Wines

95 Points! The 2008 Carmen Gran Reserva has a classic nose with notes of American oak, some herbaceous character (I mean it in a positive, fresh way) in the shape of some spearmint. It displays an array of notes of tobacco, cured meats, leather, balsamic herbs and a hint of chalk. The medium-bodied palate reveals a powerful Gran Reserva, with intense flavors, great acidity and length. This wine is very different in style to the rest of Benjamin's wines, following the patterns of the classical Riojas of yesteryear. Bravo! - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

91 Points! The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, made by winemaker Tuck Beckstoffer with back-up consulting from near-by neighbor Nils Venge of Saddleback Cellars, is a highly extracted, extremely rich, full-bodied Cabernet that will win many fans. Approximately 1,000 cases were produced of this dense purple-colored wine that reveals a ripe prune and cassis-scented nose with lavish smoky oak. Full-bodied, deep, and chewy, with sweet tannin and plenty of extract and glycerin, this is an impressively-endowed, supple style of Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for 10-15+ years. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

93 Points! A brilliant effort for the vintage, this muscular, dense purple-colored, powerful, rich 2008 offers notes of graphite, truffles, black cherries and blackberries along with moderately high tannins, full-bodied richness, impressive purity and a multidimensional mouthfeel. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy it over the next two decades. It should prove to be one of the longer lived wines of the vintage. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

96 Points! A candidate for the -wine of the vintage,- the 2008 Haut-Bailly possesses incredible complexity. Tell-tale notes of lead pencil shavings, charcoal, damp earth, black cherries and black currants intermixed with a hint of subtle barbecue smoke are present in this classic, quintessential Graves. Medium-bodied with an emerging, precocious complexity, it is a super-pure, beautifully textured, long wine that can be drunk now or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo! - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

94 Points! Fully mature, yet still pure and layered, with plenty of vibrancy, the 2008 Château Haut-Bailly has quintessential Haut-Bailly sweet darker berries, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, and floral aromas and flavors. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied, has firmer, focusing tannins, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. This is a more austere, focused style from the estate that has a classic, age-worthy style. It should hold nicely going forward and, I suspect, have another 10-15 years of prime drinking, with a gradual decline thereafter. - Jeb Dunnuck, 2023

94+ Points! Another resounding success for the vintage, the opaque purple-colored 2008 Clinet (14.4% alcohol) is composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare, while higher than in 2010, were still modest. Another powerful, big, large-scaled effort, the 2008 exhibits an inky/purple color as well as sweet creme de cassis, blackberry, plum, Asian spice, licorice and incense notes. Layered and full-bodied with stunning purity and a 40+ second finish, this beauty needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for 25-30 years. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

96 Points! The 2008 Camaspelo is made up of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. Fresh herbs and spices, earthy minerals, cassis, and black currant aromas lead to an elegant, stylish Catherine Deneuve of a wine. This finesse-filled effort will provide pleasure through 2023. - Jay Miller, robertparker.com

95 Points! The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch is a strikingly superb Cabernet Sauvignon. Although it includes 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot in the blend, I would never have guessed that. Aged in 100% new Taransaud barrels (as are all Abreu's wines), this wine boasts an opaque purple color, in addition to a fabulous bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, cassis, licorice, minerals, and smoky, toasty oak. The wine's aromatics soar from the glass, and in the mouth, the bouquet's promise is fulfilled. A thick, juicy, black fruit character comes across in cascades of fruit, glycerin, and extract. All of this has been buttressed by sweet tannin and good acidity. A voluptuously-textured, blockbuster, yet remarkably harmonious wine, it is one of the finest efforts of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2025. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com

97 Points! The 2008 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is an exceptional wine that is only made in the best years. It was produced in 2008, 2010 and 2013. The wine undergoes a 40-day maceration time with four years in oak and one more year of bottle aging. The results are sublime and generous. Riserva Rüncot opens to a beautifully tempered and expressive bouquet that exhibits elements of wild berry, forest floor, candied fruit, licorice, cola and dried ginger. The balsamic signature is particularly beautiful and elegant. Smooth and silky tannins denote the mouthfeel and carry the wine forward over the palate. This is one of the top releases from Piedmont this year. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

Le Rognet is one of the top parcels in Corton, surrounded by the vineyards also farmed by Domaine de la Romanee Conti (Bressandes and Renardes) and a host of others.

It’s unusual for sure, only a small percentage of the land in Beaune is Villages level and Arcelain owns a small plot in one those tiny parcels called Siserpe, just above Beaune 1er Cru Les Aigrots.

The vineyard was certified villages back in the ‘old days’ due to its location higher up the hill, making ripening more difficult. Nowadays? No such problem. In fact, the spots higher on the hill are coming into demand for their slightly cooler terroir! How things change… 

This one's drinking beautifully now....what a treat, direct from Arcelain's cellars...

The Capron-Charcousset Savigny Les Beaune 2008 is great follow-up to the previous Villages Savigny from their plots in Les Pimentiers we sold a couple of years back. It’s a prime example of what we do, sourcing classic older Burgundy, perfectly stored, and bringing it direct to you at insane prices. Savigny Les Beaune is one of the most underpriced appellations in Burgundy. The soils are great, the exposures varying, and the producers in this village all finely tuned in to making wonderful Pinot Noir.

As opposed to that previous wine from Capron, the style here is open, giving, with fantastic aromas of savory red cherry, spice. This one jumps straight out of the bottle, no waiting required! The youth and vigor here are remarkable, this wine is still young at 16 years of age but is ready to rock. We believe their parcels in Le Village and Dessus les Gollardes form the backbone of this delicious bottle of Pinot Noir.

96 Points! The fabulous 1995 Claret Reserve (a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot) offers an opaque ruby/purple color, and a classic creme de cassis nose intermixed with toasty new oak and minerals. Full-bodied, with superb texture, dense, massively rich flavors, and a 40+ second finish, this is a gorgeously made, Bordeaux-styled wine with dazzling levels of fruit and extract. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2015. Shame on me for underestimating this beauty! - Robert Parker

93 Points!-“Creamy and well-knit, with good focus to the baked white cherry, honeycomb and ginger biscuit flavors. A harmonious version, framed by sleek acidity and a chalky underpinning, this is long and mouthwatering on the lightly spiced finish. Disgorged July 2019. Drink now through 2028. 375 cases made.”-Wine Spectator, December, 2019