98-100 Point Wines

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot and was bottled in August 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts out of the glass with exotic spice notes of star anise,... Read More

Opening to a dark color and robust consistency, the Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Barolo Bussia Romirasco is perhaps the most powerful of the four new releases reviewed here. Wearing broad shoulders and sporting a heavy gait over... Read More

Beautiful notes of pure crème de cassis and darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, smoke tobacco, and toasty oak give way to a full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Cabernet with lots of underlying structure, rock star concentration,... Read More

The 2018 Proprietary Red Blend Amuse Bouche is composed of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake... Read More

The 2018 Solaia continues to develop beautifully. Resonant and ample on the palate, with tons of vibrancy, the 2018 offers terrific vibrancy as well as character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, blackberry jam, licorice and spice... Read More

Both 2013s are clearly the finest Eisele wines made under the administration of François Pinault and his top lieutenant, Frédéric Engerer, who also runs the show at Château Latour. The utterly compelling... Read More

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... Read More

An infinite and complex range of aromas define this Castillo Ygay 2011 that evokes aromas of ripe cherry, blueberries and cassis with refined touches of scrubland, Mediterranean herbs, black pepper, cloves and mocha. Balance defines... Read More

Moving to the single vineyard releases, the 2016 Melbury is pure perfection in a glass and is the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. Awesome notes of cassis, blackcurrants, toasted bread, white flowers, and... Read More

The 2015 Pluribus comes from the highest elevation vineyard in the lineup, located halfway up Spring Mountain on a southeast facing parcel of volcanic and Aiken soils. Classic Spring Mountain conifer and bay leaf notes are balanced... Read More

Lastly, the 2016 Pluribus completes the lineup of just about pure perfection in Napa Valley Cabernet, and readers can’t go wrong with any of these 2016 Bond releases. As with the Vecina, the Pluribus is a powerful, structured... Read More

Always a “Wow” wine, the 2016 Quella doesn’t disappoint, showing its classic, savory, mineral style as well as stunning notes of blueberries, plums, spice box, herbs de Provence, and melted licorice. This full-bodied,... Read More

Another perfect wine in the lineup is the 2016 St. Eden, which comes from a hillside of red volcanic soils just outside of Oakville. As with the 2015, wine doesn’t get any better, and this inky hued 2016 offers up a smorgasbord... Read More

Another awesome wine is the 2014 Vecina and it’s from a vineyard on the western side of the valley, right up next to Harlan Estate. This deep, full-bodied, seriously concentrated 2014 gives up loads of plums, currants, toasty... Read More

Each year, this vineyard begins in its own rhythm and ends on a similar note; 2016 is no exception. Early in the ripening, the balance of flavor and quality of tannin were impressive. In September, we received much-needed fog... Read More

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto offers a prolonged, flowing and carefully massaged drinking experience that drapes over the senses with some studied intensity and lots of intriguing complexity. This wine nails that... Read More

There’s a lot in this wine, in terms of complexity, that is all underpinned by concentrated, ripe and assertive red cherries. The oak is nicely placed and there’s a sense of purpose and build on the palate that really... Read More

Cerretalto is bottled separately in selected vintages only. It is given an additional year of ageing and is typically still patently austere when released. While the 2015 was almost uncharacteristically fleshy, 2016 is a return... Read More

A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2013 Syrah Royal City is as expansive, sexy and voluptuous as they get in the vintage, hands down. It’s deep ruby/purple color is followed by incredible notes of wild herbs, lavender,... Read More

Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi,... Read More

Pale to medium lemon-gold color, the 2010 d'Yquem has retreated into its shell at this youthful stage, offering spritely suggestions of lemon curd, lime cordial and green mango with wafts of honeysuckle, spice cake, sea spray... Read More

Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid.... Read More

One of the top vintages of Haut-Bailly out there, the 2005 is a quintessential example of this terroir, showing incredible finesse and elegance paired with ample concentration and depth of fruit. Complex notes of black cherries,... Read More

As ever when tasting the two together, the striking thing is the difference in character rather than quality between 2009 and 2010. This is tighter, more structured in its concentration, more broad shouldered, but still intensely... Read More

The 2009 Palmer is unquestionably one of the greatest young Bordeaux I’ve tasted, and it has a rare mix of richness and elegance that’s incredible. Blackcurrants, violets, lead pencil shavings and a touch of minerality... Read More

Suave and sophisticated, the 2018 Pichon Baron is a real head-turner. Silky, polished tannins wrap around a core of inky dark red/purplish berry fruit. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses for its exceptional balance. All... Read More

The opulence of fruit and complexity of earth, meat, mushroom and cedar is breathtaking. It’s full-bodied, deep and powerful with so much intensity and depth. Chewy and layered, it goes on for minutes. Give it even more... Read More

The aromas of the 2016 “IX Estate” Syrah exemplify the strikingly coastal feel of the growing season. The bouquet offers gorgeous wild notes of game meats, niçoise olives, and sea breeze alongside delicious... Read More

Continuum shows delicacy on the nose with citrus blossom and rose petal aromas. The wine builds in power and presence on the palate with cassis, dark fruits, bergamot, dried wild herb, and notes of cigar box and leather. 2016... Read More

Continuum shows delicacy on the nose with citrus blossom and rose petal aromas. The wine builds in power and presence on the palate with cassis, dark fruits, bergamot, dried wild herb, and notes of cigar box and leather. 2016... Read More

With their 2014 vintage, they celebrate their 10th Continuum release! This wine, while having beautiful vibrancy and richness of body, is more approachable than the well-regarded 2013 vintage. A dense purple robe and vibrant violet... Read More

Deep purple-colored, the tiny production 2017 Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 30 months in new French. This rocking wine has a huge nose of deep black fruits, new leather, unsmoked tobacco, exotic... Read More

Deep purple-colored, the tiny production 2017 Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 30 months in new French. This rocking wine has a huge nose of deep black fruits, new leather, unsmoked tobacco, exotic... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 4.5% Malbec and 4.5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of cassis, plum preserves,... Read More

The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost... Read More

...the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is another magical wine, and I might have rated this cuvée a perfect score more than any other Southern Rhône. Unquestionably in the same realm as the 2017, 2016, 2010,... Read More

Another wine that showed better this go-round as well is the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Da Capo, and it's always a good sign when a wine gets better over the course of its élevage. Plenty of ripe black... Read More

Jean-Paul Jamet said '2019 gave wines in the style that I like to make'. A step up from the 2018 vintage, the 2019 is more vibrant and intense. A blend of 25 parcels, amounting to 17ha, almost exclusively on schist soils.... Read More

Another possible legend in the making is the 2016 Dominus, a classic blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up in 40% new French oak. Pure, pristine notes of charcoal, cold fireplace,... Read More

Dominus Estate is the Napa Valley property of Bordeaux producer Christian Moueix. The wine is bottled from the historic Napanook Vineyard. Located at the foothills of the Mayacamas, the vineyard was planted in 1838 and continues... Read More

Sweet and succulent aromas of tangerines, freshly cut ripe strawberries, cherries and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate with sleek and dense tannins that run the length of the wine and then fan out into a dense, vivid... Read More

The hallmark of the Gaja estate, the Barbaresco is sourced from 14 vineyards within Barbaresco and Treiso. For the 2018 vintage, there will be no single cru bottlings for Barbaresco, and all of the fruit has gone into the estate... Read More

The 2015 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is bright, perfumed and lifted in feel. Sorì Tildìn is always the most delicate of the single vineyard wines. In 2015, it is also a touch lithe. Bright red cherry, mint,... Read More

The Sorí San Lorenzo vineyard is situated close to the Tanaro River, which undoubtedly helps moderate the temperature and initiates an earlier flowering period. Its sandy limestone soil provides perfect drainage and produces... Read More

Fabulous aromas of ripe strawberry and raspberry with hazelnut and citrus follow through to a medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins and a racy and refined finish. It’s so fresh for the vintage and goes on for minutes.... Read More

From a cooler, hillside site to the southeast of the appellation with heavier clay and limestone soils. This expresses a cooler style of Nebbiolo, leaning towards a Pinot Noir flavour profile. It has a floral character with a... Read More

The 2016 Vintage Port is a blend of 37% Touriga Nacional, 42% Touriga Franca and various others. It comes in with 115 grams of residual sugar. A bit bigger than Dow's this year, this is more intense as well. The better wine... Read More

The Immortal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Impassable Mountain is another luxurious wine with depth that is uncommon for Sonoma, offering a perfume of cassis, fresh leather, licorice, and cedar. Full-bodied without weight, it has... Read More

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... Read More

Kapcsándy's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is rich, unctuous and absolutely impeccable. Dark, sensual and inviting, the 2013 is just as exceptional as it has been in prior tastings. Mocha, espresso, plum, licorice,... Read More

After the 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2000 vintages, the 2002 Blanc de Noirs Brut Clos d’Ambonnay is the fifth edition of this splendid but rare and expensive Pinot Noir. Sourced in a tiny, walled 0.68-hectare (1.7-acre) plot on... Read More

#99 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2021

At first sight, an intense and brilliant golden hue. An expressive nose that is rich and ample with patinated aromas of honey, licorice, menthol, orange peel and grapefruit. Vivacious, intense... Read More

Deep, glass-staining violet. Powerful, mineral- and smoke-accented blueberry, cherry liqueur, incense and pipe tobacco aromas show outstanding definition and pick up suggestions of mocha and exotic spices with air. Offers deeply... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is just about pure perfection and another example of Napa Valley magic. All Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 80% new French oak, it offers an incredible bouquet of pure cassis and blackberry... Read More

Coming from two estate vineyards consisting of pure volcanic soils, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District sports deep purple/ruby color to go with a brilliant, full-bodied, seamless wine that’s going to flirt... Read More

The 2001 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva is the follow-up of the 1995. There is a sense of harmony and elegance, of nuance and subtleness that wasn't quite the same in the Bosconia, as comparing both wines is inevitable.... Read More

#10, Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2022!!

Very pure, this red exudes cherry, strawberry and currant fruit, shaded by iron, sage, white pepper and tobacco. Firm yet enticing, with superb balance and a finish that goes on and on. Excellent intensity on a slim frame. Best... Read More

The 2018 Gattinara Molsino emerges from a relatively warm, sunny spot on the estate at 400 meters in elevation. It presents myriad shades of dark cherry/plum fruit, sage, menthol, new leather and dark spices. Potent and virile... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir Occidental Station is the most overt of these wines. Explosive red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, sage and rose petal soar out of the glass. Soft and pliant for a young Occidental Pinot, the Occidental Station... Read More

Our 2021 Chardonnay is a thrilling, age-worthy wine, ultra-rich and concentrated yet beautifully balanced with lively fresh-style. Intense aromas of ripe gooseberry, lemongrass, and sweet clover bound from the glass with lingering... Read More

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly display their hillside origins. Rocky, rhyolitic... Read More

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly display their hillside origins. Rocky, rhyolitic... Read More

To the eye, 2016 Au Paradis presents a near black ruby color with violet highlights. The nose is elegant and packed with aromas of black currant and cassis with meaty nuances and touches of plum brandy, vanilla, caramel, clove... Read More

Surpassing even the 2012 and 2008, Philipponnat's 2013 Extra-Brut Clos des Goisses looks to be the finest vintage of this cuvée in several decades, at least on first acquaintance. Deriving from only the six core parcels... Read More

Parallels to the red wines of Burgundy abound in discussions of Poggio di Sotto. The Sangiovese wines released from this special property do always favor elegance and restraint over opulence and power, yet they never lack depth.... Read More

This is so perfumed with cherry, floral, hot stone and chalk aromas that follow through to a medium to full body, with chewy, velvety and slightly dusty tannins. Bark and truffle add to the complexity of the finish. From organically... Read More

Although ready to drink, this very fine Champagne has plenty of aging to go. With its rich Pinot Noir and ripe fruits, it is generous while also fully textured. Complex and balanced, mature fruit and toast working together, this... Read More

Flirting with perfection, instantly impressive and marked with impeccable shine and polish, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon from Champoux vineyard (90%) and Mach One vineyard (10%). The Cabernet... Read More

The 2018 Red Wine is a powerful, driving Napa Valley wine. Scorched earth, iron, chocolate, and leather give the red cherry/plum fruit distinctly savory accents. This is an especially tight wine in a vintage that yielded generally... Read More

Complex aromas of blackberry, tobacco, roasted coffee bea and wintergreen. On the palate, concentrated plum layered with well-coated tannins, firm acidity, oak spice and notes of licorice on the long finish.

98 Points, The Somm Journal

98 Points, Wine & Spirits

The best bunches from vines older than ten years, are set aside for drying and producing Amarone. A combination that symbolizes Dal Forno Romano Philosophy. The unique complexity of this wine is such that merely describing it... Read More

Another perfect wine is the 2018 Hexe, a blend of 57% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 13% Graciano, 10% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah that’s a 60/40 split from the James Berry and G2 vineyards. Full-bodied, concentrated,... Read More

In the running for the wine of the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is an incredible success and offers more depth, opulence, and purity than just about every other wine out there. Revealing a dense purple... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another perfect wine, although readers will need to have patience, as it’s still a baby. Deep purple-hued with a perfumed, vibrant bouquet of blue fruits, graphite, spring flowers,... Read More

The recently bottled 2020 Syrah Distenta 11 is a blend of 82.9% Syrah, 7.5% Grenache, 3.9% Mourvèdre, 3.4% Petite Sirah and 2.3% white grapes (1.5% Muskat and 0.8% Petit Manseng, to be precise). It comes entirely from estate... Read More

It offers a heavenly bouquet of caramelized oranges, toasted bread, honeyed citrus, and almond paste. This carries to a full-bodied, deep, concentrated white with incredible intensity and depth, yet it’s never heavy or overbearing... Read More

Tasted from bottle, the deeply hued 2017 Grenache The Gorgeous Victim checks in as 76% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah and Viognier. This deep purple Grenache boasts a savory, almost bloody style that... Read More

A dead-ringer (at least aromatically) for Guigal’s single vineyard Cote Rotie La Mouline, the 2002 Just For The Love of It is the greatest California Syrah I have yet tasted. A one-thousand case blend of 96% Syrah, 2% Grenache,... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as magnificent as it was last year. A heady, statuesque wine, the 2019 captures all the pedigree of the vintage. Inky red cherry fruit, mocha, licorice and spice race across the palate.... Read More

The PS is the sole single vineyard bottle produced by Siro Pacenti, with only 1000 bottles and 200 magnums being produced. PS is sourced from vines planted by Siro Pacenti in the early 1970s on the northwest side of Montalcino... Read More

The estate’s flagship wine since its inaugural 2000 vintage, Sloan Proprietary Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Layered with remarkable complexity and intensity of flavors and... Read More