Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Néore à Chavignol 2005 "The 2005 Clos la Néore is a brilliant young bottle of Sancerre, and seems clearly destined to be one of Monsieur Vatan’s greatest legacies." 96+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
René & Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Les Clos 1992 ". . . mineral-driven flavors that possess a seductive, indeed even caressing texture before terminating in a balanced and lingering finish. This is certainly a really love wine . . ." 92 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
René & Vincent Dauvissat Chablis Les Preuses 1992 "The bouquet is deep and excellent, as it jumps from the glass in a blend of grapefruit, lemon, bread fruit, oyster shells, paraffin and a lovely base of chalky soil tones." 93 John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 1970 ". . . typically aromatic Cristal that has surprised me with its strength and durability. The most recent bottle was colossally great and majestic with layer upon layer of oily fruitiness and handsome tones of aged champagne." 95 Richard Juhlin, The Richard Juhlin Champagne Club
Chandon de Briailles Corton Maréchaudes 2012 "The complex and very classy nose wafts from the glass in a blend of red and black cherries, a bit of roasted venison, cocoa, woodsmoke, dark soil tones, a touch of youthful stems and a very stylish and gentle underpinning of Corton spice tones . . . . lovely focus and balance and a long, pure and classy finish. This is going to be very high class juice!" 92-94 John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Jean-Marc Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode 2001 "Gorgeously intense, refined and very fresh elegant red and black fruit trimmed in damp, fresh earth aromas lead to big . . . flavors that display knock-out depth of extract, excellent richness and dazzling length." 91 Allen Meadows, Burghound.com
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay 1er Cru Santenots-du-Milieu 1988 "I absolutely love this wine is regular format, where it is only a year or two away from its apogee . . . . The nose is really pretty tight still, reluctantly offering up scents of cassis, tar, tobacco, woodsmoke, herbs, minerals and cedary wood . . . . This will be a stellar bottle of Volnay . . ." 92+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Fellmon Ranch 2011 "The Fellom Ranch’s cabernet sauvignon vines are now thirty years of age, and this fine site on the Montebello ridge has turned out a fine wine in the hands of the Arnot-Roberts team . . . . On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite primary in personality, with a superb core of fruit, ripe tannins and outstanding length and grip on the focused and very promising finish." 93+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Hundred Acre Fortunate Son 2009 ". . . wraps around the palate with layers of dark fruit. Seamless, rich and inviting, the 2009 is pure opulence and richness. Bittersweet chocolate, mocha, plums and spice box are some of the many notes that flow through to the rich, enveloping finish. A round, layered wine, the 2009 stands out for its depth and total plushness." 94 Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2006 ". . . the aromatics tend towards menthol, pine, spices and all things balsamic. Sweet, powerful and layered, the 2006 Cicala finishes with a blast of roasted coffee beans, licorice and mint. This is an absolutely wonderful, complete Barolo from Aldo Conterno." 94 Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
Numanthia 2005 "plenty of ripe black fruit on the palate. The plush texture is supported by ripe, muscular tannins, and licorice, mineral and graphite notes add complexity." 95 Thomas Matthews, Wine Specator
Ridge Monte Bello 2001 "A resoundingly great effort from this iconic producer, Ridge’s 2001 is a spectacular, still young but promising wine . . . . A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by extravagant, generous aromas of pen ink, lead pencil shavings, spice box and black fruits . . . . it reveals spectacular concentration, a voluptuous texture, a rare opulence for a Ridge Monte Bello, and an incredible finish. The upside is enormous . . . . make no mistake about this Monte Bello – it is a great wine." 99 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Arietta H Block Hudson Vineyards 2000 ". . . tastes like an over-sized, phenomenal Cheval Blanc. It has blossomed beautifully since I tasted it last year. A dense purple color is followed by scents of cocoa, underbrush, chocolaty black cherry and black currant fruit, minerals, truffles, and graphite. A big, thick, chewy, tremendously long, intense, well-balanced red, I would love to taste it alongside the 2000 Cheval Blanc." 96 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 2000 "Plenty of blackberry, cherry and light meat aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with soft tannins and a fresh, clean finish." 90 James Suckling, Wine Spectator
Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajanà 1990 ". . . the first wine Clerico produced from this vineyard . . . . In 1990 Clerico made this Barolo using only the old portions of the vineyard, and that may be the reason the wine has aged so beautifully . . . . Tobacco, cedar, sweet spices, roasted coffee beans and plums are just some of the nuances that emerge from this full-bodied, intense Barolo. Clerico’s 1990 Barolo Pajanà is a gem!" 97 Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard 1978 "The celestial nose soars from the glass in a mélange of red and black cherries, a touch of blood orange, mint, chipotle pepper, allspice, cigar smoke, a touch of nuttiness and a bit of orange zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and rock solid at the sappy core, with flawless balance, stunning transparency, very little remaining tannin and laser-like focus on the hauntingly complex and endless finish." 98 John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Pétrus 1976 "The wine has always possessed intense aromas of over-ripe tomatoes . . . and red and black fruits touched by sweet toasty oak. It continues to be a pleasing, fat style of Pétrus . . ." Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Château Lafite Rothschild 1970 "Outstanding quality. The color seems light for a wine that tastes this young and tannic, but the mint and cherry flavors seem intense enough to last until the tannins soften." 92 Wine Spectator
Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1970 "Haut-Brion in disguise? Earthy mineral, leather and beefy notes lead to rich chocolate, dusty berry, cherry and herb flavors, finishing with firm, chewy tannins." 93 James Suckling, Wine Spectator
BV Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 1970 "The 1970 has always been considered one of the great B.V. Private Reserves . . . . a huge, complex bouquet of overripe, sweet, jammy, pruny fruit, cedar, herbs, spices, and fruitcake. Fat and rich, with unctuously-textured, chewy, expansive flavors, and a full-bodied finish, it was all this great wine can be." 93 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon 1969 ". . . The excellent bouquet delivers scents of cassis, bell pepper, a beautiful base of stony soil tones, cigar ash, herb tones, chipotles and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and still very nicely structured, with a good core, fine soil signature, melting tannins and a long, tangy and low fat finish." 92 John Gilman, View From the Cellar |
