Wine: Jaillance Cuvee de l’Abbaye Brut NV Variety: 70% Semillon / 30% Cabernet Score: 88 pts Fresh and lively grapefruit and mandarin orange lead to a finish with mineral and a hint of honey to the citrus, nectarine, and nuttier notes. Pleasant and very tasty.
Wine: Chateau Haut Dambert Entre-Deux-Mers 2014 Variety: 60% Sauvignon Blanc / 25% Sauvignon Gris / 12% Muscadelle / 3% Semillon ABV: 12.5% Imported By: Franck’s Signature Wines Score: 89 Best Enjoyed:Drink Now Aromatically lifted, with high-toned Sauvignon Blanc character of grapefruit and grapefruit oils, joined by an almost floral note to the mineral and …
Wine: La Crema Nine Barrel Pinot Noir Winery: La Crema Region: Russian River, Sonoma Vintage: 2014 Variety: Pinot Noir Score: 95 Points Only 190 cases of this wine are released each year, making it fairly limited in production and availability. The nose is luscious, with deep and concentrated blackberries and blackcurrants …
Wine: Chateau de Fontenille 2014 Region: Bordeaux Variety: 80 Merlot / 20 Cabernet Sauvignon ABV: 13.5% alc. Score: 89 pts Best Enjoyed: Now – 2020 A nose of just-dug-up mushrooms, forest floor, and melted graphite is freshened up with mixed currants that turn to a palate of currants, cherries, and a hint of drying purple …
Wine: Domaine des Justices 2013 Bordeaux Superieur Region: Bordeaux ABV: 12.5% alc Score: 88 pts Best Enjoyed: Drink now Maturing nose of dark figs and plums, all spiced somewhat exotically, and a palate of bright acid zipping through graphite-tinged red cherry skin and currants.
Wine: Chatreau La Dame Blanche 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Region: AOC Bordeaux Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc ABV: 13% Imported By: Frederick Wildman Score: 88 Points Best Enjoyed: Drink now Subtle and almost lanolin-inflected aromas have a note of waxiness to them, as well as mixed citrus pith and a hint of herb in the tarragon vein. …
Wine: Chateau Peybonhomme-les-Tours “Le Blanc Bonhomme” 2015 Variety: 50% Sauvignon Blanc / 50% Semillon Score: 85 pts Best Enjoyed: Drink Now Tart aromas of white grapefruit, with fermentative notes as well. On the palate, this shows good concentration and nice amplified acidity, but the finish is short and quite metallic, with lots of grapefruit …
Wine: Les Hauts de Smith 2013 Region: AOC Pessac-Leognan Score: 94 pts Best Enjoyed: Now – 2023+ Distinct aromas of gunpowder and warm granite, with lime blossom and spice. Gorgeous. Stunning acidity here, with an almost gum-like flavor evolving on the finish. The mid-palate shows lime, lime blossom, seckle pear, hints of shiso and fennel …
Wine: Chateau Pey La Tour Bordeaux Rosé 2015 Score: 85 pts Best Enjoyed: Drink Now Bright acidity, but this is otherwise a fairly subdued wine, lacking much fruit aside from a hint of citrus, a nod in the direction of cherries, and a slight herbal character.
Wine: Chateau Pey La Tour Bordeaux Rosé 2015 Vignobles Dourthe Variety: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon / 34% Cabernet Franc / 16% Merlot ABV: 12.5% Imported By: Thienot Score: 84 Points Best Enjoyed: Drink Now The nose here is very subtle, with a whiff of wild strawberry, cherry, and mineral, but not giving much beyond that. …
Wine: Chateau du Cros Blanc 2015 Region: AOC Bordeaux Variety: Sauvignon ABV: 13% alc. Score: 89 pts Best Enjoyed: Drink Now Lovely aromas of grapefruit pith, kumquat, and freshly cut grass, and a palate of white grapefruit as well as a floral note alongside lime and sweet spice.
Wine: Chateau de Pez St.-Estephe 2013 ABV: 13% alc. Score: 91 pts Imported By: Maisons Marques & Domaines Best Enjoyed: 2020 – 2030 Subtle nose, with a creamy note to the cherry pastry creme and spice, but otherwise, this is fairly quiet right now. On the palate, this is shutting down and looks ready …
