Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The new release by FIGGINS coming from the 2020 vintage is utterly fantastic now in its playful youth. Once on the nose this takes on layers of lemon zest and honey, alongside baking spices, ginger and shades of damp earth that all meld in the glass. The palate reveals just a kiss of sweetness with lemon cake, marzipan, quince and stony undertones. Seriously esteemed and bright in its youth, this has another decade to go. Drink 2021-2031- 93 — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

Made by superstar winemaker, Randy Dunn, of Dunn Vineyards, the 2017 ‘Feather’ by Long Shadows is a masterful effort from this exciting warmer vintage in Washington. Once on the nose there is a lovely round core of toasty oak that wraps around the rich dark fruits, sagebrush and chocolate fudge aromatics that all meld in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, revealing a round and generous mouthfeel. The seamless effect created mid-palate is utterly fantastic. Black currants and blackberry cordial dance with shades of Black Forest Cake and espresso bean on this highly complex palate. This finishes long with dark fruits and a beam of minerality. While enticing to savor now, the 2017 ‘Feather’ will have a long life ahead of it. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to afford a two hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2021-2040- 95 — 6 years ago

Brian Hearty

8.9

2014. Bretty and cherry meld together well. — 7 years ago

with Paul

Jeff Hasmann

9.1

Great wine from Corbieres. The majority of the fruit comes from 80 - 100 yr old Carignan vines with 20% Grenache blended in to soften it. Ripe prunes and plums meld with notes of cocoa and spice. The mouth-feel is Bordeaux-like with the heavy tannins and noticeable hints of mineral. This wine is bold and powerful, but well-balanced with concentrated flavors and great structure. The wine screams for a fine dinner with meat as the main course. Excellent! 2014 vintage on Dec 14, 2018 — 7 years ago

Scott Cowan

9.1

Hot Hot Hot. And delicious. Despite the tight grip this astringent Grenache places on all in the bowl, aromas of sour cherries and licorice leap out. They meld velvety-smooth beneath a spicy pepper-dark chocolate coat that drapes over oak, tannins for miles, and bold fruit.
Hard to believe the 14.3% alcohol measurement on the label. Taste buds argue that this wine surpasses 15% for sure.
Will hold up to all meats and strong cheeses. Tasted great with a sauté de foie de canard, aubergines, poivrons rouges, et onions grilles.

Drink now and enjoy for 5-10 years more.... at least. — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.1

The 2012 Joanin Bécot is dark, open and quite seductive. Black cherry, plum, spice and leather all meld together in a very pretty, gracious wine with soft contours to drink now and over the next handful of years. The 2012 is 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Jean-Philippe Fort is the consulting winemaker. This is a gorgeous wine that delivers superb quality as well as value. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous) — 9 years ago

Vinous Favorites

Delicious wines for less than $25 chosen by Vinous critics

8.9

Cantine Lonardo’s 2010 Aglianico is a gorgeous entry-level offering that captures the essence of Aglianico from hillside vineyards in the heart of Taurasi. Smoke, tobacco, incense, licorice and wild dark cherries meld together in a wine endowed with tons of character and pure personality. (AG) — 9 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.9

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard emerges mostly from upper blocks on this site, a striking hillside that faces Colgin, where the steep exposure can yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Inky red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco meld together effortlessly, with silky tannins that wrap it all up. Bold and luscious, but with tremendous nuance, the Melanson Cabernet is a total stunner in 2018. As I have written in the past, farming here has improved tremendously in recent years. This is another superb example of the quality that this site is capable of. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown gave the 2018 a relatively short 10 days on the skins. I imagine he thought the site would take care of the rest. It's hard to argue with that. The 2018 is off the charts great. Don't miss it. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2006 ‘Pedestal’ is a sinfully good warm vintage Merlot by superstar enological consultant Michel Rolland that is drinking marvelously at now thirteen years of age. Following a long decant, the Merlot slowly unveils ripe black currants that combine with sandalwood, cigar ash and Turkish coffee aromatics that meld together in the glass. The palate has tremendous freshness and verve considering its age, as this silky wine effortlessly glide across the mid-palate. Still showing serious power and concentration, the ‘Pedestal’ leads with a deep core of dark fruits that mingle with suggestions of milk chocolate, pipe tobacco, leather and anise flavors that sing in harmony. Fantastic now, this beautiful wine has at least another decade of life left. Drink 2019-2028- 94 — 6 years ago

.

9.1

Earthy, slightly savory notes meld with black fruit and espresso on the palate. The finish is mildly tangy, with suggestions of black cherry and underbrush. No hurry on these, as they have both the structure and the acidity to continue aging well. This bottle showed best after 2+ hours of air. — 7 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.1

Pretty awesome wine. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc with a few others thrown in. Dark cherry and black raspberry meld seamlessly with dried violets and a hint of spice. It’s very young - so if you’re drinking now, give it a long decant. Otherwise, cellar it for 7 -10 years. It’s a beauty. 2016 vintage on Dec 1, 2018 — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

Really pretty wine that is definitely best served on the cool side. Great structure with tannins that grip the palate. Crushed roses, red fruit meld together for delicious drinking in the near term. — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.0

A powerful, authoritative wine, the 2012 Paveil de Luze is shaping up to be one of the under-the-radar gems of the year. Earthy and smoky notes add nuance, but it is the wine's explosive, deep personality that stands out most. Expressive floral, savory and ferrous notes meld into the expressive finish. Although the 2012 is more power than finesse, it offers exceptional balance and tons of personality. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. This is an impressive effort from Paveil de Luze, a Margaux property that could probably be a classified growth. Simon Blanchard is the consulting winemaker. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous) — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.4

The nose is dense and rich with jam compote, nutmeg with a hint of barrel toast. The aromatics gently merge into the palette. Rich dark maraschino cherries meld with spice box. Tannins are still quite ripe and need more time to relax. Nice mid-palette persistence. A dry finish comes along for the ride. This is a classic clone of a Bdx blend. An excellent showing, which should improve with age.

@Martin G Rivard - We can't thank you enuf for this gem! — 9 years ago

with Anne-marie

MaJ CappS

8.9

Smells of scone spices.

Medium bodied with a bright fruits leads me to believe this is strong on the Grenache - cherry preserves, pepper, tobacco, chop stick tannins (bamboo) and grape jolly rancher acidity.
May need another couple years to fully meld.
— 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

One of the finest sites in all of SLB. Always needs age. What a nose. Just dizzying. 2018 is so good in the so called “B” villages. Nose is deep. It’s floral. Dark red roses and violets. Late season cherry fruit and also black cherries. Almost kirsch in it’s intensity. What a palate. A monster. Nuanced, clear and detailed. So deep, so fresh, so concentrated. Amazing purity and sappy red and black cherries. Powerful and also elegant. Sappy. Such nice acid and freshness has an electricity to it despite its ripeness. Wow. Exhilarating is the best word. Terrific inner mouth aromas and sweet, ripe velvety and substantial tannins. The mineral drive throughout this wine is amazing right now but some of that will meld into fruit as this ages. This needs 5 years and then oh boy. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2004 Dom Perignon Champagne is sinfully good at fifteen years of age. Showing off its downright sexy golden hue, the wine evolves quickly once in the glass displaying a dazzling array of aromatics, from orchard fruits to peat moss and toasty brioche as well as shades of salted Marcona almond that all nicely meld together. The palate yields a wonderful combination of richness and tension. There is a lovely ripe, almost unctuous texture to this aged Champagne. Flavors of salted macadamia nut, ripe pear, kumquat zest and shades of Shiitake mushroom with lighter biscuit undertones all combine brilliantly. This is a satisfying, downright hedonistic champagne that will be extremely long-lived. Drink 2019-2040- 97 — 6 years ago

Jeremy Benson

8.9

Funky nose. Delicious herbaceousness. Needs a couple years to meld together. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

From 3L. Spice box and eucalyptus meld with deep red and purple fruit and supportive but resolving tannins. This is in a really sweet spot. — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.1

The 2012 La Vieille Cure is once again a real overachiever. Round, succulent and deeply expressive, the 2012 hits all the right notes. A host of raspberry jam, iron, smoke, herb and spice notes meld together in this impressive, voluptuous Fronsac. This is a very strong showing. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous) — 9 years ago