Leitz Rüdesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Katerloch Trocken 2012
"Shows fine extraction and intensity to the pure-tasting grapefruit, white currant and gooseberry flavors. Light and smoky midpalate, with an ironclad structure and a long finish filled with mineral, spice and savory herb details. A powerful and refined dry-style Riesling . . . . [Only] 56 cases imported."
93 Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator
Louis Jadot (Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot) Corton-Charlemagne 2009
"Another vibrant, precise wine from this often misunderstood vintage, the 2009 Corton-Charlemagne boasts stunning precision and class from start to finish. Citrus, pears, white flowers and crushed rocks are some of the many nuances that vibrate on the bright, crystalline finish. In this tasting, the 2009 Corton tastes like it has barely budged over the last year.”
96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Marie-Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2008
“The 2008 Extra Brut Efflorescence captures the house style at its finest. Here the cooler vintage brings out considerable tension in the Pinot Noir. The 2008 boasts serious energy, precision and lift all the way through to the intensely taut, saline-infused finish. Today, minerality, acidity and structure are very much present, while the Pinot is felt mostly in the wine's weight and texture rather than in the aromas and flavors. I imagine the 2008 will develop more complexity in bottle, even though it will always be distinguished for its razor-like focus. The 2008 Efflorescence is one of the most distinctive Champagnes I tasted this year. This is another great showing from Dominique Morneau.”
95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Larmandier-Bernier Vielle Vigne de Cramant Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut 2005
". . . offers up a deep, complex and lively nose of green apple, intense smokiness, fresh-baked bread, orange peel, a beautifully complex base of terres blanches and a nice, gentle touch of leesiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and perfectly balanced, with a fine core of fruit, bright, well-integrated acids, elegant mousse and outstanding length and grip on the young and poised finish. Larmandier-Bernier is clearly one of the absolute masters of lower dosage bottlings of Champagne and their 2005 Vieilles Vignes de Cramant is a stellar example of Extra Brut that is already quite tasty, but which will clearly improve with further bottle age."
92+ John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Ferraton Hermitage Le Reverdy 2009
"The outrageously rich 2009 Hermitage Le Reverdy blanc (a 70-case blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne) possesses honeyed marmalade notes intermixed with hints of candle wax, quince, white currants and ginger. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to latch on to a bottle of this delicious white given the tiny production. If the turnaround in quality of the Paul Jaboulet Aîné wines is the biggest good news story of qualitative improvement in the northern Rhone, what Michel Chapoutier has accomplished with Ferraton is a close second."
97 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
M. Chapoutier Hermitage L'Ermite Blanc 2008
". . . [only] 445 cases of the 2008 Hermitage L'Ermite Blanc. Almond paste, crushed rock, orange, mango and pineapple aromas jump from the glass of this honeyed white along with gorgeous layers of that liqueur of rocks-like note that is typical of this terroir. Unquestionably a candidate for the wine of the vintage in the entire Rhône Valley . . ."
96 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Pierre Gauthier (Domaine Du Bel Air) Bourgueil Jour de Soif 2014
"The Jour de Soif (“Thirsty Day”) bottling from Pierre Gauthier is really a beautiful bottle of Bourgueil designed to be very, very easy to drink out of the blocks, and the 2014 most assuredly is just that! The pure and vibrant nose jumps right out of the glass in a blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, a touch of dark chocolate, gentle notes of cigar smoke and an impressively complex base of soil tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and sappy at the core, with a fine signature of soil, just a whisper of tannin and a long, complex and bouncy finish. This is flat out delicious at the present time, but with the balance to age nicely for the next decade. An absolute bargain."
91 John Gilman, View From the Cellar
Nicolas Rossignol Volnay En Chevret 2011
". . . sexy, sweet and attractive, with succulent fruit and good structure."
94 Tim Atkin MW, TimAtkin.com
Ponsot Clos de Vougeot Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2009
"The 2009 Clos Vougeot Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is a deep, opulent wine graced with superb intensity in its dark red fruit, spices, tobacco and licorice. This is a dazzling effort layered with endless fruit and well-articulated aromatics that build impressively towards the round, multi-dimensional finish."
93-95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve 2012
"Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre, aged all in demi-muid, it offers ample dark fruits, chocolate, bouquet garni and licorice in its full-bodied, supple, forward and elegantly styled profile. As with all of the 2012s here, the tannin is wonderfully ripe, the wine has solid concentration and everything is perfectly balanced."
95 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2012
"One of my favorite wines, the 2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish.”
94 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 2011
“Beautiful in the vintage, the 2011 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is a forward, perfumed example of the cuvee that has classic Pégau black fruits, tobacco leaf, pepper and leathery notes as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. Early-drinking by this estate’s standards, there’s nevertheless good mid-palate density and fine tannin.”
93 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance 2010
"The 2010 Cornas Renaissance may be the finest example of the cuvee I have yet tasted. This offering represents about one-third of the Clape production and tends to come from two well-known sites in the natural amphitheater of Cornas, Les Sabarottes and Geynale. This astonishing 2010 boasts a black/purple color along with gorgeous, explosive aromatics consisting of blue and black fruits and spring flowers, a full-bodied, layered texture and superb intensity. Very pure with sweet tannin, it was bottled unfiltered after 22 months in primarily foudre . . ."
96 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Bodegas J.A. Calvo Casajús NIC 2009
"The 2009 Casajús NIC is the top wine, sourced from a single 1.5 hectare plot that yielded less than 2,500 kilogram per hectare (NIC, by the way, is the abbreviation of Nicolas and Catalina, Jose Alberto’s children). It is raised in new 500-liter Allier barrels over 18 months. It has a very intense nose of raspberry, fresh strawberry, maraschino and blood orange that effortlessly embraces the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte, succulent tannins, the oak playing a complementary role (in my opinion, the use of larger barrels moderating their influence.) It is struck through with outstanding acidity and wonderful minerality toward the finish. It shimmers in the mouth: so much purity you want to cry. It may be eye-wateringly expensive, but it is one of Ribera del Duero’s finest wines."
97 Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines 2009
"More ripe and exuberant than the ‘10, the hedonistic-styled 2009 Cornas Vieilles Fontaines offers tons of incense, flowers, black raspberries, toasted spices and violet-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, layered and downright sexy, it still has plenty of class and firms up beautifully on the finish. It's hard to resist now given all its fruit and texture, but there's enough tannin here to warrant . . . bottle age."
97 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Domaine Giraud Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenaches de Pierre 2007
“Up there with the 2010 and flirting with perfection, the 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Grenaches de Pierre is about as incredible an expression of old vine Grenache as you can find. Still deep ruby colored, it offers up an insane bouquet of kirsch, cassis, exotic flowers, pepper, garrigue and licorice that flows seamlessly to a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, yet layered and elegant profile on the palate. It’s one of those rare wines that carries phenomenal richness, yet never seems heavy, cumbersome or puts a foot wrong.”
99 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate/Le Coste 2005
"Good medium red. Sexy, expressive nose offers plum, redcurrant, mocha, coffee, spices and underbrush. Wonderfully silky and sweet but gripping, with the impression of decadence shown by Rinaldi's wines in ripe years. This has more mid-palate richness to support its big, building tannins than the San Lorenzo-Ravera bottling. Finishes with lovely energy and impressive length. A great success in the context of the year . . ."
94+ Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 2004
“This starts perfumy, displaying lots of sandalwood, black tea and roasted chestnut notes, turning taut and iron-filled, with layers of black cherry, currant and braised fig fruit filling in the background. Licorice root, black tea and cedar round out the finish, which has tons of grip and cut, but also manages to stay elegant. [Note Henri Bonneau released] no Réserve des Célestins in 2003.”
96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
Artadi Rioja Pagos Viejos 2001
". . . from 75-year old Tempranillo vines, the 2001 Pagos Viejos is one of Spain’s greatest wines. A singular red of extraordinary stature and intensity, it exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color as well as a luxurious bouquet of lead pencil shavings, black and blue fruits, espresso roast, and floral notes. This full-bodied, dense 2001 possesses layers of flavor, a sweet integration of tannin and wood, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute.”
97 Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
Gaja Sorì San Lorenzo 2000
“Serious dark color, with meaty, earthy aromas that blow off to ultraripe and exotic fruit. Fresh truffles and porcini . . . . Full-bodied, with masses of velvety tannins and a long, long, caressing finish. Solid. This was the first of Gaja's single-vineyard Barbarescos to be vinified separately, in 1967.”
97 James Suckling, Wine Spectator
|
