Another magical wine from this property the 2009 Château Cos D'Estournel reminds me slightly of the 2005 with its incredibly rich powerful opulent style married to stunning finesse and elegance. Still youthful yet with... Read More

Despite a rich botrytis character this balances impact with delicacy. Clear citrus on the nose with a hint of flint and smoke allowing the soft white flowers and lime blossom to steal up on you slowly. There are caramel notes... Read More

I loved the 2018 Château Fonbadet a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend (there’s 25% Merlot) that’s aging in 50% new French oak. Classic Pauillac notes of cassis lead pencil graphite cold fireplace and ample earthy... Read More

The 2018 Château La Fleur-Petrus checks in as a blend of 91% Merlot 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It's another inky colored beauty that boasts full-bodied richness and depth as well as thrilling notes of crème... Read More

A wine I’ve been lucky enough to have many times, the 2005 Château Pavie is unquestionably one of the finest vintages from this Chateau, checking with the likes of the 2000, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2020. I’d... Read More

Wonderful depth of fruit here with blackberries wet earth mushrooms dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied tight and poised with polished and compressed tannins. Consistent finish. Linear and focused. A blend of 60% cabernet... Read More

The 2018 Anjou Cuvée Violette is full-bodied and rounded offering a soft embrace. True to its name it does smell of violets as well as wood smoke spice and dark black fruits. There's concentration here no doubt due to the... Read More

The 2018 Gattinara Molsino emerges from a relatively warm sunny spot on the estate at 400 meters in elevation. It presents myriad shades of dark cherry/plum fruit sage menthol new leather and dark spices. Potent and virile in... Read More

The 2018 Gattinara Valferana is explosive right out of the glass. Supporting veins of tannin carry a core of red fruit cinnamon rose petal blood orange mint and white pepper. The Valferana is complex and wonderfully deep from... Read More

The 2018 Gattinara Valferana is explosive right out of the glass. Supporting veins of tannin carry a core of red fruit cinnamon rose petal blood orange mint and white pepper. The Valferana is complex and wonderfully deep from... Read More

The Tenuta Cucco 2016 Barolo Cerrati reveals a delicate and classic approach with tart cherry dried plum tar and licorice. The wine's intensity is moderate and it eases back on the complexity as well showing instead a direct... Read More

An embryonic wine but clearly has the depth for ageing. Rich and powerful on the nose with mealy waxy citrus notes. The oak is present but integrated and lends a Burgundian touch. The palate is round and refined with a little... Read More

The 2018 Chardonnay Sanford and Benedict Vineyard The Twelve Rows shows a light hand in its expression of this historic Sta. Rita Hills site. Hints of apricot tangerine oil spice and tropical fruit all meld together effortlessly... Read More

The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict Vineyard The Twelve Rows is sourced from Block T6 which was planted in 1995. It was done with very gentle extractions the fruit crushed by foot with native ferments after which it spent... Read More

A bright straw yellow hue the 2022 Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel has a pretty and expressive nose of ripe pear flinty lift candied green apples and lime. Savory and inviting the palate offers medium to full body but... Read More

The 2009 Flaccianello is gorgeous but the relative shortcomings of the year relative to the sublime 2010 are apparent when the wines are tasted side by side. Firm tannins support a core of dark red fruit smoke and crushed flowers.... Read More

With fruit from Monforte d'Alba the 2018 Barolo Gramolere is linear and tight with etched aromas of crisp forest berry iron ore blood orange blue violet and crushed stone. The wine is bright and expressive with time in the... Read More

Cedar violet Asian spice and ripe black-skinned fruit aromas lift out of the glass along with balsamic whiffs of camphor. Juicy and full-bodied the smooth palate doles out ripe black cherry almond liqueur licorice alongside velvety... Read More

The Fratelli Alessandria 2018 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno opens to a delicate and ethereal personality with fluttering aromas of blue flower cassis candied grapefruit and white pepper. The bouquet is fragrant and lifted giving... Read More

Glänzendes mitteldichtes Rubin mit feinem Granatschimmer. Intensive und zugleich offene Nase satt nach Himbeere und Zwetschge dazu etwas Leder und Trüffel im Hintergrund nach Rosen. Stoffig und satt wie ein Barolo aus Serralunga... Read More

The 2018 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Francia is very densely concentrated with fine tannins but it is not revealing much yet as it is so young. When tasted in May 2022 it was due to be bottled the following month. It is deep ruby... Read More

The 2018 Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Longues Voyes 1er Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, is the most engaging of the three parcellaire wines today. Aromatic, deep and exquisitely layered, the Longues Voyes is super-expressive today. Crushed... Read More

The 2018 Extra Brut Vignes d’Autrefois is a selection of 100% Meunier sourced from vines planted between 1947 and 1964. Deeply-pitched and vinous, the Autrefois fills out beautifully with a bit of time in the glass. The... Read More

Ripe elegant cool and admirably pure aromas consist of red and dark currant trimmed in soft spice floral and earth nuances. The

The Margherita Otto 2016 Barolo (with 3600 bottles produced) is a firm and tightly knit expression with a solid center of gravity. The wine offers a dark and robust textural fabric with a pretty interlay of dark fruit dried cherry... Read More

Here the nose ramps up the floral influence even further though there is also ample earth influence to the ripe aromas of plum dark currant and just slice fennel. Once again the mouthfeel is gorgeous with its lilting texture and... Read More

Opaque ruby. Highly expressive aromas of candied red and blue fruit along with suggestions of exotic flowers olive paste and smoky minerals. Sweet penetrating and seamless on the palate offering intense black raspberry blueberry... Read More

#1 ENTHUSIAST 100 2021 From an estate in the southern part of Margaux this wine has just the right mix of rich tannins and taut black-currant flavors to give upfront freshness and potential for further aging. Structured and fruity... Read More