Sitewide Sale - Reds

99 Points James Suckling | Fabulous aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, crushed stone, graphite and lead pencil. Some violets and other flowers, too. Full-bodied with incredibly encompassing tannins that are like the finest velvet in texture. The structure is superb, with so much tension and focus. Seamless. This could be the new 1990 or better. Try after 2028.

98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | The flagship 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron is pure gold, a full-bodied, rich, powerful 2020 displaying the vintage's purity, focus, and structure front and center. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, its dense purple hue is followed by a mammoth-sized bouquet of cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, graphite, and cedar pencil. With ripe tannins, a seamless, layered mouthfeel, and one heck of a finish, it comes closest in my mind to the estate 2010, and I think is clearly in the same realm as the 1989, 1990, 2000, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2019.

98 Points Vinous | The 2020 Pichon Baron is every bit as magnificent as it was en primeur. A wine of vertical intensity and explosive power, the 2020 offers up an exotic mix of dark red/black fruit, espresso, licorice, menthol, gravel and dried herbs. This potent driving Pauillac needs time to come together. It marries the fruit intensity of a warm year with the driving energy of a cool year. The 2020 is a gorgeous Pichon Baron.

98 Points Wine Enthusiast | Made with a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine offers dark tannins that give density and massive black fruits. With a magnificent combination of dark fruits and rich structure, it is set for long-term aging.

98 Points Decanter | Gentle and delicately aromatic but rich too, full of coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, caramel and medicinal herbs - mint and aniseed with a combination of red, blue and black berry fruits. Lovely density and weight on the palate, really very tannic but wide with an aerated effect so it doesn't feel at all heavy with a bright juiciness and extremely long length. The tannins make the first impression with a velvet texture and chalky minerality but it’s clean and the fruit has a crystalline purity that gives a sleek and direct overall impression. Generous, elegant and refined yet still not showing its best.

97 Points Robert Parker | The brilliant 2020 Pichon-Longueville Baron offers up inviting aromas of sweet berries and cassis mingled with pipe tobacco, loamy soil, pencil shavings and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, its velvety attack segues into a concentrated mid-palate that's framed by rich, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, vibrant finish. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot, it's a true classic that's a touch less demonstrative out of the gates than the sensual 2019, but which in the fullness of time will prove every bit as good.

97 Points Wine Spectator | This has a very large-scaled yet properly proportioned core of cassis, plum and blackberry fruit flavors that are remarkably pure and focused. Buried deep within is a sleek, vibrant iron spine that drives the finish as the fruit keeps pace. Extra savory, tobacco and cedar nuances fill out all the remaining available space. A towering wine, with a buttoned-up feel. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2030.

Winemaker Description

Ruby red color with light copper highlights. Nose dominated by aromas of small berries (raspberry, redcurrant) very intense with some toasted notes. Tender, fruity and finely spicy on the palate. Fine and silky tannins, exceptional structure. Long and fruity finish. 

Expert Review 

91 Points James Suckling | Forest berries, smoke, dried herbs and baking spices on the nose. Medium body with sleek tannins. Silky texture with volume on the mid-palate. It’s fruity and well-balanced with a succulent finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

Winemaker Description

The color of the wine is dark red, almost black with blueish hues. Very expressive on the nose with red fruits and black fruit flavors. A good swirl in the glass release a large range of flavors and spice. Star anise, licorice, as well as empyreumatic notes and flint stones. It goes very wide and powerful on the palate at first, then well-defined structure and smoothness of the wine gives all its balance, fresh and full body. The length is highlighted by a great tannic structure. On the palate, it is highly aromatic with a great fruit expression melted with soft spices, blond tobacco leaf, licorice and graphite pencil like notes.

Expert Reviews

Robert Parker 100 Points | A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aging in 60% new barriques, the very deep purple-black colored 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte makes an impactful entrance, opening with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant pastilles, chocolate-covered cherries and molten licorice, leading to nuances of ground cloves, woodsmoke, crushed rocks and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit preserves and shimmering mineral sparks, framed by exquisitely ripe and fantastically firm tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epically long-lasting earthy and savory layers. This is the singular voice of Smith Haut Lafitte at its finest, and wow-oh-wow is it worth a listen. This 2020 has an alcohol of 14.5% with a pH of 3.65. The tannins this year were a little higher than 2018 and 2019. A little less than a third of production went into this grand vin. (2020).

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points | Absolutely pure gold and reminding me of the 2009 (or is it the 2010?), the 2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte sports a dense purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of blackberries, blueberries, scorched earth, wood smoke, and acacia flowers. One of the most concentrated, rich, and sexy wines in the vintage, this massive and extraordinarily opulent 2020 shows the vintage's pure, elegant profile yet backs it up with sensational levels of fruit and texture. Based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it already offers pleasure given its wealth of fruit, but it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 40-50 years. Not enough can be said about the quality of these wines. Bravo to Florence and Daniel Cathiard, as well as to director Fabien Teitgen, for another incredible achievement.

James Suckling 99 Points | Extremely fresh and deep in the nose with raspberry and blackcurrant character, as well as stone, fresh green tobacco and ink. Full-bodied with a dense center palate and gorgeous fine yet steely tannins. It calms down at the end with berries, citrus and some lavender. Salty at the end. Very minerally. Flinty. From organically grown grapes. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. (2020).

Wine Enthusiast 98 Points | This is a very fine wine, packed with tannins that are rich and suspended in the wine with its smoky edge and ripe blackberry fruits. The wine is direct in its fine, fragrant freshness and in its texture that gives power and concentration. Obviously for long-term aging. (2020).

Decanter 97 Points | Powerful on the attack, dense and concentrated at first then brighter on the retro-olfaction with layers of spice, liquorice and flowers. Intense but beautifully precise, with iris and peony aromatics coming in strongly as it opens in the glass. A ton of nuance and complexity, really takes its time, delivering a masterclass in restrained Pessac glamour. Average yields 30hl/ha for the reds. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak. (2020).

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Exotic and lush in feel, with well-steeped plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors rolling through, scored with hints of espresso crema, dark tobacco and black licorice along the way. Very polished in feel, but with a late flicker of savory and a subtle tug of earth to keep this honest in the end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026. (2020).

With dark berry aromas, subtle earthiness and spice, balanced tannins, round texture, and a lingering finish, this Pinot Noir is the result of sustainable farming and artisanal winemaking. Winemaker Description. 

93 Points Wine Enthusiast Editors' Choice | Tart and fresh aromas of red plum, strawberry and lightly toasted sage and marjoram draw the nose into this zesty, widely available bottling. The palate lands with pleasantly brisk cran-pom-raspberry flavors, as lavender and rose petal qualities add nuance.

90 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Ripe strawberries, framboise, spring flowers, and spicy underbrush notes all emerge from the 2021 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard, a beautifully textured, medium-bodied, elegant Pinot Noir. It's already hard to resist, and I see no need to delay gratification.

Winemaker Description 

Corbett Canyon is committed to crafting fresh, awardwinning premium wines Our Merlot is medium bodied with classic hints of black cherry and toasty oak.

Winemaker Description 

Family owned estate for 3 generations. Purple color, intense small red fruits on the nose, develops peppery notes with age. Round and smooth tannins. Ready to drink, with a 5 years ageing potential. Amazing Value! 

The ensuing wine is amazingly complex and classic Napa Valley. The aroma is cedar, cola, dark black fruit and just a kiss of oak. The pallet is round, expansive, bright and complex with flavors of cocoa, coffee, fruit and herbs. The wine fills the mouth but isn't dominated by any one element and finishing amazingly bright for Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the great joys of making Cabernet is blending the wine before bottling and this wine was so very fun to combine just the right amount of Cabernet Sauvignon with its power, Cabernet Franc for the beautiful wild aroma and flavor, a touch of Merlot for the dusty plum character, Malbec for violet notes and Petit Verdot for color and tannin. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Wine Spectator 92 Points - #56 Top 100 Wines | This muscular red finds fine balance and poise, integrating firm, sculpted tannins and bright orange peel acidity. Offers rich and expressive flavors of boysenberry and blackberry coulis, licorice, singed apple wood and ground coffee. Hints of toast, tar and dried mint and thyme linger on the fine-grained finish. Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2031. 6,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

The wine exhibits a glass-coating opaque purple color. The nose is expressive with pain grille, underbrush, brier, minerality, blueberry and blackberry fruit. On the palate is a plush, opulent wine with great density, savory flavors, and a lengthy finish.

The Bodegas El Nido winery is located in the Valle de La Aragona, inside the Murcia district of Jumilla. The vineyards are 76.8 acres of very old Monastrell vines (also known as Matar or Mourvdre) all vaso trained and oriented northeast, and 28.8 acres of 30-year old Cabernet Sauvignon vines on north facing hills. The vineyards have a foot deep layer of chalky stones over substrata of sandy soil. The Bodegas El Nido is a collaboration of the Gil Family and winemaker Chris Ringland, one of the best Australian enologists.

A blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Aged 24 months French & American oak.

Winemaker Description 

Is the result of the union between Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon (85% Sangiovese & 15% Cabernet Sauvignon): it gives the idea of a young red, significant but with easy drinkability and is linked to the characteristics of its native territory, with an unforgettable Casanova di Neri stamp.

Winemaker Description 

This full and round bright-red wine with crimson hues give way to a subtle sweetness on the palate. The criminally intense vanilla aromatics are balanced with ripe raspberry and plum fruits. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and complement subtle flavors of raspberries, dark plums and chocolate. Red berry fruit and plush tannins provide a lingering finish perfect for any evening.

Winemaker Description

A rich bright red to crimson color, this wine has an intense nose with lifted vanilla aromatics balanced with red currants, violets, and mulberry fruits. It is a wine that is firm and full on the palate with a subtle sweetness giving a rich mouth feel. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and compliment subtle flavors of red currants, dark cherries, and chocolate. The palate is filled with dark berry fruit and the soft tannins provide a lingering finish.

Winemaker Description 

This historic estate, situated in the hills just south of Aix-en-Provence, has been in the hands of the Rougier family for two centuries and holds a virtual monopoly on the appellation of Palette. Château Simone encompasses twenty hectares of vineyards that sit on limestone soils at elevations between 500 and 750 feet above sea level on the slopes of Montaiguet. The special mesoclimate of this appellation is influenced by the encircling pine forests, the mass of Mont Sainte-Victoire, and the Arc River. 

The vineyards were reconstituted after the invasion of phylloxera but many vines are over a century old. The Rougiers maintain the particular vinification methods developed and cherished over many decades. All of the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, lightly pressed and fermented for 15 to 20 days in small wooden vats with only wild yeast, then put into small foudre to rest on the lees. 

The red from Simone is an elegant yet well-constituted wine of great depth. It is primarily composed of Grenache and Mourvèdre but its special character reflects the presence of a mélange other grape varieties, albeit in small proportion, including Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castet, Manosquin, Théoulier, Tibouren, Picpoul Noir, and Muscat de Hambourg. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Mike DeSimone of the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | Dark ruby in color, this wine has a nose of black cherry, cedar chest and violet candy. A pleasant floral note is a constant companion to blackberry, anisette, clove and dark-chocolate flavors that are enclosed in a shell of muscular tannins. A soft note of pomegranate permeates the grippy finish. Drink through 2035. 

Winemaker Description 

A 1er Cru RBD from Yolanda and Carolina García Viadero whose mission is to place the Tinto Fino varietal among the world’s best.  Bursts of blackberry and cassis, relaxed opulence and richness.

Winemaker Description

Intense color with purple reflections. The aromas of violets and Mediterranean herbs complement the delicate notes of chocolate and toast from the subtle aging.

Elegant on the palate, with fresh notes that combine with round and sweet tannins. In perfect balance with natural acidity, it is a pleasant and long-lasting finish.

Winemaker Description 

2πr 2021 is an organic red wine made in Priorat, Spain by Gratavinum. The name of the wine is a reference to the perimeter of a circle, and the wine itself is described as having "perfect roundness."

The nose is aromatic and complex, with notes of preserved red fruit, toasty oak, and cacao. The mouthfeel is soft and round, with ripe tannins and good acidity. The flavors are of red fruit, mineral, and wood smoke. The finish is long and fresh.

2πr 2021 is an ideal wine for wine lovers to enjoy with traditional Mediterranean cuisine. It is a complex and well-balanced wine with a lot of personality.

Winemaker Description

Fragrant aromas of fresh red fruits, herbs and an elegant vegetal character. Crisp acidity balances the richness of the body. The aftertaste is complex and long. 

Winemaker Description 

Black currant, blackberry and dried herbs on the nose. Mouthfeel is fruity with more berries and hints of licorice. low+ tannins and medium acidity. A nice red wine with soft tannins and appealing fruits. Aromas of red berries and a fun wine to enjoy with tapas or seasonal cuisine. 

Pair with beef, pasta or veal dishes.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Very rich and concentrated but also well structured, this wine achieves good balance and an appetizing mouthfeel. Red and black cherries, cinnamon, cedar and toasted oak all contribute to its tasty flavor complexity."

Winemaker Description

Intense garnet red color. Very classic and traditional with a robust structure and intense tannins. Bouquet takes a little time to show itself with slight hints of yeast. It opens slowly in the glass touch of spice and menthol. In the final, the powerful structure and concentration soften the tannins potential. Pairs well with game, red meats, and cheeses.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Ravera offers dark fruit cherry and blackcurrant enhanced by soft spice. You also get a sun-kissed note of eggplant tomato leaf and ferrous earth. Ravera displays strong lines with good acidity and firm tannic backbone. It closes dry and ages in large oak botte only. This is one of the most eyeballed MGAs sites. Ravera with its open mountain skyline and cool temperatures is seen as one of the best sites in the appellation especially as the climate changes. This vintage produced exactly 10026 bottles.

Vinous 94 Points | Picked on October 9 and 10 the 2020 Barolo Ravera has plenty of Ravera classicism and tension but also feels a bit light in the mid-palate. Ravera is never a huge wine in body but the depth is often there even if expressed in an understated and more linear manner. The 2020 lacks that depth. Red-toned fruit blood orange mint spice and white pepper lend brilliance throughout.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description 

Deep red in colour with violet hues. The nose presents notes of fresh red fruit like raspberries, intermingled with hints of white pepper and herbal notes, along with soft spice. In the mouth, this is a very elegant wine with firm structure and pronounced, chalky tannins, fresh acidity and it is well-balanced and long. 

This Carménère reflects Apalta’s higher-elevation vineyards and is atypical of Chilean Carménère because of its origin in a high-altitude mountain vineyard which has given this wine its backbone and strength with great tension in the mouth. This is definitely a Carménère worth cellaring.

Israel. Matatia is an extraordinary gift, honoring the man whose vision is the inspiration for Dalton Winery. Produced during outstanding years and in limited quantities, Matatia is about supreme quality and selectiveness. This wine embodies an eminence which is as rare and exceptional as the man himself. Matatia is a project that is always several years in the making and is named after Mat Haruni, without whom there would be no Dalton Winery.

Pair with turkey, hamburgers, pizza, or even dark chocolate.

Matatia is dark purple in colour, rich with fragrant notes of forest fruit, blueberries and raspberries, spiced with earthy hints of tobacco and licorice. The wine is full-bodied, well-structured complex and elegant with very good aging potential.

All Dalton wines are strictly Kosher Le Mehadrin and Kosher for Passover. They are under the supervision of the Merom Galil Rabbinate, Rabbi Yoseph Mishalil; Beit Din Yoreh Deya, Rabbi Shlomo Machpud; Rabbi Mordechai Ungar of Monsey New York and the Orthodox Union (OU).

The vineyards for the wine were preselected and attended special care throughout the years. Yields were dramatically reduced in order to increase the flavour concentration in the remaining grapes. Harvest was in late September and early October. The grapes for this wine came from separate vineyards that were picked and fermented separately. During fermentation, the grape cap was pumped over several times a day to increase the depth of colour and levels of extraction of the wine in the gentlest way possible.

Before completing fermentation, the wine was pressed out, and the free run wine was separated and used to make this wine. Malolactic fermentation was then encouraged and when completed the wine was racked into a mix of new and old French oak barrels for 24 months. Once the aging was complete each individual barrel was tasted for quality and only the wines of the very highest quality made it to the final blend. The wine was further aged for a year in the bottle before release.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 89 Points | On the lighter side, but fresh and focused, featuring cassis and bitter cherry notes, lined with subtle iron and floral hints. The finish is tightly focused.

Decanter 93 Points | Attractive woodsmoke and sweet fruits on the nose, vibrant and creamy on the palate. There are big tannins here that build up through the palate and need time in bottle to soften. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040

Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 Points | My money is on the 2018 Château Pédesclaux being the best to date, and this estate has made leaps and bounds in terms of quality over the past decade. The 2018 is made from 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, which will spend 16 months in 60% new French oak prior to bottling. Showing notable freshness and elegance, as well as medium to full body, seamless tannins, and perfumed notes of blue fruits, spice, violets, and wet stone like minerality, it shows the purity, precision, and elegance that the estate now delivers as well as the sweet, sunny fruit of the vintage. It will be accessible with just short-term cellaring yet keep for 25+ years or more.

James Suckling 93- 95 Points | Aromas of blackcurrants, lavender, gravel, dried leaves, spice box and bitter chocolate. It’s full-bodied with firm, well integrated tannins. Creamy and succulent with a solid core of ripe fruit and a long, caressing finish. Grows on the palate. Try from 2025.

Expert Reviews

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 91 Points | The 2019 Greysac presents a well-defined nose of blackberry, cedar and graphite scents that unfurl with aeration. The medium-bodied palate offers sappy black fruit and fine depth. Quite supple in the mouth, with a pure, caressing finish that belies its backbone. Very fine. Drink: 2025-2045. (v. 2019). 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points | The 2019 Greysac is a super-expressive, savory Médoc loaded with personality. Dried herbs, mint, tobacco, cedar and licorice all grace this wonderfully inviting, mid-weight offering. Pretty floral accents lift the finish nicely. The 2019 has turned out beautifully. Drink: 2024-2039. (v. 2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Deep ruby/purple-hued, the 2019 Château Greysac offers up solid aromatics of red and black cherries, leafy herbs, cedar, and spicy oak. These carry to a medium-bodied Médoc that has wonderful overall balance, ripe tannins, and a great mid-palate. It's an outstanding effort well worth enjoying over the coming 10-12 years or so. Drink: 2022-2034. (v. 2019).

Georgina Hindle o Decanter writes 90 Points | Ripe bramble fruits on the nose. Tannic grip from the start, filling the mouth completely but they have a lovely quality to them - soft and silky. Blackcurrant fruit fills the palate with pencil lead, slate and clove spicing. Feels like good quality with restraint and refinement. Give it some time or a good airing. Drinking Window: 2023-2030.(v. 2019).

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2018 

Jesica Vargas of the Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This elegant wine has delicate cocoa powder, black pepper and red-fruit aromas with a dash of espresso and a subtle oaky note. The palate presents firm tannins and nice juicy acidity. It's flavorful with cherry and raspberry blended with coffee bean and spice. It has a lingering fresh finish.

Vinous 90 Points | The 2018 Pinot Noir Herú from Casablanca was made with 30% whole bunches and aged in casks and eggs. Cherry red in hue. The nose features strawberry, herbs and damp earth against an oaky backdrop. Terse and refreshing with a silky, grippy flow; the finish is fruity. A ripely expressive wine.

Decanter 88 Points |  Quite perfumed, raspberry liqueur nose. Rounded and light, with polished tannins and mellow acidity.

Winemaker Description

From the ever-creative and driven Julien Sunier comes this "anytime red", as he fondly refers to it. Wild Soul, like most of Sunier's fruit, is farmed and harvested at high altitude (400m), resulting in freshness, aromatic vibrancy, a lythe presence on the palate, and endless pleasure. 

Winemaker Description 

The largest single component comes from the old vines at Bedrock, followed by the perfumed goodness of Esola, the softer but fresh Schmiedt, and the peppery, dark-fruited Nervo Ranch.

As usual, almost all of the wine consists of declassified barrels from vineyard-designated wines, so it offers serious bang for the buck. 85% Zinfandel with the balance a blend of Carignan, Mataro, Grenache, and Alicante Bouschet, along with esoteric creatures like Aubun, Abouriou, and many more. 

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada | Miguel Angel de Gregorio is a master at crafting wines of great balance and finesse while showcasing the terroir of Briones, Rioja. Nose of dark plums,  blackberry and raspberry. Medium-bodied with good tannic structure and great mouth-feel. Ready to drink.

Winemaker Description

Intense cherry color with purple hints. On the nose, fruit sensations (blackberries, blueberries, black fruits) dominate the perfectly integrated tones conveyed by aging in wood barrels that provide sensations of cedar and tobacco.

It is serious and lively on the mouth with power and a great balance; broad and flavorsome combining fruity freshness and the elegant structure of a wine that is suitable for aging. 

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of cocoa and vanilla are enhanced by the rich flavors of currant and dark ripe fruits. Pleasing flavors of cassis and cola along with cinnamon and nutmeg fill out this smooth wine that is a great pick for any occasion.