A spare, faintly dank and decidedly sour - though, for all that, not uninteresting - non-dose blend tasted alongside could scarcely have contrasted more vividly with Lenoble's NV Brut Intense Disg. 2/2013, which is as immediately... Read More
This is a wine that I appear to have badly misjudged when tasting out of barrel. I had the bottled 26 Bellevue several times, and it was consistently hard, austere, and lean. Generally I love what this great terroir, surrounded... Read More
Production: 14,700 cases; Alcohol: 14.46%; Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc; Harvest Dates: September 9 to October 6 Made from a blend of fruit from four vineyards, Bancroft Ranch (57%), State Lane (now known... Read More
Beringer's 1999 Private Reserve reveals a dense purple color along with a flinty, herbal, austere personality that comes across like a young Medoc. Still vigorous, primary and unformed at age 13, it does not reveal the volume... Read More
The 1989 was exhibiting far more power and intensity than I expected. It has always been an impressively crafted, elegant, seamless wine with cassis fruit nicely dosed by high quality oak. The wine is currently revealing more... Read More
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc cropped at a low 28 hectoliters per hectare, this chunky, narrowly constructed St.-Emilion reveals elevated tannins, fig pudding-like fruit, medium body and an awkward finish. Drink... Read More
A perfect success for Cantemerle and one of the most monumental wines of the last 40 years, the 1989 Cantemerle remains a dense ruby color with plenty of purple in its mid-section. The wine has the classic Cantemerle noise of... Read More
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (100% Cabernet Sauvignon, now bottled earlier than in the past) exhibits an inky/blue/purple color in addition to sweet aromas of cassis, graphite, licorice, tobacco leaf and toasty... Read More
The complex, explosively fragrant 1999 Cheval Blanc is a blend of 59% Merlot and 41% Cabernet Franc. It is already showing well, which is a good sign for a wine that traditionally is reserved early in life, but puts on weight... Read More
The 2015 Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc, cropped at 37 hl/ha and matured in 65% new oak. It was picked from 15 September commencing with the young Merlot vines, and finishing between... Read More
The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers Vieilles Vignes, Sigaut's emblematic bottling, has turned out nicely, wafting from the glass with notes of cherries, cassis, cocoa nib and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied,... Read More
The deep purple-colored 1999 Ducru Beaucaillou, which represents 60% of the crop, offers aromas of crushed stones, raspberry liqueur, and black currants. This sweet, pure, and harmonious wine possesses elegance, finesse, and multiple... Read More
A strong performance by Far Niente's 2001 revealed a wine with lots of incense, black currant, sweet cherry, plum sauce and loamy soil notes along with a hint of smoky oak. The sweet, broad, expansive mouthfeel, full-bodied... Read More
Figeac has become a more consistent wine over the last few years. A profound effort, the surprisingly full-bodied 2000 Figeac has an opaque purple color accompanied by a terrific bouquet of camphor, graphite, black currants, licorice,... Read More
The 2015 Giscours is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. That is in stark comparison to older vintages, for example the 2000 Giscours that was 50/50 Cabernet and Merlot. This vintage is matured in... Read More
The 2017 Haut-Bailly is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it has a wonderfully spicy nose of cinnamon stick, cloves, anise and fenugreek with... Read More
The Château l'Eglise-Clinet 2002 has a relatively uncomplicated bouquet following the 2000 and 2001, although it is well defined with attractive black cherries, strawberry, soy and allspice. The palate is medium-bodied with... Read More
The 2018 La Conseillante is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare; Merlot was harvested September 19 to October 1, and Cabernet Franc was harvested... Read More
The 2006 Lafleur, which I had not tasted from bottle prior to this visit, merits 95 points. One of the vintate's most brilliant wines, this blend of 61% Merlot and 39% Cabernet Franc is neither as dense nor complete as the... Read More
Medium garnet-colored with moderate amber at the edge, the 1978 Latour offers a spicy, saddle leather, tobacco, dried herb, earthy nose with sweet fruit trying to poke through. Interestingly, new oak also makes an appearance in... Read More
Deep red. Superripe aromas of redcurrant, cocoa powder, mint and game. Tangy, crystallized red berry flavors offer a penetrating sweetness, but firm acids are currently keeping the wine quite tight. Impeccably balanced grand cru,... Read More
This three bottle set comes in a oversize wooden display box. The bottles will ship in two boxes, the display box will ship separately. Please contact us for shipping quotes to your location for the display box as its an oversize... Read More
From a low-yield, hot-summer vintage, this full-bodied Syrah is still very young and tough, with a plummy, ripe character, chalk, mineral and leather notes and excellent concentration. The tannins are beginning to integrate nicely,... Read More
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Phélan Ségur gives elegant red and black currants, kirsch and black berries with violets and chocolate box scents plus a waft of cigars. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, fine grained... Read More