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Inventory updated: Tue, Jan 26, 2021 04:02 PM cst
Over 95pts Under $95
Today we wish to feature our inventory of wines that are listed for under $95, but that have also garnered a score of 95 or higher. Truly a wide array of appellations and styles. I trust that each of you will recognize some old favorites and see fit to try something new as well.
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Monday, January 4, 2021. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Canon |
2017 |
St. Emilion  2017 en Primeur Release |
$92.99 |
19 |
|
| |
JD 94-97 (4/2018): One of the gems in the vintage is the 2017 Château Canon, which checks in at 73% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc. Sensational notes of black cherries, blueberries, liquid violets, awesome graphite, and scorched earth-like minerality all give way to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly pure, yet masculine beauty that has building tannin, beautiful purity of fruit, and a great finish. It's not going to match the 2015 on sheer size and scale, but it's a sensational wine. It’s going to need 3-4 years of bottle age to be drinkable and will keep for two decades or more. Tasted twice.
WA 94-96 (4/2018): The deep purple-black colored 2017 Canon offers-up intense notes of crushed blackberries, black cherries and warm cassis with touches of fertile loam, yeast extract, beef drippings and iron ore plus a waft of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied with great freshness and firm, rounded tannins, it's very earthy in the mouth, finishing long and mineral-laced. A very serious wine, it is also fun, bright and vivacious and should age impressively.
JS 94-95 (4/2018): This is very focused and fresh with limestone and crushed-stone character. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a salty finish. Shows lots of minerality already. Umami licorice undertones.
WS 93-96 (4/2018): A very pretty, slightly high-pitched version, featuring sleek cherry, cassis and damson plum fruit racing through, picking up light savory and mineral notes. The minerality blooms through the finish, with a floral gilding adding a sparkly effect on the long, unencumbered finish.
VM 93-96 (5/2018): A rich, explosive wine, the 2017 Canon exudes class from the very first taste. Huge aromatics resonate through to the palate, where the wine is deep, fleshy and beautifully layered. Effortless and gracious, Canon is a wine of real pedigree. I don't think the 2017 will reach the dizzying heights of the 2015 or 2016, but it will be interesting to see how close it gets. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. Climens |
2011 |
Barsac (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$62.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 97 (3/2014): Still tight, with an energetic core of white peach, creamed pineapple, persimmon and white ginger flavors. The backdrop of orange blossom and singed almond notes adds extra dimension on the finish. This will go a long way in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2035. 4,025 cases made.
JS 96 (1/2014): A dense, racy, sweet white with dried-apple, apricot and honey character. Full, very sweet and fresh. Tangy, spicy aftertaste. Shows lots of subtle, intense botrytis-spice character on the finish. Better in 2016.
VM 96 (7/2014): Bright gold-tinged yellow. Knockout nose combines lime, pineapple, honeyed peach and cinnamon, complicated by very pure floral botrytis. Dense and ripe but vibrant too, with strong spice character and harmonious acidity enlivening the wine's highly expressive lemon and tropical fruit flavors. Finishes broad, tactile and very complex, with terrific length and a lingering spicy nuance. A star of the vintage. Ian d'Agata.
WA 94 (6/2016): The 2011 Climens repeated its performance from a few months ago. There is a tangible richness on the nose, touches of honeycomb and chalk infusing the honeyed fruit before those fig-like scents begin to emerge. The palate is beautifully balanced, unctuous in the mouth with a lovely salinity coming through on the long finish. It is way too young to strut its stuff at the moment, so afford it at least a decade in bottle. Tasted April 2016. |
|
|
2015 |
Barsac (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$43.99 |
18 |
|
| |
VM 97 (2/2018): Gracious, light on its feet and positively sublime, the 2015 Climens is one of the wines of the vintage. Its airiness and grace are hard to capture with words. Lightly honeyed notes, chamomile and exotic flowers lead into orchard fruit and candied citrus in this impeccably polished, nuanced Barsac. I would prefer to cellar the 2015 for at least a few years to get the benefit of even more complexity, but readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this gem from Climens and proprietor Bérénice Lurton. Antonio Galloni.
WS 97 (3/2018): Gorgeous, offering a range of orange, almond and brioche notes backed by lively citrus oil, green tea and ginger accents. Rich but tightly coiled nonetheless, with lots of energy lying in reserve on the finish. Needs some time. Best from 2022 through 2045. 3,083 cases made.
WA 97 (2/2018): The 2015 Climens always shows awkwardly after bottling, a Barsac that demands bottle age. Still, you can appreciate the intensity here, with touches of mint and jasmine complementing the honeyed fruit. The palate is just as it should be: very pure and refined, a perfect line of acidity, utterly harmonious with a viscous finish with hints of vanilla pod and orange pith lingering on the aftertaste. Bérénice Lurton has overseen a delectable Barsac that as usual will reward those with the nous to bottle long term. |
|
| Ch. Coutet |
2017 |
Barsac (375 ML) 2017 en Primeur Release |
$24.99 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 93-95 (4/2018): Another rocking sweet wine is the 2017 Château Coutet. This big, full-bodied, opulent beauty has serious notes of orange blossom, buttered citrus, and honey, yet also shows the more pure, precise, and elegant style of the vintage on the palate. The cool, overcast summer allowed good ripeness while preserving the purity of fruit and the whites (and dessert wines) from this vintage are beautiful!
WS 92-95 (4/2018): Bright pineapple and white peach flavors rush forth, with a zip of tangerine running through the creamy finish. Shows lots of honeysuckle accents on the finish. Youthfully tight, but delivers wonderful length. |
|
| Ch. de Fargues |
2014 |
Sauternes (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$95 |
27 |
|
| |
WS 98 (3/2018): This starts off with an enveloping note of toasted coconut, giving way slowly to creamed peach, mango and papaya flavors. Long bitter orange and almond threads provide needed tension while the lush waves of fruit cascade through the finish, picking up a mouthwatering mirabelle plum accent along the way. A monster of a wine. Best from 2025 through 2055. 833 cases made.
VM 95 (3/2018): The 2014 de Fargues has a well-defined bouquet with enticing scents of yellow flowers, dried honey and light quince aromas. The palate is well balanced, very pure with a fine bead of acidity. It is not a concentrated Sauternes but you have to adore the lightly spiced persistent and mellifluous finish. Classy. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Neal Martin. |
|
| Ch. Doisy Daene |
2016 |
Sauternes (375 ML) ex-Negociant |
$24.95 |
7 |
|
| |
JS 94-95 (4/2017): This is very serious with lots of spicy, botrytis character and a deep and dense palate. Full-bodied, very sweet and long on the finish.
WS 92-95 (4/2017): This has a wide range of white peach, yellow apple and green fig flavors that show good zip and brightness for the vintage, with a long honeysuckle note lifting the finish. |
|
| Ch. Lafaurie Peyraguey |
2005 |
Sauternes |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 95 (2/2014): This is powerful and racy with lots of class. Full body, very sweet with lots of spicy botrytis character. Intense. Drink or hold.
WS 92 (3/2008): There's beautiful ripe fruit in this, with pineapple, mango and papaya and hints of vanilla and honey. Full-bodied and medium sweet. Rich and round, with loads of cooked apple, citrus peel and spices. Long and flavorful. Dense and rich. Best after 2012. 6,250 cases made.
NM 90 (4/2009): Tasted at the Chateau. The Lafaurie ’05 retains its attractive, perfumed nose of honeycomb and beeswax with a touch of apricot although it would benefit from greater intensity and definition. As I expected, viscous, almost unctuous on the palate; tight middle and rather conservative finish that ends with lemon curd, orange peel and wild honey. Good potential. Drink 2011-2020. |
|
| | Rhone Red |
| Alain Voge |
2017 |
Cornas Vieilles Vignes |
$61.95 |
33 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2019): The 2017 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes is cut from the same mold yet has a touch more tannins as well as mid-palate density. Notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, camphor, toasted spice, and smoked game all soar from the glass, and it's full-bodied, power-packed, yet elegant and seamless on the palate. Its wealth of fruit largely conceals plenty of underlying structure, and while it's already fun to taste, give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 10-15 years or more. The old vine cuvée comes from the Combe, Patou, La Côte, Les Mazards, and Chaillot lieu-dits, from 60+-year-old vines, was 80% destemmed and spent 20 months in 15-20% new French oak.
VM 95 (4/2020): Inky violet color. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, exotic spices, potpourri and olive are sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Juicy and expansive in the mouth, offering alluringly sweet blueberry and cherry preserve flavors along with hints of licorice and candied flowers. The floral and spice qualities repeat emphatically on an impressively long, energetic finish that features well-knit tannins and a resonating mineral note. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Clos des Papes |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$88.99 |
10 |
|
| |
JD 98+ (8/2019): One of the strongest wines in the vintage is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Vincent Avril. This beauty has everything you could ask for. As with the 2018, the blend is heavily shifted toward Mourvèdre, and it offers a mammoth bouquet of black cherries, graphite, cured meats, Asian spices, and assorted garrigue-like nuances. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated, it stays straight and focused on the palate (whereas the 2016 is more expansive and voluptuous), with a stacked mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, and fabulous length. You’re going to want bottles of this in the cellar, and comparing the 2007, 2010, 2016, and 2017 over the coming two decades is going to be a treat.
WA 96 (8/2019): As predicted last year by Paul-Vincent Avril, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, about 10% Syrah and the rest other permitted varieties. It boasts a cool, fresh nose of strawberries, cola and tree bark, yet it's full-bodied and tannic on the palate. Dense and chewy, albeit with a mouthwatering sense of freshness, this will need a few years to relax and unwind, but it looks very promising.
WS 94 (2/2020): Supple and alluring in feel, with a silky edge to the mix of anise, plum sauce and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors. A twinge of roasted apple wood shows on the finish, followed by an echo of lavender. Displays lovely range. The texture makes this approachable now, though there's no rush. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2038. 700 cases imported.
JLL ***** (10/2018): Full, dark red colour. Blackberry, cedary cigar smoke, violets mix attractively together on the nose. Black raisin and date airs show along with fragrance - that floral touch important. There’s a good cool thread all along the palate, which carries good spine, runs really straight, has structure with stylish gras potential around it, leading into a smoky, lasting finish which shows pebbly tannins. There are salted moments and a good, complete run here, and this wine’s freshness is superior to most 2017s. The empty glass has an air of cherry stone. “It a very profound year,” Vincent Avril. Down from 100,000 b to 60,000 b this year. |
|
|
2018 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$88.99 |
35 |
|
| |
VM 94-96 (12/2019): Deep magenta. Intensely perfumed, mineral-tinged raspberry and cherry preserve scents are complicated by garrigue and Moroccan spice nuances. Juicy and appealingly sweet, displaying fleshy red fruit liqueur, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Smoothly balances richness and energy and finishes extremely long and sappy, with smooth, harmonious tannins and a strong echo of candied flowers. Josh Raynolds.
JD 93-95+ (8/2019): While I’m normally able to taste the Châteauneuf Du Pape from multiple foudres and varying blends, due to the dismal yields, the final blend of the 2018 was already made and resting in foudre. The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape will be a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, and the rest Syrah and other permitted varieties, which is a lot more Mourvèdre than normal, and it shows in the wine. Beautiful red and blue fruits, spice, ground pepper, and cured meat notes all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with notable concentration (especially in this vintage), terrific balance, and ultra-fine yet certainly present tannins. It’s not going to match the 2016 or 2017, but it’s an elegant, beautiful, classic Clos des Papes in the making. |
|
| Clos Saint Jean |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous |
$93.99 |
17 |
|
| |
JD 98 (8/2018): Deep ruby-colored and offering a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, toasted spiced, cured meats, licorice, and cured meats, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combes des Fous is awesome on the palate, with a silky, seamless profile that just keeps on going. Possessing ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges, and a huge finish, it’s a phenomenal bottle of wine. The fact that it was bottled just one month ago makes this showing even more impressive.
VM 96 (12/2019): Saturated ruby. An exotically perfumed, highly complex bouquet evokes raspberry preserves, smoky minerals, Moroccan spices and incense. Supple, palate-staining red and dark berry liqueur and floral pastille flavors show superb depth, sharp delineation and an energizing undercurrent of smoky minerality. Manages to be at once rich and lively and finishes with outstanding clarity, well-knit tannins and resonating floral and mineral qualities. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Delas |
2003 |
Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette |
$69 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (9/2015): Showing similar to last year, the 2003 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette is a beautiful Hermitage that offers classic currants and plum nuances to go with spice, chocolate, wood smoke and charcoal on the nose. Harvested August 19-29 (harvest here normally stretches into October if that gives you any inclination of the vintage), it's full-bodied, rich, textured and balanced, with solid purity of fruit and sweet tannin. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Dom. Charvin |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$54.95 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 95 (8/2019): The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is an awesome wine from Laurent, and while it shows the sunny, ripe, sexy style of the vintage, it never loses the elegance and purity that’s the hallmark of Charvin. Lots of kirsch, graphite, dried flowers, garrigue, and ample minerality flow to a medium to full-bodied, silky, incredibly well-balanced red that has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it will cruise over the following two decades.
VM 94-95 (12/2019): Brilliant magenta. An assertively perfumed bouquet of ripe red and blue fruits, Moroccan spices and incense carries a smoky overtone. Sweet, penetrating raspberry preserve, cherry, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors show impressive depth as well as vivacity. Displays superb clarity and floral thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and lingering spiciness. This wine shows just how much complexity can be achieved, even in a hot vintage, in the absence of any oak, old or new. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. Coursodon |
2018 |
St. Joseph Rouge lOlivaie ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 95 (11/2020): The 2018 Saint Joseph L'Olivaie is a more serious, concentrated wine offering a touch of background oak as well as impressive cassis and blackberry fruits, full-bodied richness, notes of pepper and Asian spice, building tannins, and a great finish. It shows more minerality and an almost gunflint-like character with time in the glass. It needs a solid 3-5 years of bottle age, but it should see its 20th birthday in fine form.
VM 93 (4/2020): Glass-staining ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla and smoky minerals, plus a sexy floral note in the background. Gently sweet and expansive on the palate, offering supple blackberry and cherry compote flavors that show sharp clarity and very good depth. Seamless and focused on the persistent, smoke-tinged finish, with velvety tannins providing framework. 20% new oak. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2016 |
St. Joseph Rouge Sensonne |
$59.99 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 96 (12/2018): The 2016 Saint Joseph La Sensonne is brought up all in new barrels, but it's barely noticeable in the wine due to the wealth of fruit and overall balance. Loaded with notions of crème de cassis, spiced blackberries, ground herbs, violets, and pepper, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, terrific intensity, a flamboyant texture, and a great finish. It’s a ripe, sexy wine that needs 2-4 years to shed its baby fat and will keep for a decade or more. It's rocking stuff!
VM 94 (4/2018): (all new oak) Bright purple. Smoke-accented black and blue fruits, cola, violet and licorice on the highly perfumed, expansive nose. Appealingly sweet, mineral-accented cassis and boysenberry flavors show superb depth and pick up a sexy floral quality with aeration. Displays impressive detail and mineral lift on the youthfully tannic, extremely persistent finish, which features resonating blue fruit and licorice notes. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Dom. de la Janasse |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes |
$78.99 |
26 |
|
| |
JD 98 (8/2019): The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is another killer effort from this estate. Coming from the La Janasse and La Crau lieux-dits and brought up in foudre, its deep purple color is followed by blockbuster notes of crème de cassis, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earthy, rocky, mineral-like nuances. It's deep and full-bodied, with a ripe, powerful yet balanced style and a great finish. A classic example of this cuvée. it's going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.
WA 97 (8/2019): The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes derives from parcels planted on classic clay and galets roulés soils. It's 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah and 5% other varieties. Tight, intense, even clenched, it's in need of several years' cellaring before it becomes truly enjoyable to drink. For now, those gorgeous black cherries are restrained behind a firm wall of tannins. Full-bodied and rich, this is ripe, it just requires patience. |
|
|
2018 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes |
$83.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 95-97 (8/2019): The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (only 30% destemmed) is more powerful than the Chaupin cuvée and has a rocking bouquet of blackberries, cassis, scorched earth, graphite, and licorice, that develops beautifully with time in the glass. Rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and layered on the palate, it has integrated acidity, present yet ripe tannins, and a beautiful finish. Pure class, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. |
|
| Dom. de Mourchon |
2016 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Syrah ex-Domaine |
$39.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| JD 94+ (6/2020): The 2016 Family Syrah is a big, rich, powerful Syrah that needs bottle age but is loaded with potential. A smoky, reductive, meaty bouquet of assorted dark fruits, peppery garrigue, smoked game, and a touch of black olive gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated 2016 with beautiful purity of fruit, a rounded, opulent mouthfeel, solid acidity, and a great finish. It’s a stunning effort. Hide bottles for 2-4 years, and it’s going to keep for over a decade. |
|
| Le Vieux Donjon |
2018 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$49.95 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 93-95 (8/2019): A beautiful wine in the vintage, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as stunning notes of blackcurrants, crushed violets, ground pepper, and cured meats. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has ripe, present tannins and a great finish. It doesn't have the sheer richness found in a top vintage, yet it's complex, classic, layered, and long. In short, it's a beautiful wine that makes the most of this vintage. |
|
| | Rhone White |
| Dom. Coursodon |
2018 |
St. Joseph Blanc Paradis St. Pierre ex-Domaine |
$54.99 |
36 |
|
| |
JD 95 (12/2019): One of the whites of the vintage in Saint Joseph is the 2018 Saint Joseph Paradis Saint Pierre Blanc, which offers a stunning bouquet of honeyed stone fruits, quince, flower oil, and crushed rocks. Rich and full-bodied, with moderate acidity, it has beautiful purity, no hard edges, and just terrific overall balance. It's a rock star of a white from this talented winemaker. I would drink bottles over the coming 5-7 years, but it should evolve for 15-20 years or more. This wine is 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne, all from south and southeast facing, granite parcels, and aged in barrel.
VM 93 (5/2020): Limpid straw color. Tangerine, pear, honey, tarragon and pungent flowers on the bright, mineral-tinged nose. Silky and concentrated on the palate, offering bitter pear skin, orange zest and honeysuckle flavors that become spicier and more mineral with air. Finishes with firm grip and strong, mineral persistence, leaving a bitter orange pith note behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| | Southern France |
| Ch. Tirecul La Graviere |
2003 |
Monbazillac (500 ML) Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2012): A 30-year aging curve is possible for the 2003 Chateau. Composed of 55% Semillon and 45% Muscadelle aged nearly 30 months in French oak, it reveals a dark amber color along with a blockbuster bouquet of toffee, maple syrup, roasted hazelnuts, creme brulee, toasted pineapple and assorted honeyed citrus. Terrific acidity balances out the nearly 120 grams per liter of residual sugar. Possessing superb richness, intensity and length, this is an absolute steal that, as mentioned above, will age at least three decades. |
|
| | Loire |
| Rene Renou |
1997 |
Bonnezeaux Cuvee Zenith Cracked Wax Capsule |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (8/1999): Tasted four times over the last six months, the show-stopping 1997 Bonnezeaux Cuvee Zenith has gone from being massive, disjointed and difficult to assess, to being harmonious, intense, and sublime. Aromatically revealing spicy yellow fruits of exquisite ripeness, this is a medium-to-full-bodied, powerful, and explosive wine. Copious quantities of spicy bergamots, flowers, almonds, perfume, caramelized minerals, and tropical fruits can be found in its layered, velvety texture. Renou was somehow able to marry 1997's awesome density and depth of fruit with virtually perfect levels of acidity, creating a blockbuster-sized wine of great equilibrium and freshness. Bravo! Projected maturity: now-2050+. |
|
| | Italy |
| E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) |
2015 |
Barolo Mosconi |
$69.95 |
9 |
|
| |
JS 97 (1/2019): Aromatic depth here, drawing you in with cascading layers of flowers and leaves, fresh-tilled earth laced with woody spices, white pepper and fresh red fruit. The palate carries a very sturdy frame of fine, dense tannins. This is placed in the top league of 2015 Barolo wines. Long and succulent build through the finish. Try from 2024.
WA 94 (6/2019): All of the wines from Chiara Boschis are more vinous this year, more natural. They feel authentic, genuine and traditional. They show an extra degree of richness or texture, and the 2015 Barolo Mosconi is no exception. Its dark and spicy notes are very polished and graceful in this vintage but with considerable tightness to the tannins that will soften with time. This wine offers ample volume and girth, but it carries its weight with elegance. Once the bottle has reached maturity, it would be a great pairing match to rabbit.
WS 93 (2/2020): Eucalyptus, wild rosemary, licorice, leather, plum, black cherry and iron aromas and flavors are the hallmarks of this muscular red. Light spice accents add depth as this cruises to a long finish. Best from 2024 through 2045. 750 cases made, 137 cases imported.
VM 93 (2/2019): The 2015 Barolo Mosconi is striking in this vintage. The natural richness of the year seems especially well suited to this Monforte site, where the wines tend to be born with a natural sense of textural breadth and volume. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather and menthol grow in the glass in a full-bodied, virile Barolo that speaks to power above all else. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2016 |
Barolo Mosconi |
$87.99 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 96 (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a gorgeous wine made all the more remarkable given that Mosconi can't really be said to be a top-level site. Dark and imposing, the 2016 captures all the breadth and tannic clout that are such signatures of this site. This is an especially brooding, virile Barolo, but Chiara and Giorgio Boschis clearly brought out all the best the vineyard had to give. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (7/2020): The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a little wider and richer compared to the Cannubi, with bigger fruit, more sweetness, spice, grilled oregano and a touch of crushed hazelnut. Despite the wide net of aromas offered on the bouquet, this wine shows a very sharp and focused approach with elegantly linear tannins and matching acidity. There is a lifted quality to both the nose and the mouthfeel that gives this wine beautiful momentum and length. Mosconi is one of the headline vineyards of Monforte d'Alba.
JS 96 (8/2020): A full-bodied, chewy 2016 with a solid structure of ripe fruit and intense tannins. Lots of plums, walnuts, hazelnuts and light chocolate. It’s very powerful. Very classic structure. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to resolve the powerful tannins. Try after 2022. |
|
| Elio Grasso |
2016 |
Barolo Gavarini Chiniera |
$90 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 96+ (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is a vibrant, massively tannic, austere wine, the likes of which I have never tasted here before. Vertical and explosive in the glass with tons of pure power, the 2016 Gavarini Chiniera is a gorgeous Barolo that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of sweet red cherry fruit. White pepper, mint, orange peel and floral notes develop a bit later, but the 2016 remains reticent and inward, with brilliant acids and tannins that dominate today. The 2016 is a striking wine, but it is going to require considerable patience. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Maculan |
2009 |
Acininobili IGT (375 ML) |
$89.95 |
12 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2014): Representing an extreme selection of botrytised Vespaiola grapes, the 2009 Acininobili is a home-run dessert wine that awards enormous pleasure to those lucky enough to drink it. The fragrant bouquet is intense and sweet, but safely void of any cloying or heavy sensations. Indeed, it presents a level of brightness and buoyancy that is rare for grapes affected by noble rot. Pristine aromas of candied fruit, preserved lemon, exotic spice and marron glacé rise from the glass. The elegance and silkiness of the mouthfeel yearn for the highest caliber foie gras for culinary companionship.
JS 95 (4/2015): Aromas of dried tangerines, burnt oranges and honey character. Full-bodied, medium sweet and with incredible density and richness. Lots of spicy, dried fruit character. One of the top sweet wines of Italy. Drink or hold.
WS 92 (2/2015): Creamy and lightly mouthcoating, with fine integration of the bright, citrusy acidity, which frames flavors of candied nectarine, blood orange confit, pickled ginger and tea rose. Ripe fruit and a hint of candied nut linger on the finish. Vespaiola. Drink now through 2025. 200 cases made. |
|
| Sottimano |
2015 |
Barbaresco Curra ex-Domaine |
$89.99 |
36 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (11/2019): The decision to release the 2015 Barbaresco Currà two years later than the other wines has paid off handsomely, as the incisive young Currà tannins have now had time to start to soften, which in turn gives the wine tremendous openness that is on display today. Blood orange, pomegranate, sweet red cherry, star anise and cinnamon imbue the 2015 with an alluring sense of exoticism that is impossible to miss. Bright and lifted, the 2015 is just starting to develop the first signs of aromatic nuance. It will drink well for many years to come. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| | USA Red |
| Andrew Will |
2014 |
Champoux Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$73.99 |
10 |
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| |
| JD 94+ (4/2018): A little more fresh and lively than the Ciel du Cheval, the 2014 Champoux has sensational purity in its lifted bouquet of cassis, black raspberries, violets and spring flowers. There's a touch of graphite that develops with time in the glass, and the wine has fine, polished tannin and an elegant, silky texture. It doesn't have the heft of the Ciel du Cheval but shines for its purity and elegance. |
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| Behrens & Hitchcock |
2003 |
Old Gravelly Proprietary Blend |
$82 |
2 |
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WA 94-96 (2/2005): A small cuvee, the 125-case 2003 Old Gravely (48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot) boasts spectacular aromatics. Possibly the most sensual, sexy, and complex offering in this portfolio, it offers sweet aromas of red and black currants, flowers, lavender, and a hint of bay leaves. With an alluring texture as well as opulence, this stunning effort should be at its finest between now-2014.
VM 89 (6/2006): Medium ruby-red. Musky aromas of redcurrant, chocolate mint, licorice and violet. Dense and sweet but a bit aggressive with alcohol. Concentrated but somewhat rustic in style, with a suggestion of cough medicine. Finishes with big, rough tannins.
WS 88 (11/2007): A big muscular style, exhibiting a mix of dried currant, herb, sage and cedary oak. Tannic and rustic, with a chewy mouthfeel. Intense, focused and concentrated, ending with an earthy touch. Decant. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2009 through 2014. 350 cases made. |
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| Bien Nacido Estate |
2014 |
Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir |
$59.99 |
17 |
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| VM 95 (9/2017): A huge, explosive wine, the 2014 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyards is another Pinot that is going to need time to come into its own. Soaring aromatics and intense, red-toned fruit make a strong opening impression. Readers should expect a boisterous, structured Pinot Noir endowed with serious heft. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Booker Vineyard |
2012 |
Remnant 24 Proprietary Blend |
$89 |
2 |
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WA 94-96 (8/2014): Still in barrel, the 2012 Remnant 24 (identical blend to the regular release) will see 24 months in oak before bottling. It’s also worth noting that since there was no My Favorite Neighbor produced in 2012, this cuvee received all of the grapes that would normally go into that cuvee. While billed as a catch-all blend, it tastes like anyone else’s top wine and offers loads of sweet black fruits, damp underbrush, chocolate and roasted herbs to go with a full-bodied, rich, layered and downright sexy profile. There’s no shortage of tannin here either, so a year of cellaring is recommended. It will have 10-15 years of longevity, but bottles wouldn’t last that long at my house.
WS 88 (7/2015): A touch earthy and gamy, dry and tannic, with red and dark berry flavors filling in the gaps and making this more complete. Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2024. 620 cases made. |
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|
2012 |
Remnant 24 Proprietary Blend Wrinkled Label |
$89 |
1 |
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WA 94-96 (8/2014): Still in barrel, the 2012 Remnant 24 (identical blend to the regular release) will see 24 months in oak before bottling. It’s also worth noting that since there was no My Favorite Neighbor produced in 2012, this cuvee received all of the grapes that would normally go into that cuvee. While billed as a catch-all blend, it tastes like anyone else’s top wine and offers loads of sweet black fruits, damp underbrush, chocolate and roasted herbs to go with a full-bodied, rich, layered and downright sexy profile. There’s no shortage of tannin here either, so a year of cellaring is recommended. It will have 10-15 years of longevity, but bottles wouldn’t last that long at my house.
WS 88 (7/2015): A touch earthy and gamy, dry and tannic, with red and dark berry flavors filling in the gaps and making this more complete. Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2024. 620 cases made. |
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| Kistler |
2009 |
Cuvee Natalie Silver Belt Pinot Noir |
$85 |
2 |
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VM 95 (1/2015): Both 2009 Pinots are striking. The Pinot Noir Silver Belt Vineyard Cuvée Natalie is lifted, savory and aromatic, while the Bodega Headlands Vineyard Cuvée Elizabeth is more overt and fruit-driven in style. Both wines remain quite primary, though, so readers who prefer more tertiary nuances will want to give the 2009s a few more years in the cellar. I am down to my last few bottles, and hope to have the patience to wait for the wines to enter their sweet spot. Antonio Galloni.
WS 90 (9/2012): Focused on ripe, vivid and firm black cherry and wild berry flavors, while crushed rock and subtle fresh-turned earth notes provide a nice foundation. Tannic. Best from 2013 through 2023. 530 cases made. |
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| Ridge Vineyards |
2013 |
Lytton Springs Proprietary Blend |
$49 |
5 |
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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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| Turley Wine Cellars |
2010 |
Rattlesnake Ridge Petite Sirah Very Lightly Scuffed Label |
$75 |
1 |
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| WA 96 (12/2012): In many ways, Turley’s 2010 Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge is the most exotic and beguiling of these wines. Melted road tar, black olives, juniper berries and menthol all jump from the glass. A huge, full-bodied wine, the Rattlesnake Ridge boasts serious complexity and nuance. The tannins are also pretty fierce at this stage, so patience is a must. Still, there is no denying the 2010 is special. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030. |
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| | USA White |
| Brewer Clifton |
2017 |
Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay |
$25.99 |
36 |
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| JD 95 (10/2019): One of the great values out there, the 2017 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills offers thrilling notes of white flowers, white peach, currants, and toasted bread. This ripe, sexy wine is unquestionably at the same level as the more expensive single vineyard releases, and it will evolve for just as long. |
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| Kistler |
2005 |
Dutton Ranch Chardonnay |
$95 |
13 |
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WA 94-96 (12/2006): More weight and power along with notes of roasted hazelnuts, peach, and smoky, almost clarified butter smells emerge from the 2005 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch. More extroverted and exuberant than the McCrea cuvee, it is an unusually elegant effort (because the acids are crisp and refreshing) that should drink beautifully for 7-8 years. Kistler Vineyards, undeniably one of the world’s finest winemaking estates, is run with passionate dedication to detail and quality by Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler. It is wines like these that keep an old critic like me inspired and energized.
VM 92 (5/2008): Yellow-gold. Chalky citrus, quince and apple aromas are complicated by smoky lees, minerals and lemon pith. Bracing lime and pink grapefruit flavors gain weight with air, taking a turn to orange and tangerine. A firm, light-bodied chardonnay that offers intensity without excess weight, finishing with tangy mineral grip and great persistence. "On this soil, which is low in clay, this Wente clone is all about minerals," noted Kistler.
WS 88 (7/2008): Smells rich and smoky, with exotic fig and cut apple scents followed by a raw woody character on the palate. Best to cellar short term, which should allow the wood to flesh out. Best from 2009 through 2012. 3,638 cases made. |
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|
2012 |
Hyde Vyd. Chardonnay |
$85 |
2 |
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WA 95+ (1/2015): The 2012 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard exhibits great richness, a fabulous bouquet of white flowers, quince, mango, honeyed peaches, caramelized citrus and delicate, spicy oakiness that is very restrained but present. Broad, full-bodied, multi-dimensional and intense, this is a stunner made from a combination of the Mount Eden and Old Wente clones of Chardonnay. Look for it to drink well for 5-8 years.
VM 94 (1/2015): Beguiling and compelling from the outset, the 2012 Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard presents a totally different aromatic, flavor and structural profile from most of the other wines in the range. Elements of petrol, graphite, smoke, slate and white flowers take shape in a Chardonnay built on precision and tension. The flavors are beautifully articluated and very much on the brighter end of the spectrum. This dry-farmed parcel planted on old St. George rootstock is one of the most distinctive in the Kistler range.
WS 91 (6/2015): Delivers a zingy core of tart lemon-citrus and green apple notes that have a raw, pithy texture, but also lots of depth and dimension. Drink now. 1,810 cases made. |
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| Peter Michael Winery |
2013 |
LApres Midi Sauvignon Blanc |
$45 |
2 |
|
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JS 95 (10/2012): Fantastic aromas of honeysuckle, lemon curd, wax, cool stones, and flowers. Jasmine and grapefruit too. Full body, with sandalwood, dried apple, pear and mineral, plus olive oil and pine needles. Then goes to mango and papaya. This is one of the best PM sauvignons I have ever tasted. 100% barrel fermented. No malo and only 5% new oak.
WS 94 (3/2016): This succulent white offers nectarine, apricot and ripe melon flavors, with clear, crisp acidity. Shows lemon, tobacco and celery leaf details, accented by a whiff of lanolin. Elegant and supple in texture, with a powerful finish. Drink now. 2,544 cases made.
WA 93 (12/2014): Not to be forgotten is Peter Michael’s fabulous white wine, the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc l’Après Midi (2,544 cases produced), a blend of 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon. Malolactic fermentation is totally blocked, and the result is a wine with copious aromas of passion fruit, honeysuckle, lime blossom and a hint of white peach. Crisp, zesty and intensely flavorful with an unexpected hint of ginger in the bouquet, this lovely white should drink nicely for 3-4 years. |
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| | Argentina |
| Bodega Catena Zapata |
2017 |
Adrianna Vyd. White Bones Chardonnay |
$88.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96+ (9/2019): Bright light yellow. Tighter on the nose than the White Stones, offering pristine but subdued scents of lemon oil, dried rosemary and iodiney minerality. Some unabsorbed CO2--not to mention its 8.1 g/l acidity--is current accentuating this Chardonnay's remarkable inner-mouth grip and urgency. White orchard fruits and citrus zests and oils stain the palate without leaving any impression of weight. For all its dusty density, this extraordinary wine is remarkably light on its feet. Finishes bone-dry and saline, with terrific cut and rising length. The White Stones seems almost sweet by comparison to this wine--and it's not!. A stunning pair of Chardonnays, perhaps the best to date, from Catena's high-altitude Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, which the firm purchased in 1992 (and planted between 1994 and 1997) at a time when few wine farmers thought they could consistently ripen grapes there. Neither of these wines saw any new oak, as winemaker Vigil used only second-, third- and fourth-use French barrels. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2012 |
Pessac Leognan |
$95 |
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| Ch. Pavie Macquin |
2014 |
St. Emilion ex-Negociant |
$69.89 |
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| Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte |
2014 |
Pessac Leognan ex-Chateau |
$84.95 |
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| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2012 |
St. Emilion |
$80 |
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| Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases |
2016 |
St. Julien ex-Negociant |
$59.95 |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Ch. La Tour Blanche |
2001 |
Sauternes |
$60 |
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| | Rhone Red |
| Dom. Courbis |
2017 |
Cornas Les Eygats |
$62.89 |
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| Dom. de la Janasse |
2017 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin |
$62.99 |
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| Dom. Vincent Paris |
2018 |
Cornas Granit 60 |
$48.99 |
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Sold Out
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| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2018 |
Hermitage La Maison Bleue ex-Domaine |
$59.99 |
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Sold Out
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| | Italy |
| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2013 |
Sammarco |
$84.99 |
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Sold Out
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| Sette Ponti |
2016 |
Oreno |
$69.89 |
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| | Port |
| Dow |
1997 |
Port |
$65 |
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| Graham's |
2003 |
Port |
$60 |
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| Taylor |
2000 |
Port |
$89 |
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| | USA Red |
| Andrew Will |
2014 |
Sorella Proprietary Blend |
$84.99 |
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Sold Out
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| Harris Estate Vineyards |
2007 |
Lakeview Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
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Sold Out
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| Kistler |
2009 |
Cuvee Catherine Occidental Station Pinot Noir |
$95 |
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2008 |
Cuvee Elizabeth Bodega Headlands Pinot Noir |
$85 |
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Sold Out
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2008 |
Cuvee Natalie Silver Belt Pinot Noir |
$80 |
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Sold Out
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| Pride Mountain Vineyards |
2010 |
Vintners Select Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
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Sold Out
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| Rudd |
1998 |
Jericho Canyon Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
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Sold Out
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| Saxum |
2011 |
Paderewski Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
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Sold Out
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| Turley Wine Cellars |
2012 |
Rattlesnake Ridge Petite Sirah |
$59 |
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Sold Out
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| |
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| | USA White |
| Liquid Farm |
2016 |
Bien Bien Chardonnay |
$69.95 |
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Sold Out
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| Peter Michael Winery |
2014 |
Mon Plaisir Chardonnay |
$95 |
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Sold Out
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| | Other White |
| Klein Constantia |
2007 |
Vin de Constance (500 ML) |
$89 |
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