Proprietary Red

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 2020 Cheval des Andes was harvested from the last of February for the first time ever. It was Gabillet's second vintage at Cheval des Andes and that year he had to start without waiting for Pierre Olivier Clouet and Pierre... Read More

Composed of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon 19% Cabernet Franc 15% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot the 2015 IX Proprietary Red Estate sports a deep garnet-purple color and nose of smoked meat blackberries and black currants with suggestions... 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 third-use... Read More

The Fattoria le Pupille 2018 Saffredi borrows quite a bit from all of the grapes that make up the blend (Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Petit Verdot). These balanced results open to a round bouquet of dark fruit black cherry and... Read More

From a north-facing site at elevation the 2019 Cerro Sur is a bold savory wine loaded with energy. This Cabernet Franc-based wine is bursting with tension. Floral spice and mocha accents lend striking aromatic top notes. I am... Read More

This is a gorgeous vintage that continues to flesh out beautifully. I added an extra point to my score since the last time I tasted the 2019 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda in order to underline the great potential of this vintage.... Read More

The 2014 Rosso del Bepi is understated yet very pretty showing nuances of woodland berries laced with sour citrus savory herbs and a hint of animal muskiness. This washes across the palate with silken textures yet delivers masses... Read More

A pure expression of Sangiovese the 2018 Cepparello is a beautiful expression that speaks to the classic and most exemplary side of this versatile and deeply expressive grape. This vintage is especially bright and ethereal with... Read More

Altogether much more serious than Lail's Blueprint bottling (and priced accordingly) the 2019 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon comes primarily from the Vine Hill Ranch Dutch Canyon (Heimark) and Steltzner Vineyards. Marked... Read More

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The 2011 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial was produced with a blend of 84% Tempranillo and 16% Mazuelo (Cariñena) from a plot called La Plana that was planted in 1950 at 485 meters in altitude the highest in the Ygay property.... Read More

The 2014 Le Pergole Torte has come together quite nicely since I last tasted this wine as a barrel sample shortly after the new year. The wine is now showing deeper dimension and a tighter textural constitution. Those aromas of... Read More

This wine celebrates 100 years of family legacy connected to Montevertine's legendary founder Sergio Manetti. The bottle shows a little logo on the front label to commemorate the anniversary. The 2018 Montevertine follows... Read More

Very deep garnet-purple in color the 2018 Opus One soars out of the glass with bright bold boysenberries warm cassis and ripe juicy black plums notes plus emerging nuances of lilacs oolong tea cinnamon stick tilled soil and black... Read More

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot the 2019 Proprietary Red is a monster of a wine that's unquestionably up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Blackberries truffle earth chocolate... Read More

The Tenuta San Guido 2020 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to those who seek a more voluptuous opulent and ultimately more accessible wine. This vintage is a precise reflection of Coastal Tuscany as opposed to a more generic "Tuscan"... Read More

Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon 9% Merlot 7% Cabernet Franc 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec the 2018 La Joie displays an opaque purple-black color slowly unfurling to offer profound notes of crème de cassis preserved plums and... Read More

Composed of 82% Cabernet Franc 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec the 2018 Le Désir was aged for 16 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color it is a little closed to begin soon unfurling to offer glimpses at notes of... Read More