90+ Wines

The 2019 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude was bottled in March 2021, but it is just being sold this spring (2022). It's a full-bodied, rich effort, almost a bit over the top, with bold flavors of blackberry jam, uncluttered and... Read More

Atypically big, rich and velvety, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage emanates from a vintage whose yields were cut in half by hail. Bottled in March 2021, it delivers rolling waves of ripe black cherries, tinged with understated herbal... Read More

Looking considerably more roasted in style than the 2019, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude features notes of grilled dark-skinned plums and savory black olives. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, but with its layers... Read More

Showing more than a touch of austerity, the 2017 Saint Joseph needs a couple of years in the cellar. It's herbal and ashy up front, balancing those elements with grilled meat and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, it's... Read More

Bottled in June 2019, the 2017 Cornas Vieilles Vignes still seemed shut down when I tasted it, marked by cedary oak and mixed berry flavors. It's full-bodied and silky-textured, framed by surprisingly tart acids on the long,... Read More

Grapes for Alamos wines are sourced from the premiere regions of Lujan de Cuyo and Valle de Uco. The cooler conditions produce wines with aromatic intensity and freshness, while the more intense sunshine lends overall concentration... Read More

The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2017 Barolo Bussia shows a dark but busy quality of fruit that speaks more to the power of this hot vintage than it does the nuanced side of Nebbiolo. In this respect, the wine is quite typical of the... Read More

Supple and succulent, offering a generous and juicy mix of passion fruit, Key lime and ruby grapefruit flavors. Expressive and strong on the finish, with touches of freshly grated ginger and green tea.

Located at the top of Altesino's vineyards is the prestigious Montosoli vineyard where ancient limestone soils with the 360 degree exposure combine to yield a Brunello of exceptional style and elegance. This small vineyard... Read More

The 2018 Guado al Tasso is silky, delicate and exceptionally polished. I can’t remember tasting another Guado like it. Medium in body and gracious, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark fruit, chocolate,... Read More

I've been tracking the increasing percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend of this iconic Tuscan wine. The 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is made with 25% Cabernet Franc, with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot.... Read More

The Marchesi Antinori 2019 Tignanello was born in a classic growing season that saw some cooling summer rains and relatively stress-free conditions. This is an elegant and extremely polished wine made with mostly Sangiovese and... Read More

Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all. Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of... Read More

The 2015 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is laced with the essence of lemon confit, slate, white flowers, white pepper and orchard fruit. The flavors are intense and bright, but there is no shortage of richness or intensity. In 2015,... Read More

Owner/winemaker Mark Aubert has had a distinguished winemaking career including positions at Peter Michael Winery and Colgin Cellars. He has also been a winemaking consultant for several prestigious wineries throughout Napa Valley.... Read More

The 2019 Chardonnay CIX Vineyard is powerful, explosive and also very phenolic in feel. There is real density in the CIX. Lemon oil, marzipan, white flowers, ripe pear and mint are all beautifully delineated. The CIX is deep but... Read More

Another terrific year for this bottling, the 2020 Chardonnay CIX Estate—from Montrachet-selection budwood on vines planted in 2008, and matured in 75% new French oak—is lightly toasty, then tropical, with yellow peach,... Read More

From a vineyard that borders the source of Aubert's Lauren bottling, there are 1,200 cases of the 2021 Chardonnay CIX Estate. Matured in 75% new French oak, this review is based on a tank sample awaiting bottling. Planted... Read More

A barrel sample, the 2019 Chardonnay Eastside sails out of the glass with zesty citrus scents of lemons, kaffir lime leaves and mandarin peel with an underlying jasmine perfume and a waft of blanched almonds. The palate is tightly... Read More

The 2015 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard preserves good freshness and aromatic lift, especially for the year. In this tasting, the Eastside presents more of a phenolic character than most of the Chardonnays, with the fruit pushed... Read More

The 2016 Chardonnay Eastside Vineyard is one of the more open-knit, accessible wines in the range, and the first of these Chardonnays I would choose to open. Orchard fruit, dried pear, flowers, almonds and mint are all laced together... Read More

A rich, intense wine, the 2015 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard exudes power and intensity, but that is expressed in persistence rather than in textural weight. Smoke, slate, dried pear, mint and dried flowers are some of the hallmarks.... Read More

Aubert's 2016 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is creamy, ample and expressive, but also light on its feet, as so many of these wines are. Chamomile, orchard fruit, lemon confit and melon notes fill out the wine's frame effortlessly.... Read More

The 2017 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is a real pleasure to taste now that it has been bottled. Creamy and unctuous on the palate, with striking depth, the Hudson has so much to say. Baked apple, orchard fruit, white flowers and... Read More

The 2019 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is a total knock-out. Ripe pear, white flowers, mint and apple tart are all beautifully lifted. Rich in texture, yet light on its fett, the Hudson is unbelievably beautiful and vivid in the... Read More

A cool, late-harvest site relative to Aubert's other sources, the 2020 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons also sees a bit less new French oak (50%). Readers will note that the oak made virtually no impression on me, as the wine... Read More

The coolest of Aubert's Chardonnay sites, the 2021 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons boasts lovely aromas reminiscent of melon, citrus curd and lime zest. It's full-bodied and creamy, with a silky, custardy mouthfeel and tremendous... Read More

Unlike many of Aubert's wines, the 2021 Chardonnay Lauren Estate incorporates four different selections (Hyde Old Wente, Montrachet, Mount Eden and Hudson). From vines planted in 1999 and 2000 on the site of a former orchard,... Read More

Succulent and lush, with buttery nuances to the apple pastry, toasted hazelnut and mouthwatering Honeycrisp apple, tangerine and Meyer lemon flavors at the core. This wine's flavors and complexity gain momentum, ultimately... Read More

The 2019 Chardonnay Powder House, from a site in Forestville, is one of the most lifted, gracious wines in the range. White flowers, mint, orchard fruit and white pepper give the Powder House its distinctly brilliant aromatics.... Read More

Floral, non-fruity hints of crushed stone and talcum powder appear on the nose of Aubert's 2021 Chardonnay Powder House, creating an attractive counterpoint to the wine's honeyed richness and intense white-peach notes.... Read More

The 2017 Chardonnay Sugar Shack has a ton of tremendous up-front appeal and but perhaps a bit less in the way of persistence. In exchange, though, readers will find a Chardonnay will be ready to drink with only minimal, if any,... Read More

The 2020 Chardonnay Sugar Shack is creamy and expressive, with gorgeous depth and planty of the richness readers expect in Aubert Chardonnays, although naturally in the smaller-scaled style of the year. Lemon confit, white flowers,... Read More

The warmest site in Aubert's portfolio, the 2021 Chardonnay Sugar Shack comes from Mark and Teresa's home property on the western side of the Rutherford AVA. Planted in 2008 to a Montrachet selection and managed by David... Read More

The 2019 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is laced with the essence of tangerine oil, ginger, passionfruit and white flowers. Tropical and lush, yet also remarkably elegant, the UV-SL is so expressive today. A hint of reduction adds... Read More

Owner/winemaker Mark Aubert has had a distinguished winemaking career including positions at Peter Michael Winery and Colgin Cellars. He has also been a winemaking consultant for several prestigious wineries throughout Napa Valley.... Read More

The 2017 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard bright, aromatic and focused, with a palpable sense of vibrancy that is its key signature. White flowers, lemon confit and mint all open up in the glass, with distinct saline underpinnings that... Read More

The 2020 Chardonnay UV-SL Vineyard is bright and nicely focused, with terrific energy driving the citrus flavors. There is a bit of edginess at the moment. It is hard to know how and if that will resolve, but I think it is worth... Read More

The 2021 Chardonnay UV-SL comes from largely Goldridge soils in parcels owned and managed by the Valdez family (UV being the initials of Ulises Valdez, Aubert's frequent vineyard collaborator, who died in 2018). There are... Read More

It is a rare phenomenon that a wine can trace its origins to a single man. Brunello di Montalcino, however, owes its existence to Ferruccio Biondi Santi and its fame to his family. Now on the seventh generation of winemakers,... Read More

It is a rare phenomenon that a wine can trace its origins to a single man. Brunello di Montalcino, however, owes its existence to Ferruccio Biondi Santi and its fame to his family. Now on the seventh generation of winemakers,... Read More

It is a rare phenomenon that a wine can trace its origins to a single man. Brunello di Montalcino, however, owes its existence to Ferruccio Biondi Santi and its fame to his family. Now on the seventh generation of winemakers,... Read More

Bollinger’s prestige champagne is produced only when the harvest reaches a perfect balance.

La Grande Année is the embodiment of the carefully preserved traditional expertise of the Bollinger Champagne House. The... Read More

The 2012 La Grande Année Rosé is airy, gracious and so wonderfully inviting. Crushed flowers, mint, white pepper and red berry fruit are all gracefully woven together. Today, the 2012 is naturally quite young and... Read More

Offering up complex aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, confit citrus, frangipane, walnuts, dried white flowers and subtle hints of iodine, Bollinger's 2014 Brut La Grande Année is medium to full-bodied, pillowy and... Read More

MELBURY originates from a spectacular property on the slopes north of Lake Hennessey, in the hills east of Rutherford.

The name Melbury is in homage to an historic area in London, where the estate owners reside much of the year.... Read More

Born out of the old Clair-Dau estate, Bruno Clair’s wings are spread widely over the Côte d’Or, covering nine appellations in total. Bruno, first and foremost, is a vigneron and, with the help of winemaker Philippe... Read More

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world. Made from the finest corn, rye and barley malt, this whiskey ages in new oak barrels for years in... Read More

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows mineral-laced black cherries with earth tones and hints of tanned leather. It’s soft in texture with a polished display of ripe berries and savory spice, as zesty acids create a juicy... Read More

Pure flavors of strawberry and cherry are the hallmarks of this expressive Chianti Classico, with earth, wild herb and tobacco accents adding depth as this firms up on the lingering finish. Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet... Read More

The 2001 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boshis Vigna San Giuseppe is a great choice for readers who can be patient. Freshly cut flowers, mint, spices and violets are some of the many notes that flow from this structured, powerful Barolo.... Read More

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola is a beautiful expression with delicate berry flavors that wrap over the palate with polished perfection. The house style at Salvioni prizes ethereal elegance in a manner that few others... Read More

The 2018 Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard is very tight and reticent today, even for within the context of this site. Bright saline notes lend energy to a taut Chardonnay that is only showing some of its potential today. A bit... Read More

The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon has been our flagship wine for more than three decades. It is a benchmark for the long-lived hillside wines of the Napa Valley; full of structure and aging potential, yet seductively forward in... Read More

​The Chappellet family’s romance with Pritchard Hill started more than four decades ago when Donn and Molly Chappellet first glimpsed its magnificent hills and view of Lake Hennessy. Anyone who has visited the estate can... Read More

This has the vintage's profile, with a sleek and slightly austere frame holding a core of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry coulis notes tightly together while flashes of bay, dried anise and savory add range and detail.... Read More

A light menthol hint gives way to bay and tobacco leaf notes, which hold steady throughout, while the core of dark currant and fig fruit flavors takes on a warm, macerated, almost hedonistic feel. The finish has a tarry hint but... Read More

Beaucastel's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is shaping up as a blend of 30% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, with 10% each Counoise and Syrah, plus 20% other permitted varieties, including a healthy proportion of white grapes.... Read More

As I stated last year, there is no Hommage a Jacques Perrin in 2006, but Beaucastel’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is performing even better from bottle than it did last year. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by... Read More

The Château de Beaucastel Hommage à Jacques Perrin from those years was made mostly from very old Mourvedre vines yielding tiny quantities of intensely ripe, concentrated fruit. Those fortunate enough to have tasted... Read More

Tasted as a sample blended from several foudres, the 2018 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel features scents of sun-warmed stones and ripe raspberries. Medium to full-bodied, it's plush and open-knit, already giving a... Read More

This is a fleshy and dense offering, with layers of warm cassis, plum sauce and cherry preserve flavors seamlessly entwined, while warm fruitcake and melted red licorice notes fill in through the finish. There's a whiff of... Read More

Deep ruby. Red and blue fruit, garrigue, pungent floral and exotic spice aromas show fine definition and mineral lift. Juicy black raspberry, boysenberry and candied lavender flavors deepen through the back half, with no loss... Read More

Dark and winey, this structured offering packs red and black currant paste flavors together with threads of charcoal, warm stone, bay leaf and savory, ending with a long tug of cast iron through the finish. A blue chip for cellaring.... Read More

In the heart of the appellation Gigondas, the Château de Saint Cosme is an exceptional estate, with its Gallo-Roman fermentation vats perfectly preserved. The property has been in our family since 1490 and we have been vignerons... Read More

From a single parcel of old-vine Grenache, the 2018 Gigondas le Claux matured in a mix of new, one- and two-year-old barrels. Full-bodied, rich and expansive, it combines notes of black cherries, roses, black tea and asphalt with... Read More

This is packed together, with taut iron cables providing a platform for mouthwatering bitter plum, cassis and blackberry reduction flavors. Sage, bay tobacco and warm earth notes play equally important roles, adding superior range... Read More

Large and in charge, this has a prodigious core of steeped plum, black currant and loganberry fruit flavors that show both compote and coulis aspects. While that steeps, this delivers a sturdy frame of roasted mesquite, smoldering... Read More

The deep garnet-purple shaded 2015 Lafite Rothschild is blended of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot and was matured for 20 months in new oak barrels from Tonnellerie des Domaines (their own cooperage). It is still sporting... Read More

One of the big surprises is how delicious this wine has turned out. It is a beautiful, classic claret. Dark ruby-colored with purple hues, it reveals aromas of dried herbs, smoke, leather, grilled meats, and copious black cherry... Read More

This wine is turning out much in the style of such wonderful Petrus vintages as 1967 and 1971. Although not as outstanding as either the 1998 or 2000, it displays beautiful intensity and finesse in a more evolved style than one... Read More

The 2018 Pichon-Longueville Baron is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, aged for 18 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% one year old. Production of the grand vin represents 50% of the harvest this year. Deep garnet-purple... Read More

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino from Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona places savory herbs, exotic spice and earth tones above ripeness of fruit. It’s decidedly dark and brooding on the nose, lifted by hints of fresh-picked... Read More

I think the 2018 Clos de Los Siete is the finest vintage of this blend that I've tasted so far. In this cooler year, it's a blend of 55% Malbec, 19% Merlot, 12% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% each Petit Verdot and... Read More

Continuum's 2019 Proprietary Red is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, all from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill. Aged in two-thirds new French oak, with the balance in second or... Read More

Delicate herbal shadings accent the cassis notes on the nose of Corison's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon. It's classic Corison, balanced and concentrated without being showy or weighty, silky in feel, with a long, lingering finish... Read More

Cathy Corison's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a bold, racy wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, sweet tobacco, spice and cedar makes a strong opening statement. The 2017 has plenty of richness and notable density... Read More

Cathy Corison's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon remains true to her own stylistic bent, weighing in at 13.8%. Hints of tobacco and crushed stone accent cassis, with minimal wood influence on the nose, despite it being aged 20 months... Read More

Deep, brilliant ruby. Offers sharply defined, mineral-inflected red and dark berries, cherry liqueur, pipe tobacco, vanilla, and exotic spice scents. Chewy and penetrating in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, bitter... Read More

Deep, brilliant ruby. Cherry, cassis, vanilla, and incense on the expansive nose, where a zesty mineral note adds vibrancy. Sappy and precise on the palate, offering sweet dark berry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors... Read More

The 2019 Legado Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from vines planted in Isla de Maipo between 1992 and 1998. It fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barriques and 5,000-liter oak foudres for 12... Read More

Detert's 2018 Cabernet Franc is fabulous. It may very well be the single most expressive and distinctive Cabernet Franc in the valley. Deep and inky in the glass, the Detert Franc is marked by soaring aromatics and beams of... Read More

Detert's 2019 Cabernet Franc is bright, floral and full of energy. Sweet red berry fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and mocha all race out of the glass. Veins of vibrant acids and supporting tannin give the 2019 notable drive.... Read More

Saturated ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented cherry and dark berry scents are complicated by hints of candied flowers and licorice. Supple and broad in the mouth, offering pliant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter... Read More

Saturated ruby. Red and dark fruit preserves, candied licorice, violet and exotic spices on the expansive nose. Stains the palate with sweet blueberry, cherry cola, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that become livelier as... Read More

The 2019 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru comprises 40% whole bunch and 25% new oak because winemaker Géraldine Godot wanted less wood influence during élevage. That was an astute decision, because it renders... Read More

The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru includes 75% whole bunch and 40% new oak. It has a clean, precise bouquet of pure dark red cherries, wild strawberry, blood orange and veins of blue fruit. The palate is well balanced... Read More

The 2015 La Tâche Grand Cru is a young classic, soaring from the glass with an exotic and stunningly complex bouquet of dark berries, plums, hoisin, smoked duck, dark chocolate, licorice and Chinese five spice, with just... Read More

In 1825, Pierre Faiveley founded the firm that now bears the name Domaine Faiveley. At that time, the firm was a classic négociant, buying and selling wine. From generation to generation, with a strong commitment to the... Read More

In 1825, Pierre Faiveley founded the firm that now bears the name Domaine Faiveley. At that time, the firm was a classic négociant, buying and selling wine. From generation to generation, with a strong commitment to the... Read More

The 2018 Nuits Saint0 Georges Les Porets-Saint-Georges 1er Cru has a fine black currant and bilberry bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with quite robust tannins, not the most elegant NSG that you will find, althought there... Read More

At the risk of not being literal enough, tasting Isabel Ferrando's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Colombis is like drinking purple flowers. Deep rose and violet notes are seamlessly joined to purple raspberries in a full-bodied... Read More

Shimmering ruby-red. Expressive, smoke- and mineral-accented red fruit and floral scents show fine definition and pick up a spicy accent with air. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry... Read More

Opaque ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe red7blue fruits, exotic spices and potpourri, all enlivened by a smoky mineral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Sweet, chewy and energetic in the mouth, offering concentrated... Read More

Opaque garnet. Expressive cherry, black raspberry and incense aromas are complemented by building floral and exotic spice nuances. Sappy, seamless and penetrating in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet red and dark berry liqueur... Read More

Clerico's 2013 Barolo Pajana offers striking depth and textural richness to match its powerful, virile personality. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, sweet tobacco, cedar and spice resonate in the glass. All the elements medl together... Read More

Considered one of the finest winemakers in France, Dominique Lafon produces coveted white Burgundies from some of the greatest vineyards in the Cote de Beaune. Always hungry for new challenges, he purchased 14 hectares of vines... Read More

Bottled in July 2017, Dominus’ more approachable, less tannic sister wine, Napanook, is a blend this year of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Napanook Proprietary... Read More

Bright red-ruby. Lovely floral lift contributes precision to the aromas of raspberry, rose petal and licorice. Sweet, high-pitched and sharply delineated; velvety but not thick. There's a juicy quality to the ripe red fruit,... Read More

Dominus is the proprietary red wine produced by Christian Moueix, from grapes grown on a single vineyard in the heart of the Napa Valley. The wines reflect both the California terroir and the spirit of a great Bordeaux chateau,... Read More

Once again reduction largely dominates the nose though discreet floral nuances are perceptible. There is excellent size, weight and concentration to the overtly powerful big-bodied flavors that brim with dry extract that helps... Read More

Supple and charming, featuring rose, cherry, blueberry and spice aromas and flavors. Offers an underlying mineral element, with a solid structure that intermingles with the fruit and texture. Almost approachable now, but will... Read More