It's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals. But, for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheet unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. Vivino Rating: 4.4 (Jul 2024) Tasting Notes The dark crimson core and brick rim sets the stage, as aromas of currant, blackberry, blue fruits,

Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship wine of Orin Swift and emphasises their guiding principle: Without quality grapes, great wine is impossible. It comes from the best lots from very select vineyards in Napa Valley and the wine is a testament to those vineyards, to their principle and to what is possible in Napa Valley. The Liberty Dime on each bottle symbolises winemaker Dave Phinney's favorite coin in his collection growing up and his most prized possession. Vivino Rating: 4.6 (Sep

95 Points - DWWA. Arguably the most beautiful rosé champagne in the world, the most common criticism of this wine is that the bottles aren’t big enough. The Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rosé is bottled summer. Deep ruby pink, the bouquet wafts waves of concentrated strawberries, red cherries, and raspberries into the air. On the palate this a serious joy. It opens up with an intense, Burgundy-like rush of cherries, loganberries and brambles, only for cherry sherbet acidity, flowers, liquorice and dried

100 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Californian wine doesn’t come any better than this. 2019 was a classic year and Stag’s Leap Fay vineyard produced a tiny quantity of exquisite Cabernet that’s been awarded a 100-point score. Striking the perfect balance between fruit and structure, the complexity and elegance are already breath taking and it will continue to develop for many years to come. Arguably the greatest Stag’s Leap Fay ever, this legend in the making is a wine to buy now and enjoy over the n

91 Points - Decanter. Champagne Bonvalet began with a wild dream: to create a Maison de Champagne from scratch. In 2012, Guillaume created his first cuvée, which took two more years of patience to distribute the first 2000 bottles of Champagne Bonvalet. 2014 – A very distinctive year, that of the very first production of House Bonvalet. The Premier Cru Horae represents patience and serendipity, both needed to lead beautiful projects and produce great wines. The rich power of Pinot Noir and the d

95 Points - Jasper Morris. The Château Gris castle was built in the 18th century in the middle of its 3.5 ha (8.6 acre) walled vineyard. After the vineyards were destroyed by phylloxera, the roof of the castle was covered with grey slate although tiles are the traditional material used in Burgundy. The people of Nuits-Saint-Georges therefore began to refer to it as Château Gris (grey castle) and the name stuck. Further to a court ruling in the 1920s, the name “Château Gris” was allowed to prevai

Orin Swift Palermo, a captivating blend with a core of Cabernet Sauvignon that mirrors Napa Valley's spirit, unfolding intense aromas of dark fruit and blackberry pie, leading to a velvety palate of black cherry, vanilla, and spice, all embraced by seamlessly integrated tannins, delivering a gratifying finish - making it your ideal companion for hearty delights like grilled steak or braised beef, sure to leave a lasting impression on your wine journey. Vivino Rating: 4.5 (Oct 2024) Tasting Note

96 Points - bettane et desseauve. Laurent‑Perrier is selective when declaring vintages from only the very best years to create a rare and exceptional wine, characteristic of the House’s style. The 2012 wine year was complicated with winter and spring frosts, hail and cryptogamic diseases, which had an impact on the yield, which was rather moderate. The dry, sunny summer allowed the grapes to ripen to perfection allowing for an exceptional harvest. Sensory Characteristics EyeThe wine is white gol

The Hill of Corton lies in the midst of a cluster of famous wine-growing villages, Ladoix-Serrigny, Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Savigny-lès-Beaune. The vineyards lie at heights of 250-330 metres and form a kind of amphitheatre not found elsewhere in the Côte. Corton is the only Red Grand Cru in the Côte de Beaune, and this cuvée from Decelle Villa is a limited production of only 300 bottles from the 'Climat' of Le Rognet. Solid and opulent, Corton is an icon of Burgundy, highly complex

92 Points - Wine Spectator. The Pahlmeyer Jayson 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from fruit from Pahlmeyer’s mountain-grown vines. It’s a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, so a classic Bordeaux blend. 2018 was an outstanding vintage, the unusually cool growing season saw the grapes ripen more slowly and gave them the opportunity to develop even more complexity. Once deemed ready, the grapes were harvested at night to preserve their freshness and ensure the a

96 points - Ned Goodwin. The Definitus is a special bottling from The Foggy Hill Vineyard. Foggy Hill is typical of the spectacular, steep, cool climate sites that have helped revolutionise Australian fine wine in recent years. Laying at 350m above sea level on the ancient soils of the Fleurieu Peninsula and cooled by the waters of Victor Harbor and Cape Jervis, it is the perfect spot for producing world-class Pinot Noir. Grapes are hand-harvested with each clone being brought in separately. Chi

95 Points - Daniel Blais. The 45-year old vines are planted in complex soils comprising alluvial deposits, rich clay and iron oxide. This combination of factors produces a Nuits-Saint-Georges that is at once sophisticated and strong, thereby setting it apart from the other less well situated terroirs within the appellation. Handpicked, the grapes are transported to the cellar in 15 kg crates before being sorted by hand so as to solely use perfectly ripened and healthy grapes. 100% de-stemmed, th

The 45-year old vines are planted in complex soils comprising alluvial deposits, rich clay and iron oxide. This combination of factors produces a Nuits-Saint-Georges that is at once sophisticated and strong thereby setting it apart from the other less well situated terroirs within the appellation. Handpicked, the grapes are transported to the cellar in 15 kg crates before being sorted by hand so as to solely use perfectly ripened and healthy grapes. 100% de-stemmed, the grapes are then transform

The 'Aux Bousselots' Premier Cru vines are on a well-drained, south-facing plot on the Vosne-Romanée side of the village which has a reputation for making a very gracious style of Burgundy with a natural charm. Aromas of small red fruits and spices, the tannic structure was firm in its youth but has gained softness over time, and this Cuvee from the fabulous 2017 vintage is maturing beautifully. About the Producer Domaine Decelle & Fils was started in 2008 when two distinguished winemakers f

95 Points - Faltstaff. Solengo was the brainchild of the legendary winemaker and father of Super Tuscan wines, Giacomo Tachis. The first vintage was 1995 and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Sangiovese. The wines are aged in French barriques for twelve months and are blended just before the bottling. A long period in bottle follows before the finished Solengo is released. Solengo, by the way, means solitary wild boar in Tuscan, and describes perfectly the regal, powerful,

94 Points - Stephen Tanzer - The 'Aux Bousselots' Premier Cru vines are on a well-drained, south-facing plot on the Vosne-Romanée side of the village which has a reputation for making a very gracious style of Burgundy with a natural charm. Aromas of small red fruits and spices, the tannic structure was firm in its youth but has gained softness over time, and this 2014 has matured beautifully and is in its prime. Wine Press 17/20 - La Revue du Vin de France About the Producer Domaine Decelle &

95 Points - Decanter. The Chateau Cantenac Brown 2016 is another fantastic wine from this esteemed property. Composed of a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, it’s a sensational wine that bears all the hallmarks of this great vintage. The years of hard work and investment that have flowed into this estate have paid significant dividends and Cantenac Brown is now back where it belongs amongst the finest wines in Bordeaux. Compared to its neighbours Chateau Palmer and Chateau Margaux,

Olivet Grange Vineyard (OGV) is the Inman Family's sensitively farmed estate vineyard - using regenerative farming practices and only certified organic-fertilizers and pesticides. Displaying aromas of black cherry, dried rose petals, classic Russian River cola, and a touch of white pepper, the palate reveals raspberries, tart cherry, pomegranate, cola, and savory spices. Rich, elegant and powerful, with a texture of silk satin shrouding "grippy" tannins and mouth-coating tastiness. Only 579 case

The vineyard of Nuits-Saint-Georges is recognised as an area producing some of the world’s greatest Pinot Noir wines, and the Premier Cru parcel of “Les Crots” is exposed at the top of the hillside, at an altitude of 275m on an escarpment which requires vine cultivation in terraces and handpicking. The unique features of this plot allows the vines to mature late and to produce grapes boasting exceptional concentration. This 2012 "Les Crots" is now reaching maturity, developing a complex bouquet

Fixin doesn't get much better than this! The Domaine du Clos Saint Louis Fixin Entre Deux Velles Monopole Rouge 2022 has Fixin’s famed power and intensity, but it is so complex and nuanced.  Produced from a single vineyard planted exclusively with old vine Pinot Noir, it has begun to shed some of its youthful stiffness and reveal its underlying beauty. 2022 was a lovely year for red Burgundy, and it’s given the Domaine du Clos Saint Louis Fixin Entre Deux Velles Monopole even greater concentrati

93 Points - Greg Sherwood MW. A rich, silky Cabernet Sauvignon from the outstanding Thelema Mountain Vineyards. Thelema have firmly entrenched themselves as one of the leaders in Cabernet Sauvignon, placing Stellenbosch Cabernet’s firmly on the global wine map. 18 months spent in barrel, 45% of which is new French oak, along with careful hand sorting have produced a truly elegant and complex Cabernet Sauvignon. About the Producer Situated on the South Easterly side of the Simonsberg Mountain wit

92-94 Points - Vinous Media. This wine is a Domaine du Pavillon “monopole”. It has the extremely rare distinction of possessing 2 different levels of appellation within the same 2 ha (5 acres) vineyard. "En Mareschaut" is derived from the Old French term “maresche” (marsh). The lower parts of Aloxe-Corton and Ladoix-Serrigny were marshy due to their proximity to the Lauve spring. Major drainage work was undertaken to dry up the land and make it suitable for planting vines. This grapes in this vi

92 Points Wine Spectator. From one of the finest vintages of the century. Château Chantelune is a jewel located on top of the highest hill in Margaux, Château Chantelune is a unique property. Its previous owner, Mr. Soubrane was a carpenter who believed in felling his trees by moonlight, claiming this gave the best quality wood. His practice gave the property its name, meaning “sing to the moon.” He sold his land to José Sanfins, director at third growth property, Château Cantenac Brown. Forty y

It's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals. But, for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheet unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. Vivino Rating: 4.4 (Oct 2024) Tasting Notes The dark crimson core and brick rim sets the stage, as aromas of currant, blackberry, blue fruits,