Wine Varietals

wines

A unique blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Château Mangot Todeschini Distique 11 has a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, cassis, acacia flowers, white chocolate, and graphite. With fabulous purity of fruit, full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and loads of floral and sappy herb aromas and flavors, this is gorgeous Saint-Emilion and the finest I’ve tasted from this address. It needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 95+ JDComposed of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Todeschini is deep garnet-purple colored and gives up broody notions of new leather, crushed stones and tar with a core of baked red and black cherries, mulberries and warm plums plus wafts of garrigue and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, firm and grainy in the mouth, it has loads of muscular fruit and a lively line, finishing perfumed.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPThe 2018 Distique 11 is laced with inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mint. Pliant and supple, this inviting, mid-weight Saint-Émilion has a lot to offer. The racy style is undeniably appealing. The 2018 is a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon taken from select parcels on the estate and aged in amphora. It is an undeniably intriguing wine.Vinous Media | 93 VMA balanced, pretty wine with firm, sleek tannins that are polished and refined. Blackberry, bark and chocolate undertones. Medium body. Delicious finish. Try after 2023.James Suckling | 93 JS

The 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Case Vecie is darkly alluring and brooding in the glass, with a dusting of confectionary spice and dried violets complementing wild blueberries and a lifting whiff of fresh mint. Soothingly round and surprisingly juicy in feel, this shows its minerality up front, as depths of tart wild berry fruits meet vibrant acidity, and an array of exotic spices emerges toward the close. It finishes tannic yet fresh and incredibly long, leaving a bitter blackberry crunch, violet inner florals and chalky concentration that boggles the mind. Bury the 2018 deep in your cellar, this is a long-distance runner.Vinous Media | 96 VM

This structured and concentrated wine is spot on for the vintage. It’s very dense in color and aroma, saturated with ultra dark chocolate, graphite and blueberries on a firm texture of taut tannins that will need time to evolve. Aged in 85 to 90 percent new American oak barrels, the wine should be approachable by 2028 and best from 2033.James Suckling | 97 JSThe lovely ruby red colour is translucent, revealing a heady wine of blackberry, liquorice, vanillin, spicebush, and dried floral notes with savoury, toasty oak spices. This 2018 offers one of the more restrained and pretty bouquets of Silver Oak’s Napa Cabernet in my memory. Very elegant on the entry, revealing a medium-bodied red wine with lovely cranberry fruit, plums, and currants, with a real depth to those fruit qualities framed by sculpted tannins that affix themselves onto the palate before giving way and resolving. Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant with trace amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Aged in 85% new American Oak from The Oak Cooperage in Higbee, Missouri, the Duncans have owned it outright since 2015. The other 15% are second-use American oak barrels. They’ve been using the same cooperage for decades. The barrels imbue the Silver Oak wines with a classic vanillin quality, a nuance they always want to retain, even as they experiment with various toasts to produce smoother tannins in the toasting process.Decanter | 95 DEC

This edition from the legendary Tenuta San Leonardo estate in Trentino is presented with an artist-signed label. The special release of 999 bottles features the surreal artwork of Simone Berti. From a cool vintage, the 2018 San Leonardo is incredibly fine and beautiful with a filigree of aromas that recalls wild blackberry, tobacco, pressed rosemary, cherry tartlet and orange marmalade. The wine’s elegance is extraordinary, and the mouthfeel is very fine and precise. This classic vintage will certainly appeal to San Leonardo purists. I recommend giving it a long runway to age.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RP‘In July, we finally saw a brilliant sun, whose welcome heat warmed a season that was quite wet up to that point and with below-average temperatures,’ said Anselmo Guerrieri Gonzaga of the 2018 vintage. The newest release of this standout northern Italian red offers complex scents of tobacco, spices, earth and rich, wood-imbued black berries. In the mouth it combines intense concentration with freshness in a vertical sensation of poise and sapidity. Dark, plummy, spicy hedgerow berries are perfectly balanced by bright, moreish acidity and ripe, grainy tannins, with spicy cedar, dried currants and a touch of balsam in depth. Still has so much to give.Decanter | 95 DECA mentholated freshness introduces the 2018 San Leonardo as it slowly blossoms in the glass. Swirling unlocks depths of dusty sage and violets, giving way to white pepper and black currants. This is elegant, lifted and potent. Sour citrus elevates ripe wild berries and savory spices. The 2018 doesn’t miss a beat, finishing long and lightly structured, with a framework of fine tannins that gently tug at the senses as blackberry and inner rose notes slowly fade. The 2018 is an understated and youthful beauty that will reward medium-term cellaring. That said, hands off for now because the best is yet to come.Vinous Media | 94 VMA graceful red, beginning quietly with a pure note of ripe black currant, with the palate slowly expanding to weave in flavors of bay leaf and cured tobacco, bitter cherry reduction, mineral, graphite and cigar box spices. The finely knit flavor range shows supple tannins, which emerge to define the elegant finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Merlot. Drink now through 2033. 5,900 cases made, 1,300 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WSRoasted red chili pepper with tapenade, berries, cedar and tobacco leaves. Very juicy on the palate with plush, silky tannins and a long, fluid finish. Cool and gastronomic. Drink now.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2018 vintage is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carmenère (a high percentage for any grower) and 10% Merlot. The wine opens with aromas of ripe plum mixed with tart blueberries, worn leather, sweet spices and dried flowers. The palate is expansive and rich, showing the 24 months of aging in French barriques, both new and used. Firm yet opulent, the wine will continue to develop and retain its mark as one of the best Bordeaux-style blends from Italy. Drink 2025–2040. Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

The 2018 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric Del Fiasc has a very open nose, multi-layered with orange peel, wildflower, cigar box, and subtle spice aromas of nicely integrated oak. It is beautifully seductive and sensuous on the palate, hedonistic yet with a firm grip of tannins that have a fine crushed-chalk texture. It is a sensual yet assertive wine with a beautiful aromatic depth. Keep for one year drink to up to 25-30 years.The Wine Independent | 96 TWIWith aromas of earth, dried spice and crushed stone, the Paolo Scavino 2018 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc holds its own in this vintage. Thanks to its wide shoulders, the wine gives emphasis to a core of dark fruit, licorice and grilled herb. This 9,000-bottle production uses fruit from the Fiasco vineyard in Castiglione Falletto.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPA suave, spicy red hallmarked by cherry, chocolate and menthol aromas and flavors, with iron and tar notes chiming in as this develops on the palate. Shuts down in the end, yielding to firm yet well-mannered and integrated tannins. Complex and long overall. Best from 2026 through 2043. 700 cases made, 150 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WSForest floor, camphor, pipe tobacco and crushed mint aromas come together in the glass along with a whiff of violet. Combining power and finesse, the full-bodied palate features cherry marinated in spirits, licorice and mocha. Velvety tannins provide support while fresh acidity keeps it bright. Drink 2026–2033. Kerin O’Keefe | 94 KOForest floor, camphor, pipe tobacco and crushed mint aromas come together in the glass along with a whiff of violet. Combining power and finesse, the full-bodied palate features cherry marinated in spirits, licorice and mocha. Velvety tannins provide support while fresh acidity keeps it bright. Drink 2026–2033. Wine Enthusiast | 94 WELovely wild-strawberry, raspberry and red-cherry fruit on the nose, together with mineral tinges. Medium-bodied and fresh with good intensity, despite the lighter structure this year. The tannins provide enough support to keep it going. Fresh, balanced finish. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 93 JSNo written review provided. | 90 W&S

Aromas of ripe berry, forest floor, camphor and new leather form the nose. Juicy and delicious, the elegant palate has an enticing, pristine purity of fruit, delivering succulent red cherry and raspberry compote punctuated with black tea and white pepper before closing on a hint of almond. Vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins provide support. Drink through 2023–2030. 14% abv. Kerin O’Keefe | 97 KOThis 2018 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino Le Chiuse di Sotto is a medium-deep, quite intense ruby color. On the nose it has a lovely range of aromas such as smoke, sweet spice, cream with both fresh raspberry and raspberry coulis. The aromas are densely packed and layered but also very precise and transparent. On the palate the tannins are assertive but very fine, silty-textured textured tannins like fine grains of sand. The finish is clean, bright and juicy. This wine has medium fruit concentration reflecting the vintage but this is a very lovely expression of the vintage. It is presented unadorned, not heavily oaked but super clean and precise. Classic and traditional in the best sense of the words but with gorgeous drinkability, as always with this producer.The Wine Independent | 97 TWIThe nose starts sanguine and savory, with notes of tar and soil, then turns lighter and fresher with aromas of blood orange, cranberries, cherries and roses. The palate is cherry-forward, with a sunny citrus warmth, but a gust of mint provides freshness and balance, while acid sizzles around structured, stoic tannins like flames lapping at the slats of a grill.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2018 Brunello di Montalcino does a great job of capturing the essence and the spirit of Sangiovese, a grape that delivers infinitely nuanced and complex results when in the right hands. This wine reveals wild cherry, blue violet, blood orange, rusty nail and sweet earth. There is a hint of scorched earth or baked clay that underlines the warmest months in this growing cycle. The results are balanced and fresh. I’ve mentioned alcohol content throughout this report, and although the 14% registered here is still quite high, is it below the average for its peers. This is a job very well done. Some 15,700 bottles, 200 magnums and 30 three-liter bottles were released.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThe darkly alluring 2018 Brunello di Montalcino grumbles up from the glass, with a mix of crushed plums and black cherries complemented by rubbed sage nuances. It’s soft-textured and deep, engulfing the palate in ripe wild berry fruit and spice, underscored by a savory herbaceous steak. A web of fine tannins is left to linger, creating a truly classic impression, as mentholated herbs and hints of wild strawberry linger on and on. This youthfully masked beauty will only require minimal cellaring to show its best.Vinous Media | 93 VMLaced with cherry and raspberry fruit, this red also offers eucalyptus, mineral, earth and almond flavors. Vibrant and balanced, with an intense, mouthwatering finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. 1,353 cases made, 283 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WSAs with the 2017 vintage, Laura Brunelli will not be releasing a Riserva. Instead, the Olmo vineyard which typically forms the backbone of the latter is an important component in this annata Brunello, making for a lovely and complete wine. Mint, lavender and fennel lead on the nose while sweet, succulent persimmon and crunchy pomegranate provide the backdrop on the palate, and the chalky tannins are rather sneaky in their grasp. There’s a superficial accessibility, but substance, intrigue and backbone suggest even more to come.Decanter | 93 DECEnticing nose of rosemary, wild cherries, lemon peel, chocolate strawberries and praline. It’s medium-bodied with a bright, fruit-forward palate, framed by fine-grained tannins. All in balance. Drink from 2023.James Suckling | 93 JS

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill is straight-up off-the-charts and one of the true gems in the vintage. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of crème de cassis, white flowers, spice, tobacco, and classy oak, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, no hard edges, and just perfect integration of its fruit, tannins, and acidity. I’d happily enjoy a bottle today, but smart money would give these a solid 4-5 years in the cellar and it should keep for 30-40 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDGorgeous dark-fruit aromas with blackcurrants, mushrooms, bark and flowers. Jasmine. Full-bodied with wonderfully fine tannins. Finishes so long and agile. Sort of cloud-like. Blackberry and dark chocolate at the end. Totally integrated tannins. You feel them, but you don’t see them. Unique experience tasting this. A classic in the making. Cabernet sauvignon with a touch of petit verdot and cabernet franc. Try after 2027.James Suckling | 100 JSColgin’s 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard is even a touch more herbal than the 2016, with almost resinous, pine-like scents joining redcurrants and cherries on the nose. It’s still harmonious, just different, boasting ample structure, a silky yet concentrated mouthfeel and a lingering finish lined with dusty tannins.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill is seamless, elegant and supremely beautiful. There’s not a thing out of place. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark-fleshed fruit, with hints of chocolate, spice, leather and dried herbs that make an appearance with time in the glass. The Tychson Hill shows just how magical this vintage is.Vinous Media | 98 VMA beauty, with waves of cassis, distilled plum and warmed kirsch that glide through, carried by seemingly silky texture despite obvious tannic spine. The back end unfurls with notes of violet, incense, and red and black tea, with a subtle mineral edge, while the fruit holds the main focus. So much guile for a large-scaled wine. Best from 2022 through 2040. 600 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSOpaque red. The nose is reserved, with brooding aromas of plums, blackcurrants, and mint, and a dscreet oaky sheen. Sleek, spicy, and very concentrated, this doesn’t show any excessive alcohol, but there is something hollow and neutural about the palate at this stage, and the finish is long but distinctly oaky.Decanter | 92 DEC

More structured than the Brunello Annata and exhibiting the firm’s trademark of mesmerizing finesse, this captivating stunner has lovely aromas of blue flower, rose, wild herb and a whiff of fine tobacco blend. The luminous, youthfully austere but already delicious palate has irresistible precision and a pristine quality, delivering ripe raspberry, baking spice and black tea alongside tight, refined tannins. It’s young but already beautifully balanced, with bright acidity. Spoiler alert: this is only for fans of extremely refined, exhilarating and terroir-driven wines. Drink 2028–2048. 14.5% abv.Kerin O’Keefe | 99 KOTaking things up a notch, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Madonna Delle Grazie pours a bit richer ruby hue, with a concentrated perfume of incense, leather, blackberry, and lavender oil. It is full-bodied and well-structured, with ripe yet present tannins, and acidity that drives along the sides of the palate and keeps things from being weighted down. It is rich with port-like fruit and will benefit from several years of cellaring before drinking over the coming 2-3 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDIl Marroneto’s 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna della Grazia single vineyard Brunello is densely fragrant and has this wonderful nose of crushed roses, dark cherries and wild flowers with a little etched detail of green herb, adding intrigue and interest. On the palate it has a rich, silky texture yet with a gentle, weightless quality and lots of fine, silty tannins. This 2018 has plenty of depth of flavor and concentration to match the beautiful structure but I love the harmony of this wine the most. Madonna della Grazie is approximate 1.5 hectare at 420 meters above sea level is on the northern boundary of Montalcino town. The vineyard sits just below the chapel it takes its name from and it has a mainly sandy soil rich in minerals. This Madonna della Grazie 2018 Brunello is a breathtakingly beautiful wine. I even prefer it to the stunning 2016 version of this wine at this point because the 2018 has even more finesse and harmony.The Wine Independent | 98 TWIThe Il Marroneto 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie reveals elegance and power all in one go. The fruit quality is crisp and tonic, yet the wine supports mid-weight concentration and a more elaborate style. This vintage from Il Marroneto has two personalities. On the one hand, you get a wine that is packed with beautiful primary fruit but that is slightly more immediate; on the other, you get a wine that promises good aging thanks to its freshness and the silky tannins that melt onto the palate. It is young but also aged. It is racy but also complex. Fruit comes from the vineyard under the Madonna delle Grazie chapel, and the wine ages in special oak casks for 41 months. This is a production of 8,500 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Madonna delle Grazie takes its time opening in the glass, complex and darkly alluring with its musky red currants and savory spices, yet with swirling pretty rose tones. A hint of sweet smoke comes forward to add lovely contrast. Its textures are like liquid velvet, with a chalky mineral staining that comes on quickly, which is perfectly balanced by a massive wave of dark red berries; yet through it all, balance is expertly maintained by streamlined acidity that creates a sense of total inner harmony. The 2018 leaves a structured sensation, yet its tannins are silky and fine, coupled with a violet pastille and lavender resonance that I find wildly attractive. Of note, I’ve tasted this wine over the last two years and followed this recent bottle over the course of 48 hours; at which point it never faltered and only increased in depth and complexity. Il Marroneto’s 2018 Madonna delle Grazie is unquestionably one of the top three wines of the vintage. My hat is off to Alessandro Mori, and his team.Vinous Media | 97 VMIl Marroneto’s single-vineyard bottling is a selection of small loose bunches, manifested in the density of fruit and assuredness of structure. Next to the estate’s ‘classic’ Brunello, it often leads with an earthier, more autumnal countenance. The 2018 corresponds with fragrances of chestnut and forest undergrowth juxtaposed with the vintage’s fruit sweetness. Layers of long suede-like tannins wrap around fleshy black cherry. As it opens, subtle traces of pepper, leather and incense pledge more to come. Above all, Madonna delle Grazie embodies the most positive attributes of the vintage as it flows with agility and grace.Decanter | 96 DECThis has an array of red and dark fruits with coffee, dark chocolate, sweet spices and overturned earth. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins and a pronounced dark berry character on the palate. A little tight and structured, with a firm and long-lasting finish that leaves you with notes of nut shell and crushed stones. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 94 JS

Hints of cedar and vanilla appear on the nose of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Reserve, which is aged in demi-muids (20% new), adding a human-derived aspect to the mouthwatering notes of cherries and raspberries. It’s full-bodied, silky and even almost lacy in texture, delivering intense pleasure on the palate without excess weight, then lingering on the finish, where the red-fruit flavors come to the fore, practically vibrating in intensity. Because of the effects of mildew on the Grenache, this vintage is just over 50% Mourvèdre.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe flagship is the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Réserve and it’s an even split of Grenache and Mourvèdre that was all destemmed and was brought up mostly in demi-muids (there was a small part in larger, clay amphora. Slightly deeper hued than the Les Quartz, it has a Mourvèdre dominated bouquet of red and black berry fruits, loads of spice and dried garrigue, graphite, and a hint of mint. With full-bodied richness on the palate, it has an incredible sense of purity and finesse in its tannins and texture, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. I’d put this in the top handful of wines in the vintage and while it’s approachable today, it’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDBright ruby. A highly complex and deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, spice-tinged red/blue fruits, candied flowers, garrigue and licorice. A smoky mineral nuance builds as the wine opens up. Stains the palate with concentrated cherry cola, black raspberry, vanilla and fruitcake flavors supported by a core of juicy acidity. Conveys a suave marriage of depth and energy. It finishes extremely long and precise, with slowly emerging, chewy tannins and resonating florality and spiciness. The Mourvèdre is showing itself here.Vinous Media | 95 VMRipe and silky in feel, with waves of creamed plum, blackberry and cherry fruit gliding along, while licorice snap, rooibos tea and incense notes weave through. Offers nice persistence on the finish. Grenache and Syrah. Best from 2021 through 2033. 295 cases made, 60 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

The 2018 La Ricolma is a wine of incredible finesse. To be sure, the 2018 doesn’t quite haver the explosive depth or intensity of either the 2015 or 2016, but it makes up for that with its persistence and nuance. Dark cherry jam, licorice, spice, menthol and sage all meld together effortlessly as the 2018 starts to open up with a bit of aeration. The 2018 spent 22 months in French oak, about 35% new.Vinous Media | 99 VMBlueberries and black olives with so many flowers, such as violets and honeysuckle. Licorice, too. This is full and very tight with lots of back-end tannins that build through the finish. A tight, muscular and curated young wine that lasts for minutes. Best after 2028.James Suckling | 99 JSThe San Giusto a Rentennano 2018 La Ricolma is an absolute stunner. This iconic expression of Merlot opens to rich and velvety concentration with lots of black intensity. Italians might call it "una bomba," or a veritable bomb of fruity bounty and beauty. The organic grapes are fermented in steel over 18 days and aged in French barrique for up to 22 months. This rather straightforward winemaking methodology results in profound fruit purity and persistence. The tannins are still tight and grippy, and this is a more controversial point that I discovered across many of the wines I tasted from 2018. You’ll need to give this wine more time to evolve and soften. Production is 5,994 bottles, 315 magnums and 33 double magnums.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThis is dense and sinewy, with dusty tannins embracing the black cherry, plum, earth and spice flavors, showing a contrast between the supple texture and firm structure. On the austere side now, with fine intensity and length. Drink now through 2030. 400 cases made, 70 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

I had previously reviewed this blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot in a preview capacity. Now on the market, the 2018 Giusto di Notri comes together with seamless beauty. This is a rich and generous expression that delivers dark fruit intensity with blackberry and black currant, wrapped tightly together with ample oak notes of spice, tar and cured tobacco. The wine offers smooth transition and rich textural fiber, with soft angles and contours that frame the wine’s full-bodied approach. Production is 33,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPA rich, layered red with berries, chocolate and blueberries. Lightly smoky. It’s full-bodied and layered with ripe tannins. Balanced and focused. Just a baby now, but will deliver! Best after 2023.James Suckling | 96 JSThis 2018 Giusto dei Notri seems delightfully Cabernet Franc-like, although that variety is usually the minor player in the blend. Intense cassis and leafy notes intertwine, while on the palate more concentrated blackcurrant, green herb, elegant cedar and sweet spice flavours mingle with iron and mineral notes. I love the slightly sappy Bordeaux-like notes here and there. A beautifully elegant and persistent wine.Decanter | 95 DECSaturated with black currant, blackberry, violet and mineral flavors, this red is sleek and structured. The oak is deftly integrated, with a light astringency and a note of bitter almond on the long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2038. 2,700 cases made, 200 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Aromas of walnuts and bark with some toasted oak and red fruit. Tapenade and violets, too. Changes all the time. This is full-bodied with lots of richness and concentration. Impressive weight and density. Takes no prisoners, but maintains freshness. Best after 2026.James Suckling | 98 JSThis Redigaffi reflects beautifully the 2018 vintage with its cool spring, mild summer and slower, well-balanced, late ripening season. It’s a lithe and lively wine, perhaps less concentrated than some other vintages but very bright, vivid and accessible. On the nose it is sweetly fragrant with digestive biscuit, light toast and intense blackberry aromas. The palate is smooth, medium-full and delightfully creamy, with espresso coffee notes wrapped caressingly around blackberry fruit. Another great example of a beautifully managed vintage, with no greenness and almost invisible ripe tannins. Incredibly harmonious.Decanter | 97 DECA beautiful Tuscan Merlot, the 2018 Redigaffi strikes me as an especially rich and balanced expression. This is something I alluded to in my original review of this vintage. The wine is still very young with dark fruit, dried cherry, soft spice and toasted oak. It is dark and concentrated in appearance and texture, and it also has enough freshness and tart fruit flavors to assure a long aging trajectory ahead.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPIntense aromas and flavors of black currant, blackberry, violet and resinous oak highlight this fluid yet firmly structured red, which is long, with a vanilla- and toast-tinged aftertaste. Shows fine balance, with a youthful freshness. Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 1,100 cases made, 80 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The ripest, most sexy, and opulent in the lineup, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement is pure magic in a glass and tops out on my scale. Reminding me of some of the older Harlan Estate releases with its massive yet seamless style, this beauty boasts a monster bouquet of chocolate covered blackcurrants, lavender, crushed violets, new leather, unsmoked tobacco, and flowery incense. Coming from a selection of the top barrels in the vintage, this full-bodied, masterful Cabernet is gorgeously textured and has a stacked, layered mid-palate, perfectly ripe tannins, and a great finish. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it never grew tired or oxidized (which is rare). It’s one of those wines that’s going to drink brilliantly for all of its life. Enjoy this beauty any time over the coming 20-30 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement is a barrel selection blend of all three of Morlet’s estate vineyards: Coeur de Vallée in Oakville, Morlet Estate in St. Helena and Mon Chevalier in Knights Valley. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals a deep garnet-purple color and vibrant notes of crushed black and red currants, Morello cherries and boysenberries with suggestions of menthol, Indian spices, black truffles and pencil shavings. The big, concentrated, full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruit layers with a velvety texture and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick. 270 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RPThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionement is a blend from estate vineyards in St. Helena and Knights Valley. Bold and unctuous in the glass, the 2018 offers plenty of richness and depth, even if some slightly angular contours remain. Like all of the 2018s here, the Passionement is decidedly laid back and less bombastic than some previous editions, but it still boasts tremendous power to match its brooding profile. Chocolate, new leather, licorice and lavender linger.Vinous Media | 96 VMRipe and dense, showing a core of plum, cassis and dark cherry reduction flavors, with subtle warm earth and sweet tobacco notes filtering through on the broad finish. Delivers a polished structure that holds everything together. Best from 2022 through 2032. 300 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

All desert island wines by any measure, it’s hard to go wrong with any of these 2018s from Brad Grimes. The 2018 Las Posadas offers a monster bouquet of ripe black fruits, chocolate, graphite, and scorched earth and is dense, full-bodied, and insanely concentrated on the palate. It’s a big, monster of a wine yet, the purity of fruit is extraordinary, and it has loads of tannins, perfect balance, and a great finish. I finished my notes with "awesome."Jeb Dunnuck | 99+ JDFrom a slightly cooler vintage, the 2018 Las Posadas Proprietary Red comes across as slightly fresher than the 2017, with notes of sage and bay leaf accenting its blueberry and cassis fruit. But while it’s fresher, it appears just as concentrated, with ample richness on the full-bodied palate and a long, velvety textured and tannic finish. Give it a few years—or two decades—in the cellar, depending how mature you like your wines.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThis has a lot going on, with a deep well of warmed black currant preserves, licorice root, menthol, sweet bay leaf, road tar and roasted apple wood. There’s burly grip running underneath, which winds up providing laser-sharp focus for everything as this carries on through the finish. An extreme mountain Cabernet for deep cellaring. For tannin lovers only. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2040. 162 cases made.Wine Spectator | 98 WSThe 2018 Las Posadas is inky, powerful and deep. It also comes across as quite closed in this tasting. Then again, this is Howell Mountain. Time in the glass brings out all the aromas and flavors that make Howell Mountain Cabernets so appealing. There’s plenty of lavender, spice, menthol and licorice to play off the dark blue/purplish-hued fruit. All the 2018 needs is a few years in bottle.Vinous Media | 96+ VM

The most Vosne-Romanée-like of the Nuits-St-Georges Premiers Crus according to Etienne Grivot, with a character that he identifies as ’a little wild’, Aux Boudots often produces on my favourite wines at the domaine. It’s plush, smooth and glossy all right, with a sheen of aromatic 30% new wood, fine tannins and some underlying bounce and vitality.Decanter Magazine | 95 DECA well of black currant and blueberry mark this sappy, yet beefy red. It’s a tannic Titanic, with a dense, compact finish that echoes the dark fruit, spice and iron notes. The aftertaste is saturated with fruit. Impressive, yet will require time to resolve the tannins. Best from 2025 through 2047. 53 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSHalf the vines were ripped out 5 years ago and will come back into play in 2020 maybe. Bouncing concentrated dark red fruit, not too exuberant on the palate though, an excellent fine-grained tannic structure behind, and exceptional length. This has been picked at optimum ripeness. Tasted Nov 2019.Jasper Morris | 94-96 JMThe 2018 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Boudots 1er Cru comes from the old part of the vineyard, half of which was replanted in spring 2017 (these young vines may reenter this cru next year, or more likely the Bourgogne Rouge until they reach maturity). The crisp, fresh, well-defined bouquet is probably the best among Grivot’s Nuits Saint-Georges this year, reflecting the pedigree of this vineyard. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive mineralité and tension, quite "strict" in style but boasting so much coiled-up energy on the finish that you could easily drink it now. This is a superb offering that should age with grace and style over many years.Vinous Media | 93-95 VMThis too is quite firmly reduced to the point that it’s unreadable today. Otherwise the less concentrated but finer middle weight flavors exude evident minerality on the tautly muscular bitter cherry-inflected finish that is a bit leaner and less complex. The younger vines are in evidence though to be fair, and clear, this is still a very pretty effort.Burghound | 89-92 BH

The 2018 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots is showing brilliantly this year, wafting from the glass with a deep-pitched bouquet of cassis, blackberries, spices and dark chocolate. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, rich and enveloping, its textural attack segueing into a deep and layered core, concluding with a long and penetrating finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPThe 2018 Vosne-Romanée Les Suchots 1er Cru was more backward than the Les Beaumonts and demanded more coaxing to offer raspberry, wild strawberry, sous-bois, touches of morels and light sage aromas, gradually unfolding from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, quite strict and maybe a little rustic for a Les Suchots, but with fine grip and spiciness toward the finish. This will require 4–5 years to fully meld.Vinous Media | 93+ VMThis is spicier still and a bit riper as well if not quite so elegant on the variety of black berry fruit aromas that are trimmed in very subtle wood. The velvety, generous and extremely rich flavors coat the palate with sappy dry extract on the, robust, muscular and bitter cherry pit-inflected finale. As is usually the case, this is not as refined but it’s definitely more powerful.Burghound | 92 BHSuchots is quite a way further down the slope than Beaumonts and is always a riper wine as a result, which in 2018 gives it a bit more of a roasted character here (again, very reminiscent of a 1990 Vosne), but still with plenty of complexity and breed. The nose wafts from the glass in a mix of roasted cassis, blackberries, roasted meats, dark soil tones, a bit of coffee grounds, bonfire and a topnote of Vosne spices. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely plush at the core, with far more mineral drive on the backend than the nose suggests, good focus and grip and a long, ripely tannic finish. This is a very good bottle in the making and I am sure that some might prefer its more flamboyant style than that of the Beaumonts, but I have a slight preference for the latter. (Drink between 2028 - 2060)John Gilman | 91 JGFrom vines planted in the 1910s, towards the bottom of the vineyard where there is plenty of earth but not down in the dip. Glowing mid purple. Soft and luscious but then with good energy behind and very good length. As always a very discreet wine, and in this case a very fine one. Tasted Nov 2019.Jasper Morris | 91-95 JM

The 2018 Clos de Tart Grand Cru was wonderful from barrel but now it seems to have gone up another level. It has an exquisite bouquet with wonderful mineralité infusing the brambly red fruit. Wonderful focus and quite profound complexity. You could nose this forever. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiselled tannins married with a killer line of natural acidity. Everything is perfectly proportioned in this wine, very persistent with layers of dark berry fruit laced with white pepper and tea leaf on the finish. Immense. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting.Vinous Media | 98 VMDense purple. Succulent ripe fruit, rich cherries, seductive yet not quite too much of a good thing. More oak emerges but in harness with a hugely impressive weight of fruit. This is an absolute baby. A few stems support the profile and while they add a lightly drying touch, this is a monumental wine for the very long term future. Drink from 2035. Tasted Sep 2022.Jasper Morris | 98 JMThe 2018 Clos de Tart demonstrates the superior nature of great terroir and mature vines. This is still a big year with very ripe fruit, but there is more elegance to the grand cru than La Forge de Tarte, the premier cru, and a sophistication that is lacking in the lesser wine. Ripe black cherry and plum fruit with a bit more oak, and some additional mineral nuance, lead gracefully to the powerful but fine-grained texture, impressive density and marvellously balanced finish. Although this does not have the elegance of 2019, it shows how great the ’18s can be with a sensitive hand.Decanter Magazine | 96 DECGentle but perceptible wood is present on the lightly mentholated nose of super-spicy and quite floral essence of poached plum and cassis-scented nose. There is a beguiling sense of underlying tension to the delicious middle weight plus flavors that culminate in a dusty, palate coating and beautifully complex finish that also reveals a touch of warmth. The 2018 Clos de Tart is not quite as concentrated as it usually is, but it still has the stuffing to improve over the next 20 years and it should hold for many years after that. I would also observe that it’s more powerful but less refined than the 2019 version.Burghound | 93 BHThe 2018 Clos de Tart Grand Cru opens in the glass with rich aromas of raspberries, plum preserve, ripe berries, warm spices and rose petals, framed by a generous touch of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it’s rich, muscular and extracted, with a brooding, introverted profile that will require—and, one hopes, reward—patience. As I wrote last year, this is a powerful, broad-shouldered Clos de Tart that has more in common with the wines of the Pitiot era than it does with what the domaine produced in 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2019.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

This has been such an exciting addition to the Luciano Sandrone portfolio. The 2018 Barolo Vite Talin is a bigger-styled Barolo with dark fruit, ample oak shadings and generous concentration. Overall, it is a wine of considerable fruit weight, and that richness is reflected in the grippy nature of the young tannins and the very plump and primary nature of the fruit. There is a note of dried Mediterranean herb, or something like a dried chili husk. You need time to tame that bossy tannin. Production is limited to 2,500 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPThe 2018 Barolo Vite Talin is a sexy, opulent Barolo. Although the 2018 does not quite have the pedigree of the best years, it comes pretty close. Succulent dark fruit, clove, gravel, mocha and incense are all front and center. This dense yet mid-weight Barolo will drink well with minimal cellaring.Vinous Media | 96 VMA rich style for the vintage, this dense red exhibits cherry, raspberry, earth, leather and wild herb aromas and flavors. Ripe and spicy, with a vibrant structure and a wide swath of tannins on the energetic finish. Still needs time. Best from 2026 through 2043. 208 cases made, 25 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 96 WSForest floor, new leather, blue flower and exotic brown spice aromas come to the forefront on the deeply-hued 2018 Vite Talin along with whiffs of crushed mint. Full-bodied and firmly structured, the still rather austere palate offers layers of dried cherry, prune, bitter orange, licorice and tobacco before closing on a note recalling almond liqueur. A backbone of tightly knit, fine-grained tannins provides support. Drink 2028–2038. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KOGrown on the top of the Cannubi Boschis vineyard, this wine bowls out of the glass with aromas of black cherry, crushed raspberries, black tea and a melange of spices. Driven, polished and well-crafted, the palate is firm yet the generous fruit shines through as savory herbs and compelling hints of earth peek through, giving insight into how the wine will age. Drink now through 2045.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThe aromas of dark fruit, mushrooms, tar and and asphalt come through clearly. It’s medium-bodied with integrated and polished tannins and a savory and juicy finish. Already open and very drinkable, but it will age nicely. Better from 2026 and onward.James Suckling | 94 JS

A “wow” wine with a few years of bottle aging already into it, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. A cool harvest season kept things slow, steady, and unrushed, which shows in the gracefulness of the wine, beautiful in high-acidity and freshness, dusty tannins, and enduring structure. The redcurrant fruit is seasoned in graphite, dried herb, and black peppercorn, complex and intriguing throughout, with a medium-bodied weight that feels light and finessed. This should age with further grace another 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a prime example of the transparency provided by this vintage throughout California. The nose is a beautifully balanced mixture of mulberry, redcurrant, pumice and charred herbs. The palate displays classic Mount Eden elegance and bristles with soft but persistent acidity. The finish is bracing, tannic and chewy, with a tight core of dark fruits gaining intensity in the glass. A lovely, age-worthy expression of the Santa Cruz Mountains.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPMushroomy aromas of stewed shiitake and dark mahogany meet with crisp fruit on the nose of this complex bottling. Very dry tannins frame the sip in a serious veil, as flavors of sandalwood, graphite and dried dark fruit converge. This wine will last a long time. Drink 2024–2042.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEBurly and tightly wound, with a racy, taut structure, this has a rock-solid core of damson plum, mulberry and loganberry fruit along with mouthwatering savory, cassis bush and sage accents. The long finish ripples with a note of warm gravel, giving this a decidedly old-school feel. Will be a lot of fun to watch this age in the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038. 1,341 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Aromas of blackberries and black olives with grapey undertones. Graphite as well. It’s tight and full-bodied, yet very polished and refined. Creamy texture. Just a hint of tar on the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Tiny production. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2018 Ferrière is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Inky dark fruit, gravel, cured meats, graphite, smoke and lavender all run through the 2018. Readers will have to be especially patient, as the 2018 needs time to unwind. Yields are down from an average of 45 hectoliters per hectare to just 26, which no doubt contributes to the wine’s natural intensity. The blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, in other words, the Cabernet Sauvignon is especially high, a recent trend here because of climate change. This is the first year in which a portion of the wine was aged in cement and amphora (20%), which according to Claire Lurton allows for lower SO2 in aging.Vinous Media | 94 VMThere has been a clear improvement in the sculpting and concentration of this wine over the past few years. 2018 was a difficult vintage in terms of low yields, (20hl/ha after mildew), but they have really done a good job of keeping a sense of uplift and freshness. 5% Petit Verdot gives a deep spice and eucalyptus. Jacques Lurton has been doing some consulting across these estates.Decanter Magazine | 92 DEC

Wonderful aromas of fresh flowers, blackberries and cherries. Licorice and lilacs, too. Full-bodied, yet so tight and refined, translucent and weightless. Incredible purity and excellence. This is the heart and soul of the property in a glass. Really pinpointed at the end. Enchanting and thought-provoking. Needs time to open and soften. Try after 2028.James Suckling | 99 JSThe flagship 2019 Château Belair-Monange checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from 25-year-old vines and raised in 50% new French oak. It’s a magical wine in the vintage and offers more depth and richness than just about every other Saint-Emilion out there, all while holding onto a gorgeous sense of finesse and elegance, which would almost have me guessing Pomerol in a blind tasting. Deep red and black fruits, truffly earth, tobacco, and spring flower notes all emerge on the nose, and this puppy is full-bodied, has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and one heck of a great finish. It’s stunning, and while it offers incredible pleasure today given its purity and flawless balance, it deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThe 2019 Bélair-Monange shows wonderful delineation and focus on the nose, which presents a cornucopia of red fruit, crushed stone, wilted rose petal and light black truffle aromas. It seems to gain complexity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, fine delineation and a velvety texture. This builds toward a lavish finish, with dark chocolate and cocoa notes lingering on the aftertaste. It will need several years in bottle but should repay those with the wherewithal to cellar.Vinous Media | 97 VMAusterity is high as the limestone shines through, with controlled black and blue berry fruits rippling through the palate. There are extremely delicate redcurrant and violet floral edges that come through and cling on, just opening up after a good five minutes in the glass. A little less generous than the 2018, as is often the case in the 2019 vintage, but one with concentration and precision, and that will give pleasure for decades. Takes time to open and will take time to fully express its potential in the bottle. 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2027 - 2044.Decanter | 97 DECPerfectly situated on the Saint-Émilion slope, this estate’s wine is performing with great panache. This vintage shows richness while also having plenty of freshness and structured tannins. It has immense potential for aging.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WELike Trotanoy, though of course not to the same extent, the 2019 Belair Monange is another of the richer, more powerful wines in the Mouiex portfolio this year. Offering up aromas of sweet cherries, wild berries, vanilla pod, plum preserve, warm spices and cedary new oak, it’s full-bodied, broad and muscular, with a deep and layered core of ripe, sun-kissed fruit that’s framed by lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThis captures the richness of the vintage wonderfully, with long, caressing waves of cassis, plum reduction and boysenberry compote flavors gliding through. Laced with subtle red tea, floral and mineral hints through the lengthy finish, this is really well done and augmented by a level of purity most don’t have in this vintage. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040. 3,200 cases made, 550 cases imported. Wine Spectator | 95 WS

The aromas to this are really amazing, with a potpourri of spices and dried flowers, as well as redcurrants, sweet plums and even some peaches. Full-bodied with layers of ripe fruit and ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate in an encompassing yet always elegant and pure way. It’s succulent and unadulterated. Like crushed, perfectly ripened grapes. The length is rather endless. The tannins build. Fabulous young red. 35% in amphora and the rest in 50% new oak and 15% one-year oak. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 30% merlot, the rest cabernet franc and petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try after 2028, but an absolute joy to taste now.James Suckling | 99 JSSuch gorgeous aromatics of freshly picked violets, cherries and bramble fruits - pretty and quite delicate. The texture is smooth and succulent, mouth coating but full of soft tannins which have the most delicious black cherry, blackcurrant flesh and liquorice tinge to them - so satisfying. Extremely well balanced and well integrated, this has restrained power, it’s not rich or particularly round but straight, direct and layered rather than wide. Really long finish with great freshness and touches of cool blueberries. This is just such a great wine, everything you want and you know there’s power there promising a long life. Great winemaking on show. 35% aged in concrete, 50% new oak, 15% in barrels of one year, for 16-18 months. This year there’s a new label, the drawing of the house has remained but the font is more elegant and modern. A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2027-2047)Decanter | 98 DEC97–99. Barrel Sample. This is a luscious, sumptuous wine, with layers of black fruits and wonderfully cushioned tannins. The structure of the wine is initially masked by the great fruits, but then finds balance from a dry edge of spice, smokiness and lifted acidity. It’s another great vintage from this biodynamic estate. Wine Enthusiast | 98 WEThe 2019 Pontet-Canet was so effusive and generous en primeur. Today, though, it is quite reticent. That won’t be an issue for those who can be patient, but patience indeed will be the key here. Dark red fleshed fruit, tobacco, cedar, spice, kirsch, mint and blood orange gradually open with a bit of coaxing. Imposing tannins wrap it all together. The 2019 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty, but it needs time.Antonio Galloni | 96 AGVery lush out of the gate, with waves of gently mulled plum, blackberry and black currant fruit that roll through slowly, lined with alder, sweet tobacco, worn cedar and singed savory notes. Delivers a late tug of iron that’s well-buried on a finish marked by lingering perfume, resulting in an end impression of a rich wine that’s very light on its feet. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2019 Pontet-Canet offers up an expressive bouquet of plummy fruit, kirsch, dried herbs and peonies. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and seamless, with melting tannins, succulent acids, and a long, liqueured finish. Tasted twice, it’s a wine I find somewhat perplexing: in a blind tasting, I might be more inclined to place it in Gigondas than Pauillac. I’m far from dogmatic when it comes to what the French call "typicité," and stylistic diversity surely enriches every appellation; but by the same token, I’m not convinced that this is the most compelling aesthetic that a Cabernet-based blend from this part of Bordeaux can realize. Checking in at 13.7% alcohol, some 35% of the production was matured in amphorae, which no doubt contributes to the wine’s idiosyncratic identity.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2019 Château Pontet Canet checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that was brought up in a mix of barrels and concrete tanks. It shows the new style of the estate with a more savory, exotic, medium to full-bodied style that’s a dramatically different beast than the benchmark 2009 and 2010 vintages, which to my mind, are the greatest vintages from this estate to date. The 2019 has a ruby/plum color as well as a perfumed nose of redcurrant and mulberry fruits as well as notes of brambly herbs, woodsmoke, peony, leather, and cedar pencil. It’s aromatic and complex, although certainly not classic Pauillac, and on the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with firm, savory, yet quality tannins, good balance, and outstanding length. It warrants 7-8 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30+ years. While the style of the estate has been gradually shifting with the winemaking moving to hand destemming and aging in concrete and amphora, this is the first time where the winemaking seems to dominate the wine, and the quality is unquestionably not at the same level.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD