| Best Reds |
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2001 Cardinale Red Wine Napa Valley
Bordeaux Blend; Napa; | $129.99 | |
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" Good full medium ruby. Captivating aromas of black and red raspberry, violet, bitter chocolate and sexy oak. Supersweet, lush and highly concentrated, with exotic flavors of black raspberry and milk chocolate. Very suave, inviting wine, finishing with very fine tannins, superb length, and a note of espresso. Impressive and utterly seductive." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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2003 Blankiet Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Vineyard Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon; Napa; | $199.99 | |
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"Good full medium ruby. Cool, vibrant aromas of blackberry, blueberry, minerals and mint. Dense, broad and deep, with sound acidity giving shape to the dark berry flavors. A sharply chiseled wine with terrific structure and considerable aging potential. The major tannins reach the front teeth but are outlasted by the wine's fruit." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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2001 Marcarini Barolo La Serra
Nebbiolo; Piedmont; | $52.99 | |
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" Good full red. Expressive aromas of brown spices, mocha, truffle and porcini. Suave, deep and flavorful, with lovely sweetness leavened by firm minerality. Here the fruit seems distinctly fresher than that of the 2000. Finishes suave and quite long, with late-arriving tannins that coat the gums. A perfect example of a case where the tannins of 2001 are simply more complex than those of the hotter, drier 2000 growing season." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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2003 Behrens and Hitchcock Syrah Alder Springs Ranch "Hommage to Ed Oliveira" Mendocino
Syrah/Shiraz; Other California; | $84.99 | |
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"(includes 8% cabernet sauvignon for the first time; 16% alcohol) Saturated full ruby. Superripe, expressive aromas of wild black raspberry, roasted meat and gunflint. Large-scaled, rich and chewy, with mouthfilling flavors of dark fruits, smoked meat and licorice, plus a distinctly salty element. With its extraordinary sweetness, sheer size and substantial chewy tannins, this wine reminded me of a dry port." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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2002 Cardinale Red Wine Napa Valley
Bordeaux Blend; Napa; | $157.99 | |
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"($150; a blend of 88% cabernet sauvignon and 12% merlot, from the To-Kalon Vineyard as well as vineyards on Mt. Veeder and Howell Mountain) Good bright ruby. Briary aromas of cassis, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and minerals. Bright, juicy and intensely flavored, with lively acids firming the black raspberry, black cherry and bitter chocolate flavors." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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| Best Whites |
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2002 Kongsgaard Wines Roussanne/Viognier Napa Valley
White Blend; Napa; | $114.99 | |
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" Bright aromas of citrus and peach, with a piquant cyanic bitterness. Very dry and very fresh, with a tactile, phenolic quality that is supported by-or perhaps the result of-the wine's intense peach, apricot and mineral flavors. The structure here comes from rocks and tannins, notes Kongsgaard, not acidity. Finishes firm and very long. At least as good as the 2001 version." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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1995 Hugel et Fils Riesling Vendange Tardive
Riesling; Alsace; | $59.99 | |
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"Bright yellow-gold. Spicy, honeyed aromas of fruit salad and lemon custard. Tangy and superconcentrated, with brilliant acidity giving the wonderfully sweet fruit flavors brilliant definition. Dense, full and tactile. A strong mineral component contributes to the impression of three-dimensional texture. Very deep and long. A flamboyant riesling vendange tardive with all the components for greatness." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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2002 Bouchard Pere et Fils Meursault Genevrieres
Chardonnay; Burgundy; | $54.99 | |
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" Reticent aromas of lime, mint and vanillin oak. Perfumed and pure in the mouth, with rather steely flavors of soft citrus fruits and minerals. Quite subtle and light on its feet. Finishes long, fine and bracing, with notes of orange and tangerine." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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