The 2013 Dominus is magnificent. When it might be ready to drink is another question entirely. Today the flavors are remarkably primary and youthful. There is plenty of the dark blue/purplish fruit that is so typical of the year,... 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 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon... Read More
These wines from Mauro Mascarello and his family all need more time to open, but rest assured they are heading down the right path. Like the others, the 2013 Barolo Monprivato is taking its sweet time. The wine opens to a brilliant... Read More
Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru was showing quite a lot of fruit extraction on the nose, darker than the Bonnes-Mares from either Bruno Clair or Domaine de la Vougeraie: blackberry... Read More
Tasted blind at the Burgfest tasting in Beaune, the 2013 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses has a composed bouquet with good fruit intensity, blueberry and wild strawberry, neatly integrated oak, a real presence. The palate... Read More
The 2013 Cote Rotie La Mouline shows none of the vintage's sometimes dry tannins. It offers crisp black fruit--plums and blackberries--underscored by hints of pencil shavings, espresso and grilled meat. Suave and long, it... Read More
The 2013 Cote Rotie La Turque is a bit firm, austere and cool. It's medium-bodied and tannic, with some drying notes on the finish that suggest further cellaring is warranted. Yes, it shows ample concentration and complex... Read More
As I predicted last year, the 2013 Harlan Estate is one of their all-time greats, although they have had many of them, starting with the 1991, followed by 1994, 1995, 1997 (although controversial in some circles), 2001, 2002,... Read More
The impressive site of Backus Vineyard, right across from the Oakville Crossroads and the Screaming Eagle vineyard, is an extremely steep but magnificent site in Napa Valley. Production for this wine ranges from 1,200 to 1,600... Read More