Wine Over $100

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast 97-99 Points | This is already shaping up to being one of the stars of the vintage. With its great fruit, fully enveloped by the structure and tannins, the wine has been set well for the future. The aromatic black fruits are intense and concentrated. — Roger Voss

Decanter 98 Poinhts | Wonderfully aromatic and expressive, with dark fruit, floral scents, chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice. Smooth, svelte, bursting with energy. Juicy strawberries and cherries have crunch from fine tannins and mineral edges. Calm and controlled, yet quietly powerful. Fruit and oak emerge over time, layering chalky, powdery, ripe, spiced and fresh textures. Ends as joyously as it starts, and very moreish.

James Suckling 98 Points | What a nose with complex aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, graphite and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, this has layers of tannins and intense richness but is framed and held together by the phenolic structure. Vertical and deep, it goes on for minutes on the palate. Great finish. 81% cabernet sauvignon and 19% merlot. Give this five to six years to come together more. Best after 2030 and beyon

Winemaker Description

Strikingly rich in color and extract, the 2018 Rubicon is unquestionably a precocious, hedonistic wine. The exotic, well-knit aromas and flavors include ripe cassis, allspice, star anise, vanilla and black licorice. Upon entry, this full-bodied wine envelops the palate with its luxurious concentration and supple, silky tannins, supported by vibrant freshness from the balanced acidity, and perfectly-integrated French oak. Very long and expansive in the finish, the 2018 Rubicon will be memorable for decades to come. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling 97 Points | Subtle and complex red with blackberry, black truffle, sweet tobacco and mahogany. Highlights of lavender and violets. Full-bodied and very tight with finesse and tension. Very polished, fine tannins. Long finish. Delicious already, but best after 2022. (2018). 

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is based on a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It’s a more backward, closed wine, offering classy notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, freshly crushed stone, and cedar. More medium to full-bodied and elegant, I’d like to see a touch more density and richness on the mid-palate, but it's beautifully balanced, has gorgeous tannins, integrated acidity, and outstanding length on the finish. Give this classic, impressive, old school beauty 4-5 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 15-20. (2018).

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Alluring aromatically, with restrained yet complex notes of mulberry, loganberry and anise giving way to an equally understated core of the same, picking up light sassafras, black tea and incense hints. The refined structure lets this drape nicely on the finish, with a mineral hint chiming in. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

Considered the pinnacle of Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti produces some of the world’s most revered wines from its tiny vineyards in Vosne-Romanee. Grands-Echezeaux, is a Grand Cru vineyard yielding sublime wines that are among the most highly-sought, seductive and rarest in the world.

The 2020 Grands Échézeaux is full-bodied, ample and fleshy with an abundance of powdery tannins and succulent acids. The luscious palate presents strawberry, cherry, leather, earth, mushroom, mint, a touch of spice, oak, and refreshing minerality.

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 Review - Vintage 2021 

Burhound 92-94 Points | An elegant, pure and ultra-fresh nose offers up notes of lilac, rose petal, white peach, tea and citrus zest. There is a markedly more refined mouthfeel to the utterly delicious and highly seductive medium weight flavors that are more precise, all wrapped in a citrusy, impressively persistent and youthfully austere finale. This is very classy and I particularly like the underlying tension and balance that should also permit this beauty to age effortlessly over the next 12 to 15 years. In a word, excellent.

Winemaker Description

This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 99- 100 Points | A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. (2020). 

Robert Parker 96-98 Points | A legendary Haut-Bailly in the making, the 2020 sports a dense purple color to go with powerful notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, scorched earth, and graphite. Reminding me of the 2010, it takes plenty of air to show at its best yet is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, massive of ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. It’s one of the most structured, powerful Haut-Bailly I’ve ever tasted, yet it still has the classic elegance, nuance, and length of this terrific terroir. It will need 5-7 years (or more) of bottle age but will have 50 years of overall longevity. The 2020 is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. (2020). 

Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 Points | Deep, rich and explosive, the 2020 Haut-Bailly is magnificent from the very first taste. Dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spice give the 2020 a level of unctuousness that is absolutely thrilling. Readers should be patient, as the 2020 is going to need time to come around. Yields are down 25% from 2019, and that richness comes through loud and clear. (2020). 

Vinous 95-97 Points | (Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, Red) Rich in texture and colour, this has clear layers and complexity, a wine that you want to take your time with, slow down and enjoy. One that will take its time to age also. This has a precision and a clarity to the aromatics, and a gentle buzz of minerality that gives a physical reaction in the mouth. Less exuberant than the 2018 or 2019, making this a vintage that suits the style of Haut-Bailly. A slight austerity to the tannins on the finish gives a blueberry redcurrant edge. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend (now around eight years old), usually co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon (sometimes with Cabernet Franc). IPT similar to 2016, 2010, 2005, but with a softness that comes from extremely ripe tannins. Strong potential for upscoring when it bottle. (Drink between 2030-2050). (2020),

Expert Reviews

98 Points Wine Enthusiast | This firmly structured wine with its high percentage of Merlot is powerful and dense. The bold black fruits and perfumed density are impressive.

97+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | A clear step up over the 2019, the 2020 Château Troplong Mondot is mostly Merlot yet includes 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, all of which was raised in 65% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. The level of purity and finesse here is remarkable, and it reveals a deep ruby/purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of cassis, ripe black cherries, graphite, gunpowder, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has building, perfectly ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. Certainly light years away from the riper, more opulent style of the 2000's, the wines today under consultant Thomas Duclos are much more about finesse and elegance. While I certainly miss the sexy, riper style of the past, there is no denying the incredible quality from this château today. 

97 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Troplong Mondot is composed of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 4th September and lasting for about three weeks. The pH is 3.53, the IPT (tannin index) is 75 and the alcohol is 14.5%. Opaque purple-black colored, it opens with a vivacious burst of black fruits—stewed plums, baked blackberries and boysenberries—giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of licorice, ground cloves, cinnamon stick and lilacs, with a touch of bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of plump, juicy black fruits and savory sparks, framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and opulent. 

97 Points James Suckling | A soft and round red with plum and milk chocolate. Hazelnuts. Full-bodied and layered. Juicy. Hints of sea salt. Power is there. Turns firm and vivid. So attractive now. Savory. Needs three to four years to open.

93 Points Decanter | This sets out its stall as a wine from a specific plot of pure limestone soils straight away, and this is a second wine to savour. As with last year, this is a masterclass in the impact of this particular soil type, with a bright violet colour, juicy blueberry fruits and touches of redcurrant. It has a tingling finish with a whoosh of salinity that gives tension and balance. 30% aged in barrels, the rest stays in stainless steel. 3.53pH. Still 100% Merlot as last year, but that will probably change in 2021 when some Cabernet Franc should be added. Not sold as an En Primeur, the 2018 has just been released onto the market. September 4 was the first day of picking.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 97 points From an estate that is delivering its greatest run of vintages since the superb Post War series that preceded the frosts of 1956, the 2022 Canon is a magical wine that will be worth every effort to track down. Wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, wild plums and cherries mingled with hints of bay leaf, spices and violets, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with huge levels of concentration, vibrant acids and beautifully refined tannins. Concluding with a long, saline finish, this pure, perfumed and ineffably complete Canon is built for the ages, even if its structural polish is such that it will be approachable at a surprisingly early age. 99 Points Wine Advocate, April 28, 2023

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 98 Points | Power, complexity and brilliance make this a truly remarkable dry riesling, the touch of creaminess from long sur-lie maturation giving this exactly the soft touch it needs to balance the steely minerality that powers it at the imposing yet totally vibrant finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.

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. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2008

97 Points Wine Spectator:  Like a stallion out of the gate, this shows an initial explosion of power, in the form of mouthwatering flavors and fine texture, before quickly settling into an elegant gait. The racy acidity is seamlessly knit, buoying the lacy mousse and flavors of cassis, toasted brioche and tangerine, with accents of candied ginger, hazelnut and fleur de sel lingering on the long, creamy finish. Drink now through 2035.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast:  The new release of this producer's prestige cuvée comes in its usual beautifully sculpted bottle. The Champagne, from a great vintage in the region, is just approaching maturity still showing minerality from the high amount of Chardonnay in the blend. Nutty flavors are creeping in, keeping the great texture adding complexity. Drink this very fine wine now although it will also age further.

96 Points Decanter: Rare Champagne boasts an illustrious past, with its first vintage having been presented to Marie Antoinette in 1785. The wine is produced in very limited quantities and is restricted to exceptional years, with only 11 vintages being declared over the past four decades of production. 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir from selected grand cru vineyards. Simon Field MW: Gentle bead, lovely evolved notes of hazelnut, even a hint of praline, enrobed and ennobled by firm acidity and a persuasive finish. Alan Bednarski: Great, pure wine with still-fresh zesty flavours, delicate palate and sweet yeast notes, with a long flavourful finish of ripe melon. Tim Hall: A challenging, pressing start, wanting to overwhelm with shimmering and sharp attack, but shows intensity on the palate to match. Lovely lemon-apple notes and tempered texture.

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: The 2008 Champagne Rare is luxurious with aromas of graham cracker, honeysuckle, quince, and orange zest. It is round and opulent, with a fine and pillowy mousse, and retains freshness throughout, with apricot and yellow flowers. It is impressive and long, and fully luxurious. Drinking well now, it is sure to hold its own for years to come. Drink 2022-2044.

93 Points Wine Advocate:  The newly released 2008 Brut Cuvée Rare is very promising, unwinding in the glass with a youthfully reserved nose of citrus oil, crisp green apple, freshly baked bread, iodine and oyster shell, as well as some rather herbaceous characteristics that depress my score a little, even if I suspect that they will resolve with a bit more bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, incisive and tightly wound, if the 2006 vintage was gourmand and demonstrative, the 2008 is slower to show all its cards. Built around racy acids and complemented by a pillowy mousse, this rendition of Cuvée Rare will reward a few years more on cork.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Burghound 93 Points | (From Les Cruots which is also known as Vignes Blanches). Touches of bitter chocolate and kirsch are present on the spicy aromas of plum, violet and soft wood. The finer if not denser flavors possess a velvety texture while also coating the palate with dry extract on the dusty and chalky finish that is likewise youthfully austere. I very much like the depth and persistence and this beauty should also age gracefully for as long as most anyone would like.

Barrel Sample: 93-96 Decanter 97 Points | A very elegant expression of Echezeaux, with a velvety black plum and rose petal fruit. There is a lovely freshness and so much finesse that the tannin and structure might surprise you at the end. This has the substance to age for decades. Produced from a 0.84ha parcel in Cruots next to Comte Liger-Belair. The vines were planted in 1954 and the destemmed fruit was gently fermented.

Barrel Sample: 97Vinous 92 Points | The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru offers mulberry sous-bois and very subtle star anis aromas on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins quite taut and fresh linear at the moment with touches of blood orange and Clementine towards the finish. Give this several years in bottle. (Drink between 2027-2055).

Expert Reviews

98+ Points Robert Parker | The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is initially a reticent wine and one that does not immediately subscribe to the overstated abundance and exuberance of the vintage. Give it time. I wrote this review after several tastings over several days so I could ensure a more accurate account of the wine's elegant reveal. Contemplative and exceedingly nuanced in personality, with wild berry, underbrush, ferrous earth and candied orange peel, this has everything to look forward to in terms of its future evolution in the bottle. It displays a pretty ruby color that borders on garnet and polished copper. A silky, mid-weight palate is accented by beautifully managed and silky tannins (this aspect of the mouthfeel is extraordinary), bright freshness and long-lasting fruit momentum. The alcohol is a bit more powerful in this release (at 14.5%), but the effect is supple and smooth nonetheless. I tasted bottle number 256.

James Suckling 97 Points | Complex yet pure, subtle and refined nose that gently evolves, with mossy red cherries, dried roses, chalk, tar and dried orange peel. There is a lift of clove and eucalyptus that makes it so distinctive. A powerful, medium-to full-bodied Brunello, but seamless and bright, with a fine, transparent mid-palate and restrained, mineral austerity. Understated complexity that will need time to bloom. Hold until 2026.

Vinous 97 Points | The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva pulls you close to the glass with a deep and seductive display of black raspberry preserves complemented by sweet sage, dried roses and pipe tobacco. With further coaxing, it gains in volume and lift, taking on hints of mint and camphor. This greets the palate with undeniable elegance, casting velvety waves of violet-tinged wild berries and sweet spices across a motivating core of juicy acidity, as a subtle coating of round tannins forms toward the close. While structured and incredibly long, energy remains high, as nuances of cherry pits offset by sour citrus and hints of cedar fade. It’s amazing to experience such energy and purity from a young Biondi Santi Riserva. As pretty as the Annata released last year was, I worried that the extended aging for the Riserva might rob the wine of some of its fruit; instead it is the complete opposite, as this contains the depth and complexity of the best wines of the vintage. I can’t wait to see how the 2015 matures over the next several decades. -- Eric Guido 

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | New leather, pressed rose and mature berry aromas slowly appear in the glass along with whiffs of underbrush and pipe tobacco. On the structured, elegant palate, firm but ultrarefined tannins provide the backbone for juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and cake spice. While it promises decades of evolution, it's already rewarding and almost at the start of its long drinking window. Drink 2025–2045. Kerin O’Keefe 

Wine Spectator 96 Points | Round and fruity, with an accent of white pepper against cherry, raspberry and floral flavors. Elegant and verging on racy, with a firm, well-integrated structure and excellent length on the minerally finish. Best from 2025 through 2048. — B.S.

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby red color. Generous nose with aromas of ripe red berry fruit with spicy overtones. Intense on the palate, quite rich though very elegant and well-balanced. The tannins are present, but very well integrated in the fruit structure of the wine. Long aftertaste with good freshness. A wine with extraordinary finesse and balance. Pair with red meats, roasts, and wild game.

Expert Reviews

Vinous 98 Points | The 2019 Barolo Cerequio is a worthy follow up to the stellar 2018. Aromatic and deeply pitched, the 2019 races across the palate with remarkable depth and intensity. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint and cinnamon all open in the glass, but it is the wine's silkiness and suppleness that impresses most. A kick of acids and tannins puts an exclamation point on the finish. This is a gorgeous Cerequio that takes all the finesse this site offers, and then turns up the volume. What a wine.

Robert Parker 97+ Points | Vietti was able to buy a 9,000-square meter piece of Cerequio from Michele Chiarlo, arguably the king of this celebrated cru. And because this is a new addition to the portfolio, the Vietti team is still learning the ropes. For example, there is a fresh minty tone that pops up from the bouquet of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio. "That minty note was a mystery to us," Luca Currado tells me. "But then we understood that its part of Cerequio." This wine shows a firm grip on the palate that does extend out to include some textural softness, but it ultimately remains quite structured. Among the grand cru sites of La Morra, Luca Currado tells me that "Cerequio is the brother and Brunate is the sister." His wife Elena Penna adds, "We've never had two sites so close to one another show such a great difference between them.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | Coming from La Morra, a more fruit-forward tone can be found in the licorice spice and depth of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio, which offers slightly darker fruit, ripe berries, and peppercorn. This was the second vintage produced and is more approachable now for the vintage. It is a joyful wine though it still has ripe structure.

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Expert Review

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Surprisingly tannic for such an old wine, but a lovely drink allthe same, with smoky aromas and concentrated blackberry flavors. Will the tannins soften? Try around 1995.--Mouton-Rothschild vertical.   –PM 

Winemaker Description 

Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wines has released a one-time, Limited-Edition Hall of Fame Cabernet Sauvignon to commemorate Charles Woodson’s enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 2019, Woodson launched the Intercept Wines brand and the team prepared to have the 2018 vintage ready for 2021 should he become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“When we found out Charles was eligible to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we were eager to make a commemorative wine to celebrate the occasion,” said Intercept winemaker Amanda Gorter. “We wanted to create something special that truly embodied the sentiment of greatness from grape to glass.”

The 2018 Limited Edition Hall of Fame Cabernet Sauvignon from four premier districts in California’s Paso Robles AVA: Adelaida, Estrella, El Pomar, and Willow Creek. It is a full-bodied winewith bold tannins and exquisite structure, and can be enjoyed today or laid down to age.

The limited production resulted in 6,500 bottles, an homage to his 65 career interceptions. His career accolades are etched onto the bottle, and a note from Woodson lines the inside of the soft-touch matte black gift box.

Woodson explained, “Intercept has created this Hall of Fame Edition Cabernet Sauvignon – very fitting for this special time in my life! I’m sharing this moment with you because when I go in, we all go in!”

Winemaker Notes:

Campo di Camagi is one of the three labels of 100% Cabernet Franc produced by Andrea Franchetti from 2014, who wanted to devote the utmost attention to this historic grape of Bordeaux, enhancing its characteristics in relation to three different terroir of the estate. It is produced exclusively with grapes from a single plot of 1.5 hectares composed of a thin layer of quartz and limestone. The 27 year old vines struggle to grow in this space, the stems do not grow, the roots have filled it.

Expert Reviews 

Monica Larner writes:   Made with Cabernet Franc, the Tenuta di Trinoro 2020 Campo di Camagi shows a level of sharpness and precision that you don't get as clearly in the other wines in this series of single-vineyard releases. There is more oak spice with redwood and cedar, along with crushed granite and pencil shaving. The wine is linear and delivers big intensity to the palate, and it has the structure and acidity to accompany a long drinking window.  Drinking 2024 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

James Suckling writes:  So perfumed with violets and lavender with some currants. Medium- to full-bodied with polish and finesse. Racy and fine. Finesse with drive. Very elegant and straightforward with a racy texture. Very long and lightly edgy. 92% cabernet franc and 8% merlot. Drink after 2027 but already beautiful.  - James Suckling 96

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A spicy red, featuring a beam of black currant and blackberry fruit shaded by violet, black pepper, iron and mint. Lithe and ends with a line of resonant tannins on the tobacco-tinged finish. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 166 cases made, 65 cases imported.  Wine Spectator 94

Jancis Robinson writes:  Racy, lively and a little fragile and delicate. Tense.  Drinking 2024 - 2034  - Jancis Robinson 17.5

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018). 

Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018). 

James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

The top Cabernet is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, which comes all from the Howell Mountain AVA. It's another inky colored beauty boasting a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits, ground herbs, spice box, graphite, and forest floor. With brilliant minerality on the palate as well as full-bodied richness and an expansive, opulent texture, it has sweet tannins and is approachable today, yet will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 25-30 years. It's one of the few 2017s to come close to its 2016 counterpart. Bravo!  Drinking 2024 to 2054.  Jeb Dunnuck 97

Bottled only three weeks ago, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, having spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals beautiful notions of kirsch, red and black currant preserves, raspberry pie and warm plums with hints of red roses, stewed tea, underbrush and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful red fruit and floral intensity intermingled with black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Very different from the epic 2016 Dancing Bear, but very exciting!  Drinking 2020 to 2038.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear ranch is a gorgeous Howell Mountain red. Succulent black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, new leather, rose petal and blood orange all run through this deep, resonant, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon from Cakebread. This is a very pretty wine.  Drinking 2022 to 2032.  - Vinous 93

Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Veeder — Napa Valley 2021

Mt. Brave is the Mountain Veeder project of Chris Carpenter — the winemaker behind Lokoya and Cardinale, and one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated mountain viticulturists. The estate vineyards sit high above the fog line on the undulating ridgelines of Mt. Veeder, where some sites date back to just before the Civil War. The soils are volcanic and iron-rich, the yields are brutally low, and the fruit that survives is among the most concentrated and complex in all of Napa. Carpenter’s philosophy is one of restraint and terroir transparency — allowing Mt. Veeder to reveal itself in each vintage rather than imposing a winemaker’s hand. The 2021 blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot — 3,830 cases produced. James Suckling called it the best Mt. Brave ever made.

The color is a deep, saturated ruby. The nose is breathtaking: violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, bay leaf, and cedary oak, with gorgeous mid-palate depth and nuances of tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni. On the palate, it is full-bodied and silky — very fine tannins that caress the palate with velvety precision, mouthwatering ripeness, and a long, focused, and deeply complex finish. There is upfront accessibility today, but this wine deserves 3–4 years in the cellar and will reward patience for two decades. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling — 99 Points
“A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. A total of 3,830 cases produced. Give it three to four years to soften.”

Jeb Dunnuck — 97 Points
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a classic Mountain Cabernet with full-bodied richness and ample, although velvety, tannins as well as pure cassis and currant-like fruits, gorgeous mid-palate depth and opulence on the palate, and beautiful complexity in its tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni-like nuances. It’s another remarkable wine from Carpenter that has some upfront accessibility today yet deserves 3-4 years in the cellar. It will have two decades of overall longevity, and as top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon goes, it’s a terrific value.”

Wine Advocate — 95 Points
“Cassis and blueberries are joined on the nose by hints of dried sage, bay leaf and cedary oak. Full-bodied and silky, with drying tannins and mouthwatering ripeness on the long finish. Give it a couple of years in the cellar and drink it over the next couple of decades.”

Wine Spectator — 94 Points
“This is deep and winey, with cassis, plum paste and linzer torte notes leading the way. Structured but succulent, offering singed apple wood, bay and cast iron accents that support the fruit through the long and focused finish. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school. Best from 2025 through 2040.”

• Producer: Mt. Brave (Chris Carpenter), Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley
• Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
• Production: 3,830 cases
• Style: Powerful, silky, terroir-driven Mountain Veeder Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, tobacco, graphite, bouquet garni, cedary oak
• Drink Window: 2025–2040
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb rack, wild mushroom dishes, aged hard cheeses

Mountain Veeder Cabernet at its absolute pinnacle — Mt. Brave 2021 is Chris Carpenter’s finest hour.

Paul Hobbs Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville — Napa Valley 2022

Paul Hobbs established his namesake winery in 1991 after working with some of the world’s greatest vintners — and his Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon is the purest expression of his philosophy: meticulous care in the vineyard, minimal intervention in the cellar, and an unwavering commitment to site-specific wines. Coombsville is Napa’s coolest sub-appellation — a volcanic bowl at the southern end of the valley, heavily influenced by the marine air of San Pablo Bay, where slow ripening preserves natural acidity and produces Cabernet of exceptional finesse and complexity. The 2022 blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot — the most Hobbs has ever used — 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, aged 20 months in 53% new French oak. The result is a Coombsville Cabernet of rare elegance and depth.

The color is a deep, luminous ruby. The nose is immediately captivating: dark cherry, black currant, cassis, and chocolate, layered with violets, leather, loamy earth, cool wet slate, and sagebrush — the unmistakable cool-climate signature of Coombsville. On the palate, it is luscious, balanced, and vivid — silky tannins, full-bodied and broad-shouldered yet supple, with vibrant currant fruit, savory spice, and underbrush leading to a refined, lingering, and expressive finish. Drink now or cellar through 2031 and beyond.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling — 96 Points
“A delicious, layered, chocolate- and cherry-scented wine that entices you from the first sniff and pulls you through a rich palate and a lingering finish. So luscious, balanced, vivid and deep, showing the silky tannins and cool fruit notes of this southern Napa district. Contains 6% petit verdot, 2% cabernet franc and 4% merlot. Aged in 53% new French oak.”

Decanter — 94 Points
“Savoury spices abound in this red- and black-fruited wine from Paul Hobbs’s Coombsville estate. Leather, violets, and loamy earth mingle with vibrant currant fruit. Medium-bodied with crunchy tannins, it unfolds through notes of cool, wet slate, sagebrush, and underbrush, leading to a refined and expressive finish.”

Wine Advocate — 93 Points
“The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville includes 6% Petit Verdot — ‘the most PV I’ve ever used,’ said Paul Hobbs — and 3% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Aged in 50% new French oak, the nose easily blends black cherries and cassis with mere hints of cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied and broad-shouldered but supple. Loaded with dark fruit — excellent and a reasonable value in the context of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.”

Wine Spectator — 91 Points
“Shows the vintage’s forward, soft and friendly fruit, with a hint of structure that keeps this stable through the finish. Acai and blueberry notes are supported by gentle iris and ink details. Drink now through 2031.”

• Producer: Paul Hobbs Winery, Coombsville, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Coombsville, Napa Valley
• Composition: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot
• Aging: 20 months in 53% new French oak
• Style: Elegant, cool-climate, site-specific Coombsville Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark cherry, cassis, chocolate, violets, leather, loamy earth, wet slate, sagebrush, silky tannins
• Drink Window: Now–2031+
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, roast lamb, duck confit, wild mushroom risotto, aged hard cheeses

Coombsville Cabernet from one of Napa’s great winemakers — Paul Hobbs 2022 is cool-climate precision at its finest.

La Jota Vineyard Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain — Napa Valley 2021

La Jota Vineyard Co. was founded in 1898 on Howell Mountain — one of Napa Valley’s most storied and demanding appellations. The estate sits above the fog line at elevation, on rocky, shallow volcanic soils that force vines to struggle and concentrate. Today owned by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke, La Jota farms 28 acres across three distinct estate vineyards — Hill, Meadow, and Winery Block — each with its own personality, all united by the iron-rich, volcanic character of Howell Mountain. The 2021 vintage was defined by drought: yields were down 30–35%, concentrating the fruit to extraordinary levels. The blend is a classic Howell Mountain assemblage — 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, and 2.5% Petit Verdot — and it is among the finest La Jota has ever produced.

The color is a saturated, inky ruby-black. The nose is powerful and complex: dark currants, scorched earth, graphite, pine cone, bark, and savory garrigue, with layers of ironstone minerality that are the unmistakable signature of Howell Mountain. On the palate, it is full-bodied, dense, and concentrated — broad-shouldered tannins that are chocolaty and robust, yet framed by a balance of freshness that is almost hard to imagine at this level of fruit density. The finish is long, layered, and inward. This needs 4–6 years in the cellar but will age for decades.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck — 98 Points
“Another incredibly concentrated, focused, insanely impressive wine in the lineup is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers a powerful nose of darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and savory herb aromas and flavors. This full-bodied, dense, concentrated, powerful, inward beauty needs 4-6 years in the cellar but will age forever.”

Decanter — 97 Points
“In 2021, with yields down 30-35%, the La Jota was very precise and focused, with saturated layers of extremely dark fruit nuanced by very expressive ironstone minerality and fresh garrigue. Full-bodied with robust, broad-shouldered tannins that are chocolaty. More of that iron minerality is layered throughout, and for all the fruit density here, there is a balance of freshness that is almost hard to imagine. So, don’t imagine it; snap these up and see for yourself.”

James Suckling — 97 Points
“So much black currant, dark fruit, pine cone, bark and pine needle aromas that show a depth and intensity with round, polished and creamy tannins. Medium to full body, with a complex and gorgeously flavored finish. A blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 6.5% cabernet franc, 5% malbec, 4% merlot and 2.5% petit verdot. Give this three to four more years to come around.”

• Producer: La Jota Vineyard Co., Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
• Composition: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot
• Vineyards: Hill, Meadow & Winery Block — volcanic soils, above the fog line
• Yields: Down 30–35% due to drought
• Style: Powerful, concentrated, iron-driven Howell Mountain Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark currant, scorched earth, graphite, pine cone, garrigue, ironstone minerality, chocolaty tannins
• Drink Window: 2027–2045+
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb rack, wild boar, aged Parmigiano, truffle dishes

Howell Mountain Cabernet at its most elemental — La Jota 2021 is iron, earth, and power in perfect balance.

Turnbull Wine Cellars | Oakville, Napa Valley, California | 2022

From the heart of Oakville — one of Napa Valley's most coveted appellations — Turnbull's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon draws on fruit from the estate's Leopoldina and Fortuna Vineyards. The 2022 vintage expresses the softer, riper character of the year with authority: a full-bodied, fruit-forward wine with sweet tannins, refined structure, and the depth to reward patience. Perfumed, polished, and built for the cellar.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, Oakville estate fruit
Drink: Now–2034 | Best from 2028

Tasting Notes

• Wild blackberries, mulberries, blood plums, black cherries
• Cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, loam, hints of mint
• Chocolate and violet on the mid-palate
• Full body | Sweet, supple tannins | Focused acidity | Good length

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2022

• 93 pts — James Suckling: "Perfumed aromas of wild blackberries, mulberries and dried herbs... refined and balanced. Drinkable now, but best from 2028."
• 92 pts — Jeb Dunnuck: "Ripe, full-bodied, fruit-forward... sweet tannins and good length. Will drink well for 8–10 years."
• 91 pts — Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Full-bodied and supple... black cherries and loam with hints of mint and cedar."

Turnbull. Stay true.

Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer Côtes de Nuits-Villages Clos de Magny 2020 — Burgundy

Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer is based in Magny-les-Villers, at the crossroads of the Hautes Côtes de Beaune and Hautes Côtes de Nuits — a ten-hectare estate with a remarkable range of appellations, from Échezeaux Grand Cru down to village-level Côtes de Nuits-Villages. Under Alexandre’s stewardship, every parcel is treated with equal rigor: hand-harvesting across the board, no chemical herbicides or pesticides, organic certification in progress, and early experiments with biodynamics. The results are already thrilling — wines of precision, depth, and a distinct sense of terroir that punch well above their appellation level.

The 2020 Clos de Magny is a wine built for the cellar. James Suckling awarded it 92 points, noting “plenty of blackberry and black cherry fruit wrapped around ample fine tannins” and a “long, well-structured finish” suggesting many years of life ahead. Still in an early phase of development, it is best from 2026 — but already compelling.

James Suckling 92 — “Long, well-structured finish suggests this has many years of life ahead of it.”

• Producer: Domaine Hoffmann-Jayer, Magny-les-Villers, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2020
• Appellation: Côtes de Nuits-Villages AOC
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Farming: Hand-harvested, no chemicals, organic certification in progress, biodynamic trials
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, fine tannins, well-structured, long finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or best from 2026+, many years ahead
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, lamb chops, mushroom dishes, aged Époisses, beef bourguignon

A 92-point village Burgundy at an honest price — Hoffmann-Jayer’s Clos de Magny is the benchmark for what Côtes de Nuits-Villages can be.

Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes — Burgundy 2022

Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy is one of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most respected family estates, farming some of the village’s finest parcels with meticulous care and an unwavering commitment to terroir expression. The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is sourced from the Champ Perrier lieu-dit on the Brochon side of the appellation, where vines averaging 50 to 60+ years of age dig deep into the limestone-rich soils to produce fruit of extraordinary concentration, complexity, and character. Rated Outstanding by Burghound — the highest accolade from the world’s foremost Burgundy authority — the 2022 is a serious, age-worthy Gevrey-Chambertin villages that demands attention and rewards patience.

The nose is brooding and sauvage: black cherry, forest floor, subtle oak, and an overtly wild, mineral-inflected aromatic profile of real depth. On the palate, it is solidly concentrated and quite powerful for a village-level wine — medium-bodied with evident minerality, abundant sap buffering a firm tannic spine, and a serious, lingering finish of impressive length. A Gevrey villages that drinks like a premier cru and will reward cellaring for a decade or more.

Burghound — Outstanding — 90 Points - “Subtle though still easily discerned wood on the brooding and overtly sauvage-inflected black cherry and forest floor aromas. Solidly concentrated and quite powerful, with evident minerality on the serious and lingering finish where abundant sap buffers the firm tannic spine. An excellent, age-worthy Gevrey villages worth checking out.” (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy, Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Gevrey-Chambertin AOC
• Lieu-Dit: Champ Perrier, Brochon
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vine Age: 50–60+ years
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Black cherry, forest floor, subtle oak, sauvage minerality, concentrated, firm tannins, long powerful finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink 2026–2040+
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, venison, beef bourguignon, lamb rack, aged Comté or Époisses

Fifty-plus-year-old vines, Burghound Outstanding, and a tannic spine built for the cellar — Harmand-Geoffroy’s Vieilles Vignes is Gevrey-Chambertin at its most compelling.

Sea Smoke Cellars Pinot Noir TEN | Santa Rita Hills | 2023 | 750ml | Santa Barbara County, California, USA

Rated 97 Points – Wine Enthusiast (Matt Kettmann)

A brooding and intense Pinot Noir from Sea Smoke's estate vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. TEN is named for the ten Pinot Noir clones planted on the property, delivering extraordinary complexity and ageability from one of California's most celebrated cool-climate appellations.

• Winery: Sea Smoke Cellars
• Origin: Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California, USA
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2023
• Source: Estate Vineyard
• Drink: Now – 2040

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Blueberry, cassis, lavender, exotic spices, hazelnut, thyme, and licorice
• Palate: Firm, mature tannins with cherry compote, citrus rind, strawberry cream, and raspberry
• Finish: Long, velvety finish with lingering violet and cranberry

Critical Acclaim

• 🏆 Wine Enthusiast – 97 Points (Matt Kettmann): "Expert levels of integration... subtle yet persistent aromas of raspberry, cranberry, potpourri and light sagebrush. The palate's firm texture elevates the cherry compote, citrus rind and strawberry cream flavors, with a lingering sense of violet painting the corners. This will be exciting to watch for years. Drink now–2040."

Winemaker Description

Since its 175th anniversary, Pol Roger has decided to offer a very limited range of older vintages from its iconic cuvées. After the original disgorgement, these bottles were then returned to the famously deep and cool Pol Roger cellars for additional extended maturation where they have rested undisturbed until their release. Not only do these bottles have a label, cap and collar based on a historic Pol Roger design, they also have been dressed by hand and arrive in an elegant wooden box.

The Sir Winston Churchill Cuvée was created in 1975 as a tribute to the "Old Lion", using the qualities he appreciated in champagne : robustness, structure and maturity. Whilst its exact composition is a secret guarded by family members, it is undeniable that it is based on a formula of which its dedicatee would have approved : "My tastes are simple, I am easily satisfied with the best". Made exclusively with grapes from the Grands Crus of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay already in production during the Churchill era, this cuvée is only produced in the very best vintages.

The predominance of Pinot Noir unquestionably ensures structure, fullness and robustness, while Chardonnay lends elegance, finesse and freshness. Produced in limited quantities, this cuvée has matured for 10 years prior to disgorgement.

Bottle Size: 750ml | Region: Champagne, France

Bérêche et Fils’ Ambonnay Grand Cru is one of the most coveted single-village expressions in their portfolio — and among the most compelling Blanc de Noirs in all of Champagne. Sourced from a single lieu-dit, “Les Tourets,” in the western part of Ambonnay village, this is Pinot Noir of extraordinary purity and presence. Ambonnay’s signature cashmere-like texture is immediately apparent: open, enveloping, and generous, with a volume and power that never tips into heaviness. Brioche and honey on the attack give way to floral lift and a finish that is invigorating, slightly iodized, and saline — the unmistakable signature of chalk and grand cru terroir. A wine of genuine rarity, with just 2,325 bottles produced.

Critical Review
“A beautiful, enveloping wine; brioche-like on the attack, floral, with notes of honey and ripeness. The finish is invigorating, slightly iodized, and saline.” — Le Rouge et le Blanc

Varietal: Pinot Noir (Blanc de Noirs)
Vintage: 2020
Appellation: Ambonnay Grand Cru, Champagne, France
Lieu-dit: Les Tourets
Style: Extra Brut
Farming: Biodynamic
Production: 2,325 bottles
Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• Wine Spectator – 94 Points | “A sleek, smoky, sultry red, with violet high tones gilding a dense, ripe palate of wild berries alongside a woodsy character. Polished tannins give this a solid frame.” Best from 2026–2035.
• Wine Advocate – 94 Points | “A pure, elegant bouquet of flowers, dark berries, and spices with licorice notes. Medium to full-bodied, layered, and refined with velvety tannins, bright acids, and a long, ethereal finish.”
• Jeb Dunnuck – 93+ Points | “Blackberries, cassis, leather, and graphite define this perfumed, complex Hermitage. Medium to full-bodied with tons of sweet fruit, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Give it a few years.”
• James Suckling – 93 Points | “Complex roasted nose with deep red fruit aromas. Fleshy and elegant with restrained tannins. Polished, accessible, yet structured with a stony finish. Drinkable now, best from 2025.”

Tasting Notes

A polished, energy-filled Hermitage with intense aromas of blackberries, cassis, leather, violet, graphite, and roasted spices, accented by licorice and mineral notes. The palate is dense yet lively, with velvety tannins, bright acidity, and a long, ethereal finish. Subtle smoky, woodsy undertones and structured stony notes give it remarkable precision and serious aging potential.

About the Wine

Domaine des Tourettes is the flagship Hermitage of Delas Frères, one of the Northern Rhône’s most respected négociant-éleveurs. The 2022 is sourced from two prized sectors of the legendary Hermitage hill: Les Bessards (7 hectares of granite-rich soils) and Les Grandes Vignes (2 hectares of the highest vines on the hill). Fermented with 80% whole clusters for Les Grandes Vignes, then matured for 15 months in Burgundian oak barrels (25% new). The result is a Hermitage of remarkable elegance, structure, and complexity — approachable now with decanting, but built to shine over the next decade and beyond.

Cellaring

Approachable now with 1 hour decanting; best from 2026 through 2035+.

Food Pairing

Outstanding with roasted lamb, venison, beef short rib, truffle dishes, and aged hard cheeses.

Product Details

• Appellation: Hermitage AOC, Northern Rhône, France
• Varietal: Syrah 100%
• Vineyards: Les Bessards & Les Grandes Vignes
• Aging: 15 months, Burgundian oak (25% new)
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 750ml
• Producer: Delas Frères

A rare and highly age-worthy expression of Nebbiolo from the heart of Barbaresco, the Quindicianni 2010 represents the pinnacle of patience and traditional winemaking at Cascina Baricchi. A true library release, this wine is aged for extended periods before release, resulting in extraordinary complexity, depth, and refinement.

Expert Ratings

97 James Suckling: Restrained and profound wine which shines on the nose for the Parma violets and potpourri, earth and minerals, almost stony, together with licorice, dried cherries and strawberries, rhubarb whiffs and citrus freshness. It is exquisitely integrated on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and firm with ripe, velvety tannins and sleek, elegant depth, again with citrus flavors. Focused, polished and long.

Winemaker Notes