Search results for: 'mostly a one plot'

96 Points! The 2022 Red Wine The Meadows is the first special bottling Mayacamas has produced that is not Cabernet Sauvignon. A burst of dark red cherry fruit, rose petal, mocha, licorice and sweet spice are all dialed up. Plush contours wrap it all together in style. The 2022 is not the most complex wine I have ever tasted here, but it is immensely pleasurable. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Sadly production is only 89 cases. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous  

93+ Points! In lieu of a special Cabernet Sauvignon release from the 2022 vintage, Mayacamas has bottled the 2022 Red Wine The Meadows, a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. From a site at 2,000 to 2,100 feet above sea level and influenced by the cool headwaters of Redwood Creek, it delivers polished notes of pencil shavings, crushed stone, black cherries and cassis. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, firm and dusty but with ample length and intensity on the sage-tinged finish.- Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

96 Points! Intense aromas of black cherries, lavender and spice, such as nutmeg. Some sandalwood and bark, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and tannins for the vintage. Rather chewy, suggesting that additional bottle age is needed. Try after 2026. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Rich with compact and velvety layers, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino offers fleshy aromas of fig, black licorice, mocha, and roasted sage. It is full-bodied and displays more freshness and transparency on the palate, although it remains fully ripe, with black cherry, plum, turned soil, and macerated violets. It has full and present ripe tannins, a hint of crushed rock, and a saline, savory finish. With its liqueur-like richness throughout, this is a fantastic expression, but it needs a couple of years in the cellar before drinking over the following 10. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

93 Points! Ripe and juicy, this red reveals plum, cherry, earth, tobacco and menthol aromas and flavors. Well-structured, delivering dense, dusty tannins and ample fruit to match, with a long, complex finish. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! This is surprisingly full-bodied and round, reflecting the warmth and sunny exposure of the vineyard around the chateau. Tangy and vivid with currants, fresh flowers and plenty of energy and length. Delicate yet ripe. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 19.5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 0.5% petit verdot. Needs two or three years to come together completely. Drink after 2027. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The second wine of this great château, the 2021 Le Petit Mouton De Mouton Rothschild offers up a mini-Mouton-like nose of pure cassis, graphite, and spicy oak and hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, plenty of fruit and richness, and almost velvety tannins. Based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 50% new barrels, this textured, focused, impressively concentrated 2021 will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age (which is rare for a second wine) and cruise for 10-15+ years in cold cellars. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! A tasting of the four main parts (Les Challaix, Le Clos, La Dardouille and Bachasson) suggests that this will be a vintage that combines power – black fruits and thick tannins from La Dardouille – and more lifted, fleshy, fragrant, low acid elements from Les Challaix, plus Bachasson's rose and raspberry. A little richer and more velvety than a typical year. - Decanter Magazine

94 Points! Leading off the 2022s, gorgeous red and black fruits, spice, pepper, and bouquet garni define the 2022 Saint Joseph. Very focused and layered on the palate, it shows medium to full-bodied richness and elegant tannins. It's very much in the sunny yet structured style of the vintage and will have 10-12 years of prime drinking. Drink 2025-2037. - Jeb Dunnuck

92-94 Points! I tasted numerous components that will form the final blend of the 2022 Saint-Joseph. Ripe red and blue fruits usher in, complemented by licorice, violets, cedar and pencil shaving elements. Medium-bodied, juicy and refined, all 2022 samples display wonderful freshness within an intricate web of polished tannins. If all continues down this path, this will be a terrific Saint-Joseph. - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media

95 Points! Aromas of limes, white nuts, green apples, savory seaweed and seashells. So delicious, with a creamy, nutty touch and a savory, lightly saline finish. Nori at the end. Really long and intellectual. Viura aged in Sherry butts. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93+ Points! The 2021 Monopole Clásico Reserva comes from a cooler year with a long cycle and was produced with grapes that were picked on October 7 and 8, fermented in stainless steel, then matured in oak barrels and Sherry casks of different sizes—300, 400 and 500 liters—where it matured for eight months and managed to grow a veil of flor yeasts in the butts filled with the wine. Still pale and young but with incipient complexity, it has a very spicy nose with notes of esparto grass, hints of pollen and cereals. It's fresh and comes in at 13.38% alcohol, with a pH of 3.26 and 5.61 grams of acidity, meaning balance and freshness. It has depth, complexity and character, with more freshness and acidity and some grip, showing more of the character of the vintage. It's very tasty and ends with a very pleasant bitter twist in the finish. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! A tight, structured Rioja with blackcurrants, sandalwood, coffee and cassis on the nose, followed by a chewy, toasty and medium- to full-bodied palate. Firm, dusty tannins. Compact. Better after 2026. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Beautiful nose with lifted herbal notes hovering over the lush black and blue fruit. Tannins are fresh and well presented lending fluidity to the fruit. The mineral backbone as further support to the framework. An alluring, long finish of zesty citrus married with herbal intensity (oregano and thyme). - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! The 2020 Imperial Reserva was produced with a blend of Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha grapes that were put through optical sorting and fermented in oak vats by vineyard, and the wine matured for 24 months in barrels, 70% French and the rest American. It has a shy nose that takes time to open up in the glass, but it is surprisingly harmonious and balanced and fresh for the year. It has a little more ripeness, but there's no excess at all; it has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 5.44 grams of acidity. It has notes of spices, cigar box and ash, berries and wild herbs and a sleek and polished palate with resolved tannins.  - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! The 2023 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve opens with aromas of raspberry liqueur, mocha, floral perfume, and savory notes of fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe, detailed tannins, balanced acidity, and a long finish. While this vintage hints at opulence, the wine remains beautifully balanced and refreshing. It’s a stunning introduction to the vintage and a benchmark for the region as an appellation wine. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

94 Points! Bright and seductive, this pinot offers fresh cherries, crushed wild berries, violets, wet rocks and subtle spices on the nose. Racy and mouthwatering, with spicy and minerally tension, it has a medium body, a dusty texture to its tannins and a lingering and racy finish. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2023 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve is incredibly fresh, with a bouquet of dusty dried flowers, lavender pastille, nuances of cedary spice and wild blueberries. Ripe wild berry fruits and crisp mineral tones glide across the palate over a layer of pure silk. The finish is long and tense, yet remains remarkably fresh as violet tones resonate over a bed of silken tannins. The Cumberland Reserve represents amazing value. Already enjoyable, it will also excel in the cellar. - Eric Guido, Vinous

94 Points! The 2019 Château d'Aussières is blended from 52% Syrah with 20% carbonically macerated Carignan, 19% Mourvèdre and 9% Grenache. It’s another dark red wine with harmonious, complex aromas which combine blackcurrant fruit (typical, says the Aussières consultant Matthieu Dubernet, of Fontfroide Syrah) with wildflower and hillside pine forest scents. The palate is surprisingly light and elegant with a sense of proportion and harmony; there’s no shortage of fruit density, though. It’s a more approachable wine at this stage than the 2018. - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! Blackcurrants, slate, crushed stone and berries with hints of chocolate. Medium-bodied, bright and racy. Vivid at the end. A blend of syrah, carignan, mourvedre and grenache. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Plenty of graceful black and red fruits, this is an impressively balanced wine from a warm vintage. Turmeric and smoked cumin kick things off, emphasing tight tannins that will soften over the next few years, before everything opens through the mid palate to show a burst of baked raspberry, incense and rosemary spices, orange peel, plenty of juice. First time for the 167ha Domaine d'Aussières on the Place (or rather not in exclusivity with DBR Lafite). Director Jean de Roquefeuille (ex Rieussec), working alongside the group winemaker Olivier Tregoat. - Jane Anson, inside Bordeaux 

94 Points! Fermented and aged in a combination of tank and puncheon, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard Old Vines is concentrated, crystal-clear and most importantly, absolutely delicious. Lemon oil, ripe pear, chalk and white pepper blossom in the glass with real lift. Energetic and lively, the 2024 confidently marches across the palate. A rounded, lightly creamy finish wraps things up with a pretty little bow on top. - Billy Norris, Vinous

93 Points! Fermented in equal parts stainless steel and neutral puncheons, the 2024 Chenin Blanc Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard is a beautiful representation of the variety sourced from vines planted in 1966. It opens with an airy, ethereal bouquet that gradually blossoms with dried jasmine, tangerine, crushed stone and citrus peel aromas. The palate is broad, textural and glossy yet enlivened with invigorating acidity that runs through the vibrant, mouthwatering finish. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

93 Points! Warm slate, lemon flesh and pith, hard apples, chamomile and white tea are nervy and long in this brisk chenin blanc, the concentration of fruit and savory notes making for a fascinating expression of the variety. As lively and mouthwatering as it is right now, there is a bright midterm future ahead as well. Drink or hold. - James Suckling.com

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“Medium- to full-bodied with precise, delineated fruit. There is a savory touch and a firm finish, with overall balance between structure and fruit. Finesse throughout but plenty behind. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.”

94–96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Cassis, graphite, spicy wood, and floral nuances all define the 2025 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, a beautiful effort ranking with the best wines from this château. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, graceful mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and wonderful overall balance. It's a beautifully classic, satisfying Pauillac in the making. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”

92–94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Grand-Puy-Ducasse is a classy, polished Pauillac. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, lavender, mocha, and spice all build nicely in the glass. Medium-bodied and energetic, with fine-grained tannins and excellent persistence.”

92–94 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Grand-Puy-Ducasse has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, cassis, cedar, and light graphite aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, impressive freshness, and good concentration. Focused and balanced, this is a refined Pauillac with a persistent finish.”

94 Points! This has chocolate, cedar and walnuts as well as some currant aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with some lovely fruit and juiciness. 55.8% cabernet sauvignon, 38.8% merlot and 5.4% petit verdot. Attractive now but another year or two will make it even better. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Easily the best Pauillac de Latour in recent years, showing supple tannins at five years old, textured and rippling with juice, opening to show gourmet smoked plum and blueberry fruit. Has the graphite edge of the appellation, waves of cocoa bean, liqourice and smoked earth, and the balance of 2019. The structure is already welcoming, even if the fruit young, and if you like your wines on the primary side, you can get stuck in straight away and be very happy about it - this is a buy buy buy, and a good upgrade from my initial En Primeur score. - Jane Anson

93 Points! The 2019 Pauillac is a serious wine. Dark cherry, plum, gravel, incense, licorice and pomegranate are all dialed up in this wonderfully deep, fleshy Pauillac. Deep and resonant, with fine balance, the 2019 captures all the natural radiance of the year. This is really quite stellar and delicious. A recent bottle of the 2009 reminded me how pleasurable the Latour Pauillac can be. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

95 Points! Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lagrange explodes from the glass with bombastic notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and baked red and black plums with suggestions of rose oil, cedar chest, pencil lead and hoisin. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic vibrancy for the ripeness, packed with juicy black fruits and compelling tension with a finely grained texture to support, finishing on a lingering mineral note. Nicely done! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

97 Points! The flagship 2018 Château Lagrange is a more dense, backward, serious wine, offering an unevolved yet incredibly promising bouquet of cassis, blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and violets. A big, rich, full-bodied Saint-Julien, it delivers thrilling purity of fruit, plenty of background oak, ripe, silky tannins, and a great mid-palate. This is serious stuff, but it's going to require patience. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

95-96 Points! A classic Bordeaux that shows finesse and poise. This is understated, with a medium body, lovely texture and acidity, freshness and brightness. It shows firm tannins that aren't chewy. Very long and honest, with pure fruit. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. - Zekun Shuai of James Suckling

93-95 Points! The 2024 Leoville Barton is a very beautiful wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, new leather, graphite, crushed rocks, mocha and spice all meld together. A wine of classical build, Leoville Barton is also wonderfully deep and expressive. Today, all of its energy is directed inwards, but there is a lot of wine here. I can't wait to taste this from a bottle. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

92-94 Points! A serious wine that will delight patient purists, but which also showcases the new levels of purity and precision that this estate has been attaining since completion of the new winery, the 2024 Léoville Barton is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Unwinding in the glass with notes of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively concentrated, with a taut but nicely integrated profile, concluding with a pure, penetrating finish. - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

96 Points! Aromas of dark cherries and cedar with a touch of elderberries and a pleasant floral component. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with chalky tannins complemented by elegant concentration that leads to a persistent and elegant finish. Better from 2027. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Like chiseling through an ashen stone to find a treasure trove of exotic spices, incense and cinnamon-tinged black currants, the 2018 Taurasi Radici makes itself known. This is a soft and generous expression of Radici, with depths of tart black fruit offset by dark chocolate and sour citrus notes. It finishes with tremendous length but without the typically harsh tannins associated with Aglianico in its youth, leaving behind inner earth and herbal tones. The 2018 ends with a salty flourish. This is a much more forward expression of Radici. That said, I expect it will give much pleasure over the medium term. - Eric Guido, Vinous

93 Points! Packaged with its distinctive black label, the Mastroberardino 2018 Taurasi Radici offers impressive complexity with a long succession of aromas that includes dried blackberry, cherry liqueur, tarry smoke, campfire ash, sweet baking spice and cinnamon. The bouquet is also heavy on bramble, rosemary sprig and forest floor. It is all smoothed out by soft tobacco. This wine shows robust fruit weight and equally balanced oak spice. The tannins are well managed and Radici is long in persistency. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

95–96 Points – James Suckling
“This is juicy and incisive, with expressive dark fruit and fine-grained, almost grainy tannins. A savory quality in the long finish. Persistent and cohesive.”

93–95 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Flowers, smoke, cigar box, black with red currants, and an array of spices fill the perfume. The palate delivers ripe, soft, round, creamy-textured fruits with refined, elegant dark berries and a touch of chalk.”

93–95 Points – Neal Martin, Vinous
“The 2025 Talbot has a generous bouquet with red and black fruit intermixed with mocha and light undergrowth scents. Fine tannins, well judged acidity and satisfying density on the mid-palate.”

93 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“This is good quality, with lovely power, black fruits, campfire edges and grilled sandalwood.”

92–94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2025 Château Talbot is a beautiful Saint-Julien with spicy red and black fruits, dried flowers, and graphite. Medium-bodied with soft tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish.”

92–94 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“The 2025 Talbot zips out with notes of wild blueberries and red cherries, giving way to bay leaves, graphite, and tapenade. Firm structure with lively acidity and savory finish.”

92–94 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Talbot is a huge, potent wine. Blackberry, gravel, incense, dried herbs, menthol, licorice and dark spice soar out of the glass.”

96 Points! This is the best American sparkling wine I've ever tasted. The 2019 vintage base also includes 25% reserve wines from the 2017 and 2018 harvests. This Grand Reserve Chardonnay made from the cool Sta Rita Hills is crafted with a Champagne pedigree, and it shows. This Blanc de Blancs from across renowned Sta Rita Hills vineyards has undeniable Old World charm and sophistication. The aromatics boast ample toasted biscuit notes and great yeasty complexity from the 30 months on lees. The palate has a fantastic depth of fruit, spiced pear, cardamom, nutmeg and bruised apples. There is a subtlety of savoury biscuits and hints of almond cream. Elegant, yet bold and wildly delicious. - Clive Pursehouse, Decanter Magazine

93 Points! The NV Chardonnay Grand Reserve (Sparkling) is compelling, especially in the way it straddles the line between still and sparkling wine. Creamy and resonant in the glass, the Grande Reserve is laced with apricot, white flowers and chamomile. This is a superb showing for the entry-level wine in what will soon be a range of sparklers from Racines. This release is a blend of fruit from Wenzlau, Bentrock, La Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict .... These new releases from Etienne de Montille’s Racines kick off with the first sparkling wine made in collaboration with Rodolphe Péters. The new Grande Reserve, all 2018 in its first release, will gradually become a multi-vintage blend in the style of Péters’s Cuvée de Réserve Champagne. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

97–98 Points – James Suckling
“A serious Aile d'Argent with sliced green mangoes, pears and green apples. Full-bodied. Framed with phenolics and minerals. Complex and real. A touch of flint and cedar at the end. Super finish. A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Gris and 1% Muscadelle.”

94–96 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent
“The 2025 Aile d'Argent pops from the glass with vivacious notes of Bosc pears, white peaches, and pink grapefruit, giving way to hints of honeysuckle, orange peel, and beeswax with a touch of jasmine tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is satiny-textured and crisp with intense orchard fruit flavors and a long, fragrant finish. The blend is 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Gris, and 1% Muscadelle. It has a pH of 3.13 and the alcohol is 13.6%. It is due to age in French oak barrels for 9 months, 45% new. No malolactic was performed this year.”

93–95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 29% Sémillon, 7% Sauvignon Gris, and a splash of Muscadelle, the 2025 Château Mouton Rothschild Aile D'Argent Blanc offers bright green citrus, crushed stone, minty herb, and savory aromatics, with an incredibly mineral-driven character. On the palate, it's medium-bodied, with bright, racy acidity and a clean finish. This exotic, complex, perfumed white is going to benefit from a few years in the cellar and I suspect have a long drinking window.”

93 Points! Made by a Bordeaux winemaker who moved to Napa and is now the winemaker and a partner at Realm, Benoit Touquette, the deep garnet-purple colored 2022 Arbalest is a blend of 60% Merlot (from the Right Bank) and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (from the Médoc). Black cherries, juicy plums, and black raspberry scents jump from the glass, followed by hints of cinnamon toast, potpourri, and black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of savory spiked black berry layers, supported by plush tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long with a peppery lift. 2000 cases were made. This would benefit from decanting but is approachable right now, or it will easily cellar for 8-10+ years. At an SRP of $22, this is a no-brainer bargain to stock up on.

I tasted this just a couple of weeks ago, and it was so good (and cheap) that the wine inspired this article...This iconoclastic blend of 60% Merlot from the Right Bank and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc would be heresy if made by anyone but Benoit. He is not allowed to divulge his fruit sources, but let’s just say Benoit is pretty well connected in Bordeaux and the fruit tastes classified-y. 2022 was a warm, ripe, spectacular vintage, resulting in drop-dead deliciousness. Unfortunately, only 2000 cases were made. If you can find some, back the car up and load in all you can. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW. TWI

95–97 Points – Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
“Black cherries, licorice, flowers, chocolate, smoke, and mint leaves create the perfume. The multiple layers of fruit grab your attention with their elegance, purity, and energy, finishing with a refreshing touch of chocolate-mint and a light touch of sea salt, adding sapidity.”

95 Points – Georgina Hindle, Decanter
“Beautiful aromatics, floral notes and Chinese five spice with sweet red berry fruit. Juicy and lifted, with a calm, chiselled frame and velvety tannins. Balanced and poised with lovely layering of texture and aromatic complexity.”

94–96 Points – The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown)
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Canon-la-Gaffelière slowly emerges with notes of lavender and lilacs, red currant jelly, fresh blackberries, mossy tree bark, tar, and cardamom. Tightly wound with mineral-laced fruit layers and a savory lift.”

94 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“High pumice stone grip, certainly very much on the limestone character, attractive and with plenty of lift and grip, with attractive drama from grilled sandalwood and incense oak notes.”

94–96 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Canon La Gaffelière is bright and beautifully focused right out of the gate. Orange peel, sage, mint, pipe tobacco, dried flowers and mocha soar out of the glass. I especially admire the energy here.”

92–94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“A lighter, more herbal-styled wine offering juicy red fruits, sappy flowers, graphite, tobacco, and a kiss of minerality. Medium-bodied, with fine, polished tannins and a good finish.”