Jeb Dunnuck (99)

Also borderline perfection, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District offers more conifer and pine forest notes as well as vivid blueberry fruits, a full-bodied, intense, layered mouthfeel, thrilling elegance, and a big finish. My note on this one was sprinkled with a few expletives and this wine has everything you could want from Cabernet Sauvignon. As with the other 2016s from Chris, 2-4 years of bottle age are recommended.

Wine Advocate (93)

2015 was considered a very good vintage, because it was warm, dry and healthy, and the 2015 Viña Gravonia Blanco has a little more alcohol at 13%—only half a degree makes a big difference, and the wine is not as lively as other cooler vintages. For María José López de Heredia, the wine is too alcoholic; the vintage had perfect ripeness and the grapes were super healthy, but the wine lacks the citrus freshness and the vibrancy Gravonia should have. 27,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2021. The wine matured for four years in well-seasoned American oak barrels.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2011 Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva reflects a warm and ripe year, and the wine is more evolved and already hints at some caramel and honey. It has a mellow palate without the vibrancy of the 2010 I tasted next to it. This wine matured in used, ancient American oak barrels for six years. 19,000 bottles were filled in November 2019.

Wine Advocate (96)

Following the appreciation of the 2007 vintage from María José López de Heredia, the red 2007 Viña Tondonia Reserva is showing great, revealing unusual finesse and elegance. The nose is a little reticent but nuanced and complex, a little shy rather than explosive. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins are very refined. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Viña Tondonia Reserva of recent years. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2015.

Tim Atkin MW (97)

Tondonia's reds have been on an upward curve recently and are now at the same level as the bodega's world-class whites. This is a fine, elegant, savoury, low-alcohol blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha and 5% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, combining summer berry fruit, racy acidity, granular tannins and an earthy, balsamic undertone. Good now, but this will develop further in bottle.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2010 Viña Tondonia Reserva has all I expect from a Reserva from Tondonia, complexity, elegance and evolution, a developed nose with notes of forest floor and wild berries, herbs and flowers, a touch of iodine, brick dust and very fine, polished tannins. It has the seriousness and elegance of Tondonia. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho (they use the masculine form of the name of the grape) and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in the ancient oak vats from when the winery was created 144 years ago and matured in well-seasoned, American oak barrels for six years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.6 grams of acidity. 260,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2017.

James Suckling (95)

A traditional beauty that effuses iron, warm earth and savory tobacco leaves, together with plums, spices and orange zest. This is juicy and still tight, with firm but savory tannins. Medium-weight and quite zesty in texture, as is the case with the other López de Heredia reds tasted this session. Drink now or hold.

Vinous (97)

The 2013 Reserva Viña Tondonia is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Graciano and Mazuelo, grown in the calcareous soils of the Tondonia meander in Rioja Alta. Aged extensively in American oak, it offers restrained black fruit, wild herbs, balsamic hints and sweet spices with gentle cedar and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied with chalky grip and a layered, tertiary finish, this is a benchmark classic—refined, enduring and unmistakably Tondonia.

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The Lorenzo Accomasso Barolo 2010 exemplifies the pinnacle of Nebbiolo craftsmanship from the heart of Piemonte's esteemed Barolo region. Produced by the venerable Accomasso estate, renowned for its commitment to biodynamic viticulture, this exquisite vintage benefits from meticulous vineyard selection and traditional winemaking techniques. Hand-harvested grapes undergo prolonged maceration, fostering a complex tannin structure and profound aromatic depth. Aged for over three years in a combination of French and Slavonian oak barrels, the wine achieves remarkable elegance and balance. The 2010 vintage presents a rich tapestry of dark cherries, truffles, and subtle spices, underpinned by refined acidity and a lingering finish. Lorenzo Accomasso Barolo 2010 is a testament to the producer's dedication to quality, offering connoisseurs a distinguished and memorable expression of Barolo’s terroir.

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Immerse yourself in the sophisticated elegance of the Lorenzo Accomasso Barolo 2015. Produced in the scenic region of Langhe, Italy, this is a remarkable expression of the Nebbiolo grape. Noted viticulturist Lorenzo Accomasso applies strict traditional methods to craft this exquisite vintage. Unfiltered and aged for 48 months in large wooden barrels, this wine presents an intense ruby red colour with ethereal and wide aromas hinting at underbrush, cooked fruit and dried roses.

The palate offers a classic Barolo experience with its powerful structure paired with an elegant touch. Its firm but ripe tannins impart a lingering finish that's simply unforgettable. Bursting with complexity and charisma, the Lorenzo Accomasso Barolo 2015 exudes Accomasso's dedication to vineyard expressivity and fine winemaking . A timeless classic to savour, this exceptional vintage emulates the nobility of Barolo, promising an indulgent treat for the seasoned wine connoisseur.

Wine Advocate (95)

Desvignes's 2018 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières is superb, bursting from the glass with a captivating bouquet of violets, raspberries, dark chocolate and smoky blackberries. On the palate, it's full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a deep and multidimensional core, succulent acids and powdery tannins. Beautifully balanced and structurally refined despite its power and concentration, this is worth a special effort to seek out.

Wine Advocate (94+)

The 2020 Morgon Côte du Py Javernières is brilliant, unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries, spices, rose petals, loamy soil and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with impressive reserves of ripe tannin and sapid fruit, it's seamless and lively, concluding with a long, resonant finish. As ever, this is built to age, and it will reward patience, even if its youthful charms are considerable.

Wine Enthusiast (93)

This vineyard abuts Pommard and it shares some of the structural intensity of that appellation. Powerful tannins contrast with opulent black fruits that shine through and will develop well. Drink from 2024.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-94)

Solid deep crimson purple. Magnificent deep rich imperial purple and feels much the same way on the nose. The fruit profile is a fraction darker than the estimable Boucherottes and perhaps with even more intensity, less heart on the sleeve, more wait for me in twenty years’ time. Tasted: November 2021

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)

(5 Star Wine) Fresh purple of medium depth. Much the liveliest bouquet with its concentration of raspberries, very complete and absolutely delicious. The finish continues gorgeously, this will make a beautiful bottle with a little patience. This Clos des Ursules shows the classic peacock’s fantail of aromatics.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (93-95)

5 Star Wine. An even ruby purple. This is very complete, the fruit covering the palate effortlessly, the acid and tannin structure perfectly balanced and a particularly long aftertaste with a suggestion of blood orange. Drink from 2030-2038. Tasted Oct 2024.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2018 Corton-Pougets Grand Cru has a very composed, detailed bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry and pressed rose petal aromas, the most elegant of the three Cortons 2018s from Jadot. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins and wonderful acidity. Very harmonious, with an almost luxurious but compelling finish. Superb.

Wine Advocate (93-95)

The 2019 Corton-Pougets Grand Cru (Domaine des Héritiers Jadot) is excellent, unwinding in the glass with notes of cherries, plums, orange rind, dark chocolate, sweet spices and toasty new oak. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with broad shoulders and rich, powdery structuring tannins. As usual, this is a fine proposition for the medium- to long-haul.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

Beautifully concentrated, this even has a bit of baby fat on it now. That's just fine as that provides a landing pad for the tangy tannins and racy acidity in this cuv e. The vines sit in iron-rich soils which give a slightly burly edge to the mouthfeel, despite the lush ripeness. For those preferring richer Pinot styles, this will show well now. For those seeking more finesse and multi-dimensional aromatic development, give this five years or so. 2023-38

Jancis Robinson (16++)

Cask sample. Sweet, slightly gamey nose. Lighter than the usual grand cru with quite marked acidity. It’s even a little bitter on the end. Not showing beautifully at this early stage. Chewy and without quite enough fruit weight to compensate.

James Suckling (97)

This has beautiful purity with striking aromas of lemons and limes, as well as fresh yellow grapefruit and a strong, wet-stone edge. The palate has immense power with precision and focus, delivering a long and regal finish with such power and length. Three hectares in Corton with 1.8 planted to white grapes. Try from 2022.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

This comes from southern-facing vines and possesses an exotic collection of aromas. Among them are bananas, rainwater, sweet spice and dried flowers. Gorgeously scented with an equally perfumed palate that haunts the long finish, this is very much a beckoning, come-hither kind of wine. Again, the various appellations of Corton just crush it in this vintage! 2022-34

Jancis Robinson (16.5+)

Cask sample. Sweet and round on the nose. Perhaps just a bit sweet and simple? May become more interesting. There’s a cool chewy element on the palate that promises well for the future although at the moment it manifests itself in a note of grapefruit-peel bitterness.

Vinous (91-93)

The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Garenne 1er Cru is more perfumed and floral than the La Garenne. Peach skin and rosewater touches make this very seductive. The palate is composed and harmonious but needs a little more nervosité, yet the finish is very harmonious and tender. Excellent.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Cask sample. Pale garnet. Slightly smudgy nose. Still quite chewy with fine tannins and marked but not excessive acidity. Needs time but should be a vigorous pleasurable drink eventually.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru has a cohesive, focused bouquet of intense red currant, wild strawberry and crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and slightly angular tannins that will be softened with time. I appreciate the energy and backbone of this Grand Cru. Excellent.

Wine Advocate (94-96)

One of the highlights of the portfolio is the 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru (Domaine Gagey), a lovely wine that bursts with aromas of rose petals, deep red fruits, sweet soil tones, raw cocoa and cinnamon. On the palate, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with lively acids, considerable concentration and an ample endowment of fine-grained tannin. This will require and reward patience.

Tim Atkin MW (96)

Punchy red fruits sing on the nose: pomegranate seeds, fresh cranberries and kirsch. Fabulously pure fruits soak the full-bodied palate encased in suave tannins and fresh acidity. This is focused and chiselled with excellent terroir clarity. Woodsy spice and leather notes mingle with the long, fruit-filled finish. 2025-40