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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Sun, Apr 26, 2026 10:44 AM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
Vintages: Between 2017 and 2017
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| 00 Wines |
2017 |
Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir  |
$139 |
1 |
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| |
WA 95 (4/2020): Pale ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Hyland has a core of red currants, red berries and blackberries with dried leaves, pipe tobacco, scorched earth, tar and cured meat aromas plus accents of blood orange, potpourri, tobacco and sweet spices. Medium-bodied, silky and intense, it offers great layering of spice, amaro, earth and berry fruits with addicting freshness and a long, nuanced finish.
BH 91 (6/2020): An overtly floral, airy and even wafting nose is comprised by cool essence of red currant and cherry. The delicious, vibrant and well-detailed middle weight flavors retain good delineation on the focused, intense and dusty finish that is presently somewhat youthfully austere. This is quite tightly wound and is going to need at least a few years to flesh out and develop more depth. Note that my rating specifically assumes that this will be held for at least 5 years before it's opened. (Drink starting 2027). |
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2017 |
Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard |
$139 |
1 |
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WA 95 (4/2020): The 2017 Pinot Noir Shea is very layered and nuanced on the nose: a core of spiced cranberry sauce and baked blackberries are accented with high-toned dried roses and violets, cinnamon stick, orange oil, blueberries, fragrant earth and amaro scents. The medium-bodied palate features ripe berry fruits laced with a pleasant amaro-like bitterness, wrapped in a silky, juicy frame and finishing long and layered. Yes!
BH 90 (6/2020): As one might reasonably expect given that the fruit is from the Shea Vineyard, this is much more deeply pitched with plenty of briar character to the less elegant but well-layered nose of various dark berries, plum and violet. There is very good volume and reasonable mid-palate density to the caressing yet quite powerful, even muscular, larger-scaled flavors that possess very firm tannins on the grippy and slightly short and tangy finish. I like everything up until the finish, but the balance isn't quite as well dialed in as the other two wines in the range. (Drink starting 2027). |
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2017 |
VGR Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
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| WA 94 (4/2020): Pale ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir VGR has an incredibly intense, layered nose of cranberry sauce, warm blackberries and marionberries with touches of rose petals, tangerine, autumn leaves, fragrant earth, dust, warm tobacco leaf, sweet spices and saline. It’s light to medium-bodied and floods the mouth with earth-accented, sweet berry fruits, soft and finely grainy with a long, lifted finish. This is so lovely! |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2017 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah Corroded Capsule |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (9/2021): The beautiful 2017 Syrah Reva has a more elegant, streamlined, layered style that's already drinking nicely. Ample red and black fruits, bacon fat, olive, violets, and briny mineral nuances all define this classic Alban Syrah, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless mouthfeel, impeccable balance, and ripe tannins. It's certainly the more discrete, understated red in the lineup, yet this is a wine that builds with time in the glass and has perfect tannins, a terrific sense of freshness, and a great finish. It will keep for 15+ years in cold cellars. |
|
| Alpha Omega |
2017 |
X Cabernet Sauvignon |
$299 |
2 |
|
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| Aubert |
2017 |
UV Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$129 |
12 |
|
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| VM 96 (12/2018): Aubert's 2017 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard is pliant, open-knit and super-expressive. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint, earthiness, dried flowers and cherry fruit are all laced together in this very pretty, nuanced Pinot. Despite its recent bottling, the 2017 UV is bright, lifted and super-expressive. The blend of Calera and Vosne-Romanee clones works beautifully. Antonio Galloni. |
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2017 |
UV-SL Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$115 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2018): The 2017 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard is the most backward and tannic of the three Aubert Pinots. Dried herbs, cedar, tobacco and menthol add striking aromatic nuance, but today it is the wine's tannin profile that makes the strongest impression. This hillside site above Occidental yields Pinots of real distinction. I imagine the UV-SL will be the slowest of these wines to reveal itself, but it has plenty to say. Lavender, rose petals, blood orange and spices add an exotic flair to this embryonic Pinot. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| B Cellars |
2017 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92-94 (10/2019): A barrel sample, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard is very deep garnet-purple in color and has an exuberant nose of baked plums, raisin cake and crème de cassis with underbrush, pencil lead and fertile loam plus bay leaves hints. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated, firm and chewy with just enough freshness and an herb-laced finish. |
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2017 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Beaux Freres |
2017 |
Belles Soeurs Cuvee Pinot Noir |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91-92 (6/2019): Vivid red. Fragrant, spice-accented red and dark berries, candied rose and a hint of musky sassafras on the incisive nose. Bright and focused on the palate, offering intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that spread out and turn sweeter with air. Juicy and seamless in style, finishing with solid, minerally thrust, even tannins and resonating floral and red berry notes. Josh Raynolds. |
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2017 |
Sequitur Pinot Noir Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
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2017 |
The Beaux Freres Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
3 |
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| |
| VM 94-95 (6/2019): Deep red. High-pitched cherry, black raspberry and rose scents are complemented by hints of succulent herbs, exotic spices and musky flowers. Shows impressive energy and focus on the palate, offering juicy dark berry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors given a spicy edge by a hint of star anise. Closes smooth, appealingly sweet and very long, with fine-grained tannins adding framework and gentle grip. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Becklyn Cellars |
2017 |
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (1/2020): More tobacco, leafy herbs, chocolate, and obvious minerality emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, which has a ripe, sexy, powerful style that you don’t often find in the vintage. With stunning blue fruits, ripe, building tannins, and terrific balance, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 15+ years. |
|
| Bella Oaks |
2017 |
Proprietary Red |
$289 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (12/2023): The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine is a wine I tasted from barrel that I then missed from bottle, as the estate chose to release the 2018 first, and this wine fell through the cracks. Several recent bottles of the 2017 have all been sublime. Readers will find a wine that shows the mid-weight, approachable style of the year off to great effect. Silky tannins wrap around dark-toned fruit, mocha, spice, licorice and chocolate. The 2017 is an elegant, beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next decade or so. If I have any quibble with the 2017, it is that the oak is a bit evident. I suspect much of that has to do with the mid-weight structure of the wine itself. (Drink between 2023-2032). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Booker Vineyard |
2017 |
Ripper Grenache |
$79 |
1 |
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| JD 96 (10/2019): Bottled in February of this year, the 100% Grenache 2017 Ripper has a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, white flowers, licorice, and subtle background oak. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has wonderful purity, fine tannins, and a great finish. |
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2017 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$74.99 |
1 |
|
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JD 99 (10/2019): I loved the 2017 Vertigo from barrel, and it didn’t disappoint from bottle. A blend of 63% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre, and the rest Grenache and Petite Sirah, brought up in 65% new French oak, this full-bodied, massively endowed 2017 has complex notes of blue fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spices. As with all Eric’s 2017s, it’s rich and concentrated yet has remarkable purity and elegance at the same time. It’s one of the finest GSM blends out there and will shine for at least 8-10 years. (Drink between 2019-2029).
VM 96 (2/2020): Brilliant purple. Blackberry, blueberry, cola, exotic spices, vanilla and pungent flowers on the deeply perfumed, mineral-accented nose. Compellingly sweet, lush and broad in the mouth, showing hefty dark berry preserve, candied violet and fruitcake flavors that pick up mocha, vanilla and star anise nuances on the back half. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with velvety tannins, lingering florality and outstanding clarity. 60% new French oak. (Drink between 2024-2034).
WA 93 (2/2020): The 2017 Vertigo is a blend of 65% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Grenache aged in 65% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple in color, the nose opens with tar, chargrill and loamy earth scents, slowly offering up game meats, black currants, dried violets and dried black cherries with a chocolatey undercurrent. Full-bodied, rich and slowly blossoming in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy frame and just enough freshness, finishing long and still youthfully coiled. |
|
| Cameron |
2017 |
Clos Electrique Rouge |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
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| Continuum |
2017 |
Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$441.35 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 96+ (1/2020): The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard comes across as remarkably primary. Bright red-toned fruit and floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness as well as nuance. Deep and layered on the palate, with superb depth, the 2017 Continuum is easily one of the wines of the year. Even in the early going, it is truly magnificent. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Dalla Valle |
2017 |
Maya Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$700 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (10/2019): The 2017 Maya is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Cabernet Franc and was bottled one week before I tasted it. Very deep purple-black in color, it opens with profound earthy notions of truffles, damp soil, crushed rocks and tar over a core of Black Forest cake, black raspberries, blueberry compote and aged meat plus touches of wilted roses and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is solidly structured with firm, fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness lifting the multilayered blue and black fruits with a long, perfumed finish. Stunning.
JD 97+ (1/2020): The tiny production 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Maya is another thrilling wine. The normal blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in two-thirds new French oak, it offers a full-bodied, concentrated, yet sensationally elegant style as well as fab notes of crème de cassis, chocolate, graphite, and scorched earth. It’s a primordial example of this cuvée that has ripe tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Do your best to give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age. (Drink between 2024-2054).
VM 96 (1/2020): The 2017 Maya is not only gorgeous, it also appears to have handled the rigors of the growing season more successfully than the others. Ripe red cherry and plum fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and spice all build as this racy, sumptuous wine shows off its considerable allure. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are just magic here. (Drink between 2023-2042). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2017 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
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VM 94 (12/2020): Deep red with ruby tones. Intriguing scents of cassis, licorice, tree bark, cedar, peppery herbs and burning cinders; not quite as black in its aromas as the 2016. Large-scaled, plush and classically dry; a wine of outstanding dimension and silky mouthfilling texture. Flavors of raspberry, cassis, tobacco leaf, cinders and dried flowers saturate the palate without showing any undue weight. As seamless and deep as this is, it comes across as even drier than the Harrison Hill. The utterly seamless finish features noble tannins and penetrating, slowly mounting floral/herbal length. Outstanding! (aged for 20 months in 100% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2030). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (10/2020): Made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Chaleur Estate begins subdued in the glass. After spinning the glass for half a minute, the wine shows dusty cherry and silky baking spices from the 100% new French oak. Full-bodied, with a grippy tannic edge and energetic acidity, the wine hugs the palate with a firm frame. Finishing with a red-fruited frame and dusty mineral grip, the wine needs more time to come around. It will fill out with age.
JD 92 (4/2020): The 2017 Chaleur Estate can be thought of as the flagship Bordeaux blend and comes from multiple sites throughout the Columbia Valley. Slightly closed and reticent, yet with outstanding purity in its black cherry and currant fruits, it has subtle chocolaty oak and lead pencil nuances, medium body, silky, ripe tannins, and beautiful balance on the palate. It’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise of 15 years in cold cellars. |
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2017 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
2 |
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WA 92 (10/2020): A blend of 66% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 D2 Proprietary Red Wine opens to a nose of dusty plum, silky cherry skin and black raspberry before showing hints of baking spice, dusty flower petals and baked earth. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is expressive and balanced across the mid-palate with lifting tannins and energetic acidity to make it food-friendly. Lingering flavors of cedar and sage persist in the mouth, as the wine stretches its legs on the winding finish, highlighting the red berry frame. D2 has always been a crowdpleaser, and the 2017 bottling continues that winning streak. The wine spent 20 months in French oak barrels (68% new) and then rested in bottle for eight months.
VM 91 (12/2020): Bright, moderately saturated red-ruby. Savory scents of blackberry, blueberry, cocoa powder, spices and tobacco leaf. Suave, savory and fine-grained, showing a restrained sweetness and a light touch to its raspberry, pomegranate, spice and cocoa flavors. Hints of cedar and herbs add complexity. Doesn't offer quite the breadth or palate-saturating density of the 2016 but graceful, pliant, seamless, savory and persistent, with sweet, dusty tannins in the background. (Drink between 2021-2026). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 91 (4/2020): The largest production cuvée from Delille, the D2 is named after the D2 highway that runs from the town of Bordeaux up into the Médoc. It’s always a quality wine, and the 2017 D2 sports a deep purple/ruby color as well as Bordeaux-like notes of cedary herbs, lead pencil, tobacco, damp earth, and blackberries. Medium-bodied, balanced, and silky, it’s unquestionably an outstanding wine that has a decade (or more) of prime drinking ahead of it. |
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2017 |
Doyenne Proprietary Blend |
$35 |
1 |
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VM 93 (12/2020): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice and lavender on the reticent nose. Concentrated, dark and a bit youthfully brooding but already showing a rich, pliant texture and terrific breadth. Cassis, licorice and mineral flavors are accented by dusty herbs, with a note of bitter chocolate emerging with air; nicely avoids the peppery pungency of the 2016 version. This very backward wine possesses the stuffing and energy to evolve gracefully but even today there are no rough edges. Blacker in its fruit character and a bit tighter-grained than the Métier, with as much acidity as smooth tannins to support aging. Serious juice! (Drink between 2021-2027). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 91+ (10/2020): Bold and juicy, the 2017 Doyenne is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of blackberry, currants and cassis leap out of the glass with precision, a soft rockiness and chocolate essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is poised and delightful, delivering pleasure with a rich and ripe berry-laced expression. The wine remains chocolaty and plummy on the winding finish. The wine aged for 20 months in French oak, over 50% first fill.
JD 91 (4/2020): A 60/40 split of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Doyenne is modeled after the reds from Provence (think Trevallon) and offers outstanding notes of ripe black fruits, Asian spices, leafy herbs, and a hint of herbes de Provence. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it’s balanced, has ripe, polished tannins, and is already hard to resist. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming decade. |
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2017 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$45 |
1 |
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JD 94 (4/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four separate vineyards on Red Mountain and is brought up mostly in new French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by rock star notes of crème de cassis, toasted spices, lead pencil, crushed, and savory herbs. It’s beautiful on the palate as well and offers medium to full-bodied richness, impeccable balance, and a great finish. It will ideally be given 2-4 years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity.
WA 93+ (10/2020): Made from a blend of the four vineyards on Red Mountain—the Ciel du Cheval, Grand Ciel, Klipsun and Upchurch vineyards—the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags has an even balance of mineral tension, freshness of fruit and elegant baking spices on the nose. Trying the other bottles of the range side by side, I can see the identity of the Four Flags, as each vineyard imparts flavors into the wine, like completing a puzzle to discover and display an image. Medium to full-bodied, the wine expresses blackberry skin, dusty red cherry, savory dried spices and elements of baked earth, with firm tannins across the mid-palate and ending with expressions of dried currants and crushed rocks.
VM 92+ (12/2020): Bright ruby-red. Brooding, very dark aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice pastille, bitter chocolate, crushed rock, herbs and violet. Penetrating, inky flavors of black and blue fruits, licorice pastille, herbs and minerals. This is very tightly wound and not yet showing its texture or sweetness. Finishes with firm but suave tannins and lovely building violety length. Very backward right now, even a bit tough and herbal, this Cabernet Sauvignon will need time in the cellar to express itself. My sample showed much more finesse of texture with extended aeration. (aged for 20 months in 100% new oak) (Drink between 2024-2032). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2017 |
Metier Red Blend |
$15 |
1 |
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VM 92 (12/2019): Healthy moderately saturated dark red. Raspberry, strawberry and red licorice aromas convey a slightly high-toned candied quality in a positive way. Silky, nicely concentrated, graceful blend with lovely sweetness and a light touch to its wild red berry, spice and floral flavors. Wonderfully lively, fine-grained but firm wine with noteworthy complexity, smooth ripe tannins and sneaky persistence. (This wine included the Grenache fruit that was used to make a separate varietal bottling in 2016.) Perhaps not quite the structure of the '16 version but I'm splitting hairs. Stephen Tanzer.
JD 90 (4/2020): Lots of darker red and black berry fruits as well as notes of peppery meat and spice emerge from the 2017 Metier. It’s medium-bodied and has silky tannins, outstanding balance, and an already upfront, charming, undeniably delicious style. A Rhone-like blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault, this cuvée ages gracefully, and the 2017 will keep for at least a decade.
WA 89 (12/2019): The 2017 Metier is a blend of 39% Grenache, 39% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah and 3% Cinsault and opens to aromas of red cherry, dusty raspberry and spiced black plum on the nose, exposing a clean and open-knit core. It shows some tight minerality on the palate with red and black spices, and the dried earth tones win out and linger on the finish, moving toward a tannic grip. I have had better expressions of the Metier in years past and will take a closer look at this bottling next year. |
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2017 |
Signature Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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VM 93 (12/2020): Bright, saturated medium ruby. Inky blackberry, cassis, violet and black olive on the nose. Wonderfully smooth and mouthfilling, with black fruit, violet and bitter chocolate flavors offering superb concentration and sexy sweetness. Here, too, the tannins are serious but utterly suave, and the finishing flavors of dark berries and violet build inexorably. This savory, brisk, clearly delineated Syrah should evolve gracefully in the cellar. Not a gamey style but primary, dense and built to age, finishing with palate-saturating tannins. Plusher in its youth than the more tightly wound 2016, this will give more early pleasure. (aged for 20 months in 35% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2028). Stephen Tanzer.
JD 92 (4/2020): While not at the level of the 2016, the 2017 Syrah Signature is nevertheless a beautiful effort, and readers looking to see what top grade Syrah from Washington tastes like should give it a whirl. Deep purple-colored with complex notes of blue fruits, lavender, and ground pepper, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a wonderfully balanced mouthfeel, good concentration and the elegance and purity to evolve for 10-12 years.
WA 91+ (10/2020): A blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier, the 2017 Syrah Signature displays a dark ruby core with a purple rim and offers aromas of blackberry jus with hints of smoke and black pepper, followed by baked earth and dried violets. Medium to full-bodied, the wine unfolds across the mid-palate to reveal flavors of black raspberry, black tea and bitter dark chocolate and shows youthful tannins that will lend longevity. It ends with a sensation of black cherry skin on the lingering finish. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 20 months in French oak, one-third of which was first fill. It certainly checks all the boxes. Nice wine. |
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| Diamond Creek |
2017 |
Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
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JD 96 (1/2021): Starting with the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace, this blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc spent 22 months in new barrels. Its dense purple color is followed by a captivating bouquet of blueberries, cassis, camphor, cedarwood, and dried tobacco leaves. Beautifully textured and medium to full-bodied, with present yet ripe tannins and just about flawless balance, this gorgeous Diamond Mountain Cabernet offers pleasure today yet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and should evolve for two decades or so. It's a 2017 well worth seeking out. (Drink between 2025-2046).
WA 95+ (9/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and was aged for 22 months in French oak, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose opens with profound notions of blueberry preserves, Black Forest cake and black olives with hints of camphor, pencil shavings and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich, ripe and concentrated, it has a solid structure of grainy tannins and a lively line of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace is soft, open-knit and inviting, especially for a Diamond Creek wine. Inky red/purplish fruit, iron, cedar, tobacco, licorice, sweet French oak and dried herbs add pretty layers of nuance. The French oak (100% new) seems a bit much. It will be interesting to see how the 2017 develops in the coming years. (Drink between 2024-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Donelan |
2017 |
Sonoma County Rose |
$25 |
5 |
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| Ehlers Estate |
2017 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
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| Emeritus Vineyards |
2017 |
La Combette Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir |
$75 |
1 |
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| Faethm |
2017 |
Fingers Crossed Syrah |
$189 |
2 |
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| JD 98 (10/2019): The 2017 Syrah Fingers Crossed has lots of Bien Nacido character (although there’s plenty of The Third Twin and Cumulus Vineyard fruit in the blend) in its olive, marine, bloody meat, and violet-laced aromas and flavors. Deep, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and, as with the Grenache, flawlessly balanced, it stays tight and compact on the palate and is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. |
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| Fairchild Estate |
2017 |
G III Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$229 |
1 |
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| Justin |
2017 |
Savant Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 91 (10/2020): The 2017 Savant is a blend of 65% Syrah and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 21 months in about 50% new French oak. It has a medium ruby-purple color and pretty notes of graphite, licorice, cedar and mint leaves with blackcurrant fruit. The palate is medium to full-bodied, grainy, ripe and juicy with a long finish. It's approachable right now but will age for another 3-5 years in bottle. |
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| Larkmead Vineyards |
2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
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VM 93 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a real overachiever in its peer group. Wonderfully layered and vibrant, the 2017 is just magnificent. All the elements come together in a sublime, wonderfully nuanced Cabernet. Larkmead ultimately decided not to bottle their Dr. Olmo Cabernet and instead used that wine (which was fabulous from barrel) to improve this blend - which it most certainly did. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92+ (1/2020): Starting with the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, it comes all from the estate in the north part of the valley and is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It has a deep, serious bouquet of scorched earth, graphite, crushed rocks, new saddle leather, and smoked tobacco all ground by a core a ripe dark fruit. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, building tannins, and the classic, focused style of the vintage, it's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. |
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2017 |
Firebelle Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
2 |
|
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| VM 92 (1/2020): The 2017 Firebelle, Larkmead's Merlot-based wine, is laced with sweet red cherry, spice, mint, cedar, tobacco and orange peel. Medium in body, silky and nicely lifted, the 2017 is decidedly understated for Larkmead. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, give or take, because of its mid-weight structure. Antonio Galloni. |
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2017 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$119 |
2 |
|
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WA 92 (12/2019): A blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 LMV Salon (White Label) has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh blackcurrants, kirsch and black raspberries with touches of bouquet garni, forest floor, charcoal and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with ripe red and black fruits and a firm, rugged texture, possessing just enough freshness to deliver a long, earth-laced finish. 470 cases were made.
VM 92+ (1/2020): Cabernet Franc, with its bright, high-toned aromatics, takes the lead in the 2017 LMV Salon. Sweet dried red cherry, mint, tobacco and wild flowers are all nicely lifted throughout. Supple and racy with tons of immediacy, the 2017 is already inviting, although it will develop more nuance with time in bottle. Even just a bit of air brings out an attractive fleshiness. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Linne Calodo |
2017 |
In My Dreams |
$45 |
1 |
|
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| VM 96 (12/2020): Deep, brilliant ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented red and dark berry and spice-cake aromas are complemented by suave floral and incense accents that expand as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and broad on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry, cherry liqueur, star anise and lavender pastille flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Smoothly plays richness off energy and finishes spicy and extremely long, with lingering florality and smooth tannins that add shape and subtle grip. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
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2017 |
In My Dreams |
$55 |
7 |
|
| |
| VM 96 (12/2020): Deep, brilliant ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented red and dark berry and spice-cake aromas are complemented by suave floral and incense accents that expand as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and broad on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry, cherry liqueur, star anise and lavender pastille flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Smoothly plays richness off energy and finishes spicy and extremely long, with lingering florality and smooth tannins that add shape and subtle grip. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2017 |
Outsider Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2020): Brilliant violet. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays fresh black and blue fruit, vanilla and succulent herb qualities; candied violet, licorice and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering mineral-laced cassis, cherry compote and fruitcake flavors that show superb depth and spicy peppery bite. Tightens up slowly on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish framed by velvety, well-knit tannins. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds.
JD 92 (10/2019): Mostly Zinfandel blended with 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan, aged 20 months in 16% new French oak, the 2017 Outsider is one of the more exotic wines in the lineup, showing lots of mulberry and blackberry fruits, exotic spice, candied orange rind, and dried herb aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied beauty has good acidity, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a wonderful sense of weightlessness on the palate. It’s another sweetly fruited, opulent wine from Trevisan. (Drink between 2019-2027). |
|
|
2017 |
Outsider Bin-Soiled Label |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 95 (2/2020): Brilliant violet. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays fresh black and blue fruit, vanilla and succulent herb qualities; candied violet, licorice and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering mineral-laced cassis, cherry compote and fruitcake flavors that show superb depth and spicy peppery bite. Tightens up slowly on an extremely long, floral-dominated finish framed by velvety, well-knit tannins. (Drink between 2024-2034). Josh Raynolds.
JD 92 (10/2019): Mostly Zinfandel blended with 20% Syrah and 5% Carignan, aged 20 months in 16% new French oak, the 2017 Outsider is one of the more exotic wines in the lineup, showing lots of mulberry and blackberry fruits, exotic spice, candied orange rind, and dried herb aromas and flavors. This medium to full-bodied beauty has good acidity, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a wonderful sense of weightlessness on the palate. It’s another sweetly fruited, opulent wine from Trevisan. (Drink between 2019-2027). |
|
|
2017 |
The Martian |
$30 |
12 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
The Martian |
$40 |
7 |
|
| |
|
| The Maiden (Harlan) |
2017 |
Proprietary Blend |
$285 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (1/2021): The 2017 The Maiden is a deep, super-expressive wine. I am quite surprised by how rich the 2017 is, given a year in which many wines are on the lighter side. Dark red cherry and red plum fruit is front and center. There is some nervousness in the tannin so, even though The Maiden is the second wine of Harlan Estate, it needs at least a few years in bottle. This is a terrific showing. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (1/2021): Bottled in February, the 2017 Maiden is a top notch 2017 that’s going to evolve gracefully for two decades or more. Lots of assorted currant and berry fruits as well as notes of charcoal, graphite, and spice emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with an elegant texture, present tannins, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful wine. (Drink between 2021-2043) |
|
| Meyer Family Cellars |
2017 |
Spitfire Cabernet Sauvignon |
$39 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Mount Eden Vineyards |
2017 |
Estate Pinot Noir Nicked, Bin-Soiled Label |
$63 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (9/2020): The 2017 Pinot Noir is a very pretty, open-knit wine. Crushed rose petal, sweet red berry, mint, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco give the 2017 striking aromatic presence. In 2017, the Mount Eden Pinot is a decidedly forward, silky wine that looks like it will offer its best drinking sooner rather than later. The 2017 was done with 33% whole clusters and saw 50% new barrels. (Drink between 2020-2029). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91+ (4/2024): The 2017 Pinot Noir Estate saw the usual fermentation with one-third whole clusters and élevage in 50% new French oak. The nose opens with straightforward red-fruited aromas, gaining woodsy, herbal and dried flower notes over time. The palate follows suit in its monotypic structure, gaining a bit of grip and refreshment on the finish with some coaxing. This is undoubtedly more primed for early consumption rather than a long life in the cellar, although it could gain complexity over the next few years. |
|
|
2017 |
Estate Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$130 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 93 (9/2020): The 2017 Pinot Noir is a very pretty, open-knit wine. Crushed rose petal, sweet red berry, mint, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco give the 2017 striking aromatic presence. In 2017, the Mount Eden Pinot is a decidedly forward, silky wine that looks like it will offer its best drinking sooner rather than later. The 2017 was done with 33% whole clusters and saw 50% new barrels. (Drink between 2020-2029). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91+ (4/2024): The 2017 Pinot Noir Estate saw the usual fermentation with one-third whole clusters and élevage in 50% new French oak. The nose opens with straightforward red-fruited aromas, gaining woodsy, herbal and dried flower notes over time. The palate follows suit in its monotypic structure, gaining a bit of grip and refreshment on the finish with some coaxing. This is undoubtedly more primed for early consumption rather than a long life in the cellar, although it could gain complexity over the next few years. |
|
| Myriad |
2017 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 97 (1/2020): I was blown away by the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III, which has to be one of the best wines to come from this site in some time. Full-bodied notes of blue fruits, iron, bay leaf, and violets all emerge from the glass, and it opens up beautifully with time. As with all of Mike’s 2017s, the tannins are terrific, it’s flawlessly balanced, and just a stunning wine. It too will have 20 years or more of longevity. (Drink between 2020-2040).
VM 92 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III is one of the most overt wines in this range. Super-ripe dark plum, chocolate, spice, espresso and licorice are all kicked up a few notches here. Powerful and opulent to the core, the Georges III offers tons of immediacy, if a bit less nuance than is found in some of the other wines. Readers looking for a Myriad Cabernet to drink young without a ton of fuss will love the 2017. It is such an expressive and inviting wine. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (10/2019): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard gives up baked black currants, blackberry pie and red currant jelly scents with wafts of red roses, fragrant soil, unsmoked cigars, tapenade and Indian spices. The palate is full-bodied, firm, grainy, muscular and tightly wound with a fragrant finish. |
|
| Next of Kyn |
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend |
$275 |
10 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2017 |
Cumulus Vyd. No. 11 Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 100 (8/2020): Pure perfection, the 2017 No 11 comes all from the estate Cumulus Vineyard around the estate in Oak View and is 48% Syrah, 24.8% Grenache, 12.7% Mourvèdre, 10.6% Petite Sirah, and the balance a mix of white varieties including Petit Manseng and Roussanne. Fermented with 23% whole clusters and aged 32 months in 68% new French oak, this incredible 2017 boasts a saturated purple hue to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, bouquet garni, ground pepper, white chocolate, and cured meats. Incredibly complex, flawlessly balanced, and with a seamless texture that needs to be tasted to be believed, this is a magical blend from California that can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for 15-20 years. Hats off to the Krankl family for another truly special wine! |
|
|
2017 |
Numero Tres Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (8/2020): The third time the Krankls have released a Touriga Nacional-dominated release, I'd say the 2017 Touriga Nacional Numero Tres is the finest yet. If you'd told me this variety could produce a wine of this quality a decade ago, I'd have thought you were crazy, but the proof is in the pudding, as they say. Based on a blend of 80% Touriga Nacional, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, and 6% Grenache, it comes 100% from the Cumulus Vineyard in Oak View and spent 33 months in 60% new French oak. There are a tiny 89 cases produced. Its deep purple hue is followed by a majestic bouquet of black cherries, cassis, blackberries, toasted spices, and flowery incense. With medium to full-bodied richness, a flawlessly balanced, elegant texture, silky tannins, and a saliva-inducing finish, it has one of the longest finishes in a wine I've encountered. I have no idea how this will evolve over the long-term, but I can't imagine it not benefiting from 2-4 years of bottle age and drinking brilliantly for at least 10-15 years. |
|
|
2017 |
Numero Um Touriga Nacional (1.5 L) |
$550 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Ovid |
2017 |
Experiment F2.7 Proprietary Blend |
$119 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Passing Time |
2017 |
Horse Heaven Hill Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95 (4/2020): Moving to the flagship appellation blends, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, all aged 21 months in 80% new French oak. Deep purple/plum-colored, with notes of tobacco leaf, damp earth, chocolate, and assorted darker fruits, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, supple texture, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and shows the more classic, elegant style of the vintage nicely. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles.
VM 94 (12/2019): Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blue and black fruits and licorice are lifted by floral and herbal nuances. A very stylish, silky Cabernet Sauvignon with terrific inner-mouth violet lift and sexy oak tones to its fine-grained flavors of dark berries and cocoa powder. Concentrated, savory and very long; more pliant than the 2016 version owing to its nobility of tannins. Very classy juice--and showing brilliantly today. (the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Klipsun and Red Mountain vineyards, the Cab Franc from Bacchus; 80% new oak) (Drink between 2021-2030). Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (12/2019): The 2017 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon has splashes of 7% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc added in to round out the blend. The nose is lush with a clean expression that will age beautifully for the next decade. The wine has a blackberry and red cherry core, with dusty plum and soft savory notes that add to the complexity. The mouthfeel is still youthful and currently showing well, with a tight mineral expression and approachable tannins, ending with a long, spicy finish. The wine will be ready a touch sooner than the 2016s and will bring pleasure. |
|
|
2017 |
Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 95+ (4/2020): More minerality as well as notes of black raspberries, cassis, toasted spice, graphite, and scorched earth emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain (there is 3% Merlot). This rich, structured yet beautifully balanced Red Mountain Cabernet is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and long. Give this super-intense, pure, structured 2017 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 20 years or more. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles. (Drink between 2023-2045).
WA 94 (12/2019): Composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich black-fruited core on the finessed nose, with a wet minerality and dried red florals. The full-bodied palate turns a touch tarter, with the fruit set moving from blackberries to black raspberries with a dusty minerality. The wine has a tight grip and lingers on the finish with good focus and balance. The 2017 vintage is showing really well, and it is a safe bet to add this to your cellar. |
|
|
2017 |
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
JD 94 (4/2020): Coming from a mix of the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge vineyards, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley reveals a deep purple hue as well as beautiful floral, lavender, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, and just terrific balance, it's another gorgeous wine from this team that can be drunk today or cellared for 15 years or more. These wines by Chris Peterson continue to offer rich yet classic, balanced styles. (Drink between 2020-2035).
WA 94 (12/2019): Starting with a rocky minerality that shines through on the nose, the 2017 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows a good core of red and black fruit that highlights the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards. The dark red fruit lingers over the palate with a rocky and softly savory spiced tension, giving way to structured tannins that build on the back end of the mid-palate. The wine is focused on the well-framed finish, with blackcurrant and black raspberry jus sprinkled with a rustic and rocky tension. It's a nicely made wine that drinks well. I want a second sip. |
|
| Patria |
2017 |
Price Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Price is sensual, racy and inviting, as wines from St. Helena tend to be. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, spice, mint and floral notes all meld together in an unctuous, dense Cabernet that will drink well with minimal cellaring. There is so much to like. The Price is, once again, the most immediate of the three wines in this range. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Peacock Family |
2017 |
Dona Margarita Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| La Pelle |
2017 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Joseph Phelps |
2017 |
Insignia Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$479 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2020): The 2017 Insignia is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from: 46% Las Rocas vineayrd (Stags Leap District), 22% Barboza vineyard (Stags Leap District), 13% Suscol vineyard (South Napa Valley), 10% Yountville vineyard (Oak Knoll District) and 9% Home Ranch (St. Helena). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant scents of Black Forest cake, preserved plums and blueberry pie plus touches of redcurrant jelly, potpourri, clove oil and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gained weight from it's in-barrel offering, boasting rich, decadently perfumed black fruit preserves flavors with a racy backbone and velvety tannins, finishing long and spicy. 7,400 cases were made. |
|
| Le Pich (Purlieu) |
2017 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Le Pich Cabernet Sauvignon - an entry-level wine from Julien Fayard - is a blend from multiple vineyards across Napa Valley. Bold, powerful and savory, the 2017 offers plenty of immediacy in an explosive, heady style. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, while the fruit remains vibrant and juicy. (Drink between 2019-2025). Antonio Galloni.
WA 86 (10/2019): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Pich offers lifted black and blue fruit preserves with a subtle undercurrent of sautéed herbs, underbrush and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied, the palate is just a tad hollow / skeletal with a firm frame of chewy tannins and rustic finish. |
|
| Pulido-Walker |
2017 |
Melanson Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 97 (1/2020): Even better, I suspect the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon might be a candidate for the wine of the vintage with 4-5 years of bottle age. From a vineyard on Pritchard Hill, just across from Colgin, and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this inky colored beauty offers loads of blueberry and blackcurrant liqueur-like fruits as well as lots of spice, flowery incense, and subtle herbal undertones. Textbook Cabernet on the nose, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It’s one of the few wines in the vintage that comes close to rivaling its 2015 and 2016 counterparts. The cellar will be your friend on this one, though, and a good 4-6 years of bottle age are warranted. |
|
| Quivet Cellars |
2017 |
Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$130 |
1 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (1/2020): These Quivet Cellars releases are made by Mike Smith, who, for any Napa lover, probably needs no introduction. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is rocking stuff and comes from a brilliant vineyard just outside of St. Helena, not more than a stone’s throw from the Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard. This is a classic Cabernet with loads of blue fruits, tobacco, spring flowers, and a terrific sense of minerality. It shows more floral notes with time in the glass, is medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, has remarkable purity, and a great finish. It should pick up additional nuances and complexity with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20+.
VM 90 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is pushed to the max. Ripe, jammy fruit and a muscular feel that is so characteristic of Las Piedras Cabernets yields a wine that is quite distinctive. Super-ripe dark fruit, leather, menthol and chocolate are pushed forward in this overt-flamboyant Cabernet. Antonio Galloni.
WA 91 (10/2019): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is deep garnet-purple colored with medicinal, baked black and blue fruit, herbs and cedar. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and juicy with good expression. |
|
| Ramiiisol |
2017 |
Riserva Cabernet Franc |
$200 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2017 |
Boatman Ranch Vyd. Zinfandel |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 90 (5/2020): Coming from the Alexander Valley and 92% Zinfandel and 8% Petite Sirah, the 2017 Zinfandel Boatman offers a big, powerful bouquet of candied violets, plums, sandalwood, and incense. Rich and medium-bodied, it has a light, elegant texture, and good balance. It's another charming, delicious, classic Zinfandel from this terrific estate. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years or so. (Drink between 2020-2028) |
|
|
2017 |
Ponzo Vyd. Zinfandel |
$32 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 92 (11/2019): Mostly Zinfandel (there's 2% Petite Sirah), the 2017 Zinfandel Ponzo sports a deep purple color as well as a juicy bouquet of blueberries, plums, licorice, and toasted spices. It's a rounded, medium to full-bodied, supple, seamless beauty with plenty of sweet fruit, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's another terrific Zinfandel from this team to enjoy over the coming decade. |
|
| Saddleback Cellars |
2017 |
Chloe’s Blend Red Wine |
$49 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Sandlands |
2017 |
Refosco |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2019): The 2017 Refosco, another oddity in this range, is sourced from Casa Nuestra, a site in St. Helena that sells the rest of their fruit to Turley. There is good varietal character in the inky blue and black fruit, along with hints of lavender, rose petal, sage and mint. Supple and silky, with lovely aromatic delineation, the Refosco will drink well upon release. Readers should note that the Sandlands wine is made from a generic version of the Refosco grape and not the Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso that can produce wines of notable structure and distinction. (Drink between 2019-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Trousseau |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2019): The 2017 Trousseau, from the Bohan Ranch on the Sonoma Coast. Is absolutely gorgeous. Dried flowers, strawberry, mint, pine and sweet tobacco are all beautifully lifted in this gracious, fragrant wine. Understated and classy to the core, the Trousseau is incredibly inviting. I would prefer to drink the 2017 over the next few years, although it has enough energy to likely drink well beyond that. (Drink between 2019-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
Contra Costa County Red Table Wine |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2019): The 2017 Red Table Wine is a blend of Carignane and Mataro, two varieties that are especially complementary here. Super-ripe red cherry, rose petal, mint, cedar and sweet tobacco are some of the aromas and flavors that emerge. Silky, nuanced and light on its feet, the 2017 is very pretty. As is the case with all of these wines, the integration of the whole clusters is impeccable. The blend is 65% Carignane and 35% Mataro. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Schrader |
2017 |
CCS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$285 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2020): Another wine in the running for the wine of the vintage is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard CCS, which, as always, is all Cabernet aged in new Darnajou barrels. This full-bodied, magical 2017 has incredibly polished, silky tannins as well as a mammoth-sized texture and mouthfeel. Loaded with notions of blueberries, white flowers, graphite, candied violets, and incense, it’s one of those wines that carries incredible richness and depth yet never seems heavy or cumbersome. The 2017 doesn’t get much better, and this beauty can be drunk today or cellared for two decades. |
|
|
2017 |
MB To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$315 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus. |
|
|
2017 |
Monastery Block To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$265 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is always terrific, yet I always find it more linear and foursquare compared to some of the other releases in the lineup. Nevertheless, it offers a terrific bouquet of gravelly earth, ground herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, and some obvious minerality. This full-bodied Cabernet is going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 plus. |
|
|
2017 |
T6 Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Bin-Soiled Label |
$295 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 98 (1/2020): In the top handful of wines in the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (which was harvested the morning of the fires) that spent 20 months in 92% new French oak. This is a powerhouse of a wine that’s loaded with fruit and richness, yet it still just glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Dense purple-hued, with lots of chocolaty black and blue fruits, incense, and spice as well as unsmoked tobacco, give bottles 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades |
|
| Seaver Vineyards |
2017 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon |
$185 |
5 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon GTS is powerful, dense and brooding, with massive tannins that may never be balanced. Game, licorice, tobacco and graphite add layers of complexity, but it is hard to get past tannins that are huge and overpowering, even within the context of Diamond Mountain. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2017 |
GTS Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$370 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon GTS is powerful, dense and brooding, with massive tannins that may never be balanced. Game, licorice, tobacco and graphite add layers of complexity, but it is hard to get past tannins that are huge and overpowering, even within the context of Diamond Mountain. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Slacker (Linne Calodo) |
2017 |
Wanna Be Red Wine |
$30 |
10 |
|
| |
|
| Somnium Cellars |
2017 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2017 |
Cabernet Franc |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Stag's Leap Wine Cellars |
2017 |
Armillary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$215 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95 (10/2019): A barrel sample, the 2017 Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon is very deep purple-black colored with pronounced notes of crème de cassis, mocha, plum preserves and unsmoked cigars with touches of dried herbs, fragrant soil and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a great intensity of ripe black fruit and grainy tannins with just enough freshness and a long, slightly chewy finish. |
|
|
2017 |
Cellarius Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Distinguished Vineyards Battuello Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Distinguished Vineyards Soda Ranch Canyon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2017 |
Heart of Fay Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Staglin Family Vineyards |
2017 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$475 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94+ (12/2018): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is an attractive, racy wine with plush fruit, soft contours and tons of sheer immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, floral notes, spice and mint are all nicely lifted in this enticing, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon from Staglin. The 2017 offers lovely freshness and aromatic presence in a medium-bodied Cabernet that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Stags' Leap Winery |
2017 |
Napa Valley Merlot Bin-Soiled Label |
$25 |
1 |
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| WA 89 (10/2020): Composed of 96% Merlot and 4% Petite Sirah, the 2017 Merlot was aged for 19 months in French oak, 35% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it offers open-knit, expressive notes of baked plums, boysenberries and fruitcake with touches of hoisin, clove oil and bouquet garni. The soft, satiny, medium-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits, lifted by a lively line of freshness and finishing satisfyingly spicy. |
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| The Third Twin (Sine Qua Non) |
2017 |
Third Twin Vyd. Graciano |
$325 |
1 |
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| The Vineyardist |
2017 |
Calarcadia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$160 |
3 |
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| VM 97 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Calarcadia Vineyard is dense, plush and super-expressive. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, white flowers, mint, blood orange and cinnamon all run through the 2017. I am really impressed with the wine's freshness and nuance, both of which took considerable effort to achieve. Medium in body, exotic and alluring, the 2017 is one of the best wines of the year. Sadly, production is just above 200 cases—which is about half of normal. (Drink between 2022-2037). Antonio Galloni. |
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| Turnbull |
2017 |
Amoenus Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$135 |
1 |
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VM 97 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus Vineyard is a big, powerful, brawny Calistoga Cabernet. Black cherry, grilled herbs, leather, menthol, licorice and cured meats give the 2017 striking aromatic nuance to play off a core of huge black fruit. Big, muscular tannins frame this decidedly virile, potent Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an especially rich, masculine wine. It is also the only pure Cabernet in the Turnbull range. (Drink between 2024-2037). Antonio Galloni.
WA 92+ (10/2019): Deep purple black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus Vineyard offers up notes of plums preserves, blueberry pie and spice cake with hints of Indian spices, fallen leaves and tobacco plus a waft of potpourri. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with spicy black fruit preserves, framed by chewy tannins and finishing savory. |
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| Vincent Wine Co. |
2017 |
Bjornson Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$35.99 |
23 |
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| VM 93 (8/2020): Brilliant red. Highly expressive aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and candied rose, along with a hint of smoky minerality. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show fine definition and back-end lift. Intensely flavored and finely delineated, with an impressively long, perfumed finish that delivers firm mineral cut and resonating florality. (Drink between 2022-2029). Josh Raynolds. |
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| White Rock Vineyards |
2017 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
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| Williams Selyem |
2017 |
Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir |
$75 |
6 |
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| WA 92 (12/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and is youthfully shy, slowly offering scents of raspberry preserves, red and black cherries and touches of cured meats, peppercorn, autumn leaves, dried rose petal and potpourri. It's light to medium-bodied, rounded and silky with slowly evolving earth and spice layers, a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing long with baking spice touches. This is very youthfully coiled, and my score may look conservative a year from now. 1,289 cases produced. |
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2017 |
Estate Pinot Noir |
$85 |
3 |
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WA 95+ (12/2019): Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard opens with crushed blueberry and blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon and vanilla touches plus licorice, loamy earth, dried leaves and tobacco/cedar hints. Medium-bodied, rounded and wonderfully silky and concentrated, it offers lovely flavor layers, a youthfully firm frame of tannins and great juicy freshness on the amazingly long, layered and energetic finish. This will reward another few years of cellaring.
JD 95 (12/2020): One of the standouts in the lineup, the 2017 Pinot Noir Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard just about jumps out of the glass with its foresty, pine, spice, and mulled red and black fruit-driven aromatics. These all carry over on the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has bright, juicy acidity, elegant tannins, and the class to evolve for a decade. (Drink between 2020-2030).
VM 94+ (5/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard is powerful and tightly wound, with less of the appeal found in most of these 2017s. That shouldn't be too much of an issue in another few years' time, but readers should plan on being patient. There is not much Russian River charm on display today. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
BH 93 (4/2020): This is also appealingly cool and restrained with spicier aromas of both red and dark pinot fruit along with hints of Asian-style tea. The middle weight flavors possess a highly attractive texture despite not being particularly dense though there is already fine complexity on the dusty, compact and sneak long finish. This bitter cherry pit-inflected effort appears to have very good development potential and is a wine that will definitely need at least some patience in order to better harmonize. (Drink starting 2028). |
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2017 |
Olivet Lane Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$99 |
2 |
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JD 95 (6/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane is another beautiful Russian River release from this estate that offers a big nose of wild strawberries, candied cherries, violets, mint, and sandalwood. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it's beautifully balanced, has moderate tannins, and a great finish, with its acidity there yet nicely tucked in behind beautiful fruit. It's not a heavyweight yet stays light, balanced, and incredibly satisfying. Drink it over the coming decade or more. (Drink between 2019-2029).
WA 94+ (4/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple with a poignant nose of blueberry, red berry preserves, Earl Grey tea leaves, warm blackberry and dusty earth. Light to medium-bodied with a concentrated core of perfumed fruits, it offers wonderful freshness and a soft frame of tannins, with baking spices coming through on the finish.
VM 94 (5/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane Vineyard is soft, open-knit and inviting. Red berry fruit, silky tannins and expressive floral/spice overtones give the 2017 much of its undeniably allure. I imagine the 2017 will provide readers with a long window of drinking pleasure. (Drink between 2022-2032). Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (10/2019): A restrained and once again very cool nose grudgingly offers up notes of both red and dark berries that are laced with spice and floral wisps. The sleek, intense and delicious medium weight flavors possess the finest mouth feel in the range along with better length on the more completely balanced finale. While there is a hint of dryness here as well, it's quite subtle and I suspect that time will eventually dissipate it. (Drink starting 2027). |
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2017 |
Precious Mountain Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$69 |
3 |
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VM 95 (5/2019): Next to the other 2017s in this range, the Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard comes across as quite shy, with more of a savory character and less overt fruit. Firm tannins dominate at this stage, and yet there is plenty of depth and complexity waiting to emerge. Readers will have to be patient, but there is plenty to look forward to. (Drink between 2020-2032). Antonio Galloni.
JD 94 (12/2020): Beautifully complex and balanced, the 2017 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard offers a complex bouquet of spiced red and black fruits, earthy, pine-laced forest floor, and a subtle beef broth-like meatiness. With plenty of richness on the palate, a bright spine of acidity, and lively tannins, this youthful yet oh, so promising beauty should evolve nicely for a solid decade. (Drink between 2020-2030).
WA 92 (12/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Precious Mountain Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple and youthfully shy, very slowly giving up cinnamon stick, warm blackberries, black and red cherries, pipe tobacco, prosciutto, earth and black tea leaves. It's light to medium-bodied and spicy but somewhat shy in the mouth, with a firm frame of chalky tannins and juicy acidity, finishing very long and spicy. This needs more time in bottle! |
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2017 |
Sonoma County Pinot Noir |
$59 |
4 |
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| JD 93 (6/2019): The appellation 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma County sports a medium ruby color as well as classic sweet red fruits, flowers, incense, and dried forest floor. Readers looking for a beautiful introduction into this estate can't go wrong with this and it’s medium-bodied, has a light, ethereal texture, integrated acidity and tannins, and a beautiful finish. It's classic, old-school, and damn good. |
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2017 |
Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir |
$79 |
4 |
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| VM 94 (5/2019): The 2017 Pinot Noir Westside Road Neighbors is another wine in this range that is all about understatement and nuance. Medium in body yet also quite deep and resonant, the Westside Road Neighbors is succulent and inviting from the very first taste. Black cherry, plum, violet and cloves all add to the wine's dark-ish leaning flavor profile. Antonio Galloni. |
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