013): Good dark red. Subdued but complex nose hints at redcurrant, mocha, graphite, brown spices and tomato leaf. Silky and fine-grained on entry, the mellow in the middle, with attractive oak-driven notes of sassafras and cola to go with the red fruits. Not overly sweet but quite mellow. This is just under 15% alcohol but I would not have guessed it. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Colombia Valley Reserve Red Wine |
$40 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2013): Bright dark. Perfumed aromas of red- and blackcurrant, black cherry, licorice and musky mocha. Smooth and fine-grained, offering superb tactile concentration to its flavors of currant, blackberry, licorice and dark chocolate. Plenty of oak here but nicely balanced by fruit. Offers lovely sweetness and immediate appeal but this is more firmly structured than the 2010 claret, finishing with suave tannins and very good chewy grip. Built to age. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Colombia Valley Reserve Red Wine Bin-Soiled Label |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2013): Bright dark. Perfumed aromas of red- and blackcurrant, black cherry, licorice and musky mocha. Smooth and fine-grained, offering superb tactile concentration to its flavors of currant, blackberry, licorice and dark chocolate. Plenty of oak here but nicely balanced by fruit. Offers lovely sweetness and immediate appeal but this is more firmly structured than the 2010 claret, finishing with suave tannins and very good chewy grip. Built to age. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Colombia Valley Syrah |
$20 |
20 |
|
| |
| VM 91+ (12/2013): (15.4% alcohol; aged in once-used puncheons and once-used barriques ): Saturated bright ruby. Very primary, dark aromas of blackberry, licorice and illegal resiny herbs, lifted by a high-pitched violet perfume. Dense, juicy and suave but quite tightly wound in the style of the vintage. Dark berry and bitter chocolate flavors work more savory than sweet. This very young, long wine finishes with very fine-grained, suave tannins and a hint of bitter chocolate. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Blackboard Colombia Valley Red Wine |
$15 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (12/2013): (15.4% alcohol; 54% cabernet sauvignon, 28% syrah, 6% each merlot and cabernet franc, 4% petit verdot and 2% malbec): Medium red. Aromas of strawberry, plum and chocolate. Silky and pliant on entry, then moderately concentrated and seamless in the middle, with plum and spicecake flavors complicated by vanilla and cola notes. A rather polite blend, especially in light of its high alcohol, finishing with soft tannins and moderate grip. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
8 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (12/2014): (a Bordeaux blend based on 68% Merlot; the objective here is elegance, while the flagship red is more about structure, according to winemaker Aryn Morell): Full, bright, deep red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, mocha, licorice, tar and tobacco. At once smooth and tight-grained, with intense black fruit-dominated flavors showing very good grip. Carries nicely on the finish, which features broad tannins, firm acidity and suave oak treatment. I like this style. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2011 |
Colombia Valley Reserve Red Wine |
$40 |
11 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2014): Even more impressive, with smoking raspberry, blackberry, spring flowers, toast and hints of licorice, the 2011 Reserve is medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated (especially in the vintage), layered and elegant, with fabulous purity and freshness. It too has ultra-fine tannin and impressive length on the finish. Made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in 100% new French oak, it will shine through 2025. |
|
|
2011 |
Colombia Valley Syrah |
$20 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (12/2013): Saturated medium ruby. Blackberry, raspberry, licorice and exotic spicecake on the nose, with a faintly jammy quality. At once creamy and bright, with silky berry fruit framed by harmonious acidity and supported by good medicinal reserve. A bit warm throughout but this syrah has excellent creamy depth and finishes with suave tannins and lovely lingering sweetness. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2015 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$25 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 91 (4/2018): The 2015 Claret checks in as a 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot which spent 20 months in 51% new French oak. Cassis, blueberries, leafy herbs, and liquid flower notes all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, lively, fresh, elegant blend that shines for its purity and sheer drinkability. These Matthews releases are made by Aryn Morell, who has a hand in a number of top wines in this report. (Drink between 2018-2028) |
|
|
2015 |
Colombia Valley Reserve Claret |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (4/2018): The 2015 Claret Reserve checks in as 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that saw more new oak, spending 22 months in 80% new barrels. Similarly inky colored, with beautiful blue fruits, violets, cedar and incense aromatics, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, fine, polished tannin, and nicely integrated acidity. It's balanced, has beautiful purity, and a great finish. |
|
| Outpost |
2006 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (12/2008): The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain avoids the hard tannin and monolithic character that can be found in some 2006 Cabernets. Pure black raspberry, black currant, graphite, and subtle spicy oak dominate the aromatics. Full body, an admirable texture, a layered mouthfeel, and a long finish suggest this 2006 can be drunk now or cellared for a decade or more. |
|
|
2006 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2008): From a 9-acre parcel, the full-bodied 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard includes some Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the blend. It reveals a floral cocktail-like bouquet intermixed with lead pencil shavings, blue and black fruits, good freshness, and laser-like focus. A powerful, rich, layered effort, it ranks a few notches above their regular offering. It should evolve for two decades. |
|
|
2007 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (12/2009): The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is their finest regular offering to date. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon possesses a dense, full-bodied personality, an inky/purple color, plenty of graphite, subtle toast, blueberry and blackberry fruit, striking minerality, a layered texture (something Thomas Brown seems to get in all of his wines), and a long finish. It is the kind of Cabernet Sauvignon that seems to pass the torch of quality and greatness from the old boys who started here, but have now been dramatically surpassed in quality by newcomers such as Outpost and nearby neighbor O’Shaughnessy, to name a few.
VM 91+ (5/2010): Good medium ruby. Dark berries, minerals and licorice on the nose. Sweet and creamy in the mouth, with noteworthy intensity to the cassis and black cherry fruit. Tannins are powerful but round and sweet. |
|
|
2007 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$239 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2009): From a single 9-acre parcel, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard exhibits extraordinary aromas of acacia flowers and violets along with an irrefutable minerality, an abundance of blueberry and blackberry fruit, Outstanding texture, full-bodied richness, great depth, and ripe tannin. This Cabernet will benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring, and should evolve for 40 years.
VM 93+ (6/2010): Full ruby. Precise aromas of dark berries, crushed rock, licorice and violet, plus a whiff of white flowers. Sweet, intensely flavored and deep, with a slightly exotic cast to its ripe fruit flavors. A serious wine from a relative cool site, unusually voluptuous in 2007 but with a strong underlying tannic spine calling for considerable patience. From vines planted on bedrock. |
|
|
2009 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very typical wine from this appellation. Spices, grilled herbs and new leather add considerable complexity to the dark fruit. I especially admire the finesse and fabulous overall sense of harmony here. This is a highly representative Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
VM 90-93 (6/2011): Good ruby-red. Subdued but pure aromas of dark berries, violet and licorice; smells serious! Then dense, thick, rich and deep in the mouth, with dark flavors of cassis, blackberry, licorice and menthol. Boasts a large structure, with the rather powerful tongue-dusting tannins arriving early. This youthfully medicinal, classic Howell Mountain cabernet will need at least five years of cellaring upon its release. |
|
|
2009 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 95 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard is a much more opulent wine that in many ways is less typical of Howell Mountain. It is an especially seamless Cabernet Sauvignon loaded with dark fruit, flowers and mint, all of which are supported by insistent veins of minerality. All of the flavors build effortlessly to the muscular, inviting finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.
VM 93-95 (6/2011): Good ruby-red. Complex, musky aromas of plum, redcurrant, smoked meat, mint, chocolate, dried flowers and wild herbs; conveys a strong rocky quality. Then rich, fat, sweet and seamless, with the impression of wildness carrying through on the palate. The big, building tannins reach the incisors, but here they are suaver and finer-grained than those of the basic Outpost cabernet. Finishes very long, with a savory minerality and a lovely light touch. Offers terrific potential. |
|
|
2011 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (10/2013): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 75% new French oak) reveals attractive scents of blackberries, black currants, charcoal and graphite, full-bodied flavors with impressive richness, a long, opulent mouthfeel and a heady finish. |
|
|
2011 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2013): Even better is the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard, one of the candidates for wine of the vintage. It, too, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is given the same basic elevage as the other wines except the percentage of new French oak increases to 90%. There are 375 cases of this beauty, which may be the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon Outpost has made to date. Abundant notes of creme de cassis, blueberry, acacia flowers (or is it violets?), licorice and wet stones are followed by a full-bodied, superbly concentrated, multidimensional, endearingly textured wine with low acidity and ripe tannin. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. |
|
|
2013 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$229 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 99 (10/2015): Absolutely as close to perfection as one probably can get is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a selection of their very best material. This cuvee represents 375 cases aged 20 months in 90% new French oak. Opaque purple in color and more packed and concentrated than its sibling, it is full-bodied, with blackberry and blueberry fruit, perhaps a slight suggestion of charcoal and volcanic earth and burning embers. The wine has huge structure, massive extract and is as packed and stacked as a Cabernet Sauvignon can be. Forget it for 7-10 years and drink it over the following 40-50.
VM 95+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard is every bit as impressive as it has been on the several occasions I have tasted it from cask. An exotic concoction of smoke, graphite, black cherries and lavender makes a strong impression in a towering, distinctive Howell Mountain wine that is going to need a good few years in bottle to truly come together. This is a fabulous showing from Outpost. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pott |
2012 |
Le Nouveau Western Star Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star Vineyard comes from a site originally planted by Ric Forman and David Abreu on pure gravelly clay loam soils. Beringer and Etude have done some fabulous work from this site, and this is another gorgeous effort. Lots of blackberry, blackcurrant, dusty, loamy soil, sweet licorice, incense and camphor emerge from this deep, rich Cabernet. Pott’s vineyard rows are planted with the Martha’s Clone of Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the late Joe Heitz’s legendary Martha’s Vineyard. This is a beauty to drink over the next 12-15 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Kaliholmanok Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok, from a site on Spring Mountain, is one of the most sensual wines in Aaron Pott's range. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mint, spice and rose petal meld into the voluptuous, racy finish, all with silky tannins that enrobe the fruit while conveying finesse and pure sensuality. Next to Pott's 2013s, the Kaliholmanok is a bit less powerful and is also likely to be more accessible young. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Quilceda Creek |
2011 |
Palengat Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Rasa Vineyards |
2007 |
Principia Reserve Syrah |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (5/2010): A reserve release and 100% Syrah from 5 vineyards (the bulk of the blend is from Les Collines), the 2007 Rasa Vineyards PRINCIPIA is named after Sir Isaac Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (known as Principia). The wine is aged for 23 months in 30% new French oak and offers up a spectacular bouquet of blackberry and cassis fruit, spice, graphite, crème brûlée, and smoke. This puppy is decadent but also fresh and edgy. On the palate, it’s beautifully balanced with medium to full body, a light, seamless texture and a exceptionally long finish. One of the top wines from Washington, this is beautiful now and should continue to drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. (Drink between 2010-2025) |
|
|
2009 |
In Order to Form a More Perfect Union |
$69 |
5 |
|
| |
| JD 96 (6/2012): The first vintage for this wine and a blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 23% Cabernet Franc that was aged in 60% new French oak, the 2009 Rasa Vineyards In Order to Form a More Perfect Union delivers spectacular aromatics, a seamless, full-bodied texture, and blockbuster length on the finish. Showing notes of crème de cassis, tobacco, charred toast, sweet oak, and spice cabinet on the nose, this stays gorgeously light, elegant, and fresh on the palate, while at the same time showing fantastic intensity, a concentrated mid-palate, and ripe tannin that emerges with more time in the glass. This is impressive any way you slice it, and while it is no doubt a spectacular drink now, it deserves 4-5 years of bottle age, and should keep for upwards of two decades. |
|
|
2009 |
Plus One Kiona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (6/2012): Showing superb Cabernet character, as well as the minerality and tannin structure of Red Mountain, the 2009 Rasa Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Plus One Kiona Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged half in new French oak, and half in neutral barrel. It exhibits classic Cabernet aromas of black currant and creamy blackberry styled fruit that’s intermixed with notions of freshly crushed stone, roasted meats, sweet oak, and spice box on the nose. This flows to a full-bodied, gorgeously proportioned wine that has fantastic concentration, a layered, seamless texture, and building tannin that emerges with time in the glass. There’s plenty of structure here; give bottles 3-4 years in the cellar, and then plan on drinking over the following 15+ years. |
|
|
2009 |
Principia Reserve Syrah |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (6/2012): The estate’s top Syrah and sourced from a number of top vineyards, the 2009 Rasa Vineyards Syrah Principia Reserve, aged mostly in neutral French oak, is pure and decadently fruited, with brilliant aromas of crème de cassis, smoked blackberry, truffle, sweet oak, and creamy licorice on the nose. These qualities carry over to the palate where the wine is full-bodied and powerful, with a concentrated mid-palate, a rich, full texture, and ripe, polished tannin that frames the finish. Overall, blockbuster stuff that is already complex and approachable. Nevertheless, it should ideally be given 2-3 years of bottle age, and then consumed over the following decade or longer. |
|
|
2010 |
Creative Impulse DuBrul Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2013): Similarly styled, yet with a sweeter core of fruit and less herbal notes, the 2010 Creative Impulse DuBrul Vineyard is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that spent 28 months in 60% new French oak. A big, spice-laced and already complex 2010, it exhibits black raspberry-like fruit, spice-cabinet, toast, tobacco and dry aged beef qualities along with a full-bodied, decadent and creamily textured mouthfeel. As with the Perfect Union, it has solid, age-worthy structure under all of its fruit and will have 15+ years or more of prime drinking. Decant if drinking anytime soon. Drink 2016-2025. |
|
|
2010 |
Plus One Kiona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2013): Starting the Bordeaux varieties, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Kiona Vineyard Plus One is an outstanding effort that reveals an overall fresh, pure profile. Jammy black raspberry, creme brulee, underbrush and floral nuances all emerge from the glass and it is supple, full-bodied and surprisingly polished on the palate. While it lacks the sheer brilliance found in the 2009, it is still an outstanding wine. Gaining additional complexity with air, as well as a serious kick of acidity, it should drink nicely for 8-10 years. Drink now-2020. |
|
|
2011 |
In Order to Form a More Perfect Union |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2014): The 2011 In Order To Form A More Perfect Union checks in as a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Giving up plenty of cedar, spice box, spring flowers and black currant styled aromas and flavors, this medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless effort has juicy acidity, excellent concentration (especially in the vintage) and superb underlying structure. It will evolve nicely over the coming 3 to 4 years and drink well through 2026. |
|
| Reynvaan Family Vineyards |
2010 |
The Contender Syrah |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2013): Even richer, the 2010 Syrah The Contender has a serious, deep and layered profile with notions of blackberry, smoked plums, ground pepper, big minerality, lavender and hints of gamey beef all emerging from the glass. These characteristics carry over to the palate where the wine is full-bodied, beautifully polished, concentrated and structured. Showing masses of finely honed tannin on the finish, this knockout effort will evolve gracefully for 12-15+ years or more. Drink 2015-2027.
VM 93+ (11/2013): (includes 4% marsanne): Good deep red. Initially subdued nose opened with air to show varietally accurate scents of raspberry, woodsmoke, game and brown spices. Sweet, plush and impressively deep, with an impression of baby fat leavened by firm acidity and a saline underpinning. The red fruit and game flavors carry well on the rising, very long finish, which features building, seamless tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2013): Coming all from the estate’s The Rock vineyard and a 100% Syrah, the 2010 Syrah Stonessence doesn’t disappoint and has the peppered beef, salty minerality, lavender, pepper and black and blue tinged fruit profile that can be found, to varying degrees, in all of Matt’s wines. Full-bodied, concentrated and ethereally textured, it has a core of vibrant acidity, ripe tannin and a blockbuster finish. Possibly the most age-worthy in the lineup, I would give bottles another 3-4 years of bottle age, yet certainly, for those that can’t delay gratification, there’s ample pleasure to be found now. It will shine for 12-15+ years or more as well. Drink 2016-2027. |
|
|
2011 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2014): The 2011 Syrah Stonessence is a blend of 100% Syrah that competes with the top wines in the vintage. Voluptuous, decadent, layered and full-bodied, with thrilling notes of blackberry, blueberry, underbrush, chocolate and ripe herbs, it has low acidity, superb concentration and a downright sexy style that is just hard to resist. Aged 18 months in 25% new French oak, it can be consumed anytime over the coming 10 to 15 years. |
|
|
2013 |
The Contender Syrah |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2016): Incorporating 3% Marsanne, the 2013 Syrah The Contender reveals a healthy ruby color to go with lots of ripe red and black fruits, mulled spices and peppery herbs in its medium-bodied, elegant, pretty style. Like all of the 2013s from this estate, it shows a more elegant, mid-weight style. Drink bottles over the coming decade or so. |
|
|
2013 |
In the Rocks Syrah |
$55 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 91 (11/2015): (13.8% alcohol; from vines planted in 2005): Bright yellow. Yellow peach and pineapple aromas are lifted by a floral topnote. Lovely precision and floral complexity to the strong fruit and mineral flavors. Finishes rich, firm, sappy and long, with clear minerality.
WA 92-95 (6/2015): A cofermented blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, the 2013 Syrah In The Rocks, which saw 25% new oak, is another pretty, layered, medium to full-bodied and elegant 2013 that has perfumed raspberry, pepper, dried herbs and assorted floral aromas and flavors. Juicy and lively, with good acidity, it should be approachable on release and have 10-12 years of overall longevity. |
|
|
2013 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93-69 (6/2015): Also lacking some of the weight found in the '12, the 2013 Syrah Stonessence saw only 5% stem inclusion to go with a similar elevage as the '12. It's still full-bodied and concentrated, however, and offers classic raspberry, big minerality, cracked pepper and some Cornas-like iron and bloody notes. Shining for its complexity and elegance, it should merit a score in the upper end of this range if it puts on weight in bottle. |
|
|
2013 |
The Unnamed Syrah |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (6/2016): A unique blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache Blanc that spent 18 months in 25% new French oak, the 2013 The Unnamed Syrah is a medium to full-bodied, elegant effort (like all of the 2013s here) that has lots of kirsch, iron, licorice and dried underbrush in a silky, elegant, slightly mid-weight package. It’s taking freshness and elegance to the extreme, yet is certainly an outstanding wine that has plenty to love. Drink it over the coming 8-10 years. |
|
|
2014 |
The Classic Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
3 |
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| WA 94 (6/2017): Matt's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Classic is a beauty! Leafy herbs, gamey meats, earth and ample dark fruits all emerge from this full-bodied, rich, beautifully concentrated and supple Cabernet Sauvignon. Coming from estate vineyard in Walla Walla, it will benefit from short term cellaring and keep for a decade or more. |
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2014 |
The Contender Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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| WA 94 (6/2017): The 2014 Syrah The Contender from Matt Reynvaan is a perfumed, elegant, finesse driven example of this cuvee (it's normally one of the more concentrated, burly wines in the lineup) that offers classic Old World notes of olive tapenade, smoked duck, pepper and dark black and blue fruits. Medium to full-bodied, silky and downright elegant, drink it anytime over the coming decade. This cuvee is 94% Syrah and 6% Marsanne. |
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2014 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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| WA 96+ (6/2017): The 2014 Syrah Stonessence checks in as 100% Syrah that's all from the In The Rocks Vineyard in the rocks region of Walla Walla. Notes of blackberries, blueberries, crushed violets and peppery herbs all emerge from this tight, backward, concentrated Syrah that has thrilling purity. With air, it shows a touch more meat and game, but it desperately needs 2-3 years of cellaring and will keep for a decade or more after that. It’s a killer bottle of wine! |
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2015 |
The Contender Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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| WA 94 (6/2018): Co-fermented with 4% Roussanne, the 2015 Syrah The Contender is more aromatically reserved than the In The Rocks bottling, but it's similar in profile, unfurling in the glass with notes of dried rose petals, ripe plums, grilled meats and coffee grounds. On the palate, it's fuller in body, with a richer attack and an ampler core of fruit, framed by similarly fine tannins and concluding with a savory, licorice and coffee- inflected finish. While it's a little more powerful than the In The Rocks, The Contender is quite supple and elegant this year. |
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2015 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$65 |
3 |
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| 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. |
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| Ridge Vineyards |
2011 |
Lytton Springs Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
3 |
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| WA 89 (10/2013): The 2011 Proprietary Red Lytton Springs (82% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignan; 14.4% alcohol) was harvested near the end of September. A juicy, rich effort, it displays abundant notes of raspberry and black cherry fruit, medium body, excellent purity, and good weight as well as richness. The strongest effort of these Zinfandel-based wines, it should drink well for 5-6 years. |
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2013 |
Lytton Springs Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
2 |
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| VM 95 (7/2015): The 2013 Lytton Springs has really come together over the last year, far exceeding my early expectations. Powerful and explosive in the glass, the 2013 boasts tons of inky blue/purplish fruit, mocha, spices, new leather, lavender and licorice. Readers will have to give the Lytton Springs at least a few years to shed some baby fat, but it is nearly impossible to resist, even at this early stage. Once again, the team at Ridge has produced an absolutely compelling Lytton Springs. The 16% Petite Sirah in the blend adds an unmistakable air of gravitas. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Geyserville Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
3 |
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| VM 93 (7/2014): The 2012 Zinfandel Geyserville is quite exuberant in this vintage. Savory herbs, tobacco, smoke, menthol and dark red/blackish-toned fruit burst from the glass in an exotic, juicy Zinfandel-based field blend loaded with personality. The tannins could use another year to soften, but readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. The brisk, energetic finish is incredibly appealing. The blend is 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (Mourvèdre). |
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2014 |
Ponzo Vyd. Zinfandel |
$45 |
2 |
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| WA 90 (10/2016): Coming from the Russian River Valley, the 2014 Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyards (96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah) is another sexy, seamless release from the team at Ridge that offers classic aromatics (bramble, plums, spice and dried flowers), medium-bodied richness and a clean, lengthy finish. Drink it over the coming 5-7 years. |
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2014 |
Pagani Ranch Zinfandel |
$39 |
2 |
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| VM 92 (7/2016): The 2014 Pagani Ranch is the most immediate and obvious of the 2014 Zinfandels I tasted at Ridge. Ripe, forward and opulent, the Pagani will please readers who like a more flashy, up-front style. I expect the Pagani will offer most of its charms sooner rather than later, which makes it a terrific choice for drinking on the young side. I don't see the pedigree or complexity of the best Zinfandels in the lineup, but the Pagani is delicious. This site seems to naturally produce a riper style as full flavor development and tannin maturity only take place late in the season. Antonio Galloni. |
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2018 |
Geyserville Proprietary Blend |
$39 |
3 |
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WA 96 (2/2021): The 2018 Geyserville is a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. It's incredibly alluring, offering up layers of warm, tricolored fruits and loads of spicy accents on the nose, with a dusty, mineral-tinged undercurrent that adds to its appeal. In the mouth, it's generously fruited and fantastically juicy, its silt-like tannins providing just enough support, and it finishes very long and layered. 9,900 cases produced.
JD 95 (5/2020): A wine that always delivers, the 2018 Geyserville from Ridge comes all from a multitude of sites in the Alexander Valley and checks in as 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, and the rest Alicante Bouschet. It has a big, cedary bouquet of red and black plums, sandalwood, potpourri, and Asian spices that develops and fills out nicely with time in the glass. This carries to a more medium-bodied Zinfandel that has wonderful purity of fruit, present yet ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This structured yet ethereal example of this cuvée ranks with the finest vintages to date. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years. (Drink between 2020-2035) |
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