2001 products
Timeless Napa Valley Red
Winemaker Description
2017 Timeless Napa Valley is a harmonious wine that deftly balances elegant integration of both high acidity and supple fruit to create a wine with ageworthy structure and character. Notes of pomegranate and cherry on the nose are met by subtle aromas of wisteria, licorice and mint. Carried by essences of rose, plum and tart red fruit, a mouthwatering ripple of bright acidity meets delicate tannins and balancing, savory flavors of minty balsam, cozy mulling spices and stewed black fruits on the palate.
Milan Nestarec Youngster Red ORGANIC Czech Republic 2021 750ml
Winemaker Descrption
Milan Nestarec Youngster Red is a red natural wine made from a blend of Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Dornfelder. The grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed. The juice ferments in 2000-liter stainless steel tanks. The wine ferments for about 2 months, with occasional pigeage and indigenous yeast fermentation. Elevage takes place in the same tanks for about 2 months. The wine is bottled unfiltered, unfined, and with zero sulfur added.
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Organic 2022 750ml
Chateau Lamothe de Haux Bordeaux BLANC 375ml 2022 HALF BOTTLE WHITE
40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon and 20% Muscadelle. The wine is aged on the lees for about 3 weeks, which accounts for its round, smooth, and remarkably fruity flavor. The wine is gold with green highlights. Floral aromas and fruity aromas (hawthorn, grape fruit). Round and fresh, slightly pearly wine. A crisp and long finish. This wine is aged on the lees for about 3 weeks, which accounts for its round, smooth, and remarkably fruity flavor.
Food Pairing: It is ideal as an aperitif, or with fish, seafood (a must with oysters), and cheese.
Located southwest of Bordeaux in the commune of Haux, Château Lamothe has crafted estate-bottled wine since the 16th century. For four generations succession was passed down on the mother’s side and since 1956 the estate has been run by the Néel-Chombart family. Over the past 60 years the family has amassed prime vineyard land which now spans 80 hectares of clay and limestone slopes on the Right Bank. Additionally, they restored the distinctive façade of the historic chateau (now pictured on all Lamothe labels) and renovated the 17th century limestone quarries into underground cellars ideal for aging.
Vigneron Damien Chombart believes that sustainable farming is not only stewardship of the land, but also as a way to enhance the life of farmers, communities and society. It is a holistic challenge the connects economic success in agriculture with environmental and social responsibilities for all involved.
Familie Rauen Maximin Riesling Spatlese 2023 750ml
Rand Sieger 67Wine.com | This is about as good as a mosel riesling under $20 can be. Rarely do you find a Spätlese of this quality for such a low price. Classic mosel with bright white currant fruit, clover honey, and an energetic undercurrent of lime zest and slatey minerality. It really explodes on the palate with juicy, mouth watering fruit and the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
Try this paired with breaded, deep-fried button mushrooms dipped in tartar sauce. The combination will make you smile.
The Rauen family in the Mosel has been growing grapes for many generations but began bottling their own wine only in 1983. When Harald Rauen took the reins from his father more than 30 years ago, the first thing he did with their vineyards in the slate-rich soils of Detzem and Thornich was to reduce the yields in the vineyards to concentrate on quality instead of bulk. The result has been a line of classically clean and elegant Rieslings. His Spatlese is light-bodied and zesty, just a touch sweet, with notes of apricot, lime, and flint.
Stadlmann Pinot Noir Organic Thermenregion Austria 2019 750ml
Our Professional Review
Rand Sieger Buyer, 67Wine | This lovely Pinot Noir comes from a 6th generation family winery in the Thermen Region, just a short drive south from Vienna.
Cistercian Monks planted Pinot Noir vines here as early as the 12th century. Aging is done only in old oak barrels to preserve the purity and freshness of the fruit. Aromas and flavors of bright red fruits are accented by a light peppery spice on the finish.
Expert Review
James Suckling 91 Points | I like the smoky, dried-cherry, blackberry and strawberry character and just a hint of dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied, round and flavorful. Drinkable now, but better in 2021.
Winemaker Description
Produced from vines planted well south of the cluster of northern-Thermenregion villages that comprise the majority of their holdings, Stadlmann’s Pinot Noir (called “Blauburgunder” locally) is simultaneously fresh and substantial, offering the textural harmoniousness of their white wines, as well as a lifted and elegant spice character that puts one in the mind of excellent red Burgundy. (After all, it was the Cistercian monks who brought Pinot Noir from Burgundy to the Thermenregion in the late 1100s.) Like the estate’s white wines, this is fermented and aged entirely in large, well-worn oak casks and bottled without fining and with only a gentle filtration.
Husch Vineyards Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Lush and powerful, the 2020 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir showcases this valley’s great fruit. The wine presents vivid aromas of amarena cherry, marionberry, lilac, and baking spices. Subtle notes of rhubarb, currant, rosemary, and earth add depth and complexity. Lively and youthful, the wine delivers excellent balance, purity of fruit, and sustained richness with a velvety texture, and it is sure to develop beautifully in the cellar.
This dinner table classic pairs exceptionally with coq au vin, mushroom ravioli, roasted pecans and walnuts, grilled vegetables, or creamy cheeses.
Expert Review
Wine Spectator 90 Points | This has nice, subtle energy, with rippling rooibos tea, blood orange and red currant notes that meld steadily through a savory finish.
Luis Seabra Xisto Ilimitado Tinto Douro 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Bright garnet with high-toned red and blue fruit aromas, tinged with wet stone and violets. On the palate, lush, but with bright acidity to balance the red cherry and pomegranate fruit. White pepper, slate and herbal aromas overlay the core of fruit on a juicy, fresh finish.
Pair with roast game or poultry, or ratatouille.
Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa 2018 750ml
Expert Review
Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018).
Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018).
James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018).
Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2019 750ml
Winemaker Notes
The estate's flagship cuvée, always at the top of international rankings. The robe is dark with purple reflections. On the nose, the still discreet aromas of crushed black fruits and garrigue are just waiting to melt into a noble and fresh substance, to reveal finesse and elegance on the palate.
Blend: 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah
Ratings:
98 Points Wine Enthusiast: In contrast to Janasse's varietal Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings, this expression of old vines dating as far back as 1920 blends Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and other grapes from four distinct vineyard sites. Matured primarily in foudres, it offers piercing blackberry and black-plum flavors softened by flurries of peppercorn and anise as well as ripe, feathery tannins. Anchored by a firm earthen undertow, the wine will improve through 2040 and hold further.
98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Black cherries, blackberries and garrigue all appear on the nose of the dense, concentrated 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes. Yes, the wine boasts some formidable tannins, but they're ripe, and the fruit is vibrant and intense, with all of the ingredients for cellaring up to two decades. With time, it might even approach the performance of the 2009 (99 points) or 2010 (100). Best after 2025. Rating: 98+
97 Jeb Dunnuck: Lastly, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is another tour de force from this estate, who are clearly firing on all cylinders today. A blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Syrah that’s brought up in a mix of foudre and barrel, its deep purple hue is followed by a rich, powerful, full-bodied wine offering ample cassis and darker berry fruits, notes of ground pepper, cured meats, and scorched earth, ripe, building tannins, incredible balance, and a great finish. It’s going to flirt with perfection at maturity, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it still drinking brilliantly at age 30. Rating :97+
97 Decanter: Lovely density of dark fruit, full and weighty on the palate. Powerful, long, concentrated and fresh. The alcohol is a little warming, but generally the impression is one of warmth, generosity and endlessly deep, dark fruit. One for the cellar. Fermented in concrete, matured for 12 months in foudre and demi-muid.
95 Wine Spectator: Warm and lush in feel, with steeped dark plum, blackberry and açai berry fruit flavors infused with singed savory, licorice root and warm earth notes, offering a late echo of bittersweet Valrhona chocolate. Good underlying grip keeps this honest enough too. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035.
Salvestrin Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
At first this wine is all about fruit; ripe dark cherry and blackberry are framed by toasty oak with hints of coffee, tea and vanilla. The dark fruit is vibrant on entry, which leads to a full rich mouth coating mid palate and nicely balanced fine tannin.
The intensity and concentration flow seamlessly to notes of ripe fruit and barrel tones that linger pleasantly for an extended period, inviting one back to the glass! This wine will drink beautifully now and over the next 10+ years.
Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione Organic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Ruby-red color. The nose is complex and elegant. Notes of dry flowers, hay and rose petal, accompanied by a hint of chamomile. It is fresh, balanced, silky, enveloping and full-bodied on the palate. The tannins are prominent yet well-integrated. The finish is long and persistent. We recommend decanting a few hours before serving.
Expert Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | A medium red hue, the 2020 Barolo Rocche Di Castiglione offers more complexity and is more nuanced in the glass, with notes of dried raspberries, tangerine, roses, dried herbs, and cedar. Medium-bodied, it is crunchy with an elegant feel but has balanced structure and retains a somewhat more chiseled feel that’s true to the vintage. It has a lot to enjoy now and also has a wide drinking window. Drink 2025-2050.
The Wine Advocate 96 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a very delineated wine with sharp ferrous notes, cherry cola, redcurrant and chalky mineral. It is extremely precise in terms of its aromas. The effect is direct and layered, showing different sides and increasing complexity as it opens in the glass. Dried floral notes, purple flower and iris also appear delicately. The chalky tannins feel abrupt at this young stage, but this wine is built to last nonetheless. Only 3,512 bottles were created.
Vinous 96 Points | The 2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a magical wine from a magical site. It marries finesse and volume to a degree that is not found in most of the other wines in this range. Castiglione Falletto is the center of the Barolo production zone, literally and figuratively, the place where many different soil types meet. As a result, the wines often possess mind-blowing balance, which is very much the case here.
Chateau Leoville Las Cases Saint-Julien 2010 750ml
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 99 Points | Stunning and pure from the get-go, with intense cassis and blackberry fruit. Ultimately takes a slightly austere approach, with a wrought-iron structure driving along while pastis, black tea, licorice snap and asphalt notes course underneath. Long and loaded with grip, this remains remarkably fine-grained. A very chiseled Cabernet that is wonderfully precise and incredibly long. Best from 2020 through 2040. 12,000 cases made.
Wine Advocate 96 Points | The 2010 is a quintessentially elegant, classic wine of Bordeaux - firm, rigid, perhaps slightly lighter than most of the other St.-Juliens, but stylish, potentially complex, and reminiscent of the style of the 1986, but more concentrated and powerful. It is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc with a normal pH of 3.56. It was raised in 75% new oak and the alcohol came to 13.7%. This wine displays loads of black currants, cedar wood and vanillin, but needs a good 7-8 years of cellaring, if not much longer. It should last for 30+ years.
Cantina del Notaio Aglianico del Vulture Il Repertorio 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
Impenetrable garnet ruby red. Very elegant to the nose, it reminds of marasca with spicy and liquorice notes. Rich, full with remarkable cherry notes and a marasca ending lightly spiced. Tannins are soft and pleasant.
Expert Review
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Rich aromas of cocoa powder and carob ride over the dense dark-berry core on the nose. Wild-berry flavors are wrapped in cinnamon and clove accents on the palate, with integrated tannins and fresh acidity lending support. It's accessible now and should hold well through 2025. — Alexander Peartree
Domaine Humbert Fixin Vieilles Vignes 2020 750ml
The Domaine Humbert Frères Vieilles Vignes Fixin is structured and concentrated is this Domaine Humbert Frères Fixin. The pinot noir comes from old vines that are on average over 50 years old. Aromas of raspberry and spice, plus a light green note. Sweet and smooth on the palate, with aromas of red fruit, complicated by smoky bottom notes. Finishes with good length and lighter tannins than most fixins.
The brothers Emmanuel (Manou) and Frédéric Humbert are the fourth generation of wine producers of the Humbert family estate. They took over the estate from their parents in 1989 and have steadily improved the quality of their wine ever since. Their wines are highly sought after and excel in harmony and balance. Winemaker Description.
Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana Organic 2020 750ml
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is lush, yet dense and lively, offering black cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit, shaded by mineral, cedar and spice elements. Firms up by the finish, echoing fruit, mineral and spice accents, with fine length. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. (2020).
Wine Advocate 94 Points | From a warm vintage, the Tenuta Sette Ponti 2020 Oreno (a blend of certified organic Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot) is very rich and fleshed out, and definitely softer compared to the 2019 vintage before it. This wine shows lots of savory fruit and velvety concentration with blackberry preserves and baked cherry. Oreno awards you with a very generous expression from Tuscany that can be enjoyed in the near- or medium-term. (2020).
James Suckling 97 Points | A red with a layered, velvety texture, showing blackberry and black-olive character, together with some iodine and graphite. Full-bodied and rich with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. Savory. 50% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to soften. (2020).
Luciano Sandrone Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore 2022 750ml
All "hand-made" our Valmaggiore is an amphitheater facing the south, with full exposure to the sun. Here, nature is rich and vigorous. The ground is soft and sandy, the slopes extremely steep. Already in the planting of the vineyard, the respect for nature and traditions were strategic. This respect is present every day: we cultivate by hand, row by row, from bud break to when we harvest the ripest grapes; we make our vineyard a laboratory for healthy and well-cultivated fruit.
The Nebbiolo in Roero. In Roero, a significant historic agricultural richness has been preserved, and not only in viticulture. Here, Nebbiolo is distinguished for its finesse and elegance and we, like those in the past who were also proud and certain, wish that our Valmaggiore wine expresses all the grace and refinement of Nebbiolo.
Here, Nebbiolo is distinguished for its finesse and elegance and we, like those in the past who were also proud and certain, wish that our Valmaggiore wine expresses all the grace and refinement of Nebbiolo.In any case, this wine evolves beautifully with time. We know that only with years of slow and silent evolution does Nebbiolo reveal its best character. Thus, our Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d'Alba is part of the „sibi et paucis" project. Winemaker Description.
Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
This fresh, fruity, semi-sweet wine displays aromas and flavors of ripe, juicy berries with dark chocolate undertones.
The perfect balance between sweetness and acidity makes for a refreshing approachability. It is a versatile food wine, best served slightly chilled.
Pacific Redwood Cabernet Sauvgnon Organic 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
This Cabernet is rich and earthy with flavors of plum and chocolate, a graceful tannic structure, and a robust finish. Best paired with bold, flavorful foods that match its depth of flavor and aroma. Enjoy with wild mushroom ragout or flourless chocolate cake.
Expert Review
Wine Enthusiast 89 Points | This is an extremely fun, engaging, drink-me-now Cabernet Sauvignon with modest (13.7%) alcohol and a gentle sandy tannic texture. Notes of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, violet, fresh fennel, damp forest floor and hints of cacao and vanilla lead to a clean, medium-length finish. (2021).
Cakebread Cellars "Dancing Bear Ranch" Howell Mountain 2017 750ml
Critic Notes
97 Pts | Jeb Dunnuck writes: The top Cabernet is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, which comes all from the Howell Mountain AVA. It's another inky colored beauty boasting a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits, ground herbs, spice box, graphite, and forest floor. With brilliant minerality on the palate as well as full-bodied richness and an expansive, opulent texture, it has sweet tannins and is approachable today, yet will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 25-30 years. It's one of the few 2017s to come close to its 2016 counterpart. Bravo! Drinking 2024 to 2054. Jeb Dunnuck 97
95+ Pts | Lisa Perrotti-Brown writes: Bottled only three weeks ago, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, having spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals beautiful notions of kirsch, red and black currant preserves, raspberry pie and warm plums with hints of red roses, stewed tea, underbrush and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful red fruit and floral intensity intermingled with black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Very different from the epic 2016 Dancing Bear, but very exciting! Drinking 2020 to 2038. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+
93 Pts | Antonio Galloni writes: The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear ranch is a gorgeous Howell Mountain red. Succulent black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, new leather, rose petal and blood orange all run through this deep, resonant, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon from Cakebread. This is a very pretty wine. Drinking 2022 to 2032. - Vinous 93
James Suckling writes: Polished, intense aromas of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry jam, pine and walnut. It’s full-bodied with tight, fine-grained tannins. Rich wood-spice and stewed-fruit flavors. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 1% merlot. Drink now. - James Suckling
James Molesworth writes: Lively, with currant, plum and loganberry notes mixed with light bramble and licorice root accents. Fairly open in feel for Howell Mountain, with just a light tarry edge holding the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2026. - Wine Spectator
E. Guigal LIEU-DIT Saint Joseph 2019 750ml
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 92 Points | Scents of pencil shavings join heady cassis notes on the nose of Guigal's 2019 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph, sourced from the former estates of Grippat and de Vallouit. Aged half in new oak and half in second-fill barrels, it's full-bodied, rich and ripe, with a velvety mouthfeel and a lingering finish. (2019).
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2019 Saint Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint Joseph ratchets everything up a notch and has an almost flamboyant style in its sunny red and black fruits, spice, smoked game and flowery incense aromas and flavors. It's full-bodied, has sweet tannins, a round, sexy profile, and a great finish. The oak here is also perfectly integrated. Drink this beauty any time over the coming 10-15 years. (2019).
Onabay Merlot Great Blue Heron North Fork 2018
Winemaker Notes
From hand-harvested vines on the North Fork of Long Island. The grapes were entirely destemmed to add emphasis on the fruit profile. The wine was aged in French oak (20% new) for 17 months. Excellent with steak and fries.
Onabay combines vines planted in the 1990s and high density, high quality selected clones, crating a perfect balance. This wine in fact is well balanced with flavors of plum and liquorice and a mineral finish. All supported by a smooth tannin. Earthy and velvety at the same time, typical qualities of good Merlot. Winemaker Description.
Onabay Vineyards' nineteen acres are dedicated to growing the best Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Chardonnay grapes the vintage allows. Onabay combines original plantings from the 1990s with more recent high density plantings of the highest quality clonal selections. This synthesis gives Onabay the advantage of consistently harvesting balanced, flavorful grapes that surpass the region's expectations.
Brad Anderson is committed to growing, producing and bottling world-class wines with the help of a very talented team, including vintner Bruce Schneider, winemaker/grape grower John Leo, and viticulturalist, Bill Ackermann. Francesca Anderson, renowned botanical artist, created the drawings of herons that make the Onabay labels so distinctive. Daughter, Mia C. Anderson's poems also grace the labels. A published poet, Mia's love of natural history and environmental themes lend themselves perfectly to the Onabay mission.
Chiara Anderson Edmands oversees the marketing of Onabay Vineyards. She and her husband, Ben, delight in pairing the family wines with the delicious bounty of the North Fork. And their three children are growing up immersed in the natural magic of this land, where winter snow leads to spring blossoms, and summer exuberance yields sweet ripe grapes.
Two generations of Andersons are now involved in artisanal winemaking. The third generation may soon be prepared to continue that commitment. Winemaker Description.
Umani Ronchi Lacrima di Morro d’Alba Fonte del Re 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
The wine presents a deep ruby red color with evident shades of violet. The nose is remarkable for a delicate and characteristic, in- tense and aromatic vinous aroma, suggestive of roses, violets and brushwood.
Flavor dry and warm, with clear and pungent but not rasping tannins. Soft and fairly rounded, and also with good body and persistence.
This wine is traditionally matched with typical local charcuterie such as Lardellato di Fabriano or Ciavuscolo salami, first courses based on Salsa Rossa and meat sauce, and second courses based on white meats. It can also be accompanied by antipasti of blue fish, marinaded or soused in the same wine, and some types of fish soup. It is also excellent with medium-hard cheeses.
Goblet of medium size and roughly spherical shape, to allow the wine to oxygenate properly and for the aromas to open up completely.
Ritual Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley Organic 2019 750ml
Expert Review
Wine Spectator | A medium-bodied red with aromas of wild raspberries, porcini, dried herbs and smoked meat. Powdery, fine tannins with a chalky feel. Concentrated and taut with a savory, mineral finish. Drink or hold. (2019)
Peju MERLOT Napa Valley Legacy Collection 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
This is a complex and delicious wine. It beckons with aromas of dark purple plum and anise. Bright fruit flavors follow that include Bing cherries, boysenberries, white pepper and savory. The well-defined, and elegant tannins add texture and length to the finish and will ensure a long life in the cellar.
Chateau Saint Pierre Saint-Julien 2014 750ml 93 pts Vinous
Quintessa Napa Valley Red Biodynamic 2017 750ml
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 95 Points | Already bottled, the 2017 Quintessa displays a deep garnet-purple color. The nose needs a little coaxing before it reveals bold, expressive notes of crushed red and black plums, black currant jelly, wild blueberries and kirsch with nuances of camphor, cloves, cedar and lilacs plus a hint of oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has beautifully expressed, elegant red and black fruit layers, with a sturdy, grainy frame and plenty of freshness, finishing long and earthy.
Decanter 93 Points | Power and concentration from the first nose, underbrush and spice box notes show traces of the drought of the 2017 summer, turning into liquorice, bitter black chocolate, sweet fig and tight-berried fruit as it opens. Flavourful and compact, with subtle hints of thyme and sage, lacks some freshness but this is a well structured enjoyable bottle. From a beautiful, one-block vineyard in Rutherford, with vines on terraces planted around a lake. 76% new oak. Blend completed with 1% Petit Verdot. Tasted twice.
James Suckling 95 Points | Crushed berries, incense and blackberries with black-olive undertones. Extremely perfumed. Medium to full body. Very intense for a 2017. Crafted and polished. Long and caressing. Elegant. Drink or hold.
Domaine Chandon De Briailles Pernand Vergelesses ROUGE 1er Cru Les Vergelesses Organic Biodynamic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
François de Nicolay succinctly described the 2020 growing season as "dry and hot with enough of both to create at least some degree of hydric stress. There wasn't much disease pressure though and the fruit was super-clean when we arrived at the harvest. We chose to begin picking on the 17th of August and continued through to the 26th and brought in yields that were only about 60% of normal though with better acidities than we obtained in either 2018 or 2019.
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 90 points Opening in the glass with aromas of cherries, berries, loamy soil and peonies, the 2020 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses is medium to full-bodied, with a velvety attack and a deep core of fruit, framed by lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. — Outstanding.
Alan Meadows 90 Points | An earthier and not quite as spicy array is comprised by notes of red and dark berries with a similar plethora of pretty floral nuances. The mouthfeel of the medium weight flavors is again super-sleek thanks to the moderately fine-grained tannins supporting the firm, youthfully austere and sneaky long finale. At least some patience advised.
Cantina del Notaio Aglianico del Vulture l'Atto 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
100% Aglianico del Vulture Cantine del Notaio is a Demeter certified Biodynamic estate located in the rugged volcanic hills of Mount Vulture in Basilicata.
Atto is the sort of wine you don't expect from the Aglianico del Vulture denomination. Fruit of the hard work and efforts of Cantine del Notaio in this exceptional denomination, and under the direction of Professor Luigi Moio, Atto represents the quintessence of mountain wine. A fine, clean-cut and most enjoyable red, characterised by a remarkable freshness and resolute minerality.
In its production, after rigorous and selective harvesting by hand, a short maceration follows that ensures all the Aglianico's tannin and freshness are retained in the wine. The ageing process takes place in the spectacular underground cellar, excavated into the volcanic ground. After a minimum of 12 months in used French oak barrels, Atto is released onto the market as a young and well-formed wine, that's also rich, complete and, despite its youth, possessing a finely tempered profile of the rough Aglianico.
Appearing a lovely, intense ruby colour, that denotes both its youth and its potential, Atto reveals on the nose a rich array of aromas, ranging from cherries to violets, pencil lead to spicy notes. The pleasant acidity and the smoothness of its tannins afford it an amazing persistence with hints of fresh fruit and meadow flowers.
Girasole Pinot Noir Mendocino Organic 2022 750ml
Winemaker Desciption
Pinot noir grapes from our home ranch, Redwood Valley Vineyards, were hand harvested in late September of 2020. The bunches were carefully destemmed into a stainless steel tank for fermentation. The mixture of skins, seeds and juice were cold soaked for 24-48 hours to begin flavor extraction.
After a CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) approved yeast was added, the must was mixed two times per day to continue extracting color and tannin. These pump-overs are critical to enhancing the aroma and fla- vor from the pinot noir grape. Once fermentation is complete, the must was delicately pressed and aged on French oak for 9 months.
Medium ruby in color, this wine is brimming with captivating aromas of Queen Anne cherries, fresh cranberry and notes of cola. On the palate, flavors of ripe red fruit preserves, vanilla and a hint of oak. With firm acidity and unassuming tannins, this wine delivers a soft, luscious finish. Incredibly versatile in the pairing department, or as a sipper all by itself.
Franck Balthazar Cornas CHAILLOT 2020 750ml
Expert Review
Vinous 97 Points Josh Raynolds writes | Glass-staining ruby. Exotically perfumed black and blue fruit, incense and candied licorice scents, along with mineral, olive and exotic spice overtones. Seamless and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry, boysenberry, cherry-cola, salty olive and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding energy and mineral lift. Slow-building tannins grow on a strikingly long, focused finish that strongly echoes the licorice and mineral notes.
Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a ‘trial’, RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. The alphanumeric Bin designation 798 was bestowed upon the wine from the 2016 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive. RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and plush texture. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa shiraz at the highest quality level. RWT wines area built for the long haul, with the precision, concentration and balance to age for many years.
Expert Review
Wine Advocate 98 Points | Sourced only from the Barossa Valley RWT is aged exclusively in French oak giving it two major points of difference from the rest of the Penfolds range. Always a sexy voluptuous wine (and admittedly a personal favorite) the 2018 RWT Shiraz ratchets that up to new heights in a great Barossa vintage boasting layers of berry-like fruit refined vanilla shadings and baking-spice notes plus more exotic elements like star anise and cocoa powder. It's full-bodied and plush without being unstructured in any way with a lingering complex finish and the concentration to age two decades or more.
James Suckling 96 Points | This has a very attractively fresh showy feel to the nose with aromas of ripe red cherries blackberries goji berries and redcurrants as well as red plums and some wild-herb and licorice notes on offer too. Very expressive and fragrant. The palate has a super intense and powerful delivery of ripe red-cherry and plum flavors and immaculately fresh French oak (64% new) that really clasps and holds the finish long. The tannins are so ripe and well positioned. Drink over two decades.