Search results for: 'hints aged'

95 Points! The 2017 Syrah Rockpile Vineyard is another huge success in the vintage. From a great site in the Rockpile AVA of Sonoma County, its deep purple color is followed by a great bouquet of blueberries, iron, crushed rocks, ground pepper, and hints of smoked game. Structured and tannic on the palate, it reminds me of a young Cornas and needs 4-5 years of bottle age. It’s seriously impressive, though, and should have 15 years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

Windstream Pinot Noir is sourced from the Sarmento Vineyard in Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. With close proximity to the Pacific Ocean; the region’s foggy mornings melt into sunny days with cool, late afternoon breezes, a climate that allows grapes to ripen fully while retaining natural acidity. 

Fermented in 100% new French barrels, this wine is filled with concentrated flavors of black cherry, raspberry and dark plum. Barrel aging provides notes of cedar and brown spice with hints of vanilla.

Conceived by the Master Blender, Jeffrey Karlovitch, and many years in the making, this cognac could be nothing less than extraordinary. Being one of the world authorities in Japanese Mizunara oak, having worked with it for close to 20 years, he knew that younger cognacs would be overwhelmed by the Japanese oak. Only older, XO cognac genuinely and exceptionally unleash the flavors and intricacies of Mizunara .

Notes of toasted coconut, sandalwood and hints of dark carmelized honey.

Made from Cognacs ranging from 25 to 32 years of age.

94 Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it skips out of the glass with lively notes of wild blueberries, black cherries and menthol, plus hints of pencil shavings and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, it has a serious structure with flirtatious, flamboyant fruit, offering plenty of layers and an earthy finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com

93 Points! Checking in as a mix of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is medium to full-bodied, elegant, and nicely textured, with perfumed notes of violets, toasted spices, tobacco, and assorted darker, almost blue fruits. Aged 22 months in 70% new French oak, it’s another smoking value from winemaker Anna Monticelli. - Jeb Dunnuck Learn More

Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky is a masterpiece of Japanese whisky, renowned for its deep complexity and refined balance. Crafted at Japan’s oldest malt whisky distillery, this long-aged expression is matured in a combination of American oak, Spanish sherry, and Mizunara oak casks, creating a rich and layered profile.

The nose reveals dark fruit, dried berries, and rich sherry notes, complemented by hints of chocolate, cinnamon, and Japanese incense. On the palate, velvety textures unfold with flavors of plum, caramelized nuts, and dark chocolate, balanced by subtle oak spice and a whisper of Mizunara’s signature sandalwood. The finish is long, smooth, and warming, leaving lingering notes of sweet spice, dried fruit, and elegant oak.

A true collector’s whisky, Yamazaki 18 embodies the artistry and tradition of Japanese whisky-making, offering a luxurious and unforgettable experience.

McKenzie Straight Rye Whiskey is a robust, small-batch spirit crafted by Finger Lakes Distilling in upstate New York. Made with a mash bill of locally sourced rye, it delivers bold, spicy notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg, balanced by hints of caramel, vanilla, and oak from aging in American charred barrels. Finger Lakes Distilling is known for its dedication to traditional methods, including grain-to-glass production and the use of pot stills, ensuring every bottle captures the essence of handcrafted, high-quality whiskey.

96 Points! Aromas of black berries, black olives, black truffles, autumn leaves and earth. Grilled orange peel. Very complex. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a complex and complete finish. Nicely persistent and focused. 26 months in American oak. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! The 2016 Gran Reserva is a meticulously crafted blend of 82% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 8% Mazuelo sourced from the esteemed Ygay Estate in Rioja Alta. It aged for up to 26 months in American oak barrels. This wine epitomizes the essence of Rioja reds when vineyard management and winemaking precision align with a distinct stylistic vision. Presenting an opaque garnet hue, it entices with a bouquet of complex aromas: plum marmalade, herbal undertones, maraschino cherry, dried fruits, licorice and subtle hints of balsamic and menthol. On the palate, it offers a dry and robust profile with a velvety, juicy texture. The finish is long, balanced and harmonious. The 2016 vintage exemplifies a wine crafted for aging, just beginning to reveal the nuances and intricacies of a bouquet that will evolve with time. - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Media

93 Points! A new cellar at Annabelle Corbin's estate for the 2016 vintage allowed for greater precision in the delivery. There's a clear roundness to the cherry, loganberry and juicy cassis fruits here. The 50% new oak is present, offering charred and tarred flavours that aren't subtle but full of life. It's well constructed, supporting the fruit through the palate. A great life ahead. - Decanter Magazine

93 Points! Brimming with blackberries, supple tannins and lively acidity, this is an immediately attractive St.-Emilion that’s easy to enjoy with food now, but has the structure to age for some years. - JamesSuckling.com

93+ Points! Blended of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc aged in 50% new and 33% one-year-old French oak for 18 months, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Corbin has quite a meaty nose with smoked meats and beef drippings over a core of black plum preserves with hints of bay leaves and garrigue. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a great core of muscular fruit and an earthy finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com

95 Points! Mostly Merlot (there's roughly 20% Cabernet Franc), the 2019 Château Valandraud Virginie De Valandraud from the Thunevin team reveals a deep purple hue to go with a brilliant nose of spiced currants, black cherries, new saddle leather, Provençal herbs, and subtle floral nuances. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, with gorgeous tannins and a great finish. It's the finest vintage for this cuvée I've tasted, surpassing the 2015, 2016, and 2018. It's going to drink brilliantly for 20 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2019 Virginie de Valandraud is wonderfully deep and super-expressive. Red plum, raspberry jam, espresso, crushed rocks, rose petal, lavender and tobacco build into the richly textured, resonant finish. This explosive, flavorful Saint-Émilion has a ton to offer. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94 Points! Blackberry, chocolate and hazelnut character on the nose, following through nicely to a medium body with integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Tight at the end, suggesting more to come with bottle age. Hints of mushrooms and earth. Second wine of Valandraud. Hint of wood at the end that will dissipate with age. Drink after 2024. - JamesSuckling.com

92-94 Points! The 2022 Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Marconnets 1er Cru is a little more fruit-driven on the nose than Bize's other cuvées, offering lifted blueberry and bilberry scents and hints of wild heather. The medium-bodied palate has fine-grain tannins, a little riper than the Aux Fournaux. There’s more flesh yet with plenty of structure exerting a huge grip, rending this approachable but with the ability to age in bottle. Classic Pinot Noir. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

93-95 Points! The 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Les Santenots-du-Milieu is excellent, wafting from the glass with a deep bouquet of wild berries, plums and cassis mingled with hints of spices, grilled meats and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's deep and tightly wound, with powdery structuring tannins and lively acids. This is a serious Santenots that will require some bottle age, and it's among the best that I can remember tasting chez Lafon over the last decade. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

95+ Points! The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon The Boss Block 8 comes from a site close to Futo and Harlan, in Oakville, and it’s another inky hued, concentrated, powerful, age-worthy wine from this team. Giving up plenty of red and black fruits as well as violets, minty herbs, and hints of eucalyptus, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a balanced, concentrated, structured mouthfeel, fine tannins, and good acidity. Everything points to a seriously good bottle of wine. Give it 4-5 years as well. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Medalla (from Los Arboles, Tunuyán, Uco Valley) was aged for 10 months in new and used barrels. Dark garnet in the glass. The nose presents notes of blackcurrant and quince with gentle hints of bell pepper and a touch of blackberry jam over an elegant bed of wood. It’s creamy in the mouth with a broad flow and velvety tannins that add a little shape. The volume and relaxed, ripe flavor build as it goes on into the juicy, fruity finish, resulting in a substantial, nuanced wine that will grow in the bottle. - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Media

93 Points! This has aromas of ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, dark cherries, chocolate, toasted spices and bay leaves. It’s full-bodied with velvety tannins. Round and fleshy with a creamy and ripe core of dark fruit. Delicious mint-chocolate notes to close. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

From the winery: 

The words “classic” and “perfect” were tossed around a lot after the 2012 growing season, and this vintage will always be remembered for its lack of drama! Winter was unseasonably dry, followed by a beautiful spring that led to a very productive flowering and fruit set. Summer and early fall were characterized by fairly mild temperatures with plenty of sunny days that allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly with no major heat spikes. Interestingly, it was ZD’s latest start on record, with our first cabernet not coming in until the second week of October! If there were any challenges during harvest it was finding open fermenters for all of the beautiful cabernet fruit coming in to the winery at a frenetic pace, as harvest came to a dizzying finish the first week of November.

As always, ZD’s Cabernet is produced from several small intensely farmed vineyards in the Napa Valley and the final blend consistently results in a unique wine layered with remarkable flavor and balance. Each vineyard lot was fermented separately in small open top tanks with regular hand punch downs ensuring a gentle extraction of tannin and color. After one year in American Oak barrels and frequent blind tastings at the winery, the vineyard lots were blended and barrel aged for an additional year before bottling in July 2014.

This wine is big and unctuous with a firm structure that gives it excellent aging potential. Aromas of cassis and black cherry mingle with hints of plum, star anise and sweet vanilla. The combination of fruit, oak and tannin integrate seamlessly to provide a long, powerful finish. Enjoy!

Revisited in 2021
It has been a pleasure to revisit this Library Cabernet from what was considered a spectacular vintage for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Looking back at the original notes and tasting it now clearly demonstrates how well Napa Valley Cabernet ages in a “classic” and “drama-free” vintage. This wine has a beautiful medium ruby color. Aromas of jammy raspberry and ripe cherry mingle with subtle hints of cola, clove, earth and cedar. The tannins have softened nicely but still provide a wonderful backbone that continues to support the core of ripe fruit and delicate acidity that will benefit this wine as it continues to develop for years to come.

Terroir: From the lieu-dit "Les Cornillaux" in the village of Leynes, on hard limestone and grey Liassic marls. Southwestern exposure, gentle slope.

Viticulture: Organic (not certified)

Vinification: Long, gentle pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation in older barrels with no added SO2, aged 11 months in barrel and 5 months in stainless steel tank, minimal total SO2, no fining, no filtration.

The Saisons Saint-Véran 2020 is a white Burgundy wine known for its bright, fresh, and balanced character. It offers a pale yellow color and a nose that combines delicate fruit aromas like peach and pear with floral notes of acacia and honeysuckle. Some vintages may also exhibit hints of exotic fruits and citrus. On the palate, it's typically dry, well-rounded, and mineral, with a lively acidity that contributes to a harmonious and refreshing experience. The wine often displays notes of fresh almond, hazelnut, and sometimes even a touch of butter or honey. 

92 Points! The white 2023 Blanco was produced with 85% Viura, 15% Garnacha Blanca and 5% Tempranillo Blanco, which is the taste they have found works for them, without adding yeasts and putting the wine through malolactic fermentation and using some skin contact for the fermentation. They use grapes from eight vineyards, most of them from the Montes Obarenes, except a little bit from Remelluri. In 2022, a very warm and dry year with a tendency toward less acidity and higher pH, they decided to use less skin contact, perhaps 10%. They aged the wine in concrete, oak vats and 500-liter barrels, working the lees less and less as the élevage advances. Despite everything, it has a moderate 12.8% alcohol and a pH of 3.29, a clean and floral nose, with perhaps some hints of yellow fruit, and a tender and velvety palate with tasty flavors and a dry and chalky finish. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Cortevecchia enjoys a strong connection to the historic roots of the estate winery located in the underground ramparts of a Tuscan Renaissance castle. The wine is aged in large oak casks that are almost 30 years old, as they were installed in 1994. Duccio Corsini tells me that 2018 was a "complicated vintage" with almost tropical-like rains in June and July. The team worked hard to maintain cover crops of chamomile, clover and legumes to optimize organic farming. This wine is Sangiovese with a touch of Colorino. The wine is succulent and fine with bright fruit flavors and cherry over an elegant mid-weight texture. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! This is layered and very fine-tannined with blackberry and dark-cherry character. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut, too. Medium-to full-bodied with a tight, fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

100 Points! The 2020 Angelus is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, with the tiniest splash of Petit Verdot. It has a deep garnet-purple color and needs considerable swirling and patience to release a whole array of red and black fruit scents - kirsch, raspberry coulis, blackberry preserves and mulberries - followed by hints of violets, molten licorice, tar, sassafras, and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied palate is pure energy, featuring a firm backbone of exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and compelling tension to support the very tightly knit layers, finishing very long with a whole firework display of mineral and floral sparks. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

99 Points! Blackberry and plum character with chocolate, too. Oyster shell. Full and very firm with a linear sensibility. Tight and powerful. Very pure fruit. Tension and energy there. Polished tannins. Some coffee bean and chocolate. Give this at least five or six years. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Try after 2028. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Salty and spicy, with aromas of ginger, cardamom, lemons and sea salt. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, sharp and pungent, with a precise, saline character. Rich, focused and delicious. From grapes grown in Gualtallary. Fermented and aged in French oak, of which 35% was new. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! The 2023 Chardonnay El Enemigo comes from Gualtallary, Uco Valley. Aged in 500-liter French oak barrels, it opens with green apple, chamomile, white peach, herbs and a subtle vermouth note. Dry, compact and saline, the oak broadens the palate where richness is otherwise restrained. The 2023 is a modern, refined profile for Gualtallary Chardonnay in a warm vintage. - Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous

94 Points!  Ale Vigil is partial to a touch of flor in his top whites, as long as it occurs naturally in the winery. This left-field Gualtallary Chardonnay is savoury, spicy and slightly salty, with a brine-like top note, lovely texture, subtle 35% new wood, hints of aniseed and wild thyme and a core of beeswax and citrus zest. - Tim Atkin, MW

93 Points!  The 2023 Chardonnay derives from Adrianna Vineyard, was vinified in 500-liter barrique and incorporates some biological aging and a small portion of a five-year-old solera. Leading with a bright, citrus-driven nose bolstered by an elegant nutty richness, the palate is vibrant, textural and seamless, concluding with a succulent and nuanced finish. As with the whole El Enemigo range, this offers a fantastic value that entirely transcends the price point. - Luis Gutiérrez, robertparker.com

The 2017 Proprietary White Cuvée Blanc Reserve reflects a mature and confident chapter in Scott Palazzo’s Bordeaux-inspired white wine program. Crafted from the finest lots of the vintage, this Reserve bottling emphasizes precision, structure, and long-term aging potential while maintaining balance and restraint. Built around Sauvignon Blanc and supported by complementary Bordeaux varieties such as Sémillon, the blend was produced in very limited quantities and bottled in magnum exclusively for Palazzo’s private members. This release marks the first time these Reserve magnums have been made available to the public, offering collectors a rare opportunity to experience one of the estate’s most refined white wines in its most age-worthy format.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with focused aromatics of citrus zest, white peach, and subtle floral notes, layered with hints of almond and gentle spice. On the palate, it is precise and composed, showing bright citrus and stone fruit flavors carried by vibrant acidity and a refined, creamy texture. Subtle mineral and savory nuances add depth and tension, while the finish is long, clean, and poised. In magnum, the wine retains remarkable energy and clarity, underscoring its elegance and long-term aging potential.