| Best Reds |
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1976 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Gran Reserva Rioja
Tempranillo; Rioja; | $199.99 | |
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"Pale-edged red. Multidimensional nose of raspberry, black plum, orange zest, coffee, milk chocolate, game and a superripe whiff of raisin. Uncanny sweetness in the mouth, with a strong spine of acidity framing and intensifying the fruit flavors. Really remarkable acid/fruit balance. Big, rich, powerful and deep. Finishes extremely long and magically fresh." -- Steve Tanzer (96 points)
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1983 Chateau Margaux Margaux
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $599.99 | |
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" Deep ruby-red. Exotic aromas of cassis, meat and smoke, plus a whiff of funky wood. Then remarkably sweet, lush and suave, with a flavor of raw berries. Pure Margaux silkiness allied to firm structure. Finishes very long, with rich, sweet tannins. Remarkable wine, particularly considering that the bottle was not perfect. Pristine bottles of this wine are just now embarking on their period of peak drinkability, which should last another 20 years or more." -- Steve Tanzer (95 points)
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2001 Bodegas Artadi Vina El Pison Rioja
Tempranillo; Rioja; | $189.99 | |
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" Good medium ruby. Dee p aromas of raspberry, black cherry, chocolate and licorice, lifted by a pungent mineral component. Extremely suave and creamy, with sappy flavors of black raspberry and minerals. This opened spectacularly with aeration, showing superb old-viney depth and purity of flavor. In comparison to the Grandes Anades, this is less obviously sweet but smoother on the back end, with finer-grained tannins." -- Steve Tanzer (95 points)
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2001 Bodegas Artadi Grandes Anadas Rioja
Tempranillo; Rioja; | $189.99 | |
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" Medium ruby. Penetrating aromas of blueberry, cassis and bitter chocolate. At once fat and firm, with strong acids giving shape and verve to the flavors of roasted blackberry, violet, espresso, nuts and baking spices. This has real power and thrust, not to mention inner-mouth perfume. Finishes with big but sweet tannins and terrific length. Like the Pagos Viejos, this is 100% tempranillo." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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2000 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga
Nebbiolo; Piedmont; | $149.99 | |
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" Good deep red. Complex, vibrant aromas of raspberry, flowers, tobacco and tar. Offers great penetrating sweetness along with wonderful lift in the mouth, with red berry flavors complicated by tobacco, mocha and underbrush. Pure, sharply focused and still youthfully unevolved. Sweeter than the 2000 Barbaresco Santo Stefano, but the Asili is even longer." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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2001 E. Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis
Syrah/Shiraz; Rhone; | $149.99 | |
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" Superripe aromas of pepper, chocolate and menthol. Wonderfully deep flavors of cherries and spice. A very fresh, elegant wine with compelling sweetness but also excellent backbone. Really coats the palate on the very long aftertaste, finishing with strong spiciness and great lift. This makes the Guigal 2000 La-La wines seem almost soft by comparison." -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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2000 Bodegas Artadi Vina El Pison Rioja
Tempranillo; Rioja; | $133.99 | |
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" Deep ruby-red. Bright, minerally aromas of raspberry, violet and mocha. Dense, fat and silky but also succulent, with impressive volume leavened by the wine's mineral spine. Very sexy, fresh wine of considerable class. Finishes very long and suave, with less overt oakiness. (This was aged in a combination of demi-muids and 300-liter barrels.) (European Cellars, Charlotte, NC)" -- Steve Tanzer (94 points)
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2004 Chateau Latour Pauillac
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $399.99 | |
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"Ruby-red. Highly complex aromas of dark berries, graphite, licorice, minerals and cola. Lush, dense and sweet, with a wonderfully creamy, opulent mouth feel for the vintage but no impression of excess weight. This boasts superb fruit and palate coverage. Finishes with very suave, spreading tannins and outstanding persistence. An aristocratic expression of ripe cabernet sauvignon." -- Steve Tanzer (93 points)
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