Wine Over $100

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Burghound | A much more floral-inflected nose freely offers up its aromas of cool and ripe pear, apple and zest. There is good richness if not quite the same density to the more finely textured middleweight flavors that conclude in a crunchy bitter lemon-tinged finale. Lovely and understated.

Expert Rating

Vinous Stephen Tanzer writes 93 Points | (from 63-year-old vines in the center of the vineyard; aged in a combination of old barriques and new larger casks) Sweet aromas of redcurrant, cherry, smoke and mint, all lifted by high notes of orange peel, rose petal and minerals. Concentrated, vibrant and gripping, with a silky quality and noteworthy precision to the flavors of red fruits, spices and minerals. Harmonious acidity gives a juicy, sappy quality and real elegance to this densely packed Barbaresco. Here the tannins are considerably finer than those of the normale, and the long, juicy, gripping finish leaves behind a captivating floral perfume. A beauty. 

This is from a massale selection, including a bit of the lighter, floral rose clone of nebbiolo while the rest of the vineyard features five different clones. 

Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews

Vinous Antonio Galloni 97 Points | The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is sure to make Dunn fans happy. Powerful and ample, it marries the natural intensity of the year with the savoriness that makes Howell Mountain Cabernets so distinctive. Dark blue/purplish fruit, graphite, spice, leather, dried herbs and lavender imbue the 2017 with striking intensity and character. I can't wait to see how it ages. The 2017 is a positively stunning edition of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  Drinking 2027 - 2047.

Robert Parker Joe Czerwinski 96 Points | Already more open than the 2018 Howell Mountain, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain boasts slightly piney, resinous herb notes—thyme and rosemary—along with classic cassis and blueberry fruit. Yes, there's a cedary coat of oak, but the fruit comes through loud and clear, adding a rich, velvety textural component and mouthwatering berry flavors on the lingering finish.  Drinking 2025 - 2040  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 96+

Wine Spectator James Molesworth 95 Points | Fresh ripe cassis, blackberry and plum fruit flavors course through, carried by tar and apple wood notes that are well-embedded, giving this a muscular but sleek feel. Features a great tug of dark earth and licorice snap on the palate-staining finish. Best from 2023 through 2038. 

Expert Review

Lettie Teague writes:  The de Nonancourt family, which took over Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 1939, holds majority shares of this very large Champagne house. (The rest are publicly traded; Laurent-Perrier is listed on the Euronext stock exchange.) Interestingly enough, though one of Laurent Perrier’s greatest claims to fame is its lush, 100% Pinot Noir cuvée rosé, the non-vintage La Cuvée brut is produced from a high proportion of Chardonnay. The result is a round, relatively soft and approachable, medium-bodied Champagne with a fresh acidity. Not every Champagne is substantial enough to serve with food, but this one certainly proved to be so, pairing perfectly with a piece of grilled fish.  - Wall St. Journal, Dec 16-17, 2023

Winemaker Description

The Pact 2019 lives up to Faust legend with beautiful dark blueberry and blackberry aromas over layers of crushed rock minerality, haunting forest notes and hints of violet. With the texture of velvet—luxuriously dense—the palate wraps that core of blue and back fruit with the barest edge of bright cherry spiced with star anise and savory dried tarragon. Silky tannins and generous ripe fruit linger through an endless, vibrant finish. There’s a long life ahead for this Cabernet.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 96 Points | Redcurrants and blackcurrants with some violets and crushed earth. Full-bodied with round, creamy tannins. Fine, velvety tannins that are open and grounded. Firm and tight finish. (2019). 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Leads with a bright savory edge, followed quickly by a wave of dark fig, blackberry and açaí berry flavors. Subtle alder and chaparral notes add nice lift through the finish. Best from 2023. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture.

Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as "earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Based on 60% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, with 17% raised in barrels, the 2008 Champagne Nicolas François spent more than 150 months on its lees, with 2.9 grams per liter dosage. It pours a rich straw hue and is layered and long with aromas of truffle, apricot, croissant, floral orange blossoms, and marmalade. Full-bodied, it’s supple in texture, with a rounded mousse, and has a long-lasting, mouthwatering finish. Exceptionally well-balanced, it comes together seamlessly on the finish. This will be a wine to enjoy over the next three decades. 

97 Points Decanter | On release this is reserved, taut and subtle, with sourdough, confit lemon and gentle blackberry Pinot fruit presented with daring dryness (just 2.9g/L residual sugar) and intensity. The texture surrounding the firm acidity is cool, clean and lightly creamy, the mousse beautifully delicate. Somewhat inscrutable and firm at the moment, this structured and lean Cuvée Nicolas François stands to gain considerable expressiveness with time under cork. Made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 83% grand cru vineyards. 17% oak-vinified with 150 months on lees, disgorged in summer 2022. 

97 Points James Suckling | Lovely precision and drive to this with aromas of lemon curd, brioche, praline, apricots, pomelos, mandarin zest and salted caramel. It’s held together by a sharp, citrusy backbone of acidity, balanced with a fine, silky mousse. Both structure and softness here. Citrus fruit brightness on a beautifully elegant and seamless finish. 

96 Points Wine Advocate | The 2008 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François was disgorged during the third quarter of 2022 with less than three grams per liter. It has a delicate, pure, clean bouquet with aromas of orchard fruits, spring flowers, honey and licorice, with hints of brioche and pastry with aeration. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and crystalline, with racy acids and a chalky texture, the palate is tense and the finish is long, penetrating and salty. It exhibits perfect Billecart style, yet tension is present, a sign of the vintage. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir (sourced from Aÿ, Mareuil and Verzenay) and 40% Chardonnay from Mesnil, Chouilly and Cramant, and it matured 83% in tanks and 17% in old oak barrels. 

96 Points Vinous | The 2008 Brut Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart is an electric, nervy Champagne that very much reflects the style of the year. Crushed rocks, mint, spice, dried herbs, hazelnut, lemon peel and marzipan are all beautifully laced together. The 2008 is just entering its first plateau of maturity, making it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next two decades, possibly more. The blend id 60% Pinot Noir (from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy and Verzenay) and 40% Chardonnay (from Mesnil, Chouilly and Cramant). It's a terrific effort, although I must add that a recent visit made it pretty clear that even better things lie ahead. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. 

94 Points Wine Spectator | A vibrant Champagne, with vivid acidity enmeshed with the lacy mousse, creating a fine frame for flavors of black currant and apricot fruit, preserved lemon, toast and ground coffee. Reveals minerally hints of oyster shell and brine that linger on the finish. 

Expert Review 

Burghound 89 Points | Cool and airy aromas are comprised by notes of petrol, white flowers and citrus zest. I like the mouthfeel of the equally tension-filled and mineral-driven middle weight flavors that exhibit evident minerality on the bone-dry, liner and youthfully austere finale. This is also quite good and worth checking out. 

Winemaker Description 

Cherry red color of medium intensity, medium layer. The nose is intense, with notes of jelly beans and red fruits combined with mineral notes of flint and a light background of toast. At the entrance to the mouth we will find soft tannins, with high volume and fat, well compensated by good acidity and a general feeling of verticality. Red fruits and mineral notes stand out, resulting in a long and intense aftertaste.
Evolution

In good conditions of this bottle will evolve positively for at least the next 7 years.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Charles Curtis MW of Decanter writes 95 Points | Faiveley has a small parcel in Les St-Georges that it supplements with purchased fruit that it both farms and picks. Faiveley finds the terroir to be a 'hot place, always very ripe', although in 2020 it kept the alcohol to 13.5%. The wine has a cassis and black plum fruit, with elements of earth and fresh saddle leather. With its appealingly dark fruit, it strikes me as typical of Nuits, an impression reinforced by the rich tannic structure. A lovely wine.

Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy 93-95 Points | Half of the fruit is from the domaine, and half is a regular contract. Rich even purple, with a supple, hedonistic, joyous raspberry fruit and some ripe cherry notes. Firmer tannins behind and the typical acidity of the vintage, but so much fruit to cover the bone structure.

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 93-95 Points | The 2020 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Saint-Georges 1er Cru, a mixture of owned and contracted fruit, has a very floral bouquet with raspberry, wild strawberry and a touch of violet, building nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation, fine energy and poise, slightly chalky in texture with satisfying salinity on the finish. This has a lot of potential. Excellent." 11/21 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | As was the case in 2017, the 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean has turned out especially well this year. Bursting with aromas of pear, freshly baked bread, orange oil and beeswax and framed by a deft touch of reduction, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and satiny, its fleshy core of fruit girdled by tangy acids. While Michel Coutoux and his daughter Marlène bemoan the impact of climatic extremes on their vineyards—much of the replantings of the 1980s and 1990s, which ought to be entering their prime, will have to be replaced in the near future due to the degeneration of the 161-49 rootstock—the wines of Domaine Michel Niellon themselves remain remarkably unmarked by recent dry, warm vintages. The 2020s are no exception: lively, beautifully balanced and even comparatively tightly wound after their bottling before harvest 2021, they continue a strong recent run at this estate. As ever, bottling is under natural cork. 

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 93 Points | A notably more restrained nose is both cool and pure with its combination of spiced pear, Granny Smith apples, lemon-lime and petrol aromas. There is impressive mid-palate density to the unusually powerful medium-bodied flavors that also conclude in a lemon-tinged and beautifully persistent finish. If I'm being picky, this bone-dry effort could use a bit more depth, but that should reasonably occur if allowed at least a few years of cellaring. *Burghound Outstanding!*

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2021

Tim Fish of the Wine Spectator writes 95 Points |  Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with notes of forest floor and brown baking spices, plus a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 1,100 cases made.

Clive Pursehouse of Decanter writes 94 Points | Elegance is personified in this 2021 bottling of Bergström's renowned Silice. So-named for the sandy silica soils, the hallmark of the hilly Chehalem Mountain vineyard source. Beautiful bright fruit aromas are further framed by touches of tomato leaf, pine bough and mossy forest floor. The palate is marked by fleshy red raspberries, early season blackberry and fine grain tannin that provides a structure that shows this wine's longevity. (Drink between 2023-2031).

Erin Brooks of The Wine Advocate writes 94 Points |  Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Silice Vineyard blossoms slowly to pomegranate, blackberry, watermelon, dried herbs and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with wild berry fruit. Combining power and elegance, it's silky and seamless in the mouth, and a flourish of spicy accents across the finish hints it has more to reveal over the next 2-3 years in bottle.

Winemaker Description 

The Castel Grand Vin is a 90+ rated wine from the famed Judean Hills region in Israel. It is one of the most consistent high-end wines produced in Israel. The varieties used to create this wine are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, harvested from the winery's finest vineyard plots.

 The wine matured in mostly new French oak barrels for approximately 16 months, and was then transferred to concrete tanks for approximately 4 months before bottling. Castel Grand Vin is a classic, elegant wine, bearing deep color and a concentrated and complex bouquet of blackberries, cherries, plum, and spice. This is a balanced wine, with a velvety smoothness, fine (yet tangible) tannins, and a long clean finish. The Castel Grand Vin can age for 10+ years when stored in proper conditions.

The story of Domaine du Castel dates back to the 1970s when Eli Ben Zaken migrated from Milan to Israel with his family. He bought a small piece of land close to Jerusalem and began to fulfil his dream of working the land by planting an orchard and keeping chickens. In 1988 Eli decided to plant the first modern-day vineyard in the Judean Hills and in 1995 he released the first 600 bottles of his Grand Vin matured in oak barrels which he had imported from France himself.

Eli’s Grand Vin quickly gained a cult following and a bottle was even sent to the head of the wine department at Sotheby’s auction house, Serena Sutcliffe, who heaped praise on the wine. Made in the classic Bordeaux style, the Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc grapes which are carefully selected from Eli’s top vineyards.

Following the vinification the young wine is aged in oak barrels for 16 months followed by a further four months of maturation in concrete tanks. The result is a remarkably complex red which boasts a full body, rich dark fruit flavours and a very long finish. Although approachable now, this is a wine which has excellent ageing capabilities and will continue to develop and evolve over the next decade or so.

Winemaker Description

Handcrafted, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon fron the heart of Stags Leap District. Since the Terlato family assumed sole ownership of Chimney Rock in 2004, they have remained steadfast in their vision for this great estate. In the pursuit to produce unique wines of exceptional and world-class quality, they have developed and managed the Chimney Rock Winery estate vineyards into a sustainable, standard bearer of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is based on 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and minuscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec that's all from estate fruit in the Stags Leap District. It offers a pure, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant style as well as tons of minerality in its red and black fruits, ripe, building tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and just a kiss of background oak. (2021).

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator - 94 Points: Super lush and polished in feel, with creamy-textured acai, mulberry and cassis notes gliding through slowly. Laced with alluring hints of violet, iris and anise, this offers a melted licorice note on the finish, but the fruit wins out easily. Drink now through 2037. (2021).

Producer Description 

"Made entirely from the grapes grown on Taylor’s own properties, Taylor’s is one of the few remaining houses which still produces a 40 Year Old Aged Tawny Port. A sublime port of very great age which shows the old olive-gold hue of its many years in cask. Decades of evaporation have concentrated this extraordinary wine to an exceptional density, with a powerful nose of dried fruit, honey and a touch of spice. Impressions of nutmeg, roasted coffee and an intense nuttiness converge both in the bouquet and on the palate. The wine´s rich, intense, voluptuous, almost viscous texture culminate in a finish of incredible length." -Winery

Expert Reviews 

Mark Squires of the Wine Advocate 95 Points | The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled with a bar top cork in 2014. It comes in with 125 grams per liter of residual sugar. Big, weighty and mouth filling, this is an aromatic Tawny that finishes with acidity and tension. Gripping on the finish, its flavors become more interesting as long as it sits in the glass (or on your palate). It is not, perhaps, as sunny as the Fonseca, its sibling reviewed this issue, but it is denser and more gripping. Comparing to the Taylor 30 (also reviewed), I'm not sure I liked the 40 here all that much better. The 30 is a bit fleshier while this 40 is a bit more concentrated in flavor and aromatics. Perhaps some additional age also helped this 40 combat some of the aggression on the 30. They are both pretty fine, a difference of five to Midnight and five after, rather than night and day. It is still a fine experience and my favorite of the group. Don't drink it too warm. Room temperature is mostly too warm. The sweet spot for most tends to be 58-62 degrees Fahrenheit.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is distinctly floral, with peach, lime blossom, citronella and mineral aromas and flavors. Sleek and elegant, offering intensity through the lingering aftertaste of lemon and orchard fruits. Shows terrific length and harmony. Best from 2026 through 2036. 30 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

Grégoire Bichot’s philosophy was to rule out the use of any chemical pesticides and weed killers when taking over this vineyard, in order to respect the environment and the Jurassic soils in which the delicacy of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay flourishes so well. His aim is to encourage the plant’s natural balance so that the fruit can develop the subtleties and aromas particular to each specific terroir that it grows in. The harvest itself is a vital moment in the quest for quality and aromatic expression. 

Situated on the slopes overlooking the town of Beaune, the premier cru of Les Grèves is considered one of the best in the appellation. Grégoire’s parcel is just .3 hectares planted in 1961, and true to its pedigree, this wine is rich, structured, and we are confident in its potential for longevity.

Ruby red color, with a rich aromatic expression of red fruit, the 2016 Beaune Les Greves 1er Cru has fine tannin perfectly balanced with the powerful fruit. The wine has good potential for cellaring.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 97 Points | A super-complex Champagne with chewy tension. Aromas of coffee beans, lemon peel, burnt sugar, chalky minerality, barley candy and tarte tatin. Fine pinprick bubbles with flavors of lemon leaves, aspirin and Mirabelle plums, plus a touch of grapefruit bitterness keeping the tension. Zesty yet integrated chewy acidity and a medium body with a toasted finish. Drink of hold.
96 Vinous

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2015 Dom Pérignon is terrific. Bright and poised, the 2015 shows terrific energy. Citrus peel, white flowers, mint, white pepper and slate all race across the palate. There's gorgeous tension and backbone here, with bright saline notes that extend the mid-palate and finish. This is a fine showing in a vintage that has proven to be tricky. I am intrigued to see how the 2015 develops in the coming years.

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | Disgorged in January 2023, the 2015 Dom Pérignon shows a singular, ethereal profile with aromas of white pepper, iodine, ripe orchard fruits, toast, smoke, herbs and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and structured, it’s enveloping and round with a delicate phenolic mid-palate that underlines chalky dry extracts, concluding with a sapid, penetrating finish with gastronomic bitterness. This iteration of Dom Pérignon, though replete with the customary charm and vinous generosity that typify the label, distinguishes itself by its structural delicate austerity and a notably phenolic profile, giving rise to a remarkably linear and well-defined style that diverges markedly from the more familiar expressions of Dom Pérignon. This is a blend of 51% Pinot Noir and 49% Chardonnay with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter; it will age wonderfully and can be enjoyed now or over the next 20 years.

Decanter 94 Points | There's a well-spiced, zesty edge to the flavors of glazed apple, mandarin orange peel, pink grapefruit pith and crème de cassis as they ride the finely detailed mousse of this fresh, focused Champagne. This vivid display is enriched by notes of canelé pastry, chopped almond, pastry cream, smoke and vanilla, all coming to the forefront through the midpalate and chiming on the lasting finish. Drink now through 2035.

Winemaker Description

Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 stands out for its complex aromatic flavor profile combining intense roasted and cocoa notes, balanced by delicate floral aromas of lime blossom, jasmine and peony. Elevated by a bouquet of spices such as aniseed and cardamom, Dom Pérignon 2015 also offers a fruity, botanical freshness, with subtle hints of orange and green papaya. This blend of flavors creates the perfect taste harmony for lovers of fine wine.The 2015 vintage wine is characterized by its breadth and delicacy, offering a unique sensory experience. Notes of peach, nectarine, citrus and gentian create a harmonious blend, giving the wine a rich texture and a diverse aromatic palate. This rich, well-balanced cuvée captures the essence of the exceptional terroirs from which it comes, promising a memorable wine tasting experience.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

James Suckling 94 Points | Plenty of ripe and fresh fruit with citrus and rose aromas that follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a bright, vivid finish. Hints of orange-peel and light pie-crust flavors in the aftertaste.

Kerin O'Keefe of the Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Aromas of black-skinned berries, new leather and spice shape the nose. The chewy palate offers dried black cherry, tobacco and vanilla alongside polished tannins. Drink 2023–2031.

Expert Review - Vintage 2012

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Her flagship wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from several sources, most notably Calistoga and Pritchard Hill. The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (500 cases). It is a beauty, very much in the style of 2012, with its flamboyant nose of blueberries, blackberries, new saddle leather. Following on the palate are juicy, succulent, full-bodied flavors, sweet tannin, low acidity and a flamboyant and dramatic mouthfeel. This is a superb Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 15-20 years. 

Vinous 92 Points | Black cherries, plums, mocha, spices and dark chocolate are all super-expressive in La Sirena's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich and voluptuous to the core, the Cabernet is a terrific example of the year and all of its near term appeal. Drink this racy, open-knit Cabernet Sauvignon over the next decade or so. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, anise and sweet floral notes add perfumed sweetness throughout. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

James Suckling 94 Points | A rich, creamy-textured red with ripe-strawberry, chocolate, stone and hazelnut aromas and flavors. It’s full and layered with attractive fruit and lightly chewy yet polished tannins. Flavorful finish. Subtle, yet structured. Try after 2022.

Decanter 93 Points | Bouchard's evocatively named parcel is a monopoly holding that covers 3.9ha on sand and gravel soils in the heart of Beaune Grèves. Picked early but still pretty ripe, this has tobacco pouch and clove aromas from 20% whole bunches, layers of mulberry and raspberry fruit, aromatic 20% new wood and a backdrop of sinewy, granular tannins.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | Revisited from bottle, the 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves Vigne de l'Enfant Jesus is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with a brooding bouquet of dark berry fruit, ripe cherries, warm spices, baking chocolate and subtle soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and powerful, with ripe tannins and a voluminous core of fruit, concluding with a long, heady finish. When I tasted this wine from barrel, Bouchard's Frédéric Weber observed that analytically this 2018 is very similar indeed to the 1947 vintage of l'Enfant Jesus, and in its controlled but overt ripeness the analogy seems even more obvious from bottle.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Intense and tightly wound, this red displays a laser beam of cherry and berry fruit, with an underlying mineral element and steely structure. It's concentrated and long yet needs time to reveal all its facets."
Wine Spectator 

Allen Meadows Burghound 92 Points | Discreetly mentholated, ripe and brooding aromas speak of poached plum, spice and plenty of freshly turned earth scents. The medium-bodied flavors possess good delineation and an attractive mouthfeel before terminating in a lingering, youthfully austere and mouth coating finish that is shaped by a firmly tannic spine. This slightly warm effort is a big and very serious Beaune that is going to require plenty of time to arrive at its full apogee. Worth checking out.

Expert Review - Vintage 2017

James Suckling 100 Points | What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished. A blend of 48% carmenere, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2025.

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | This features an intensely rich and fruity aroma, with concentrated flavors to match, dominated by cherry tart, raspberry and dark plum. Creamy midpalate, with a plush and spicy finish that offers hints of chocolate mint and plenty of minerality. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2027.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2017 Clos Apalta is the 20th vintage of this wine that was produced with a blend of 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot from organic and biodynamic certified vineyards on granite soils. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for four to five weeks, with manual punch-down of the cap, mostly in 7,500-liter French oak vats and 18% in new French barrique. Malolactic was in new French oak barrels, and the élevage lasted for 27 months in 85% new barrels and 15% second use. This is always a powerful, big and ripe wine that is regularly 15% alcohol, reflecting a warm and ripe place. The 2017 is no exception, perhaps a riper and more powerful wine than the 2016. It's still very young and marked by the élevage, with abundant balsamic aromas and notes from the wood—spice and smoke with an ashy touch. It seems quite marked by the character of the Carmenere. The tannins are quite round and polished, and the flavors are pungent and powerful. It's a full-bodied wine to age in in bottle and enjoy in its 10th birthday with powerful food. 

Decanter 94 Points | Powerful in its concentration and focus, a deep plum colour with the same distinctive sumac and cardamon spice notes as Le Petit Clos, but here with a more serious grip, excellent balance in terms of its liquorice-laced blueberry fruits and a mouthwatering lift through the finish. 85% new oak that fits extremely well in the frame of the wine. 20th anniversary vintage. Now its own specific appellation within the Colchagua Valley. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Certified biodynamic, with a number of ungrafted vines. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038.

Winemaker Description 

Deep garnet in appearance, the wine reflects the intensecolor of Carmenère grapes and typical aromas of ripe fruits. An abundance of aromas, including redcurrant, raspberry andwild strawberries, reflects the stunning complexity of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère. The initial wave of berry fruits, underpinned by soft, silky tannins, is pursued by contrasting touches of black olive, blackcurrant and licorice. Incredibly long and taut on the finish, revealing exquisite, delicate tannins, and expressing the great elegance of the Apalta terroirs.

Blend: 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

About the Estate One of the oldest vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère in Chile, if not in the world, is the origin of this story. Enclaved in the Colchagua Valley, near the town of Santa Cruz, the Apalta Valley was the place selected by a visionnary near the 1915's who, using a unique french massal selection, planted this amazing vineyard. In 1994, Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet acquired this property. True to the demands of the family, their ambition was to produce an exceptional wine and to pave the way for the qualitative development of the country's fine wines.

Clos Apalta is born in 1997 as the iconic wine of the Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle in Chile under the idea to magnify the exceptional terroir of Apalta with French expertise. Shaping the vineyard foot by foot, building a state-of-the-art gravity fed winery, the family succeeded in making Clos Apalta one of the most iconic wines in South America.

Winemaker Description

Intense, bright and luminous golden hue. Dynamic effervescence with a continuous stream of fine bubbles. Intense, fragrant bouquet of great purity. Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle delicately with notes of grain and lightly roasted almonds. The lovely sensation of big ripe fruit is balanced and lifted by energetic fresh tangy overtones. Fruity palate with a silky texture, complemented by soft bubbles that are perfectly integrated and deliciously elegant. The purity and perfection of the ripe yellow fruit melt into the intense chalky freshness typical of Cristal that is powdery and saline. Dense, juicy, concentrated, and long on the mid-palate, thanks to the spicy and sappy structure resulting from partial ageing in large oak vats (foudres). The finish builds to a crescendo, revealing a rich grainy and a velvety texture that is wrapped in a long, saline, and superbly elegant finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

Vinous 95 Points | Saturated ruby. Expansive cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and exotic spice aromas are complemented by subtle licorice and woodsmoke flourishes. Vibrant and sharply focused in the mouth, with a spine of juicy acidity adding focus to palate-staining black and blue fruit liqueur, violet pastille, mocha and spicecake flavors. The floral quality resonates emphatically on the clinging finish, which features lingering cherry and smoky mineral notes. There's noteworthy elegance here, a trait that's not exactly common for Toro. 

Winemaker Description 

Pintia lies on the banks of the Douro River, within the D.O. of Toro. The extremely cold winters and hot summers influence its complex soils, which are characterised by a large number of pebbles.

Therefore, it is paramount to find the optimal harvest time, so as not to lose the freshness of the aromas or the acidity of the wine.

The harvest took place between 13 September and 7 October (one of the longest in our history), due to the low temperatures and rains in September and the growth cycle of the vineyard. These conditions for the 2016 vintage helped push for a bit more extraction later on in the fermentation stage.

The percentage of new oak barrels used for ageing was 80 %, American oak increasing 5 % and reaching 25 %, providing greater density in the wine. 75 % French oak was used for this ageing stage. 

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description 

Billecart-Salmon takes you to the historic lands of Leuvrigny, Festigny and Venteuil in the heart of the Marne Valley. You will discover a new expression of Pinot Meunier.

The delicate floral notes and the sweetness of the fruity aromas of this unique single-varietal cuvée will brighten up your most beautiful moments of sharing.
Radiant and luminous visual pleasure, defining a golden yellow hue with soft silver reflections. 

Always with this cord of extremely fine bubbles and so well channeled in the center of the glass. In mouth A relief with a sensual texture where a certain gourmet fluidity sets in, evolving towards an infused and tasty fruit (white cherry, pineapple and yellow plums). The perfect sensation of an index of accomplished pleasure defining an aerial walk with a distinguished and refined sensory capacity.

With such a pretty finish that stretches towards white pepper and pretty acidulous yellow fruits. At nose Harmonious floral sensations (linden and grasses) associated with the summer scents of a freshly cut wheat field (cereals and stubble). It will awaken your senses to refined nuances ranging from crunchy fruit to citrus pulp. A very delicate set where the expression of Pinot Meunier is subtly revealed.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 94 Points | More restrained and notably cool aromas are comprised of freshly sliced plum, dark currant and pungent earth and sauvage nuances. There is more volume, power and muscle to the bigger-bodied flavors that possess excellent underlying tension, all wrapped in a youthfully austere and very saline-inflected finale. This is excellent and notably more structured; indeed, it will need at least 15 years of cellaring and 20 would not surprise me to reach its full maturity. This is most impressive.

Winemaker Description

The Gattinara spends a minimum of 3 years in large oak whereas both crus see at least four years in large oak.

Expert Review - Vintage 2018 

Vinous 95 Vinous | The 2018 Gattinara is a stunning wine in the making. Extraordinary in its complexity and nuance, the 2018 dazzles with a kaleidoscope of aromas, flavors and textures. Kirsch, hard candy, flowers and lively acids captivate the senses. The 2018 is elegant, weightless and full of character. It is, quite frankly, everything Gattinara can and should be. This is a great place to start for readers who want to know why the 2018 vintage is so magical at Nervi-Conterno. If it weren't for the single-vineyard wines, I would have said the 2018 is one of the very best wines that have ever been made here! (2018). 

Robert Parker 94 Points | Roberto Conterno acquired Nervi in 2018, and this is the first vintage in which the brand name is listed as Conterno Nervi (as opposed to Nervi Conterno, or just Nervi). Fully under his winemaking watch, the 2018 Gattinara comes from a vintage that performed well in this part of Alto Piemonte. Roberto had the confidence to produce his two single-vineyard expressions (Vigne Molsino and Valferana) in 2018, which is not exactly intuitive, as the growing season proved more challenging in other parts of Piedmont. But Roberto interprets each vintage with a keen eye and deft approach that is often contrary to his peers. I think what stands out here is the freshness, the balance of acidity that plays nicely into the minerality of the wine and the brightness of its wild rose and redcurrant flavors. This Gattinara carries a lot of fruit and primary intensity, all backed by subtle touches of balsam herb and soft tarry end notes. This 2018 underlines the elegance in Nebbiolo. (2018). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | From the oldest vines of the estate, the 2022 Pinot Noir DuMOL Ryan is fantastic on the nose, with notes of fresh leather, Asian spices, sandalwood, and fresh cherries. The palate is vibrant and salty with green valley character, revealing finely coiled tannins, mouthwatering acidity, a saline mineral flourish, and a long finish. This one of the most compelling wines in the vintage for me, and it’s going to age gracefully over the next 15-20 years.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Ryan comes from the Dutton-Widdoes and Dutton-Jentoft Vineyards, and grapes were harvested August 18 and later on September 4, just before the Labor Day heat wave. It unfurls dramatically in the glass, where wild berries, conifer and violets are accented by tones of dusty earth, tobacco and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate is powerfully styled, with abundant, grainy tannins, bright acidity and a long, spicy finish. It will benefit from 3-5 years in bottle. 

The Wine Independent 95 Points | Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Ryan sashays out of the glass with gregarious notes of red roses, wild sage, mulberries, and juicy raspberries plus hints of black peppercorns and tilled soil. The medium-bodied palate is taut with muscular red and black berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and earthy. This comes 53% from the Dutton-Widdoes Vineyard and 47% from Dutton-Jentoft. 

Expert Review - Vintage 1997

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Plum and blackberry on the nose, with hints of dried violets. Wet earth. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, very chewy and rich. Long and caressing. Still very tight. Give it time. Very layered and structured. Much better than I remember. Impressive. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Best after 2010. 3,100 cases imported.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | Blackberries, licorice, and melted asphalt stand out in this full-bodied, beautifully made vintage port's moderately intense bouquet. It is not one of the great Graham's ports, and is less sweet than normal, but it is full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and impressive. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025.

Winemaker Description 

This excellent Vintage has an intense colour with a deep, purple rim. On the nose shows a luscious ripeness with attractive floral aromas and undertones of black cherry. On the palate, a typically Graham's full-bodied structure, packed with layers and layers of fruit and firm tannins. The very long, accomplished finish indicates a great Vintage for long-term ageing.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 98 Points | Made from old vines and blended from casks of Port averaging 40 years of maturity, this is a rare treat with which to finish an evening. The color is tawny brown, with a light orange-amber rim and mahogany center. Fully developed aromas of cinnamon, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, dried apricots and hazelnuts lead to layered, rich, sweet and creamy flavors and a long, long finish.

Decanter 97 Points | Terrific stature and visceral intensity. Tightly wound acidity, a touch of volatile acidity and Cognac-like spirit drive to the kaleidoscopic palate, unleashing a never-ending panoply of flavors: black cardamom, spicy fruit chutney, salty praline, mocha, dried mango, marmalade and walnut. Ultra-long, well-focused and resonating.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The NV 40 Year Tawny is a blockbuster Tawny! Coming all from the estate vineyard and aged 40 years or more in 640-liter oak barrels, it has a touch of ranico-like character as well as beautiful caramelized fruits, toasted spice, cigar, and walnut/nuttiness. Ripe, heady, full-bodied and beautifully complex, it’s going to be perfect for sipping at the end of a meal over the coming couple of decades.

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is exotic, with a wide range of baked peach, dried cherry and fig, singed cinnamon, warmed praline, hazelnut and green tea notes all swirling around together. The long finish is rich and  thoroughly comforting.

Winemaker Description 

Mid-to-high colour intensity, typical of the vintage. It has a fragrant and complex nose, with hints of red and black fruits (raspberries, redcurrants, blackberries) andspiced notes of clove, laurel and black tea. Refreshing on the palateand bold in structure, with smooth tannins and a very pleasing flavour. Notable for its long finish. A great Tempranillo from a cooler vintage, in the classic style.