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August/September 2010

Wines are listed in Alpha order  

 Page is divided into:

BEST (90-94pts)  and  BETTER (95pts.+)

 

1) BEST (90-94pts):

2000 Barolo Parusso Piccole Vigne - $59.99*bottle - WS 92pts."Aromas od raspberries, foie gras, with a hint of barnyard which turns to lillacs. In the mouth, full-bodied yet super soft tannins, with ripe exotic fruits, cherries, and jam like finish. Best after 2008."(JS)

n.v. Blason Rose Champagne Perrier Jouet - Retail $80 - SALE $299.99 cs/6

 

"pale pink with subtly perfumed nose of red currants, strawberry, and pear. This is a very suave red fruit flavored Rose Champagne with a gentle texture and lengthy and lingering finish reminiscent of blood orange leaving a mouth watering impression." WS 92pts., Parker and Tanzer 90pts. 

 

2003 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape - $799.99 cs/12 ($66.67) - Parker 91-93pts."Much like it was in 1998, the blend for Beaucastel’s 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape includes more Grenache (50%) since that varietal was both consistent and of high quality. The balance is 20% Mourvedre, and 30% such varietals as Syrah and Counoise. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by an earthy style, moderately high levels of tannin, and neither the suppleness nor forward flamboyance of the 2000 or 2001. Dense, full-bodied, and structured, is clearly a vin de garde."

2004 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge - $480.00 cs/6 - Parker 93pts."One of the great successes of the vintage and certainly better than their 2003 is Beaucastel’s 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape. Deep ruby/purple in color with loads of licorice, smoked game, black cherry and blackberry fruit, along with incense and truffle, the wine has fabulous richness, high tannin, medium to full body, and beautiful length, richness, and purity. This is a beauty and one of the vintage’s finest wines. Give it 4-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the next 25+ years. It has the potential to be one of the longest-lived Chateauneuf du Papes of the vintage."

 

1999 Bodegas Mauro in MAGNUM - $75.00*each - Parker 91pts."Impressive Spanish reds emerge from this up and coming star of Castilla y Leon, a region just outside Ribera del Duero. The sweet, concentrated 1999 Mauro possesses abundant quantities of blue and blackberry fruit, graphite, smoke, earth, and wood. This big, rich fruit bomb will drink well for a decade."

2005 Bon Pasteur Parker - $1,499.99 cs/12 - Parker 93-95pts."The incomparable oenologist Michel Rolland has produced his finest Bon Pasteur since the monumental 1982 (which is still drinking well, and out-classes many wines 3 to 4 times its price). This exciting effort boasts aromas and flavors of mocha, fudge ice cream, espresso roast, black cherries, cassis, and caramel. The complex aromatics are followed by an enormously rich, pure, full-bodied wine with fabulous texture and length. It should be drinkable in 5-6 years, and last for 25 or more. A superb effort from this Pomerol estate, the 2005 ranks alongside their outstanding 2000, 1990, and 1982. It exhibits a dense blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary perfume of espresso roast, mocha, blueberries, cassis, and smoky licorice. Full-bodied with sweet tannin, stunning definition, layers of concentration, and the tell-tale freshness and delineation that make 2005 such a singular vintage, drinl between 2009-2023."

2000 Brunello Castelgiocondo - $69.99*bottle. Gambero Rosso 3 Cups - Wine Spectator 92pts. - "Intense aromas of blackberry and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with velvety fruit and a long, caressing finish. Pretty, ultramodern and very good quality for the vintage. Best after 2006"

1999 Brunello Valdicava - $140.00*bottle. Parker 93pts. "those looking for the finest... might want to consider this wine, the best yet."  Wine Spectator 94pts. Dark-colored, with intense aromas of ripe fruit, coffee and toasted oak. Full-bodied, with a depth of ripe fruit and delicious black licorice flavors and silky tannins. Beauty. This equals the quality of the excellent 1994. Best after 2006. 1,600 cases made. –JS

2007 CAHORS Clos la Coutale - $199.99 cs/12 ($16.67)

90 Wine Spectator "There's a good sense of elegance to the well-defined, concentrated flavors of dark cherry, blackberry and plum, followed by notes of sage, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf on the long, powerful finish. Drink now. 5,000 cases imported. by Kim Marcus, August 2009.  

2005 Cantemerle Haut Medoc - $50.00*bottle. Parker 90pts. "new proprietors believe in producing delicate, beautifully wrought, finesse-styled wines that require some introspection. The deep ruby-hued 2005 displays aromas of licorice, roasted herbs, sweet cherries, and flowers. In the mouth, the wine seems almost light in comparison to its peers, but it possesses an ethereal seriousness, purity, and overall harmony that are striking for its delicacy and finesse. A blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, it should be at its finest between 2012-2025+."

2005 Cinq Cépages Cabernet Sauvignon blend - $299.99 cs/6 ($49.99) 

 

2003 Clerc-Milon Pauillac - $750.00 cs/12 - Parker 91-93pts."A similar blend to the 2002 (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot), this wine boasts a big, deep purple color and a powerful, sweet nose of caramel, plums, licorice, espresso, scorched earth, and black fruits. Texturally mouthfilling, full-bodied, and opulent, it is intense and deep, with plenty of tannin in the finish. This could be one of the finest Clerc-Milons in recent memory if it all comes together as well as my instincts suggest it will. Maturity: 2010-2025."

2005 Copain Syrah Thompson - $50.00*bottle - Parker 94 pts."Thompson Vineyard (made famous by Ojai’s Adam Tolmach) is seriously endowed, with notes of licorice, ground pepper, incense, Chinese black tea, roasted meats, and copious quantities of blackberry and cassis fruit. Admirable stuffing, full-bodied power, and dazzling delineation make for an impressive Syrah that should drink well at least 10-12 yrs."

2002 Cos d'Estournel - $89.99*bottle - Parker 93pts. "One of the candidates for wine of the vintage, this beauty has a dense purple color to the rim and a classic, noble nose of graphite intermixed with black currant, spice box, licorice, and red and black fruits. Medium to full-bodied with exceptional precision and definition, this beautifully textured wine stands out as one of the most successful wines of this irregular vintage. A brilliant effort, it should be at its best between 2008 and 2020."

2007 Cru by Vineyard 29 - $599.99 cs/12($49.99) - Stephen Tanzer 94-97 pts -"Full ruby. The nose shows a medicinal reserve and good floral lift to the aromas of blackberry, black cherry, bitter chocolate and licorice. Extremely sweet and fine-grained, with a texture of liquid silk. This superbly concentrated wine builds slowly in the mouth and finishes with extremely suave tannins that reach the front teeth. This is even sweeter than the 2006 and promises to be one of the elite Napa cabernets of the 2007 vintage."

2002 De Fargues Sauternes from d’Yquem - $899.99 cs/12(75.00) Parker 92-94pts."I suspect most readers will find it hard to get excited about the 2002 vintage for the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes after what appears to be a prodigious 2001. However, 2002 is a very fine year for this region, possibly superior to any of the vintages between 2000 and 1991. The wines possess plenty of botrytis, but neither the impressive definition nor supreme elegance of the 2001s. Sweet, full-bodied, fat, concentrated, intense effort that was showing well in September, 2003."

2006 DRC Le Montrachet - $6,000.00 cs/3 OWC  - Burghound 93-96pts. " In contrast to the hugely expressive 2005 version, the 2006 Montrachet is a good deal more discreet with almost shy white flower, citrus, mildly exotic fruit and subtle spice notes trimmed in just the right amount of wood leading to beautifully textured, pure, intense and focused big-bodied flavors wrapped around a firm acid spine and culminating in a wonderfully racy, dry and mineral-driven finish. This is much more of an elegant and sophisticated wine than the 2005 and while it's true that it doesn't possess the sheer amounts of dry extract and raw power, the 2006 is not without considerable appeal as well though I suspect that it will always be more of a Montrachet of finesse rather than muscle. We'll see as it develops because the '06s is actually more primary than it usually is at this time of year and thus it will clearly continue to evolve before it's bottled."

2004 DRC Grands Echezeaux - $6,000.00 cs/6
Burghound 91-94pts."In contrast to the expressive spiciness of the Echézeaux, this is a clear notch up in elegance and is clearly finer with a ultra high-toned floral and spice-infused nose that merges seamlessly into linear and ultra pure medium full flavors that trade more on finesse and refinement than what is usually a relatively powerful and muscular wine. This isn't a big wine but the superb detail and unmatched precision are stunning but be aware that it will be a wine for the patient as this is very understated at present and will very definitely require extended cellar time to really open up."

2006 DRC Grand Echezeaux - $6,500.00 OWC cs/6 -Burghound  94pts. "As it usually is relative to the Echézeaux, the restrained nose is distinctly more reserved but classier with a wonderfully intense and layered nose that is more floral still while offering up a variety of spice notes, including anise, clove and soy that can also be found on the pure and sleekly muscled flavors that possess real drive, indeed this does a slow but sure build from the mid-palate on through the explosive finish. This is an interesting wine in that the natural robustness of a fine GE is present but the natural elegance of the vintage tames it somewhat and one could quite accurately describe the '06 GE as robustly elegant yet distinctly understated and not be wrong. Despite the elegance, this will need plenty of cellar time."

2008 DuMol Chardonnay Russian River - $799.99 cs/12 -Parker 93pts. "A blend of different vineyards, their Chardonnay Russian River might turn out to be one of the best Chardonnays they have made under this moniker. Crisp acids, beautiful lemon butter notes intermixed with brioche and orange/nectarine notes are all present in this full-bodied wine, with the oak pushed well into the background. This is a beauty that should drink nicely for 3-4 years."

2004 Du Tertre Margaux - $49.99*bot. - Parker 90-92pts."The seductive 2004 reveals plenty of black fruits along with more structure and definition than the 2003. Its sweet perfume of flowers, licorice, smoke, and black fruits is followed by a dense, medium-bodied, beautifully pure Margaux to consume between 2008-2018."

2006 Enchanted Path Mollydooker - $80.00*bot. - $450.00 cs/6(75.00) Wine Spectator 93pts.- "this beautiful Shiraz/Cabernet is one of our favourites. The two varieties synergistically blend to create a lovely leafy, rhubarb and plum fruit nose and chocolate, spice and blackberry flavours. Its opulence, elegance & incredible structure are amazing. It is seamless from beginning to end."

2007 Fevre Chablis Vaillons Premier Cru - $500.00 cs/12 ($41.67)

Parker 90pts."crushed stone from nose to finish as well as salinity, but not the savory mineral nuances that make the best wines in this collection so appealing. There is admirable concentration and purity here, but in a compact form whose sense of austerity fruit pit notes only serve to accentuate. Yet, there is a sense of delicacy to the finish. This will need time (even short term) to unclench somewhat, but precisely its underlying density should then contribute to greater textural allure and help insure a 5-7 year future. Didier Seguier and his team have managed to follow up their amazing 2006s with an equally remarkable collection of 2007s (though he insists that 6 to 9 months after bottling – when I tasted them – “is the worst time for expressing the purity of fruit”!). Harvesting here began early, on September 6 – the earliest start on record save for 2003 – but without feeling any compunction about taking one’s time, Seguier emphasized. Even so, the task was completed in 11 days, harvesting fruit of impeccable ripeness and harmonious though prominent acidity at a time when many growers were wise not to have begun yet. Without question, the rigorous sorting that all of the grapes undergo here is among the keys to the purity and the transparency to nuance of these wines. As usual at this address, even when one reaches the roughly 80% level of barriques (none, new, though) a smell or taste of wood is the farthest thing from one’s mind." 

2007 FLOWERS Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - $499.99 cs/12 (41.67) - Connoisseurs' Guide One Puff/90pts. "This nicely defined bottling is concentrated and fairly compact in both its aromas and flavors, and, while not a wine that explodes from the glass, it counts plenty of depth and real fruity muscle to its credit. Its glimmers of minerals and neatly placed oak raise real expectations for complexity to come, and, from our present perspective, there seems little doubt it that it will grow famously for as many as four or five years."

2005 Girardin Bonnes Mares  - $4,200.00 cs/12 - Burghound 91-94pts. "Tasting note: Mild reduction and blue and black fruit aromas plus ample violet notes introduce big, sappy and mouth coating flavors and this is a powerful wine where you can feel the energy build to an explosive and penetrating finish. What it isn't is overly precise but it was evident that I caught this when it was at an awkward stage and thus a more harmonious whole is likely to be forthcoming in bottle."Producer note: Despite Vincent Girardin telling me for the last two years that he was in the process of drastically cutting back his red wine offerings, essentially citing difficulties with finding top quality juice at reasonable prices, he appears to have rethought this strategy with the 2005 vintage. In fairness to Girardin, who is mostly a négociant though he does own some pinot-based vineyards, he again cut back his production in 2006 so my guess is that in vintages where there is good customer acceptance, he'll offer more wines and in more difficult vintages, fewer. The fundamental problem with that strategy of course is that few really top grape sources will sell to you only in fine vintages because otherwise they face the same problem, e.g. a moving and highly variable supply and demand mechanism. While Girardin historically has made a commercially styled wine, the last few vintages really do seem to corroborate what he's saying about wanting to make more classically styled wines. And to this end he told me that he "used up to 60% of the stems in his wine from the Côte de Nuits and up to 30% in those from the Côte de Beaune. 2005 is an aristocratic vintage that isn't at all fruity or forward and thus I did long but soft vinifications with no punch downs, only pump overs. And I'm also doing a long élevage as well with less new wood too, which is to say between 30 and 40%. For me 2005 is a great vintage, even better than 1999 and I believe the wines, both red and white, will age extremely well." While the Girardin reds are still mildly commercial, it's much more subtle than it once was and this is a fine set of wines, indeed when taken as a group the best that I have ever seen from him."

2005 Godolphin Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon - $325.00 cs/6 (54.17) - Parker 93pts."a blend of 80% Shiraz (from 85-year-old vines) and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (from 60-year-old vines), was aged in 100% new oak, primarily 300-liter French hogsheads. It represents a beautiful marriage of power and elegance, displaying an inky/blue/purple color as well as notions of black raspberries, blueberries, graphite, and sweet pain grille. Ripe, pure, and medium to full-bodied with sweet but noticeable tannin, it can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years"

2003 Griotte Chambertin Pontsot - $750.00 in MAGNUMS Burghound 92pts. "Tasting note: This has changed dramatically in bottle as it was quite jammy from cask yet now it has both freshened and brightened. A ripe nose of cherry compote leads to juicy, rich and firm flavors that are also fresh and possess good lift on the long and sappy finish. This is quite firmly structured yet the tannins are buried beneath massive quantities of sap. A superb effort of marvelous complexity and the star of the show chez Ponsot in '03. Note: from a .90 ha parcel. Producer note: As is his usual practice, Laurent Ponsot was one of the very latest growers to pick, telling me that he didn't start until "September 7th. Nothing was normal this year but the '03s are absolutely fantastic. The hardest thing to do was not to get excessively jammy wines. Amazingly, one of my neighbors picked his Clos de la Roche on August 14th yet I didn't pick mine until September 14! His sugar readings were only 10.5% - I know because I asked. There was rain on August 31st and it saved us because it jump started the cycle of photosynthesis all over again and because of the small crop, we gained a lot of sugar quickly. By waiting the extra month, all of my wines came in between 13 and 14%, which is where they should be. Our yields however were abysmal as we realized fully two-thirds less than a normal crop, and I already crop low. I didn't chaptalize and I absolutely did not acidify. Besides, acidities went up during the fermentation as the dried berries released acidity into the musts. And I'm proud to say that I did the same amount of punching down as usual and I didn't alter the total cuvaison either. I also have not racked the wines at all but I will bottle them a good deal earlier than usual, which is to say January rather than July. Some wines are not reviewed, most notably the Clos St. Denis Vieilles Vignes because there was only one barrel and as Ponsot correctly notes, "what am I going to top up with if I keep offering samples?".

2005 Groth Cabernet RESERVE Napa - $150.00*bottle-
Wine Spectator 94pts. "This has wonderful richness, density and focus, with tiers of smoky plum, currant, blackberry, loamy earth, sage and underbrush notes. Though firmly tannic, there's a measure of finesse and polish. Ends with a long, rich, persistent finish. The best Groth Reserve in years. Best from 2009 through 2015." winery notes: The 2005 vintage marks the return of Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon after a six vintage hiatus. For sixteen vintages the vines from Block 1, at our Oakville "home" vineyard, produced grapes that made exquisite and memorable Reserve wines between 1983 and 1999. The Reserve block was pulled out and replanted in 2000 with new rootstocks, new clones, new trellising system and a new vine row orientation. The result of this huge investment in time, energy and resources can be tasted in our 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet - $75.00*bottle - WS 94pts.+"Intense and concentrated, big and expressive, with layers of ripe currant, plum, sage, pencil lead and black cherry, all flowing rather seamlessly. Tightly focused, this is rich without being heavy, ending with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2014." (05/08) Hewitt's winemaker, Tom Rinaldi, said" the hair stood up on the back of my neck, when he first walked the vineyard. A 60-acre site first planted to vine in 1880, legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff replanted in 1992, under the ownership of William Hewitt. Located on the Rutherford Bench in Napa's Maycamas Mountains, the site produces opulent wines like this 2005, full of black cherry, blackberry and plum fruit with underlying notes of anise, bittersweet chocolate and cedary spice. Smooth and graceful, the wine is kissed with a touch of classic Rutherford Dust and a muscular structure. Enjoy with full-flavored, hearty foods after decanting now or watch this gem gain in complexity with time in your cellar."

2006 Ladera Howell Mountain Cabernet  - $725.00 cs/6 - Wine Spectator 94pts. "A tour de force Cabernet. Dense, plush, rich and concentrated, wall-to-wall flavors, with layers of black cherry, black currant, black licorice, mineral and graphite. Full-bodied and tightly wound with firm tannins, yet finishes with a mix of juicy berry and mineral flavors. Drink now through 2020."  and Robert Parker 91pts. (web review) "The star of this duo is the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers up juicy notes of crushed rocks, flowers, dark berries, black currants, and earth. This elegant, medium to full-bodied Cabernet possesses both finesse and substance. Deep, pure, and rich with moderate tannins, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and should drink well over the following 15 years."

2002 Lafleur Pomerol - $300.00*bot. - Parker 90-92pts."Somewhat of a revelation in a vintage that was obviously difficult in this appellation, Lafleur’s 2002 represents the essence of old vines with structured, deep, concentrated flavors. This medium-bodied, dense ruby/purple-colored effort exhibits impressive purity as well as a persistent, long palate offering a kiss of sweet kirsch and licorice. Some jagged tannin needs to be resolved if this wine is to merit a score in the low nineties. However, it will be very long-lived, especially for a Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025"  also 89pts."An austerely-styled Lafleur, the 2002 possesses high tannin, a dark ruby/purple color, an angular personality, sweet mineral-infused black cherry fruit, dusty tannins, and considerable grip and structure. There is a certain nobility to the aromatics and flavors, but the dry, hard tannins are cause for concern. Keep a rabbit’s foot in your back pocket if you are going to buy this wine, as I have severe reservations about whether it will ever come into balance. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016"

2007 Landmark Chardonnay Overlook - $350.00 cs/12 - Wine Spectator 92pts. “a blend of 22 separate vineyards from some of California's finest sites for this varietal.  A few of the well know vineyards in this blend are Sangiacomo (Carneros), Sleepy Hollow (Monterey), Bien Nacido (Santa Barbara), and Beltane (Sonoma Valley).  2007 presented us with an ideal growing season and the result is agruably our finest Overlook Chardonnay to date. The balanced acidity and creamy fleshy texture suggest a wine that will continue to age beautifully. The concentrated flavors exhibit just enough minerality. A long secondary fermentation, the malo-lactic, throughout the spring of 2008.helped this wine to retain great freshness during its ten month elevage in select French Burgundian barrels. This chardonnay will pair nicely with seafood, cream-sauced pasta dishes, raclette, and Asian cuisine, where ginger, garlic, sweet basil, and coconut will complement the complex flavors in this wine. Parker 90pts."A reliable winery with a realistic pricing policy, one of California?s finest Chardonnays for the money is Landmark?s Chardonnay Overlook. The 2005 (74% Sonoma, 16% Santa Barbara, and 10% Monterey fruit) exhibits a light green/straw color as well as attractive aromas of honeyed citrus, tropical fruits, and spices. Excellent acidity, a lovely texture and mouthfeel, and medium body suggest this complex Chardonnay will drink well for several years. It represents a hypothetical blend of a classic white Burgundy and a California Chardonnay."

2004 L'Angelus St. Emilion - $1,500.00 cs/12(125.00) - Parker 92-94pts."One of the top wines of the vintage, the 2004 Angelus (a 7,500-case blend of 62% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Franc with a natural alcohol of 13.5%) is a classic, tannic, structured wine exhibiting a saturated dense purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of blackberries and blueberries intermixed with mocha, licorice, and new oak characteristics. Aged eight months sur-lies, this should be an extremely long-lived vintage for this cuvee. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025."

2007 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon - $350.00 cs/6 - Parker 94+pts."Composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (nearly 4,000 cases produced) is a great buy for a world-class Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a dense purple color, notes of charcoal, creme de cassis, graphite, and forest floor, and a ripe, opulently fruity, rich, full-bodied style. Its endearing silkiness, multi-dimensions, and mature, sweet tannins suggest it has two decades of life ahead of it. One of Napa Valley’s finest estates, and one that is not as appreciated as it should be, Larkmead fashions top-flight wines that should evolve for 15-25 years or more. Scotsman Andy Smith is the consulting winemaker for this estate, which is located off the valley floor just north of St. Helena. The 2007s are strong follow-ups to Larkmead’s terrific 2005s and 2006s. As a historical note, the 2009s will be the 114th vintage this iconic estate has produced."

2003 Lascombes **3liter** - $350.00 each NET - Parker 92-95pts."Perhaps the finest Lascombes ever made and a wine that recalls the opulent, viscous, almost Port-like 1947s and 1949s, the 2003 boasts an inky purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet nose of flowers, blackberries, cassis liqueur, graphite and incense. Exotic with impressive intensity, marvelous viscosity, and tremendous purity and depth, this is a tour de force in winemaking and one of the stars of the vintage. Last year I thought this was the best Lascombes I had ever tasted, but it has put on even more weight and seems destined to be a superstar. Maturity: 2008-2025+."

2008 Layer Cake Malbec Mendoza Argentina - $180.00 cs/12               Parker 91pts. "Dense purple-colored with notes of blackberry, earth, roasted meats, and a hint of barbecue spice, this wine exhibits great fruit, delicious, full-bodied texture, silky tannins, and a long finish. It does taste more like a $30-50 bottle of Malbec than one that can be purchased for $15. It should drink nicely for at least 2-3 years. 

2008 Layer Cake Barossa Shiraz - $18.00*bot.90pts. and TOP 100 BEST BUYS, WINE ENTHUSIAST! "Dark, inky color with aromas of spice, anise, tobacco and mocha. The flavor is an explosion of dark berry, black cherry, exotic spices and chocolate."  Winemaker Notes - "Layer Cake is an ode to Jayson Woodbridge's grandfather who always told him that the soil where wine is grown is like a Layer Cake, layered with mocha, chocolate, hints of spice and rich, always rich.' He's brought to market a wine of value' with exceptional quality through hand crafting and cutting yields per acre by half if not more. Always the Maverick, it appears, once again, that Woodbridge has raised the bar by raising the standards for a wine priced under $20. To know the man means the price of the wine will never dictate his passion. Jayson was not pleased with the quality of the 2007 vintage, so made the decision not to tarnish the reputation of the brand and skipped making the wine in 2007. According to Jayson, the 2008 vintage is Unmistakably Shiraz; the nose is best described as pure, unobstructed by excessive oak. Dark, dense and creamy, aromas of anise, tobacco, and mocha emerge from the glass. An explosion of dark berry, black cherry, exotic spices and chocolate fill the mouth."  

 

 

 

 

2005 Leoville Poyferre - $1,300.00 cs/12 - Parker 92-94pts."While perhaps not up to the standards of the extraordinary 2003, the 2005 is still a strong effort from an estate that has been doing everything right over the last two decades. Sweet toasty oak intermixed with jammy black currant, plum, and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-hued wine. In the mouth, there is great fruit, tannin, body, structure, and delineation. This impressively endowed, well made St.-Julien will require considerable patience (as will most 2005 northern Medocs). Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+."

2005 Marquis D'Alesme Becker (Margaux) - $499.99 cs/12 - WS 91pts."A soft, fruity wine, with blackberry, coffee and light vanilla on the nose and palate. Full, with very velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish. This is right on the mark now. Best after 2010. 5,830 cases made."

2006 Mollydooker Enchanted Path - $399.99 cs/6 ($66.67) Parker 94pts. Wine Spectator 93pts. - Harvey Steinman-Wine Spectator! "this beautiful Shiraz/Cabernet is one of our favorites. The two varieties synergistically blend to create a lovely leafy, rhubarb and plum fruit nose and chocolate, spice and blackberry flavours. Its opulence, elegance and incredible structure are amazing. It is seamless from beginning to end."

1996 Mouton Rothschild - $350 bot. NET - Parker 94pts."...gorgeously pure creme de cassis nose with Asian spices, licorice, and smoky oak in the background. Sweet, full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with formidable extract, ripe tannin, and layered impression, builds to a blockbuster finish... super impressed...looks to be a great Mouton."

2006 NorthStar Merlot Columbia Valley-Retail $54-SALE $180.00 cs/6  Parker 91pts."76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It was aged in French and American oak, 65% new, for 18 months. The fruit was sourced from 14 different vineyards making the wine a testament to the art of blending. Dark crimson-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cigar box, sage, clove, cinnamon, black cherry, and a hint of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, round and elegant on the palate, it has solid depth and enough ripe tannin to support 2-3 years of additional cellaring. Drink this intensely flavored effort from 2011 to 2021. "
Wine Spectator 91pts. "Firm in texture, with sandy tannins around a ripe core of currant and berry flavors, the fruit winning easily on the finish. Needs time, but this will be elegant. Best from 2012 through 2016. "

2003 Prevail Back Forty - $79.99*bottle - "Sumptuous aromas of white chocolate, dried herbs, and loamy soil in its full-bodied, expressive style. Lovely fruit, texture & sweet tannin." Parker 91pts. The Wine: A classic Bordeaux-style wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes are grown on low-yielding vines on a 40 acre block on the back side of RockRise Mountain in Alexander Valley. Affectionately called Back Forty, the wine displays deep aromatics of ripe blackberry and cherry with a rich mouthfeel that is beautifully concentrated, supple, long, lingering smooth finish.

2002 Pichon Lalande - $999.99 cs/12(83.34) - Parker 94pts. "One of the best wines of the vintage, a classic Pauillac, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot. Dense ruby/purple with a glorious nose of melted licorice, lavender, barbecue smoke, black currants, and graphite, the wine is tannic, classically structured with an opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful definition, and a 1996-ish personality. This deep, full-bodied, elegant yet powerful 2002 should age handsomely for over two decades. Some patience will be required since this vintage exhibits more muscle and virility than normal. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025." Tanzer 91-94pts."Very pretty, floral aromas of black currant, blackberry, spice and mint. Juicy, floral, percise, yet densely packed, firm acidity which give the flavors clarity ... suave, inner-mouth energt, excellent palate coverage." Wine Spectator 92-94pts.

2003 Pichon Longueville Baron - $1,10.00 cs/12(91.67) - Parker 92-94pts."A powerful, concentrated wine with an inky ruby/purple color to the rim and high alcohol (13.46%), this low-acid, fat, fleshy wine shows notes of incense, smoke, creme de cassis, and vanilla in a pure, rich, noble, yet corpulent, full-bodied style that could possibly pass as New World Cabernet given its low acidity and forward style. I have no reservations about how it is going to age as there is plenty of stuffing and density to this impressively endowed wine. Maturity: 2007-2023."

2005 Pichon Longueville Baron - $2,250.00 cs/12 - Parker 94pts."As usual, this superb Pauillac possesses an inky/blue/black color in addition to a big, sweet nose of graphite, charcoal, burning embers, black currant liqueur, and toasty vanillin from new oak casks. Full-bodied with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, the 2005 Pichon Baron is more backward than the blockbuster 2003 or prodigious 2000. Nevertheless, it is a superb effort whose power, length, and tannic structure suggest it should be at its peak between 2015-2035"

2002 Pontet Canet - $499.99 cs/12 - Tanzer 89-93pts."Black fruits, licorice, bitter chocolate, leaft cab notes on nose. Dense, sweet and very fresh, sharpy delineated flavors of cassis, licorice, flowers, and herbs. Broad chewy tannins, firm but not hard." Tanzer is better than Parker (May 09, 2005) "My tasting notes are similar to Mr. Tanzer. Mr. Parker gave a 88 points to this wine which is 100 percent wrong against what I have tasted. This is a beatiful Pauillac. For my palate, you can drink this now, so seductive!!!!!"  Wine Spectator 92-94pts. Parker 88pts."This wine has seemingly gone to sleep and is in a dormant, ungracious stage, exhibiting notes of green tea leaves intermixed with red and black currants in its dusty nose. A medium-bodied wine with moderately high tannin and a certain austerity, it seems to be a much less impressive effort than I thought from barrel or is it just impossibly closed? There is still substantial size and tannic clout to the wine, but the fruit seems to have gone into hiding. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020+. As most well-informed insiders in Bordeaux know, proprietor Alfred Tesseron has been doing everything right since 1994 in order to fully develop the enormous potential of this vineyard adjacent to Mouton-Rothschild. Some serious work is done in the vineyard including de-budding, de-leafing, and crop-thinning. The harvest usually takes place in several attempts trying to maximize ripeness and there are two separate sorting tables. Yields have dropped dramatically, and of course there is a severe selection."

2006 Ridge Santa Cruz Cabernet Blend - $299.99 cs/12 Robert Parker 91pts "A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Estate exhibits a similar deep ruby/purple color as well as less complex aromatics, an attractive, round, rich, full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin, and a long finish. This successful 2006 should drink well for 15 years. " (02/10) Ridge's Santa Cruz Mountains Red is a blend of Cab and Merlot and a perennial favorite from the winery. Aged for 20 months in in American oak, this is a bit softer and more accessible than the Monte Bello, but still definitively Santa Crus Mountains wine. A flinty minerality complements the flinty, cola and spice aromas that carry the wine's fruit nose. In the mouth, coffee, licorice, blackberry, raspberry flavors coat your mouth."

2007 Ridge Sonoma 3 Valleys Zinfandel  $250.00 cs/12 ($20.84)Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 90pts. "When measured against its far riper cousins, this very well-balanced wine may seem a bit light on muscle, but what is really missing is fat, and, instead, it turns out to be both deep and quite long on bona fide fruity substance. Its careful composition and keen, claret-like structure mark it indelibly as an eminently food-worthy Zin for now and the next few years."  Wine Spectator's Tasting Highlights: "Zesty and appealingly eccentric, with wild berry and exotic Asian spice aromas and layered baked cherry, anise and walnut flavors. Drink now through 2013." Three Valleys blend since 2001. The 2007 vintage is comprised of 76% zinfandel, 8% petite sirah, 7% syrah, 6% grenache and 3% carignane sourced from 10 individual Sonoma vineyards. Different than the winery's single vineyard wines showcase terroir - this blend showcases craft of winemaking, balancing aromas, flavors, textures. Rich, up front fruit make this appealing, but there's plenty of spice and earthy intrigue to keep evolving over the next 5yrs."

2001 Senorio de Cuzcurrita - $35.00*- Parker 93pts."There is no doubting the 2001 Senorio de Cuzcurrita, also 100% Tempranillo, aged 12 months in French oak. Purple-colored, it offers a much more expressive nose of toast, spice, clove, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied, with layers of opulent blue and black fruits, it has beautiful integration of oak, alcohol, tannin, and acidity, all leading to a pure, 45-second finish. This splendid wine has enough baby fat to be enjoyed now and it should drink well for another 15-20 years."

2002 St.Clement Oroppas Magnums  $150.00*each - Parker 92pts. "composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. Its vivid blue/purple color is accompanied by a sweet perfume of incense, Asian spices, black currants, blackberries, and vanilla. There is terrific fruit on the attack, medium to full body, a sweet mid-palate, fine length, and nicely integrated ripe tannin. Consume it over the next 10-15 years." Tanzer 92pts. "60/40 blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc) Good deep red-ruby. Blackberry, violet and licorice aromas, complicated by leather and graphite. Wonderfully sweet, silky and suave, with an inner-mouth aromatic quality rare for the year. This very well-balanced blend is juicy, even a bit youthfully tight, and finishes with impressive perfume. Has the mid-palate sweetness to balance its firm tannic spine and offers a lovely combination of density and elegance. In comparison to this vintage, the 2003 release is more of an "upfront" wine, notes Viader, who pointed out that her flagship wine's cabernet franc element is more important to its aging potential than the sauvignon."

2007 Sequana Dutton Pinot Noir- $225.00 cs/6Wine Enthusiast 92pts. “Crisp acidity and minty quality...wealth of roasted cherries, along with rich smoky cedar, and the mouth feel is silky and refined. Should develop over the next six years.”  Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 92pts." ...cherry-and-strawberry aromas that take a moment before beginning to unfold...are graced by handsomely layered highlights of cocoa, sweet smoke and dried flowers...richness and depth as it crosses the palate en route to a long, very well-balanced finish.”

2004 The Colonial Emigre - $525.00 cs/6 ($87.50) - Parker 94pts."Grenache,Shiraz, and Mourvedre with Cabernet. Exhibits a sweer perfume of graphite, black fruits, sweet cherries, licorice and vanilla. Full-bodied and rich tectured with an impressively long finish."

2008 The Prisoner by Orin Swift - $399.99 cs/12 ($33.34) - Wine Spectator 92pts. "Offers both style and structure, with lively aromas of black raspberry, cracked pepper and mocha, with plush and layered flavors of wild berry, fresh sage and licorice. Ripe tannins sneak in on the finish. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache. Drink now through 2014. Yet another beautiful vintage of the prisoner from Orin Swift. This is not a wine to put in your cellar. Big, bright and all about immediate drinking. With vineyards sources such as Duarte, Toffanelli and David Fulton, there is no wonder why this wine is so beautiful and powerful. 50% Zinfandel, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Charbono and 1% Grenache."

2004 "W" Dedicato Poggio al Tesoro - $425.00 cs/6 - Parker 92pts. "a drop-dead gorgeous effort. A dark glossy ruby, it presents an exotic array of toasted oak, mint, spice, chocolate, coffee bean and sweet dark fruit notes. Plump and expressive on the palate, it offers superb length as well as exquisite overall balance and a resonating note of warmth on the finish. Ideally a few years of cellaring are warranted although this wine is drinking very well today. Made from a vineyard once leased by nearby Tenuta dell’Ornellaia and aged in 100% new oak for 18 months, it is one of the most exciting new wines I tasted. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. Poggio al Tesoro is a new winery in Bolgheri co-owned by importer Leonardo LoCascio and the Allegrini family. Winemaking is overseen by consulting oenologist Alberto Antonini and these are its first releases. The estate works with densely planted vineyards and low yields to produce deeply flavored wines. In particular, readers who enjoy Cabernet Franc will not want to miss the superb wine. Poggio al Tesoro will be a fascinating property to watch as the wines acquire age"

2006 Wine Maker's Collection Cuvee #2 - $499.99 - SALE $399.99 cs/12 ($33.34) - Parker 90-92pts. "Professor Dubourdieu fashioned a dense ruby/purple-hued wine displaying notes of black cherries, cassis, licorice, grilled bread, as well as earth. More structured than the 2005 wine, with less sweet tannins, it is richly fruity, deep, medium to fully bodied, and impressively endowed. Should drink well for 15 more years. These wines are meant to be a cinematic study of the same terroir with the individual philosophy of the wine maker imprinted on the vintage."

 

2) The BETTER (95pts.+)

2005 Ausone St. Emilion - $24,000.00 cs/6 - Parker 100pts."A tiny production of just over 1,300 cases will make the 2005 Ausone impossible to find, but proprietor Alain Vauthier continues to exhibit the Midas touch with his perfectionist efforts at this estate. This brilliant, blue/black-hued offering reveals an extraordinarily youthful, but promising nose of incense, blueberries, blackberries, currants, licorice, and crushed rocks. This intense 2005 boasts powerful, super-layered, multidimensional flavors with tremendous extraction, yet they come across as incredibly sublime, even delicate for such a stunningly concentrated, full-bodied effort. A masterpiece of concentration and balance, it will no doubt be drinking well a century from now. Anticipated maturity: 2030-2080+."

2007 Beaucastel Blanc - $599.99 cs/6

Parker 95pts."Meriting the same rating as I gave it last year, it is a delicious, beautifully textured, light gold-colored white revealing plenty of white peach, apricot, nectarine, and honeysuckle notes as well as a distinctive florality and minerality. More honeyed and fuller-bodied than its 2008 counterpart, it should drink beautifully for 7-8 years, then go into an oxidative state. It is somewhat of a gamble as to what will happen thereafter. Beaucastel’s limited production luxury cuvee first produced in 1986 is their 100% Roussanne Vieilles Vignes offering. Fifty percent is barrel-fermented in one-year-old barrels, but no new oak is utilized." 

2007 Beaucastel Rouge - $599.99 cs/6

Parker 96pts."turned out even better out of bottle than I predicted. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious nose of blue and black fruits, truffles, pen ink, licorice, and meat juices as well as glorious levels of acidity and sweet tannin, buttressing the fruit’s fabulous freshness and vibrancy. This full-bodied effort still displays considerable tannin, no doubt because of the relatively high Mourvedre content. It should resolve its tannins in 2-4 years, and last for 25 or more." 

 

 

1999 Brunello Riserva Valdicava Maddona del Piano - $180.00*bottle - WS 96pts."Fantastic aromas of ripe fruit and coffee, with hints of plum and cedar. Full-bodied, with lovely, velvety tannins and a long, juicy finish. Big and glorious. The greatest wine ever from here. Best after 2006. 1,500 cases made." –JS.  also,  Parker "those looking for the finest... might want to consider this wine, the best yet."

2007 Continuum Propritiery Napa Red - $825.00 cs/6 - WS 97pts. "A wonderful expression of Cabernet, sleek and polished, with a mix of rich, layered black cherry, currant, wild berry and plum fruit that’s intense, concentrated, focused and stylish, turning spicy, with cedar anise and sage notes on a long, persistent finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now - 2020. Winemaker Notes - a richly aromatic wine showing great balance and finesse on the palate. A unique blend, Continuum expresses the nerve and power of the Cabernet Sauvignon, the structure and exotic aromas of the Cabernet Franc and the depth and density of color of the Petit Verdot. The 2007 blend manifests this in firm yet supple tannins, a generous mid-palate with a long, nuanced finish making for a very textural, silky wine. Aromas of black currant, mulberry, and rose petal lead to cardamom, truffle and graphite flavors. A wine of exquisite power and elegance, the harmonious integration and balance make it delicious now, while assuring tremendous agreeability."

2005 Cos d'Estournel  - $3,500.00 cs/12 ($295.00) –  Parker 98pts."upgraded from: 95-97pts. "While I am not convinced the 2005 Cos d’Estournel will eclipse the compelling 2003 Cos, it is unquestionably another superb classic from proprietor Michel Reybier and his brilliant winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats. Made from an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) and the balance mostly Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, this superb effort requires plenty of time in the bottle. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a glorious perfume of licorice, Asian spices, creme de cassis, blackberries, and toasty oak. This full-bodied St.-Estephe is exceptionally powerful, pure, and dense with a layered mid-palate that builds like a skyscraper. While there are massive tannins, they are remarkably velvety and well-integrated in this big, backstrapping effort that should enjoy an unusually long life. Forget it for 8-10 years, and drink it between 2017-2040. b)"made from an unusual blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked during the last nine days of September, and the Cabernets were finished by the 9th of October. The 2005's 13.85% alcohol is the highest this estate has ever achieved. The implementation of such Burgundian winemaking techniques as malolactic in barrel and aging on its lees are resulting in wines of extraordinary texture as well as elegance. The 2003 may be more opulent, and for my taste a more compelling wine, but the 2005 is at the same level. Made from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare, it exhibits an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of sweet red and black fruits, camphor, cedar, and pain grille. Extraordinarily well-defined, nuanced, and powerful, with high tannin as well as magnificent texture and richness, this classic offering will be uncommonly long-lived. It will not be close to drinkability for another 5-7 years, and should last for 30 or more. A fabulous wine!" Apr.'07 "A classic in the making, has become even more backward and structured, making it one of the most inaccessible examples of this wine made in the last twenty years. There is an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) blended with 19% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine boasts a dense purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of creme de cassis intermixed with licorice, pain grille, spice, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, powerful, rich, and dense, with a sweet middle as well as huge tannins in the finish, it will be approachable in 8-10 years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035+." Also

2003 Cos d'Estournel - $3,500.00 cs/12(291.67) - Parker 98pts. "The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d’Estournel is a candidate for “wine of the vintage.” A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier."

2005 Dominus Proprietary Red Wine - $750.00 cs/6($125.00) - Parker 95+pts."The 2005 Dominus continues to strut its stuff, tasting like a Napa hybrid blend of a St.-Emilion and Pomerol. Its dark ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by notions of cedarwood, spice box, roasted herbs, sweet black cherry and cassis fruit, licorice, and truffles. Full-bodied with excellent fruit intensity, complex aromatics, supple tannins, and a long finish, this 7,000-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot should drink well for two decades or more. Christian Moueix, Dominus’ owner, has purchased the 35-acre Swanson Vineyard, which is situated between the well-known California bistros, Brix and Mustard’s. I suspect that will result in a third label from Dominus. At present, the production from these large holdings in Yountville is approximately 10,000-12,000 cases, with the second wine, Napanook, representing 3,500-4,000 cases, depending on the vintage. It is ironic that Christian Moueix, the great Merlot specialist at his flagship chateaux in Pomerol, especially Petrus, prefers the other Bordeaux varietals at his Napa property. Interestingly, when I visit Dominus, they always open a fresh bottle and serve it alongside a bottle that has been decanted for 24 hours. On each occasion, the more complex, open wine is the one that has had 24 hours of aeration, something buyers of this wine should take into consideration. These are the two strongest back to back vintages for Dominus since 1990-1991 and 2001-2002."

2007 Dominus Napa Red - $800.00 cs/6 - Parker 98pts.""The soon-to-be-released 2007 Dominus is a 5,400-case blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It is ironic that Christian Moueix, the practitioner of utterly profound Merlot-based wines from St.-Emilion and Pomerol, eschews Merlot from his Napa vineyard, recognizing that it is Cabernet Sauvignon, and to a lesser extent Cabernet Franc, that hits the high notes in Napa. A prodigious example of Dominus, the 2007 represents a hypothetical blend of a Pomerol, Pauillac, and a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored with a sweet nose of incense, cedar wood, black currants, black cherries, licorice, and a subtle hint of roasted herbs, it is an expansive, savory, opulent wine with a full-bodied mouthfeel, silky tannins, and sensational concentration. A legend in the making, it should evolve for 25-30 years, possibly longer given the fact that his vintages from the early eighties are still going strong, and the wines today are better made given Moueix-s Napa experience and the estate winery he did not have 25 years ago. Perhaps the finest vintage at Dominus since their historic 1994s and 1991s is 2007, although I am also a big fan of what they achieved in 2001, 2002, and 2006. Lastly, when I visit this winery they always open a fresh bottle and also have a bottle that has been decanted for an hour or two. The decanted bottles definitely reveal more aromatic complexity and breadth of flavor, so readers may wish to aerate the wines prior to service."  Wine Advocate # 186 Dec 2009

2004 Flaccianello Fontodi - $500.00 per 3 liter NET - Parker 96pts.(Galloni) "Manetti's 2004 Flaccianello della Pieve (100% Sangiovese aged in 100% new oak) is simply stunning. Fresh and vibrant, it offers compelling aromatics and endless layers of fruit that develop in the glass, with superb length on the palate and gorgeous overall balance. Although it is still holding back much today, make no mistake about it, Flaccianello is one of Italy?s blue-chip wines and the 2004 is a profound vintage for this wine. In order to enjoy its full range of expression readers will have to wait at least another five years after which it will provide memorable drinking to age 25, perhaps longer. A recent bottle of the 1982 was still full of life when tasted a few months ago. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029."  (Galloni tasted 371 wines  and only 5 earned 96pts., 1 earned 97pts but it is 3x the price of Flaccianello)

2001 Flaccianello Fontodi Super Tuscan  - $595.00 per 3 liter NET Gambero Rosso 3 Glass Award - Wine Spectator 97pts.

2004 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo & Sori Tildin - $475.00*bottle - Parker 98pts.& 97pts."The 2004 Sori San Lorenzo is a drop-dead gorgeous wine. It presents awesome balance, especially in the way it marries power with elegance. This is a remarkably refined and understated Sori San Lorenzo, with never-ending layers of dark raspberries, licorice, grilled herbs and tar that flow from its sumptuous frame. A dark, brooding beauty, it will require several additional years of bottle at a minimum, but those with the patience to wait will be amply rewarded. In most vintages I prefer the Sori Tildin, but in 2004 Sori San Lorenzo has a very slight edge over its sibling. It may very well be the finest Sori San Lorenzo since the legendary 1971. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. Angelo Gaja and long-time oenologist Guido Rivella produced some of the most monumental wines of their long, storied partnership in 2004. Although I admire Gaja’s wines, especially for their consistency, I rarely find them this emotionally moving and utterly profound. The stable weather and cool, tempering evenings towards the end of the growing season allowed Gaja and Rivella to harvest fairly late in 2004. I remember passing by Gaja’s Barbaresco vineyards in October of that year and seeing fruit still waiting to be picked long after most producers had already brought the fruit in. Gaja’s 2004s from Barbaresco are especially breathtaking for their clarity and precision. The wines also seem less internationally-styled than in the past. Readers fortunate enough to possess the means to acquire these wines won’t want to miss them! The 2003s from the Barolo zones of La Morra and Serralunga are also strong efforts considering the vintage. “Historically in Piedmont there has been an inverse relationship between quality and quantity. Great vintages like 1961 and 1989 were characterized by low yields,” says Gaja. “2004 is one of those rare vintages like 1964 and 1990 where quality is high even though yields were generous as well. I think 2004 is a very elegant vintage. It is much easier to achieve opulence, but finesse is always much more elusive.”

2003 Galardi Terra di Lavoro - $150.00*bottle - Gambero Rosso 2006 Tre bicchiere "deep purple in color with a smoky, earthy nose that shows tobacco and mineral character. Black cherry fruit, tobacco and leather come through on the palate of this big, full-bodied wine. Firm tannins insure that this wine will last."

2001 Galatrona Fattoria Petrolo Toscana - $95.00*bottle - Wine Spectator 96pts. "A perfectly formed bodybuilder. Gorgeous aromas of crushed flowers and ripe red fruits, with hints of minerals. Very perfumed. Full-bodied, with ultra fine tannins and a long, delicious finish. Very refined indeed." Parker 92pts."The 2001 Galatrona confirms its status as one of Tuscany's better Merlot bottling with its dark ruby color, ripe, warm plum and black cherry fruit, and spicy, dense flavors, broad and long, with a swelling volume on the finish."

2005 L'Angelus St.Emilion  - $4,500.00 -Parker 98pts. "upgraded from 96-97" "This 7,000 case blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc will rival or perhaps eclipse vintages such as 2000, 1998, 1990, and 1989. Its dense purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, espresso roast, blackberries, blueberries, and a hint of wood. In spite of its thick texture, terrific acidity, high tannins, and enormous intensity as well as richness, it is surprisingly approachable, but given how slowly the 1989 and 1990 have aged, I would recommend cellaring it for 8-10 years. It should keep for three decades. A brilliant wine!"

2003 Lafleur Pomerol (Fairway) - $7,500.00 cs/6 - Wine Spectator 97pts."This is a really long wine. It lasts for minutes on the palate. Full and dense yet refined and linear. Very racy, with plum, berry and floral character. Fantastic. No jam here. This is a wine that shows strength but maintains elegance. Superb. Best after 2012. 1,000 cases made." –JS - Parker 95pts. "The Wine Advocate The exotic, nearly over the top 2003 exhibits a southern Rhone-like characteristic of kirsch liqueur intermixed with raspberries and flowers. Sweet fruit, high levels of glycerin (the alcohol is less than 13.5%), and high but silky tannins have resulted in a broad, expansive, terrific example of Lafleur that should be at its finest between 2008-2025. Along with Petrus, this stunning, full-bodied 2003 is a candidate for the top wine of Pomerol."

2005 Laforge St.Emillion - $1,000.00 cs/12 (64.00) - Parker upgraded to 95pts. "Tasting far superior than it did from cask, the bottled 2005 Laforge is fabulous. Moreover, there are 2,500 cases of this offering from the brilliant Englishman, Jonathan Malthus, who has proven he can turn quite a qualitative trick in both Bordeaux and Australia’s Barossa Valley. This dense purple-hued St.-Emilion offers up a glorious nose of graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, licorice, and a whiff of acacia flowers. Full-bodied, thick, and juicy, this blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc possesses terrific purity, an extravagantly rich mouth feel, and wonderful precision. The result is a provocative, compelling wine that should be drinkable between 2013-2028."  - Parker 90-92pts. (Apr.'07) "The Wine Advocate Sweet black cherry and currant fruit interwoven with pain grille, white chocolate, and earth emerge from this chewy, well-made, impeccably pure, nicely textured, medium to full-bodied, St.-Emilion. Should drink well 10-15 years."

2002 Leoville Las Cases $1,2000.00 cs/12(100.00) - Parker 95pts."A sensational effort from proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon, the 2002 Leoville Las-Cases (a blend of 66.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, 13.9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot) possesses the highest natural alcohol of any vintage produced at Las Cases (a whopping 13.5%, compared to 2000's 12.9%, 1982's 12.8%, and 1990's 13.2%). Yields were a low 27 hectoliters per hectare. Approximately 43% of the production made it into the 2002. The wine has tremendously high measurements of extract and phenolics. The color is nearly black/purple, and the wine looks like syrup of Leoville Las-Cases. Dense, concentrated, broodingly backward as well as tannic, but oh, so promising and intense, the 2002 reveals tremendous purity, great intensity, and a finish that lasts for 45 seconds. Clearly Leoville Las-Cases has produced a wine of first-growth quality (what’s new?) that competes for the wine of the vintage moniker. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+"

2003 Montrose - $3,500.00 cs/12(291.67) - Parker 97-100pts. "Certainly one of the vintage’s most colossal wines and clearly one of the estate’s greatest efforts, rivaling the 1989, 1990, and 2000, this wine, which tips the scales at 13% alcohol (the 1990 was 13.5%), has an amazingly opaque purple color to the rim, and a big, sweet, exotic nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with acacia flower, creme de cassis, smoke, and hints of truffle and vanilla. In the mouth the wine is full-bodied, opulent, but offers surprising definition and finesse, which is something it was showing less of nine months ago. Brilliantly delineated in spite of its amazing concentration and unctuosity, this is a thrilling, exceptional effort that should prove to be a modern-day legend. I tend to think this wine will actually be approachable in 5-6 years but capable of lasting for at least three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030+. To reiterate what I said last year, this is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot."

2007 Morgan Pinot Noir Double L - $225.00 cs/6 ($37.50) 2006 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay - $550.00 cs/12 - Wine Spectator 96pts. "Simply delicious, a rich, buttery style, with ripe, vivid and delicate peach, pear and honeydew melon fruit that's complex, concentrated and full-bodied, offering excellent length and depth. Creamy oaky adds a touch of smoke and vanilla. The texture is silky. Drink now through 2016."  and  Stephen Tanzer 94pts."Bright yellow-gold. Fresh orange, fig and pear skin aromas are complemented by tarragon and cinnamon, with a suave note of marzipan coming up with air. Juicy and fresh, with sweet citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a stony underpinning. Gains flesh and richness on the strikingly long finish while maintaining vivacity. This is delicious now but is balanced to repay at least six to eight years of patience."

 

Connoisseur's Guide 95pts."Here is a brilliant combination of the deep character possible from the site together with the balance and proportion that derive both from the hand of Dan Lee and from the vintage. The result is a wine of substance, brightness, richness and the kind of layering that is only found in the most exceptional offerings. To be sure, the wine is full in body as one would expect of its Santa Lucia Highlands provenance, yet it is underlying fruit and impeccable balance that seize the day here and make it into one that will happily age into a polished maturity over some four to six years or more."  Wine Enthusiast, Steve Heimoff 92 Pts.  "A big, thick, heavy Pinot Noir, showing the ripe flavors that a good Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir usually has. Floods the mouth with raspberry and cherry pie filling, currants, red plums, cola and rhubarbs. Nothing shy about it. Good now with lamb chops or a nice steak, and should do interesting things over the next six years."  International Wine Review 92 Pts. "This estate wine displays a medium dark ruby hue and aromas of black cherry, earth, and sweet toasted oak. It has a full lush attack with incredible depth of flavor. Dark cherry underlies notes of sweet oak and brown spice. Long, sweet finish."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005 Mouton Rothschild 750mls. &  Magnums - $11.999.99 cs/6 - Parker 94-96pts."a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc which tips the scales at 13.2% alcohol, one of the highest percentages ever achieved at this estate. It does not possess the power or awesome depth of the 1986 or 1982, but it may represent a modern-day clone of the 1955. A tannic, backward, concentrated, powerful Mouton built for the ages, it will require 10-15 years to reach its full potential. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by classic notes of creme de cassis and smoke, but no trace of new oak. That in itself is a good indication of how rich and concentrated this wine must be to have absorbed all its oak at this stage of its evolution. One might also term it 1996-like in style given its fresh acidity and bright personality. Medium to full-bodied, impeccably elegant, powerful yet subtle and reticent at present, it will be extremely long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050+"

2005 Pape Clement - $2,750.00 cs/12 -  Parker 96-100pts. "The possible perfection of this effort is not surprising given the way proprietor Bernard Magrez has been upgrading all of his estates, especially his flagship property, Pape-Clement. Over the last decade there has been a succession of brilliant wines from this terroir that is essentially sandwiched in a suburb of Bordeaux. The quintessential Pape-Clement, the 2005 is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 38 hectoliters per hectare. Its dense plum/purple color is followed by a seductive perfume of crushed rocks, blueberries, raspberries, cedar, graphite, licorice, and smoke. Full-bodied and layered, it possesses blockbuster richness yet an ethereal delicacy and finesse that often seem incompatible, but the fresh acids, high tannins, and marvelous extract of the 2005 Bordeaux have all come together to produce something special, but that will require patience. This wine has some of the more supple, sweeter tannins of Bordeaux, but then again, it is a Pessac-Leognan, not a Medoc, and the percentage of Merlot is high for the vintage. I would anticipate this 2005 to be approachable around 2012, and last for 30+ years."

2004 Penfolds RWT Shiraz - $425.00 cs/6 - Parker 95pts.”The 2004 Shiraz “RWT” was barrel-fermented and aged for 14 months in 69% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it delivers an expressive nose of smoke, leather, grilled bacon, game, blueberry, and licorice. Full-bodied, it is dense, ripe, and layered as well as opulent. More forward than the Magill Estate, this hedonistic Shiraz can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve for another 8-10 years. Penfolds, arguably Australia’s most famous winery, continues to perform at a high level under the leadership of Head Winemaker, Peter Gago.”

2005 Ponsot Clos de la Roche Vieilles-Vignes Grand Cru Red - $1,295.00 NET -Burghound 99pts."All the superb and dramatic complexity that this displayed from barrel has made it into bottle as an extremely ripe and fantastically broad nose soars from the glass, merging seamlessly into dense, pure rich and powerful flavors that are opulent, sweet and dripping with so much extract and sap that the combination stains and saturates the palate on the hugely proportioned yet impeccably balanced finish that is so long that it doesn't seem possible. Given how many reference standard vintages Domaine Ponsot has produced of the Clos de la Roche over the years, it would be presumptuous to anoint this as the best ever but if it isn't, it will certainly take its rightful place among the very greatest. In sum, a 'wow' wine that makes you shake your head in sheer amazement. However be aware that this is a buy and forget wine as it will require at least 15 years to shed its considerable tannins and it will see 50 years without difficulty."

2003 Rieussec 375mls. - $800.00 cs/12(66.67) - Parker 94-97pts."It is against my better judgment to taste the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes at such an early age, as I find they typically require at least 12 months to reveal the definition/delineation so essential in these creamy, creme brulee, and honeysuckle-flavored offerings. Nevertheless, because this vintage is so highly regarded, I tasted through most of the top estates. The 2003s appear to be somewhat in the style of the 1990s, with high levels of residual sugar (higher than 2001 for the most part) as well as botrytis, low acidity, and fat, full-bodied personalities. This region’s harvest began extremely early (early September), and was completely finished within three weeks. It does not appear that the nobleness and racy richness of the 2001 vintage will be found in the 2003s, but readers who like the big, flamboyant, over the top style of the 1990s will enjoy the 2003s even more than I did."

2002 Sassicaia Super Tuscan - $250.00*bottle - Gambero Rosso 3 Cups "Those who lie in waite, pens dipped in poison ink, for each new vintage of this legendary red, simply to criticize its most insignificant details will have their work cut out for them.. The '99 is as great as ever. What is so awesomely admirable is this wines stylistic consistency ... elegance without dilution, delicate tannins that still manage to present a close-knit weave, and supreme drinlability..." Parker 88+? "Aromas of smoke, vanilla, red & black currants. Medium body, high tannin, and excellent purity; elegant, restrained, moderately concentrated needs 2-3 yrs. 2006-216.(He questioned the huge tannins).

2003 Serpico Fuide San Grigorio - $425.00 cs/6(70.84) - Parker 98pts "Impenetrable and inky, staggeringly rich in both aroma and flavor, offers ultra-ripe but perfectly fresh berry fruit, cloves, cinnamon, and chocolate. Mouth-coating, deep-pile tactile sensations which combine iron power and a eneloping, voluptuous texture, infinitely deep and long. Wouldn’t be amazed if this wine lasts 30yrs." I QUESS HE REALLY LIKES IT !

2007 Schrader Cabernet Georges III - $350.00 bot. NET - Parker 97+pts."comes from clone 337, from a Beckstoffer-owned vineyard in Rutherford. Its dense purple color is followed by a big, sweet nose of black cherries, black currants, cedar, spice box, and subtle oak. Enormously concentrated and full-bodied with superb minerality as well as tannic structure, it will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve for three decades."

2001 Solaia Super Tuscan Antinori - $150.00* bottle - Wine Spectator 95pts. "Fantastic aromas of crushed blackberry, licorice and strawberry. Full-bodied, with rich, velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. Fruit-forward and exciting. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2008."  -  Also Gambero Rosso 3 Glass Award (Top 2% of all Italian wines) " one of the classics among Super Tuscans, always 80-20 Cabernet-Sangiovese.  PARKER 93pts.

2004 Shirvington Shiraz - $84.00*bottle - Parker 95pts. "inky/purple color is followed by aromas of graphite, blueberries, and creme de cassis. It offers wonderful purity, plenty of stuffing, toasty espresso notes from new oak barrels, admirable intensity, and a tremendous finish. Drink it over the next decade. Former winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis have left Shirvington and the wine is now being made by Kim Johnston. Little has changed, although the 2004s appear to be more streamlined and delicate than their 2003 and 2002 counterparts."

2004 Togni Napa Cabernet - $1,350.00 cs/12(110.42) - Parker 95pts."Readers looking for more ripeness, opulence, and an extroverted character should check out the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which is actually a larger crop than 2005. This sensational dense purple-colored effort boasts delicious blueberry, black raspberry, cassis, licorice, and olive-like notes. In the mouth, there is more creme de cassis as well as background toasty oak, , for twenty or more years. The 2004 will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and should last for 25-30 years. It is, atypically for the vintage, front-end loaded. 2010-2036"

2005 Torbreck Factor - $95.00*bottle - Parker 97pts. "Made from 100% Shiraz that spent 24 months in French oak (30% new), the exuberant, flamboyant 2004 The Factor offers up gorgeously pure blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with smoke, bacon fat, camphor, and graphite. Silky smooth, and, as David Powell says, ?the most Barossa-like? of all his wines, it represents Powell’s rendition of a Cote Rotie. It can be drunk over the next 15-20 years."  3 liter available.

2004 Vina Almavina - SALE $399.99cs/6(66.67) - Wine Spectator 95pts. "This brick house of a wine shows plenty of Pauillac-like hints of iron, dried currant and cigar smoke, but also has layers of Chilean loam, blackberry, plum, spice and minerals. A powerful performance in a powerful vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2005 through 2012. 15,000 cases made. (JM)"

 

2004 Yarra Yering Dry Red #1 (Bordeaux Blend) – Retail $75.00 – NWW SALE $399.99 cs/12 ($33.34) - Parker 95pts."A combination of 70-80% Cabernet Sauvignon, about 20% Merlot, and dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2004 Dry Red Wine No. 1 offers a beautiful perfume of incense, dried herbs, red and black fruits, damp earth, and cedar. With fabulous fruit purity, medium to full body, and moderately high tannin, this rich, stunning red should age effortlessly for twenty years. It will be even better with 2-4 more years of bottle age."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005 Yacochuya $350.00 cs/6 ($58.34)

Parker 95 Pts."The Malbec grape was largely a failure in France because vintners could never coax a rich wine from it. But malbec flourishes in Mendoza, a region of Argentina adjacent to the Andes. Characterized by a spicy, dark fruit, these malbec wines can be complex, intense, and worthy of aging. In fact, they can compete with Bordeaux several times the price. Here are some favorites. Made from Frenchman, MICHEL Rolland's vineyard which is located 6,700 feet above sea level, this wine has a big, juicy, corpulent style with enormous amounts of flavor and richness. It’s the perfect grilled-meat sort of wine that just sings, and it should age beautifully for 10 to 15 or more years."