90 Point+ Rated Wines

VARIETAL + REGIONS: parkling wine consumption in the US continues to grow rapidly. At the head of that growth curve is Prosecco, a sparkling white wine from northeastern Italy (specifically the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine regions). Prosecco is also the informal name for the grape variety used to make these wines, which is now known as Glera. ABOUT THE WINE: Lot 50 is made from grapes harvested in the southeastern Veneto from cordon-trained vines planted in alluvial soils. After a...

Shows finesse, along with depth to its honey, candied citrus and mineral flavors. Lovely balance and harmony render it seamless and graceful. Drink now. –BS - Wine Spectator Magazine 91 Points

DR. LOOSEN ESTATE:The Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that he had vines in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards. To maximize the potential of those vines, he dramatically crop size, uses only organic fertilization, insists on very strict fruit selection, and employs gentle cellar practices with a minimum of handling.DR. L SPARKLING RIESLING:Sparkling wine has a long, rich tradition in Germany, where it...

Description: Grown on sunny slopes and harvested at the peak of ripeness, Syrah and Grenache grapes give the wine its deep ruby color. Extraordinary care during extraction accounts for its unctuous quality and rich mix of sunbaked black fruits. Astute élevage (aging, fining, filtering, and blending) yields a round wine with soft ripe tannins and long finishes. Estate: The Les Dauphins brand is inspired by the early 1920s, a time when Paris was enjoying a glorious period of post-war decadence...

Tasting Notes:The fine bubbles form a large string against a golden background. A fruity nose and delicious, persistent barley sugar and brioche flavours. A very lively wine.Blend:60% Pinot Noir30% Pinot Meunier10% Chardonnay

Vineyards & Winemaking: This flirtatiously fruity French beauty is made from the Gamay grape grown in the northern part of the Beaujolais region, which is rare for a wine at this price. Most everyday priced Beaujolais wines comes from the south. The vines grow in the traditional freestanding bush or gobelet style near the villages La Chapelle de Guinchay and Romaneche - Thorins which lie just to the east of the Crus Fleurie and Chénas. The soil is a free-draining mixture of decomposed granite,...

EVODIA is an exciting new project in the Denominacion de Origen Calatayud, hailed as one of Spain’s most progressive and promising wine growing regions. Calatayud is distinguished by its prevalence of high elevation vineyards planted to the Garnacha variety – in fact, the highest in the entire country. The vineyards surrounding the small town of Atea reach upwards of 3000 feet – the highest within the DO.It is here, in the vineyards of Atea, that Altovinum sources their Garnacha grapes for...

Exuberant aromas of citrus fruit, ripe melon and guava with some underlying herbal and classic gooseberry notes. Fresh fruit and crisp acidity creates a well balanced and elegant wine with a smooth finish. This is a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. - Winery

Grapes and Vineyard: Made with 100% Barbera grapes grown in estate-owned vineyards in Rocchetta Tanaro. In the Cellar: Temperature controlled maceration on skins lasts 20 days. The wine is then transferred to oak barrels where it ages for 12 months, before ageing for another 12 months in the bottle. Tasting: Very deep ruby red colour with garnet highlights. Rich and complex bouquet with outstanding concentration and density; scents of red berries and forest fruits are particularly evident,...

Tasting Notes: The wine has a bright garnet color with an amazingly high-toned explosive nose of wild sage, blood orange peel, raspberry and shiitake mushrooms. The palate is quite bright and lively with acidity and yet warm with flavors of orange blossom, red fruits, orange peel, well integrated French oak and herbs. There is a great generous fresh forward varietal fruit to the wine making it great to drink now or over the next few years. The balance of the wine keeps it fresh and at the same...

Soils: The soil is dry and shallow, and is primarily composed of limestone, which is the mother rock. The soil is intermixed with large chunks of pure chalk. The largest marble quarry in Europe is located near our vineyards, testament to the chalky quality of the soils. Marble is the product of chalk, or calcium carbonate, that has been compressed over a very long period of time. Climate: Continental, with some Mediterranean influence. A very unique microclimate that is the result of the...

Elegant and focused, with creamy vanilla and apple aromas and rich yet crisp flavors of baked pear and cinnamon bread. Drink now through 2014. 20,000 cases made. –TF

Notes:A traditional, easy to drink wine, which comes from a blend of Dolcetto grapes from the vineyards of the Einaudi estates which surround Dogliani. Born in the Einaudi vineyards positioned in the hills of San Luigi, Santa Lucia and Madonna delle Grazie in Dogliani. In the Dogliani area this traditional wine reaches its absolute best: of a ruby red colour, which tends toward violet with a rich fruity bouquet, full bodied with an intense aroma of undergrowth and a pleasantly tannic taste,...

Bright yellow with a strong bead. Sexy, strongly perfumed bouquet displays melon, white peach and strawberry, along with a sexy floral overtone. Sweet pear, strawberry and raspberry flavors are refreshingly juicy, with slow-building spices adding interest. Tightened up with air, but finishes with excellent clarity and a silky texture. - Stephen Tanzer 91 PointsThe NV Brut Grand Cru Tradition is a very pretty wine that is surprisingly accessible and round for a Champagne from Ambonnay. The wine...

Ravines Dry Riesling is made in the dry, New World Style. Elegant and vibrant with intricate floral aromas.  Pear, apple and citrus notes followed by a lingering mineral finish. It pairs well with foods as diverse as spicey Asian, delicate seafood, and poultry in rich sauce. - Winery

Story:No doubt that Merlot was the wine of the 90s. Unbelieveably smooth and in vogue, people were hypnotized by its good vibrations. Then one wannabe actor dissed it and suddenly a while new world appeared where everybody was too sexy for Merlot. Shot down in a blaze of glory. I guess that's the way love goes. But, hold on, we're bringing it back!Taste:A mild blend of red plums, currants and cedar aromas with a touch of earthy goodness. The wine is medium to full-bodied and impeccably...

Notes: Rich, dark garnet in color. This Pinot boasts aromas of dark berry notes such as blackberry, cherry and strawberry followed by hints of wild herb and rich dark chocolate. Smooth flavors of ripe plum, black currant jam, and strawberry filling well balanced with roasted almonds and a touch of vanilla. Bright acidity and soft tannins lead to a long, satisfying finish. Pairs well with everything from roasted lamb with grilled vegetables to dark chocolate covered strawberries. ...

Full-flavored yet crisp and delicate. Nicely doughy on the nose with distinctive mature, toasty and nutty flavors. Harmonious Brut with lovely balance and a great, lingering finish. - Wine Spectator Magazine 92 Points

One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon:One Point Five is an elegant, silky Cabernet Sauvignon with soft tannins and abundant fruit that is approachable when young, yet capable of aging gracefully. This wine reflects the climate and soils of our Stags Leap District vineyard sites and Shafer’s commitment to meticulous, sustainable farming and quality winemaking.Winemaker’s Comments:“From the moment you pull the cork on this vintage rich, tantalizing aromas fill the air with blackberry, black...

VARIETAL & REGION: Russian River Valley is one of the great wine regions in the United States, and is home to some of the most well known domestic wineries. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, Russian River Valley is cool and foggy, plush with hillside vineyards. The cool climate provides the ideal environment for Chardonnay grapes to ripen slowly over a long growing season, which promotes complexity and balance in the wines. ABOUT THE WINE: Chardonnay bunches are harvested from sandy loam...

This is an absolutely first-rate bubbly, dry, smooth and rich. Has complex flavors of peaches, limes and strawberries, accented by doughy yeast and smoky flavors. Really defines the balanced elegance and pedigree you want in a great sparkler. — S.H. - Wine Enthusiast Magazine 90 Points

BACKGROUND: Quinta do Vale Meão was founded in 1877 by the legendary Dona Antònia Adelaide Ferreira and is owned today by her great-great-grandson Francisco “Xito” Olazabal. Vale Meão built its reputation supplying fruit to the famed 250-year-old Port house Ferreira. In 1952, its vineyards were chosen to create a revolutionary wine, which for decades would be the Douro’s only globally recognized table wine. Vale Meão began a new life in 1998 when Xito realized his dream of making his own wine...

2017: The winter of 2017 ended a five-year drought with January recording the most rainfall in over 20 years. The abundant rainfall continued into March, causing a modest delay in budbreak, and pushing bloom back by two weeks. Increased soil moisture allowed for healthy vine growth and development. The summer, in turn, was warm and punctuated by occasional heat waves. Despite Mother Nature’s variability, favorable weather in August provided optimal conditions for fruit development and...

Brandlin is a Napa Valley estate that produces wine from a small, historic vineyard in the Mount Veeder appellation. Overlooking Napa Valley from its 1,200 foot perch, the estate is planted to 38 acres of Bordeaux varieties. ese sustainably farmed, low yielding vines produce intensely concentrated grapes, resulting in wines that eloquently express this rare and rugged mountain site. e wines pay homage to the Brandlin family, which began farming wine grapes on Mount Veeder in the 1870’s and...

TASTING NOTES:The colour is a delicate pomegranate pink with very slightly orange reflections. The sparkling, light effervescence has a persistent foam.The nose is subtle and fresh, first offering an original palette of tropical fruits (guava and lychee) and small berries (raspberries, cherries and wild strawberries) in the first instance. These are followed by rose and pomegranate notes which complete the complex, intense aromatic profile, dominated by somewhat undeveloped primary aromas.On...

Appellation: BARBARESCO DOCG Zone: Barbaresco, Neive, S. Rocco Seno d'Elvio (Alba) Vineyard extension (hectares): 1.5 Blend: 100% Nebbiolo Vineyard age (year of planting): Nebbiolo 1997,1998,2004 Soil Type: Calcareous/Clayey/Sandstone with bluish marl Exposure: South/south-east Colour: Bright ruby red with garnet reflections Nose: Fine, elegant, fruity, raspberry, strawberry and black cherries Flavour: Dry, warm, quite smooth, fresh, medium-bodied, rightly tannic, intense, quite persistent,...

ESTATE:One of the oldest port houses, Quinta do Noval is also arguably the greatest. It is unique among top port houses in that most of the ports are made from estate-grown fruit and, notably, all the vintage Noval wines are from the single Quinta do Noval vineyard. Noval is mentioned in land registries going back to 1715, and has been sold just twice in that time, once in the late 19th century, and to its present owners in 1993. Noval has, however, a reputation for being an innovative,...

The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino is deep, textured and impeccably balanced. Dark cherries, plums, tobacco, crushed rocks and spices blossom in the glass. Here, too, the overall sense of harmony is utterly captivating. A gorgeous wine, the 2008 stands out for its exceptional polish. The style is a bit deeper, richer and more layered than the Pelagrilli, but at the same time remains deeply marked by the prevalence of fruit from the northern side of Montalcino. In 2008 Pacenti lost about a third...

The birth of the Canalicchio di Sotto estate, which lies directly below the town of Montalcino to the northeast, started with a purchase in 1965, from the famous Biondi Santi family. Shortly thereafter, the Consorzio del vino, Brunello di Montalcino was formed by 25 estates, with the aim of monitoring quality, settings standards and controlling production to guide their new DOC forward. The Lambardi family was one of these families with a vision for brunello production and its future....

Notes: Our 2018 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is an approachable, fruit-driven wine. It offers a welcomingly round mouthfeel with ripe notes of red fruit and cherry. Delicate hints of dark chocolate and oak spice on the finish add layers of elegance and freshness, offering a rich yet balanced expression of the varietal.

Full and rich with flavors of plums and warm spice, this Pinot is a crowd pleaser. The fruit is all Dijon clones from Block Two of the famed Bien Nacido Vineyard. This is classic Santa Barbara Pinot with a price/quality ratio that's truly hard to beat. - Winery ** Only 2 in Stock **

Tasting Notes: Room-filing aromas of black currant, mandarin and grapefruit rise from the glass to be joined by complexing tropical notes and sweet herbs. The entry is fresh and juicy with layers of lime, passionfruit , rock melon, blackcurrant and a touch of red bell-pepper on the finish. Sweet ripeness rides through the palate complimented perfectly by a zesty drive and real focus. Medium weight and good breadth. Winemaker Notes: Grapes from our own estates and select growers were picked,...

Vineyards & Winemaking: Between the big city and majestic mountains sits Lodi--California’s small town answer to big-time flavor. This wine is a blend made of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tannat and Souzao. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then aged in a blend of concrete and oak for 6 months.Taste: This wine is reminiscent of the field blends made by California’s pioneering winemakers. Big fat aromas of cassis, blackberry, and plum with traces of...

Bright, golden colour. Beautifully evolved nose of aromas of pineapple and mango on a palate of honey and delicate vanilla-like hints of the oak. Its mouth is round and generous, giving a feeling of the sweetness of Chardonnay and it is balanced in acidity with a long-lasting freshness on the finish. - Winery

VARIETAL + REGION: Shiraz has found a home in the coastal regions of South Australia. Long, warm summers ensure the grapes achieve full fruit and tannin ripeness, resulting in expressive aromas, a velvety texture, and a finish that keeps going. ABOUT THE WINE: Bunches are harvested and brought to the winery where they are sorted and de-stemmed prior to a temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel. Cooler fermentation temperatures preserve Shiraz’s characteristic flesh black fruit...

VARIETAL & REGION: The Barolo wine region is arguably the most famous DOCG in Italy. It is located in Piedmont, in the northwestern part of the country, and is perched between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea in the Langhe Hills. Often referred to as the “King of Wines,” Barolo wines are produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown in this designated region. There, the grapes benefit from limestone, clay and sandy soils, and are influenced by cool, mountain air and warm sea breezes. Barolo is often...

A refined and subtle Port. Outstanding. Lovely aromas of flan, caramel and egg custard with a hint of toffee. Medium-bodied, with a light sweetness and a refined, clean finish. Tastes older than 10 years. Drink now. 20,000 cases made. - Wine Spectator Magazine 91 Points

Our latest vintage of Janzen Napa Valley Cabernet unites the unique mountain character of our estate fruit with the finesse offered by Cabernet from Rutherford and Oakville. 2012 was an excellent vintage for Cabernet in Napa. Long hang-times and intense ripeness offer approachability in younger wines. The depth of tannin and acidity will also allow this wine to age wonderfully. - Winery* Our own estate vineyards as well as selected premier Napa Valley vineyards are represented in this wine.*...

Harvest Notes: The 2016 growing season began with a very dry winter, consisting only of 193 mm of rainfall from May to September 2015. June was completely dry, followed by significant rain, 119 mm in August alone. The following spring presented colder and rainier conditions than usual, especially from mid-September to mid-November, which generated less bunches and some “coulure” on the Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère vines. Summer was particularly hot and dry, specifically in December and...

TASTING NOTES:Intense, concentrated and deep ruby-colored, this wine offers elegant, complex aromas of red fruit. In the mouth it is rich and dense, yet harmonious, with sweet, balanced tannins. The wine has a long finish with a depth and structure that ensure its extraordinary longevity.REGION: Italy / Tuscany / BolgheriSassicaia means “the place of many stones,” and refers to the region’s gravel soil. The original vineyards have a southwest exposure with extensive sun and maritime breezes...

Wine Information:Seghesio’s Barolo is concentrated, big and muscular with pure Nebbiolo aromas, cassis, black cherry, licorice and spicy oak on the nose. Clean, with fresh, soft tannins.Grape: Nebbiolo 100%Vineyard age (year of planting):Nebbiolo: 1950, 1956, 1980, 1983, 2000Soil type: Tufa, clayey, poor in organic substancesExposure: South-EastVinification and ageing: Maceration on the skins in steel rotary fermentors for 5-8 days, ageing in French oak barriques and tonneaux for 24 months....

Notes: TD-9 is a proprietary blend that celebrates a bold move. In 1973, in the space of a few months, John Shafer went from riding morning commuter trains in Chicago to teaching himself to drive a TD-9 tractor in our Napa Valley vineyard. He’d never grown grapes or made wine in his life. That spirit of risk-taking and adventure still guides Shafer today and inspired the creation of this new wine. Winemaker’s Comments: “This juicy red blend is loaded with vivid summer fruit – red plum, red...

A deliciously satisfying wood-aged Port. It has an intense fruitiness, with layers of acidity and oxidated notes. It’s concentrated, yet shows lightness and poise. - R.V. - Wine Enthusiast Magazine 93 PointsA vibrant tawny, with a rich array of dried citrus, apricot and hazelnut flavors that are backed by plenty of fresh acidity. Features white chocolate on the finish. Drink now. 665 cases made. –KM - Wine Spectator Magazine 92 Points ...

WINE DESCRIPTION:Nicola Catena planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. His grandson, Nicolás Catena, is known as the man who revolutionized Argentine wine and introduced high altitude Malbec to the world. The Historic Catena Zapata vineyards are planted with the Catena family’s proprietary selection of malbec plants: the Catena Cuttings. Catena Alta Malbec is sourced from Block 18 of the Angélica vineyard, Block 4 of the La Pirámide vineyard, Block 1 of the Nicasia vineyard and...

The Nebbiolo vineyards cultivated around the municipality of Barolo are situated at a height of 280-380 metres above sea level. These soils are rich of grey sandy silt clay and sometimes bluish in colour. These inter-woven lands have a very good drainage which helps to sustain the vegetative activity of Nebbiolo. After maceration on the skins for some 20 days, malolactic fermentation is completed in steel. The wine then is transferred into oak barrels where it will mature for 24 months....

Wine Description: A deep pomegranate red wine; medium-bodied wine shows good depth in its red fruit. Soft silky tannins, with a good structure and intense mineral fragrance. - WineryVarietal composition: 100% NebbioloSoil: Rocky and abundant minerals of iron which give the tipical reddish colour to the indigenous rock.Climate: Typical of the piedmont area, in respect to that of the plain. It permits an even distribution of precipitation between both spring and autumn, and a ventilation of the...

The 2007 Barolo Prapo bursts from the glass with a display of muscular dark fruit, licorice, leather, tar and smoke all of which come together on a dense, full-throttle frame. A powerful, imposing Barolo, the Prapo is likely to require a bit of patience. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. - Robert Parker 94 PointsGood medium red. Warm aromas of plum, strawberry, currant and underbrush. The palate offers good red fruit complexity with a light floral nuance. Not especially pristine or youthful but...

Tasting Notes:Marques de Casa Concha, is dark ruby red in color with luscious aromas of cherry and blackberries intertwined with cedar and smoke. These notes follow through to the palate. Tremendously concentrated flavors are revealed in firm tannins with a soft, silky texture and a lingering finish. - WineryVineyards:Puente Alto Vineyard in Chile's Maipo Valley. River bench associated soils, alluvial, stony, poor in nutrients and highly permeable due to the gravel sub-soil.Winemaking:The...