The least expensive wine from Abreu is a 400-case cuvée called Rothwell Hyde, which comes from different vineyards. The 2012, which is in bottle, offers loads of cedar wood, black chocolate and coffee as well as hints of... Read More
I was thrilled to taste the 2016 Rothwell Hyde as it was the only 2016 I hadn’t tasted. This was a great, great vintage for Napa and this quality shows, with the wine possessing a youthful, vibrant hue as well as classic... Read More
Aldo Conterno’s Barolo Bussia is produced from five hectares of prime vineyards in Bussia Soprano, the original section of what has become a rather large vineyard in recent years. These five hectares are spread across three... Read More
Terracotta, earth, iron filings, cedar and leather make for an undergrowth-driven Brunello 2015, which doesn’t fall short in the fruit department either, where there are red plums and red cherries. The tannins are neatly... Read More
Brilliant ruby-red color, this classic Rosso offers sumptuous aromas of ripened blackberries and dark cherries. On the palate, the wine is generously well-rounded and rich with fruit-forward notes complimented by hints of leather... Read More
With vineyards throughout Montalcino, Altesino started harvest at the beginning of September with its southernmost holdings. After rain mid-month, the estate continued with plots in the north. The resulting wine is light yet bright... Read More
This celebrated single-vineyard wine follows through with many of the attractive themes presented in the base Brunello, only you get more robust intensity and power here. The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is slightly more... Read More
A very nuanced but powerful Brunello showing hibiscus, raspberry tea, gunpowder, petrichor, dried orange rind and spearmint. The rows of sharp tannins are very defined and agile, and the acidity is tensely strung up in overtures... Read More
Lovely sweet cherries and heather with some leather and balsamic undertones. It’s full-bodied with a velvety and lightly dusty palate. Juicy fruit and pretty orange peel to the berry character. Hints of cedar and meat at... Read More
Ruby red, tending to garnet red with ageing. Hints of humus and a broad, ethereal and compound aroma. Strong character and structure of great thickness.
Pair with red and roast meat, along with noble game.
While Altesino’s Montosoli bottling is a closeup of a single cru, this Riserva is a panoramic shot of Montalcino. It draws on a selection of bunches from the estate’s vineyards spread throughout the region. It's... Read More
Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with... Read More
What a charming nose, with scented blueberries, crushed violets, red berries, wild herbs and a hint of dark olive. Juicy and pristinely dry and honest on the medium-to full-bodied palate, rounded by ultra-fine tannins, which are... Read More
92-94 The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the gate with loads of blueberry preserves and stewed black plums notes on... Read More
Crafted in the Pomerol style, Amuse Bouche 2018 is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards in the east Rutherford hills of Napa Valley. We picked our fruit in three stages on 9/17, 9/29 and 10/18. The 2018... Read More
The 2012s are the most showy and forward of the three vintages, which is not surprising, since the vintage is flamboyant and they are already three years of age. Even as impressive, but showing more truffles, charcoal, graphite... Read More
The EABA is more Syrah-dominated and checks in as 65% Syrah, 22% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, and the rest Viognier that saw plenty of stems and close to two years in 50% new French oak. Its inky purple hue is followed by a... Read More
The vineyards of Badia a Passignano surround an ancient monastery which has belonged to Benedictine monks since the 11th century. It’s just 3km south of Antinori’s Tignanello estate, from which the Sangiovese cuttings... Read More
Extraordinary intense ruby red in colour. Fruity, more of cherry than cassis, with hints of toast, coffee and dark chocolate. Finely structured and complex; balanced, with soft tannins and a lingering finish. Displays unmistakable... Read More
Guado al Tasso 2020 is an intense ruby red in color. The nose offers notes of small dark fruit with sweet spice and toasted oak. On the palate, pure flavors and refined tannins lead to a persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed... Read More
Produced since 1978, Solaia comes from a 20-hectare vineyard with a southwestern exposure at around 350-400 metres above sea level. The soil is the typical 'alberese' limestone and 'galestro' schist. The 2018 vintage... Read More
Producer tasting notes: Solaia 2020 is rubyred in color. Exceptional intensityand complexity on the nose: notes of wild berries, especially blueberries, raspberriesand currants that intermingle with sweet hints of plums, black... Read More
Deep dark ruby in color, the wine presents fresh under ripe rhubarb, black cherry, cassis, fresh mint and black peppercorn to the nose. The palate is concentrated and focused, with blackberries and tart fruit cradled by the minerality... Read More
Delightful aromas of juicy red cherries, strawberries, rose petals and wild bush, together with hints of juniper and ground herbs. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and crisp acidity. Zesty and piquant with beautiful balance and... Read More
Great impact on the nose, black berry fruit, spices, well integrated wood, chocolate and coffee. Soft and round palate with an excellent acid boost. Firm but soft tannins. Powerful and explosive it embodies all the energy of the... Read More
Ferrington Vineyard rests on a gently sloping bench overlooking the town of Boonville in the heart of Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. One of the earliest sites to be planted in this historic appellation, Ferrington... Read More
Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley bursts with pure cranberries, black cherries, charcuterie, loamy earth and blood orange aromas. Medium-bodied, it has pleasing graininess and bursts of freshness to support... Read More
The Russian River Valley Pinot Noir bottling is a wonderful introduction to the Arista portfolio for 2019. The wine really captures the essence of the vintage. Blue and red fruits predominate on the nose, but the... Read More
Lucky Well Vineyard is perched at the very top of Stoetz Ridge, the land mass that divides the true Sonoma Coast from the Russian River Valley. As such, the wine made from this site always expresses qualities from... Read More
The 2017 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a blend of our four Russian River Valley Chardonnay vineyards: El Diablo Vineyard on Eastside Road,... Read More
An exceptional snapshot of the 2020 vintage in the Russian River, this release is a blend of barrels from five Russian River Valley sites: Flora Marie, El Diablo, Ritchie, Banfield, and Arista’s Westside Road... Read More
The 2019 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is easily the most graceful edition of this wine we have ever made. With its south-facing aspect in the center of the Russian River Valley appellation, Ritchie Vineyard is known... Read More
Green apple, lemon oil, and white peach notes emerge on the nose and form the core of the 2020 edition of the El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay. Lemon-lime flavors are enhanced by notes of white pepper and a beam of... Read More
Bright ruby-red. Exotic crushed raspberry, blackberry and espresso on the nose, with hints of graphite and roast coffee. Chewy, lush and densely packed, with juicy flavors of black raspberry and espresso. Finishes with dusty,... Read More
Layered and graceful, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Beaux Freres Vineyard pours a ripe ruby hue and reveals a beautiful perfume of orange rind, fresh red plum, clove spice, and rocky earth. Medium-bodied, with tremendous energy, fine... Read More
Color: Pale, ruby red with light tints of garnet
Scent: Ethereal, spicy, with scents of red fruit
Taste and Body: Dry, medium-to-full bodied, reasonably tannic, balanced and persistent
The 2019 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard is exceptionally layered and elegant this vintage, with detailed raspberries and rose petal perfume and wafts of licorice peel and tangerine. The palate is grainy and bright, already... Read More
Barrel fermented and put through complete malolactic fermentation, Sigrid is full and rich. The supple mouthfeel brings on lively flavors of clover, apple, fresh green herbs and a lick of butter. Elegant and detailed from start... Read More
Dark, bright-brimmed red. Spice- and earth-tinged red and blue fruit scents show a suave floral overtone. Youthfully taut bitter cherry, blueberry and spicecake flavors flesh out and take a sweeter turn through the back half.... Read More
White gold with a youthful green hue. Lovely stuff here with a great, reductive, mineral note of fresh struck flint, hazelnuts, spiced pastry cream, grilled citrus, toasted brioche, but primarily lives up to its name with a great,... Read More
Density and dryness that really comes together here, after almost 10 years in bottle. It’s very deep and vertical on the palate. Very pure and beautiful crushed cherries, dried flowers, carbon and pumice. Wonderful all round.... Read More
The Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Red is back for 2018 and it is a true anomaly. In the Bevan portfolio, this wine is always the last to come around and show its stuff. Once this wine was put in tank it was off to the races.... Read More
The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino exudes dark, velvety fruit and concentration while maintaining the signature elegance, suppleness and lithe personalty that distinguishes the iconic Il Greppo estate. I found this new... Read More
Comparing 2015 with 2016, technical director Federico Radi says that the latter is more balanced and aromatic owing to overall cooler temperatures in July and August. It is certainly more in line with Biondi Santi’s angular,... Read More
The 2017 Brunello is a wine of light and energy. On the nose crispy notes of sour cherries, blood oranges and small red berry fruits are accompanied by scents of Mediterranean balsamic herbs and a touch of flint.... Read More
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a truly majestic wine. The bouquet is packed with intense fruity notes of black berries, pomegranate and plums, intertwined with scents of Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary... Read More
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a truly majestic wine. The bouquet is packed with intense fruity notes of black berries, pomegranate, and plums, intertwined with scents of Mediterranean herbs such as thyme, rosemary,... Read More
I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet... Read More
Sly in the early innings and then menthol, forest, spice, charcoal and earthy black-fruit aromas emerge to rally this bruiser into its prime, which entails monster fruit flavors, rugged tannins, and a stout, peppery finish. The... Read More
The outstanding 2005 Termanthia has a much more reticent nose than the 2004, which is a difficult act to follow, but in many ways it is just as attractive, perhaps with better delineation and more elegance, scents of incense,... Read More
Fresh and intense fruity aromas well integrated with a flower touch, gentle spices & lively eucalyptus leaves touch. The aromatic experience continues, the mouthfeel is silky and vibrant. After lively and intense attack, an explosion... Read More
So much dried flower mushroom iron rust sweet berry and grilled orange. Full-bodied with very elegant and refined tannins that melt in the mouth and give a real sense of place and integrity. Balanced and harmonious. The finesse... Read More
Reserved and polished, this is a Prado Enea with great class and focus. It’s so aromatic,with plum, peach, cherry and cedar character. Salted olives, too. Medium-to full-bodied with very fine tannins and a long, fresh finish.... Read More
This is a structured and linear Muga Reserva with a creamy and fine-tannined backbone and graphite, cherry, plum and black-truffle character. Medium-bodied, racy and beautiful. 70% tempranillo, 20% grenache and 10% mazuelo and... Read More
A perfumed, fresh nose filled with violets, lavender, black currants. The palate is plush, dense and precise, finishing with a purity and deftness that is increasingly hard to find in Napa. Impressively ready to drink even at... Read More
Deep garnet in color, the 2009 Bettina has a seriously savory nose of tapenade, Black Forest cake, sandalwood, dried Provence herbs and smoked meats with a background of prunes, baked blackcurrants and kirsch plus wafts of forest... Read More
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a fascinating wine. Some of the rougher, wilder edges that are present in the 2008 are smoothed out here. Layers of expressive dark fruit, licorice, mint and new leather wrap around... Read More
The resulting wine is fantastic with aromas of clove, cranberry, raspberry, coffee, cinnamon, black pepper, and coco nibs. Gloriously pure notes of boysenberry, graphite, blackberry, coffee, and dark chocolate soar from the glass... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is even better, with a stunning nose of black and blue fruits as well as iron, black olive tapenade, and subtle herbal nuances. Pure 2019 goodness on the palate, it's full-bodied, has ripe,... Read More
A thrilling Pinot Noir that comes from a 13.8-acre vineyard planted in 1975 on mostly on limestone, at an elevation of 2,200 feet, the 2012 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard was harvested September 24 to October 21 and was aged 16 months... Read More
Carpineto is a dynamic estate with property in Chianti Classico and Montepulciano in addition to Montalcino, where the fruit is grown on a dry-farmed outcropping at over 500 meters in elevation, sloping gently northward. It is... Read More
This is really juicy and delicious with ripe cherries and berries, as well as some bark and dried orange. Medium to full body with round, refined tannins and a flavorful finish. Transparent and linear. Lively at the end. Excellent... Read More
Deep ruby in color with garnet lights that hint at the wine's extended barrel aging, Castello di Bossi Gran Selezione is explosive in its intensity and yet the wine manages an astounding... Read More
The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby-red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish.
Tasting Notes The Coltassala has a vivid ruby color. This is a well-structured, complex wine with an elegant nose and hints of vanilla, cacao and fruit. Varietal Composition: 95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo Cultivation: Certified organic... Read More
A blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Balifico is yet another protagonist of a vintage that has been extremely kind to Tuscany's blended red wines. That lasting summer heat and sunshine has shaped... Read More
A firm and silky red with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium to full body, fine and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Finesse as always. A blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon.
A polished red with plum, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with soft, integrated tannins and a pretty finish. Another year or two will give it a little more finesse. From organically grown grapes. Try after... Read More
The Balifico has a vivid ruby color with a dark purple tinge. The nose is elegant, displaying aromas of blackberry and blueberry with hints of oak and cinnamon. This is a smooth wine with good structure and a long finish tasting... Read More
Leading off the 2013s, the 332-case 2013 Camaspelo is made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was aged all in puncheons. Notes of iron, red and black currants, licorice and lead pencil characteristics emerge from... Read More
The 2014 Camaspelo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (there's a splash of Tempranillo). It offers lots of red and chocolate-covered black currants, black cherry, black olive, tobacco and leafy herbs. It shows more... Read More
Sporting the most liquid rock profile of the ‘09s, the 2009 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard has deep black cherry fruit, licorice and pepper notes riding atop a core of crushed rocks and minerals. The palate doesn’t... Read More
Displaying a deep ruby core and magenta rim, the 2018 Syrah en Cerise bursts with elements of smoked meats, black pepper, umami, dried tobacco and smoked pipe before elements of black raspberry, dusty cherry and spiced plum compote... Read More
Made by Christophe as a tribute to Cote Rotie and coming from a blend of estate vineyards, the 2012 Syrah Wallah Wallah #4 Special spent 22 months in older puncheons and neutral smaller barrels before being bottled only in Magnum,... Read More
The ostentatious, staggering 1997 Barolo Bricco Rocche possesses a dark garnet color with amber at the edge. The explosive bouquet of coffee liqueur, licorice, spice box, black cherries, kirsch, raspberries, and cedar is to die... Read More
Reminiscent of a right bank Pomerol from the late forties, the dark garnet/amber-edged 1997 Barolo Prapo possesses aromas and flavors of singed leather, espresso, melted caramel, black cherries, smoke, and Christmas fruitcake.... Read More
A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 MMXVI Cabernet Sauvignon gives up gregarious notions of warm red and black currants, black raspberries and warm plums... Read More
This wine has always been soft and delicious, with an almost decadent character of strawberry tart, earth, meat and spices. It’s full and very soft, with refined tannins and a very long finish.
Plums, passion fruit, spring flowers and hints of violet all emerge from the silky, beautifully polished 2014 Pinot Noir Los Alamos Vineyard, which comes from very sandy soils located just outside of Los Alamos. It spent 12 months... Read More
Embodying the essence of great mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and the majestic terroir or Pritchard Hill, this wine is gloriously opulent and elegant, immediately demanding attention with aromas of violet, black currant, cassis,... Read More
Scented and perfumed - violet tones, almost a touch of liqueur fruit to the nose, aromatic with dark chocolate touches too. Bright and shining, this is sleek, quite delicately displayed in terms of texture but this has layers... Read More
The estate, at the southern end of Saint-Julien, has produced a wine that is both structured and stylish. This bold, ripe wine shows opulent black fruits and generous tannins. Juicy and structured, it has good aging potential.... Read More
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Canon la Gaffeliere delivers classic plum preserves, boysenberries and cigar box scents with wafts of underbrush, dried roses and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house... Read More
Along with brambly fruit and hints of vanilla on the nose, the finesse of the tannins is most admirable in this wine, with a palate that’s both floral and fruit-driven. Although it has increased precision since 2009 –... Read More
This is an extremely successful Clerc Milon in a run of great vintages at the property. Lovely purity, clear big tannins, and real poise and tension. Persistent, succulent, full of cassis, liquorice and crushed mint. Seriously... Read More
The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. Elegant and refined, the nose exudes floral aromas, going on with airing to develop notes of blackcurrant and licorice root. The full and smooth attack reveals an alluring and complex array... Read More
Quite the bottle here! Spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as dried meat and plums with cedar and sandalwood. Full body. Deep and dense in the center palate and a long, long finish. Shows finesse and tightness. Very polished... Read More
The wine is a deep, garnet-hued red. The nose exudes intense black fruit aromas enhanced by notes of vanilla, pepper and mild spice. From a structured and sappy attack, the mid-palate reveals a creamy, satin-smooth body on the... Read More
Colour: Dark and deep ruby with purple undertones. Nose: Very rich with ripe black fruit, cherry, fig and slightly smoky. Mouth: Round and powerful, great balance between the tannins and the body, with notes of red fruit.... Read More
Colour: Dark and deep ruby with purple undertones. Nose: Very rich with ripe black fruit, cherry, fig and slightly smoky. Mouth: Round and powerful, great balance between the tannins and the body, with notes of red fruit.... Read More
Including more Mourvèdre than usual (40%), the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as an utterly classic Beaucastel nose of ripe red and blue fruits, spice, game, truffly earth, and ground... Read More
Made from a blend of 60-year-old vines of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, this is a graceful expression of what cooler microclimates in Gigondas can deliver. The wine is enjoyable in its youth, with notes of blackberries,... Read More
A beautifully elegant and expressive Margaux that has sappy fruit with clear salinity and minerality on the finish. Pretty serious in its structure but subtly so, it takes its time to unfurl and has an upward lift through the... Read More
Rich aromas of cassis, licorice, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and creamy new oak introduce Bruno Borie's 2019 La Croix de Beaucaillou, a full-bodied, deep and concentrated wine that's rich and lively, with a fleshy core of... Read More
This is delicious, with grilled cedar, cassis, blackberry and black pepper spice to the fore. For me it is the 2010 that is standing out in this tasting, but that's not always the case because the 2009 vintage is so seductive... Read More
Another brilliant wine, where you start to get lulled into a false sense of security that Bordeaux always tastes like this. But it doesn't. Okay, Figeac does more often than most, but even here this is exceptional. The silky... Read More
Exceptionally good quality and developing as expected. It's in a closed-down phase right now, which brings my score down a fraction, but I fully expect it to justify the 100 points I gave when tasting just after bottling.... Read More
Gorgeous floral aromatics, so perfumed and pretty, really leaping out the glass with an amazingly vibrant pink/purple colour too. Such an excellent delivery of flavour on the palate, you have shiny, bright fruit and well-expressed... Read More
Gloria is fast becoming one of the most exciting insider wines of the entire Bordeaux region, and that rare species of a non-classified St-Julien. The fruit here is brambly, textured and autumnal, and again the alcohol seems generous... Read More
Generous nose, I love the smell here, richly fruited. The palate is on the linear, darker side with liquorice and coffee tones, lean and muscular - without any extra fat. A little austere at this point but good freshness and some... Read More
Dark and brooding, blackcurrant, black cherry and milk chocolate with floral flecks. Thick but so juicy, really alive in the glass, forward and bold, still with bite but also density of tannins, fleshy right now. Herbal medicinal... Read More
The Grand Vin 2020 Château Haut-Batailley is a step up and checks in as 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot. This medium to full-bodied, ripe, layered, elegant Pauillac has lots of classic Cabernet darker currant fruits,... Read More
A refined, silky red with currant, chocolate, walnut and leaf aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with very fine tannins and a polished, refined finish. Very sleek and creamy. It really sneaks up at the end. Better after 2025.... Read More
Rated 98 - The 2018 Haut-Brion is deep garnet-purple in color. It offers up notes of stewed plums, baked blackberries, and crème de cassis, plus hints of Chinese five spice, tobacco, and dusty soil, with... Read More
Deep and concentrated in colour and fruit character. This is pretty closed on the nose compared to some and also a little more about texture and less about fruit on the palate. Subtle, comes into its own with time in the glass... Read More
The finest vintage from this address I've ever tasted, as well as a perfect wine, the 2020 Château La Fleur-Petrus reveals a dense purple hue to go with a deep, layered, full-bodied, yet flawlessly balanced style carrying... Read More
There are some sappy and leafy elements to the nose with a thread of red berries and fresh blueberries. The palate has plush, lithe and juicy appeal with smoothly rendered tannins and juicy, crunchy acidity. Drink or hold.... Read More
Pretty dark garnet color with purple reflections. The nose is rich, complex on black fruits (blackcurrant, cherries and olives) with peppery and oral touches due to the high proportion of Syrah. The palate is full, dense, with... Read More
High toned and vibrant cherry and raspberry fruits on the nose. Polished on the palate, this is sleek and well worked with a core of rich, liquorice-edged strawberries and black cherries with a gorgeous minerality that comes across... Read More
A palette of rich and various flavors for this Langoa 2014... blackcurrants with its natural roundness and crispness brings the guarantee of extreme freshness and some black... Read More
The 2020 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion is a gorgeous, incredibly satisfying Pessac, and it’s certainly up with the finest vintages I’ve tasted from this estate. It has lots of red, blue, and black fruits as well... Read More
Combining power and elegance, smoothness and tannins, Château Lascombes is a wine of great complexity. In its youth, its depth of colour never fails to impress. Finesse and softness on the palate are complemented by stylish,... Read More
Really gorgeous aromatics, so perfumed, acutely aromatic, pristine, clear and precise with tobacco, cocoa, ash and liquorice. Round, heady, a sexy wine, with a lot to say, generous and open, smooth and layered - this deepens straight... Read More
A brilliant effort from well-known oenologists Dany and Michel Rolland, the 2009 Bon Pasteur is dominated by Merlot, with a touch of Cabernet Franc included in the blend. It reveals textbook notes of mocha, tobacco leaf, blackberries,... Read More
The Grand Vin is the product of exceptional terroirs from the former Léoville estate. These terroirs are located mainly in the Clos Léoville Las Cases, which you pass as you leave Saint- Julien village for Pauillac.... Read More
Beautiful aromatics, this is thoroughly enjoyable with brambles and hawthorn that give focus and lift. 45% new oak. 3.57pH. Brilliant value, as ever. Drinking Window 2023 - 2036.
Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2020 is a pale-yellow colour with green hues and offers a particularly expressive nose. With fresh, bright aromas and the taste of white peach on tropical notes, it has a fresh and crisp mouth feel and is... Read More
The 2018 Echo De Lynch-Bages checks in as a mix of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was brought up all in once-used French oak. It has a grand vin tech-sheet with 13.9% alcohol, 3.57 pH, and... Read More
Deep inky purple in colour, this is a majestic Pauillac to be savoured by Bordeaux lovers. Again we are far from it being ready to drink and the tannins continue to be dominant, although not hiding the layers of rich earthy loam,... Read More
Confident and balanced. This is enjoyable, with enough graphite and chocolate shavings to ensure a gourmet take on the vintage, but not going over the top and retaining flesh through the black fruits. 5% Petit Verdot completes... Read More
By Margaux standards not a big wine, but beautifully perfumed. Finesse and length on the palate that’s unmatched by any other property in the Médoc in 2012. Making 34% grand vin of a small crop with 87% Cabernet Sauvignon,... Read More
Like Chateau Margaux, but to a lesser extent, Pavillon Rouge 2018 is powerful, silky and long, and delicately tannic throughout. Although it has the highest level of tannins of any Pavillon Rouge, there is not the slightest hint... Read More
Lovely perfumed Merlot type fragrance on the nose, soft, delicate but defined giving blackcurrant and cherry aromas. Lovely texture here, so smooth, with an element of ripeness in the dark berry fruit but also seering freshness... Read More
Cool blueberry fruit aromas, with some creamy, round qualities. The palate is smooth and pleasurable. ‘A more modern style,’ said wine buyer Jean Haudy, ‘but very agreeable’. Indeed, somewhat similar in... Read More
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate opens with profound black and red currant cordial notes over an undercurrent of Indian spices, chargrill, scorched earth and bay leaves. Medium-bodied with wonderful... Read More
Scented and perfumed on the nose with a delicate charm. Striking, full, round, juicy and crisp - this has bite and a sense of strictness in the frame that keeps things relatively narrow at this point but comes with excellent definition... Read More
Explosively floral nose – the usual exotic Mouton fruit underlined by 16% of ripe Merlot. The classic ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’, with ripe tannins and marvellous structure. Its true qualities will need time... Read More
An irresistible wine from Palmer in 2020, sumptuous and voluptuous, open and appealing yet with all the elements so very carefully set in their place. Rich and evocative on the nose, dark and brooding with softly perfumed violet... Read More
Devilishly charming on the nose, deep and seductive, expressive and richly scented. Juicy and succulent but with a richness in terms of texture and depth. Seductive, defined and refined with a chalky, grip to the tannins. Feels... Read More
Pavie's second wine made from around 30% of production in 2016, with 70% in the main event. This has some lovely, extremely tight coffee and black chocolate flavours. It's excellent quality, still very much in the Pavie... Read More
This is accomplished and enjoyable, starting to come into its own at ten years old, and very much infused with the limestone impact of its soils. One of my favourite Pavies that scrapes along the palate in that way that just weakens... Read More
The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, crushed blueberries... Read More
The austerity to the tannins works in this wine's favour giving a juicy grip to the concentrated blackcurrant and bilberry fruits without strangling them. Excellent stuff, finishing up with liquorice and smoked coffee bean.... Read More
A firm and fresh red with blackcurrants and chocolate. Hazelnut. Medium to full body. Blueberries. Crushed stone. Extremely well done. Better after 2026.
Compared to the flamboyant 2018 and the fantastic 2016, this comes in a lower gear, with less potential complexity. I like the ripe cassis, red and black berry aromatics with a lovely tannic finesse, but I wanted more palate density... Read More
Ripe and deeply scented on the nose and palate, a lingering florality follows the dark black fruits from start to finish. This has a lovely richness, more textural depth than some with salty, liquorice and wet stone tannins that... Read More
Clear depth right off the first nose is evident, with swirling black cherry and blackberry fruits and grilled cedar. Caramel creaminess here also, with black chocolate edging. This is excellent-quality, with bristling tannins... Read More
Spicy, structured and dense, this is a complex, smoky and powerful wine. With polished fruit and structure, it comes from an increasingly impressive estate. Drink the wine from 2027. (Cellar Selection)
Tasting Notes Appearance: A magnificent garnet color, deep and intense. Nose: Rich with notes of coffee, dark fruits, truf e, mocha and blueberry. Palate: Complex yet balanced, both fresh and intense, voluptuous. Finish: Very... Read More
The 2018 Anjou Cuvée Violette is full-bodied and rounded, offering a soft embrace. True to its name, it does smell of violets as well as wood smoke, spice and dark black fruits. There's concentration here, no doubt... Read More
There's no shying away from this bottling's nutty aromas—from hazelnut to pecan to toasty oak—but there's also inviting butterscotch and seared-lemon notes as well. Those warm aspects are cut by a tense,... Read More
From one of the family ranches owned by the late Jim Clendenen, this bottling from a Los Alamos vineyard pops with cranberry, mushroom and thyme on the umami-packed nose. Thyme and sagebrush are even more pronounced on the palate,... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it skips out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of warm blackcurrants,... Read More
Seductive oak spices and a plush mouthfeel come with abundant red and black fruits in this full-bodied, appropriately tannic wine that needs time to reach its full potential. Pine and rosemary accents merge nicely with the blackberries... Read More
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from old vines located in and around Le Crau. The Grenache... Read More
“The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice, from the very core of Ravera cru, is a ripe, polished wine that reflects the style of the site. Layers of sweet red fruits, blood orange and spices caress the palate through... Read More
Much is said about the excellence of the 2016 vintage: despite an initial delay in growth, the Nebbiolo grapes reached a perfect technological and phenolic maturation. The 2016 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice is a multi-faceted... Read More
“Sweet blue berries, wild flowers, spring herbs and orange zests are some of the flavors that emerge from the 2016 Barolo Cascina Nuova. These aromas and flavors enrich a silky texture that creates an immediate... Read More
The 2018 Barolo Cascina Nuova is fine-tuned with plenty of wild berry, cassis, grilled herb and crushed stone. The aromas are quite classic for Nebbiolo, but what stands out here is the directness and freshness with which they... Read More
Earthy underbrush, scorched earth, leather and grilled Porcini mushroom aromas lead the nose. The brawny, vigorous palate delivers fleshy wild cherry, black raspberry, anise and vanilla flavors, while firm, chewy tannins lend... Read More
Continuum's 2019 Proprietary Red is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, all from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Aged in two-thirds new French oak, with the balance in second or... Read More
This shows a lot of tar and roses with dried strawberries as well. Full-bodied with very, very fine tannins that coat your mouth, yet they are so velvety and set up the overall, focused and pure-fruit impression of the wine. Fantastic... Read More
Dark berries and fresh flowers on the nose with some herbs and spices. Medium to full body. Refined, very polished and tight with length and focus. Compressed and very pretty. Needs time to open and show its true self. Better... Read More
Super classic bouquet with a pungent, fresh character of apple and grapefruit. Fleshy on the palate, well-textured with succulent fruit and vibrant acidity. Delicious style.
A decadent nose of treacle tart, chocolate, tar, tons of black fruit such as blackberries and mulberries and even ash and licorice. A dense, layered mouthfeel makes for a full-bodied palate that’s explosive yet somehow so... Read More
The malty oak is evident, yet operates as a welcome adjunct to corral and compress the swashbuckle of coffee grinds, beef bouillon, mint, leather varnish and saturated dark cherry liqueur, into a sheath of tension as much as sheer... Read More
From one of the most iconic wineries in the Orientale, this is aged for two years in oak and a further three in bottle. A proper meditation wine, great with game, strong cheeses or a cigar. It has a huge nose of stewed red fruits,... Read More
The 2015 Valpolicella despite still being young, shows brilliantly, and will be even better in 5-10 years. An approachable wine, due the extraordinary summer climate.
The Dal Forno Romano 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a wine of characteristically dark intensity and rich extraction. If there's one thing this estate knows, it's making big wines with soaring intensity... Read More
Pungent nose of violets, amarena cherries, dried figs and lightly charred oak. Some toffee notes emerge with air, together with more pressed flowers. Not so much full-bodied as full-flavored, with silky, fine and polished tannins.... Read More
A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with... Read More
The first vintage, produced in 1986, established this wine as an instant Napa Valley classic. Select Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc and aged in no greater than 60% new French oak. For close... Read More
The 2013 Maya is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%) and Cabernet Franc (43%) from the finest Maya vineyard blocks on our estate. It is our attempt to best capture the special quality of our unique terroir. Both varieties sing... Read More
This powerful, full-bodied yet velvety wine boasts complex aromatics, muscular tannins and deep, uber-ripe fruit flavors. The wine is rich in aromas of cinnamon, cedar and vanilla followed by black currants, blueberries and dark... Read More
The 2019 J. Davies Diamond Mountain Estate Cabernet opens with voluptuous black fruit such as blueberry, black cherry, boysenberry and plum, accentuated by undertones of chocolate, cinnamon, blackberry compote, espresso, dark... Read More
Elegant and stylish, Chambolle-Musigny is known for its deep intense red and black fruits with a subtle power in depth and finish. Pairs with red meats, chicken with wild mushroom sauces and most cheeses. This wine ages well and... Read More
Beautiful deep ruby in color. On the nose, the wine is full of aromas of small red fruits. Racy, with a nice length in the mouth, this wine has great richness. Keep for up to 10 years. Delicious with meat in rich sauces, roast... Read More
The 2014 Musigny Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru has a very intense, cold stone and blackberry scented bouquet, moving towards subtle marine like aromas (oyster shells, Crustacea) with time. There is just wonderful precision here. The... Read More
The classic cuvée in bottle, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is 66% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties. This cuvée is brought up in a mix of stainless steel, wooded... Read More
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is terrific, offering classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and sappy flower notes. As with the Boisrenard release, this has plenty of tannins and structure, but it’s... Read More
Just 5% of this wine is matured in new oak barriques, the rest spending time in old barriques and foudres for 18 months. It's all destemmed fruit, lending a nose of raspberry with lifted notes of bergamot and cinnamon. It's... Read More
The flagship from this great estate is the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Boisrenard, which is based on 80% Grenache and small doses of 17 other varieties. This deeply hued beauty offers a stunning bouquet of blackberries, scorched... Read More
The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (350 cases produced) was made from low yields of 15 hectoliters per hectare. This wine oozes black raspberry and blackberry fruits intermixed with floral, forest floor, garrigue and... Read More
Also all Grenache brought up in demi-muids, the 2020 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is in the same qualitative ballpark but shows a very different style. Coming from a cooler, sandy terroir near the domaine, it’s all about finesse... Read More
Well-built, with a steady intensity to the waves of white peach, star fruit, acacia, honeysuckle and mirabelle plum. Delivers flashes of lemon shortbread and quinine through the finish, giving it both plump and racy elements.... Read More
Full, generous and broad. Acids are bright and vibrant, and there's a fine but dense weft of tannins through the wine. Great energy and salinity this year, this is particularly fine and balanced, with plenty of concentration... Read More
From some of the appellation's cooler sites and 60- to 80-year-old vines, the 100% Grenache 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Colombis is a stunner. It has a true sense of garrigue, along with dark fruit, peppery spice and rich, velvety... Read More
A powerful red, exhibiting black currant, black cherry, violet, incense and oak spice flavors. Tips toward the tannins in the balance, leaving an astringent sensation on the finish today. This has the fruit, but just needs time.... Read More
The influence of this exceptional terroir appears in the pure mineral character and the intensity of aromas. Quite restrained at first, this Grand Cru offers finesse, complexity and a superb length.... Read More
There is a velvety character in this wine that comes from the sunny character of the vineyard. Perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes grown on old vines give Vaillons a typical oriental spice overtone. On the palate it... Read More
While no 2021 was presented, the 2020 Gigondas is stunningly good and is loaded with notions of red cherries, framboise, sappy flowers, and pepper. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Gigondas offering... Read More
The 2022 Santorini Assyrtiko, the flagship 100% Assyrtiko (usually producing around 100,000 bottles), is unoaked and comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Ripe and dense, this is a big wine on the palate, yet it is never overripe and it... Read More
Blackberries and blackcurrants with lead-pencil overtones in the nose and palate. Mint, too. It's full-bodied with very fine, polished tannins and an extremely long finish. Shows class and refinement.
Starting to take on the tertiary character of ripe fruit and savory components with dusty tannins. Full and round with a lovely texture and a light salty, meaty and tobacco character. Forest floor. Sweet and sour. Just opening.... Read More
Aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of graphite, wet earth, and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut... Read More
2015 was a warm and dry vintage, and the 2015 Don Melchor shows notes of ripe plums and is subtly balsamic. The palate is round and powerful, with good balance and nice integration of the oak. With time in the glass, more spicy... Read More
Marking its 30th anniversary, the 2017 Don Melchor was produced 30 years after the initial 1987. This is a wine that transcends vintages and shows great regularity, always combining elegance and power, with subtle mintiness and... Read More
There is a little more ripeness in the 2019 Don Melchor, which in warmer years shows notes of ripe plums and is subtly balsamic. The palate is round and powerful, with good balance and nice integration of the oak. As usual, there... Read More
The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is silky and fine, but the wine also shows that special power and intensity that is so specific to this classic growing season. The wine's tannins, freshness... Read More
Thomas Rivers Brown made this wine. This is an old-school 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Considered by many to be the best winemaker in North America, TRB has received more perfect100-point scores from critics than any other winemaker.... Read More
Even better, the 2018 Syrah Eddie's Patch comes from the Russian River Valley and saw 30% stems. It has a touch more vibrancy as well as gorgeous notes of blue fruits, crushed violets, ground pepper, and a touch of loamy earth.... Read More
A structured and layered white with apple, light honey and acacia aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Creamy mouthfeel. Phenolic texture that runs through the wine. Flavorful yet subtle finish. Touch of flint and cedar. Drink... Read More
This signature wine contains only fruit farmed on Howell Mountain. The wine comes in a distinctive bottle that is hand dipped in red wax. Aged 32 months in 100% new French oak.
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Its nose begins a little reserved, slowly revealing a quiet intensity of freshly crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and aniseed with compelling... Read More
Blackberry, dried-blueberry, bitter-chocolate and some volcanic-ash and burnt-orange aromas. Crushed stone and subtle vanilla notes, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins framing a deep core of dark fruit. Dense,... Read More
The 2013 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera stands apart in this tasting of Elio Grasso's new releases. The fruit portrayed shows a very crisp and focused quality. It absolutely pops from the glass with brilliant sharpness. Gianluca... Read More
Planted in almost entirely sand this own-rooted vineyard with some vines over 120 years old is a singular expression of Barbera. Elegant aromas of wild rose and fresh bay leaf mixed with cranberry sour cherry and underbrush are... Read More
Ruby red in color with light garnet highlights. Great finesse on the nose, harmonious and complex. Sensations of ripe red fruit—typical of nebbiolo—with spicy undertones. Enveloping tannins, great elegance, and persistence... Read More
Camphor, dark spice, wild herbs and woodland berry aromas shape the nose. On the focused palate, bright acidity and taut, refined tannins accompany crushed raspberry, juicy Marasca cherry and star anise. Mint and orange zest notes... Read More
Ruby red in color with light garnet highlights. Great finesse on the nose, harmonious and complex. Sensations of ripe red fruit and violet, with spicy undertones. Enveloping tannins, great elegance, sapidity and persistence on... Read More
The 2015 Barolo Ravera shows a deep concentration and dark fruit intensity. This warm-vintage Barolo opens with a ripe and soft bouquet that brings out some nice cherry notes with creamy black fruit at the back. The finish is... Read More
The Ravera cru is seeing renewed energy and interest, thanks to the hard work of the Elvio Cogno team. They believed in Novello from the very beginning, and today a wine like the 2017 Barolo Ravera shows special confidence and... Read More
From Nebbiolo vines which reach 60 years of age, this Barolo Ravera captures the essence of the Ravera MGA of which it bears the name. The color is a bright garnet, which immediately refers to the grape variety.... Read More
Full, brilliant carnet-red in color, it has clean-cut perfumes with notes of rose petal, sweet spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, fine tobacco, mint, plus a slight whiff of licorice. On the palate it is full-flavored, full-bodied... Read More
This cuvée replaces the three historical red cuvées of the domaine (Classique, Auguste Favier and Charles Giraud). Quite introverted for now, seems to have everything required but needs time to knit together. Freshness,... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate is beautiful, with a perfumed, blue-fruited style as well as classic Cabernet smoked tobacco, flowery incense, spice, and chocolaty notes. Coming from the Stelling Vineyard, not far... Read More
Galardi did a fabulous job with the 2003 Terra di Lavoro in this torrid, challenging vintage. This is a dark, muscular Terra di Lavoro loaded with imposing dark fruit wrapped around a frame of sheer muscle. The 2003 turns more... Read More
This is a phenomenal pure merlot with blueberries, raspberries and hints of milk chocolate. Some nutmeg too. Full body with very fine yet chewy tannins and a long, intense finish. Reminds me of the amazing 1998. Best ever from... Read More
Galatrona is Petrolo’s most acclaimed wine, a Merlot cru made exclusively with grapes from the Galatrona-Feriale vineyard planted in various phases during the 1990s with low vigor Bordeaux clones. The unique microclimate... Read More
Cabernet's classic aromas and flavors star in our 2021 Faust Napa Valley. Delicate violet notes lift the dark fruit on the nose-black currant and briary blackberry-layered with pungent forest botanicals, leafy tobacco, graphite,... Read More
Cabernet's classic aromas and flavors star in our 2021 Faust Napa Valley. Delicate violet notes lift the dark fruit on the nose-black currant and briary blackberry-layered with pungent forest botanicals, leafy tobacco, graphite,... Read More
A bright ruby red color, Vrucara is intense and persistent on the nose with earthy aromas, notes of red plum and dark berries, which are in harmony with notes of rose petal, vanilla, balsamic, eucalyptus and licorice.... Read More
A bright ruby red color, Vrucara is intense and persistent on the nose with earthy aromas, notes of red plum and dark berries, which are in harmony with notes of rose petal, vanilla, balsamic, eucalyptus and licorice.... Read More
The 2011 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot. It offers sweet blackcurrant and blueberry fruit intermixed with hints of toast and white flowers, beautiful... Read More
This classic Brunello displays a light ruby-red color typical of a cooler vintage. The nose is herbal as evidenced by the Mediterranean scrub notes of thyme and rosemary along with a hint of balsamic, which opens to red berry... Read More
This classic Brunello displays a light ruby-red color typical of a cooler vintage. The nose is herbal as evidenced by the Mediterranean scrub notes of thyme and rosemary along with a hint of balsamic, which opens to red berry... Read More
All the crus coming from the 2020 vintage show richness in the mouth. In the Costa Russi, there is an abundance of strawberries, and plums, all showing in a very pronounced way. As the wine opens, there are broader... Read More
The Conteisa has a nose full of flowery and delicate notes, very fresh and aromatic. On the palate, it reveals sweet wild cherries and delicate aromatic herbs, a voluptuous body and a harmonious and balanced tannin... Read More
A perfumed nose of red berries, spiced cherries, hazelnuts and smoke. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins and bright acidity. Poised and round with a silky texture on the mid-palate and volume to the focused, long finish.... Read More
Sorí Tíldin occupies the top of the hill overlooking Costa Russi. A south-facing amphitheatre of vines on sandier soils it's planted vertically to allow for a higher density. This has a darker denser profile... Read More
The fresh and herbaceous notes of Vermentino combine with the remarkable complexity and roundness of Viognier. Fiano adds a floral
and balsamic note to the bouquet.... Read More
The grapes from the three vineyards ferment and macerate separately for around three weeks. After 24 months of aging in oak, the wines are blended and then aged for another six months in concrete vats.
Living up to the potential predicted last year, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 80% new French oak, there are 500 cases of this terrific wine. With its inky... Read More
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which comes from their 18-plant of vineyard acres (the total estate possesses 116), is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 95% new French oak. The production is less than 500 cases. In... Read More
An extremely fine and grouped effervescence. The dress is crystalline, luminous and slightly golden. The nose is fruity, fresh and tangy. Both greedy and elegant, it expresses pastry notes and aromas of fresh fruit:... Read More
This cuvée is designed to appeal to the most discerning palate and, more generally, anyone looking for a touch of romance in their apéritif. Its freshness, with notes of red fruit (strawberry, raspberry... Read More
This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley opens with aromas of black currant and ripe black cherries, followed by forest floor and bay leaf undertones with a hint of vanilla. On the palate, the taste of fresh fruit, bright acidity,... Read More
The 2018 Hacienda Monasterio, the wine that was previously labeled as Crianza, is a blend of 80% Tinto Fino, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 2% Malbec selected from the 100 hectares of their organically certified vineyard... Read More
Chalky at first, the 2016 Chardonnay takes its time to reveal citrus blossoms, lime peel, crushed stone, apricots and pure lemon and apple fruit with dusty, minerally nuances. The palate walks a wonderful line of pure, ripe fruits... Read More
Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2021 Pinot Noir Stargazing has bright cherry and darker raspberry notes supported by classy oak, peppery herbs, and spicy nuances. It's medium-bodied, fresh, focused, has fine tannins, and... Read More
The Merlot-dominated 2019 The Diplomat comes from a handful of sites and would give a great Pomerol a run for its money with its darker red and black fruits, smoky herbs, and earthy goodness on the nose. These carry to a full-bodied,... Read More
The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino opens to a saturated and shiny dark ruby color. This edition is loaded with black and purple fruits, such as blackberry preserves and plum. Those more robust tones are followed by spice, tar and... Read More
So much licorice and fennel seed with black cherry and a hint of tomato paste. Medium body, round texture and savory flavors. Pretty and fresh at the end, with subtle flavors. Drink now or hold.
It has a beautiful nose of pure ripe blackcurrants, leafy tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate that carries to a layered, medium to full-bodied, gorgeous balanced 2018 that does everything right. It's certainly approachable... Read More
Phenomenal concentration! A core of ripe black-raspberries, wild blackberries, black currants and freshly picked cherries anchor the aromatic profile. Bright notes of freshly picked wildflowers followed by hints of sunbaked rocks... Read More
2021 was frost affected, reducing yield, which makes this Coddington even more peachy and luscious than usual. The single-vineyard Coddington wine is richly ripe in the yellow peach and apricot spectrum, with a background... Read More
With new clonal plantings of Chardonnay in their second year of production, we were able to blend some extra ripeness and richness with the fresh limestone vibrancy of the existing vines. The result is an exciting... Read More
Starting with the 2019 L'Esprit De Chevalier Blanc, which is the second white of the château, it reveals a light gold hue to go with classy, classic Bordeaux Blanc notes of ripe lemon, honeyed pineapple, spice, and some... Read More
Dense floral and cassis nose with a minerally graphite base. Very good natural richness of fruit and great purity of expression. A very serious, very exciting second wine. Drinking Window 2021 - 2035.
Intense aromas of dried citrus and meat with hints of rose bush and fresh rosemary. This is full body, with full, velvety tannin and a decadent and rich finish. Fascinating flavors of spice, citrus and meat. Loads of fruit. From... Read More
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gemini is fruit-forward and a bit extroverted yet impossible to ignore. It boasts a striking mix with intense raspberry preserves, exotic spices and dusty dried florals. Its textures are... Read More
The Cuvée Rosé from Laurent-Perrier is the most recognized rosé champagne in the world.The house uses its proprietary maceration technique and the wine is crafted for a fragrance and not mixed for a color.... Read More
Expressive and beautifully pure, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino offers a gorgeous, sweet perfume of perfectly ripe raspberry eau de vie, crushed roses, delicate baking spice, and well-integrated cedar spice. It is medium-bodied,... Read More
Violet scented dark black cherries and figs on the nose, quite powerful. Tannins are generous but they’re juicy and plump, soft almost chalky, they have a really great impact, filling the mouth together with the fruit. Everything... Read More
This is really minerally with crushed stones and dark berries. Some licorice. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a beautiful, tight and focused finish. Such energy, delivered down a straight line.
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight ratchets up the concentration level. The fruit is deeper, denser, the wine slightly fuller-bodied, but nevertheless shares the same style of licorice, crème de cassis, cedar wood and well-integrated,... Read More
From an outstanding vintage, the 2018 Reserve Cabernet is a full-throttle bottle, packed with fruit yet balanced with a fine-tuned chassis. Showy and complex, the wine is obsidian dark, layered with black currant, berries, coffee... Read More
I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, a big, opulent, full-bodied beauty that boasts a vivid purple hue, gorgeous aromatics of cassis, spring flowers, classy oak, and spice, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This... Read More
Sporting some Senior-year swagger, our 2018 Mason’s Cabernet is front-loaded with black plum, cherry, chocolate and cedary spice. Sourced from several of the same vineyards as our Napa Cabernet this wine is boldly fruited... Read More
The classic 2018 Feather (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) comes from the Weinbau and Wallula Vineyards and spent 22 months in 90% new French oak. It has a wonderfully pure nose of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, dried flowers,... Read More
The 2018 Pirouette has an expressive nose with a firm core of dark fruit and mocha flavors, displaying a layered concentration of black cherry and well-integrated oak spices. Vibrant and full-bodied across the mid-palate,... Read More
The Chassagne-Montrachet unveils a pale gold color. The nose is powerful and gourmet offering aromas of yellow peach, marzipan and brioche. The palate is generous and supple with well-integrated oaky hints.
Sandrone’s 2008 Barolo Le Vigne is a wine of breathtaking textural finesse and elegance. Nothing really stands out, so phenomenal is the wine’s balance and sense of harmony. This is the kind of wine that is easy to... Read More
A tight and focused Le Vigne with strawberry, orange-peel and floral aromas and hints of hazelnuts. Not giving it all now. Full-bodied, very intense and focused. Extremely long and polished, tannic finish. Drink from 2023.... Read More
A new label by the makers of McPrice Myers, winery namesake McPrice “Mac” Myers, Venus Lai, and Billy Grant began this project as a “tribute to the... Read More
The 2020 Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is an intense ruby red color. Expressive on the nose with fresh red fruit and floral notes. The rich bouquet is accented by sweet notes of white chocolate and spice. The palate... Read More
Deep garnet red. Intense aroma with clean scents of wild rose, vanilla, licorice and spices. Feather the resin of pine and tobacco. Taste is full and elegant, full bodied, with tannins in evidence, with recurring olfactory... Read More
The Massolino 2018 Barolo offers a classic interpretation of Serralunga d'Alba with big structure, ample but contained power and lots of black fruit and licorice. This 85,000-bottle production ages in large oak casks for 24... Read More
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon was just bottled this past summer. It is of course a very young wine, but possesses tremendous aromatic nuance and freshness to play off a core of huge dark fruit. Readers will have to be patient with... Read More
Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon opens somewhat reluctantly with cedar and baking spice scents, eventually giving way to a tantalizing core of Black Forest cake, blackcurrant... Read More
Our 2020 Meredith Estate Pinot Noir is a wonderful gift from Mother Nature. The perfect terroir and geographic location played a role in ensuring that despite a difficult vintage, we were able to bottle our... Read More
The opaque blue/purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Perseid, from vineyard in the southeast sector of Napa Valley, really is strutting its stuff. It's backward, shows loads of minerality and earth, but the tannic structure is strong,... Read More
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva flows across the palate with notable finesse. This is a subtle, understated 2006 Riserva that impresses for its silkiness and polish. Deceptively medium in body, the wine has plenty of underlying... Read More
The 2006 Velvet Glove is the first vintage ever made and is deep garnet-black in color with an alluring meaty and gamey nose accented by smoky bacon, a bit of brine and iron ore, some dried plums and black berry preserves and... Read More
Dark red with a hue of purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blueberries intermixed with notes of minerals (graphite, wet river rocks) licorice, fresh blond tobacco and a hint of lavender. Full-bodied, the palate... Read More
The top score, though, has to go to the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. This wine has an opaque purple color, a big, sweet kiss of... Read More
Composed of 87.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 1.5% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder gives up notions of crème de cassis, violets, baker's chocolate, licorice and... Read More
Bright in cherry and cassis, with dusty crushed rock, dried herb and cedar playing along, this is a well-integrated wine in terms of oak and tannin. It is refined and structured, with tremendous complexity. Best from 2029–2034.... Read More
Blackcurrants, bark, smoke, cedar, and mushroom aromas that follow through to a medium body with fine, round tannins and a suppleness. Finesse at the end. Some tobacco. Anise. Clove.
A classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with beautiful aromas of sage, cedar, black olive and forest floor, mixed with briary notes of blueberry and spicy black fruits. With ample intensity of fruit on entry, the 2016 Quarry... Read More
I loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch. This Yountville beauty has a great nose of pure cassis and blackcurrant fruits as well textbook Cabernet notes of lead pencil shavings, chalky mineral, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied,... Read More
This wine opens with aromas of warmed strawberries, violet, rosemary and forest floor. The palate achieves a near-perfect balance between fruit and savory notes, each in harmony. Elegant tannins and lifted acidity saunter to the... Read More
Superlative aromas of currants and flowers with hints of cedar. Medium-bodied with ever so polished tannins that give the wine extremely attractive length and intensity. Really goes on for minutes. Compact and cool. Try after... Read More
The 2014 Bordeaux Proprietary Blend Papillion (15,748 cases) was aged 16 months in 40% new French oak. Fairly priced for what the consumer gets, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc... Read More
As for the three Cabernet releases, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has a medium to full-bodied, balanced, layered, and elegant style that just begs to be drunk. Giving up lots of blue fruits, bouquet garni, tobacco, and cedar,... Read More
Another perfect wine is the 2019 OVID, which is based on 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. Incredibly perfumed, nuanced, and complex, it has ripe black and blue fruits as well as... Read More
The 2010 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio bursts open with an immediate whiff of fresh flowers and crushed roses. Paolo Scavino bought the four-hectare, south-facing vineyard in 2001 the same moment he saw the listing. Crushed mineral tones... Read More
There are not many better Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon blends out there than the 2021 Avoyelles Oakville, which checks in as 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, most of which was... Read More
One of the most elegant Cabernets of the 2019 vintage. Sourced from various Coombsville sites, this blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Merlot is teeming with minerality, baking spices,... Read More
Fresh, lifted aromas of black cherry tinged with savoury black olive, liquorice and cedar. Full-bodied and plush with a dense, dark-fruited palate, sanguine minerality, blood-orange acidity and a dusting of dried herbs, all framed... Read More
Confident Cabernet (57%) leads this high-spirited, swirling dance, as a breezy wisp of blue and black berries waft over the earthy bulk of sturdy Shiraz. It’s a clever trick for such bright fruit to be contained by tannins... Read More
Cabernet Sauvignon has provided a high point in Penfolds tastings through recent years, and this beauty seduces from the first whiff. Showing note-perfect varietal aromas, with a breeze of ripe purple fruit over fresh, leafy herbs... Read More
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers up a crème de cassis, violets, dark chocolate and licorice core with nuances of lavender, unsmoked cigars, beef drippings and iron pan plus a touch... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a classy, sophisticated wine that shows the more restrained side of the year and this site. I imagine the 2019 will flesh out in time. Bright acids, red-toned fruit, dried herbs, mint and... Read More
The nose of the 2019 PlumpJack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon bursts with juicy fruits – blackberry, dark plum, boysenberry, and muddled raspberries. These fruit aromas mingle with notes of cardamom, cinnamon, molasses, damp... Read More
A beautiful Merlot, the 2019 from PlumpJack offers everything you could want from this variety with its plump, fleshy, medium to full-bodied profile as well as terrific aromatics of black cherries, darker berries, leafy herbs,... Read More
The flagship is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon mostly from Champoux with the balance from Palengat and Wallula vineyards. Creme de cassis, graphite, black licorice, unsmoked tobacco, and hints of chocolate... Read More
Made with 20% whole cluster fermentation and all used barrels, the ruby-hued 2021 Pinot Noir La Neblina is has a floral and spicy perfume with a refined feel to its notes of candied roses, ripe red cherry, and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied,... Read More
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard has a slowly opening nose of dried rose petal and violet, charcuterie, peppercorn, warm red cherries, dried herbs, dusty earth, bergamot and warm blackberries.... Read More
Saturated purple color with notes of black cherry, chai spice, chaparral, and toasted oak. Bramble fruit on the palate with round, supple tannins, herbal forest character, and a long finish.
Rich blackberry and plum on the nose with notes of aniseed. Full-bodied with dark bramble fruit and well-coated tannins on the palate. The long finish reveals layers of black licorice and dried sage.
Rich, more subtle style in its aromatics, with ripe plum, cigar, spice, and earthy nuances, These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has a deep, expansive, concentrated mouthfeel, velvety tannins,... Read More
Roagna has two bottlings from this site in Barbaresco, one made with younger vines and one from older vines. The 2017 Barbaresco Pajè Vecchie Viti comes from the more precious old vines that are all over 50 years old. This... Read More
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder comes from an 1,800-foot elevation vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains. This seems to be the biggest, densest, most backward of the wines, with a boatload of tannins still to resolve, but... Read More
A different beast, yet in the same ballpark qualitatively, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon just jumps out of the glass with a huge nose of sage brush, chocolate, violets, tobacco, and assorted sweet black and blue fruits.... Read More
Medium ruby-purple, the 2020 Pinot Noir Estate is bursting with spicy cranberry, pomegranate, autumn leaves and Angostura bitters aromas. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with a concentrated core of ripe red fruit,... Read More
Roederer Estate Brut, the first California sparkling wine produced by Champagne Louis Roederer, builds upon a 200-year tradition of fine winemaking that has made Roederer champagne among the... Read More
Fragrant Purple flower, dark spice and black skinned berry aromas mix with new leather and pipe tobacco. It is both elegant, and enveloping, delivering ripe Marasca cherry cranberry licorice and hints of dried herbs alongside... Read More
I was blown away by the breathtaking purity and definition of Sandrone’s 2004 Barolo Cannubi Boschis. A translucent dark ruby, this weightless yet sumptuous Barolo bursts from the glass with layers of dark ripe fruit that... Read More
This cuvée comes entirely from the Krankl’s “home” vineyard—the Cumulus vineyard—from a small, one-acre 2008 planting. The 2017 Touriga Nacional Numero Tres is a blend of 80% Touriga Nacional,... Read More
The aromatics of the 2016 Pelagrilli are dark fruited and luxurious, with supple oak, warm baking spice, vanilla, and fresh black plum. The palate is consistent and inviting, with silky tannin and a rounded mouthfeel, with notes... Read More
Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2019 Proprietary Red sports a deep purple-black color, erupting from the glass with powerful scents of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and preserved plums, plus hints of chocolate box,... Read More
The Sorì Paitin belongs to the Pasquero-Elia heirs since 1796. It is the Serraboella warmest slope, graced with unique soils that since ages is planted with Nebbiolo. Sorì means the first place where the snow melts... Read More
St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur is a sublime liqueur created with wild, handpicked elderflowers and made in the traditional French style, using a process that has existed for centuries. Following an exquisite elderflower liqueur... Read More
Glowing a saturated magenta, Estate Syrah 2020 entices with fresh blueberry, black cherry and ripe, black plum. Hints of prune, coffee, Italian herbs, cinnamon and woodsmoke all underpin the exotic nature of this... Read More
The Ornellaia 2020 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia (a proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) is a generous and darkly toned red blend that has the extra fruit fiber,... Read More
Black bramble fruit on the nose, heady, expressive, forward and open. Aromatic and inviting - on the riper, jammy side. Lithe and supple, this has an energy and weight giving plush tannins but with an austere, mineral grip. A... Read More
Scipio 2017 is a rich, deep and complex wine that interprets what was a particularly warm and sunny year. The taste reveals a great balance due to a high natural acidity... Read More
COLOUR: Deep, almost black core with bright violet highlights. AROMAS: This wine opens with notes of fresh berries combined with blackcurrant and redcurrant, rose and violet, completed by hints of Asian spice such as fresh ginger,... Read More
Tasting Notes: Stoic, the 2013 GB Crane Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a layered nose of ripe black plum, blackcurrants, allspice and fir. Massive upon entry, the textured palate... Read More
Crazy nose of blackberries and red chilies follow through to a full-bodied palate with chewy yet polished tannins that expand in the mouth, giving it a velvety texture. Extremely long and flavorful. Turns compact. Give it time... Read More
Pretty aromas and flavors of currants, asphalt and bark fill the glass. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Unfiltered. Drink in 2024 and onwards.
A best-blend, best-barrel selection, Tor's 2019 Black Magic offers up waves of cassis, black cherries, dark chocolate and dark loam. It's full-bodied and rich, expansive, plush and velvety. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon,... Read More
A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Petit Verdot harvested from adjacent blocks and co-fermented, the 2019 Pure Magic Vine Hill Ranch features a characteristic hint of violets alongside cassis and black cherries. With all... Read More
It is more than three decades since this mysterious Spanish wine was born. The label: Black. The bottle: Burgundy style. The variety: Cabernet Sauvignon. Few had much faith in this project. Certainly, nobody back in 1979, could... Read More
The Mas la Plana is graceful and balanced despite its firm and dominant tannin profile. Bright crunchy acidity ensures a wine that will develop in the cellar for years to come. This polished red displays hints of... Read More
This wine has a lovely dark cherry red color with subtle warm toasty glints. The aromatic expression is clean, with notes of flowers (wild scrub) and black fruit (blackberry jam) over smoky, toasty undertones (coffee).... Read More
Delivers a lovely burst of pure, unadulterated cassis and cherry puree, with hints of violet, singed vanilla, loam and anise. A subtly inlaid graphite spine carries the finish. Beautifully proportioned. Accessible now, but there's... Read More
Wild notes of briary blackberry, red plum and elderberry are complemented by rich earth and herbs in the bouquet of the 2013 Ulysses, the second vintage for Christian Mouiex's new project in south-western Oakville. On the... Read More
Strong garnet color with ruby highlights Unfolds warm, intense and refined on the nose. Great explosion of ripe fruit with notes of sour cherry, dried figs, candied fruit and especially orange. On the palate, the... Read More
The 2015 Brunello is lifted with aromatics of candied cherry, raspberry fruit leather, vanilla, and sweet baking spices. As one would expect with the warmth of the 2015 vintage, the palate is rounder and more generous than the... Read More
The 2015 Brunello is lifted with aromatics of candied cherry, raspberry fruit leather, vanilla, and sweet baking spices. As one would expect with the warmth of the 2015 vintage, the palate is rounder and more generous than the... Read More
Dried leaves and roots, bark, walnut husks and black olives. Plenty of savory notes. Great depth of flavor, too. On the palate there’s more walnut, chocolate, black cherry and olive. It’s full bodied with firm, fine-grained... Read More
Vigna di Lago is sourced from 270 meters above sea level, on the northern slope of Montalcino, expressive of its more continental climate and clay soils. It reveals fresh and floral aromatics, with bright red fruit, rose petal,... Read More
This is a 100% varietal and estate-farmed wine, unabashedly rich, ripe and luxurious in approach. Spicy tar and leather lead to an explosive midpalate of wild berry, cocoa powder and graphite, with a tight texture of firm tannins.... Read More
Although Vietti was bought by an American company in 2016, the long-standing family winemaker Luca Currado remains in place. This powerful expression of an important Serralunga vineyard is aged both in barriques and large casks.... Read More
A soft and velvety red with plum, hazelnut and chocolate character. Full body, round tannins and a fresh finish. Very attractive young wine. Better in 2017.
Intense garnet-red colour. The nose, while stark to begin with, reveals complex floral notes that emerge after a few minutes in the glass. Striking notes include red fruit, chalk and white pepper. It is fine on the palate, with... Read More
The aromas of iodine and blackcurrants with roses and lavender make the wine extremely perfumed. It’s full-bodied with a tight, fine-tannined palate that shows linear flow through the center palate. It’s vertical and... Read More
Fresh and deep nose, full of blueberries, minty cassis, mussels, cigars, dark spice and roasted sesame oak, which will need a year or two to fully integrate. A medium-to full-bodied Almaviva with supple, silky tannins and a wealth... Read More
The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Casanova Il Puro shows a dense and rich quality of fruit that is indicative of this sunny and warm vintage. It is the best wine I've tasted in this series of samples from Castello di... Read More