Wine & Spirits

This wine incorporates grapes from the elite Cru appellations of Vacqueyras and Rasteau as well as Côtes-du-Rhône Villages sites in Roaix and Séguret. A piercing blackberry and bramble-scented blend of Grenache and Syrah sourced from limestone soils, it's an approachably fruity introduction to Santa Duc's majestic (and more expensive wines) but maintains a trademark vitality and finesse. Highlighting juicy cassis and plum flavors along with a zippy mineral finish, it's a delicately tannic red that should drink well through 2026. ---ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA

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Le Plus de La Fleur de Bouard 2014  

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93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate  The best Pauillac I ever tasted (and this wine has been a revelation ever since they first introduced it), the 2010 from Latour represents 24% of their production. It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44.5% Merlot and .5% Cabernet Franc. An amazingly opulent, round, delicious wine, and a great buy when they finally release it – assuming it comes in under a three-digit price – it possesses wonderfully silky tannins, classic black currant, cedar wood and forest floor notes, and rich, full-bodied opulence as well as a terrific purity and palate presence. It should drink well for 10-15+ years. (RP)  (2/2013) 92 points James Suckling

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Alejandro Bulgheroni Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Napa 2017 "Dark currants, chocolate, gravelly earth, and tobacco notes emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Lithology Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard. It's deep, full-bodied, balanced, and just a stunning wine in every sense. I suspect it will show even more complexity in 3-4 years and cruise for two decades. This cuvée is a selection (from two blocks in the To Kalon Vineyard) that spent 21 months in just under 90% new French oak. 81 cases made." - Jeb Dunnuck

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Winemaker Notes Intense ruby color. On the nose, aromas of red and black fruit aromas mingled with hints of mocha and spices. Evolves slowly, revealing layer after layer of elegant fragrances. On the palate, the acidity is refreshing and persistent. Well-balanced tannins contribute to the harmony and smoothness of the palate.   50% Malbec, 50% Cabernet SauvignonAlcohol 14.5%

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VINEYARD NOTESWinemakers across Napa Valley reported another stellar harvest for 2016. Bud break began early due to a warm spring, and the summer then brought moderate daytime temperatures with cool evenings. Harvest started early, in mid-August, and progressed at a steady pace. October ushered in a few rain showers that put a swift end to a successful harvest.FOOD PAIRING NOTESPair our VOTE. with a lamb burger, eggplant Parmesan or a chocolate truff le souff lé.

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Winemaker Notes Dusted blackberries, plums, and dark fruit tones coalesce into a wide expanse of engaging freshness and vibrancy. Creamy tannin's tell a story of a layered and complex wine. Brilliant raspberry reduction, Rainier cherry, and cassis unfold in waves through the mid-palate to its impressive, well-tiered finish. The 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is truly symphonic in its progression of flavor, density, power, and lift

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Region: Sicily Denomination: IGT Sicilia Grape-variety: 70% Corinto Nero, 30% Nero D’Avola Alcohol: 13% Vintage: 2016 Soil: Sandy, volcanic, deep, fertile and rich in microelements. Color: Deep purple red. Nose: Cherry and spicy aromas blend with intriguing bracking nuance of Corinto for an enveloping aromatic complexity. Taste: Great skin essence that charms and amazes, fine and elegant tannin, fresh acidity. Remarkable drinking elegance due to the mineral persistence.

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94pts Wilfred Wong The 2013 Bouchard Père & Fils Vigne de L'Enfant Jésus is an ultra-rich Beaune Grèves.  This wine is dramatic and compelling. Enjoy its concentrated red and black fruit aromas and flavors with well-seasoned lamb dishes. Winemaker Notes The wines shows superb fruit and spice aromas with an oaky note. Intense, full and yet delicate on the palate, the wine has a charming velvetiness. Very good ageing potential.

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96 Points Jeb Dunnuck. " ...inky colored, the 2017 Casual Encounters checks in as 40% Syrah, 35% Mourvèdre, 19% Grenache, and tiny amounts of Carignan and Tannat. Lots of mulled black fruits, smoked meat, barbecue, and peppery notes emerge from the glass. It's full-bodied, super-rich, and concentrated, yet still stays light on its feet and beautifully balanced. It's a classic, sweetly fruited, sexy 2017 ... "

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Country: Italy Region: Veneto Subregion/Appellation: Valpolicella Dal Forno produces some of the most extraordinary Valpolicella Superiores of the Veneto. In fact, they are much like buying an Amarone--at half the price! Dal Forno produces the wine according to the same exacting standards as the Amarone, but the vines are younger (less than ten years of age) and the drying time is shorter (one month for the Valpolicella versus three months for the Amarone).  The result is simply spectacular—a full-bodied wine whose ineffable combination of raisiny fruit, streaks of tar and acidity, pine-floor aromatics and pipe tobacco. It’s hard to say which is more enchanting, this Valpolicella’s hedonistic texture, its impeccable balance or its ever-changing symphony of flavor notes. Fortunately you don’t have to choose; you just have to sip and sigh happily.

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Vineyard Profile Unlike “Les Champeaux” on its terrace, here the vines are on a steep slope. The name indicates a fortified location, being not far from the château of Gevrey-Chambertin. Situated high on the slope within the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin. The soil composition varies greatly heading down the slope, with whitish marl at the top, rock outcrops in the middle and more alluvial soils near the bottom. The soil also features small stones that aid drainage and reflect the heat generated by the eastern exposure. Vineyards: Les Cazetiers Cultivation: Lutte raisonnée (“reasoned protection”) Viticulture: Two green harvests during the summer; sustainably farmed Size: 10.07 ha (24.88 acres) Vine Age: 80 years Elevation: 300-360 meters (984-1180 feet) Exposure: East Density: 10,000 vines/ha Vintage Report As early as spring, the 2014 vintage appeared to be precocious. A particularly sunny and dry month of April favored the vines (the budding and flowering were ahead of schedule). These magnificent climatic conditions gave hope for a beautiful harvest. We already knew that a green harvest would be necessary to “lighten” the vines. The head start acquired during the beginning of the cycle was slightly lost with a typical Burgundy summer: wet and chilly without much sunshine. The ripening of our parcels began with a good rhythm during the end of August. Ideal maturing conditions returned in September with a promising harvest starting on the 13th. We began with the Mazis-Chambertin where we found a very nice balance and an agreeable freshness. Our grapes, already sorted several times directly on the vines over the summer, were once again rigorously sorted by our team of harvesters. The grapes were ripe, healthy, and aromatic. We decided to keep 30% of the stocks for all the batches (50% for the Bonnes-Mares). The result is a very beautiful and classical Burgundy vintage!

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