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The 2019 Grenache 2 2 Tango is terrific. A blend of 76% Grenache, 15% Graciano, and the rest Syrah, sourced from multiple sites throughout the Central Coast (mostly Ballard Canyon), it has a cool, lively, incredibly elegant style to go with textbook Grenache notes of red and blue fruits, ground pepper, and herbes de Provence. It has fabulous purity of fruit, and I’m a fan. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDThe 2019 Grenache 2 2 Tango is a blend of Grenache, Graciano and Syrah. Boisterous and racy in the glass, the 2019 has a lot going on. Bright red berry/plum fruit, licorice and spice all open in the glass. This is an exuberant style, but the tannins are pretty fierce. Give it a year to soften.Antonio Galloni | 91 AG

The 2019 Petite Sirah 2 2 Tango is dense purple-hued and has an assortment of black and blue fruits as well as bouquet garni and sappy herb notes. With full-bodied richness, a monster of a mid-palate, remarkable purity, and a great, great finish, it’s a brilliant Petite Sirah that should evolve for a solid decade in cold cellars. The blend is 77% Petite Sirah, 14% Graciano, and 9% Syrah, aged in 69% new French oak.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JDThe 2019 Petite Syrah 2 2 Tango is mostly Stolpman and a touch of Rancho Boa Vista, both in Ballard Canyon. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, licorice, spice and menthol saturate the palate. The 2019 has plenty of Petite intensity, but with tannins that have been expertly managed. There is a lot to look forward to.Antonio Galloni | 92-94 AG

In the same ballpark quality-wise, the 2019 Syrah 2 2 Tango (89% Syrah and 11% Graciano) is riper and more exotic, with lots of violets, bay leaf, game, and peppery notes as well as a core of dark fruits. Full-bodied, balanced, and just impeccably put together, it’s a seriously good Syrah to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThe 2019 Syrah 2 2 Tango is a gorgeous, sumptuous wine that marries fruit from top sources in Ballard Canyon and Willow Creek. Juicy plum, black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice and spice are all kicked up. Readers will find an exuberant, open-knit wine that is ready to deliver the goods.Antonio Galloni | 93 AG

The 2019 Onomatopoeia is all Chardonnay from the cooler Edna Valley, and it’s a bright, medium-bodied, beautifully balanced white offering classic citrus and lemon fruits, notes of sappy herbs, vibrant acidity, and a great finish. Aged 14 months in 48% concrete eggs, 26% in new barrels, and the rest in neutral oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered, it’s incredibly impressive.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThe 2019 Chardonnay Onomatopoeia is creamy, open-knit and inviting, all of which make it a good choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Lees stirring and full malolactic fermentation add textural richness. Hints of apricot, lemon confit, sage and chamomile linger.Antonio Galloni | 91 AG

he Lisini 2019 Brunello is compelling, starting with its captivating aromas of fragrant blue flower, hay, perfumed berry, dark exotic spice, new leather and aromatic herb. It’s also delicious, delivering a great depth of flavors including juicy Morello cherry, raspberry croissant, licorice and crushed mint before a blood orange close. A backbone of velvety tannins provides seamless support while fresh acidity keeps it vibrant and balanced. What a gorgeous wine and the best Brunello I’ve had so far from this historic estate. Drink 2028–2039. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 98 KOMedicinal blackberries, sweet sage, stone dust and candied oranges define the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino. This is juicy and vibrant with violet and lavender-tinged wild berry fruits and chalky mineral tones that form a saturation of minerality toward the close. A web of fine-grained tannins resonates as the 2019 finishes long and staining yet feels only lightly structured. Salted licorice suggestions linger on. This is a classy southern Montalcino Brunello from Lisini.Vinous Media | 94 VMA sleek and structured red with black cherry, cedar and spice aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a chewy finish. Integrated and flexing. Drink after 2027.James Suckling | 94 JSThe Lisini 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a dark and spicy bouquet with prune, cardamom, asphalt and wet stone. The wine is quite developed, and for that reason, I wouldn’t suggest a very long drinking window. There is cola and dried rosemary sprig at the back. This is a dark Brunello with concentrated fruit to drink in the medium term. Production is 40,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is a spice box of a wine, opening with a burst of camphor and dried flowers, giving way to crushed blackberries, sage and cloves. This is surprisingly energetic and racy in style. Vibrant acidity propels depths of dark red fruits and inner floral as salty minerals saturate. The 2019 finishes structured and long yet still lively, leaving violet inner florals and hints of currant to taper off slowly. The combination of power, depth and energy makes this impossible to ignore.Vinous Media | 95 VMTo the northwest of the town of Montalcino, Pertimali’s 12 hectares extend over a single block, surrounding the Montosoli hill. Despite a relatively cool microclimate, the limestone-rich clay and estate’s old clones yield a vigorous, muscular Brunello. Picked at the beginning of October, the intensely savoury 2019 wafts with iron, sage and bay leaf. The ripe brawny palate is packed with dry, assertive tannins backed up by sweet black cherry and spiced currants. Acidity is brisk. A rustic rather than elegant offering. Ageing is in Slavonian oak casks of 30 hectolitres.Decanter | 90 DEC

Fullish yellow. The complex nose shows the power of the vintage, a few drier tannins behind, fair acidity. I find this backward and difficult to judge. I think the Clos character is there, but it is reticent today. The palate does deliver detail and layers of fruit though. The finish does also suggest the necessary class. Really good length here.Jasper Morris | 94 JMShowing more of a barrel sample nature than the Fevre wine, Bichot’s Les Clos has power and richness on the palate. With a hint of toasty oak, and ripe stoned fruit characters, this will develop into a fine Grand Cru given a couple of years in bottle. There is plenty of precision here - this barrel sample doesn’t quite do the wine justice but there is clearly so much to come.Decanter | 93 DECModerate though not subtle wood influence frames overtly exotic aromas of white peach, apricot, lychee and a hint of sea breeze. There is outstanding volume and mid-palate density to the large-scaled, intense and powerful flavors that coat the mouth with dry extract on the robust, bitter lemon and stony finish. This is definitely not a classic rendition of Les Clos but it’s impressive nonetheless.Burghound | 93 BHThe 2019 Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru has a crisp, focused bouquet, still quite backward, featuring citrus lemon, lime zest, crushed rock and a very light smoky note. The palate is more impressive, displaying fine concentration. This Les Clos is slightly waxy in texture with a brisk, quite spicy finish that lingers in the mouth. Very fine.Vinous Media | 92 VMRound and intense, this evokes peach, apple, lemon and mineral aromas and flavors. A light smoky element lingers on the finish, with fine harmony and length. Drink now through 2025. 500 cases made, 116 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Fullish yellow. The complex nose shows the power of the vintage, a few drier tannins behind, fair acidity. I find this backward and difficult to judge. I think the Clos character is there, but it is reticent today. The palate does deliver detail and layers of fruit though. The finish does also suggest the necessary class. Really good length here.Jasper Morris | 94 JM

Enormously complex nose that marries so many flinty, savory and citrus aromas. Astonishing texture on the rich but precisely delineated palate, the concentration creeping up on you, building and building to a great crescendo. Enormously mineral aftertaste. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.James Suckling | 98 JSThis is also aromatically cool and restrained with its combination of essence of white orchard fruit, especially pear, along with hints of wood, spice, mineral reduction and rose petal. There is excellent intensity to the textured, concentrated and quite powerful big-bodied flavors that exude evident minerality on the focused finish that is quite tightly wound. This is going to need at least 6 to 8 years of bottle age first.Burghound | 93 BHThe 2019 Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles Grand Cru opens in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, orange oil, almond paste, pineapple and fresh pastry. Full-bodied, satiny and textural, it’s rich and expressive, with lively acids and a charming, demonstrative personality.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP

A delicious, creamy white with lemon-rind, dried-apple and pear character. Medium to full body, with energetic acidity and a polished finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 G Lot Chardonnay was produced with grapes from a plot in the Adrianna vineyard that was planted in Gualtallary in 1992 at almost 1,500 meters above sea level. This fermented in 500-liter oak barrels, 25% of them new, where it matured for one year. It has a classical nose of barrel-fermented Chardonnay, with spicy, smoky and toasty notes from the barrels combined with white fruit and flowers. The palate is sharp and austere, combining freshness and structure, creamy oak and chalky minerality. 30,000 bottles were filled in February 2020.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPGrapes from Gualtallary handled elegantly: 30% aged for 12 months in new French oak while the rest sat in used barrels. Golden yellow in the glass, the 2019 Chardonnay Luca delivers a nose of vanilla, hazelnuts, corn and ginger with juicy hints of fresh pear. Both smooth and fleshy, the freshness brings a chalkiness to the flavors underlined by the smoke in the very lengthy finish. A Californian style wine.Vinous Media | 92 VMBig and rich, with a luscious allure to the ripe apple and creamy baked pear flavors filled with concentrated spice and pastry accents. Savory hints on the firm and well-structured finish. Drink now through 2024. 800 cases made, 800 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 90 WSA smooth mix of melon, tropical fruit, vanilla and woody aromas open this high-elevation, mostly barrel-fermented Chardonnay that’s balanced yet a touch creamy in feel. Light oak, buttered white-bread toast and subtle white-fruit flavors are short on a plump finish. Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

Sophisticated aromas of lead pencil, graphite and blackcurrant. Hints of black olives and herbs, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and deep, with super precision and intensity to the tannins. Incredible balance of structure and finesse to this. Give it time in the cellar. Better after 2027.James Suckling | 99 JSA dark tone to the nose, black pepper, liquorice and black cherries with hints of rose. So fruit forward and expressive on the palate, a riot of wild strawberries, herbal-touched raspberries and spiced liquorice sticks exude from the glass giving nuance and complexity on the palate. This is clean and crisp with fine but softly creamy tannins, weighty structure and such sweet, succulent fruit. Intense yet delivered with a slight of hand that gives definition and layers, it’s fun and serious - just wonderful. So much going on here. Ageing for 24 months in barriques (80% new, 20% one year old).Decanter | 97 DECRich and deeply colored, evoking black cherry, blackberry, plum, tar, wild herb and spice flavors. Dense yet retains a sense of freshness, with refined tannins lining the finish. Nicely integrated and long. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 7,916 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSViolets, fresh mint and raspberry come together with reductive notes of tar as well as tobacco, leather and spices—cardamom jumps out in particular—on the complex nose of this wine. Dark berries emerge on the palate, with more herbs, spices, bitter chocolate and coffee grinds. The dusty tannins and searing acid confirm time will elevate this even further.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEPackaged in a heavy but beautifully designed bottle, the Tenuta Luce 2019 Luce della Vite is a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. This is an icon Italian wine in its own right, and it proves exceptionally versatile and likable year in and year out. My biggest concern with this vintage is the powerful 15% alcohol that adds even more power to an already brawny Tuscan blend. The bouquet is saddled with dark fruit, cooked cherry and lots of savory oak spice and tobacco from barrique aging.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

Camphor, forest floor, cedar and rose aromas come to the forefront on Sandrone’s stunning 2019 Barolo Aleste. It’s racy and youthfully austere, delivering red cherry, pomegranate, star anise, cedar and white pepper framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and beautifully balanced. This needs several years to fully unwind and shows serious aging potential. Drink 2029–2049. Abv: 14.5%Kerin O’Keefe | 98 KOAleste is a contraction of the names Alessia and Stefano, grandchildren of the late Luciano Sandrone. With fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the 2019 Barolo Aleste shows important richness and structure. This is the proverbial Barolo with a capital B. It reveals thick layers of dark fruit, cherry and spice. It shows sweet tannins and impactful texture. When tasting at the winery, Le Vigne is usually served first, and Aleste comes after that. Both wines promise a very long aging window.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2019 Barolo Aleste is another stellar wine from Sandrone. Like Le Vigne, the Aleste is a tightly wound ball of energy. Dark cherry, mocha, plum, licorice and lavender all race across the palate. This racy, but youthfully austere Barolo has a ton to offer. There’s more density and a darker profile than in the Le Vigne, sort of like a soloist to Le Vigne’s orchestra.Vinous Media | 97 VMAn integrated and well-crafted Barolo with flowers and lemon peel to the cherry and strawberry aromas. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins and a linear drive throughout. Tight and muscular. Well formed. Drink after 2027.James Suckling | 95 JS

Rose, menthol, star anise and baking spice are just some of the aromas that appear on the gorgeous Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2019. Focused, elegant and savory, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, spiced cranberry, crushed mint and ground clove before a licorice close. A backbone of fine-grained tannins provide support while bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced and loaded with energy and tension. What a stunner. Drink 2027–2044. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 98 KOThe 2019 Barolo Le Vigne is a historic blend of fruit from Baudana in Serralunga d’Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello. This year, a fifth site was added to the final blend. It is the Le Coste MGA in Barolo with south-facing exposures and 45-year-old vines in a two-hectare parcel. The backbone of this wine is Baudana, and Merli adds freshness. The wine needs more time in bottle, but already it proves generous and bold with dark fruit, spice and crushed mineral.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RPThe 2019 Barolo Le Vigne is pure and total seduction. Kirsch, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, cedar, dried herbs and orange peel all grace a Le Vigne built on mid-weight structure and energy. There is a feeling of youthful classicism and austerity that is so beguiling. Readers should plan on being patient, though. The 2019 won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, but there is enough fruit to make me think it will be superb, in time.Vinous Media | 97 VMVery aromatic with hibiscus, crab apple, orange blossom, and ripe strawberry on the nose. Full-bodied, very layered and powerful, yet it remains very fine textured with an intense finish. Slightly more structured than before. Perhaps due to the addition of wines from a new vineyard? Try after 2027.James Suckling | 97 JS

The 2019 Luigi Einaudi Barbaresco is a little closed at first, but some notes of cherry, chalk and smoke emerge. It is firmly structured with lots of tannins - prominent but not harsh - and a fine, silty texture. The dark cherry fruit is hidden in the dense structure but persists on the finish along with lots of fresh juiciness. It has a quite long and angular "Giacometti" shape to the wine, and a smoky, chalky austerity. It needs another 2-3 years to begin to unravel but it should keep for 20 years plus.The Wine Independent | 94 TWIA very subtle and pretty 2019 Barbaresco with plum and orange peel, as well as floral undertones. Medium body, fine tannins and an attractive finish. Subtle and rather elegant. Drink now or hold.James Suckling | 92 JS

The Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2019 Barolo Bussia opens to a fragrant bouquet with wild rose and lilac. Those pretty high-toned aromas are followed by redcurrant and earthy licorice. Bussia is a very large MGA site, and there are dozens of little microclimates and nuances within this one vineyard. This wine embraces a very graceful and ethereal side of Bussia that tightens on the palate to show age-worthy structure. Production is 10,600 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPAromas of mature black-skinned fruit, new leather, tobacco and cedar waft out of the glass. On the full-bodied palate, firm, refined tannins amply support dried cherry, pomegranate, licorice and hazelnut while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Give it a few more years to fully develop. Drink 2027–2039. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KOPoderi Luigi Einaudi is finding a new postmodern identity, using concrete and big oak casks with a more classic 30 months of ageing allied to precise winemaking. This Bussia is restrained with cinnamon, violet and red currant aromas. The palate is very savoury and elegant, with a polite extraction and amazing tension on the finish. A delicious Barolo, quite surprisingly ready to drink given the vintage and site.Decanter | 94 DECShows serious grip, courtesy of dense, assertive tannins, with cherry, grass, iron and tobacco notes holding court, while vivid acidity keeps everything focused. The fruit returns on the austere finish. Best from 2027 through 2045. 1,325 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 2019 Barolo Bussia is incredibly tight and austere. Dark red cherry fruit, sage, blood orange, mint and cinnamon open gradually as the 2019 starts to show its stuff with some aeration. Complex and mysterious, the Bussia is full of intrigue.Vinous Media | 92 VMDespite the slightly light color, it’s a perfumed, fresh and pretty red with fine tannins. Medium body. Firm, fresh and fine. Slightly austere at the end. Needs three or four years to soften. Drink after 2026.James Suckling | 92 JS

Red berry, rose petal and whiffs of exotic spice come to the forefront on this stunning red together with whiffs of camphor. It’s still youthfully austere, precise and firm, delivering wild strawberry, cranberry, ground clove and hints of coffee bean alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps balanced. Give this a few more years to fully develop. Drink 2029–2049. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 97 KOThis is one of Poderi Luigi Einaudi’s historic productions. This estate enjoys some of the best growing sites in the appellation despite the fact winemaking is performed outside the denomination on Dogliani. This estate is grandfathered into the system. The 2019 Barolo Cannubi is streamlined and silky in texture, but it shows enough inner tension and energy to support a busy bouquet with elements of wild berry, blue flower and dusty mineral. This wine shows that classic Cannubi weightlessness. Some 9,600 bottles were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPBroad and rich, exhibiting plum, cherry, earth and underbrush aromas and flavors. Reveals a dense matrix of tannins that lend support, with lively acidity. This finds nice equilibrium in the end, where a vestige of ripe Nebbiolo fruit lingers. Best from 2027 through 2046. 988 cases made, 322 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSLovely perfumes here with rose petal, cloves, and strawberry with some citrus. Medium body, with firm and linear tannins that are fine and racy. Shows lovely length. Better after 2027.James Suckling | 94 JSConcrete fermented then barrique as well as cask aged, this 2019 shows a telltale rose and mint Cannubi character. The graceful aroma is supported by an equally delicate palate with sucrosity, ripe tannins with some sternness on the mid-palate, then a good finish. It doesn’t lack acidity for the long haul despite the softer style.Decanter | 93 DECNo written review provided. | 92 W&SThe 2019 Barolo Cannubi is another very tightly wound wine in this range. Sweet macerated cherry, spice, cedar, tobacco and licorice give the 2019 lovely inner sweetness. The 2019 is marked by considerable youthful austerity and plenty of tannin at this stage. Hopefully more Cannubi sensuality will emerge over time.Vinous Media | 91 VM

Here’s an exciting new project from Poderi Luigi Einaudi that I have been looking forward to tasting ever since I learned this historic winery was lucky enough to secure fruit in what is surely the most sought-after MGA in the appellation, Monvigliero in Verduno. The 2019 Barolo Monvigliero Stefano Arienti 125 Anniversary Collection (with a minimalist artistic front label) needs time to open because the wine is rather closed on first nose. With coaxing and patience, it eventually opens to pressed rose, iris root, white licorice and wild berry. The tannins are grippy and tight. I went back to taste this wine several times from an open bottle over the course of 24 hours. Production is 10,300 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPRipe dark-skinned fruit, cardamom, violet and new leather aromas lift out of the glass on this full-bodied, fragrant red. Structured and elegant, the enveloping palate offers ripe black cherry, crushed raspberry, nutmeg and star anise wrapped in firm, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2029–2044. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOSleek and firmly built, this red offers cherry, plum, earth and eucalyptus flavors. Ripe and balanced, ending with hints of licorice and tobacco. Compact finish for now, with vivid acidity. Best from 2026 through 2043. 1,290 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSPerfumed and attractive with orange peel and dried strawberries. Fresh roses as well. Lovely delicacy to the vintage with finesse and beauty. Creamy and fine-tannined. Bright finish. Drinkable but much better in 2026.James Suckling | 93 JSTasting note not provided. | 93 W&SThe 2019 Barolo Monvigliero exudes depth and character. Like all of these Barolos, the 2019 is quite austere in the early going. Time in the glass brings out the wine’s natural volume and a good bit of whole cluster savoriness as well. The 2019 is very clearly an infant, but it is quite promising. Dried herbs, rose petal, mint, sage and dried herbs lend aromatic presence to this super-expressive Barolo.Vinous Media | 92 VM

The 2019 Château Lynch-Bages is stunningly good, and it’s going to be interesting to compare this to the 2018 over the coming decades. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, freshly sharpened cedar pencil, spring flowers, smoke, and graphite, with an almost liqueur of rocks-like minerality. A massive, incredibly concentrated Lynch-Bages, Jean-Charles has hit a home run in the vintage, and this sensational wine has building, perfect tannins, insane purity, and a finish that won’t quit. It has the purity, finesse, balance, and depth to offer pleasure not only today but to evolve for 40 to 50 years. Smart money will hide these for a good 7-8 years, but wow, what a wine. Bravo…Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDThe 2019 Lynch Bages is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel, if not moreso. What a wine! Towering and vertical in its bearing, the 2019 is a total stunner. There is plenty of Lynch Bages charm, but what distinguishes the 2019 most is its spine of tannin and energy. Time in the glass brings out sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate and mint. The 2019 is a great, great, great Lynch Bages. It reminds me of the epic 1989, but with the youthful grip of this vintage. A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar.Antonio Galloni | 99 AGThis takes hold from the first moment and powers along, delivering a ton of black brambly fruit, liquorice, grilled cedar and Pauillac confidence. The tannins are pretty chewy, really closing in on the end of play, giving no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades, but there is a creaminess to the overall structure that is already evident. (Drink between 2029-2046)Decanter | 97 DECFantastic blackberries, blackcurrants, lead pencil and violets. So Pauillac on the nose! Full-bodied with a dense, layered palate and tight yet plush tannins that give the wine layers and gravitas. Compact. Long finish. Silky. Reminds me of a modern, classic version of something like the wonderful 1985 Lynch. Try after 2026.James Suckling | 97 JSThe wine’s power is important and impressive. Behind this lies a solid structure along with powerful black fruits, allowing the succulent nature of the Cabernet Sauvignon to shine. The wine will develop slowly over many years. Drink from 2027.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEA true classic from this estate, the 2019 Lynch-Bages has turned out brilliantly, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and sweet blackberry fruit mingled with licorice, mint, cigar wrapper and loamy soil. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it’s a deep, multidimensional wine built around a chassis of rich, powdery tannins and succulent balancing acids. The last vintage produced in Lynch-Bages old winery, it will be interesting to compare this benchmark wine with subsequent vintages over the coming years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPGorgeous from the start, with lush and caressing cassis, dark plum and blackberry compote flavors that are substantial in feel although they seem to glide through, carried by a very refined structure that lets in alluring black tea, worn alder, floral and savory details along the way. Features a vibrant, authoritative bolt of iron through the finish to keep it all grounded.Wine Spectator | 96 WS

Inky ruby. Smoke- and mineral-tinged aromas of ripe red and dark berries, pipe tobacco, olive paste, incense and vanilla, with a suave floral note building in the glass. Youthfully chewy and expansive on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, bitter cherry, licorice, cola, candied violet and allspice flavors that tighten up and become sweeter on the back half. Finishes sappy and extremely long, with resonating florality and mounting tannins that add shape and a firm closing grip.Vinous Media | 98 VMOffers up gorgeous fruit, with creamed açaí and blueberry mixed with warmed cassis and a flash of dark plum, which holds center stage while licorice snap, violet, apple wood and sweet bay leaf accents fill in the background. Shows terrific grip through the finish, setting this up for a long life. Best from 2025 through 2040. 10 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 97 WSA rich, more broad, opulent wine, the 2019 Ermitage Les Greffieux has lots of darker berry and cassis-like fruit as well as textbook Northern Rhône Syrah notes of pepper, bouquet garni, leather, and woodsmoke. I love its depth and richness on the palate, and it’s full-bodied and has beautiful balance, supple tannins, and a great finish. It already offers pleasure and will continue doing so for another 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe creamy, almost lush 2019 Ermitage les Greffieux boasts knockout aromas of violets, crème de cassis and red raspberries. Full-bodied, yet fine and silky in feel, it’s a terrific example of this terroir, showing its hallmark accessibility and tremendous balance and elegance on the long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPA distinct smoky vein running through this year. Powerful, very ripe, muscular but juicy with great freshness and power. The alcohol is slightly raised, but it’s such a big, impressive wine with very ripe, massy tannins. Drinking Window: 2028 - 2036Decanter | 96 DECIncredibly dense nose of elderberries with some raw meat and smoke. At least as massively structured as it is concentrated, this is almost too much to take at this early stage in its development, but the tannins are already beautifully integrated and all it needs is a couple of years in bottle to calm down a little. Very firm, stony finish that has so much energy. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Best after 2024.James Suckling | 96 JS

The complex nose of candied citrus, flint, hazelnut and toasty oak leads you into this impressively rich and concentrated dry white for Pernand-Vergelesses. Very focused, super-elegant finish that has so much life. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSAn open-textured white, with apple, almond and baking spice flavors. Leans to the oxidative side, but there’s ample acidity and this actually picks up energy on the finish, turning more minerally and focused. Decant. Drink now through 2028. 500 cases made, 150 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WSA touch of new wood influence is present on the fresh mix of white and yellow peach, citrus confit and anise hints. The round, rich and enveloping flavors also possess an attractive texture as well as better depth and persistence on the clean and dry finale.Burghound | 91 BH

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the gate with vivacious scents of blueberry compote, blackcurrant preserves, chocolate box and star anise, plus wafts of Indian spices, fragrant soil, potpourri and cast-iron pan, with a touch of pencil lead. Full-bodied, concentrated and with a solid backbone of super ripe, approachable tannins, it has bags of preserved black fruits and an epically long finish. Although delicious now, allow it 3-4 years in the cellar to truly blossom, and drink it over the next 25 years+.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPJust bottled in June of this year, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is more up-front and sexy compared to the more focused, elegant 2018, yet it has a similar level of purity and class. Lots of cassis fruits, spicy oak, lead pencil, and subtle floral and spicy notes define the bouquet, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and one heck of a great finish. This is another remarkable St. Helena Cabernet that’s already hard to resist yet has the balance, purity, and structure to evolve for 20-30 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThe 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Marciano Estate is one of the finest wines I have tasted from Marciano so far. A rich, potent Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 possesses quite a bit of opulence. Black cherry, leather, spice, menthol and chocolate all build effortlessly. This, dark, brooding Cabernet has plenty of tannin and overall punch, with all the elements very nicely balanced.Vinous Media | 96 VM

Plenty of berries, walnuts and light dried tobacco and herbs. Medium body, lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish.James Suckling | 91-92 JSDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Marjosse has a come-hither nose of kirsch, stewed black cherries and warm plums with hints of spice cake, wilted roses, oolong tea and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate is plushy textured with bags of scrumptious black and red fruits and a lively backbone, finishing fragrant.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90-92 RPA meaty tone here too with lots of fresh, ripe cherry aromas. . 88% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc. Dangerously soft and smooth on the palate, silky tannins with a lovely immediate deep flavour on the palate. This is more subtle, less immediately juicy but has real charm and good depth. You feel the flavours linger on the tongue with a perfumed, floral aspect to them. This is delicate but driving with good presence and still superb freshness. An elegance to it as well. Lovely. Good mouthwatering acidity, still on the light side, well balanced and enjoyable.Decanter | 90 DECI expressed reservations towards Pierre Lurton’s 2019 Marjosse in my en primeur report earlier this year and as a result, a second sample was shipped to me. This was so much better. The aromatics are far more controlled and focused with the same black cherries and boysenberry without the shroud of alcohol. The palate is opulent and generous, but much more detailed compared to the first sample and demonstrating much more purity on the finish. This is much more in line with my expectations and I am happy to upgrade my score.Vinous Media | 89-91 VM

Very attractive aromas of currants, spices and sweet tobacco with some graphite and slate. Full-bodied with a rich and rather dense mouth feel, plenty of fruit and a spicy, dark-chocolate aftertaste. A solid and sturdy second wine from Masseto. Try in 2023.James Suckling | 95 JSNo written review provided | 95 W&SThe 2019 Massetino is fabulous once again in 2019. The estate has really hit on to something with their second wine. Inky dark fruit, mocha, chocolate, lavender, pencil shavings, licorice and espresso all meld together in the glass. Massetino has all the richness of the Grand Vin, but less heft, which makes it more approachable. The 2019 is a rich wine, with 15.5% alcohol, but that is not especially evident.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThis is only the third vintage of Masseto’s second wine, which shares the same pedigree as its sibling, and the second time it is being released on the Place after the 2018 debuted last year. The first time Cabernet Franc is used in the blend, which is completed by 94% Merlot, this has a lovely ripe quality to it with florality coming from the Cabernet. There are some serious tannins on the palate, with a touch of heat, spicy new oak and liquorice coming through the blackcurrant and berry fruit. Opulent and rich but balanced with fresh acidity. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel, with 50% new oak. After the first 12 month of aging the wine is blended and put back into barrels for a further three months before bottling. Drinking Window 2025 - 2038.Decanter | 94 DECTasted before bottling, the 2019 Massetino is shaping up beautifully. This is the third vintage made of the Merlot-based wine enhanced with a small part of Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Franc is what distinguishes this euphemistically diminutive expression of Masseto, and it is its distinctive vinous signature. The 2019 vintage is soft and pliant but also incredibly rich and layered. It offers generous black fruit with ripe cherry and blackberry. Spice, tobacco and campfire ash fill in the rear and build the aromatic profile of this wine that is already stacked tall and proud. We still need to see how the 2019 plays out in the bottle, and I am especially interested to gauge how the thick and rich fruit concentration works against the less pronounced acidity of the vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94-96 RPHere's a plush, opulent, in-your-face kind of red, without being over the top. Toasty blackberry, black cherry and plum aromas and flavors ply the center, graced by leather, earth and tobacco accents. Dense, yet finishes long and light on its feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2033. 100 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The Mastrojanni 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a pretty bouquet with dark fruit and something exotic that recalls camphor ash, wood fire ash, garrigue and dried herb. It is rich and evenly concentrated with fine chalk on the tannins and good phenolic ripeness (with no green bitterness). A great food pairing is grilled game or the French magret de canard. This straight village bottling does a great job, and it’s ultimately more accessible than many of its peers. Production is an ample 77,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPAromas of toasted nut, forest floor, new leather and blueberry tart take shape in the glass. Full-bodied and boasting a weightless concentration, the enveloping palate doles out fleshy black cherry, blood orange, licorice and hazelnut along with a hint of chocolate covered mint. Tightly-woven, close-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2028–2039. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KODeep red berry fruits, sweet spice, cinnamon and cloves introduce the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino. This is silky to the core, with depths of red fruit and spice, all guided by juicy acidity. Licorice and clove combine with tart raspberry as the 2019 finishes surprisingly fresh and only lightly structured.Vinous Media | 93 VMIn November 2022, Francesco Illy sold his stakes in the family’s coffee empire and bought out his siblings’ shares of Mastrojanni. Along with the latter, he also owns the nearby Podere Le Ripi. While the two estates are separately run, both are now farmed according to organic and biodynamic tenets. Pretty yet delicate in fragrances, the nose expands gradually with jasmine, tobacco and flinty stone. Midweight with a richness of red cherry and long, fine tannins. But this finishes rather briskly. Perhaps another year in bottle will coax out more expression.Decanter | 91 DEC