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2012 WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100: #31
2009
Castello di Monsanto
Chianti Classico
Riserva
Tuscany
"A powerful and opulent style, this red displays ripe cherry, black currant, violet and tobacco aromas and flavors. The tannins are gripping on the finish, which lingers with sweet fruit and mineral accents. Well-proportioned. Best from 2014 through 2021. 22,000 cases made." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 92 pts.
"The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva is striking. Succulent dark cherries, flowers, mint and licorice burst from the glass in this exuberant, sexy Riserva. The tannins are nearly buried by the opulent fruit, but the wine retains great balance, while avoiding any sense of heaviness. The 2009 captures the heat and richness of the year while never abandoning its classic sense of structure. This is a superb wine from Monsanto with plenty of upside potential. Sweet floral notes add an elegant, feminine touch to the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. This is a solid set of new releases from Monsanto. I also retasted the 2007 Il Poggio and Nemo, but found the wines essentially the same as I did last year, which is to say well below the benchmark that has been set at this historic estate." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
"Deep red. A hint of game complements aromas of fresh flowers and spicy red cherry. Supple and sweet, with brisk acidity framing the dark fruit and licorice flavors. For such a fresh wine, this boasts impressive texture and breadth. Finishes with very good balance and lift." (IWC)
International Wine Cellar: 92 pts.
"A dense and solid Chianti Classico from a traditional producer that delivers a wine with chewy tannins and fruit, yet balanced and refined. Give it a year or two to open and soften." (JS)
James Suckling: 93
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NEW RELEASE!!
2010
La Sirena
Pirate Treasured Red
Napa Valley
"The 2010 Pirate Treasured capture the pedigree of the vintage. Dark plums, black cherries, menthol, savory herds, flowers and licorice all make an appearance. The 2010 stands out for its delineation and chiseled, vibrant expression of fruit. Deeply layered and sensual, the 2010 is a wine where all the elements come together effortlessly. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. I always enjoy tasting the wines Heidi Barrett makes under her La Sirena label. At their best, the wines have a whimsical, child-like exuberance that is impossible to miss." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 94 pts.
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CHILE, THAT'S RIGHT MALBEC NOT FROM ARGENTINA
2010
Vina Montes
Alpha Malbec
Colchagua Valley
"The 2010 Montes Alpha Malbec is the debut offering in the Alpha range and the fruit is sourced from both the original vineyards in Colchagua and their coastal vineyards. The nose is clean and pure with scents of raspberry, cedar, tobacco and clay-like aromas. It is understated and attractive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grainy tannins, crisp acidity and fine delineation. There is something Old World about this Malbec, but it has that elusive quality of personality and there is great vibrancy and tension on the finish. This forms a commendable debut. Drink now-2016. Montes was founded in 1987 and became one of the first wineries to exploit the hillsides to make premium Chilean wine, most notably in the Apalta Valley. It was also the first winery to cultivate Syrah in Colchagua. The winery eschews pumps and is built around gravity transfer, while the entire design is based around the Chinese concept of feng shui. Below lies the semi-circular cellar that houses up to 800 new French oak barrels, enjoying the Gregorian chants while they mature the wine. Despite the impressive facilities and quasi-ecclesiastical karma, Aurelio firmly believes that great wine is made in the vineyard rather than the winery. Still, when I questioned him about whether he is revising his modus operandi, he replied that, at least apropos his Chardonnay, like many in South America, he is decreasing the amount of oak in the wines while lifting the malolactic. This was generally a well turned out portfolio of wines that were far more consistent than others I tasted of similar size. While Montes is not beyond criticism, the entry-level wines represent a perfect introduction to Chilean wine at astoundingly good prices, while the premium bottles offer wines that should repay cellaring." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 92 pts.
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YET ANOTHER LAWC "FIND"
100% Merlot
2010
Chateau de la Cour d' Argent
Bordeaux Superieur
"Dark and winey, this flirts with overripe, as the plum skin, raisin, fig and blackberry notes meld together. There's a good tangy roasted mesquite edge and dark spice pumping through the finish, but the raisiny edge on the finish is pushing it a bit. Drink now through 2015." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 87 pts.
"The 2010 Cours d'Argent is 100% Merlot, bottled unfined and unfiltered, which is unusual at this price point and level of Bordeaux. It tips the scales at 13.5% alcohol, so it is obviously made from ripe fruit. Dense ruby with notes of berry fruit, some sweet herbs and white chocolate, this heady, straightforward wine should drink nicely for another several years." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 86 pts.
"This is 100 percent Merlot. A firm and solid red with blackberry and mineral character. Silky tannins. Great value as always." (JS)
James Suckling: (89-90)
HEARTY, MOST PLEASANT RED BORDEAUX FOR $12.95
2010 CHATEAU de la COUR D'ARGENT, BDX. SUPERIEUR
Though I've tasted this wine from a half-dozen vintages or so this 2010 and the proceeding 2009 were the finest yet. The 2010 is a directly appealing, rich Bordeaux with noticeable, but not unattractive earthy overtones. Usual price is around $16 to $19 a bottle with L.A. Wine Company having it on special for under $13.00. In describing the wine, I can do no better then quote Robert Parker (himself), when he states, that, "I tasted this wine twice during my visit to Bordeaux and on each occasion it was a beauty. Made from 100% Merlot planted in clay and limestone soils and aged in old oak, it is an attractive, chubby, delicious, young Bordeaux bursting with raspberry and black cherry fruit. With admirable purity as well as a nice texture, it is the type of wine that Bordeaux needs to make more frequently, as it is unmistakably Bordeaux in taste and textural/aromatic profile. It also represents a great value. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years."
RATING: 89
PRICE: $12.95, *** bargain
WHERE: Los Angeles Wine Co.
(Martin's Guide to Wine Bargains)
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NEW ARRIVAL!!
2006
Antucura
Gran Vin
Proprietary Red
Uco Valley, Mendoza
"Antucura's 2006 Gran Vin is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, and 5% Merlot (in consultation with Michel Rolland) and was aged in new French oak for 16 months. Medium purple in color, it offers up an alluring perfume of wood smoke, cherry blossom, incense, Asian spices, cassis, boysenberry, and black cherry. Concentrated on the palate with layered fruit and potential complexity, this impeccably balanced effort will unfold for several more years and provide pleasure through 2020." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 92 pts.
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NEW ARRIVAL!
2008
John Duval
Plexus
Red Blend
Barossa Valley
"Bright and jazzy, with a smoky edge to the tart blackberry and cherry flavors, picking up a licorice note on the finish. Has complexity and balance, and cellaring should bring it all together. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2012 through 2018. 1,000 cases imported." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 90 pts.
"The 2008 Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre is a decidedly Shiraz dominant version of this classic blend. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives an abundance of Indian spice aromas -cumin seed, fenugreek and cloves - over raspberry cordial, preserved blackberry, dusty earth, powdered cinnamon and moss covered tree bark. The full-bodied palate displays the elegance of this blend in its effortless harmony, offering a medium-high level of very fine tannins, crisp acid and ample opulent flesh with a long finish. Drink it now to 2018+." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93+ pts.
"($40; 53% shiraz, 26% grenache and 21% mourvedre) Inky ruby. Expressive black raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by black and white pepper and incense. A floral note comes up air and carries onto the palate, joining sweet red and dark berry preserve flavors and undertones of anise and candied rose. A hint of candied flowers lingers on a very long, sappy finish. I'd have no problem drinking this now. For a wine from a ripe vintage this is quite elegant." (IWC)
International Wine Cellar: 93 pts.
"For the past several years, Duval's Plexus has been remarkably consistent in quality. The only indication here that 2008 was a difficult vintage (because of the heat) is this wine's creamy immediacy, which suggests early consumption (now-2015). The blackberry fruit is fresh and briary, spiced with hints of cedar and vanilla; lush and long on the finish. -J.C. (10/1/2010)" (WE)
Wine Enthusiast: 90 pts.
"Finely polished and measured, with a spicy bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, dark plums and seasoned oak backed by scents of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Underpinned by silky tannins, it's round and juicy, smooth and evenly paced, with a vibrant core of wild, briary fruit becoming a little more currant-like and baked towards the finish." (JO)
Jeremy Oliver on Australian Wine: 90 pts.
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NEW ARRIVAL!!
2011
Errazuriz
Chardonnay
Wild Ferment
Casablanca Valley
"The 2011 Wild Ferment Chardonnay sourced from Aconcagua is fermented in French oak, 5% new, then aged for 10 months. It has a taut, minimalist bouquet with citric peel and freshly cut lime, while the palate offers ripe mango and passion fruit, crisp acidity and a clean, apricot and peach tinged finish. This is a fine, flavorsome Chardonnay. Drink now-2015. It was a pleasure to spend two or three hours in the company of Eduardo Chadwick at his estate and undertake verticals of his wines. Few have done more to promote Chilean wine than him, most notably with his blind comparisons with First Growth to demonstrate that Sena stands shoulder to shoulder with Old World icons. As you might guess, we had a long debate about that! But also, we engaged in a long discussion about viticulture and the philosophy behind his portfolio. Readers may remark on my relatively mean scores. I thought long and hard about this. But I firmly feel that recent vintages from Errazuriz completely outshine the older ones and speaking at length with winemaker Francisco Baettig, there is a sense of a winery changing tack and in my opinion, what this estate will produce in the next twenty years will completely surpass the previous twenty years." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 90 pts.
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NEW ARRIVAL!
BRAND NEW DEAL!!
2007
Chateau Rieussec
Sauternes
"Balanced and very spicy, with almond paste and apricot. Full-bodied, medium sweet, with a long, fruity, tangy finish. Layered and stylish." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 93-96 pts.
"Tasted single blind against its peers. The Rieussec 2007 has a subtle nose of dried honey, pear, a touch of quince and crushed stone on the nose, the oak better integrated than last year. The palate is well-balanced with stem ginger and honeycomb on the entry. It is linear compared to its peers, there is no flourish on the finish as yet, but it has fine definition and hints of tangy marmalade and lemongrass that should become more accentuated with time. Tasted January 2011." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
"Bright, pale yellow-gold. Aromas of very ripe peach, honey and vanilla are a bit youthfully disjointed. Sweet, supple and fat, currently showing more spice than fruit. Finishes broad and spicy, with a suggestion of minerality." (IWC)
International Wine Cellar: 90-93 pts.
"Big, bold, rich, thick, concentrated and filled with honey drenched, tropical fruit, citrus rind, apricot, orange blossom and vanilla, the wine is still primary and wants more time. If you cannot keep your hands off it, enjoy it for its fresh fruit, honey, spice, creme brulee and nutty personality. At maturity, I imagine it'll deserve another point or two. 93 points - Tasted Sep 23, 2012" (JL)
Jeff Leve: 93 pts.
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MONSTER PRICE REDUCTION AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE LOWEST PRICE!! $75.00-$80.00 LIST PRICE!!
2009
Chalk Hill
Proprietary Estate Red Blend
Chalk Hill AVA
"Both firm and supple, with spicy, loamy earth, red currant, red candy and dark berry notes, gaining a nice, minerally edge on the finish. The tannins give the flavors traction. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Carmenère. Best from 2013 through 2023. 5,700 cases made." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 92 pts.
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ANOTHER LAWC WINE BARGAIN!
100% Tinta de Toro
2010
Bodegas Teso la Monja
Romanico
Toro
"The 2010 Romanico (100% Tinta de Toro aged in 100% new French oak for six months) exhibits a sensational bouquet of licorice, unsmoked cigar tobacco, blackberries and cassis. Full-bodied, smoky, rich, complex, big and dense without being heavy or awkward, this beauty will drink well for 5-7 years. These are two extraordinary wines produced by the Eguren family in the province of Zamora in Toro. Readers who love full-flavored, robust, exuberant red wines will adore these two 2010s. " (WA)
Wine Advocate: 92 pts.
"(100% tempranillo, raised in 100% new French oak and then aged for six months in more new oak): Saturated ruby. Vibrant raspberry and candied cherry on the nose, with strong oak-spiciness and a kiss of smoky mocha. Rich but vibrant, offering intense red berry flavors and a floral quality on the clinging finish." (IWC)
International Wine Cellar: 91 pts.
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BACK IN STOCK!
YET ANOTHER LAWC "FIND"
33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Pinot Noir, 17% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 12% Syrah, 3% Sangiovese, 3% Cabernet Franc.
2010
Rancho Sisquoc
"Sisquoc River Red"
Flood Family Vineyards
Santa Barbara County
Tasting Notes:
Sisquoc River Red is a blend of everything red that we produce and is a wine that starts Burgundy and ends Bordeaux. A nose of red fruit and ginger spice are introduced while washing over your pallet in true Bordeaux fashion. Sweet earth and currants prove welcoming while the oak is a constant factor bringing toasted vanilla and caramel to the back drop. In the end this wine showcases our terroir as a unique family of grapes growing and blending together. -Alec Franks
The Winery:
Located on the Foxen Canyon Wine trail in Santa Barbara County, California, the winery is part of a 38,000 acre ranch. Rancho Sisquoc Winery is proud to have been hand crafting wines since 1972.
The Vineyard:
Our vineyard is comprised of over 300 acres planted on south facing slopes on the Sisquoc River. Unique microclimates allow us to grow several varieties, and to produce grapes that offer distinct flavor and quality.
The Philosophy:
Our winemaking philosophy is a simple one: We create high quality wines in limited quantities, and offer them at a reasonable price.
(Winery Notes)
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NEW ARRIVAL!!
2011
Domaine Jean Reverdy et Fils
Sancerre
la Reine Blanche
Loire Valley
"One of the most famous family names of the Loire Valley is Reverdy, and this particular one, Jean Reverdy, has turned out an outstanding 2011 Sancerre La Reine Blanche. Clean, pure notes of white flowers, quince, melon, and white peach are all present in this surprisingly opulent, fleshy, rather exuberant and flamboyant style of Sancerre, which is quite dry but surprisingly plush. Drink it over the next several years, as I don't think it will be very long-lived." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 90 pts.
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CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS PRICE??
2005
Louis Roederer
Cristal
Champagne
"Vibrant and mouthwatering, this offers a range of patisserie pear and apple fruit, candied lemon zest, pastry dough and marzipan notes set on a finely detailed texture, which imparts a great deal of finesse. The lasting finish echoes a smoky mineral note. Drink now through 2025." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 94 pts.
"The 2005 Cristal stands out for its exceptional inner perfume and elegance. Soft, delicate and pretty, the 2005 is a relatively immediate Cristal with all of the signatures very much in the right place. The 2005 doesn't have the opulence of the 2002 nor the focus of the 2004, but it is a very pretty, if somewhat small-scaled version of this iconic Champagne. I would drink the 2005 while the 2002 and 2004 age. Although Cristal has an impeccable track record when it comes to aging, personally I would not push it with the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. Roederer fans will find plenty of delicious wines in this lineup. Best of all, many of the best wines this year won't break the bank. Unfortunately I did not taste Roederer's NV wines, as the house does not list disgorgement dates or base vintages on their labels. Still, there are few estates in Champagne that are so consistently outstanding across their entire range." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
"Bright yellow-gold. Heady floral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with smoky mineral and floral overtones adding complexity. Velvety and chewy in texture, offering deep, juicy orange and poached pear flavors and suave honey and chamomile nuances. Blends precision with power, finishing with a distinct mineral quality and excellent persistence." (IWC)
International Wine Cellar: 94 pts.
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NEW RELEASE!!
2010
Hall
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
"The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is another huge wine. Despite its size, it possesses silky tannins and great concentration of fruit. Blackberries, blueberries, spices and suave tannins provide the backdrop for this extroverted, striking Cabernet Sauvignon. In a decidedly opulent style, with hints of sweetness on the finish, this is yet another intriguing wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. This is a thrilling set of wines from Hall. The estate favors a rich, extroverted style, yet all of these wines have distinct personalities and tons of sheer character. Meticulous viticulture followed by native yeast fermentations, slow, natural malos and minimal rackings are at the heart of the approach at Hall. The wines are aged in French oak (mostly Taransaud, 40-90% new) and are bottled with no fining or filtration. Readers who appreciate the more opulent side of Napa Valley will find much to admire here. Simply put, I was blown away by what I tasted. As outstanding as the 2009s are, there is a very good chance the 2010s will turn out to be even better. " (WA)
Wine Advocate: 92-95 pts.
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JUST ARRIVED!!
2005
Bodegas Luis Canas
Rioja
Reserva
"The 2005 Reserva is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano from 40-year-old vines aged in American and French oak for 18 months. It has an understated, subtle bouquet of dark cherries, loganberry and just a hint of tobacco and balsamic. The definition is wonderful: great clarity and focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, fine tannins and a crisp core of cranberry and raspberry fruit that leads to a subtle leather and tobacco tinged finish. This is very classy. Drink now-2020. Bodegas Luis Canas owns 90 hectares of vine. This is augmented by 200 hectares under long-term contract, dispersed over 815 parcels. These wines were imbued with wonderful purity and sophistication, managing to tread that fine line between modernism and classicism and embracing the virtues from the two. Moreover, I found that these wines evoked a sense of place, something that not all Rioja wines do. These all comes highly recommended." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
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JUST ARRIVED!!
2011
Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier
Shiraz-Viognier
Victoria
"Rated, but no tasting note given. Although these wines are normally reviewed by my colleagues David Schildknect in his Languedoc-Roussillon and Alsace reports and Lisa Perrotti-Brown in her reviews of Australian wines, I tasted them during my visit with Chapoutier, so I will include them in this report as they are of high quality and merit attention. I will just list the wines, my score, and the region from which they emerge." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
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NEW LOWER PRICE!!
2012 WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100: #96
2009
Pahlmeyer
Merlot
Napa Valley
"Plush and richly structured, but with a dense, structured core, offering aromas of red currant and toasty mocha that lead to complex flavors of black cherry and Asian spice. Loamy, ripe tannins sneak in on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 1,600 cases made." (WS)
Wine Spectator: 94 pts.
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ALMOST 1/2 THE LIST PRICE!
2009
Rafael Palacios
Godello
As Sortes
Valdeorras
"The 2009 As Sortes is also 100% Godello aged for 8 months in foudre sourced from 14 hectares of estate vineyard. Medium straw-colored, it offers up an expressive nose of mineral, spring flowers, honeysuckle, pear, and tropical notes. With huge volume on the palate and amazing concentration, this creamy textured effort is impeccably balanced and long. Drink it over the next 4 years." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
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NEW ARRIVAL!!
2010
Paul Jaboulet Aine
Crozes-Hermitage
Domaine de Thalabert
Rhone
"The 2010 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, which I raved about last year, is slightly better than their brilliant 2009. It boasts a dense purple color along with a beautiful perfume of camphor, licorice, forest floor, black currants and Christmas fruitcake. With tremendous intensity, full body and supple tannins, it should drink well for 10-15 years, perhaps longer where well-stored. This cuvee is always one of the best buys in the Northern Rhone." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 93 pts.
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NEW RELEASE!!
2008
Bodegas Alion
(Vega Sicilia)
Ribera del Duero
"If I was asked to hold up a bottle of what modern Ribera del Duero should taste like and what is should aspire to, the 2008 Alion would be the one in my hand. It has more intensity and volume on the nose when compared directly with the 2007. Tasted in February 2012, and then in January 2013, it remains a fabulous expression of Ribera del Duero. It boasts of heavenly bouquet of black plum, crushed violets and tobacco that soar from the glass, while displaying a level of delineation that would serve a lesson to many of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, silky-smooth tannins that belie the structure underneath. The acidity lends the 2008 a little more edginess than the 2007, while the finish has a wonderful sense of symmetry and focus. World class. Drink 2016-2025+. Alion should need no introduction. Owned by the Alvarez family of Vega Sicilia, the 85 hectare estate included 35 hectares around the winery and 50 hectares with Vega Sicilia itself. Debuting in 1991, the wine is sourced from 20-year-old Tinto Fino that undergoes a modern style of winemaking, using state-of-the-art technology and maturation in Nevers French oak barrels for 12 to 14 months. Pablo Alvarez describes Alion as "a wine somewhere between Ribera del Duero and a Medoc in style." (WA)
Wine Advocate: 95 pts.
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