Antonio Galloni

Founder, Vinous

9.8

Forgot to take a pic of just the 1982 Mouton. Just gorgeous last night. Perfumed, racy, sensual and alluring, with exceptional balance. Loved it...💥🍷😍😱🤪🤩 — 5 years ago

Mathew

9.5

A nose with a scent of black currant and poetry. Half bottle, hit it’s peak relatively fast after decanting with a deep and sensual fullness. 30 min in - moved into a flatter - more mid-tone range. Fantastic value for what is is. — 7 years ago

Bobbi Mickelson

9.1

Awesome, smooth Malbec — 8 years ago

Igor Beron

9.6

So sensual and appealing. Approachable now. Round and silky, although it will last for decades as there is concentration of perfectly ripen fruit. Stunning! — 8 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

In the glass, a nice ruby color. Spicy aromas with hints of cocoa and big red fruits. Another example of what a California Zinfandel can, and in my opinion, should be. Not big and fat. This is sleek and sensual, it even feels a bit European at times. The Petite Sirah and Carignane add some structure and balance here. Savory notes of smoked meat, fresh cut grass, spices, and oak. That's not to say that the wonderful fruit doesn't make itself known, as well. Ten years on, this baby is drinking like a champ. — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

From magnum this was a very feminine and sensual wine. Classic cassis, toasted oak, roasted coffee beans, currants galore. The palate was youthful, though in a great spot now this should drink like this for a few years then start to gain tertiary notes. So balanced, so pure, so classic. Not a great vintage for most but this shows quite well regardless, plenty to enjoy here. — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.6

Exceptional and pure immediately come to mind and are affirmed over 2-3 hours. This is Sangiovese Grosso in a very Burgundian, transparent and very pure expression.
A new producer of sorts, the earliest wines were in 2006 under this label from what I recall.

Being my first Stella the color is uncommonly lighter for a Brunello than you would expect.

The nose is pure, with elegant raspberry and strawberry fruits that meld with Earthy minerality, mushroom and spice into a beautiful, sensual perfume.

The palate continues the purity party, marrying a persistence and depth that reminds me again of Burgundy. A long finish carries the fruit, fresh acids and the fine, supple tannin.
As great as it is now, will it reach even more heights? Only time will tell.
#brunello #sangiovese — 9 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 2002 Grand Vintage Collection is remarkably bright for a vintage that produced generally much more opulent Champagnes. Orchard fruit, almond, marzipan, chamomile, dried flowers and dried apricot all fill out the wine’s frame effortlessly. Rich and sensual, but also light on its feet, the 2002 is fabulous. The 2002 is 51% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Noir and 23% Meunier. Disgorged: May, 2017. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 6 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.4

Sensual nose; campfire, pen ink, roasted herbs, jerky, toasted oak, blueberry tart, cooked blackberries, Asian spices, puff pastry. The palate is nicely layered. All the same flavors of the nose along with red currants, bramble berry, and white pepper. In a really nice place right now. — 7 years ago

with Diana

Michael H

9.2

Real sleeper here... silky subtle sensual.... will seek out again — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

The 2012 Petit-Village is juicy, exuberant and forward, with striking palate presence, silky tannins and terrific overall balance. Sweet floral and spice notes add nuance on the gracious finish. Readers should expect a decidedly feminine, sensual Pomerol with considerable early and mid-term appeal. There is plenty to like here. The Petit-Village could very well be a sleeper of the vintage. In 2012 the blend is 80% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine spent 20 months in barrel, 80% new. Julien Lavenu is the consulting winemaker. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous) — 8 years ago

Rob Moose

9.2

This ranks right up there with the best Beaujolais I've had (Foillard 3.14, aged Chamonard in mag, etc). Came out without the barnyard aspect right away and was a sensual pleasure to drink, but with plenty of nuance. From magnum at Untitled — 9 years ago

with Gabriel

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.4

Sensual and limber. More bramble fresh fruit and flower stems on the nose. — 9 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

Oh my. The nose on Domaine Giraud's Prémices Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011 is unapologetically lush and even downright sensual with layers of blackberry reduction sauce, smoky plums, mesquite, Tahitian vanilla bean, and anise. It's equally immersive and voluptuous on the palate, layers of black fruit are beautifully delineated against a structure that suggests good aging potential, balanced acidity along with a dash of minerality, and a very pleasant spice and dried herb note on the finish. 15.0% ABV — 9 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.8

Seductive nose that you can just smell for days. An incredible bottle that is just approaching the cusp of maturity. Focused, precise and sensual, red berries, cherry wood, minerals, dried rose petals, terrific structure and a long, complex finish. Singing. CLB at its finest. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2017 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru has a sensual and pure bouquet with red cherries, redcurrant jus, crushed stone and pressed rose petals that gradually unfurls in the glass and ends up being more expressive than the Latricières-Chambertin. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, fleshy and perhaps the most dense of Duroché’s 2017s, real grip on the spicy finish. Superb. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2019) — 6 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.5

1999 and amazing! Soft, elegant, silky and interesting. Layers of secondary notes assault your senses from the moment the glass approaches your nose. Long and sensual finish. Thank you Guigal. — 7 years ago

Carson

9.4

If Italian wines are my love then consider this little gem from the south of France to be a tryst. This wine is dusty, wild and uninhibited, packing an oh-so-sensual touch right out of the bottle. The robe, a delightfully deep crimson, is soon abandoned as it gives way to a softer and more supple hue that suggests more surprises are on the way. Light and musty on the tongue, the more you play with it the wilder it gets. The slower you take it, the flavors of licorice, currant, spice box, and pork fat on the finish reward your patience. Drink now, as this southern Rhone beauty is at peak maturity--just don't let your true love find out... — 8 years ago

Vinous Favorites

Delicious wines for less than $25 chosen by Vinous critics

9.0

The 2012 Barbera d'Alba races across the palate with super-expressive red fruit and gorgeous, pulsating energy. Bright, floral and pure, the 2012 impresses for its captivating, sensual personality. (AG) — 9 years ago

Frank

10

There are not enough adjectives to describe this experience. Sensual. Enveloping. Smooth to the point of having no friction at all. Finish that has lasted a week. Realizing that we tasted something bottled while Abe Lincoln was in the White House makes it even more special. — 9 years ago

with ADAM