"The 2005 Proprietary Red Madrona Ranch is probably dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but there is significant Cabernet Franc in it as well, which is also the case for its sibling, the Thorevilos. The…

"Notes of menthol, charcuterie, olives and dried spices make up the bulk of the bouquet of the 1983 Hermitage La Chapelle, yet it's skinny, lean and tannic on the palate, with just enough texture and…

"The 2009 Thorevilos displays a stunningly blue/purple color along with an exceptional nose of blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with espresso, white chocolate and violets. With…

"Healthy medium red. Aromas of raspberry, spices and herbs are accented by a peppery nuance. In a cool, dry, savory style, offering an element of mineral pungency that is not shown by the…

"The myth perpetrated by Old World wine proponents is that California wines dont age. Those critics need to taste Verit, because these wines are aging far slower than I imagined. The 2005 La Muse, a…

"Ruby-red. Deep, ripe aromas of raspberry, spices and minerals. Wonderfully chewy and voluminous for a wine from this domain; the 12.9% alcohol is barely average in the context of Burgundy '99, but…

"A spectacular wine, the 1994 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select begins a succession of profound Hillside Select cuves that continues nearly uninterrupted (1996 misses slightly) to the present…

"The iconic 2012 Proprietary Red Opus One is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot and 2% Malbec aged 18 months in French oak. A classy, complex, suave and…

"This somewhat charming, lightweight Cheval Blanc is fully mature but elegant, with sweet red and black currant fruit intermixed with mineral, licorice, and a hint of herbs. Spicy, medium-bodied, and…

"Bottled very late (November, 1997), the 1995 has continued to flesh out, developing into one of the great classics made under the Mentzelopoulos regime. The color is opaque ruby/purple. The nose…

"The wine's strikingly dark ruby/plum/purple color belies its nearly 30 years of age. Abundant red and black currant fruit notes intermixed with notions of incense, truffles, underbrush and forest…

"The 2002 Madrona Ranch possesses an opaque blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary, enveloping, massive aromatic profile consisting of spring flowers, charcoal, lead pencil shavings,…

"The 2014 Gevrey Chambertin Villages has a strict, stony bouquet with wet limestone notes percolating through the veneer of red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is…

"This wine is close to full maturity, but it is capable of holding for another two decades. It reveals the classic Lafite bouquet of red and black fruits, cedar, fruitcake, and tobacco-like aromas.…

"Three late-released bottles of the 1975 Lafite Rothschild were drinking beautifully, soaring from the glass with scents of sweet red berries, camphor, cigar box and loamy soil. Medium to…

"This wine is distinctively herbaceous and cedary, with surprisingly high acidity, and aggressive tannin in the finish. Its medium garnet color and smoky, roasted herb-scented nose are followed by a…

"Cornas lovers will adore Clape's outstanding 1991. More elegant and less concentrated than Noel Verset's (his friend and competitor), Clape's Cornas exhibits medium to full body, excellent depth,…