Search results for: 'model a one plot'

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

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

92 Points! A fantastic balance of very zesty acidity and juicy fruit. I love the interplay of citrusy freshness and apples on the light-bodied palate. Elegant finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

Mostly from Oberhäuser Felsenberg and Kieselberg. Stony, weathered volcanic soils of porphyry and melaphyr, with slate and quartzite.

Fermentation & Élevage: A mixture of stainless steel vats and neutral 10+-year-old 1200L German stückfass from Hösch

The idea here is to make a village wine, basically, though it’s sold and marketed as a Gutswein or Estate bottled basic wine. The Estate wine combines the two major soils that dominate the holdings for the estate, giving the drinker a look into what Dönnhoff is all about. The basic wine is a calling card and thus Cornelius wants to make statement.

The geology of the middle Nahe is notably shaped by its eons-old clay slate formations and rich volcanic soils. The concentration of porphyry and melaphyre stone in and around the old Oberhausen vineyards – Kieselberg and Felsenberg, help provide the perfect berry base for Gutsriesling.

Full-flavoured, rich. Initially, concentrated iris notes hint at the extreme intensity of the nose. It then develops aromas of malted barley, exotic fruit (banana), liquorice and camphor. Notes of burnt wood and ash progressively settle over the aromatic palette. Long after, white flowers and beeswax make an appearance.Firm, lively. Malted barley is at the heart of the palate, coated in herbaceous, liquorice, spiced (ginger, cinnamon) and chocolate tones. Very elegant, the mid-palate also delivers plenty of energy and as it draws to a close, fresh tobacco leaves and coconut intertwine to create a natural symphony of aromas.Long, soft. It evokes the scent of wilted roses. Fine tannins balance its tangy character (lemon, grapefruit). It lingers on notes of tobacco, spices (cardamom, ginger), toasted nuts and stewed fruits (apple, damson). The final nose reveals exotic notes (lychee).

This no-age-statement version was released in 2016 as a permanent product that showcases the elegant style of Miyagikyo malts, when all age-statements were discontinued. This bottling has estery aromas generated by carefully selected yeast strains along with distinctive Sherry cask influence.

Awarded Gold Medal at the 2020 International Spirits Challenge.

From the Producer:

INSPIRED BY THE OLD-WORLD TECHNIQUES OF SCOTTISH AND IRISH WHISK(E)Y DISTILLERS WHERE MUCH OF THE MAGIC LIES WITH THE ART OF BLENDING.

We borrowed and twisted many of these techniques to produce Doc’s Alter Ego Bourbon. Our goal was to take good whiskies, blend them together and see how we could enhance these blends as well as maintain the flavor of the whiskey itself. After years of finishing whiskies in a variety of casks, we believe we have struck success using Olorosso Sherry, Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and Cognac casks from a number of curated producers.

Whether accentuating or layering in characteristics, we believe these techniques enhance the spirit and still focuses on the bourbon. These casks allow the delicate characteristics of past occupants to mingle and marry with the smooth yet bold aspects of Doc’s Straight Bourbons. Each release is then meticulously blended and married in ex-Cognac Foeders prior to bottling. Our finishing and blending techniques impart a dry nuttiness, subtle sweetness, and an extended finish to an already great whiskey, while still allowing the bourbon to shine.

95 Points! The 2019 Blanc is a powerful deep wine. Low yields in the field resulted in a Blanc of unusual concentration and almost phenolic intensity. Citrus confit, marzipan, chamomile, dried herbs and a touch of new oak flesh out. The Blanc emerges from the former La Tour du Moulin Figeac estate, which is just across the road from Cheval Blanc property. It spent 22-23 months in large format oak, both of which are outside the norm in Bordeaux. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

95 Points! A blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, the 2019 Le Petit Cheval Blanc is the 10th vintage of this wine. The first vintage of Le Petit Cheval Blanc to be launched was the 2014, but they have been making it since 2009. The wine is aged on full lees for 22 months in new oak foudres. It sashays out with flamboyant notes of apricots, green guava, and lime cordial, with hints of lemongrass, wet slate, and sea spray. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and elegantly styled with a quiet intensity and long minerally finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

97 Points! Another gem of a wine from this estate, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate includes 1% Petit Verdot and spent 20 months in French oak. It has a darker red and blue-slanted fruit profile as well as some classic tobacco, scorched earth, and graphite aromatics. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with a seamless, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, building tannins, and a pure, focused style that will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age. The balance, purity, and sheer class here are top notch, and this will see its 20th birthday in fine form. - Jeb Dunnuck

96+ Points! The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate is very close in quality to the 29 Estate bottling, with perhaps a touch more concentration and tannin. There's less herbal nuance to the fruit, leaving black cherries to take the lead, backed by cedary oak and hints of dusty earth, while the palate is full-bodied and structured, leaving little doubt regarding this wine's potential longevity. Thankfully, the considerable tannins are fully ripe, leaving a softly dusty sensation to linger on the finish. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

The 2013 Proprietary White Cuvée Blanc comes from a highly regarded Napa Valley vintage known for structure, clarity, and balance. Continuing Scott Palazzo’s Bordeaux-inspired approach to white wine, the blend is built around Sauvignon Blanc and supported by complementary Bordeaux varieties such as Sémillon, chosen for their ability to add texture, depth, and age-worthiness. Produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was reserved exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and carefully cellared from release. This marks the first time these mature library magnums have been offered to the public, providing a rare opportunity to experience a Napa Valley white crafted for long-term evolution.

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 energetic, showing bright citrus and stone fruit flavors carried by vibrant acidity and a refined, creamy texture. Subtle mineral and savory nuances add complexity, while the finish is long, clean, and poised. In magnum, the wine retains impressive freshness and tension, highlighting both the strength of the vintage and the longevity of the blend.w

The 2014 Proprietary White Cuvée Blanc comes from a warm, consistent Napa Valley vintage and reflects a confident expression of Scott Palazzo’s Bordeaux-inspired approach to white wine. Built around Sauvignon Blanc and supported by complementary Bordeaux varieties such as Sémillon, the blend emphasizes texture, balance, and long-term aging potential. Produced in very limited quantities, the magnum format was reserved exclusively for Palazzo’s private members and carefully cellared from release. This marks the first time these mature library magnums have been made available to the public, offering a rare opportunity to experience a Napa Valley white designed to evolve with grace and depth.

Tasting Note:
The wine opens with expressive aromatics of ripe citrus, white peach, and pear, layered with subtle floral notes and a hint of honeyed richness. On the palate, it is generous yet composed, showing stone fruit and citrus flavors carried by bright acidity and a smooth, rounded texture. Notes of almond, soft spice, and gentle mineral nuance add complexity. The finish is long, polished, and harmonious, with the magnum format preserving freshness while allowing the wine’s richness and structure to unfold seamlessly.

From the importer: Barrialto Sobre Lías Santa Brigida, bottled from a single 500L butt, is a blend of two different albariza soil sub-types. Palomino grapes from Pago Balbaína Baja near Jerez (albariza tosca cerrada soils), with grapes from Pago Maína, near Sanlúcar, (albariza barajuelas soil). Rafa says that the tosca cerrada albrariza lends the blend balance and fitness, while the barrajuela albariza lends a dry minerality and herbal salinity. Each wine Rafa produces is a unique snapshot of a place, time, and soil type in his vineyards in the Jerez region. As a result, production of these authentic treasures is in the hundreds of bottles, and they are exceptionally limited, coming to the US market in tiny allocations.

Hand-harvested palomino grapes (from 40+ year-old vines) are de-stemmed and pressed, followed by spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts from the vineyard without temperature control in a 500L ex-Manzanilla cask. After fermentation, it rests for nine months on its fine lees with bâtonnage in the same barrels before being racked into a stainless steel tank to settle before bottling unfined, with only a light paper filtration and minimal additional sulfur used before bottling.

97 Points! A sophisticated and complex red with blackberries, blueberries, sea shells, terra cotta, crushed stone and sea salt. Medium-bodied, savory and juicy on the palate with a creamy yet firm texture. Opens and softens in the end. Drink now or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

96+ Points! From silty soils at the estate Jardín Altamira site, the 2021 Malbec Appellation Altamira is another benchmark example of Altamira's distinctiveness. A broad, expansive and expressive bouquet of crystal-clear purple flower aromas bounds from the glass, supported by a rich yet measured bed of black and purple fruits. The palate is both wide and broad, with a laser-focused, tensile core, releasing into a finish that is equally high and refreshing yet deep and grounded. This is all about flowers and textural breadth, sitting lower in the mouth with a pronounced horizontal richness, juxtaposing the equally fantastic Appellation Gualtallary bottling, which exudes a more vertical, stony profile with a distinctly herbal bouquet. Even while attempting to correct for vintage variation, I find the Altamira wine a touch more complete and three-dimensional, but it really is splitting a hair. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

The ArteNOM Selección de 1414 Reposado’s agave are cooked in brick ovens for 36 hours, fermented in stainless steel vats and twice distilled in copper pot stills. They use field extracted wild yeast in their ferment, creating a layered flavor and really underlining the terroir of their land. Next up, it sees 4 months in third-fill American Bourbon barrels. You will notice the color of this repo is a shade of very light straw, due to the short period of time it spends in those third-fill barrels which are purposely chosen to be more neutral, adding a gentle wood influence. On the nose the undeniable presence of cooked agave is right up front with spice and a hint of anise intertwined with the brightness of lime and grapefruit zest. Warmth and a touch of sweetness envelopes the palate as the agave takes center stage with just enough influence from the barrel. Spiced shortbread and citrus round out the mid-palate and the finish leaves you a bit of salinity and chili heat. While writing these very notes I pour myself another finger, never regretting that its before 5pm.

94 Points! The 2020 Château Marquis D'Alesme Becker showed well, and this tiny Margaux estate continues to producer fabulous wines under the helm of Marjolaine de Coninck. Based on 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it has a juicy, medium-bodied, round, even sexy style that carries lots of cassis and assorted darker, blue fruits, notes of spicy wood, flowers, and violet, soft tannins, terrific balance, and great finish. Coming from a mix of gravelly, sandy soils and aged in 50% new French oak, this beauty hit 14% natural alcohol (no doubt helped by the large Merlot component) and is going to benefit from just a few years of bottle age. It's going to see its 20th birthday in fine form. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Marquis d'Alesme opens with vibrant notes of crushed black currants, Morello cherries, and mulberries, plus wafts of violets, star anise, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is both elegant and intense with velvety tannins and compelling tension, finishing long and perfumed. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

97 Points! A sophisticated and complex red with blackberries, blueberries, sea shells, terra cotta, crushed stone and sea salt. Medium-bodied, savory and juicy on the palate with a creamy yet firm texture. Opens and softens in the end. - JamesSuckling.com 

96+ Points! From silty soils at the estate Jardín Altamira site, the 2021 Malbec Appellation Altamira is another benchmark example of Altamira's distinctiveness. A broad, expansive and expressive bouquet of crystal-clear purple flower aromas bounds from the glass, supported by a rich yet measured bed of black and purple fruits. The palate is both wide and broad, with a laser-focused, tensile core, releasing into a finish that is equally high and refreshing yet deep and grounded. This is all about flowers and textural breadth, sitting lower in the mouth with a pronounced horizontal richness, juxtaposing the equally fantastic Appellation Gualtallary bottling, which exudes a more vertical, stony profile with a distinctly herbal bouquet. Even while attempting to correct for vintage variation, I find the Altamira wine a touch more complete and three-dimensional, but it really is splitting a hair. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

Kilinga Bacanora is a family-owned producer established in 2018 by maestro bacanorero Rodrigo Bojórquez Bours in Álamos, Sonora, Mexico. It holds the distinction of being the first officially designated Bacanora by the Consejo Sonorense Regulador del Bacanora available in the United States. Crafted from wild Maguey Pacifica (Agave Angustifolia) and pit-roasted in the traditional Sonoran method, this Añejo expression is aged for over five years in French oak barrels, an exceptionally long rest for a Bacanora, developing remarkable depth while preserving the spirit's agave soul. Bottled at a robust 44% ABV.

Tasting Note: The nose is rich and inviting, with dark chocolate, tobacco, vanilla, and charred sugar rising from the glass. On the palate, luxurious toasted caramel unfolds alongside warm baking spice, coffee, and a velvety smoothness imparted by years in French oak. The finish is long and satisfying, as the barrel notes gradually give way to a clean, bright agave character that sweeps across the palate, a signature of Bacanora's Sonoran roots.

Looking for a glass that delivers an exceptional nosing and drinking experience but comes in slightly more casual package? That's our tumbler. It's machine-made with lead-free crystal and weighs in at a rather hefty half-pound.

Whether it's for daily drams or special pours, your spirits deserve beautiful glassware.

99 Points! Forget the world and fly into this incredibly concentrated and subtle recreation of a Chateauneuf from two centuries ago. A cornucopia of gingerbread, dried cherries, bitter chocolate and wild herbs on the nose. The quality of the tannins is as unique as the aromas. Endless layers of flavor in the super-refined finish. A cuvee of 23% grenache, 22% syrah, 20% counoise, 20% mourvedre, 7% cinsault, 3% clairette, 2% clairette rose and 1% each of bourbelenc, picpoul and roussanne. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

95 Points! Lastly, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vin De La Solitude checks in as 25% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 20% Counoise, 7% Cinsault, 2% Clairette Rose, and the rest a mix of varieties. It has a more medium-bodied, elegant, silky profile as well as remarkable complexity in its savory red fruits, pressed flowers, savory garrigue, and spicy nuances. I love its overall balance, and it has fine yet building tannins and a great finish. As always, this cuvée is more about complexity and elegance than power. - Jeb Dunnuck

96–99 Points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2025 Valandraud is breathtaking. Vibrant and explosive in the glass, the 2025 offers an exotic mélange of dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mocha. There's gorgeous precision here, much of that coming from more finesse in the tannins. The 2025 is utterly magnificent.”

96–97 Points – James Suckling
“Lots of dark fruit with an edge, supported by chalky tannins. Compact and concentrated, with a fresh medium body. This shows an attractive combination of power, focused tannins, freshness and exuberant fruit.”

95 Points – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
“As ever with Valandraud, this has impressive depths and concentration. Inky colour, sea spray aromatics, sandalwood oak, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, powerful iris and violets. This is a great wine and a clear potential upscore in bottle.”

97–99 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Based on 84% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2025 Château Valandraud has captivating aromatics of juicy red, blue, and black fruits, graphite, spring flowers, and an ultra-classic lead pencil character. Concentrated and full-bodied, with incredible purity and a more restrained, elegant style than previous vintages.”

98 Points! Spiced sandalwood, white pepper, saffron, cigar box, oyster shell salinity, orange peel, and still juicy blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, even as it heads towards 35 years old. Utterly gorgeous, effortless even, the word beguiling comes out of nowhere. Love this, and provides a glimpse into what this wine can acheive when you are lucky enough to catch it at the right moment. 50% new oak, Michel Delon owner. Harvest September 5 to 25, after a hot dry year. - Jane Anson, December 2022

94 Points! I thought the 1989 Château Leoville Las Cases showed brilliantly, with a classy, elegant, regal feel that's very much in the style of the estate. Certainly in its prime drink window, it has lots of pure cassis and darker fruits as well as graphite, scorched earth, tobacco, and hints of saddle leather. Medium-bodied on the palate, it's balanced, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, resolved tannins, and outstanding length. While it doesn't hit the same heights as the 1982, 2000, 2003, 2009, or more recent vintages, it's a classic example of this terroir that will continue to evolve gracefully for another two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck, February 2023