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)

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.

Decanter (100)

One of two Allegrini wines making their debut on the Place de Bordeaux this year. From an 8ha vineyard at 415m. Richly scented on the nose with a beautiful nuance to the dark fruits, floral scents and sweet spices, all melding together. The texture is so appealing, rich yet smooth and silky, dominating the palate with the flavours of stewed blackcurrants, coffee beans, orange rind, slightly bitter medicinal herbs, juicy balsamic peppery fruit and a beguiling saltiness. It's enveloping in the best way, but still juicy and lively, really leaves a lingering impression on the palate, an absolute lifeforce. Tannins are on the chewy and grippy side, coating the mouth and tongue but the presentation of the flavours is so precise and detailed. This is amazingly good with excellent freshness throughout. 5% Oseleta completes the blend. Ageing 48 months in French oak barriques, 6 months in Slavonian oak. First vintage was 2011 with no 2014 made.

Wine Spectator (97)

Laced with ripe cherry, strawberry, floral, spice, iron and leather flavors, this red is complex and charming, yet with serious tannins that ply the structure and lift the long finish. The fine balance should facilitate longevity. Best from 2024 through 2048. 1,600 cases made.

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.

James Suckling (97)

This is a very tight and fine-grained red with a compressed mouthfeel. The fruit comes through to a class and elegance. Such length. Ethereal structure. Unique. Drink or hold.

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!

James Suckling (99-100)

This shows the purity of Angelus. I have never tasted a wine from here with such incredible clarity. Full body, full fruit and full beauty. Super silky tannins. A joy to taste. Makes you want to drink it. 62% merlot and 38% cabernet franc.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

I loved the 2018 Château Angélus from barrel last year and it blew me away from bottle, epitomizing the new, fresher, more elegant style of the estate while still bringing classic Angélus richness and power. The 2018 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in new oak, with a portion of the Cabernet Franc in foudre. A vivid purple color is followed by a vibrant bouquet of blackberries, crème de cassis, crushed violets, spring flowers, and cedar pencil. Beautifully concentrated, full-bodied, and flawlessly balanced on the palate, it has gorgeous tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and awesome length. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only improved, picking up additional depth and richness, while never showing a hint of oxidation. Pure perfection, it's going to benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. This is a sensational, magical wine from this talented team, led by winemaker Emmanuelle d'Aligny-Fulchi. Comparing this to the more opulent 2005 and 2009 over the coming decades will be an incredible experience.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2015 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers is superb, its strikingly saturated ruby hue presaging a deep bouquet of raspberry, cherries and wild berries, mingling with subtle suggestions of peony, orange rind and forest floor. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, gourmand and beautifully poised, with a lavish attack underpinned by bright acids, its finish cool and precise. From vines planted in 1947, this comes highly recommended.

Vinous (87-89)

The 2018 Beaune Boucherottes 1er Cru has a lovely blackcurrant and raspberry bouquet with just a touch of vanilla emanating from the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, soft and rounded with juicy red cherries and strawberry fruit on the finish. Very approachable, although I am not convinced it is long-term.

Vinous (87-89)

The 2018 Beaune Boucherottes 1er Cru has a lovely blackcurrant and raspberry bouquet with just a touch of vanilla emanating from the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, soft and rounded with juicy red cherries and strawberry fruit on the finish. Very approachable, although I am not convinced it is long-term.

Vinous (94)

The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano is a terrific example of how responsive Sangiovese can be to site. Here, the flavors are darker and richer, while at the same time the wine possesses a level of textural resonance and breadth that distinguishes it from the more linear wines Antinori makes at the Tignanello vineyard. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol fill out the wine's frame effortlessly. This is another stellar wine from Antinori.

James Suckling (96)

Focused and complex on the nose with stone, sliced cooked apple and hints of toffee. Full-bodied, with a density and freshness and liveliness. Vivid and energetic. All about class here. Drink or hold.

Introducing a splendid iteration of superior wine named Arnaud Ente Meursault Clos des Ambres 2018, which exemplifies the artistry inherent in French winemaking. Arnaud Ente, a renowned producer hailing from Burgundy, has utilised traditional cultivating techniques and coaxed the essence of the mesmerising Meursault terroir into each bottle. The winery is committed to creating limited quantities, thus ensuring unsurpassed quality and exclusivity.

Arnaud Ente Meursault Clos des Ambres 2018 bursts with vibrant flavours of citrus and orchard fruits, balanced beautifully by inventive nuances of fresh earth and delicate minerality. The vintage's developing complexity is a testament to its potential longevity. Produced in the heart of Meursault, this Chardonnay promises classic refinement, embodying the distinct character of this prestigious appellation. This is truly a unique drop, enjoyed by wine lovers who appreciate the blend of Burgundian tradition and modern intricacy.

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.

The Wine Independent (100)

The 2018 Ausone is deep garnet purple in color. There is oak to begin, giving way to a great core of baked black plums, chocolate-covered cherries, licorice, and incense, plus Indian spices and violets. Full-bodied, it is rich, concentrated, and decadent in the mouth, with a fantastic backbone of freshness and velvety tannins, finishing very long and layered.

Introducing the pristinely crafted Autreau Perles Dhuy 2015, an exquisite example from the reputable Champagne house of Roger Coulon. Hailing from the esteemed vintages of 2015 in the serene valley of the Marne in France, where grapes steep drenched in a unique climate and terroir, this offering raises the bar for robust champagnes. Autreau Perles Dhuy 2015's remarkable composition is a seamless blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, meticulously hand-selected and aged to perfection to achieve a delectable balance of rich texture and vibrant flavour profiles.

Its unparalleled quality is testimony to the house's eight generations of expertise in crafting superior champagne using traditional and sustainable methods. Autreau Perles Dhuy 2015 will enchant the palate with an exquisite Complexity, underlined by delectable fruit notes beautifully entwined with a telling hint of minerality. A bottle of this sumptuous champagne is a testament to exceptional viticulture and winemaking prowess.

James Suckling (97)

Lots of dried bark, cinnamon stick, forest floor and earth add to an impression of dried cherries and sandalwood. But there are also hints of caramelized oranges and preserved lemons. The attack on the palate takes immediate effect; the powerful tannins pucker the edges of the mouth with imposing depth, but equally fascinating detail. This is a robust, take-no-hostages style of Brunello with a modern twist of finesse and tension. Drink from 2025.

Jancis Robinson (17+)

Field blend of Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo), Rossola, Pignola, Brugnola and Negrera, all rare local varieties. Fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast without added SO2 (which is added only at bottling). Total of 20 days on the skins. Part of the wine was aged on the fine lees in stainless steel and part in concrete. ‘We macerate for a shorter time in warm years, but longer in cooler years to get softer tannins. In warmer years there is just no need and with longer maceration in warm years you lose freshness.’ Cask sample 1: Youthful mid ruby. Pure and focused red-fruit nose with a little lift and a hint of raw meat. Succulent and a little vibrant on the attack. Savoury, sappy, red-fruit finish with soft, coating tannins. Refreshing and original. Cask sample 2: Just mid ruby. A little deeper with minerally, earthy notes and hints of iron. Vibrant, lifted raspberry fruit and sandpapery tannins. Truly complementary to cask sample 1. (WS)

The Wine Cellar Insider (96)

Clearly the best ever produced at Beau-Sejour Becot. You know it from the moment you place your nose in the wealth of flowers, licorice, smoke, black and red plums, dark cherry, espresso, and forest aromatics. Once the wine hits your palate, the wine really takes off with its sensuous textures, silky tannins and long, concentrated layer of perfectly ripe, sweet, fresh fruits. As the wine remains on your palate, the flavors expand and the sensation of crushed stone makes its presence known as well.

Wine Spectator (96-99)

Juicy and forward in feel, with fresh plum, blackberry and anise notes. Dense, but still silky and refined in feel, revealing a long mineral echo through the finish. This is so pure, it seems almost too easy to drink already, just as you realize how ridiculously long it is.

Wine Spectator (97)

A stunner from the get-go, with waves of thoroughly seductive boysenberry, plum, blueberry and raspberry reduction forming the core, while roasted apple wood, rooibos tea, bergamot, and anise notes flash throughout. This has plenty of bass, with a Turkish coffee accent and a hint of alder driving underneath. Everything moves in lockstep through the seriously long finish. Best from 2020 through 2045. 12,500 cases made.

James Suckling (98)

A complex red with blackcurrants, forest floor and mint. Eucalyptus, too. Love the aromas. Full body with ripe tannins that roll on the palate. Very harmonious and precise. Needs four to five years to come together, but already a joy to taste.

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 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.

James Suckling (99)

What intense aromas of cherries and raspberries! Then it turns to flowers and orange peel. Roses, too. This is really full and powerful with layers of ripe tannins. It’s super fine-tannined, but shows wonderful length and intensity. A great expression of Lamole in Chianti Classico with ancient vines. Some older than 100 years. Best ever? Superb. Try after 2024 and onwards.

James Suckling (99)

A stunning wine. This is the best Testamatta ever made. Fascinating aromas of red fruits, tea, bark and wet soil as well as fresh leather. Full body, silky tannins and a juicy finish. I love the tension and texture of this great red. So gorgeous to taste now but better in 2021.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)

I loved this when first tasting it in bottle, and it is totally living up to my expectations. The clarity of flavour and the sense of energy ensures it just springs out of the glass, ready to please and without the slightest hint of a dip through the mid palate. Sangiovese signature comes across in raspberry, red cherry, rose petals, tobacco, freshly cured leather, great persistency through the palate, showing balance and finesse. The tannins are fine and silky but not afraid to ask for engagement and time from those of us lucky enough to be tasting it. Fermented with natural yeasts, aged in oak casks and neutral barrels for 20 months.