Crous St Martin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2018
91+ points Wine Advocate: The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is 80% Grenache, with the balance split between Mourvèdre and Syrah. Hints of tar appear upon opening, but subside and give way to plums, black cherries and hints of black olive …
Domaine Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017
94 points Wine Advocate: Charbonnière’s performance this year was remarkable, all the more so because I didn’t visit the estate, so the wines were all tasted blind. The regular cuvée, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape, is a stunning blend of …
Domaine du Gros’ Nore’ 2016, Bandol
93 points Wine Advocate: One of my favorite 2016s, Gros Noré’s 2016 Bandol is a complex, savory offering with at least 15 years of life ahead of it. Dark, plummy fruit picks up notes of mocha, roasted meat and mushrooms …
Domaine Mercouri Red 2015, Letrini, Greece
Reminiscent of Right Bank Bordeaux, with notes of plum, tart cherry, loamy earth and solid structure. 85% Refosco and 15% Mavrodaphne.
Domaine Pieretti 2017 Coteaux du Cap Corse
This Corsican red offers dark red fruit flavors, accented by dark earth notes and anise and supported by gripping tannins. 75% Niellucciu, 25% Grenache
Duboeuf Julienas Chateau des Capitans 2019
93 points James Suckling: Aromas of crushed cherries, pomegranate, red tea and some dried orange zest. Some vanilla, too. It’s medium-bodied with tight, fine-grained tannins. Layered and flavorful. Drink or hold. 91 points Wine Enthusiast: The latest release from this …
Duboeuf Moulin-a-Vent Domaine des Rosiers 2019
93 points James Suckling: Strawberry, pink grapefruit, pomegranate and hibiscus on the nose. Red tea and clove, too. It’s medium-bodied with round, sleek tannins and fresh acidity. Some mineral undertones on the finish. Drink or hold.
Duorum Colheita 2016, Douro
90 points Wine Spectator: Medium-bodied, with a supple profile offering black cherry, olive and boysenberry notes, inlaid with anise, mocha and violet accents. Polished tannins show on the graphite-tinged finish. Drink now through 2024. 90 points Wine Enthusiast: This is …
Eight Years In The Desert 2022
Winery Notes: At first glance, the 2022 Eight Years in the Desert looks to be almost black, but after closer inspection, a dark crimson starts to shine through with a tinge of purple on the rim. The nose is rife …
Firriato Le Sabbie Dell’Etna Rosso 2019, Sicily
A blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Capuccio, this offers fine structure and balance, with red fruit flavors and notes of anise, dusty earth and dried herbs.
Gaja Ca’ Marcanda Magari 2018, Toscana
92 points James Suckling: Aromas of currants, orange peel and dried herbs, such as sage, follow through to a medium to full body with pretty fruit and a juicy, savory finish that shows walnut and fresh terracotta. Blend: 60% Cabernet …
Groundwork Mourvedre 2016, Santa Barbara
Winery notes: Flavors of black cherries, pepper crusted tri tip, mexican dark chocolate, fig and cedar cigar box.
Herman Story Casual Encounters 2019, California
Winemaker notes: That courtside seat wasn’t occupied, so why not? You grab caramel corn, violet-tinged drinks, and rosemary-laden hors d’oeuvres from waiters bearing platters. You slap five with the players after their soaring dunks. And right next to you, there’s …
Hoopla “The Mutt” 2015, Napa Valley
Winery notes: This Napa Valley Red Blend exemplifies that big 2015 concentration. The aromas are rich and inviting with juicy blackberry, violet, and anise lending layered complexity. The mid-palate is full and plummy with a touch of roasted oak. This …
Jayson Pahlmeyer Red Wine 2018, Napa Valley
95 points James Suckling: A creamy, full-bodied red with aromas of stewed blackberries, blackcurrants, dark chocolate, black tea and sweet tobacco. Ripe, polished tannins support a velvety core of dark fruit and chocolate. Delicious finish. Tight and so together. Drink …
Jeff Runquist “R” 1448 Red Blend 2021, California
Winery notes: The “1448” has a deep, rich color that clings to the inside of a wine glass. The hues are youthful, with an edge of magenta. The aromas display blue and red fruits, most notably black raspberry and blueberry. …
Jeff Runquist R Barbera 2021, Amador County
Winery notes: The 2021 Amador Barbera has a ruby purple color of a moderate depth. The aroma centers on raspberry, cherry and currant, along with a perfumed note of violets and lavender. The aromas are framed with notes of vanilla, …
Juan Gil Monastrell 2016, Jumilla
Deep purple/black color. Explosive aromas of ripe currant, red berries and smoked notes. Rich, powerful and voluminous on the attack, a huge mouthful of crème-de-cassis concentration, silken and juicy in the mid-palate with excellent length and persistence. Fine, ripe tannins, …
Kermit Lynch Cotes Du Rhone, 2019
For decades, this reliable red wine has been one of our company’s calling cards. Maybe it is because Kermit has spent so much of his life in this area of France, steeped in its cultural, culinary, and vinous traditions. This …
L’Aventure Estate Cuvee 2020, Willow Creek District, Paso Robles
99 points Wine Advocate: A blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Estate Cuvée is another outstanding wine from L’Aventure in the challenging 2020 vintage, offering singular concentration and elegance. Deep ruby-purple, it has …
L’Aventure Optimus 2020, Paso Robles Willow Creek District
95 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: A blend of 58% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Optimus has a deep ruby color and a deep core of red and black cherries, chargrill, thyme, charcuterie and desiccated …
Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Carmenere 2019, Colchagua Valley
94 points James Suckling: Intense carmenere aromas of crushed dark berries and cherries with dried flowers that follow through to a medium to full body with firm, silky tannins and a racy finish. Drink or hold. 90 points Vinous: The …
Las Nubes Red Blend 2018, Guadalupe Valley
65% Carignan, 25% Grenache, 10% Syrah. The nose shows some dark density, with a meaty cast to the blackberry and cassis notes. Echoed on the palate, but with nice balance and structure, finishing with touches of earth both dusty and …