USA

The 2005 Red Rock Terrace has a slightly more saturated, ruby/purple color, with a little more backward and introspective personality, more noticeable tannin, and a blacker, more primordial personality. Fuller-bodied and denser, it is rich, young and seems years behind the more precocious and evolved Gravelly Meadow. There is great acid buttressing a youthful, promising, budding superstar of the vintage. Forget it for another 5-6 years, and drink it over the following two decades plus. (RP) 95+ 

{***}{region}Napa Valley{region}
{color} Red{color}                                                             

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2005{vintage}
{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 95+/100

[] Robert Parker:: 95+/100

{ratings} {***}

The 2017 Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard is unmistakable on the nose, boasting an intensely framed Syrah that offers up generous and juicy dark fruit, framed by meaty, umami and savory expressions of olive tapenade, black pepper and charcuterie before drifting back to aromas of violets and lavender. Full-bodied and firmly structured, the wine is built like a tank, revealing layers of complexity and elegance that are supported by fine-grained tannins and rocky minerality across the mid-palate. With power and finesse, the wine somersaults in the mouth, before leading to a long, impressive conclusion that continues to develop in length. Only 365 cases were produced of this stellar wine. Yum!  - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate ::97/100

[]Wine Enthusiast ::93/100

[]James Suckling::96/100

[]Vinous::93/100

{ratings} {***}

The 2017 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard begins generous and inky in the glass, with black fruit at its core and floral aromas of violets and lavender followed by a soft smokiness with layers of olive tapenade and dust-covered black raspberry. Full-bodied, the Cailloux Syrah is intensely complex and reveals layers of crunchy minerality and silky tannins that frame the elegant notions of cherry blossom in the mouth. Ending with a long-lingering and sophisticated finish, the wine continues to reveal its subtleties, expressing umami and savory characteristics. Proving to be yet another stellar bottling from the Cayuse team, the wine dares me to keep my hands off the glass. I can’t. - The Wine Advocate

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate ::96/100

[]Wine Spectator ::94/100

[]James Suckling::97/100

[]Vinous::95/100

{ratings} {***}

Of these three offerings from Horsepower, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard will require the most time, as it's the most tight-knit at this early stage, slowly unwinding in the glass with savory aromas of raw cocoa, tapenade, nori and ripe blackberries. On the palate, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a rich chassis of satiny structuring tannins and a layered, umami-laden core of fruit. At 13.6% alcohol, it's also beautifully balanced. Drink 2022 - 2040. William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Jun 2018)

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate::98/100

[] James Sucklinge::98/100

{ratings} {***}

The 2016 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard has complex aromas of peppercorn-crusted meat, iodine and smoke along with crushed violets and a wet river rock minerality. The wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate, showing soft tones of underbrush that add to the range of the expressions on the palate, later moving to a delicate stemmy note with a flutter of Sakura. The finish is thoughtful and complete, with good focus and balance.  Wine Advocate (Dec 2019)

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{maturity}laying-down{maturity}
{maturity-text}For Laying Down{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate::95/100

[] James Suckling ::96/100

{ratings} {***}

The 2016 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is co-fermented with 4% Viognier in a Côte-Rôtie style that delivers a red and black-fruited nose with a floral grip and rustic rockiness. It is medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a soft smokiness and olive notes, resulting in an exquisite and structured wine with a focus on terroir. It is thoughtfully balanced on the long-lingering finish with a tannic edge and lifting acidity. This is really well-made wine with a production of only 829 cases. Drink 2019 - 2040. Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (Dec 2019)

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate ::97/100

[]James Suckling::94/100

{ratings} {***}

Insanely aromatic notes of potpourri, raspberry, white pepper, soot, funk and earth are followed by bright, fresh, focused, rich fruit and savory flavors. It shows a sense of delicacy and intensity with unparalleled balance. There is no end to the finish. What makes this Grenache-driven wine so extraordinary? God only knows. *Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2019* - Wine Enthusiast

{***}{region}Washington, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2016{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{ratings}
[]The Wine Advocate ::95/100

[]Wine Enthusiast ::98/100

[]James Suckling::94/100

[]Vinous::94/100

{ratings} {***}

Brand new to the Place de Bordeaux this year is a passion project by Ernie Loosen in Oregon's Willamette Valley that began in 2005. 'A great wine starts with the idea of a great wine' Ernie believes and his idea was to create a new world Pinot Noir (Burgundian vineyards were and are too expensive) but released when the wines are starting to be ready to drink - 10 years!

Smoked meat, fragrant strawberries and rose petals on the nose, delightfully beguiling and really draws you in on the first smell. Succulent and silky from the start, bright and piercing almost but then immediately softens bringing vanilla, clove, herbal raspberries, orange peel, touches of leather and meat into the mix. Still very much on the fruit but with accents of maturity that bring intrigue. 

Light and fresh, immediately so drinkable so feel free to pull the corks but this will also continue to improve with more age. Delicate yet layered with a certain push and style from the start and a real lingering of spice on the finish. Still a baby, only just starting to show what it's made of. 

Drink 2023 - 2034 

Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com (August 2023)

We are so proud to once again work with Ramey Wine Cellars for our 2021 Sonoma County Chardonnay. The wine has a fresh lemon and lime nose, complemented by a subtle savoury twist. The palate is full of yellow apple, along with a gorgeous citrus focus and salty precision. The long finish echoes with gentle hints of roasted almonds. This is an utterly delicious and delightfully fresh Californian Chardonnay.

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The Heitz Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced primarily from two vineyards in St. Helena - the 'Only One Vineyard' and the 'Spring Valley Vineyard'. Matured in a combination of new and used large oak casks and smaller barriques for two years, followed by a further year in bottle prior to release.

The nose of the 2018 Heitz Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is scented with fine raspberry and blackberry aromas mixing with macerated red cherries, herbal notes of wild oregano and a top note of sweet spice. What makes this an absolutely brilliant wine on the palate, however, is the combination of its beautiful, layered fruit character with such unbelievable freshness. There is a superb precision and line to this whilst a dusting of chalky tannins adds more refreshment on the long, savoury-lined finish. This is a wine that leaves the palate superbly invigorated, making you want to have at least another glass. It is absolutely delicious and so, so fine compared to what you might expect of Napa, especially at this price.

Drink 2024 - 2038

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

This well-judged Cabernet Sauvignon has an elegant, blackcurrant-perfumed nose with a sweet hint of liquorice and spice. A herbal note brings freshness alongside a gravelly minerality reminiscent of Bordeaux. The palate is medium weight with the dark, ripe berry fruit lifted by a refreshing lick of acidity. This is a supremely drinkable wine. Fine tannins and a savoury twist complete the rewarding finish. This is best served slightly cool to bring out that lovely perfume.

Drink now until 2026

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Joey Tensley was inspired by the wines of the Rhône Valley so it is hardly a surprise that he has made such a lovely red blend based on Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and a little bit of Viognier. Sweet red cherry fruit dominates the nose. Red cherries and strawberries continue on the palate, yet the forward fruit is perfectly offset by a savoury edge, adding interest and complexity. The wine is balanced and fine, and the nuanced flavours linger on the generous, fresh and elegant finish.

Drink 2024 - 2026

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

The 2013 Opus One offers splendid aromas of blueberry, cassis, and blackberries with highlights of rose, anise and baking spices. A creamy entry gives way to layers of complexity which unfold in the mid-palate with velvety tannins enrobing a center of concentrated black-fruit with juicy freshness. Elegantly balanced, the acidity and core structure deliver a persistent finish with hints of dark chocolate. The 2013 Opus One promises enjoyment for decades to come.

Component lots received an average of 18 days of skin contact during fermentation and maceration before aging in 100% new French oak barrels for 17? months. The 2013 Opus One is composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec.

Very much a young wine in its primary stage, this is silky and powerful and tasted excellent during this vertical, despite 2010 being an extremely difficult vintage for winemaker Michael Silacci.

The year got off to a cool start, followed by a heatwave - the grapes at Opus escaped the shrivelling that much of Napa saw because of leaf cover. There are still plenty of signposts towards a hot summer - olive paste, rosemary, garrigue and liquorice notes, gorgeous ground coffee bean edging, and an excellent layer of freshness that picks things up on the finish and stops it being overly powerful.

I like years in Napa that have a little fault in them - too much perfection with the natural generosity of Napa can make for an overly powerful wine, and I celebrate the nuances here.

1% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot complete the blend. 19 days skin contact.

Drink 2021 - 2040

Jane Anson, Decanter.com (September 2019)

Brought up in 45% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill Vineyard reveals a medium ruby/translucent color as well as a complex bouquet of redcurrants, leafy herbs, damp earth, iodine, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, with an elegant texture, lots of classic Russian River spice, and outstanding length. it shows the more elegant streamlined style of the vintage, yet I suspect it's going to age gracefully. Give bottles 2-3 years and it should keep for a decade. Another estate that has changed their style (for the better, I think), Kosta Browne’s latest 2018s have beautiful purity and elegance as well as richness. They’re certainly in the top handful of wines in this report. Drink 2022-2032.
Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com (May 2020)

{***}{region}California, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}

[]James Suckling::96/100

[]Wine Advocate::91/100

[]Wine Spectator::91/100

[]Jeb Dunnuck::94/100 {ratings} {***}

From a great site in the Russian River Valley and just about all destemmed and aged 16 months in 55% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Treehouse Vineyard reveals a slightly deeper ruby/purple hue as well as more black cherry and slightly darker fruits that give way to more spice, violet, bouquet garni, and white flower notes with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied and balanced, with ripe tannins and a classic Burgundian style, it's another stunning Pinot Noir from this estate that can be drunk today or cellared for over a decade. Drink 2020-2032

{***}{region}California, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}

[]James Suckling::97/100

[]Wine Advocate::92/100

[]Wine Spectator::95/100

[]Jeb Dunnuck::96/100 {ratings} {***}

This wine displays luscious, wild redberry fruit with strawberry jam and chocolate notes. The concentration and spice of the 2018 vintage are wonderfully balanced by the wine’s crunchy acidity and rich tannins.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Fresh red morello cherries dominate the nose, supported by strawberries and a lift of musky perfume. The wine is generous and ripe, with an enticing clove-and-cinnamon spice character; it feels relaxed and gentle. Fine tannins leave a very slight grip on the long, pure and refreshing finish.

Drink now to 2028

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd