This ongoing PJWine.com section features wines very highly praised wines. Please note that due to the very small production of many of these acclaimed wines, supplies may be limited and not available for re-order. Additional highly rated wines are rotated in periodically. However, please note that PJ’s offers many more highly rated wines beyond those featured on this page.

Australia | Chile | France | Italy | Portugal | Spain | United States

Australia

’05 Amon-Ra “Godolphin” Barossa Valley Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon $45.97
“The 2005 Godolphin, a blend of 80% Shiraz (from 85-year-old vines) and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (from 60-year-old vines), was aged in 100% new oak, primarily 300-liter French hogsheads. It represents a beautiful marriage of power and elegance, displaying an inky/blue/purple color as well as notions of black raspberries, blueberries, graphite, and sweet pain grille. Ripe, pure, and medium to full-bodied with sweet but noticeable tannin...” —WA 93

’04 Branson Coach House “Rare Single Vineyard Coach House Block” Greenock Barossa Valley Shiraz $87.97
“This ultrarich and decadent Shiraz comes from old vines in Greenock, a prime growing area in the Barossa. They make heady wines that don't weigh you down like some big Shiraz can. This one has zippy acidity to balance the generous layers of black cherry, boysenberry and black plum flavors, shaded with bittersweet chocolate and smoke notes as the finish becomes increasingly plush.” —WS 95

NV Campbells South Australia Rutherglen Muscat .375L $14.97
“The sensational non-vintage Muscat possesses 230 grams per liter of residual sugar, 17% alcohol (typical for this region’s fortified cuvees), a deep amber color, good unctuosity, and a sweet bouquet of brandy macerated raisins, molasses, caramels, and toffee. Rich, full-bodied, and extraordinarily intense, it is an amazing wine. This cuvee is based on 20-25-year old soleras.” —WA 95

NV Campbells South Australia Rutherglen Tokay .375L $14.97
“Displaying a lighter amber hue than the Muscat, the non-vintage Tokay is more elegant, not as sweet (205 grams of residual sugar per liter), but unctuous, long, and fragrant, revealing hints of Chinese black tea, toffee, and marmalade. This cuvee is based on 20-25-year old soleras.” —WA 94

’04 Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz $23.97
“From 6- to 34-year-old vines, the 2004 Shiraz Hillside spent 28 months in American oak, 50% new and 50% used. A blockbuster effort, it reveals deep, chocolaty, meaty notes intermixed with blackberries, cherries, and cassis. Inky/ruby/purple-colored, with a large mouthfeel, full body, and well-integrated acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this is a superb McLaren Vale Shiraz to enjoy over the next 12-15 years.” —WA 93

’05 De Lisio “Krystina” McLaren Vale Shiraz $46.99
“The 2005 Shiraz Krystina (named after Tony De Lisio’s wife) is a 100% Shiraz from relatively young vines planted on one of the limestone and slate sectors of McLaren Vale. Seventy percent new French oak was utilized, and the wine, which was going to bottled unfiltered about one month after I tasted it, exhibits a sweet nose of blackberries, raspberries, smoke, camphor, and graphite. Full-bodied, rich, and intense with sweet but noticeable tannin, a firm structure, and an accessible style...” —WA (92-94)

’04 Heathcote II Victoria Shiraz $41.97
“An impressive specimen from Victoria, the 2004 Shiraz’s inky/purple color is followed by beautiful aromas of graphite, scorched earth, blackberries, and black raspberries, striking minerality, and admirable precision. It is full-bodied, powerful, rich, structured, and stacked and packed. The wine’s freshness, purity, and intensity suggest it will last for 15 or more years.” —WA 94

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’04 Kaesler “The Bogan” Barossa Valley Shiraz $47.97
“The 2004 Shiraz The Bogan, a blend of 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier aged 20 months in primarily American oak, is a seamlessly constructed wine that was tasted immediately prior to bottling. Inky/purple-colored, with superb ripeness and fruit as well as loads of cassis, blackberry, cedar, and spice box, it will be gorgeous young, yet should age effortlessly for 10-15 years.” —WA 92-95

’05 Kaesler “Old Vine” Barossa Valley Shiraz $39.97
“Moving up in price as well as quality, the 2005 Shiraz Old Vine (45- to 105-years old) is an ageworthy, full-bodied, powerful, muscular Shiraz boasting plenty of tannin as well as structure, and a sweet perfume of creme de cassis, toasty oak, white flowers, and licorice. While accessible, this powerful red should keep for 10-15 years.” —WA 94

’06 Mitolo “G.A.M.” Mclaren Vale Shiraz $39.97
“The 2006 Shiraz ‘G.A.M.’ (the initials of the Mitolo children) was aged in French and American oak, 60% new. Opaque purple in color, it has an aromatic array of roasted coffee, violets, lavender, pepper, Asian spices, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. In the mouth it is velvety-textured, deep, concentrated, opulent, and altogether hedonistic. ...from the 2006 vintage which Glaetzer characterizes as ‘...a mild growing season with no problems. It ranks with 2002 as my favorite vintage’.” —WA 95

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’05 R Wines Shiraz “First Class” $26.99
“The 2005 Shiraz “First Class” was barrel-fermented and aged for 18 months in new and 1 year French and American oak. More complex aromatically, it has a lovely bouquet of toast, smoke, cedar, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry. Opulent, velvety, and seamless, it has great depth, spicy blue and black fruit flavors with hints of licorice and chocolate, and a very long finish. Drink it over the next 10 years. The Boarding Pass label is just that, a dead ringer for an airplane boarding pass. According to Dan Philips, it is like going on a trip to Australia without leaving home while the First Class is a luxury upgrade. Aside from the humor, these two wines have more in common with Fed-Ex, delivering the goods right on time. R Wines is a new company founded by importer and marketing genius, Dan Philips, along with co-owner, renowned winemaker, Chris Ringland. Winemakers for R Wines are Chris Ringland, Lisa Wetherell, Andrew Hercock, and John Hughes. It encompasses four familiar labels, Marquis Philips, 3 Rings, Roogle, and Bitch, along with 13 others created especially for R Wines. Needless to say, the packaging of these wines is amazingly creative but, more importantly, what is in the bottle consistently over-delivers from low-end to high-end.” —WA 94

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’05 Shirvington McLaren Vale Shiraz $49.97
“The dense, chewy, rich, deeply-colored 2005 Shiraz is a full-bodied, ripe, intense wine, but does not reveal quite the same thrilling level of quality as the Cabernet. Nevertheless, it is no wimpy wine, boasting 16% alcohol as well as stunning richness and length.” —WA 93

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’05 Tatiarra “Cambrian” Heathcote Shiraz $44.97
“The 2005 Shiraz Cambrian reveals more chocolate and scorched earth characteristics than the 2004 as well as fuller body, more abundant fruit, and huge tannin, muscle, and extract. Only connoisseurs with great cellars as well as abundant patience should consider purchasing this monster.” —WA 94

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’04 Tatiarra “Cambrian” Victoria Shiraz $44.97
“The 2004 Shiraz Cambrian exhibits a distinctive terroir/earthy/fresh mushroom/truffle-like component intermixed with graphite, camphor, blueberry, blackberry, and cassis. A wine of great intensity, structure, muscle, and firm tannin, this impressive effort should be at its finest between 2009-2025+.” —WA 93

’04 Torbreck “The Factor” Shiraz
Very Limited, 3 Bottles Per Customer, Phone Orders Only (Net) $99.97
“Made from 100% Shiraz that spent 24 months in French oak (30% new), the exuberant, flamboyant 2004 The Factor offers up gorgeously pure blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with smoke, bacon fat, camphor, and graphite. Silky smooth, and, as David Powell says, “the most Barossa-like” of all his wines, it represents Powell’s rendition of a Cote Rotie. It can be drunk over the next 15-20 years.” —WA 97

’04 Torbreck “The Pict” Mataro
Very Limited, 3 Bottles Per Customer, Phone Orders Only (Net) $183.99
“A new offering, the 2004 The Pict, is a 220-case cuvee of 100% Mourvedre that tips the scales at 13.2% alcohol. Reminiscent of a 1998 Domaine Tempier Cuvee Speciale (a great vintage for that estate), it boasts an inky/blue/purple color, phenomenally intense blueberry and blackberry fruit characteristics, and hints of black truffles as well as fresh mushrooms. Deep and full-bodied, with superb fruit and the right amount of sweet tannin (a rarity for Mourvedre), this beauty should evolve slowly, and drink well for 15 or more years.” —WA 95

’04 Wild Duck Creek “Springflat” Victoria Shiraz $39.97
“The blockbuster 2004 Shiraz Springflat’s inky/purple color is followed by a wine that pushes concentration to the limit. Made from tiny yields of 1.5 to 1.8 tons of fruit per acre, aged in 50% new and 50% 1 and 2 year old oak (half American and half French) barrels, it is a huge, rich, backward Shiraz that still assaults the palate and olfactory senses.” —WA 94

Chile

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’03 Casa Lapostolle “Clos Apalta” Colchagua Carmenere Blend $69.97
“Loads of ripe fruit, with plum, blackberry and boysenberry flavors pumping through, backed by suave, mocha-infused toast, mineral and spice notes. Long, fleshy finish has some serious grip.” —WS 94

France

’01 Les Cailloux “Cuvée Centenaire” Châteauneuf-du-Pape $169.97
“The Cuvee Centenaire is produced from ancient vine (planted in 1889) Grenache (80% of the blend, along with 8% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre). The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire is superior to the 2000, but slightly behind the 1998. This fabulous wine boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as a provocative perfume of incense, black tea, plums, figs, and kirsch liqueur. As it sits in the glass, this full-bodied, dense 2001 offers up notes of pepper, smoke, and balsam wood. Rich and voluptuous with great length, massive body, and a structured, long, heady, tannic finish, its alcohol must be over 15%, but it is well concealed by the wine's great concentration. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.” —WA 96

’03 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape $77.99
“Young and tight, with garrigue and roasted game aromas peeking out from a core of ripe black currant, plum and fig fruit. Lots of toast tobacco and iron as well. The finish is well-endowed with tannins, but they are ripe and pure.” —WS 94

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’04 Bois de Boursan “Cuvée Felix” Châteauneuf-du-Pape 63.99
“The top cuvee here is the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Felix, which shows resiny pine forest notes interwoven with the spice box, pepper, licorice, deep black currants, and sweet, richer black cherries. A generous, full-bodied wine that is multi-layered, intense, and at the same time spicy and Provencal...” —WA (91-93)

’05 Colin-Deléger Les Demoiselles Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru $187.99
Wine writer and Burgundy expert Clive Coats says of the Demoiselles that it is, “a top grand cru in all but classification.” “This is more elegant and refined still with an expressive nose that runs more toward floral and white fruit aromas whereas the slightly bigger and richer flavors give up none of the detail or minerality of the En Remilly. This is a bit more forward than it usually is but it's most impressive all the same.” —BH 92

’05 Bruno Colin “La Maltroie” Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru $85.99
“A moderately toasty nose sets off pretty white flower and herbal aromas that merge into nicely detailed, rich and punchy flavors that offer solid dry extract and good if not exceptional power on the citrus-infused finish. There is good harmony here plus a nice note of minerality.” —BH 90

’05 Philippe Colin “Les Chaumées” Chassagne-Montrachet $87.99
“Very expressive and ripe to the point of being exotic with equally ripe, generous and mouth coating flavors that possess excellent volume and mid-palate fat and are wrapped in a textured and mouth coating finish…it is delicious and despite the ripeness and volume, manages to stay in near perfect balance.” —BH 90

’05 Château Lascombes Margaux $72.97
“Lascombes is again being offered for sale, but kudos to the most recent ownership that has returned this estate to its rightful place as one of the top wines of Margaux. This was quickly accomplished by implementing a draconian selection in the vineyard, and investing in the winery. The stunning 2005, a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, boasts aromas of lead pencil shavings, incense, charcoal, spring flowers, blackberries, cherries, and espresso roast. A pure, fresh, full-bodied palate reveals moderate sweet tannin, a sensational, lush texture, and a blockbuster finish, but they do not compromise the floral elegance of the Margaux appellation.” —WA 94-96

’03 Léoville-Las-Cases Bordeaux Saint-Julien $157.97
“Incredible nose of crushed berry, licorice, violets and lightly toasted oak. Pure crème de cassis. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Solid.” —WS 97

’01 Monpertuis “Cuvée Tradition” Châteaneuf-du-Pâpe 54.99
“Full red-ruby. Expressive, superripe, liqueur-like aromas of maraschino cherry, blackberry, raspberry and licorice; like an essence of grenache. Offers an exciting combination of sweetness and grip, with the wine's mineral underpinning and firm acids giving it terrific energy in the mouth. This opens out beautifully on the very long, firm finish. A very young wine that's built for extended aging.” —IWC 93 (+?)

’04 Pierre Usseglio “Aieul” Châteauneuf-du-Pape $90.99
“Packed with pure, ripe fruit--raspberry, boysenberry and fig--along with cocoa, tar and violet notes. Long, rich, dark finish shows lots of exotic spice, date and dried fruit notes. Tight on the finish, so cellar for a while.” —WS 94

’05 Domaine Weinbach “Cuvée Sainte Catherine — L’Inédit!” Schlossberg Alsace Grand Cru Riesling $69.99
“Floral and lightly citric, with a lacy texture and concentrated flavors of peach, honey and orange peel. Zesty acidity keeps it lively through the mouthwatering finish. delicious.” —WS 94

Italy

’01 Aldo Conterno Colonnello Barolo $99.97
“Good full medium red. Highly nuanced nose of red berries, minerals, flowers, spices, underbrush and caramel. Then juicy and tight in the mouth, with very brisk, firm flavors of red berries and minerals. At once superripe and gripping.” —IWC 94

’99 Biondi-Santi “Tenuta Greppo” Brunello di Montalcino Riserva $519.99
Biondi-Santi Riserva is one of the most celebrated, legendary and ageworthy wines of Italy. It is a wine usually made only a few times a decade by the producer that originated the wine Brunello di Montalcino itself. In this case from the powerful and classic 1999 vintage, the Riserva gives new meaning to word 'layered' in wine and the PJ’s team was struck by its magically round and supple elegance. Somewhat deeper colored and fuller-bodied than the regular "Annata" bottling, the Riserva offers a seamless array of scents and flavors of red and black cherry and currant and notes of leather, cedar, lavander, truffle, earth, cured meat, dried tobacco, mellowed vanilla and cocoa powder. It is still firm with an iron spine, yet flows across the palate as if wrapped in velvet. It is surprisingly approachable now, but will age for decades more. Stunningly, subtle, complex and elegant. Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri, PJ 98

’01 Cascina Ebreo “Torbido” Nebbiolo $79.99
Although not technically a Barolo, this hand-crafted, extremely low production Piedmont Nebbiolo has all the stuffing you would expect from a top cru. The wine is bottled unfiltered,and its name “Torbido,” meaning turbid, is something of a pun based on the wine’s rich color. On both the nose and palate there is fantastic freshness with vibrant plum and cherry notes and classic Nebbiolo tones of tar and roses. This wine is exceptionally long and is structured very firmly with a racy backbone that implies excellent aging potential.

’99 Bruno Giacosa Barolo $119.99
This gorgeously traditional Barolo from the outstanding and classically structured 1999 vintage is just starting to reveal its inner beauty. We tasted it recently and with aeration it shows beautiful notes of red plum, dried cherry, strawberry, asphalt, wild herbs, smoke, cocoa powder and mellow hints of barrel aging. Balanced and deceptively well-structured by buoyant acidity, the finish is long and graceful, disclosing additional notes of wild berries, leather and mushroom. This classic will continue to unfold for another 15 years. Decant to serve now with casseroles, sausage, roasts or steak.

’01 Bruno Giacosa Asili Barbaresco $179.99
“What a pleasure it was to taste the 2001 Barbaresco Asili. The nose is expressive, with well-delineated notes of spices, flowers and tar that meld seamlessly onto an irresistible palate packed with vibrant layers of sweet ripe fruit with an open, generous personality. This wine is showing a wonderful sense of inner purity right now and will be even better in a few years, although its qualities are abundantly apparent even at this early stage. A great effort.” —WA 95

’01 Bruno Giacosa Barolo $116.99
“The dense, brooding 2001 Barolo offers sensations of spices, minerals and underbrush on the nose followed by plenty of dark fruit on a muscular frame of great length and harmony. The wine shut down quickly in the glass, and appears headed for a period of dormancy, after which it will no doubt offer tremendous drinking pleasure.” —WA 92

’04 Montevetrano IGT Colli di Salerno Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Aglianico Blend $85.99
“The fresh but full 2004 vintage combines seductive classicism with astonishingly graceful definition. Notes of freshly mown grass and minty talc are the prelude to an inexorable crescendo of aromas that run the gamut from blueberry to musk, black pepper and bitter herbs. The palate displays its usual spectacular grace and harmony with a masterful acidity and a textbook dose of oak.” —GR Tre Bicchieri

’03 Paolo Scavino Bric' del Fiasc Barolo $90.99
“The Bric del Fiasc is noticeably deeper and richer, with notes of sweet dark fruit, tar and scorched earth. Made in a big, bold style, this is a powerhouse of a wine that has enough fruit to balance the tannins, although it is not for the faint of heart. 'As opposed to Cannubi which has loosely packed, sandy soils, at Bric del Fiasc the soils are more compact and thus retain water better, which helps give this wine a little more freshness,' says Scavino.” —WA 90-93

Portugal

’03 Fonseca Vintage Porto $85.99
“Saturated deep ruby. Brooding, reticent nose of cassis and kirsch; there's nothing cooked about this one! Then massive, sweet and superrich in the mouth; explodes with exotic ripeness. Intriguing note of graphite. This coats every nook and cranny of the palate and clings and builds on the back end in a way that no other wine of this vintage can match. Huge, sexy and wonderfully lush Fonseca, built for the long haul. As impressive as the best 2000s, and, along with the Quinta do Noval Nacional, is an early candidate for port of the 2003 vintage.” —IWC 97

Spain

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’04 Finca Allende “Calvario” $83.99
“The 2004 Calvario is sourced from a single vineyard planted in 1945 and is composed of 90% Tempranillo, 8% Grenache, and 2% Graciano. The wine was aged for 14 months in 100% new French oak and bottled unfiltered. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up an expressive nose of toast, vanilla, spice box, floral elements, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur which leaps from the glass. This is followed by a mouth-filling wine with oodles of flavor, great definition, and plenty of ripe tannin leading to a finish lasting nearly a minute. Still an infant developmentally, the wine begs for another 6-8 years in bottle. It should last for at least 25 years. Kudos to Finca Allende for a magnificent set of 2004 Riojas!” —WA 95

’04 Felix Callejo Crianza $26.97
“Cassis, blackberry, cinnamon, mineral and floral notes mingle in this complex yet harmonious red. It’s deceptively accessible, with a plush texture over well-integrated tannins, and remains very fresh and lively on the elegant finish. Drink now through 2015. 300 cases imported.” —WS 94

’04 Bodegas Hornillo Ballesteros “Mibal Selección” Tempranillo $29.99
“The 2004 Mibal Seleccion is a barrel selection of the best lots and spent 14 months in French oak. It further raises the bar with its saturated, glass-coating purple color, super-expressive, exotic nose of pain grille, spice box, wild blueberry, smoked meat, and licorice. On the palate, this thick and opulent wine has gobs of spicy black fruit flavors, enough structure for 4-6 years of further evolution, and a beautifully delineated, long finish. It should drink well through 2020. A true “garage” Bodegas (the winery is in a garage in the town of Roa), these small production cuvees of 100% Tempranillo are uniformly outstanding. Drink 2011-2020.” —WA 93

’81 Lopez de Heredia “Viña Tondonia” Rioja Gran Reserva White $77.97
“True gold, but remarkably youthful for its age. W ild, complex bouquet of pungent flowers, succulent herbs, orange peel, violet, vanilla, toasted nuts and baking spices. Rich, deep and beautifully concentrated, with surprising energy to the ripe pear and poached apple flavors complemented by marzipan and vanilla. This actually tightens up on the finish, showing a lingering exotic, spicy character. You could drink this right now or even hold it for a few more years.” —IWC 93

’01 Mas d’En Gil “Clos Fonta” Priorat $54.97
“Opaque purple in color, it offers aromas of plum, kirsch, mineral and tobacco. On the palate the wine is voluptuous with well integrated tannin, oak, and acidity. It has enough stuffing to merit 4-6 years of additional cellaring and should drink well for a decade thereafter.” —WA 94

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’04 Mas Romaní “La Basseta” Priorat $57.97
“The 2004 La Basseta is 50% old-vine Carinena, 40% Grenache, 5% Merlot, and 5% Syrah aged for 15 months in French oak, 50% new. Dark ruby/purple, the wine has a spectacular perfume of mineral, scorched earth, violets, lavender, kirsch, and blueberry pie. Full-bodied, the wine is opulent with a velvety texture, layered flavors, a beautiful integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a well-delineated, long finish.” —WA 96

’04 Mas Romaní “La Creu Alta” Priorat $99.99
“The 2004 La Creu Alta is 60% old-vine Carinena and 40% Grenache from vineyards over 100 years of age. Inky purple, the wine has an ethereal nose of spice box, scorched earth, truffle, graphite, kirsch, and wild blueberries. Already complex on the palate, the wine is plush and silky with impeccable balance and an exceptionally long finish.” —WA 97

’04 Muga “Torre Muga” Rioja $79.99
“Plush and harmonious, this red is alluring yet subtle, with intense flavors backed by an impressive structure. Look for black currant, cocoa, cigar box and mineral notes now, and expect further complexity as this evolves. Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano. Drink now through 2020. 2,000 cases imported.” —WS 95, WS Top 100 #11, IWC 95

’04 Paixar Bierzo Mencía (Net) $64.97
The best Paixar yet and more proof of the deeply expressive and ageworthy quality of the Mencía grape. Young star winemaker Eduardo García exhibits his increasing mastery of Mencía and the tiny and extremely old vine plot, used to make the Paixar. We are more and more convinced of the ageworthiness and top quality of Bierzo wines. “Inky ruby. Potent cherry and dark berry aromas are expansive and pure, and perked up by spicy cinnamon and clove. Strong blueberry and blackcurrant flavors are complicated by floral pastille and mineral elements that carry through the finish. This gained weight and sweetness with air, offering a range of dark berry liqueur impressions and outstanding persistence.” —IWC 93

Now back in stock!
’00 Valduero Ribera del Duero Reserva $27.97
“The 2000 Reserva is a bit more refined than the Crianza but hardly a shrinking violet. The color is less dense and the nose is more expressive. There are notes of cedar, tobacco, scorched earth, truffle, blueberry, and blackberry which jump from the glass. On the palate the wine remains youthful with layers of flavor but also some elegance as well as power. The fruit is ripe and sweet, the tannins soft, and the finish lasts for at least 45 seconds.” —WA 94

’96 Vega Sicilia “Unico” Ribera del Duero $285.97
A stupendous Unico that may in time rival the stunning 1994. A step or two ahead of the excellent 1995 and by our way of thinking under-estimated in the press. This highly fragrant, beautifully balanced, pure and ripe Unico will continue to improve in bottle for years to come. WA 95

United States

California

’04 Arietta “Variation One” Merlot/Syrah $99.99
“Deep, bright ruby-red. Slightly reduced nose blossomed quickly to show black raspberry, dark cherry, mocha and chocolate. Lush and superripe on the palate, but saline and mineral elements as well as the wine's strong acid/tannin spine give it great definition and grip. Firm tannins are buffered by the wine's strong material.” —IWC (92-95)

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’03 Dominus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $99.97
“A big, sweet nose of roasted coffee, Provencal herbs, black currants, cherry jam, plums, allspice, and forest floor is followed by a spicy, rich, full bodied, fragrant, intense wine. The tannins are sweet, but noticeable in this beautifully complex, strikingly aromatic 2003. It has much more similarity to a great Bordeaux than anything from Napa Valley.” —WA 95

’04 Dominus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $94.97
“The elegant, dark plum/purple/garnet-colored 2004 Dominus exhibits a big, sweet, cedary, roasted herb, mocha, black cherry liqueur, black currant, and earth-scented perfume. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannin as well as a luscious mouthfeel and finish, it should be more accessible in its youth than many of its predecessors, but easily last for two decades.” —WA 94

’04 Garretson “The Bulladóir” Paso Robles Syrah
Six bottle limit, per person. $51.97
“Impressive, powerful, rich, and concentrated is the 2004 Syrah The Bulladoir, a blend of 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier. An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of barbecue smoke, creme de cassis, blackberries, and camphor. It makes a huge tactile impression, yet remains balanced and is neither over the top nor pruny/raisiny. Drink this beauty over the next 10-12+ years.” —WA 95

’04 Garretson “Mon Amie” San Luis Obispo County Syrah
Six bottle limit, per person. $39.97
“A blend of 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier, the 2004 Syrah Mon Amie Bassetti Vineyard, from San Luis Obispo rather than Paso Robles, is a superb effort. Its inky, deep ruby/blue/purple color is followed by a big, sweet nose of graphite, creme de cassis, smoke, and road tar. The wine boasts great intensity, full body, beautiful purity, and a long finish. It should evolve for a decade or more.” —WA 94

’04 Robert Mondavi “Reserve” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $93.97
“Weaves together a complex array of ripe, rich currant, anise, smoky oak and black cherry. Dense, concentrated and persistent, with great depth and focus. Ends with an amazingly long, richly flavored finish.” —WS 95, 2007 Top 100 #9

’03 Montelena “Estate” Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $87.99
“The inky purple 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers up abundant quantities of sweet earth/loamy soil notes intermixed with black cherry and blackcurrant fruit as well as a floral characteristic. There is superb fruit concentration in addition to a heady blueberry/blackberry component in this effort. Again, these wines need plenty of time to reveal all their attributes, but at the moment, I would be hard pressed to say it’s better than the 2003 or 2002. It should be ready to drink in about five years and last for 25 or more.” —WA (93-95)

’04 Montelena “Estate” Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $112.99
“The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from their old vineyards in Calistoga. This is a dense, ruby/purple-tinged wine with full body, and despite the softness of the general vintage, Montelena has plenty of structure. Like nearly every vintage of their top Cabernet Sauvignon, it will last for 25 or more years. The wine has sweet tannin in a broad, flavorful, concentrated style with plenty of black currant, licorice, and spice. The wine is beautifully textured, slightly more forward than most Montelena Cabernets tend to be. It is another beauty from probably the most consistent winery for Cabernet Sauvignon over the last three decades.” —WA 94

’05 Pax “The Knob” Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino Syrah $85.99
“The 2005 Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard The Knob (170 cases) displays loads of pepper, blackberry, cassis, toasty oak, lavender, and spice box characteristics.” —WA (92-94)

’05 Red Car “Shake Rattle” Syrah $51.99
“A riveting red. Dense, rich and complex, with deep, concentrated plum, currant, smoke and blackberry fruit that's plush and persistent. Fans of full-throttle Syrah will love this wine. Drink now through 2011.” —WS 93

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’05 Orin Swift “The Prisoner” Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend $32.99
“A delicious wine that offers the best of both worlds: zesty wild berry, spice and fresh tobacco, with focused, well-structured blackberry flavors. Plush, rich and concentrated, with a wonderful focus on the core fruit flavors. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Charbono. Drink now through 2011. 20,000 cases made.” —WS 93, 2007 Top 100 #17

Togni’04 Philip Togni Napa Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $97.99
“Readers looking for more ripeness, opulence, and an extroverted character should check out the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which is actually a larger crop than 2005. This sensational dense purple-colored effort boasts delicious blueberry, black raspberry, cassis, licorice, and olive-like notes. In the mouth, there is more creme de cassis as well as background toasty oak, structure, and tannin. I don’t think there has ever been a vintage where Philip Togni has cheated anybody on flavor intensity or tannic structure as his wines always last, even in lighter vintages, for twenty or more years.” —WA 95

’02 Vérité “La Muse” Sonoma Merlot Blend $129.97
“The impressively saturated ruby/purple-colored 2002 La Muse (92.5% Merlot, 7.2% Cabernet Franc, and a tiny dollop of Malbec) boasts a sweet nose of chocolate-covered blueberries, blackberries, melted licorice, smoked herbs, and earth. This opulent, full-bodied, luscious 2002 conceals plenty of tannin behind its voluptuous personality.” —WA 94

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’03 Vérité “Le Désir” Sonoma Merlot/Cabernet Franc Blend $129.97
“Complimentary adjectives are almost inappropriate for the extraordinary complexity, fabulous richness, and sheer nobleness and beauty of the 2002 Le Desir (52.7% Merlot, 41.2% Cabernet Franc, and tiny percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec). Dense aromas of creosote, burning wood embers, blackberries, blueberries, and violets are offered in the full-bodied, fabulously complex perfume. Full-bodied, with tremendous complexity, a voluptuous texture, and flavors of plum liqueur, figs, chocolate, espresso, and minerals, this is a tour de force in winemaking.” —WA 97

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