Will Stanley

9.5

Just rock-solid Châteauneuf, this is exemplary and for me personally my exact sweet-spot in terms of the varied styles from this region. The nose takes a little coaxing, but has a great yin / yang profile of pure, fresh blue fruit, liquorice, violets, and garrigue, versus seared meat, iron and loamy earth. This all puts it square in the middle of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ schools, broadly speaking, and it’s a wine that has the best of both worlds as a result.

The palate is huge, an iron fist in a glove of velvet and so much more, but in no way imbalanced or over-extracted - not overtly alcoholic, at a modest 14%. It spreads out in waves across the palate, ripples which are felt long after the finish. This is clearly a baby now, but it drinks well and will see its 20th birthday in damn fine fettle. Excited to have a case in the cellar.

Decanting not required nor recommended. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from some of CVNE's best vineyards in the Rioja Alta (85% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! Tried several bottles! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale to mid Ruby in colour with great clarity. Aromatic red and black Cherry notes with rose petals. A stalky whole bunch note with a little spice. Those fresh cherry notes of medium weight but medium plus intensity transfer through to the palate. Very fresh, young with great potential for future complexity. I can see why it won the Trophy for Best Pinot Noir at both Royal Adelaide and Royal Hobart - both shows with extensive and high quality Pinot entries. Too young but I had to try the first of 6. Next in a year plus. Technical background: (whole berry ferments with 20% whole bunches. Aged in 25% new puncheons and Barriques). Ended up having the 2nd bottle 195 weeks later on 25th October 2024. Just a stunning Pinot Noir and even improving on that 2 Trophies standard. — 4 years ago

Mark Farrell

9.9

Head to head. Mike Smith and Thomas Rivers Brown. Both are fantastic wines, but for me the Maybach is more my style. It is darker and fuller bodied than the Myriad. Color is a dark ruby/purple. Nose of cassis, blackberries, violet, lavender, and a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied with flavors pumping through the long finish. It has all of the power of a full-bodied cab., with a lingering ride akin to a pinot. Amazing wine. One of the best if not the best I have ever had. I will be making this a regular splurge in my cellar. — 2 years ago

James Mosman

9.0

Liked the combination blend. Best of two worlds. — 2 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.1

Delicious. Fuller bodied Pinot signature of the diurnal shifts of SRH. Best region that California central coast has to offer and this is an exemplary bottle. Beautifully balanced with bright vibrant red cherries offering both fruity and tart components. Drinks young for five years of age. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Striking a balance between traditional and modern Rioja, the Imperial Reserva is often the most compelling wine in the CVNE lineup; at least to my palate and this bottle is a perfect example as to why. Tasted double-blind, the bouquet is perfumed and very pretty with bright, delicious cherries, tobacco, dill and green olive. On the palate, the dark cherry fruit is generous and silky with sweet and savory spices. Wonderful texture. Sturdy structure. Deftly representing the best of both worlds, this is a serious wine that happens to be a crowd pleaser as well. I called this 2014 Rioja Reserva (Viña Ardanza if anyone cares). Wasn’t far off! — 4 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.9

Awfully close to perfection. Best Merlot I’ve ever tasted by a mile, (this vintage is 100% merlot). This might be as close to a perfect wine I have ever tasted in all honestly. Full bodied. Polished with an exceptional texture. Rich. Plums, currants, graphite, olives, espresso, chocolate, pencil shavings. Silky tannins. Endless finish. It is not a cheap bottle by any means but I don’t understand why not more people are raving about this excellent producer. They make wines in such a unique way, combining the best characters of both Napa and Bordeaux. Wow. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The great Bernard Boison Vadot bottlings in particular, which now all have some age, remind me of a hypothetical combination between Coche and Raveneau. Obviously in the best way. Coche flinty reduction with the waxy yellow fruit of Raveneau along with the textural magnificence, density and depth of both Domaines. 2016 is particularly impressive in that it’s a vintage I don’t care for in whites, but some of the most talented vignerons are having their wines integrate extremely well at this point in time, far less awkward and disjointed as many on release. 2016 BV Chevalières is rich, toasty and intensely flavored with extremely impressive depth, texture and simply just electric energy. Excellent. — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Steak wine. Allen Brothers comparison of Wagyu Ribcaps & Ribcovers.

Both are ridiculous but, the Waqyu is like melted butter with just the right of creamy fat over the top.

The Figeau is better than critically advertised. Ripe, creamy raspberries, blackberries, black plums, dark cherries, dark chocolate, dark spice, mocha, limestone, river stone, dark, rich earth, earth, tobacco, leather, cedar to saddle-wood, moist clay, graphite, toasted barrel shavings, dark, withering, blue @ purple florals. Acidity for days. The finish shows great tension, structure, length & balance. The best is yet to come. The finish is, ripe, candied, floral, dark cola, well knitted & balanced persisting several minutes.

Better in 7-8 years plus.

For me, this is an hour & half meal meant to be savored. I was still enjoying long after everyone else was done. — 4 years ago

with Christina and James