Wines

97 Points! Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

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97 Points! Lots of classic darker, herbal notes define the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, a rich, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. With air, more chocolate, espresso, and spice notes emerge from the glass, and this medium to full-bodied, textured, ripe, yet also elegant 2019 is going to drink brilliantly for another 20 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

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98 Points! A fine, effusive quality from the sandalwood, violets, black pepper and blackberry concentrate. Quite a denser and more muscular expression, yet you won’t feel any chew from the tannins, as they melt into the dark fruit. Long and focused. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as a powerful, more black-fruited, iron, tobacco, and scorched earth-like aromatic profile, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard Monastery Block is full-bodied, has a rich, powerful attack, great mid-palate density, and brilliant tannins. Coming from a famous block located on the western side of this great vineyard, brought up in new barrels, it's another 2019 that has a rounded, supple, approachable style while also bringing impressive density, depth, and structure. - Jeb Dunnuck

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97 Points! Lots of violets, flowery incense, cassis, and spice notes emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, a full-bodied, silky, elegant 2019 that shines just as much for its purity and balance as its richness and depth. Possessing good acidity, a lively, vibrant mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish, it has plenty of up-front appeal yet should easily evolve for a solid 20 years if properly stored. - Jeb Dunnuck

97 Points! Another historic site and another opulent wine from Thomas Rivers Brown. Cabernet clone 337 delivers a fresh, high-toned, juicy red teeming with black fruit, black pepper and toasty cedar. Lush dark fruit is round and rich on the palate, framed by ultra-fine, satiny tannins and tangy blood orange acidity. - Decanter Magazine

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99 Points! A big, muscular, powerful wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 boasts a monster note of blackcurrants, fresh plums, scorched earth, tobacco, and chocolate. This all carries to a full-bodied 2019 with the ripe, savory, concentrated style of the vintage, building tannins, no shortage of fruit, and a great, great finish. It's certainly one of the biggest, richest, more structured wines in the lineup, yet the balance is spot on and everything is in the right places. It's going to take at least 7-8 years for this puppy to shed some of its considerable baby fat and hit maturity, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 20 or 30 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

97+ Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is made from Clone 6, an old California heritage clone that's notoriously shy-bearing. It boasts lovely aromatics, layering dried spices and exotic florals over super-ripe cherries, while the full-bodied palate is all silk and cashmere, finishing incredibly long and elegant. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com 

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97 Points! This is a fantastic new wine, with crushed berries, stones, and oyster shell with moss and pine needles. Full and linear, with agile acidity that gives the wine energy. It’s salty and lively. So focused and mouthwatering. So attractive now, but will age beautifully. - JamesSuckling.com

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97 Points! I loved the 2018 Chardonnay UV- El Diablo. This beauty has a wonderfully pure, elegant style that carries both richness and freshness. Giving up notes of white peach, white flowers, lemon blossom, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, bright yet integrated acidity, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It shows the more supple, silky style of the vintage and is already drinking nicely, yet I still think it will be even better with another 6-12 months of bottle age. It should evolve nicely for 7-8 years or more. - Jeb Dunnuck Learn More

98-99 Points James Suckling
"Bright, vibrant aromas of sliced apples, pears and lemons with acacia and flint. Dense and tight on the palate with so much chalk and oyster shell character. Extremely long and pure, with vivid energy and precision. Sharp and driven by acidity."

96-98 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"Honeyed citrus, orange blossom, mint, crushed stone and brioche define the bouquet. Medium to full-bodied with rich, layered fruit and a lengthy, seamless finish. One of the whites of the 

96 Points Jane Anson
"Bright citrus, mint leaf, liquorice, sea spray, oyster shell, wet stones and white tea. The most structured and reserved of the estate's white wines, with impressive aging potential."

96 Points Decanter
"Vanilla, honey, flint, white peach and apple aromas. Gorgeously clear and sophisticated with more tension, drive and energy than recent vintages. Beautifully delineated and balanced."

96 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"White peaches, orange rind, pineapple, pears and flowers lead to a palate filled with sweet ripe fruit, creamy textures and vibrant freshness. Rich, expressive and beautifully balanced."

94-96 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"White peach, Mirabelle plum, jasmine and pressed flowers. Rounded and textured with excellent density and freshness. A great success in the context of a warm vintage."

94-96 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Rich, creamy and expansive with fabulous balance. Dried pear, acacia, chamomile and white pepper notes build beautifully through the palate. Impeccable."

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99 Points Jane Anson
"This is so good, so much energy and depth, slate and wet stones holding interest as the palate expands, showing fragrant capsicum pepper, crushed mint, toasted spices, cumin, liquorice, cassis and cocoa bean, fully in the DNA of Smith Haut Lafitte. Last vintage of Daniel Cathiard, and a brilliant tribute to his legacy."

97-99 Points Jeb Dunnuck
"One of my favorite wines in the vintage. Beautiful darker fruits, scorched earth, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite all define the aromatics. Full-bodied with a deep, concentrated mid-palate, beautiful tannins, integrated acidity, and a seamless style."

97-98 Points James Suckling
"So aromatic and expressive, with pure currants, mint, chocolate and fennel. Deep fruit, velvety tannins and impressive precision. Very Cabernet in character, almost Pauillac-like in nature."

97 Points Decanter
"Fresh and vivid with smoky violets, ripe blackcurrants and white chocolate. Gravelly, salty, chalky and cool. Balanced, elegant and totally delicious with excellent length and minerality."

96-98 Points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Deeply colored with red, black and blue fruits, smoke, cigar box and tobacco. The finish starts strong and keeps on going long after the wine has left your glass. A vibrant and compelling Smith Haut Lafitte."

95-97 Points Neal Martin, Vinous
"A more classical style of Smith Haut Lafitte, with black fruit, Earl Grey tea, sous-bois and cigar box aromas. Refined, structured and delicious, with excellent aging potential."

93-95 Points Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"A very classy, elegant wine. Lavender, spice and mint open first, followed by a burst of black fruit. Medium-bodied with terrific freshness and impeccable balance."

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100 Points! Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. Reminding me of a more elegant version of the 2010, it has a dense purple hue to go with a rich, powerful, full-bodied, sensationally complex nose of cassis and darker berries interwoven with woodsmoke, scorched earth, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Concentrated, deep, and layered on the palate with ripe, velvety tannins, it's a sensational, absolutely heavenly effort that will keep for 40-50 years. Along with the 2009, 2010, and 2020, this is one of the greatest wines to ever come from this address. Don't miss it. - Jeb Dunnuck

100 Points! Deep and evocative, this bursts with blackcurrants, milk chocolate and floral perfume. Instantly captivating, the palate is silky yet structured, with tannins seamlessly supporting vibrant red and black berries. Broad and powerful, yet it glides, showcasing Cabernet’s structure, Merlot’s generosity and cool spiced fruit. A mineral core adds complexity, with flint-like nuances. A masterclass in power and balance – and unmistakably Smith. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Organic. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com

98 Points! The vivid fruit character here is so impressive for this hot and dry vintage. It's medium- to full-bodied, showing gorgeous crushed grapes and dark berries. With density, clarity and beauty, it really speaks of great cabernet sauvignon. The tannins are integrated and go long, taking you deep and complete on the palate. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Seems almost drinkable now but needs at least five years of bottle age. - JamesSuckling.com

97+ Points! The 2022 Smith Haut Latte is silky, elegant and nuanced. It's all there. A wine of precision and class, the 2022 is so impressive. Rened, supple tannins wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, espresso and mocha. I nd the 2022 a bit buttoned up today, but that is probably a very good thing for its long-term prospects. I look forward to seeing it age. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

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

97+ Points! The 2022 Château Soutard Cadet is an exceptional Saint-Emilion and, along with the 2019, the finest wine I’ve tasted from this exceptional terroir. Its deep purple hue is followed by a serious, powerful nose of liquid minerals, smoked cherries, truffle, and graphite. Full-bodied and massive on the palate, with gorgeous tannins and perfectly integrated structure, this is an incredibly impressive, layered 2022 that should be snatched up by readers. Aged for 16 months in 80% new oak barrels, it will evolve for 30+ years. Total production: 333 cases. - Jeb Dunnuck

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Only $79.98 at checkout, 97 Points! Even better, with remarkable purity, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Jubilee is a thrill a minute and reveals a deep purple color as well as a huge perfume of black cherries, blackberries, graphite, and chocolate, with more and more floral and violet notes developing with time in the glass. Possessing a silky, expansive, layered texture, full body, awesome tannins, and again, thrilling purity of fruit. A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc that was fermented and aged 22 months in 80% new French oak, the only downside here is that there are just 50 cases (two barrels) made. - Jeb Dunnuck Learn More

97 Points! Very dynamic and complex, with nervy acidity and a sleek, textured profile. Steely and mineral-driven in a Chablis-like style, this offers crushed lemons, white peaches and cracked stones, with fresh acidity and a refined, linear structure. The finish is long, focused and full of energy. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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From 100+ year-old Grenache vines in Bas de La Crau...

97 Points! The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Speciale is on another level, with a blockbuster perfume of ripe black cherries, melted licorice, jus de viande, lavender, and roasted garrigue. A rich, opulent style of Châteauneuf du Pape, it brings full-bodied richness while staying graceful, weightless, and flawlessly balanced, with ripe tannins and incredible length. This tour de force 2022 should be snatched up by savvy readers and enjoyed over the coming 15 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

 

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99 Points! One of the few 2022 Tuscan wines where you can really see that this will benefit from a few years in bottle, right now it is, hovering on the edge of something delicious, vibrating over the tannic architecture, feathered, campfire smoke, fennel, blackberry, liquorice and crushed peonies, and the bitter fennel and slate scrape, dense, contrast of textures and flavours like only truly great wines can do, a reflection of skilful construction. A gorgeous wine, slowly stretching out in the palate, 65% new oak for ageing.- Jane Anson

97 Points! Tasted a few months after it was bottled, the Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be coming to market in March 2025. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine sees 18 months of aging with up to 70% new oak, but the trick, proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi tells me, is drawing from a large group of coopers with different toast levels and forests. "I don't want to make a wine of any one tonnellerie," he says. The oak element is crucial to the identity of this wine that reveals dark fruit, blackberry, sweet spice and cinnamon. Most of the vines were planted in the 1980s, and the average age of the plants is over 20 years old. Fruit comes from many parcels, including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Indeed, some 80 wines are made before final blending. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. Petit Verdot plays a slightly larger role in this vintage and was one of the surprise hits of 2022. It serves to elongate the wine and adds to its length. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

 

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99 Points! One of the few 2022 Tuscan wines where you can really see that this will benefit from a few years in bottle, right now it is, hovering on the edge of something delicious, vibrating over the tannic architecture, feathered, campfire smoke, fennel, blackberry, liquorice and crushed peonies, and the bitter fennel and slate scrape, dense, contrast of textures and flavours like only truly great wines can do, a reflection of skilful construction. A gorgeous wine, slowly stretching out in the palate, 65% new oak for ageing.- Jane Anson

97 Points! Tasted a few months after it was bottled, the Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be coming to market in March 2025. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine sees 18 months of aging with up to 70% new oak, but the trick, proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi tells me, is drawing from a large group of coopers with different toast levels and forests. "I don't want to make a wine of any one tonnellerie," he says. The oak element is crucial to the identity of this wine that reveals dark fruit, blackberry, sweet spice and cinnamon. Most of the vines were planted in the 1980s, and the average age of the plants is over 20 years old. Fruit comes from many parcels, including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Indeed, some 80 wines are made before final blending. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. Petit Verdot plays a slightly larger role in this vintage and was one of the surprise hits of 2022. It serves to elongate the wine and adds to its length. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

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97 Points! 70% Pinot Blanc, 25% Chardonnay, 5% Sauvignon Blanc A joyous sotto voce nose of spring meadow flowers sprinkled over the unbridled purity of ripe pineapple, Meyer lemon and green apple fruit. Saline elements infuse the structure and acidity and proceed towards the lengthy finish. - Decanter World Wine Awards

96 Points! Elegant and vibrant with white pepper and flinty minerality, lemon peel and white flowers. Full-bodied, it shows tension and crisp acidity combined with citrus flavors and a tight-knit structure full of savory notes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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100 Points! Fragrant notes of sage, black pepper, nori, and rose petals rise from the glass, leading into a wine of superb density and remarkable fruit clarity. On the palate, it’s perfectly balanced, with the finest tannins—like moon dust laced with cocoa powder—framing a gorgeously textured red wine that sends you off daydreaming. Its ethereal presence and ephemeral textures captivate and draw you in, with bursts of grapefruit zest and blood orange acidity, all sprinkled with pink Himalayan sea salt. The finish goes on for days. I could go on about this wine—it’s perfect. It will resonate differently with each person who encounters it, but it is absolutely riveting, contemplative, and belongs in the pantheon of the world’s great wines. - Jonathan Cristaldi

98 Points! So much energy and salt, anchoring forest fruit, boysenberries and crushed violets against a tug of earth. Mineral, filigreed and refined, this is capable of aging for decades yet provides tremendous short-term pleasure. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

97 Points! Within a remarkable set of wines, the 2023 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard gets my nod as the most multidimensional wine in The Hilt's portfolio. While several wines in the lineup display oceanic, kelp and nori-like aromas, none render them with the exceptional purity and vivid nature displayed here. The palate continues this purity, combining outrageous density with a spry, silken texture, seamlessly slingshotting into a vibrant, staining and succulent finish that lingers endlessly, thanks to extraordinarily refined tannins and the site's ubiquitous soaring salinity. This is a reference point for the region and one that I am tremendously excited to follow in the cellar. - Matthew Luczy, robertparker.com

96+ Points! The 2023 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard is explosive, expressive and deeply serious. It builds all the way from the first sip until long after it leaves the palate. Sneaky, integrated acids keep the train moving, but this is an inward, mineral-drenched wine with a brooding, youthful edge. Inky red fruit, spice, crushed rocks and lavender flesh out in a complex expression that will need considerable time to fill in completely. That said, it will certainly be worth the wait. - Billy Norris, Vinous

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97 Points! The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley was matured for 22 months in 80% new French oak. The nose features maraschino cherries, dark chocolate, aniseed, violet and a singular array of exotic spices. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly light on its feet, with a frame of silky tannins and seamless acidity that highlights pretty floral and chocolaty tones on the finish. It has depth and complexity without weight and drinks beautifully straight from the bottle. - Erin Brooks, robertparker.com

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