91 Points "This has an enticing brooding quality to it, with rich, beefy aromas and sinewy flavors of dried raspberry, roasted plum and currant. Finishes with medium-grained tannins and notes of mineral and savory spice."
92 Points "Lusciously spicy, with flavors that roll off the tongue, including butterscotch, dried apricot, spiced cherry and white pepper. The intensely creamy finish is filled with hazelnut and cocoa. Drink now."
92 Points "Redolent of dried apricot and pear, with sage honey notes to the concentrated toffee and butterscotch flavors. The complex finish features dried mango and citrus. Drink now."
93 Points "This has a pretty amber hue, with complex flavors of smoke, honey, dried herbs and hazelnut. Long and rich on the finish, with zesty hints of anise and concentrated spice and toffee notes. Drink now."
90 Points Editors' Choice "This is a terrific super Tuscan blend (of 50% Sangiovese with equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) that drinks beautifully. Bright red fruit and cherry give the wine a lively, cheerful personality and the wine’s structure is perfectly balanced and smooth. It’s a one-size-fits-all wine for our favorite Italian foods."
91 Points "This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese opens with plush layers of cherry and blackberry and touches of spice and toast that are never overdone. In fact, the wine shows power and determination allied to delicacy."
92 Points Cellar Selection "One of the best vintages of Rubicon to date, and for the price it’s a fantastic value that’s great for building up your cellar. Right now, the wine is still young and tight, with firm, gripping tannins that need some time to mellow. Fortunately, there’s a great concentrated black-fruit core and enough acidity alongside the tannins to support long-term aging. Spicy and earthy, with accents of black tea, cedar and crushed violets."
90 Points "Good medium ruby-red. Cool, rather shy aromas of dark berries, licorice and pepper, with nuances of white fruits. Supple and spicy, with an herbal quality to the flavors of dark berries, spices and mint. Nicely fine-grained in the mouth but in a cool style. The slightly drying finish shows a good kick of tannins and calls for at least a couple years of patience."
95 Points "Good ruby-red color, more saturated than the Napanook. Knockout floral lift to the aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, blond tobacco, almond and mint. Suave, savory and extremely precise, with penetrating flavors of dark berries, licorice, minerals and cocoa powder. The petit verdot component acts as an amplifier of aromas and flavors, notes winemaker Tod Mostero, 'like a good seasoning.' Medicinal in a Bordeaux way. The finishes shows outstanding length, noteworthy juiciness, and firm, noble tannins. A great vintage for Dominus."
93 Points "Ripe and flashy, with lots of roasted fig, plum and blackberry fruit, though it’s held in check for now by muscular ganache, maduro tobacco and freshly roasted espresso notes. Very grippy on the finish, but fine acidity is buried deep, boding well for the cellar."
92 Points "...A wall of mocha and charcoal in front of the core of currant, blackberry and linzer torte flavors, but there’s a racy graphite spine and a lipsmacking pastis hint at the end."
91 Points "A lively, peppery, mineral-driven style, with a strong iron note running through the core of crushed plum and blackberry. Features a lingering white pepper edge."
95 Points "Dense and chewy, with lots of espresso, loam and roasted apple wood notes... backed by ganache, plum sauce and steeped blackberry notes. There’s lots of grip on the finish, with violet and anise notes deeply buried. On the dark side of the spectrum for sure, but with superior range nonetheless."
94 Points "Very enticing, with roasted herb, olive and spice notes flittering in front of darker pastis, blackberry paste and briar notes. The long, grippy finish is iron-driven, with a lovely tangy mesquite note adding complexity."
92 Points "A supremely ripe Port from Ramos-Pinto’s vineyard in the far east of the Douro. It is finely perfumed, with layered tannins upon structured plum skins and black cherry fruit. It’s in a fruity style, but the structure certainly promises aging."
96 Points Cellar Selection "With a structure that runs between acidity and dark smoky tannins, this is a wine with potential opulence. Very rich in character; dense and dark. The black plum flavors are dominant, along with excellent acidity. For the long-term."
91 Points Rated the #2 most popular sparkling wine by the Wine & Spirits restaurant poll.
90-92 Points "Opaque purple. Powerful, textbook syrah aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice, plus a smoky mineral note. Sweet and lush on entry, then spicy and firm in the middle palate, offering black and blue fruits and floral and spice qualities. Ripe and fresh, with a juicy, impressively long finish featuring notes of candied flowers and minerals."
90 Points "Dark ruby. Raspberry and cherry on the bright, floral-accented nose. Juicy and precise, offering sweet red fruit flavors that pick up weight and smokiness with air. A touch of candied licorice comes up on the finish, which shows good energy and length."
91 Points "Bright ruby. Red berry preserves and cherry on the pungent, floral nose. Deeply pitched but lively, boasting very good focus to its bitter cherry and licorice flavors. A spine of minerality adds cut and vibrancy to the long, spicy finish. I like this wine's tension and suspect that it will be a slow, graceful ager."
92 Points "Opaque ruby. Exotically perfumed nose offers dark berry liqueur, Indian spices and blood orange, plus a sexy floral note that gains strength with air. Juicy and precise, with very good depth to its sweet blackberry and mulberry flavors. Finishes with very good power and lingering florality. This sexy wine is already very easy to drink."
92 Points (?) "Saturated ruby. Red berry preserves, cherry-vanilla and anise on the intensely perfumed nose. Sappy and broad, offering pliant raspberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of coconut and candied violet. In a distinctly exotic style and very primary right now. Finishes sweet and very long, with resonating vanilla and spice notes."
90 Points "Dark purple. Aromas of cherry compote and cassis are brightened by a zesty mineral quality. Rich but lithe, offering gently sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors and a biting note of cracked pepper. Shows a touch of smokiness on the seamless, nicely persistent finish."
91 Points "Vivid ruby. Red and dark berries and star anise on the fragrant nose. A juicy, seamless midweight that shows the elegant side of Cote-Rotie. Fresh black raspberry and cherry flavors put on weight with air while maintaining brightness. Closes with strong spicy cut and grip."
94 Points "An explosive, heady bouquet evokes red and dark berry preserves, incense, Asian spices and potpourri; you could scent a room with this stuff. Palate-staining raspberry and blueberry flavors are lifted by zesty mineral and spice notes and show outstanding vivacity and focus. Pure, energetic and sweet on the finish, which refuses to let up. Grange told me that the reason Delas doesn't make this wine every year--as in 2008, for example--'is because we want it to be a truly great expression of Cote-Rotie or not to exist at all. If it isn't superb, it doesn't get bottled, period.'"
91 Points (?) "Inky purple. Deeply pitched aromas of cherry and cassis, with licorice and black pepper nuances adding complexity. Chewy and dense, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors lifted by a spicy note on the back half. Finishes with gentle tannic grip and persistent spice and smoke notes. Give this masculine, brawny wine at least a few more years of bottle age."
94 Points "Opaque purple. Heady scents of mineral-accented dark berries, cherry-vanilla, licorice and incense, along with a smoky topnote. Lush and creamy in texture, with incisive, palate-staining blackberry, blueberry and licorice pastille flavors. Silky tannins build on the finish, which leaves behind notes of blue fruit compote, vanilla and exotic spices. This wine is almost shockingly approachable now but is built for the long haul."
90-92 Points "Opaque purple. Powerful, textbook syrah aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice, plus a smoky mineral note. Sweet and lush on entry, then spicy and firm in the middle palate, offering black and blue fruits and floral and spice qualities. Ripe and fresh, with a juicy, impressively long finish featuring notes of candied flowers and minerals."
91-93 Points "Inky purple. Wild, highly perfumed aromas of candied dark fruits, incense and violet, with a vibrant overlay of peppery spices. Juicy, palate-staining cassis and blueberry flavors show excellent clarity, with a bright mineral note providing lift. Finishes on an intense floral note, with lingering mineral and spice nuances."
92-94 Points "Opaque purple. Mineral-accented black raspberry and cherry on the hugely aromatic nose. Sweet, penetrating red and dark berry preserve flavors show excellent depth and energy, with a late note of candied licorice adding a darker tone. The finish features excellent focus and cut, and resonating sweetness."
92-94 Points "Inky purple. Ripe, deeply pitched aromas of blackberry, violet, olive, smoky minerals and Indian spices. Large-scaled, dense and seamless, offering compelling flavors of candied black and blue fruits, dark chocolate and violet pastille. Lingers with real intensity and clarity, the violet note strongly repeating."
92-94 Points "Bright violet. Expansive bouquet shows boysenberry and blueberry liqueur, Moroccan spices, violet and woodsmoke. Lush, seductively sweet black and blue fruit flavors stain the palate, picking up suave spice and floral qualities with aeration. The finish shows a suave floral character and clings tenaciously. The tannins of this vibrant, rich wine are very nicely integrated."
93-95 Points "Inky purple. Smoky dark berries and cherry-vanilla on the exotically perfumed nose. Picks up incense and bacon fat with air, along with suggestions of clove and star anise. Intense flavors of spiced cherry and blackberry are enlivened by zesty minerality and given shape by supple tannins. This plush, suave, alluring wine finishes with intense sweetness and a late jolt of fruitcake."
92-94 Points "Inky purple. Deeply pitched aromas of cassis, blueberry, Moroccan spices and violet, plus a strong note of smoky minerals. Lush, expansive black and blue fruit compote flavors are impressively fresh, with a lively mineral spine adding back-end cut. Very deep but surprisingly lively, with strong finishing sweetness, clarity and smokiness."
94-96 Points "Dark purple. Exotic perfume of candied dark berries, Indian spices and potpourri; so spicy that I'd have guessed this wine was made with whole clusters, but Grange destems all of his syrah. Bright and focused, offering sweet, palate-staining black raspberry and cassis flavors. Finishes sappy, spicy and very long, with lingering floral and mineral notes and outstanding clarity."
97 Points "This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavors backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over on the hard-driving and extremely long, anise- and incense-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style. Best from 2020 through 2040."
91 Points "This is all rounded, enticing flesh, with succulent boysenberry, cherry preserves, blackberry and fig notes melded together and supported by subtle spice and anise shadings through the finish."
92 Points "Nicely packed and well-delineated, this shows a lovely beam of linzer torte and cassis running through the middle, with mouthwatering spice and mesquite filling in on the side. Rock-solid on the finish."
91 Points "This is all rounded, enticing flesh, with succulent boysenberry, cherry preserves, blackberry and fig notes melded together and supported by subtle spice and anise shadings through the finish. Ready to go, but with the stuffing to linger for a while in the cellar."
92 Points "Bright and ripe, with mouthfilling linzer torte and blackberry preserves pushed by black tea and toasty spice. This has the racy grip of the vintage, which builds steadily through the finish. Turns darker and denser with air."
97 Points "This is a stunner, with gloriously ripe, succulent cassis, blackberry and fig fruit flavors backed by extra notes of plum cake, blueberry confiture and roasted wood spice. On the back half, the iron spine takes over on the hard-driving and extremely long, anise- and incense-tinged finish. An awesome expression of the modern style."
93 Points "There is a lovely plush feel here, with roasted tobacco and fig notes carried by velvety tannins. Deceptively dense, with darker currant and anise notes blossoming through the finish, which still manages to stay supple and rounded. This steadily opens in the glass."
92 Points "Nicely packed and well-delineated, this shows a lovely beam of linzer torte and cassis running through the middle, with mouthwatering spice and mesquite filling in on the side. Rock-solid on the finish."
92 Points "...core of raspberry and cherry preserves framed by a healthy dose of lightly firm roasted vanilla. Very well-built, with sleek edges and good buried charcoal and tobacco, so cellar for harmony down the road."
99 Points "This offers a beautiful balance between its two sides: dark fig, roasted plum and toast flavors versus racy raspberry, cassis and perfumy black tea notes. Silky overall, but with terrific latent grip and a mouthwatering minerality that drives through the finish, pulling out extra fruit paste and charred spice hints. Very, very impressive range."
94 Points "Offers a dark roasted core of plum sauce, warm fig paste, melted licorice and singed cedar, while a mouthwatering iron edge and a lovely smoldering tobacco note add lift and length through the finish. A touch restrained now, but should blossom with cellaring."
91 Points "Remarkably lush and supple for the appellation, yet not lacking in density, with rich plum, cassis and blackberry confiture notes leading the way and flickers of charcoal, tobacco and singed iron keeping the almost-flattering finish honest. Approachable, but this should knit nicely with mid-term cellaring."
91 Points "Bright and sappy, with kirsch and damson plum notes streaking along, followed by tangy iron and floral notes alongside. There's good zip and cut along the finish, with a lingering mineral edge."
94 Points "I would focus my wallet on... Chateau Certan-de-May 2008... the “dark horse” of the vintage: a brilliant wine that surpasses all expectations and proof of the pudding is its performance in blind conditions. Now, this is a great Certan-de-May. Very focused, classy..."
91 Points "The Hosanna 2008 has a sweet and sour note that dissipates with time, coalescing into the classic liquorice-tinged, dark berried fruit laced with mint after time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with dry tannins, a little tough at the moment and the Cabernet Franc is very expressive. Sinewy and introspective at the moment, this is a long-term Pomerol."
97 Points "...a very intense bouquet of wild strawberry, raspberry and crushed stone. It has great precision, real intensity and sense of purpose. The palate is medium-bodied with very smooth, rounded tannins and it feels velvety smooth in the mouth... the wine is unfolding before my senses and you become aware that this will evolve into a top class Petrus."
90 Points "Tuscan dishes celebrate fresh, seasonal ingredients such as fava beans, artichokes, asparagus, zucchini and extra virgin olive oil. This structured white wine offers the richness of texture and aromatic intensity to pair with the best of that culinary tradition."
90 Points "This oak-aged blend of equal parts Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay opens with a beautifully intense bouquet of vanilla bean, peach cobbler and citrus mousse. White almond and toasted spice make for rich accents on the long fresh finish."
94 Points (?) "Bright ruby. Sexy, compelling nose of blackcurrant, violet, white pepper and minerals is an absolute knockout. Then very refined on the palate, with a delicate spiciness to the blackcurrant, red plum and mineral flavors, but with noteworthy fleshiness and ripeness lifted by harmonious acidity. This is a very great and impeccably balanced Magdelaine in the making. Finishes long and silky, with a persistent strawberry note. Jean-Claude Berrouet considers this to be a classic Magdelaine: very well balanced and delicious. I think this is an excellent example of just how easy it is to misjudge Magdelaine on release and how well it develops in bottle in strong vintages."
94 Points "The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very well knit, a little softer and more forward but very composed with a pure, velvety finish. This is a beautiful, filigree Pauillac that should repay extended cellaring."
93 Points "Compared to its peers it is more forward on the nose: quite meaty and savoury, some expressive, slightly herbaceous Cabernet Franc here that I have not noticed previously. The palate is medium-bodied with good extraction: fleshy and supple in the mouth, a lot of creamy new oak... Very fine indeed although it will improve with bottle age."
100 Points "What a fabulous nose of currants, raspberries and Indian spices. Nutmeg and clover. Full-bodied, with an amazing precision and superb compacted fruit. Endless. Laser guided. Shows such intensity. Decadent and rich and changing all the time. Mystical wine. Dense, yet agile."
99 Points "Amazing aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate and hazelnut. Full body, with super velvety tannins, yet reserved and all in check. Fresh acidity and an orangy, lemon and chanterelle mushroom aftertaste. Then turns to black olives. Minerals and blueberries. Incredible."
98 Points "Stunning aromas of blackberries, dark chocolate, hazelnut and black olive skin. Full- bodied, with ultra-fine tannins that feel fine silky on my palate. Long finish of coffee bean, chocolate and dark fruits. Best Hosanna ever."
96 Points "What a great nose of blackberries, currants and spices. Hints of fresh herbs. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and lovely fruit. Such finesse and beauty. Wonderful to taste. Reminds me of the legendary 1982."
93 Points "Complex aromas of cocoa powder, spices, pepper and violets. Full body, with ultra-integrated tannins and beautiful fruit. So focused and pretty."
93 Points "Ripe plum, with hints of sanded oak. Full-bodied, with a pretty core of raspberry and blueberry character. Silky and pretty. Balanced and subtle, yet intense."
92 Points "A juicy wine with plum and chocolate character. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and fruity finish. Subtle and delicious already."
90 Points "Very pretty and pure fruit here, with currants and berries. Full body, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Pretty balance and raciness."
93 Points "Spices, nutmeg, dark fruits on the nose, follow through to a full body, with very precise tannins and a long finish. A beautiful and racy wine."
95 Points Cellar Selection "A seductive wine, deliciously ripe with the softest, juiciest fruit over smoky new wood. The wine shows intense fruit as well as a soft Merlot core. The tannins are beautifully integrated in this ripely sweet wine."
90 Points "Lovely crisp nose of white pepper, raspberries and red currents. Very Burundian in style with fine tannins. This was a pleasant surprise."
92 Points Cellar Selection "Superripe wine that wears its high alcohol easily. The fruit is so rich, with its plum and blackberry flavors, opulent and generous. There is a dark core of tannins that shows slowly through all the intense fruit, promising good aging."
94 Points "There is dense, ripe fruit here, although with an austere, serious edge. The wine has firm yet juicy blackberry fruits along with concentrated tannins. It is firm, dark, with the potential for good red berry fruits."
90 Points "Darkly tannic wine, packed with dryness. The result is firm at this stage, always likely to be full of tannins, but there is delicious fruit under this dryness."
95 Points Cellar Selection "Impressively weighty wine, with a fine combination of tannins, full fruit and a solid, chunky core. The wine is rich, but it also has a sweet acidity. Powerful ageworthy wine, never losing sight of elegance."
93 Points "With layers of wood, this is a structured wine, driven as much by tannins as fruit. It will need time for the dark plum fruit flavors to come through—St.-Estèphe is always likely to be firmly textured."
90 Points "Vivid ruby. Pungent, energetic aromas of raspberry and cherry pit are accented by exotic star anise and flowers. On the palate, flavors of ripe red and dark berries and candied flowers are complemented by a touch of smokiness on the back half. Finishes smooth and long, the cherry and smoke notes echoing."
93 Points "A bruising, black/purple-hued, full-bodied wine, the 2009 Certan de May displays notes of charcuterie, smoked game, herbs, black truffles, roasted meats, cassis and black cherries. This backward, robustly-styled Pomerol is loaded with tannin as well as extract. Give this full, powerful 2009 a decade of cellaring and drink it over the following 30+ years. I’m sure it is not better than the immortal 1982 Certan de May."
100 Points "One of the greatest young wines I have ever tasted, the monumental 2009 Cos d’Estournel has lived up to its pre-bottling potential. A remarkable effort from winemaking guru Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot (33%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (2%) was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts an inky/black/purple color along with an extraordinary bouquet of white flowers interwoven with blackberry and blueberry liqueur, incense, charcoal and graphite. The wine hits the palate with extraordinary purity, balance and intensity as well as perfect equilibrium, and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, wood and alcohol. An iconic wine as well as a remarkable achievement, it is the greatest Cos d’Estournel ever produced. It is approachable enough at present that one could appreciate it with several hours of decanting, but it will not hit its prime for a decade, and should age effortlessly for a half century."
99 Points "This is the finest Hosanna that proprietor Christian Moueix has yet made, produced from a 15-acre parcel that usually yields about 1,500 cases. The 2009, a prodigious blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, offers up an exquisite aromatic concoction of blackberries, plums, Asian soy, forest floor, truffles and graphite. Along with its stunning concentration, remarkably thick, juicy mid-palate and unbelievable complexity, its viscosity and opulence take this wine to new heights. This extraordinary wine is one of the superstars of 2009 and one to enjoy over the next three decades."
94 Points "A property that has largely been replanted over the last 25 years, the 2009 is one of the best the firm of Jean-Pierre Moueix has yet released from this estate. Eighty percent of this vineyard sits on the limestone plateau and 20% on the hillsides, and the 2009 displays a classic confiture of black cherries, some crushed rocks and spring flowers in a full-bodied, yet at the same time, ethereal and rather elegant style. The wine has gorgeous fruit purity, a broad, luscious texture, and more density and richness than one normally finds in this somewhat finesse-styled wine, which seems to have achieved more depth and potential in 2009."
100 Points "An opulent Petrus very much in the stylistic family of the 1990, this 100% Merlot has a dense plum/purple color and a sweet nose of mulberries, black cherries, some subtle toast and licorice as well as a floral element. A wine of great intensity, a multidimensional mouthfeel and full-bodied, stunning concentration, the 2009 Petrus 2009 is everything one would expect of it. Given the sweetness of its tannin, much like the 1990, I suspect this wine will always be “open for business,” appealing even in its youth."
95 Points "A beautiful effort, the 2009 Pichon Lalande, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, possesses copious mocha, lead pencil, unsmoked, high class tobacco, black currant, forest floor and herbaceous characteristics. It is a deep purple-hued, charming, surprisingly open-knit Pauillac with wonderful freshness, a plump, fleshy mouthfeel, opulence and unctuosity, medium to full body and a well-delineated, luscious style. More elegant than its nearby neighbor, Pichon Longueville Baron, and not as massive in concentration and extract, it is one of the great Pichon Lalandes of the last twenty years."
94 Points "The brilliant 2009 Les Pagodes de Cos actually has more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than the grand vin (69% versus 65%) in addition to mostly Merlot and a small quantity of Petit Verdot. As powerful as the Cos in terms of alcoholic clout (14.5%), the full-bodied, round, generous Les Pagodes de Cos exhibits lots of creme de cassis and floral notes intermixed with hints of wood/barrique and spice. Juicy, succulent and remarkably fresh and well-delineated, it merits considerable attention from consumers. It should drink well for 15-20 years."
91 Points "Made from a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the second wine, the 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse, exhibits notes of forest floor, white chocolate, licorice, black currants and vanillin-infused black cherries. It possesses a sweet, round, generous style given its high glycerin."
99 Points "This offers a beautiful balance between its two sides: dark fig, roasted plum and toast flavors versus racy raspberry, cassis and perfumy black tea notes. Silky overall, but with terrific latent grip and a mouthwatering minerality that drives through the finish, pulling out extra fruit paste and charred spice hints. Very, very impressive range."
93 Points "There is a lovely plush feel here, with roasted tobacco and fig notes carried by velvety tannins. Deceptively dense, with darker currant and anise notes blossoming through the finish, which still manages to stay supple and rounded."
94 Points "Offers a dark roasted core of plum sauce, warm fig paste, melted licorice and singed cedar, while a mouthwatering iron edge and a lovely smoldering tobacco note add lift and length through the finish."
91 Points "Aromas similar to pineapple ice cream and apples follow through to a full body, with lots of fruit and firm acidity. Delicious now, but better in 2012. Biodynamically produced."
92 Points "This is racy and detailed, showing raspberry, cherry, floral and oak spice aromas and flavors. Taut and well-structured, with a lingering aftertaste of sweet fruit, spice and mineral."
93 Points "Smoky and polished, this modern-style Barbaresco boasts cherry, plum, vanilla and bacon fat aromas and flavors, with licorice and tar notes underneath. ... Fine length."
90 Points "This shows mature green almond, plantain and butter flavors, but stays fresh, with lingering straw and gooseberry notes still flashing through the finish. Very tasty."
94 Points "Very harmonious, with the finely detailed texture and delicate acidity providing a crystalline frame for notes of dried cherry, wild strawberry, light biscuit, lemon zest and spice. This is all about subtlety and grace."
92 Points "Aged for around 30 years in wood, this wine has gained the most delicious toffee character to go with the old gold feel and wood acidity. There is a lovely rounded character, so smooth as well as intense. The Port is bottled ready to drink."
90 Points "Mid-gold color. Intense on the nose, showing lots of developed aromas of savory earthiness and honey, with hints of botrytis and spice adding complexity. Quite dry, with dominant earthy savoriness and spice following through on the palate alongside flavors of dried apricots and golden raisins. Smooth, rich and viscous but balanced by fresh acidity. Fairly full-bodied, with a fairly long rich finish."
90 Points "Light gold. Orchard and pit fruits on the fragrant nose. Broad and fleshy on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, with good depth to its spicy nectarine and pear flavors. A late note of candied lemon adds bite and lift to the long, juicy finish."
91 Points "Bright pink. Fresh red berries and flowers on the nose, with deeper notes of cherry and anise gaining strength with air. Juicy and palate-coating, with very good depth and vivacity to its raspberry and cherry flavors. A late note of blood orange adds bite and cut to the long, gently chewy finish."
90 Points "Light yellow. Bright, high-pitched aromas of orange zest, ginger, white flowers and white pepper. Racy and focused, with sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors picking up smokiness and a touch of peach pit with air. Shows good energy on the refreshingly brisk, linear, long finish."
90 Points "...the Magdelaine 2009 is pure and very rounded on the nose, "spherical" you might say. Small dark cherries and a hint of Indian ink. Fine definition. The palate is well balanced with a powdery texture on the entry, a nice lifted of acidity and very silky on the finish that has a peppery kiss on the aftertaste. Mellow."
90 Points "Tasted at the Syndicat de Pomerol. Understated elegant bouquet with crisp red fruits, cassis and a touch of dark plum with well-integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a little hardness on the entry, firm grip, quite a masculine Pomerol that deserves some ageing. Saline finish."
94 Points "The Certan-de-May 2009 has a lovely, composed bouquet with crisp blackberry, raspberry and wild strawberry with engaging underlying mineralité – very contained and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very composed with well-integrated if prominent new oak towards its long sweet finish. There is a lot of substance to this wine, but it will need 5-6 years to really come into its own."
95 Points "The Hosanna 2009 certainly repays a little patience. Allowing three of four minutes to open up, it offers a very complex bouquet with crushed strawberry, violet, a touch terracotta tiles and a little white pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins but real weight and dimension. Quite sturdy and stout, one of Christian’s 'grippier' Pomerol wines with enormous persistency towards the finish with a peacock’s tail of gorgeous spicy notes. This is one of the finest wines from Hosanna that I have tasted."
97 Points "The nose is very strict at first, but with great purity with blackberry, wild hedgerow, a touch of small dark cherries and with aeration a touch of crushed violet, an almost Margaux-like Petrus. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied with a spicy entry, touches of black pepper and almost a slight burnt toast accent. There is great backbone here, more masculine than at primeur with an aloof finish that is a little drier than usual. This is a profound, very 'classic' Petrus..."
90 Points "The Bernadotte 2009 has a slightly subdued bouquet at first, but opens ajar, offering blackberry, cedar and crushed stone. Very fine delineation... The palate is medium-bodied with a subtle, peppery entry and shows good weight on the mid-palate. ...showing very fine purity with a vibrant finish. That bouquet should awake with another 12-18 months, but which time this will be a very fine Bernadotte."
90 Points "The Grand Vin has retained that exotic, lush, generous bouquet with very ripe dark berried fruits intermingling with dark chocolate and a touch of espresso. Moderate definition... The palate is full-bodied with grippy tannins, very intense dark fruits intermingling with mocha and dark chocolate. Firm grip, still New World in style whilst the spherical finish is missing a little tension."
91 Points "The Chateau de Pez has a very tight bouquet with blackberry, cassis and a touch of crushed stone... The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, racy acidity, red rather than black fruits (wild strawberry and a touch of raspberry.) Nicely focused towards the finish, perhaps more like Montrose in style in terms of its clarity and poise. This is very fine."
95 Points "Tasted at the château, the Pichon-Lalande 2009 has a taciturn nose that demands coaxing from the glass. The Cabernet Sauvignon that begins to open offering blackberry, graphite, freshly rolled tobacco and a touch of bay leaf. The palate is defined by its super-fine tannins and wonderful tension, a tangible symmetry that is reminiscent of the 1996. There is citric thread of acidity that lends the 2009 so much vivacity. It is extremely pure with blackberry, cedar and just a touch of pepper, firm grip on the finish and great persistency. This is a Pauillac to be reckoned with."
91 Points "The 2009 Reserve de la Comtesse has an intriguing bouquet with touches of undergrowth and a hint of liquorice underneath those ripe black fruits. The oak sticks out a little at the moment but it will integrate with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of soy on the entry. It fans out nicely across the mid-palate, the Merlot very expressive at the moment with a dash of white pepper towards the cohesive finish. Nice length and posture."
91 Points Smart Buy "Lush and rich, with bright cherry and red apple aromas and crisp, layered flavors of raspberry and cinnamon that finish on a note of crisp minerality."
90 Points Smart Buy "Bright aromas of green apple and lime lead to vibrant, layered flavors of citrus, anise and creamy vanilla."
90 Points "Impeccably dry, with a delicate salmon hue and aromas of spicy strawberry and lime. Flavors are vibrant and crisp, showing notes of watermelon and graham cracker."
93 Points "This modern-style red features aromas and flavors of sweet vanilla, coconut, blackberry and tar."
92 Points "Firm and juicy, with a creamy mineral undercurrent to the flavors of yellow pear, light pastry, candied lemon zest, apricot and spice set on refined texture. Well-focused, with a lovely finish that echoes the fruit character."
92 Points "Vibrant and focused, with patisserie apple and pear, currant, nut and candied orange zest flavors, all accented by a spicy thread of anise, clove, ground ginger and nutmeg notes that linger on the finish."
96 Points #17 of Top 100 Editors' Choice -- "2003 was a great vintage for Roederer Estate. This, their top vintage wine, is very great, and the price is an absolute steal for this world class sparkler. It’s enormously rich in the strawberries from Pinot Noir and the limes from Chardonnay, while the toast and rich lees combine for a perfect Champagne-style smokiness. And so smooth, it’s like a kiss of silk. At the age of eight years, this wonderful wine is just getting started."
92 Points Editors' Choice "Great price for a sparkling wine this refined, and the fact that it’s a rosé makes it an even better deal. It’s rich in strawberry, orange and lime flavors, with that savory yeastiness that marks the best bubblies."
92 Points "This nonvintage 54% Pinot Noir- 46% Chardonnay sparkler is as good as ever, a beautiful peach color with peach and strawberry aromas and flavors that are not too overpowering, not too subtle, just right. The creamy mousse, medium body and bright acidity make it a stunner with food. Bring on the goat cheese fritters or tempura."
90 Points "A delicious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend from coolly grown Mendocino grapes that is equal parts golden apple and honey in both aroma and flavor. Creamy from full malolactic fermentation, this sparkler is full-bodied and plenty fruity with a caramel, vanilla tone on the finish. Will pair well with creamy, full-bodied foods."
93 Points "The ethereal style that is the Deutz hallmark is shown to great effect in this apple-fresh Blanc de Blancs. There is a wonderful series of the crispest flavors allied to citrus and a tight texture."
92 Points "A product of the 2003 vintage, the wine is rich, full, with a soft texture, ripe pears and pineapple..."
92 Points "The initial attack is rounded with a delicious pear flavor... Then tight mineral acidity adds its presence, producing a wine that is also very fresh, apple crisp, with a potential for aging and a long lingering aftertaste."
91 Points "A beautifully integrated wine that shows richness, even a touch of toasty age to go with apple and intense acidity. The acidity shows so well against the rich backdrop of ripe fruits and a final edgy texture."
94 Points "Refreshingly dry Champagne. With its tight strawberry flavors, it is forward and fruity. It has a fine burst of lime acidity to complement the red fruits..."
94 Points "This is an intense rosé, pushing forward the pink fruit flavors, the rich texture and red berry fruits. Dry, still youthful, it has considerable acidity and a complex and concentrated mélange of flavors."
95 Points #29 Top 100 Cellar Selections -- "A superbly rich and creamy wine, powered by ripe Pinot Noir, with elegance and élan. The wine is concentrated, powerful, packed with intense white fruit flavors and citrus. Always at the back is the richness. For aging."
94 Points "A dynamic rosé combining potent flavors with mouthwatering refinement, this has a structure that almost requires food. The pale copper rose color and sweet edges belie the power and tension underneath; its ripe fruit and strict minerality would stand up to coq au vin or braised goose."
94 Points "A heady vintage of this prestige cuvée, this is powerfully influenced by pinot noir. It's saturated with red fruit in the middle, overlain by juicy pear in the end. ...this gains freshness and refinement with air; it will benefit from cellar time or decanting for roast hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and game birds."
90 Points "This is a luscious wine with the broad savor of fat fresh almonds. There's a scent of gunflint to add tension, hinting at the structure that places it with food. A graceful chardonnay Champagne for salmon mousse."
98 Points "Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon is the master of Rosé Champagne. Following the style developed by Jean-Claude Rouzaud with the first Cristal Rosé in 1974, Lécaillon cold-macerates old-vine pinot noir from Aÿ then bleeds it off the skins to create the transparent color and to capture and preserve the moment of freshness at harvest. The wine is perfectly formed, the fruit as present as if eating fraises des bois in a sunny field. It has the bliss of great Burgundy and the delicate length of Champagne, lasting for minutes. It should last for decades in the cellar."
97 Points "The energy in this wine recalls the 2002 Cristal (I wrote 'energy' three times in my notes.) In 2004, it's explosive. The wine is saturated with flavor, from floral notes of rose to pale limestone and equally pale fruit. The flavors keep going, as if striding through doorway after doorway in a limestone cellar, the Champenois equivalent of Get Smart. Built to age as gracefully as Agent 99, this won't disappoint if you open it now with scallop crudo."
95 Points "Compressed in the mode of a great young vintage Champagne, this is a glistening brick of minerality. The floral intensity brings jasmine and the meadow flower scent of fresh cream to mind. The youthful tension makes it almost as potent as a ripe Epoisse."
95 Points "An open jazz riff on white limestone, this is so dry, austere and sumptuous that it defines umami. Cool, rich, mineral, mouthwatering. Pretty smart vintage Champagne: It's powerful in its flavor depth, though not as wildly powerful as Cristal."
92 Points "The pale rose color parallels this wine's pinot noir undertone of roses and sweet raspberries. It's brisk and earthy, with friction between the youthful acidity and the fullness of its flavor. A sophisticated rosé..."
90 Points Best Buy "There's tension in this wine between the lime of white earth and lime citrus. The flavors are pale, chalky, hinting at white mushrooms, freshly dug potatoes and spice. Reserve wines lend this depth, while the wine's freshness keeps it mouthwatering. For aperitifs, or a plate of Comté."
93 Points "A short crop of concentrated berries produced this grand vintage of Dominus, one that will need long aging to show its best. Decant it if you open the bottle now, allowing the initial cabernet franc scent of green herbs to integrate--Josiah Baldivino of Michael Mina in San Francisco described it as 'adding a fine detail, like a pocket square in a suit.'" Air brings out the full stature of the wine, its black cherry richness, violet scents and silken texture. For provençal lamb."
90 Points Best Buy "Spicy and bright with red fruit flavor, this is underlined by nebbiolo's sneaky tannins. They come on with an iron grip, then open to scents of roses. This is powered by alcohol, but well within the bounds of balance. Cellar it several years then decant for braised duck."
90 Points "Ambitiously oaked, this wine emphasizes dark coffee and bitter chocolate scents in its tannins. The fruit itself has more than enough stamina to stand up to the toastiness of the oak: It takes a straight path of red cherry that rounds out the structure, finishing clean and dry. Recommended for the cellar, where it will gain complexity. Or, if you like the forward character of new oak, drink this now with a steak."
92 Points "A supple Iberian pleasure, this viura gains buttery richness from time in oak. The fruit dominates, bringing litchi and pineapple notes to the finish while the wine remains completely dry. For a plate of hake cheeks."
93 Points "A formidable, old-fashioned gran reserva, this has the grace and dynamism of great Rioja, powerful without weight. The tannins are precise, focused on Moorish spice, hinting at crushed black peppercorn and cumin. Long and complex, this needs bottle age to fully develop. It should blossom into a great 2004."
94 Points "This wine captures the cool tones of Anderson Valley fruit in a sophisticated sparkler, the marriage of pinot noir and chardonnay flavors transformed into lemon curd, white raspberry, bright apple and lasting spice. The tight balance keeps it fresh, while reserve wines add to its richness (the blend includes four percent of reserves from 1999). There's nerve underneath the luscious texture, extending the sense of richness into finesse."
91 Points "There's lovely precision to the light strawberry notes in this wine, a clean parallel to its pale pink color. The finish is spicy and gentle, with a creamy undercurrent that lingers on fruit. Chill it for prawns."
93 Points "Like a diamond in the rough, this wine's fruit has facets and edges that glint with mulberry, elderberry, cracked black pepper, tart peach skin and tar. The texture is luscious, making this a high-powered wine with grace. Wild fruit flavor energizes the finish as the wine takes off."
97 Points "The 2009 Dominus flows from the glass with layers of highly expressive fruit. The wine possesses stunning richness, power and depth. Dark red fruit, tobacco, flowers and spices are woven into a seamless, beautifully articulated finish. Elegance and intensity are in perfect harmony here. This is a thrilling wine from Dominus."
92 Points "The 2009 Napanook is rich, powerful and seductive. This is a more radiant, brighter style than the 2008. There is considerable fleshiness as the wine opens up in the glass. The 2009 is a very sexy Napanook endowed with tons of personality and sheer class. Despite its generous fruit, there is more than enough underlying structure to allow the wine to drink well for a number of years."
93 Points "...this 2009 has a voluptuous opening on the palate before the tannins begin to ratchet up. Inky/purple-hued, layered and full-bodied, it offers notes of smoked meats, duck, Chinese black tea, blackberries and licorice. It is an enormously inky, thick wine that needs to be forgotten for 5-6 years and drunk over the following 20-25 years."
98 Points "As I reported last year, the black/purple-tinged 2009 Cote Rotie La Landonne is an extraordinary effort. Made in a more open-knit, exuberant, flamboyant style, it possesses many of the same characteristics as the 2010, but with silkier tannins and lots of glycerin, smoked meat, violet, black currant, licorice, pepper and charcuterie characteristics. With super intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, lower acidity than the 2010 and sweeter tannin, it should drink well for 30+ years."
96-100 Points "The black-colored 2010 Cote Rotie La Landonne displays notes of charcoal, black truffles, creosote, blackberries, incense, subtle barbecue smoke and hints of espresso as well as white chocolate. This amazingly complex, full-bodied, powerful 2010 will need 7-8 years of cellaring, and should last three decades or more."
93 Points "The 2009 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron exhibits lots of spice, raspberry, cassis, licorice, incense, Christmas fruitcake and fried bacon notes. The smokiness, seductiveness, lusciousness and medium to full-bodied, round, generous texture make for an endearing, sexy Cote Rotie to enjoy over the next 10-15 years."
91-93 Points "The 2010 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron reveals crisp acidity as well as lots of black raspberry, bacon fat, forest floor, licorice and Provencal garrigue-like notes. Deep, medium to full-bodied and rich, with terrific delineation as well as personality, it does not reveal any of the unevolved, slightly reduced character of many of the bigger 2010 Delas wines."
92 Points "There is a lot of good stuff in the 2010, but the real stunner is the 2009 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins. Revealing abundant notes of tar, cassis, black raspberries, tapenade and earth in its rich, full-bodied, stunning personality, it should drink well for 10-15 years."
90-92 Points 90-92+ Points: "From an estate vineyard, the 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins is primary..."
93 Points "There is no problem understanding the 2009 Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos. Aged completely in small French oak barrels, it boasts a striking minerality, a wonderfully dense ruby/purple color and sweet notes of creme de cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed rocks and spring flowers. Full-bodied and dense, with some tannins still to shed, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and is capable of lasting two decades."
90 Points "The finest Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes to date is the 2009. Its dense purple color is accompanied by sweet strawberry and black cherry fruit notes intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice and smoke (even though this cuvee is all tank-fermented and aged.). A sleeper of the vintage as well as a great value, it should drink well for a decade."
98 Points "The magnificent 2009 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes boasts a black/purple color as well as a wonderful nose of creosote, incense, charcoal, blackberry jam, acacia flowers, white chocolate and a hint of espresso roast. Full-bodied and unctuously textured with low acidity and magnificent density, this 2009 can be drunk in 5-6 years or cellared for 30-50 years."
95-97 Points "The opaque black-colored 2010 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is followed by notes of creme de cassis, barbecue smoke, graphite, spring flowers and grilled meat. With superb concentration, acidity, extract and richness as well as a boatload of tannin to shed, it will need 10-15 years of cellaring and should keep for half a century."
100 Points "The most prodigious wine I have yet tasted from the Delas portfolio is the brilliant 2009 Hermitage Les Bessards. Its inky/purple color is followed by abundant notes of acacia flowers, blackberries, black currants, new saddle leather, roasted meats and graphite, amazing concentration, a skyscraper-like texture, supple but significant tannin and low acidity. The result is a perfect example of Syrah from this great vineyard site in Hermitage. It will offer immense pleasure for 40+ years."
96-100 Points "The 2010 Hermitage Les Bessards offers up scents of lead pencil shavings, barbecue smoke, black currants, blackberries, licorice and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, powerful, rich and extremely tannic, it should only be purchased by connoisseurs with cold cellars and abundant patience, as it requires 10-15 years of cellaring, and should still be drinking beautifully in 50-60 years when most of us are pushing up daisies."
94 Points "The 2009 St.-Joseph Francois de Tournon is showing even better than it did last year out of barrel. An inky/purple color is followed by notes of graphite, smoke, blackberries, cassis, road tar and truffles. With layers of fruit, an unctuous texture and tremendous purity and depth, this stunning effort is a great sleeper of this fabulous northern Rhone vintage. It should drink well for 10-15 years or longer."
90-92 Points "...one can sense the weight, richness and depth it possesses. There is more acidity, which makes the tannins slightly more noticeable. Nevertheless, this should turn out to be an outstanding effort..."
96 Points "The blockbuster 2009 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a remarkable nose of black fruits, graphite, ink, incense and subtle barbecue smoke. Elegant yet massive and rich, with an unctuous texture and good underlying acidity..., this deep, full-bodied, powerful 2009 should drink well for two decades or more."
91-93 Points "A limited production offering from older vines planted in one of the finest terroirs of the appellation, the 2010 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine possesses outstanding fruit, depth, power and purity along with zesty acidity, a striking minerality and a long finish."
93 Points #55 of Top 100 "Elegant and sleek, yet complex, with cinnamon and green apple aromas that lead to rich flavors of pear and lemon custard layered with brioche and mineral."
91 Points "Ripe and driven, with a lush edge to the lemon curd and lemon pound cake notes, backed by verbena, grapefruit zest and peach. The long finish has nice cut through the middle."
93 Points "The 2006 Brut Rose is flat-out delicious. It boasts gorgeous inner perfume, striking fruit and exceptional overall balance. This is a hugely delicious wine that at once shows the delicate and more powerful sides of Rose Champagne, if that makes sense. The wine can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but it also has more than enough richness to stand up to a range of foods. I loved it."
91 Points "The 2005 Brut Vintage blossoms on the palate with layers of deep, expressive fruit. The weight of the Pinot comes through loud and clear in this rich, textured Champagne. Ripe red berries, pears, hazelnuts and spices are some of the nuances that are layered into the rich, textured finish. This is another fabulous showing from Roederer."
92 Points "The NV Brut Premier is a gorgeous wine that stands head and shoulders above the vast majority of wines in its price range. Apparently, it is quite possible to make great Champagne that doesn’t cost a small fortune. Ripe pears, smoke, spices, dried flowers and herbs are some of the many nuances that emerge from the glass. The Brut Premier shows lovely mid-palate depth and fabulous overall balance. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has done it again. This is a fabulous Brut Premier."
90 Points "The NV Extra-Dry Carte Blanche is based on the Brut Premier, but receives a higher dosage of 16 grams per liter. Even though the Carte Blanche naturally shows a bit more sweetness than the Brut Premier it also maintains considerable focus and energy. Here the expression of fruit tends towards brighter, more floral white fruits, green apples/pears. The wine’s balance and length are first rate."
91 Points "The NV Brut Rose is fabulous. A sweet, open bouquet leads to expressive fruit in this rich, textured wine. The Deutz Rose is a serious wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but it also has more than enough power in reserve to drink well at the dinner table. Floral notes reappear to round out the finish."
91 Points "The 2004 Brut Blanc de Blancs is a beautiful wine that captures the essence of the year. Lemon, mint, jasmine and crushed rocks are some of the nuances that inform the bright finish."
92 Points "Racy and fresh, with a piercing, stony edge cutting through the red currant, plum and cherry notes, all laced with hints of garrigue and tobacco on the finish."
94 Points "Very Bordeaux-like in its makeup and structure, this firm wine has good acidity and tight tannins, offering complex loamy earth, vivid dried currant and berry, with anise and mineral sprinkled in. This is my favorite young Dominus of late."
90 Points "This round red is full of sweet cherry and plum flavors, with hints of licorice and spices. The richness is offset by dense tannins..."
90 Points "There's an aromatic floral note to the flavors of apricot, ripe apple, smoky mineral, kumquat and lemon zest in this firm bubbly, which is fine-grained and balanced, with a lively, moderate finish..."
91 Points "This graceful rosé shows black raspberry, apricot and orange zest notes, with a refined texture and a thread of spicy mineral that lingers on the creamy finish..."
92 Points "A pretty note of apple blossom runs through this elegant Champagne, which is bright and juicy, offering flavors of green and yellow apple, tangerine and ground ginger, with a hint of graham cracker. Shows lovely texture, with a mouthwatering finish..."
100 Points "Classic Cos with so much spice and fruit, yet refined and sexy. Powerful with super silky tannins. Full bodied, yet incredibly compacted. This is so tight and rich with layers of fruit and tannins and a finish that last for minutes on the palate... Fab."
94 Points "What a nose of dried spices, even chilies, with currants and blackberries. Full bodied, with ultra-fine tannins and a compacted fruit structure. Pretty length. Very fine indeed. Classic nose with the Petit Verdot spice."
92 Points "Another fine Dominus, dry, well-structured and ageworthy... rich enough to drink now, and should develop over the next six years. Rewards for the depth of blackberries, cassis, blueberries and cedar, wrapped into plush tannins."
94 Points "Faint straw, salmon color; fresh, vibrant, red fruit, mineral aromas; ebullient on the palate; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; delicious red fruit flavors, tight and young in the finish."
91 Points "Rich, inviting, smooth, with decidedly ripe appley and light mineral flavors; generous aftertaste."
93 Points "Bright yellow-gold. Deeply pitched aromas of poached pear, peach pit, chamomile, honey and brioche, with a spicy overtone. Impressively concentrated orchard fruit flavors are complicated by smoky lees, herbs and a hint of beeswax, and lifted by a floral topnote. Shows a marzipan nuance on the long, clinging, spice-accented finish."
91 Points 91(+?) Points - "Pale orange color. Aromas of red currant, orange zest and anise, with high-pitched spice and floral notes adding complexity. Taut and mineral-driven, with bright red fruit flavors and notes of bitter orange, anise and white pepper. Juicy acidity provides energy and lift to the long, spicy finish."
90 Points "Bright red-ruby. Cassis, black cherry and licorice on the rather medicinal nose. Concentrated and savory; nicely balanced and dry, showing none of the vintage's hot side. Finishes saline and long. A very good showing."
92 Points "Good deep red-ruby. Ripe aromas of currant, coffee, mocha, licorice and minerals. Rich and mellow, with dark currant and chocolate flavors complicated by an intriguing yeasty nuance. At once chewy and refined. Finishes with substantial mouthdusting tannins and a touch of anise."
90 Points "Good full red. Aromas of dried flowers and menthol dominated by coffee oak; raspberry and currant slowly emerged with air. Sweet, lush and broad, with very good freshness of fruit. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and good subtle length. 'Two thousand seven is a great, forward, rich, plummy vintage, but not '97-like,' notes Pio Boffa. 'You can drink the wines now with food but they will age.'"
91 Points 91(+?) Points - "Good deep red. Very closed but pure nose offers currant, marzipan, mocha and a whiff of truffle. Quite sweet on the front half and almost surprisingly round and opulent. Then turns more dry and classic toward the back, finishing with serious, dusty, fine-grained tannins."
94 Points "Quite closed on the nose, with the oak element in the foreground. Then hugely rich and opulent in the mouth, with an utterly smooth texture that goes beyond the other 2007s here. The concentration of plummy red fruit is accentuated by the wine's energy. Explosively long finish saturates the entire mouth with rich tannins."
90-92 Points "Moderately saturated medium red. Perfumed, high-pitched aromas and flavors of raspberry, redcurrant, rose petal, tobacco, orange peel and exotic spices. Juicy, dense and suave, with a light touch thanks to superb inner-mouth energy. Finishes firmly tannic, long and perfumed, with the structure for a slow evolution in bottle."
90-92 Points "Moderately saturated medium red. Red cherry, marzipan, minerals and underbrush on the nose; perfumed... Finishes with dusty, serious tannins, a savory chewy quality, and lingering notes of red cherry and camphor. Like the Barbaresco, this displays the energy of the vintage's better examples."
94 Points White Wine of the Month - "This wine captures the cool tones of Anderson Valley fruit in a sophisticated sparkler, the marriage of pinot noir and chardonnay flavors transformed into lemon curd, white raspberry, bright apple and lasting spice. The tight balance keeps it fresh, while reserve wines add to its richness (the blend includes four percent of reserves from 1999). There's nerve underneath the luscious texture, extending the sense of richness into finesse."
90 Points "This refined white is driven by finely tuned acidity, with a smoky, minerally undercurrent and subtle notes of Gala apple, orchard blossoms, apricot and dried papaya. A tang of salt plays on the long finish."
90 Points "A floral version that's just off-dry and lush, backed by juicy acidity and a smoky undercurrent. This layers candied orange and pineapple notes with pleasantly bitter hints of pink grapefruit peel and green papaya, with a touch of curry spices. A rich style, but balanced nonetheless."
92 Points "A fresh Riesling, with bright and tangy acidity and flavors of passion fruit, kumquat, quince and black licorice snap. Well-integrated, with a sweet, smoky layer running through the wine and lingering on the mouthwatering finish."
92 Points "It displays good lift on the nose with very pure blackberry and raspberry coulis intermixed with graphite, underlying mineralité coming through with aeration. The palate has a peppery entry, fine tannins and good weight, cohesive with lovely ripe tertiary flavours towards the finish. Very fine."
91 Points Best Buy One of the 100 Best Buys of the Year -- "This estate-grown blend of chardonnay and pinot noir gains added richness from oak-aged reserve wines. The reserves broaden the texture, contributing almond tones to the clean, fresh apple and pear flavors. A festive aperitif, this delivers far beyond its price."
93 Points "The 2007 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a powerhouse. Layers of black cherries, espresso, mocha and spices emerge from this large-scaled, powerful wine. The oak is beautifully integrated in this vintage, always an excellent sign for how the wine is likely to evolve over the coming years. There is plenty going on in the glass, as this dark, mysterious Barbaresco continues to develop with air. This is another strong showing from Pio Cesare."
91 Points "Starts out a bit flat, with milk chocolate and raisiny aromas. With airing it evolves and expands, showing snappy flavors of berry, raisin and brown sugar. Very solid on the finish and elegant as an aged Rioja gran reserva should be."
90 Points Editor's Choice "Ample black cherry fruit is enhanced by layers of floral and herbal complexity, while the tannins are supple, allowing the flavors to linger elegantly on the finish."
94 Points "This luscious blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese shows bright cherry and blueberry characteristics backed by smooth richness and velvety texture. The wine is soft, dense and delicious overall. It presents a beautiful portrait of Tuscan wine."
91 Points "Light yellow-gold. Deeply pitched aromas of white peach, pineapple and pear, with toasty lees and a vanilla note adding complexity. Lush, sappy and oak-spicy, with very good intensity and focus to its pit and tropical fruit flavors. Picks up a zesty lemony quality that adds bite to the long, spicy finish."
90 Points "Bright ruby-red. Cherry, black raspberry, vanilla and cracked pepper on the highly perfumed nose. Sappy, incisive dark fruit flavors are lifted by tangy acidity and pick up smokiness and oak spices with air. Finishes on a gently sweet note, with very good clinging length."
92 Points "Deep ruby-red. Ripe red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by vanilla, pipe tobacco and potpourri. Fleshy, palate-coating redcurrant and cherry compote flavors deliver solid punch and pick up floral pastille and smoky nuances with air. The long, seamless finish repeats the deep cherry note and leaves dusty minerals and spices behind. This is delicious now but has the depth and balance to age effortlessly."
92 Points "The 2007 Barbaresco is a gorgeous, inviting wine graced with exquisite dark fruit and a supple personality. Fine tannins frame the fruit through to the finish. The Barbaresco is already quite open and accessible, but the tannins remain a touch firm and there is enough freshness in the glass to suggest the wine will be even better in another year or two. This is a very typical 2007."
93 Points "The 2007 Barolo is inviting, sweet and open, yet has plenty of underlying tannins to provide support. It shows terrific balance in a style that reconciles the traditionalist leanings of this bottling with the ripe quality of the year. Sweet hints of tobacco, spices, leather and herbs add complexity on the textured yet grippy finish. Pio Cesare’s straight Barolo doesn’t seem to get the attention or spotlight it deserves, but it has truly been one of Piedmont’s under the radar jewels for some time."
95 Points "The 2007 Barolo Ornato is striking. It shows marvelous delineation in it aromatics, tremendous breadth on the palate and fabulous balance. As always, the Ornato is a plush Barolo, with tons of Serralunga character and muscle. Rose petals, crushed flowers and spices add complexity to the dark fruit, while the French oak is very well-integrated. This is one of the most polished wines I have ever tasted from Pio Cesare."
91 Points "The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Haute Pierre (65% tank-aged Grenache and 35% barrel-aged Syrah) boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with sweet notes of roasted meats, new saddle leather, espresso, cassis and black cherry jam. This classic, full-throttle Chateauneuf du Pape can be enjoyed over the next 15+ years. As I noted last year, there has been tremendous progress and a definitive amelioration of quality with respect to the Chateauneuf du Papes being produced by Delas."
90 Points "This plump red bursts with plum, cherry, chocolate and toast flavors, framed by soft tannins and gentle acidity. A juicy wine."
95 Points Cellar Selection "Pio Cesare and the 2007 vintage marry beautifully to produce a layered, opulent, textured, rich wine that is bursting with zesty red fruit, sassy spice, leather and toasted espresso bean. What really sets this wine apart is the dense smoothness of its texture. Save this bottle in your cellar 10 years or more."
94 Points Cellar Selection "Ornato is an opulent, modern expression of Barolo with lush oak tones that will require at least 10 more years to find perfect harmony. The 2007 vintage offers extra pulp and chewy cherry concentration that this wine upholds very successfully. You’ll love the plumpness and overall chocolaty richness available here."
90 Points "This white embraces the traditional style, featuring notes of coconut and vanilla from oak balanced by dried pear, almond and herb flavors. Firm, with very bright acidity that keeps this lively."
91 Points "This silky white delivers lightly honeyed flavors of apricot, orange gélee, smoke and just a touch of toffee. Racy acidity finds precise balance with the wine's riper flavor profile, resulting in an elegant wine offering a long, spicy finish."
90 Points "This aromatic Pinot Gris shows pretty apple blossom, spring forest, star fruit, lemon curd and smoke notes. Bright and tangy acidity keeps this lively and well-balanced. The anise-tinged finish lingers."
90 Points "There is real character on the nose of the Magdelaine 2007 with broody but well defined dark berried fruits with redcurrant, cranberry, leather and an almost 'animally' accent. The palate has a smooth and cohesive entry...it displays crisp acidity and good focus."
90 Points "A vivid Chianti Classico, with dark cherry, violets and berries on the nose and palate. Fresh finish. Made from Biodynamic grapes."
91 Points "Clear aromas of blueberry and light jam. Full bodied, with silky tannins and a citrus, plum and berry character. Rich yet balanced and very pretty."
90 Points "A rich, fat wine, with the weight of concentrated red fruits laced with pear and a touch of spice. There is a vanilla layer that adds extra complexity."
90 Points "Produced from the Clos Mireille, within sight of the Mediterranean, this fresh-faced wine shows peach and citrus flavors rounded by ripeness, although with an attractive tangy aftertaste."
93 Points "Dark fruit, spices, leather and tobacco are some of the aromas and flavors that take shape in the glass. Mineral notes appear later to frame the long, vibrant finish. The 2008 shows lovely balance..."
90 Points "The 2009 Chianti Classico Querciabella floats on the palate with layers of sensual red fruit, flowers and spices. It remains an essentially mid-weight wine graced with exquisite finesse and class, reflecting a stylistic change from some of the bigger vintages of the past. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding lift and harmony."
90 Points "The palate is well-defined with subtle lime, green apple and apricot flavours. The oak is well-integrated lending the taut finish an attractive creamy veneer."
91 Points Smart Buy "Hints of smoke, lemon curd and fresh forest floor add layers of complexity to the flavors of white peach, pink grapefruit and spiced orange peel in this well-cut white, which is elegant, with fine focus, a silky texture and a tangy, mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2019."
91 Points "Light, bright peach skin color. Lively, mineral-accented aromas of orange zest, strawberry and honeysuckle, along with a hint of herbs. Nervy and refreshingly brisk on the palate, offering pure red berry and citrus flavors underscored by a chalky quality. Finishes dry and clean, with strong cut and lingering florality. I really like this wine's balance and focus."
91 Points "The 2000 Barolo has a very classic feel to it. Hints of rose petal, spices, licorice, and tobacco lead to red cherries and flowers in this delicate, subtle wine. The fruit unfolds beautifully through the mid-palate and finish. This is an impressive, totally delicious Barolo."
91 Points "Aromas of toast, baking spices, almonds, butterscotch, and melon lead to a smooth-textured, rich, savory wine with well-integrated acidity that cleans the palate. This lengthy effort is capable of evolving for several years and is likely to drink well through 2021."
94 Points "Deeply colored, spicy, elegant and complex, the wine has great volume and grip as well as exceptional length. It can be approached now but will easily have a 30 year lifespan."
92-95 Points "It is a fragrant, enticing, already complex offering that will continue to evolve in the bottle for several more years. Rich, savory, and ripe, this beautifully balanced wine will also have a 30+ year lifespan."
94 Points "Dense purple in color, it exhibits aromas of pain grille, graphite, lavender, spice box, and assorted black fruits with a hint of balsamic and chocolate. Savory, spicy, and well-balanced, this layered offering has plenty of silky tannins and a pure, seamless finish. It will continue to blossom for several more years and drink well through 2025."
93 Points "It offers up an expressive nose of sandalwood, mineral, balsamic, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it displays considerable complexity... Savory, ripe, layered, and long, this outstanding wine will offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2027."
90 Points "Asian spices, incense, mineral, smoke, black cherry, and blackberry are some of the nuances that appear as the wine sits in the glass. Savory spices, ripe tannins, and layers of black fruit flavors lead to a seamless finish in a wine that will evolve for several more years and drink well through 2027."
90 Points "The 2010 Pazo Barrantes Albarino is a fragrant white that spent several months on its lees. Aromas and flavors of jasmine, lemon, and tropical notes are displayed on a smooth-textured platform featuring lively acidity, plenty of spice notes, and excellent balance. This lengthy effort will deliver pleasure for the next 3-4 years."
95 Points "This is very pure fruit for Dominus. This will be interesting to see how it develops in the future. 2008 was a very small crop. Very perfumed and beautiful, with currants, flowers, and notes of mint. Full-bodied, with round velvety tannins that lead up to a chocolate and ripe berry finish. This is showing great fruit, and a great finish."
91 Points "A balanced and pretty wine with blueberry and minerals. Medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicious finish. Dried flowers, milk chocolate and spices. No need to wait for this; it's ready."
90 Points "Still on the young side, with pure, chiseled straw, gooseberry and flint flavors that are backed by a long, stylish finish, where a fleur de sel note lingers. Should age gracefully."
91 Points "Stylish, with lots of mocha, spice and black tea aromas backed by velvety-textured blackberry and raspberry fruit. The long, suave finish stretches out nicely, with the fruit and spice hanging on."
90 Points "A delicate Champagne, with spring blossom, smoke, yellow apple and anise flavors set on a fine-grained texture. The moderate finish is fresh and juicy, with the smoky note lingering."
98 Points "A brilliant showing for Christian Moueix’s well-known Napanook Vineyard, the 2001 Dominus is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. A classic in the making, this is a flawless, seamless example of elegant, complex Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that possesses a Bordeaux-like personality. This gorgeous, sexy, opulent, dense ruby/purple-colored wine reveals sweet caramel, mocha, creme de cassis and kirsch notes intermixed with a hint of espresso roast as well as underbrush. Ripe, long and full-bodied with well-integrated tannin, acidity, alcohol and wood, this prodigious 2001 is drinkable now and over the next 25+ years given this estate’s longevity track record. A virtually perfect wine, it is one of the most complex 2001s at present."
93 Points "Love the nose on this with nutmeg and other spices, not to mention the ripe fruits such as currants and plums. Full and wonderfully balanced with ultra-fine tannins and a bright finish. Bright and tannic. Delicious already."
97 Points "Dark color with lovely ruby red edge. What a nose of blackberries, blueberries and hazelnuts! Full bodied, with amazing tannins that are velvety and gorgeous. Oranges and plums in the aftertaste. This is the best Ornato ever? This is the new 1958."
91 Points "Fragrant, delivering sandalwood, incense and floral aromas as cherry and plum notes emerge on the palate. This is open and lush, despite its dense tannins. Very suave and harmonious, needing time to really come together. Excellent finish."
90 Points "Ripe fruit, with sweet tannins. It is quite light with fresh acidity and attractively balanced, with flavors of dried raisins and final acidity."
97 Points Cellar Selection -- "Gorgeous, smooth wine, perhaps even more intense than in past vintages. The tannins are totally enveloped by the ripe plum and damson fruits. Complex, powerful, layered and opulent, this is a wine for the long term."
93 Points Cellar Selection -- "Austere wine, its tannins pushing forward to give power and structure. It is dense, concentrated, with layer upon layer of bitter coffee and dark fruit flavors, acidity and sweet tannins."
94 Points "Stylish wine, balanced, intensely elegant. It has freshness and also weight, encased in a structure that is poised, beautifully integrating black currant fruit and chocolate flavors."
91 Points "Sweet and spicy, displaying a viscous texture that envelops the cherry, menthol and allspice notes. Firm, upright tannins on the finish keep this honest, and the spice lingers, along with notes of mineral."
93 Points "A touch of wood adds warmth and spice, with vanilla and smoke notes accenting black cherry, licorice and leather flavors. The muscular tannins add power to this Barolo's well-toned profile."
92 Points "A rich, muscular red, with interesting notes of cream and pomegranate to the ripe dark plum and cherry flavors. There's a full-bore finish of smoked maple and mocha."
91 Points "Very sanguine-tasting yet elegant, with a strong spicy element to the dried berry and cherry flavors. Intriguing notes of paprika and pepper linger on the creamy finish."
93 Points "Lots of forest berries and flowers in the nose. On the palate, it is thick and very rich, with big plummy fruit and a light raisin aftertaste. Chewy, round, and very generous on the palate."
95 Points "The sweet berry and iodine character on the nose is fascinating. Intense aromas of stone and fruit. Full bodied, with chewy yet polished tannins. This is long and stylish, powerful..."
98-100 Points "Delas's two luxury cuvees are both candidates for perfection. As good as the single vineyard Cote Roties of Guigal, the 2009 Cote Rotie La Landonne...is a sublime wine. A dense blue/purple color is followed by aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, white chocolate, vanilla and a hint of spring flowers. The wine exhibits fabulous fruit intensity, a wonderful medium to full-bodied mouthfeel...beautiful elegance and purity."
92-94 Points "A strong effort, the 2009 Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron is the softest of all Delas's 2009 Northern Rhones, offering up notes of black olives, lychee nuts, raspberries and black currants. This finesse-styled, elegant red should provide delicious drinking..."
92 Points "The 2009 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins spends time in both barrel and tank. ...it boasts a dense purple color along with an impressive bouquet of camphor, graphite, spring flowers, tapenade and creme de cassis."
91-93 Points "Aged 100% in small French oak, it exhibits a striking minerality as well as copious notes of cassis, acacia flowers, licorice, herbs and spice. Combining power, intensity and elegance, this full-bodied 2009 should drink well for 12-15+ years."
91 Points "An amazing bargain, it is the finest wine they have yet produced under this moniker. Seductive notes of black cherries, cassis, licorice, tobacco leaf and pepper are followed by an opulent, consumer-friendly but authentic Northern Rhone to drink over the next 5-6 years."
99-100 Points "Delas's two luxury cuvees are both candidates for perfection. One of the vintage's greatest Hermitages is undeniably the 2009 Hermitage Les Bessards... Built like a skyscraper, it boasts a black/purple color as well as notes of barbecue smoke, burning embers, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, white flowers and powdered rocks. Full-bodied, dense and enormous in the mouth with perfect harmony..."
95-97+ Points "One of the top wines in this portfolio is the 2009 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette. Aged in 50% new oak, it exhibits abundant aromas of creme de cassis as well as hints of acacia flowers, crushed rocks and graphite along with massive concentration, full body, a dense style, a boatload of tannin and enormous extract. ...Jacques Granges thinks this is the finest example of this cuvee he has yet made. I can't think of any reason to disagree."
92-95 Points "One of the top three or four wines of the appellation, the 2009 St.-Joseph Ste.-Epine is a seriously endowed, opaque purple-colored effort revealing notes of ink, lead pencil shavings, blackberries, toast, licorice, pepper and a liqueur of minerality."
91-93 Points "The dense purple-colored, gamy 2009 Cornas Chante Perdrix offers up scents of duck confit intermixed with notions of burning embers, black fruits, new saddle leather and savage animal-like notes. There is extraordinary intensity and abundant tannin, but enough fruit to balance out the wine's structure."
91-93 Points "Ratcheting up the level of concentration, power, extract, tannin and intensity, the 2009 St.-Joseph Francois de Tournon exhibits licorice, cassis, graphite and earth in its full-bodied, rich, well-balanced personality."
92 Points "The 2009 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins spends time in both barrel and tank... it boasts a dense purple color along with an impressive bouquet of camphor, graphite, spring flowers, tapenade and creme de cassis."
93 Points "A touch of wood adds warmth and spice, with vanilla and smoke notes accenting black cherry, licorice and leather flavors. The muscular tannins add power to this Barolo’s well-toned profile."
93+ Points "Tasted at JP Moueix. The Hosanna 2008 outstrips my expectations out of barrel. As suggested back then, it is much more "classic" and even "austere" on the nose than recent vintages of Hosanna in their youth. Red-berried fruits, a touch of cigar box, smoke, liquorice and later some attractive mint aromas emerge. The terroir is more transparent compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, dry but supple tannins, very good fruit intensity with great weight and density towards the finish."
98 Points "The palate is medium-bodied with exceptionally fine balance, linear at first but my God, the back-palate does not know what has hit it! The 2008 has a multi-dimensional finish with cranberry, graphite, dark cherries, citrus peel and a tincture of liquorice. Incredible length... Very fine cashmere texture and great length; this is one hell of a wine."
96 Points "A modern day classic? I think so, here, the wine transcending the potential it showed in barrel. ... Well integrated oak here, with subtle cedar and graphite scents developing with time. Good definition. The palate has vibrant, animated entry with fiery red-berried fruits, superb acidity and wonderful harmony, cashmere tannins caressing the mouth. It lingers for an extraordinary amount of time on the back palate with real structure and focus. Hints of black pepper sprinkled on the aftertaste. Brilliant."
90 Points "Fig, clove and tobacco flavors are dark and alluring in this muscular red, which has a thick, muscular texture, but a core of plum and currant fruit keeps it all lively."
93 Points "This has texture and range that's a step up from the pack, with a gorgeous, silky feel to the ripe but restrained cherry, raspberry and damson plum notes that are layered with hints of black tea, incense and mineral. The long finish is more about poise than power. Lovely."
91 Points "Muscular and solid, perhaps a bit chunky now, this big red shows toast, coffee and loam notes over a core of black cherry and fig flavors that struggle to emerge from gripping tannins. There's purity and depth that bode well."
91 Points "Builds slowly, as the mesquite and roasted plum aromas slowly give way to more layers of tobacco, hot stone, cassis, chestnut and graphite. The long finish really stretches out with mineral and tobacco notes."
97 Points "It is a powerful, structured Cristal layered with considerable fruit. ...Readers who are willing to spend some time with the wine today will find a super-impressive, complete Cristal. ...the 2004 Cristal has come together beautifully and is shaping up to be a truly great, monumental Champagne."
90 Points "The NV Brut Premier is a soft, creamy wine that captures the essence of the house style in its refined mousse, precise aromas and flavors and compelling overall balance. ...Year after year, this is one of Champagne’s most reliably outstanding entry-level wines."
91 Points "The 2004 Brut Blanc de Blancs offers up gorgeous varietal fruit in a fairly rich style for a 2004 Blanc de Blancs. Textural finesse, brilliance and a total sense of harmony are the hallmarks of this suave, finessed Champagne. The small bubbles caress the palate from start to finish."
93 Points "The 2005 Brut Rose is a gorgeous wine blessed with compelling inner perfume, layers of subtle yet expressive fruit and phenomenal balance. Clean, chalky notes frame a precise, crystalline finish. This mid-weight Champagne can be enjoyed on its own or with food."
91 Points "...the 2007 continues to show wonderful elegance, sweet finesse and ripe Napa Valley fruit."
93 Points "The 2008 Napanook...may be one of the greatest Napanooks made. It is a deeper, richer, more intense wine with full body, an endearing texture and a long, pure finish. These two are 'take your pick' vintages, but wine enthusiasts would probably be remiss in not having both 2007 and 2008 in their cellars."
98 Points "The 2007 Dominus, the quintessential model of haute couture, is pure elegance exhibiting a seamless integration of wood, tannin, alcohol and acidity as well as a complex bouquet of cedar, new saddle leather, sweet kirsch, black currant and plum fruit and a notion of licorice. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years."
99 Points "Made in a more masculine style, the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture. Both [the 2007 & 2008 vintages] are brilliant wines and they represent the finest back-to-back vintages for Dominus since 2001 and 2002 or 1990 and 1991."
92 Points "Lovely nose of Merlot with milk chocolate and raspberry aromas. Lots of mineral character too, but subtle. Full body, with fine and silky tannins and an already delicious dark chocolate and berry aftertaste. Balanced and pretty. Give it two or three years. Hard not to drink now."
92 Points "Wonderful nose of blueberries, spices and light meat, with hints of chocolate as well. Full bodied, with a beautiful structure of ultra-soft tannins and subtle yet rich fruit. Loads going on here."
90 Points "A spicy red, with plum and currant bush character. Medium to full body, with fine tannins and a fruity finish."
93 Points "Floral, citrus and spice aromas and flavors are at the forefront of this filigree, delicate Champagne. This is harmonious and well-defined, with a long aftertaste of roasted nut and toast."
92 Points "Aromas of peat announce this grand dowager, with polished dried cherry and berry flavors that feature notes of lemon zest and plum pudding. The long finish oozes fig paste, caramel and chocolate. Very silky."
93 Points "Very rich and full of pure-tasting flavors of toffee, butterscotch and caramel, with light fruity notes of dried cherry and apricot. There's a long, glorious finish of hazelnut and cream."
90 Points "A ripe style, with rich, well-integrated flavors of toffee, marshmallow and dried plum. Offers cream and butterscotch on the lush finish."
90 Points "Very grapey, with dense, concentrated flavors of dark plum, chocolate, cherry and spice. Mocha and dark chocolate notes, with raisin hints, linger on the finish."
90 Points "A firm Champagne, displaying a floral quality to the biscuit, pear and light spice notes. This shows fine balance and good drive to the acidity, straight through to the delicate finish."
94 Points "There's so much floral and berry character on the nose and palate here. It's full-bodied and very dense with lots of fine and delicate tannins. Winemaker Oliver Berrouet calls it a classic Bordeaux in style and I have to agree with him because of the fine tannins, fresh acidity, and beautiful reserve fruit. Lovely sweet berry and chocolate finish to the wine."
97 Points #16 in the Top 100 Cellar Selections -- "Easily the greatest Dominus in memory... Lacks for nothing in complexity and sheer deliciousness. Tantalizes with blackberry tart, cherry, carob bean and a Pinot Noiresque cola-rhubarb richness that retreats behind rich tannins and an earthiness suggesting sweet blond tobacco and dried sage."
90 Points "Youthful, tart wild berry flavors mark this pale pink rosé. It’s brisk, and while the fruit is still a bit primary, the flavors finish with an intriguing limestone earthiness that lends sophistication. Enjoy this as a young wine with roast duck."
97 Points "A pale beauty with delicate power, energy and dimension, the 2004 Cristal is an impressive follow-up to the 2002. Scents of apple blossom hint at the depth and clarity of the fruit, layered with ginger and spice in a flavor delivered over the course of several minutes. The freshness of the wine comes through in a subtle hum rather than anything as overt as a buzz, bright, airy and unstoppable."
95 Points "This is pure, essential Champagne, limestone rock captured in liquid form. Its pale, fragrant citrus flavors are sleek and generous, etched into a stony structure that supports them completely without any overt acidity or tannin. All that’s perceptible is the wine. Age this to let the flavor detail develop, or enjoy it now for the beauty of its youth."
93 Points "The quality of Roederer’s viticulture shows in the freshness of this 2003, capturing the generosity of the vintage without superripeness. It’s lively and firm, soft to the touch, with a flash of acidity that lengthens its red fruit flavors and lends it a warm glow. Open a bottle for the turkey this Thanksgiving."
93 Points "A lovely, generous rosé... It shows the kind of pure red fruit clarity that is rare in the vintage, along with complex hints of mushroom. Tangy acidity contrasts the wine’s full flavor, bringing it to a dry finish."
90 Points "The firm, toasty richness of reserve wines lends depth and structure to this nonvintage brut. The lemon-curd fruitiness is round, edged by mineral and wood tones. For aperitifs."
90 Points "This pale pink rosé has scents of linden and a meaty, curry-like spice. Its earthy, stony flavor has heft and weight, cut by acidity with the sharpness of a shiso leaf."
94 Points #42 on the Top 100 Cellar Selections -- "With a few years’ aging, this is beginning to show its almond and toast side. The fresh acidity is now melding beautifully into a soft, ripe texture with layers of spice and acidity. Certainly worth aging further."
92 Points "The 2004 Brut Blanc de Blancs emerges from the glass with exotic beauty in its fruit. This rich, multi-faceted Champagne possesses dazzling complexity, with endless layers of fruit and a beautifully chiseled finish. This, too, is a fabulous effort from Deutz."
95 Points "The 2000 Brut Rose Cuvee William Deutz emerges from the glass with a big, masculine expression of fruit. Darker, baritone notes develop in the glass, adding weight and richness. A broad-shouldered, expansive wine, the Rose Cuvee William Deutz is beginning to show early signs of tertiary development, although it has the stuffing to age well for a number of years."
92+ Points "The 2006 Brut Rose is a gorgeous wine endowed with an expressive bouquet suggestive of roses, spices, minerals and crushed berries. It possesses wonderful richness, depth and clarity in a cool, beguiling style. [...] It is a huge over-achiever in its price range."
90 Points "The NV Brut Rose showcases the classic Deutz style in a soft, approachable fruit. Mint, flowers and crushed berries are some of the nuances that flow from this delicate, mineral-laced rose. It’s hard not to fall for this delicious wine."
90 Points "The NV Brut Classic is a pretty, entry-level wine. Warm, generous fruit comes together beautifully in this rich, expansive, mid-weight Champagne. The bouquet, texture and purity of the finish are all first-rate."
94 Points "The wines included a recent ‘go-to’ Champagne, the crisp, very flavorful 1999 Deutz Rosé."
91+ Points "The 2007 Barbera d’Alba Fides is one of the best versions of this wine I can remember tasting. It is also unusually closed and tight for the vintage, but over time layers of ripe, perfumed fruit emerge with superb clarity and precision. The Fides reveals gorgeous persistence on the palate and terrific overall balance."
91 Points "The 2006 Barbaresco is an attractive, mid-weight wine. Red berries, sweet spices and crushed flowers are some of the nuances that emerge from this plump, juicy Barbaresco. With a little air, this is already drinking quite nicely. Sweet notes from new oak linger on the pretty finish."
94 Points "The 2006 Barolo offers up a super-classic profile of tar, roses, raspberries and licorice, all wrapped around a firm core of tannins. Fresh and vibrant throughout, the Barolo impresses for its superb balance and poise. ... This is a magnificent, impeccable Barolo from Pio Cesare, but it will be even better in a few years."
94 Points "The estate’s 2006 Barolo Ornato expresses the power and masculinity of Serralunga in a rich, opulent style packed with dark fruit. The Ornato shows marvelous concentration and vibrancy, with added layers of dimension from the French oak. It is a fascinating wine to contrast with the straight Barolo, as each of these 2006s reveals a different shade of nuance. There is a marvelous intensity to the fruit, along with substantial grip on the finish."
91 Points "Both [the '07 and '08 vintages] had graceful mid-palates, elegant and showing considerable finesse. ... Beautifully structured and quite nicely put together, this is another in a string of nice DQ Reservas."
91 Points "Garnet in color, with a traditional sour cherry and oak scent, this wine grows at the Ygay estate in Rioja Alta. It’s smooth and plummy, with spicy red fruit tannins laying in wait for a steak. The minerality lasts, hinting at complexities to come with bottle age."
99 Points "Made in a more masculine style, the 2008 Dominus has all of that along with bigger body and more structure, fat, density and texture. Both are brilliant wines and they represent the finest back-to-back vintages for Dominus since 2001 and 2002 or 1990 and 1991. Both the 2007 and 2008 Dominus should drink well for 25-30 years..."
90 Points "Ripe and dense, but sleek and focused, with a lovely core of mulled black currant, warm fig paste and tobacco, laced with mouthwatering dark olive and iron notes that help the finish stretch out nicely. Has solid grip in reserve, too."
90 Points "A lively wine, with a raisin bread-like note to the ripe current, nut and whole-grain toast flavors. Fresh and vibrant, with a clean, floral finish."
95 Points Best Sparkling Wine "...racy, as well as delicate, layered, savory and gently sweet. ...This is a breakthrough wine for California...Don't miss it."
93 Points Cellar Selection "Concentrated to the max, with young, closed aromas of coconut, charcoal, mint leaf, leather, hot pavement and black fruit. The palate is juvenile, full and warm, and it delivers a jolt of meaty black fruit, licorice and baking-spice flavors. Toasty late, with no shortage of structure and oak. Should age well for a decade or so."
92 Points "The latest release, a blend of chardonnay (60 percent) and pinot noir, shows that depth in penetrating flavors of green apple, tart pear and raspberry—the fruit fragrant and fresh against more mature notes of yeast."
95 Points "[...] it is delicate and precise as a fine Champagne, but rather than being grounded in Kimmeridgean limestone, it’s marked by the coastal, forested hills of Mendocino. This is also one of our 100 Best Wines of the Year—for its own refreshing reasons."
90 Points Bargain Sparkler "A beautiful rosé bubbly, from the copper-salmon color to the final finish. Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it's dry and refined, with complex orange, raspberry, vanilla cream, mineral and brioche flavors. Gains extra points for the smoothness of its bubbles."
90 Points Bargain Sparkler: "Great price for a brut this classically structured. Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it's dry and crisp, with a fine mousse that gives it a creamy smooth mouthfeel. The pineapple, raspberry and vanilla flavors are delicious."
100 Points One of the best Cham "There is no singular flavor, but rather a resonant chord, a series of oppositions that create the invisible intensity of an electric current, the power of the charge balanced by the elegance of the flavor and the structure of the wine. You could describe it as light and brisk, or bold and intense; either way you'll still be tasting it ten minutes later."
100 Points One of the best Cham "If a wine could ever make you want to pull the top down on your '68 Ferrari convertible, rip off the rearview mirror and take off, this is it. ...All the scents and flavors seem to emanate from limestone, as does the acidity, which hints at the front of the mouth and powers through the wine with the kind of solar energy that lifts mist off the white chalk on a cool morning in Cramant....It's already irresistible, and will only improve with ten, 20, 30 and 40 years of age."
95 Points "Roederer’s Brut Rosé, a maceration of unusually ripe, low-yielding pinot noir from Cumières blended with about 30 percent chardonnay, is consistently an exceptional rosé Champagne, perhaps the finest value in the house’s portfolio."
100 Points "A typical Cristal requires several decades to show its best, yet a great one such as the 2002 shows a refinement, complexity and harmony that make it seductive in its youth as well."
100 Points "Elegant and exquisitely detailed, the ’02 Cristal Rosé is the finest rosé Champagne currently on the market."
92+ Points "Bright, incisive and impressively pure, offering silky citrus and floral flavors underscored by dusty minerality and a touch of bitter pear skin. This is a baby but shows excellent potential, with strong finishing thrust and creamy persistence."
90+ Points "...offering tangy redcurrant and wild strawberry flavors and a kiss of orange peel. Smoothes out on the finish, which repeats the red fruit and floral notes."
93 Points "Deeply pitched citrus and red berry flavors are complicated by notes of candied rose and white pepper and gain spiciness with air. Finishes on a refreshingly bitter citrus pith note, with excellent persistence."
92 Points "Juicy citrus flavors show a silky quality, with spice and floral notes adding complexity. Gains flesh and sweetness with air and finishes with excellent clarity, cut and chalky persistence. This is balanced to age."
94 Points "Taut, linear lemon and orange rind flavors give way to deeper pear in the mid-palate and pick up notes of honeysuckle and toasted grain with air. Still very young but shows excellent promise. Finishes with good mineral cut and sappy persistence."
91+ Points "Nervy, dry and precise, offering fresh raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and an exotic candied rose quality. The long, mineral-accented finish features a late note of cinnamon."
91 Points "L'Ermitage 2002 ... is sleek and creamy, with pinpoint focus and long, complex apple and spicy, yeasty flavors."
93 Points "L'Ermitage Rosé 2003 ... has delicate floral aromas of strawberry and peach, but also deep, opulent raspberry, toasty vanilla and mineral flavors."
91 Points "The current release ... is the wine's best version ever, with bold, spicy apple aromas and rich, layered flavors of baked apple, pear and crème brûlée."
93 Points "This expressive white is fragrant with almond blossom, citrus peel, apple, vanilla and spice notes that sail through the palate, carried on firm acidity that gives the wine a lithe, muscular texture. Fresh and long. Drink now through 2020."
91 Points "Pure and racy, with mature notes of paraffin and lemon curd that weave in with the zestier mineral, white asparagus, lemon zest and honeysuckle flavors. The finish is long and stylish. Lovely."
90 Points "Its pear flavors tinged with a distinct sea salt minerality. Delicate and firm, it's balanced for sole amandine."
95 Points "The estate’s 2007 Palafreno offers layers of rich, dark fruit in a dramatic, opulent voice of Merlot from these pristine hillside vineyards in Greve. Stuningly pure, the 2007 Palafreno reveals quite a bit more depth and richness... The finish is long, polished and beyond impeccable, with lingering notes of graphite, crushed rocks and all things mineral that invite a second taste. The hardest decision readers will face is when to drink the Palafreno, as it is insanely beautiful now, but also promises to improve in bottle."
90 Points "The 2008 Chianti Classico Querciabella is a very pretty, attractive wine laced with fragrant red fruit. This is a finely knit, small scaled vintage of the Querciabella with beautiful balance and a long, harmonious finish. A beautifully delineated, crystalline finish rounds out this wine that shows the more delicate, Burgundian side of Sangiovese."
91 Points "The 2008 Batar is rather pointed and focused in this vintage, which also happens to be one of the most elegant I can remember. There is wonderful purity and energy in the ripe peach fruit with subtle undertones of flowers, minerals and French oak that add complexity. The oak seems dialed down in 2008 and what comes through is the exceptional beauty of fruit planted on these high-altitude hillside vineyards."
93 Points "Crushed flowers, berries and subtle French oak are woven together in a fine, silky fabric of notable class. The 2007 possesses terrific clarity and focus..."
90 Points "Delas Freres has produced two other outstanding sleepers of the vintage, and both wines dramatically over-deliver for their appellations. The brilliant 2009 Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit is the best Cotes du Rhone I have ever tasted from Delas. ...The wine has great fruit and a sweet raspberry and black cherry nose with some herbs, licorice, and pepper. Aged all in tank, the wine is medium to full-bodied and possesses sweet tannin as well as a long finish."
93 Points "A dark, smoldering style, exhibiting cocoa powder and braised fig notes up front, followed by additional espresso, mulled currant, melted licorice and graphite notes that push through on the muscular finish."
90 Points "Alluring mocha and mulled cherry aromas give way to a supple palate filled with black cherry, sandalwood and anise. The silky finish lets the black cherry fruit take an encore."
90 Points "Nicely ripe for the vintage, with braised fig and blackberry preserve notes laid over cocoa powder, mocha and licorice snap notes that extend through the velvety finish."
91 Points "Bright and juicy, with a mix of damson plum, fig and licorice snap notes backed by chocolate-covered cherry and pepper hints. Stays tangy, with the licorice and pepper lingering through the finish."
91 Points Cellar Selection "As befits a Bandol, this rosé has a good depth of flavor, rich and smoothly textured with acidity integrated into a serious and complex wine. The structure and acidity suggest a wine that could age for 2–3 years."
90 Points "A dusty-textured wine, its fruit like grains scattered over the surface of a fresh crisp structure. The freshness is palpable and so is the depth of flavor. A food-friendly wine."
91 Points "This has nice polish for the vintage, with racy blueberry, raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors well-supported by graphite, fruitcake and licorice root. A spicy edge lingers nicely on the fleshy finish."
92 Points "This plush, modern red is rich with raspberry and blackberry fruit, garnished with chocolate and spice and a lingering finish of bergamot and lilac. Offers fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins."
92 Points "The ’07 is more elegant and refined, a bit more modern and approachable, [...] yet still with some steel and tannin underneath as it airs out, make no mistake there. [...] As the oak integrated, it showed an unusual amount of grace and elegance that winemaker Joao Nicolau de Almeida attributes to the vintage conditions rather than a stylistic change."
96 Points "An explosion of fruit emerges from the 2004 Cristal, making a strong and very positive first impression. This is a wine of incredible finesse, length and balance that promises to develop beautifully over the next several decades."
90-92 Points 2009 Blend: "This shows lovely balance in a rich, round style I find highly appealing. The Brut Premier looks very promising at this stage."
92 Points "Here is an exceptionally fresh and pristine blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco from a biodynamic vineyard in Tuscany with buoyant aromas of honeysuckle, stone fruit, apricot and white mineral. The wine is crisp, sophisticated and lasts many long minutes in the mouth."
90 Points "This serious rosé has a pretty coppery color, with full-bore flavors of dried mango, cherry and plum that are flanked by rich glazed ginger notes. Shows hints of white chocolate and coffee on the finish."
97 Points "From a great vintage in Champagne, the 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal is spectacular. It is a young champagne with lots of brioche, honeysuckle, and nectarine notes presented in a full-bodied, rich style."
92 Points "On the palate balsamic and other savory notes make an appearance along with plenty of succulent black fruit. It has outstanding depth, concentration, and balance and should evolve for another 4-5 years. It is likely to have a 30 year lifespan."
93 Points "It still has a deep cherry red color along with an aromatic array of underbrush, brier, tobacco, incense, and blackberry. It has slightly sweeter fruit and livelier acidity than the 1994. This lengthy effort is at its peak now where it should remain for another 20 years."
90 Points "Suave on entry... with an edge of acidity to the black raspberry, redcurrant and mocha flavors. Slightly dry tannins. There's solid density here..."
94 Points "Thoroughly integrated acidity and enticing inner-mouth floral lift... Very suave and complex, finishing with noteworthy rising length and very sweet, fine-grained tannins. This beauty has the balance for a long and graceful life in bottle. "
91-94 Points "Boasts pure, intense black fruit flavors and good inner-mouth perfume."
90-93 Points "Dark ruby-red. Highly fragrant and enticing red berry and smoky mineral aromas. Like a cocktail of red fruits on the palate (red cherry, strawberry, plum), complicated by spices and minerals, with harmonious acids providing excellent lift and definition. Utterly charming due to its very ripe fruit, yet comes across as light and lively, finishing layered, smooth and long, with noble tannins. Probably the best de Pez made since the outstanding 1966."
90 Points "There’s no extraneous tannin to get in the way of the rose scents, the strawberry and musky cherry flavors—just a fine structure and clean, fragrant length of flavor."
90 Points Outstanding 2007 Red at 90 points: "Aromas of chocolate, toasted almond and dark fruits follow through to a full body, with soft, silky tannins and a pretty finish. There's lots of delicate fruit, with outstanding length."
90 Points "Fresh mushroom on the nose, with dark fruits and berries. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a rich, fruity finish. Balanced and pretty, with lovely length."
91 Points "This is lovely this year, refined and velvety, with the firm backbone this estate usually provides, plus impeccable balance and flavorful fruit. It is a very fine performance and it should age well."
90 Points "It shows admirable concentration and depth of flavor, but also a lot of finesse, as the fruit is fully ripe but still very fresh and pure. Red and black fruit notes are very nicely intertwined with the wine’s acidity and tannin, and oak notes are virtually undetectable, emphasizing the sense of purity that is the wine’s most prominent characteristic."
92 Points "This is an excellent wine at a price that is quite attractive in relation to its quality and also in relation to the current going rate for high-end reds from the Duoro. [...] the toast oak notes are very well integrated with the wine’s dark (blackberry and black current) fruit. Acidity and tannin are both notably present but are likewise well balanced and integrated, making this a wine that can be enjoyed now with robust food but also kept for at least a decade. Impressive!"
91 Points "This famous estate and its amazing Château de Nozet have become such fixtures in the world of wine that one could almost forget that it is also the source of some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. If you’d hesitate to buy a Pouilly-Fumé from 2006 (which is indeed the current release), this is a bottle to buy especially for that reason, since the wine can teach a valuable lesson about the capacity of top Loire Sauvignons to acquire additional complexities with age while still remaining taut and fresh. In this instance the core of lemon/lime fruit is enhanced by lots of little nuances and a very prominent minerality in the finish. Highly detailed, this is an enduringly interesting drink that seems to unfold a new element with every successive sip."
90 points "A subtle white, with a delicate floral fragrance and finely woven acidity. Shows dry, smoky flavors of white peach, dried apple and fresh earth, with a touch of beeswax on the lightly juicy finish."
92 points "Almost as pale as a brut, with a touch of salmon color, and deeply flavored, this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend has subtle, inviting flavors of cherries, strawberries, orange zest, vanilla and freshly baked brioche. It's very fine in the mousse, with a silky mouthfeel. Really marked by elegance and structure."
94 points "This is as fine a rosé sparkling wine as has ever been produced in California. Almost 50-50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it has rich flavors of cherries, raspberries, vanilla, toast and creamy lees, in the style of Champagne, and is completely dry and very crisp in acidity."
90-92 points "As often, Magdelaine is a wine that is on the austere side, emphasizing minerality... opening slowly to blackcurrant flavors."
95-97 points "The wine is finely balanced, with an impressive tension between sweet fruit, acidity and tannins. A wonderful waft of perfumed minerality, just ripe fruits, finished with dark tannins. Obviously for long aging."
92-94 points "It may seem surprisingly light to begin with. But this wine has depth, richness, hinting at wood straining through the sweet fruit. It is firm, fresh, but properly tannic."
93-95 points "A solid, almost chunky wine, but well balanced, the tannins fine and tight. The overall effect is of a wine that is warm and ripe, but there is also a tension there."
90 points, A Recomme "Shows blueberry and floral aromas, with hints of sandalwood. Full-bodied, with cream and vanilla character."
91 points "A little subdued now, but impressive chocolate, coffee and ripe berry aromas follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and lots of fruit. Big and juicy. Structured."
92 points "Very fresh, exuding aromas of graphite and pencil shavings followed by ripe peach, grapefruit and mineral notes. Vinous in character, with a vibrant structure and a long finish. A terrific 2003."
93 Points Cellar Selection "Right now it shows blackberry, black currant, cedar and baker’s chocolate flavors. Will slowly open and reach maturity after 2011, and could easily develop for far longer."
92 points, Best Buy "Fragrant fruit ripeness lends this wine penetrating flavors of raspberry essence, tart pear and green apple, a fine mesh of pinot noir and chardonnay. The texture is smooth, the bubbles bringing a touch of yeastiness and almond flavor to balance the freshness of the fruit."
90 points, Best Buy "This is a pale, dry sparkling wine with a robust pinot noir scent. The yeastiness leaves an impression of smoky richness, with a stony mineral note."
90 points "An elegant wine with tart and juicy sour cherry flavors, this has the full fatness of ripe California fruit. Yet it's harmonious, not aggressive, a finely balanced sparkler for duck meatballs."
95 points "Intricate scents of herbs, roses and citrus blossoms start of delicate and build into the graceful flow of the wine, creating a beautiful presence on the palate. ...Delicious as a young wine, this will likely be at its best ten to 12 years from the vintage."
92 points "The bold fruit flavors make this a wine of primary colors for now, from peach to kiwi, grapefruit and strawberry. The fruit is fragrant and lush while the wine's acidity keeps it mouthwatering and completely dry. A zesty Champagne that's built to age..."
91 points "This has the ripeness and broad richness of the 2003 vintage, while the wine remains savory and dry. The scents are floral, light and lifted, the flavors more substantial, creamy and firm."
90 points "Reserve wines add rich, toasty complexity to this blend. The fruit flavors have a red cast, the structure transforming the juiciness of the wine into a mouthwatering, soft line."
91 points "The 2005 Brut opens with a wonderfully expressive, sweet bouquet that melds into an expressive core of fruit. The wine possesses a crystalline purity I find especially appealing, along with pretty notes of mint, minerals and red berries that linger on the close."
90 points "The 1999 Brut Cuvee William Deutz offers up ripe, tropical fruit, sweet spices, butterscotch and toastiness in a big, extroverted style."
90 points "The pale-colored 2004 Brut Rose flows with subtle, silky layers of perfumed fruit. This is an understated, almost shy wine, although its class and pedigree are evident."
90 points "The 2004 Brut emerges from the glass with attractive layers of fruit that come together in a gorgeous expression of perfumed fruit. This silky, textured and totally finessed Champagne is another impeccable wine from Roederer."
95+ Points "The bouquet is beautifully woven into a fabric of layered, ripe fruit. With some time in the glass, the wine’s textural beauty becomes more apparent, but this is a Champagne that needs bottle age."
91 points "The 2003 Brut Blanc de Blancs is another terrific Champagne from Roederer. Here the heat of the torrid vintage is beautifully balanced by the wine’s minerality. A soft finish rounds out this caressing, creamy Champagne. ...The wine’s overall balance is impeccable."
92 points "The 2007 Napanook...exhibits the Bordeaux style that proprietor Christian Moueix has fashioned from this legendary vineyard in Yountville. Its deep plum/ruby color is accompanied by sweet aromas of cedar, black currants, cherries, spice box, and earth. Lush, fleshy, elegant, and pure, it should drink nicely for 15+ years."
90-93 points "...the 2008 Napanook is equally seductive. It offers soft, round, silky tannins as well as abundant red and black currant notes intermixed with hints of kirsch, spice box, and unsmoked, high class cigar tobacco."
98 Points "A prodigious example of Dominus, the 2007 represents a hypothetical blend of a Pomerol, Pauillac, and a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored with a sweet nose of incense, cedar wood, black currants, black cherries, licorice, and a subtle hint of roasted herbs, it is an expansive, savory, opulent wine with a full-bodied mouthfeel, silky tannins, and sensational concentration. A legend in the making..."
93-96 points "This lush, flamboyant, opulent effort is an anomaly for this Napa vintage. It shows outstanding density, richness, a savory flavor profile, and an enduring texture. This full-bodied beauty should drink well young, and evolve for 20+ years."
93 Points Best Sparkling Wine Buying Guide 2010 -- "This wine combines remarkable freshness with elegant richness, so that even after it's been open for several days, the flavors are still evolving, the fruit still brisk as an autumn breeze. It needs that time for the blunt chalkiness of the structure to mellow, for the cool apple and pear flavors to develop and lengthen. Built to age, this is an exceptional vintage of L'Ermitage."
91 points, #95 of To "Light and lively, featuring apple, toast, ginger and light vanilla flavors. Balanced and on the dry side, with a creamy texture and a lingering butter pastry aftertaste."
90 Points "This is very fruity, boasting apple, cherry and berry flavors, making it open and approachable. There's concentration as well, with a vibrant structure and a berry aftertaste."
91 points "Deep and toasty, with apple, grapefruit, ginger and spice aromas and flavors. A combination of intensity and finesse, with a firm, chalky finish."
91 points, Smart Buy "A rich version, loaded with spicy cinnamon notes. Bold apple aromas, with a whiff of yeast, lead to complex, layered pear, crème brûlée and baked apple flavors that linger."
90 points "Crisp and green, in a grassy, verdant way. Shows plenty of lime, orange peel and apple notes, with a touch of fresh-cut grass or chive. Balanced and elegant, with subtle length."
93 points "Rich yet delicate in style, with a soft salmon color and graceful aromas of strawberry, peach and yeast. Flavors take on complexity, balancing crisp acidity with mature yet opulent raspberry, toasty vanilla and mineral flavors."
91-93 points "Good deep red. Sweet but lower-toned aromas of mocha and nuts. Powerful, broad and rich, with a plush texture to the flavors of plum, coffee and mocha. There's something distinctly old school about this wine and yet there's a pliancy to the middle palate. Finishes with suave, building tannins that reach the front teeth."
91 points "...[I]t’s the best release since 2003. Dry and well-structured, it offers complex flavors of black current and sweet grill oak."
90 points "Sweet berry and raspberry aromas follow through to a full body, with soft, silky tannins and a clean, caressing finish. Harmonious, with pretty fruit."
92 points "A stylish combination of currant and cassis on the nose, with a hint of rose petal, turning to licorice. Full-bodied, with chewy yet polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Polished and very pretty."
90 Points "This dry version is beginning to show its age nicely, with dried orange peel, quince, clove, smoke and nut notes. Well-meshed right now, with bright acidity, a refined texture and a lovely lingering finish of smoke and orange marmalade."
94 points, Part of t "The 2006 Napanook...is transparent, its beauty easy to see. It may, in fact, be the best vintage of Napanook we’ve tasted on release--all black currents and peppercorn spice, lifted, savory, dark and intense."
93 Points The Year's Best Cabe "Youthfully floral and tight, this vintage of Dominus is a big wine that holds all of its weight behind a powerful structure. And it’s the power of that structure that is front and center...Stay with it and the wine's earthiness begins to meld with the blueberry and chocolate richness."
90 points "The 2005 Barbaresco is a very pretty wine that combines elements of flowers, sweet spices and dried cherries in a firm, structured style."
91 points "The 2005 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a very elegant wine. Layers of perfumed dark red fruit, spices, French oak and roses come together with notable depth on a classic, sturdy frame of impeccable balance."
91 points "The estate’s 2005 Barolo is pretty and sensual in its dark fruit, menthol, spices and licorice. This mid-weight Barolo reveals gorgeous balance and a long finish and a relatively accessible personality for this bottling."
92 points "The 2005 Barolo Ornato shows outstanding depth and complexity in its note of licorice, iron, plums, prunes, French oak and minerals. ...[I]s lighter in body than has been the case in the past vintages, which renders the wine quite classic in feel."
93 Points "Very ripe fruit aromas, with sultana, prune and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with seamless yet chewy tannins and a long finish. Lasts a long time."
95 Points A Top-Score "Very pretty aromas of sweet strawberry pie, with hints of plum and flowers. Full-bodied, with polished yet chewy tannins and bright acidity. A big, juicy wine. A Barolo for the cellar."
95 Points A Top-Score "Shows pure plum on the nose, with a combination of violet and smoke. Full-bodied, with layers of ultrafine tannins and a very long finish. Caresses the palate. A wine of strength and elegance."
91 points "Although this tastes younger than some recent bottlings of this great non-vintage, it is still a fine wine. Its apple flavors meld effortlessly with citrus, grapefruit zest, and just a touch of toast to show the depth of flavor that will emerge after a few more months in bottle."
90 Points Recommended as a "recession-beating Champagne" from a Champagne House
91 Points Editors' A value sparkler for summer sipping
92 points "Medium red. Impressively complex bouquet of dried red fruits, tobacco, cedar and potpourri. A spicy, subtly sweet midweight, offering lively redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and very soft tannins. The smoky finish features a strong echo of cedary spice."
91 Points "Plump up front, with nice depth to the lemon verbena, straw, chamomile flower and mineral notes. The long, graceful finish really struts its stuff after some airing in the glass."
90 Points "Tangy and fresh, with nice drive to the citrus peel, grapefruit pulp, herb, straw and mineral flavors that race through the lengthy finish."
90 Points "A lengthy, pure, unadorned style, with a beam of citrus peel and floral notes that is backed by hints of straw, wet stone and mineral. The finish is long and very stylish."
90 points "...With time this serious Rioja unveils toasty raspberry and mineral-tinged cola and plum aromas and flavors. There’s natural snap to the wine courtesy of bright natural acidity, but also some beef and body that manifests itself in a controlled creaminess that houses herbal, chocolaty finishing notes."
90 points "This traditional white shows some oxidation, with nut and dried apple flavors. Marzipan, lanolin and floral notes add complexity, and there's weight and liveliness on the palate. Harmonious and distinctive."
90-92 points "Enticing flavors of plum, red cherry and minerals are given a laser-like precision by bright acids. Not a powerhouse, this is an even lighter and fresher version of Magdelaine than usual but it has great balance and purity. Lovely persistence with a hint of gingerbread on the finish. Presents a classic example of what merlot can do on calcareous soil."
91-93 Points "Massively rich wine, featuring ripe black fruit flavors, tobacco and sweet spices. Finishes very long and seamless, with silky tannins."
93-95 points "Full and voluptuous on the palate, this boasts exceptionally ripe, decadent red cherry flavors lifted by soy sauce and cinnamon nuances. Very long and silky, with unbelievably fine-grained tannins. With its texture of liquid velvet, this should make a memorable Petrus."
90-92 points "Quite suave on entry, then densely packed and vibrant, with mouthcoating flavors of blackberry, blueberry jam and licorice. Finishes with ripe, integrated but still noticeable tannins and a lingering violet perfume. Always a supple, flamboyant wine..."
92-94 points "The bouquet is adorable: wonderful definition with maraschino, wild strawberries, a touch of orange liqueur and violets. The palate is full-bodied, very powerful and focused with fine tannins, very good backbone and wonderful purity. Blackberry, wild strawberry and blueberry pie. ... Superb."
94 points, #65 of To "Il Bricco is a blockbuster wine with extraordinary intensity and impressive concentration. It's a dark, spice-driven wine with oak aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and powdered spice backed by black currants, forest berry, pressed flowers, curry and turmeric. Austere and brooding, it’s the kind of wine you’ll want to pair with a heavy winter dish that can stand up to its thick, luscious mouthfeel."
98-100 points "The 2008 is destined to be one of the greatest Petrus’s ever made...It possesses a formidable personality of great intensity, awesome texture, amazingly well-integrated sweet tannin, and a freshness and precision that are hallmarks of this vintage."
91-93 points "A classic Certan de May, the 2008 reveals notes of cedarwood, roasted herbs, graphite, underbrush, and copious amounts of creme de cassis and sweet black cherries. Muscular and full-bodied with sensationally ripe tannins as well as purity..."
90-92 points "A big time sleeper of the vintage, this may be the finest De Pez produced in over 40 years. ...A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by dense creme de cassis, cedarwood, and earth characteristics, a plush, full-bodied texture, superb concentration and purity, and sweet tannins."
95 points "The 2006 Pichon Lalande, which blows away the 2005, represents a return to the velvety-textured, rich, sexy style most readers would associate with Pichon Lalande. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot no Petit Verdot was included in the final blend exhibits a dense purple color as well as abundant aromas of chocolate, coffee, cedar, black currants, and a subtle touch of smoke, a rich, savory, full-bodied mouthfeel, plump, fleshy fruit, and a superb finish. This is a 21st century version of the brilliant 1996."
92 points "With its age, this has developed complexity and subtlety, very much a hallmark of the elegant Ramos-Pinto style. The wood flavors are evident, not quite dominant, leaving room for bitter orange and spice along with acidity that could come either from the aging or the fruit. The finish is properly long, fading gracefully."
90 points "This single-quinta tawny comes from Ramos-Pinto’s vineyard in the Torto valley in the heart of Port country. It shows the warmth and richness from the super-rich fruit, balanced with wood aging and lively acidity, at the perfect moment to be enjoyed. The finish is fresh, the dry wood lifted by fruitiness."
92 points "Fully ready to drink now, this dry brut shows the classy elegance of a fine Champagne. The Chardonnay contributes white peaches and apples, while Pinot adds a subtle note of cherries with spicy, yeasty nuances....it’s a notable achievement."
90 points "An impressive Cabernet, the winery’s best effort in years. Dry and firm in tannins, it shows a Bordeaux-esque elegance and balance, with sage and cedar notes framing underlying red currant fruit."
98 points "This is an exceptional wine, as is the vintage. The fruits--grapefruit, crisp red apple—-are balanced with a fine yeasty character. There is a great depth of flavor, the fruits going in a pure line of freshness. ...Age this wine for at least four years."
93 points "What a creamy Champagne, its mousse bursting around the mouth. Impressively, all this creaminess is well balanced by full, dry fruits, flavors of pear and fresh bread and finished with crisp apples. This is not a wine for aging, but it is ready to go with many meals now."
90 points "With its good bottle age, this bone-dry Champagne from Roederer has gained impressive complexity. The wine is certainly dry, but toast, vanilla and ground almond flavors add to the fruit. The apple skin texture holds this delicious wine together."
96 Points "...Its dark plum/purple color is accompanied by aromas and flavors of truffles, forest floor, black cherries, black currants, and Asian spices. One of the finest wines of the vintage, it is complete, full-bodied, and seamlessly built with beautiful ripe tannins, low acidity, and a luscious, layered mouthfeel. The aromatics are even more evolved and complex than the 2005's. The 2006 should drink well for 20-25 years."
96+ Points "This beautifully-sculpted Champagne possesses notable clarity but with the additional depth of fruit that is characteristic of this vintage. It is a gorgeous, seductive Cristal of the highest level."
92 points "The 2006 Napanook...is made in a riper, more California style than usual, displaying more exuberant, up-front notes of kirsch, black currants, and plums. Deep and full-bodied with low acidity, sweet tannin, and a fleshy, succulent personality, it tastes like a classic Napa Cabernet."
90 points "The color is a light tone of salmon. Layers of sweet perfumed fruit flow onto the palate effortlessly as this sexy, feminine wine opens up in the glass. This is a fairly accessible style of rose, but it has the signature Roederer finesse in spades."
92-94 points "It reveals a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a gorgeous nose of black fruits, spring flowers, licorice, incense, lavender, and grilled Provencal herbs. Dense, full-bodied, flamboyant, and chewy, with that terrific freshness and purity that characterize this great vintage in the south, it should drink well for 12-15+ years."
91 points #81 of Top 100 Wines of 2008, "A rich, round wine, with plum and berry character and soft tannins. Full-bodied, with berry and dark chocolate character and a long finish. Juicy. Outstanding value. Drink now through 2012."
93 points "Blackberry, blueberry and lavender aromas follow through to a full body, with supersilky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Polished and beautiful."
92 points "The 2004 Barbaresco is a beautiful wine endowed with expressive aromatics and an attractive core of ripe red fruit. Subtle notes of spices, smoke, tar and licorice add complexity. The wine possesses outstanding length and refined tannins that will only become more elegant with further bottle age. ...Anticipated maturity: 2009-2024."
90 points "The amazing 2007 Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit...reveals a northern Rhone orientation, but it is loaded with spice and black fruits, and displays a beautiful opulent texture as well as a gorgeous finish with impressive purity."
90 points "Delicate florals surround the firm red berry flavors of this wine. The tannins are gravelly and the fruit is fresh, lingering with a gentle persistence and adding silkiness."
94 points "This is wonderfully floral and fruity on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Chewy yet polished. Plenty of ripe blackberry, light toasty oak and vanilla on the finish. Best after 2011."
96 points "Very pretty and focused, with lots of subtle aromas, from black cherry to freshly cut flowers. Full-bodied and powerful, with chewy tannins and a long, rich finish. All to come here. Best after 2011."
95 points, Editors' "This is a spectacular wine in every sense of the word. The nose blends alluring scents of smoke, asphalt, rubber and black fruit. The palate is saturated and smooth, with black cherry and blackberry flavors leading the way. Coffee, berry pie and mocha help the finish hold court and then fade away. Already good but best from 2010-2020."
91 points, Editors' "Lucid yellow in the glass, yet lightly oxidized on the nose. A spacy, unique Viura. There’s dry apricot and peach pit flavors, and mouthfeel and acidity are impeccable. A treat for explorers; eschews all blueprints for modern white wine."
90 Points One of the Year's Best Sauvignon Blancs (June 2008 issue) "Vibrant and lively, this show fragrant aromas of peach, pear and guava packed into a sleekly muscular frame. It's rich in body yet never feels heavy, supported by crisp acidity that balances the weight and elongates that flavors on the finish."
98 Points "Black color, with aromas of orange peel, new leather, currant, berry, Christmas pudding. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish of fruit and spices."
91 Points "Has berry and chocolate character, with hints of spice. Full-bodied, yet reserved and refined, with silky, tender tannins. Pretty and subtle. Best after 2013."
90 Points "Delivers blackberry and pretty, toasty oak, with flowers. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish of ripe fruit, espresso and a hint of licorice. Balanced and refined."
92 points "This is certainly rich, packed with youthful green and white-fruit flavors, but it still has that seductive elegance that is the hallmark of Deutz."
96 Points "The 2005 Dominus...has come of age, and is one of the strongest efforts they’ve made. It is possibly the best Dominus since the 2001, and perhaps even the 1997 or 1991. A beautiful, sweet nose of roasted coffee interwoven with kirsch, black currant, cedar, and spice box emerges from this deep ruby/purple-colored wine. The wine has fabulous intensity, a layered, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, well-integrated acidity, and a stunningly long finish. The layering of this wine as it builds incrementally on the palate is something to behold. An outstanding, sexy, ageworthy Dominus, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and last for at least 25 or 30 years."
93 Points "This elegant wine offers a panoply of flavors, with peaty earth and coffee notes underscoring dried apricot and bergamot, with a hint of basil. Off-dry, with well-integrated acidity and a tinge of grapefruit on the finish. Drink now through 2020."
90 Points "There’s a spicy edge to the dried apricot and grapefruit flavors in this white, accented by racy acidity and a thread of honey. Delicate, with finely tuned balance. Drink now through 2018."
Outstanding, 90 Poin "This 100% Merlot cuvee has put on weight since I tasted it last year. It reveals a beautiful, exotic, coffee bean, sweet cherry, and cassis-scented bouquet as well as superb charm, lushness, and fruit. Reminiscent of a lighter-weight Le Pin, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for a decade. It will not make old bones."
90 Points Outstanding "More structured and tannic than usual, the 2004 Hosanna reveals a noble bouquet of spring flowers, cedar, menthol, and caramelized sweet black cherries and currants. The flavors are rich, savory, and medium to full-bodied, but strong tannins appear in the finish, suggesting 3-4 years of bottle age will be beneficial. It should drink nicely for 12-15+ years thereafter."
92 points "A hugely rich, concentrated wine for 2004, packed with ripe black plums and berries. This is a great success, with dry tannins balanced by delicious sweet fruit, finishing with a fresh, currant fruit aftertaste."
94 Points "The 2003 'Duas Quintas Reserva Especial' has a pungent nose, and sappy, young fruit, but the tannins take over the wine fairly quickly. The mid-palate is elegant, but the power indicates that this is a wine built for aging, and I think it will age very gracefully. ...I predict that this is going to be utterly delicious when it is ready to drink."
91 Points "Light gold. Bright, tangy citrus aromas, with touches of jasmine, acacia, marzipan and oyster shell. Fat and creamy in the mouth, showing precise pear and apple flavors along with more exotic hints of mango and fresh pineapple. This has very good concentration and focus, finishing on a lively note of lemon-lime, with the slightest hints of smoke and truffle."
91 Points "Pale copper-pink. Fresh aromas of rose, floral honey, peach and nectarine, with subtle mineral and dusty talc notes. Rich and smooth, with good underlying structure. The dense, juicy peach flavor is complemented by an exotic cinnamon note and carries through the long, velvety finish."
96 Points "Copper-tinged pale pink color, with a strong mousse. Powerful aromas of honey, wild strawberry, blood orange, brioche, cinnamon toast, candied ginger and subtle clove. Remarkably concentrated, dense rose with kaleidoscopic fruit flavors ranging from citrus to orchard to tropical. Spicy, dense and very long, with deep smoky and cherry tones carrying through the supple, velvety but vibrant finish. As usual, a stunning wine of great depth and impeccable balance."
93 Points "Spices, nutmeg, dark fruits on the nose, follow through to a full body, with very precise tannins and a long finish. A beautiful and racy wine."