The 2019 Faurie de Souchard is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. There is a feeling of exuberance in the 2019 that is absolutely irresistible. Succulent dark cherry, mocha, cedar, tobacco, licorice, dried herbs and...

Deep, dense purple/red colour, with concentrated chocolate and plum aromas and flavours, a fair degree of oak but not overdone, and a trace of reduction on the early nose. Dense, powerful, concentrated but all things in...

This wine substantially overdelivers on its price point, presenting a dark fruit profile, generous tannin and oak, and an expansive full-bodied style. Blended with 8% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it is...

Even more prodigious is the 2014 LMV Salon. Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc from the sandy Bale Loam soils of the 110 acres Larkmead possesses, it is a bigger boy at 14.9% alcohol but shows lots...

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Generations is one of the flagship releases and comes from three vineyards, two in St. Helena and one in Oakville. It’s 100% Cabernet and was raised in 59% new French oak. This richly textured...

As with almost all of the Syrahs here, the 2020 Syrah The Deal was not destemmed, saw an extended maceration, and spent 18 months in 40% new French puncheons. Deep ruby/purple-hued, it has an incredibly floral perfume of...

A blend of 58% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Optimus has a deep ruby color and a deep core of red and black cherries, chargrill, thyme, charcuterie and desiccated violet. The full-bodied...

The 2019 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard is a blend of all the blocks with 11 different clones, and the result of a barrel selection. Medium ruby-purple in color, it gallops out with notes of pomegranate, redcurrant jelly...

I tasted the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley about a month after it was bottled, but it doesn't seem to matter—it bursts from the glass with generous pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry preserves aromas and accents of...

Aromas of bark, dark cherries and flowers, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with purity of fruit that runs the length of the wine. It goes on for minutes. Very fine tannins. From organically grown grapes. Needs three or...

The Doc's Ranch, as Ross explains, sits just on the other side of a ridgeline from the Coastlands Vineyard, it benefits from the southeastern exposure, and the coastal winds are buffetted by the ridgeline. A stunning...

The limited production 2009 Haut-Brisson Reserve ratchets up everything from the color (inky purple) to the aromatics flavor profile and long full-bodied finish. This is a brilliant St.-Emilion that tastes like it came...

The 2021 Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch opens with deep tones of pomegranate and rhubarb before releasing notes of fir leaves, garrigue and earth. The light-bodied palate is velvety and seamlessly fresh, with a weightless yet...

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Grand Corbin-Despagne is made from 75% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Notions of plum preserves, baked cherries, and dried mulberries spring from the glass...

A polished and reserved Castello with cherry, orange-peel and chocolate aromas and flavors. Tight and round-tannined, in a very subtle and curated way. The precision in this wine is impressive. Needs time to open. Try...

Grand-Puy Ducasse 2015 is medium to deep garnet in color. It slips slowly and sensuously out of the glass with notes of blackcurrant preserves, warm plums, and mulberries plus hints of baking spices, potpourri and bay...

The 2020 Paixar is the one wine from the portfolio that is completely different from the others and comes from high-altitude vineyards in the zone of Dragonte on slate soils. In 2020 and 2021 they used the whole field...

The 2018 Barolo Gramolere is the most linear and intensely aromatic of the three 2018 Barolos in the range. It offers up an exciting mix of bright red fruit intermingled with scents of leather, iron, dried herbs and white...