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Inventory updated: Fri, Nov 28, 2025 09:02 AM cst
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Australia |
| Henschke |
2018 |
Euphonium Keyneton Estate Proprietary Blend (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$429.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Penfolds |
2009 |
Grange (6x750ML) 
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,485.98 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 97 (2/2014): The 2009 Grange Shiraz is a comprised of 84% Barossa, 8% McLaren, and a little Clare Valley and a little Magill fruit with a small 2% of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. At this youthful stage, this deep garnet-purple colored wine puts forward a vivid expression of blackberry preserve aromas amid underlying cassis, black cherry, spice box, char-grilled meat and chocolate box notes. Surprisingly medium to full-bodied (it smells much fuller!) with taut flavors that are very closed in the mouth, it has firm, chewy tannins to structure through the long and earthy finish. 406 cases imported to the US. Drink it 2018 to 2035+.
JS 95 (3/2014): A tiny 2% Cabernet component in 2009, this is sourced from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Magill Estate and has spent 18 months in exclusively new American oak hogsheads. The depth and complexity on offer is straight up impressive, blue and black fruit aromas unwind, meaty at times, some dark green herbal notes and a cedary layer of oak lurking below. The palate has a core of essence-like flavour with plenty of oak-derived spice framed around blackberry, blood plum and cola. Tannins are smooth and even, flavours are gently glazed around the dark fruit spectrum, some blue fruits too. This is a wistful Grange that, as always, faithfully reflects the vintage.
VM 94 (7/2014): 98% shiraz and 2% cabernet sauvignon): Inky ruby. Intense spice- and mineral-accented aromas of cherry pit, blackberry and plum, with smoke and floral qualities adding complexity. Taut and linear on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering zesty dark fruit and violet pastille flavors and hints of licorice and vanilla. Finishes smoky, spicy and very long, with youthfully firm, building tannins adding grip. In a relatively taut, wound-up style for this wine; by all means give it some age.
WS 94 (8/2014): Aromatically pure, with beautiful focus to the blueberry, black currant, espresso and cream character. In the mouth this sprouts prickly tannins and picks up a distinct tomato leaf note that sends the wine in a different direction. This has depth, length and plenty of ripeness without excess weight, but lacks the complete harmony of the best vintages. Best from 2016 through 2030. 406 cases imported. |
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2011 |
Grange (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,404.98 |
3 |
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| | Bordeaux Red |
| Ch. d' Aiguilhe |
2019 |
Cotes de Castillon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$203.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Angelus |
2006 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,176.97 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 96 (10/2011): Tasted at Farr Vintners’ vertical from ex-chateau magnum. The 2006 Angelus has a very deep but pure colour. It has a pixelated nose, the same that it has had from its youth, great definition and lift with the Merlot more in evidence now: black cherries, loganberry, a touch of orange-blossom and tangible mineralite. The palate is very crisp with a firm backbone, perhaps needing a couple more years to fully integrate, but it bounds along like a yapping puppy from start to finish. Certainly not a blockbuster Angelus, but beautifully realized and pixelated.
WA 95 (2/2009): A spectacular effort (what’s new?), this brilliant offering from proprietor Hubert de Bouard is another classic. A blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc, it boasts an inky/purple color as well as a sumptuous bouquet of creosote, blueberry pie, espresso roast, blackberries, and graphite. Extremely full-bodied and stunningly rich with a multi-layered texture, sweet tannin, and a 45-second finish, this exceptional 2006 is one of the great wines of St.-Emilion. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028.
VM 93 (6/2009): Full ruby. Vibrant aromas of crushed blueberry and bitter chocolate are further brightened by a violet quality. Dense, sweet and lush, with terrific depth and freshness to its dark fruit, mineral and violet flavors. This is really creamy-rich for the vintage. Finishes with smooth, chocolatey tannins and Outstanding palate-saturating length. It's hard to imagine how Hubert de Bouard managed to get such a deep, layered middle palate without any sign of overextracted tannins or heaviness, but he has managed this neat trick.
WS 93 (3/2009): This has a gorgeous nose of black licorice, black cherry and sage. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a very long finish. There's beautiful texture for the vintage. Enjoy the fruit and richness. Best from 2013 through 2017. |
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2015 |
St. Emilion (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,514.97 |
1 |
|
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JS 99 (3/2018): A great wine with superb concentration and richness. yet it's ever so agile and polished. Spices, blueberries, cinnamon and dried flowers. Full body and polished and full tannins. Great length. The refinement to the tannins is amazing. Compacted. Essence-like. Needs five or six years to open. Try in 2025.
JD 97+ (11/2017): A total blockbuster is the 2015 Angelus and it’s reminiscent of a slightly more elegant 2009. Made from 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc brought up in new barrels, this rich, opulent beauty boast killer notes of blackcurrants, blackberry liqueur, truffle, chocolate and scorched earth. With full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannin and a stacked profile on the palate, this hedonistic Bomb of a wine from Hubert de Boüard needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for three decades or more.
WA 97 (2/2018): A blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Angelus reveals a deep garnet-purple color and fragrant aromas of crushed red currants, warm plums and pencil shavings with hints of incense, sage, violets and tobacco. Full-bodied, very fine and intense yet exquisitely delicate with wonderful freshness, it has ripe yet firm, very finely grained tannins and an epically long, perfumed finish. With bags of perfume and a captivating plushness, this Angelus is a real head-turner!
NM 96 (2/2018): The 2015 Angelus was bottled in September 2017. It has a more backward nose compared to other recent vintages, demanding coaxing to eke out those lovely blackberry, briary, cassis and crushed violet aromas that are neatly sutured with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. This is velvety/creamy in texture, the acidity well judged with sumptuous black cherry and red plum fruit, underneath which lies hints of seaweed/brine and sea salt. There is great precision on the finish, completing an accomplished Angelus built for long-term aging.
WS 96 (3/2018): Dense, dark and muscular, featuring waves of warmed fig, plum and black currant paste that roll in with warm ganache, baker's chocolate and espresso accents. A huge swath of smoldering tobacco is brewing on the finish, which has a brooding feel, thanks to tannins that hit like a thunderclap at the end. If you've got time to wait... Best from 2028 through 2045. 8,750 cases made.
VM 97 (7/2019): The 2015 Angélus has a calm, cool and collected bouquet of tightly wound black fruit that unfurls with aeration to reveal blackberry, gravel and pencil box notes; classic, almost Left Bank in style, and delivered with real panache. The palate is exquisitely balanced with fine but grippy tannin, layers of black and red fruit tinged with vanilla and perfect acidity. The harmonious, sensual finish is very alluring. What a stunning 2015 this is going to be! Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin. |
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2020 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,813.99 |
3 |
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| |
JD 98 (3/2023): The flagship from this great estate, the 2020 Château Angelus checks in as 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in new barrels. It’s darker and more concentrated compared to the 2019, offering beautiful, medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of redcurrants, black raspberries, sandalwood, spring flowers, and smoked tobacco. With just about flawless balance, it's not the blockbuster style of a decade ago, but it has gorgeous purity, ultra-fine tannins, a round, seamless mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. It's very much in the classic, balanced, structured style of the vintage, and a solid 7-8 years of bottle age are recommended. It will have 30+ years of prime drinking.
WA 98-100 (5/2021): The 2020 Angelus has an opaque purple-black color, pulling you in with a captivating perfume of kirsch, Black Forest cake, ripe plums, violets and molten licorice, followed by wafts of underbrush, raspberry leaves and graphite, plus a hint of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already offers beautiful balance and expression at this nascent stage, featuring bright, crunchy red and black fruits with remarkable energy and tension. Its amazingly plush, silken texture carries all these shimmering flavors to a very long and fragrant finish. This jaw-dropping expression of 2020 is simply stunning.
VM 95-97 (5/2021): The 2020 Angelus was given 30–40 minutes to open. It has a very intense nose of multilayered blackberry, blueberry and wild strawberry scents, crushed violet and hints of iodine. It is quintessential Angelus in many ways, sleek and smooth, harmonious and seductive. Those qualities also come through on the palate. This is framed by fine tannins, the Cabernet components coming through strongly on the midpalate. Quite ferrous in some ways, allspice and subtle minty notes lending complexity toward the finish. It is not quite as persistent as the recently tasted 2018 from bottle, but it comes across a little more chiseled and intellectual. Neal Martin.
JS 98-99 (4/2021): This is wonderfully refined and balanced with such pretty depth. Full-bodied and so polished and pure. Subtle at first, then it takes off and keeps coming. Sophisticated. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. |
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2021 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,644.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
St. Emilion (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,644.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. d' Armailhac |
2018 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$384.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 91-93 (4/2019): The 2018 D'Armailhac (14.5% alcohol) is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, harvested September 12 to October 3. Deep garnet-purple colored, it reveals a very fruity nose of crushed blackberries, warm black cherries and mulberries plus hints of potpourri, spice cake and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, the decadent palate delivers loads of black berry layers and a firm, grainy frame with underlying freshness and an earthy finish. Wonderfully opulent D’Armailhac!
WS 91-94 (4/2019): Lively cassis and blackberry notes are liberally laced with briar, tobacco and smoky details. Reveals a serious chalky underpinning on the finish. A bit backward, but all the elements are here.
VM 90-92 (5/2019): The 2018 d'Armailhac is lifted, floral and nicely focused, although a touch closed today. Bright red cherry and floral notes add nuance throughout. Medium in body and fresh, the 2018 has quite a bit of aromatic depth from the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which helps hide the 14.5% alcohol nicely. Yields were just 32 hectoliters per hectare as opposed to 42-46, which is the norm. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92-94 (5/2019): Deeply colored, the 2018 Château D'Armailhac is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new barrels. Cassis, hints of blue fruits, graphite, charcoal, and spicy oak notes all emerge from this deeply colored effort. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, it offers ripe, present tannins, terrific freshness, and a great finish.
JS 93-94 (4/2019): A soft and generous red with plum, tobacco and currant character and a delicious, full body and brightness. Juicy. Attractive, earthy aftertaste. Layered and dense. |
|
| Ch. Ausone |
2011 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,764.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (4/2014): Its bigger sibling, the 2011 Ausone increases the level of intensity, elegance, complexity, richness and length. Nearly a mirror image of the La Chapelle, just with more going on, the Ausone boasts a more saturated purple color, and the wine has everything in large, intense proportions. The finesse and delicacy of all its components are what make it such a remarkable wine. The quality of the tannins and purity of the fruit make this another legendary effort that should age for 30-40 years. |
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|
2014 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,538.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (1/2017): Fabulous aromas of currants, rose petals, dried strawberries and hints of lemon rind. Wet earth and chalk. Full and dense and so compacted and squeezed. What a texture. Phenomenal. Needs five to six years to open, but it’s a joy to taste. Amazing. Such energy! From organically grown grapes as well. I am in awe.
VM 95 (3/2018): The 2014 Ausone has an almost pastille-like purity on the nose, equally red and black fruit laced with allspice and clove, gaining complexity all the time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, fleshy and generous, a fine bead of acidity, gaining volume and mass towards the succulent, velvety smooth final third. This is a very seductive wine with not a hair out of place, though it is not the most cerebral Ausone that I have tasted in recent years. More an Ausone intent on sensory pleasure. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 95 (3/2017): The 2014 Ausone, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, was matured in barrel for 20 months with 85% new oak. Compared to the Chapelle d'Ausone, this Grand Vin demanded gentle coaxing from the glass. It eventually unfurls to reveal mineral-rich red berry fruit, oregano, orange blossom and later on blackcurrant winegums. It displays superb delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin. There is an almost sorbet-like freshness conferred upon this Saint Emilion by the growing season, very harmonious and poised with one of the most precise and tensile finishes that you will find this vintage. One of the stars of the vintage, this may merit a higher score with bottle age. This is a great success. |
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2021 |
St. Emilion (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,255.99 |
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!
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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| Ch. Batailley |
2008 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$839.99 |
1 |
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NM 91 (1/2012): Tasted ex-chateau and single blind in Southwold. This has a rounded, intense nose with ample brambly black fruit, touch of raspberry leaf and cedar with good definition. Very bright and lively compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy entry. Very supple tannins and a caressing mouthfeel considering the vintage. There are lush ripe red fruits intermingling with sous-bois on the finish. The Merlot if expressive and very attractive here. Just give this a few years to come into its own.
WA 90 (5/2011): Wood spice, earth, black currant and sweet cherry characteristics are found in this elegant, medium to full-bodied, surprisingly rich, well-textured effort. From the bottle, it confirms the high quality I noted two years ago from barrel. More forward than usual for Batailley, it is a dark plum-hued wine that requires 2-4 years of bottle age, but should easily last 15+ years.
WS 90 (12/2011): Nicely firm, with a bold iron streak and lots of cedar embedded into the core of red and black currant fruit and tobacco notes. Focused and long, with a pure beam of fruit driving through the grippy finish. Best from 2013 through 2018. 20,000 cases made. |
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2010 |
Pauillac (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,029.98 |
1 |
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2016 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$849.99 |
2 |
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| Ch. La Croix de Beaucaillou |
2020 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$502.97 |
1 |
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WA 89-91 (5/2021): The 2020 La Croix de Beaucaillou is composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. It has 13.75% alcohol and a pH of 3.78 with an IPT of 91. It is set to age for 12 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant scents of crushed redcurrants, black raspberries and fresh black berries, plus hints of bay leaves, lavender and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate is full of energetic red and black berry layers with a grainy texture and just enough freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.
JD 92-95 (5/2021): The second wine of the estate is the 2020 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak. It's a much more concentrated, structured wine offering classic cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with notes of scorched earth, tobacco, graphite, and chocolate. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has a great mid-palate as well as the vintage's rich, deep, powerful style. It's going to have some up-front appeal given its balance as well as the quality of the tannins, but this is a serious wine for reserving 2-4 years in the cellar, and it should easily have 15-20 years of prime drinking.
JS 94-95 (4/2021): This is really serious. It’s full-bodied, tight and linear with fantastic length. Racy, so fine and intense. Very fine tannins. One of the best Croix Ducru. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 44% merlot, and 3% petit verdot. |
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| Ch. Beausejour (J. Duffau-Lagarosse) |
2000 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,916.97 |
1 |
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WA 92 (4/2003): Undeniably the most complete Beausejour Duffau since the mythical 1990, the black/purple-colored 2000 exhibits a port-like bouquet of licorice, blackberry liqueur, minerals, blueberries, camphor, and melted asphalt. Medium rather than full-bodied, it has a multi-layered texture in addition to gorgeous ripeness. While it is not as rich or super-concentrated as the colossal 1990, the 2000 still merits significant interest. Pure, complex, and reasonably priced, it will be at its apogee between 2013-2025+.
WS 91 (3/2003): Beautiful and sweet. A joy to taste. Lovely berry, floral and hints of vanilla on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing, delicious finish. Best after 2010. 1,665 cases made.
VM 90 (6/2003): Bright red-ruby. Extravagantly ripe nose combines redcurrant, coffee bean, five-spice powder, stewed tomato and exotic oak scents; slight resiny whiff of surmaturite Then silky and bright in the mouth, with plump, dense red berry flavors framed by healthy acidity. Finishes long and broad, with chewy, ripe tannins. This has been nicely opened up by its elevage |
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2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,019.97 |
2 |
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| WA 100 (2/2013): The 2010 is a more structured, masculine and steely version of the utterly compelling 2009. Tasting like black raspberry confiture with subtle notes of graphite and crushed chalk along with enormous floral notes, the wine displays a slightly smoky character but a voluptuous attack, mid-palate and finish. Its is full-bodied and massively endowed, with every component perfectly etched in this extraordinary wine, which should be drinkable after 7-8 years of bottle age and last for a half-century or more. This is brilliant stuff. Composed of 73% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon from yields of 21 hectoliters per hectare, the alcohol is the highest ever registered at Beausejour-Duffau, coming in at 15%, but remarkably, the pH is modest and the acids relatively elevated, giving the wine an astonishing freshness and precision that is hard to believe in view of its power, density and length. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2055+. |
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| Ch. Belgrave |
2021 |
Haut Medoc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$658.99 |
2 |
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| Ch. Beychevelle |
2006 |
St. Julien (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,609.99 |
1 |
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2012 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,659.97 |
1 |
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|
2020 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$654.99 |
1 |
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JD 97 (3/2023): The Grand Vin 2020 Château Beychevelle is a tiny selection representing just 55% of the total production of the estate. The blend is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot which spent 18 months in 70% new French oak, hitting 13.5% natural alcohol. Surpassing both the 2016 and 2018, this inky-hued Saint-Julien offers a round, lush, full-bodied style as well as gorgeous aromatics of black cherries, blueberries, loamy earth, chocolate, and spring flowers. The vintage doesn't get any sexier, and this has sweet tannins, an opulent mouthfeel, and riveting purity and finesse. While it already offers pleasure, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and keep for 25+.
VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Beychevelle is a wild, exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, gravel, crushed rocks menthol and espresso ristretto give Beychevelle its flamboyant personality. All the elements are so well balanced in this full-throttle, hugely enjoyable Saint-Julien. The 2020 is lights out. Antonio Galloni.
JS 94 (12/2022): A very polished and refined 2020 with a medium body, integrated tannins and a pretty texture. Nice currant, light chocolate and cedar undertones. Fresh finish. Drink after 2026.
WA 94-96 (5/2021): Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Beychevelle offers up vibrant notes of black raspberries, fresh black cherries and cassis, plus hints of wild sage, chocolate mint, rose hip tea and fallen leaves, with an exotic hint of Indian spices. The medium to full-bodied palate offers layers of crunchy black fruits with a firm, grainy texture and just enough freshness, finishing long and perfumed. |
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2021 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$691.99 |
15 |
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| Ch. Branaire-Ducru |
2018 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$667.97 |
1 |
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JS 97 (1/2021): Very attractive aromas of currants, tile and sandalwood with black and red currants. It’s full-bodied with a tight, dense center-palate that remains closed in and tight. Yet there is underlying seriousness and length to this. Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made. Try after 2026.
VM 96 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is every bit as captivating as it was en primeur. Ripe, silky tannins give the 2018 a striking air of sensuality that only grows as the wine sits in the glass. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and gravel inflections all open more over time. Even with all of its natural radiance, Branaire remains a model of grace. It is unquestionably one of the under the radar wines of the year. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (3/2021): A beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2018 Château Branaire-Ducru reveals a deep purple color as well as ample, earthy cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with sous bois, earth, lead pencil, and cedar. With that classic Saint-Julien pure fruit, sumptuous aromas and flavors, sweet yet present tannins, and a solid spine of acidity, it's going to need 5-7 years to hit maturity yet should keep for 20-25 years or more. I don't think it's going to match the blockbuster 2009 (it's more in the pretty, elegant style of the 2016), but it's a gorgeous, elegant wine you will love to have in the cellar.
WS 94 (3/2021): Pure and driven, with expressive cassis and plum puree aromas and flavors carried by a graphite edge and backed with applewood, licorice root and tobacco notes. Lovely energy throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2037. 18,000 cases made.
WA 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and an upfront, expressive nose of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries with an undercurrent of dried mint, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a very pleasant fruit wallop, featuring juicy black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with lovely purity. |
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2019 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$350.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (4/2022): The 2019 Branaire-Ducru unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, blackcurrants, sweet soil tones and hints of cigar wrapper, rose petals and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's youthfully tightly wound, with terrific concentration, tangy acids, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. While this is a little reserved out of the gates, its energy and classical proportions will richly reward bottle age.
JD 94-96 (6/2020): Beautiful blue fruits, tobacco, damp earth, and floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Branaire-Ducru. It's medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has silky tannins, and shows the quality of the vintage perfectly. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades or more. It reminds me of the 2009.
VM 94 (2/2022): The 2019 Branaire-Ducru is one that I was eager to re-taste in bottle. Deep in color, it has a very well-defined nose of tightly packed dark berries, the tobacco element less obvious than before, and slightly more floral, with light sous-bois notes developing with aeration. The 60% new oak is neatly integrated. The palate shows real vivacity and tension on the entry and delivers crunchy black fruit, touches of blue fruit and a little iodine. Sappy from start to finish, this has a real saline tang that urges you back for another sip. There is definitely is more substance compared to previous vintages, and I wager that this represents the best Branaire-Ducru in recent years. |
|
| Ch. Brane-Cantenac |
1996 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,319.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Branon |
2014 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$471.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. La Cabanne |
2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$267.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Calon-Segur |
2011 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,772.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,358.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Canon La Gaffeliere |
2006 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$807.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 93 (3/2009): Shows black truffle, blackberry and tea leaf on the nose. Full-bodied, with extremely well-integrated tannins and a racy, velvety-textured finish. A beauty for the vintage. Best after 2014.
WA 92 (2/2009): Stephan von Neipperg’s splendid 50-acre vineyard on clay and limestone soils has once again produced a beautifully ripe, concentrated, textured, sensual wine of both power and elegance. The 2006, an unfined, unfiltered blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, reveals sweet aromas of fruitcake, cassis, black cherries, roasted herbs, cedar, and spice box. This pure, textured, forward beauty should drink well for 12-15+ years.
VM 92 (5/2009): Bright medium ruby. Highly aromatic nose combines blackberry, violet, tobacco leaf, licorice and cedar. Dense, lush, sweet and fine-grained, with a wonderfully pliant, silky texture devoid of rough edges. Utterly seamless, savory wine but with no shortage of vinosity or energy. Finishes suave and very long.
NM 90 (1/2010): Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. This has a very modern, oaky nose with touches of damson and prune; black plum, cassis and fruitcake...not my style to be honest. The palate is rich and dense, firm toasty tannins, generous but lacking some backbone towards the smooth, silky finish. It imparts more pleasure than intellect and if that is its aim, it has succeeded. |
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|
2010 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,001.99 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 96 (3/2013): (WS #2 wine of 2013) This takes the power of the vintage and puts it in its pocket for later, preferring instead to let mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit strut its way forward, enlivened with roasted wood spice and supported by suavely but thoroughly embedded iron-tinged structure. Should cruise for two decades. Best from 2016 through 2035. 4,500 cases made, 675 cases imported.
WA 95 (2/2013): This wine shows wonderfully exotic tapenade, licorice, Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, blackberry and sweet cherry notes in its strikingly provocative aromatics. On the palate, the wine is dense and full-bodied, with stunning concentration, purity, texture and length. It is full-bodied, silky smooth and seems to have more in common with the 2009 than one might expect, although the freshness and tannin levels are slightly more elevated. Drink it over the next 20+ years. |
|
| Ch. Cantemerle |
2015 |
Haut Medoc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$527.97 |
1 |
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| JD 91 (11/2017): Based on 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the inky colored 2015 Château Cantemerle offers a terrific bouquet of black currants, smoked herbs, earth, and hints of charcoal. Ripe, concentrated, rounded, and undeniably delicious, with ripe tannin, it's a terrific vintage for Cantemerle to drink anytime over the coming 10-15 years. |
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|
2016 |
Haut Medoc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$290.98 |
12 |
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| |
VM 91 (8/2020): The 2016 Cantemerle has a comparatively opulent bouquet of black cherries, boysenberry and light violet scents, touches of cedar and sous-bois emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. There is a touch of greenness here, although it does come across harmonious and there is a pleasing spiciness toward the finish. Fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. (Drink between 2022-2045). Neal Martin.
WA 89 (11/2018): Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cantemerle offers up warm plums, black cherries and mulberries with an earth and bay leaves undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied with just enough fruit and pleasantly chewy tannins, finishing with an herbal lift.
JD 88 (2/2019): The 2016 Château Cantemerle is a solid effort, yielding ample mulberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with notions of tobacco, cedarwood, and spring flowers. It’s not a blockbuster but has a perfumed, complex, medium-bodied style that’s a joy to drink. Enjoy it over the coming 10-15 years. (Drink between 2019-2034). |
|
| Ch. Cantenac-Brown |
2019 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$397.97 |
1 |
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WA 94+ (4/2022): The 2019 Cantenac Brown is a brilliant wine from José Sanfins and his team. Unwinding in the glass with deep aromas of wild berries, licorice, loamy soil, burning embers and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered, with terrific concentration, beautifully refined tannins and a seamless, elegant profile. Given its quality, this remains somewhat under the radar and is well worth a special effort to seek out.
JD 93 (4/2022): The 2019 Château Cantenac Brown is terrific, surpassing the 2018. Lots of ripe black and blue fruits as well as scorched earth, leather, and crushed stone notes define the bouquet, and it's a rich, medium to full-bodied, juicy wine that has the fresher, lively style of the vintage yet still brings beautiful fruit. It doesn't have the tannin quality of the top wines in the appellation, but as I wrote after tasting it from barrel, it's one sexy Margaux. Give it just a few years and enjoy over the following 20 years. (Drink between 2024-2044).
VM 92+ (2/2023): The 2019 Cantenac Brown has a fragrant and pure bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and wild heather scents, very winsome. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy, and fine acidity. One of the more elegant and understated Margaux with a precise finish. I probably overlooked the nuances of this wine, which would explain my lower score than before, but I am convinced that bottle age will ensure its melioration. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2040). Neal Martin. |
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|
2021 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$550.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Cheval-Blanc |
1993 |
St. Emilion
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$605.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
1993 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,356.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Domaine de Chevalier |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,327.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Clerc Milon |
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,399.97 |
1 |
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| |
JS 94 (2/2013): Gorgeous currants and spices with licorice on the nose. Full body, with super integrated tannins and a long, long finish. The texture and beautiful fruit just wants you to drink this. Give it time but hard to wait. Try in 2016.
WA 94 (2/2013): One the finest Clerc Milons I have ever tasted, and showing better from bottle than from barrel, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and the rest a tiny bit of Carmenere and Petit Verdot has a complex nose of cedar wood, red and black fruits, white chocolate and creme de cassis. A very powerful wine at 14.5% natural alcohol (quite high for a Medoc), this wine has impressive purity and texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel, relatively sweet tannin, but an already endearing complexity, length and richness that are hard to ignore. This is a superb effort and one of the wines that is usually reasonably priced among the classified growths.
WS 93-96 (7/2011): Offers a more rounded feel, with cassis, black licorice and plum sauce carried by very supple but substantial tannins and terrific acidity. The long finish has a solid tarry edge. Tasted non-blind.
VM 90-93 (6/2011): (50% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 11% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot and 1% carmenere; 14% alcohol) Deep ruby-purple. Dense, rich nose redolent of cassis, dried herbs and violet, with a refreshing note of mint emerging with air. Smooth, full and rich on entry, with pure, precise black fruit and herbal flavors. Big, strapping tannins are silky and sweet. A very big, expressive Clerc Milon that manages to deploy its considerable power with uncommon charm and refinement. Call me crazy, but I thought I could pick up the green pepper note given by the carmenere. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, who was previously at Opus One for ten years, has worked for the past two years at Clerc Milon with Philippe Dhalluin (the technical director and general manager of the Mouton estates), and his involvement is starting to show in a string of ever-improving wines from Clerc Milon. And the greater attention to detail can't be a bad thing either, given the difficulties presented by working with such a high-quality but complex site (230 different parcels of vines!). This 2010 struck me as much better than the 2009. |
|
|
2017 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,180.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$586.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93-95 (4/2019): The 2018 Clerc Milon is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère. Grapes were harvested a bit later here than at Mouton, from September 17 to October 10. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with bold scents of warm cassis, blackberry compote and dark chocolate with hints of Morello cherries, baking spices and dried roses plus a waft of underbrush. It has a wonderfully rich, confidently sensuous palate with plenty of spicy layers and a velvety texture, finishing long and perfumed. This should age incredibly.
WS 93-96 (4/2019): This is well-built, with a sleek and persistent structure carrying energetic cassis, damson plum, violet and iron notes. Offers a long, pure, almost chiseled finish. A strong showing.
VM 91-93 (5/2019): The 2018 Clerc Milon is laced with generous dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and gravel, all of which give the wine its distinct aromatic inflections. Powerful and tannic, the 2018 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own, but it is quite promising. The Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly expressive at this stage. Clerc Milon is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92-94 (5/2019): Beautiful, with a thrilling freshness and purity, especially in its tannins, the 2018 Château Clerc Milon is full-bodied, concentrated, and layered on the palate, with ample fruit and texture paired with terrific overall balance. Loaded with dark, smoky red and black fruits, graphite, cedar, and tobacco, it's an elegant yet powerful wine. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Carmenère, all aged in 50% new oak.
JS 95-96 (4/2019): Very generous and dense with layers of gorgeous blackberries and blueberries. Full-bodied and so layered with fantastic tannin backbone at the same time. |
|
| Ch. Clinet |
2006 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$654.99 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 92 (2/2011): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s Clinet vertical. Matured for 16 months in 60% new oak, this has a more expressive nose than the 2005 but perhaps not quite as complex. There are touches of blackberry and raspberry leave, complemented by bay leaf with time. The palate is full-bodied and very well balanced, the tannins just as fine as the 2005. The oak is prominent at first, but returning after an hour in bottle it has wonderful tension and vibrancy, great purity towards the finish that has more panache than post-millennial vintage. Superb - this just gets better year after year
WA 90+ (2/2009): Extremely backward, firm, and virile, this macho wine exhibits full-bodied power, a dense blackberry, smoky nose, huge tannins, but impressive stuffing and depth. This is not for the faint of heart, and also not for those who need immediate drinkability. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.
VM 90 (6/2009): Red-ruby. Highly aromatic, inviting nose offers black raspberry, mocha, chocolate, licorice and a minty nuance. Lush, sweet and round, with very good richness and vinosity to the black raspberry, smoke and mocha flavors. The broad, firm finish shows a distinct medicinal reserve, suggesting that this will be better for five years or so in the cellar.
WS 90 (3/2009): Pretty raspberry, mineral and vanilla aromas and flavors, with hints of dried herbs. Full-bodied, with good, silky tannins and a long finish that shows lots of raspberry and cherry fruit. Attractive and balanced for the vintage. Best after 2013. 2,915 cases made. |
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|
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,995.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 97 (2/2013): Gorgeous nose with lots of dark fruit like plum and blueberries. Crushed pepper and chalk with wild strawberries and vanilla. Dense and velvety on the palate with superbly polished tannins and great depth. It's absolutely gorgeous now but needs at least five to six years of bottle age to really shows its great quality.
WA 96+ (2/2013): The blend is largely dominated by 85% Merlot, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc also included. Inky/purple-colored, the wine has an exceptionally full-bodied, layered, moderately tannic mouthfeel and impressive power. Loads of melted chocolate/fudge and black fruits galore along with some coffee bean, mocha, as well as some background oak are all present in this big, formidably endowed, masculine style of Pomerol that will take longer to shed its tannin than the 2009. I would give this wine 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30+ years.
WS 95 (3/2013): This showy, packed and well-endowed Pomerol pumps out notes of warm linzer torte, plum preserves and blackberry reduction, all supported by a broad, charcoal- and ganache-coated structure and deeply embedded acidity. Very muscular on the back end, this boasts a still-chewy feel. Among the most backward of the 2010 Pomerols, this requires significant cellaring. For those who enjoy more power than subtlety. Best from 2017 through 2035. 3,333 cases made.
NM 94 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clinet 2010 has a tempting truffle-scented bouquet with fine delineation - crushed violets developing beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp red berry fruit on the entry, fine angular tannins with a tart but focused, tense finish. This is a fabulous Clinet from Ronan Laborde and his team, although I suspect that the 2009 Clinet may eventually turn out to be the superior wine.
VM 93 (7/2013): Good deep ruby-red. Brooding, superripe aromas of blackberry, plum and coffee. Seriously concentrated and dense, but with juicy acidity giving energy and definition to the thick flavors of dark plum, flowers and potpourri spices. This very suave, plush wine finishes with substantial but noble tannins that dust the front teeth. This big boy has the stuffing and structure for a slow and graceful evolution in bottle. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Conseillante |
2000 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,058.98 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (2/2018): The 2000 La Conseillante is brilliant (this was tasted from magnum) and while mature, is still youthful and vibrant. Deep ruby/purple colored and loaded with notions of currants, plums, chocolate, Asian spice, and incense, it offers full-bodied richness, fine tannin, and a silky, elegant, yet concentrated style on the palate. This beauty can be drunk anytime over the coming two decades or more.
WA 96 (6/2010): La Conseillante made an excellent wine in 2001, another great one in 2005, and the estate hit home runs in both 2008 and, above all, in 2009. In fact, the latter vintage may well end up being the modern-day reference point for La Conseillante. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to be said for this 2000. An elegant, gentle style that is never a blockbuster, the 2000 La Conseillante has a deep ruby/plum/purple color and an unbelievably expressive nose of sweet kirsch liqueur intermixed with raspberries, incense, toast, and licorice. Full-bodied yet ethereal in the sense that it seems to combine power along with eloquence and delicacy, this is a beautifully pure wine that has just hit its plateau of full maturity, although ideally I think it would benefit strongly from another 4-5 years of bottle age and drink well for two to three decades.
WS 95 (12/2015): Pretty, with a perfumy hint to the range of bergamot, blood orange, kirsch and damson plum fruit flavors, which are backed by a graceful, floral-edged finish. Very silky and suave, this expands steadily and dramatically in the glass but still forgoes power for a lacy seduction. This really stands apart from the powerfully ripe general profile of the AOC in '00 but seems likely to last just as long in the hunt as the other top dogs.--Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective .
JS 92 (4/2012): An incredibly subtle and sexy nose of perfume, flowers, red fruits, and sliced plums. Full-bodied, yet refined and silky. This is delicious and pretty, and just starting to open up with flavors of tobacco, cedar, and cigar box. No need to wait.
VM 92 (5/2018): The 2000 La Conseillante is much broodier than the previous two vintages, 1998 and 1999. This demands encouragement from the glass, eventually opening with blackberry, briary, black truffle and terracotta scents. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly “furry” tannin. It is not as precise as say, the 2005 or 2010. There is impressive weight here, a concentrated and broad-shouldered La Conseillante, but what is missing is the finesse and poise that more recent vintages have shown. I find the millennial La Conseillante more impressive in its youth, though now it is just looking a little heavy-handed. Tasted at La Conseillante vertical at the property. Neal Martin. |
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|
2001 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,934.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WS 90 (3/2004): Beautiful wine with blackberry, chocolate and floral aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a pretty finish. Refined and silky. Not a big Conseillante, but all in finesse and texture. I like it as much as the 2000. Best after 2006. 4,165 cases made.
WA 89 (6/2004): Always a Burgundian, feminine style of wine, La Conseillante’s 2001 exhibits aromas of plum and raspberry fruit as well as noticeable new oak in a medium-bodied, dark ruby/plum-colored format with excellent ripeness, but hard tannin in the finish. Although disjointed, it reveals signs of precociousness as well as some edginess and unintegrated tannin (the reason for the question mark). There is a lot going on in this elegant 2001, but it is not nearly as profound as the 2000. Nevertheless, it is the type of wine that may fool early tasters as it does need 2-3 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2016.
VM 89 (6/2004): Bright ruby-red. Plum, chocolate and nutty oak on the nose. Suave and fine-grained, with sexy flavors of plum, smoke and chocolatey oak. Supple, elegant and sweet. Finishes with tannins that are firm but not at all hard, and tangy, persistent flavors of raspberry and chocolate. |
|
| Ch. La Couspaude |
2012 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$658.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$330.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. le Crock |
2010 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$610.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou |
1998 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,515.97 |
1 |
|
| |
NM 94 (7/2010): Served at the Ducru offline in London, this is a wonderful 1998 Saint Julien. Like the 1999, it begins quite taciturn on the nose but opens up with a little patience. Darker fruit than the 1999, briary, cedar, cigar box, stronger sous-bois aromas with a hint of iodine, swelling with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent red-berried fruit that actually remind me of the 1995. There is a citrus thread running through this wine, very focused and demonstrating supreme elegance on the finish, those supple tannins ‘tickling’ the palate with their charms. Probably one of the most elegant Ducru Beaucaillou wines in recent years. Drink now-2025.
WA 91 (4/2001): A supremely elegant, dense purple-colored effort, the 1998 reveals aromas of cassis, black raspberries, minerals, and currants. Precise, well-delineated, and medium to full-bodied, with magnificent purity and understated elegance, this noble, restrained wine reveals a tannic finish, suggesting 4-5 more years of cellaring is warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.
VM 89 (3/2014): (56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 4% petit verdot; 13% alcohol): Bright ruby-red with an amber rim. Captivating aromas of red cherry, minerals and flowers. Very refined flavors of red- and blackcurrant, minerals and violet. Finishes long and clean, with a zingy minerality, polished tannins and building sweetness. Unfortunately, I have also had a poor bottle of this wine recently (showing animal notes and astringent drying tannins), so it may well be that this wine should be consumed fairly soon. I remember Philippe Dhalluin telling me many years ago that this wine reminded him of the 1988 made at Branaire-Ducru (which he always liked), but that he found that the '98 had a suaver character; I'm not so sure. Only 50% of the crop went into the grand vin, as in 1999 and 1997; prior to these vintages, almost two-thirds of the wine made at Branaire-Ducru went into the estate's flagship bottling. Ian d'Agata.
WS 88 (7/2009): Mineral, floral and blackberry aromas. Medium-bodied, with a good core of fruit and light mint and blackberry character. Elegant and friendly. |
|
| Ch. Duhart Milon |
2008 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$780.97 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (5/2011): A magnificent sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 Duhart Milon is the shrewd consumer’s wine to purchase by the case as prices do not yet reflect its qualitative resurgence. Composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot that came in at 13.09% alcohol, it is a surprisingly intense effort displaying a marvelous texture, plenty of black currant, licorice, unsmoked cigar tobacco and earthy characteristics, a full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning purity as well as density. Enjoy this top-notch 2008 over the next 20-25 years.
WS 89 (3/2011): Mint, sage and tobacco lead the way, backed by supple black cherry, roasted plum and dark currant notes. Flashes of game and roasted herb flitter in on the lightly roasted finish. Drink now through 2017. 22,000 cases made.
VM 88-90 (6/2009): (73% cabernet sauvignon and 27% merlot) Saturated ruby-purple. Delicate aromas of blueberry and cedar are complicated by hints of graphite and tobacco. Delicate on the palate as well, with pretty black currant and cedar flavors. This wonderfully balanced midweight offers sneaky concentration and great precision to its classic, cabernet-dominated flavors, not to mention a long, smooth finish. |
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|
2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,259.99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (2/2013): Dense purple, with classic notes of cedar and lead pencil shavings as well as gobs of back currants and licorice, the wine has a full-bodied mouthfeel with fabulous precision and density. It also possesses a long, silky finish with moderately high tannins, but they are ripe and well-integrated. The wood is clearly pushed to the background in this dense, full-bodied Pauillac, which should drink beautifully for 30+ years.
JD 94+ (12/2017): Like a lot of 2010s, the 2010 Duhart-Milon-Rothschild is tight and backward, yet has serious potential. Sporting a deep ruby/purple color and classic notes of currants, lead pencil shavings, cedarwood and saddle leather, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a tight, firm focused texture and beautiful concentration. Its tannins are present, yet ripe and integrated, and it has the purity and freshness that’s the hallmark of this great, great vintage. Give bottles another 2-3 years and it should keep for two to three decades.
VM 93 (4/2020): The 2010 Duhart-Milon has a backward nose that is going through a dumb phase. There is plenty of fruit here but it is “locked down” at the moment. The palate is very well defined with crisp acidity, fine-boned tannins and superb balanced. It is not a deep or grippy Pauillac, but it feels...streamlined, athletic and wonderfully poised on the graphite infused finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.Neal Martin.
JS 93 (2/2013): A wine with an intense sous bois, fresh tobacco and dried flower character on the nose and palate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and an attractive finish. It's structured yet polished with a beauty and stature. Try in 2015.
WS 91 (3/2013): Well-polished, with sleek edges to the fleshy plum, cassis and blackberry fruit, while the finish is embedded with black licorice and violet notes. Approachable now, but the stuffing is there to cellar this for a bit. Drink now through 2025 |
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|
2014 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$509.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
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2016 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,026.99 |
1 |
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| JS 94-95 (4/2017): A firm and silky young red with a medium to full body and lovely chocolate, cedar and currant character. Flavorful finish. One of the best in a very long time. |
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| Ch. Durfort Vivens |
2017 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$768.99 |
1 |
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JS 94-95 (4/2018): Very long and driven on the palate with asphalt, blackcurrants and violets. Full body, tight and intense. Hints of hazelnut at the end. Demeter certified biodynamic.
VM 91-94 (5/2018): The 2017 Durfort-Vivens is potent, but also quite structured and forbidding at this stage. The very high percentage (91%) of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage gives Durfort much of its character. Classically austere in the best sense of the term, the 2017 looks like a wine that is going to need a good bit of time to unwind. Grilled herbs, smoke, tobacco and incense develop in the glass, and yet the 2017 is only showing some of its cards. Yields are down about 35% because of frost, but the damage was mostly contained to parcels in Soussans as opposed to those that inform the Grand Vin. Antonio Galloni.
WS 89-92 (4/2018): Charming and stylish, showing bright floral lift throughout while red currant and raspberry fruit, along with mineral and rooibos tea notes, glide through the silky finish. |
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2019 |
Margaux (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$434.99 |
1 |
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| Clos l' Eglise |
2010 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$944.99 |
2 |
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WA 95 (2/2013): Another brilliant wine from Helene Garcin-Leveque, the 2010 Clos L'Eglise comes from a 15-acre vineyard near the well-known church just to the west of the high plateau of Pomerol. It is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Loads of roasted espresso notes intermixed with white chocolate, plum, Asian soy, blackberry and black cherry fruit make for an intensely perfumed set of aromatics. Plump, fleshy and full-bodied, with beautiful fruit as well as undeniable purity and an enticing texture, this is a succulent, lush Pomerol to drink over the next 12-15+ years.
NM 94 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos l'Eglise 2010 has an intense bouquet with dense black fruit mixed with autumn leaves and crushed rock - well defined with good lift. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a little chewy on the fruit palate but plenty of substance and grip towards the liquorice-tinged finish. There is a fine sense of energy here: no frills but everything in its right place. Tasted January 2014.
VM 94 (6/2011): Good bright, deep red. Crystallized black raspberry, cherry, bitter chocolate and graphite minerality on the expressive nose. Dense, sweet and very deep, with hugely rich flavors of red and darker berries, espresso and bitter chocolate. As creamy as this is, there's no shortage of energy or underlying tannic support. Very long and lush on the finish. A great vintage for this property, but this will probably be best over the next 15 years.
WS 94 (3/2013): Offers gorgeous mouthfeel, range of fruit and length. A velvety feel belies the dense structure buried here, while thoroughly enticing linzer torte, plum sauce and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors pump along, supported by singed spice, apple wood and ganache. Displays flesh, structure, definition and drive. One for the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2030. 1,250 cases made. |
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|
2016 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$519.97 |
1 |
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| JD 97 (10/2020): I'd put the 2016 Clos L'Eglise up with the top vintages out there, including the 1998, 2000, 2005, and 2009. It has a similar level of purity compared to the 2015 yet offers even more power and concentration. A huge nose of crème de cassis, crushed violets, graphite, lead pencil, violets, and damp earth gives way to a flawlessly balanced, full-bodied 2016 that has sweet tannins, no hard edges, and that rare mix of power and elegance. Do your best to hide a case of this beauty in the cellar. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face any time over the coming 25-30 years! |
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| Le Petite Eglise |
2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$405.97 |
20 |
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| |
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| Ch. L' Eglise Clinet |
1998 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,046.98 |
2 |
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WS 96 (10/2001): Truly gorgeous. Rich and thick yet refined and precise. Crushed raspberry and berry character rises from the glass. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit, fine tannins and an extremely long finish. Best after 2010. 1,085 cases made.
VM 94+ (6/2001): Saturated dark ruby. Slightly reduced aromas of sappy berries, minerals and orange peel. Extremely dense in the mouth, with compellingly sweet, powerful flavors of raspberry, minerals and espresso. A rare combination of great breadth and verve. Still a bit withdrawn today from the bottling. But this extract-rich wine should be spectacular in seven or eight years and be very long-lived.
WA 94 (4/2001): This wine has been so impressive over the last decade that it can now be said to rival Petrus. This effort should turn out to be one of the longest-lived Pomerols of the vintage. It is backward, and has closed down since bottling, but make no mistake about it ... this is a dazzling, serious vin de garde. An opaque purple color is followed by a restrained but promising bouquet of sweet black raspberries intermixed with vanillin, caramel, and minerals. The wine is full-bodied, powerfully tannic, beautifully textured, and crammed with extract (an assortment of black fruits). While it is bursting at the seams, purchasers will need to wait a minimum of 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. |
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|
1999 |
Pomerol
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$212.99 |
1 |
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| WA 92 (4/2002): The 1999 l'Eglise Clinet has evolved beautifully since tasted last year. This is one of the stars of the vintage. It is an extraordinary expression of elegance married to power. An opaque purple color is followed by aromas of black raspberries, currants, licorice, graphite, truffles, and earth. The wine is sweet and expansive. It is a model of purity, symmetry, and balance. Moderate tannin suggests 4-5 years of cellaring is required. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025. |
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|
2000 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,354.98 |
1 |
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| WA 96 (4/2003): The saturated ruby/purple color offers up pure fruit notes of mulberries, figs, and cassis intermixed with hints of licorice and toasty oak. Revealing great palate presence, tremendous texture, sweet tannin, relatively low acidity, and a finish that exceeds 60 seconds, I assume this wine will close down, not to reopen for nearly a decade. This is a profound example from a proprietor who has never subscribed to the new, progressive/razzle-dazzle techniques being employed by some of the cutting edge producers. Here it is low yields, ripe fruit, and non-interventionalistic winemaking at its purest. Truly spectacular, this could be another of the great classics proprietor Durantou has produced over recent years. For now, it is hard to believe it could rival or eclipse the fabulous 1998 or, for that matter, the 1995, but the 2000 has gone from strength to strength in its evolution. From bottle, it is dazzling. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035+. |
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|
2006 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,073.98 |
1 |
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2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,137.99 |
1 |
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VM 96 (2/2024): The 2021 L’Eglise-Clinet is stellar. Dark, dense and also a touch somber, the 2021 is laced with generous black fruit, gravel, spice, new leather, licorice and incense. Readers will have to give this time to come together. I especially admire its substance, textural resonance and overall balance. Readers lucky enough to own the 2021 can look forward to years of exceptional drinking once the tannins soften a bit. (Drink between 2031-2061). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (4/2024): The flagship 2021 Château L'Eglise Clinet brings another level of concentration and depth, with ripe red and black plum fruits intermixed with notions of damp earth, tobacco leaf, graphite, and violets. Medium to full-bodied, with rock-solid mid-palate density, sweet tannins, and the vintage's fresher, focused, elegant style, it brings plenty of fruit and I'd wager is clearly better than the vast majority of vintages from the 1980s and 1990s, and even many of the 2000s. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and it only got better with air. This will be absolutely loved by the traditionalists out there and plays with the crème de la crème of the vintage. The blend of the 2021 is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc (Noëmie commented that the Cabernet Franc was the standout in the vintage) that was raised in 75% new French oak, which is perfectly integrated. Give bottles just 2-4 years if you can (it already offers pleasure) and enjoy over the following two decades. |
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| Ch. L' Evangile |
1998 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,505.98 |
1 |
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WS 97 (12/2008): Complex aromas of blackberry, fresh mushrooms, tobacco and wet earth. Full-bodied, soft and luxurious texture to this ripe and opulent wine. Long and decadent too. Just coming around now. Give it more time. L'Evangile at its finest. Best after 2011.
NM 95 (3/2008): A deep ruby/garnet colour. The Cabernet component is more pronounced here than it was two years ago: blackberry, graphite, sous-bois, cedar and a touch of damp moss. With time in glass it develops a touch of oyster shell. The palate is full-bodied, real density to it married with superb acidity but like L’Eglise-Clinet it is ferociously backward and demanding patience, years of the stuff. It does not quite have the tension or symmetry of the L’Eglise-Clinet whilst I would prefer more finesse towards the finish. But undoubtedly this needs another decade for it to mellow out, the finish dry and masculine, not dissimilar to a Chateau Latour.
VM 93 (8/2002): Full medium ruby. Fabulous nose combines black raspberry, sweet oak, bitter chocolate, truffle and mint, all lifted by a cool, slightly medicinal black cherry note of cabernet franc. Penetrating, pure, youthfully bound-up black fruit and licorice flavors. Densely packed and extremely backward. Finishes with very firm, oak-powered tannins. A superb, powerfully structured vintage for this wine, to drink between 2010 and 2025.
WA 92 (4/2001): A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 45% new oak, this terrific l'Evangile is stuffed with concentrated blackberry and raspberry fruit. There is also an acacia-like floral character that gives the wine even more complexity. Notes of toffee, licorice, and truffles add to the aromatic fireworks. The wine is full-bodied, with superb purity as well as moderate tannin in the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020+. |
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| Ch. Figeac |
2000 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,290.99 |
1 |
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NM 93 (12/2007): This has far more intrigue on the nose than the 2005 with the Cabernet Franc relishing this propitious growing season. Savoury fruits, a touch of fig and earth although perhaps it could just do with a little more harmony. The palate is very elegant with grainy tannins, firm grip with a tinge of espresso become more evident towards the finish. This is just beginning to develop character but it needs another decade. But great potential. Drink now-2020+.
JS 93 (5/2012): Spices, herbs, plums, and meat on the nose. Full and round, with soft tannins and a beautiful finish. Chocolate and fruit everywhere. Give this another two or three years. Pull the cork in 2013.
VM 91 (6/2003): Full ruby-red. Wild, expressive aromas of black raspberry, cedar, lead pencil, mocha, coffee and animal fur. Fat, silky and lush yet dry; a thick, round Figeac with impressive volume. Even the merlot in 2000 showed solid structure. Like the 2001, this shows an intriguing burnt note. Finishes with big but suave tannins and lingering notes of cherry, chocolate and black olive. The richest of these three vintages by a wide margin. (A second bottle of the 2000 showed more oak spice, less volume and a distinctly peppery aspect, however.) Stephen Tanzer.
WS 89 (7/2003): Interesting, decadent character. Some might call it old-fashioned. Intense aromas of dried herbs and chocolate. Cooked plum. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. Slightly herbal character. Not quite as good as from barrel. Best after 2010.
WA 85 (6/2010): I rated this wine 93 in the post-bottling report for the vintage, but in two separate recent tastings, I scored the wine 86 one time and 84 the second time. A disappointment, for sure, and how I overrated it so dramatically begs many questions, but I certainly blew it on this one. Medium ruby, already displaying some rust and orange at the edge, the wines exhibits crushed and roasted vegetables, licorice, and black cherries in a herbaceous, thin, washed-out style. Of course, there are those who would defend this wine as a quintessentially elegant, old-style, classic wine, but dilution is dilution, vegetal is vegetal, and the wine frankly lacks concentration and is a major disappointment. I will keep my fingers crossed that there may be a few 93-point bottles out there, but neither of these were, and that’s calling it the way I see it. If you own it (and sadly, I do), try one and see what you think. |
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|
2009 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,795.99 |
2 |
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JD 95 (2/2018): The 2009 Château Figeac is the normal blend of close to equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a beautiful wine that has classic Figeac style, yet is more reserved and backward than most in the vintage. Forest floor, truffle, blackcurrants, cigar ash and green tobacco notes all emerge from this full-bodied, ripe, yet pure, elegant Saint-Emilion that has good acidity and plenty of length. The tannins are ripe, yet firm, it’s nicely balanced, and it blossoms with time in the glass. Nevertheless, it needs another 4-5 years of cellaring to hit prime time, and it should keep for 2-3 decades.
WA 94 (3/2019): The medium garnet colored 2009 Figeac features a very pretty perfume of rose hip tea, lilacs and cinnamon stick over a core of red and black currant preserves plus hints of dried herbs and sweaty saddles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers bags of savory fruit layers with plenty of floral sparks, framed by rounded tannins, finishing on a earthy note.
VM 94 (12/2021): The 2009 Figeac is a gorgeous wine that is really coming into its own. It has quite a precocious bouquet with wild strawberry, blood orange, fig jam, marmalade and gravelly aromas courtesy of the Cabernets. There is real depth on what is quite lush aromatics. The palate is beautifully balanced, very pure with a velvet texture, plenty of ripe red fruit, white pepper, clove, blood orange and kirsch notes, building wonderful towards a powerful yet controlled finish. This is drinking supremely well now, but it will cruise at high altitude for a number of years. Tasted at the château. Neal Martin. |
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|
2017 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$855.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94-97 (5/2018): The 2017 Figeac is magnificent. Beautifully layered and exquisite in the glass, the 2017 possesses remarkable balance and harmony from the very first taste. An utterly beguiling, captivating wine, the 2017 simply has it all. Bright, red-toned fruit, mint, spice, lavender and rose petal overtones flesh out in the glass, but above all else, Figeac is a wine of total harmony. The Grand Vin includes 10% second generation fruit. Even so, production is down around 50%. Antonio Galloni.
JS 95-96 (4/2018): This is a dense and layered red with blackberries, blueberries and hints of hazelnuts. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Impressive young tannins. Velvety texture. Very pretty to taste. Juicy and delicious. 43% merlot, 47% caberent sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc. Less franc than normal due to the frost.
JD 94-96 (4/2018): The 2017 Château Figeac is an undeniable success in the vintage and this estate is on an incredible roll under the guidance of winemaker Frederic Faye. Sensational notes of crème de cassis, graphite, violets, and a hint of minerality all emerge from this elegant, medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion. Similar to the 2016, yet with the intensity turned down just slightly, it has building tannin, no hard edges, and a great finish. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades. The blend is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, with the harvest stretching from September 7 to October 3. Yields were a soul-crushing 22 hectoliters per hectare, half of normal.
WA 94-96 (4/2018): The 2017 Figeac is composed of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Very deep garnet-purple in color, the nose sings of Cabernet Sauvignon—bright crushed black currants, blackberries and wild blueberries with wafts of lilacs, pencil shavings, tobacco, tilled earth plus a hint of bay leaves. The medium-bodied mouth is fine, elegant, minerally and incredibly vivacious with tons of energy. Bright and refreshing with firm, grainy tannins and a provocative hint of chew, it finishes with great length. This should age wonderfully. 100% new oak was used for this sample and it is very well-integrated.
WS 92-95 (4/2018): Bright and fresh, offering lovely cassis and black cherry notes sitting atop a sleek iron spine. Floral and savory details run throughout. Shows a refined structure. Sneakily long, with persistent fruit. |
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| Petit Figeac |
2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$461.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Ch. La Fleur de Bouard |
2019 |
Lalande de Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$231.99 |
4 |
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2020 |
Lalande de Pomerol Le Plus de la Fleur de Bouard (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$557.99 |
19 |
|
| |
JD 94-96 (5/2021): The flagship from this estate, the 2020 Château La Fleur De Bouard Le Plus is going to stand up with the top wines of the vintage. Possessing gorgeous notes of caramelized black cherries, violets, cassis, and spicy oak, it hits the palate with a pure, focused, medium to full-bodied texture, ripe tannins, wonderful purity, and a great finish. It’s certainly in the more classically built, elegant style favored by vignerons today but still brings ample fruit, richness, and length.
JS 94-95 (4/2021): Lots of blackberry and black-olive character with tar and asphalt. It’s full and layered with focused tannins and a long, spicy finish. |
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| Ch. Fontenil |
2021 |
Fronsac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$220.99 |
9 |
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| |
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| Les Forts de Latour |
1998 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,309.98 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 88 (4/2001): Latour's second wine exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as a nose of black fruits, ketchup, earth, and minerals. Moderately tannic and closed, it is reminiscent of its bigger brother. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and enjoy it over the next two decades. |
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|
2015 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,364.99 |
2 |
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WA 94+ (3/2021): Composed of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.9% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Les Forts de Latour needs a fair bit of air to unlock a profound, powerhouse nose of blackcurrant cordial, boysenberries, plum preserves and dark chocolate, with suggestions of Chinese five spice, clove oil, violets and crushed rocks. The palate packs an absolute flavor wallop, bursting with rich, ripe black fruits and loads of spicy sparks, while framed by beautifully plush tannins, finishing long and minerally. Not at all heavy, on the contrary, the Les Forts is both expansive AND tantalizingly refreshing. In terms of evolution, it has barely budged since I last tasted it in 2017. While it's drinking very well right now, it easily has a good 20 years of cellaring ahead, maybe more. Impressive.
JD 94 (3/2021): The true second wine of the estate is the 2015 Les Forts De Latour and it's slightly more Cabernet dominated with 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35.6% Merlot, and then less than one percent each of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This ripe, sunny vintage delivered loads of terrific wines and the 2015 reveals a vivid purple/opaque color as well as fabulous cassis and jammy currant fruits intermixed with lots of cedarwood, leafy herbs, earth, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and nicely structured, it has a wealth of fruit, building yet sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is a stunning Les Forts de Latour that can be drunk today or cellared for 20-25 years or more.
VM 93 (3/2021): The 2015 Les Forts de Latour was picked from 15 September to 10 October, commencing with the Merlot and finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon. This bottle correlates closely to the one that I tasted blind in January 2019. There is a mixture of blackberry, graphite and cedar on the nose, very well defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, a mixture of red and black fruit with superb mineralité and lip-smacking salinity. Velvety in texture, this is wonderfully poised with great persistence on the finish. Excellent. Neal Martin. |
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|
2016 |
Pauillac (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$742.99 |
5 |
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VM 96 (1/2022): The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is the clear highlight among these new releases from Latour. The first thing that is evident about the 2016 is the pedigree of the vintage. Undisputedly great. Readers will find a potent, dark Forts de Latour endowed with massive concentration and tons of depth. The 2016 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but it holds tons of promise. Hints of gravel, sage, licorice and pencil shavings linger. The 2016 was impressive a few years ago. It is even better today. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (2/2019): The winner of the best second wine in the vintage goes to Château Latour. Their 2016 Les Forts de Latour is a match for just about anything out there. It shares its bigger siblings stature and class, with a sensational perfume of cedarwood, black currants, graphite, and lead pencil. Seamless, ultra-pure, and medium to full-bodied, it too needs a good 5-7 years of bottle age and will keep for 2-3 decades.
WA 95 (3/2022): The 2016 Les Forts de Latour is superb, unwinding in the glass with notions of blackcurrants, wild berries, sweet loamy soil, cigar wrapper and English walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s concentrated and tightly wound, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins. This is an impeccably balanced, utterly classical Forts de Latour worth a special effort to seek out.
WS 94 (7/2019): A bit fleshier and more caressing than a typical Pauillac, this has flavors of warm fig, currant and blackberry preserves inlaid with charcoal and smoldering tobacco notes. There's grip for sure and a twinge of warm cast iron on the finish, but the fruit detail keeps the upper hand throughout, showcasing the purity on the finish. Very, very solid. Best from 2023 through 2035.
JS 96 (1/2019): The fresh currant and violet aromas are so complex and beautiful on the nose. Full body, ultra-refined tannins and lovely tannin tension. Shows focus and such finesse. Beautiful finish. Try after 2024. |
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| Clos Fourtet |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,047.99 |
1 |
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WA 98 (2/2013): The wine has an opaque blue/black color and abundant notes of forest floor, spring flowers, black raspberry and blueberry liqueur in the aromatics along with hints of espresso and white chocolate. The wine is dense, full, rich, unctuously textured and very full-bodied, with its extravagant glycerin, fruit and extract covering the wine’s somewhat tannic structure. This is a bigger, more restrained and structured wine than the outrageously flamboyant and prodigious 2009. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years.
NM 96 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Clos Fourtet seems to be getting better and better in bottle. Here, it has a more restrained bouquet compared to its peers, blackcurrant, boysenberry and raspberry and plenty of minerals. It is very focused and poised with marine influences developing in the glass. The palate is well defined with fine tannins and acidity. Neatly composed, precise and almost showing immense freshness and clarity, this Clos Fourtet with one of Mathieu Cuvelier's finest vintages in recent years.
WS 95 (3/2013): Very winey, with a saturated, sappy feel as kirsch, blackberry preserves and blueberry coulis notes tumble around, while the frame of charcoal, smoldering tobacco and licorice root keeps them penned together. The tannin structure is significant, but very refined, and that should carry this through extended cellaring while the aromatics and midpalate develop harmony. Best from 2016 through 2030. 3,750 cases made.
VM 94+ (7/2013): Full medium ruby. Initially a bit stunted on the nose, hinting at blackberry, blueberry, leather and mocha, this opened spectacularly with air to reveal scents of strawberry, flowers and forest floor. Sweet, highly concentrated and deep, with very dark blackberry and bitter chocolate flavors complicated by cabernet franc hints of fresh herbs and licorice. Impressively dense, broad and full, but still a bit youthfully chunky. Finishes with serious but ripe tannins and Outstanding length. This extremely impressive wine will need patience. |
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|
2011 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$806.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Ch. La Gaffeliere |
2010 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,862.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95+ (2/2013): The 2010's final blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc offers up impressive levels of red, blue and black fruits as well as some toasty oak and crushed rock, giving it minerality. Of course, the acidity in this vintage, with its lower pHs than 2009, provide a freshness and precision that is rare for wines so rich. This wine has plenty of tannin, so give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.
VM 93+ (8/2013): (an 85/15 blend of merlot and cabernet franc): Good deep ruby-red. Sexy aromas reminded me a bit of Burgundy: black raspberry, spices, graphite minerality, flowers and chocolate. Then penetrating and very firmly built, with a distinctly medicinal cast to its smoky black fruit and tobacco flavors and a strong spine of acidity. Very intense and fine-grained Saint-Emilion, but lush and seamless too. This chateau has produced consistently excellent wines in recent vintages and this should be the best of the bunch with six to eight years in the cellar.
JS 92-93 (4/2011): Tasty and juicy, with a lovely blackberry and chocolate character. Round and velvety. Shows a lovely richness.
NM 89 (1/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The La Gaffeliere feels just a little jammy on the nose compared to the Valandraud: maraschino cherries, juniper and liquorice - quite decadent and showy, some VA creeping in with time. The palate has a sweet chewy entry with firm and solid tannins. There are layers of dense red fruit and a tight, assertive finish that will need several years to soften. A little unruly at the moment, this should eventually mellow and perhaps merit a higher score.
WS 89 (12/2013): Forward, with plum, blueberry and raspberry fruit gently studded with spice shadings and a flash of anise. A friendly wine, though just a touch loosely knit in the end. Drink now through 2019. |
|
| Ch. Le Gay |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,466.98 |
2 |
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WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 Le Gay is performing sensationally, even better than my wildly enthusiastic tasting notes from barrel might have predicted. Inky opaque purple, and presenting a formidable and foreboding nose of camphor, black truffles, graphite, blueberries and blackberries as well as hints of smoked meats and floral nuances. Just about everything seems to be present in this smorgasbord of aromatics delights. The wine hits the palate with power, richness and purity, full-bodied texture, and enormous intensity. The final blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring, based on its masculinity and structure, and should easily eclipse 20-40 years in a good cellar.
NM 97 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Le Gay is one of the best wines of 2010, a testament to the late Catherine Pere-Verge. It is very elegant with beautifully interwoven oak furnishing the seamless aromatic profile: pure blackberry and raspberry fruit mixed with a little truffle and tobacco developing later. The palate is medium-bodied with an understated entry. It feels devastatingly silky and smooth in the mouth with well-judged acidity and a pure, sensual lilting finish that knows that it does not have to try that hard. Tasted January 2014.
WS 95 (3/2013): Features a gorgeous, velvety mouthfeel, offering layer upon layer of crushed plum, warm linzer torte, steeped blackberry and anise notes, lined with black tea and well-singed wood spice notes. A beautiful combination of weight and grace, boasting a long, mineral-tinged finish that lets the fruit drip luxuriously. A real showstopper. Best from 2015 through 2030.
VM 94 (7/2013): Saturated bright ruby-purple. Black cherry and licorice on the enticing nose, plus hints of cocoa and vanilla. Sweet and creamy in the mouth, with harmonious acidity framing and lifting the concentrated, ripe cassis, black cherry and chocolate flavors. Finishes firm, but with fine-grained tannins providing support to the creamy, soft flavors. Plenty of fresh acidity also helps to extend the flavors on the long finish. A very impressive wine--much better and less aggressively tannic than it appeared to be when I tasted it last spring. Stephen Tanzer.
JS 94 (2/2013): Feminine violet nose with beautiful polished purple fruit, vanilla and some Seville orange. Dense and full-bodied on the palate with dancing acidity and soft fine tannins. Very pleasant already now. So delicious. Give it time. Try after 2016. |
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|
2019 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,356.97 |
1 |
|
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|
2020 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,319.97 |
10 |
|
| |
JS 98 (12/2022): So much black mushroom to the dark fruit, such as blackberries and brambleberries. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, yet refined and polished, with lovely tannins and fantastic typicity and complexity. It’s so multidimensional and structured, yet there’s a weightless character and personality to it. Thought-provoking and sophisticated. Real Pomerol. Drink after 2028, but a great experience already.
JD 94 (3/2023): A surprisingly up-front, soft, almost mid-weight effort from this château, the 2020 Château Le Gay offers a pretty perfume of both red and black fruits as well as loads of flowers, spice, leafy herbs, and incense. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has polished tannins, terrific balance, sweet oak, and outstanding length. This exceedingly elegant, seamless beauty lacks the density and concentration of the top wines in the vintage but is nevertheless a gorgeous, classic Pomerol that will evolve for two decades.
VM 94 (2/2023): The 2020 Le Gay is rich and expansive on the palate. Gorgeous, savory notes add complexity to a core of black cherry fruit. This lush, extravagantly ripe Pomerol is not at all subtle, and yet all the elements are very well put together. Hints of chocolate, new leather and licorice linger on the potent finish. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94-96+ (5/2021): Deep purple-black colored, the 2020 Le Gay erupts from the glass with scents of molten licorice and dark chocolate, giving way to a tantalizing core of baked black cherries, prunes and blackberry preserves, plus a hint of cardamom. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, featuring layers of black fruits and exotic spices with a firm yet velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. A hedonic powerhouse! |
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| Ch. Gazin |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,585.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (2/2013): Wow! This wine exceeded my enthusiastic barrel tasting notes. A big, back-strapping blockbuster from Gazin, in which the oak seems to be pushed into the background (thankfully), the wine offers up notes of caramelized black cherry and black currant fruit interwoven with mocha, white chocolate, subtle toast and hints of coffee beans and tobacco leaf. The exceptional aromatics are easily followed up by a full-bodied, powerful, broodingly backward, rich, intense wine with multiple dimensions, layers of fruit, and a sensational finish of close to a minute. This is one of the all-time great efforts from Gazin. It should be forgotten for 6-10 years and drunk over the following 30 to 40.
JS 95 (11/2013): A subtle red with ultra-fine tannins that accentuate a palate of chocolate, berries and nuts. Full and very round. It's refined and beautiful. Hard not to drink now but wait at least five years. Top wine from Gazin.
NM 94 (3/2014): Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Gazin 2010 has a broody, tobacco-infused nose with precise black fruit, fine mineralite and vigour, almost citric in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a conservative opening. At the moment it is sulky and introspective, yet well balanced but patently a long-term wine that is shutting down. Firm and structured on the masculine finish, this needs at least to come round.
WS 93 (3/2013): Dense, with a dark, smoldering feel as charcoal and coffee weave around a core of mulled fig, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The long, muscular finish features singed iron and black tea notes for added range. Needs a little time, but should unfurl nicely. Best from 2015 through 2030. |
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2014 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$964.99 |
5 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Giscours |
2021 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$693.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Ch. Grand Puy Lacoste |
1990 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,215.98 |
1 |
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| WA 95 (2/1997): Although I have always rated the 1990 higher than the 1989, I was stunned by just how fabulous the wine was showing in my tasting in late 1996. It possesses an opaque ruby/purple color, as well as a stunning nose of jammy blackcurrants, cedar, spice, and smoke. Full-bodied, with magnificent extract, excellent delineation, Outstanding purity, and layers of intensity, this massive, dense, well-balanced Pauillac is the finest Grand-Puy-Lacoste since the 1982. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2015. |
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2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,210.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (2/2013): An absolutely magnificent wine from this very popular estate, which sits well off the Route du Vin, just to the southwest of the town of Pauillac, its classic creme de cassis and floral notes are well-displayed. The wine possesses supple tannin, a full body, voluptuous character and a layered, impressively textured mouthfeel. This is a brilliant effort from Grand Puy Lacoste that can be drunk in 4-5 years or cellared for three decades or more.
JS 95 (2/2013): Intense hazelnuts and blackberries on the nose follow through to a full to medium body, with chocolate and berry flavors and firm tannins. Not giving away a lot at the finish at the moment. Reserved and sophisticated. But structured and chewy. Try in 2017.
VM 93+ (7/2013): Bright red-ruby. Vibrant aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, licorice and mocha, with mineral and sexy oak notes adding complexity. Intensely flavored and sharply focused, with a restrained sweetness and lovely purity to its dark fruit flavors. Very rich and deep but not jammy, this superb Pauillac's depth of fruit is partly hidden today by its serious tannic structure. Hardly austere but this will be much better for several years of aging and should go on for two or three decades.
WS 93 (3/2013): This is dense but silky around the edges, with crushed plum and black currant fruit lined with roasted vanilla bean, tobacco and loam notes. Everything hangs solidly through the finish, lined with finely beaded acidity and leaving an echo of singed anise. Best from 2015 through 2028. |
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2015 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$884.98 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (2/2018): The 2015 Grand Puy Lacoste is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Sensual, polished and refined, the 2015 is all class. Silky tannins, perfumed aromatics and beautifully delineated fruit are some of the signatures. The natural richness of the year comes through nicely, but without overpowering the wine's mid-weight sense of structure. This is a fabulous example of the year. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,078.98 |
1 |
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| |
VM 97 (8/2020): The 2016 Grand Puy-Lacoste has a clean, precise bouquet with nicely detailed blackberry, briar and tobacco aromas, touches of mint emerging with time, all utterly charming. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, conveying a sense of symmetry throughout and leading into a deft, quite persistent finish. This is very classy, and it should age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Neal Martin.
JS 97 (1/2019): A neoclassical edition of Grand-Puy-Lacoste, this has cedar, graphite, deeply integrated cedar and spicy-oak influence and a very fresh array of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. The palate is so seamless. It builds beautifully and delivers a long, seamless array of perfectly ripe dark fruit, swathed in fine, firm, ascending layers of tannins. As good as we have seen in recent vintages, this is a star of the vintage. Try from 2024.
WS 94 (3/2019): A lively style, with lots of briar and tobacco notes out front, backed by punchy plum and black currant paste flavors. Has a shot of sweet tobacco lining the finish, with echoes of savory and hints of iron giving this range and length. Best from 2023 through 2038. 10,000 cases made.
WA 93+ (11/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste gives up pure kirsch and red and black currants with violets and baking spices. Medium-bodied, firm and grainy, it's very expressive with good concentration and length. |
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| Ch. Haut Bailly |
2008 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,462.97 |
1 |
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WA 96 (5/2011): A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 Haut-Bailly possesses incredible complexity. Tell-tale notes of lead pencil shavings, charcoal, damp earth, black cherries and black currants intermixed with a hint of subtle barbecue smoke are present in this classic, quintessential Graves. Medium-bodied with an emerging, precocious complexity, it is a super-pure, beautifully textured, long wine that can be drunk now or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo!
JD 94 (2/2019): The 2008 Château Haut Bailly is brilliant and shows the purity and finesse-driven style of this estate beautifully. Pure Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, and gravelly minerality all emerge from this medium to full-bodied effort that has remarkable freshness and focus. At the early stages of its drinking plateau, enjoy it any time over the coming 10-15 years.
VM 93 (2/2018): The 2008 Haut Bailly has long been one of the knockout wines of the vintage. Now at ten years of age it retains its youthful appearance. It has a stunning bouquet with billowing, pure blackberry and bilberry fruit tinged with brine and iodine, very well defined and one of the most intense you will find in 2008. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. This feels lithe and silky smooth in the mouth: intense black fruit, a splash soy and a more structured finish. Just superb. (Tasted at the château and at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual vertical tasting.) Neal Martin.
JS 92 (12/2010): Wonderful nose of decadent fruit and chocolate, with hints of meat and flowers. Full bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a spicy, silky and long finish. Tight now, but so fine and dense. Give it four to five years of bottle age. So lovely. Best after 2013. |
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|
2020 |
Pessac Leognan (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$457.97 |
1 |
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VM 97 (2/2023): The 2020 Haut-Bailly has developed into an elegant, richly-textured wine with all its elements in balance. Classy and polished to the core, the 2020 is a Haut-Bailly that favors finesse over power. It's a wine of extreme precision and persistence more than anything else. Red-toned fruit, dried flowers, spice and blood orange are some of the many notes that open over time. The 2020 spent 15 months in barrel, with 50% new oak. Antonio Galloni.
JD 96 (3/2023): The 2020 Château Haut-Bailly is a quintessential expression of this terroir and shines for its incredible purity, balance, and elegance. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as a terrific bouquet of ripe red and black fruits, Asian spices, smoked tobacco, and leafy herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and a layered, seamless mouthfeel. Reminding me slightly of the 2016 with its pure, balanced, classical style, give bottles just 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two to three decades. President and CEO Véronique Sanders continues to do incredible job at this Château, and you won’t find a more classy, elegant wine out there.
JS 99-100 (4/2021): This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.
WA 96-98+ (5/2021): A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. |
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| Ch. Haut Batailley |
2005 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,103.99 |
3 |
|
| |
WS 93 (3/2008): Offers a beautiful nose of crushed blackberry and cherry, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with a lovely balance of silky, caressing tannins and ripe fruit. Very long and minerally, with mint and eucalyptus character. A wonderful wine from this estate. Best after 2014. 7,915 cases made.
WA 92 (7/2016): Tasted at a vertical tasting at the château. The 2005 Haut Batailley obviously has a more intense bouquet than the 2004 with blackberry, wild hedgerow and cold gravel scents. It is still quite tight, but there is very fine precision here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe earthy black fruit. It is actually more approachable than I was expecting for a 2005 having loosened its tie in recent years. There is great depth here and fine mineralite, completing what is a classy and sophisticated Pauillac that should repay further bottle age. Chapeau!
VM 89 (5/2008): Medium red-ruby. Ripe, smoky aromas of plum and caramel; this smells opulent! Fat and sweet in the mouth, with a slightly roasted character to the supple plum and leather flavors. In a heavier style than the 2006 but with a reasonably fine-grained texture. Finishes with dusty tannins. I find this less refined than the 2006, but there's more material and ripeness here. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Ch. Haut-Brion |
2000 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,029.97 |
1 |
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WA 99 (6/2010): Its bigger sister, the 2000 Haut-Brion (a blend of 51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc) showed incredibly at the tasting, and for me is one of the three or four most prodigious wines of the vintage. A compelling nose of roasted herbs, scorched earth, sweet blueberries, plums, black currants, and a hint of graphite is followed by a deep, layered, sumptuously textured, full-bodied Haut-Brion, but one with extraordinary complexity. This wine seems more evolved and approachable than I had expected it to be at age 10. My window of maturity seven years ago was 2012-2040, but I would change that to 2010-2050.
NM 97 (3/2010): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. A pure, finely tuned, delineated nose with touches of leather, clove and mint embroidered into the black brambly fruit, wisps of espresso with time. The palate is full-bodied with firm, grippy tannins, very good weight but quite austere and straight-laced. Good acidity though, touches of graphite and smoke towards the weighty finish that loosens up with time. Pencil lead on the aftertaste with breathtaking persistency. Classy…very classy, perhaps more so than La Mission at the moment, although in the long-term…we will see. Drink 2015-2045.
VM 96 (6/2003): Full red-ruby. Roasted plum, currant, tobacco and minerals on the nose. Compellingly dense and thick but almost miraculously lively and light on its feet. Has a texture like liquid velvet, coating the entire palate. Wonderfully unmanipulated wine, with perfectly integrated acids giving it superb subtle vinosity and thrust. Finishes with Outstanding building persistence, with the substantial tannins perfectly supported by the wine's fat middle.
JS 95 (4/2011): This 2000 starts with aromas of citrus fruit, currants, flowers, and fresh mushrooms. The palates leads off full and rich, with round tannins and a dusty texture. Plenty of fruit and sliced mushrooms on the palate, but it is still tight. Pull the cork after 2010.
WS 94 (3/2003): Beautiful tobacco, berry, cedar and plum aromas in this one. Full-bodied, yet very fine and reserved, with silky tannins and a medium finish. I still prefer the 1998, but this is very, very fine indeed. An Haut-Brion with lots of finesse. Best after 2010. |
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|
2005 |
Pessac Leognan (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,854.98 |
1 |
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| |
WS 100 (3/2008): This is incredible on the nose, showing coffee cake, blackberry, floral, coffee bean and vanilla bean, with Chinese spices. A very complex, full-bodied red, with seamless, hyperpolished tannins that caress every millimeter of the palate. Lasts for minutes. So beautifully balanced, I'm left speechless. Is it even better than the 1989? Best after 2017. 9,080 cases made.
WA 98 (4/2008): Another profound effort from Haut-Brion, the 2005 (a 9,000-case blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) has bulked up to the point that it is fair to compare it to the great successes of 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2000. A dark ruby/purple color is followed by a nuanced, noble bouquet of blue and red fruits interwoven with wet stones, unsmoked cigar tobacco, scorched earth, and spring flowers. The wine is full-bodied, pure, and complex as well as exceptionally elegant with laser-like precision. The tannins are still serious and substantial, and in that sense, this is a completely different style of Haut-Brion than the opulent, silky-textured 1989 and 1990. As I have written before, it comes across as an improved, more concentrated and structured version of the 1995 or 1998. Patience will be required for this stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040+.
VM 97 (6/2008): Bright ruby-red. Wonderfully expressive nose combines black raspberry, mocha, hot stones, caramel and tobacco. Lush, fat and full but with terrific definition and suavity to its extravagantly dense black raspberry, stone and licorice flavors. As large-scaled as this is, it's not at all overly sweet. Expands impressively on the back half, finishing with substantial tannins that are thoroughly covered by fruit. A great vintage for Haut-Brion. |
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|
2012 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,054.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 98 (4/2015): The 2012 Haut Brion (65% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc) is certainly one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage, with a dense purple color, classic nose of crushed rock, lead pencil shavings, black raspberry, blueberry and flowers. The wine shows subtle barbecue smoke notes in the background, but is full-bodied, stunningly concentrated and builds incrementally, yet finishes with luxurious, almost extravagant amounts of fruit and intensity. From only 46% of the production, this is an absolutely remarkable effort from the Dillon family and their winemaking team of the two Jean-Philippes. Drink it over the next 30-40 years.
JS 96 (2/2015): Amazing aromas of wet stones, earth, currants and berries. Subtle and complex. Full body and a beautiful core of ripe fruit on the palate and the finish. Round, light, chewy tannins. Needs at least four or five years to open. This is the most merlot ever in Haut-Brion. Rich too. One of the wines of the vintage. 65.5% merlot, 32.5% cabernet sauvignon and 25 cabernet franc. Better in 2020.
WS 95 (3/2015): This combines power and refinement, with a singed alder frame around a dense core of red and black currant, plum and blackberry fruit. Notes of bay, black tea and tar line the finish. Has a lovely, fine-grained feel that lets the dark, hefty fruit drape beautifully. The tobacco element hangs in the background. Sneakily long. Best from 2018 through 2030. 9,008 cases made. |
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2020 |
Pessac Leognan (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,827.99 |
2 |
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| |
JD 100 (3/2023): I finished my trip through Bordeaux with the 2020 Château Haut-Brion, and it was certainly a fitting cap to the trip. Revealing a deep ruby/plum hue, the 2020 exhibits extraordinary aromatics of ripe black fruits, scorched earth, cold fireplace, and acacia flowers. An absolute blockbuster on the palate, this structured, full-bodied, massively concentrated Pessac builds incrementally, with ultra-fine tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Richer and more concentrated than both the 2018 and 2019 (there are some similarities to 2010), this is a legend in the making. The blend is 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, all of which will spend 15-18 months in 77% new French oak. Hide bottles for a decade, and it should evolve for 50-75 years.
JS 100 (4/2021): This is a superb Haut-Brion with incredible tannins that are wonderfully fine-grained. It’s really powerful. This is very primary with so much grape-generated tannin structure. Very, very long, going on for minutes. Seductive and friendly at the start and then takes you on at the finish with so much structure. Wine of the vintage?
VM 96 (2/2023): The 2020 Haut-Brion is shaping up to be one of the wines of the year. Substance, depth and textural intensity elevate Haut-Brion into the realm of the sublime in 2020. All the elements are so wonderfully balanced. Inky dark fruit, gravel, lavender, violet and dark spice build as the 2020 gradually opens with some aeration. Wow. Neal Martin.
WA 98-100 (5/2021): The 2020 Haut-Brion is a blend of 42.8% Merlot, 39.7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 7th to 29th September, with an estimated alcohol of 15% and a pH of 3.8. Opaque purple-black colored, it leaps from the glass with a first wave of vibrant black raspberries, ripe blackberries and mulberries scents, followed by a powerful core of warm cassis, dark chocolate and violets, before bursting into an array of crushed rocks, iron ore, tree bark and black truffles notes. The concentrated, densely packed, full-bodied palate is not in the least bit heavy, delivering a refreshing backbone of red berry and dried herbs suggestions, framed by seamless acidity and very finely grained tannins, finishing on an epically long, fragrant earth note. Simply stunning. |
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| L' If |
2016 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$891.99 |
1 |
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|
| Lilian Ladouys |
2015 |
St. Estephe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$332.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Lafite Rothschild |
1996 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$10,829.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 100 (4/1999): Tasted three times since bottling, the 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38% of the crop was deemed grand enough to be put into the final blend, which is atypically high in Cabernet Sauvignon (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot). This massive wine may be the biggest, largest-scaled Lafite I have ever tasted. It will require many years to come around, so I suspect all of us past the age of fifty might want to give serious consideration as to whether we should be laying away multiple cases of this wine. It is also the first Lafite-Rothschild to be put into a new engraved bottle (designed to prevent fraudulent imitations). The wine exhibits a thick-looking, ruby/purple color, and a knock-out nose of lead pencil, minerals, flowers, and black currant scents. Extremely powerful and full-bodied, with remarkable complexity for such a young wine, this huge Lafite is oozing with extract and richness, yet has managed to preserve its quintessentially elegant personality. This wine is even richer than it was prior to bottling. It should unquestionably last for 40-50 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. The wine of the vintage?
VM 96+ (8/2002): Full, deep ruby, by far the darkest of these vintages. Knockout nose of great precision: cassis, black cherry, lead pencil, licorice, dried herbs and mint. Densely packed and extremely unevolved; a powerfully structured wine with uncanny precision and penetration. Finishes with powerful, firm tannins and exceptional mounting persistence. An infant, but a great Northern Medoc '96 in the making. Drink 2015 to 2040. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 95 (7/2007): Gorgeous aromas of currant, berries and licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Still holding back. People talk about this as one of the greatest Lafites ever, but I don't think so.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008.
NM 97-99 (9/2006): First tasted at the Farr horizontal in January 2003. Deeper than 1995. Nose is closed. Tobacco and wood with a touch of liquorice. Fine definition. Very concentrated palate - full-bodied. At an adolescent stage. Earthy/cigar-box notes. Quite austere on finish. Vin de garde. Very fine indeed. Then at the Lafite vertical in November 2005. Opaque purple/black colour. Just an incredible nose: blackberry, roasted herbs, pain grille all with brilliant definition. Absolutely stunning. The palate is very backward with firm, masculine tannins. Perfect acidity. Dense, earthy black fruits, minerals with a touch of black truffle developing. Incredible concentration and a perfect wine that marries power and finesse. Very complex. Brilliant, but a long-term wine. Leave it 10 years or more. |
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|
2004 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,773.99 |
1 |
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WA 95 (6/2007): This beautiful, stunningly dense purple-colored effort (includes about 90% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up precise notes of graphite, black cherries, cassis, scorched earth, and minerals. Medium to full-bodied with fabulous fruit, impressive richness, refreshing acidity, and sweet tannin, this beauty should be approachable in 4-5 years, and last for three decades. As Lafite Rothschilds go, this is somewhat of a sleeper vintage.
VM 93 (6/2007): Medium ruby-red. Scented nose offers plum, mocha, licorice, graphite, flowers and tobacco. Suave, silky and fine-grained, with lovely inner-mouth aromatic character and energy. Perfumed flavors of redcurrant, minerals and cedar. Finishes very long and firm, with terrific grip for this mostly gentle vintage.
WS 93 (3/2007): Intense aromas of currant, coffee, toasty oak and sweet tobacco follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins, great mouthfeel and a long finish. A refined Lafite. Best after 2012. 22,080 cases made. |
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2005 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,179.97 |
1 |
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JS 100 (2/2011): An incredible nose, so subtle with red fruits, mint, minerals, and all sorts of flowers give way to Cohiba cigar tobacco. The palate has such freshness and density, with perfectly polished tannins. Slightly leathery, like a wonderful Hermes bag. What a wine, please leave this for another ten years. Pull the cork in 2020. 10% Merlot. Find the wine
WS 98 (3/2008): Delivers blackberry, dried porcini, tobacco and licorice aromas. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and loads of dark chocolate, cigar box, currant, berry and mineral. The finish is long, with a coffee, almost meaty, aftertaste. Very beautiful and balanced. Best after 2013.
VM 97 (4/2021): The 2005 Lafite-Rothschild is a gorgeous wine, but it is also very young. Readers lucky enough to own it will find a very classic, gracious Lafite-Rothschild that still needs a few years to be at its best. Bright red-toned fruit, crushed rocks, mint and licorice open first, followed by darker aromas and flavors that develop as the wine gains volume with air. Tasted next to its peers, Lafite is so typical of itself and less marked by the year. And that is one of the signs of a truly great terroir. Lafite-Rothschild is not as showy as many other wines in this vintage, but it is so true to its own identity, and that is the highest compliment I can pay it. The 2005 is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, done in 100% new oak, which is not at all noticeable. At the time, the Cabernet percentage was quite high, but that has now become the norm. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (6/2015): Beautiful, elegant red, blue and black fruits (89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Merlot) as well as some graphite and spice notes jump from the glass of the 2005 Lafite Rothschild. Medium-bodied, with superb purity and texture, this is not a blockbuster by any means, but a meticulously made, lovely-textured Pauillac. Long and pure, this wine should drink well for 25-30 years. There is no danger in pulling the cork on it today. |
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2008 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,309.97 |
1 |
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WA 98 (5/2011): A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 should have been purchased before it began to soar in value because of the significance of the number 8 in the Chinese culture (denoting good luck). Representing 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc offers aromas of high quality unsmoked cigar tobacco, lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, earth, cedar and asphalt. Full, rich and stunningly concentrated, I doubt it is inferior to the 2010, just more classic as well as slightly more forward and a degree weaker in alcoholic potency (12.5% versus 13.5%). The 2008 should be relatively drinkable in 6-10 years as it is already showing remarkable complexity and breed, and will last for 30-35 years...at the minimum.
JS 95 (12/2010): Minerals, tar and sous bois with dark fruit. Sweet tobacco. Black licorice. Full and chewy with lots of fruit but very reserved. So much mineral and sweet tobacco. It is all there. Give it four to five years of bottle age before beginning to explore the wine.
JD 94+ (2/2019): The 2008 Lafite-Rothschild is one of the few wines that’s still obviously closed and backward, yet nevertheless shows incredible potential. Made from a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc (which is more Merlot than normal), it offers textbook Lafite elegance and class in its perfume of lead pencil, cedarwood, cigar smoke, and mineral-laced black fruits. Playing in the medium to full-bodied spectrum, it’s deceivingly concentrated and powerful due to its perfect balance and purity as well as weightless texture. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy this classic Lafite over the following 30 years or so.
VM 94 (9/2018): The 2008 Lafite Rothschild put in a strange showing at the previous horizontal just a few weeks earlier. This bottle is much better. It has a deep color with little ageing on the rim. On the nose there is ample fruit, blackberry and bilberry with notes of pencil lead and sage, but overall there is just more intensity than the previous bottle. The palate is well balanced with fine grain tannin and good density, a facet occasionally lacking in Lafite-Rothschild. There is just a touch of brown sugar and sage towards the finish that fortunately does not attenuate like the previous bottle. This is much more representative and whilst not the best First Growth of the vintage, it certainly shows more sophistication and class even if it does not match its more stellar showings just after bottling. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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2009 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,404.97 |
1 |
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JS 100 (2/2012): The second you put your nose in the glass, you know that it is 100 points. The combination of sweet tobacco, fresh flowers, currants and sultanas on the nose leaves me breathless. Turns to cocoa powder and freshness. The palate re-enforces the show, with phenomenally polished tannins. Fabulous class. Could be a remake of the phenomenal 1959. Try in 2022.
WA 99+ (3/2012): The main reason the 2009 Lafite Rothschild did not receive a perfect score is because the wine has closed down slightly, but it is unquestionably another profound Lafite, their greatest wine since the amazing 2003. Among the most powerful Lafites ever made (it came in at 13.59% alcohol), the final blend was 82.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. The selection was incredibly severe with only 45% of the crop being utilized. A tight, but potentially gorgeous nose of graphite, black currants, licorice and camphor is followed by a full-bodied wine revealing the classic elegance, purity and delineated style of Lafite. It is phenomenally concentrated with softer tannins than the 2005, the 2003's voluptuous, broad, juicy personality, and low acidity. There are several vintages that I thought were a replay of their colossal 1959, most notably 1982 and 2003, but 2009 is also one to keep an eye on. It is still extremely youthful and seems slightly more backward than I would have guessed based on the barrel tastings, but it needs 10-15 years of bottle age, and should last for 50+.
WS 98 (3/2012): This is stunning for its ability to take massively endowed fig, currant paste and crushed plum fruit flavors and harness them with ultrasuave freshly roasted espresso, black tea and ganache notes. A seductive style, long and velvety, with the dense core of black fruit and smoldering iron just waiting and waiting. Best from 2020 through 2040.
VM 96+ (7/2012): (a blend of 82.5% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot, and 0.5% petit verdot; 13.8% alcohol; 75 IPT; a 43% selection of the total crop). Deep ruby-red. Classic Lafite aromas of cassis, cedar and graphite are lifted by a fragrant violet note. Then pure and vibrant on the palate, with seamless flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, iron and flint. The very smooth tannins provide plenty of support to the fruit flavors, while the wine's harmonious acidity really draws out the finish. This Outstanding Lafite is all about grace--in contrast to Latour's power. |
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2012 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,323.99 |
1 |
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WS 93-96 (4/2013): Tightly drawn, with a firm, toasty edge framing the core of plum skin, red currant and black cherry fruit. A taut mix of beet, anise and bay chimes in on the finish, showing a touch of astringency. The ample flesh and length should fill this out in time.
JS 93-94 (4/2013): This is beautiful for the vintage. Full body and very tender with fine tannins and a pretty finish. Attractive currant, cedar, and sweet tobacco character. More delicate than the 2011.
WA 92-95 (4/2013): The classically styled 2012 exhibits attractive elegance, medium body and Outstanding concentration, but not the complexity and depth or prodigious qualities of many other recent Lafites. It is a relatively soft, spicy effort displaying notes of crushed rocks, white chocolate, black currants and graphite. It should be drinkable in 5-8 years and last for two decades.
VM 90-93 (6/2013): (91% cabernet sauvignon, 8.5% merlot, 0.5% petit verdot; 38% of the total crop went into the grand vin; 40 hectoliters per hectare produced): Dark ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines blackberry, black cherry, minerals, violet, spices and cedar. Fresh and juicy in the mouth, offering clean flavors of dark berries, graphite and cedar but not the flesh of the great vintages. This very fragrant Lafite displays noteworthy energy but turns tougher on the back end, finishing firm and tight, with rather muscular tannins and a vegetal nuance. |
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| Ch. Lafleur |
1998 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,604.98 |
4 |
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2001 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,845.98 |
1 |
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WS 93 (3/2004): This wine starts out very tight, with fresh herb and tobacco character, but then it opens to ripe plum, berry and chocolate character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Impressive. Lafleur is always Outstanding. Best after 2009. 1,000 cases made.
WA 92 (6/2004): Performing slightly less impressively from bottle than it did from cask, this wine’s Cabernet Franc element has come forward, revealing a distinctive herbal, bell pepper, vegetal character that kept my score from going higher. Nevertheless, there is plenty to like about this 2001 Pomerol. It possesses a saturated ruby/purple color, powerful aromas (kirsch liqueur, raspberries, and blackberries), an earthy, muscular, chunky character, and the most tannic personality of any Pomerol I tasted. While not the huge blockbuster Lafleur can often produce, it is well-built. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.
VM 90+ (6/2004): Bright ruby-red. Raspberry, menthol, leather and spices on the slightly sauvage, cool nose. Fat and rich but youthfully tough, even clenched, with idiosyncratic flavors of medicinal black cherry, leather, game and black olive. Not showing the sweet side of the vintage today; in fact, this seems rather backward today, despite its modest acidity. |
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2006 |
Pomerol (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,845.98 |
1 |
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| Ch. Lagrange |
2016 |
St. Julien (24x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$917.98 |
1 |
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| |
JS 95-96 (4/2017): Powerful red with a rich and tannic center palate. Full body, lots of depth and a long and chewy finish. Indeed, this shows potential. Much better than the 2015.
WS 92-95 (4/2017): This has some serious grip along the edges, with graphite and iron notes working together to support the core of cassis, blackberry and açai fruit flavors. The long finish has the pure, fresh character of the vintage. |
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| Ch. Langoa Barton |
2012 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$431.98 |
50 |
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WA 90 (4/2015): Plenty of juicy blackcurrant fruit and background oak are present in this plump, medium to full-bodied, ripe, well-made wine. Not nearly as tannic as I feared, this wine shows a forward plumpness, excellent purity, texture and length. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.
NM 90-92 (4/2013): The Langoa Barton is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 15 October at 32hl/ha. It has a surprisingly high-toned, quite glossy, exotic bouquet at first, although it appears to “calm down” in the glass to leave plenty of ripe red cherry and strawberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, supple tannins. This is a generous, confident Langoa Barton, quite feminine (living up to its name) with a lovely ripe, quite sensual finish that exhibits deftly integrated oak. Tasted twice with consistent notes, there is great potential here.
VM 89 (1/2016): The 2012 Langoa-Barton is fleshy and supple, with lovely aromatic top notes that give the wine much of its inviting personality. Sweet red cherries, herbs, mint and white pepper are laced together in a delicate, nuanced wine that is ready to drink now. Antonio Galloni.
JS 89 (2/2015): Pretty dried cherry, vanilla and berry character on the nose and palate. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a flavorful finish. A little fluid. Needs two or three years to come together.
WS 88 (7/2015): This has a juicy energy weaving amid the core of anise, blackberry coulis and warm plum notes. Shows a brambly edge on the relatively open-knit finish, with a hint of licorice snap. This has pulled together nicely since the barrel tasting. Drink now through 2020. 6,250 cases made. |
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| Ch. Latour |
1982 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$37,604.98 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2009): Always somewhat atypical (which I suspect will be the case with the more modern day 2003), the 1982 Latour has been the most opulent, flamboyant, and precocious of the northern Medocs, especially the St.-Juliens, Pauillacs, and St.-Estephes. It hasn’t changed much over the last 10-15 years, revealing sweet tannins as well as extraordinarily decadent, even extravagant levels of fruit, glycerin, and body. It is an amazing wine, and on several occasions, I have actually picked it as a right bank Pomerol because of the lushness and succulence of the cedary, blackberry, black currant fruit. This vintage has always tasted great, even in its youth, and revealed a precociousness that one does not associate with this Chateau. However, the 1982 is still evolving at a glacial pace. The concentration remains remarkable, and the wine is a full-bodied, exuberant, rich, classic Pauillac in its aromatic and flavor profiles. It’s just juiced up (similar to an athlete on steroids) and is all the better for it. This remarkable effort will last as long as the 1982 Mouton, but it has always been more approachable and decadently fruity. Drink it now, in 20 years, and in 50 years! Don’t miss it if you are a wine lover.
NM 100 (11/2012): Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. You can say whatever you like about the quality of the First Growth 1982s, but if there is one common theme that comes up again and again is that if you are lucky enough to compare them side-by-side, there is one that reigns over them all. Chateau Latour. Here it retains that amazing bouquet that stops you in your tracks: black fruit, graphite, crushed stone and a touch of smoke, all with breathtaking precision. The palate is medium-bodied with a symmetry and focus that leaves the others behind (Lafite coming the closest here.) There is a confidence to this wine, not so much a swagger but an effortless quality that leaves no questions unanswered.
VM 100 (3/2016): From the moment it is first opened the 1982 Château Latour is magical. Deep and still vibrant in color, but showing the translucence of age, the 1982 opens with intense, soaring aromatics that hint at what is to come. One taste is all it takes to confirm that the first impression is spot-on. This bottle, from an original wood case purchased on release, is a poignant reminder of how importance provenance is. The 1982 is simply stunning in its beauty. Vivid, multi-faceted and totally sensual, the Latour captures all the best qualities of this famous vintage. In 1982 yields were high, there was essentially none of the sorting that has become de rigueur, and cellar practices were far less ideal on paper than they are today. And yet, the 1982 is simply stunning. What else can I ask for in a wine? Absolutely nothing. Except for a hope to run into it again. Well-stored bottles will keep for another two decades, although my impression is that the 1982 is not going to improve much from here. Actually, it can’t improve. This is as good as wine gets.
WS 98 (6/2001): Big and chewy. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long currant, berry and cherry character. Underrated. Still more to come in this wine.
JS 98 (11/2010): This shows wonderful decadence with meaty, dark chocolate and ripe plums on the nose that follows through on the palate. It's full bodied, with super silky tannins that caress your palate. The fruit in the wine changes to a spicy, stony undertone. It seems to evolve all the time in the glass. This has a long life to it. But why wait? So delicious.
VM 97 (8/2002): Dark red, with an amber rim. Liqueur-like aromas of plum, roasted meat, mocha, tobacco, truffle and burnished oak. Fat, lush and smooth, with explosive fruit and powerful underlying backbone. Massive but not at all heavy. Wonderfully tactile wine, finishing with big, chewy-but-ripe tannins and great persistence. (My second bottle showed even more class and delineation, and rated 98.) Drink during your lifetime. |
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1995 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,589.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 96 (6/2000): A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.
VM 94+ (6/1998): Deep ruby-red color. More expressive aromas of crystallized dark berries, dark chocolate and animal fur. Lush and sweet; thick but delineated. Wonderfully concentrated. This, too, seems rather withdrawn today, but the strength of material is clear to see. Finishes with firm tannins and explosive fruit that goes on and on.
WS 94 (12/2007): Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2009. |
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1998 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,404.97 |
1 |
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| |
NM 93 (3/2008): A deep garnet core with a deep crimson rim. I was never convinced about this wine when I tasted it at en primeur and contrasted against its contemporaries in this horizontal, its deficiencies are all too visible. Moderate intensity on the nose, open and expressive with notes of black fruits, wild hedgerow, pencil lead, dried leaves, roasted herbs, perhaps lacking the freshness and vigour of say Haut Brion 1998. The palate is medium-bodied, very harmonious and surprisingly fleshy for Latour, with rounded supple tannins, a certain lushness that you infrequently find here, a touch of spice on the finish. But it lacks the tautness, the tension, the depth and grip of a truly great Latour and against Haut Brion, it shows like the bantamweight of First Growths, a bantamweight Latour? Approach with caution in 2-3 years.
VM 91+ (6/2001): Red-ruby. Deep aromas of cassis, licorice and lead pencil. Deeper than Les Forts but currently rather mute in the middle. Strongly minerally. Offers classic Latour structure and spine. Finishes with sneaky, subtle persistence. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 90 (12/2009): Plenty of raspberry, dark chocolate and mint on the nose. Full-bodied, with licorice and sweet tobacco character and a cedar undertone. Outstanding. Pop the cork.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Drink now. 19,165 cases made.
WA 90 (4/2001): Not a blockbuster, the 1998 possesses a dark garnet/purple color in addition to a complex bouquet of underbrush, cedar, walnuts, and licorice-tinged black currants. Although medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic, it lacks the expansiveness in the mid-palate necessary to be truly great. Moreover, the tannin is slightly aggressive, although that is hardly unusual in such a young Latour. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030. |
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2005 |
Pauillac (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$9,404.98 |
4 |
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VM 100 (4/2021): The 2005 Latour was mind-blowingly profound in two recent tastings for this report. Deep and sensual to the core, the 2005 is utterly captivating. All the elements are so seamlessly put together. Graphite, crème de cassis, licorice, dark spice and lavender infuse the 2005 with so much energy. More than anything else, though, the 2005 is a Latour of texture and resonance. Even after several hours, the 2005 is fresh and full of energy. Wines like this are just life affirming. That's about all I can really say. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JS 99 (10/2019): Very open and beautiful now with currants, light chocolate and spices. Incense as well. Full-bodied, tight and reserved with a fantastic center palate of fruit and firm tannins. Closed and hiding behind the structure and depth. Needs time to open still but already a joy to taste (drink!).
WS 99 (3/2008): Dark ruby black in color. Brilliant, intense aromas of mineral, blackberry and currant, with hints of Indian spices and cigar box, lead to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful balance of blackberry, raspberry and mineral. There's subtlety, yet also great depth. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is a Latour with fabulous tone and vigor. Best after 2018. 12,500 cases made.
JD 98 (4/2020): A massive, powerful wine that tastes like the essence of the great estate, the 2005 Château Latour is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Petit Verdot brought up in new barrels. It reveals a saturated purple/plum color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackcurrants, graphite, gravelly earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate. Dense, full-bodied, and massively concentrated, it has the more austere, masculine style of the estate front and center, yet has gorgeously sweet tannin, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. This profound, regal 2005 can be drunk any time over the coming 40-50 years, and I suspect even longer.
WA 98+ (2/2019): 2005 was a very dry, warm and sunny vintage, causing vine stress in some areas of Bordeaux. Harvested from September 26 to October 6, the tannin/IPT levels were very high this year. The 2005 Latour is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is the biggest surprise of this tasting—until now, the wine was relatively closed and broody, but today the wine is just starting to reveal its personality—and what a stunner! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with provocative floral scents of roses and violets over a core of fresh blackcurrants, chocolate-covered cherries and black raspberries with hints of fertile loam, unsmoked cigars and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with muscular fruit, it has an epically long, savory finish sparked by floral notes. 12,000 cases were made. |
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2011 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,729.97 |
1 |
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WS 96 (3/2014): This has a gorgeous core of steeped plum, boysenberry and black currant coulis flavors, backed by a prominent graphite note that drives through the lengthy finish, where extra hints of anise and sweet tobacco flitter in the background. Regal. Best from 2018 through 2035. 5,835 cases made.
JS 95 (1/2014): The nose is complex, featuring smoke, meat and hints of wood, with currants, olives and berries underneath. Full body with super-velvety tannins. The strong acidity gives the wine an edginess. Love the spicy, subtly fruity finish. Steely. Try in 2020.
VM 95 (4/2022): The 2011 Latour is well-defined on the nose with blackberry, bilberry, cedar, hoisin and a touch of mint. There is impressive intensity here, regal and convincing. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. There is a solid backbone to this wine, plenty of freshness, quite powerful towards the finish with superb persistence. Wonderful. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. Neal Martin.
WA 93-95 (4/2012): A blend of 84.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 0.5% Petit Verdot, the 2011 Latour represents only 34% of the crop. It hit 13.1% natural alcohol. One of the vintage's most compelling wines, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, open-knit personality with ripe tannin, superb intensity, good purity and harmony, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and lots of crushed rock, floral and black as well as blue fruit notes in addition to hints of ink and forest floor. This beautifully rich, savory Latour will be surprisingly drinkable in 4-5 years, and should age easily for two decades or more. |
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2014 |
Pauillac (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,149.97 |
2 |
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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.
WS 97 (3/2017): This shows terrific cut and drive from the start, with mouthwatering acidity and a chiseled graphite note leading the way, backed by a core of pure cassis and blackberry preserves. Licorice snap and sweet tobacco details flitter through the finish, where the graphite edge reemerges and sails on and on. Best from 2022 through 2040. 7,632 cases made.
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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| Ch. Latour-a-Pomerol |
2010 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,879.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (2/2013): Elegant loamy soil notes intermixed with sweet cherries as well as hints of underbrush, mocha and mulberry jump from the glass of this pure, medium to full-bodied, dense wine, which possesses good glycerin, flesh and richness. It should drink nicely for up to 15 years. |
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| Ch. Leoville Barton |
2007 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,078.97 |
1 |
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| |
WS 92 (3/2010): This has a wonderful nose, with blackberry, currant and cigar box. Complex and full-bodied, with layers of ripe, polished tannins and a very long finish. Juicy, yet refined and agile. Best after 2014. 17,500 cases made.
NM 90 (1/2011): Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. There is a touch of wet sand on the nose of this Saint Julien, crisp blackberry and boysenberry, lovely earthy and cedar wood notes underneath. The palate has a ripe entry with grainy tannins and good acidity. There is a nice prickle on the tongue here with fine definition towards the finish. Short but well crafted.
VM 90 (8/2010): Ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of cassis, licorice and herbs; showing more fruit today than the Langoa. Then tight but pliant, with an enticing restrained sweetness and a light gamey nuance to the currant and black cherry fruit fla vors. Finishes persistent and floral, with dusty tannins that spread out to saturate the palate. Lovely claret.
WA 89+ (4/2010): This muscular, highly-extracted, structured 2007 reveals a boatload of tannin (unusual for this vintage). The wine’s dark ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of cassis, new saddle leather, and forest floor offered in a structured, backward, almost unapproachable format. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring, and if the tannins resolve themselves, it will merit a higher score. It should last for 12-20 years. |
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2010 |
St. Julien (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,701.98 |
1 |
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JS 97 (3/2013): Aromas of pure blackberries and violets follow through to a full body, with super velvety tannins and a delicious balance of sweet fruit, light vanilla and nuts. Really savory and beautiful. Superb wine. I like this better than 2009. Try in 2018.
WA 96+ (2/2013): A splendid showing, much stronger from bottle than it was from barrel, the Leoville Barton is one of the spectacular wines of the vintage. Inky purple to the rim, its huge tannin gives this wine real potential for 30-50 years of longevity. It is a classic, powerful Bordeaux made with no compromise. A superstar of the vintage, the wine has notes of pen ink and creme de cassis, good acidity, sweet, subtle oak, and massive extraction and concentration. I thought it was one of the most backward wines of the vintage two years ago, and nothing has changed in the ensuing upbringing of the wine in cask except that the wine now seems even richer, denser and fuller than I previously thought. The beautiful purity, symmetry, and huge finish of nearly a minute make this one of the all-time great classics from Leoville Barton. Anticipated maturity: 2028-2065+.
WS 96 (3/2013): Takes a modern approach, with dark mocha- and espresso-infused toast leading the way, featuring an extra ganache kicker before dark currant preserves and roasted plum fruit strides in. Dense and extracted through the polished finish, this features a charcoal spine that gives rise to extra blueberry and pastis notes. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2038.
VM 94+ (8/2013): Deep ruby. Very ripe, powerful aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate. Sweet, dense, ripe and deep, with Outstanding purity and intensity to its plush black fruit and spice flavors. This has the sweetness of a great Napa Valley cabernet along with buns of steel. Finishes with penetrating fruit and Outstanding verve and persistence. For all its creamy richness, this should be extremely long-lived. |
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|
2011 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,103.99 |
1 |
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NM 93-95 (4/2012): The Leoville Barton has a very elegant bouquet that takes time to unfurl. There are lovely notes of blackberry, dark plum and a touch of graphite. It unfurls beautifully if you lend it five minutes. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannins, good substance, very elegant and refined with a natural, slightly earthy finish that is long in the mouth. Superb persistency – this is one of the top Saint Julien wines.
JS 92 (2/2014): A sleek, refined wine with blueberry, mineral and dried-flower character. Medium to full body with firm tannins. Bright and racy. Better in 2018.
WS 92 (3/2014): This has some slightly rugged grip, with a prominent charcoal frame. Delivers ample flesh at the core, offering plum cake, currant preserves and smoldering tobacco leaf notes, offset by a tangy hint of anise. Should settle in well enough after modest cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2026. 12,500 cases made.
VM 91 (7/2014): Bright, deep red-ruby. Sexy aromas of raspberry preserves, cola, incense and violet. Palate-staining red and dark fruit flavors show very good depth, with tangy acidity providing lift. Silky tannins add shape and grip to the very pure, long finish, which offers lingering notes of cream soda and violet. Though bigger and deeper than the Langoa Barton, it is not currently displaying that wine's great charm.
WA 88+ (4/2014): Firmly structured, dense and medium-bodied with moderate tannin, this austere and backward yet well-endowed 2011 needs 5-7 years of bottle age. Whether the fruit holds up to the tannic structure remains to be seen, but the dark ruby/purple color, purity and impressive depth as well as concentration augur well for future positive development. Forget this 2011 for 5-6 years and drink it over the following 15-20. |
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|
2015 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,327.98 |
2 |
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JD 97 (11/2017): I absolutely loved the 2015 Leoville Barton and this has everything you could want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, and thrilling amounts of minerality all emerge from this inky colored, full-bodied, power-packed, brut of a Saint-Julien that holds everything together and stays pure, balanced and elegant on the palate. It has a lot of tannins, yet more than enough fruit. The 2015 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new French oak, and it needs 7-8 years of bottle age and will shine for 2-3 decades. Bravo!
VM 96+ (2/2018): A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 Leoville-Barton is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as it is massively tannic and structured at this stage. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96 (2/2018): This is a very focused Barton with ultra-fine tannins that are so polished and chalky. It drives through the center palate with currant and berry character. Full-bodied, polished and straightforward with driving tannin. Love the texture. Class. Yes. Drink in 2021.
WS 95 (3/2018): This delivers some serious wow, dripping with warm fig, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes, along with melted black licorice and fruitcake flavors. Shows ample grip but remains beautifully polished, letting the fruit sail on. Don't worry though, as long echoes of roasted apple wood and tar signal that this is built for the long haul. Best from 2025 through 2042. 11,667 cases made.
WA 95 (2/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Leoville Barton offers up notions of warm red currants, black raspberries and dark chocolate with wafts of cigar box, violets and bay leaves. Elegant, medium-bodied and sporting great freshness, the taut, tightly wound palate of intense red fruits and floral accents is well-framed with firm, grainy tannins, finishing on a lingering mineral note. |
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2016 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$748.99 |
2 |
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WS 97 (3/2019): (WS #1 wine of 2019): This is so vivid as it brims with pastis-soaked plum, blackberry, black currant and blueberry paste flavors, all carried by a perfectly integrated brambly spine. Tar and ganache notes give the finish an extra kick while everything stays within the mouthwatering roasted apple wood frame. Both regal and rambunctious, this is St.-Julien to a T. Best from 2025 through 2040. 11,667 cases made.
JS 97 (1/2019): Terrific intensity of dark berries, almost peppery blackcurrants and violets with attractive and integrated, spicy oak and an earthy edge. The palate has a super powerful and long, linear core with plenty of fruit flesh strapped in tight for a long and thrilling ride into the finish. A blend of 86 per cent cabernet and 14 per cent merlot. Try from 2024.
JD 96+ (2/2019): Deep purple-colored and a classic Saint-Julien with its pure crème de cassis, graphite, liquid rock, and essence of lead pencil shavings, the 2016 Château Leoville Barton is full-bodied, concentrated, and backward, with bright acidity and ripe yet certainly present and building tannins. This old-school, classic Leoville Barton has a fine thread of acidity keeping the wine focused and fresh. It’s a beauty, but mostly potential at this point, although it does have beautiful fruit. Savvy readers will hide bottles at the back of their cellar, and I wouldn’t start to think about opening bottles for a least a decade. It’s going to be incredibly long-lived. The blend of the 2016 is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new French oak.
VM 96 (1/2019): The 2016 Leoville-Barton is fabulous. A wine of breadth and power, the 2016 has so much to offer. The black cherry, chocolate, gravel, smoke and licorice flavors are all boldly sketched. A host of expressive savory and mineral notes develop into the substantial finish. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (11/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Leoville Barton delivers a superstar nose of crème de cassis, plum preserves and blueberry compote with suggestions of fragrant earth, unsmoked cigars, licorice and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, rich and seductive with firm yet velvety tannins, it has a decadently rich finish. |
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| Ch. Leoville Las Cases |
1993 |
St. Julien (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,097.97 |
2 |
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WA 90 (2/1997): Michel Delon, a great man, is the consummate proprietor, meticulously administering this vast estate spread out along the St.-Julien/Pauillac border, separated from Latour's finest vineyard by a mere ten feet. The 1993-95 vintages from Delon are brilliant wines. Leoville-Las-Cases remains one of the irrefutable reference points for high class Bordeaux. This saturated purple-colored wine possesses remarkable sweetness, powerful, chocolatey, cassis-scented aromas, and dense, medium to full-bodied flavors with a superb inner-core of fruit. Purity, balance, and super-concentration and intensity are hallmarks of this remarkable wine. Readers who find it difficult to believe that the 1993 vintage could turn out wines such as this only need to pull the cork on a bottle of the 1993 Leoville-Las-Cases. Anticipated maturity: now-2012.
WS 88 (1/1996): Leoville Barton continues to move up. Bright berry flavor and a lovely, silky tannin structure. Wonderful ripe fruit and long, delicious finish. Very well made. |
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2015 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,298.99 |
1 |
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JD 99 (11/2017): A legendary wine in the making from the Delon Family is the 2015 Leoville Las Cases and there are very few wines more impressive in the vintage. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Merlot, this full-bodied, tight, super-concentrated, focused 2015 boasts an awesome bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, charcoal, lead pencil, and minerality. Deep, layered, with perfect ripeness and building tannin, hide bottle for 6-7 years and enjoy this prodigious effort over the following 3-4 decades.
WA 98+ (4/2018): Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Leoville Las Cases has a slightly closed nose, revealing notes of crème de cassis, baked blueberries and black forest cake with touches of licorice, violets and Indian spices plus a waft of dusty soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied, concentrated and built like a brick house, with firm, ripe, velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy.
VM 98 (2/2018): The 2015 Leoville Las Cases is simply captivating. Sumptuous, racy and explosive in the glass, the 2015 is endowed with tremendous energy from start to finish. An exotic melange of crème de cassis, graphite, menthol and licorice bursts onto the palate as the 2015 shows off its alluring personality. Spectacularly rich, dense and full-throttle, with huge tannins that are nearly buried underneath the fruit, the 2015 is an unusual Las Cases. It is also breathtakingly beautiful. Readers who can find it should not miss it. Antonio Galloni.
JS 98 (2/2018): Blackcurrant, blueberry and currant aromas with hints of black licorice and hot stones. Full-bodied with dense and integrated tannins and a long, long finish. It is all there and all about proportional harmony. Excellent focus and beauty. Drink in 2022.
WS 97 (3/2018): Filled with blackberry, black currant, fig and boysenberry preserve flavors, this starts off showy, but a back end of brambly grip, warm tar, and pastis-soaked apple wood emerges slowly before taking an authoritative lead on the finish. All the while, a cool charcoal note weaves in and around everything. Best from 2025 through 2045. 16,667 cases made. |
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| Ch. Leoville Poyferre |
2015 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$646.99 |
1 |
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VM 97 (2/2018): The 2015 Leoville-Poyferre is spectacular. Inky, dense and explosive, the 2015 possesses off the chart richness, with soft contours, no hard edges and exceptional balance. All the elements are simply fused together. inky blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, new leather, blueberry jam, exotic spice and violet notes are all beautifully delineated throughout. Fresh, vibrant and totally sexy, Leoville-Poyferre is one of the wines of the vintage. Don't miss it! Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 97 (11/2017): The 2015 Leoville Poyferre is cut from the same cloth as the 2016, yet is more sexy, rounded and opulent. Notes of cassis, licorice, crushed rocks, lead pencil shavings and graphite all emerge from this unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty that's absolutely loaded with fruit and texture. Reminding me of the 2003, yet only fresher, don't miss this beauty. It should be drinkable in 3-4 years and last for 3-4 decades.
JS 96 (2/2018): A rich and intense red with blackberries, tar and spices. Black tea and blueberries. Full-bodied, very layered and multi-dimensional. Very long and flavorful. Such great texture. A dynamic and superb red. Drink in 2023.
WS 95 (3/2018): Dark plum cake, blueberry reduction and açaí berry fruit tilts this to the exotic side of the ledger, with warm ganache, melted black licorice and tar notes providing the spine through the lush finish. Displays some serious latent grip, so there's no rush despite the showy fruit. Best from 2022 through 2040. 18,439 cases made.
WA 94 (2/2018): The 2015 Leoville Poyferre is deep garnet-purple colored with a nose of grilled meats, baked plums, crème de cassis and baker's chocolate with nuances of dusty soil and iron ore plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and muscular in the mouth, it is built like a brick house with a mineral-tinged finish. |
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2016 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$667.98 |
1 |
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JD 98 (2/2019): Tasted on four separate occasions where this wine rated 97+, 98, 98, and 99, the 2016 Château Leoville-Poyferre is a brilliant bottle of wine and is certainly in the same league as the 2000, 2003, 2009, and 2010. Made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak, this brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine offers a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco leaf, and ample crushed rocks. It’s certainly one of the most flamboyant and opulent wines in the vintage, yet it remains perfectly balanced, with masses of polished tannins, no hard edges, and a fabulous finish. It will be drinkable in 3-4 years yet keep for 3-4 decades.
WA 97+ (11/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Leoville Poyferre hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!
VM 97 (1/2019): The 2016 Leoville-Poyferre is fabulous. Rich, ample and dramatic in bearing, the 2016 possesses striking intensity and vertical lift. The tannins certainly need at least a few years in bottle to soften, but there is so much to look forward to. Graphite, menthol, lavender and licorice complement the inky blue/purplish fruit beautifully. The bottled wine has a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Merlot than the en primeur sample. I tasted the 2016 three times. It's least favorable showing was at the château. For readers and proprietors who think wines always taste better on site...they don't. Antonio Galloni.
WS 97 (3/2019): Richly layered, with a core of well-steeped plum, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors cruising through, flanked by ganache, sweet tobacco and warm tar notes. There's a plush, toasty coating but the wine's energy and nearly unbridled fruit will easily soak that up. A last echo of violet is further evidence of a lovely evolution ahead. Best from 2025 through 2040. 17,083 cases made.
JS 97 (2/2021): Wow. The power and depth to this wine is super with a full , fleshy palate. Yet, it’s so tight and integrated with panache and energy. Chewy tannins, yet seamless and melted into the wine. Extremely long and beautiful. Very polished now. This needs at least five to six years to resolve the steely tannins that run through this wine. Take a look from 2024. A blend of 61 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 27 per cent merlot, eight per cent merlot and four per cent cabernet franc. |
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| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2001 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,876.97 |
1 |
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NM 92 (3/2011): Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 10-Year On horizontal. The first bottle of this was denuded of vitality and out of sorts (indeed this is a major problem with this vintage.) Not corked, but previous experience old me that it was not “happy” bottle. Fortunately I stayed for another to be opened and this far more representative. Ripe, dark berried fruits on the nose with touches of mulberry, briary, graphite and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp entry, tarry black fruits on the entry, sharp acidity, very tight but that is probably because this bottle had just been opened. Very fine.
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.
WS 90 (3/2004): Clean and sleek, with tobacco, berry and plum character, medium body and a silky, fresh finish. Firm and balanced Lynch. Best after 2007. 40,830 cases made.
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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2006 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,661.97 |
2 |
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WA 94 (8/2011): This classic, powerful, firm Lynch Bages may be as concentrated (if not more so) than the 2005. It possesses a dense purple-tinged color, tell-tale cassis notes interwoven with hints of roast beef, savory herbs, spice box and subtle oak, good acidity and ripe tannin. The result is a full-bodied, fleshy Pauillac that will benefit from another 3-4 years of cellaring. It is capable of lasting 20-25 more years.
VM 93 (5/2016): Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Lynch Bages has another quite vivacious bouquet with lively black cherries, kirsch and wild mint aromas that do not hold back. I love the purity here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine supple tannin, well-judged acidity, a gentle grip in the mouth, and plenty of lightly spiced and surprisingly intense fruit on the bravura finish. The Cazes family oversaw a very sophisticated Lynch-Bages in this vintage that may well surpass many peoples' expectations. Neal Martin.
WS 92 (3/2009): Blackberry, licorice and mint aromas lead to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and lots of blackberry and mineral fruit character. Shows Outstanding concentration and balance. Best after 2014.
JS 92 (6/2013): Very focused and pretty now, with currants, minerals and hints of dried flowers. Full body with super-integrated tannins and a long, long finish. Beautiful. Drink or hold.
VM 91+ (1/2012): (a blend of 79% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot; 3.54 pH; 6.03 g/l total acidity; 81 IPT; 13.2% alcohol): Fully saturated bright ruby. Currently in a slightly dumb phase and aromatically compressed on the nose, revealing cool blackberry and cassis aromas with extended aeration, complicated by notes of cola, flowers, red cherry and sweet spices. Then soft, round and ripe in the mouth, with persistent flavors of black cherry, cassis and cinnamon. A very serious wine offering impressive definition and very good balance, turning almost austere at the back, but with a pretty, pristine quality to its repeating floral and black fruit notes. Finishes with smooth, building tannins: don't even think of opening this beauty for another eight to ten years. One of the best vintage for Lynch-Bages in recent memory. Ian d'Agata. |
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2010 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,254.98 |
1 |
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WA 97 (2/2022): Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20.
VM 95 (4/2020): The 2010 Lynch-Bages has a stunning bouquet with pixelated black fruit, crushed stone and graphite aromas that soar from the glass. This is just amazingly focused. The palate is medium-bodied with concentrated black fruit curiously tinged with cough candy, which here I find just a bit out of place. The acidity is extremely well judged and there is immense persistence on the finish. Bold, brassy and ambitious, this is an extremely impressive wine, although I suspect that there are better bottles out there. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Neal Martin.
WS 96 (3/2013): Roasted cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes start off this structured but lively bottling, with intense currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors at the core. The iron-laced grip and pleasantly austere plum pit and licorice snap accents fill in on the tar-tinged finish. Great range, character and typicity. If you ever need to explain Pauillac to someone, give them this. Best from 2018 through 2037. 25,000 cases made.
JS 98 (11/2013): A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018. |
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2019 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,494.98 |
1 |
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JD 95-97 (6/2020):
JS 96-97 (6/2020): A tight and very focused young red with redcurrant, tile and blackberry undertones. Lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with very polished, creamy tannins and lots of intense dark fruit. Compact fruit and tannins. Structured. |
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2019 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$756.98 |
3 |
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JD 95-97 (6/2020):
JS 96-97 (6/2020): A tight and very focused young red with redcurrant, tile and blackberry undertones. Lead pencil, too. It’s full-bodied with very polished, creamy tannins and lots of intense dark fruit. Compact fruit and tannins. Structured. |
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| Ch. Magrez Fombrauge |
2017 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$582.99 |
1 |
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JD 93-96 (4/2018): One of the original garage wines, the 2017 Magrez Fombrauge is a blockbuster made from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that will see 18 months in new barrels. It offers a huge nose of chocolaty dark fruits, crushed rocks, and sweet oak as well as full-bodied richness, impressive mid-palate depth, and sweet tannin. Deep, rich, gorgeously textured, and lengthy, it could be a true superstar and up with the crème de la crème in the vintage.
JS 92-93 (4/2018): A round and juicy red with berry, spice and chocolate character. Medium-bodied, fresh and clean. Bright finish.
WS 90-93 (4/2018): Ripe, offering a succulent core of raspberry, plum and berry fruit flavors. Shows good underlying energy and tension, with a nicely rendered anise- and toast-infused finish. |
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2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$582.99 |
1 |
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JD 96-99 (6/2020): I continue to love this wine, and the 2019 Château Magrez Fombrauge is one seriously good, opulent, super rich 2019 that does everything right. Loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, tobacco leaf, candied violets, and chocolate all soar from the glass. Deep, full-bodied, and just beautifully balanced on the palate, it's another stunner in the making.
JS 92-93 (6/2020): A ripe young wine with red-fruit and terracotta character. Medium to full body, round and juicy tannins and a fresh finish. |
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| Ch. Malescot St. Exupery |
2020 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$731.97 |
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.
WS 92 (3/2023): A ripe, slightly flashy style, with a lovely core of mulled plum and blackberry fruit laced with black tea and singed sandalwood. Reveals a very caressing feel through the finish, with hints of mocha and dark tobacco filling in. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2036.
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 |
1990 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,477.98 |
1 |
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WA 100 (6/2009): I had this wine both in Seoul, Korea in February, and from my cellar in December, 2008, and it was remarkable how identical the wines smelled and tasted. It offers an extraordinary aromatic display of spring flowers, camphor, sweet red and black fruits, a hint of licorice, and no evidence of its 100% new oak cask aging. Round and generous with low acidity, but an opulent, full-bodied richness that is fresh with laser-like precision, this stunning wine is just beginning to reach its plateau of full maturity, where it should remain for another three decades. A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Chateau Margaux.
VM 98 (8/2002): Full ruby-red. Wonderfully perfumed nose combines redcurrant, plum, mocha, minerals and rose petal. Plush, fat and rich, with great sweetness and class. This has utterly compelling mouthfilling richness. Finishes smooth and endless, with great breadth. This wine showed fabulous potential from barrel, but this is the first truly Outstanding bottle I've had. Drink 2005 through 2035.
WS 98 (2/2005): Full-bodied, yet racy and refined, with blackberry and licorice character. Long. It keeps getting better and better. Hard not to drink now. In fact, I would, but it will age well for decades. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Drink now.
MB [****[*]] (11/2000): As many notes as Lafite. Crop thinning was severe in 1990- 30% of the new vine grapes were culled. Also first tasted in April 1991. The usual intense purple, new oak, lean, stylish, supple. Two years later, at a Ch Margaux masterclass at Christie's: ripe, rounded, with raspberry-like aroma. Elegant. Impressive. Lovely fruit noted at the MW tasting (1994) and perfect balance (1995). Rather easy going when hemmed in by some of the New World big guns in Eigensatz's tasting of the '90s (in 1996). Later that year, also blind, noting an almost Pomerol-like texture but touch of bitterness, its bouquet developing as only Margaux should (I nearly said 'can'), and wonderful fragrance in the mouth (blind again, 1998). But rather like the Lafite '90, though very fleshy, it was unready. Not even the charm of Corinne Mentzelopoulos, and certainly not the chicken consomme, could entice it fully out of its shell (Margaux dinner at Brooks's in London, April 2000). Five months later, at Manfred Wagner's vertical in Zurich: rich, biscuity nose, great depth; sweet, fleshy, full of fruit, excellent length. I rated the '89 fractionally higher. But the '90 was very good indeed and approaching cruising altitude. Drink 2010-2025. |
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1995 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,379.97 |
1 |
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WS 97 (11/2014): This still broods seriously, with dark plum, currant and blackberry fruit, studded with charcoal, singed tobacco and cedar notes and backed by a serious grip of roasted earth. The gorgeously long finish is driven by old-school tannins, with the smoldering edge going on and on. A brick house of a Margaux, with more charcoal than graphite, more austerity than elegance and more power than refinement.
VM 95 (9/2018): The 1995 Château Margaux is a vintage perhaps unfairly over-shadowed by the imperious 1996. That is unfair because the late Paul Pontallier crafted a great First Growth this year. It has a very impressive, quintessential Margaux bouquet that is undimmed after 23 years: black fruit, graphite, crushed violets and a touch of tobacco. If anything it becomes more and more pure with aeration and demonstrates exquisite delineation. The palate is very finely balanced. No, it does not have the intensity, the crystalline nature of the 1996 and yet there is a femininity and a finesse here that sweeps you off your feet. It is entertaining the possibility of secondary flavours but it remains focused on the red and black fruit, tensile on the almost balletic finish. Bon vin!
WA 95 (2/1998): Bottled very late (November 1997), the 1995 has continued to flesh out, developing into one of the great classics made under the Mentzelopoulos regime. The color is opaque ruby/purple. The nose offers aromas of licorice and sweet smoky new oak intermixed with jammy black fruits, licorice, and minerals. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with extraordinary richness, fabulous equilibrium, and hefty tannin in the finish. In spite of its large size and youthfulness, this wine is user-friendly and accessible. This is a thrilling Margaux that will always be softer and more evolved than its broader-shouldered sibling, the 1996. How fascinating it will be to follow the evolution of both of these vintages over the next half century. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040. |
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2010 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,202.97 |
2 |
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JS 100 (2/2013): This was phenomenal from barrel and remains so. The aromas are spellbinding. It smells like a bouquet of pink roses and then goes to currants, berries and citrus. Full body, with wonderfully refined tannins. It starts discretely and then grows to different levels and dimensions like a slow but big high tide. The texture is so beautiful. Try it in 2020 or beyond.
WA 99 (2/2013): The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux. Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility. With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30-40 years.
WS 98 (3/2013): A mouthwatering tobacco leaf note leads the way, quickly followed by steeped black currant and fig fruit, with dark tar and ganache on the back end. Roasted alder and juniper hints hang in the background. Extremely backward, with a firm, tannic structure, this is girded for the long haul. Judging from the finely beaded acidity and lilting echo of lilac that peeks in now, this should acquire sensational aromatics and incredible grace with age. Best from 2018 through 2040.
VM 95+ (8/2013): Saturated ruby-red. Deep aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate, complicated by nuances of loam and coffee extract. Dense, thick and sweet, but with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the pungent cassis, spice and tobacco flavors. Youthfully chewy wine with terrific underlying structure and a very long, sappy finish featuring broad tannins and a hint of licorice. This has improved considerably since the Primeurs, but I still think the 2009 Margaux is the superior wine. |
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2012 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,167.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (10/2016): Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Château Margaux has a taut, linear, pencil lead-infused bouquet with pure blackberry and boysenberry scents, an undercurrent of tobacco that surfaces after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, a life-affirming sense of balance with well-integrated new oak towards the finish. I concur with Robert Parker that his has become more structured and masculine in bottle, yet there is pedigree here from start to finish, a sense of effortlessness that is seductive. This is a top-class wine from the late Paul Pontallier and his team.
WS 95 (3/2015): Bay leaf and menthol hints lift a core of crushed plum and warm cherry confiture notes while the background fills steadily with black tea, singed alder and iron elements. Turns a little darker on the finish, with a coating of bittersweet cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean accents, while the minerality stays buried for now. Remarkably dense and packed, yet refined. Needs some time to unwind. Best from 2018 through 2030. 10,833 cases made.
VM 94+ (4/2016): The 2012 Margaux is beautifully polished and suave in the glass, with pliant fruit and plenty of finesse, all in a classic, mid-weight Margaux style. Inward and tightly wound, the 2012 is clearly holding back much of its potential. The 2012 has a stony, mineral-infused energy that is going to require at least a few more years in bottle to fully unwind, while the 100% new oak is a bit pronounced at this early stage. Grilled herbs, smoke, graphite and sage add further nuances on the savory, delineated finish. Antonio Galloni.
JS 94 (2/2015): Wonderful aromas of flowers such as roses, violets, strawberries and a hints of wet earth. Wet stones as well. Full to medium body, very firm tannins and a long, racy finish. Minerals and chalk on the aftertaste. Needs three to five years to soften. Better in 2020. |
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2015 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,352.98 |
2 |
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JD 100 (11/2017): The grand vin is the 2015 Château Margaux and it’s as good a wine as I’ve ever tasted. Coming from just over one-third of the total production and a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, brought up in 100% new French oak, its deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, hints of toasty oak, and cedar wood. Incredibly elegant and finesse-driven, yet packed with fruit, depth, richness, and structure, it has as much class as you can fit inside a glass. While the vintage provides plenty of upfront charm, this is a wine to cellar for at least a decade, and enjoy over the following 40+ years.
JS 100-100 (4/2016): The greatest Margaux ever made. More than perfection. Full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins. Black currant, mineral and floral character. It starts slowly and seems almost endless on the palate. Seamless. I want to sing! This is the wine that Margaux never made in some of the classic vintages like 1961, 1959 and 1945. Maybe it's the 1900 all over again? Breathtaking.
WA 98-100 (4/2016): The 2015 Château Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all together representing 35% of the total production at the estate. Raised entirely in new oak, it has a lucid garnet color. The bouquet is aimed directly at the senses - there is no dilly-dallying about, as it almost knocks you off your stool with its intense mineralite embroidered into this iridescent, graphite-tinged nose. The focus and penetration here ranks among the finest that I have tasted at this estate since first coming here in 1997. The palate is astonishingly well balanced, perfectly poised with super-fine tannins wrapped around pure blackberry, bilberry, graphite and cedar fruit. Like the Pavillon Rouge this year, there is a Pauillac-like sense of authority and aristocracy, leavened by Margaux-inspired femininity that completes that standout 2015 on the Left Bank. Beg for a bottle and worry about the cost later. Post script: I composed this tasting note five days before the passing of Paul Pontallier. It is a final gift from a gifted winemaker.
VM 95-98 (4/2016): The 2015 Margaux is a super-classic wine. In 2015, most Margauxs are notably intense, but Château Margaux expresses the richness of the year in its surprising tannic backbone and overall structure. Far from an up-front or sensual wine, the 2015 Margaux is likely to require considerable cellaring. It is a tightly-wound wine that manages to be both powerful and crystalline in its translucent purity. The 2015 is a wine of real density and yet so very much Margaux. About 35% of the crop went into the Grand Vin. Antonio Galloni. |
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2017 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,745.99 |
1 |
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JS 99 (12/2019): There is ripeness and opulence to this, in an almost exotic and sassy way. Crushed berries with chocolate and spice. Floral and cashmere undertones. This starts off slowly and just rolls off the palate with beautifully polished tannins and a salty, minerally note to the long, extended tannins. Really brilliant. So classy. Structured. Try after 2025.
JD 98 (2/2020): Despite Margaux being a slightly more difficult region for the Medoc in 2017, this estate has fashioned an incredible 2017 Chateaux Margaux that’s unquestionably in the same league as the 2015 and 2016, and that’s saying something. Based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot representing a draconian selection of just 22% of the total production, it reveals a deep purple/ruby hue as well as stunning notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, crushed violets, unsmoked tobacco, and Asian spice. With flawless tannins, medium to full body, brilliant concentration, and a great, great finish, it's easily one of the standouts in the vintage. It’s already stunning, yet a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should cruise for 20-25 years in cold cellars.
WA 98 (3/2020): The 2017 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal alluring notes of blackcurrant cordial, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with suggestions of candied violets, tilled soil, fallen leaves, licorice and espresso plus wafts of underbrush and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the elegance and finesse on the palate is simply bedazzling, exuding a quiet intensity of fresh black fruits layered with oh-so-subtle floral and earth nuances. It has a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness to support the tightly wound flavors, finishing long and perfumed. Beautiful! This grand vin accounts for just 37% of the crop.
VM 95 (2/2020): The 2017 Château Margaux, bottled in June/July 2019, has a classic aromatic profile for this First Growth: blackcurrant leaf, raspberry, cold black tea and pressed iris rather than violet petals this time. It is well defined, if not as intense as the 2016 as you would expect. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, quite saline in the mouth with superb precision on the elegant finish. This is one of the most approachable Château Margaux that I can remember, less opulent than out of barrel and supremely refined. Neal Martin.
WS 95 (3/2020): Seamless from start to finish, with a thoroughly caressing mouthfeel to the mix of damson plum, black cherry and black currant fruit, inlaid with a range of lilac, lavender and rooibos tea accents. The finish unfurls slowly, revealing a mouthwatering mineral edge buried deeply in the seductive fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 10,833 cases made. |
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| Ch. Marojallia |
2020 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$298.98 |
50 |
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| |
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| Clos du Marquis |
2018 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$816.99 |
2 |
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WA 92-94 (4/2019): The 2018 Clos du Marquis is composed of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, with 13% press wine added back to the blend. Grapes were harvested September 18 to October 10, with yields of 35.5 hectoliters per hectare, and the wine has 14.5% alcohol. It will be aged in barriques, 55% new. The finished blend was put into barrels last December. Deep purple-black in color, it displays flamboyant scents of kirsch, crushed black cherries and warm cassis with hints of cinnamon stick, underbrush and chocolate box plus a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied and built like a brick house with firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular fruit, it finishes long and spicy.
WS 92-95 (4/2019): Warm and fleshy in feel, with steeped plum and boysenberry flavors. Light ganache and licorice notes underscore the finish. Slightly brooding in feel today, but retains a healthy core of fruit.
VM 90-93 (5/2019): The 2018 Clos du Marquis is a powerful, heady Saint-Julien. Smoke, cedar, tobacco, menthol, licorice, iron, scorched earth and gravel all run through this potent, virile Saint-Julien. In 2018, Clos du Marquis is especially tannic. There is so much to like about Clos de Marquis in 2018, but it will need time in bottle. Best of all, it should be a solid value. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94-96 (5/2019): Rocking stuff, the 2018 Clos du Marquis checks in 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that hit 14.5% alcohol with a healthy pH of 3.64 and an IPT of 79. It boasts a deep, saturated purple color as well as ripe, powerful, yet complex aromatics. Full-bodied and rich, with a stacked mid-palate, this beauty builds on the palate with ripe, polished tannin, ample oomph, and a great finish. It’s a powerful, concentrated wine from the team at Leoville Las Cases that will benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.
JS 94-95 (4/2019): The purple-fruit and black-olive character with violet undertones is wonderful here. Full-bodied, yet reserved and intense. Finesse. Graphite and minerality. Layered. |
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| Ch. Marquis d'Alesme |
2020 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$431.97 |
1 |
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WA 92-94 (5/2021): Composed of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Marquis d'Alesme Becker is aging for approximately 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. Deep purple-black colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of mulberries, black cherries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus suggestions of underbrush, fallen leaves and violets. The medium-bodied palate is lively and refreshing, featuring a light touch of fine-grained tannins and just enough mid-palate red berry flavors, finishing savory.
JD 93-95 (5/2021): Another gem of an estate in Margaux that should be on everyone’s radar is Château Marquis D'Alesme. Their 2020 offers wonderful purity as well as notes of cassis, darker berries, violets, and toasted spice, with a touch of chocolaty oak in the background. More medium-bodied, beautifully textured, and fruit-loaded, it has terrific tannins (especially for this vintage), notable mid-palate density, and loads of charm. It’s well worth seeking out in the vintage. |
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| La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion |
2007 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$601.99 |
1 |
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| Ch. La Mission Haut Brion |
2013 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,257.99 |
2 |
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| VM 92 (8/2023): The 2013 La Mission Haut-Brion has a light tertiary bouquet with black pepper and wild mint touches. It's elegant, even if it misses some vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and fine acidity. The 2013 is cohesive with a dash of white pepper. Moderate in terms of length, this is a very decent showing in a difficult vintage. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting. Neal Martin. |
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|
2015 |
Pessac Leognan (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,244.98 |
7 |
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JS 100 (2/2018): Rose petals, sandalwood and currants with some plums and fruit tea. Full-bodied, tight and focused. Incredibly straight and minerally. Toned muscles here. Tannic. Traditional and unwavering. Try in 2024.
WA 98 (2/2018): The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is a blend of 58% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. Youthfully mute with bright, youthful red currants, black raspberries, cassis and freshly crushed blackberries notions, it slowly unfurls to reveal an earthy/minerally undercurrent of damp soil, charcoal, iron ore and truffles plus a waft of violets. Medium to full-bodied, decadently fruited and yet wonderfully elegant with very ripe, very silky tannins, freshness that sits well in the background and an almost electric intensity of vibrant red and black fruit flavors, it finishes long and minerally. Just. Beautiful. Consider giving it 6-7 years in bottle before broaching and drink it over the next 30+.
JD 98 (11/2017): More opulent, sexy and concentrated, the 2015 La Mission Haut Brion is a tour de force that has everything you could want from Bordeaux. A huge nose of smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, graphite, cassis, and blackcurrants gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, perfectly balanced beauty that has incredible depth of flavor and intensity, yet with no weight. While the overall impression is upfront and in your face, it has incredible elegance and length on the finish (as well as ripe tannin), and will keep for three decades.
VM 98 (7/2019): The 2015 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an outstanding bouquet of brilliantly focused and delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar - pure class. The medium-bodied, harmonious palate delivers fine-grained tannin and impressive depth. There is a slight savory element (just like the Haut-Brion) that infuses the middle, and brown spices and sage linger on the finish. This is a profound La Mission Haut-Brion that dares surpass Haut-Brion on this showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin.
WS 96 (3/2018): Alluring, with steeped plum, blackberry and açaí berry fruit imparting a distinctive edge. Slightly burly tannins roam underneath but the fruit is so fleshy and broad they are easily absorbed, while dark pudding, warm tar, licorice snap and roasted alder notes flow in on the lengthy finish. Reveals a gorgeous Turkish coffee accent at the very end. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040. 6,800 cases made. |
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2017 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,203.99 |
1 |
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JS 97 (12/2019): A tight, solid red with crushed-berry, sandalwood, stone and cement flavors. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight and compact with excellent depth and intensity. Closed and austere, but there’s both energy and levity to it at the same time. Try after 2025.
WA 96+ (3/2020): Composed of 56% Merlot, 4.4% Cabernet Franc and 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion is a little reticent on the nose to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of crushed blackcurrants, Black Forest cake and Morello cherries with suggestions of cigar box, pencil shavings, charcoal and fertile loam. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity with loads of mineral layers and a rock-solid line of firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and with great energy.
VM 96 (3/2020): A positively stunning wine, the 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion is all class. Sweet floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness, nuance and energy. Rose petal, mint, blood orange, red cherry, pomegranate and mocha are all laced together. In 2017, La Mission plays very much in the red fruit and floral end of the spectrum. Effortless, gracious and wonderfully nuanced, the 2017 simply has it all. What a wine! Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (2/2020): Checking in as a blend of 56% Merlot, 39.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc brought up in 68% new French oak, the 2017 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion sports a vivid ruby color to go with a beautifully round, textured, opulent style on the palate that's hard to find in the vintage. Classic notes of unsmoked tobacco, incense, spiced currants, and chocolate all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, a fresh, classic, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. |
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2019 |
Pessac Leognan (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,448.99 |
1 |
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| JS 99-100 (6/2020): A tight and structured La Mission that takes you deep into the glass with super intensity and power. The tannins are omnipresent and envelop the palate. It’s full-bodied yet agile and complete. Iodine, sweet-tobacco and blackberry character. It seems never to finish. Another WOW wine that reminds me of some of the great classics of this estate, such as the 1955. |
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| Ch. Montlandrie |
2020 |
Cotes de Castillon (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$213.99 |
1 |
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| |
WA 92-94 (5/2021): The 2020 Montlandrie is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot was picked between the 18th and the 22nd of September, and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon were picked from the 23rd to the 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.5% and is aging in French oak barrels, 40% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, fresh, juicy black plums and mulberries, plus hints of bay leaves, cardamom, ground black pepper and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate possesses impressive freshness with a solid backbone of soft, rounded tannins and bags of ripe black fruits, finishing long with a peppery kick. 53,000 bottles are expected to be made.
JS 92-93 (4/2021): Very salty and tangy with some white pepper, too, as well as lots of blackberries and blueberries. Medium body with delicate yet firm tannins that show intensity. Firm finish. |
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| Ch. Montrose |
2016 |
St. Estephe (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,319.98 |
1 |
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JD 100 (2/2019): Unquestionably one of the top 2-3 wines of the vintage, the 2016 Château Montrose is a monument in the making. Checking in as a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc raised in 60% new French oak (the balance was in once-used barrels) and representing a tiny 36% of the production, this deep purple-colored 2016 possesses powerful, incredibly classic Saint-Estephe notes of creme de cassis, graphite, damp earth, lead pencil shavings, and burning embers. With a powerful, full-bodied style on the palate, a huge mid-palate, lots of underlying structure and tannic grip, and perfect balance, this magical wine will need upwards of a decade or cellaring and keep for 40-50 years.
WA 99 (11/2018): Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Montrose is a little youthfully shy to begin, but with coaxing, it unfurls to reveal the most beguiling scents of wilted roses, oolong tea, crushed rocks, wild sage, star anise and candied violets over a wonderfully pristine, well-defined core of crushed blackcurrants, black raspberries and kirsch plus wafts of pencil lead and wood smoke. The taut, muscular, medium to full-bodied palate straddles jaw-dropping intensity and finesse superbly, featuring a solid backbone of ripe tannins and giving a firm frame right through the incredibly long, exquisitely nuanced finish.
JS 98 (12/2019): The floral and fresh aromas to this are mesmerizing. Roses and lilacs galore. The pure cab aromas coming from the glass -- blackcurrants and blackberries -- are so memorable. Full-bodied, deep and profound. The ultra-fine tannins on the palate are so polished and fine-grained. The finish goes on for minutes with subtle yet superb fruit. It’s all about precision and form here. A modern classic for Montrose.
VM 97 (8/2020): The 2016 Montrose displays a pixelated, detailed bouquet that is supremely focused. There is more “airiness” to this wine [compared to previous bottles], and an expressive floral component of pressed iris and incense that is wonderfully entwined with the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, quite sensual and utterly harmonious, leading to a caressing but very deep, quite profound finish. Like the 2016 Meyney that preceded it, this is very persistent and should age with style and charm. Neal Martin.
WS 96 (3/2019): Very pure, with lilac, violet, cassis, bitter cherry and damson plum notes streaming through in lockstep right from the start. A fine chalky underpinning gives the finish a sleek and racy edge. A beautifully precise wine, with a lot in reserve, that could benefit from a little added weight in the cellar. |
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2017 |
St. Estephe (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$694.99 |
1 |
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WA 98 (3/2020): Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and a 1% splash of Petit Verdot, the 2017 Montrose wine was run off into 60% new and 40% one-year old barrels where it was aged for 18 months. The grand vin represented 37% of the estate’s total production. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose takes some time to unfurl before revealing an impressively flamboyant core of black cherry preserves, warm cassis and baked plums with hints of red currant jelly, dark chocolate, licorice, cardamom and chargrill plus a gentle waft of candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity with a very elegant, modest weight, featuring super-ripe, finely-grained tannins and tons of freshness to lift and show-off a stunning array of gorgeous black fruit and fragrant sparks, finishing very long and refined. This is an incredibly classy, poised and sophisticated Montrose!
JS 97 (12/2019): Extremely aromatic with currant, wild-herb and fresh-violet aromas. This is regal cabernet sauvignon at its finest. The palate has unwaveringly long and defined tannins that carry such fresh, piercingly pure, redcurrant and cassis flavors. A twin to the superb 2015? A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
JD 95 (2/2020): Tasted on two separate occasions, the 2017 Chateau Montrose is a brilliant effort based on 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. This full-bodied, beautifully concentrated Saint-Estate offers classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, crushed violets, and ample tobacco, with some underlying damp earth and spice notes developing with time in the glass. Balanced and beautifully textured on the palate, with both good acidity and building tannins, it reminds me of the 2012 with its classic style yet still has plenty of texture and ripe tannins. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 30 years or more.
VM 95 (2/2020): The 2017 Montrose was so impressive from barrel and now, bottled since July, it continues to put in a strong case for being one of the best Left Bank wines. It has a very pure and intoxicating bouquet with intense blackberry, light cassis, juniper and violet aromas, almost Margaux-like in terms of personality. Although there is a patina of new oak after bottling, it is in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip on the entry. Tightly wound at the moment but supremely well focused, this is a classic Montrose, "cool" and reserved, demonstrating impressive tension and precision towards the finish. It will require less time in bottle than the 2016 for example, so broach this superb Saint-Estèphe after five or six years and then it will give 25 to 30 years of drinking pleasure, and knowing Montrose, probably longer. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Neal Martin.
WS 94 (3/2020): This is well-built for the vintage, featuring a core of red and black currant fruit that is pure and focused, supported by a racy iron spine. Exhibits ample length, with bay leaf, lilac and warm stone notes peeking through on the finish. Should develop nicely in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2038. |
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| Ch. Mouton-Rothschild |
1996 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,779.97 |
1 |
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WA 97+ (10/2019): The last time I tasted the 1996 Mouton Rothschild (maybe a couple of years ago?), I recall it was a bit broody and closed. This showing was anything but! Deep garnet in color, it sashays out of the glass with lavishly dressed, gregarious crème de cassis, baked blackberries and plum pudding scents plus touches of menthol, fenugreek, star anise and sandalwood with fleeting glimpses at dried rose petals and oolong tea. The full-bodied palate is richly fruited, opulent and oh-so seductive, with bags of youthful black fruit and lovely finely grained tannins, finishing with fantastic freshness and length. This was tasted from jeroboam in September 2019.
WS 96 (12/2007): Incredible nose of ultraripe fruit, it's yet subtle and complex. Full-bodied, with very ripe, almost sweet fruit and a long, long caressing finish. Superb. This is edging out the 1995.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010.
VM 95 (12/2019): The 1996 Mouton-Rothschild is the high point of what in retrospect was an inconsistent decade for this First Growth. It has a very attractive, classic Pauillac bouquet: predominantly black fruit laced with cedar, freshly rolled tobacco and light graphite scents. It is not lavish, but tightly controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, though not as fine as recent vintages under Philippe Dhalluin. There is satisfying density and gentle grip toward the finish, which feels fresh and contains enough energy to suggest that it is only just reaching its plateau. Tasted from an ex-château jeroboam at the Palace of Versailles charity dinner. Neal Martin.
MB [[*****]] (3/2001): As with the other first growth Medocs, one has to book a precise date and time to taste. I usually fall in with Steven Spurrier, so in September 1998, we were allowed to taste their Medoc 'stable', d'Armailhac, Clerc-Milon and the grand vin of the two vintages, '96 and '97. We discussed the wines with Herve Berland who told us that the cepages mix of the '96 grand vin was Cabernet Sauvignon 77%, Merlot 13%, Cabernet Franc 10%. It had an extraordinary nose, toasted mocha; sweet, full, rich, lovely Cabernet flavour and end taste. Indeed I gave it my top mark at the MW tasting in November 2000. Rich extract; a ripe, wonderfully fragrant, 'manifold' nose. Lovely. The following spring, 'mocha' noted again; sweet, chunky, a touch of tannic bitterness. But a fine wine. Drink 2012-2030. |
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1997 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,148.99 |
1 |
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WA 90 (4/2000): Only 55% of the harvest was utilized for the 1997 Mouton-Rothschild. One of the most forward and developed Moutons over recent years, it possesses all the charm and fleshiness this vintage can provide. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, and an open-knit nose of cedar wood, blackberry liqueur, cassis, and coffee. Fleshy, ripe, and mouth-filling, with low acidity, soft tannin, and admirable concentration and length, this delicious Pauillac will be drinkable in 2-3 years, and should age for 15+. It is an impressive effort for this vintage.
VM 90-91 (6/1999): Deep ruby. Exotic, enticing aromas of black fruits, cherry cough syrup, roast coffee and caramel, along with pungent oakiness. Sweet, fat and thick in the mouth, but with adequate framing acidity. Quite ripe on the back end, with much finer tannins than the foregoing '97s.
WS 89 (1/2000): Very good Mouton, but not Outstanding; lacks a bit of fruit in the center palate. Good dark ruby color, with lovely mineral, spice and currant aromas. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a light, fruity finish. Drink now through 2003. |
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1998 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,224.97 |
2 |
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WA 96 (4/2001): Like many of its peers, the 1998 has filled out spectacularly. Now in the bottle, this opaque black/purple-colored offering has increased in stature, richness, and size. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc (57% of the production was utilized), it is an extremely powerful, super-concentrated wine offering notes of roasted espresso, creme de cassis, smoke, new saddle leather, graphite, and licorice. It is massive, with awesome concentration, mouth-searing tannin levels, and a saturated flavor profile that grips the mouth with considerable intensity. This is a 50-year Mouton, but patience will be required as it will not be close to drinkability for at least a decade. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.
VM 93+ (8/2011): (86% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot and 2% cabernet franc; pH 3.82; IPT 76; 12.3% alcohol; a 57% selection): Very deep saturated ruby. Archetypical cabernet sauvignon-dominated nose offers fresh blackcurrant, lead pencil and flowers complicated by strong spice notes. Bright and juicy on entry, with very pure flavors of dark berries, underbrush and dried herbs, then slightly austere and linear in the middle palate. Finishes with a lingering saline nuance and very good length. A very refined and impeccably balanced Mouton, but I would have liked a little bit more concentration and opulence for an even higher score. This classic Mouton possesses relatively high acidity and a solid tannic structure; it offers early accessibility but should age effortlessly for another 15 or 20 years. In 1998, after a couple years of experimentation, Mouton began to de-leaf in a systematic fashion on both sides of the vine rows. Another vintage with a large crop, 1998 featured an unsettled September with rain falling during the cabernet sauvignon harvest (one of the reasons why 1998 is widely considered a Right Bank year.) Ian d'Agata.
NM 92 (11/2010): Tasted at the Claret Club Mouton-Rothschild dinner. The 1998 Mouton has a very deep garnet hue. The nose has good intensity and fine definition with blackberry, cassis, graphite and a touch of sous-bois. The palate is tight at first..."a dense ball of Pauillac stubbornness" are the exact words that I wrote. But it unwinds nicely: graphite and cedar interlacing the black fruit, almost brutal towards the finish that needs more persistency. This will been another 4-5 years in bottle.
WS 91 (12/2009): Blackberry and violets on the nose, with hints of roses. Sweet tobacco too. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and round tannins. A little tight and reserved now. Give it time.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective. Best after 2011. 22,915 cases made.
JS 91 (11/2015): This is spicy and peppery with dried fruits and currants. It's full and velvety on the palate, showing pretty berries and toasted coffee beans. Long, long finish. |
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2016 |
Le Petit Mouton Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,359.97 |
1 |
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| JS 95-96 (4/2017): This is a very powerful Petit Mouton with so much rich fruit and power. Full-bodied, tannic yet polished and long. Muscular for the second wine of Mouton. |
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2020 |
Le Petit Mouton Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,178.99 |
1 |
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VM 95 (2/2023): The 2020 Le Petit-Mouton is fabulous. Dark red plum, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and cinnamon all build as this flamboyant, striking Petit Mouton shows off its considerable charms. Even with the high percentage of Cabernet, the 2020 is supple and quite soft for a young wine. Bright acids perk up the mid-palate, leading to the brilliant, sculpted finish. This has come together beautifully with élevage. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94+ (3/2023): The 2020 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild showed beautifully and is certainly up with the top second wines out there. In fact, it’s better than the Grand Vins of many châteaux. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in 50% new French oak, it offers a rich, powerful, concentrated, and medium to full-bodied style as well as ample darker currant and cassis fruits, some tobacco and spicy oak, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length on the finish. It’s approachable today yet will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and evolve for at least two decades.
JS 97-98 (4/2021): This is very, very layered with gorgeous fruit and velvety tannins. Hints of chocolate. Full-bodied and chewy with soft, fine tannins. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Gorgeous second wine. |
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2021 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,840.99 |
1 |
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| Clos du Oratoire |
2016 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$348.99 |
19 |
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JS 94-95 (4/2017): Lovely silky tannins and juicy fruit. Medium body and pretty energy. Lots of walnut, crushed-stone and subtle fruit flavors. Very fine.
WS 92-95 (4/2017): Pure and unadorned, with a lovely beam of cassis and cherry compote stretching out, flecked by subtle anise, singed alder and mineral accents. Refined finish. |
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| Alter Ego de Palmer |
2012 |
Margaux (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$535.99 |
1 |
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JS 94 (2/2015): This is amazing for the second wine with incredible white truffle, stone and currant character. Purity of fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, silky and refined. Fantastic length. Better in 2018 but almost impossible to resist now. Incredible.
WA 93 (4/2015): Another brilliant example from administrator Thomas Duroux and his team, the intense second wine, Palmer’s 2012 Alter Ego (51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot), offers up plenty of blackberry and crème de cassis notes along with some spring flowers, licorice and subtle background oak. Opulently textured, full-bodied and stunning, this is an outrageously successful second wine to drink over the next 12-15 years.
VM 92 (1/2016): The 2012 Alter Ego is unusually dark in this vintage, the result of abnormally low yields and very ripe Merlot. An exuberant, voluptuous wine, the 2012 hits the palate with a melange of black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice, tobacco and grilled herbs. There is more than enough tannin and acidity to support a good decade-plus of very fine drinking. This is a superb second wine that should be on consumers' radar screens, as it over delivers, big time. The 2012s at Palmer are made from unusually low yields of around 28 hectoliters per hectare. One of the effects of the 2011 hailstorm that hit the estate was a lowering of the following year's crop, which has resulted in rich, tannic wines. Estate Manager Thomas Duroux opted to give the 2012s more time in barrel than is customary and the wines were bottled in September 2014.
WS 90 (3/2015): Shows good energy, with a lively savory note, a bright iron streak and enticing damson plum, black cherry and red currant fruit. Everything knits through the finish, suggesting this should be able to handle modest cellaring. Best from 2016 through 2020. 7,083 cases made. |
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| Ch. Palmer |
2017 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,335.99 |
4 |
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JS 98 (12/2019): Very perfumed and subtle with dried flowers and citrus, as well as blue fruit. Full-bodied with wonderfully diffused, integrated tannins that just run over the edges of the wine. It’s extremely polished and very, very long. Fresh and bright. Energetic finish. A thoughtful wine. A blend of 54% merlot, 42% cabernet sauvignon and 4% petit verdot. Drink after 2023.
WA 97+ (3/2020): A blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored, 2017 Palmer gives a very serious nose of pronounced blackcurrant cordial, warm plums and blackberry preserves with hints of cedar chest, pencil shavings, violets, dark chocolate and star anise plus exotic wafts of sandalwood and cassia. Medium-bodied, the palate features fantastically vibrant, crunchy black fruits with a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. It will need a good 5-7 years to really blossom with all those tightly wound nuances, but it should be a stunner!
VM 96+ (3/2020): One of the wines of the vintage on the Left Bank, the 2017 Palmer is fresh and vibrant, with tons of energy. Veins of supporting salinity and floral overtones lend grace to the Grand Vin in 2017. I imagine Palmer will only blossom with a few years in bottle. Time in the glass brings out pretty notes of dark fruit, mocha, spice, leather and licorice, but overall, the 2017 is quite reticent, especially given what readers have come to expect here. The blend is 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Technical Director Thomas Duroux told me his team harvested all the fruit in nine days as opposed to the more typical 2-3 weeks. The 2017s were done with no SO2 at crush. Duroux stopped the pump overs early and favored gentle extractions. Both wines are in the 13-13.2 range of finished alcohol. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95+ (2/2020): The grand vin 2017 Chateau Palmer checks in as 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak. This deep purple-colored beauty gives up more cassis fruits as well as hints of chocolate, graphite, smoked herbs, and crushed violets. Beautifully concentrated, rich, and full-bodied, it has a wonderful sense of elegance and purity, laser-like precision, building tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles a solid 7-8 years and it's going to evolve for 25-30 years or more.
WS 95 (3/2020): Dark and winey in feel, with ample blackberry, plum and black currant compote flavors leading the way, while licorice snap, singed apple wood, black tea and dark earth notes fill in throughout. The finish is focused, showing a nice buried iron accent. A powerful version of Margaux and a strong effort in the vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038. |
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| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2013 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$686.99 |
4 |
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JS 92 (2/2016): This is a fresh and clean red with plum, stone and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with fine tannins and a elegant, pretty finish. Very Burgundian texture to this. Drink or hold.
NM 91 (10/2016): The 2013 Pape Clement has a not dissimilar bouquet to the Smith-Haut-Lafitte with blackberry, cedar and light tobacco scents gently unfolding in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and well judged acidity that binds it together. I like the detail here, one of the more precise 2013s with a tender finish that has a commendable persistence. This is an impressive 2013 that should bestow 12 to 15 years drinking pleasure.
WS 86 (7/2016): This throws an enticing mocha note in front of a core of plum and black cherry fruit. Enticing aromatically, but lacks some fruit density for support, ending instead with a drying sensation of cocoa powder. This was the vintage to rein in this style, as this feels a bit dried out from the [i]elevage[n]. Drink now through 2017. 7,500 cases made. |
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| Le Clementin du Pape-Clement |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$527.99 |
8 |
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| VM 92 (3/2021): The 2018 Clementin de Pape Clement is so expressive. Crushed rose petal, gravel, spice, tobacco and smoke all open in the glass. Medium in body, with striking aromatic presence and terrific persistence, the 2018 is just impeccable. The Clementin is an understated wine with a ton of character. It's a gorgeous second wine from Pape Clement and Bernard Magrez. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Pavie |
1999 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,804.98 |
2 |
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WA 95 (4/2002): The 1999 Pavie is a candidate for "wine of the vintage". It boasts an opaque ruby/purple color in addition to gorgeous aromas of crushed minerals, smoke, licorice, cherry liqueur, and black currants. The wine is exceptionally pure and multilayered, with stunning texture and overall balance. The tannin level suggests 3-4 years of cellaring is warranted; it should age gracefully for 25+ years. If readers are wondering why Pavie has become so much better under the administration of Chantal and Gerard Perse, keep in mind that yields are one-third of what they were under the previous owners.
WS 92 (3/2002): Yummy red. Attractive aromas of plums, berries, tobacco and smoke. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, juicy finish. Best after 2005. 1,665 cases made. |
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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. |
$462.99 |
2 |
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2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$582.99 |
60 |
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| |
WA 92-94 (6/2020): The 2019 Arômes de Pavie is a blend of 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested from the 3rd of October to the 10th of October. The yields this year were 35 hectoliters per hectare, and the alcohol came in at 14.67%, while the pH was 3.46 (remarkably low!). Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes charging out of the glass with energetic notes of freshly crushed blackberries, boysenberries and red and black plums with fragrant touches of garrigue, violets, star anise and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely coated with black, blue and red fruits, featuring velvety tannins and an invigorating undercurrent of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
JD 93-95 (6/2020): The second wine of Château Pavie, the 2019 Château Pavie Aromes De Pavie is always a good introduction into the style – and quality – of the estate. Based on 65% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a wonderful elegance and purity as well as notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil, tobacco, and white flowers. Like its big brother, it's full-bodied, has terrific minerality, and a great finish. It's already hard to resist.
JS 94-95 (6/2020): Such beautiful quality of tannins in this with dense, layered fruit. It’s full-bodied with black fruit, wet earth and smoke. Some meat, too. Muscular, yet agile. |
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| Ch. Pavie |
2021 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,187.99 |
1 |
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| VM 95-97 (5/2022): The 2021 Pavie is a wine of tremendous potential. Naturally, it shows the more mid-weight style of the year and yet there is plenty of depth as well as energy that starts to emerge with a bit of time in the glass. Bright saline notes shape the wine while extending the finish and adding so much drive. The 2021 is shaping up to be a very special wine. All it needs is time. Antonio Galloni |
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| Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux |
2014 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,950.99 |
1 |
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| JD 92 (11/2017): The 2014 Pavillon Rouge is made from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot. It’s a beautiful second wine that shines for its elegance, as well as its sexy, sumptuous texture. Giving up lots of spice, dried flowers, sandalwood, and cassis fruits, it has more than a passing resemblance to its bigger sibling. With medium-bodied richness, sweet tannin, nicely integrated oak, and charming, character filled personality, I’d happily drink bottles any day over the coming two decades. |
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2020 |
Margaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$883.99 |
1 |
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JD 94 (3/2023): As to the reds, the 2020 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge is classic Château Margaux with its finesse, elegance, and purity. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot aged in 50% new French oak, it has a great perfume of cassis and darker cherries as well as notes of dried flowers, sandalwood, and graphite. Beautifully balanced, layered, and concentrated, it's a gem of a second wine with plenty of Grand Vin character. It will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and keep for two decades.
VM 94 (2/2023): The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is just as gorgeous from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich and sumptuous, with no hard edges, the Pavillon Rouge captures the combination of fruit richness and energy that is such a signature of the year. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and mint are all beautifully delineated. Lively acids, sweet floral and vibrant saline notes extend the effortless finish. The 2020 is a gorgeous Pavillon Rouge. Antonio Galloni.
JS 96-97 (4/2021): Blackberry and graphite with dark fruit and violets on the nose. Very complex. Full-bodied with lovely, fine tannins that are lightly chewy. Extremely long and polished. Really refined. Integrated tannins. Wonderful length.
WA 92-94 (5/2021): The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The alcohol weighs in at 13.6%. Deep purple-black in color, the nose slowly unfurls to reveal gorgeous floral notes of lilacs and red roses, leading to a core of blackcurrant cordial, Morello cherries and minted blackberries, plus wafts of crushed rocks, forest floor and tilled loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is a mouthful of pure vinous seduction, slowly releasing layers of perfumed black fruits and mineral accents within a frame of achingly plush tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and a whole array of fragrant earth sparks. |
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| Ch. Peby Faugeres |
2011 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,158.98 |
1 |
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| Ch. Pichon-Longueville Lalande |
2008 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$972.99 |
1 |
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| WA 93 (2/2019): The 2008 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a complex, elegant wine that offers pretty notes of blueberries, violets, plums, and flowers, with even a hint of menthol with time in the glass. Beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, and vibrant, with good acidity and moderate tannins, it shows the elegant, seamless style of the estate beautifully and can be drunk any time over the coming 20 years or more. The blend of the 2008 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot that represent a selection of 38% of the total production. |
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2010 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,302.99 |
4 |
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VM 98+ (10/2017): An eternal wine, the 2010 Pichon Lalande is a total showstopper. The first impression is one of explosive power, but time in the glass brings out the wine’s more delicate, floral side. Violet, graphite, crème de cassis, licorice and menthol overtones recall the 1996, but the tannins here are much softer, sweeter and more polished. In two recent tastings, the 2010 has been positively stellar. The alternation of hot days and cool nights led to a late harvest. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest did not start until October 7; by that date in 2009 all the fruit was in. Readers who can still find the 2010 should not hesitate, as it is a modern-day classic. That’s all there is to it. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94+ (11/2021): The 2010 is based on 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot that was raised in (I'm assuming) a good bit of new oak, although you wouldn't know this by tasting it. Revealing a still youthful ruby/plum hue with just a touch of lightening at the edge, it has a Saint-Julien-like perfume of darker currants, tobacco, earth, sous bois, and flowers, without that classic cedar and lead pencil character of most Pauillacs. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a wonderfully focused, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's still relatively closed and reticent, so give bottles another 4-5 years if possible |
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2012 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$925.97 |
1 |
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2014 |
Pauillac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,073.97 |
1 |
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VM 97 (10/2017): One of the highlights in a dark horse vintage for Bordeaux, the 2014 Pichon Lalande is absolutely exquisite. Aromatic and silky on the palate, with bright, finely sculpted fruit and mid-weight structure, the 2014 is a picture-perfect example of the best 2014 has to offer. I have always adored the 2014 Pichon Lalande. This tasting only serves to reinforce that feeling. Ideal conditions in September extended the harvest and yielded perfumed, silky wines. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (11/2017): Showing the hallmark elegance and seductiveness of this terrific estate, the 2014 Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande is deeply colored (especially in the vintage) and delivers a heavenly bouquet of crème de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, cedar pencil, roasted coffee, and tons of building minerality and liquid rock-like nuances. Incredibly pure, textured, full-bodied, and with a seamless integration of its fruit, tannin, and acidity, it’s already approachable but will keep for two to three decades.
WA 93 (3/2017): The 2014 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has an expressive bouquet with lively blackberry, cedar, flint and graphite aromas that are not powerful, yet display admirable precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, the Merlot content lending this Pauillac its trademark fleshiness and roundness, yet there is clearly structure here (not always a trait of this Pauillac growth). It will develop more complexity and personality with bottle age, but at the moment you can sit back and just admire the cohesion and superb length. Winemaker Nicolas Glumineau has overseen a quite wonderful Pichon-Lalande, one with inbuilt longevity.
JS 92 (2/2017): Aromas of cassis bush and shaved chocolate with berries. Full body, velvety-textured tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Tangy undertones with fresh acidity. Drink in 2020. |
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|
2016 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,940.97 |
2 |
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| |
JD 100 (2/2019): Coming from the genius winemaking talent of Nicolas Glumineau, the 2016 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande matches the 1982 and is a perfect, legendary wine in the making. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new oak, it's not the most powerful Left Bank but offers perfect balance and thrilling intensity as well as heavenly aromatics of crème de cassis, leafy herbs, jammy blackberries, tobacco leaf, and freshly sharpened lead pencils as well as more violets and minerality with time in the glass. Possessing a deep, full-bodied, singular character, the purity of fruit that's the hallmark of the vintage, building tannins, and a sense of class and elegance that's hard to describe, it's a 50-year-wine. While this cuvee has included a fair chunk of Merlot in the past that gave it more upfront appeal, it's important for readers to know it's much more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated today, and while it is slightly more approachable than some of its neighbors, it shuts down rather quickly with time in the glass. (I followed this wine for multiple days.) I suspect a solid decade of cellaring is warranted.
VM 100 (1/2019): The 2016 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is every bit as regal as it has always been. Towering and spectacularly rich in the glass, the 2016 captures every ounce of potential is showed from barrel. The 2016 is a vivid, dramatically sweeping wine that will leave readers week at the knees. Beams of tannin give the 2016 soaring intensity that is matched by a host of aromas and flavors that open up in the glass. Blackberry jam, graphite, spice, menthol, licorice, pencil shavings and spice are all finely sketched in a bold, savory Pauillac that hits all the right notes. The 2016 Pichon Comtesse has been riveting on each of the four occasions I have tasted it from barrel thus far, making it easily one of the wines of the vintage. Nicolas Glumineu and his team turned out an epic Pichon Comtesse in 2016. Don't miss it! Antonio Galloni.
WA 98+ (11/2018): The 2016 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is blended of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc aged for 18 months in 60% new oak. Deep purple-black in color, it is a little mute, slowly unfurling to reveal a core of crushed blackcurrants, blueberry compote and black raspberries with nuances of cinnamon stick, violets, star anise, menthol and pencil shavings plus a waft of fallen leaves. Medium-bodied and super intense in the mouth, the palate bursts with black fruits and savory layers, complemented by red fruit sparks and framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing very long with a lingering suggestion of minerality.
JS 98 (1/2019): Glorious aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries and flowers, from violets to roses. Iron and rust undertones. Full-bodied, dense and very layered with loads of richness. It goes on for minutes. Reminds me of the 1986. Best in decades? Take a first look at it in 2025.
WS 97 (3/2019): (WS #97 wine of 2019) Saturated with dark currant, fig and blackberry compote flavors, this has a fleshy, nearly glycerin feel at first before stretching out to reveal singed cedar, tobacco leaf, dark earth and cassis bush flavors. A terrific tug of cast iron emerges at the very end. Deliciously juicy dark fruit keeps rolling throughout. Best from 2025 through 2040. 12,000 cases made. |
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2019 |
Pauillac (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,078.97 |
2 |
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WA 97-99 (6/2020): A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc (with no Petit Verdot this year), the 2019 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande came in at an alcohol of 14.15% and a pH of 3.7. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it sails out of the glass with a stunning array of Black Forest cake, warm cassis and wild blueberries scents with underlying hints of Morello cherries, redcurrant jelly, pencil shavings, menthol and aniseed with a touch of charcoal. The medium-bodied palate packs a lot of fruit into an elegant package, featuring very finely grained, silt-like tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with loads of lingering mineral and exotic spice accents.
VM 98-100 (6/2020): The 2019 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande was picked 16 September to 8 October. It has a showstopping nose: intense black fruit laced with graphite and mint. (Whisper it...it reminds me of their First Growth next door neighbor.) The palate is underpinned by very refined tannins that cradle what may well be the purest fruit you will find in this vintage. Unbelievably precise all the way through to the finish, I admit staring at my glass trying to find fault with it. Unless winemaker Nicolas Glumineau gets distracted by the new Cure album and makes a catastrophic error during the rest of its elevage, which he is not prone to doing, you are not looking at a modern-day 1982 or 2016, but something even better and more profound. Tasted from three bottles with consistent notes. Neal Martin
JS 98-99 (6/2020): Crazy aromas of sweet tobacco and black fruit. Tar and lead pencil, too. Blackcurrants and blackberries. Solid core of fruit and ripe tannins here. It's full-bodied and chewy. Extremely long. Fascinating wine. Structure with elegance |
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| Ch. Pressac |
2017 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$481.99 |
7 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Quintus |
2021 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$380.98 |
8 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Rauzan-Segla |
2015 |
Margaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,271.98 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (5/2019): I underrated the 2015 Rauzan-Segla on release. It’s a big, rich, incredibly sexy wine that’s certainly in the same ballpark as the 2016 (and 2018). Full-bodied, ripe, and concentrated, it has a wonderfully expansive, layered texture as well as an incredible sense of balance. Lots of cassis, leafy herbs, flowery incense, and tobacco notes all emerge from this beauty, which offers sweet tannins as well as a huge finish. This is magical stuff that’s going to keep for three decades or more. |
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| Ch. Ripeau |
2019 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$527.99 |
1 |
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| |
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|
2019 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$290.99 |
5 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$296.99 |
44 |
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| |
VM 93-95 (5/2021): The 2020 Ripeau has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry coulis and touches of orange blossom and violets, quite persuasive and charming. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied and silky-smooth, with pliant tannins and superb acidity. Certainly, I cannot recall a Ripeau as good as this out of barrel, and if it retains this panache and allure in bottle, it could be one of the hidden gems of the vintage. Neal Martin.
JD 93-95+ (5/2021): Coming from a vineyard in the northern part of the appellation, not far from Cheval Blanc, the 2020 Château Ripeau has a medium to full-bodied, fresh yet concentrated style as well as impressive purity in its blue fruits, cassis, and floral aromas and flavors. The tannins are present yet ripe and soft, it has a layered, deep mid-palate, and the freshness of the vintage. It’s unquestionably a beautiful wine in the making. Give bottles 4-5 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following two decades. |
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| Ch. Rocheyron |
2017 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,287.99 |
17 |
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| |
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| Clos de Sarpe |
2014 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$315.99 |
8 |
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| |
|
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2017 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$579.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$315.99 |
19 |
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| |
|
|
2019 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$693.99 |
5 |
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| |
VM 96 (2/2022): The 2019 Clos de Sarpe is off the charts gorgeous. Black cherry, leather, licorice, spice and chocolate are all dialed up. As always, Clos de Sarpe is unabashedly opulent, but in recent years there has been a touch more focus, a bit more delineation to balance things out. The 2019 is positively stunning. That's all there is to it. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95-97 (6/2020): Another beautiful wine in the making from this tiny estate, the 2019 Château Clos De Sarpe reveals a dense purple color as well as a killer bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, classy oak, graphite, tobacco, and violets, picking up a bloody, iron-like character with time in the glass. This full-bodied, concentrated, beautifully balanced 2019 shows the purity and elegance of the vintage, and while it should be accessible in its youth, it's also going to have 25-30 years of prime drinking.
WA 95 (4/2022): The 2019 Clos de Sarpe has turned out nicely in bottle, wafting from the glass with a generous bouquet of blackberries, Morello cherries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and nicely integrated new oak. Full-bodied, broad and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and an ample endowment of fine, chalky tannin, it's a powerful but vibrant Saint-emilion that testifies to the interest of the site.
JS 94 (12/2021): Very attractive dark-plum and berry aromas with hints of flowers. Some fresh-mushroom and coffee-bean undertones. Full-bodied with round, layered tannins and a flavorful finish. Succulent and juicy. So attractive, but there are plenty of pretty tannins underneath. From organically grown grapes. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. Drink after 2023. |
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| Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte |
2012 |
Pessac Leognan (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,367.97 |
1 |
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| |
VM 95 (1/2016): A dark, sensual wine, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte boasts marvelous depth and textural richness. Dark red stone fruits, leather, smoke, tobacco, gravel and herbs are laced together in an expansive wine endowed with terrific purity. The tannins are going to need at least a few years to soften, but there is clearly quite a bit to look forward to.
JS 95 (2/2015): Aromas of cream, cooked apples and pears follow through to a full body with toasted-oak, cream and vanilla character buttressed by plenty of fruit. So much peach and apricot character. This a bright and flamboyant wine for the vintage. One of the best dry whites. Drink or hold.
WS 94 (3/2015): Layered fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes are buttressed by ample, yet polished and integrated, ganache-coated tannins, while accents of black tea, ganache and tar course underneath. A really gorgeous display of fruit, showing terroir and cut on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. 10,000 cases made. |
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|
2015 |
Pessac Leognan (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,804.97 |
1 |
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| |
JS 99 (4/2018): The currants and blackberries on the nose are very impressive with wet-earth and lavender undertones. Full body and super-integrated tannins that melt into the wine. The quality of the tannins is incredible with fantastic length and mouthfeel. So much concentration and balance at the same time. Such beauty. From biodynamic grapes. This is the greatest wine ever from here. Drink in 2022.
WA 97 (2/2018): This vintage is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 65% new oak barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte has a totally dazzling nose of exotic spices—star anise, fenugreek and Sichuan pepper—over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, plum preserves, violets and earthy wafts of truffles, moss, tilled black soil and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced and packing a lot of flavor into a relatively modest package, it fills the mouth with spice and herb-laced black and blue fruit layers, supported by very ripe, very finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. This is already a show-stopping, heart-pounding beauty, but should also age incredibly!
JD 96+ (11/2017): Another wine from the Cathiard family I was able to taste on multiple occasions is the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte and it’s brilliant stuff readers should snatch up. Offering a huge nose of chocolatey dark fruits, roasted herbs, graphite and flowers, this big, rich, opulent beauty has building tannin, loads of structure and great mid-palate. It will drink nicely for 20+ years.
WS 96 (3/2018): This pumps out some serious blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry and black currant fruit flavors, with the texture of compote and a racy edge thanks to a terrific bolt of graphite that runs throughout. Waves of anise, roasted apple wood and tobacco drive the finish, with the fruit keeping pace easily. Destined for a long life. Best from 2025 through 2045. 10,000 cases made.
VM 95+ (2/2018): Explosive and powerful in the glass, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte is going to need time to come into its own. Black cherry, gravel, smoke, bittersweet chocolate, leather, licorice and savory herbs effortlessly fill out the wine's ample frame. The 2015 is an especially dark, concentrated Smith Haut Lafitte. Swaths of tannin carry the wine into a huge finish accented by hints of raspberry jam, chocolate, leather and tobacco. Today, the 2015 is more power than finesse. It will be interesting to see how things develop from here. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ch. St. Pierre |
2021 |
St. Julien (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$348.99 |
55 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Talbot |
1996 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,892.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 91 (7/2007): Lots of blackberry, licorice and light tar aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. This needs time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008.
WA 89 (4/1999): tasted this wine three times in January, rating it 88, 89, and 90 with similar tasting notes. The wine is close to being Outstanding, exhibiting a saturated dark ruby color, and excellent aromatics, consisting of black fruits intermixed with licorice, dried herbs, and roasted meat smells. It is full, with impressive extract, a fleshy texture, low acidity, excellent purity, and a long, deep, chewy finish. This 1996 will be drinkable at a young age, yet keep for 15-20 years. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2017.
NM 84 (9/2006): Tasted several times, last blind at Farr's horizontal in Sept '06. A deep blackberry, mocha and chestnut nose. Medium to full-bodied. Well-knit tannins and very focused. Good acidity. Fresh. Not incredibly complex. Smokey, a little coarse on the finish. Fine. |
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|
2009 |
St. Julien (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,214.98 |
9 |
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| |
JS 94 (2/2012): Aromas of cocoa powder and currants, follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, berry and chocolate aftertaste. Lovely polish to this. Try in 2018.
WA 91 (2/2012): Extremely sexy, soft, supple and opulent, with notes of cedar, herbs, incense and black currant fruit, this is a full-bodied, generously endowed but silky Talbot to drink now and over the next 20+ years. By any standard of measurement, this is irresistible.
WS 91 (3/2012): Dark plum and blueberry compote notes lead the way, followed by dark cocoa and tobacco. A fleshy feel runs throughout, with a stony edge adding length and balance on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2021.
VM 91 (7/2012): Bright ruby-red. Slightly rustic aromas of musky black raspberry, black cherry, dark chocolate, leather and game. Sweet, glossy and pliant, with lovely intensity and lift to the flavors of dark cherry, cherry pit and spices. Hints at the horsey quality typical of this chateau but boasts terrific enveloping fruit and noteworthy sweetness. Finishes with broad, plush tannins and excellent length. One of the top few Talbot vintages of the last 25 years. Stephen Tanzer.
NM 88 (7/2013): Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Talbot ‘09 displays a touch of gaminess on the nose of this wine that is well defined: blackberry, graphite and undergrowth. It is feral at first but calms down in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a delicate, understated graphite entry. I would have liked more weight, more density in the context of the growing season, although it retains fine length. Tasted January 2013. |
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| Ch. Troplong Mondot |
2018 |
St. Emilion (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,078.97 |
1 |
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| |
WA 93-95+ (4/2019): The 2018 Troplong Mondot is blended of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, with 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.56. Deep garnet-purple in color, it begins slowly with bold, bright black raspberries, ripe black plums, fresh blackberries and Morello cherries notes, giving way to underlying scents of tobacco, wild sage, Sichuan pepper, black olives, truffles and Marmite toast with hints of crushed stones and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers wonderfully fresh, energetic black fruit with a downright racy line of freshness (uncommon for this vintage) and firm, rounded tannins, finishing long with lots of mineral, earth and dried herbs layers giving beautiful electric sparks.
WS 95-98 (4/2019): This offers a lovely display of boysenberry, cherry and plum fruit, yet stays refined and focused, relying on purity as this glides through. Has weight but feels silky, with a flinty mineral hint adding cut on the finish.
VM 94-97 (5/2019): The 2018 Troplong Mondot is a remarkable wine. All the elements fall into place in a stunning, aromatically intense Troplong Mondot that is full of character. There is a level of precision and vibrancy in the 2018 that is simply breathtaking. Black cherry, raspberry, mocha, flowers, mint and spice all meld together in this captivating, arrestingly beautiful Saint-emilion. New oak is 60%, with lower toast levels than what was common just a few years ago. The blend is 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni.
JD 94-96 (5/2019): Deeper colored, the 2018 Troplong Mondot is a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak. Its vivid purple color is followed by a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, cassis, crushed flowers, and beautiful earthy minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ultra-pure, balanced on the palate, it has a beautiful chalky minerality on the finish. While the style has changed dramatically with the arrival of Aymeric de Gironde, the quality is nevertheless world-class.
JS 97-98 (4/2019): The focus to this wine sets a new standard for Troplong Mondot with density and minerality that I have not encountered for decades. Lots of slate and white-pepper character. Tight and very dense. Full body. Balanced. Wild mineral character and freshness here. Precise. |
|
| Vieux Chateau Certan |
2001 |
Pomerol (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,330.97 |
1 |
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| |
WS 94 (3/2004): Very subtle aromas of blackberries, chocolate and plums follow through to a full-bodied palate, with very silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. An excellent wine with great intensity for the vintage. Very long indeed. Winemaker and part-owner Alexandre Thienpont is a master. Best after 2009. 4,000 cases made.
WA 93 (6/2004): A brilliant effort from Alexandre Thienpont, this blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc is a deep purple-colored, fleshy, layered effort offering a sweet nose of creosote, incense, Christmas spices, plenty of red and black fruits, and hints of licorice as well as new oak. Rich, medium to full-bodied, with tremendous purity in addition to nobility, give it two more years of cellaring and drink it over the next following 15-18 years.
VM 90+ (6/2004): Saturated ruby-red. Pure but reticent nose hints at plum, raspberry and chocolate. Juicy and sweet but rather closed in the middle palate. Very serious merlot here: this has terrific penetration and structure for a 2001 from the Right Bank. Finishes long and gripping. A very good showing, but this wine really needs seven or eight years of additional cellaring. |
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|
2015 |
Pomerol (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,541.97 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 100 (2/2019): I was able to taste both the 2015 and 2016 grand vins, and these are heavenly, magical wines that could not be any better. Starting with the 2015 Vieux Château Certan, it shows the opulent, flamboyant style of the vintage to a T and reveals a saturated purple/ruby color, a monster bouquet of blackberries, tobacco, kirsch, dried spices, and loamy earth, full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. A thrill a minute, wine doesn’t get any better, and I only wish every reader could taste this beauty. Drink it any time over the coming 30 years or more.
VM 100 (2/2018): The 2015 Vieux Château Certan is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich, sumptuous and explosive in the glass, the 2015 is pure class. The flavors are deep and boldly sketched in this sumptuous, spectacularly ripe Pomerol. Inky blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, licorice and menthol all develop in the glass, but it is the wine's textural richness and intensity that stand out most. As good as the 2015 is today, it is going to need at least 15-20 years to be at its very best. Is there anything more I can ask of the 2015? No, there is not. This is a tremendous showing. Antonio Galloni.
JS 100 (2/2018): The blackberries, blueberries, oyster shell and violets are so mesmerizing. Full-bodied, focused and deep. It takes you to another space and plane. Dried flowers and dark fruit. The tannins are perfectly crafted. Keeps going as you taste it. Drink in 2023 but why wait?
WA 98+ (4/2018): Blended of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Vieux Chateau Certan opens with profound notes of blueberry compote, dried mulberries, black forest cake, licorice, violets and garrigue with wafts of black truffles, sandalwood and rose hips. Medium to full-bodied, very earthy/savory and beautifully layered with very plush yet present tannins, it offers lovely freshness and a very long minerally finish. So very Pomerol!
WS 97 (3/2018): Expressive and alluring aromas of warm plum reduction and boysenberry puree lead off here, followed by fleshy, seamlessly layered notes of blackberry, black currant, melted black licorice and smoldering tobacco. Shows a lovely tug of dark earth through the finish without sacrificing a sense of polish or giving ground to the waves of fruit. Displays terrific latent energy through the finish. Best from 2023 through 2040. 3,750 cases made. |
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|
2017 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,252.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 98 (2/2020): Possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2017 Vieux Chateau Certan is a blend of 81% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from the highest point on the Pomerol plateau. Deep purple, with a heavenly bouquet of creme de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, crushed violets, tobacco, and earth, this beauty is full-bodied, has incredible depth of fruit, ripe, present tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This estate has been on fire of late, and this is undoubtedly a worthy follow-on to the otherworldly 2015 and 2016. It has the depth of fruit and texture to offer pleasure even today, yet a solid 7-8 years of cellaring are warranted, and it should be long-lived. Bravo!
WS 98 (3/2020): This delivers a terrific rush of raspberry ganache and steeped plum fruit that holds center stage throughout, flanked by singed apple wood and dried anise notes and backed on the finish by hints of Lapsang souchong tea, warm fruitcake and mineral. A step ahead of the pack in this vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2040. 3,666 cases made.
VM 94 (2/2020): The 2017 Vieux Château Certan was bottled at the end of May. It has a perfumed, slightly tertiary bouquet with blackberry, wild heather and just a touch of menthol. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe tannins on the entry, mainly dark black fruit, rather introverted at the moment that just needs bottle age to show what it can be. Veins of dark chocolate towards the finish, I appreciate the structure of this VCC and the freshness it shows towards the overtly saline, Japanese nori tinged finish. Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont have overseen a very assured and captivating Pomerol that will age gracefully over many years. Neal Martin.
JS 98 (12/2019): The purity and complexity is so mesmerizing for 2017. Raspberries and black fruit with sweet-tobacco and blood-orange undertones. Medium to full body. The tannins are so polished and pure and push out the edges on the wine. Fresh and pretty. Deep. Needs two or three years to perfect it. Try after 2023. |
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|
2021 |
Pomerol (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,055.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Villemaurine |
2021 |
St. Emilion (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$296.99 |
20 |
|
| |
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| | Bordeaux White |
| Domaine de Chevalier |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,249.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (12/2018): The 2015 Chevalier Blanc is as brilliant now as it was on release yet still needs 4-5 years of bottle age to show at its best. Crushed lime, lemon zest, crushed rocks, and beautiful white grapefruit notes all emerge from this racy, beautifully concentrated, focused white that checks in with the crème de la crème of the vintage.
VM 96 (2/2018): The 2015 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is every bit as captivating from bottle as it was from barrel. Time seems to have given the 2015 more depth and freshness, which is obviously a very good thing. A host of lemon peel, crushed rock, green pear, mint and dried apricot notes develop in the glass, but as is so often the case here, it is the wine's textural brilliance and persistence that place it among the world's great wines. The 2015 is simply magnificent. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (2/2018): The Domaine de Chevalier 2015 Blanc is composed of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon, fermented in barrel (35% new), and aged for 18 months on the lees with stirring. It opens with lovely lemon tart, fresh grapefruit and pineapple with a waft of honeysuckle. The medium-bodied palate is very tightly knit with wonderfully crisp acid and a citrusy finish.
WS 95 (3/2018): This has a full and enticing feel, with a shortbread note leading off, followed by lemon curd, peach, tangerine, salted butter and yellow apple flavors. Light verbena and heather hints show up through the alluring finish. This has outstanding range and a really gorgeous mouthfeel, and should age wonderfully. Drink now through 2024. 1,667 cases made.
JS 98 (1/2018): Instantly impressive nose with pristine lemons and limes as well as subtly flinty, reductive notes. The palate has power and direction, not to mention impressive yeast lees influence and perfectly integrated oak. Power, impressive tension and length. Drink this young or with some considerable age. It will deliver at both ends. |
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2021 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$611.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Esprit de Chevalier |
2021 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$267.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Coutet |
2007 |
Barsac (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$610.98 |
12 |
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| |
WS 95 (3/2010): Offers fascinating aromas of cooked apple, clove and honey that follow through to a full body, with superlively acidity and spicy blanched almond and honey character on the palate. Long and powerful, showing amazing botrytis character, with so much spice and richness, yet also freshness. Even better than the superb 2006. Best after 2015.
WA 94 (2/2012): Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Coutet 2007 has a very intense bouquet with lemon curd and orange blossom mixed with clear honey. There is impressive precision here, almost crystalline. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine viscous entry, great weight and intensity with racy acidity. There is also much tension cutting through the layers of viscous fruit on the sorbet-like finish. This is a typical Coutet through and through and it should age effortlessly over 20-30 years. Tasted January 2011.
VM 92 (8/2010): Full medium gold. Pineapple, orange, toffee, nutty oak and a whiff of spun sugar on the enticing nose. Sweet but youthful and tangy, with lively acidity and underlying minerality giving an incisive quality to the bright core of pineapple and apricot fruit. At once rich and sharply focused, finishing with excellent length and verve. This should evolve slowly. |
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| Ch. Doisy Daene |
2019 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$559.99 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (2/2023): The 2019 Doisy-Daëne has a delightful bouquet with dried honey, white peach and white chocolate scents, ample botrytis and concentration here. The palate is well-balanced with fine acidity, elegant with a touch of spice towards the finish. Lovely. Not quite the finest example tasted, but it will surely improve with bottle age as this Barsac is wont to do. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. (Drink between 2025-2045). Neal Martin. |
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| Clos Floridene |
2023 |
Graves Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$205.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Ch. Guiraud |
2009 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$726.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2013): Tasted as part of a vertical held at the chateau. The 2009 Guiraud has a complex, precocious bouquet with honeysuckle and jasmine notes, hints of dried honey and white peach. It is tightly wound but very precise. The palate is pure and tense in the mouth – great precision here once again with superbly integrated oak and a lovely, seductive, very viscous botrytis-laden finish. In many ways the 2009 represents the wine that every vintage since 1983 would love to be. Drink 2018-2040+ Tasted April 2013. |
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| Ch. Haut-Brion |
2015 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,354.99 |
1 |
|
| |
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|
2015 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,459.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. Lynch Bages |
2022 |
Blanc de Lynch Bages Bordeaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$453.99 |
6 |
|
| |
JD 94 (5/2023): While the 2022 Château Lynch Bages Blanc had been bottled just prior to my visit, it wasn't showing any worse for wear and has a terrific perfume of honeyed lime, white flowers, citrus, and chalky minerality. Based on 67% Sauvignon, 22% Sémillon, and 11% Muscadelle, it stays fresh, vibrant, medium-bodied, and refreshing on the palate.
VM 92 (5/2023): The 2022 Blanc de Lynch-Bages is bright and nicely focused, with tons of Sauvignon Blanc aromas and flavors driving the blend. Citrus, white flowers, mint, chalk and tomato leaf are very nicely delineated. The 2022 has just been bottled, but its freshness is notable. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Pape-Clement |
2018 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,865.99 |
49 |
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| |
JS 98 (1/2021): Beautiful aromas of lime curd, dried pear, grilled white peach and flint on the nose. So exotic on the nose. Some cream and honey, too. It’s medium-bodied with bright, tangy acidity. Creamy and focused with lingering dried-citrus and crushed-gravel notes. Long. Drink or hold.
WS 96 (3/2021): A beauty from the start, with shortbread, acacia and honeysuckle details leading the way, quickly followed by fennel, tarragon, salted butter and lemon peel notes. Long, focused finish is carried by superfine acidity that puts everything in perfect lock step. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. Best from 2022 through 2030. 1,665 cases made.
WA 95 (3/2021): The 2018 Blanc is a blend of 57% Sauvignon Blanc, 39% Semillon and 4% Muscadelle. It was aged for around 14 months in 55% new and 45% second-fill French oak barrels. It races out of the gate with flamboyant scents of pineapple upside-down cake, lemon meringue pie and honey-drizzled peaches, plus suggestions of orange blossoms and yuzu peel. The medium to full-bodied palate has a decadent touch of oiliness to the texture with loads of spicy sparks to the tropical fruit layers, finishing long with a refreshing burst of zestiness. It's a richer expression, for sure, but it really works and it is seriously scrumptious.
JD 94 (3/2021): This estate has fashioned a pretty, elegant white in the vintage. Light gold-hued, with lots of pineapple, lemon curd, white flowers, and a touch of honeyed citrus and chalky minerality, the 2018 Château Pape Clement Blanc hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, solid depth of fruit, and a great finish. It doesn't match recent great vintages, but it's a balanced, layered, outstanding white to enjoy over the coming decade or so.
VM 93 (3/2021): The 2018 Pape Clement Blanc is quite pretty and understated. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and chamomile all grace this wonderfully expressive dry white from proprietor Bernard Magrez. As with all of these wines, the Blanc is done in a less opulent style than in the past, an approach that works beautifully here. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. de Rayne-Vigneau |
2022 |
Sauternes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$384.99 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Ch. Rieussec |
2008 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$660.99 |
2 |
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| |
| WA 93 (12/2011): Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Rieussec 2008 should become an excellent Sauternes for the vintage. It has a floral bouquet with peach, tinned apricot and a touch of marmalade, all with fine delineation, and touches of lemon curd developing with aeration. The palate is mellifluous on the entry, with great depth and a luscious, vanillary note with hints of orange peel, marmalade and quince towards the long finish. Excellent. |
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|
2009 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$756.98 |
2 |
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WA 98 (3/2019): Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 Rieussec sings of crème caramel, chopped nuts, baked apples and spiced pears with hints of jasmine, peach blossoms and beeswax. Full-bodied, rich and decadently creamy in the mouth, the multilayered palate is beautifully lifted with fantastic freshness. It has a very long finish offering a lasting impression of great elegance and finesse. Simply stunning.
JS 98 (5/2013): Lots of caramel and Seville orange. Apricots, vanilla and sultanas. Intensely sweet on the palate with a deep texture and and good complexity. This Sauternes is wonderfully long and dense with superb purity and precision. Extravagant sweet wine. Drinks amazingly well already now, so why wait?
VM 97 (3/2019): The 2009 Rieussec has long been a favourite of mine. It is a little deeper in colour than its peers. This is rich and powerful with clear honey, acacia, orange blossom and quince aromas, just a hint of crème caramel in the background. The palate is very well balanced with another superb line of acidity. Very pure and focused with captivating tension on the finish, the tongue tingling with Szechuan peppers on the aftertaste. Wonderful. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin.
WS 95 (3/2015): Intense, with powerful almond, bitter tangerine, mango and papaya notes, as well as racier heather, mirabelle and yellow apple flavors. Long and very focused despite the weight and breadth, this features a gorgeous hint of warm tarte Tatin on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2035. 6,000 cases made. |
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2009 |
Sauternes (24x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$788.98 |
1 |
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WA 98 (3/2019): Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 Rieussec sings of crème caramel, chopped nuts, baked apples and spiced pears with hints of jasmine, peach blossoms and beeswax. Full-bodied, rich and decadently creamy in the mouth, the multilayered palate is beautifully lifted with fantastic freshness. It has a very long finish offering a lasting impression of great elegance and finesse. Simply stunning.
JS 98 (5/2013): Lots of caramel and Seville orange. Apricots, vanilla and sultanas. Intensely sweet on the palate with a deep texture and and good complexity. This Sauternes is wonderfully long and dense with superb purity and precision. Extravagant sweet wine. Drinks amazingly well already now, so why wait?
VM 97 (3/2019): The 2009 Rieussec has long been a favourite of mine. It is a little deeper in colour than its peers. This is rich and powerful with clear honey, acacia, orange blossom and quince aromas, just a hint of crème caramel in the background. The palate is very well balanced with another superb line of acidity. Very pure and focused with captivating tension on the finish, the tongue tingling with Szechuan peppers on the aftertaste. Wonderful. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Neal Martin.
WS 95 (3/2015): Intense, with powerful almond, bitter tangerine, mango and papaya notes, as well as racier heather, mirabelle and yellow apple flavors. Long and very focused despite the weight and breadth, this features a gorgeous hint of warm tarte Tatin on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2035. 6,000 cases made. |
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|
2010 |
Sauternes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$700.98 |
3 |
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WA 96 (4/2014): The 2010 Rieussec was missing a little intellect when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle it has become a contender for the finest Sauternes of the vintage. It is blessed with a pure and lifted bouquet with ripe peach, nectarine and honey, hints of shaved ginger poke their head above the surface with aeration. It is very subtle. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, perfectly judged acidity and convincing harmony. This is a sophisticated Sauternes with superb mineralite and Outstanding persistency. I will confess that I pinned this as “Yquem” and was both shocked and pleased when its identity was revealed. Go buy. Drink 2016-2035.
JS 95-96 (4/2011): I love the botrytis spice character to this wine with dried apricots and tropical fruits. It’s full bodied, medium sweet with a long intense finish. It’s very layered. Sweet wine of the vintage.
WS 94 (7/2015): A muscular version, with dacquoise and marzipan notes leading the way for creamed orange, white peach, ginger, mirabelle compote and tangerine accents that pump through the piecrust-filled finish. Has the vintage's raw oomph, as well as range and cut for balance. Best from 2018 through 2035. 6,000 cases made.
VM 92-94 (8/2011): Bright straw-gold. Spectacular, intense, exotic botrytized nose is redolent of honeyed yellow peach, apricot and saffron. Then very sweet in the mouth, with concentrated flavors of dried peach, ginger and honey lifted by bright acidity. The finish is long and polished, featuring persistent peach, honey and white pepper nuances. Ian D'Agata. |
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|
2015 |
Sauternes (24x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$740.98 |
1 |
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| VM 97 (2/2018): The 2015 Rieussec is gorgeous. Scents of apricot jam, honey, mint and wild flowers lift from the glass. Delicate and gracious, with terrific freshness, the wine is all polish. Reflecting both the style of the year and the desire to make a slightly lighter Sauternes, the 2015 is rendered in a style the emphasizes finesse over power. The blend is 86% Semillon and 14% Sauvignon Blanc. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte |
2022 |
Pessac Leognan Blanc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,860.98 |
5 |
|
| |
JD 95-97 (5/2023): The flagship 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a normal blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% each of Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon. Aged in 55% new French oak, it shines in the vintage and brings plenty of classic richness and depth while at the same time staying pure, clean, and balanced. Honeyed lemon, orange blossom, white flowers, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it has a beautiful mouthfeel that certainly brings the richness and depth of the vintage. This is another gem of a white from this incredible château.
VM 94-96 (5/2023): The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is airy, weightless and gracious. Citrus confit, mint, white pepper and tangerine oil and a kiss of French oak are all beautifully lifted. There’s lovely richness and texture but without the opulence of most warm, dry years. The 2022 will be a gorgeous wine at the dinner table. Antonio Galloni.
WA 93-95 (5/2023): It appears likely that the 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc will overtake its 2019 counterpart as one of the most successful white wines this estate has produced to date, something that's especially impressive in the context of the vintage. Exhibiting aromas of linden, menthol, crisp orchard fruit and smoke, it’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and crystalline, with racy acids and an unctuos mid-palate. Chalky structuring dry extract makes its presence felt on the long, mineral finish. This is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris. |
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| Ch. Suduiraut |
2015 |
Sauternes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$456.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Ch. d' Yquem |
2001 |
Sauternes (24x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,704.98 |
1 |
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| |
VM 100 (9/2021): Just weeks after tasting the 2001 Château d’Yquem at the estate, another bottle was served at a lunch in London and it was perfection. The aromatics are practically identical and likewise the palate, but this bottle, which had been decanted, displays a scintilla more tension, perhaps more "vibrancy" that so effortlessly counterbalances the richness. Irrespective of points, it is simply one of the most magnificent wines of any kind that can pass your lips. Neal Martin.
WA 100 (8/2019): I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed.
WS 100 (11/2005): (WS #10 wine of 2005) The greatest young Yquem I have ever tasted from bottle. Yellow, with a golden hue and an almost green tint. Intense aromas of botrytis, spices and blanched almonds follow through to honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and pineapple. Full-bodied, sweet, thick and powerful, with layers of fruit and a bright, lively finish. Coats the palate yet remains exciting. So balanced and refined, showing the pedigree that only this Sauternes estate can deliver. Best after 2012. 10,000 cases made. |
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|
2003 |
Sauternes (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,072.99 |
1 |
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| |
WS 97 (7/2014): Squarely on the tropical side of the spectrum, with mango, papaya and pineapple fruit laced with a marmalade note. Long and very caressing through the finish, but never heady or overpowering, as orange pâte de fruit, ginger and singed almond accents lend cut and precision. Shows the heat of the vintage while retaining energy and drive. Impressive.Drink now through 2040.
JS 98 (5/2012): A massive Yquem, this has a dense palate that is almost chewy like a red. Full and very sweet, with notes of dried apricot, pineapple, and papaya on the palate. Long, with a vanilla-coconut tart finish. What a wine, voluptuous, sexy, and luscious. 147 grams of RS. Pull the cork after 2015.
WA 94 (4/2013): Ex-chateau bottle tasted at the property. The 2003 Yquem was picked from 17th September after an explosion of botrytis until 26th September in one trie. It has a textbook, limpid silvery/golden hue. The nose is very seductive with lifted scents of dried honey, almond, hazelnut and just a faint hint of creme caramel all with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a refined opening. That trait of creme caramel is there loitering like a truant schoolboy in the background, but then it moves into the mid-palate and really shows its class: wonderful delineation and poise, perfect acidity and an almost pixilated finish. There is just a touch of alcohol on the aftertaste although you have to have a very sensitive palate to feel it. This is a lovely Yquem, though I would not place it within the first tier. Drink now-2030+ Tasted April 2013. |
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|
2014 |
Sauternes (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,595.98 |
1 |
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WS 98 (1/2017): A stunner, sporting tropical mango and papaya notes that glide along beautifully, while heather honey, pineapple chutney and toasted coconut flavors fill in through the finish. Delivers an amazing mouthfeel that is both creamy and intense, presenting a pretty inner floral brightness that contrasts with the fruit. Best from 2020 through 2045. 6,665 cases made.
JS 97-98 (3/2015): A crazy combination of botrytis, dried fruits and freshness. It's not the sweetness Yquem but it has an extraordinary depth of fruit and freshness. It goes on for minutes. Spicy and intense. A stunning young wine. A brightness and fabulous depth of fruit.
WA 96-98 (4/2015): The Château Yquem 2014 was picked over 9 weeks this year, with one-quarter of the grapes picked prior to 15 September. It delivers 134 grams per liter residual sugar and 7.3 grams per liter tartaric acid, with a pH 3.60. It has a captivating bouquet (I know...I know...what else were you expecting) But it entrances with its pure, wild honey notes mixed with almond and white chocolate scents, bestowed with beguiling delineation and focus. The palate is very poised with the acidity nigh on perfect. Occasionally an Yquem only reveals its components parts at this early juncture, necessitates conjecture. However the 2014 has a sense of harmony and completeness already, as if the elevage is merely there to usher it on to its finished state. There is undeniably great depth here, perhaps less conspicuous than other vintages because of that silver thread of acidity: notes of lemon sherbet, orange zest, shaved ginger and again, a few "flakes' of white chocolate. It is extremely long with tenderness rather than power on the finish. It's not quite up there in the rarefied heights of say, the 2001 or 2009, but it is what we call in the trade, "the business."
VM 94-97 (4/2015): The 2014 d'Yquem is exceptionally beautiful for so many reasons, not the least of which is a striking juxtaposition of bright, floral/citrus notes of the early picks, before botrytis had set in, with richer, more tropical-inflected nuances that resulted from the later picks, where rot had developed. In other words, the 2014 is a wine of sublime contrasts, which is one of the qualities that often define the truly great wines. Lemon peal, coconut, jasmine, peach jam and brioche are some of the aromas and flavors that are present today, but above all else it is the wine's textural finesse that elevates the 2014 into the stratosphere. The precise, understated finish is striking. There isn't much else to say except that the 2014 Yquem is a real stunner. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Sauternes (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,622.97 |
1 |
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WA 100 (4/2018): Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.
NM 98 (9/2017): The 2015 Château d'Yquem was scintillating when I tasted it at the property during en primeur last year. A blend of 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, it delivers 144 grams per liter of residual sugar. Now that the wine is in bottle, that original “show-stopping” bouquet has become more refined. In fact, you could almost describe it as laid back or genteel until it begins to magically unfold and deliver seductive scents of lemon curd, orange pith, freshly opened tins of apricot and wild honey. You would call the aromatics more “pretty” than “powerful,” but of course, it is beautifully defined. The palate is very well balanced with that electric line of acidity intact. It is a little spicier than I recall, with a fresh viscous finish. There is a persistent aftertaste whereby the mouth tingles some 60 seconds after the wine has departed. Maybe I was being optimistic when I suggested that it might rank alongside the regal 2001 and 2009. The 2015 Yquem does not belong in that hallowed company. But it is a prince to that king and that queen.
WS 98 (3/2018): Fresh-cut orange, peach and nectarine notes lead the way, followed by lightly singed almond and warm piecrust notes. Then another wave of green fig, warmed pear and coconut takes over on the finish. Rich and honeyed in feel, with obvious power, balanced by an energy in the inner core that should help this cruise in the cellar for some time. Best from 2020 through 2050. 8,333 cases made.
JS 99-100 (4/2016): This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let's wait and see.
VM 96-98 (4/2016): Stunning and utterly captivating, the 2015 d'Yquem is shaping up to be one of the truly epic wines of the vintage. All the elements are impeccably balanced, starting with the most captivating, alluring bouquet imaginable. The 2015 floats on the palate with grace and total finesse. What I like most about the 2015 is its airy, nuanced personality. Sweet floral notes, lemon confit, chamomile and acacia are some of the nuances that linger in this hauntingly beautiful d'Yquem. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but none of that really matters. Readers who can find the 2015 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent! Antonio Galloni. |
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2022 |
Sauternes (12x375ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,411.98 |
10 |
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WA 98 (1/2025): A blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 d'Yquem is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Exhibiting a remarkably delicate, complex and energetic bouquet of rose, confit citrus, exotic fruits and orange marmalade, it's full-bodied, dense and deep with a pristine balance enhanced by a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and beautiful, gastronomic bitterness and dry extracts that segue to a long, ethereal, delicately perfumed and refined finish. Lorenzo Pasquini and his team have perfectly understood the vintage by privileging the third tries, fully exposed to Botrytis cinerea, in the blend, bringing density and precision along with an energetic and splendidly balanced interplay of bitterness and sweetness. Residual sugar levels reach 160 grams per liter, marking it as the second-highest since the iconic 1945 vintage.
VM 98 (3/2025): The 2022 Yquem is a blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc with 160 g/L residual sugar and a total acidity of 5.39 g/L. It is the first certified organic vintage for the estate and has the lowest level of total sulphur ever: 234 g/L, high within the sphere of wine but comparatively low for Sauternes. The 2022 was aged for 24 months in new barrels that underwent slightly less drying than those used for red wines in order to retain some green tannins. Given the growing season, the 2022 Yquem has a surprisingly understated bouquet that demands coaxing. Scents of orange pith, passion fruit and quince are exquisitely defined, a hint of chamomile dancing around in the background. The palate is medium-bodied. Given the high level of residual sugar, what is surprising is that the 2022 does not seem a weighty or texturally unctuous Yquem, yet there is an intensity and concentration that is arresting. Vivid flavours of clementine, wild honey, quince and tangerine that effortlessly combine. The acidity almost nonchalantly counters the sensation of residual sugar, so it feels less than it actually is, the scintilla of salinity toward the finish tempting you back for more. This is a marvellous and quite cerebral Yquem for which patience is required. Neal Martin. |
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| | Burgundy Red |
| Dom. Amiot-Servelle |
2020 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,044.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Marquis d' Angerville |
2013 |
Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,178.99 |
1 |
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VM 94 (3/2016): Healthy dark red. Highly complex but youthfully restrained nose offers scents of black fruits, violet, chocolate, menthol and minerals, along with some faintly liqueur-like high tones. Boasts Outstanding density of texture, not to mention great lift and power for this bottling, with almost exotic fruit ripeness leavened by strong acidity. Finishes with spectacular lingering perfume of violet, bitter chocolate, wild herbs and mint. An amazingly strong, bulletproof Volnay for the year--or for any vintage, for that matter. Stephen Tanzer.
WS 93 (5/2016): This red offers well-defined cherry, currant and spice flavors, supported by vibrant acidity. Saturated with pure, ripe cherry fruit midpalate, this firms up, yet remains balanced and mouthwatering on the long finish, showing spice and chalk accents. Best from 2018 through 2030. 95 cases imported.
WA 92-94 (12/2014): The 2013 Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs has that citrus-like freshness; that Seville orange marmalade trait that was tangible in a range of mature Clos des Ducs tasted the previous week. There are touches of violet that emerge with continued aeration. The palate is very feminine and refined, laid back almost, but that distracts from the structure underneath and the persistence and minerality on the finish. This is a regal, perhaps one should say, "ducal," Clos des Ducs that should drink beautifully over the next 25-30 years. But as I discovered at the vertical, this vineyard needs several years in the cellar.
BH 91-94 (4/2015): (a monopole that measures 2.15 ha.) A gorgeously fresh melange of black raspberry, cherry, tea, violets and anise scents introduces superbly well-detailed middle weight flavors that seem to be built on a base of firm minerality that continues onto the dusty, complex and strikingly persistent finish. As is often the case, this is the most complete wine in the range. Drink 2023+. Sweet Spot Outstanding! |
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2016 |
Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,944.99 |
1 |
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| BH 95 (10/2019): Bright, deep red. Deeper-pitched on the nose than the young 2017, offering aromas of cherry, blueberry, menthol and licorice and an impression of medicinal reserve. A juicy, spicy, impeccably balanced midweight with outstanding clarity and cut and an enticing touch of sweetness leavened by spiciness. Plenty of tannin/acid spine here to frame and carry the fruit through a long, rising, floral finish. This tightly wound beauty shows the sappy quality of the vintage's better examples and should be long-lived. It would be a shame not to give it at least four or five more years of cellaring, if not eight or ten. (13.05% alcohol; September 25 harvest; 45 h/h; 3.39 pH; from what Guillaume d'Angerville described as a good crop, as this vintage escaped the frost, whose effects, he said, did not extend higher than 260 meters: Clos des Ducs is 300 to 325 meters above sea level, with very good air flow to dissipate frost) (Drink between 2025-2042). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Dom. Arlaud |
2021 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Blanchards (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$694.99 |
4 |
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| VM 92-94 (1/2023): The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Blanchards 1er Cru, which contains just over 30% whole bunches, has a little more mineral expression than the Les Millandes, focus and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins, very citrus fresh, blood orange and tangerine towards the grainy finish. This is very promising. Neal Martin. |
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| Dom. de L' Arlot |
2008 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Forets St. Georges (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,047.99 |
2 |
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| BH 91 (1/2011): ( from an enormous 7.5 ha parcel of vines planted in the early 1950s.) The fresh and densely fruited dark berry nose is quite ripe with an intensely earthy and sauvage character that extends to the impressively rich, even opulent full-bodied flavors that possess so much extract that there is a chewy aspect to the mouth coating and concentrated mid-palate, all wrapped in a long, powerful, rustic and dramatic finish. This is an impressive effort though note that patience will be required. Drink 2018+. Outstanding! |
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| Dom. du Comte Armand |
2009 |
Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$957.98 |
1 |
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BH 94 (4/2012): (the 5+ ha Clos is composed of approximately 80% Petits Epenots and 20% Grands Epenots; the vine ages run from 18 to 75+ years of age.) This is also quite ripe but agreeably fresh with pure aromas of mocha, red currant, cassis, black cherry, warm earth, violets and subtle spice hints. There is good energy to the intense and admirably rich full-bodied flavors that envelope the palate with velvety sap on the beautifully balanced and impressively persistent finish. I very much like the sense of underlying tension because despite this being a big wine with plenty of concentration, the balance is impeccable and there is absolutely nothing ponderous about this complete effort. There is a hint of backend warmth but otherwise, this is really most impressive. Note however that this very firm effort will require plenty of cellar time. Drink 2029+. Outstanding!
WA 94 (4/2012): The 2009 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux is flat-out beautiful. Layers of racy, exotic fruit caress the palate as the wine opens up in the glass. The 2009 is quite typical of the year, yet possesses fabulous overall harmony. Although exuberant today, the Clos des Epeneaux will deliver tons of pleasure for many years. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.
VM 93 (4/2012): (this was racked only once, a month before being bottled in June of 2011): Good bright medium red. Fresh red berries, licorice and truffle on the nose, complicated by tobacco and iron. Dense, lush and packed with fruit; really showcases the richness of a sunny year without turning heavy. Deep, saline, seamless wine, with a thick, soil-driven finish. Finishes with surprising verve. Very impressive. Stephen Tanzer. |
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2010 |
Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,054.98 |
1 |
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WA 93-95 (2/2012): I tasted the 2010 Pommard Clos des Epeneaux from three separate lots (corresponding to different vine ages and soils within the Clos) and then in an approximate blend. The 2010 is notable for its energy and sheer class. There is a weightless elegance to the 2010 that is quite striking. The 2010 isn’t as boisterous as it can be, but this is an approximate blend, so we will have to see what happens once the wine is in bottle. In some ways, the separate lots are more exciting than the approximate blend, so there is plenty of potential. Readers who appreciate the focused, taut side of Burgundy will find much to admire. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.
VM 92-95 (2/2012): (I tasted the various elements of this wine, then an approximate blend; winemaker Benjamin Leroux now vinifies several cuvees by geology rather than age of vines): Good bright medium red. Captivating, highly complex aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, cherry, spices, orange zest, flowers, licorice, menthol and vanillin oak (40% new). Silky-sweet but with lovely energy and vinosity. Very suave in texture, expanding impressively on the back half and saturating the mouth with fruit and soil flavors. This classy, pliant wine shows superb balance and finishes with building, subtle length. The bottling won't take place until April, at the earliest. Incidentally, Leroux destems all of this fruit, as he believes vinification with a percentage of whole clusters makes more sense for delicate wines that need a bit more mid-palate oomph. Nor is he enamored with the idea of bottling the oldest vines bottled on their own, as he believes this wine would still be too tannic and hard when the tertiary aromas arrive after 10 or 15 years in bottle.
BH 92-95 (4/2012): ( the 5+ ha Clos is composed of approximately 80% Petits Epenots and 20% Grands Epenots; the vine ages run from 18 to 75+ years of age. The 2010 Clos des Epeneaux is segregated into several different cuvees based on vineyard location and will then be blended in varying proportions. The tasting note that follows is based upon a sample that should reasonably resemble the final blend) The combined cuvees revealed an exceptionally fresh combination of pure and quite elegant red cherry and raspberry aromas liberally laced with warm earth and iron nuances. There is really lovely purity to the gorgeously well-detailed, intense and muscular medium weight plus flavors that brim with dry extract and a caressing mouth feel before terminating in a mouth coating and explosively long finish. This is relentlessly persistent with Outstanding depth on the palate staining finish. Terrific. Drink 2022+. Don't Miss! Outstanding! |
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2017 |
Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$719.99 |
2 |
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2018 |
Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$393.97 |
1 |
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| BH 93 (4/2022): A soft dollop of wood frames the distinctly earthy aromas of plum, black pinot fruit and violet that are definitely ripe yet remain nicely fresh. The medium-bodied flavors possess a beguiling texture and fine mid-palate concentration thanks to the abundant dry extract that serves to buffer the firm and vaguely rustic tannic spine supporting the balanced and beautifully persistent finale. This is marked by the warmth of the 2018 vintage yet even so, it manages to remain inviting and refreshing. In a word, excellent. Drink 2030+. |
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| Dom. Arnoux-Lachaux |
2010 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,141.98 |
1 |
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| Olivier Bernstein |
2019 |
Mazis Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,761.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Simon Bize |
2018 |
Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Les Fournaux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,008.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Bizot |
2017 |
Vosne Romanee (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,881.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Henri Boillot |
2018 |
Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$784.99 |
1 |
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BH 93 (4/2020): An equally ripe nose speaks of cassis, black raspberry, spiced tea and similar floral whiffs. The mouthfeel of the middle weight flavors is classy and sophisticated thanks to the super-fine-grained tannins shaping the lacy, lilting and strikingly long finish. This is excellent and very much worth your interest. Drink 2030+. Sweet Spot Outstanding!
WA 94 (1/2020): Invariably a highlight of the portfolio, Boillot's 2018 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets derives from a low-yielding 60-are parcel of 55-year-old vines. Unfurling in the glass with a deep bouquet of wild berries, plums, raw cocoa and sweet soil tones, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, its concentrated core of vibrant fruit underlined by succulent acids and framed by chalky tannins. This is a brilliant wine that's worth a special effort to seek out. |
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| Maison Henri Boillot |
2018 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$245.99 |
1 |
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WA 94 (1/2020): The 2018 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru is showing very well, soaring from the glass with aromas of wild berries, rose petals, violets, orange rind and dark chocolate. On the palate, it's full-bodied, concentrated and muscular, with lively acids and a powdery but elegantly refined chassis of structuring tannins, concluding with a long and resonant finish.
BH 92 (4/2020): ( from a <.34 ha parcel in Grand Maupertuis.) This plays right on the edge of volatile acidity with its nose of poached plum, black raspberry and warm earth. The middle weight flavors are not especially dense but do possess a highly attractive mouthfeel while displaying good power on the bitter cherry pit-inflected finish. This moderately firm effort is somewhat awkward at present, but I suspect that it will recover with age. Drink 2033+. |
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| Dom. Bonneau du Martray |
2010 |
Corton Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,804.98 |
2 |
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2018 |
Corton Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,764.99 |
1 |
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2018 |
Corton Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,420.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Bouchard Pere et Fils |
2003 |
Beaune 1er Cru du Chateau Rouge (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$258.99 |
6 |
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2018 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,173.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Le Corton Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$514.99 |
4 |
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| Dom. Chandon de Briailles |
2020 |
Corton Bressandes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,704.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Bruno Clair |
2022 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,393.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2022 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,578.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Joseph Drouhin |
2017 |
Musigny Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,745.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Drouhin-Laroze |
2013 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$973.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2022 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$912.99 |
4 |
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| David Duband |
2019 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$673.99 |
1 |
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2021 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,944.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Bernard Dugat-Py |
2015 |
Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$860.98 |
1 |
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2017 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,746.99 |
2 |
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2018 |
Gevrey Chambertin Coeur du Roy Tres Vieilles Vignes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,083.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Dujac |
2014 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,384.98 |
1 |
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| BH 94 (1/2017): This is markedly more restrained with its reluctant but distinctly floral aromas of brooding dark berry fruit, earth, sauvage and hints of dried herbal tea. There is excellent volume, concentration and imposing power to the big-bodied flavors that deliver plenty of minerality and outstanding persistence on the robust and austere but balanced finish. This classically proportioned Clos de la Roche is indisputably going to require extended keeping. Drink 2031+. |
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2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,793.97 |
1 |
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2020 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,578.97 |
1 |
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2021 |
Morey St. Denis (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$893.97 |
1 |
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BH 88-91 (1/2023): Here too there is enough reduction to push the fruit to the background. Otherwise, there is a slightly more volume to the attractively textured medium weight flavors that possess both lovely delineation and purity, all wrapped in a lingering and mildly austere finale. This energetic effort could use better depth but that should reasonably develop in time.
VM 90-92 (1/2023): The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village shows the stem addition slightly more conspicuously than the Chambolle-Village, white pepper and touches of bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, lightly peppered black fruit with notes of tobacco and dark chocolate towards the finish. This gains complexity in the glass. Promising - quintessential Dujac. Neal Martin.
WA 89-91 (1/2023): Aromas of dark berries, spices, vine smoke, baking chocolate and pine resin introduce the 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village, a medium to full-bodied, supple and charming wine that's bright and perfumed, concluding with a rose-inflected finish. |
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| Frederic Esmonin |
2005 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,747.98 |
1 |
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| Dom. Eugenie |
2006 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,613.98 |
1 |
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2010 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,333.98 |
1 |
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2014 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,725.98 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Faiveley |
2014 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,219.99 |
1 |
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2018 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$807.99 |
1 |
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| BH 90-93 (1/2020): (from a huge 3.96 ha parcel.) This is very Gevrey in character with plenty of sauvage, freshly turned earth, forest floor and brooding wild dark berry and cassis scents. There is fine richness to the concentrated, powerful and full-bodied flavors that exhibit a subtle minerality on the moderately austere and impressively long and slightly grippy finale. Drink 2030+. Outstanding! |
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2020 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,816.99 |
2 |
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| Dom. Fourrier |
2019 |
Griotte Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,748.99 |
1 |
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2019 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Goulots (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,172.99 |
1 |
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| Dom. Geantet Pansiot |
2021 |
Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,121.99 |
1 |
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|
| Dom. Henri Gouges |
2011 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,193.99 |
1 |
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BH 90-92 (1/2013): Here too a background application of oak is visible on the intensely earthy and beautifully complex nose of both red and blue pinot fruit, earth, violet and plum scents. There is good size, weight and power to the relatively supple mid-palate though the firm core of tannins is apparent on the moderately austere and impressively long finish. This is very Nuits in character but not unduly rustic or rough. Drink: 2021+
VM 90-92 (2/2013): Good bright, deep red. Blackberry, minerals and crushed stone on the nose. Densely packed and concentrated, with savory dark berry, floral and licorice flavors leading to a youthfully powerful if rather strict finish. Classic sturdy Nuits-Saint-Georges but with lovely energy and finesse to its fruit. The big tannins spread out on the back end, yet the wine maintains a light touch. |
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2019 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$486.97 |
4 |
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| BH 89-92 (1/2021): Firm reduction blocks an evaluation of the nose today though the underlying fruit does seem ripe. There is excellent vibrancy to the subtly mineral-driven larger-scaled flavors that possess better depth and persistence on the muscular, serious and youthfully austere finale. This is very Nuits in character without being overly rustic. Drink 2031+. |
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2019 |
Nuits St. Georges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$363.97 |
2 |
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2019 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les St. Georges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,327.97 |
1 |
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VM 94-96 (12/2020): The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a very well-defined, complex bouquet that puts the preceding Les Vaucrains in its place. Here there is clearly greater focus and terroir expression, subtle sous-bois scents permeating the black and red fruit. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, seamlessly integrated new oak and a silky-smooth finish exerting judicious grip. Very classy. Neal Martin.
BH 91-94 (1/2021): Here too there is just enough wood to mention on the equally ripe liqueur-like aromas of red and dark berries, spice and pungent earth scents. The slightly sleeker and tautly muscular flavors aren't quite as big-bodied though there is plenty of size and weight to them while complementing the structured, serious and mineral-driven finale. This too will require extended patience if you wish to see it at its apogee. Drink 2036+. |
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2019 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$561.97 |
2 |
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VM 92-94 (12/2020): The 2019 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru was a little more reduced than Gouges’s other cuvées, opening gradually to reveal blackberry, wild hedgerow and incense. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, lithe and silky in the mouth, and fleshy with a judicious touch of white pepper toward the finish. The shortfall in grip and substance is sufficiently compensated with elegance. Neal Martin.
BH 90-92 (1/2021): This is also quite firmly reduced and unreadable at present. Otherwise there is equally good energy and delineation to the slightly more refined though still dense and muscular medium-bodied flavors that possess just a bit more depth on the similar finish that is muscular, serious and youthfully austere if not especially rustic. Drink 2031+. |
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2019 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Vaucrains (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$780.97 |
1 |
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| BH 91-94 (1/2021): Discreet wood influence surrounds the notably ripe and fresh aromas of cassis, plum liqueur, earth and evident sauvage wisps. There is excellent richness and volume to the suave, round and seductive mid-palate of the broad-shouldered flavors that contrast markedly with the very firmly structured, youthfully austere and impressively persistent finish. As is usually the case, this is very compact and backward and a wine that will require extended aging to reach its peak. Drink 2036+. |
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2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$536.97 |
4 |
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| BH 90-93 (1/2022): Very ripe yet still reasonably fresh aromas are comprised by notes of roasted plum, black cherry, cassis and earth. The dense, powerful and muscular broad-shouldered flavors are supported by a very firm tannic spine on the robust, serious and very compact finale. This is quite impressive though certainly not typical. Drink 2035+. |
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2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les St. Georges (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$961.97 |
2 |
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2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$627.97 |
2 |
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VM 91-93 (12/2021): The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Pruliers 1er Cru did not suffer too much hail according to Antoine Gouges, at most 5%. This is very ripe and slightly gourmand on the nose, light savory notes emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, nicely controlled and then just tightening up towards the finish that shows just a bit of VA. Quite dense of a Pruliers, give this some time in the cellar. Neal Martin.
BH 91-93 (1/2022): A more deeply pitched and brooding nose only grudgingly reveals its aromas of cassis plum liqueur and pungent earth where the latter is also found on the vibrant and well-detailed big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that deliver excellent depth and persistence. This is not as dense as the best in the range, but it should have no trouble amply repaying 12 to 15 years of bottle aging. Drink 2032+. |
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2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Vaucrains (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$957.97 |
1 |
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2020 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Vaucrains (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$490.97 |
2 |
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2022 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les St. Georges (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,745.99 |
2 |
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| |
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| Dom. Jean Grivot |
2011 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Pruliers (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,677.99 |
7 |
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| |
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| Dom. Robert Groffier |
2009 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,554.98 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95+ (5/2011): The 2009 Bonnes Mares opens with knockout aromatics that meld into layers of fresh, vibrant fruit. Medium in body yet wonderfully intense in its flavors, the Bonnes Mares impresses for its class and balance. An array of dark fruit, minerals, violets and white flowers linger on the pointed, saline finish. Groffier’s vines in Bonnes Mares sit on a slope with both terres rouges and terres blanches. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.
VM 92+ (4/2012): Good medium red. Primary aromas of blackberry, wild herbs and pepper, along with a whiff of game. Dense and closed today, conveying a strong impression of power. There's a slightly sugary quality to the black raspberry fruit, but also a distinctly savory character to the notes of licorice, fresh herbs and underbrush. The cooler sites are a bit less 2009-typical, noted Nicolas Groffier, ". . . a bit 2005-like." Finishes very long, with substantial dusty tannins and a piquant hint of lemon rind.
BH 92 (1/2012): ( from a .97 ha parcel of 40+ year old vines). This opens with noticeable reduction and though it doesn't dissipate immediately, it eventually recedes to the background where it doesn't overtly detract from the otherwise attractive mix of dark berry fruit, earth and rose petal aromas. The supple, round and delicious yet utterly serious medium-bodied flavors possess good verve and a sophisticated mouth feel and while this is not an especially concentrated or powerful example of this grand cru, it is beautifully balanced. An understated 2009 that, much like the Amoureuses, will drink well young yet should be capable of rewarding 7 to 10 years of cellar time. Drink 2017+. |
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|
2009 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,198.99 |
2 |
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| |
WA 95+ (5/2011): The 2009 Bonnes Mares opens with knockout aromatics that meld into layers of fresh, vibrant fruit. Medium in body yet wonderfully intense in its flavors, the Bonnes Mares impresses for its class and balance. An array of dark fruit, minerals, violets and white flowers linger on the pointed, saline finish. Groffier’s vines in Bonnes Mares sit on a slope with both terres rouges and terres blanches. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.
VM 92+ (4/2012): Good medium red. Primary aromas of blackberry, wild herbs and pepper, along with a whiff of game. Dense and closed today, conveying a strong impression of power. There's a slightly sugary quality to the black raspberry fruit, but also a distinctly savory character to the notes of licorice, fresh herbs and underbrush. The cooler sites are a bit less 2009-typical, noted Nicolas Groffier, ". . . a bit 2005-like." Finishes very long, with substantial dusty tannins and a piquant hint of lemon rind.
BH 92 (1/2012): ( from a .97 ha parcel of 40+ year old vines). This opens with noticeable reduction and though it doesn't dissipate immediately, it eventually recedes to the background where it doesn't overtly detract from the otherwise attractive mix of dark berry fruit, earth and rose petal aromas. The supple, round and delicious yet utterly serious medium-bodied flavors possess good verve and a sophisticated mouth feel and while this is not an especially concentrated or powerful example of this grand cru, it is beautifully balanced. An understated 2009 that, much like the Amoureuses, will drink well young yet should be capable of rewarding 7 to 10 years of cellar time. Drink 2017+. |
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2010 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,506.98 |
2 |
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WS 94 (12/2014): A perfect storm of bright cherry, black currant, spice and mineral flavors, this offers a silky texture and innate power in the form of intensity and gripping, well-integrated tannins. Offers fine harmony and expression, and is surprisingly open now, with plenty of time to develop. Best from 2016 through 2032. 250 cases made.
VM 93+ (3/2013): Good full red. Very subdued nose hints at redcurrant, spicy herbs and underbrush. Highly concentrated but youthfully tight, with a lightly saline quality to the complex flavors of blueberry, wild herbs, sandalwood and mocha. Just this side of thick but its superb balance of sweetness and acidity keeps it vibrant in the mouth. The long, ripely tannic finish features an exhilarating salty minerality. I may be underrating this. |
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2014 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,386.99 |
3 |
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2018 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,286.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Hauts Doix (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,339.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Anne Gros |
2017 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru Les Loachausses
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$567.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Clos de Vougeot Le Grand Maupertui Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,542.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Alain Hudelot-Noellat |
2008 |
Richebourg Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,702.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2008 |
Romanee St. Vivant Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,677.98 |
1 |
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| |
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2009 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,747.98 |
1 |
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| |
WS 95 (5/2012): Luscious and silky, with complex flavors of black cherry, plum, sweet wood smoke, licorice and bacon. Powerful and persistent, this delivers terrific balance and a lingering aftertaste of spice and mineral notes. Best from 2015 through 2035. 20 cases imported.
BH 94 (1/2012): (from two separate parcels, one to the left of the Château and another situated to the right by the Meo-Camuzet vines). A moderately floral nose speaks of wood spice, pungent earth and freshly crushed red currant aromas that precede the big-bodied and powerful flavors that possess real verve on the well-defined, intense and balanced finish. This genuinely wonderful effort is relatively fine for a Clos de Vougeot and there is less youthful austerity than is typical. Drink 2021+.
WA 91 (5/2011): The 2009 Clos de Vougeot is impressive. Fresh, floral aromatics meld into a core of silky red fruit. The Clos de Vougeot tannins are there, but beautifully balanced by the textured, persistent fruit. The finish is feminine, persistent and impeccable in its elegance. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.
VM 89 (4/2012): Medium red. Reticent aromas of diffuse red fruits, brown spices and smoky minerality. Brighter in the mouth, with a saline quality to the slightly medicinal flavors of red cherry, strawberry and dried flowers. Not a particularly opulent or fleshy style. Finishes with an edge of acidity and a note of fresh herbs. |
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2013 |
Nuits St. Georges Au Bas de Combe (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,431.99 |
1 |
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| BH 88-91 (1/2015): A touch of the sauvage adds breadth to the deeply pitched nose that is formed by distinctly earthy dark berry fruit and humus scents. There is solid mid-palate concentration to the delicious, vibrant and palate coating middle weight flavors that also possess very fine depth and length for a villages level wine. Drink 2021+. |
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2014 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaumonts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,411.96 |
2 |
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2017 |
Chambolle Musigny (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,609.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2020 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$935.99 |
2 |
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2020 |
Beaune 1er Cru Les Theurons (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$419.99 |
2 |
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2020 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,380.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2021 |
Bonnes Mares Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,806.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2021 |
Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,019.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Joblot |
2020 |
Givry 1er Cru Clos de la Servoisine Rouge (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$767.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Comte Lafon |
2019 |
Volnay 1er Cru Santenots du Milieu (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,733.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Francois Lamarche |
2019 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,118.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru les Chaumes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$925.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
La Grande Rue Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,491.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
Echezeaux Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,319.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. des Lambrays |
1999 |
Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,904.98 |
1 |
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| BH 93 (3/2004): Still incredibly fresh and backward but otherwise the note from 750 ml is accurate: Reserved black cherry notes and pinot fruit followed by medium weight flavors of bacon, smoke and sappy pinot extract all highlighted by an intense minerality and fine length. This has added a good deal of weight and seems more powerful than before yet it remains very stylish and classy with excellent potential. |
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| Lucien Le Moine |
2017 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,709.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Leroy |
2013 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,813.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2013 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$78,045.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Thibault Liger-Belair |
2008 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,446.98 |
1 |
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| |
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2010 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,903.98 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Corton Renardes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,263.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les St. Georges (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,102.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$296.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,470.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2018 |
Vosne Romanee Aux Reas (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$780.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
Bourgogne Les Grands Chaillots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$254.97 |
1 |
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| |
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2019 |
Vosne Romanee Aux Reas (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$732.97 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Hubert Lignier |
2010 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Chenevery (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,107.99 |
1 |
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| |
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| Dom. Meo-Camuzet |
2018 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,292.99 |
4 |
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2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Chaumes (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$481.99 |
3 |
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2020 |
Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,413.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Chaumes (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,387.99 |
1 |
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| |
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2020 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Chaumes (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$623.99 |
3 |
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2021 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Chaumes (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$481.99 |
3 |
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| |
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| Maison Mommessin |
2005 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,586.99 |
1 |
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VM 97 (2/2019): The 2005 Clos de Tart Grand Cru, tasted from magnum (for some reason, it always seems to turn up in this format), is one of Sylvain Pitiot’s greatest successes. It was picked September 21 to September 24 (at 11am, to be exact). The yield was 27hl/ha with 14° alcohol. The precocity of the growing season seems to suit Pitiot’s winemaking style. Iridescent in color, the 2005 has a majestic, pure bouquet featuring layers of pulsating red berry fruit, wild strawberry and raspberry scents and an underlying mineralite that I suspect requires another decade to really surface above the fruit. The palate is extremely well balanced, with fine tannin, and beautifully poised, that crescendo still in place. This grand cru fans out with a sense of confidence, almost hubris, on the long finish. A towering achievement. Tasted at a private dinner in Beaune. Neal Martin.
BH 96 (4/2015): This hasn't changed much from when I first reviewed it from bottle in 2007 though it has not shut down in the fashion of many '05s at this point. An expressive and very ripe black berry fruit, spice, mocha, fresh coffee and earthy nose is surrounded by a more moderate touch of oak that continues onto the rich, full, concentrated, powerful and sweet flavors that possess superb mid-palate density and huge length. This is an extremely rich and concentrated wine that will live for ages and in fact, about the only thing that has changed is that it appears even more structured than I initially thought. In a word, fantastic. Try from 2025+.
WA 96 (3/2009): Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s Clos de Tart tasting. The greatest wine from this monopole since 1141? Maybe! A limpid ruby/purple colour. The nose has a brooding intensity to it, closing up shop after wowing everyone in its infancy. Dark cherry, boysenberry, raspberry, a touch of thyme and wild bramble bushes. The palate is medium-bodied, beautifully balanced with silky smooth tannins. Wild strawberry, touch of raspberry and redcurrant with vibrant acidity, a real sense of tension. Great length, a wine suffused with passion. Purrs with panache. Drink 2013-2040. |
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2009 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,355.99 |
4 |
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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.
WS 95 (12/2011): Ripe and exotic, offering wild berry, black currant and violet aromas and flavors. The oak is well-integrated, lending sandalwood notes, and this is firmly structured, with a long, detailed aftertaste. Shows fine pedigree. Best from 2015 through 2030. 2,000 cases made.
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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2015 |
Clos de Tart Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,511.99 |
1 |
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|
| Dom. de Montille |
2009 |
Pommard 1er Cru Les Pezerolles (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,302.99 |
1 |
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BH 91-93 (5/2011): Like the Taillepieds, this is also highly perfumed with rose petal, fresh red berries, wet stone and an earthy component that can also be found on the equally mineral-inflected, cool and pure flavors that evidence excellent detail and real verve on the delicious, intense and persistent finish. A lovely and understated Pommard of finesse. Drink 2019+. Sweet Spot Outstanding!
WA 93 (4/2012): The 2009 Pommard Les Pezerolles is rich, round and seductive. Layers of fruit caress the palate in this enveloping, textured Burgundy. There is plenty of intensity in the glass. Hints of hard candy and licorice wrap around the finish. The Pezerolles was made with 100% destemmed fruit. Although I like the wine’s frank immediacy, I also think it will age gracefully. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.
VM 91 (4/2012): (from all-destemmed fruit): Medium red. Flamboyantly aromatic nose combines kirsch, strawberry, smoke, leather and earth. Silky, sweet and pliant; can't quite match the Mitans for definition but an element of minerality provides energy. Finishes suave and persistent, with smooth tannins and moderate lift. |
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2018 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,751.99 |
1 |
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2019 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,861.97 |
1 |
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2022 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts Christiane (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$12,325.99 |
1 |
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| |
|
| Dom. Mugneret Gibourg |
2018 |
Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Chaignots (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,553.99 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 93 (12/2020): The 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Chaignots 1er Cru, like the 2019, has the most expressive bouquet of fruité, crushed strawberry, morello cherries and cranberry; rose petal and light briny aromas emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and quite fleshy and generous, leading to a supple, vivid finish. Yet again, a sublime Les Chaignots. Neal Martin. |
|
| Dom. Ponsot |
2003 |
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. |
$3,276.98 |
2 |
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| BH 89 (1/2006): This is noticeably riper with black fruit, spiced plum and hints of dry porto. The big and robust flavors are round, rich and intense with a very curious cigar ash and menthol character and while there is genuinely impressive concentration and excellent power, the balance is not what it usually is. In sum, while this is a perfectly good if particular effort that will be especially long-lived, the Griotte is the star of the show in 2003. |
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2008 |
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. |
$2,538.98 |
2 |
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VM 96 (5/2011): The 2008 Clos de la Roche Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a silky, elegant wine. Freshly cut roses, dark red fruit and minerals sit on a core of utterly refined tannins. This shows stunning balance in a weightless style that gains energy on the clean, focused finish. This is a fabulous effort from Ponsot. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033. Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (4/2016): There is a subtle but certainly not invisible touch of brett to the otherwise cool, ripe and complex aromas of plum, red and dark berries, earth and plenty of spice nuances. There is both good volume and energy to the well-detailed broad-shouldered flavors that culminate in an edgy and mildly drying finale. It's hard to know how much of the problem with the finish is attributable to the brett as often there is gas when there is brett which causes the supporting tannins to seem more prominent. My score is a compromise as this is not a bad wine but it's obviously not technically perfect. Moreover it's entirely possible that other bottles would show quite differently if there was no brett. I will have to try another bottle to see if the problem is limited to just this bottle or whether it's systemic. Try from 2023+. |
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2009 |
Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,835.99 |
6 |
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VM 93-95 (5/2011): The 2009 Clos Vougeot Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a deep, opulent wine graced with superb intensity in its dark red fruit, spices, tobacco and licorice. This is a dazzling effort layered with endless fruit and well-articulated aromatics that build impressively towards the round, multi-dimensional finish. (sold in a mixed case of 12 bottles at $6,600 per case) Anticipated maturity: 2029-2049. Antonio Galloni.
BH 91-94 (1/2011): A brooding, ripe and pungently earthy nose offers up notes of violets, cassis and relatively high-toned red berries that give way to rich, powerful and restrained big-boned flavors that possess excellent mid-palate density before culminating in a robust and overtly muscular finish that displays the hallmark Clos de Vougeot austerity. Drink 2024+. |
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2015 |
Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Cuvee des Alouettes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,419.99 |
1 |
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2017 |
Clos de la Roche Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,722.99 |
4 |
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| |
BH 93-96 (1/2019): (the aggregate size of this holding is a whopping 3.4 ha and Ponsot is by far the largest holder in Clos de la Roche.) A spicy, cool and gorgeously complex nose reflects notes of both red and dark currant, earth and a whiff of leather. There is excellent richness to the concentrated and beautifully textured broad-shouldered flavors that possess focused power and a subtle minerality that really comes up on the youthfully austere and strikingly long finish. As good as the Chapelle is, there is just another dimension present here. Drink 2037+. Don't miss!
VM 90-92 (1/2019): The 2017 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru comes from two climats (2.8 hectares in Clos de la Roche and 0.70 hectares at the bottom of Montluisants) that are each fermented and aged separately. My sample is a blend of the two. It was picked on September 19–20. Like some of Ponsot’s other cuvees, it has a high-toned bouquet of cassis and violets, developing a hint of licorice with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and more tension than the other Grand Crus from the domaine. A sprinkle of white pepper and sage appears toward the finish. This should age well, though I would like more backbone and grip on the finish. Neal Martin. |
|
| Dom. Jacques Prieur |
2020 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,265.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Joseph Roty |
2006 |
Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,919.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Griottes Chambertin Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,473.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. E. Rouget |
2022 |
Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Cros Parantoux (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$22,905.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Nuits St. Georges (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,071.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Georges Roumier |
2010 |
Musigny Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$24,436.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Cras (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,378.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Armand Rousseau |
2009 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$33,718.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 98 (1/2012): This is also ultra-pure and densely fruited with notes of anise, mint, wet stone and a sauvage hint that introduces intensely earthy and mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that are rich, powerful, serious and densely concentrated, all wrapped in a silky, palate staining, explosive and colossally persistent finish. This is actually relatively expressive and approachable for a young Cham yet the balance and harmony is present for this to age for decades. A brilliant effort and one of the best vintages ever for this justifiably revered wine. Drink 2029+. |
|
|
2013 |
Clos de la Roche Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$7,432.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2018 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$25,310.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| BH 97 (1/2021): (2.55 ha; 100% new wood.) There is barely enough wood to mention on the wonderfully fresh and airy aromas of red cherry, pomegranate, earth and a hint of the sauvage. The seductively textured yet well-delineated big-bodied flavors possess an abundance of energy on the intensely mineral-inflected, sappy and impeccably well-balanced finale that reflects a touch of youthful austerity. The sheer level of complexity is stunning, and this knockout of a Chambertin should age for a very, very long time yet it's not so backward and it couldn't be approached after a decade or so of aging. Drink 2038+. |
|
|
2020 |
Gevrey Chambertin (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,436.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$18,052.98 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Taupenot Merme |
2013 |
Mazoyeres Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,406.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2014 |
Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Bel Air (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$760.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Gabriel Tortochot |
2022 |
Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$551.99 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Le Chambertin Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$855.99 |
11 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean & Jean Louis Trapet |
2021 |
Latricieres Chambertin Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,596.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Cecile Tremblay |
2018 |
Chapelle Chambertin Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$14,308.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Mores St. Denis Tres Girard (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,930.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| | Burgundy White |
| Dom. Blain Gagnard |
2021 |
Criots Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,525.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2021 |
Criots Batard Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,841.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,067.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Francois Carillon |
2022 |
Puligny Montrachet (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,244.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Puligny Montrachet (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$654.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jean Chartron |
2022 |
Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru Clos de Chevaliers (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,607.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Drouhin |
2021 |
Le Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche Grand Cru (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,185.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Benoit Ente |
2021 |
Puligny Montrachet (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,450.99 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2022 |
Bourgogne Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$601.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. William Fevre |
2022 |
Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$872.97 |
7 |
|
| |
| BH 93-95 (10/2023): This is aromatically quite similar to the Côte Bouguerots but with more floral influence. The rich, big-bodied and tautly muscular flavors are also seemingly chiseled from Kimmeridgian, all wrapped in a wonderfully persistent, very dry, balanced and stony finale. This is also extremely impressive and equally built to repay extended cellaring. Drink 2032+. |
|
| Louis Jadot |
2020 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,173.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2020 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,484.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Antoine Jobard |
2022 |
Meursault 1er Cru Blagny (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,425.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Hubert Lamy |
2022 |
St. Aubin 1er Cru Derriere Chez Edouard (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$732.98 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Louis Latour |
2019 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,797.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Latour-Giraud |
2023 |
Meursault 1er Cru Genevrieres Cuvee Pierre (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,902.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,450.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Louis Michel |
2019 |
Chablis Grand Cru Grenouilles (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$565.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Paul Pillot |
2023 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Champs Gains (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,364.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Clos St. Jean (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,293.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Patrick Piuze |
2020 |
Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,330.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Ponsot |
2018 |
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,054.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Laurent Ponsot |
2022 |
Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee du Perce-Neige (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$340.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Jacques Prieur |
2013 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,171.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,025.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Le Montrachet Grand Cru (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$8,000.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2023 |
Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,170.99 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Francois Raveneau |
2019 |
Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,065.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Roulot |
2022 |
Meursault (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,200.99 |
15 |
|
| |
|
| Jean-Marc Roulot |
2023 |
Bourgogne Blanc (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$899.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Dom. Roulot |
2023 |
Meursault (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,200.99 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| | Champagne |
| Billecart-Salmon |
2006 |
Cuvee Nicolas Francois Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$935.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Dom Perignon |
1996 |
Oenotheque Champagne (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,777.98 |
20 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (12/2010): The 1996 Dom Perignon OEenotheque offers up layers of pastry, lemon, smoke and toastiness. At first deceptively understated, the wine turns positively explosive and layered on the palate, showing remarkable tension, elegance and power, all wrapped around a seriously intense frame. The balance between fruit and acidity is awesome. This is a marvelous DP OEeno. The OEeno is the same juice as the regular Dom Perignon, except the OEeno is aged on the cork while the regular DP is aged in crown-sealed bottles. Once disgorged, the OEenos gets a slightly lower dosage than is typical for the original release DP. This bottle was disgorged in 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. |
|
| Krug |
1996 |
Brut Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,528.98 |
2 |
|
| |
WS 99 (7/2007): (WS #10 wine of 2007) A powerful, majestic Champagne. Deep and compelling, with aromas of whole-grain toast, coconut and dried citrus that draw you in. Lean and racy on the palate, with a creaminess that's yet to be integrated. A classic '96, with ripe, exotic aromas and a steely structure. Still a baby, with the long, resonant finish confirming its potential. Best from 2009 through 2040. 10,000 cases made.
VM 98 (10/2014): The 1996 Vintage is magnificent. A towering, explosive Champagne, the 1996 delivers the house’s signature breadth in a full-bodied, structured Champagne with enough pure density and acidity to age well for decades. |
|
|
N.V. |
Brut Grande Cuvee 164th Edition Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,333.98 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Pol Roger |
2015 |
Cuvee Winston Churchill Champagne (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,320.99 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95 (5/2023): The 2015 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill shows off the savory side of the vintage to great effect. Hints of dried pear, sage, mint, dried flowers, lemon oil and chamomile open gradually in this mid-weight, lithe edition of Pol Roger's tête de cuvée. The 2015 unfolds nicely with time in the glass, but I wouldn't think of opening a bottle anytime soon. Readers will find a nervy Winston Churchill marked by notable freshness and vigor more than size. This is a fine effort in a vintage that has proven to be far trickier than most observers originally envisioned. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged September 2022. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (11/2023): Coming from only Grand Cru villages of Montagne de Reims and always boasting a large proportion of Pinot Noir in the cuvée, the 2015 Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut displays a medium straw color and has a stunning nose that’s highly aromatic with toasted croissant, kirsch, and orange peel. With a noble structure and feel to the wine, it’s full-bodied with broad shoulders but has remarkable balance for this hot vintage. The mouthfeel is exceptional and long, with vibrant acidity, a rounded and elegant mousse, a chalky texture, and a mouthwatering finish. Given the vintage, it’s showing a more approachable side already, although it should have significant longevity ahead of it. In its youth, it’s more approachable than the 2013, and I would perhaps drink some of these now and then wait to be surprised as it holds on and likely has a wide drinking window. Drink 2024-2040. 7 grams per liter of dosage. |
|
|
2015 |
Cuvee Winston Churchill Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,297.99 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 95 (5/2023): The 2015 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill shows off the savory side of the vintage to great effect. Hints of dried pear, sage, mint, dried flowers, lemon oil and chamomile open gradually in this mid-weight, lithe edition of Pol Roger's tête de cuvée. The 2015 unfolds nicely with time in the glass, but I wouldn't think of opening a bottle anytime soon. Readers will find a nervy Winston Churchill marked by notable freshness and vigor more than size. This is a fine effort in a vintage that has proven to be far trickier than most observers originally envisioned. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged September 2022. Antonio Galloni.
JD 95 (11/2023): Coming from only Grand Cru villages of Montagne de Reims and always boasting a large proportion of Pinot Noir in the cuvée, the 2015 Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut displays a medium straw color and has a stunning nose that’s highly aromatic with toasted croissant, kirsch, and orange peel. With a noble structure and feel to the wine, it’s full-bodied with broad shoulders but has remarkable balance for this hot vintage. The mouthfeel is exceptional and long, with vibrant acidity, a rounded and elegant mousse, a chalky texture, and a mouthwatering finish. Given the vintage, it’s showing a more approachable side already, although it should have significant longevity ahead of it. In its youth, it’s more approachable than the 2013, and I would perhaps drink some of these now and then wait to be surprised as it holds on and likely has a wide drinking window. Drink 2024-2040. 7 grams per liter of dosage. |
|
| Veuve Clicquot |
2008 |
La Grande Dame Champagne (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,013.99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 95 (11/2018): An elegant Champagne, powered by a sculpted frame of acidity and minerality, this wears the refined, lacy mousse and well-meshed flavors of black currant, lemon curd, toast and marzipan like finely tailored clothing. Fresh and lasting, with hints of spice and smoke on the finish. Disgorged August 2016. Drink now through 2033. |
|
| | Chile |
| Concha y Toro |
2017 |
Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$248.97 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Sena |
2013 |
Proprietary Blend (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$641.99 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 99 (7/2015): Superb aromas of black currants, rose petal and mint. Lavender and stones too. Full body with incredible fruit density. Complex, yet it's agile and bright. Tannins are perfectly polished. It builds on the palate and shows the structure of a first growth Bordeaux but remains so Chilean. A blend of 58% cabernet sauvignon, 15% carmenere, 12% malbec, 10% merlot, and 5% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. This is a joy to taste now but it will show itself in 2019. Even better than the amazing 2012.
WA 96 (12/2015): The 2013 Seña might very well be their finest vintage to date. 2013 was a cool vintage that favored fresh flavors and elegant and pure wines full of nuances. At Viña Seña, they took advantage of the natural conditions and produced a stunning blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenère, 12% Malbec, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, sourced from their 42 hectares of vineyards planted some 16 years ago in the Aconcagua Valley. The varietal mix has been fine tuned and the oak has also been gradually reduced during the last few years. The process was pretty straightforward, fermentation in stainless steel and aging in French oak barrels (75% of them new) for 22 months. It has a subtle nose with aromas of red and black fruit denoting very good freshness, and the classical tobacco and cracked peppercorns, with the oak nicely integrated adding some spices and faint smoky aromas. The red fruit is remarkable and really adds freshness. Linear, juicy, sharp and long, very tasty and with very fine, slightly grainy tannins. There is superb balance, classical proportion and symmetry. I have not tasted all of the vintages of Seña (one day...), but out of all the years I've tried, this is certainly the best. I'm sure this will bloom in bottle and will have a long development. 60,000 bottles were filled. |
|
| | Italy |
| Lorenzo Accomasso |
2011 |
Barolo Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,042.99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Elio Altare |
2009 |
Barolo Vigneto Arborina (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,130.97 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (5/2013): Firm tannins are center stage in the 2009 Barolo Arborina. There is plenty of depth and power in the glass, but this is very much a wine that needs time to come together. The drive, energy and tension are all pure hallmarks of Arborina. Mint, pine, freshly cut flowers and sweet red berries flesh out on the finish. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Castello di Ama |
2018 |
Gran Selezione San Lorenzo Chianti Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$403.99 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 94 (9/2021): The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is a deep, potent wine. Black cherry, gravel, smoke, licorice, chocolate, spice infuse the San Lorenzo with tons of dark Sangiovese character. A heady, muscular wine, the 2019 exudes tremendous richness. I would give it a few years. The 2018 is a wine of aromatic intrigue and intensity. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (10/2021): The Castello di Ama 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo is one of the most distinctive wines in the ample portfolio offered by this estate. I always seem to find a balsamic note in the San Lorenzo Sangiovese (a blend of some of the property's best fruit, with a touch of Merlot and Malvasia Nera thrown in), and it definitely comes through in this vintage with grilled rosemary and even a touch of black olive. This wine is truly Mediterranean in spirit and it boasts an all-Italian identity. Its supple, mid-weight texture is amplified by elegant fruit and spice. And the wine's fresh acidity makes it the ideal pairing partner with your favorite Tuscan pasta or pici recipes. |
|
| Piero Antinori |
2000 |
Solaia (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,928.98 |
3 |
|
| |
WS 92 (10/2003): Bright aromas of crushed berry and raspberry, with a hint of mineral. Full-bodied and very round, with lovely velvety tannins and a long finish. Big and boisterous. Almost rustic, but hell, it's a beauty. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2006. 7,000 cases made.
WA 90 (4/2004): The 2000 Solaia, not unexpectedly, is the best wine of the series with expansive aromas of black currants, thyme, and sage, much eucalyptus and chocolate on the palate along with ripe, sweet fruit, and a sizeable finish. Drink: 2005-2018. |
|
|
2001 |
Solaia (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,888.98 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (1/2009): Deep, dark sensations of smoke, tar and scorched earth emerge from the powerful 2001 Solaia. This fresh, vibrant offering is packed with dense ripe fruit. This is an especially rich, heavy style of Solaia that lacks the subtlety and grace of the finest vintages. Still, in 2001 Solaia is a more complete wine than Tignanello. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.
WS 93 (10/2004): Masses of coffee and blackberry character in this youthful wine. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, loads of fruit and excellent wood. Big and juicy, with a long, long finish. A fine wine. Needs time. Best after 2007. 7,500 cases made. |
|
|
2001 |
Tignanello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,486.99 |
1 |
|
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WA 93 (4/2006): The 2001 Tignanello is an object lesson in how to make Cabernet work with Sangiovese, the two varieties balancing and enhancing one another in admirable symbiosis. (The percentage of Cabernet, in fact, was reduced from the previous 20% to 15% in this vintage, an important sign - I hope - of how the wind is blowing.) A blackish ruby, its perfectly focused plum and cassis fruit, given an additional complexity by notes of sweet herbs and saddle leather, is fully and completely shaped in flavors of impeccable volume, roundness, and depth, caressing and powerful and with an additional power on the close which promises another 15 years of gratifying drinking.
VM 92 (1/2009): In 2001 Tignanello captures a super-concentrated and dense expression of fruit that has been achieved with some loss of aromatic complexity and overall finesse. This is a super-ripe style with tons of dark fruit, smoke and toasted oak in a heavily extracted style that veers on excess. There is remarkable power here, but not the level of balance that is typical of the very finest vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. Antonio Galloni.
WS 91 (10/2004): Loads of blackberry, coffee and olive aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, subtle yet rich finish. A fine Tignanello that shows reserve and class. Best after 2007. 27,500 cases made. |
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2003 |
Solaia (6.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,737.99 |
1 |
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| WS 95 (10/2006): Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry, licorice and strawberry. Full-bodied, with rich, velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. Fruit-forward and exciting. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2008. 5,830 cases made. |
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2009 |
Tignanello (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,441.99 |
1 |
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WA 94 (6/2012): The 2009 Tignanello is quite beautiful. Cedar, graphite, sweet herbs, licorice and leather add complexity to a core of highly expressive red fruits. The 2009 impresses for its energy, drive and focus. Today, the 2009 comes across as slightly understated relative to many recent vintages, especially 2007 and 2008. There is a silkiness and polish that is reminiscent of the 2004. Tignanello is 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc from vineyards in San Casciano Val di Pesa, one of the most evocative hillsides in all of Italy. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.
VM 92 (9/2012): Bright red-ruby. Ripe aromas of sweet red cherries macerated in alcohol, cedar, cinnamon and pepper. Suave and seamless, with soft, almost-overripe flavors of redcurrant jam, red plum syrup, stewed red plum and tobacco leaf. A very distinctive and much creamier than usual Tignanello, finishing with supple tannins and excellent length. Obviously the product of a warmer year, and though this Outstanding Tignanello is a touch less refined than some recent standout vintages, it's hard to argue with its sweet, soft style and early drinking appeal. No need to cellar this too long.
WS 92 (10/2012): Laced with black cherry, plum and spice flavors, this generous red firms up on the finish. Balanced, with accents of tobacco and black tea lingering. Best from 2014 through 2025. 10,000 cases imported. |
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| Azelia |
2006 |
Barolo San Rocco (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,352.97 |
1 |
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2017 |
Barolo San Rocco (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$184.99 |
2 |
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2019 |
Barolo Bricco Fiasco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$643.98 |
10 |
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| Produttori del Barbaresco |
2015 |
Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$474.99 |
1 |
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2015 |
Barbaresco Montefico Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$474.99 |
1 |
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| VM 93+ (2/2020): The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is one of the most intriguing wines in this range. My impression is that the 2015 still has quite a bit to say, but this is Montefico, where the wines are slow to reveal themselves. White pepper, dried herbs, dried red cherry and mint add a super-appealing upper register. This is such a compelling Barbaresco. Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$363.98 |
3 |
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| VM 94 (11/2019): The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can't remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine! Antonio Galloni. |
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2016 |
Barbaresco Pora Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$509.99 |
1 |
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| Bertani |
2016 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$168.99 |
6 |
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2016 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$833.99 |
4 |
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2016 |
Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$349.99 |
3 |
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| Dott G. Cappellano |
2008 |
Barolo Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,003.99 |
1 |
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| Cavallotto |
2001 |
Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$563.99 |
1 |
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| VM 96 (4/2012): The 2001 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is a great choice for readers who can be patient. Freshly cut flowers, mint, spices and violets are some of the many notes that flow from this structured, powerful Barolo. The 2001 remains virile and incredibly youthful in its personality. Sweet balsamic notes develop in the glass, adding considerable depth and nuance. The San Giuseppe is a jewel of a wine with a bright, bright future. Today it is stunningly beautiful. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2016 |
Barolo Bricco Boschis (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$629.97 |
1 |
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WA 98 (7/2020): All of these wines from Cavallotto deliver a very floral and perfumed subtext that gives lift and delicate buoyancy to the overall bouquet. This is the Castiglione Falletto magic that shows so well in this classic vintage. The 2016 Barolo Bricco Boschis offers dried cherry, sandalwood, bramble and forest floor. The wine reveals a slightly wild and untamed character that adds to its interest and personality. Overall, this is an elegant wine with a streamlined and elegant finish. The aromas are focused and bright. I can't wait to taste the Riserva expression from this site when it is released in three years' time.
JD 96 (5/2023): A rich ruby into garnet hue, the 2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis offers layers of spice with rosemary, leather, cedar, and black cherry. Full-bodied and ripe, with rounded fruit that floods the palate with black raspberry, balsamic, and fresh earth, it is brooding and warming but remains pure and shows no signs of slowing down. Drink 2024-2044. Audrey Frick.
WS 95 (3/2021): The core of cherry and currant is framed by notes of hay, eucalyptus and wild thyme, with a solid structure that leaves a dusty feel, offset by the sweet, ripe fruit. Balanced overall, this is built for the long haul. Best from 2023 through 2045. 3,100 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.
VM 93 (2/2020): The 2016 Barolo Bricco Boschis is fabulous. Rich and pliant, with lovely mid-palate depth, the Bricco Boschis is a terrific introduction to the house style. There is plenty of the density that is such a Cavallotto signature, but the 2016 is also much more classic in feel than this wine has been in some time. Succulent red cherry, plum, mint, sweet tobacco, licorice and pine add layers of nuance to this expressive and inviting Barolo from Cavallotto. Best of all, the 2016 is already easy to drink and enjoy. The 2016 saw 32-34 days on the skins, followed by three years in cask. For this wine, Cavallotto used smaller casks of 50HL and a bit more new oak to help make the wine accessible young. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Cerbaiona |
2010 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,426.99 |
1 |
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| VM 100 (12/2015): The 2010 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino brings the evening to a rapturous finish. The most anticipated wine of the night, the Cerbaiona shows why it belongs in the pantheon of the most epic wines ever made in Montalcino. A Brunello with no beginning and no end, the 2010 Cerbaiona just is. Every aroma, every shade of nuance, every texture is just.perfect. The 2010 has been nothing less than thrilling every time I have tasted it, going back to the days when it was a young wine in cask. It is every bit as magnificent on this night. |
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| Giacomo Conterno |
2018 |
Barolo Cerretta (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$408.97 |
2 |
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| Conti Costanti |
2020 |
Brunello di Montalcino (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$579.99 |
4 |
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| Castello di Fonterutoli |
2018 |
Siepi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$428.99 |
12 |
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2019 |
Siepi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$465.99 |
6 |
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| JS 98 (8/2021): This is a really racy and fine Siepi with currant, black-cherry and dark-chocolate character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very long, intense tannins that are linear and fine-textured. Really builds on the palate. Super structure. Finesse with power. Try after 2024 and onwards. |
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| Fontodi |
2010 |
Flaccianello Della Pieve (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$391.97 |
4 |
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VM 96+ (8/2013): Dark, rich and powerful, the 2010 Flaccianello wraps around the palate with serious depth and density. The aromas and flavors are totally alive in the glass. Smoke, tobacco and savory herb notes add complexity over time. Initially quite muscular, the 2010 finds quite a bit of finesse with time in the glass. The 2010 Flaccianello is exceptional, but the competition is tough this year at Fontodi! Still, the sensation of tannin is virtually nonexistent in a Flaccianello that is all about elegance and pure refinement. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (7/2019): From an iconic vintage that gave generously to all grape varieties across almost all of Tuscany, this wine ranks high on the Fontodi billboard of greatest hits. The 2010 Flaccianello della Pieve is a rock solid wine that sits firm and begins to peel slowly, each delicate layer at a time. It puts on quite a show with a solid core of dark fruit followed by smoke, spice, tar, licorice and delicate blue flower. On previous tastings of this vintage, I had scored it 97 and 97+ points, respectively. I'm going down one point at this sitting because the wine's fiber has unraveled, ever so slightly, at the edges. It still maintains that solid core, but the wine has taken an important jump forward in its evolution these past three years. Evidently, it is currently in a phase of relaxation and unwinding. Beautifully polished notes of Mediterranean herb and dried mint appear on the long, glossy finish. Giovanni Manetti compares the 2010 vintage to 2006 but considers this vintage slightly more approachable overall. |
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| Angelo Gaja |
1997 |
Barbaresco Costa Russi (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,409.99 |
1 |
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1997 |
Barbaresco Sori Tildin (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,546.99 |
1 |
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WA 99 (6/2001): The awesome 1997 Sori Tilden (10,000 bottles produced) is a candidate for perfection. The saturated purple color is followed by a dense, full-bodied wine possessing extraordinary vibrancy for such a heavyweight, muscular Nebbiolo. It offers a super-sweet entry, a boatload of glycerin, and notes of earth, licorice, cedar, blackberry and cherry liqueur, and a touch of blueberries. Extremely full, gorgeously pure, with a seamless texture, this spectacular 1997 will enjoy three decades of cellaring.
WS 97 (12/1988): (WS #5 wine of 1988) A majestic wine, beautifully harmonious, seamless and integrated, with magnificent fruit, matchless complexity and stunning depth of flavor. Hints of violet, toast and nutmeg enrich the plummy raspberry fruit. Long and tight on the finish.
VM 95-96 (11/2000): Full ruby. Profound yet rather reticent nose hints at blackberry and violet; less roasted than the Costa Russi and more precise. Lush, thick and large-scaled, with great penetrating sweetness. Voluptuous and mouthfilling yet sharply delineated at the same time. Amazingly thick, seamless Barbaresco, finishing with lush tannins and uncanny persistence. This too has filled out and harmonized since the first time I tasted it. Stephen Tanzer. |
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1998 |
Barbaresco Costa Russi (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,060.99 |
1 |
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1998 |
Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,180.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (10/2001): The multi-faceted 1998 Sori San Lorenzo offers up notes of lead pencil, smoke, tobacco, tar, rose petals, black fruits, and espresso. Already incredibly expressive, soft, sexy, and voluptuous, jammy fruits infused with toasty oak cascade over the palate. This easily understood, seamless, pure, classic 1998 should drink well for 20-25 years.
VM 95+ (12/2002): Saturated ruby-red. Cool, aristocratic aromas of cassis, violet, marzipan, tar and menthol; rather Barolo-like today. Big, rich, lush and sweet, with uncommonly intense flavors of dark berries, licorice and spices. (According to Gaja, there's a rare vein of sand running through this vineyard, which keeps the soil drier and results in great concentration of flavor.) The fruit really reverberates in the mouth and on the strong back end. Tannins are substantial but smooth - or is there simply more supporting material here?
WS 95 (11/2002): Wonderfully fragrant, with floral, berry and mineral aromas that turn to minerals on the palate. Full-bodied, with lovely polished tannins and a beautiful ripe fruit and mint aftertaste. This is a wine with wonderful balance, yet powerful. Best after 2007. 970 cases made. |
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2007 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,751.99 |
4 |
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VM 94 (2/2010): All readers need to do is taste the 2007 Barbaresco to get a sense of the promise the vintage holds at Gaja. Soft and seamless on the palate, the Barbaresco shows wonderful integrity in its fruit in an opulent, yet mid-weight style. Fragrant, perfumed aromatics are woven throughout, while an attractive spiciness develops in the glass. There is incredible depth to the fruit and simply phenomenal overall balance. Readers will not want to miss this Barbaresco; arguably Gaja's finest since 1997.
WS 93 (3/2011): Bright, rich and powerful, boasting oak spice that adds interest to its cherry, licorice and tobacco flavors. Shows fine intensity and a chewy texture. Initially a little dry on the finish, but with extended aeration, this gets better and better, with a long aftertaste of sweet spice. Best from 2013 through 2028. 100 cases imported. |
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2010 |
Barbaresco Costa Russi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,354.99 |
1 |
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2012 |
Barbaresco (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,392.99 |
1 |
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| |
JS 94 (11/2015): So perfumed with black cherry, strawberry and flowers. Tar undertones. Brick, too. Some minerals. Stone fruit. Full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Barbaresco with clarity and finesse. This has some wine from the top crus of Gaja such as Sori Tildin and Sori San Lorenzo in the blend because they were not bottled. Drink or hold.
WS 92 (4/2016): New oak adds vanilla and toast to the expressive cherry and berry fruit in this dense red, presenting a layer of tannins that will require time to integrate. Much better with air, staying fresh, focused and long. Best from 2018 through 2028. 2,500 cases made.
VM 91 (12/2015): The 2012 Barbaresco is lifted, precise and gracious in style. Sweet red cherry, cranberry, wild flowers and mint are all laced together in a delicate, understated Barbaresco that will drink well early. The 2012 is supremely classy and polished, but it is also unusually accessible for a young Gaja wine. In 2012, Gaja did not bottle their three single-vineyard wines from Barbaresco. Instead, all of the fruit went into the estate's Barbaresco bottling. Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (6/2015): The 2012 Barbaresco shows different DNA from its previous incarnations. Angelo Gaja usually blends fruit from 14 vineyard sites to make this wine. Starting with this vintage, he has opted to reduce that number to eight vineyards instead. The change is subtle, but you can taste it. At this young stage in the wine's life I was unsure of the results. This Barbaresco is more austere, thorny and nervous compared to the super supple and rich vintages of the immediate past. The nose shows dark fruit follow by cola, garden herb and white pepper. The mouthfeel is silky and firm and edgy. |
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2018 |
Barolo Sperss (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$772.99 |
7 |
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2018 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,334.99 |
1 |
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2018 |
Barbaresco (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,556.97 |
1 |
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|
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2019 |
Barbaresco (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,662.99 |
20 |
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| |
|
| Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa |
1996 |
Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d’Alba Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,307.99 |
1 |
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| |
VM 98+ (12/2000): Deep, saturated ruby-red. Explosive nose offers the full range of Barolo perfume: black cherry, black raspberry, rose petal, marzipan, licorice, menthol, leather, minerals. A wine of monumental scale but utterly suave and clear as a bell thanks to bracing balancing acids and superb tannic backbone. Great depth and vinosity; really expands in the glass and on the palate. The fruit explodes on the endless, ripely tannic finish. The full Barolo experience in 3-D and technicolor. To be released in 2002.
WA 97 (5/2006): Deep red. Giacosa's 1996 Riserva Falletto is a stunning Barolo. It is delicate and powerful at the same time, exhibiting a compelling, exotic nose of spices, licorice and tar along with a tightly wound core of fruit that gradually opens in the glass, revealing this wine's profound personality. Just beginning to show some secondary aromas and flavors, it offers a wonderful juxtaposition of primary fruit and freshness along with more complex notes that have developed in the bottle. I found myself totally immersed in this Barolo and imagine it will offer those lucky enough to own bottles an unforgettable drinking experience for several decades. An Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa bottling.
WS 95 (12/2007): Terrific aromas of crushed fruit, Indian spices and dried flowers follow though to a full-bodied palate, with silky tannins and a long, long finish. Just a baby, but very balanced and pretty.--1996 Piedmont retrospective. Best after 2009. 200 cases made. |
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2014 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,282.99 |
1 |
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2016 |
Barolo Falletto Vigna le Rocche Riserva (3x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,028.99 |
1 |
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| WA 98 (9/2021): The Bruno Giacosa 2016 Barolo Riserva Falletto Vigna Le Rocche sees its fruit sourced from the oldest vines in the Falletto cru. This wine boasts all the signature touches of Serralunga d'Alba with the massive structure, density and the long aging potential that comes with Nebbiolo grown in this village. The wine spreads evenly over the palate, imparting its considerable fruit weight and generally leaving a big impact. This Barolo is really quite lovely and beautiful. The bouquet is fluid and ever-shifting, showing new sides with firm fruit, blackberry, smoke, rusty nail and mineral with every swirl of the glass. I visited this vineyard site shortly before tasting this wine and marveled at the beautiful peacocks that roam free between the rows of vines. |
|
| Bibi Graetz |
2010 |
Testamatta Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$826.99 |
1 |
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| JS 98 (11/2013): This is the same quality or better than the legendary 2006. Lovely aromas of berries, chocolate and walnuts follow through to a full body with loads of fruit, and chewy tannins that are polished and velvety. Pure sangiovese. Needs at least four to five years of bottle age still. Try in 2017. |
|
| Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) |
2008 |
Bolgheri (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$844.98 |
4 |
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| VM 95 (8/2011): The 2008 Guado al Tasso is once again fabulous. In fact, it may be Tuscany's most improved wine over the last few years. Firm, vibrant tannins support expressive layers of dark fruit, plums, cherries, sage, espresso and mocha. The wine shows fabulous detail and nuance in a translucent, totally seductive style, with tons of focus, drive and verve. It is a striking wine that will be a joy to follow over the coming years. Guado al Tasso is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2015 |
Matarocchio Bolgheri
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$432.97 |
16 |
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VM 97+ (4/2018): Another vivid wine, the 2015 Matarocchio marries freshness with power and depth. In 2015, the 100% Cabernet Franc Matarocchio has a more red fruit and floral profile than it has in the past. Dense and voluptuous in the glass, the 2015 retains a surprising level of nuance for such a richly-textured wine. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (9/2018): The 2015 Matarocchio (all Cabernet Franc) is a gorgeous wine, but it does not reach the stunning heights achieved in the knock-out 2013 vintage. This wine was not produced in 2014, and only 5,000 bottles were made in this vintage. Compared to the 2013 edition, this wine appears to have a slightly smaller aromatic range. This gives it a very focused and direct approach. In other words, this vintage is more vertical than it is horizontal in its delivery. The tannins are a more evident here and more nervous or crunchy. The wine is composed of deep, dark and penetrating fruit, with bitter chocolate and savory tobacco. It also shows a salty mineral note that makes your mouth salivate. This vintage of Matarocchio needs a few more years of bottle aging to gain in volume. |
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|
2019 |
Matarocchio Bolgheri (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,018.99 |
1 |
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|
| Isole e Olena |
2015 |
Cepparello (6x1.5L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,677.99 |
2 |
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WA 95 (10/2018): The 2015 Cepparello is not immediately accessible. Indeed, the wine took some time to open, and I kept going back to my sample bottle throughout the afternoon at different intervals to check on its progress. There is no doubting the enormous potential of its aging trajectory nor the considerable depth of fruit in its current youthful state. However, all those aromatic elements of fruit, spice, tar, tobacco and grilled herb still need to find harmony before they sing in chorus. The mouthfeel is chiseled and tight, and this is where you really sense the potential of its longevity. Some 42,000 bottles were made. This wine is aged in mostly French oak, with 5% American oak.
JS 96 (7/2018): Shows lots of black cherries, cranberry tea, caramelized orange peel, roasted herbs and citrus peel. Full-bodied with ripe and quite round tannins that frame layers of cherries. Bright and fresh, yet rich and long at the same time. The sangiovese character really springs out of the glass. Drink in 2020. |
|
| Tenuta San Leonardo |
2019 |
Vallagarina (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$679.99 |
3 |
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2019 |
Vallagarina (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$256.99 |
6 |
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|
| Le Macchiole |
2004 |
Messorio IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,816.99 |
1 |
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| |
WS 100 (10/2007): Beautiful, subtle aromas of berries, cappuccino and black olive are amazing. Full-bodied, with ultrarefined tannins and a long, long finish. Goes on for minutes. Leaves me speechless. This is soulful. A Tuscan cult wine you don't want to miss. Merlot. Best after 2012.
WA 96 (6/2008): The 2004 Messorio is clearly the most complete of these 2004s. It is a remarkably elegant Messorio endowed with a seamless, layered personality that exudes generous dark plums, prunes, mint, licorice, smoke, chocolate and toasted oak. Despite its considerable appeal, it is a powerful, structured wine with a significant tannic backbone that will require patience. It shows well-integrated tannins, superb balance, and a seductive, inviting personality that is absolutely irresistible. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2022.
VM 92 (8/2007): Dark ruby. Refined aromas of blackcurrant, coffee liqueur and cassis are complicated by minty and herbal notes, but this also exhibits (like the Paleo) some rather obvious coconut. Beautifully suave on the palate and lighter in style than other famous Italian merlots, this exhibits compelling flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, and almost garrigue-like spices. Finishes smoothly tannic, very long and complex, with a distinct touch of mint and a hint of alcoholic warmth. |
|
| Marcarini |
2015 |
Barolo La Serra (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$389.99 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| M. Marengo |
2006 |
Barolo Vecchie Vigne Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$684.97 |
1 |
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| VM 95 (2/2010): The 2006 Barolo Vecchia Vigna delle Brunate takes things to another level entirely with an intricate fabric of dark fruit, plums, prunes, roasted coffee beans, menthol and minerals that comes to life on a firm, sturdy frame. The wine reveals superb intensity, inner perfume and a long, exceptionally refined finish. The Brunate Vecchia Vigna delle Brunate is Marengo's most extroverted Barolo and in 2006 it is nothing short of superb. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Il Marroneto |
2013 |
Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,418.99 |
1 |
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WA 97 (2/2018): Sangiovese-whisperer Alessandro Mori has delivered another superstar wine with the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna Delle Grazie. The bouquet is detailed and fine with bright accents of fragrant red rose, red currant, cola, licorice, grilled herb and crushed white peppercorn. The bouquet is loose, light and buoyant, with a smooth and natural progression of building aromas. The mouthfeel, however, is direct, important and determined. It's that playful juxtaposition between the wine's soft side and its stern side that makes this such an interesting and sensational wine to drink. Only 5,993 bottles were produced, and that's the bad news.
VM 95 (3/2019): Vibrant medium-deep red. Expressive, complex nose combines raspberry, strawberry, and violet, plus hints of truffle and dried herbs. Lovely extract and flavor intensity for its color, offering a strong savory quality to its strawberry, floral and herb flavors. A stylish, midweight Brunello with a seamless texture, uncanny sweet juiciness and outstanding inner-mouth energy that builds on you. Ian d'Agata.
WS 93 (6/2018): A ripe style, displaying macerated cherry, plum and rose hip tea flavors. This is supported by a firm backbone yet feels balanced and stays long on the finish. Leather, earth and tobacco notes round this out. Best from 2021 through 2035. 500 cases made. |
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| Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello |
2016 |
Barolo Monprivato Riserva Ca’ d’Morissio (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,600.98 |
1 |
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| WA 97 (1/2025): The last time we saw this wine was in 2014, and I remember that vintage as magical. The Giuseppe Mascarello 2016 Barolo Monprivato Riserva Cà d'Morissio is the estate's benchmark wine. Thanks to this epic growing season, we have a clear window onto the excellence of Castiglione Falletto, where Monprivato is located, and the current state of affairs at this historic winery. I found this wine to be quite beautiful and profound, with dried fruit, cassis, earthy tones and pressed violet. It is also quite generous in terms of mouthfeel, with integrated tannins that are finely woven with hints of dried mint and bitter plum. The vineyards were planted with a massal selection of Mascarello family vines. The wine is persistent, especially at the back end of the palate, showing firm structure and power. |
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2016 |
Barolo Monprivato Riserva Ca’ d’Morissio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,694.98 |
3 |
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| WA 97 (1/2025): The last time we saw this wine was in 2014, and I remember that vintage as magical. The Giuseppe Mascarello 2016 Barolo Monprivato Riserva Cà d'Morissio is the estate's benchmark wine. Thanks to this epic growing season, we have a clear window onto the excellence of Castiglione Falletto, where Monprivato is located, and the current state of affairs at this historic winery. I found this wine to be quite beautiful and profound, with dried fruit, cassis, earthy tones and pressed violet. It is also quite generous in terms of mouthfeel, with integrated tannins that are finely woven with hints of dried mint and bitter plum. The vineyards were planted with a massal selection of Mascarello family vines. The wine is persistent, especially at the back end of the palate, showing firm structure and power. |
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2017 |
Barolo Monprivato Riserva Ca’ d’Morissio (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,600.98 |
1 |
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2017 |
Barolo Monprivato Riserva Ca’ d’Morissio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$3,542.98 |
10 |
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2017 |
Barolo Monprivato Riserva Ca’ d’Morissio (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,569.98 |
6 |
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2019 |
Barolo Monprivato (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,622.99 |
5 |
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JD 98 (5/2024): Compared to the 2018, the 2019 Barolo Monprivato offers a more powerful nose with more nervous energy in its notes of licorice, raspberry liqueur, rosemary, and sweet earth. Ripe and powerfully structured, with a midweight feel but incredible intensity and length, it has a great level of completeness, with an earthy drive and ripe tannins that hold through its long finish. Drink 2025-2055. Audrey Frick.
VM 95+ (9/2024): The 2019 Barolo Monprivato is a tightly wound, classically austere wine from the Mascarello family. Vibrant acids and beams of tannin cut through a core of red-toned fruit, orange peel, white pepper and flowers. Readers should be in no rush to open the 2019, as it is pretty reticent. Even so, there's tons of energy here. I have had the 2019 twice so far. The 2019 is one of the best Monprivatos in recent memory, although I note that a second bottle was quite a bit more backward than this one. (Drink between 2027-2039). Antonio Galloni. |
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2020 |
Barolo Monprivato (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,422.99 |
1 |
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| Bartolo Mascarello |
2021 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$673.99 |
1 |
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| Massolino |
2017 |
Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,002.99 |
1 |
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| Mastroberardino |
2016 |
Taurasi Radici Riserva (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$486.99 |
4 |
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| Miani |
2013 |
Rosso Miani (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,063.99 |
1 |
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| Monsanto |
2006 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$303.99 |
6 |
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| VM 96 (4/2023): The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is stunning. Deep and vibrant in the glass, with explosive energy, the 2006 is magnificent from the very first taste. Sweet dark cherry, tobacco, incense, blood orange, mint and spice build beautifully in the glass. The 2006 is aging slowly, with impeccable balance and the pedigree of the very best years. Big, potent tannins wrap it all together. Superb. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$268.99 |
6 |
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2013 |
Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,218.99 |
2 |
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| Casanova di Neri |
2019 |
Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$619.99 |
1 |
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| Fratelli Odero |
2021 |
Barolo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$387.99 |
4 |
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| Col d' Orcia |
2015 |
Brunello di Montalcino Nastagio (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$306.99 |
6 |
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| Orma |
2010 |
Orma Toscana IGT (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$465.98 |
8 |
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| JS 96 (7/2013): There is something so subtle and rich here with chocolate, red chilies and ripe plums on the nose. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. This is so delicious now but better in 2017. Best ever from here. A blend of 50% Melot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc. From Bolgheri. Just next door to Ornellaia. |
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| Tenuta dell' Ornellaia |
2004 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,513.99 |
1 |
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WS 97 (10/2007): Wine Spectator #7 wine of 2007. Dark ruby-purple in color, with complex aromas of dark chocolate, cola, vanilla, cedar and currant. Full-bodied yet ultrarefined, with dense, seamless, caressing tannins. Everything is in the right proportion. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2009. 11,710 cases made.
WA 95 (1/2010): The 2004 Ornellaia (magnum) has always been a beautiful wine, but stylistically it stands out quite a bit from other vintages of this era, something that is particularly evident in this tasting. The 2004 is perhaps the most delicate, feminine Ornellaia ever made. Silky tannins frame a perfumed core of ripe fruit all the way through to the sublime finish. The wine’s inner fragrance, sweetness and balance are all impeccable. The 2004 remains one of my all-time favorite Ornellaias, and it is firing on all cylinders on this night. In 2004 the growing season was long and even, with a cool early summer and warmer late summer. Yields were on the high side, as the vines released the stored energy they had held in reserve from the previous year, which required the estate to aggressively green harvest in order to keep the plants in balance. The 2004 Ornellaia is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The relatively high percentage of Cabernet Franc may explain the 2004’s gorgeous, vivid bouquet. The wine spent a total of 18 months in oak (70% new) prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.
VM 92 (8/2007): Deep ruby. The initially reticent nose begins with a hint of grass before revealing wonderfully complex notes of raspberry, red and black cherry, leather, tobacco and intriguing minerality. Much more explosive on the palate from the get-go, with deep, ripe red and black fruit flavors given extra lift and complexity by pretty coffee and dark chocolate highlights. The very long, nuanced finish features smooth tannins. A very successful Ornellaia. |
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2004 |
Ornellaia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$957.99 |
1 |
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WS 97 (10/2007): Wine Spectator #7 wine of 2007. Dark ruby-purple in color, with complex aromas of dark chocolate, cola, vanilla, cedar and currant. Full-bodied yet ultrarefined, with dense, seamless, caressing tannins. Everything is in the right proportion. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2009. 11,710 cases made.
WA 95 (1/2010): The 2004 Ornellaia (magnum) has always been a beautiful wine, but stylistically it stands out quite a bit from other vintages of this era, something that is particularly evident in this tasting. The 2004 is perhaps the most delicate, feminine Ornellaia ever made. Silky tannins frame a perfumed core of ripe fruit all the way through to the sublime finish. The wine’s inner fragrance, sweetness and balance are all impeccable. The 2004 remains one of my all-time favorite Ornellaias, and it is firing on all cylinders on this night. In 2004 the growing season was long and even, with a cool early summer and warmer late summer. Yields were on the high side, as the vines released the stored energy they had held in reserve from the previous year, which required the estate to aggressively green harvest in order to keep the plants in balance. The 2004 Ornellaia is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The relatively high percentage of Cabernet Franc may explain the 2004’s gorgeous, vivid bouquet. The wine spent a total of 18 months in oak (70% new) prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.
VM 92 (8/2007): Deep ruby. The initially reticent nose begins with a hint of grass before revealing wonderfully complex notes of raspberry, red and black cherry, leather, tobacco and intriguing minerality. Much more explosive on the palate from the get-go, with deep, ripe red and black fruit flavors given extra lift and complexity by pretty coffee and dark chocolate highlights. The very long, nuanced finish features smooth tannins. A very successful Ornellaia. |
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2005 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,683.99 |
3 |
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JS 95 (6/2013): Still very young. Shows complex aromas of ripe fruit, blackberries, plums and currants. Polished, with soft tannins, a full body and a very long finish. Drink or hold.
WS 95 (10/2008): Displays beautiful aromas of ripe fruit, with currant, plum and blackberry. This complex and full-bodied Tuscan red has soft, polished tannins and a long, long finish. Shows a deft hand in the winemaking. Best after 2012. 11,660 cases made.
WA 93 (1/2010): The 2005 Ornellaia (magnum) is a lovely, silky wine graced with expressive, perfumed fruit and terrific overall harmony. This is a decidedly lithe, feminine Ornellaia, but the wine has more than enough freshness to develop beautifully over the coming years. The estate coped quite well with repeated spells of rain during the harvest. Simply put, the 2005 Ornellaia is a gorgeous wine from a challenging year. The 2005 Ornellaia is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine spent 18 months in French oak, 70% new. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.
VM 93 (6/2008): The medium-bodied 2005 Ornellaia shows plenty of delineation in its dark cherries, blueberries, spices, minerals and crushed rocks. The 2005 doesn't quite have the detail of the 2004 or the richness of the 2006, but it does offer notable finesse and clarity in an understated style for this wine. My impression is that this will be a relatively early-maturing vintage of Ornellaia, which is not a bad thing, considering the age-worthiness of the two vintages which surround it. In 2005 Ornellaia is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. It is big success in this vintage. |
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2006 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,725.98 |
2 |
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| WA 97 (1/2009): The 2006 Ornellaia flows from the glass in a profound expression of ripe, dark fruit. With time in the glass layers of minerals, cassis, tar, sweet herbs and French oak emerge, adding further complexity. This harmonious Ornellaia combines the richness of the vintage with superb freshness and awesome balance. Today the wine’s sheer density almost manages to hide the tannins, but they are there, and the wine will ultimately benefit from a few years in the cellar. The 2006 Ornellaia is one of the highlights of this sensational Tuscan vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. |
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2010 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,861.98 |
4 |
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VM 98 (1/2017): How many dinners anywhere start with a wine on a level with the 2010 Ornellaia? I imagine not many. But that’s exactly the way we get going. Super-expressive aromatics soar out of the glass as the 2010 shows off its personality. Sweet herbs, tobacco, licorice, mocha and tar wrap around a core of intense dark fruit. Racy, powerful and majestic, the 2010 is a total stunner. Antonio Galloni.
WA 97 (8/2013): Poured from the special anniversary bottle, the 2010 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a truly outstanding wine that leaves a lasting memory for those who are lucky enough to enjoy it. What stands out is the absolutely seamless-seamless-seamless (yes, it's worth repeating three times) integration of its many moving parts. The wine magically transitions from cherry, spice, chocolate and espresso in one melodic and continuous loop. It exudes balance and elegance over long, delicious minutes. It is profoundly impressive. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. Of all the grapevines planted on the Ornellaia estate, the 2010 vintage showed best results with Merlot, says Leonardo Raspini. Because the harvest was later than usual, the early-ripening grape enjoyed a slow and steady evolution. |
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2013 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,892.99 |
1 |
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2014 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,311.97 |
1 |
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| WA 94 (4/2017): To be released in May 2017, the 2014 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia reverts to a style and personality that we have not seen in a long while. The wine shows a tight, silky and determined approach that reminds us of the Ornellaias made under the estate's previous ownership with the Marchese Lodovico Antinori in the mid-1990s. More than anything else, this has to do with the very unique characteristics of the 2014 growing season. The wine opens to a beautifully saturated and dark appearance. Thanks to the advanced age of the vines and their extensive root systems, fruit quality was well preserved despite the cool summer and late harvest. The wine shows sweet fruit nuances with blackberry and dark currant. Spice, leather and tobacco fill in the rear. The finish reveals just enough of that acidic prickle to assure an easy ten or fifteen year drinking window. |
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2016 |
Ornellaia (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$540.98 |
2 |
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JD 98+ (5/2019): From a great vintage for Bolgheri, the 2016 Ornellaia is a classic blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot that was aged 20 months in 70% new French oak. Its saturated purple color is followed by a deep, beautifully concentrated yet primordial effort that offers serious intensity in its cassis, black cherry, graphite, bay leaf, forest floor, and spring flower aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and multi-dimensional on the palate, it has thrilling purity of fruit, ample tannins, and a great, great finish. This is a tour de force in red wine that needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for two decades.
WA 98 (4/2019): The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes. This beautiful wine is hitting the market now, but collectors will want to put it straight into their cellars for safekeeping.
JS 98 (1/2019): An astoundingly vibrant, powerful and concentrated Ornellaia that has a wealth of intense dark cherries, mulberries and plums with hints of espresso, dark cocoa powder and cedar. The concentrated palate is framed in long, regal tannins that bring focus to the plush, ripe and fresh black cherries and dark plums. Extremely balanced. Best from 2025.
VM 96+ (3/2019): Just bottled, the 2016 Ornellaia is a dense, powerful wine. Naturally, the 2016 is just at the beginning of its life, but I am struck by how polished the tannins are for such a young wine. Ornellaia is at its best starting around age ten, but there is little doubt the 2016 is a hugely promising wine. Black cherry, chocolate, plum, new leather and a range of spice notes all build into a veritable crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures. Antonio Galloni.
WS 96 (9/2019): Black currant, plum, cedar, lead pencil and toasty, spicy elements highlight this intense red. Muscular tannins line the extended finish, leaving a peppery impression. The parts are all there but need time to integrate. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2043. 2,500 cases imported. |
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2017 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,181.99 |
1 |
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2018 |
Ornellaia (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,386.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$897.99 |
1 |
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2020 |
Masseto Proprietary Blend (3x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,567.99 |
1 |
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| Petrolo |
2010 |
Galatrona (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$666.99 |
1 |
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| WS 94 (9/2013): The chocolate and cocoa notes highlight the black cherry, blackberry and pomegranate flavors in this dense red. Flamboyant, showing plenty of oak, this remains vibrant, intense and long, with a spicy aftertaste. Merlot. Best from 2016 through 2026. 500 cases imported. |
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| E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) |
2001 |
Barolo Cannubi (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$905.99 |
1 |
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| Poggio di Sotto |
2014 |
Brunello di Montalcino (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,461.99 |
1 |
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| Alfredo Prunotto |
2009 |
Barbaresco Bric Turot (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$439.99 |
4 |
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| Castello Dei Rampolla |
2001 |
Vigna d’Alceo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$2,200.99 |
1 |
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VM 97 (12/2013): At twelve years of age, the 2001 Vigna d'Alceo remains a behemoth. Even with all of its power, the 2001 is also incredibly elegant, refined and polished. The flavors and textures still haven't fully filled out, as is the case with the vintages of the 1990s, so readers will have to be patient. Still, all of the elements are in place for the 2001 to be an even more spectacular wine than it already it is in another few years. The 2001 isn't quite as structured as the 1999, but it is a touch more refined and floral. Antonio Galloni.
JS 97 (11/2015): This has always been a great Super Tuscan. It's made on hillsides from cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Very fresh and bright with raspberry and sage aromas and flavors, it's full-bodied, firm and bright. Racy and refined. It's just starting to drink perfectly now.
WA 95 (4/2004): There can be few doubts that the 2001 D’Alceo is one of the greatest wines in the distinguished history of the estate, something which becomes immediately evident from the deep ruby color as well as the sweet, focused, and weighty nose with its important notes of ripe berry fruit, sage, rosemary, and classy oak. Rich, dense, deep, and layered, the sensual and potent palate is sheer joy, the maximum in fused power and elegance. |
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2015 |
Vigna d’Alceo (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$753.99 |
1 |
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| Giuseppe Rinaldi |
2015 |
Barolo Le Brunate (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$959.99 |
1 |
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WA 96 (6/2019): The 2015 Barolo Brunate benefits from a thicker soil profile in this vineyard that consequently bumps the wine's aromatic intensity and staying power up a notch or two. This wine is almost crunchy in texture, with a subtle snap or crackle as it hits the palate. It shows enormous beauty and richness with a dark fruit profile followed by elements of spice, tar, tobacco and moist potting soil. There are floral notes as well with rose and lavender. This wine will reward those with the patience to wait. Drink 2021-2045
VM 93 (2/2019): Rinaldi's Barolo Brunate is refined and light on its feet in 2015, with a bit less structure and overall depth than is the norm. That is not at all surprising, as the 2015 Brunate has always been a relatively light wine by Rinaldi standards. Dark red cherry, plum, licorice, sage and balsamic notes shape this expressive yet understated Barolo from Rinaldi. Antonio Galloni. |
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2020 |
Langhe Nebbiolo (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,464.99 |
1 |
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| Francesco Rinaldi & Figli |
2010 |
Barolo Le Brunate (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,167.99 |
1 |
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| San Giusto A Rentennano |
2018 |
Percarlo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$658.99 |
1 |
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2018 |
Percarlo (5.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,075.99 |
1 |
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| Paolo Scavino |
2006 |
Barolo Bric del Fiasc (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$1,303.97 |
1 |
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WA 95 (2/2010): The 2006 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is a dramatic, sweeping wine that bursts onto the palate in a powerful expression of this Castiglione Falletto vineyard. Dark red fruits, smoke and grilled herbs are just some of the nuances that come to life as this imposing, focused Barolo opens up in the glass. Today, the wine is a touch austere, but in a few years the structure should fill out nicely. It is impossible to ignore the sheer pedigree and class here. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.
VM 94 (12/2009): Dark red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, violet, licorice and menthol; lovely modern-style Barolo. Sweet and lush in the mouth, with a firm spine of acidity serving to frame and intensify the sweet, juicy dark fruit flavors. Still a baby but already beautifully detailed. Very long on the aftertaste, with the tannins melting into the fruit.
WS 94 (3/2011): A rich, sumptuous Barolo, laced with cherry, plum and mineral aromas and flavors. Complex and well-structured, with a long, fruit- and spice-filled aftertaste. Best from 2013 through 2030. 900 cases imported.
JS 93 (1/2011): I'm loving the layers to this wine. Tons of dried mushrooms, flowers, and berries. Full bodied and chewy. This is a massive wine. Start cracking these open in 2014. |
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| Case Basse di Gianfranco Soldera |
2013 |
Toscana Sangiovese (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$6,038.99 |
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| Tenuta San Guido |
2003 |
Sassicaia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$4,937.99 |
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JS 95 (10/2017): This is a special Sassicaia that shows so much richness and density. Layered and ripe fruited. Hints of vanilla and wood. Full body, round texture and intense. Showing beautiful length and intensity. Drink or hold.
VM 93 (2/2007): Ample, sweet and expansive, the 2003 Sassicaia offers generous notes of sweet dark fruit intermingled with notes of spices, herbs, earthiness and smoke in a full-bodied, opulent expression of this wine. It is an outstanding effort for the vintage. Some cellaring is suggested although with air this wine is drinking beautifully right now. Antonio Galloni.
WA 92 (4/2017): The 2003 Bolgheri Sassicaia is full of unexpected twists and turns. Oddly enough, this vintage offered more overall freshness and balance than the much-celebrated 2004 edition. We all know that 2003 was a very difficult year with scorching hot temperatures that broke all records. Instead of jammy flavors or overt ripeness, this wine has embraced an all-balsam aromatic profile instead. The bouquet opens to dried cassis or red currant with eucalyptus, cola, grilled rosemary and medicinal herb. The tannins are silky and fully integrated within the wine's thick textural richness. There are areas that feel flat and sedate, but this is an impressive effort overall that shows impressive stability considering the challenges of the growing season.
WS 92 (7/2006): Lots of raspberry and cherry on the nose. Full-bodied and chunky with lots of fruit and a long, velvety finish. Hints of new wood. Big and juicy Sassicaia. Very well done for the vintage. Best after 2008. 15,000 cases made. |
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2004 |
Sassicaia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,748.99 |
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VM 96 (8/2007): Deep ruby. Absolutely ethereal nose offers intense yet refined aromas of ripe red cherry, smoke, leather and black truffle, with a pretty mineral element nuance and clarity. Velvety-smooth, ripe and rich on entry, then awash with mid-palate flavors of red cherry, smoky red plum, cassis, spices, bay leaf, roasted coffee bean and dark chocolate. Bright acids and silky-smooth tannins give this extraordinary wine extra lift and precision. Compared to recent vintages, this is a far richer and plumper yet extremely refined version of Sassicaia at a similar stage of its development. The finish goes on for minutes, highlighted by an enchanting mineral quality. The best young Sassicaia in years.
WS 94 (10/2007): Shows aromas of chocolate, currant and blackberry, with a hint of Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with firm, velvety tannins and a long finish. Racy and very well-structured. Builds on the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. 15,000 cases made.
WA 93 (6/2007): The 2004 Sassicaia is a lovely, understated effort. Medium in body, it presents nuanced layers of sweet dark fruit, licorice, menthol and toasted oak that gradually open onto a finely-knit frame of notable length. Today it appears to be quite reticent and still holding back much of its potential. Both bottles I sampled showed less vibrancy and freshness in both color and flavors than the other top 2004s I tasted alongside it, suggesting that the wine is still suffering from bottle shock. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. |
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2006 |
Sassicaia (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$5,549.97 |
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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.
WS 94 (10/2009): Displays sweet tobacco, plum and berry aromas, with a jammy undertone, turning to licorice on the palate. Full-bodied and balanced, with silky tannins, a lovely texture and plenty of fruit. Outstanding Sassicaia, with structure and finesse. 85 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 percent Cabernet Franc. Best after 2013. 20,000 cases made. |
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| Tenuta delle Terre Nere |
2019 |
Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo Il Quadro delle Rose (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$377.99 |
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| JS 95 (8/2021): A powerful Etna red with plenty of black-cherry and licorice character, plus a robust tannin structure. However, it also has a very exciting, cool and bright side, which comes out ever more clearly at the long, racy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. |
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| Trediberri |
2017 |
Barolo (3.0 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$253.99 |
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| VM 91 (10/2021): The 2017 Barolo is a pretty dense wine from proprietor Nicola Oberto. I am used to seeing a bit more finesse and transparency here, but the 2017 is quite a powerhouse. Large-grained tannins add to that impression. Time in the glass brings out hints of spice and tobacco, and yet the 2017 remains a bit rough around the edges. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Tua Rita |
2010 |
Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscana (12x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$940.98 |
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2013 |
Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscana (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$528.99 |
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2013 |
Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscana (1.5 L)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$221.99 |
3 |
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| G.D. Vajra |
2019 |
Barolo Albe (6x750ML)
ETA 90-120 Days; No cancellations or returns. This item may be subject to tariffs. |
$324.99 |
11 |
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