93+ Points! The regular white 2018 Manda Huevos Blanco Carramainas was produced with grapes from the single vineyard that is mentioned on the label. There is a skin-contact version of grapes from this same plot, but these grapes were harvested 12 days earlier than those destined to ferment with the skins, as the aim here was to achieve higher acidity and freshness and let the lees rather than the skins be the ones defining the style of the bottled wine. This is 95% old-vine Macabeo with only 5% Garnacha Blanca, with good ripeness and bright acidity. It fermented after a slow pressing and one night of settling in 500- and 900-liter oak barrels, where it was kept with the full lees for two months. It was then racked into Flextank (plastic) eggs with fine lees and then matured for another 12 months. It has a Burgundian profile, going back to the style of the 2014, in a leesy and smoky style, still very young and undeveloped. There's also something that reminded me of old-style white Rioja. The palate is vibrant and has pungent citrus acidity. It feels like a white to lay down, as it should develop nicely in the bottle. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com Learn More
Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso...6 Mura Rosso is a full-bodied and concentrated Carignano, able to age for an extended time. Produced from ancient vines with very low yield by hectare. Deep red ruby color, powerful aromas and flavors full of mature red fruit and spices. Very elegant wine but austere, like the land where it comes from. Learn More
97+ Points! I was blown away by the 2016 Château Gracia from barrel and it doesn’t disappoint from bottle. Coming from Michel Gracia’s tiny 1.83-hectare vineyard and a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in new barrels, it sports a vivid purple color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of blackberries, cassis, liquid violets, graphite, crushed rocks, and background high-class oak. With full-bodied power, a deep, layered, concentrated mid-palate, sweet tannins, and awesome purity of fruit, it’s another magical vintage for this estate. Hide bottles for 3-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades.- Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
95-97 Points! Not yet bottled, the 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict is still resting in 20% new French oak. Coming from a great site on the southern side of the Sta. Rita Hills, it offers a rocking bouquet of lemon curd, chamomile, toasted bread, spice, and a touch of crushed stone-like flinty minerality. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it's another brilliant wine from this estate. - Jeb Dunnuck Learn More
93+ Points! Very deep garnet-black colored, the 2010 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon gives notes of creme de cassis, meat, dark chocolate, yeast, tea and toast. Full-bodied, rich and packed with black berry and savory flavors in the mouth, it has a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and crisp acidity, finishing long. Drink it 2014 to 2022+. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, eRobertParker.com #211, February 2014
