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Marina Cvetić 26992

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2018

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

November 20, 2020
 The Trebbiano Riserva Marina Cvetic represents the ultimate expression for the estate of one of the historical vines of Abruzzo.  Like Montepulciano, Trebbiano was once thought to be a workhorse grape without the potential to produce great wine. The interpretation of this wine is original and has a character. Marina Cvetic wines have full body and are elegant and are a “lone voice” for the most demanding and technical experts.

92

Vinous -April 07, 2021 “The captivating 2018 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Riserva pulls you close to the glass with an elegant display of baked apples and pears complemented by exotic florals and hints of confectionary spice.…

93

James Suckling -December 10, 2020  "A white with sliced-lime, ripe-pear and some green-apple character. It’s full-bodied with a dense palate and a vivid, creamy finish. Some vanilla and pralines." 

93

Wine Enthusiast -November 20, 2020 "Vibrant aromas of lemon zest and yellow apple peel are framed in accents of toast and honey on the nose. Fermented in barrel and aged for 12 months in new…

Dog Point Vineyard 26776

Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Marlborough

November 11, 2020
 Section 94 is widely regarded as the most distinctive and greatest Sauvignon Blanc being made in New Zealand today. James Healy and Ivan Sutherland were among the first to begin fermenting their Sauvignon in barrel with wild yeasts, a technique that along with the old vines they use, leads to a full-bodied wine that is less fruit-forward, more exotic, and has immense textural complexity. 

92

Wine Enthusiast -February 13, 2023 April 2023 Issue

93

Wine Advocate -August 23, 2022 "While fleshy and succulent, this leads with crisp acidity. Offers notes of lanolin, litsea oil, honeysuckle, lemon curd, lime sherbet and dried chamomile, which are put into focus with mouthwatering…

95

James Suckling -January 31, 2022 "Flinty, reductive notes open up to lime zest, white grapefruit, dried pineapple, hay, white pepper and hints of praline. Medium-bodied with sharp acidity and a phenolic, tight and taut palate.…

94

James Suckling -November 11, 2020 "The complex style is nicely dialed-in here, offering a fresh array of grilled lemon and peach with some gently nutty aromas, as well as a lime-curd edge. Really fresh. The…

Dog Point Vineyard 26758

Pinot Noir 2018

Marlborough

November 11, 2020
 Dog Point's renown as a Sauvignon Blanc producers has done nothing to lessen the enthusiasm around their Pinot Noir, today considered one of the finest in New Zealand. What sets their wine apart is the generosity of the structure, which comes off as rich but not sweet, and the complex mingling of fruit and savory notes.

94

James Suckling -November 11, 2020 "Attractive, earthy and spicy aromas are wound seamlessly into bright, red and darker cherries. This is complex and fragrant with dialed-in oak. The palate has impressively intense red-cherry flavors with…

Dog Point Vineyard 26753

Chardonnay 2018

Marlborough

November 11, 2020
 Several influential voices in the wine industry believe that in time Chardonnay may prove New Zealand's single highest achievement. All three of the Dog Point wines fermented in barrel are small in production, but the Chardonnay is the smallest, and at times indeed the most dazzling.

93

Wine Spectator -February 02, 2021 "Rich and toasty upfront, with hazelnut, nutmeg and cardamom details that mingle with peach, poached pear and green apple flavors and a hint of gunpowder tea on a supple and…

94

James Suckling -November 11, 2020 "A complex chardonnay with guava, lime and lightly grilled-peach aromas, as well as flint and toasted hazelnut. The palate has an impressively taut and concentrated feel with praline, hazelnut, peach…

E. Guigal 26696

Crozes-Hermitage 2018

Crozes-Hermitage

November 09, 2020
 Crozes-Hermitage can be considered the gateway to the red and white wines of the Northern Rhône Valley. The reds, which are the majority of production, have wonderful warm flavors of red and black fruit, and typical Syrah pepper, spice and savory notes.

92

Vinous -December 22, 2022 "Saturated ruby. Ripe, smoke-accented dark fruit, olive paste and cracked pepper qualities on the nose. Broad and supple in texture, offering vaguely jammy blackberry and kirsch flavors and a hint…

90

James Suckling -September 02, 2022 "Aromas of red fruit and berries, thyme, red licorice and grated nutmeg. Full-bodied with guiding tannins. Straightforward with a solid core of red fruits. Bark and moss undertones." - J.S…

91

Wine Enthusiast -August 11, 2021 Full Review to be Published in October, 2021  

92

Wine Advocate (90-92) -November 09, 2020 "Tasted against the 2016 and 2017, Guigal's 2018 Crozes Hermitage reveals another level of ripeness and plushness. It's full-bodied, maybe even a little jammy (not a problem at this youthful…

92

Jeb Dunnuck (89-92) -November 09, 2020 "I loved the 2018 Crozes-Hermitage, which is similar to the 2017 yet offers a touch more purity of fruit. Blackberries, black raspberries, smoked game, and earth all emerge from this…

E. Guigal 26459

Côte-Rôtie La Turque 2016

Côte-Rôtie

October 29, 2020
 La Turque is Guigal’s most recent addition to the single-vineyard Cru Côte-Rôties, coming over as part of their purchase of the Vidal-Fleury firm in 1980. La Turque had produced outstanding wines in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but had not been used for wine production for nearly 50 years. The Guigals acquired the vineyard and re-planted it in 1980 and 1981, based on Etienne Guigal’s memory of the quality of the wines it produced during his tenure at Vidal-Fleury. The first vintage was the magnificent 1985. In both position and style, it sits between La Mouline and La Landonne: the complex soils lend an exotic character to La Turque, and its concentration and elegance exhibit the virility of the Côte Brune with the subtlety and femininity of the Côte Blonde.

98

Wine Advocate -April 16, 2021 “Loaded with exotic perfumes of spring flowers and ripe berries, the 2016 Cote Rotie La Turque looks more like the wine I first tasted back in 2017. Medium to full-bodied,…

96

Jeb Dunnuck -November 20, 2020 "Showing beautifully, the 2016 Côte Rôtie La Turque comes from the Côte Brune (along with the La Landonne) and includes a solid chunk of co-fermented Viognier. As with all the…

96

Wine Spectator -October 29, 2020 “Dark and winey, with waves of cassis, steeped plum and warmed cherry preserves rolling through, all laced with dried anise, black tea and mesquite notes. The long finish picks up…

E. Guigal 26458

Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2016

Côte-Rôtie

October 29, 2020
 First planted by the Romans 2,500 years ago, La Mouline is the oldest and most famous vineyard of Cote-Rotie, and Guigal’s single vineyard bottling of La Mouline in the 1960s set off a quality revolution throughout the Rhone Valley. The stunning amphitheater is the most complex plot in Cote-Rotie due to its extremely steep slopes with expositions in every direction. Of the three famous “LaLas” that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Mouline was the first and is the only one on the Cote Blonde, and its signature is an unbelievable exoticism, an irresistibly and unique lifted floral, black fruit, earthy, spicy perfume, its coiled power always in balance, seemingly endless.

97

Wine Advocate -May 14, 2021 "Like the La Turque, the 2016 Cote Rotie La Mouline is about as approachable a young La La as you're likely to find. Floral notes include hints of violet and…

98

Jeb Dunnuck -November 20, 2020 "Probably one of my favorite wines in the world is the La Mouline Côte Rôtie from the Guigal family. Coming from old vines and a warmer, steep, terraced parcel not…

95

Wine Spectator -October 29, 2020 "Suave in feel, this lovely, beguiling wine offers perfumed black tea and incense notes swirling around a core of steeped cherry and plum fruit, all inlaid with notes of anise…

E. Guigal 26457

Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 2016

Côte-Rôtie

October 29, 2020
 One of the three “LaLa” wines that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Landonne is a remarkable expression of terroir. And for good reason, La Landonne is situated on one of the steepest vineyards of the Côte Brune, a 45 degree slope that remarkably requires harvesters to start picking from the bottom of the vineyard and work their way up, placing grape bunches in bins that are set on sleds and dragged up the hill. Along with its position at the northern end of the Côte Brune and the fact it is the last vineyard to ripen, La Landonne is the mirror of the feminine and voluptuous La Mouline: it is a wine of driving power, defined by its dark fruit and structure. The first vintage Guigal produced was in 1978, after being planted in 1975 at the time of Philippe Guigal’s birth.

99

Wine Advocate -May 14, 2021 “The darkest, most concentrated and tannic of the 2016 La Las, the 2016 Cote Rotie La Landonne boasts hints of smoked meat and scorched coffee on the nose, waves of…

97

Wine Spectator -October 29, 2020 “This sports some ripe black cherry, bitter plum and black currant fruit flavors allied to a bolt of cast iron through the middle, while mesquite, bay leaf and savory notes…

97

Jeb Dunnuck -October 29, 2020 “The 2016 Côte Rôtie La Landonne showed brilliantly, with the more fresh, classic, and elegant style of the vintage front and center. All Syrah aged four years in new French…

Tenuta Luce 26092

Lucente 2018

Toscana IGT

October 15, 2020
 Lucente is the second wine of Luce, a wine with contemporary style, immediate and great pleasure, and like its elder sibling, an authentic interpretation of Montalcino and the Luce estate.

91

Vinous -July 12, 2021 "The 2018 La Vite Lucente is bright, fresh and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet dark cherry, plum, mocha, lavender and wild flowers all run through this gracious, mid-weight red. Fresh and nuanced,…

Marina Cvetić 26071

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2017

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

October 15, 2020
 The Montepulciano Marina Cvetic represents an intense and remarkable expression of one of the historical vines of Abruzzo.  The 100% Montepulciano comes from eight of the estate's top parcels, across an altitude of 500 to 1,200 feet above sea level, on soils of calcareous clay and lime.  In these vineyards, we find not only the traditional Abruzzo pergola vine training, but also Simple Guyot and Spur Cordon as well.  

94

Wine Advocate -October 22, 2021 "The Marina Cvetić 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva S. Martino Rosso is a full and generous wine that nails both the traits of the hot vintage and this super soft and…

90

Wine Enthusiast -August 11, 2021 Full Review to be Posted in October, 2021 

93

James Suckling -December 10, 2020 "A red with plenty of ripe-berry, tar, ash and walnut aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and layered with lots of fruit and flavor."

E. Guigal 25963

Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge 2017

Saint-Joseph

October 12, 2020
 A result of its quality, Guigal’s Saint-Joseph Lieu Dit Rouge comes from the “Saint-Joseph” vineyard that gives the appellation its name. This site convinced the Guigals to work in Saint-Joseph and help to restore the historic perception of Saint-Joseph as an appellation of utmost quality. The 100% Syrah wine has complex and deep black fruit, floral, spice and mineral characteristics. Despite its concentration and powerful attack, the wine retains the trademark elegance that Saint-Joseph offers.

95

Wine & Spirits Magazine -August 19, 2021 "This comes from the vineyard that gave St-Joseph its name, a south-facing parcel of granite in Tournon that grew a garnet-hued beauty in 2017. It’s appealing from the very first…

92

Wine Advocate -May 14, 2021 "The 2017 Saint-Joseph Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph displays plenty of cedar and vanilla accents on the nose (it's aged in 100% new French oak) [...] Full-bodied and velvety, this is a rich,…

95

Jeb Dunnuck (95+) -November 20, 2020 "Coming from the namesake vineyard of the appellation just south of Tournon, it reveals a dense purple color as well as a primordial bouquet of smoked black fruits, bacon fat,…

93

Wine Spectator -October 28, 2020 “An extroverted style, with a rush of boldly ripe plum and blackberry compote flavors that are round and inviting in feel, laced with dark licorice and fruitcake and ending with…

93

Vinous -October 12, 2020 “Inky magenta. Heady, mineral- and oak-tinged blue fruit, potpourri, cola and olive aromas are given a spicy edge by a hint of cracked pepper. Impressively concentrated yet vibrant in character,…

E. Guigal 25949

Condrieu La Doriane 2018

Condrieu

October 12, 2020
 La Doriane is a luxury cuvée of Condrieu that the Guigals have produced since the 1994 vintage. A great success since the first vintage, the wine always seems richly oaked and very fruity when young, transforming in 3-4 years into a seamlessly complex, aromatic and vibrant wine. La Doriane contradicts the accepted wisdom that Condrieu does not age well.

96

Vinous -October 12, 2020 "Light, green-tinged yellow. A hugely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe orchard and pit fruit liqueur, honey, vanilla, exotic flowers and smoky minerals, along with emerging spiciness. Broad and fleshy but shockingly…

97

Jeb Dunnuck -October 12, 2020 "The 2018 Condrieu La Doriane is a bigger, more luxurious version of the appellation release. Beautiful quince, acacia flowers, apricot, and spice notes emerge from the glass and it builds…

E. Guigal 25937

Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis 2016

Côte-Rôtie

October 12, 2020
 The Guigal family spent 15 years restoring Château d'Ampuis, a historic property whose oldest sections date to the 11th century. The Château d’Ampuis has been the symbol of the town of Ampuis and the world-renowned Côte-Rôtie vineyard area for ten centuries. When the Guigal family learned that there was at one time a wine produced with the Château d’Ampuis name, they decided to produce an exceptional wine that would showcase the best that Côte-Rôtie has to offer.

95

Wine Advocate -May 14, 2021 "The 2016 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis remains a wonderfully harmonious, medium to full-bodied effort, possessing tremendous energy and length. Cedary notes accent red raspberries on the nose, while the streamlined…

96

Wine Spectator -November 20, 2020 "Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as a stunning nose of black raspberry and cassis interwoven with notes of bacon fat, spring flowers, violets, and smoked game, this beauty hits…

95

Wine Spectator -October 28, 2020 "This lovely version throws off some pretty stylish aromas of incense, black tea and juniper, followed by a focused core of steeped cherry and plum fruit. Subtle mineral and savory…

95

Vinous -October 12, 2020 "Extremely dark ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented cherry and dark fruit preserve, exotic spice, licorice and incense aromas show sharp delineation and pick up hints of candied flowers and olive with aeration.…

E. Guigal 25925

Hermitage 2017

Hermitage

October 12, 2020
 Hermitage is one of France’s most spectacular and famous appellations, producing small quantities of extraordinarily intense and ageworthy red wine and tiny amounts of dry white. The entire vineyard consists of 309 acres planted on a single granite hillside on the banks of the Rhône. The Hermitage Rouge is the example of a racy wine, that manages to remain seductive.

94

Vinous -December 22, 2022 "Deep, vivid ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, floral and exotic spices, with botanical herb, game and olive notes in the background. Concentrated but energetic…

95

Wine & Spirits Magazine -August 19, 2021 "Yes, there’s the sumptuous oak that’s a hallmark of Guigal reds, as well as a hedonistic chocolatey density of flavor. There’s red fruit and warm spice, licorice and earth, and…

92

Wine Advocate -May 14, 2021 "Guigal's 2017 Hermitage boasts singed leather, exotic spice and roasted meat notes, plus plenty of cedar, mocha, cherry and cassis. It's a whirl of complexity bound together on the medium…

94

Jeb Dunnuck -October 12, 2020 "Aged 48 months in barrel, it’s ruby/purple-colored and has a killer nose of blackcurrants, black raspberries, smoked meats, spice box, vanillin, and espresso. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful, with background oak,…

Tommasi 25841

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2016

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

October 08, 2020
 Tommasi's traditional approach to Amarone favors elegance and balance, with deep fruit complemented by spicy, earthy flavors. Through its commitment to quality and tradition, Tommasi has established itself as one of the principal ambassadors of Amarone in the world.

92

Wine Advocate -January 19, 2022 "The Tommasi 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico reveals a dark and savory side that we did not see in the hotter and sweeter 2017 vintage. This wine is angular and…

90

Wine Spectator -December 06, 2021 "A compact Amarone with an overtone of cured tobacco, defined by crisp tannins tightly meshed to flavors of steeped cherry, dried raspberry and minerally hints of smoke and loamy earth.…

93

Vinous -February 25, 2021 "The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is quite reserved and understated, but in a way that keeps you at the edge of the glass. Roses, blackberries, savory herbs and a…

94

James Suckling -December 08, 2020 "A rich, layered Amarone with lots of fruit. Bright, sliced dried citrus to the tripe and juicy fruit. It's full bodied and compact with a beautiful finish and transparency."  

90

Wine Enthusiast -November 18, 2020 "Reveals whiffs of stewed prune, leather and tilled earth. The solid palate offers baked plum, candied raisin and a dollop of vanilla alongside polished, rather relaxed tannins before a bitter…

Tommasi 25833

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca’ Florian 2012

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOCG

October 08, 2020
 Ca' Florian is the Tommasi family's oldest estate, settled by grandfather Giacomo in 1902 and home to their top Amarone Riserva. Farmed with dry-stone wall terraces, pergola veronese trellising, and traditional bamboo drying racks, every detail of this vineyard is a living memory of where the family began. Fewer than 9,000 bottles per vintage. Built for the cellar, and worth every year of patience.

93

Wine Advocate -January 19, 2022 "The Tommasi 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian offers an interesting perspective tasted now just shy of the 10-year mark since the harvest. This special late-release blend of…

94

Vinous -February 25, 2021 "The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Ca' Florian holds nothing back, exploding from the glass with a massive wave of medicinal blackberries and cherries dipped in dark chocolate, complemented…

94

James Suckling -December 08, 2020 "This is really showing lots of dried fruit with sultana, white-pepper and fig flavors. It's full and very tight with a long, intense finish. Chewy and gorgeous now. Very classic…

Tommasi 25806

Ripasso Valpolicella 2018

Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC

October 07, 2020
 This wine is made by refermenting the juice from the Valpolicella on the warm Amarone grape skins, in the typical “Ripasso” method, which imparts a rich character and personality to the wine. The grapes are sourced from three of most prestigious Tommasi vineyards: Conca d’Oro, La Groletta and De Buris.

90

Vinous -April 18, 2022 The 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso lifts up, with lavender and violets giving way to rich brown spice and crushed cherries. This is round and pliant yet salty in character…

92

James Suckling -July 15, 2021 "Lightly exotic nose of ripe raspberries, prunes and a hint of orange zest. Medium-bodied with a tight, intense bead of fruit, very fine tannins and lovely chocolate orange at the…

Old Vine Ranch by Marietta Cellars 25665

Old Vine Red Lot 71

California, United States

October 01, 2020
 Affectionately known as “OVR,” Marietta’s Old Vine Red is a proprietary red wine made to replicate the field blends of the old vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. A groundbreaking combination of grape varieties and multiple vintages first produced in 1982, this wine has blazed the path for red blends for decades. With an historic underground following, it is one of the longest lasting and best known red blends produced today. Predominantly comprised of Zinfandel, Old Vine Red combines pure fruit, a supple mouth feel and a rich, solid structure.

94

Wine Advocate -June 08, 2021 "Deep ruby-purple in color, the NV Old Vine Red Lot 71 has bright black cherry on the nose, with accents of fresh tobacco leaves, woodsmoke iron and potpourri. Medium-bodied, grainy…

Ornellaia 25613

Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2018

Bolgheri DOC Rosso

September 29, 2020
 Coming primarily from the estate’s younger vineyards and made with the same passion and attention to detail as Ornellaia, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a true “second vin.” A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot, Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia combines generosity and depth of flavor with an engaging and vibrant personality.

92

Jeb Dunnuck -June 22, 2022 "As usual, the 2018 Le Serre Nuove Dell'Ornellaia is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, and it functions as the second wine of Ornellaia. Aged15…

93

Wine Advocate -May 06, 2021 "The 2018 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that is aged in oak for 15 months. The wine…

93

Vinous -February 18, 2021 "The 2018 Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is everything a second wine should be. Open-knit and silky, with impeccable balance and tons of sheer appeal, the 2018 is exquisite today. In…

90

Wine Spectator -February 02, 2021 "Rich and packed with black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors shaded by wild Mediterranean herbs and baking spices. It's polished, yet dense, the tannins lining the lingering finish like cocoa…

Rotem and Mounir Saouma 25514

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Magis 2017

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

September 17, 2020
 Another unsurprising but jawdropping discovery when encountering the Saouma wines: Magis, Mounir’s white Chateauneuf from the heavily limestone Pierredon vineyard in Bedarrides. It makes sense that a producer of great white Burgundy would quickly become enchanted by the possibilities here. Only 3% of Chateauneuf is white, and virtually all of it is bottled after 6 months. Mounir’s chateauneuf is aged 18-24 months and has already been compared to some of the great white Burgundy crus for its depth and minerality.

97

Wine Spectator -September 17, 2020 "Gorgeous in every way, from the lush and silky feel to the waves of creamed melon, white peach and green fig flavors, accented by spritely chamomile and verbena details. The…

Champagne Bollinger 24943

Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2009

Champagne, France

August 28, 2020
 Vieilles Vignes Françaises is one of Champagne’s most mythical cuvees, produced from miraculously preserved and ungrafted 100% Pinot Noir vines. Phylloxera destroyed the vines of Champagne in the early 20th century, but amazingly enough two of Bollinger’s classified Grands crus plots, Chaudes Terres and Clos St. Jacques, survived and are still grown the traditional way. Madame Lily Bollinger first had this wine produced in 1969 as an anniversary cuvee to commemorate her 70th birthday. Following the wine’s launch in 1974, Vieilles Vignes Françaises promptly became a collectible and a symbol of a bygone era. Over the decades, its uniqueness and scarcity have made it one of the most sought-after and expensive Champagnes.

96

Vinous (96+) -August 28, 2020 "With a few hours of air, apricot, plum, spice, dried cherry and candied orange peel start to appear. In some years, VVF can be quite opulent, 2002 and 2010 come…

Lynmar Estate 24613

Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2018

Russian River Valley

July 30, 2020
 This classic representation of Russian River Chardonnay from Lynmar features a selection of clones, each vinified separately and blended together, that show the range of flavors and textures that can be achieved in this climate. 

94

Wine Enthusiast (Editor's Choice ) -July 30, 2020 Full Review to be Published in October, 2020

Rotem and Mounir Saouma 24553

Inopia Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Rouge 2017

Côtes-du-Rhône

July 28, 2020
 Burgundy meets the Rhône. An utter respect for tradition, and in some ways a total break. We’ve watched as Mounir and Rotem Saouma, of Burgundy producer Lucien Le Moine, slowly developed their estate and wines in the Rhône Valley, and the results today are too extraordinary and distinct to ignore.

92

Jeb Dunnuck (90-92) -July 28, 2020 "The 2017 Côtes du Rhône Village Inopia comes from vines around the estate and is mostly Grenache yet includes smaller amounts of Counoise, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. It offers a perfumed,…

Château de Nalys 24022

Chateauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin Blanc 2018

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

July 08, 2020
 Guigal's mastery of growing and producing white wine varieties in the Rhône Valley is exemplified in this wine of immense breadth and power, elegance and expression.  Intensely aromatic nose of white flowers, citrus and a touch of vanilla, on the palate the presence is undeniably penetrating, with a deep minerality joining the notes above.

93

Wine Enthusiast -January 26, 2021 Cellar Selection  "This smoky, spicy blend of Roussanne, Clairette and Grenache Blanc introduces itself with heady aromas of Bourbon barrels and charred toast. Vinified in oak (18% new barriques), it's…

93

Wine Spectator -January 14, 2021 "Lush in feel, with lemon curd, glazed pear, quince and acacia notes backed by a subtle hint of creamed melon on the finish."

96

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96) -July 08, 2020 "The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc looks to be the finest white to date and unquestionably ranks with the finest whites in the vintage. Beautiful notes of crushed rocks, honeysuckle,…

94

Wine Advocate -July 08, 2020 "Mainly Roussanne and about half barrel fermented, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Grand Vin Blanc is a plump, silky-textured effort. Toast accents honeyed tangerine, melon and fig notes in this…

Château de Nalys 24008

Saintes Pierres de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

July 08, 2020
 The second white wine to the Château de Nalys Grand Vin Blanc has a character all its own, with a strongly different varietal and plot composition, and like its red Saintes Pierres counterpart, a fermentation, and aging geared towards emphasizing freshness. The hallmark seamlessness of Guigal's white wines is especially evident in this wine, which is unlike any Châteauneuf white we have experienced in its grace and lift.

93

Jeb Dunnuck (91-93) -July 08, 2020 "The 2018s, all of which were tasted as barrel samples, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Saintes Pierres De Nalys Blanc offers racy notes of sliced apples, tart peach, and salty…

90

Wine Advocate -July 08, 2020 "Mainly Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc, with smaller proportions of several other white grapes, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Saintes Pierres Blanc looks to be a solid effort for drinking over…

Château de Nalys 23932

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin 2017

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

July 07, 2020
 The realization of the Guigal family's dream of Châfteauneuf-du-Pape: 3 extraordinary vineyards coming together in an intensely expressive, utterly complete wine. 

97

Wine Enthusiast -January 26, 2021 Cellar Selection "Piquant hits of shaved peppercorn and clove lend warmth to rich, glossy black plum and mulberry in this penetrating red. A blend of Grenache and Syrah accented by…

94

Jeb Dunnuck -July 07, 2020 "A more serious, concentrated wine, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape boasts a vivid ruby/purple color as well as rocking notes of dark fruits, ground pepper, violets, tobacco, and loads of…

95

Wine Advocate (93-95) -July 07, 2020 "To be bottled in November, I sampled the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Grand Vin on two occasions (once blind), with consistent notes. Black cherry and raspberry fruit dominate, although subtle…

Château de Nalys 23913

Saintes Pierres de Nalys Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

July 07, 2020
 Translated as "holy stones", a play on the soils and history of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the second red wine to Château de Nalys is an altogether different animal.  Differing varietal and plot selections, fermentation, and aging result in a wine that is rich and ample, yet offers immense direct and approachable pleasure; a wine of red fruits, supple structure and brightness.

94

Wine Enthusiast -January 26, 2021 Editors' Choice "This Grenache-dominant blend offers black cherry and cassis flavors edged by hints of leather and fire-roasted chestnuts. Fine-grained, integrated tannins make it approachable now, but this should drink…

90

Wine Spectator -November 19, 2020 "A traditional style, with a slightly dried edge to the mix of cherry, damson plum and red currant fruit, with a dusting of sandalwood and rooibos tea notes on the…

91

Wine Advocate -July 07, 2020 "Marked by hints of allspice and clove, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Saintes Pierres delivers classic leather and cherry flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, yet silky and streamlined, well-balanced for…

92

Jeb Dunnuck -July 07, 2020 "Coming from tiny yields (the estate was down 40% in 2017), the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Saintes Pierres De Nalys offers a ripe, medium to full-bodied, balanced style as well…

Champagne Bollinger 23862

PN VZ15

Champagne, France

July 06, 2020
 PN, made entirely from Pinot Noir to underscore the very essence and DNA of the House style, is the first new cuvée added to Bollinger’s permanent range since rosé in 2008. Each release of PN, developed as a series to bring Bollinger’s unique vision of Pinot Noir to light, will showcase a different cru from the base year that highlights its distinctive terroir and taste. The first edition of the series, PN VZ15, explores the interpretation of Pinot Noir from Verzenay 2015 and features reserve wines dating back to 2009.

93

Wine & Spirits -October 13, 2020 "This new project from Bollinger explores 100 percent pinot noir presented as blanc de noirs Champagne. The first release is focused on Verzenay, which chef de cave Gilles Descôtes describes as…

94

Vinous -July 06, 2020 "A fabulous Champagne, the NV PN VZ 15 is a new wine from Bollinger and the first addition to the range in over a decade. As the name implies, it…

Marietta Cellars 23579

Gibson Block Syrah 2017

McDowell Valley, California

June 30, 2020
 Made from the oldest Syrah vines in California, in the heart of the McDowell Valley AVA, this wine reflects the hidden property where it is grown - quiet, obscure and profound. This ancient, dry farmed, mixed block next to the original Gibson Homestead has been producing grapes for over a hundred years. Limited in production due to the unique grape source, this wine is built to enjoy with food. The estate series from Marietta is made with terroir in mind above all else.

91

Wine Enthusiast -February 11, 2021 "Well-concentrated blackberry-jam aromas lead to ripe, vibrant black-cherry and dark-chocolate flavors in this full-bodied, moderately tannic wine made from un-irrigated old vines. It's big and hearty, great to pair with…

95

Vinous (92-95) -July 02, 2020 "The 2017 Syrah Estate Gibson Block is a total knockout. Inky, rich and voluptuous in the glass, the 2017 possesses off-the-charts fruit intensity. Even with all of its density, the…

Marietta Cellars 23577

Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Yorkville Highlands, California

June 30, 2020
 The Yorkville Highlands are the mountain pass between the north end of Alexander Valley and the west end of Anderson Valley. From a high elevation site with coastal influence and large diurnal shifts, the Game Trail Cabernet offers an intense, fragrant, savory, and fresh style of Cabernet that speaks of site and demands to be paired with food. This area, with trails worn by mushroom hunters and wild game that travel through the woods, was a refuge for Chris Bilbro, who hunted here and searched for Chanterelles. The mushroom on the label is a tribute to this unique place and its significance. The estate series from Marietta is made with terroir in mind above all else. For many years these sites were included in blends, though they routinely stood out as extraordinary. These wines are true expressions of unique sites, crafted with freshness, tension and longevity in mind.

93

Wine Enthusiast -February 11, 2021 Cellar Selection "This ageworthy wine grown at 1,400-feet elevation is dark in color, dense in flavor and braced by plenty of firm, chewy tannins. It is well packed with vivid…

93

Vinous (90-93) -July 02, 2020 "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Game Trail is decidedly aromatic and peppery in its flavor profile, much of that a reflection of the personality of this site planted at 1400 feet.…

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