Wine & Spirits

Black garnet color. Attractive aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla cola, pressed flowers, cigar box, and leather with a lightly tannic, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a warming, compelling, medium-long toasted nuts, dried berries, and black tea finish with crunchy tannins and moderate oak flavor. A wholly appealing Napa Cabernet.

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A muscular, rich wine, this opens with heady, almost raisiny red-berry fruit, with licorice, earthy herbs and spices, touches of floral notes and vanillin oak. Tannins are chewy and drying, showing a good lick of oak along with the ripe fruit. There's a likability about the fruit profile, though, that suggests that time in bottle might offer lots of interest and drinkability in future. Drink. CHRISTINA PICKARD

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About the Wine Like most estates in Pomerol Le Bon Pasteur works with tiny allotments of land to produce its elixir. Bon Pasteur sits among some of the best company all of Bordeaux has to offer. Within a couple of minutes walk from the front door of the Chateau, one could find themselves in the vineyards of Petrus, Lafleur, Gazin, and Vieux Chateau Certan. L'Etoile is the second label of the estate, but this wine receives the same attention as the Grand Vin and proves why Pomerol is such a desired terroir. The Pomerol appellation encompasses a multitude of micro-terroirs. What makes Château Le Bon Pasteur, with a total surface area of 6.7 hectares, so unusual is that it is located on the border between two world-famous regions: Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. As opposed to the great châteaux of the Médoc, the vineyard is not in a single block but spread out over 21 plots. This patchwork of terroirs accounts for the wine’s considerable complexity, deep color, and delicate bouquet, as well as a softness typical of Pomerol and a generous, powerful side reminiscent of Saint-Emilion. The fate of Le Bon Pasteur is then closely connected to Michel Rolland who represents the spirit of the château for 40 years. Michel Rolland was born in 1947 on the edge of the Pomerol appellation. Steeped in nature, he spent his childhood and teenage years on the family property, Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol-Maillet. Perhaps this explains his love for the land in general and in particular for the vine. Tasting Notes: 80% Merlot 20% Cabernet Franc. Clear ruby, the wine shows intense and subtle aromas with spicy and dark fruity notes. On the palate, the silky character dominates with soft tannins. This wine is fresh, round, and delicious. Reviews Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries and bramble berries on the nose with licorice undertones. Vanilla and toasted notes, too. It’s full-bodied, structured and concentrated. The finale is intense, tannic and lasts a long time. Still needs time to come together. Second wine of Bon Pasteur. ~93 James Suckling 

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Wine Spectator "Intense and earthy, with mineral, graphite, and dried currant and herb notes that are full-bodied, turning savory on the finish. (JL) " (6/2010) K&L Notes Originally offered only to Schrader's mailing list, the Double Diamond Cabernet Sauvignons are wines of extraordinary quality. From the winemaker: "The straight and simple truth about our Double Diamond wines is, for the quality and the price, we feel we are bringing you one of the best buys in Cabernet on the market today. Our Double Diamond program focuses on two outstanding growing regions - the Napa Valley, renown for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignons, and the Amber Knolls Vineyard, situated on a mountain top (2,200') in the heart of the Red Hills Lake County appellation, recognized for producing spectacular rich, complex, and concentrated fruit."

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Tasting notes This wine has a dark, intense colour, with hints of violet. The nose reveals a complex mix of aromas including raspberry, black pepper, violets, cloves and subtle notes of dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is well-balanced with a refreshing acidity and ripe tannins that contribute to the harmony and smoothness of the palate. This wine will reveal its complexity with further bottle ageing. This is one of the first vintages of Caro to be predominantly Malbec based.

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Deep ruby in color with a developing medium intensity nose. Black cherry, black raspberry, violet, blueberry, floral, slight baking spice, olive, garrique, herbal. Dry, medium plus acidity, high tannins, full bodied, high alcohol and medium plus intensity on the body. Black cherry, sun dried tomatoes, tomato leaf, vanilla, stewed blueberry, floral, earthy, minerals, herbal. Outstanding quality of wine. Can drink now, suitable for further aging.

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layers of flavors of cedar, caramelized anise, cassis, cocoa, sage and green olive. The wine is highly structured, as you would suspect from such a cool vintage, and shy at first, then expanding to a lovely full symphony of licorice, lavender and black currants.

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Grand cru from Ruchottes Chambertin. Very nicely balanced wine, med+ acid, med body. Aromatics of earth, cherry, plum, some saline. On the palate really integrated fruit and minerality.

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The 2017 Langoa Barton is composed of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, which beings with inviting aromas of ripe red berries and currants along with florals, licorice, tobacco and mineral nuances all adding further complexity. It continues to impress on the palate with is elegant structure and excellent overall balance. This gorgeous Bordeaux displays wonderful purity and freshness through the long finish. It is an excellent wine from the vintage which will need some time to unwind, but ultimately should go on to evolve beautifully over the next two decades.

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96 points Vinous One of the real highlights of the vintage, the 2017 Les Carmes Haut-Brion possesses off the charts aromatic intensity and tremendous depth. An exotic mélange of sweet tobacco, menthol, rose petal, licorice, dried herbs and sweet dark fruit builds in a wine endowed with extraordinary beauty. Energetic and vibrant to the core, Les Carmes Haut-Brion was magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. Don't miss it. (AG) 

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deep ruby. Medium complexity. Medium plus tannin, acidity, body, and length. High alcohol. Nose: black forest cake, strawberry, black cherry, baking spices, chocolate, rhubarb, coffee, vanilla, cinnamon, green pepper, and jalapeños. Palate: fresher plum, strawberry, cooked cherry, fig, chocolate, baking spices, and green pepper. 

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In 2018 climatic conditions were perfect up on Spring Mountain. This Cabernet is evidence of that. Fresh blackberry, anise and mocha are the first things apparent on the nose followed by cola, acai berry and menthol. This is a silky lush wine with layers of dark chocolate, cedar and freshly ground coffee. The tannins are chiefly present, being round pleasing chalky tannins with firm mountain acid balancing them out. The finish is chocolate covered plum. This powerhouse Cabernet is already showing well and will develop even more complexity over the next 10-12 years.

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