| Best Reds |
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2001 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
Syrah/Shiraz; Rhone; | $199.99 | |
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"Good bright medium ruby. Subtly complex, granitic nose melds cassis, blueberry, smoky gunflint, pepper, tar, bitter chocolate, roast coffee, leather, game and animal fur. Wonderfully juicy but currently rather folded in on itself. But this has brilliant acidity, precision and penetration on the palate. Almost painfully intense and wonderfully long and gripping on the back." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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1996 Vina Sastre Pago de Santa Cruz Gran Reserva
Tempranillo; Ribera del Duero; | $120.00 | |
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" Dark red. Captivating aromas of dried rose, dark chocolate and truffle. Silky on entry, then suave and perfumed in the middle palate, with subtle flavors of minerals and baking spices. Offers superb intensity without any excess weight. Rising finish features very fine tannins and superb persistence. Not a fleshy wine but classy and highly complex." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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1998 Le Pupille Saffredi Maremma Toscana Rosso
Red Blend; Tuscany; | $104.00 | |
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"Similar color to the '97. Sweet herbs and toasty, spicy oak currently dominate fruit on the nose. Richer and fuller than the 1997; more layered. Exquisite fruit shows a strong cabernet varietal imprint of cassis and Mediterranean herbs. Impressive in its combination of silky texture and sheer grip and strength. (Domaine Select Wine Estates, New York, NY; and Summa Vitis, San Francisco, CA)" -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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1999 Domaine Claude Dugat Gevrey Chambertin
Pinot Noir; Burgundy; | $110.00 | |
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" Full medium ruby. Vibrant, floral aromas of cassis, bitter cherry, dark chocolate and violet. Very intensely flavored and dense for village wine, with complex dark berry, spice and game flavors. This offers terrific structure and class." -- Steve Tanzer (91 points)
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| Best Whites |
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2003 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc
Marsanne; Rhone; | $399.99 | |
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"From Peleat: Pale color. Explosive fruit on the nose: yellow plum, cling peach, ginger. Fat, sweet and rich, with superb depth of fruit. Finishes very long and honeyed. From Rocoules: Less fruity and more spearminty on the nose. Then voluptuous without being especially sweet on the palate, offering more sheer size and volume than the sample from Peleat." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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NV Krug Grande Cuvee Brut
Chardonnay; Champagne; | $215.00 | |
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" Explosive but fine mousse Complex, yeasty aromas of lemon, honeysuckle, wet stone, toffee, hazelnut and caramel. Subtle and creamy on entry, then dense, powerful and youthfully brisk, with flavors of minerals, nutmeg and mace framed by strong lemony acidity. Solid, vibrant, dry and rather backward. Not quite as large-scaled or harmonious as last year's release and a bit more youthfully unevolved." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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2001 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc
Marsanne; Rhone; | $199.99 | |
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"Pure, subtle aromas of yellow plum, spices, flowers and nutty oak. At once sweet and gripping, with a glyceral middle given shape by flavors of lemon skin and spices. Very subtle and very long, finishing with terrific backbone." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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2001 Trimbach Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile
Riesling; Alsace; | $39.99 | |
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" Uncompromising aromas of crystallized lemon peel and powdered stone. Tactile, dusty and quite dry; almost salty with extract. A compellingly pure expression of minerality, in need of several years of aging." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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