Wine Over $100

Winemaker Description

The delicate nose unfolds in swaths of color. The green of eucalyptus, mint and vetiver, the yellow-orange of mirabelle plums, apricot and orange blossom, the brown of pepper, cardamom and licorice sticks, and finally silvery saline and toasty hues.

The mouthfeel is elegant, expressing luxuriant simplicity and precision. The attack is enveloping and ethereal. The refined and silky foundation becomes more pronounced at the heart. The finish is dominated by a salinity that leaves a deep sensation of consistency.

Expert Reviews

97 Points James Suckling | Perfumed with apple, green mangoes, perfume and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied with a creamy and integrated texture and a subtle finish. Bitters. Botanicals. Intense. Drink or hold.

96 Points Wine Spectator | Vivid acidity and a chalky underpinning make a crystalline frame for finely detailed notes of ripe melon, mandarin orange, toasted brioche and candied ginger in this harmonious Champagne, which is expressive and expansive on the palate, but with a sense of finesse and restraint. Long and creamy on the mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2037.

96 Points Decanter | Silky, narrowly sculpted and serene, Dom Pérignon 2013 is a less hedonistic release than the 2012 (and less intensely energetic than the 2008), but showcases a beautiful mid-place between tension and expressiveness already. Orange-coloured fruit – apricots, mango and orange – play along with snappy lemon syrup and delicate red fruits, the palate teased into considerable detail and length with some trademark Dom Pérignon smokiness. There is immediate pleasure here, although cellaring will let some of the inner complexity unfurl, revealing this to the among the finest Dom Pérignon releases of recent times. 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay.

96 Points Jasper Morris | Yet another scintillating wine from Dom Perignon. A youthful but complex bouquet: flowery notes of acacia honey emerge from a base of yellow plum. On the palate, the attack is dry and intense; succulent yellow fruit drenched in walnut oil builds on the mid palate. Superb balance! Long, zesty acidity returns to the finish refreshing the palate. Already very approachable with its generous fruit and sapid mouthfeel.

95 Points Robert Parker | Disgorged in October last year, the 2013 Dom Pérignon is a lovely wine, defined by the long, cool growing season. Offering up aromas of crisp stone fruit, tangerine oil, buttered toast, pear, almonds and clear honey, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, bright acids and a pillowy, enveloping profile, concluding with a long, saline finish. Vincent Chaperon recalls that shatter at fruit set moderated yields and that a drying east wind in the weeks before harvest helped to maintain the good sanitation necessary to wait to pick at full maturity.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 96 Points | Ripe and very juicy, with a youthfully compact set of plum, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in licorice and violet notes. This is both racy and grippy, showing serious power but with the freshness and drive to match. Delivers a long, iron accent that scores the fruit through the finish. Best from 2024 through 2040.Wine Advocate 95 points The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a typically long-term proposition, coated in dusty tannins and cedary oak. It will take time for the cassis, blueberry and slightly pine-scented backbone of this wine to emerge, as for the moment it's almost difficult to taste. Yes, the concentration is present, the tannins are almost silky-ripe, but the structure of this medium to full-bodied wine is unassailable. Hands off for at least five years, and probably more, to judge by how past vintages have evolved.

Vinous 97 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is elegant, deep and classy. Inky dark purplish fruit, savory herbs, menthol, licorice and spice. The purity of the fruit is remarkable today. There is plenty of youthful Howell Mountain tannin, so readers will have to be patient. Bright floral accents lift the red/purplish berry fruit nicely. This is such an expressive, alluring Cabernet. 

Burghound 92 Points | There is a whiff of the exotic on the white and yellow peach, citrus and floral-inflected aromas. The texture of the medium-bodied flavors is at once rich but sleek with excellent minerality on the impressively persistent finale. I quite like this, and it should amply repay extended keeping. 

James Suckling 97 Points | Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision.

Vinous 96 Points | The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and... 

Robert Parker 96 Points | Newly on the market now, the 2020 Tignanello shows a gorgeous bouquet with an upfront and accessible personality. Right off the bat, you get dark cherry, dried raspberry, spice, toasted almond and citrusy blood orange... 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A concentrated red, with black cherry, blackberry, iron, tobacco and vanilla flavors framed by sweet spices and toast accents. Ends with mouthcoating tannins, yet is pretty well-balanced overall. Alluring and classy... 

Expert Reviews

94 Points Wine Specator | A classy rosé that glides across the palate, with flavors of raspberry coulis, yellow peach, chamomile and blanched almond that expand on the creamy mousse and linger on the lightly spiced finish, powered by mouthwatering acidity. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2026.

90 Points Robert Parker |  The latest rendition of Ruinart's NV Brut Rosé is a pretty, vibrant wine that offers up inviting aromas of tangerine, blood orange, plum and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and precise, with tangy acids and a pretty mousse, it's ca harming, comparatively vinous wine that is already showing well.

92 Points James Suckling | The appeal of this excellent rosé Champagne begins with the nose of red berries, ripe nectarine, coriander and red roses. Striking balance of delicate tannins, animating freshness and just a touch of creaminess. Long, very clean and dry finish. The cuvée is 55% pinot noir from Aÿ (some fermented as red wine) and 45% chardonnay. Drink now.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain offers a slightly darker, earthier profile that carries beautiful black and blue fruits, charcoal, bouquet garni, and some obvious minerality as well as a whiff of espresso. It's rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully done. Drink it over the coming two decades. Based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Malbec, and the rest a mix of varieties, it spent 21 months in 80% new French oak.

James Suckling 94 Points | This has a very attractive, fresh array of ripe dark-berry and cherry aromas with notes of purple olives, stones and iodine. There are such fine tannins here with a very fluid, concentrated build of pure, fresh dark berries. Impressive. Drink or hold.

Tasting Panel 94 Points | Exceptionally generous and rich, with velvety texture and concentration. Elegant and layered with fine balance and savory style; complex, sophisticated, and long.

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2018 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gain is showing nicely, exhibiting notions of white currant, fresh peach, almond paste and ripe citrus. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, open-knit but incisive, with good underlying tension and a mouthwatering finish. I suspect it will come together further with additional élevage.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, cassis and rose petals, framed by a discreet patina of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and vibrant, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a saline finish, it is very promising. (2020). 

Barrel Sample: (91-93)+Burghound 90 Points |  Very Vosne-like aromas blend nose of clove and anise with those of black cherry, violet and cassis. The plush and lavishly rich medium weight flavors possess fine punch before culminating in a relatively robust, indeed even slightly chewy finale. This is certainly attractive in its fashion but it's not typical for Chaumes. (2020).

Winemaker Description

Champagne Palmer & Co concentrates its vineyard holdings in the Montagne de Reims: in the grand cru villages of Mailly and Verzenay and the premier cru villages of Trépail and Villers-Marmery. While they also have holdings in the Marne Valley, the Côte de Sézanne and the Côte des Bar, their prestige cuvée Grands Terroirs, channels those north- and north-east-facing slopes with power and precision.

The 2015 vintage is blended from 50% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Meunier, sourced from Mailly and Verzenay as well as Trépail, Villers-Marmery, Ludes, Chigny-les-Roses and Rilly-la-Montagne. Palmer & Co refers to the vintage as “exceptional” because it combined high temperatures and little rainfall – spelling little disease pressure and even ripening. Sunny days and cool nights in August, they say, allowed for “perfect” ripening.

The nose, subtle and charming, opens with notes of orange blossom and acacia, mixed with notes of yellow fruits, then it evolves towards lovely and delicately spiced aromas of fried pineapple and tonka bean. The palate is characterized by freshness, with citrus fruits sublimating the notes of brioche and dried fruits. Its creamy texture stretches deliciously into a persistent finish. 

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine & Spirits | Markedly youthful in its smoky reduction, this wine sees its sulfur blow off quickly, leaving a flinty scent and an impression of clarity. It’s bright with pretty scents of black tea and herbs, firmed up by strong acidity.

92 Points James Suckling | A chalky and mineral Champagne with aromas of blanched almonds, chalk, seashells, biscuits, lemon pith and dried apples. Creamy mousse. Dry and bright, with a rounded finish. Drink now or hold.

Winemaker Description

Purple-ruby in color, this wine is dark and rich even to the eye. A plethora of aromatics greet you from the glass, beginning with blueberry and black currant, and leading to cinnamon, mocha, lavender and clove. The final aromatics to reveal themselves are cigar box and wet gravel. When tasting the wine, the first impression is the fine tannin and balanced acid, which then leads to boysenberry, blackberry and ripe plum skin. The finish is seamless and smooth — the hallmark of a Groth Reserve Cabernet.

Expert Reviews

96 Points Wine Spectator:  This has the vivid, driven cassis, boysenberry and blackberry fruit of the vintage, but it's well-harnessed, with streaks of racy anise, alder and sweet bay leaf providing focus and precision. There's a long echo of iron and savory through the finish as the fruit lingers, leaving a mouthwatering feel. Understated in style compared with its colleagues, but no less complex. Best from 2022 through 2038.

94 Points  James Suckling:  Aromas of ripe blackberries, blueberries, plums, earth, lavender and bark. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Balanced and juicy with a caressing texture and a bright core of spiced fruit. Elegant. Drink from 2023.

Expert Reviews

89-92 points Jasper Morris |  Fresh pale lemon. The bouquet has a little more refinement than the St-Aubin, offering apple, fennel and citrus notes. Clean, lean and pure on the nose, extremely refreshing. While there is little reduction on the nose, the finish has a lively mineral limestone feeling. Drink from 2025-2028. 

88-90 points Burghound | Bright and fresh aromas of resin, petrol and lemon zest introduce slightly bigger and richer though less mineral-driven flavors that are at once generous but reasonably precise on the lingering and agreeably dry finale. This relatively forward effort could use better depth so I would suggest holding it for a few years first. 

88-90 points Wine Advocate | The 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvée Margot reveals aromas of peach, freshly baked bread, oatmeal and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample palate with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and a slightly lactic finish. 

Winemaker Description

The balance between the dominant Pinot Noir and the smaller percentage of Chardonnay in the Delamotte Rosé gives this wine its beautiful pale rose color. The wine has tiny bubbles with strong red fruit aromas and flavors. It is vivacious, supple and round with a hint of acidity.

It makes a wonderful aperitif, as well as a good companion to poultry dishes or red fruit desserts.

Expert Reviews 

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The NV Champagne Rosé is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with the base of 2019, and 15% still red wine. It pours a salmon/orange-tinged hue and opens in the glass to fresh, floral, pretty aromas of nectarine, salted orange, fresh rose petal, and curry spice. Medium-bodied, it has a wonderful chalky and pithy texture, with a pinpoint mousse that’s almost an afterthought. Ripe with fruit but well-balanced and long, with mouthwatering acidity, its spicier notes (cardamom, perhaps?) start to reveal themselves as it opens, and the wine lasts long on the palate. It is quite distinctive.

93 Points James Suckling | An amber-colored rosé with aromas of cherries, praline, dried flowers and some spiced plums. Gastronomic and flavorful, with a medium to full body and dry, spicy and smoky elements. Tight bubble.

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | A crisp Champagne veering towards dryness, this is textured, with a touch of red fruits set alongside the citrus flavors. The wine is so fresh, so light and poised. Drink the bottling now.

91 Points Wine Spectator | This elegant rosé is a pretty wild-salmon hue, with a hint of honey enmeshed with flavors of dried apricot, oyster shell and anise. Lightly juicy and appealing, with a refined finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now.

90 Points Robert Parker | The latest release of Delamotte's NV Brut Rosé offers up expressive aromas of red apples, crisp stone fruit, cherries and fresh pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping palate. Comparatively rich and textural for this routinely elegant, fine-boned cuvée, it's more gastronomic than usual.

Expert Ratings

Burhound |  There is a whiff of exotic spice sitting atop the ripe aromas of black raspberry coulis, violet, orange peel and Asian-style tea. The caressing but solidly energetic middle weight plus flavors manage to be at once elegant yet powerful before culminating in an equally austere, compact and beautifully well-balanced finale. This beauty of a Champans is also going to need at least 7 to 8 years of patience and should be more than capable of rewarding 12 to 15.

Charles Curtis MW - Decanter |  Pronounced aromas of black plum and cassis, with notes of rose petal and liquorice. The texture is full-bodied and rich, with solid but silky tannins, while the extract and freshness carry this to a lingering finish. Marvellous. Among the leading appellations at d'Angerville, the vines are divided into two parcels that run the length of the vineyard. The grapes are destemmed and given a cold soak prior to fermentation and ageing in cask (10-15% new). Drinking Window 2025 - 2040.

Expert Ratings 

97 Points James Suckling | Bright aromas of black currants and lavender with intense pencil shavings and green tobacco leaves followed by roasted coffee beans and cedar. A full-bodied wine that is broad on the mid-palate with firm yet fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Great depth and length here. Wonderful tension and density as well as harmony.

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | Oozing blueberry richness and chocolaty spices, this full-bodied but relatively soft and plush wine eases onto the palate, soothing the senses and revealing dried cherries, blueberry syrup and cocoa powder on its mouthfilling texture. Deep within are oak char, graphite and espresso flavors that need time to meld with the intense fruits.

From the outset, this is one powerful, deeply expressive Cabernet with heady black currant, plum, and cedar aromas leading into a big, juicy entry. Layered currant and black cherry flavors are accented by elegant clove notes. Bold, coating tannins support and frame the entire wine, and hints of wet slate add dimension to a dark, brooding finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

2018 is a spectacular vintage that started off beautifully with abundant spring rains. The generous summer sun and cooler marine influences from San Pablo Bay created the ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. Lot C-91 continues to embody the legacy of Heitz Cellar and the vision for this wine that began in 1969. The fruit comes only from their prized single vineyards and is blended after each parcel has had the opportunity to show its true potential, allowing their winemaker, Brittany Sherwood to select only the most expressive barrels to make the final Cuvee. Always made in the classical style that Joe Heitz pioneered in the early 1960s.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Expressive, with a bold menthol note followed quickly by boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in black licorice. The long finish has a tug of earth amid a generally velvety feel, while the menthol note curls around the fruit. Distinctive. (2018).

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Expressive, with a bold menthol note followed quickly by boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors wrapped in black licorice. The long finish has a tug of earth amid a generally velvety feel, while the menthol note curls around the fruit. Distinctive. (2018).

Robert Parker 92 Points | There's a gentle herbaceousness to the cherry fruit in Heitz's 2018 Lot C-91, making it a bit more like redcurrant than true cherry. A blend of fruit from Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Howell Mountain, it's medium-bodied but more expansive and generous than the regular bottling, with a nice touch of velvet layered in on the mid-palate and a long, fruit-driven finish.

Expert Reviews

Monica Larner writes:  The 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It opens to an impenetrable, full-bodied approach with dark fruit, pencil shaving, toasted oak, Spanish cedar, campfire ash and iron ore. For sure, this is an especially concentrated and oak-driven vintage of this iconic wine. It absolutely requires more aging time. It feels quite tight and firm in its youth. The concentration is abundant.  Drinking 2026 - 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Audrey Frick writes:  The 2020 Ornellaia is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 70% new French oak for 18 months, with another 12 months in bottle prior to release. Flush with herbs and menthol, blackberry, and cedar, it is full bodied and fills the sides of the mouth with rounded fruit of luxurious plum, black cherry, and toast, with supple and velvety tannins. Drink 2026-2046.  - Jeb Dunnuck 96

Jancis Robinson writes: Deep, lustrous crimson. Very sumptuous nose followed up by a hedonistic palate that finishes especially fresh. Ripe but not too-ripe fruit – a drier (much less sweet) vintage than usual which should age well. Unusually, there is some vestige of tannin on the finish. It's certainly possible to drink now if it's aerated before serving but ideally, I'd keep this awhile. Savoury persistence.  Drinking 2024 - 2028  - Jancis Robinson 18

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Inviting aromas of blackberry, black currant, anise, cedar, vanilla and tobacco draw you in to this red, which is sleek and open on the palate. This is so well-balanced, it's approachable now, yet there's a bit of reserve too. The fruit flavors are prominent on the finish, along with mineral and spice notes, while the lasting impression is a salty, flinty element. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2045.   - Wine Spectator 96

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Ornellaia is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Seamless and wonderfully deep on the palate, the 2020 is super-refined from the outset. Even with all of its depth, the 2020 retains terrific freshness and cut to play off its soft, succulent fruit. Overall, the 2020 looks to be a relatively accessible Ornellaia that will drink well with minimal cellaring. I especially admire the precision and understated finesse here.  Drinking 2027 - 2045  - Vinous 96

James Button writes:  Estate director Axel Heinz called 2020 ‘a classic Ornellaia,’ and picked the theme of ‘La Proporzione‘ (proportion) to describe its character. Indeed, the blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot marks a return to a more typical blend following the pendulum swings of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, and 51% Merlot in 2018. Fine-grained and beautifully textured, its finely integrated tannins support a concentration of black fruits lightened by red berries. Aromas of black cherry, liquorice, dark chocolate, cedar and damp earth make for a fragrant wine, accompanied by menthol and balsamic streaks which run through the wine and impart plenty of freshness. It finishes with a stony and salty element along with some chocolatey and woody hints. Tight and moreish, its ripeness of fruit combined with freshness and structure adeptly tells the story of this earlier-ripening vintage. It lacks complexity in the mouth – this will come with time – but the array of aromas gives a hint of what is to come.  Drinking 2023 -2050  - Decanter 96

Georgina Hindle writes:  Black bramble fruit on the nose, heady, expressive, forward and open. Aromatic and inviting - on the riper, jammy side. Lithe and supple, this has an energy and weight giving plush tannins but with an austere, mineral grip. A curious combination but one that serves to give a round, interesting mouthful with both balsamic black and sweet blue fruits with touches of wet stone, cola and liquorice. Dark and brooding, a little sombre right now, clearly powerful with concentration and you can tell it's been well worked - feels controlled but still quite tense and constricted. The overall texture is sublime and I do love the dark sticky liquorice and bitter orange zest but this isn't quite giving the wow factor. Nice layering, linear and pure, tannins a touch dry on the finish. Refined and austere. Has a touch of ripe jamminess that detracts a little from the charming elegance you know this wine can have. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend.  Drinking 2026 -2046

James Suckling writes:  Alluring aromas of lead pencil and currants with crushed stone and iodine. Full-bodied with hemmed in tannins that are tight and focused. Very fresh and energetic with wonderful length and intensity for this vintage. Needs four or five years to come together. Better in 2028 and onwards.  - James Suckling 98

Expert Reviews

Neal Martin writes: The 2019 has a beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is exquisite in terms of balance, silky smooth, building gradually with a harmonious and quite effortless finish. Divine - this is a stellar showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. - Vinous 97

Georgina Hindle writes: A rich, full and heady nose. On the palate there's ripe blackcurrant, red cherries, raspberries and strawberries but also some mint, black pepper and truffle. Excellent precision and density with a seductive dark chocolate edge. Feels well handled with a sense of classicism. A powerful, muscular and confident wine, but with suppleness - this has density but also grace with a cooling finish comprising liquorice, mint and soft salinity. A great wine. Drinking - Decanter 97

James Suckling writes: A perfumed nose of mulberries, plums, chocolate orange and cloves. Hints of toffee, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Caressing, velvety and rich core of dark fruit. So supple and polished. 88.5% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 4.5% cabernet franc. Drink after 2024. - James Suckling 95

William Kelley writes: The 2019 Gazin is a fleshy, dramatic wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of ripe berry fruit mingled with subtle hints of truffle and violets, its new oak already entirely integrated. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's broad and textural, with lively acids, powdery tannins and fine length on the finish. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

Jeb Dunnuck writes: While the 2019 Château Gazin isn't going to match the 2018, it's an elegant, solid Pomerol delivering spicy red and black cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and flowers, medium-bodied richness, silky yet building tannins, and a great finish. This elegant, nicely structured, balanced beauty will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years. - Jeb Dunnuck 94

Expert Reviews

97 Points Wine Spectator |  Expressive and lush, this red shows ripe cherry, plum, earth, tobacco and leather notes, backed by a rigid backbone of tannins. This is vibrant too, leaving a long aftertaste of fruit, mineral and savory accents, with fine harmony and complexity. (BS) (2015).

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2015 AdAlberto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is ripe with black cherry fruit, sassafras, and anise. The palate is fruit-forward and approachable up front, with notes of black raspberry, tea leaf, and clove, and its more classic structure coming through on the finish. This wonderful wine has freshness while expressing the sunny character of the 2015 vintage. AdAlbreto was not produced in 2013 or 2014, and this is a welcome return from winemaker Giacomo Bartolommei. 

96 Points James Suckling |  Lots of dried and sour cherries on the nose with earth and dried leaves. Smoke and cigar box, too. It’s full-bodied with ultra fine tannins and delicious orange peel and a touch of leather on the finish. Really impressive texture.  

96 Points Wine Advocate | Tasted from an unfinished shiner bottle, the Caprili 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva AdAlberto is a single-vineyard expression that has drawn its fruit from the same site since 2010. The wine is dedicated to the paternal figure Alberto Bartolomei (grandfather to the current owners) who planted these vines in 1965. You can definitely taste the age and authentic character of those plants in the concentration and richness of the fruit, presented here with the abundance that only the 2015 vintage affords. The wine is smooth and enduring, and the tannins just need a few more years of bottle age. This is a small-production wine with just 4,000 bottles made. 96+ 

95 Points Vinous: | The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Ad Alberto Riserva from Caprili harnesses the ripeness of the vintage and melds it beautifully with savory earth tones. There are masses of dark florals and sweet herbs, as mineral-laced wild berry fruits come forward. With further coaxing notes of licorice, brown spice and baker’s chocolate evolve in the glass - does it ever end? It’s silky and pliant, providing an initial burst of ripe dark berries before giving way to a mix of sour citrus and fine tannins. Its structure is formidable, yet so are its primary fruits, coming across as perfectly balanced and full of potential. (EG) 

94 Points Decanter | An homage to winemaker Giacomo Bartolommei’s great grandfather Alberto, this Riserva is from the estate’s Madre vineyard, planted in 1965 and serving as a mother block for new plantings. This evokes Tuscany’s slightly unkempt wildness with Mediterranean scrub, dried flowers, sun-soaked berries and sea breezes. It’s full, with voluminous ripe fruit corseted by dry, chalky tannins. Flavours are somewhat oxidative in character, though not tired, and the structure is solid. The finish reverberates with salted liquorice. 

94 Points Wine Enthusiast |   Earthy aromas of new leather, truffle and blue flower mingle with camphor and baked plum on this full-bodied red. On the fleshy palate, velvety tannins envelope dried cherry, prune, licorice and tobacco before closing on a hint of game. Best 2022–2030. 

James Suckling 97 points - This has a complex nose of cranberries, dried pineapple, soy, bark, cardamom, mocha, iodine and wet leather. Full-bodied, with firm and very fine tannins. It really builds in intensity, expanding into a broad array of fresh and dried fruit and espresso bean, before converging again on a long and driven finish. Fantastic already.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 points - Attractive smoky perfume lifts from the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli, with sunny red plum, anise, lavender, and cedar. It is full-bodied, with a refined tannin structure, and a bit more wood influence that will integrate nicely in time. Offering notes of black cherry, licorice, crushed stones, and warming spice, it displays a broader nature compared to the rest of the range, which is to be expected from this iconic site with a somewhat warmer, south-facing exposition.

The Wine Advocate 94+ points - The word "Vigna" has been added to the official name of this wine to underline work in the appellation meant to focus on single-vineyard designates. The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli comes from a unique growing site with some of the best exposures from hillside vineyards. This wine shows a slightly dark hue with added concentration and depth. I am delighted by the bouquet that reveals dark cherry, blue flower, crushed stone and grilled herb. There is sweet toast and spice at the back. This is one of the more complete and age-worthy wines from the 2018 vintage.end quote.

Wine Spectator 94 points - A dense, tannic red, with plum, cherry, menthol, iron and spice flavors driven by lively acidity. A bit more burly than many 2018s, yet this remains vibrant, superlong and complex.

Vinous Media - 94 points - The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is dark and brooding with a lavender-tinged mix of crushed rocks, dusty cherry, curry leaf and hints of balsamic spice. It's delicate with a balanced inner sweetness and smooth contours, showing vividly ripe wild blackberry, and even hints of blueberry fruit. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, like liquid violets, yet finishes only lightly structured and wonderfully perfumed. The magic of Montosoli shines through, but don't expect the 2018 to make old bones. Production was down by 20% due to a more-severe selection of grapes in 2018.

Winemaker Description

This classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon reveals aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry with hints of dark chocolate and sweet oak. On the palate, the dark fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and lush tannins that carry all the way over a lingering, elegant finish—with just a kiss of minerality.

Enjoy this wine now, with everything from lamb burgers to filet mignon and fire-roasted portabello mushrooms—or lay the wine down and watch it continue todevelop complexity in the bottle for years to come.

Blend: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Our classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon reveals aromas of ripe blackberry and boysenberry with hints of dark chocolate and sweet oak. On the palate, the dark fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and lush tannins that carry all the way over a lingering, elegant finish—with just a kiss of minerality. Enjoy this wine now, with everything from lamb burgers to filet mignon and fire-roasted portabello mushrooms—or lay the wine down and watch it continue to develop complexity in the bottle for years to come.

Napa Valley is known the world over for fine cabernet sauvignon. Vineyards here are blessed with a great diversity of soils and microclimates and express their distinct personalities through remarkable wines. We blend our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from special spots throughout the region, including the renowned cab appellations of Rutherford and Oakville, which impart classic Napa Valley bold fruit intensity, as well as the warmer Calistoga area to the north and the cooler southern reaches of the Suscol watershed, which contribute layers of complexity and depth of flavor. 

93 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Chardonnay was released in October 2022. As usual, it's a non-malolactic fermentation wine, matured in a relatively small proportion of new French oak, and so it reveals hints of apple, tangerine and lime on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's sappy, a bit linear and vibrant on the palate, finishing crisp and long.

Bright gold in the glass, the wine opens with green apple, honeysuckle and orange blossom. The citrus in particular seems to be most evident, as lime leaf and lemon zest at this stage. This vintage was more classic rather than overly ripe, so it's not surprising. There's a hint of fresh wood and vanilla as well, adding some nuance without overshadowing the beautiful floral character. The parade of citrus marches on, although the midpalate turns more tropical with starfruit and pineapple. And while there's still plenty of green apple, the texture and juiciness of Asian pear adds complexity and depth. The acid is consistent and winds its way through the profile, lifting the texture and balancing the suppleness from barrel. This will be a long-lived wine. The transition to the finish is still somewhat abrupt due to the wine's youth and dynamism. This will change over time. But here, the character is dominated by lemon curd and pie crust, along with chalk and fresh apricot. The acid is still mouthwatering, although it has mellowed somewhat. Despite its young age, the overall length of this Chardonnay is impressive.

Expert Ratings 

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select gives up intense cassis, stewed plums and cedar chest notes with hints of licorice and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the palate has a taut, grainy texture supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and mineral tinged.

James Suckling 92 Points | Ripe blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, spearmint, cocoa and walnut on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Supple, flavorful finish. Drink or hold. 

Expert Ratings

Josh Raynolds writes: (made with 50 percent whole clusters) Bright purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruit, candied licorice and Asian spice scents develops a sexy floral note as the wine opens up. Vibrant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering intense, smoke-tinged black currant, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a refreshing snap of juicy acidity. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving a sappy blue fruit note behind. Drinking 2023 - 2032. - Vinous 96

James Suckling writes: The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more. - James Suckling 97

Joe Czerwinski writes: The 2013 Cote Rotie La Mouline shows none of the vintage’s sometimes dry tannins. It offers crisp black fruit—plums and blackberries—underscored by hints of pencil shavings, espresso and grilled meat. Suave and long, it should drink well for a couple of decades. Drinking 2020 - 2035. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

James Molesworth writes: Very ripe, with layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote forming the core, inlaid liberally with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and Turkish coffee notes. Shows lots of heft, but everything pulls together on the finish, exhibiting drive and definition. Best from 2020 through 2040. 65 cases imported. - Wine Spectator 96

Jeb Dunnuck writes: One of the more restrained and fresh vintages of this cuvée out there, the 2013 Côte Rôtie La Mouline still has a classic Mouline floral, gamey, and spicy bouquet to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. With good concentration, notable complexity, sweet tannin, and plenty of length, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 15+. Drinking 2022 - 2037 - Jeb Dunnuck 94+

Richard Hemming MW writes: Hickory smoke, violets, tobacco, black-cherry fruit, pepper and a touch of stemmy herbal character. Super-fine tannins, and quite light body with a finish that isn't as expansive as the palate. Still young, so the length may well develop. Drinking 2019 - 2033 - Jancis Robinson 18

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Cedar and sandalwood aromas give way to flavors of tea, tobacco, dried cherry, forest floor and orange peel in this expressive red. Round on the palate, supported by muscular tannins and juicy acidity. Big but graceful, mature yet lively, in the traditional style. Drink now through 2030.

Wine Advocate 94 Points | The top of the range is only produced three or four times per decade, and the current vintage is the 2005 Gran Reserva 890, which refers to the year, 1890, when the winery was created. It all starts by selecting grapes from their oldest vineyards (over 40 years old), harvested into 350-kilogram cases that are transported in refrigerated trucks to the winery, an improvement implemented in 2005. 2005 was an excellent vintage, and this 890 might challenge the exceptional 904 released some four years ago. Here the Tempranillo is complemented by 3% Graciano and 2% Mazuelo, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in 199 oak barrels for six years with ten rackings. It's a very balanced and polished classical Rioja with moderate alcohol (13.5%) and good acidity (6.1 grams of tartaric); it also has a silky texture, resolved tannins and a very pleasant mouthfeel. It has complexity but is a little closed, and it feels a little evolved, at times even a little tired. The fruit feels quite ripe, with some liquor notes. The palate is polished, with fully resolved tannins and fine acidity. It was bottled unfiltered in March 2012. 57,036 bottles and 1,312 magnums were produced. 2001, 2004 and 2005 are the only 890s in the decade. The next one will be the 2010.

James Suckling 98 points | The aromas to this are stunning with dried strawberry, stone and fresh mushroom. Full body and very tight with incredible depth and structure. It goes on for minutes. One of the greatest ever? The new 1964? Available January 2018.Vinous 97 points Shimmering garnet. Aromas of dried cherry, potpourri, vanilla, cigar box and exotic spices; a smoky mineral quality builds in the glass. Sweet, concentrated and seamless on the palate, offering cherry compote, red currant and rose pastille flavors that put on weight and pick up a spicy nuance on the back half. Conveys a suave blend of power and delicacy and closes sweet and gently tannic, with superb persistence and an echo of candied flowers and red fruits. This bottling and the 2001 are the only Selección Especial versions of the 890 Gran Reserva that have been produced by La Rioja Alta. Drinking window: 2021 - 2036

Wine Spectator | Harmonious and buttery this white features creamy lemon peach baking spice and sweet butter flavors. Well-balanced and integrated this is very approachable now yet with vibrant acidity underneath and a lingering tangy mineral-laced finish. Best from 2025 through 2038.

B.S.Burghound 91 Points |There are vague Chablis-like hints of iodine and seashore to the ultra-fresh aromas of green apple white flower and citrus peel. There is both good volume and richness to the focused and moderately powerful flavors that deliver fine length on the mineral-driven appealingly dry and youthfully austere finale. At present the mid-palate isn't especially dense though I suspect that with age it will flesh out significantly. (Drink starting 2030).

Magnificently concentrated, a very fine nose with aromas of acacias, honeysuckle blossoms and nuts. Very pure and powerful with superb depth that will age up to 10 years.
Serve with shellfish, lobster, foie gras and poultry dishes in creamy sauces.

Domaine Antonin Guyon is one of the most prestigious estates in the Côte d’Or, as well as one of the largest family-owned wineries in the region. It was started in the 1960s by Antonin Guyon with parcels of land in Gevrey and Meursault. Today, the massive 47 hectare property is controlled and operated today by Antonin’s sons, Dominique and Michel and produces wines of impeccable quality from 15 different appellations, which includes many renowned villages from the region. An exceptional range of Premier and Grands Crus.

WINEMAKING & VINTAGE NOTES

The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru vineyards straddle the communes of Pernard Vergellesses and Aloxe-Corton and enjoy a south westerly exposure. The soil here is white marl, and almost pure limestone. Grapes are hand-harvested and then carried to the winery in small boxes, where they are sorted. Fermentation is carried out at 64-68°F in oak casks. Lees are stirred in the casks twice a week. Wines are aged in 50% new French oak. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

John Gilman 96 Points | This is my first taste of Domaine des Closiers top bottling, les Trezellières, which is made from a parcel of old vines and given fully two years aging in barrel, with somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the casks new. The 2019 les Trezellières is beautifully deep and refined aromatically, delivering scents of black cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a very complex base of soil, a touch of Cheval Blanc-like menthol, a gentle dollop of tree bark, cedar and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, elegant and rock solid at the core, with great focus and complex, superb soil undertow, fine-grained tannins and a very long, pure and classy finish.

The small percentage of new oak gives this wine more refinement than the les Coudraies bottling, but because it is no more than twenty percent new oak, the wood influence is far more subtle out of the blocks than in Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg bottling, which is the closest comparison I can think of for this brilliant young Saumur Champigny. Give this beautiful wine plenty of time in the cellar to properly resolve its tannins and completely blossom! (2019). 

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Sports a very forward set of cassis and creamed plum notes before giving way to a firmer, more authoritative iron, warm earth and singed alder profile. Grippy and dense through the finish, but there's cut and drive, with a savory edge adding good energy. This just needs some time for the mineral side to settle in with the fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. Best from 2024

Wine Enthusiast 100 points | This is a winemaker's master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039. Cellar Selection

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2019 Proprietary Red Wine is more open and effusive than the 2018 version, with gentle floral nuances set against a backdrop of black cherries and cassis, joined by subtle notes of tobacco, cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, streamlined, silky and lush, nicely balanced and elegant, with a long, softly dusty finish tinged with licorice and caramel. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. Best After 2023.

Decanter 96 Points |  From the heart of Rutherford, made with both organic and Demeter-certified biodynamic grapes. Pure, vibrant aromas of dark berry fruit, liquorice, cassis, cardamom and rich earth. Penetrating to the core, with satiny robes of mixed blue and black fruits, crème de cassis,and a rich tapestry of very long, fine-grained tannins. A beautiful wine, drinking nicely now and should be enjoyed over the next few decades.

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | I was blown away by the 2019 Red Blend from Quintessa, which is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère, this full-bodied beauty has a perfectly balanced, seamless, yet expansive and classic 2019 style as well as gorgeous aromatics of cassis, flowers, chalky minerality, and integrated oak. It’s hard to resist already, but I have no doubt this will evolve for 20 years if stored properly.

James Suckling 99 Points | So much earth and spice with walnut and wet earth. Like fog laying over the valley in the morning. Black fruit. Medium-to full-bodied with super-fine tannins that are long and persistent, with graceful progression and length on the palate. So long, with real definition. September 2022 release. From biodynamically grown grapes. Hard not to drink now, but will age wonderfully. 

Winemaker Description

The weather in 1953 was very favourable to vine growth and the crop was both plentiful and of excellent quality.

The growing season began with a warm, wet April, followed by a very warm, but dry month of May.  June and July were cool and rainy, whereas August and September were dry and slightly warmer than average.

Flowering went very well in May because it did not rain very much. Even though June and July were cool, which slowed down the growth cycle somewhat, the harvest was able to begin on the 21st of September. The grapes were excellent because August and September we very dry and hot.  Yields were high, but 1953 Cheval Blanc shows that quantity and quality are not incompatible.
Degree of alcohol: 12°.

This is a great vintage for Cheval Blanc. The wine is very well-balanced and still elicits enormous praise.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Deep garnet with a hint of purple to the color, the 2014 Pontet-Canet gives a very serious, classic Pauillac nose of blackcurrant preserves, baked blackberries and warm black plums with suggestions of menthol, pencil lead, woodsmoke, cassia and cast-iron pan plus a hint of baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with black and blue fruit preserves with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness, giving lift to the long, exotic spice-laced finish. It is approachable now, but really should start to make jaws drop in another 4-5 years.Wine Enthusiast 96 points This is a finely structured wine with dark tannins and intense black fruits. The estate, with its biodynamically grown fruit, has given an impressively pure wine, packed with tight serious tannins and a fine structure of black-plum skins and intense acidity. It is direct, firm and with a huge potential over many years. Drink from 2027.  Cellar Selection

Decanter 96 Points | Classic Cabernet nose of cassis. Lovely purity and depth with a silky texture that caresses the palate - more obviously Pontet-Canet than Pauillac. An extremely fine wine almost in a class of its own.Jeb Dunnuck 96 points A final blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Pontet-Canet is brilliant stuff, and I was able to taste this wine from barrel as well as multiple times from bottle, both at the estate and from a bottle purchased in the United States. It offers a sensational bouquet of crème de cassis, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, and minerals, as well as an unmistakable Pauillac lead pencil characteristics that I just adore. Possessing full-bodied richness, a rounded, surprisingly opulent, sexy texture, awesome purity, and sweet, succulent tannin, it’s a sensational 2014 that might just surpass what they accomplished in 2015. This is a 2014 you won’t regret buying in bulk as it’s going to keep for 2-3 decades and be drinkable for the vast majority of it. Bravo to Alfred Tesseron and his team!James Suckling 98 points A stunning wine for this vintage although it’s still a bit shy on the nose (more spice than fruit showing than now). There’s wet earth, too, but on the palate it’s bursting with ripe yet subtle flavors. Very long and complex finish that goes on and on. 

Winemaker Descripton

A wine of good density ruby red, with brown, mahogany, biscuit hints. The rim is fairly thick and the legs are fine, clear, abundant and regular. At once expressive, forthright and complex. There are notes of all families of fragrance: fruit, flowers, and spices. The attack is forthright, round and suave, soothing even. The intense aromas initially recall the complexity of the nose. There is leather and lightly charred wood, and roasted notes. The beauty of the wine is revealed by its elegance rather than its full-flavor. The wine has an attractive aromatic range with a finish of remarkable elegance.

Expert Reviews 

Jeb Dunnuck writes: In a vintage that can lack a little pizzazz, the 2014 Pape Clement stands out for its exuberant, sexy, full-bodied style. Checking in as a blend of 58% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Petit Verdot, aged in 60% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a layered, ripe, sexy wine that has loads of currants, blackberries, smoke tobacco, and forest floor aromas and flavors, with just a touch of chocolaty oak. Silky and incredibly pure on the palate, with impeccable balance and sweet, yet present tannin, it’s already impossible to resist, yet is going to deliver the goods for another 20-25 years. It’s a beauty! - Jeb Dunnuck 95

James Suckling writes: Intense blackberry and blueberry aromas as well as mushroom undertones. Violets, too. Sweet tobacco. Full-bodied and layered with polished tannins. Very long and beautiful. Give it two or three years to show what it has but already a beauty. - James Suckling 96

Neal Martin writes: The 2014 Pape Clement has quite a potent bouquet with lavish red cherry, kirsch, iodine and pastille-like scents, the oak probably needing another couple of years to fully integrate. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine line of acidity, quite refined and focused with appreciable tension towards the finish that comes laden with succulent, tobacco-infused blackberry fruit. This is a sumptuous and yet refined Pape-Clement that demonstrated the most matière or substance out of all the Pessac-Léognan 2014s that I tasted, except for the Haut-Brion. It is certainly a wine destined for a long future. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

Antonio Galloni writes: The 2014 Pape Clément is strikingly beautiful. Dark, sumptuous and creamy, it exudes class. Black cherry, mocha, spice, espresso, menthol and new leather are all pushed forward in a spherical, rich wine that captivates all the senses. As always, this is an overt style, but the purity of the fruit comes through nicely now that the oak has started to integrate. There is plenty of the Magrez trademark richness, but done in a slightly more restrained style than in the past. This is a gorgeous wine by any measure. Tasted three times. - Vinous 94+

Richard Hemming MW writes: Creamy lemon, fresh and rounded on the palate – pure pleasure with loads of generosity but a good sense of savoury Bordeaux style. Effortless, fragrant, concentrated. Absolutely lovely! - Jancis Robinson 17.5

Jame Anson writes: Restrained compared to some vintages and all the more successful for it. Fine but firm tannins; grip and lovely hold to the dark, brambly, bilberry and cassis fruit. Great potential. - Decanter 94