Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: “A step up over the 2018, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is gorgeous juice, offering lots of cassis, tapenade, chocolaty oak, and spicy notes in a round, lush, sexy package. The tannins are first-rate, and this will last for 15 years. It’s well worth checking out.”

TWI 97 Points: “The 2021 Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard gives up delicate scents of yuzu, lime blossoms, and crushed rocks, leading to a vibrant core of Golden Delicious apples and fresh pears with a waft of toasted almond. The medium-bodied palate is lively and profound, with tight-knit citrus and apple flavors, finishing long with a spicy kick.”

Vinous 100 Points: : “The 2018 Cariad is breathtaking right out of the gate. What a wine! Bright acids and beams of underlying structure give the Cariad tons of energy that really drives its feel. Effusive and vibrant in the glass, with tons of pedigree, Cariad is drop-dead gorgeous in 2018. Winemaker Allison Tauziet opted not to use Petit Verdot in this vintage, choosing instead to use a bit more Franc. I can’t really say the wine is missing the Petit Verdot, while the Franc seems to give added aromatic explosiveness. Then again, all of this fruit is sourced from David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch, a stellar site with a stunning array of clones, including some pretty magical Franc.”

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Tons of auxiliary grapes go into the 2021 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard, which is deep red and ripe with cassis, cedar, bourbon spices, and peppercorn. Full-bodied, with both richness and an angular structure as well as silky fruit to balance it nicely, it offers notes of ripe red plum and black cherry, baking spices, mocha, and warming earth and is long on the palate. Drink 2024-2034.”

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “A serious looking barrel sample, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard reveals a dense purple color to go with rocking notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, damp earth, and chocolate. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has great tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and the class to evolve for 20 years or more..”

This is a warm, rich while also textured wine. It comes from the Côte des Blancs Grand Cru vineyards, Chardonnay central in Champagne. Along with the apple and citrus flavors there are hints of yellow fruits and an elegant structure that could age. Drink this wine from 2022.

*This product will arrive December 18, 2020 – Be aware if you order this with other products, that your order might be held (or we can make arrangements to ship this wine later)

Robert Parker 99 Points: “A blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Estate Cuvée is another outstanding wine from L’Aventure in the challenging 2020 vintage, offering singular concentration and elegance. Deep ruby-purple, it has a pure core of cassis and slowly unfolding accents of licorice, cured meats, tobacco leaves, cedar and truffle. Full-bodied, juicy and alluring, it floods the mouth with layers of blue fruit, floral perfume and spice. It is supported by powdery tannins and boasts a tremendously long, detailed finish.”

TWI 99 Points: “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of black cherries, blackberries, and blackcurrant jelly spill from the glass, followed by an evocative perfume of black raspberries, red roses, lavender, and cinnamon sticks. The full-bodied palate is taut with muscular, intense fruit, framed by firm, finely-grained tannins and just enough tension, finishing long and graceful. This tiny production (195 cases) of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is made by the very talented Martha McClellan (who also makes Sloan) and it is simply gorgeous!”

Robert Parker 95 Points: “Disgorged with two grams per liter dosage, Billecart-Salmon’s 2009 Extra Brut Vintage is more giving and demonstrative than its 2008 counterpart, offering up inviting aromas of crisp stone fruit, yellow apple, brioche, honeycomb, and warm pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a pillowy mousse and a generous core of fruit girdled by bright acids, it’s seamless and complete. Indeed, such is its charm and persistence that I tend to prefer it, at least for now, to the 2008.”

Vinous 96 points: “The 2019 Phoenix is a blend of 64% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc. It offers up soaring aromatics and pliant red-toned fruit, all in a mid-weight style that is hugely appealing. This beautifully balanced wine from Lee Hudson and his team is an absolute winner.”

Robert Parker 100 Points: “The terrific 2021 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain is a 60-40 blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from this vineyard in southern Napa. Vaguely floral and leafy, loaded with purple raspberries and cherries, this is really complex, with lovely fruit. Full-bodied, supple, silky and seamless, it finishes long and elegant.”

Vinous 98 Points: “The 2020 La Sangre de Jonata, the estate’s Syrah, is another profoundly beautiful, mesmerizing wine. Over the years, the Sangre has gained tremendously in precision, a combination of the vines getting older and also moving towards picking earlier and generally pushing the wine less. The result is Syrah that sizzles with saline energy, power, and vertical intensity. Ripe, red fruit, pomegranate, blood orange, and incense all soar out of the glass. I wouldn’t dream of touching a bottle any time soon, as the 2020 is very primary, and undeveloped. Its stature, however, is impossible to miss.

FMW 95 Points: “Dazzling black stone fruit and chocolate aromas jump out of the glass on impact.   This Bordeaux blend offers deep dark color, with intense aromatics and concentration. The fruit is 100%  sourced from the Hendry Estate in the Napa Valley.  This Cabernet-based blend is concentrated, powerful, yet silky smooth, with a lush and creamy texture on the mid-palate offering up cacao, blueberries, and anise flavors, and its loaded flavors show intense depth,  that leads to a long but silky finish with fine-grained tannins. This wine is drinking well now and should do so for a decade.

Robert Parker 98+ Points: “A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and a powerful, expressive nose of baked plums, juicy blackberries and blackcurrant pastilles, plus touches of black olives, lavender and cinnamon stick, with a waft of fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate is seriously dense and muscular, featuring a rock-solid foundation of super ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic length and energy. A spectacular showing for Farella!”