Signatures Parcellaires
Guilhem et Jean Hugues Goisot
Exogyra Virgula Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc 2018
The 2018 Saint-Bris Exogyra Virgula is one of the most distinctive wines in the range. Intense floral and savory notes give the Exogyra Virgula its deep, pungent signatures. Sage, mint, dried herbs and citrus peel are finely woven together in this crisp, bone-dry Sauvignon Blanc. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2020) — 5 years ago
Giuseppe Cortese
Rabajà Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016
The 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà is fresh, vibrant and pulsing with energy, all signatures of this important Barbaresco vintage. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, smoke, dried herbs and menthol are all wonderfully alive in the glass. This is such an expressive and vivid wine. Layers of aromatic and flavor intensity really come alive with aeration. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2019) — 6 years ago
Littorai
Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Littorai's 2016 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is gorgeous, but it also is going to need quite a bit of time to come together, as the tannins are quite piercing at this early stage. Chalk, white pepper, mint, blood orange and red berry fruit give the Hirsch its distinctive aromatic signatures. As promising as the 2016 is, there is not much pleasure to be found today. Readers should plan on being patient. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 6 years ago
Château Feytit Clinet
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
A hedonistic Pomerol in every sense of the word, this wine shows all the signatures of the warm, ripe 2015 vintage. There are certainly better values in 2015, but you definitely get your money’s worth here. Give the oak a few more years to integrate, then this should be ready to rock — 7 years ago
Henri Giraud
Fût de Chêne Brut Grand Cru Champagne Blend
The MV 10 Fut de Chêne is a blend of 70% 2010 and 30% reserve wines. The flavors are bright, focused and lifted throughout. Even so, there is plenty of underlying Aÿ depth. Lemon confit, chamomile, mint and dried flowers are some of the signatures. Now that the Fut de Chêne perpetual reserve has a few more vintages in it, this cuvée is gaining in complexity, which is of course great to see. The MV 2010 needs at least six months in bottle to recover from its disgorgement. Even so, it is impressive today. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged December 6 2016. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2017) — 8 years ago
Château Pontet-Canet
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
This was the first bottle opened from a case of 375ml bottles. Opened and recorked 6 hours before serving.
The color was youthful red/purple coloration with no signs of age
Fantastic nose with currants, cassis, and pencil shavings.
This was open and had all of the Pauillac signatures with beautiful fruit. The tannins are silky but quite apparent. This is going to be even more stellar in another decade. — 5 years ago
Château Angélus
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Angélus is a total stunner. Despite its late bottling in September 2018, the 2016 is simply magnificent. Soaring aromatics and layers of bright, vibrant fruit are two of the main signatures in the 2016. The tannins, so often hard in young Angélus, are almost impossibly refined. Pomegranate, blood orange, raspberry jam, wild flowers and mocha are some of the many notes that race through the 2016. All the elements fall into place in a memorable, exquisite Saint-Émilion that is clearly one of the wines of the year. Don't miss it! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 6 years ago
Failla
Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
The 2017 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard is one of the deeper wines in this range, and yet it, too, is compact. More than that, though, the Hudson signatures just don't come through when the fruit is picked this early. Apricot, tangerine, dried flowers, honey and chamomile develop in the glass, but the 2017 lacks character, in my view. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2019) — 6 years ago
Peay Vineyards
Sonoma Coast Syrah 2005
2003 Vintage in Magnum. 14.1% Alcohol. Took a while to soak up some air and settle down but once it did, smooth palate and aged fruit flavors and resolved tannins. Not Gail’s style but nothing wrong with this over several days. Slight sediment but no bottle coating. Tried to have it opened iat a restaurant for a friends retirement party but I forgot bring the Ah-so. Waiter with corkscrew destroyed the cork and I gave up and opened a 2003 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum instead which was perfection. No problem with using the Ah-so at home and the corkscrew has not penetrated the bottom or the cork. Purchased at a ZAP silent auction in 2004 or 2005 so it has the three owners signatures on the label. — 7 years ago
Tenuta San Guido
Guidalberto Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2015
The 2015 Guidalberto is a delicious, mid-priced red from Tenuta San Guido. Here, too the style is quite restrained for a wine that in the past has played more on textural richness and volume. At times, Guidalberto was richer and more voluptuous in style than Sassicaia, but the 2015 is done in a style that is more similar to that of its big brother. It remains to be seen if that is a true stylistic shift or simply a reflection of the 2015 vintage. In any event, the 2015 is very pretty. Sweet Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics, pliant red-toned fruit and mid-weight structure are the signatures. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2018) — 8 years ago
Doolhof Wine Estate
Signatures of Doolhof Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Spectacular South African cab that starts berry and finishes smooth and light. Great find!! 😋 — 8 years ago
Smith Madrone
Estate Bottled Napa Valley Riesling 2014
Surprised by the quality and varietal signatures of this NAPA Riesling! Could easily confuse it for a good dry German Riesling. That oily petro white stone flowers and complexity carrying over to a good balanced palate and finish. Impressed. — 5 years ago
Ghost Block
Single Vineyard Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Daaaaammmnnn this is 🔥!!! Gots all the signatures of a big ass Cali cabs, but like I dunno, sophisticated and demure. All those ripe lush fruity juiciness was just so perfectly interwoven with cocoa coffee graphite and lightly crushed herbs all with jusssst the right amount of oakiness <chef’s kiss> — 5 years ago
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2004
The 2004 Cristal is superb today. Bright and focused, the 2004 shows all of the tension and energy that has always been one of its signatures. The first hints of aromatic maturity are starting to develop, but the 2004 remains quite young and full of energy. I have always admired the 2004 (along with the best wines of the vintage) for its focus. In this bottle, the interplay of freshness from the recent 2018 disgorgement and richness gained through added time on the lees (which also results in lower dosage of 7 grams per liter) opens another window into the personality of Cristal. In 2004, the Pinot Noir is 57%, or a bit lower than normal, while the Chardonnay at 43% is correspondingly a touch higher. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2019)
— 6 years ago
Bollinger
La Grande Année Brut Champagne Blend 2008
Bollinger's 2008 Grande Année is rich, ample and full-bodied, with all of the pedigree of the vintage on display. Dried pear, dried flowers, chamomile, red plum and mint develop as the 2008 shows the breadth and creaminess that are such signatures of the Bollinger house style. A whole range of brighter, more floral and chalky notes appear later, adding translucence and energy. The 2008 is 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay taken across 18 crus, and it is the Pinot that very much informs the wine in both flavor and texture. More importantly, the 2008 is one of the best Grande Années I can remember tasting. Bollinger fans won't want to miss it. Disgorged November 2018. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 6 years ago
Dana Estates
Lotus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Lotus Vineyard is another wine that has fleshed out very nicely over the last year. All of the signatures of this site are very much in evidence. Silky tannins and creamy, voluptuous fruit are front and center. A wine of tremendous exoticness and sheer appeal, the 2014 will drink well pretty much right out of the gate. A rush of sweet red cherry, plum, mocha and spice builds into the beautifully polished, refined finish. What a gorgeous wine this is. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago
Château Haut-Segottes
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2011
A good wine from a challenging year. Medium bodied, aromas of sage and leather. Signatures of licorice, tar and plumbs. Very drinkable right now and perfect this evening with delicious stew for the winter. — 8 years ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2019 Pinot Noir Las Alturas captures all the signatures of the Belle Glos style and yet has quite a bit of freshness too. That makes for a compelling Pinot for readers who enjoy big, large-scaled wines. Sweet spice, rose petal, lavender and spice are nicely kicked up here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2022)
— 4 years ago