E. Guigal 13852

Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 2015

Côte-Rôtie

July 03, 2019
One of the three “LaLa” wines that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Landonne is a remarkable expression of terroir. And for good reason, La Landonne is situated on one of the steepest vineyards of the Côte Brune, a 45 degree slope that remarkably requires harvesters to start picking from the bottom of the vineyard and work their way up, placing grape bunches in bins that are set on sleds and dragged up the hill. Along with its position at the northern end of the Côte Brune and the fact it is the last vineyard to ripen, La Landonne is the mirror of the feminine and voluptuous La Mouline: it is a wine of driving power, defined by its dark fruit and structure. The first vintage Guigal produced was in 1978, after being planted in 1975 at the time of Philippe Guigal’s birth.

100

James Suckling -October 30, 2019 “This is a profound wine, offering really striking depth of aromas and flavors with a resonance that really stops you still. Dark stones, ripe dark plums and blackberries, licorice, sarsaparilla,…

97

Vinous -September 19, 2019 “Deep, bright-rimmed purple. An exotically perfumed, expressive bouquet evokes dark fruit liqueur, spicecake, smoky bacon, incense, vanilla and incense. A sexy floral nuance emerges with air and carries onto the…

99

Wine Spectator -September 12, 2019 Almost brooding, with warm dark currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors simmering at the core, while waves of ganache, espresso, roasted mesquite and juniper flow through and around them. All…

E. Guigal 13842

Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 2015

Côte-Rôtie

July 03, 2019
First planted by the Romans 2,500 years ago, La Mouline is the oldest and most famous vineyard of Cote-Rotie, and Guigal’s single vineyard bottling of La Mouline in the 1960s set off a quality revolution throughout the Rhone Valley. The stunning amphitheater is the most complex plot in Cote-Rotie due to its extremely steep slopes with expositions in every direction. Of the three famous “LaLas” that Guigal produces and are the most collectible wines of the Rhone Valley, La Mouline was the first and is the only one on the Cote Blonde, and its signature is an unbelievable exoticism, an irresistibly and unique lifted floral, black fruit, earthy, spicy perfume, its coiled power always in balance, seemingly endless.

99

James Suckling (99) -October 30, 2019 "“A very complex and complete nose with everything so integrated and beautifully judged. There are ripe blackberries, blood plums, fragrant spices, dark stones and roasted coffee, to name just some…

97

Wine Advocate (97-99) -October 02, 2019 "“Full-bodied and powerful yet elegant, the 2015 Cote Rotie La Mouline is potentially close to perfect. Espresso, grilled meat, caramelized plum and cassis pick up hints of vanilla and herbal-floral…

98

Wine Spectator -September 12, 2019 "This is packed with red and black currant preserves, raspberry pâte de fruit and plum reduction at the core. A long way from opening, as the fruit is encased in…

Tenuta Luce 13826

Luce 2016

Toscana IGT

July 03, 2019
Luce is a singular and irresistible expression of Montalcino, a Super Tuscan with an exotic side, and above all full of pleasure. The spectacular estate's diversity of soils, expositions and biodiversity of olive groves and forests come together in a wine as vibrant and exciting as the landscape.

94

Wine Spectator -August 28, 2019 "Well-marked by spicy, toasty oak, this plum- and black cherry–flavored red is broad and muscular. Smooth, with fine structural support and hints of chocolate and coffee on the lingering aftertaste.…

96

James Suckling -July 12, 2019 "A ripe but suggestive nose of dark cherries, dark chocolate, hot stones, cassis, brambleberry pie and bark. Powerful acidity steers it through to a restrained but chewy finish."

Domaine des Baumard 13498

Savennières Trie Spéciale 2010

Savennières

May 28, 2019
Baumard’s Savennières Trie Spéciale bottling is in many ways the apotheosis of the appellation, and is produced only in great years (’89, ’90, ’95, ’97, ’00, ’10, ’14 to date). Exceptionally ripe bunches are hand-harvested in successive passes (‘tries’) through the estate vineyard, resulting in a concentrated wine of enormous structure and intensity, requiring many years to unwind into a lanolin-textured wine with flavors of stone fruits, spices, and minerals, and great length. One of France’s greatest white wines.

96

Wine & Spirits -May 29, 2019 “Selected over the course of a series of passes through Baumard’s 10-acre vineyard in Savennières, aged for nine months in stainless steel on the fine lees, this is a wine…

E. Guigal 12799

Saint-Joseph 2016

Saint-Joseph

April 25, 2019
Saint-Joseph today is one of the most exciting appellations in the Rhone Valley, and dare we say all of France. The work by leading producers such as Guigal, energy from young growers, and recognition (really, re-discovery) of sites capable of making wines of extraordinary depth and complexity; of the same family as its famous neighbor in Hermitage, but with a distinct suppleness and elegance.

92

Decanter -March 24, 2020 "This 100% Syrah is made from the fruit of a selection of old vines aged between 20 and 50 years old. The nose immediately packs a powerful punch, full of…

92

Wine Spectator -December 09, 2019 "Lively in feel, with red currant, pomegranate and damson plum fruit flavors keeping this decidedly in the red spectrum, while floral and iron nuances fill in on the racy finish."

91

James Suckling -October 18, 2019 "A wildly herbal and spicy, exotic style with aromas and flavors of red plums and cherries, as well as aged meat. Grainy, elegant tannins. Drink or hold."

92

Vinous -September 19, 2019 “Opaque ruby. Spice-accented black/blue fruits, violet, olive and smoky minerals on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering lively boysenberry, bitter cherry and cracked pepper flavors…

Domaine Chanson 12340

Marsannay 2017

Marsannay, Burgundy

April 15, 2019
Marsannay is a village level located in the northen part of the Côte de Nuits a short distance of Dijon, the regional capital. Chanson has made this appellation an intense focus because of the serious quality the wines can achieve when diligently approached, and the sheer pleasure they can offer.

90

Wine Spectator -April 23, 2019 "An expression of dark cherry, blackberry, earth, tobacco and spice flavors. Rich and juicy, with a lingering aftertaste of tart cherry."

Related Materials: Domaine Chanson Marsannay 2017 Tech Sheet

Quinta do Noval 12223

Nacional Vintage Port 2017

Douro Valley, Portugal

April 11, 2019
The word "Nacional" refers to the fact that the vines are Portuguese vines growing in Portuguese soil with no foreign root stock and are therefore "attached to the soil of the Nation." The survival of the tiny parcel (6 acres) of legendary ungrafted vines is a mystery and the National is a unique and extraordinary phenomenon that does not necessarily follow the same rhythm as the rest of the Quinta do Noval. Nacional is every port lover's fantasy and this great wine is a source of pride to the people of Portugal and at its best the finest expression of the extraordinary terroir of Quinta do Noval.

100

Wine Advocate -July 15, 2019 The 2017 Vintage Port Nacional is a field blend, mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Sousão and Tinta Roriz, aged for 18 months in old wood. It comes in…

99

Vinous -June 06, 2019 "The 2017 Quinta do Noval Nacional, which was trodden under foot in lagares and matured in wood for 18 months, demands considerable aeration in the glass even after extended decanting. Eventually it…

99

James Suckling -May 07, 2019 "Such fine tannins and it goes on and on and on. Full-bodied, compact and very fine. Sweet plums and old-vine, bark character. Lasts for minutes. Feels dry."

Quinta do Noval 12222

Vintage Port 2017

Douro Valley, Portugal

April 11, 2019
Quinta do Noval Vintage Port is characterized by its purity of fruit and a fine and delicate quality that is typical of the wines of the property in general but which finds its most remarkable and enduring expression in the Vintage Ports. Equilibrium, harmony, finesse and elegance characterize our great Vintage Ports, which are declared only in great years and only when the wines come up to Noval’s exacting standards. Even then, the wines selected for the Quinta do Noval Vintage Port blend represent only a small proportion of our total production.

97

Vinous -November 02, 2022 "The last time I tasted the 2017 Vintage Port, I posed the question of whether it was the best ever? Perhaps. Picked from 21 August to 28 September, it is…

98

Wine Spectator -October 31, 2019 "This is well-packed, offering the vivid plum, boysenberry, cassis and açaí berry fruit profile of the vintage, along with a dark edge of tar, baker's chocolate and salted licorice that…

97

Wine Advocate -July 15, 2019 The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend, mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão and Sousão, aged for 18 months in old wood vats. It comes in with 99…

97

Vinous -June 06, 2019 "The 2017 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port was picked from August 21 to September 28 under perfect conditions. It has a tightly wound bouquet that requires a lot of aeration.…

97

James Suckling -May 07, 2019 "Big grip in this wine with dark blackberries, blueberries and floral notes. Fine tannins. Ripe but sweet and pretty. Shows a lovely finish."

Domaine des Baumard 12186

Quarts de Chaume 2015

Quarts de Chaume

April 11, 2019
The dramatically beautiful Quarts de Chaume appellation produces some of the great sweet wines of the world, Baumard's chiefly among them. Truly the "Grand Cru" site of the Loire Valley.

98

Wine Spectator -April 11, 2019 “Waves of creamed Jonagold apple, Cavaillon melon, mirabelle plum, mango and white peach flavors provide thrilling range, while flashes of honeysuckle and verbena add detail and focus throughout. Unctuous yet…

Dog Point Vineyard 12155

Pinot Noir 2016

Marlborough

April 11, 2019
Dog Point's renown as a Sauvignon Blanc producers has done nothing to lessen the enthusiasm around their Pinot Noir, today considered one of the finest in New Zealand. What sets their wine apart is the generosity of the structure, which comes off as rich but not sweet, and the complex mingling of fruit and savory notes.

96

James Suckling -April 11, 2019 “Impressive structure and concentration. Terrific complexity in the mix here, too. Blueberries and mixed cherries on the nose and palate with a terrific layering of plush, assertive tannins and a…

E. Guigal 11960

Crozes-Hermitage 2016

Crozes-Hermitage

March 28, 2019
Crozes-Hermitage can be considered the gateway to the red and white wines of the Northern Rhône Valley. The reds, which are the majority of production, have wonderful warm flavors of red and black fruit, and typical Syrah pepper, spice and savory notes.

91

James Suckling -October 30, 2019 “Attractive violets and blue fruit define the nose, as well as pepper and light spicy notes. The palate has a rich and smooth delivery of ripe red plums and cherries.…

92

Vinous -September 19, 2019 “Powerful aromas of fresh dark berries, pungent flowers and smoky minerals, along with a hint of licorice that builds with aeration. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering spice-tinged blackberry…

Attems 11940

Pinot Grigio

Friuli DOC

March 28, 2019
The Attems Pinot Grigio demonstrates all of the amazing qualities of the Collio region in Friuli Venezia-Giulia: it has superb weight and texture, and is mineral-edged, savory, tangy, and lively.

91

James Suckling -July 12, 2019 "A dense and fruity white with cooked-apple and pear-drop character. Medium to full body. Fruity finish."

E. Guigal 11861

Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2016

Cotes du Rhone

March 28, 2019
Given that this particular wine can be the introduction to the entire Rhône Valley for a drinker, as well as the position they occupy in the Rhône, it is not enough for the Guigals to make a good Côtes du Rhône. They are relentlessly driven to produce a distinctive and outstanding wine that drives interest in exploring the entirety of the Rhône.

91

Wine Advocate -December 19, 2019 "A ripe, silky wine that should bring pleasure to thousands of consumers. Cherries and raspberries mark the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate adds nuances of cola, tree bark…

90

Jeb Dunnuck (90) -December 13, 2019 "As with the white, the quality of the basic Côtes du Rhône is more than noteworthy, especially when you consider the quantity produced. From a great, great vintage for the…

90

James Suckling -October 30, 2019 “Very brambly, rich and attractive tobacco, red and dark fruit and wild herbs. The palate has richness and an attractive feel with great core flesh and balance. The combination of…

90

Vinous -September 19, 2019 “Deep, brilliant ruby color. Expansive dark berry, cherry, floral and spice aromas show very good clarity and pick up darker olive and licorice notes as the wine opens up. Sweet…

Masciarelli 11850

Marina Cvetic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2016

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

March 28, 2019
The Montepulciano Marina Cvetic represents an intense and remarkable expression of one of the historical vines of Abruzzo. The 100% Montepulciano comes from eight of the estate's top parcels, across an altitude of 500 to 1,200 feet above sea level, on soils of calcareous clay and lime. In these vineyards, we find not only the traditional Abruzzo pergola vine training, but also Simple Guyot and Spur Cordon as well.

93

Wine Advocate -April 10, 2020 "The 2016 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso is a formidable wine that opens to a stirring presentation of luscious black fruit, spice, tar and licorice. The wine's density is…

93

Jeb Dunnuck (93+) -March 27, 2020 "The 2016 Marina Cvetic Riserva is another beautiful release from this estate. Coming from 100% Montepulciano and aged in new barrels, it reveals a dense purple/plum color as well as…

91

Vinous -April 09, 2019 "Deep ruby-red. Pure aromas of plum, smoke, oak and sweet spices. Dense, suave and deep, offering rich, concentrated flavors of red cherry and dark plum lifted by a hint of…

E. Guigal 11829

Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

March 28, 2019
Guigal produces an intensely concentrated, inviting and complex Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is almost unique to the region today. Their passion for Châteauneuf, the leading appellation of the Southern Rhône, runs as deeply as that for their home sites in the Northern Rhône.

93

Wine Enthusiast -February 04, 2021 Editors' Choice Full Review to be Published in May, 2021

93

James Suckling -October 30, 2019 "A fresh, dark-cherry and stone nose with attractive purity of fruit here. The palate has a very succulent, quite grainy and deeply ripe feel with a super rich, concentrated and…

91

Wine Spectator -September 12, 2019 "Solidly built, featuring cherry and plum paste notes, laced with stony minerality, tobacco and garrigue accents. This has grip but remains well-integrated, ending with subtle persistence on the cedar-tinged finish."

94

Jeb Dunnuck -March 28, 2019 “From one of the great vintages for the region going back decades, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape boasts a deep, layered, powerful style yet has terrific purity and elegance. Notes of black…

Paternoster 11787

Synthesi Aglianico del Vulture 2016

Aglianico del Vulture DOC

March 28, 2019

92

James Suckling -August 09, 2019 "Extremely complex with fresh herbs and spices, such as cloves and black pepper, as well as a lot of ripe fruit. But always in check. Full-bodied, chewy and flavorful."

91

Wine & Spirits -August 09, 2019 "Synthesi stands out among this region's warm-climate wines for its lively freshness. It feels cool and vivacious, as brisk acidity flows through its juicy raspberry flavors, picking up notes of…

90

Wine Advocate -March 28, 2019 "The well-priced 2016 Aglianico del Vulture Synthesi is a streamlined and immediate wine to enjoy within the next five years or so. The wine shows purity and focus with dark…

Champagne Bollinger 11568

La Grande Année 2008

Champagne, France

March 28, 2019
La Grande Année: The Great Year. This Champagne is the embodiment of everything that makes Bollinger the producer that stands apart in Champagne. La Grande Année, or LGA, preserves the traditions of the past and symbolizes the word "hand-crafted" so strongly that an overused word suddenly becomes the only appropriate definition.

99

Jeb Dunnuck -March 27, 2020 "The 2008 La Grande Année is another brilliant 2008 that delivers the goods. Straight-up awesome notes of stone fruits, white flowers, honeysuckle, and an incredible, liquid rock-like minerality all emerge…

95

Wine Enthusiast -October 25, 2019 "This is the producer's equivalent of Vintage Champagne. Fermented and aged in wood and then kept for nine years before release, this wine comes from an exceptional vintage that manages…

97

Vinous -July 25, 2019 "Bollinger's 2008 Grande Année is rich, ample and full-bodied, with all of the pedigree of the vintage on display. Dried pear, dried flowers, chamomile, red plum and mint develop as the 2008…

97

Decanter -April 17, 2019 "In 2008, the remarkable maturity of the grapes combined with an amazing acidity has produced a vintage of great balance, concentration and depth. The wine was aged for nine years…

97

Wine Advocate (97+) -March 29, 2019 "Bollinger's 2008 La Grande Année is superb, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp orchard fruit, ripe lemons, honeycomb, warm biscuits, dried white flowers and a delicate top note…

Tommasi 11563

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2015

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

March 28, 2019
Tommasi's traditional approach to Amarone favors elegance and balance, with deep fruit complemented by spicy, earthy flavors. Through its commitment to quality and tradition, Tommasi has established itself as one of the principal ambassadors of Amarone in the world.

92

Wine & Spirits -July 02, 2020 "This Amarone, aged for three years in large Slavonian casks, weaves together flavors of red and black berries, roasted mushroom and tobacco in a velvety texture. Notes of peppery spice…

92

James Suckling -December 09, 2019 "Extremely attractive aromas of dried fruit, prunes and sweet almonds follow through to a medium to full body, soft, juicy fruit and a flavorful finish. Shows depth and beauty on…

Ornellaia 11313

Ornellaia Bianco 2016

IGT Toscana

March 28, 2019
Ornellaia Bianco is Italy's most ambitious white wine. It is a result of the Estate’s desire to translate the exceptional properties of its terroir not only into red wines, but also into this magnificent white.

97

Decanter -May 01, 2020 "Ornellaia’s Sauvignon harvest took place in the last week of August in 2016. The wine is restrained, with cedar, wild fennel flowers and saffron on the nose, smooth-flowing and gently…

98

Jeb Dunnuck -May 10, 2019 "The star of the show with regard to the whites is unquestionably the 2016 Ornellaia Bianco. It's reminiscent of a great vintage of Domaine de Chevalier with its incredible purity,…

99

James Suckling -April 09, 2019 "This is a fantastic white. The greatest Ornellaia white so far. Very complex and dense yet, at the same time, energetic and vivid. This shows so much richness and density…

95

Vinous -March 28, 2019 "The 2016 Ornellaia Bianco has more nuance, freshness and layers of flavors than the 2015 tasted alongside it. I very much like the delineation and energy that are such signatures…

Related Materials: Ornellaia Bianco 2016 Tech Sheet

Ornellaia 11148

Ornellaia 2016

Bolgheri DOC Superiore

March 04, 2019
Ornellaia is the estate's "Grand Vin," with exceptional balance, power, elegance, and great aging potential. It faithfully reflects, in every vintage, its nature, site, and distinctive Mediterranean personality.

97

Decanter -April 07, 2020 "An Ornellaia vintage of subdued power, but also great elegance and a certain souplesse which hints at a stylistic evolution at the estate. Plum-pudding and cherry brandy nose, broad palate…

98

James Suckling -July 12, 2019 "An astoundingly vibrant, powerful and concentrated Ornellaia that has a wealth of intense dark cherries, mulberries and plums with hints of espresso, dark cocoa powder and cedar."

96

Wine Spectator -May 22, 2019 "Black currant, plum, cedar, lead pencil and toasty, spicy elements highlight this intense red. Muscular tannins line the extended finish, leaving a peppery impression. The parts are all there but…

Related Materials: Ornellaia 2016 Tech Sheet (96 WS)

98

Jeb Dunnuck (98+) -May 10, 2019 "From a great vintage for Bolgheri, the 2016 Ornellaia is a classic blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot that was aged 20…

Related Materials: Ornellaia 2016 Tech Sheet (98+ JD)

96

Vinous -March 11, 2019 "Just bottled, the 2016 Ornellaia is a dense, powerful wine. Naturally, the 2016 is just at the beginning of its life, but I am struck by how polished the tannins…

Related Materials: Ornellaia 2016 Tech Sheet (96+ VM)

98

Wine Advocate -March 07, 2019 "The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted…

Chateau Montelena 10590

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2016

Napa Valley, California

February 01, 2019
A true icon. The Napa Valley Chardonnay is the wine that put Chateau Montelena and Napa Valley at the forefront of the wine world in 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris.” To great disbelief, the Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays. And as they say, the rest is history.

94

Vinous -September 04, 2019 "Montelena's 2016 Chardonnay is terrific. Fresh, nuanced and light on its feet, the 2016 is striking for its freshness and understated intensity. Lemon peel, almond, chamomile and floral overtones add…

90

Jeb Dunnuck -February 01, 2019 "Sourced mostly from a tiny site in Oak Knoll, the 2016 Chardonnay Napa Valley sees no malolactic fermentation and is brought up in 10-20% new French oak. It's a steely,…

Xavier Milhade Wines 10521

Château Tour Bayard 2016

Montagne-Saint-Émilion

January 24, 2019

90

Vinous -January 24, 2019 “The 2016 Tour Bayard is powerful, deep and intense, with tons of earthy and savory character that gives the wine its distinctive feral profile. Iron, smoke, game and cured meats…

Related Materials: Château Tour Bayard 2016 Tech Sheet (90 VM)

Masciarelli 10484

Villa Gemma Colline Teatine Bianco 2018

Colline Teatine IGT

January 23, 2019
While the Villa Gemma Montepulciano was the wine that announced Abruzzo to the world, the Bianco, created just a year later, further defined what the region and grapes of Abruzzo could produce. This wine, first released in 1985, speaks to the white grape varieties specific to the region and has become on of the most exciting wines produced at the estate

92

James Suckling -November 12, 2019 "Shows pretty guava peel, fresh herbs and citrus. Medium body, some delicious depth, bright acidity and a mineral finish."

Domaine Chanson 10478

Gevrey-Chambertin 2016

Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy

January 23, 2019
Gevrey-Chambertin is one of the major communes in the Cote de Nuits and is located in the northern part of the appellation. This is a "coup de coeur" wine, meaning it touches your heart with its charming style and powerful aromas and flavors.

93

Wine Spectator -January 23, 2019 "Defined by vivid acidity, this red is racy, corralling the cherry, currant, tobacco, earthy and mineral flavors into a linear frame. Shows an underlying smokiness, along with fine length."

Ornellaia 10472

Ornus dell'Ornellaia

Toscana Bianco IGT

January 23, 2019
Ornus dell’Ornellaia is a late harvest Petit Manseng produced in extremely limited quantities and gives yet another dimension to the Estate. In certain vintages conditions are perfect in the tiny “Palmetta” vineyard for the production of this exclusive dessert wine. The name Ornus dell’Ornellaia takes its inspiration from ‘Fraxinus Ornus’, the Latin name for the Manna or Flowering Ash (in Italian, Orniello), the tree which has given its name to the Ornellaia. The “Manna Ash” Orniello or ‘Fraxinus Ornus’ is a tree which is typical to the Mediterranean coastal area. Its precious sap has been used since Biblical times as a sweetener and acts as a perfect link to the sweetness of Ornus dell’Ornellaia.

94

Vinous -August 04, 2023 "The 2020 Ornus dell"Ornellaia, the estate's sweet wine, is laced with tropical fruit, hazelnut, spice, tangerine peel and dried flowers. This release offers lovely textural richness yet remains light on…

92

Wine Enthusiast -August 03, 2023 Nov 2023 Issue

93

Wine Advocate -May 26, 2023 "Packaged in its distinctive 375-milliliter amphorae-shaped bottle, the Ornellaia 2020 Ornus dell'Ornellaia has a warm and sweet bouquet that recalls pastry cream, toasted almond, candied apricot, honey and sweet lemon…

93

Wine Spectator -August 26, 2022 "An elegant dessert white, with bright acidity defining the caramel, honey, roasted almond and butter flavors. Balanced, lingering on the vibrant finish."-B.S

94

Jeb Dunnuck -June 22, 2022 "A dessert wine built on 100% Petit Manseng, the 2019 Ornus Dell'Ornellaia is a ripe, exotic effort offering notes of honeyed mango, candied orange, caramelized grapefruit, and brioche aromas and…

94

James Suckling -May 13, 2022 "Packaged in its distinctive amphorae-shaped 375-milliliter bottle, the Ornellaia 2019 Ornus dell'Ornellaia (made with late-harvest Petit Manseng) shows a shiny golden color with polished copper highlights. The wine is redolent…

95

James Suckling -May 04, 2022 "A gorgeous sweet wine that brings a smile to your face. Dried apricots and flowers with peach pie on the nose. Full-bodied with medium sweetness and phenolic tension that gives…

93

Wine Advocate -May 06, 2021 "A pure expression of late-harvest Petit Manseng, the Ornus dell'Ornellaia (packaged in a 375-milliliter mini bottle with wide shoulders) is an exceptionally sweet and round dessert wine that shows the…

Ornellaia 10459

Ornellaia Bianco 2015

IGT Toscana

January 23, 2019
Ornellaia Bianco is Italy's most ambitious white wine. It is a result of the Estate’s desire to translate the exceptional properties of its terroir not only into red wines, but also into this magnificent white.

96

James Suckling -July 12, 2019 "Very pronounced on the nose, which suggests lemon meringue, dried guava peel, orange blossom, mangoes, dried papaya, vanilla and even kiwis."

95

Jeb Dunnuck -May 10, 2019 "The 2015 Ornellaia Bianco is a more rounded, powerful white compared to the 2016 and has ripe, sexy notes of honeyed melon, white flowers, honeysuckle, and subtle minerality. While its…

Related Materials: Ornellaia Bianco 2015 Tech Sheet (95 JD)

93

Vinous -March 28, 2019 "The 2015 Ornellaia Bianco, 100% Sauvignon (with a touch of Gris) is quite a powerful wine. In 2015, the Bianco has a real phenolic edge that gives the wine structure…

Related Materials: Ornellaia Bianco 2015 Tech Sheet (96 JS)

Xavier Milhade Wines 10410

Château Boutisse 2016

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

January 18, 2019
Purchased in 1996,the Milhade family have invested enormously in the vineyards and facilities at Boutisse and, above all, with their energy. Today Boutisse is no longer a surprise - dynamic young winemaker Marc Milhade has transformed this estate into an outstanding Saint-Emilion, with ripe, structured and engaging character.

93

Jeb Dunnuck -April 19, 2019 "From the eastern part of the appellation and firmer clay soils, the deeply colored 2016 Château Boutisse (85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Carménère brought up in one-third new…

Related Materials: Château Boutisse 2016 Tech Sheet

93

Vinous -January 18, 2019 "The 2016 Boutisse is magnificent. Striking aromatics and veins of saline minerality frame this absolutely exquisite, nuanced Saint-Émilion. Blood orange, mint, sage and floral notes add myriad shades of nuance…

Chateau Montelena 10374

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Napa Valley, California

January 18, 2019
The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium-bodied wine offering notable raciness up front, compelling freshness and depth of flavor. The earthy, complex and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon is softened by the judicious addition of Merlot. This is a wine that delivers immediate pleasure upon release.

92

Jeb Dunnuck -February 01, 2019 "The largest production cuvée is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, which comes mostly from Calistoga (there's a small amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Oak Knoll) and spends…

92

Vinous -January 18, 2019 "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a very pretty wine. Floral, lithe and understated, the 2016 is a wine of grace above all else. Sweet red cherry, mint, licorice,…

Chateau Montelena 10363

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Calistoga, Napa Valley, California

January 18, 2019
The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is Chateau Montelena’s flagship wine and a quality icon of Napa Valley. The winemaking team works obsessively and passionately with each vintage to capture the best expression of their historic terroir. This is a show-stopper that reveals the perfect blend of flavors, aromas and textures to reach the pinnacle of balance.

97

Jeb Dunnuck -February 01, 2019 "The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a brilliant wine and one of the gems out there from this estate. It offers crème de cassis, crushed violets, purple iris, and white…

96

Vinous -January 18, 2019 "A powerful, intense wine, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Montelena exudes depth and textural richness, all with the tannic and structural underpinning that is such a signature of the Montelena…

Champagne Ayala 10221

Perle d’Ayala 2006

Champagne, France

January 15, 2019
A treasure in the portfolio, Perle d'Ayala is produced only in exceptional years, according to practices that have remained faithful to the Champagne tradition. Composed of a majority of Chardonnay, this wine captures the essence of the Champagne terroir, in the purest respect of the style of the House.

95

Wine Enthusiast -February 11, 2020 “After 12 years aging on the lees, this wine is at its peak. Its maturity is now showing beautifully, bringing out toastiness, yeast and a taut texture. The wine's richness…

93

James Suckling -January 15, 2019 “A Chardonnay dominant cuvee (80 percent) that has rested on the lees for more than eight years.\ It delivers attractive, nutty complexity with an array of peach, lemon and lime…

Champagne Ayala 10143

Le Blanc de Blancs 2012

Champagne, France

January 11, 2019
Ayala’s Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay, produced in small quantities in exceptional years only, fully expresses the superb caliber of great Chardonnay from the best crus of the Côte des Blancs. After 6 years of aging in Ayala’s cellars, remarkable minerality and low dosage make this an outstanding wine.

96

View from the Cellar, John Gilman -July 05, 2019 Ayala Le Blanc de Blancs 2012 is one of the finest bottles I have ever tasted from this excellent house. The wine spent five years aging sur latte and was…

93

James Suckling -January 14, 2019 “Super attractive aromas of chalky, fine, lemon pastry and pears with a subtle mineral thread. The palate has a very attractive array of fine, smooth peaches and citrus fruit and…

Reviews

Wine

Producer

Vintage

Score

Retail Price

Grapes

Type

Country

E. Guigal 13852

Côte-Rôtie

E. Guigal 13842

Côte-Rôtie

Tenuta Luce 13826

Toscana IGT

Domaine des Baumard 13498

Savennières

E. Guigal 12799

Saint-Joseph

Domaine Chanson 12340

Marsannay, Burgundy

Quinta do Noval 12223

Douro Valley, Portugal

Quinta do Noval 12222

Douro Valley, Portugal

Domaine des Baumard 12186

Quarts de Chaume

Dog Point Vineyard 12155

Marlborough

E. Guigal 11960

Crozes-Hermitage

Attems 11940

Friuli DOC

E. Guigal 11861

Cotes du Rhone

Masciarelli 11850

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC

E. Guigal 11829

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Paternoster 11787

Aglianico del Vulture DOC

Champagne Bollinger 11568

Champagne, France

Tommasi 11563

Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG

Ornellaia 11313

IGT Toscana

Ornellaia 11148

Bolgheri DOC Superiore

Chateau Montelena 10590

Napa Valley, California

Xavier Milhade Wines 10521

Montagne-Saint-Émilion

Masciarelli 10484

Colline Teatine IGT

Domaine Chanson 10478

Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy

Ornellaia 10472

Toscana Bianco IGT