Wine Advocate (97)

The more austere 2017 Gran Enemigo Chacayes Single Vineyard was produced with Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec from a low-yielding and early harvest of plants at 1,100 meters in altitude. The fermentations for the Enemigo wines are always with indigenous yeasts and with some whole clusters, and in 2017, it was 100% (for all the single-vineyard wines) and aged in old oak foudres to avoid excessive aromas of oak or toast. The palate reveals some austerity too, but it has pungent flavors and piercing acidity and a very tasty, almost salty finish. This is also truly impressive, outstanding for a year like 2017 and among the best Chacayes ever. 6,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2018.

Vinous (97)

The 2017 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard El Cepillo is Cabernet Franc blended with 15% of Malbec from the aforementioned GI to the south of the Uco Valley. The wine was 30% fermented in whole bunches before aging for 15 months in barrels and foudres. Rich, bright purple in color. The nose offers ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with hints of jarilla and ash. On the palate, the wine is defined by freshness without compromising on intensity or tannins, which bring substance, volume and grip. Toward the end, the fruit is precise and texture insistent, as though cinched at the waist. A long-lasting, terroir driven wine.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2017 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard didn't show any heat or excess ripeness from a warm and dry year. On the contrary, it's austere and has citrus acidity, with great freshness and minerality. The palate is super austere with vibrant acidity—by far the highest among the Gran Enemigo bottlings—and very fine, chalky tannins. This is remarkable, serious, balanced and fresh with a very, very long and salty finish. This fermented in barrels with 100% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in centenary oak foudres for 15 months. 3,000 bottles were filled in July 2018.

James Suckling (98)

This shows superb finesse and balance with wonderful, harmonious fruit and tannin tones that give the wine purity and focus. Dried spices, blackberries, walnuts and tile. Deep, contained structure with pure, fine tannins. The finish is incredible and goes on for minutes. A blend of 56% syrah, 31% carmenere, and 13% cabernet sauvignon. From biodynamically grown grapes. One for the cellar. Better after 2022, but already fantastic.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2017 Aconcagua Costa Las Pizarras Chardonnay is really fascinating, and it's even sharper, more restrained and with higher acidity than the 2016 that I tasted next to it. Winemaker Francisco Pancho Baettig is really pushing the wine to the limits—harvesting early and with more concentration and structure achieved through lower yields, which provides depth and complexity. The origin is the same as for 2016, and so is the vinification and aging in French barriques for almost 13 months. This is really young and austere, and it took some time in the glass to open up. It has Chablis-like definition, austerity and crispness; it's pure, mineral, long, precise like a laser cut, symmetric and chiseled. Even if it's sharp and citrusy, the palate has more volume and depth, and some nutty notes appear after some time. It's more like a Meursault than a Chablis this time, with great length, and I couldn't help but think of the whites from Jean-Marc Roulot when tasting this. It's a monumental mineral white, with the coastal freshness and the slate tastiness. This is hands down the best vintage of Las Pizarras and the best Chardonnay I've ever tasted from Chile. It's amazing how this wine has developed in only four vintages. As an American friend of mine would say, it's awesome beyond belief! 7,000 bottles were filled in March 2018.

James Suckling (98-99)

I love the aromas of smoked meat, dried strawberries and spices. Some resin and pine-needle undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with plenty of fruit and linear tannins running through the middle of the wine. Juicy and refined. Purity and greatness. Drink on release or hold.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Harlan Estate needs a little coaxing to reveal captivating iron ore, red currant jelly, cloves and crushed rocks scents with a core of warm cassis, Black Forest cake and boysenberries plus a waft of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, grainy texture with a lively backbone and loads of earthy layers, long and mineral laced. This should be one of the longer-lived wines coming out of the 2017 vintage.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 The Maiden is a deep, super-expressive wine. I am quite surprised by how rich the 2017 is, given a year in which many wines are on the lighter side. Dark red cherry and red plum fruit is front and center. There is some nervousness in the tannin so, even though The Maiden is the second wine of Harlan Estate, it needs at least a few years in bottle. This is a terrific showing.

Wine Advocate (98)

Deep garnet-black colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard unfurls sensuously from the glass with provocative scents of baked black cherries, plum preserves and crème de cassis, with emerging suggestions of fragrant earth, black truffles, Chinese five spice and dusty soil. Full-bodied, rich and oh-so-spicy on the palate, it has a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins and lively acidity supporting the opulent fruit, finishing very long and exotic. This is a surprisingly decadent and powerful expression of 2017!

Wine Advocate (98+)

Deep garnet, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith jumps with spicy scents of cumin seed, clove oil, cinnamon stick and fenugreek, leading to a core of prunes, blueberry pie and blackcurrant cordial, with touches of iron ore and red roses. The rich, full-bodied palate layers in red fruit nuances with a structure that is wonderfully elegant and ethereal, delivering silken tannins, seamless freshness and a long-lasting firework display for a finish.

Vinous (91)

The 2017 Chardonnay Le Debut Hyde Vineyard is a very pretty, open-knit wine loaded with class and personality. Light tropical notes of pineapple and passion fruit complement lemon confit, white flowers and mint in this silky, supple Chardonnay. The Debut is the domaine's young-vine Chardonnay, from vines planted in 2010 with Calera clone. About 75% of the wine was aged in neutral oak and 25% in concrete egg.

James Suckling (95-96)

A very solid red offering dried-strawberry, violet and cedar aromas and flavors with hints of oak. Full-bodied, firm and chewy with fantastic length and complexity. Great potential.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated cuvée is the 2017 El Desafio De Jonata, which includes 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. It's another inky colored wine from this team and offers a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, cedar, bay leaf, and crushed rocks. Beautifully concentrated and balanced, with a Bordeaux-like structure and regal style, it's a magical Cabernet Sauvignon that's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age yet keep for 20-30 years.

James Suckling (95)

Very aromatic with blueberries and blackcurrants, as well as red licorice. Floral, too. Medium-to full-bodied, firm and lightly chewy. Lovely depth of fruit here. Rich and flavorful. Extremely well done for the vintage. Shows more finesse and tightness than 2016. Very classic. One-third of the production. Try it. Drink after 2022, but already delicious.

Decanter (96)

This has a real sense of freshness and grip. A pure expression of Cabernet with a shot of eucalyptus and menthol, extremely concentrated but with elegance and power. The tannins just grip on to your palate and don't let go leading to a lovely chewy finish. This is great stuff, with a discernibly finessed style that shows a fine tannic balance magnified through the lens of Californian heat and laced through with cassis, espresso and chocolate block. Great structure, this will take a few decades of ageing in its stride. 100% new oak, from five vineyards around Napa Valley, mainly in Stags Leap and Oak Knoll.

Vinous (94)

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Anjea Sleeping Lady Vineyard is a rich, voluptuous wine, not to mention one of the sexiest 2017s I have tasted so far. Nigel and Shea Kinsman coax a slightly darker than usual expression of this Yountville site with their 2017, a wine that impresses with its voluptuous fruit, silky tannins and inviting personality. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice and new leather all build as this gregarious Cabernet shows off its personality. Best of all, the 2017 will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring. The bottled 2017 is just as impressive as it was from barrel.

Vinous (94+)

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhadamanthus Diamond Mountain District is a powerfully tannic, explosive wine that captures all the energy of this Diamond Mountain site. Graphite, savory herbs, menthol, licorice and black cherry sweep across the palate. Dense and tightly coiled, the 2017 appears to have a bright future once it settles down a bit.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2017 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain is very deep purple-black colored and gives expressive black cherries, kirsch, warm blackberries and boysenberry scents with touches of sawdust, red roses, camphor and cinnamon stick plus a waft of stewed tea. Full-bodied, the palate reveals a lot of depth with tons of red and black fruit layers and savory accents, framed by ripe, firm, grainy tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift and some mineral notions coming through.

Experience the pinnacle of fine wine with the Louis M Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Lot No 1 2017. This exquisite masterpiece from the renowned California wine house denotes a craft refined over 85 years and three family generations. The Cabernet Sauvignon Lot No 1 hails from the finest vineyards in Napa Valley, a region synonymous with producing wines of unparalleled quality and depth. This vintage is no exception, offering rich, mouth-filling flavours layered with complex nuances.

Aged in French oak barrels for 26 months, the wine exhibits a seamless, generous texture underpinned by an elegant tannin structure. This opulent Cabernet delightfully expresses dark, concentrated fruit and spices, surrounding a core of intense blackberry and black plum.

The Louis M Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Lot No 1 2017 embodies the precise winemaking pedigree of Louis M. Martini, carrying the legacy of outstanding Californian winemaking into the contemporary era.

For followers of truly exceptional wines, Marcassin Chardonnay 2017 is a coveted bottle, enshrining the extraordinary virtuosity of renowned vintner Helen Turley. Crafted in the unique terroirs of California's Sonoma Coast, this bewitching wine offers a mesmerising testament to precision viticulture and artisan winemaking. Bold and complex, Marcassin Chardonnay 2017 displays an indulgence of ripe tropical fruit layered with nuances of crème brûlée and toasted almond, balanced with a crystalline minerality.

Matured meticulously for over 12 months in French oak, and another 12 in bottle, the wine's amplified complexity and beautifully integrated oak nuances underline Turley's unwavering commitment to achieving the absolute pinnacle of quality. Discretely released in limited numbers, each bottle of the Marcassin Chardonnay 2017 breathtakingly embodies the embodiment of Turley's painstaking care and mastery, making it a prized addition to any discerning cellar.

Vinous (91)

From Apalta, this 2017 Syrah spends 18 months in new French oak and offers up blackberry jam, India ink, wood and smoke over a fleshy backdrop that adds a touch of exoticism. Taut and complex, it is quite indulgent (5.94 grams of sugar), with firm tannins and a ripe complexion. A cosmopolitan wine.

James Suckling (94)

A smoky syrah with blackberry leaf, dark chocolate, earth, black olives, tobacco and blackberry compote. Full-bodied and intense with chewy tannins, but showing edgy acidity and a long finish.

James Suckling (98)

Such an amazing, floral nose with blackberries, blueberries, violets and other flowers. Full-bodied, yet so balanced and refined with vibrancy and energy. It’s really racy and exciting with a super long, beautiful finish. Tight and super polished. Needs two or three years to open more. Beauty. Drink after 2021.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Napanook is forward, lush and quite giving - in other words, very much in keeping with the style of the year. Silky and radiant, with plenty of bright, red-toned fruit, the 2017 Napanook is one of the very finest Napa Valley Cabernets readers will find in this price range. Savory, earthy and licorice undertones add striking shades of nuance, with silky tannins that extend the finish effortlessly. This is such a gorgeous and inviting wine. When just opened, the 2017 mostly offers density and opulence, but a few hours of air brings out layers of subtlety and aromatic nuance.

Vinous (93)

The 2017 Napanook is forward, lush and quite giving - in other words, very much in keeping with the style of the year. Silky and radiant, with plenty of bright, red-toned fruit, the 2017 Napanook is one of the very finest Napa Valley Cabernets readers will find in this price range. Savory, earthy and licorice undertones add striking shades of nuance, with silky tannins that extend the finish effortlessly. This is such a gorgeous and inviting wine. When just opened, the 2017 mostly offers density and opulence, but a few hours of air brings out layers of subtlety and aromatic nuance.

Decanter (96)

A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration - around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over 5th September to 8th October, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines. 3.7pH. Review Date: 14th February 2020