Jay Kline

9.3

The Bricat vineyard is a unique site located within the Gramolere MGA that just so happens to be planted to a healthy percentage of the rare Nebbiolo Rose. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2014 “Bricat” pours a striking pale garnet color with an orange-ish rim and a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose a beautiful perfume of tart cherry, roses, tar, dried herbs and dried earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long, lovely. 2014 was a challenging year throughout Barolo but some producers were able to do quite a lot, despite the challenges. In those cases where hail didn’t annihilate the vines, their efforts in the vineyard to overcome the challenges associated with rain resulted in beautifully honest expressions of the terroir. The 2014 “Bricat” by the Manzone family is such an example. Drink now and through 2034 with ease.
— a year ago

Jim Anderson

9.7

Deep and complex with delineated layers of Boysenberries, tart cranberry and Luxardo cherry with hints of sarsaparilla and Darjeeling tea. Rare Auction lot bottling. — 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.2

Stat bright pale straw. Lighter but inviting nose of Asian pear, toasted vanilla spice, and rocks. Palate is medium full yielding chalky pear, flinty citrus rind, and a hint of chalky vanilla. Medium long finish, especially as the wine warms up. The flagship wine of Domaine Dagueneau lives up to all the hype. “A red in white clothing,” as my drinking partner puts it. Allegedly, Didier preferred this wine with a rare steak. I totally get that, having had this with a lightly marbled New York strip (and shrimp). It’s Cabernet Sauvignon’s mother after all. So much complexity and general “stuff” in this wine! If you’re one of those who won’t spend a lot on white wines, you’re missing out. This is up there with Savienneres and White Burgundy among white wine royalty. Fork over the cash. You won’t regret it. Drink now through 2026. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Wow. The rarest E and M wine. Blend of the oldest vines from the Grand Crus. Holy crikey. This is insane. The nose has a depth that is rare in Pinot Noir and I’ve smelled a lot of Pinot Noir. Sick. 9.9 nose. Ripe late season cherries, cranberry bog, dark black cherries and sour cherries. It’s got all the cherries, but only the best cherries. Wow. Stunning level of spice and flowers. Just psycho. So complete and endless. Ridiculous. Palate is all there but man does it need air. Which I will give it. Tart cherries, cranberries and huge acidity and freshness with enormous concentration, power and structure. Long long finish that is fresh and nimble. Genius elite wine of the highest level. Tannins are big but ripe and so sweet. Cannot wait to see my score rise with air. The Chambertin. of Germany! With air the minerality on the nose shines through. Wow so airy and mineral on top of all that fruit! Man the palate is sweetening up. Tannins are getting velvety. My god this is elite wine. Insane inner mouth aromas. Keeps opening up. Now after 3 hours of air it’s just ridiculous. Nose is an orb of complexity. Spicey, feral, soil tones. Insane perfume. Cherry skins, black cherry flesh. Oh man what a sweet, velvety and insanely deeply fruited palate. Amazing delineation all the way through. A real deal 9.8. Profound. Big and soft and so precise. — a year ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.4

One of my favorite lots from the 2020 #pnv #pnv20 #pnv2020 only 5 cases produced. A small blended selection of our finest Cabernet Sauvignon for Premiere Napa Valley
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from our top sites in the Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena nested appellations
Aging in oak tanks for one year, new French Limousin oak barrels for three years, and then one year in bottle

When the Lawrence family acquired Heitz Cellar in April 2018, they discovered a single dusty bottle in the wine library; a bottle of 1969 Lot C-91 Cabernet Sauvignon. After researching, we discovered wine collectors around the world had a few rare bottles in their cellar as well. Upon learning its origin and Joe Heitz’s inspiration for this singular bottling 50 years prior, we knew that it was time to rekindle the essence of this remarkable cuvée. In order to express the very best of Napa Valley, our winemaker began blending trials of our single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons in barrel, kept separate throughout their élevage. Sampling from barrels of our Oakville, Rutherford, Howell Mountain and St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon, Brittany Sherwood found the perfect marriage of these outstanding standalone wines. After blending, the wine continues to age in 100 percent new, French Limousin oak barrels for three years, followed by aging in bottle for an additional year. With the breadth of estate terroir that Heitz Cellar is fortunate to cultivate, we are able to create the quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon that embodies the elegance, ruggedness, refinement and balance that is uniquely Napa Valley. — 3 years ago

with Ron

Rebecca Kirkpatrick

9.2

Fantastic wine! A lot of punch! From auvergne where Cedric and Fab are from. Rare and expensive ish — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.2

K& L notes as follows, Château de Sarenceau is a family property and the 4th generation runs it today. This small estate of only 9 hectares allows a precise and careful work of the vines. This is the first time we have carried this property and it was our biggest buy on April 2022 trip. Rare enough to be underlined, this Saint-Emilion is a 100% Merlot! It offers an evolved nose, with notes of truffle, plum and licorice. The mouth opens with a lot of fruit and freshness, and it finishes with ripe black fruit flavors. A great wine from a great vintage. Will cellar well 10 more years. Decant and enjoy. Great value)
— a year ago

John Malcolm

9.6

A rare treat (from a generous friend). Very elegant and opulent. I tasted a lot of plum, blackberry, and other dark fruits and a bit of cedar and tobacco. — 2 years ago

Mark S.

9.2

This is first time to taste vintaged US PN. Rare experience. Matured flavor.with herb? Coffee like? On strawberry base. Changed a lot and complexity. Salty a bit. Completely different direction to Bourgogne PN. 2009 @90, 302, 210924 — 3 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

This Chalk Hill Sonoma actually. Smells zingy and fresh. Some herbs and black currants. Flavors are nice deep, complex and bright. Some menthol and wood oils. This has all the extra zip of Merlot. A bit too much oak on the back end. It’s good stuff. Juicy and highly drinkable, but some things to ponder too. — 4 years ago