|
Senejac 2005
- SKU
- 4666
Haut Medoc. An attractive, reasonably priced offering, the 2005 Senejac exhibits subtle aromas of roasted herbs interwoven with scents of cedar, fruitcake, black currants, and cherries. Medium-bodied and slightly tannic, it will provide savory drinking over the next 10-12 years. Wine Advocate # 176 Apr 2008 Robert Parker 88 Drink: 2008 - 2020
Starting in 2005, the luxury cuvee, Karolus, will no longer be made as the proprietors believe they have raised the level of Senejac to that of a luxury wine. The 10,000-case 2005, made by well-known oenologist, Jacques Boissenot (a disciple of the late Emile Peynaud), is the finest I have yet tasted. Its saturated ruby/purple color is accompanied by rich aromas of licorice, forest floor, blackberries, and chocolate-infused black currants. This medium-bodied, moderately tannic, rich wine is clearly of classified-growth quality. It will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and last for 12-14 years. Wine Advocate # 164 Apr 2006 Robert Parker (90-92) Drink: 2008 - 2020 more
|
Price:
$69.99
|
|
|
Smith-Haut-Lafitte 2003
- SKU
- 5175
Pessac Leognan. The opulent, accessible 2003 offers a dense plum/ruby-tinged color and a big, sweet bouquet of creme de cassis, smoked herbs, lead pencil, and subtle wood. It is a deep, fleshy, medium to full-bodied offering with low acidity, a plump, opulent texture, and a heady finish. Enjoy this beauty over the next 15+ years. Wine Advocate # 164; Apr 2006 Robert Parker 92 Drink 2006 - 2021
Broad, expansive, and more forward in style than usual, this deep ruby/purple-colored wine offers aromas of scorched earth, espresso roast, sweet plum and black currant fruit, and a hint of white chocolate. Full-bodied, with elegance allied with fleshy tobacco and spice box notes, it is a chewy, fleshy, attractive, pure example of Smith-Haut-Lafitte. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. An estate run impeccably by the Cathiard family, Smith-Haut-Lafitte has been one of the bright shining stars of Bordeaux since the mid-1990s. Wine Advocate # 158; Apr 2005 Robert Parker (90-93) Drink 2007 - 2020 more
|
Price:
$129.99
|
|
|
Smith-Haut-Lafitte 2005
- SKU
- 4608
Pessac Leognan. This is another uncompromisingly made, gorgeous effort from Smith-Haut-Lafitte, a property that has done everything right since the new owners took over in 1990. The 2005's dense blue/purple color is accompanied by aromas of lead pencil shavings, espresso roast, blue and black fruits, and violets. Rich and dense with good acidity, high but sweet tannin, and an underlying minerality that is a characteristic of a top Graves, this beauty will require 5-7 years of cellaring, and should keep for three decades or more. Drink 2012 - 2037 Wine Advocate # 170; Apr 2007 Robert Parker (93-95)
I know it sounds like a broken record, but this may be the best Smith-Haut-Lafitte ever made. A prodigious effort, the 2005 boasts an inky/blue/purple color, sweet aromas of graphite, white chocolate, espresso, and blue, red, and black fruits, extraordinary density, moderately high tannin, medium body, fabulous layers, and an enticing texture. However, it comes across as delicate and fresh because of its acidity. This ageworthy Graves should last for 25-30+ years. Drink 2006 - 2036. Wine Advocate # 164 Apr 2006 Robert Parker (93-95) more
|
Price:
$199.99
|
|
|
Smith-Haut-Lafitte 2008
- SKU
- 5670
The 2008 Smith-Haut-Lafitte, which is somewhat reminiscent of the brilliant 1998, exhibits sweet cassis, tobacco leaf, earth, and barbecue characteristics in its complex aromatics. The wine reveals ripe, supple tannin, medium to full body, gorgeous fruit, impeccable purity, and a luscious texture. It should be relatively approachable in its youth, and last for 25+ years. The final composition was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. As I have noted so many times in the past, since the early nineties, Daniel and Florence Cathiard have done a remarkable job resurrecting this once insipidly run estate. Wine Advocate # 182 Apr 2009 Robert Parker (93-95) Drink: 2009 - 2034
more
|
Price:
$199.99
Bottles in stock: 6
|
|
|
Sociando Mallet 2006
- SKU
- 3884
This classic wine is built for long-term aging (the French expression is vin de garde). A saturated purple color is followed by an extraordinary nose of graphite, cold steel, black currant jam, and a subtle truffle/earthy note. Powerful with highly extracted richness, high tannins, and the concentration necessary to stand up to the wine’s structure, it will require 7-10 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades thereafter. Robert Parker 90-92
Sweet and admirably open and simple. Dry start and pretty dry throughout with less fruit intensity than usual. Can’t see this being wine of the vintage... but there is good freshness. Jancis Robinson MW 16 more
|
Price:
$99.99
Bottles in stock: 4
|
|
|
Teyssier 2003
- SKU
- 4347
A good, medium-bodied, accessible St.-Emilion, Teyssier is the estate from which the limited production cuvees of Forge and Le Dome emanate. This elegant, fruity, straightforward offering reveals fine depth, purity, and balance. It should drink well for 5-7 years. Wine Advocate #152 (Apr 2004) Robert Parker (85-87) points Drink 2004-2011 more
|
Price:
$56.99
|
|
|
Troplong Mondot 2000
- SKU
- 862
Combining remarkable elegance allied to considerable power and depth, this is the finest wine from Troplong Mondot since the staggeringly great 1990. Its saturated purple color is followed by aromas of ink, creme de cassis, graphite, and toasty oak. Full-bodied and powerful, with excellent balance, this is a wine of extraordinary richness and massiveness yet surreal freshness as well as vibrancy. The finish lasts for over 45 seconds and nearly conceals some hefty tannins. With fabulous definition, richness, and intensity, this is a compelling 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2026. Wine Advocate; Robert Parker; 95 Pointsmore
|
Price:
$299.99
|
|
|
Troplong Mondot 2007
- SKU
- 5207
A brilliant 2007 from proprietor Christine Valette, this blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from yields of 27.5 hectoliters per hectare, and hit 13.5% natural alcohol. An inky/blue/purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of acacia flowers, blueberries, blackberry liqueur, graphite, and smoke. As the wine sits in the glass, it blossoms beautifully to display a raspberry-infused, rich personality with tremendous opulence, a layered mouthfeel, elegance, superb purity, sweet tannins, and low acidity. Drink this beauty now and over the next 10-15 years. Robert Parker
more
|
Price:
$169.99
Bottles in stock: 6
|
|
|
Troplong Mondot 2008
- SKU
- 4624
What a worthy rival to the prodigious 2005! This is another superb success from proprietress Christine Valette, but it is distressing to hear that this property may be up for sale. The inky/blue/purple-colored, formidably concentrated 2008 exhibits aromas of smoke, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, roasted coffee, and spice box. Boasting fabulous fruit and purity, a multilayered texture, full body, and prominent, but sweet, well-integrated tannin, this is a tour de force in winemaking from an outstanding and a perfectionist proprietor. Give it 5-6 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following three decades. Wine Advocate # 182 Apr 2009 Robert Parker (95-97) Drink: 2014 - 2044
more
|
Price:
$219.99
Bottles in stock: 11
|
|
|
Trotanoy 2008
- SKU
- 189
The greatest Trotanoy since 1998, 1982 and 1961? I always thought the 1998 was the modern day reference for this estate after 1982, but the amazing 2008 appears to be even denser and richer with higher, yet even sweeter tannin. It should prove to be a monumental wine as well as a legend in the making. Its inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a sensational bouquet of liquid earth intermixed with exceptional quantities of red and black fruits as well as hint of ink. Very dense, full-bodied, muscular, and massive, but in spite of some impressive grip and tannin, everything is gorgeously integrated because of the extraordinarily long maceration period of the grapes on the vine. Full-bodied and phenomenally concentrated with a prodigious sweetness and layered mouthfeel, this is unquestionably one of the vintage’s superstars. It should evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to Christian Moueix and his new oenologist, Eric Murisasco. Wine Advocate # 182; Apr 2009 Robert Parker (96-100) Drink: 2009 - 2039
more
|
Price:
$399.99
Bottles in stock: 2
|
|
|
Vieux Chateau Certan 2008
- SKU
- 4625
The 2008 Vieux Chateau Certan was still going through * malolactics when I tasted it, so my score is probably on the low side. Yields were a strikingly low 34 hectoliters per hectare, and the harvest was slightly earlier than at most properties, starting on September 28 and ending on October 8. The final blend had not yet been determined, but what I tasted was 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. As one might expect, this wine was among the least evolved and judge-able wines I tasted in late March. Nevertheless, it reveals outstanding potential, and once malo is finished, I would expect the wine to put on more weight and flesh. It reveals a dense purple color, plenty of depth, beautiful sweet, pure blue and red fruits, and notes of camphor as well as incense. The wine's striking freshness, length, and overall potential are promising. Production is off by 25% as there will be 3,000 rather than the normal 4,000 cases of the 2008.Given the structure, acids, and overall concentration, this wine should evolve for 25-35 years. Score: 92-94 Robert Parker, eRobertParker.com
more
|
Price:
$299.99
Bottles in stock: 2
|
|
|
Villa Bel-Air 2005
- SKU
- 4616
Graves. Mid healthy crimson. Full, ripe - almost rudely ripe - fruit. Extremely sweet and lively with some new plantings in the late 1980s coming on stream now. Notable acidity and a bit of tealeaf character but not quite as winning as I have found it in some other vintages. Drink 2010-14. 15.5/20 points. Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
Blackberry, spice and light tobacco. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a chewy finish. Good fruit. 85-88 points. James Suckling, WineSpectator.com more
|
Price:
$49.99
Bottles in stock: 1
|
|
|
de Fonbel 2008
- SKU
- 4566
65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Carmenère. Dark. Intriguing and exotic nose. Very racy and very dry finish. Muscular and lots of acidity. Needs time. Lots of fresh energy. Wait! Dry finish. Score: 16.5 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com
Crushed blackberries with hints of fresh flowers follow through to a full body, with a good concentration of fruit and silky tannins. Medium finish. Merlot, with 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Petit Verdot and 5 percent Carmenère. Score: 87-90 James Suckling, WineSpectator.commore
|
Price:
$59.99
Bottles in stock: 20
|
|
|
d’Aiguilhe 2008
- SKU
- 1517
A sleeper of the vintage as well as a great bargain, this effort from Stefan von Neipperg's empire is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Like so many of his wines, the grapes are hand-harvested in small plastic containers, there is strict temperature control, a month-long maceration, a Burgundian punch down (pigeage), malolactic takes place in oak, and the wine is aged sur-lie. An inky/purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of crushed rocks, black raspberries, and blueberries, sensational intensity, sweet, but high tannins, good acidity, and amazing length, especially for a wine of this pedigree. It should drink nicely for a decade. Score: 90-92 Robert Parker, eRobertParker.com
From the Canon La Gaffelière stable. Bright black cherry aromas - quite unusual for 2008! Polished tannins. Quite gamey. Pretty worked. But lots of potential. Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.commore
|
Price:
$79.99
Bottles in stock: 2
|
|
|
d’Yquem 750ml 2008
- SKU
- 80
Quiet on the nose. More spiced pear and apricot than orange. Lovely concentration. Spiced power, depth and quite warm on the finish. Fresh in a powerful rather than a delicate way. Dense and long. Rich and well integrated oak though there's lots of spice all the way through. A less delicate style than many in this vintage. Score: 18 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com
Coming in with 139 degrees residual sugar and a pH of 4.75, this is an Yquem that is unequivocally top of the pile in 2008. A light straw color with green tints in the glass. The bouquet is just wonderful, very perfumed with aromas of apricot, acacia honey and white flowers. A degree less clarity than the 2007, but perhaps more nuanced, more honeyed. The palate is a little more viscous than the 2007, lacquers the mouth with honey, apricot and orange zest. Very harmonious, the finish vibrant and edgy, real tension and energy in this Yquem. Very focused on the finish - not the "peacocks" tail of flavors that one finds on truly great vintages. But there is a surreal level of elegance and poise - an understated Yquem that should age effortlessly and returning to the glass it graces you with hints of almond and a dash of spice. In 2008, the king is king. P.S. RMP rated this blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon (94-96). Score: 95-97 Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com (182)more
|
Price:
$799.99
Bottles in stock: 14
|
|