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#9 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 of 2020. Brilliant ruby color, with russet tones. Mature and elegant, its aromatic richness is changing and subtle, becoming more apparent as the wine breathes. Notes of toast and coconut followed by tertiary aromas (leather, wet earth), and red fruit and dried fruit. Round, silky tannins, persistent and complex aftertaste. D 97 pts, WE 94 pts, WS 91 pts, JS 91 pts. -
Louis Moreau farms 52 acres in the villages of Beines and Chablis, most of his parcels on sandy clay. He ferments this wine in stainless steel without added yeasts, then ages it on the fine lees. In 2018, he achieved a wine of almost tropical fruit ripeness, with the structure, layers of flavor and leesy complexity of a fine Chablis. If you put your expectations aside and just take this, heads up, as a white wine, you might imagine its pineapple and lime, together with its monolithic minerality, as part of a new world order, with Chablis holding its own in the midst of a warming climate. Best Buy. W&S 91 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. -
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. -
Opaque purple in color. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, plum, boysenberry, vanilla, baking spices, smoked chocolate, and anise. On the palate there is flavors of blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, plum, smoked meat, and vanilla. Blend: 53% Syrah, 32% Grenache, 15% Petite Syrah. WE 91 pts, JD 91 pts, WW 90 pts. -
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, the 2016 Estate Red Wine opens with a dense core of bold and juicy dark fruit aromas that overflow into the blueberry spectrum with mocha nuances. Full-bodied, the palate is chewy and has good mineral tension, giving way to elegant, balanced oak flavors and a tannic edge that is still rigid but will last for decades to come. The freshness and liveliness of the wine remain focused, and the wine lingers with a long, contemplative finish. With a 2,000 case production, this is one that is worth adding to your cellar. RP 94 pts, JS 93 pts. -
This wine is made with fruit from the 130-hectare Tignanello estate and is Sangiovese with a smaller part Cabernet Sauvignon. The Marchesi Antinori 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is a dark and sultry expression with a higher degree of evident richness and concentration in this vintage that produced smaller, more compact berries. The tannins stand out tallest here, and there is some bitterness that is more in line with my expectations of the vintage. In fact, among these new Marchesi Antinori releases from 2017, this wine most accurately reflects the hot vintage especially in terms of mouthfeel. There is a pretty menthol note on the close. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, and the wine ages in French and Hungarian oak barrels for one year. JS 94 pts, RP 92 pts. -
This opens beautifully to reveal violets, blueberries, licorice, citrus, oyster shell and orange rind. So velvety and polished, but with real depth and structure. Medium-to full-bodied with delightful fruit and a long finish. Drink in 2021 but already so satisfying. JS 95 pts, D 90 pts. -
Displaying a deep garnet hue, this wine teems with pronounced aromas of raspberry, black cherry, and cocoa with hints of violet, black spice, and cola. The palate possesses a laser focus of black raspberry jam melded with rose petal and mocha. While the flavors are rich and persistent, this wine is in no way heavy or clumsy. It is well-defined and well-balanced straight through its eloquent finish. WW 90 pts. -
The nose exudes big ripe black cherries, earthy vanilla bean and notes of cedar from the Cabernet Franc. This powerful, luscious and mouth-filling wine has dominating flavors of ripe strawberries, white chocolate and cotton candy. The tannins provide structure yet are soft and supple. The finish is surprisingly racy with hints of black licorice and spicy white pepper. This lively wine should be enjoyed with friends and family during any occasion. Blend: 54% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot. JS 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 -
Aromas of white spring flower, Bartlett pear and citrus waft out of the glass. The racy, refreshing palate is full of energy, offering crisp yellow-apple, lemon drop and orange zest flavors balanced by vibrant acidity. A perlage of small, refined and continuous bubbles provides the silky backdrop. #1 Wine Enthusiast Wine of the Year 2019 WE 94 pts. JS 91 pts.