Wines Rated 90 pts or More

  • The 2017 Arise offers a rich attack with sweet, plush tannins and notes of cherry, plum, and smoked duck in a long finish of coffee, plum, and blueberry. An ideal 2016 harvest season resulted in rich fruit of uncompromised character. The 2016 Arise is Blackbird at its core of supple winemaking. Blend: 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. RP 92 pts, WW 92 pts, WS 90 pts
  • We started to pick the grapes, manually, in early October, in small 20 kg/44 lb boxes. The first selection was carried out at the vineyard, and we collected only the best bunches, perfectly ripe and in top condition. At the winery, a second selection was carried out at the sorting table, removing those clusters found to be less suitable. After gentle destemming and crushing, the grapes were placed in tanks where they underwent alcoholic fermentation at a temperature below 28°C/82°F. After 18 days of fermentation and maceration, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, with weekly bâttonages for two months. It was aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels (70%) and the rest in French oak barrels with two wines. JS 92
  • Pure berry and cassis aromas are concentrated and show no holes. This Uco Valley Malbec feels pure, direct and linear, albeit with slightly scratchy tannins that should dissipate in due time. Blackberry and dry spice flavors finish full and grabby, with muscularity. Drink through 2028. We 94 pts, JS 93 pts, TA 93 pts, WS 91 pts.
  • South African non-vintage sparkling wine. Light yeasty aromas, good fruit on the nose, and rich creamy complexity on the palate. Fine mousse gives freshness and finesse. Perfect with seafood or light meats. Blend: Chardonnay: 53%, Pinot Noir: 47%. D 90 pts, RP 90 pts.
  • The Carte d'Or cuvée is the very expression of the Drappier style. With its very high proportion of Pinot Noir, one is almost tasting a Blanc de Noirs. Champagne with a fine aromatic richness, it opens with aromas of stoned fruits such as white vineyard peach. A spicy hint announces a powerful complex palate. A vinous Champagne of lovely complexity with a characteristic note of quince jelly. WS 92 pts, RP 90 pts, WE 90 pts.
  • Chablis achieves its highly distinctive mineral character due to its cool northerly climate and its highly calcareous soil. The Domaine Louis Moreau Petit Chablis is fresh and aromatic, with notes of apple and citrus on the nose. Bright acidity and a roundness on the palate. 100% Chardonnay D 93 pts.
  • Takes a bright and relatively fresh approach, with raspberry and plum coulis flavors racing through first, backed by a plumper feel on the back end, showing notes of anise, mocha and briar. Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2026. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. JS 93pts, RP 92 pts, WS 91 pts.
  • Reservas are produced only in vintages of exceptional quality, and the Ontañon Reserva comes from our most select vineyards on the slopes of the Sierra Yerga Mountains, just above the town of Quel in Rioja baja. The product of some of their oldest vines, Ontañon Reserva displays notes of deep, full fruit flavors but with ample acidity, minerality and earth notes drawn from the land where the fruit is grown. It has backbone, fine-laced acidity, structure and natural grape tannins that that will ensure its integrity for years to come. D 91 pts
  • This blend of 45% Syrah, 39% Grenache, 9% Mourvèdre and 7% Counoise offers lush aromas of violet, lilac, lavender, vanilla and blueberry on the nose. The palate offers plenty of black currant and spice flavors, with sandy tannins and fresh acidity holding it all in check. WE 95 pts.
  • Deep dark in glass with gorgeous aromas of blue fruit, pie crust and a touch of coconut husk. On the palate the rich texture combines well with the full-bodied tannins and ripe plum and cassis flavors. Layers of fruit intertwine with subtle secondary flavors of briar, cigar box and touch of graphite minerality. WS 91 pts, JS 90 pts.
  • Classic Far Niente style with aromas of grilled citrus, melon and honeysuckle with hints of white fig, gardenia and toasted hazelnuts, background of mild toasted oak that adds supportive warmth and richness. A silky entry builds on the palate with a rich texture that continues to evolve. Possessing great structure and length, a sweet core of melon and citrus is supported by white floral and toasted vanilla and baking spice notes. The broad mid palate comes back together with a long bright finish. WW 92 pts, WS 90 pts.
  • Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Estate has aromas of crunchy cranberries, raspberries and blackberries with accents of fragrant earth, violets, peppercorn, saline and bitters. Medium-bodied and silky, it offers loads of ripe fruits tempered by earthy accents, with grainy tannins and sip-me-again acidity, finishing long. Grapes for this cuvée were mostly destemmed and come from both older and younger vines. RP 92 pts, WS 92 pts.
  • Pale, shimmering orange. Fresh red berries, orange pith, pungent flowers and toasty lees on the incisive nose. Intense strawberry, cherry, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors smoothly blend depth and delicacy and show no rough edges. Closes taut, long and precise, with repeating toastiness and lingering red fruit character. V 93 pts.
  • Rich, dark and concentrated, this wine displays luxurious aromas of crème de cassis, plum, ripe berries, anise and fresh herbs, as well as hints of vanilla, clove, dark chocolate and sweet spices from aging in French oak. On the lush, layered palate, supple fine-grained tannins frame the dark berry and black plum flavors, with hints of cedar, espresso and tobacco leaf adding sophistication to a long, voluptuous finish. Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec. WW 94 pts, JS 93 pts, RP 93 pts.
  • Capturing the eye, charming the nose and enchanting the palate, the Roserock Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir has a velvety approach and focused structure. Balanced and long on the palate, the elegance shines through many layers of flavors. This is a wine that will be delicious young but that has a bright future. 100% Pinot Noir. JS 94pts, WS 93pts, RP 93pts, WE 92pts.
  • Seamlessly woven in black cherry and cocoa, the flagship Cabernet is sumptuous and seductive in structure and complexity. The palate offers flavors of hazelnut, baked plum, and cloves while brilliant acidity on the finish balances the concentration of flavors and tannins. RP 90 pts, WW 90 pts
  • The Chateau de St. Cosme Gigondas displays a deep ruby color with enticing aromas of gingerbread, blackberry, and white pepper. The palate offers ample freshness, sweet tannins, and a full bodied, lingering texture. Blend: 70% Grenache - 14% Syrah - 15% Mourvedre - 1% Cinsault. JS 94 pts, JD 93 pts, WS 93 pts, RP 92 pts.
  • Wild and brambly with a wealth of mixed berries and dark chocolate. The palate has chalky tannins that are compressed and set like plaster. Chocolate and dark berries to finish. Drink or hold."  JS 91 pts, JD 91 pts.
  • The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is ultra-concentrated with dense black fruit, anise, roasted coffee, ripe blueberries, cedar box, and graphite. A fresh and focused wine with creamy texture and a long luscious mouthfeel with dusty earth, baking spices, sweet vanilla, and fresh fig notes. Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc. JKS 94 pts, WW 94 pts, RP 93 pts, WE 93 pts, JD 91 pts.
  • Pure elegance in a glass. Aromas of black cherries, pomegranate, dried cranberries and a hint of graphite channel classic Bordeaux. Its lovely, silky texture coats the palate with layers of black cherries and a touch of cedar from French oak’s fine tannins. From beginning to end, the balance carries all the way through. Enjoy now after decanting for 60 minutes or cellar through 2029-2034. Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. WW 94, WE 92
  • Produced exclusively with hand-picked grapes, this Cuvée was put on the American market for the first time in 1985. It is prepared according to the traditional method. Its bouquet with pear aroma distinguishes it from other sparkling wines and the fruity aroma lends it an initial effervescence which culminates in a lingering, creamy effect. 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay. WS 91 pts, WE 90 pts.
  • Very well structured, with exemplary purity of red fruits. A striking Champagne on the nose offering similar sensations on the palate. Warm and satiny, lightly spiced with balanced hints of stoned fruits thanks to a lovely freshness in the finish. Ideal as an aperitif. Perfect with antipasti, salmon en papillotte, grilled pink lamb, strawberry salad. 100% Pinot Noir. WS 92 pts, RP 91 pts.
  • Phillip created  this blend in a lush, forward, crowd-pleasing style that envelopes your senses in rich Mountainous fruit, spices and vanilla.  With Cabernet Sauvignon as the dominant grape, the 2017 is finely focused, brilliantly concentrated, and on the palate, the wine’s hallmark velvety embrace comes dressed with provocative black cherries, ripe blueberries, dried violets and cocoa.  Includes each of the Big Five Bordeaux Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec. WW 92 pts. W&S 91 pts.
  • This wine has a beautiful balance of raspberry fruit profile with warm spice, black tea and a delicate cocoa. The fruit on the palate is juicy but if you lean in there is a quiet brooding character to this wine that still has a lot yet to give. The Acid holds the fruit in check and the tannins keep the gentle momentum into a long finish. In a word, ‘delicious’. 100% Pinot Noir. JS 93 pts, WE 92 pts, WS 91 pts, W&S 94 pts.
  • The 2018 Chateau de Beaucastel red has an elegant deep ruby-red colour. The powerful and elegant nose offers superb notes of spices, cherries and cocoa. Elegantly and perfectly balanced, the mouth reveals a beautiful dense structure with fine tannins and complex aromas of red fruit such as blackcurrants and floral notes. The finish is very long and harmonious. A very sophisticated wine, signature of Beaucastel’s style. RP 95 pts, D 95 pts, JD 94 pts.
  • Playful, candy-coated raspberry aromas bounce from the glass along with sweet cigar spice, followed by a lush palate of dark cherry and soft yet pithy tannin. Finishes with quenching acidity and lingering, velvety texture. 2016, 2017, 2018 vintage rated 92-93 pts.
  • Fresh and pure, with a pretty beam of raspberry and cassis notes, flecked with savory, lavender and rooibos tea accents. A mineral edge adds length and tension on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2032. JS 93 pts. JD 92pts, WS 92pts, RP 90 pts.
  • The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Crossbarn comes from the superstar winemaker Paul Hobbs and is a solid value in 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet. Upfront violets, plums, exotic spices, and orange blossom notes all emerge from this expressive, medium to full-bodied, plush effort that has lots of charm. It has the vintage's slightly firm tannins yet should keep nicely for 7-8 years, if not longer. JS 93 pts, JD 91 pts, RP 90 pts.
  • The barrel sample of 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Sirah, 8% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Syrah, aging in 70% new French oak. Deep ruby-black in color, it gives up luscious crème de cassis, blackberry pie, kirsch, mint chocolate, vanilla bean, coffee and grilled meats scents with touches of tobacco and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, it offers intense, expertly managed, ripe fruits and loads of spices with a firm, finely grained frame and great freshness, finishing long and spicy. RP 95 pts
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