2020 Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône
Decanter
98 Points
What you find in the whites, you find in the reds,' says Jean-Louis Chave, alluding to the natural freshness and balance in the 2020 Hermitage lieux-dits.
2016 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru Charmes
Wine Advocate
95 Points
2016 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Meursault 1er Cru les Charmes The 2016 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes is superb, unfurling in the glass with aromas of crisp peaches, apples, dried white flowers, honeycomb and oatmeal.
2021 Continuum Sage Mountain Vineyard Napa Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel 99 Points
Youthful as it no doubt is, this wine already pours forth aromas of truly gorgeous elegance.
2020 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Oakville, Napa Valley
Wine Advocate
95 Points
Black cherries, dark loam and cassis appear on the nose of Dalla Valle's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, joined by hints of cedar and vanilla.
2021 Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, Calistoga, Napa Valley
Wine Advocate
96+ Points
All Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon starts off with vaguely floral and pronounced leafy notes backed by ripe black cherries and hints of dusty earth.
2021 Hundred Acre, Ark Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Decanter Magazine 100 Points
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Jayson Woodbridge is dynamic, complex, and downright pleasure-packed and one of the stars of the show from his lineup of 2021 wines I tasted in September of 2024.
2019 Louis Jadot Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles Domaine des Héritiers
Wine Spectator
95 Points
A creamy, harmonious white, revealing lemon cream, honeydew melon, hazelnut and pastry aromas and flavors that all come together.
2021 Jean Grivot Echezeaux Grand Cru Burgundy
Vinous
94-96 Points
The 2021 Echezeaux Grand Cru has a vibrant nose with dark berry fruit, touches of sea cave, oyster shell.
2021 Jean Grivot Nuits-St.-Georges Roncière
Wine Spectator
93 Points
Wild cherry, currant, sandalwood, smoke and earth notes are defined by lively acidity and refined tannins in this intense red.
2021 Domaine de l’Arlot, Monopole, Nuits-St-Georges, 1er Cru Clos des Forêts St-Georges
Decanter
92 Points
This substantial wine has a ripe plummy fruit on the initial attack adorned with notes of smoke, earth, spice and an almost savoury animal complexity.
2020 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles
Wine Spectator
95 Points
A smooth white, bordering on creamy but with bright acidity, featuring lemon cake, apple tart, mineral, vanilla and clove flavors.
2021 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Clavoillon
Wine Spectator
94 Points
A sophisticated white hallmarked by lemon, butterscotch, peach, hazelnut and chalky dust aromas and flavors.
2021 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles
Wine Spectator
95 Points
Seamless in texture and balance, this white caresses the palate with honey, butter, peach, apple and lemon cake flavors.
2016 Mastrojanni Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino
Wine Advocate
97 Points
The Mastrojanni 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Schiena d'Asino (with only 6,000 bottles made) is a joy.
2021 Dalla Valle Vineyards, Maya, Oakville, Napa Valley
Wine Advocate
100 Points
Simply a wonderful wine, the 2021 Maya oozes class, with deep, complex aromas of violets and cassis, earthy loam and hints of tobacco and mint.
2017 Opus One Proprietary Red Wine Oakville, Napa Valley
Wine Advocate
95 Points
Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration.
2019 Opus One Proprietary Red Wine, Oakville, Napa Valley MAGNUM
Decanter
98 Points
Intensely perfumed on the nose, rose petals, violets, deeply scented and seductive.
2021 Opus One Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley HALF BOTTLE
Wine Spectator
95 Points
Shows lovely range and good energy, with an old-school tilt to the savory, bay and tobacco notes that lead the way for a core of gently mulled red currant and black cherry fruit.
2014 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville, Napa Valley
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
98+ Points
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard reveals notes of blackberry preserves and blueberry compote with chocolate box, star anise, sandalwood, dried meat and black loam nuances.
2016 Promontory Penultimate Proprietary Red Wine
Vinous
94 Points
The 2016 Penultimate is fascinating to taste next to its sibling, as it has all of the qualities of this great vintage - namely complexity, dimension and stature - just with less intensity.
Promontory Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley 2015
Wine Advocate
98+ Points
Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon displays a deep garnet-purple color and is a little sluggish to reveal its fragrant core of plum preserves, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and Morello cherries with accents of stewed Darjeeling tea, underbrush, cloves and tobacco leaf plus a waft of pencil shavings.
2017 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port
Wine Advocate
97 Points
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.
2015 Quintarelli Cabernet Alzero
Vinous
95 Points
The 2015 Cabernet Alzero is loaded with varietal character, bursting from the glass with a dark blend of black fruits, savory herbs, pencil lead and crushed stone.
2015 Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
Vinous
94+ Points
Dark ruby with purple hues, the 2015 Ricioto della Valpolicella Classico is youthfully coy, requiring coaxing to evolve in the glass.
2020 Sine Qua Non White Wine Distenta II
Wine Advocate
98 Points
Drinking the White Distenta II is an omakase-like experience, an unexpected journey that begins with naturally bitter phenolics, blossoms into soaring perfume and finishes with dessert-like honeyed tones.
2021 Sine Qua Non Grenache Distenta III
Wine Advocate
93 Points
Based around the Eleven Confessions Vineyard with inclusions from The Third Twin and Cumulus, the 2021 Grenache Distenta III includes 8.4% Syrah, 7.4% Mourvèdre, and 3.2% Petite Sirah with dollops of Petit Manseng and Muscat.
2021 Sine Qua Non Syrah Distenta III
Wine Advocate
98-100 Points
I tasted the 2021 Syrah Distenta III as a precise blend from barrel on July 6—it's due to be bottled in August.
100 points Jeb Dunnuck
The late bottled 2019 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard is another undeniably great wine from this incredible estate and it tops out my scale.
