Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

The ‘Conflict’ is a melange of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon with 48% Merlot and a dash of Malbec. Ripe red fruits dance with shades of anise and herbal undertones that take form in the glass. The palate has good freshness and minerality with medium-bodied red and dark fruit flavors, with a touch of milk chocolate. Drink 2019-2029- 91 — 3 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

Showing brilliantly at twenty seven years of age, the 1992 Dom Perignon leads with its macadamia nut, wild mushroom and peat moss tones that mingle with the delightful effervescence that still remains. With a light dusting of salinity, flinty undertones, delivering good mid-palate weight and freshness, this glorious, vinous wine is right at its peak and will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 94 — 7 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The famed ‘Urziger Wurzgarten Vineyard’ is set on red volcanic and slate soils and has become well-known for the spicy character that the terroir can impart in their Rieslings. This beautiful 2018 Spatlase unveils petrol with wet stone, green apple and white pepper aromas that all meld in the glass. The palate has great power and concentraiton, delivering Granny Smith apple, nectarine rind, wet stone and lychee flavors that mingle with the wonderful bright sense of minerality. Beautiful now in its youth, the 2018 ‘Urziger Wurzgarten Vineyard’ Spatlase will cellar well for two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 93 — 14 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2001 A. Clape Cornas is simply marvelous, showing off this enticing vintage in the Northern Rhône. The tertiary notes are starting to hit their stride with wild mushroom and damp earth tones that collide with red currants, bulls blood and iodine tones that all shine together in the glass. Still showing a strong core of acidity and dark fruits, the silky texture entices as leather, peat moss, and smoked meats all impress on the expressive palate. Fantastic now, this beautiful 2001 Cornas still has plenty of life left. Drink 2019-2027- 94 — 18 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2013 Schrader ‘LPV’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a truly thrilling wine from this storied Napa winery. This is the third vintage of this wine made by the esteemed Thomas Brown. The wine was aged for twenty months in French oak and utilizes both clone 4 and 337 from the Beckstoffer Las Piedras vineyard. The ‘LPV’ benefits from about an hour of air, as the wine gains immediate appeal with its downright sexy bouquet of red rose petals that emerge alongside creme de cassis, tar, mocha and sandalwood. Soft and generous on the mouth, this silky wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. The plush, seductive texture gives way to gobs of dense dark fruits, with sweet pipe tobacco, tar and Turkish coffee flavors all marching on parade. Truly a scintillating wine right now, as this will age for decades to come. Drink 2020-2040- 97
— 4 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2006 ‘Pedestal’ is a sinfully good warm vintage Merlot by superstar enological consultant Michel Rolland that is drinking marvelously at now thirteen years of age. Following a long decant, the Merlot slowly unveils ripe black currants that combine with sandalwood, cigar ash and Turkish coffee aromatics that meld together in the glass. The palate has tremendous freshness and verve considering its age, as this silky wine effortlessly glide across the mid-palate. Still showing serious power and concentration, the ‘Pedestal’ leads with a deep core of dark fruits that mingle with suggestions of milk chocolate, pipe tobacco, leather and anise flavors that sing in harmony. Fantastic now, this beautiful wine has at least another decade of life left. Drink 2019-2028- 94 — 12 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2016 ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful new effort from this warm vintage in Washington. The nose shows off rich blackberry pie, Turkish coffee and sagebrush aromas that meld in the glass. The palate is beautifully balanced, showing ripe red cherry, blueberry compote, coffee grounds and suggestions of black tea and exotic spices. This just might be the first ‘Columbia Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon wines by Dunham out of roughly fifteen where I have found blue fruits. Nonetheless, this is delicious wine that is drinking marvelously now and will cellar well for at least another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93 — 15 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2016 Jean-Marc Roulot Bourgogne Blanc is a stunning new release from this storied Mersault based estate which was first founded in 1930. Soft and inviting on the mouth, the wine slowly unveils layers of tart green apple, vanilla cream, hazelnut and fresh starfruit.
The sense of finesse, elegance and length is very appealing, as the near minute long finish completes this gorgeous bottling. While a fantastic bottle to savor now, the 2016 Jean-Marc Roulot Bourgogne Blanc will enjoy another fifteen years in the cellar. Drink 2019-2033- 92 — 6 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

10

The 2009 Bryant Family Wine Cabernet Sauvignon WWB, 100) is a stunning wine made by superstar winemaker Todd Alexander that is singing in harmony at the ten year mark. Aromatically intense, dense and downright intoxicating, the Cabernet slowly unveils Creme de cassis with shades of red bell pepper, mocha, tar, and anise that all come together in marvelously in the glass. The aromatic range is simply sensational as you are brought back to the glass for more decadence. On the mouth the seamless and weightless quality of the wine is quite remarkable. While showing obvious power and richness the seamless texture effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. The tannins have fully resolved in this muscular, yet elegant and sultry wine is astoundingly good now. Simply put, this is perfection in a bottle. Drink 2019-2040- 100 — 10 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2017 Orin Swift ‘Abstract’ Red Wine is another fantastic bottling from this storied Napa producer. A blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah, this was aged for eight months in a combination of French and American Oak (27% new) The ‘Abstract’ leads with graphite and mocha with tar and black olive tapenade aromas that impress in the glass. The classy texture impresses here on the palate as the wine yields a really good combination of poise and weight. Layers of cassis, creosote and wild blackberry cobbler flavors meld with the milk chocolate untones towards the back end . Enjoy this impressive, hedonistic wine over the next seven plus years. Drink 2019-2027- 93 — 16 days ago