2019 Tasting Notes

1992 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon  

Score:  92 Pointes

Location:  Champagne, France 

Blend:  58% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir  

This wine had a deep gold color and a fresh classically aged champagne bouquet of crème brûlée, caramel, roasted hazelnuts, lemon, lime, ginger spice, vanilla, toast, and chalky minerals.  The wine was rich on the palate with beautiful acidity and a luxuriously racy finish giving off creamy notes of caramel, lemon curd, macadamia nuts, green apple, almond paste, ginger snaps, toast, and crisp minerals.  The wine was drinking quite nicely, with lovely layers of ripe fruit and complex secondary notes that were brilliantly intriguing and delicious.  The wine is just starting that inevitable decline, but is still quite drinkable and showing well.  Recommended!    

Tasted:  January 2019

2013 Sebastiani Cherryblock Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Score:  99 Points

Location:  Sonoma Valley, California 

Blend:  96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 2% Malbec  

This beautiful opaque velvety red wine was made from old Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in 1961, with a small amount of Merlot and Malbec being sourced from nearby sites with similar soil and climate conditions.  Wafting from my glass was a decadent bouquet of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberries, licorice, iron, led pencil, leafy tobacco, and toasted oak.  The wine was full bodied with gripping but rounded tannins that gave way to a luxuriously plush palate painted in concentrated blackberries, cassis fruit, black cherry liquor, cigar box, refined dusty earth, and toasted oak.  The wine is complex with composed layers of fruit and earth that brilliantly blend together in harmony.  The wine is absolutely outstanding and is drinking beautifully right now; however, this wine can easily last another two decades.  I see this wine really blooming in another 10 years and will reward those with the patience to leave it in the cellar.  Extremely Highly Recommended!  

Tasted:  January 2019

2006 Château Cos d'Estournel

Score: 93+ Points

Classification: Second Growth in 1855

Location: St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2 % Petit Verdot

This dark garnet-red colored wine had a classically old world bouquet of cherries, black raspberries, currants, rosemary herbs, cigar box, graphite, and toasted oak. The wine was medium ++ in body with firm rounded tannins that gave way to concentrated cassis fruit, cherries, currants, leafy tobacco, pencil shavings, dried herbs, soft spice, iron, toasted oak, and a hint of mint.  The wine is complex with supple layers of earth and fruit that harmonize beautifully together. The wine was showing a little closed and decanting it is recommended, as after an hour it really started to open up. This wine is approachable now but should continue to evolve nicely for those that want to keep cellaring it. Highly Recommended! 

Tasted: January 2019 

2015 E. Guigal La Doriane Condrieu

Score: 97 Points

Location: Condrieu, Rhone, France

Blend: 100% Viognier

This beautifully golden clear wine had a lovely decadent bouquet of apricots, peaches, apple blossoms, papaya, mango, ginger, white flowers, honey, river rock, soft exotic spice, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with nice acidity and a clean palate painted with layers of tropical fruits, orchard fruits, hazelnuts, crushed river rock, flint, soft exotic spice, piecrust, creamy honey, and toasted oak. This wine has freshness to it, yet that does not take away from the power of the wine. The wine is elegant, yet rich with layers of fruit and minerals that swim in a cloak of toasted oak.  Truly a beautiful wine that is absolutely brilliant! Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: January 2019

2007 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino

Score: 93 Points

Location: Tuscany, Italy

Blend: 100% Sangiovese

This dark red wine had a rich bouquet of black cherries, licorice, plum, exotic spice, tobacco, chocolate, and oak. The wine was full bodied with chewy rounded tannins that gave way to a layered palate giving off hints of black cherry, plum, toasted herbs, exotic spices, cigar box, oak, and dusty earth. It’s supple with a decadent ripe fruit profile that balances nicely with the terroir notes and complex layers of the wine. Still showing off its youthfulness and displaying no signs of decline; thus, the wine should easily cellar for another 8 years. If you prefer your wine more fruit forward then drink it now as time will empower the secondary notes to mature nicely. Highly Recommended!

Taste: February 2019

2005 Chateau Arthemis Cotes De Castillon

Score: 90 Points

Location: Bordeaux, France

Blend: Red Bordeaux Blend

The wine had a nice garnet color with hints of bricking at the edge. The wine was giving off a typical old world bouquet of cherries, plum, green pepper, truffles, licorice, soft spice, minerals, and toasted oak. The wine was medium ++ in body with plush tannins that polished the palate with hints of plum, concentrated cherry, coffee, graphite, pepper, truffles, dusty minerals, and soft toasted oak. The wine was lush but lacked depth and complexity. Overall it was a nice bottle of wine and is in its drinking window right now. Recommended!

Tasted: February 2019

2012 Emidio Pepe Pecorino Colli Aprutini IGT

Score: 92 Points

Location: Italy

Blend: Pecorino

The wine had a beautiful soft gold color and an intriguing bouquet of lemons, flint, yeast, honey, and a funkiness I couldn’t really identify. The wine had nice acidity with complex layers of citrus and floral components that blended nicely with wet flinty minerals, savory honeysuckle, and a soft bitterness on the finish. The wine is quite unique with a rustic sophistication and soft creaminess that is balanced with the crisp acidity. Overall I truly enjoyed this wine and look forward to trying more of them. Recommended!

Tasted: February 2019

2014 Lucien Le Moine Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru

Score: 95 Points

Location: Burgundy, France

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

This yellow gold beauty is still in its infancy, giving off a bouquet of lemon zest, orchard fruits, crushed granite, minerals, smoke, and other citrus notes. The wine has a crisp acidity that cuts through the creamy palate that is painted with hints of lime, orange peel, peaches, wet river rock, granite, and a touch of sweetness on the finish. The wine is complex with lush layers of fruit and minerals that blend and harmonize nicely together. The wine is still quite youthful and will benefit for more time in the cellar, but started to open up nicely after a few hours. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: February 2019 

2012 Abreu "Rothwell Hyde" St. Helena Red Wine

Score: 95 Points

Location: Napa Valley, California

Blend: Bordeaux Blend

Abreu is a long standing Napa “Cult Wine” and is limited in production, as this vintages production was only 400 cases. We were invited and indulged with a tasting in the caves and given an opportunity to taste some of these legendary wines; however, this was one of my favorites in the lineup. It’s the least expensive wine from Abreu, but is absolutely delicious. The wine had a robust bouquet of blackberries, plums, black cherries, chocolate, coffee, dusty herbs, exotic spices, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with gripping but rounded tannins that gave way to a luxurious palate painted with hints of blackcurrants, black cherries, plums, chocolate, dusty earthy minerals, smoked herbs, burnt brown sugar, and notes of cedar. The wine was complex with layers of rich dark fruits that blended nicely with the rich supple terroir. This wine is drinking lovely right now but should continue to evolve over the next 15 years for those that want to cellar it. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019

2016 Williams Selyem “Three Sisters Vineyard” Chardonnay

Score: 93+

Location: Sonoma County, Healdsburg, California

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

This beautiful chardonnay had a floral bouquet giving off hints of white flowers, pears, limes, wet granite stone, nutmeg, baking spices, and soft oak. The wine was balanced with a nice acidity and a crisp clean palate painted with notes of poached pears, lime zest, cinnamon, cut herbs, iodine, wet rock, touch of butter, and light oak. The wine showed a nice complexity with thoughtful layers of fruit and minerals that harmonized beautifully together. A beautiful wine that is showing wonderfully right now! Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019

2016 Williams Selyem “Olivet Lane Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Score: 94 Points

Location:  Sonoma County, Healdsburg, California

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

The vines from this vineyard were planted in 1975, and only about 290 cases of this vintage were made. The wine had a stunning ruby purple color and a bouquet of black cherries, raspberries, plums, strawberry, cut herbs, black tea, orange blossoms, and earthy dusty terroir notes. The wine was medium to full body with rounded tannins and a nice acidity that gave way to a beautiful finish displaying hints of plums, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, citrus, dark chocolate, toasted bay leaves, soft spice, and dusty earth. The wine was complex and nicely layered with berry fruits that blended harmoniously with the minerals and dusty terroir notes. This wine had a nice lushness and concentration, yet held its elegance and sophistication. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019 

2009 Yao Ming Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Score: 95 Points

Location: Napa Valley, California

Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

When I see a celebrity put their name on a product I often think it’s a gimmick or lessor quality; however, that is not the case with Yao Family Wines.   When in Napa we visited their tasting room and found that all their wines are of an extremely high quality, and this was my favorite that we were indulged with. The wine had a rich bouquet of blackberries, black currants, cassis fruit, licorice, toasted herbs, soft spice, cigar box, dusty earth, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with chewy polished tannins that gave way to a palate painted with hints of dark berry fruits, savory herbs, soft spice, cedar, refined dusty earth, toasted brown sugar, and oak. The wine is beautiful balanced with lush layers of decadently elegant fruits, swimming in supple dusty terroir notes. The wine is complex and showing beautifully right now, as it is in its window of maturity. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019  

2016 Mountain Terraces Winery Viognier Moon Mt. District

Score: 95 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 100% Viognier

Soaring around 2000ft on the Sonoma side of Mayacamas is the Moon Mountain AVA, and if you haven’t heard of it you should pay attention. They are producing some outstanding wines and this beautiful Rhone styled white wine is absolutely wonderful. The wine had a floral bouquet of white flowers, peach, lychee, candied walnuts, wet river rock, and honey suckle. The wine had beautiful acidity and a crisp dusty chalky mineral palate being balanced with notes of white peach, lychee, supple stone fruits, cut grass, walnuts, wet gravel, and a touch of honey. The wine is lush yet crisp with layers of complex fruits that harmonize and play perfectly with the terroir notes. This is a stunning wine that is sophisticated and elegant with a gorgeous fruit profile. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019

2015 Ledson Winery & Vineyards Bellisimo Estate Vineyard

Score: 95+ Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: Bordeaux Blend

This beautiful dark ruby wine had a plush bouquet of cassis fruit, blackberries, cherries, plum, toasted sage, vanilla, caramel, soft dusty earth and sweet charred oak. The wine was full bodied with rounded tannins that gripped the palate and painted it with hints of dark wild berries, baking spices, chocolate, herbs, and complex layers of dusty earthy minerals that blended harmoniously with the ripe dark fruits. This decadent wine was sophisticated and wonderfully balanced with dark fruits and smoky supple tannins. This is a wine that will mature nicely in the cellar for those that have the patience to lay it down. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019

2015 Eco Terreno Reserve Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon Lyon Vineyard

Score: 94 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot

Wafting from my glass was a rich bouquet of blackberries, cassis fruit, boysenberries, caramel, chocolate, cigar box, cut herbs, baking spices, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with gripping but rounded tannins that gave way to a palate painted with notes of black cherries, blackberries, gram cracker pie crust, mocha, and sweet smoky oak. The wine is complex with sumptuous layers of dark fruit that harmonize perfectly with the savory earthy terroir. This is a bold expressive wine that carries sophistication and elegance; thus, it will reward those with the patience to cellar it for 6 to 11 years. Truly a beautiful wine! Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019

2016 Eco Terreno Reserve Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon Lyon Vineyard

Score: 95+ Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot

The wine had a deep opaque purple red color with a sensuous bouquet of violets, blackberries, currants, cassis fruit, molasses, chocolate, salted caramel, black tea, tobacco, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with rounded tannins that gripped the palate and painted it with luxurious ripe dark wild berries, blackberries, black cherries, blueberries, molasses, savory herbs, dark chocolate, dusty minerals, and toasted oak. The wine is complex with intense layers of dark fruit, baking spices, and dusty terroir notes. This is a stunning wine that is approachable now but will reward those with the patience to cellar it. The wine is decadent yet elegantly restrained with sophistication and poise, as this wine is beautifully balanced.  Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: March 2019

2013 Domaine Louis Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru

Score: 95+ Points

Location: Burgundy, France

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

This beautiful dark red beauty had an alluring bouquet of cranberries, red currants, raspberries, vanilla, brined lavender, cocoa, earthy minerals, and smoky oak. The wine is full bodied with gripping tannins that linger on the palate and give way to hints of strawberry compote, dark cherries, cranberries, crushed limestone, ocean kissed dusty earth, vanilla, burnt wood, and soft spice. The wine is complex with harmonious layers of fruit and terroir that sing on the palate. The wine is solid and seductively sophisticated with savory components that highlight the fruit profile. The wine is truly an infant and needs another 5 to 6 years in the cellar; however, should age nicely for another 3 decades. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: April 2019

2015 Domaine Louis Jadot (Heritiers) Corton-Charlemagne Grand

Score: 94+ Points

Location: Burgundy, France

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

This seductive white Burgundy had an elegant bouquet of white peaches, green apple, lemon zest, orange blossoms, vanilla cake mix, exotic spice, and wet river rocks. The wine was full and plush on the palate with crisp acidity that gave way to hints of citrus, orchard fruits, hazelnuts, spice, wet minerals, and a creamy oiliness. The wine was complex with layers of fruit and terroir notes, which seamlessly blended and harmonized beautifully together. This is one of those wines that will benefit from some time in the cellar and can be enjoyed over the next decade. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: April 2019

2015 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles

Score: 94+ Points

Location: Burgundy, France

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

This gorgeous white Burgundy took some time to open as it was a little closed to start; however, when it opened I was graced with a floral bouquet of citrus blossoms, apricot, pear, apple, vanilla, soft spice, smoky minerals, and honey. The wine was plush yet crisp with a focused acidity that gave way to a palate painted with hints of apple, pear, lemon, orange zest, toast, bees wax, and soft minerals. The wine is nicely layered with divine fruit and elegant terroir notes that dance beautifully together. There is a lovely creaminess to this wine that balances the bright acidity and gives harmony to the wine. The wine needs another few years in the cellar but should drink nicely over the next decade. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: April 2019

2006 Palazzo Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Score: 92 Points

Location: Tuscany, Italy

Blend: 100% Sangiovese

This opaque red wine had hints of bricking at the edge and a lovely bouquet of plum, blackberries, black cherries, licorice, exotic spices, dusty brown earth, leather, cola, and smoldering oak. The wine was full bodied with rounded supple tannins that gave way to notes of plum, wild dark berry fruits, anise seeds, licorice, graham cracker pie crust, dusty minerals, and toasted oak. The wine is beautifully balanced and gives off a rustic elegance with harmonious layers of fruit and earth. The wine is drinking perfectly right now and is in its plateau of maturity. Recommended!

Tasted: May 2019

2004 Chateau Palmer

Score: 94 Points

Classification: Third Growth in 1855

Location: Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 47% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot

This deep dark reddish purple wine had a mesmerizing bouquet of blackberries, plums, currants, chocolate, cigar box, truffles, violets, soft spice, and toasted oak. The wine is full bodied with supple tannins that give way to a sumptuous palate painted with notes of black fruits, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco, iron, sweet cedar, and dusty earth. The wine is magnificently powerful yet holds grace and sophistication, with complex layers of harmonious fruit and earth. This is an expressive wine that has a beautiful richness and is in its drinking window now; however, the wine is showing no signs of decline, and has the ability to continue cellaring for another decade. Highly Recommended! 

Tasted: May 2019

2004 Chateau Pavie

Score: 95 Points

Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classe A in 2012

Location: St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine has improved immensely since I last tasted it in December of 2014; thus, patience has rewarded me! Wafting from my glass was a rip bouquet of blackberries, cassis fruit, violets, licorice, graphite, coffee, soft minerals, herbs, cocoa, truffles, and sweet smoky oak. The wine was medium ++ in body with velvety tannins that gave way to a rustic chic palate painted with hints of plum, blackberries, black cherries, chocolate, crushed limestone, dried dusty clay, exotic spices, roasted herbs, and toasted oak. The wine is complex with lavish layers of robust dark fruits and delightful terroir notes that integrated seamlessly together. This wine is in its drinking window and showing strikingly well right now; thus, it is showing no signs of going into decline anytime soon. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: May 2019

1990 Château Mouton Rothschild

Score: 90 Points

Classification: First Growth in 1973

Location: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot

The wine had a mature bouquet of blackberries, cherries, strawberries, sandalwood incense, leafy tobacco, roasted herbs, forest floor, soft spice, and toasted oak. The wine was medium + bodied with dissipating tannins that gave way to a palate enriched with hints of raspberries, red cherry, strawberries, cassis fruit, truffles, dusty minerals, herbs, licorice, tobacco, and oak. The wine lacked depth and was somewhat underwhelming, yet still a very pleasant wine to enjoy. The wines layers of fruit and earth are unified but lack concentration and energy; thus, the wine is quite elegant and beautify poised while maintaining a lack of power or backbone. Overall this wine is a disappointment when taking the pedigree and price into consideration. 

Tasted: May 2019

2007 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Hattenheimer Mannberg Riesling Spätlese Blaukapsel

Score: 92 Points

Location: Rheingau, Germany

Blend: 100% Riesling

This beautiful light gold colored wine had a luscious bouquet of candied white plum, apples, lychee, lemon zest, white flowers, honey, spice, and wet stone. The wine had refreshingly crisp acidity that unified nicely with a palate painted in hints of apricot, apple, fresh herbs, sweet honey, and crushed minerals. The wine has aged perfectly and is in a splendid spot for drinking right now. There is a lovely layering to this wine of profuse stone fruits and mouth-watering terroir notes. The wine has a sweet finish that was balanced with savory minerals and a touch of wet slate. Recommended!

Tasted: May 2019

 2014 Stone Edge Farm Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 

Score: 93 Points

Location: Sonoma Valley, California

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine was robust with ripe blackberries, black raspberries, crème de cassis, sage, minerals, and toasted oak. The wine is full bodied with plush tannins that paint the palate with concentrated blackberries, cassis fruit, black raspberries, toasted sage, baking spices, crushed gravel, iron, and sweet oak. This wine is beautifully balanced and complex with lavish layers of dark ripe fruits, toasted herbs, sweet baking spices, and supple dust terroir notes. The wine is elegant yet displays straight with a reserved boldness. This wine is approachable now but should continue evolving and maturing nicely for those with the patience to cellar it. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

2013 Stone Edge Farm Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Score: 96 Points

Location: Sonoma Valley, California

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine had an alluring bouquet of violets, ripe blackberries, cassis fruit, fig, bitter chocolate, exotic spices, minerals, and toasted oak. This wine is full bodied with plush rounded tannins that give way to a luxurious palate displaying harmonious layers of ripe blackberries, fig, raspberries, baking chocolate, burnt sugar, herbs, spices, wet asphalt, and smoldering sweet oak. The wine is complex with a concentrated backbone of ripe fruits that are enveloped by the polished sophistication of the supple terroir notes. The wine finishes with a dark blackberry note and hints of crème brulee that linger on the palate. The wine is still showing quite youthful and should continue evolving nicely over the next decade. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

 2016 Three Sticks Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay 

Score: 95 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

The wine has a wonderful bouquet of warm apples, pineapple, guava, lychee, orange blossoms, cinnamon, vanilla, and salted caramel. This wine has a nice weight to it that coats the palate with a crisp acidity that gives way to hints of soft tropical fruits, lemon curd, French toast, crushed gravel, brine, and a light kiss of sweet oak. The wine is complex with sexy layers of tropical fruits that blend beautifully with the sweet baking spices and crisp minerals. There is an elegance and sophistication to this wine while holding onto its robustness. The wine has a nice tartness that balances out the cinnamon toast and French toast notes that linger on the finish in a luxuriously restrained way. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

2006 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram

Score: 94 Points

Location: Napa Valley, California

Blend: 87% Chardonnay, 13% Pinot Noir

This beautiful light gold wine had an expressive bouquet of baked apples, warm pears, pineapple, guava, pressed ginger, cinnamon, salted caramel, minerals, and toasted almonds. The wine is medium bodied with integrated acidity that gives way to a creamy palate drenched with notes of  cinnamon apple,  tart pear, mango, guava, almond liquor,  smoke, lemon curd, and bright minerals. The wine is complex with layers of tropical and orchard fruits that swim in smoky sweet baking spices with a touch of honey on the finish. The wine is in its plateau of maturity and drinking wonderfully right now. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

2017 Trombetta Family Wines Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay

Score: 94 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

The wine has a beautifully expressive floral bouquet of white flowers, baked apples, pears, toasted popcorn, cut herbs, bees wax, crushed gravel, and candied walnuts. The wine was exquisitely balanced and had a plush acidity that lent harmony to a luxuriously painted palate with notes of orchard fruits, fig, crushed gravel, salted caramel, almonds, citrus oil, and earthy minerals. There is a nice depth and complexity of layering to this wine that I found quite alluring. The wine is solid with stunning finesse and truly showcases the beautiful terroir of the Petaluma Gap AVA. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

2012 Trombetta Family Wines Sonoma Coast Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir

Score: 97 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

This seductive beauty had an enticing bouquet of black raspberries, blackberries, blueberry pie crust, wet river rocks, anise spice, forest floor, vanilla, and toasted cedar. The wine is medium ++ in body with gripping tannins that give way to a brilliantly layered palate showing hints of juicy wild berries, blackberries, cranberries, wet minerals, damp forest floor, exotic spices, toffee, and toasted oak. The wine is sexy and generous with complex layers of fruit and earth that unify with a captivating depth and balance that is exquisite. The wine is strikingly still youthfully and should continue evolving nicely for those with the patience to cellar it. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

2015 Mauritson Wines “Loam” Cabernet Sauvignon

Score: 96 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Positas, Suther, and Clough Vineyards; thus, these single vineyards are extremely prized by the Mauritson Family for their unique and coveted soil types. The wine had a robust bouquet of blackberries, cassis fruit, blueberries, caramel, gram cracker pie crust, dried sage, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with gripping but plush tannins that painted the palate with a brilliantly stirring array of delectable blackberries, concentrated cassis fruit, blueberries, dusty chalky minerals, wet gravel, iron, herbs, soft spice, and toasted oak. The wine is elegant with complex layers that seamlessly bleed into one another, leaving you with a lavishly empowered finish balanced with plush dark fruit and supple terroir notes. This wine is still quite youthful and can easily be cellared for a decade; thus, it should mature nicely and reward those with patience. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

 2015 Mauritson Wines “Clough” Cabernet Sauvignon 

Score: 94 Points

Location: Sonoma County, California

Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

This beautiful dark wine had a lovely bouquet of cassis fruit, blackberries, salted caramel, chocolate cake mix, sage, tobacco, black tea, violets, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with gripping tannins that gave way to a luxurious palate painted with notes of concentrated dark berry fruits, wet gravel, soft herbs, savory spices, dusty cocoa powder, and sweet toasted oak. The wine is complex with luscious layers of fruit and earth that play perfectly together. There is boldness to this wine without being ostentatious; thus, it maintains an elegance and sophistication that blanket the strength and power of this wine. This wine is approachable now, but will reward those with the patience to cellar it for another 5 to 8 years. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: June 2019

1997 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich  Auslese

Score: 94 Points

Location: Mosel, Germany

Blend: 100% Riesling

This beautiful golden wine had an elegant bouquet of fresh cut herbs, crushed slate, candied orchard fruits, baking spices, poached pears, smoke, brine, citrus, and a hint of petrol. The wine had a nice sweetness but not too overly done, as the medium to high acidity brilliantly balanced the wine and gave way to a palate painted with hints of ripe pears, peaches, nectarines, crushed slate, herbs, soft spices, salted honey, bee wax, and a touch of smokiness. The wine was showing incredibly youthful, with its complex layers of ripe orchard fruits that seamlessly harmonized with the supple terroir notes. The wine is showing no signs of going into decline, but is drinking outstandingly right now! Highly Recommended!

Tasted: September 2019 

2015 Château Phélan Ségur

Score: 94 Points

Location: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot

This beautiful dark wine had a lovely bouquet of blackberries, cherries, cassis fruit, sage, saddle leather, espresso, chocolate, iron, graphite, and toasted oak. The wine was medium ++ in body with rounded tannins that gave way to a sexy palate with hints of black currants, blackberries, raspberries, led pencil, soft herbs, mocha, dusty minerals, savory spices, and toasted oak. The wine is textured with delightful layers of rich fruits and supple terroir notes. There is poetry to this wine as it is complex with layers that harmonize and play perfectly together. The wine has an alluring bold core that is sophisticated and restrained with beauty and elegance.  This wine is truly an infant; thus, I anticipate it will reach its window of maturity in another 5 to 8 years. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: September 2019

2012 Château Phélan Ségur

Score: 92 Points

Location: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot

This wine offered an expressive bouquet with aromas of violets, rose peddles, black cherries, currants, fig, blackberries, tobacco, sage, paprika, salted vanilla, leather, soft spices, and toasted oak. The wine was medium ++ in body with rounded tannins that painted the palate with bold ripe blackberries, black cherries, cassis fruit, leafy herbs, spices, brined minerals, dusty earth, and smoldering oak. The wine was nicely layered with bold fruits and supple terroir notes that danced and played perfectly together. There is a core of boldness that is restrained with elegance and sophistication; thus, there is a seamless harmony to this wine. The wine is just now approaching its window of maturity and is drinking excellent right now! Highly Recommended!

Tasted: September 2019

2016 Château La Tour Carnet

Score: 91 Points

Classification: Fourth Growth in 1855

Location: Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 62% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc

The wine had a deep red color with hues of purple and a captivating bouquet of blackberries, cherries, plums, black tea, tobacco, baking spices, iron, vanilla, and sweet toasted oak. The wine was medium + in body with gripping tannins that gave way to a welcoming finish displaying hint of cherries, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla, savory spices, brine, iron, baking chocolate, and charred oak. The wine was elegant on the palate with layers of fruit and earth that unified beautifully together. The wine needs time to evolve and should become more approachable in another two years or so, but has the potential to be cellared for another decade and a half. This is a really nice wine for the price and is a great value. Recommended!

Tasted: September 2019

2003 Château Mouton Rothschild

Score: 96 Points

Classification: First Growth in 1973

Location: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdo

This beautiful deep dark sumptuous beauty had a concentrated bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, cassis fruit, black currants, licorice, vanilla, caramel, toffee, mocha, graphite, cinnamon, sandalwood, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with rounded tannins that gripped the palate with layers of dark luscious berry fruits, baking spices, tobacco, savory silt nuances, iron, vanilla, and toasted oak. The wine has a plethora of flavors that harmonize and balance perfectly together. There is a sophistication and elegance to this wine that keeps its powerful backbone balanced, and giving way to its complex gamut. This is truly a lovely wine that seemed more reminiscence of Napa Valley than it did Bordeaux, as there is boldness to the dark fruit that overtakes the terroir notes and lets the fruit lead. The wine is still showing quite youthful; thus, has the potential to cellar for another two decades. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: November 2019

1996 Gaja Barbaresco

Score: 93 Points

Location: Piedmont, Italy

Blend: 100% Nebbiolo

This alluring red wine had a rich bouquet of violets, plum, black cherries, black raspberries, black tea, dried tobacco, leather, truffles, minerals, and sweet smoldering oak. The wine was full bodied with firm tannins that seduced the palate and gave way to flavors of cherry liqueur, raspberry jam, cassis fruit, black tea, dried herbs, spices, bitter tar, truffle, earthy minerals, and sweet oak. The wine is complex with refined but rustic layers of fruit and earth that blend beautifully together and are nicely balanced. The wine is still holding onto some youthful notes; however, I feel this wine is nearing the beginning of its decline. Recommended!

Tasted: November 2019

2007 Tyrrell's Wines Vat 1 Hunter Sémillon 

Score: 96 Points

Location: Hunter Valley, Australia

Blend: 100% Semillon 

The wine had a soft golden straw color with green hues that danced beautifully in the glass. The wine had a restrained pungent bouquet of lemons, pineapple, green apple, lychee, poached pears, green slate, wet river rocks, straw, beeswax, and orange blossoms. The wine was crisp on the palate with medium acidity and a gorgeous palate painted with hints of lemon grass, mango, white peach, tart orange, wet river rocks, crushed minerals, light citrus oil, and soft honeysuckle on the finish. The wine was stunningly delicious with lovely layers of fruit and earth that were collectively balanced. The wine is showing no signs of going into decline and came across quite youthful. Extremely Highly Recommended!

Tasted: November 2019

 1989 Château Léoville Poyferré 

Score: 96 Points

Classification: Second Growth in 1855

Location: St. Julien, Bordeaux, France

Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 9% Petit verdot, 2 % Cabernet franc

This deep reddish purple wine had a marvelous bouquet of plums, cassis fruit, blackberries, black raspberries, leather, salted caramel, iron, graphite, tobacco, damp earth, herbs, and toasted oak. The wine was full bodied with rounded tannins that gave way to a velvety plush palate painted with hints of blackberries, black raspberries, blueberries, caramel, smoked herbs, tobacco, wet earthy minerals, and smoldering oak. The wine is complex with supple terroir notes that intertwine and harmonize beautifully with the dark fruits. There is elegant power and sophistication to this wine, as it is splendidly balanced. The wine needed time to open up in order to display its marvelous and bountiful beauty. This wine is in its plateau of maturity but has the longevity to continue cellaring for another decade. Highly Recommended!

Tasted: December 2019