| Best Reds |
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2005 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape
Rhone Blend; Rhone; | $99.97 | |
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"Really dense and locked up now, this is packed with dark fig, currant and blackberry fruit shrouded by layers of tar, hot stone, bittersweet licorice and espresso. The long, dense finish has a great tug of iron buried within it. Best from 2011 through 2030. 15,000 cases made. " -- Wine Spectator (96 points)
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2005 Chateau Leoville Barton Saint Julien
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $99.99 | |
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"Delivers breathtaking aromas of blackberry, currant, licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and supersilky tannins. Dark chocolate, currant, berry and licorice follow through. This is racy and beautiful. Best after 2015. 20,375 cases made. -JS " -- Wine Spectator (96 points)
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2003 Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $119.99 | |
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"Wow. This shows so much ripe fruit and berry character with just the right hint of lead pencil and spice. Full-bodied and very chewy. Big and powerful. Beautiful wine. Superb. Best after 2012. " -- Wine Spectator (95 points)
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2002 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Pauillac
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $499.99 | |
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"Bubbling over with crushed berries, currants and spices, with tobacco notes. Beautiful. Full-bodied, with gorgeously velvety tannins and a long finish of pretty fruit. This is a racy yet elegant Lafite. Classy. Best after 2010. 16,000 cases made. " -- Wine Spectator (95 points)
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2005 Jim Barry Wines Shiraz The Armagh Clare Valley
Syrah/Shiraz; Clare Valley; | $99.99 | |
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"Rich, ripe and beautifully focused on its boysenberry, pomegranate and rhubarb flavors, which persist through the long, expressive finish. The firm tannins get a bit of a grip on the finish. Needs cellaring to soften. Best from 2011 through 2020. 87 cases imported. " -- Wine Spectator (95 points)
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2004 Chateau Latour Pauillac
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $399.99 | |
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"Intense currant, mineral and blackberry. Very floral and aromatic. Full-bodied, with superfine and long tannins. Concentrated but all in harmony. Racy, tight and silky, with a wonderful core of fruit. Very, very impressive. 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon " -- Wine Spectator (95 points)
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2004 Chateau Margaux Margaux
Bordeaux Blend; Bordeaux; | $249.99 | |
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"Powerful and superlong. Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, mineral and currant. Full-bodied and solid, with muscular tannins and a long, long finish. Really balanced and refined. Paul Pontailler, the technical director, says that it reminds him of the 1996 but may be even better; a blend of 1995 and 1996. Maybe. Very close to 95-100. Score range: 92-94 " -- Wine Spectator (94 points)
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| Best Whites |
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1998 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
Chardonnay; Champagne; | $159.99 | |
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"Impressive and seamless from the get-go, featuring lemon, apricot, smoke and spice aromas and flavors that build to the long conclusion. This is creamy, yet firm and fresh, with all its elements integrated for an alluring profile overall. There's wonderful finesse and length. Drink now through 2028. 2,000 cases imported. " -- Wine Spectator (95 points)
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