OLD WORLD REDS

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94 Pts.

A neighbor of Pavie Decesse, this vintage is composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Bellevue Mondotte is a little youthfully closed, revealing subtle suggestions of plum preserves, blackberry pie & cherry compote plus an undercurrent of violets, mocha & black soil. The full-bodied palate is firm and packed with taut, muscular fruit and finishes long and earthy.

Black-purple in color. Full of charm on the nose, it exudes aromas of wild raspberries, blackberries and wild strawberries. The lush fruit intertwines subtly with flavors of cocoa, toast, licorice, vanilla, and Madagascar pepper. Silky and inventse on the palate. Its rich, smooth mouthfeel oozes an intricate blend of ripe fruit and warm spice. A lingering, flavorful finish. 

With a purple hue this Grand Cru exhales aromas of cassis, saffron and earthiness. In the mouth the tannins envelop a lovely cherry fruitiness and are powerful yet silky. 

A soft, supple, fruit forward styled Haut-Medoc. Red berries, soft tannins and low acidity make the wine smooth and elegant thus a good ambassador for an appellation. 

The rigor of the selection combined with the large proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon has revealed a wine with unique balance, very precise, very pure with a wide-ranging of aromatic complexity, both fruity and spicy. On the palate, the tannins are silky and intense, with a particularly long and brilliant finish. 

This ripe, open wine, made from organically grown grapes, is packed with red fruits and a smoky character that is classic for the wines of the appellation. Fresh fruits are held together by easy tannins. 

Limpid and brilliant. Ruby color with some purplish reflections. Very aromatic, pleasant. Aromas of red fruits (raspberry) and spices (fresh mint and licorice). Full with very soft tannins. Long and harmonious finale.

Deep purple in appearance with defined aromas of mocha with black cherry and currant fruit. Juicy on the palate with plum-like texture and dark, ripe fruits underscored by lots of spice. 

This has a wide range of red currant, blackberry, black cherry and açaí berry fruit flavors forming the core, with a very sleek iron note lurking underneath it all. The finish uses a fine singed wood stitching to pull the fruit and minerality together. 

Critical Acclaim

Wine & Spirits 100 Points

Wine Enthusiast 100 Points: A great wine, the summation of a great vintage in Bordeaux. The core of richness, the dense, bone-dry tannins, the black currants, red berries and black plum skins are the elements, but it’s the way they have been integrated that makes this such an impressive wine. There is great elegance as well, a fabulous counterpoint to such power. Cellar for at least 15 years, but this will keep forever.

Attractive deep violet color, closed nose, and powerful tannins. A wine with great aging potential. 

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 93 Pts.

A sensational effort for the vintage, this textured, opulent, superb Lynch Bages is already strutting its stuff and should easily last for 20 years. Medium to full-bodied with an opaque dense purple color, notes of flowers and cassis, a layered texture that builds incrementally in the mouth and tremendous purity and depth, it can be drunk now or cellared for two decades or more. Bravo!

Velvet tannins inside the intense black fruits, the wine is rich, smooth and generous. Blackberry and black-plum fruits are to the fore along with the fine acidity and great structure. 

Moderate red currant fruit in the nose, plus earth and spice, it can be peppery, spicy, or even leafy with hints of red cherries. Like other wineries in the côtes of St. Emilion, Chateau Pavie makes firm wines that are restrained and austere when young. The occasionally severe tannins mature with age into a fine sinewy structure.  

Deep ruby-garnet in appearance, Peymartin is classic left-bank Bordeaux. Aromas of dried tobaco, cedar, blackcurrant, and pungent cooking spices greet the nose.  The palate is extremely elegant with ripe, yet structured tannins balanced by firm acidity, black fruits, savory earth, and hints of toasted vanilla.  A balanced and persistent finish underlines the wine's quality as well as its ability to hold up in bottle. 

Bordeaux, France

A brilliant blend of 54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot (which accounts for the wine’s ripeness and intensity), and the rest a tiny dollop of 1.5% Petit Verdot, it boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as gorgeous aromas of black and blue fruits, spring flowers, and hints of background toast and forest floor. 

Rich aromas of tobacco leaf, sweet smoke and spice are bound by a sweet berry core. On the palate, this wine offers up complex and racy character with tremendous length.  

97 Points – Wine Advocate  

Sanctorum is only made in the best vintages and is comprised of the oldest vines of Grenache (well over 100 years old) in Le Crau. It is aged entirely in demi-muid and bottled in magnum. Chateauneuf Du Pape, France

1.5 Liter

Deep and intense color. Generous and fresh nose of ripe fruits. Red and black berries mixed with lightly peppery spices. Presence of mineral. Menthol and liquorice. Immediate fruit and freshness on the palate. Full bodied wine with structuring ripe and supple tannins without hiding finesse and complexity. Nice acidity gives tension and freshness.
Very long class finish. 

Possessing aromas of berries in its youth, this wine will evolve over time with well-ripe, jammy fruit aromas. Pairs well with deli platters, red meats, and regional cheeses such as goats cheese

A beautifully provençal effort that has a huge nose of garrigue, raw steak, leather, truffle, and peppery spice. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and balanced. 

Beautifully aromatic and expressive with delicious freshness. A serious CDR with ample fruit but crucially ample drinkability. All of the wines made by Les Grand Bois are deeply coloured, ripe, robust and while one can think of many flavors to describe them, the word ‘delicious’ pretty much says it all.  

100 Points - James Suckling

98 Points - Robert Parker

Profound dark violet in color, with notes of black fruits and a hint of spices on the nose. The palate is round and luscious, with an imposing structure that is fleshy but nicely buttressed by acidity. The tannins are sauve and velvety. The finish is fleshy and impressively persistent. 

While it is 100% Malbec, this wine is easy and soft. It has a backdrop of dusty tannins as well as ripe black fruits. The acidity and the generous structure give it a rich character that makes it accessible young.  

Lafage Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes is a stunning red wine gem of Syrah and old-vines Grenache from the Roussillon wine region of southwestern France. The wine's official appellation is Cotes Catalanes IGP. Deep in this Catalan region of southwestern France, Domaine Lafage blends juicy, aromatic wines that deliver the rare combination of distinctiveness and affordability. 

Subtle and elegant nose, with scents of dried fruit (figs), black pepper and woody notes (cocoa powder). A powerful, finely structured wine, with well-integrated tannins and a long aromatic finish (black pepper, liquorice).

Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot

The 2010 vintage is particularly rich in aromas of small berries - woodland strawberries, redcurrant. In the palate this wine has good tannic structure . A wine to be enjoyed as of now.  

Very expressive and gourmet nose with hints of strawberry, cherry, vanilla and floral notes. Round and supple attack followed by a silky mid-palate with a long, aromatic finish. Nice freshness and pretty tannic substance.  

Blackberries, kirsch, spice, incense, dried flowers, and baking spice notes all flow to a full-bodied, gorgeously texture effort. 

A seamless, medium- to full-bodied red. Like fine silk, this weaves through the range of crushed black cherry, licorice and citrus with fine, supple tannins and an underpinning of smoke-tinged mineral. Offers a long, lingering finish. 

Ruby red in color with purple highlights, with a nose of red fruit intensity along with notes of vanilla, chocolate, leather and aromas of oak.  Ample and enveloping on the palate with supple tannins and a savory freshness of the Sangiovese grape. The balance between acidity and tannins is excellent, and the finish has a lovely length and persistence. 

Pressed violet, crushed herb and camphor aromas shape the nose. The chewy palate delivers crushed raspberry, black cherry and a hint of star anise alongside firm tannins. 

A complex nose combining plum, mulberry, ripe strawberry and brown spice with delicate floral and violet notes. Tannins are firm and pleasingly supported with plump fruit and a rounded texture, giving a good lengthy finish. 

Distinguished by its elegance and its deep ruby red color. It presents a good concentration on the mid-palate and a persistent aftertaste, with a rounded and voluptuous body, and interesting, silky tannins. It unites potency and elegance and looks like having a promising future. With its tempting perfumes of red berries and its clean freshness, the complexity of this wine presents an excellent balance. 

This vintage exhibits a very concise and clear sense of aromatic and tannic precision. Elegant mineral tones appear on the long, silky finish.   

Intense ruby-garnet in color, pronounced aromas of blackberries and spices complement undertones of forest floor and hints of smoke. On the palate, the wine is harmonious and balanced with soft, round tannins. 

Purple in appearance, it exhibits a bouquet redolent of wild berry preserves, lifted by smooth notes of spice. On the palate, it is beautifully balanced and delicious, with supple, velvety tannins. 

Deep ruby red color. The nose is intense, with fresh hints of red fruits and wild berries all wrapped in a vanilla note. The sip is rich, smooth, elegant. Pleasant cherry long finish with well integrated tannins. 

Intense ruby red, hints of wild cherry, violets and red fruits ample and easy to drink with excellent persistence .

The bouquet is very expressive and intense, with notes of young red fruit, blackberry and the typical balsamic. In the mouth is full body, persistent and rich, with silky tannins and a superb lenght. A combination of elegance and power, it should be opened at least 2 hours in advance or alternatively decanting gently. 

Conti di Buscareto has... focused its efforts on the resurrection of a local red grape called “Lacrima Nera” or “Black Tears.” Named for its loss of juice when the grape becomes very ripe, Lacrima Nera produces aromatic wines with notes of rose petals, and has recently been saved from extinction 

Red colour with violet hues, refers to the sweetness of a dark fruit with refined elegance. Intense and rich on the nose, it is both concentrated and harmonious: flowers and fruits to give way to hay, tobacco, spices. Bright summer berries on the palate with graphite veins lead to the discovery of a series of sensations. 

Intense ruby red color. On the nose, the aromas of ripe red berry fruit, sweet spices, and a light and fresh minty note are the most prominent sensations. The palate is well structured, persistent, and very pleasurable in its fruity finish and aftertaste.  

Light ruby red color. The bouquet is typical of the grape variety and very elegant, with notes of forest berries, blackcurrant, cherry, and toasty sensations, like toasted almond and cured meat. On the palate it is dry, fresh, velvety, with delicate tannins and a lingering finish. 

Made entirely with Merlot, this opens with delicate aromas of black-skinned fruit and a whiff of baking spice. The mature palate reveals prune and vanilla alongside rather evolved tannins.  

This opens with aromas of black-skinned berry, dried herb and leather. The juicy palate offers Marasca cherry, blackberry jam and star anise alongside fine-grained tannins. 

Clean ruby red. Deep aroma with nice acidy.Medium bodied and strucutured. 

Earthy aromas of sunbaked earth, leather and a whiff of dark-skinned fruit emerge from the glass. The taut, medium-bodied palate offers dried cherry, orange zest and mocha alongside grainy tannins.  

Red wine made with 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, is made by a selection of the best grapes from the vineyards, dried for 20 days - Amarone Style.

This Valpolicella is a great example; somewhere between a Ripasso and a basic Valpolicella Classico. The grapes are dried for about a month in a well ventilated “fruttai” before pressing, and ultimately aged for five months in oak. Not a frivolous wine, it packs loads of sour black cherry aromas, spices, violets, and roses. 

Ruby red with garnet highlights. Aromas of ripe fruit, cherries, plums, dried fruit, spices, vanilla, and cinnamon. Fruity in flavor with notes of vanilla, supple in its tannins. 

Intense scent of violets and fruits of the undergrowth with elegant spicy notes. 

Moist earth, game, menthol and dark spice aromas lead the nose. The earthy and spice aromas follow over to the linear palate along with tart sour cherry, orange zest and a hint of coffee bean. Firm acidity and dusty tannins provide the backbone. 

You'll find aromas of star anise, freshly tilled soil, chopped herb and balsamic notes on this full-bodied red. The smooth, concentrated palate delivers juicy black cherry, raspberry compost, pipe tobacco and licorice accompanied by firm, refined tannins and bright acidity. 

Ruby red color. On the nose it is rich and ripe with notes of red fruits. The structure is full-bodied and intense with youthful tannins on the finish. 

The Pora is soft, pliant and enveloping.  The wine is rich and deeply textured, with layers of fruit that continue to build with time in the glass. The tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. This is an especially powerful, brooding edition of the Pora. Although impressive today, the 2013 will drink well for decades to come.  

#19 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018 

Expressive and smooth, this hits all the right notes, with pure black cherry, black currant and violet flavors. Touches of earth, iron and tobacco add complexity.  

Nuanced flavors and captivating fragrances, characterized by the usual notes of ash and graphite, son of the terroir of Roccamonfina, enriched by pepper memories. The body shows a perfect balance of taste and good dynamics, which makes it unique and inimitable.  

Ruby red with violet reflections, this wine offers aromas of black cherry, wild blackberry and plum fruit with a spicy, toasted overtone. On the palate, it is soft and elegant, displaying the structure necessary for long aging. 

Intense ruby color with garnet reflections. The nose offers an intense bouquet, with cherry notes, berries and spicy flavors of tobacco with mineral notes. 

Ruby purple color with ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries. 

The bouquet here is generous and broad with dark fruit, spice and tar. You even get a touch of citrus or dried orange peel. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner and more delicate in this vintage. Yet the tannins leave a firm footprint and promise a good aging future ahead. 

Purple red colour, the Dolcetto has black cherry, raspberry and hint of blueberries aromas. An unoaked wine, this medium bodied red has soft tannins, moderate acidity and good balance. 

Offers up generous fruit along with menthol, spices and hard candy, showing notable intensity while retaining an essentially mid-weight style. Strong, intense and powerful when young, complex and elegant with the ageing. 

An intense ruby red in color, the wine shows a complex nose of ripe red berry fruit along with cherries and plums, all well integrated with the spicy sensation of vanilla and pepper created by the aging in oak barrels. The 2014 Villa Antinori Rosso, supple on the palate with soft and velvety tannins, is firm bodied and endowed with a long and tasty finish. 

This wine is spectacular, and represents the perfect foil for grilled steak. Rich, full bodied and muscular, Alto Moncayo has riveting intensity and palate staining extract; this Spanish red is inky/purple, full-bodied, and rich. This pedal-to-the-metal offering should age handsomely for a decade. 

Aged 6 months in French and American barriques. Concentrated and voluptuous ripe fruit is complemented by strong minerality and wood spice on the nose and finish.

Blend: 50% Garnacha, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 10% Mazuelo