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1999 La Mondotte (750ml)

Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

94WA

1999 La Mondotte (St. Emilion): Along with the 1997, the 1999 is the most forward and accessible La Mondotte yet produced. Its opaque purple color is followed by a glorious nose of candied black fruits, graphite, licorice, and underbrush. It is full-bodied and sumptuous, possessing amazing extract and richness for the vintage. Its high tannin is hidden by a wealth of glycerin, fruit, and extract. Moreover, the finish lasts for 35-45 seconds. This is an amazing achievement in 1999. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020.

94 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue # 140 - Apr 2002)

2000 Chateau Branaire-Ducru (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France

95WE 94WA

Here is a huge ripe and luxurious wine, with great power. The texture is solid, filled with firm tannins, the flavors are black and ripe. Along with the power, though, is much of the elegance and poise that characterizes great Saint-Julien.

95 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Jun 2003)

A beautiful wine from Branaire, the 2000 is close to full maturity, and should offer plenty of pleasure over the next 15-20 years. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by scents of boysenberries, black currants, and spring flowers. This medium to full-bodied, pure St.-Julien hits the palate with authority, displaying silky tannins as well as wonderful richness, depth, and texture.

94 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate (Issue # 189 - Jun 2010)

2001 Fornaser Monte Faustino Amarone (750ml)

Corvina from Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

91WS

An intense and enticing mix of fresh and spicy dried fig, date and raisin on the nose. Full-bodied, with big, silky tannins that coat the mouth and provide for a long finish of spice and mineral. Best after 2007. 850 cases made.

91 points, Wine Spectator (Sep 2006)

2007 Champagne Philipponnat Extra Brut Clos des Goisses Juste Rose (750ml)

Sparkling from Mareuil Sur Ay, Champagne, France

97WA

Disgorged in November 2017, the 2007 Extra Brut Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé continues to show brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with an attractive bouquet that mingles notes of red berries, cherries and apple with nuances of cut flowers, fresh bread and spices, without the riper, tropical top notes found in the 2008. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, satiny textured and multidimensional, with extraordinary concentration, an incisive spine of acidity and a long, chalky finish. Charles Philipponnat adds that he used to think rosé aged faster, but he has come to believe that red wine phenolics "frame" the wine and in fact increase its potential longevity. Since Clos des Goisses is already arguably Champagne's longest-lived wine, who knows how far the 2007 will go.

97 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Issue # 244 - Aug 2019)

2009 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh (750ml)

Shiraz from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia

96WA 96JS 96AWC 95V

Deep garnet in color, the 2009 The Armagh Shiraz displays a more evolved black plum and kirsch character accented by notes of pencil lead, black olives and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, muscular and a little mute, it has a very taut, firm structure that shows aging promise and a long finish. As it needs some time, drink it from 2015 to 2030+.

96+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # 205 - Feb 2013)

A rich, ripe and intense vintage with very deep, plush and seamless blackberries, delivered in such rich, concentrated mode with a smooth, glossy tannin texture. The shape is round and plush and delivers such bold, ripe dark berries and red plums on the finish. Seamless. Lots to come. Drink or hold.

96 points, James Suckling (Jun 2020)

The vineyard was planted in ?68, a drought year requiring each vine to be hand watered by the family from drums on the back of a tractor, an investment in blood, sweat and tears that has been handsomely repaid. Elegance is not a word usually associated with wines having the dimension of Armagh, but it applies here, yet without betraying the birthright of a wine with exceptional depth to its fusion of dark berries, spices and toasty oak, the latter in the manner of Grange, obvious yet integrated and balanced.

96 points, Halliday Wine Companion (Aug 2016)

Dark purple. A hugely aromatic, complex bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, cola, candied licorice, mocha and incense, with a smoky mineral quality adding vivacity and focus. Stains the palate with rich blueberry and cherry liqueur flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Hints of candied flowers, fruitcake and dark chocolate gain strength in the glass and carry through an extremely long, smooth, subtly tannic finish. In a decadent but shockingly lively style, with the sheer mass of assertive fruit to make it accessible on the younger side with some decanter time but also the concentration to reward long-term cellaring.

95 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous (Mar 2016)

2009 San Giusto a Rentennano Vin Santo (375ml)

From Tuscany, Italy

97WA 96V 96JS

The 2009 Vin San Giusto (375 ml) is so sugary and syrupy my fingers are sticking to the computer keyboard as I write this review. This beautiful dessert wine shows a dark amber color with copper highlights. The wine is thick—so thick, in fact, you can actually feel it drip down the back of your throat millimeter after millimeter at a time. The blend is 90% Malvasia and 10% Trebbiano. The wine sits heavy on the palate. It will change your taste buds for hours to come. In fact, this was the last wine I tasted in this report, and it awarded a sensational send-off. Until next year, dearest Chianti Classico.

97 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Issue # 233 - Oct 2017)

San Giusto's 2009 Vin San Giusto is all class. Rich and luscious on the palate, it exudes class. As always, San Giusto's sweet wine is done in a flamboyant, exotic style that is at the very limit of what is possible. The 2009 carries its 460 grams of residual sugar quite will for such a big wine. This fruit spent 3.5-4 months drying and was only pressed in January 2010. What a pleasure it is to taste the 2009. The Vin San Giusto is without question one of the most compelling sweet wines being made in Italy today.

96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2018)

This is fabulous Vin Santo with a density that resembles honey. Dried fruits and spices as well as apricots. Full body, very sweet and rich. Goes on for minutes. Stunning.

96 points, James Suckling (Oct 2017)

2009 Vina Sena Sena (1.5L)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Aconcagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Eduardo Chadwick is one of the most important people of the vine in Chile – the world for that matter – facing multiple obstacles throughout his impressive career. For nearly a decade Eduardo worked to rebuild the iconic Viña Errázuriz, restoring his family's 19th century estate to its former glory. As Eduardo was gaining ground, California's most famous man of the vine paid the country a visit in 1990. Robert Mondavi fell in love with Chile and would soon be introduced to his counterpart in the region. By 1995, the two had reached a pioneering agreement – Seña was born. For four long, grueling years the two passionate visionaries toiled over vineyard sites in search of the perfect terroir for their dream wine. This was to be Chile's icon above all others. Site was paramount.

Located in the Valle de Aconcagua, on a 42 hectare colluvial vineyard of well drained gravel, rock and loam, the Seña vineyard is planted to the perfect mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. The slightly cooler temperatures of this elevated, sloping site allow for long, slow ripening. The Seña vineyard is often harvested two weeks after its nearest neighbor. Precious few wines in the country will compete; perhaps none – after all, perfection is incredibly rare.

This is a wine above all others ever bottled in Chile. A wine which is rightly described by Neal Martin as "The peripatetic wine that goes around the world challenging and, let it be said, often defeating First Growths in blind tastings."

95JS

This is a powerful and structured red with currants, minerals and blackberries. Full and very silky plus has firm tannins and a chewy finish. Stoney. Needs another three years to soften. A beauty.

95 points, James Suckling (Aug 2014)

2010 Chateau Lascombes (1.5L)

Merlot from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"The 2016 Château Lascombes is another brilliant Margaux, and I was blown away by this wine... while I’d happily enjoy bottles today, it’s going to keep for 25-30 years."
–Jeb Dunnuck

Crafted by the renowned Second Growth estate in an excellent vintage, the opulent 95pt 2016 Chateau Lascombes offers lush dark fruit with hints of smoky graphite and structured, ripe tannins, described as "really stunning" by critic James Suckling and offering incomparable value, conveyed ex-Chateau.

Established in the center of the Margaux plateau, the stately ivy-covered 19th century Chateau Lascombes was brought back to its original grandeur in the 1950s under the direction of renowned wine writer and entrepreneur Alexis Lichine, who raised the quality of the estate's wine exponentially over his two decades of ownership. Planted to 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon with 5% Petit Verdot, Lascombes' 120 hectares of vineyards are the largest holding in the Margaux AOC, divided into three distinct blocks based on their diverse soils of clay, gravel and limestone. Formerly the technical manager of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Duhart-Milon and Château l'Evangile before taking the reins at Lascombes in 2001, winemaker Dominique Befve presided over the most recent modernization of the estate, remapping and restructuring the vineyards, constructing new cellars and employing stricter selection for the Grand Vin under the advisement of renowned winemaking consultant Michel Rolland. Aged in 80% new French oak barrels for 18 months, the full-bodied 95pt 2016 Chateau Lascombes boasts layers of luscious dark fruit, minerality and impressive length with "a terrific sense of elegance and purity" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck, already incredibly drinkable.

Offered at a fraction of the price of nearby Chateaux Margaux and Palmer from an outstanding vintage, the 2016 Chateau Lascombes strikes the balance between richness and elegance, giving "full rein to the classy image of Margaux as the center of delicacy and precision in the Médoc" according to Bordeaux expert Jane Anson, conveyed in pristine provenance in cellar-ready original wooden cases and promising years of enjoyment.

96WA 94JS

The wine hits all cylinders in 2010. The average alcohol for the bottled wine is 14%. It has a gorgeously sweet nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers, subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal followed by full body, beautiful intensity, great purity, stature and length. The influence of any oak is minimal, despite the fact that 90% new French oak was used. Needless to say, this is an example of modern-styled winemaking at it’s finest, and arguments that such wines will not age well, do not represent their terroir , and are soul-less, are totally groundless. Give it 5 or so years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. This is one of the great Margaux wines of the vintage.

96 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue # 205 - Feb 2013)

What a wonderful nose of ripe strawberries and hints of vanilla. Full body with soft and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is luscious and sexy. Try in 2017.

94 points, James Suckling (Feb 2013)

2010 Chateau Marojallia (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

95WA 93WS

Even better than I thought it would be from barrel, this 15,000-bottle cuvee of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot made by the partner of Jean-Luc Thunevin, Murielle Thunevin, is sensational. Classic Margaux notes of spring flowers, black currant and licorice as well as hints of blueberry pie, lead pencil shavings and camphor jump from the glass of this full-bodied, dense, moderately tannic yet exceptionally well-endowed effort. It is a big wine from Margaux, but it never loses its sense of perspective, finesse and freshness. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20-25 years.

95+ points, Wine Advocate (Issue # 205 - Feb 2013)

Allies a dark, roasted espresso aroma to a core of fleshy currant paste, steeped fig and blackberry fruit, all backed by charcoal-coated grip. The long, muscular finish paves the way for some solid cellar time. A powerful, modern style that's hard to deny. Best from 2015 through 2030.

93 points, Wine Spectator (Mar 2013)

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2011 Dr. Hermann Erdener Treppchen Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Goldkapsel (375ml)

Riesling from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

98WA

Bernstein-colored and provided with a greenish shimmer, the 2011 Erdener Treppchen Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Gold Capsule starts with a lovely clear and focused bouquet of ripe and dried apricots, peaches, pumpernickel, and curries. Highly concentrated and viscous on the palate, this is a lovely clear and piquant TBA provided with a delicate acidity and beautiful expression of fresh (instead of rotten) fruit. The finish is always precise and focused and the intensity and purity of the fruit is truly outstanding. Most of all, however, the wine is enormously sweet, but never thick, thanks to its hidden finesse that will come out even better in, say, 20 to 80 years.

98 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (Issue # 217 - Feb 2015)

2011 Vina Sena Sena (1.5L)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Aconcagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Eduardo Chadwick is one of the most important people of the vine in Chile – the world for that matter – facing multiple obstacles throughout his impressive career. For nearly a decade Eduardo worked to rebuild the iconic Viña Errázuriz, restoring his family's 19th century estate to its former glory. As Eduardo was gaining ground, California's most famous man of the vine paid the country a visit in 1990. Robert Mondavi fell in love with Chile and would soon be introduced to his counterpart in the region. By 1995, the two had reached a pioneering agreement – Seña was born. For four long, grueling years the two passionate visionaries toiled over vineyard sites in search of the perfect terroir for their dream wine. This was to be Chile's icon above all others. Site was paramount.

Located in the Valle de Aconcagua, on a 42 hectare colluvial vineyard of well drained gravel, rock and loam, the Seña vineyard is planted to the perfect mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. The slightly cooler temperatures of this elevated, sloping site allow for long, slow ripening. The Seña vineyard is often harvested two weeks after its nearest neighbor. Precious few wines in the country will compete; perhaps none – after all, perfection is incredibly rare.

This is a wine above all others ever bottled in Chile. A wine which is rightly described by Neal Martin as "The peripatetic wine that goes around the world challenging and, let it be said, often defeating First Growths in blind tastings."

95JS 93WA

Extremely clear and complex with dark berry, spearmint and flowers. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. The tannin quality in this is exceptional. Tight and beautiful. Drink or hold. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. 58% cabernet sauvignon, 15% carmenere, 15% merlot, 7% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc. 22 months in 75% new French oak.

95 points, James Suckling (Jul 2015)

The 2011 Sena is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere, 15% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in 75% new French oak barrels for 22 months. It has a bright cherry color and restrained aromas of blackberries, spices, cedar wood, tobacco and a hint of mint. The palate is a little tight and restrained, and the wine medium-bodied, with balanced concentration and good acidity. Young but accessible, it shows great elegance and balance. I like it more than the older vintages that I had the chance to taste for context. It needs to develop the bouquet and complexity that, without a doubt, will come with time in bottle. Drink 2015-2027.

93 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 213 - Jun 2014)

2012 Brigaldara Amarone della Valpolicella Case Vecie (1.5L)

Corvina from Amarone, Veneto, Italy

94WA 92WS

The Brigaldara 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Case Vecie (a traditional blend of 55% Corvina, 25% Corvinone and 20% Rondinella) comes from a warm vintage that saw hot, drying winds for most of the summer season. Those scorching weather conditions have further contributed to the richness and concentration of the fruit you get here. After harvest, the grapes are laid out to dry for 120 days, and during that process, they lose up to one-third of their water mass, tightening and further concentrating that distinctive richness. After the grapes are destemmed, pressed and fermented, the wine goes into French barrique for two years, followed by an additional two years to refine in large oak casks. Dried blackberry and plum segue to spice, smoke and tar. The wine is soft in terms of mouthfeel, with impressive textural richness. Some 15,000 bottles were released.

94 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Sep 2019)

Bright and elegant, this lightly fleshy, medium- to full-bodied red offers flavors of candied cherry and dried strawberry fruit, with accents of woodsy spice, dried thyme and black licorice. Delivers a long, supple finish. Drink now through 2027. 1,100 cases made, 300 cases imported.

92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (May 2018)

2012 Uccelliera Costabate (1.5L)

Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

89JS

Lots of tertiary character to this red now with wet earth, leather, tobacco and some dried red berries. Medium body, drying tannins and a resolved finish. Needs drinking.

89 points, James Suckling (Nov 2019)

2013 Keush Blanc de Blancs (750ml)

Voskehat from Vayots Dzor, Armenia

2014 Penfolds Grange (1.5L)

Syrah from South Australia, Australia

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Counted among a handful of iconic wines instantly recognizable by a single word, pioneering Penfolds winemaker Max Schubert began his secretive experiment in the 1950’s to craft a highly distinctive Shiraz blending grapes from across South Australia’s best vineyards with techniques considered unconventional at the time, initially calling it Grange Hermitage and eventually changing it simply to “Grange." Described as “unquestionably Australia’s benchmark wine” by Vinous critic Josh Raynolds, this selection of highly rated Penfolds Grange vintages available in a range of formats is being offered at special, one-time pricing that Aussie Shiraz fans and collectors of the world’s best wines will want to secure without hesitation.

Among the first to establish vineyards in South Australia’s Adelaide, Dr. Christopher Penfold and his wife Mary established Penfolds in 1844, naming their stone cottage situated among the vines The Grange and eventually growing to become one of the country’s largest wine producers. Now celebrating the 70th anniversary of its first release, continuity has played a big part in the overwhelming success of Penfolds Grange, with only three other winemakers after Schubert crafting its signature style. As Chief Winemaker for Penfolds since 1989, Peter Gago has carried on the Grange tradition of blending mainly Shiraz and usually (although not always as in 2017) a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon from multiple vineyards across multiple regions, a practice which minimizes the impact of vintage variations, and ages Grange in large casks of 100% new American oak with nearly four more years in the bottle, yielding elegant spiced dark fruit balanced with precise acidity and velvety, forceful tannins ensuring decades of evolution. Described as “a massive wine” by the Wine Spectator’s Harvey Steiman, the 97 pt. 1995 Penfolds Grange has enjoyed over two decades of impeccable aging and is ready to enjoy, “majestic in its proportions, combining power and grace in equal measure” with a finish that “echoes all day and night.” Available in magnums, the 99 pt. 2012 Penfolds Grange is “unquestionably a stonking great Grange!” according to the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown with a finish that’s “epically long.” Declaring the 100 pt. 2014 Grange “doesn’t disappoint,” Jeb Dunnuck describes it as “unquestionably the reference point wine for Australia,” while calling the 100 pt. 2015 Grange “a monster of wine and one of those rare wines that blends power and elegance perfectly.” Described by the Wine Spectator’s MaryAnn Worobiec as “memorable, complex, aromatic and explosively deep,” the 98 pt. 2017 Penfolds Grange is both elegant and muscular boasting “a stature and presence possessed only by Grange” according to Aussie expert Tyson Stelzer of the Halliday Wine Companion, only the seventh Grange ever made with 100% Shiraz.

Described as “Shiraz at its finest” by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, the mythical and highly collectible Penfolds Grange sets the standard for Australian Shiraz, these selections all top-rated vintages guaranteeing enjoyment for decades and certain to be a focal point in any collector’s cellar.

100D 98WA 98WS

A perfect wine: extraordinary chypre and warm earth notes and the powerful fruit follows. Phenomenal Shiraz with 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.

100 points, Matthew Jukes, Decanter (Sep 2019)

Rich, concentrated and intense, the 2014 Grange delivers exactly what we've come to expect from this Penfolds icon wine. It's full-bodied, velvety in feel and loaded with plummy fruit, framed in vanilla and cedar. Dense, powerful and tannic, it should prove to be long lived, even by Grange standards. Gago doesn't rate the vintage overall that highly, but he says the selection this year for Grange was a bit more stringent and that production levels were just average. There are still over 1,000 cases for the United States.

98 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Oct 2018)

At first glance, this is a purely indulgent wine, with gobs of creamy, milk chocolate–laden maraschino cherry, raspberry framboise and Earl Grey tea aromas. Then wave after wave of elements start filling in, with toasted cumin, peppermint oil, Kalamata olive and white pepper notes, combining into an almost overwhelming amount of details. Becomes indulgent again on the long, lush finish. Drink now through 2035. 1,088 cases imported.

98 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator (Mar 2019)

2014 Vina Sena Sena (3L)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Aconcagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Eduardo Chadwick is one of the most important people of the vine in Chile – the world for that matter – facing multiple obstacles throughout his impressive career. For nearly a decade Eduardo worked to rebuild the iconic Viña Errázuriz, restoring his family's 19th century estate to its former glory. As Eduardo was gaining ground, California's most famous man of the vine paid the country a visit in 1990. Robert Mondavi fell in love with Chile and would soon be introduced to his counterpart in the region. By 1995, the two had reached a pioneering agreement – Seña was born. For four long, grueling years the two passionate visionaries toiled over vineyard sites in search of the perfect terroir for their dream wine. This was to be Chile's icon above all others. Site was paramount.

Located in the Valle de Aconcagua, on a 42 hectare colluvial vineyard of well drained gravel, rock and loam, the Seña vineyard is planted to the perfect mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. The slightly cooler temperatures of this elevated, sloping site allow for long, slow ripening. The Seña vineyard is often harvested two weeks after its nearest neighbor. Precious few wines in the country will compete; perhaps none – after all, perfection is incredibly rare.

This is a wine above all others ever bottled in Chile. A wine which is rightly described by Neal Martin as "The peripatetic wine that goes around the world challenging and, let it be said, often defeating First Growths in blind tastings."

97JS 95WA

Complex aromas of blueberry, rose petal, licorice, and currant. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Balanced and very refined. A wonderful purity and beauty. Give it three to four years to come together but already a beauty. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 16% carmenere, 11% malbec, 8% merlot and 5% petit verdot.

97 points, James Suckling (May 2016)

The blend for the 2014 Seña was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Carmenere, 11% Malbec, 8% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from their stony soils. The different grapes are carefully fermented separately and with different regimes of maceration and extraction but always looking for elegance within the natural power of the zone. The final blend was transferred to French oak barrels, 67% of them new (a percentage that seems to be slowly going down), for the élevage of 22 months. This time, some 5% of the volume carried out its aging in new Stockinger foudres. This is very much in line with the 2013 and the direction set by that cool year. The wine is very harmonious, elegant within the house style. Another superb vintage of Seña. This should age effortlessly in bottle. 60,000 bottles were filled in March 2016.

95 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 230 - Apr 2017)

2015 Bindi Sergardi Mocenni 89 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (750ml)

Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

94JS

Very perfumed and beautiful with red fruit, such as plums and cherries, and just the right amount of flowers and some spices. Medium body, fine and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Shows focus and lovely length. Drink now or hold.

94 points, James Suckling (Sep 2018)

2015 Chateau Valandraud (1.5L)

Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

99JD 98V 98WE 98JS

A wine that will be a candidate for perfection at maturity, the 2015 Valandraud is a heavenly wine that exhibits a deep, saturated ruby/purple color as well as a sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, cassis, crème caramel, graphite, and chocolate. This full-bodied, expansive, super concentrated 2015 is a hedonistic dream and has exceptional purity, balance, and equilibrium. While it offers pleasure today, it needs short-term cellaring and will keep for 20+ years.

99 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2017)

The 2015 Valandraud is blessed with a stunning, brilliantly defined and focused bouquet, quite penetrating in style yet so young and primal. This is all about potential. The palate is supremely well balanced with perfectly assimilated oak, satin-like in texture with wonderful precision and length. About as good as it gets. Class, class, class. Jean-Luc hits the ball out of the park. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

98 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Jul 2019)

Since the first vintage in 1991, this wine and its vineyard have travelled far. Now close to the top of the classification tree in Saint-Émilion, this vintage shows the impressive nature of this powerful wine. With a good balance between acidity and black fruits backed up by tannins, the wine is powerful and stylish. Drink from 2027.

98 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2018)

Plenty of toasty oak and extract here. This has immensely concentrated fruits with powerful yet silky tannins. Blackberry and dark-plum aromas dominate the nose with hints of dark chocolate and candied orange. Flavors follow suit amid fluid, muscular tannins that hold long into the finish. Great wine. Try from 2023.

98 points, James Suckling (Dec 2018)

2015 Domaine Vincent Dauvissat Chablis les Preuses Grand Cru (1.5L)

Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France

96WA 95V

The 2015 Chablis Grand Cru les Preuses has a very mineral drive and stony bouquet that to all intents and purposes I guess has not budged one iota since being opened two days prior to my visit. It is beautifully defined and understated with precise yellow flower and flint-like scents. The palate is succinctly balanced with a fine thread of acidity, a more feminine and elegant les Preuses compared to the 2016, but very long and utterly refined on the finish. This fulfills all that promise it showed in barrel.

96 points, Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Issue # 232 - Aug 2017)

Pale yellow. Aromas of lemon-lime and crushed stone are lifted by topnotes of violet and lavender sea salt. Wonderfully rich, pliant wine with the thickness of the vintage perfectly leavened by citrussy lift and the rocky character of this grand cru. Simultaneously suave and powerful, fine-grained and penetrating, this seamless, bulletproof grand cru finishes with outstanding building length and an impression of chewy dry extract. Really amazing texture, concentration and early personality for a wine with a moderate 12.5% alcohol. This should go on for a long time.

95+ points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (Aug 2017)

2015 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

96JS

Freshly picked blackberries, ivy, dark plums, licorice, citrus and orange rind. Full-bodied with lots of fruit but it's very tangy and nicely blended in the vibrant acidity and structured yet soft tannins. Citrusy on the finish. Drink in 2020.

96 points, James Suckling (May 2018)

2016 Abreu Cappella Proprietary Red (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

99JS 98V 97JD 97WS

Aromas of blackberries, graphite, and lead pencil. Fresh and dried flowers and iron shavings. Full bodied, layered, tight and solid. Beautiful and very poised and thoughtful. Hints of fresh herbs, from lavender to lemon grass. Compressed. Great length and focus. Drink after 2022.

99 points, James Suckling (May 2019)

The 2016 Cappella is delicate, elegant and super-refined. Bright floral and spice notes perk up a core of red cherry and plum fruit in a fine, silky wine that speaks to pure refinement. A wine of total grace and finesse, Cappella is absolutely gorgeous in 2016. It is also one of the most polished and nuanced wines I have ever tasted here.

98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2020)

The 2016s from Brad Grimes are all incredible wines that show the purity and balance of the vintage as well as the power and depth the Grimms always seems to find. Starting with the 2016 Cappella, it’s a more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend and comes from a tiny vineyard just west of St. Helena. It has a deep ruby/plum color as well as a powerful bouquet of blackcurrants, caramelized meats, spice box, and chocolaty herbs. This full-bodied, deep, concentrated 2016 just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It has the vintage’s more supple, seamless style and already offers pleasure. Nevertheless, it’s going to keep for 20-30 years.

97 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jan 2020)

Dark and very reserved up front, with an espresso cream frame holding a dense core of steeped fig and black currant paste flavors in check for now. Slowly reveals roasted alder and smoldering tobacco notes at the end while the fruit gains steam, driving the finish. The power is obvious, but there’s a sneaky seductiveness too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2040. 277 cases made.

97 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Jul 2020)

2016 Abreu Madrona Ranch Proprietary Red (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

100JD 100JS 99V 98WS

A perfect wine in every sense, the 2016 Madrona Ranch comes from a site at the base of Spring Mountain and is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It does everything right, with a magical bouquet of currants, ground herbs, licorice, graphite, spice, and who knows what else. These all carry to a massive 2016 that has a layered, multi-dimensional texture, building tannins, a colossal mid-palate, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s another heavenly wine from a great terroir and a great winemaker! Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 30-40 years or more.

100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jan 2020)

This is phenomenal. The precision and brightness is amazing with ultra-fine tannins that are so polished and so beautiful. Full to medium body and fabulous fruit. Wonderful length and beauty. The purity and balance is incredible. Dark berries, walnuts and dark chocolate. Makes you want to drink it now, but be patient and revel in the greatness. Try after 2022.

100 points, James Suckling (Mar 2020)

The 2016 Madrona Ranch is fabulous. Rich, dense and creamy, the 2016 is remarkably finessed from the very first taste. Rose petal, mint, spice, gravel, red cherry and blood orange are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass, but more than anything else the Madrona Ranch is a wine of extraordinary balance and allure. Don't miss it!

99 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2020)

On the brooding side at first glance, with a core of dark fig and black currant paste flavors, ensconced in cocoa and roasted alder notes. A warm, loamy underpinning emerges steadily through the muscular finish, gaining a creamy feel and extra chestnut, tobacco, licorice root and tar elements with air. This relies on a seriously profound bass line, so just check your subwoofer before hitting play. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2042. 345 cases made.

98 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Jul 2020)

2016 Abreu Rothwell Hyde Proprietary Red (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

96JS 95WS 94V

A very serious, tight red with currant, chocolate and brambleberry character, as well as orange peel. Full-bodied, refined and focused. Beautiful, polished sensibility. Already delicious, but better in a year or two.

96 points, James Suckling (Feb 2020)

Offers distinctive sassafras and wild herb aromas, quickly backed up by gently steeped plum, currant and raspberry fruit flavors. Picks up warm earth and tobacco notes, with a racy iron streak buried deeply on the finish. Delivering fruit, minerality, depth and cut, this is one for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Best from 2022 through 2038. 334 cases made.

95 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Oct 2020)

The 2016 Rothwell Hyde is a gorgeous wine to drink now, for readers who can find it. Soft and elegant with silky tannins and fabulous balance, the 2016 has so much to offer already. Black cherry, mocha, espresso, licorice, lavender and spice contribute aromatic nuance, but more than anything else, the 2016 is racy and open-knit, with tons of immediacy. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem.

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2020)

2016 Accendo Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

98WA 97JS 96WS

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and was bottled in August 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts out of the glass with exotic spice notes of star anise, fenugreek and cumin seed over a core of blackberry pie, wild blueberries and warm cassis with hints of kirsch, cigar box and mocha plus a waft of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with vibrant black, blue and red fruits plus tons of spicy sparks, framed by wonderfully ripe, fine-grained tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

98 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Dec 2018)

This is very tight and precise with dark berries, dark chocolate, spice and hints of hazelnuts. Full body and a solid center palate. Lots of sage, rosemary, and lavender. Beautiful balance. Fine finish. Very approachable now, but better after 2022.

97 points, James Suckling (Dec 2019)

Richly layered, with ripe and caressing cassis, plum preserves, boysenberry reduction and açaí berry fruit flavors. There's a chocolate backdrop and alluring toast notes throughout, with a subtle graphite edge on the very fine-grained finish to keep this red honest. A beautiful display of fruit and very Oakville in style. Drink now through 2035. 1,240 cases made.

96 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Oct 2019)

2016 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

97WA 97V 95JD 95WS

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate saunters out of the glass with a seriously sexy nose of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries, kirsch and black cherries with touches of fragrant soil, cassis, tobacco leaf, candied violets and espresso. Medium to full-bodied, the palate positively quivers with an electric intensity of tightly wound black and red berry layers, framed by very firm, fine-grained tannins and delivering bags of freshness and perfume on the very long finish.

97 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Oct 2018)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is bright and punchy, with striking aromatic lift and energy. There is so much explosive power. Then again, that is pretty typical of these red soils and well-exposed sites in Oakville's eastern corridor. Today, the 2016 is supremely inviting, but it will be even better in another few years' time. Bright, bold and punchy, with tons of aromatic intensity and energy, the Cabernet dazzles from start to finish. Grace and power are rarely so compelling.

97 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2020)

The two 2016 releases from Dalla Valle start with the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, a sensational wine that easily stands next to the smaller production Maya cuvée. This rocking base level Cabernet has awesome notes of blackcurrants, graphite, crushed rocks, chocolate, and damp earth/forest floor aromas and flavors. It's rich, powerful and concentrated, yet also elegant, with silky tannins and a finish where its class shows clearly. It's a beautiful bottle of wine that will have two decades or more of longevity.

95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jan 2019)

A broad, ripe and showy style, with boysenberry, dark plum and black Mission fig fruit flavors that glide through, carried by creamy, polished structure. Light mocha, anise and fresh humus hints peek through on the finish, adding range. A big red, with a lovely feel. Best from 2020 through 2032. 900 cases made.

95 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Oct 2019)

2016 Domaine du Grand Montmirail La Grande Confidentielle (750ml)

Grenache from Gigondas, Rhône, France

94WA

A new cuvée sourced from black marl soils, the 2016 Gigondas La Grande was still in tank when I visited the estate in June. It's 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, weighing in at 15% alcohol. Lavender notes mark the nose, along with dusty black cherries. It's full-bodied, concentrated and dusty-silky in texture, with a long finish that just hints at the warmth and power of the wine. I'd opt for drinking it over the next 6-7 years.

92-94 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Issue # 238 - Aug 2018)

2016 Eisele Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

100WA 99V 99JS

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 nuances of black tea, cigar box, truffles and charcuterie, plus, with coaxing, gentle wafts of red roses and crushed rocks emerge. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply arresting, offering a a myriad floral and earth sparks amidst a black fruit core and with seamless, firm, very fine-grained tannins. Well-knit freshness brings forth layer after layer of delicate nuances on the very long, mineral-laced finish. The team at Eisele, led by Frédéric Engerer (of Chateau Latour) and beautifully orchestrated by winemaker Hélène Mingot, have knocked it out of the park this vintage with this singular expression that both embraces the site's heritage and reveals parts unknown.

100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Oct 2018)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon from Eisele Vineyard is simply monumental. Powerful and persistent, the 2016 marries intensity with finesse in the way only a wine from a world-class site can. Everything is just in the right place. Time in the glass brings out stunning richness in every dimension and truly exceptional pedigree. Dramatic and statuesque in its beauty, the 2016 is a towering Cabernet Sauvignon that shows why Eisele Vineyard is one of the world's great vineyard sites. In a word: epic.

99 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2020)

The aromas are so complex here with blackberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and orange peel. Juicy and deep with a polished and lush texture. Full-bodied yet supple and harmonious. Poised and extremely long. You really want to drink this now, but be patient. Try after 2024.

99 points, James Suckling (May 2019)

2016 Fonseca Vintage Port (1.5L)

From Douro, Portugal

B-21 Top Recommendation
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After returning from Portugal's spectacular Duero River Valley, I am happy to report that 2016 is unanimously declared a vintage by the Port trade. Lunching in Oporto with Rupert Symington, who reigns over the top Port houses Dow, Warres, Graham's, Cockburn and Taylor. He related 2016 to be unique but a hypothetical combination of 2007 and 2011 but with intense floral aromatics not in recent memory.

Having tasted a number of dry reds from 2016 the unique aspects of the vintage are clear to me; aromatics, concentration, intensity – in particular old vines at higher elevations. At Fonseca, vineyard vine age exceeds 35 years. The extraction, concentration, combined with floral perfumes, finesse and a lengthy elegant finish with fine tannins define the vintage for both sweet and dry reds.

2016 Ports were just bottled in the recently, so not many reviews are out yet from the professional critics, but you should know that vintages are only declared with the wines are superb, This happens roughly three times a decade, similar to vintage Champagne. I am confident offering Fonseca, and at early-bird prices that won't be matched. This is a Port vintage that will be drinkable early on and hold for decades.

98JS 97WA

Lots of ripe fruit here with raisins and wet earth that turn to violets and hot stones. Full-bodied, tannic and powerful with fantastic grip and intensity. Grabs you. Impressive. Drink in 2025.

98 points, James Suckling (May 2018)

The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend sourced from the typical three Quintas (Panascal in the Tavora Valley and Quinta do Cruzeiro and Quinta de St Antonio in the Pinhão Valley). This was not quite bottled when first seen (set for a week later). It is now in the USA. It was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 99 grams of residual sugar. This dry and focused Fonseca was, in my initial July 2018 report, the pick of the Fladgate Group's litter in 2016. What has most changed in this issue is that Taylor's is showing a lot better while this has closed down a bit more. This is not seriously diminished, though. It is pretty brilliant. If you want that old-school power, it comes with Fonseca in this vintage. Taylor's may have the sexiest fruit of the three, but this seems to have the most muscle. It is true that the balance on the two just might be affecting that perception. Taylor's has a bit more mid-palate depth to soak up the power. Still, if Taylor's is flashier and richer in 2016, this seems even more serious. In the long lifespan of Ports, to be sure, it won't be unusual for them to keep flipping back and forth. Admittedly, this is also probably the hardest to read. Still, I couldn't help but think that this might have slightly more upside potential. Check in around 2060 or so to see if I'm right. (Send me an email if you don't think so. I want to hear from you.) On this second look, this Fonseca is still remarkably expressive, lifted and gloriously fresh, even with that slight closing. It has reasonable mid-palate concentration but even better intensity of flavor. Despite that intensity of flavor, it is not quite as sexy as it is in some years, at least not yet, as the tannins are firmly in charge. That isn't changing anytime soon. This rather stern Fonseca simply revels in its brilliant structure. This is a Port that demands cellaring if you want it to be all it can be. You and it will profit from at least 10 more years of cellaring. Doubling that will help a lot more.

97 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 240 - Dec 2018)

2016 Gramercy Syrah Lagniappe Red Willow Vineyard (750ml)

Syrah from Columbia, Washington State

93WA 93V 92JD 91WE 91W&S

Initially shy on the nose, the 2016 Syrah Lagniappe first shows a dusty core of dark red and black fruit tones, then reveals cassis, black raspberry and blackcurrant aromas alongside subtle notes of dusty dried herbs, ground pepper and hints of smoked meat. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the wine leads with softened Syrah expressions and has a focused line of minerality through to the mid-palate, with good balance, softer, grainy tannins and structured acidity. It ends with red-fruit jus and mild black pepper tones on the finish. Only 573 cases made. If you are looking for a generous and robust style of Syrah, this delicate, elegant and mineral-driven bottling is not for you.

93+ points, Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (Issue # 246 - Dec 2019)

Bright ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, olive tapenade, peppery herbs, licorice and minerals on the perfumed nose. At once cool and densely packed, showing much more ripeness than the Forgotten Hills Syrah with no loss of energy. This is simply riper, more filled in and more expressive yet with lovely retention of peppery acidity and nothing roasted or tired about it. Complex, subtle, energetic and light on its feet, finishing savory and very long, with a suave but firm dusting of tannins that should carry this wine for another eight to ten years. A very captivating wine--as good as the 2015 but in a tighter style. (13.1% alcohol)

93 points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous (Nov 2018)

The 2016 Syrah Lagniappe comes, as always, all from the Red Willow Vineyard and saw tons of stems and aging in neutral barrels. This deep ruby-colored effort has a beautiful perfume of black fruits, smoked earth, ground pepper, game, and crushed violets. Medium-bodied, silky and pure on the palate, with no hard edges, it's another wine from Gramercy that’s more lightweight and straightforward than normal, yet shines for its elegance, purity, and complexity. While it’s no doubt an impressive wine, it’s a solid step back from prior top vintages.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2019)

In the first vintage of this wine to be designated Red Willow, the aromas announce themselves with notes of cranberry, hay, herb, black pepper, smoked meat and raspberry. A flavorful, dense, red fruit-filled palate follows.

91 points, Sean P. Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2019)

Like many syrahs from Red Willow Vineyard, this feels cool in its scents of bay laurel and cured meat, and reticent in its tense, firm flavors. The red fruit is lined with espresso-dark tannins, a structure that bodes well for a long cellar life.

91 points, Patrick J. Comiskey, Wine & Spirits (Feb 2020)

2016 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh (750ml)

Shiraz from Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia

B-21 Top Recommendation
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It was Jim Barry's drive and community spirit that helped shape South Australia's Clare Valley as a benchmark producer of world-class Riesling and cemented its place as one of Australia's premier wine regions. Jim Barry Wines has a strong lineage. Jim himself was the first qualified winemaker in the Clare Valley, graduating with the 17th Degree in Oenology from the famous Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1947. Working for 22 years as winemaker at a large cooperative, Jim Barry became a pioneer of Australian table wine. He then went on to establish Taylors Wines in 1969. His wife Nancy proved a driving force in the formation of Jim Barry Wines, and sons Peter, Mark & John were involved in the company's rise. Peter Barry became managing director in 1985. Today Peter's children Tom, Sam and Olivia work for Jim Barry Wines as winemaker, commercial manager and brand ambassador respectively. Current custodians Peter & Sue Barry are deeply proud that Jim Barry Wines is still family owned, with three generations of Roseworthy graduates. The Barry family name is synonymous with the Clare wine region and their deep ties to the local community continue to this day.

The Armagh Shiraz has achieved extraordinary success and is regarded as one of Australia's highest quality wines. The vineyard was named after the adjoining hamlet of Armagh, established by Irish settlers in 1849 and named after the lush rolling hills of their homeland. Jim Barry planted the 8 acre vineyard in 1968 with Shiraz grapes. The vineyard is planted on its own roots on grey sandy abrasive topsoil over clay subsoil and receives an average rainfall 20 inches per year. Such is The Armagh vineyards suitability that minimal intervention is needed to maintain very low yields yields below 4 tons per hectare, which produce rich and concentrated fruit of the rare quality required to produce wines with aging potential. From the first vintage in 1985, The Armagh has achieved remarkable success and has become highly collectable.

99JS 97WA

Wow. This is a bold, brassy shiraz that carries a wealth of very intense aromas of ripe blackberries, dark plums, licorice and sweetly spiced earth. Still so very youthful and primary. The palate is so powerful, so mouth-filling and so, so juicy. This manages to deliver such intensity and composure. Supple, long and deep-set tannins and heroically expressive fruit. Really impressive now, but this will deliver much more over the next two decades. One of the finest releases to date.

99 points, James Suckling (Jun 2020)

My pick of the recently bottled vintages, the 2016 The Armagh Shiraz shows a bit more obvious oak (simply because of its youth) but also a wonderful taut tension between ripeness and acidity. The fruit here is a bit redder in profile, leaning more toward raspberries than blackberries, while still being fully ripe. Full-bodied and supple, it finishes cedary, intense and long, adding in complex, lingering spice notes.

97 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Feb 2020)