The Wine Advocate rated 90 points “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 The Scooter Merlot gives pronounced notes of warm plums, blackberry preserves, coconut and baking spices plus a whiff of toasty cedar. Ripe, concentrated and voluptuous in the mouth, it offers tons of vanilla and spice flavors, a medium level of velvety tannins, medium-high acid and a long finish. Drinking beautifully now, it should cellar to 2016+.”

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points “The 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva is a very pretty, centered wine. Dark cherries, plums, spices, menthol, cedar, game and tobacco are some of the notes that emerge from the glass. The 2008 is an understated Riserva that impresses for its length, focus and balance. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.” - Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” August 2011

Wine Spectator rated 94 points “At first, this teases, fresh and snappy, displaying lively acidity and zesty citrus, green apple and pear notes. Turns pithy midpalate, but the flavors pour though on the finish, adding mouthwatering touches of light oak and mineral. Should only get better. Drink now through 2025. 1,974 cases made.”

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as quite soft and lush for a Mt. Veeder wine. Dark red fruit, flowers, mint and crushed rocks are some of the notes that flow through to the intense, saline finish. I especially like the energy and drive here. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2024.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2011

Wine Spectator rated 90 points 2012 Top 100 #51 “A ripe red, offering ample acidity to support the jammy kirsch, plum sauce and wild berry coulis notes that are framed by medium tannins, with the finish pumping out hints of smoke, spice box and graphite. Drink now through 2017. 60,000 cases imported.” – Reviewed by NW for “Wine Spectator” October 15, 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points “The outstanding 2011 Novellum competes with some of the finest Macon-Villages wines one can find. It is made from 100% Chardonnay (from 25- to 30-year-old vines), aged three months in a combination of Burgundy barrels (30%) and stainless steel tanks (70%), and, somewhat innovatively, is aged on Viognier lees which gives it a honeysuckle and white peach-scented nose. There is also a salty sea breeze character reminiscent of the crushed oyster shell-like note my colleague David Schildknect often detects in Loire Valley whites. This crisp, fresh, medium-bodied Cotes Catalanes exhibits lots of earthy/terroir characteristics. Readers should think of it as a brisk, zesty, authoritatively flavored Chardonnay from the cool, alluvial soils on the banks of the Aigly River.”

The Wine Advocate rated 94+ points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is all minerals, graphite and pure Howell Mountain. Layers of dark red fruit come to life in this articulate, pedigreed Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 needs another few years in the bottle, but it is already quite striking, especially with some time in the glass. Saline notes frame the long finish. The 2009 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% St. Macaire and 2% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” – Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 95 points: "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is impeccable from start to finish. It shows marvelous detail and completeness in its perfumed red berries, mint, flowers and licorice. Tar, ash and a host of other darker nuances add considerable complexity. This is a marvelous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029."

Wine Spectator rated 90 points “A velvety red, offering ripe cherry, licorice and green olive flavors that come together on the firm-textured finish and linger nicely, balancing fruit and savory notes. Best from 2013 through 2016. 3,443 cases made.” – HS for Wine Spectator November 30, 2012

Wine Enthusiast rated 92 points “All raspberries and red currants, this is a delicious, instantly approachable wine. It also has a more complex side, intense acidity, a tight texture followed by a juicy fruit character. It is a wine for celebration as well as more serious appreciation.”

Wine Enthusiast rated 94 points “This shimmers with its flavors of apple and lime, its hint of toast and its soft finish. It’s finely balanced, a great selection that is ready to drink now.”

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points “The 2008 Phinca Abejera is a blend of 40% Graciano, 40% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, and 10% Viura aged for 17 months in French oak. The bouquet conveys an earthy minerality along with attractive spice, floral, and black fruit aromas. On the palate it is slightly narrow with elevated acidity but plenty of ripe, savory fruit for balance. It lacks the pure hedonistic appeal of the Lali cuvee appealing more to the intellect than the senses.” - Reviewed by Jay Miller for “The Wine Advocate” June 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 93 points “The 2008 Phinca Lali is a single vineyard cuvee (planted in 1910) consisting of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Viura (a white grape) aged in French oak for 20 months. Exceptionally fragrant (perhaps from the Viura), notions of lavender, Asian spices, incense, and sandalwood inform the nose of this layered, opulent, succulent red. Dense, well-proportioned, and with a sense of elegance, it should evolve for 6-8 years and drink well through 2028.” - Reviewed by Jay Miller for “The Wine Advocate” June 2011

Wine Enthusiast 90 pts

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points “The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous, classy offering laced with fragrant, mineral-infused red fruit, flowers and spices. This delicate, medium-bodied Brunello reveals outstanding length and a clean, refreshing finish. With time in the glass, the wine’s inner perfume emerges, adding even greater complexity. Antinori’s 2005 Brunello is one of the successes of the vintage, particularly when one considers the large production in excess of 12,000 cases. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. I was very impressed with both Brunellos I tasted from Antinori this year. Stylistically the wines seem to be placing more emphasis on elegance over sheer power and the results are striking.” – Reviewed for “The Wine Advocate” by Antonio Galloni April 2010

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points This bottling was disgorged in February 2011 and the following is the closest review to this date: “The NV Brut Cuvee de Reserve is striking. It shows fabulous cut and definition in its fruit, expressive aromatics all backed up by plenty of underlying structure. A bright, mineral laced finish rounds things out in style. This is superb entry-level wine from one of Champagne’s top producers. The Cuvee Reserve is 100% Chardonnay. This year’s release is based on 2008 (60%), with reserve wines going back to 1988, precisely 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1995-2007 (except 1999 and 2003). Dosage is 6.7 grams. Disgorged February 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. This is a breathtaking set of wines from Rodolphe Peters. Readers can’t go wrong with any of these four wines. Today 2008, the base year for the Cuvee de Reserve and Rose d’Albane, seems to be the recent vintage Peters is most excited about. According to Peters, the cloudy summer that year allowed just enough sun to get through to ripen the fruit but not bake away the acidities. The fruit came in with natural alcohols in the 10% range and acidities in the 9-9.5% range. Of course wine is more than numbers, but Champagne fans know what those readings mean bright, powerful and potentially very long-lived wines. Peters told me 2008 is very much in the style of 1996, except that he waited three to four days later to pick.” – Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” November 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points “The 2010 Pinyolet Garnacha (100%) was sourced from organically farmed vines planted in 1962. The wine spent 6 months in stainless steel on its lees. Purple in color, it offers up aromas of spice box, lavender, and black cherry. Savory and forward in the glass, it is a grapy, succulent effort for drinking over the next 5 years as well as an excellent value.”

The Wine Advocate rated 91 points “The 2005 Pirouette features winemakers Agustin Huneeus and Philippe Melka. It is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 5% Malbec, and 4% Cabernet Franc aged for 22 months in 75% new French oak. Saturated purple in color, it offers aromas of wood smoke, earth notes, spice box, plum, black currant, and blueberry. The wine is seamless upon entry but a bit short in the finish. Perhaps a few years of bottle aging will fill it out.” – Reviewed for “The Wine Advocate” by Jay Miller June 2008

Wine Spectator rated 92 points “Smoky, featuring a delicate bead and vivid acidity backing flavors of poached apple, black licorice, dried papaya and black currant candy. Offers a fresh finish, with a hint of seaside. Drink now through 2020.”

Wine Spectator rated 91 points “High-class oak adds toasty, smoky notes to the cherry and plum flavors in this stylish red, which is a bit made up, though successfully, with a long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,500 cases made.” – BS for Wine Spectator April 30, 2012

Connoisseurs’ Guide rated 93** points: “There is no big burst of fruit or towering wave of sweet oak to make this one an immediate turner of heads, but there is a real sense of sophistication at work here with plenty of depth and layering right from the start. The wine is at once both slightly supple and fairly firm in feel, and its vitality is hard to ignore. It teases with touches of toast and dusty earth spice while hewing to a very long line of optimally ripened currants, and it has all the right pieces in all the right places to grow famously for ten years or more.” - Reviewed by “Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine” December 2011

The Wine Advocate rated 94 points “The 2002 Redigaffi is sweet and balsamic in its expression of jammy plum fruit, elegant and ample on the flow and with an expanding volume, irmness, and grip which should guarantee maximum pleasure for another decade and a half.” – Reviewed for “The Wine Advocate” by Daniel Thomases April 2006

The Wine Advocate rated 98 points “The 2009 Monte Bello, 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot is simply magnificent. Layers of dark red fruit, flowers, spices and graphite are all woven together in this utterly impeccable wine. The 2009 is an especially huge, intense Monte Bello, yet a sexy, silky core of fruit lies within its imposing frame. Everything comes together in this glorious, radiant wine. Last year the 2009 had some pretty stiff competition from the 2010, but today it is simply firing on all cylinders. Eric Baugher describes 2009 as a year with cold weather early on, followed by heat in early June and July. The fruit was brought in on October 12, just before an intense downpour swept through the region. There is a purity and silkiness supported by structure in the 2009 that is impossible not to admire. Simply put, this is another utterly magnificent, towering masterpiece from Ridge. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2049.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” August 2012

Wine Spectator rated 91 points “Concentrated but pure, with red and black currant fruit supported by loam, tar and tobacco leaf notes. The fruit dominates for now, but there's also fine minerality underneath, so cellar short term for better harmony. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Best from 2007 through 2010. 600 cases made.” – Reviewed for “Wine Spectator” by JM September 30, 2006

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points

“The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity bursts from the glass with an exciting array of dark red berries, flowers, licorice and sweet spices. Floral notes reappear on the finish, adding brightness and lift. This gorgeous, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon should continue to drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. In 2009 the blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.”

The Wine Advocate rated 94 points “Mondavi’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is sumptuous and beautiful. Plums, mocha, cloves and pencil shavings are all woven together in this gorgeous, large-scaled Cabernet Sauvignon. All the elements are in the right place. Silky, nuanced tannins frame the voluptuous, caressing finish. A wine of centeredness and gorgeous precision, the 2009 is a true standout. The tannins need a few years to soften, but once that starts to happen, the 2009 should enjoy a long life. The blend is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” December 2012

JamesSuckling.com rated 95 points: “Alluring aromas of currants and fresh herbs with hints of rose petals. Full body with juicy tannins and a tangy, fruity, and refreshing finish. Tar and spice undertones. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A vintage of amazing please. Drink or hold”

The Wine Advocate rated 90 – 92+ points (review from issue #197 Oct. 2011)“Several of the 2010s to look for in a year or so include Louis Barruol’s 2010 Cote-Rotie, which possesses plenty of black olive, black raspberry and cassis fruit, with hints of Christmas fruitcake, incense, and an almost exotic Asian spice note. Drink it over the next 15 years.”

The Wine Advocate rated 95 points “Salon’s 1997 Brut Blanc de Blancs is drop-dead gorgeous. There is a beautiful tension between the intense minerality of Mesnil and the warmth of the vintage. Textural depth, brilliance and expressive inner perfume are the hallmarks of this gorgeous Blanc de Blancs. Flowers, mint and crisp varietal fruit linger on the impeccable finish. This is a particularly youthful, vibrant disgorgement of the 1997 that can be enjoyed now or cellared. Disgorged First Trimester, 2010 Anticipated maturity: 2012-2027.”

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points “The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino is a warm, supple wine endowed with gorgeous, expressive dark red berries, licorice, tar and subtle French oak, all of which come together on a soft, mid-weight frame. The finish is long and caressing. This is one of the more open, approachable Brunellos in this vintage and it should be accessible upon release, after which it will drink well for another decade or so. This is a very strong effort for a property in transition. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.” – Reviewed by Antonio Galloni for “The Wine Advocate” April 2012

The Wine Advocate rated 91 points

“The 2009 Crognolo is a beautiful, fleshy red. Dark black cherries, mint, flowers and minerals are woven together nicely in this fresh, delineated entry-level wine from Sette Ponti.”

JamesSuckling.com rated 97 points "Aromas of blackberries and blueberries follow through to a full body and velvety tannins. This is so layered and deep. Fabulous texture. Better in 2014. We will see in the end whether 2006 or 2007 is better. Try in 2016." – Reviewed by James Suckling for “JamesSuckling.com”. Also rated: WA94+, WS91

Winery notes: Sketch by Raul is a 1' barrel production wine coming from a vineyard planted in 1972. Sketch is the wine that better explains the genius of Raul Perez. It is also the wine that put him on the map. Sketch is the wine he ages under the water on the Aurosa estuary! The lack of oxygen, the greater amount of pressure at 60 ft below sea level and the low temperatures affect the ageing of the wine in a unique way, making it taste unlike any other wine. Sketch is the name of a restaurant in London where Raul used to hangout. Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar rated 93 points "Bright gold. Heady, complex scents of poached pear, lemon pith, white flowers, ginger and minerals. Fleshy and deeply concentrated but dry, offering intense, mineral-driven orchard fruit flavors and sexy floral qualities. Clings with outstanding tenacity on the finish, which leaves vibrant mineral and floral notes behind."

Wine Enthusiast rated 92 points “Roughly two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Franc, this dense, plummy wine is New World all the way, with incredibly ripe fruit that approaches chocolate fudge wedded to sexy hints of coconut and vanilla. Yet the wine is balanced and structured, with lush, chewy tannins that demand a couple of years’ cellaring. Tannic on the finish, but the fruit shines through.” – Reviewed for “Wine Enthusiast” by Joe Czerwinski July 1, 2005

Wine Enthusiast rated 92 points “This gorgeous Amarone opens with beautiful notes of coffee, chocolate and toasted almond followed by fresh red fruit and a piquant touch of green olive. The wine’s texture is thick and velvety but the young tannins require a few more years of bottle aging before they soften.” – Reviewed by Monica Larner for “Wine Enthusiast” December 15, 2011. Also rated: ST91, WS91

Wine Spectator rated 90 points “Very pretty aromas of crushed blackberry and ash follow through to a full body, with polished, velvety tannins and a long, fresh finish. Very balanced. Merlot and Syrah. Best after 2009. 1,600 cases made.” – Reviewed for “Wine Spectator” by JS October 31, 2007

Connoisseur’s Guide rated 90* points
The Wine Advocated rated 92 points

“Another big, earthy, tannic, Medoc-styled wine is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point. There are only 231 cases of this cuvee, which offers abundant amounts of black currant, cedar, spice box, and earth notes in a full-bodied, tannic style. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20 years.”

Wine Advocate rated 90 pts - “… the opaque purple-colored 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (6,000 cases made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers sweet blueberry and black currant fruit intermixed with cedar wood, damp earth and forest floor notes. Surprisingly thick, unctuous and rich with amazing intensity as well as silky tannins, it should be drunk over the next 7-10 years. One of my favorite value wineries is Summers Estate, whose winemaker, Ignacio Blancas, does a terrific job of getting maximum varietal character from these realistically priced wines.”

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points

“The 2010 33 De Davalos comes from a different estate parcel. Lovely spice and herbal notes are intermingled with assorted black fruits leading to an intense, balanced, full-flavored offering that can be enjoyed over the next 8-10 years.
Bodegas Tacuil’s vineyards are among the most elevated on the planet at over 8600 feet. It is also one of the few wineries that has its own appellation, Valle Tacuil. The Bodega uses native ferments for all of its wines, generally eschews the use of oak, and bottles without fining or filtration.”

The Wine Advocate rated 92 points

“The 2010 RD is sourced from the estate’s younger vines and is a blend of 80% Malbec and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (as are all of these wines). Herbs, spices, licorice, and black cherry aromas inform the nose of a spicy, dense, savory, full-bodied wine with layers of fruit, excellent volume, and a lengthy finish. It will benefit from several years of additional cellaring but can be approached now.
Bodegas Tacuil’s vineyards are among the most elevated on the planet at over 8600 feet. It is also one of the few wineries that has its own appellation, Valle Tacuil. The Bodega uses native ferments for all of its wines, generally eschews the use of oak, and bottles without fining or filtration.”

Wine Spectator rated 91 points “Hints of marzipan and lightly charred toast add richness without overwhelming the flavors of poached pear, lemon curd and black currant in this lively version, showing a creamy, detailed texture. Drink now through 2018. 3,200 cases imported.” – AN for Wine Spectator December 31, 2012

Wine Enthusiast rated 95 points “Possibly the most famous Blanc de Blancs, this continues to be a yardstick. The style almost floats, a layer of bubbles that rests gently in the mouth, releasing great flavors of very crisp fruits and a texture that hovers between green apples and minerality. This is a classic.”

The Wine Advocate rated 93 points “The 2003 Rose Comtes de Champagne flows from the glass with layers of sweet, perfumed fruit. With some time in the glass, the wine fills out with superb elegance and precision. This generous, weighty Champagne is probably best enjoyed with food. As delicious as this is today, I would be tempted to age a few bottles in the cellar. Only the price is an obstacle. In 2003 the Comtes de Champagne Rose is 70% Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims, which includes 12% still Pinot juice, and 30% Chardonnay from Cotes des Blancs, all from grand cru villages. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.”

The Wine Advocate rated 91 points “The 2011 Tarima made from non-organic Monastrell is sensational. From an area dominated by cooperatives, this full-bodied blockbuster boasts plenty of blue and black fruit notes, impressive purity and an enticing texture as well as length. It is hard to believe that wines such as this can be found for under $10 a bottle.” – Robert Parker for “The Wine Advocate” August 2012

JamesSuckling.com rated 91 points "Aromas of minerals, mint and spices with dried herbs and blackberries. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and bright fruit. A little chewy now. Better in 2012. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese."

Wine Spectator rated 91 points “Licorice and smoke notes mix with hints of roast nut, wild strawberry and grilled plum in this toasty rosé, which is creamy, with bright acidity that keeps it well-focused throughout. Drink now through 2015.”

The Wine Advocate rated 90 points “The 2011 Tilia Malbec, once again from Eastern Mendoza and Uco Valley raised in oak for six to nine months; has an attractive, comparatively complex bouquet of blackberry, wild hedgerow, crushed stone and black pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with tense, edgy tannins on the entry that counterpoise the tight ball of blackberry, briary and minerals with style. It builds nicely in the mouth, leading to a firm, black olive-tinged finish that lightly grips the mouth. Excellent. Drink now-2018.” - Reviewed by Neal Martin for “The Wine Advocate” October 2012

Wine Spectator rated 91 points “Lithe and distinctive for its orange peel-accented black cherry and licorice flavors, lingering harmoniously on the fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2013. 550 cases imported.” – Reviewed for “Wine Spectator” by HS December 15, 2008

Wine Advocate rated 92 pts “The 2007 Al Passo is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot that flows effortlessly to a round, explosive finish layered with expressive dark fruit, flowers and spices. It shows marvelous density and richness in an opulent, full-bodied style. Floral notes reappear on the finish.”

Wine Advocate rated 93 pts “The 2007 Valdisanti is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 16 months in French oak. It is the most complete of these 2007s, redolent with heady scents of dark fruit, licorice, leather and smoke. Balsamic notes develop in the glass, adding further layers of complexity and depth. This finishes with a joyful exuberance that is impossible not to admire.”