| Best Reds |
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1995 Chateau Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $175.00 | |
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"Deep ruby-red. Deep, lively aromas of red- and blackcurrants, licorice, tobacco and grilled nuts. Great sweetness and silky texture in the mouth currently overshadows the wine strong supporting acidity and tight core of spice and minerals. The toothcoating tannins don't cover as much of the mouth as those of the '96 do, but this wine offers uncanny length." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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1996 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline
Syrah/Shiraz; Rhone; | $200.00 | |
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"Medium red-ruby. Classic Northern Rhone syrah aromas of crystallized black raspberry, roasted game and pepper, plus an herbal element. Penetrating and tightly wound but not hard; seemed to harmonize with aeration. Quite juicy and pristine. Finishes very long and brisk, with fine tannins and the piquant acidity of the year. This will never be a fleshy La Mouline, but several additional years of aging should bring more aromatic complexity and pliancy." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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1996 Chateau Cos d'Estournel Saint Estephe
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $120.00 | |
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"Deep ruby-red. Profound, soil-specific aromas of cassis, redcurrant, graphite and pepper, along with a floral perfume. Penetrating, juicy and very intensely flavored, with terrific backbone and density. Really builds in the mouth. The palate-staining finish features tongue-coating tannins and sappy black cherry flavor. This wine features above-average pH for Cos, but the acidity comes across as firm and fresh." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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1997 Penfolds Wines Grange South Australia
Syrah/Shiraz; Other Australia; | $225.00 | |
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" Deep, dark ruby-red. Heady, superripe aromas of black plum, blackcurrant, blueberry and treacle, richly endowed with dark chocolate, vanilla and creamy oak; hints of mint and eucalyptus in the background. Silky-smooth, rich and creamy; remarkably approachable given its relative youth. Dripping with ripe black fruits and wrapped in firm but velvety tannins." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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1996 Abadia Retuerta Cuvee El Palomar Sardon de Duero
Tempranillo; Ribera del Duero; | $55.00 | |
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"Saturated dark ruby. Pungent, stony aromas of cassis, black raspberry, toast and flowers. A step up in intensity. As dense and lush as the regular bottling, but even firmer and more sharply delineated owing to the wine's strong minerality. Still, this offers truly enticing sweetness in the mouth. Strong oak tones on the very long finish." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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1998 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga
Tempranillo; Rioja; | $60.00 | |
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" Medium red-ruby. Subdued fruit aromas of plum, currant and raspberry, plus coffee, smoke and spice from the oak. Juicy but backward; extremely young and tightly wound. This has fruit of steel, with strong acids contributing to the wine's sharp flavor definition and powerful impression of spine. Juicy, sappy finish is very long and aromatic. Decant this highly concentrated wine for at least a few hours or cellar it for a decade." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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1997 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon; Napa; | $140.00 | |
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"Saturated deep ruby. Pungent, superripe aromas of cassis, blueberry, minerals and brown spices. A step up in flavor intensity and density. Lovely combination of sweet fruit and solid acid/tannin backbone. Quite firm and extremely long on the aftertaste. An outstanding early showing for this wine." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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1999 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon; Napa; | $100.00 | |
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"Ruby-red. Highly nuanced nose combines currant, plum, smoky oak, minerals, licorice and mint. Wonderfully sweet, sappy and dense. The most complex of these '99 cabernets, with enticing flavors of currant, minerals and brown spices. Very long, slow-building finish features big but sweet and fine tannins. Suave and impressive." -- Steve Tanzer (92 points)
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