Delightful on the palate, the 00 Wines VGW Chardonnay 2018 is a testament to the expert craftsmanship of this lauded Oregon-based producer. Conscientiously sourced from vineyards of the Willamette Valley region, its elegance is shining proof of the exceptional new-world terroirs to be found in Oregon.

Harvested by hand then gently whole cluster pressed, the juice ferments naturally in French Oak puncheons. The wine ages on lees for 16 months, undergoing a subtle malolactic fermentation. This meticulous process lends to the 00 Wines VGW Chardonnay 2018's complex minerality and balanced acidity.

Essences of orchard fruits and citrus intertwine with nuances of toasted oak, offering up an exceptionally immersive tasting experience. Its intimated undertones and superb structure make it a quintessential choice to pair with rich dishes. A truly extraordinary addition to any fine wine collection, the 00 Wines VGW Chardonnay 2018 harmoniously marries innovation and tradition.

Wine Advocate (99)

The nearly perfect—perhaps it will get there in some subsequent tasting—2018 Cappella Proprietary Red seems more balanced and finely structured than the 2016 or 2017 versions, with hints of cedar and vanilla only serving to accent notes of ripe cherries and dusty earth. It's still full-bodied, rich and velvety, yet it shows incredible focus and length on the finish. Wow.

Wine Advocate (100)

Like the other vintages tasted on this occasion (2016 and 2017), the 2018 Madrona Ranch Proprietary Red is massively concentrated. But what sets it apart from those other great wines is its greater degree of integration and flow. From start to nearly infinite finish, the flavors of ripe cassis, dark chocolate and purple raspberries ease across the full-bodied palate in a seamless, velvety swell of lusciousness, without ever seeming heavy or overdone. Of all the amazing wines I tasted at Abreu this year, this one rises above the others.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

One of the finest Napa Valley wines to pass my lips, the 2018 Thorevilos offers an incredible level of purity, concentration, and balance. Revealing plenty of creme de cassis, white flowers, spicy oak, and tobacco-like aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. Coming from a site just outside St. Helena and mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (with a good chunk of Cabernet Franc), this is pure perfection in red wine. Although it can be drunk today, it really needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years, but it's going to cruise for 30, 40, if not 50 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Possibly the wine of the vintage, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is another incredible wine from this estate that has everything: stunning complexity, full-bodied richness, flawless balance, and incredible length. Revealing a dense purple color as well as Graves-like notes of blackcurrants, cold fireplace, graphite, chocolate, and smoked tobacco, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, flawless balance, and ultra-fine tannins. Based on 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc that was brought up 20 months in 70% new French oak, this thrilling 2018 offers pleasure today yet will evolve for 30-40+ years. Hats off to the team at Alejandro Bulgheroni!

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Pure perfection, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a nuclear fruit bomb of a wine, offering massive richness and depth while being as graceful as a ballerina, with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Classic To Kolan crème de cassis, black raspberries, flowery incense, spice, and tobacco notes all define the bouquet, and it’s full-bodied, with a layered, multi-dimensional texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It has another 2-3 decades of prime drinking ahead of it. This cuvée is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from four blocks in To Kalon, aged 20 months in 82% new French oak.

Immerse yourself in the world of luxury wines with the Alpasion Private Selection 2018. Lovingly crafted in the Uco Valley of Argentina, this rich, opulent red blend is bottled grandeur. The combination of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Syrah grapes hails from vines grown at a staggering 1,200 metres above sea level, conferring an inimitable complexity and depth of flavour.

The esteemed creators at Alpasion Wine dedicate their expertise to creating an unsurpassed expression of terroir. The 2018 vintage benefited from a warm, dry harvest season, resulting in grapes of impeccable ripeness and intensity. Artisanal winemaking techniques ensure the preservation of the fruit's integrity throughout the process. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, the Alpasion Private Selection 2018 develops a sophisticated palette of blackberry, plum, and refined spices beautifully entwined with toasty oak nuances.

Whether savoured alone or gracing a festive table, the Alpasion Private Selection 2018 is a timeless testament to the finesse and elegance of Argentinian fine wines.

Wine Advocate (97)

The site-specific 2018 Malbec Appellation Gualtallary comes from specific soils, two plots that they believe transmit the maximum expression of limestone to Malbec, giving a structured wine with fine-grained tannins but a little wild. The vines are on stony and gravelly soils with a high percentage of limestone and sand with around 3% clay at 1,300 meters in altitude. The grapes fermented in small concrete vats with indigenous yeasts at some 25 degrees Celsius for 15 days. It matured in untoasted 3,500-liter French oak foudres for 18 months and no less than 12 months in bottle. This comes from sandy soils and very low yields that give it chalkier tannins and a savage way. This has a slightly rustic touch, vertical and with some lightness. There's always a fresh touch of aromatic herbs (thyme and rockrose), with a textured palate and very tasty and clean flavors in the finish. 20,600 bottles were filled in September 2019.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2018 Proprietary Red Blend Amuse Bouche is composed of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bombastic scents of ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of Morello cherries, star anise, cardamom and red roses, plus a touch of garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in poise, delivering loads of vibrant black fruit and exotic spice flavors with bold freshness plus exquisitely ripe, rounded tannins, finishing with fantastic length and perfume. Absolutely stunning Merlot!

Wine Advocate (99)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard was aged for 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has a profound yet slightly broody nose to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal wonderfully fragrant notes of wild blueberries, black cherries, dark chocolate and warm cassis, followed by nuances of garrigue, violets, tar and licorice plus a touch of wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has gorgeous velvety tannins and finely knit freshness supporting generous black and blue fruits, finishing very long and achingly fragrant. Wow. 1,000 cases were made.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard spent 12 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts from the glass with bold scents of fresh blackberries, black currants and mulberries plus suggestions of cedar chest, pencil lead, iron ore and truffles, with emerging wafts of crushed rocks and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers firm, grainy, exquisitely ripe tannins and seamless freshness supporting layer upon layer of black fruits, finishing on a long-lingering fragrant earth note. 800 cases were made.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The 2018 Eaba is another wine from Jim that puts its foot firmly on the ripeness pedal and offers a blockbuster-like style of ripe black fruits, wood smoke, cured meats, and peppery goodness. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it’s flawlessly balanced, has gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 10-12 years or so. The 2018 is 59% Syrah, 23% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, and the rest Viognier, aged 22 months in 50% new French oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2018 Mourvedre, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better Mourvèdre out there. Offering a beautiful freshness as well as powerful notes of black and blue fruits, violets, ground pepper, iron, and a touch of bloody meat, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, no hard edges, and one heck of a great finish. This powerful, stacked Mourvèdre should have 15 years of longevity. The 2018 checks in as 85% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, and the balance Viognier that was 25% destemmed and spent 21 months in 50% new French oak barriques and 600-liter demi-muids.

Wine Advocate (95)

Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley bursts with pure cranberries, black cherries, charcuterie, loamy earth and blood orange aromas. Medium-bodied, it has pleasing graininess and bursts of freshness to support the full, ripe fruits and flavorful finish. This cuvée offers classic Russian River fruit in a very classy frame.

Vinous (94)

The 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection is creamy and ample, with pretty floral notes that lend complexity. This is one of the richer, creamier wines readers will find from this part of the old-vine section of Sanford & Benedict. A few hours of aeration brings out gorgeous textural richness to play off the wine's natural brilliance.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Pinot Noir Knox Alexander is a dense, powerful wine. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco, cedar, kirsch, blood orange, rose petal and healthy dose of new oak all meld together effortlessly. There's real character and depth here. Another year or two in bottle will be hugely beneficial in helping the elements meld together even more fully. Vineyard sites are Bien Nacido and a bit of Le Bon Climat.

Wine Advocate (97-99)

One of the last vineyards picked, this section of Hyde vineyard in Carneros is planted to Corton Charlemagne clone on St. George rootstock. The 2018 Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons leaps from the glass with vivacious fresh grapefruit, lemon peel, orange blossoms and lime cordial notes with nuances of fresh ginger, hay, sea spray and chalk dust. The full-bodied mouth explodes with the whole citrus-fruit flavor spectrum—lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit on steroids—complemented by loads of spicy sparks and lifted by amazing freshness, sporting a provocatively creamy texture and finishing long.

Wine Advocate (97-99)

Produced from Montrachet Clone vines (what Mark Aubert calls “the citrus circus clone") grown in Rutherford AVA, the 2018 Chardonnay Sugar Shack comes bounding out of the glass with a sit-up-and-beg nose of candied lemon peel, green mango, guava and lime leaves plus hints of honeysuckle, toasted almonds, crushed stones and nutmeg. Full-bodied, the palate is electric with concentrated citrus and tropical fruits and the most amazing tension, featuring a satiny texture and very long, pristine finish.

James Suckling (98)

Blackberry, blackcurrant and mint with some sage and crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are in-check and nicely polished. Smoke, toasted oak and bark at the end, complementing the fresh yet ripe fruit. Drink after 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck (98-100)

The first release from this site, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard boasts a saturated purple color as well as a heavenly bouquet of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, ground herbs, and gravelly minerality. It's one of those powerful yet ethereal, weightless wines that carries full-bodied richness, seamless tannins, and just a heavenly finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (97-99)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sage Ridge Vineyard has a classic gamey black and blue fruit character as well as notes of black olive, leafy herbs, and dark chocolate. It's rich, powerful, and full-bodied, with remarkable purity and a great finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

While this cuvée is one of the least expensive in the lineup, it’s often one of my favorites. The 2018 Ontogeny is no exception and should be snatched up by readers. A classic 2018 nose of ripe, pure blue fruits, cassis, violets, and smoked earth gives way to a full-bodied, dense, concentrated Cabernet with beautiful tannins and length. It’s going to evolve for 20 years or more.

Jeb Dunnuck (98-100)

The same 60/40 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, brought up in new oak, the 2018 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine is another incredibly pure, complex, yet powerful 2018. Rocking levels of crème de cassis, spring flowers, chocolate, and graphite give way to a full-bodied, pure, and seamless wine that has incredible potential.

Vinous (97)

The 2018 Red Wine Sugarloaf Mountain is magnificent. Soaring in its intensity, the 2018 exudes tremendous concentration and a level of aromatic breadth that carries through to the finish. All the elements come together so effortlessly. The 2018 is a must-have for Bevan fans.

Jeb Dunnuck (96-98)

Iron, crushed rocks, spice, and scorched earth notes all dominate the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, a rich, powerful yet balanced wine. Showing the purity of fruit that's classic in the vintage, ripe tannins, terrific balance, and a big finish, it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.

Vinous (97)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is one of the most complex wines in the entire range. Red fruit, iron, mint, rose petal, spice and blood orange give the 2018 a real feeling of exotic beauty. Each taste reveals a new facet. Time in the glass brings out the wine's striking aromatic presence and overall intensity.

The assortment case contains:

1x75cl Bond Vecina 2018 – 100 JD
1x75cl Bond Pluribus 2018 – 100 JD
1x75cl Bond Quella 2018 – 98 JD
1x75cl Bond St. Eden 2018 – 98 JD
1x75cl Bond Melbury 2018 – 97JD

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Matriarch is plush, sensual and enveloping. Succulent black cherry, plum and spice fill out the layers nicely in this enshrouding Cabernet. The 2018 possesses remarkable depth and exceptional balance. It's an absolute delight to taste today, and also a terrific introduction to the Bond range.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97-100)

The 2018 Melbury is fabulous. Bright, punchy and full of character, the Melbury is so alluring in this tasting. Sweet floral notes, crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange explode from the glass. Medium in body, silky and arresting in its beauty, the 2018 is spectacularly beautiful. In 2018, Melbury stands out for its understatement and total class. What a wine!

Vinous (99)

The 2018 Pluribus captures all of the savory, mineral intensity of this site on Spring Mountain. Searing tannins, once such a challenge here, are much more finessed than in the past. Crushed rocks, mint, blood orange, gravel, exotic spice and rose petal lend tremendous complexity as the Pluribus shows off its considerable allure. This taut, mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has so much to offer. Today, it is wonderfully complete and thrilling. Even so, the best is yet to come.