35 2011 · folio fine wine partners. —m.l. abv: na price: $200 12 96 château léoville-barton...
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46 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2011 WineMag.com | 47
PHO
TO C
RED
IT
PHO
TO J
ON
VA
N G
OR
DER
THE YEAR’S MOST IMPORTANT
COLLECTIBLESBY THE EDITORS OF WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE
T he vast majority—something like 90% or more—of wine purchased in this country is consumed within 48 hours of purchase. This list isn’t
about that. It’s not about pop and pour; it’s not about instant gratification. Instead, our list of the year’s Top 100 Cellar Selections is about laying the groundwork, anticipating the pleasure and—perhaps 10 years from now—experiencing the delights only a mature wine can offer, secure in the knowledge that you purchased it on release and cellared it carefully until just the right moment.
To a large extent, our list of Top 100 Cellar Selections reflects which classic wine regions released the best vintages during the past year. In 2011, that means the list is heavy on 2007 Barolo and 2006 Brunello di Montalcino, but light on the terrific 2009 Bordeaux and Burgundies, which are largely yet to be reviewed. In the interest of diversity, we sprinkle in wines from a wide range of countries and grape varieties, but since most of these ageworthy wines come from established regions and top vintages, the emphasis is on quality, not value. Despite that, this year’s list does feature 30 wines that were originally released for $50 per bottle or less, including the year’s top pick. Multimillionaires shouldn’t have all the fun, should they?
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Dry Red Wines: 79Dry White Wines: 12Sparkling Wines: 3Sweet Wines: 6Average Rating: 95.1Average Price: $97.51
by Country2011
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196 Poggio Nardone 2006 Brunello di Mon-
talcino. Poggio Nardone offers an absolute-ly gorgeous Brunello with incredibly smooth, rich and beautiful aromas of mature blackberry, coffee, tobacco and smoky barbecue sauce. The wine’s texture is dense but also silky and the fruit-driven finish lasts many min-utes. Kysela Père et Fils. —M.L. abv: 13.5% Price: $50
299 Stonestreet 2007 Rockfall Cabernet Sau-
vignon (Alexander Valley). This is Cabernet Sauvignon lifted to greatness, an impeccable statement concerning this region of the high Mayacamas Moun-tains on the Sonoma side that, by law, is forced to bear a “valley” appellation. The wine is awesome, vast and complex, fascinating in every aspect, yet locked down in tough tannins that exaggerate the acidity, making the wine functionally undrinkable. It is a beautiful, classic Cabernet, very near perfect, and certainly one of the successes of the vintage. Don’t even think of drinking it before 2014, and it should evolve in the bottle for a good 10 years after that. —S.H. abv: 14.5% Price: $75
397 Domaine Huët 2010 Le Mont Première
Trie Moelleux (Vouvray). This will be a won-derful wine. Already, it is fine, with lovely acidity, bright and richly sweet at the same time. Yellow fruits mingle with honey, pear, almonds and the intense sweetness of botrytis. Rare Wine Company. —R.V. abv: NA Price: $69
495 Hirsch 2007 San Andreas Pinot Noir (So-
noma Coast). Young and tart in cool-climate acidity, this Pinot needs time in the cellar. It’s an exotic wine, spicy and peppery, almost briary, like a Zinfan-del, except with flavors of wild forest raspberries, cher-ries, orange zest and a hint of pine cone. It’s as cellar-able a Pinot Noir as exists in California. Best after 2015. —S.H. abv: 14% Price: $60
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97 Merryvale 2008 Profile (Napa Valley). A tremendous wine that shows how Merryvale is
absolutely at the top of its game. Impeccable in struc-ture, with refined tannins that are soft and firm at the same time, and a fine cut of acidity. Entirely dry, the Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is awesome in black-berry, cherry, cassis and oak flavors, with complexities of anise, soy sauce, grilled meats and minerals. Beyond the particulars, it just feels dramatic and rich in the mouth. A great wine that should develop in the bottle over the next decade. —S.H. abv: 14.9% Price: $165
697 Casanova di Neri 2006 Tenuta Nuova
(Brunello di Montalcino). A wow! wine on every level. This is a lovely, dark, smooth and rich ex-pression that is packed tight with intensity and person-ality. The biggest, boldest wine by far from Montalcino’s 2006 vintage, this bottle will age nicely and add value to your cellar collection. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. —M.L. abv: 14.5% Price: $80
7
98 Von Strasser 2008 Reserve (Diamond Mountain). As good as the winery’s other
2008s are, this wine raises the stakes. It’s bone dry, deeply tannic and marked by classic varietal flavors of blackberries, cassis and dark chocolate, with sweet, smoky oak. Almost a food group in itself for its complex-
ity, it’s dazzling now for its sheer luxurious deliciousness, yet is guaranteed to develop over at least the next 10 years. —S.H. abv: 14.2% Price: $125
898 Le Macchiole 2007 Paleo Cabernet Franc
(Toscana). Paleo (a pure expression of Cab-ernet Franc from coastal Tuscany) is a drop-dead gor-geous wine with amazing intensity and purity of aromas. You get it all here: bright berry notes, drying mineral, exotic spice, cooling acidity and firm, satisfying struc-ture. It’s a rich, velvety and beautiful wine that will award you a memorable drinking experience now or in 10 years time. Domaine Select Wine Estates. —M.L. abv: NA Price: $125
994 Luis Duarte 2009 Rapariga da Quinta
Reserva (Alentejano). A smooth wine, all its structure encased in warm black fruit and toast. It de-velops slowly in the mouth, revealing sweet tannins and an opulent juiciness. The acidity is an equally warming addition to the final spice character. Age for 3–4 years. Laurel Importers. —R.V. abv: 14.5% Price: $23
10
96 Reynolds Family Winery 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap Dis-
trict). A big, vital and important Cabernet that deserves a place in the cellar. It hits the mouth with huge tannins that are tight and locked down, yet sweetly ripe. That contradiction persists throughout the fantastically com-plex blackberry, cherry, currant and mocha flavors. A very fine, superior wine that exemplifies the Stags Leap iron fist in a velvet glove. As delicious as it is, you should hold this Cabernet for a good six years, and it could eas-ily develop for an additional decade. —S.H. abv: 14.6% Price: $89
1199 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia 2007 Ornellaia (Bol-
gheri Superiore). The 2007 Ornellaia is a masterpiece blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a tiny element of Petit Verdot. The intensity and purity are outstanding and the wine deliv-ers beautiful notes of chocolate, black cherry, leather, cedar and spice. It’s a big, modern expression that closes long with luscious softness and opulent fruit. Hold 10 years or more. Folio Fine Wine Partners. —M.L. abv: NA Price: $200
1296 Château Léoville-Barton 2008 Saint-Ju-
lien. A dense, beautifully structured wine. It shows intense, ripe fruit with balanced acidity. It’s the fine tannins that give it such class, surrounding the fruit, promising long aging. This is a classic for Léoville-Bar-ton. —R.V. abv: NA Price: $90
13
96 Schramsberg 2004 J. Schram (North Coast). Don’t even think about opening this
brut for at least six years and probably far longer. Made from 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir, it’s rich and full-bodied, with elaborately ripe flavors of tangerines, raspberries, roasted almonds and coconut, brioche, honey and vanilla. Good as it is, it simply needs time for everything to transmute into magic. —S.H. abv: 12.5% Price: $100
14
98 Fattoria Petrolo 2007 Galatrona (Toscana). Galatrona is an opulent, gorgeous
wine (from the excellent 2007 vintage) that shows the very best of Merlot in Italy. Thanks to a unique grow-ing climate located between Florence, Siena and Arez-zo, as well as extremely low vineyard yields, the wine feels soft and velvety and imparts long-lasting flavors of black cherry, lively spice, tobacco and cigar box. The true beauty of Galatrona is that it shows all the passion and enthusiasm of its very talented winemaker. Vintus LLC. —M.L. abv: 14% Price: $135
15
95 Domaine Serene 2007 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley). A very ele-
gant and refined Evenstad Reserve, with grace notes of sandalwood and a lovely cherry core. The fruit is im-maculate, the concentration focused and lengthy, and the flavors are so artfully blended that the wine is seam-less and perfectly balanced. Although it is drinking like a mature wine, there is every reason to cellar wines such as this—it can develop like a fine Burgundy, over de-cades. —P.G. abv: 13.9% Price: $58
1696 Buty 2007 Columbia Rediviva Cabernet
Sauvignon-Syrah (Horse Heaven Hills). From the winery’s Phinny Hill vineyard, the Columbia Rediviva is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 52% Syrah. Complex and satiny, it’s a riveting wine, inky and burst-ing with a sensuous mix of berry, cassis, mocha, loam, cinnamon and spice. Tremendous density and depth; despite its youth the wine curls around the tongue like thick smoke, showing more and more detail. —P.G. abv: 14.5% Price: $48
17
99 Cayuse 2007 Cailloux Vineyard Syrah (Walla Walla Valley). The only one of the
Cayuse Syrahs that is co-fermented with Viognier, this opens with a stunning, floral bouquet, showing extraor-dinary depth and texture. The wine has a floral top, a thickly fruity middle and a base with smoke, rock and meat. Still very young, it is already a complete, fully re-alized, near-perfect wine with a finish that extends for many minutes. This should age for 25–30 years. Right now, it’s almost frozen in place; still a bit tannic, but with superb aging potential. —P.G. abv: 14.6% Price: $65
1897 Marchesi Antinori 2007 Guado al Tasso
(Bolgheri Superiore). Guado al Tasso is a wine that will make you fall uncontrollably in love with Italy. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are expertly blended to produce amazing intensity, purity and texture. You’ll appreciate aromas of mineral, ripe fruit, leather, tobacco and chocolate. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. —M.L. abv: 14% Price: $102
Words of Winedom“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.”
–Benjamin Franklin
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2895 Terra Valentine 2007 Wurtele Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Mountain). A well-made wine, showing lots of terroir in the min-eral-infused blackberry, black currant, chocolate and anise flavors. The tannins are structurally superb, while the finish is dry and complex. A very fine wine that should gather momentum for at least a decade. —S.H. abv: NA Price: $65
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95 Louis Roederer 2005 Brut (Champagne). A superbly rich and creamy wine, powered by
ripe Pinot Noir, with elegance and élan. The wine is concentrated, powerful, packed with intense white fruit flavors and citrus. Always at the back is the richness. For aging. Maisons Marques & Domaines USA. —R.V. abv: 12% Price: $70
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99 Charles Smith 2007 Royal City Stone-ridge Vineyard Syrah (Columbia Valley).
Depth and texture dominate; it’s all whole-cluster fruit, aged in new barriques. This fine follow-up to the 2006 features a little more delicacy, with a lovely floral com-ponent and some earth. The depth is astonishing in the weight and texture and the way the wine plays out
across the palate. The finish never ends: a glorious mix of black cherry, earth, herb, spice and rock. —P.G. abv: NA Price: $140
3195 Sesta di Sopra 2006 Brunello di Mon-
talcino. Sesta di Sopra delivers a superb and beautiful Brunello with impossible richness and gor-geous intensity. Aromas include black cherry, vanilla, dark mocha, freshly ground espresso and a subtle touch of mineral dryness at the end. It’s equally impressive on the palate with smooth, thick intensity. Premier Wine Co. —M.L. abv: 14.5% Price: $60
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95 Quinta do Vale Meão 2008 Red Wine (Douro). One of Portugal’s great wines, this
epitomizes the minerality and the rich, dark fruit of the Douro. It is intensely structured, powered by dark tan-nins, with rich berry fruit, layers of wood and acidity. With the extra freshness and pure fruits that are typi-cal of 2008, this will age for many years. W.J. Deutsch & Sons. —R.V. abv: 14.5% Price: $70
3394 Bernard Baudry 2008 La Croix Boisée
(Chinon). With a touch of initial mineral aus-terity, this still-young wine offers tannins and a solid structure as well as black cherry and dark plum fruits. Beautifully balanced, it will develop slowly, leaving its minerality and rounding out. Kermit Lynch Wine Mer-chant. —R.V. abv: NA Price: $37
3495 Mark Ryan 2008 Dead Horse (Red Moun-
tain). This is the first wine to be blended each year, though it is not labeled a reserve. The new vin-tage has amazing depth, running down through a litany of red and black fruits, into veins of earth and tannin and graphite, and finishing with densely textured barrel notes of toast, coffee and bitter chocolate. Beautifully proportioned, deep and cellarworthy. —P.G. abv: 14.7% Price: $45
1997 Franz Hirtzberger 2010 Singerriedel
Riesling Smaragd (Wachau). A supreme wine, the embodiment of Wachau Riesling. The steely character with its parallel acidity is beautifully integrat-ed into grapefruit and perfumed white fruits. A taut, nervy texture adds tension to a wine that will age 10 years or more. Vin Divino. —R.V. abv: 13.5% Price: $144
2094 Jean-Luc Baldès 2007 Clos Triguedina
Les Petites Cailles (Cahors). The third and most impressive wine in a series of single-vineyard wines, from the 900-foot plateau above the Lot River. This is a wine to age, very mineral in character and very structured, with tight tannins. Keep for six years and more. Misa Imports. —R.V. abv: NA Price: $30
21
95 Trisaetum 2010 Estates Reserve Riesling (Ribbon Ridge). A two-barrel selection con-
sisting of the favorite sweeter barrel from each of the two estate vineyards. Intense, bright and focused, with candied lemon/lime fruit flavors. The power and con-centration of the wine is remarkable. —P.G. abv: 11% Price: $32
22
96 Cordero di Montezemolo 2007 Bricco Gattera (Barolo). This is an exceptional wine
that will leave a mark, and a memory, with those who drink it. It’s irresistible because of its brilliant, but sim-ple, philosophy. Traditional Nebbiolo tones of cola, lico-rice and pressed violets are set beautifully against mod-ern tones of spice, chocolate and vanilla. It’s the inte-gration of these two extremes that make this Barolo so important. Omniwines Distribution. —M.L. abv: NA Price: $80
2398 Campbells NV Isabella Rare Tokay
(Rutherglen). Dark amber in color and going greenish at the rim, the basis of this wine is clearly old stocks going back well over 60 years. It’s full-bodied, unctuous and superrich, oozing with molasses and ran-cio character, but balanced by citrusy notes. The finish is incredibly sweet and long, coating the mouth with coffee-like essences that linger for minutes. Click Wine Group. —J.C. abv: 18% Price: $97/375 ml
24
98 Williams Selyem 2008 Litton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Val-
ley). This is the best of the winery’s new releases, both for drinking now and for cellaring. Combines power and elegance, with upscale flavors of cherries, currants, cola, rhubarbs, dried herbs and oak, wrapped into devastat-
ingly rich tannins and a perfect touch of acidity. Should age well for 10 years. —S.H. abv: 14.2% Price: $100
25
96 Poggio al Tesoro 2007 Dedicato a Walter (Toscana). An impressive wine from an impres-
sive vintage, this Tuscan expression of Cabernet Franc opens with opulent fruit notes of blackberry, prune, plum and ripe cherry backed by clove, pepper, leather and cigar box. The tannins are firm and silky and the fin-ish is long and velvety. Winebow. —M.L. abv: NA Price: $90
2697 Rasa Vineyards 2008 Creative Impulse
DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Yakima Valley). A fine expression of the special strengths of the DuBrul vineyard. The fruit is pure and juicy, a riot of blueberry, blackberry and cassis. There is a focused thread of fresh herb and as the nose expands the baking spices kick in beautifully. A wine to study and explore; it can continue to evolve for hours, if not days. —P.G. abv: NA Price: $95
2798 Gaja 2006 Sperss (Langhe). Sperss (the
name is inspired by the local word for “nos-talgia”) is a vineyard located in the Barolo territory of Serralunga. Angelo Gaja adds 6% Barbera to the wine for brightness and freshness but the overall ensemble shows so much more than that. It delivers sophisticat-ed softness and a velvety texture that is backed by ex-otic spice and loads of wild berry and licorice. Add huge depth and intensity and you have the criteria for a cel-lar-worthy wine. Will be ready to drink after 220. Ter-lato Wines International. —M.L. abv: 14.5% Price: $255
T.J. as SommelierThomas Jefferson’s fine wine appreciation gained him the responsibility of helping stock the wine cellars of the first five U.S. presidents.
The Black Sheep of BaroloWhile Barolo Chinato is included under the standard Barolo DOCG designation, it is quite the unique
bottling. To produce it, Barolo wine is steeped in an array of ingredients including cinchona bark and mint,
making for a great digestif.
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95 Aurelio Settimo 2007 Rocche dell’Ann-unziata (Barolo). Wonderful, this is a wine
that will blow you away. It’s magnificent on all levels, from its complexity to its long endurance on the pal-ate. Aromas of red fruit, roasted coffee bean, smoked pancetta and soft spice build in intensity and brightness the longer the wine stays in the glass. Firm, velvety tan-nins promise long aging potential. Masciarelli Wine Co. —M.L. abv: NA Price: $65
3696 Vineyard 7&8 2008
Estate Cabernet Sau-vignon (Spring Mountain). It’s hard to exaggerate the purity of this wine, which is 100% Caber-net. It startles for the intensity of mountain blackberries and rasp-berries, and then a firm mineral-ity kicks in, along with the tannins, providing grounding structure. The finish lasts for a full minute. Winemaker Luc Morlet has really hit the jackpot with this dry, spec-tacularly complex young wine, which will develop for at least a decade. —S.H. abv: 14.8% Price: $125
3794 William Fèvre 2008 Montmains Premier
Cru Domaine Fèvre (Chablis). A very taut wine. Yes, it has richness and weight with ripe fruits, but the main character is dominated by a tense line of acidity, of very crisp fruit and of an intense steely tex-ture. For aging over 4–5 years. Henriot Inc. —R.V. abv: 12.5% Price: $38
3895 Januik 2007 Champoux Vineyard Cab-
ernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills). This includes grapes from Block One (the 1972 plant-ing) and several other more recent plantings at Cham-poux; essentially this is pure Cabernet Sauvignon. It smells like a fine Bordeaux, still very young and tight, with well-defined layers of flavor. Black cherry, cassis, lead pencil, smoke and baking spices are tightly stacked and particularly apparent in the aromas. Give this one a decade or more in the cellar; if you are drinking now, decant for at least two hours. —P.G. abv: NA Price: $50
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95 Moone-Tsai 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). One sip is all it takes to fall in
love with this Cabernet, which contains a little Merlot. It’s rich and lush and authoritative on every level. The texture is soft as velvet, but the tannins are firm, back-ing up blackberry, cherry, chocolate, cassis, mineral and new oak flavors that are complex and linger long into the spicy finish. Such are the tannins that the wine is likely to age well through 2016, at least. —S.H. abv: 14.1% Price: $75
4094 Poeira 2008 Red (Douro). Wonderfully bal-
anced and structured, this is a wine that gives a complete series of flavors from chocolate, black stone fruits, layers of wood and finally the essential acidity. Its texture is grainy, dusty, firm and ready to age for several years. Vinum Wine Importing and Distributing LLC. —R.V. abv: 14% Price: $40
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95 Betz Family 2008 Père de Famille Caber-net Sauvignon (Columbia Valley). Seduc-
tive and complex, the inviting aromas mix incense, blue-berries, cassis, licorice and threads of herb and graph-ite. Flavors are wrapped tightly and unfold gracefully through a long finish. The herbal side of Cabernet is noted without being intrusive. Classic, deep and expres-sive. —P.G. abv: 14.6% Price: $60
42
94 La Rasina 2006 Brunello di Montalcino. La Rasina offers a beautifully dark and austere
expression of Brunello with almost exaggerated intensi-ty. The wine is dense, extracted and velvety with smooth cherry and vanilla backed by a firm tannic backbone. Drink after 2015. Montecastelli Selections. —M.L. abv: 14% Price: $44
4394 Donelan 2009 Kobler Family Vineyard
Syrah (Green Valley). An amazing wine, mas-sively concentrated in fruit, yet beautifully balanced. Clearly one of the greatest California Syrahs of the vintage. Dry and complex, it shows intricate flavors of blackberries, Canadian bacon, mushu pork sauce, black pepper and smoky cedar flavors. Gorgeous and compel-ling, but far too young. Drink 2012–2018. —S.H. abv: 13.8% Price: $45
44
95 Venge 2008 Bone Ash Vineyard Caber-net Sauvignon (Napa Valley). A beautiful,
brilliant but immature Cabernet. It’s massively rich in blackberry and cherry pie filling, cassis, dark chocolate and fine, smoky oak flavors, wrapped into thick but fine, sweet tannins. Shows elegance and finesse despite the power, but needs time. Best after 2014. —S.H. abv: 14.9% Price: $76
4595 Adelsheim 2009 Nicholas Vineyard Pi-
not Noir (Chehalem Mountains). The best of a great flight of single-vineyard 2009 Pinots from Adelsheim, this new entry into the lineup is all muscle and black fruits. It is power-packed with dense, rich fla-vors, nuanced with exotic spices and black tea, moving into silky tannins and an extremely long, satisfying fin-ish. —P.G. abv: 14.2% Price: $90
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94 Fontanafredda 2007 Serralunga d’Alba (Barolo). Thanks to new ownership and re-
cent dynamic changes, the historic Fontanafredda es-tate is poised to bring us many beautiful surprises in the future. This gorgeous Nebbiolo from the opulent 2007 vintage delivers delicate floral aromas of red rose and vi-olet in front of espresso, chocolate, cola and black cher-ry. Drink after 2018. Palm Bay International. —M.L. abv: NA Price: $45
4794 Domaine Weinbach 2008 Altenbourg Pi-
not Gris (Alsace). Rich and sweet wine in character with a Vendange Tardive. It is gorgeous and opulent, while balanced and elegant. The acidity is in wonderful contrast to the smoky honey and orange zest flavors. A hint of bitterness suggests, for sure, that this wine will be even more wonderful when aged. Vineyard Brands. —R.V. abv: 14.5% Price: $48
4895 Louis Jadot 2005 Les Baudes Premier
Cru (Chambolle-Musigny). This is a won-derful wine, very ripe, the blackberry and sweet fruits all here. While the tannins are solid and concentrated, they are in the center of a lush, beautifully rich series of flavors that range from fruit to licorice to spice. The wine shows great aging potential. Kobrand. —R.V. abv: NA Price: $95
49
94 L‘Ecole No. 41 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley). Fragrant with smoky
red fruits, this tight, young, pure Cabernet Sauvignon brings a generous mix of raspberry, pomegranate and cherry fruit into play. The firm and supple tannins are folded in seamlessly, with hints of iron, coffee and choc-olate. —P.G. abv: 14.5% Price: $37
5094 Benanti 2006 Serra della Contessa (Si-
cilia). A stellar, superb wine that embodies all the grace, power and charm of the Mount Etna volca-no in Sicily. This highly unique and distinctive territory has shaped an elegant expression of Nerello Mascalese (with 20% Nerello Cappuccio) offering aromas of wild berry set against delicately toasted pistachio nut. In the mouth, the wine is silky, compact and very persistent. Stellar Cellars Imports. —M.L. abv: 14% Price: $49
51
95 Kuleto Estate 2006 India Ink Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley). Here’s one for the
cellar, guaranteed. It shows all the classic hallmarks of an ageworthy Napa Cabernet. Dry, tannic and closed, with massively concentrated blackberry and cassis fla-vors, and a firm grounding of minerals. Very fine and
Post-Constitution BashAfter the U.S. Constitution was outlined, the
55 drafters celebrated with 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of Port, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 beers and 7 rather large bowls of alcoholic punch.
TOP
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Her
e’s o
ne fo
r the
cella
r. It
’s a b
ig,
dry,
mus
cula
r w
ine,
ass
ertiv
e in
tan
nins
, with
min
eral
-dr
iven
bla
ckbe
rry
and
blac
k cu
rran
t fla
vors
. Mus
cula
r an
d in
tens
e, it
shou
ld p
rovi
de g
reat
drin
king
star
ting
in
2015
and
for
man
y ye
ars
afte
r. A
ver
y gr
eat e
xpre
ssio
n of
its v
iney
ard,
whi
ch is
bas
ical
ly th
e ol
d B
erin
ger S
tate
L
ane
Vine
yard
. —
S.H
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $90
55
95 S
ilvio
G
rass
o 20
07
Cia
bot
Man
zoni
(B
arol
o).
This
is a
win
e to
fal
l im
med
iate
ly
in lo
ve w
ith. H
ow c
an a
nyon
e re
sist
this
dens
ity, r
ich-
ness
in c
olor
and
con
cent
ratio
n? B
lack
spic
e an
d m
atur
e fr
uit a
rom
as a
re w
oven
aro
und
delic
ate
touc
hes
of r
ed
rose
, che
rry
cola
and
mes
quite
sm
oke.
The
win
e’s g
en-
erou
s per
siste
ncy
can
be c
ount
ed in
man
y lo
ng m
inut
es.
Drin
k af
ter
2018
. A M
arc
de G
razi
a se
lect
ion;
var
ious
A
mer
ican
impo
rter
s. —
M.L
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $93
56
94 G
ram
ercy
Cel
lars
200
9 Th
e Th
ird
Man
R
ed
(Col
umbi
a Va
lley)
. Th
is Pr
iora
t-lik
e bl
end
of 5
0% G
rena
che,
28%
Syr
ah, a
nd 2
2% M
ourv
è-dr
e is
pung
ent
and
spic
y, w
ith a
bit
of m
enth
ol in
the
no
se. S
uppl
e an
d lu
xurio
us fr
uit,
a m
ix o
f ras
pber
ry a
nd
blac
k fr
uits
, bak
ing
spic
es a
nd sw
eet b
arre
l flav
ors.
Pow
-er
ful a
nd ri
ch, t
his i
s a b
ig w
ine
with
toba
cco
and
clov
e hi
ghlig
hts a
nd a
littl
e he
at in
the
finish
. —
P.G
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $45
57
94 B
acal
hôa
Win
es o
f P
ortu
gal
2007
Pal
á-ci
o da
Bac
alhô
a (P
enín
sula
de
Set
úbal
).
A s
elec
tion
from
the
Qui
nta
da B
acal
hôa
vine
yard
, thi
s su
mpt
uous
win
e la
yers
the
dar
kest
fru
it fla
vors
with
a
stru
ctur
e th
at is
solid
, den
se a
nd p
ower
ful.
Juic
y pl
ums,
licor
ice
and
a fir
m, s
talk
y ed
ge g
o w
ith w
ood
agin
g an
d bo
ne–d
ry ta
nnin
s. A
ge fo
r 5-
6 ye
ars.
Adm
iral I
mpo
rts.
—R
.V.
abv:
14%
P
rice
: $49
58
94 E
mm
eric
h K
noll
2008
Rie
d Lo
iben
berg
G
rüne
r Ve
ltlin
er S
mar
agd
(Wac
hau)
. Th
e K
noll
Grü
ner
styl
e is
for
a hi
nt o
f st
eel,
dose
s of
min
-er
ality
and
not
too
muc
h or
nate
ness
des
pite
the
won
-de
rful
ly e
labo
rate
trad
ition
al b
ottle
labe
ls. T
he in
tens
e fr
uit,
spic
e an
d pe
ach
char
acte
r is
bala
nced
by
acid
ity,
a ta
ut, n
ervy
edg
e. I
t w
ill c
erta
inly
age
for
5–6
yea
rs.
Circ
o Vi
no.
—R
.V.
abv:
13.
5%
Pri
ce: $
50
59
94 R
ivet
to 2
007
Ser
ralu
nga
(Bar
olo)
. An
up-
and-
com
ing
star
of
Bar
olo
Serr
alun
ga, R
ivet
to
deliv
ers a
supe
rsiz
ed w
ine
with
imm
ense
con
cent
ratio
n an
d ro
ck-s
olid
stru
ctur
e. In
fact
, thi
s win
e ne
eds a
noth
-er
10–
15 y
ears
of a
ging
to c
ompl
ete
its lo
ng e
volu
tion.
A
lread
y pr
esen
t, ho
wev
er, a
re to
nic
tone
s of r
ed c
herr
y, co
ffee,
moc
ha, s
pice
and
cur
ed m
eat.
Vint
age
Impo
rts,
Inc.
—M
.L.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
50
60
94 Jo
el G
ott
2007
GO
TT 7
Cab
erne
t S
auvi
-gn
on (
Nap
a Va
lley)
. Sh
ows
a tig
htly
wou
nd
stru
ctur
e, w
ith b
ig,
hard
tan
nins
wra
pped
lik
e a
vise
ar
ound
fres
h fla
vors
of b
lack
berr
ies,
cher
ries a
nd c
assis
. Th
ere’s
a fi
rm, m
iner
ally
tang
of i
ron
at th
e co
re o
f thi
s
Mille
nnia
of
Exper
ience
Burg
undy
has
bee
n pr
oduc
ing
win
e fo
r ove
r 2,0
00 y
ears.
Prio
r to
the
Rom
ans c
onqu
erin
g th
e re
gion
in 5
1 B.
C., t
he C
elts
wer
e al
read
y pr
oduc
ing
win
e.
TOP
100
CELL
AR S
ELEC
TION
S 20
11
56
| W
INE
EN
THU
SIA
ST
| D
EC
EM
BE
R 1
, 2
01
1
agew
orth
y w
ine.
Bet
ter a
fter 2
015,
whe
n it
shou
ld b
egin
to
mel
low.
—S.
H.
abv:
14.
6%
Pri
ce: $
50
61
94 La
ura
Zaht
ila
2007
B
arlo
w
Vine
yard
s C
aber
net
Sau
vign
on
(Cal
isto
ga).
Ve
ry
dark
, ric
h an
d dr
amat
ic.
Mas
sivel
y co
nstr
ucte
d, w
ith
vast
res
erve
s of
bla
ckbe
rry
jam
, bl
acks
trap
mol
asse
s, m
ocha
, sm
oked
mea
t, m
ushu
plu
m s
auce
and
sw
eet,
smok
y oa
k. T
he ta
nnin
s ar
e bi
g, r
ipe
and
astr
inge
nt. A
gr
eat C
aber
net t
hat c
lear
ly n
eeds
ple
nty
of ti
me.
Drin
k 20
15 a
nd b
eyon
d. —
S.H
. ab
v: 1
4.2%
P
rice
: $50
62
94 A
vele
da 2
004
Gra
nde
Folli
es V
inha
s da
Q
uint
a da
Agu
eira
(B
eira
s). A
supe
rb, c
on-
cent
rate
d w
ine,
pow
ered
by
ripe
frui
ts t
hat
are
now
re
achi
ng th
eir p
eak.
The
win
e ha
s a d
ense
text
ure,
with
ric
h be
rry
and
swee
t pl
um f
ruits
, bitt
er c
hoco
late
and
so
lid, d
ark
tann
ins.
Age
for 5
–6 y
ears
. FJN
Fin
e W
ines
L
LC
. —
R.V
. ab
v: 1
4.5%
P
rice
: $50
63
95 Jo
seph
Dro
uhin
200
7 M
arqu
is d
e La
gu-
iche
M
orge
ot
Pre
mie
r C
ru
(Cha
ssa-
gne-
Mon
trac
het)
. Th
e m
agni
ficen
t w
ines
fro
m t
he
Mar
quis
de L
agui
che
esta
te a
re p
rodu
ced
by J
osep
h D
rouh
in. T
his M
orge
ot is
rich
, int
ense
, bea
utifu
lly c
on-
cent
rate
d. I
t ha
s to
ast,
apric
ot a
nd p
each
fru
its t
o go
with
its
tig
ht m
iner
al t
extu
re. D
elic
ious
now
, but
will
ag
e fo
r man
y ye
ars.
Dre
yfus
, Ash
by &
Co.
—R
.V.
abv:
13.
5%
Pri
ce: $
99
64
95 D
omai
ne d
e C
heva
lier
2008
Bla
nc (
Pes
-sa
c-Lé
ogna
n).
A s
uper
b w
ine.
Oily
text
ured
, ve
ry ri
ch, i
ts fr
uit r
ipe.
Pea
r, ho
ney
and
yello
w fr
uits
are
al
lied
with
taut
aci
dity
and
ligh
t hin
ts o
f woo
d. L
ikel
y to
ag
e ov
er m
any
year
s. —
R.V
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $10
0
65
95 H
esta
n 20
07 C
aber
net
Sau
vign
on (
Nap
a Va
lley)
. Ano
ther
exc
elle
nt C
aber
net f
rom
Hes
-ta
n. It
’s rip
er a
nd ju
icie
r tha
n th
e ’0
6, sh
owin
g th
e ba
by-
fat
of t
his
fam
ous
vint
age.
But
it’s
no le
ss c
ompl
ex o
r ag
ewor
thy,
just
drin
kabl
e ea
rlier
. Sh
ows
conc
entr
ated
bl
ackb
erry
, bl
ack
curr
ant,
anise
, lic
oric
e an
d sm
oky
oak
flavo
rs,
wra
pped
int
o dr
amat
ic,
thic
k, fi
rm t
an-
nins
. Sho
uld
deve
lop
over
the
next
dec
ade
and
beyo
nd.
—S.
H.
abv:
14.
6%
Pri
ce: $
100
66
94 G
rim
aldi
Bru
na 2
007
Bad
arin
a (B
arol
o).
Bar
olo
Bad
arin
a de
serv
es p
raise
for
the
inte
n-sit
y of
its
arom
as a
nd th
e fin
e qu
ality
of i
ts m
outh
feel
. B
old
oak
tone
s of
spi
ce a
nd to
aste
d ha
zeln
ut w
ill s
oon
fall
to th
e ba
ck o
f the
win
e’s b
right
frui
t and
col
a fla
vors
. G
ive
it tim
e, p
atie
nce
and
drin
k af
ter
2018
. Pre
miu
m
Bra
nds.
—M
.L.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
52
67
95 B
illec
art-
Sal
mon
20
00
Cuv
ée
Nic
olas
Fr
anço
is B
illec
art
Bru
t (C
ham
pagn
e).
A
win
e th
at s
trik
es a
gre
at b
alan
ce b
etw
een
its i
nten
se
frui
tines
s an
d a
pure
ste
ely
char
acte
r. It
mak
es it
a d
ry
Cha
mpa
gne,
whi
le i
t al
so h
as t
he r
ichn
ess
to m
ake
it a
grea
t win
e. I
t has
wei
ght,
inte
nsity
and
sev
eral
yea
rs
mor
e ag
ing.
T. E
dwar
d W
ines
Ltd
. —
R.V
. ab
v: 1
2%
Pri
ce: $
90
68
94 M
erry
Edw
ards
200
8 M
ered
ith E
stat
e M
é-th
ode
a L’
Anc
ienn
e P
inot
Noi
r (R
ussi
an
Riv
er V
alle
y).
An
enor
mou
s w
ine,
ric
h an
d co
mpl
ex
and
tann
ic e
noug
h to
cel
lar.
Mad
e fr
om th
e es
tate
vin
e-ya
rd i
n th
e Se
bast
opol
are
a, i
t flo
ods
the
mou
th w
ith
savo
ry c
herr
y, co
la, r
huba
rb, c
ocoa
and
cin
nam
on sp
ice
flavo
rs, w
rapp
ed in
to a
silk
y, ve
lvet
y te
xtur
e. F
eels
clas
-sic
, but
you
do
wan
t to
give
it s
ome
time.
Drin
k 20
12–
2016
. —
S.H
. ab
v: 1
4.4%
P
rice
: $54
69
93 C
hâte
au
la
Cam
inad
e 20
08
La
Com
-m
ande
ry (
Cah
ors)
. To
asty
aro
mas
are
fol
-lo
wed
by
inte
nse
blac
k pl
um fr
uits
twist
ed w
ith ta
nnin
s an
d po
lishe
d w
ith w
ood.
It’s
an
impr
essiv
e, p
ower
ful
win
e, w
ith a
com
plex
str
uctu
re.
Firm
at
this
stag
e, i
t ne
ed 4
–5 y
ears
at l
east
to a
ge. W
ine
Trad
ition
s. —
R.V
. ab
v: 1
3.5%
P
rice
: $22
70
94 La
Que
rcio
la 2
007
Don
na B
ianc
a (B
aro-
lo).
Wha
t a w
onde
rful
sur
prise
! Bar
olo
Don
na
Bia
nca
is a
beau
tiful
win
e w
ith a
long
list
of s
peci
al a
t-tr
ibut
es.
Firs
t is
the
win
e’s c
ompl
exity
, w
hich
shi
nes
thro
ugh
in t
he m
any
arom
as,
from
pre
ssed
vio
lets
to
Indi
an s
pice
. Sec
ond
is th
e w
ine’s
nat
ural
ric
hnes
s an
d sm
ooth
ness
of t
extu
re. T
hird
is it
s ab
ility
to a
ge a
long
tim
e in
you
r cel
lar.
Vign
aiol
i. —
M.L
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $55
71
94 D
omai
ne C
hand
on d
e B
riai
lles
2006
Ile
de
Ver
gele
sses
Pre
mie
r C
ru (
Per
nand
-Ve
rgel
esse
s).
A r
ipe,
red
ber
ry f
ruit-
flavo
red
win
e,
high
light
ed w
ith s
wee
t che
rrie
s. A
t thi
s yo
ung
stag
e, it
sh
ows m
ore
frui
t tha
n st
ruct
ure.
Tan
nins
are
her
e, li
kely
to
fles
h ou
t th
e w
ine
as it
dev
elop
s. F
or t
he m
omen
t, en
joy
the
grea
t sw
athe
s of
sw
eet
frui
t. D
avid
Bow
ler
Win
e. —
R.V
. ab
v: N
A
Pri
ce: $
53
Tanta
lize
Your
Tongue
Swee
t and
salty
com
bina
tions
mak
e fo
r a p
erfe
ct p
airin
g. Ju
st a
s a ch
ocol
ate
pean
ut b
utte
r cup
co
mbi
nes t
hese
two
tast
e se
nsat
ions
, a lu
scio
us S
aute
rnes
and
a h
unk
of R
oque
fort
will
do
the
sam
e.
58
| W
INE
EN
THU
SIA
ST
| D
EC
EM
BE
R 1
, 2
01
1
TOP
100
CELL
AR S
ELEC
TION
S 20
11
72
93 C
asa
Cad
aval
200
7 M
arqu
esa
de C
ada-
val
(Tej
o).
New
woo
d gi
ves
this
win
e a
pol-
ished
fee
l, its
ber
ry f
ruits
pus
hing
thr
ough
den
se t
an-
nins
. It i
s bal
ance
d in
the
sens
e th
at fr
uit a
nd w
ood
are
com
ing
wel
l to
geth
er, b
ut t
his
impr
essiv
e w
ine
need
s se
vera
l yea
rs’ a
ging
. VO
S Se
lect
ions
. —
R.V
. ab
v: 1
4%
Pri
ce: $
25
73
94 C
hâte
au G
isco
urs
2008
Mar
gaux
. A d
ense
w
ine,
pow
erfu
l whi
le a
lso e
lega
nt. I
t sh
ows
all
the
best
cha
ract
er o
f a g
rand
Mar
gaux
, with
fine
tann
ins
as w
ell a
s den
se st
ruct
ure.
It w
ill a
ge w
ell.
—R
.V.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
60
74
95 D
omai
ne C
hris
tian
Mor
eau
Pèr
e et
Fils
20
08 C
los
Des
Hos
pice
s D
ans
les
Clo
s G
rand
C
ru
(Cha
blis
).
This
Gra
nd C
ru w
ithin
a
Gra
nd C
ru is
a m
agni
ficen
t, op
ulen
t win
e. I
t has
all
the
pow
er o
f a g
reat
whi
te B
urgu
ndy,
the
richn
ess
allie
d to
m
iner
ality
and
then
giv
en w
eigh
t by
toas
t, ye
llow
frui
ts
and
a pu
re, s
trai
ght l
ine
of a
cidi
ty. F
rede
rick
Wild
man
&
Son
s, L
td.
—R
.V.
abv:
13%
P
rice
: $11
0
75
95 R
occa
di
Fr
assi
nello
20
08
Baf
fone
ro
(Mar
emm
a).
Baf
fone
ro (
“bla
ck m
usta
che”
) is
a pu
re e
xpre
ssio
n of
Mer
lot a
nd r
epre
sent
s a
new
gen
-er
atio
n of
exc
iting
supe
r Tus
cans
from
the
sout
hern
par
t of
Tus
cany
. Roc
ca d
i Fra
ssin
ello
is b
ettin
g on
this
win
e to
mat
ch th
e gr
eate
st I
talia
n M
erlo
ts a
nd th
is fir
st v
in-
tage
is v
ery
impr
essiv
e in
deed
. Sof
t ch
erry
is f
ollo
wed
by
cho
cola
te, e
xotic
spi
ce, t
obac
co a
nd c
love
. Via
s Im
-po
rts.
—M
.L.
abv:
13.
5%
Pri
ce: $
120
76
94 E
yrie
200
7 R
eser
ve P
inot
Noi
r (D
unde
e H
ills)
. Th
e E
yrie
res
erve
is
a sin
gle-
vine
yard
se
lect
ion
from
the
esta
te’s
olde
st v
ines
, pla
nted
bet
wee
n 19
67 a
nd 1
973.
The
long
evity
of t
hese
win
es is
a p
rove
n fa
ct; t
hey
evol
ve (
and
gene
rally
impr
ove)
for
dec
ades
. Th
is is
alre
ady
delic
ious
, sm
oky,
alm
ost
ethe
real
, with
tr
uly
Bur
gund
ian
fines
se a
nd d
epth
. Thi
s win
e, a
s muc
h or
mor
e th
an a
ny o
ther
, exp
ress
es t
he p
oten
tial o
f O
r-eg
on P
inot
Noi
r to
app
roac
h th
e m
ajes
ty o
f fin
e B
ur-
gund
y. —
P.G
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $62
77
95 C
hâte
au
Pon
tet-
Can
et
2008
P
auill
ac.
Smoo
th, w
ith d
ense
tann
ins
hidd
en b
ehin
d th
e rip
e, p
ure
frui
t, th
is im
port
ant w
ine
show
s cl
ass
and
an
impe
ccab
le b
alan
ce o
f fru
it an
d ta
nnin
. Ric
h as
wel
l as
stru
ctur
ed, t
his i
s a b
eaut
iful w
ine.
—R
.V.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
125
78
95 A
lber
t B
icho
t 20
05
Dom
aine
du
C
los
Fran
tin
Aux
M
alco
nsor
ts
Pre
mie
r C
ru
(Vos
ne-R
oman
ée).
A su
perb
win
e, th
e ta
nnin
s car
ry-
ing
alon
g th
e de
nse
stru
ctur
e w
ith e
ase
and
grac
e. T
he
purit
y of
the
ripe
berr
y fr
uit i
s ver
y m
arke
d, w
ith a
cidi
ty
givi
ng fr
eshn
ess t
o th
e sw
eet w
ine.
The
who
le e
nsem
ble
is de
velo
ping
wel
l, bu
t w
ill n
eed
man
y ye
ars’
agin
g. A
F
renc
h Pa
rado
x. —
R.V
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $11
5
79
93 R
&A
Pfa
ffl 2
010
Hun
dsle
iten
Grü
ner
Velt-
liner
(Wei
nvie
rtel
). R
ich,
smoo
th a
nd o
pule
nt
win
e fr
om t
he t
op H
unds
leite
n vi
neya
rd.
It i
s dr
iven
by
a ta
ut li
ne o
f aci
dity
that
is s
urro
unde
d by
rip
e pe
ar
and
mel
on fl
avor
s and
a ro
unde
d, c
once
ntra
ted
text
ure.
F
ruit
is rig
ht to
the
fore
in a
refin
ed w
ay, a
nd p
eppe
r is
on th
e fin
ish. P
alm
Bay
Inte
rnat
iona
l. —
R.V
. ab
v: 1
3%
Pri
ce: $
31
80
97 D
omai
ne
Duj
ac
2009
B
onne
s-M
ares
. F
irm, b
ut s
o ge
nero
us a
nd e
lega
nt. T
here
is a
n et
here
al p
erfu
med
cha
ract
er,
alon
g w
ith m
iner
al a
nd
eart
h no
tes.
The
tann
ins
are
inte
grat
ing
wel
l in
thi
s po
wer
ful,
impr
essiv
e, a
gew
orth
y w
ine.
The
Sor
ting
Ta-
ble.
—R
.V.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
344
81
97 D
omai
ne
Lefla
ive
2008
B
ienv
enue
s B
âtar
d-M
ontr
ache
t. A
mar
velo
usly
int
ense
w
ine,
the
Cha
rdon
nay
singi
ng w
ith li
ght t
oast
and
aci
d-ity
. The
win
e ha
s la
yers
of
gree
n ap
ple,
spi
ce, a
tig
ht
text
ure
and
oran
ge ze
st h
ighl
ight
s. A
ge fo
r at l
east
seve
n ye
ars.
Wils
on D
anie
ls L
td.
—R
.V.
abv:
14%
P
rice
: $41
0
Ult
imate
Cellar
Sele
ctio
nIn
186
7, th
e w
orld
’s ol
dest
bot
tle w
as
unea
rthed
nea
r the
tow
n of
Spe
yer,
Germ
any,
durin
g th
e ex
cava
tion
of a
vi
neya
rd. T
he b
ottle
has
bee
n tra
ced
to
the
325
A.D.
vin
tage
and
is d
ispla
yed
at
the
Hist
orisc
hes M
useu
m d
er P
falz.
60
| W
INE
EN
THU
SIA
ST
| D
EC
EM
BE
R 1
, 2
01
1
TOP
100
CELL
AR S
ELEC
TION
S 20
11
82
94 C
hâte
au d
u C
èdre
200
7 Le
Cèd
re (
Ca-
hors
). H
igh
toas
t aro
mas
are
fille
d ou
t on
the
pala
te w
ith r
ich,
con
cent
rate
d fr
uit
and
bitte
r ch
oco-
late
flav
ors.
This
pow
erfu
l, im
pres
sive
win
e is
spic
y an
d de
nsel
y pa
cked
. At
this
stag
e, it
fee
ls ha
rd e
dged
, but
th
at w
ill fi
ll ou
t in
the
next
3–4
yea
rs a
s the
win
e br
oad-
ens o
ut. M
artin
e’s W
ines
. —
R.V
. ab
v: 1
3.5%
P
rice
: $60
83
94 C
hâte
au P
avie
Mac
quin
200
8 S
aint
-Em
il-io
n. A
n im
pres
sive
win
e, b
eaut
ifully
stru
ctur
ed,
neve
r to
o po
wer
ful,
very
ele
gant
. If i
t fee
ls a
little
aus
-te
re a
t thi
s st
age,
that
is b
ecau
se th
e st
ruct
ure
is do
mi-
natin
g th
e fr
uit.
Giv
e it
5–6
year
s and
the
full
sple
ndor
w
ill b
e re
veal
ed.
—R
.V.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
80
84
97 G
eh.
Rat
D
r. vo
n B
asse
rman
n-Jo
rdan
20
08 D
eide
shei
mer
Hoh
enm
orge
n R
ies-
ling
Troc
kenb
eere
naus
lese
(P
falz
). E
xcee
ds e
ven
this
prod
ucer
’s st
unni
ng b
eere
naus
lese
, fe
atur
ing
an
even
mor
e in
toxi
catin
g pe
rfum
e of
hon
ey, d
ried
apri-
cots
and
can
died
pin
eapp
le, w
ith s
light
ly m
ore
acid
ity
to p
rovi
de b
alan
ce t
o th
e ex
tra
leve
l of
sw
eetn
ess,
so
muc
h so
that
this
win
e co
mes
acr
oss a
s ref
resh
ing
on th
e fin
ish, d
espi
te th
e in
cred
ibly
hig
h le
vels
of su
gar.
Drin
k no
w–2
050,
pos
sibly
long
er. V
alck
enbe
rg I
nter
natio
nal,
Inc.
—J.C
. ab
v: 6
.5%
P
rice
: $24
5/37
5 m
l
85
98 C
hâte
au H
aut-
Bri
on 2
007
Bla
nc (
Pes
sac-
Léog
nan)
. The
pal
ate
open
s slo
wly,
offe
ring
an
initi
al c
itrus
cha
ract
er, f
ollo
wed
by
woo
d an
d th
en, fi
-na
lly, w
onde
rful
ly ri
ch b
ut ta
ut fr
uit.
Ther
e is
still
a to
ast
char
acte
r her
e, w
ith a
pric
ots a
nd p
ear o
n to
p of
the
cit-
rus,
but i
t is s
till o
nly
just
dev
elop
ing.
In 1
0–15
yea
rs, i
t w
ill b
e a
mag
nific
ent w
ine.
—R
.V.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
800
86
94 D
omai
ne d
e C
ourc
el 2
007
Les
Rug
iens
P
rem
ier
Cru
(P
omm
ard)
. Thi
s ha
s th
e gr
eat
arom
atic
com
plex
ity y
ou e
xpec
t fr
om R
ugie
ns.
Gen
-er
ous
and
full
text
ured
, thi
s is
a fu
ll-bo
died
, rou
nded
w
ine.
Sw
eet
red
frui
ts, t
ouch
ed b
y sp
ice,
are
wel
l bal
-an
ced
with
a s
trea
k of
aci
dity
. W
ait
for
four
yea
rs,
at
leas
t. C
alve
rt W
oodl
ey F
ine
Win
es &
Spi
rits.
—R
.V.
abv:
NA
Pri
ce: $
80
87
93 Jo
an S
imó
2006
Les
Ere
s Vi
nyes
Vel
les
(Pri
orat
). P
unge
nt u
p fr
ont,
with
dry
bay
ber-
ry, l
eath
er, j
am n
otes
and
sch
isty
min
eral
ity. T
he p
al-
ate
is al
l abo
ut s
truc
ture
, sna
ppy
acid
s, sin
ewy
tann
ins
and
livel
y, fu
ll-fo
rce
red
frui
t and
plu
m fl
avor
s. L
ike
in
the
past
, thi
s is
a to
p-no
tch
Prio
rato
that
hol
ds it
s fo
rm
thro
ugh
the
acid
-driv
en fi
nish
. B
est
from
201
1–20
15.
Fin
e E
stat
es F
rom
Spa
in.
—M
.S.
abv:
14.
6%
Pri
ce: $
66
88
96 G
érar
d B
ertr
and
1929
Le
gend
Vin
tage
(M
aury
). W
ith o
nly
795
bottl
es p
rodu
ced,
this
is a
spec
ial t
reat
. Alth
ough
it’s
read
y to
drin
k no
w, it
has
th
e st
ruct
ure
and
pedi
gree
to a
ge fo
r de
cade
s. L
oade
d w
ith r
ich
nut a
nd r
anci
o fla
vors
, the
re’s
so m
uch
goin
g
on; a
rom
as o
f dr
ied
oran
ge p
eel,
ging
erbr
ead,
toa
sted
m
acad
amia
nut
and
a d
rizzl
e of
mol
asse
s le
ad in
to fl
a-vo
rs o
f drie
d re
d pl
um a
nd fi
g du
sted
with
Nut
ella
pow
-de
r and
soft
whi
te p
eppe
r. C
ompl
ex, s
picy
and
full,
with
an
end
less
fini
sh. G
érar
d B
ertr
and
USA
. —
L.B
. ab
v: 1
6%
Pri
ce: $
380
89
94 M
aiso
n Je
ssia
ume
2008
Cha
mbe
rtin
. A
t th
e pi
nnac
le o
f G
evre
y-C
ham
bert
in,
Cha
m-
bert
in G
rand
Cru
pro
duce
s im
men
sely
pow
erfu
l win
es.
This
Jess
iaum
e fit
s the
pro
file
wel
l, w
hile
also
hav
ing
de-
licio
us ju
icin
ess
to g
o w
ith th
e da
rk ta
nnin
s an
d ac
idity
. Th
e re
sult
is st
ylish
as
wel
l as
conc
entr
ated
. Age
for
10
year
s at l
east
. USA
Win
e W
est.
—R
.V.
abv:
13%
P
rice
: $11
5
90
93 B
odeg
a C
aten
a Za
pata
200
7 C
aten
a A
lta
Mal
bec
(Men
doza
). O
ne s
niff
tells
you
ple
n-ty
: Th
ere’s
attr
activ
e sp
ice,
cof
fee
and
leat
her
to g
o w
ith r
ich
mol
asse
s an
d br
oad
blac
k fr
uit
arom
as. T
he
pala
te m
aint
ains
bal
ance
due
to fi
ne, f
resh
aci
dity
, and
th
e fla
vor p
rofil
e br
ings
moc
ha, c
offe
e, b
erry
, plu
m a
nd
toas
t. D
elic
ious
, dee
p, la
yere
d an
d re
fined
. Will
age
for
at le
ast 5
–6 y
ears
, but
bes
t fro
m 2
012–
2014
. Win
ebow
. —
M.S
. ab
v: 1
4%
Pri
ce: $
50
91
93 M
arca
rini
20
07
Bru
nate
(B
arol
o).
This
Bar
olo
from
the
Bru
nate
cru
sho
ws
gorg
eous
ch
arac
teris
tics
of m
atur
e fr
uit,
spic
e, n
atur
al r
ubbe
r, as
phal
t, ta
r an
d ro
ot b
eer.
The
win
e’s p
erso
nalit
y is
mar
ked
by a
com
fort
ing,
alm
ost f
amili
ar te
rrito
ry-d
riv-
en f
eel t
hat
reca
lls t
he g
reat
est
Neb
biol
o-ba
sed
win
es
from
Pie
dmon
t. Sa
ve t
his
bottl
e in
you
r ce
llar
for
10
year
s or m
ore.
Em
pson
(USA
) Ltd
. —
M.L
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $54
Napole
on’s
Sw
eet
Tooth
Afte
r Nap
oleo
n Bo
napa
rte’s
defe
at a
t W
ater
loo,
the
Fren
ch e
mpe
ror t
urne
d to
the
reve
red
Sout
h Af
rican
des
sert
win
e Vi
n de
Con
stan
ce to
eas
e hi
s qu
alm
s.
61
| W
INE
EN
THU
SIA
ST
| D
EC
EM
BE
R 1
, 2
01
1
TOP
100
CELL
AR S
ELEC
TION
S 20
11
92
94 H
anze
ll 20
07 A
mba
ssad
or’s
195
3 Vi
ne-
yard
Cha
rdon
nay
(Son
oma
Valle
y). S
how
s th
e dr
ynes
s, ac
idity
and
tigh
tly w
ound
min
eral
ity o
f all
Han
zell’s
you
ng C
hard
onna
ys, b
ut w
ith a
dep
th o
f ci
t-ru
s an
d ap
ricot
frui
t tha
t mar
ks it
as
a re
serv
e. I
t rea
lly
war
rant
s tim
e in
the
cella
r. B
est a
fter
2013
, and
sho
uld
deve
lop
for s
ever
al m
ore
year
s. —
S.H
. ab
v: 1
4.3%
P
rice
: $13
0
93
93 E
dgeb
asto
n 20
08
GS
Cab
erne
t S
auvi
-gn
on (
Ste
llenb
osch
). H
eart
y an
d co
mpl
ex,
this
beau
tiful
ly in
tens
e ye
t bal
ance
d C
ab is
beg
ging
for
som
e tim
e in
the
cel
lar.
Stro
ng a
rom
as o
f ca
ssis,
for
-re
st b
errie
s, lic
oric
e, c
love
and
bitt
ersw
eet
choc
olat
e flo
od th
e no
se, w
hile
flav
ors o
f bla
ck p
lum
, lea
ther
hid
e,
roas
ted
coco
a ni
bs a
nd c
igar
box
spic
e un
fold
in th
e lu
sh
mou
th a
nd t
rans
ition
thr
ough
to
the
long
fini
sh. W
ith
ever
ythi
ng s
o pr
opor
tiona
tely
big
and
pow
erfu
l, gi
ve
this
until
201
4–20
18. S
outh
ern
Star
z, In
c. —
L.B
. ab
v: 1
5%
Pri
ce: $
60
94
96 S
t. U
rban
s-H
of 2
008
Leiw
ener
Lau
ren-
tiusl
ay R
iesl
ing
Bee
rena
usle
se (
Mos
el-
Saa
r-R
uwer
). F
rom
a v
inta
ge n
ot k
now
n fo
r its
supe
r-sw
eet
sele
ctio
ns, t
his
win
e is
a re
vela
tion.
Hon
ey a
nd
berg
amot
not
es m
ingl
e ea
sily
on th
e no
se, w
hile
the
pal-
ate
unfo
lds t
o re
veal
laye
rs o
f hon
ey, d
ried
apric
ots a
nd
oran
ge m
arm
alad
e. I
t’s r
ich,
visc
ous
and
conc
entr
ated
w
ithou
t any
hea
vine
ss, w
ith a
fini
sh th
at’s
swee
t and
lin-
gerin
g. T
his s
houl
d ag
e th
roug
h 20
40 e
asily
. H
B W
ine
Mer
chan
ts.
—J.C
. ab
v: 7
.5%
P
rice
: $17
5/37
5 m
l
95
94 D
omai
ne d
e la
Pou
sse
d’O
r 20
09 C
orto
n C
los
du R
oi (
Cor
ton)
. A p
ower
ful w
ine,
ver
y st
ruct
ured
with
woo
d, c
offe
e no
tes a
nd d
ark
tann
ins.
It
feel
s ex
trac
ted,
alth
ough
the
wei
ght o
f fru
it is
cert
ainl
y en
ough
to h
andl
e th
at. I
t’s fo
r th
e lo
ng h
aul,
a co
ncen
-tr
ated
win
e th
at n
eeds
at l
east
10
year
s. N
orth
Ber
kele
y Im
port
s. —
R.V
. ab
v: N
A P
rice
: $16
3
96
92 B
roke
nwoo
d 20
07 O
akey
Cre
ek S
émil-
lon
(Hun
ter
Valle
y).
Of
Bro
kenw
ood’
s th
ree
curr
ent-
rele
ase
Sem
illon
s, th
is on
e ge
ts th
e no
d as
the
mos
t com
plet
e. It
’s lig
ht to
med
ium
in w
eigh
t, bu
t oh
so
long
and
prec
ise o
n th
e fin
ish, a
nd in
tens
e ye
t see
min
gly
tran
spar
ent,
like
spid
er’s
silk,
with
flee
ting
glim
pses
of
wet
sto
nes
and
mos
s. Tr
y be
twee
n 20
15 a
nd 2
025.
Old
B
ridge
Cel
lars
. —
J.C.
abv:
11.
5%
Pri
ce: $
32
97
92 G
lene
lly 2
008
Lady
May
Cab
erne
t Sau
vi-
gnon
(S
imon
sber
g-S
telle
nbos
ch).
It’s
re-
ally
a sh
ame
that
onl
y 25
cas
es o
f thi
s win
e w
ere
impo
rt-
ed, a
s it’s
a fa
ntas
tic C
ab th
at’s
sure
to c
ompa
re fa
vora
bly
to s
ome
of y
our
favo
rites
. B
lack
cur
rant
lea
f, fe
nnel
, cr
ushe
d vi
olet
and
drie
d to
bacc
o ar
e in
tric
atel
y w
oven
in
to th
e da
rk fr
uit a
rom
as. T
he m
ediu
m-w
eigh
t mou
th
has
a te
xtur
e lik
e cr
ushe
d ve
lvet
, with
firm
tann
ins
and
asse
rtiv
e fla
vors
of c
assis
, cig
ar a
nd e
spre
sso
that
ling
er
endl
essly
. Str
ong
and
a bi
t tig
ht; t
ry h
oldi
ng a
noth
er 2
–5
year
s. C
ape
Cla
ssic
s. —
L.B
. ab
v: 1
4.5%
P
rice
: $50
98
92 Tr
apic
he 2
008
Viña
Cri
stin
a y
Bib
iana
Co-
lett
o S
ingl
e Vi
neya
rd M
albe
c (M
endo
za).
A
littl
e bi
t hic
kory
-dom
inat
ed o
n th
e bo
uque
t, bu
t also
gi
ving
bal
sam
ic n
otes
, bla
ckbe
rry
and
choc
olat
e m
int.
The
pala
te is
line
ar d
ue t
o a
stre
ak o
f cu
tting
aci
dity
, w
hile
the
pala
te is
also
sna
ppy
with
wild
ras
pber
ry a
nd
brig
ht p
lum
flav
ors a
nd p
lent
y of
woo
d ta
nnin
. A to
asty
fin
ish w
ith e
spre
sso
and
choc
olat
e is
fine
and
long
. D
rink
now
thro
ugh
2017
. Fre
deric
k W
ildm
an &
Son
s, L
td.
—M
.S.
abv:
14.
5%
Pri
ce: $
55
99
91 P
enfo
lds
2008
Bin
389
Cab
erne
t S
auvi
-gn
on-S
hira
z (S
outh
A
ustr
alia
).
Penf
olds
C
hief
Win
emak
er P
eter
Gag
o is
enth
usia
stic
abo
ut h
is 20
08 S
hira
zes,
incl
udin
g th
is bl
end
of 5
2% C
aber
net
and
48%
Shi
raz.
Bin
389
con
tinue
s to
rep
rese
nt e
xcel
-le
nt v
alue
in a
cel
lar-
wor
thy
red;
it’s
richl
y fr
uite
d, w
ith
oak
in m
atch
ing
inte
nsity
yet
not
jam
my
or o
aky,
and
the
velv
ety
finish
last
s a
good
long
tim
e. D
rink
now
–202
5,
and
prob
ably
bey
ond.
Tre
asur
y W
ine
Est
ates
. —
J.C.
abv:
14.
5%
Pri
ce: $
36
10
094
Num
anth
ia-T
erm
es, S
.L. 2
008
Term
anth
ia
(Tor
o). L
ush
and
clas
sy, w
ith e
arth
y bl
ackb
erry
, ha
rd s
pice
, cho
cola
te a
nd le
mon
pee
l aro
mas
. The
pal
-at
e is
a m
ile d
eep
and
tann
ic, b
ut it
’s no
t to
o ha
rd o
r m
ean,
and
it ta
stes
fant
astic
, with
ripe
bla
ckbe
rry,
choc
-ol
ate,
spi
ce a
nd t
oast
flav
ors.
Com
plex
and
mas
culin
e,
with
toba
cco
and
woo
dspi
ce o
n th
e fin
ish. D
rink
from
20
12 t
hrou
gh 2
016.
Moë
t Hen
ness
y U
SA.
—M
.S.
abv:
14.
5%
Pri
ce: $
200
For a
PD
F of
the
Top
100
Ce
llar S
elec
tion
s lis
t,
visi
t win
emag
.com
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lar
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es th
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art t
o ta
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hile
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ople
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ume
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uds a
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ncen
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