Aromas of barrel spice, coffee, cherry, bittersweet chocolate, graphite and sautéed herb are followed by textured cherry and chocolate flavors. There's a pleasing sense of brightness to the acidity and deftness to the... Read More
Slightly tarry on the nose with roasted spices to the dark cherries and strawberries. Medium to full body on the palate with more innate fruit allures and tannins. Shows good balance and length with some fine-grained tannins.... Read More
All these wines in this flight from Andrea Oberto show a powerful 15% alcohol content across the board. It's all a bit much. The 2018 Barolo del Comune di La Morra reveals ripe fruit, dried cherry, black rose and toasted anise.... Read More
Focused and brilliant flavors of red and black cherries and black currants drive this sleek and powerful wine, as minty, toasty, and tobacco-like accents stay subtly in the background until the finish. A full body, medium to full... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Ynez Valley) is a classic Los Olivos wine endowed with tons of inky dark fruit and plenty of complicating earthy, savory undertones. Blue/ purplish... Read More
A full-bodied red with redcurrants, rust and black chocolate aromas and flavors. Savory. Granular soft tannins. Very drinkable. Give it a year or two to make it even better.
This handsome, well-structured wine deftly balances refined black fruits and subtle oak spices against fine-grained tannins. It has an elegance and polish that sets it apart, from the minty perfume to intricate fruits and a long... Read More
A distinct, fresh herbal note carries throughout the nose of blackberry, black peppercorn, earl gray and redcurrant. Full-bodied with taught tannins and succulent fruit. Slightly saline mineral character keeps the palate lifted... Read More
The perfumed and floral 2020 Catena Alta Malbec is serious and keeps the balance and poise in this warm and challenging year of the pandemic. It's ripe without excess at 13.8% alcohol and has mellow acidity, coming through... Read More
The 2022 The Chocolate Block comprises Syrah (77%, which is slightly higher than usual), Grenache (9%), Cinsault (8%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Viognier (1%), with around 70% of the production estate-grown. It is whole berry... Read More
Aromas of stone fruit and spring flowers with a lightly savory, pastry-like complexity. The palate has a smooth, elegant feel and the finish is dry, light, bright and crisp. A neat wine, well-delivered. Drink now.
A smooth red, with cherry, plum and spice flavors shaded by savory underbrush and wild herb accents. Shows iron and tobacco details on then long finish, with fine balance and grip overall. Prugnolo Gentile and Canaiolo. Best from... Read More
Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose bursts with bold notes of warm cassis, blackberry pie, chocolate mint and tobacco with wafts of cedar chest and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it has a solid frame of lovely,... Read More
A very beautiful and fresh riserva with blackcurrant, blackberry and dark-chocolate aromas and flavors with some almond. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a fresh finish. From organically grown grapes.
This is red-fruited with notes of cedar, walnut and leather. Some wet earth, too. Medium body. Spiced and a little tight on the palate with chalky tannins and crunchy acidity. Polished finish.
As with most Cabernet Sauvignon from Catena, the 2019 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon is not a 100% varietal wine but a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, as Cabernet Sauvignon on its own is often not complete... Read More
Toasty, spicy oak aromas balance the rich, layered fruits and cream in this full-throttle, lavish wine. Poached pears and toasted almonds are laced with light smoke, vanilla and ginger notes that expand on the palate and linger... Read More
This Champagne offers an array of flavor, including toasted brioche, Gala apple, lemon zest, graphite and ginger, with a touch of honey. Elegant, but with good intensity and a moderate, nut-tinged finish.
This fine estate has produced a powerful, rich wine that has fine potential. Solid, foursquare with dense tannins that will gracefully meld into the fruit, the wine should age well.
Barrel Sample: 94-96
The 2020 Carbonnieux Blanc delivers loads of zesty sparks of yuzu and lime peels over a core of green apples, fresh grapefruit and crushed rock with a hint of wild thyme. The medium-bodied palate is crisp and refreshing, offering... Read More
This is almost pure Cabernet Sauvignon, as befits a wine from this prestigious appellation. It is driven by black-currant flavors and firm tannins that support the sophisticated fruits in a wine that will age well. Drink from... Read More
A color of Indian ink with dark crimson tinges. Complex, it exudes aromas of black and red fruits, like wild strawberries and cherries, mingled with a hint of sweet spice, vanilla, and mocha. The first taste is supple with good... Read More
Owned by the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, this is a fine wine that continues the backbone of this estate. With its tannins firmly in place, sustaining the black plum skin flavors, the wine has fine medium-term potential.... Read More
Château Lilian Ladouys 2019, a vintage that is fresh yet sumptuous. The tannins are velvety, the balance exceptional: here is a wine similar in some ways to 2016 or 2018, yet even fresher and more aromatic.