Wine Advocate (94+)

Although this wine does not follow the logic of the MGA (or official map of vineyard crus) for Barolo, fruit is sourced exclusively from the Gabutti vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba. The 2013 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris is a magically ethereal, light and delicate expression that delivers a silky embroidery of wild raspberry, rose, dried violet and crushed stone aromas. The wine shows an incredibly fine and nuanced texture that lacks any overt sense of power or muscle but that instead imparts impressive length, depth and general dimension. The wine shows the richness of Serralunga d'Alba but remains light-footed and delicately fleeting all the while.

Vinous ()

The 2014 Barolo Barolo Rupestris is a very pretty, fragrant wine. In this vintage, the Rupestris is a bit more ethereal than it usually is, and yet there is a lovely underpinning of structure that gives the wine its shape. Beautifully perfumed and gracious, the 2014 Rupestris opens with enticing scents of sweet tobacco, mint, dried herbs, orange peel, dried cherry, cedar and rose petal. The 2014 should drink well with minimal cellaring, but I expect it will also age gracefully while retaining its somewhat delicate feel.

James Suckling (95)

This is a very decadent Brunello with dried stems, charcuterie, bay leaf, Thai basil and earth. Full-bodied and dense, the deeply interlocked layers of dark fruit nearly tripping over the ropey, chewy tannin structure. Drink from 2026.

Kerin O'Keefe (96)

All about finesse and flavor, this stunner opens with quintessential aromas of classically crafted Brunello including violet, perfumed berry, new leather and forest floor that mingle with eucalyptus notes. It dances across the palate, offering juicy red cherry, orange zest, star anise and saline before a white almond close. Lithe tannins and fresh acidity keep it elegant and bright. Delicious and already approachable, it will age well for another decade or more.

Wine Spectator (96)

This red is all about finesse, delivering superb balance and complexity, with cherry, raspberry, earth and wild herb aromas and flavors. Succulent and charming, yet with a solid base of tannins and vivid acidity, this remains focused through the long aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. 4,575 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted at the UGC in London. Ripe nose with lime, gooseberry and a touch of cut grass: good definition and lift. The palate is ripe and full of grapefruit, lime and gooseberry notes, but just lacking some tension towards the finish. This should be better considering that 2007 was a favourable vintage for Bordeaux Blanc. Drink now-2014. Tasted November 2009.

Jeb Dunnuck (98+)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is based on a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot that spent 22 months in 81% new French oak. It’s a wonderfully complete, borderline perfect wine that shows the class of this estate as well as the vintage, revealing a seamless, full-bodied style that carries lots of blackcurrant, graphite, lead pencil, and tobacco aromatics, a deep, layered mid-palate, ultra-fine tannins, and flawless balance. As with most of Chris’s 2018s, it’s a wine that builds slowly with time in the glass, offering a layered, singular character. It’s a gorgeous 2018 that can be drunk today with ample pleasure, but it will ideally be given 4-6 years of bottle age, at which point it should evolve gracefully for 30-40 years.

James Suckling (94-95)

A really succulent, refined second wine with berries, chocolate and light toasted oak. It’s full and completely integrated with seamless tannins and a fresh finish. Lovely, sweet ripe fruit in the center palate. Extremely refined. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc.

James Suckling (94-95)

This is very fine and racy with refined tannins that are long and really precise. It’s medium-bodied with a lovely, creamy texture. Really long and bright.

Wine Advocate (94)

The cedary nose of the 2016 Caro transported me to the wines from Bordeaux, and the explanation might be because the blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Malbec—the highest percentage of Cabernet in the history of Caro. This has very good complexity; it feels young (Cabernet tends to develop at a slower pace than Malbec), even though it matured in 100% new oak the oak is very integrated. The barriques are only produced by the Lafite barrel makers, and there is great care in the selection of the wood and the toast; the barrels are designed to produce a more elegant style of wine, subtle and harmonious, with a notable absence of toasted and smoky aromas. This wine is polished and sleek, but there is nice balance to develop nicely in bottle for a good decade. 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2017.

James Suckling (97)

This is one of the most direct and clear Caros in a long time with blue-fruit, violet and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Crushed-stone, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and contracted with a level of shyness to its strength. The length derives from the excellence of the cabernet. One for the cellar. Blend of 74% malbec and 26% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2023, but exciting to drink all the same.

Tim Atkin MW (98)

Combining the considerable talents of Fernando Buscema and Philippe Rolet (the former made the wine, the latter did the blend), Caro is one of the wines of the vintage in 2018. Paraje Altamira is the source of this finely judged cuvée of Malbec and 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 80% new wood. Subtle, graceful and perfumed, it’s a wine that carries its structure and concentration lightly, with graphite, cassis and blueberry fruit, fresh acidity and harmonious, caressing tannins. Superb stuff.

Tim Atkin MW (95)

A very impressive red in its own right. Malbec-based with 34% Cabernet Sauvignon for company, followed by ageing in 50% new wood, it’s an inky, structured, nuanced pan-Mendoza blend, showing plum, blackberry and cassis flavours and firm, ageworthy tannins.

The exquisite Caroline Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 2019 is a product of meticulous craftsmanship and the unique terroir of Burgundy. Produced by prestigious winemaker Caroline Morey, this Pinot Noir is a testament to her dedication to quality. Sourced from the illustrious appellation of Chassagne-Montrachet, the Rouge 2019 delves into a complex world of flavours. Savour the well-knit aromas of ripe cherries, wild berries and earthy undertones, layered with a grasping bouquet of spices, followed by an elegant, long finish.

Caroline Morey has left no stone unturned in her efforts to create wines of unparalleled character and quality. Legacies of winemaking variances including hand-harvesting, whole cluster fermentation, and the strategic use of oak barrels contribute to the wine's impressive depth and character that has won rave reviews from wine critics across the globe. Indulging in Caroline Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge 2019 is a sensory journey into Burgundy's esteemed vineyards.

James Suckling (94-95)

The most tannic and textured Carruades ever. Full-bodied, big and powerful. Very, very long. New style?

James Suckling (97)

Exquisitely fine tannins to the currant, lead-pencil and chocolate character. The palate is full, yet very refined and linear with a long, lingering finish. Such polish and tension. The tannins are intense, yet so fine, giving almost a powdery texture. So Lafite-like. Best Carruades ever? 56% cabernet sauvignon and 38% merlot, the rest cabernet franc. Drink after 2026.

James Suckling (96)

This is a beautiful Carraudes with currant, sweet-tobacco and wet-earth aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with a dense center-palate and tight, polished tannins. Fresh, with tension. Reminds me of the 1995 Lafite. This is so Lafite in character. It shows so much cabernet sauvignon character. It’s 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and the rest cabernet franc. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (96)

So perfumed and subtle with roses, lavender, sage, and currants. Medium-bodied. So much Spanish cedar, cigar box, currants, fresh tobacco and spice. Classic Lafite character. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. Better after 2028.

James Suckling (94-95)

Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

James Suckling (94-95)

Soft and attractive character to this wine, showing a polished-tannin frame and a juicy center-palate. Medium body with medium, velvety tannins. Juicy. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot.

James Suckling (96-97)

Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

James Suckling (96-97)

Extremely perfumed with sweet tobacco and blackcurrants as well as cedar and dark chocolate. Aromatic. Medium-bodied with an intense center palate of blackcurrant, orange peel and peaches. Nervy. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

Wine Advocate (97+)

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Featuring a deep garnet-purple color, it sashays out of the glass with gregarious notions of baked plums, warm cassis and blueberry compote with suggestions of kirsch, dusty soil and Indian spices. The palate is full-bodied and laden with bright, lively, energetic black fruits, supported with firm, super ripe tannins and finishing on a persistent exotic spice note. 500 cases were made.

The Cartuxa Pera Manca Branco 2019 is a delightful product of Portugal's prestigious Cartuxa Winery. From the sun-kissed vineyards of Alentejo, this exquisite white wine reflects the unique characteristics of the region's terroir. A stunning blend of Antão Vaz and Arinto grapes, picked at optimum ripeness, delivers a wine rich with complexity and balance. The winemaking process beautifully showcases the varietals' characteristics; fermented in French oak barrels and aged in bottle, resulting in aromas of ripe white pulp fruits juxtaposed with soft woody notes.

Lovers of fine white wine will appreciate the Cartuxa Pera Manca Branco 2019's well-structured mouthfeel, persistent finish, and its ability to pair with a variety of dishes. The Cartuxa Winery, renowned for centuries of viticulture excellence and innovation, ensures that every bottle is a testament to their reputation. Experience the harmony of tradition and modern winemaking with the Cartuxa Pera Manca Branco 2019.

Wine Advocate (95)

The perfect Mediterranean vintage produced an outstanding Garnacha. The 2020 El Molar fermented with 35% full clusters and matured in a combination of 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter foudres for one year. The wine is very young and tender; it feels more delicate despite having a little more alcohol than the 2019 (it's 15%) and with a slightly lower pH (3.49). It's super aromatic, extroverted and expressive, floral, elegant and complex. There is great balance, and the wine feels fresher and less ripe; it's refreshing and has a core of minerality and super fine tannins with pungent flavors. There is precision, elegance and balance, the three words that define the vintage. All the wines are very good value, but this is a steal. 40,000 bottles were filled in March 2022.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2018 Las Gravas is a blend of 90% Monastrell from limestone gravel soils and 10% Garnacha also planted in the same gravel soils, but it's obviously much younger than the Monastrell. It fermented in underground pools with 25% to 30% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in 5,000-liter oak foudres and 500-liter oak barrels for 16 months. It's an incredibly elegant and delicate Las Gravas, nuanced and with a discrete profile, a little shy at first. The palate is also super elegant and balanced, with refined tannins, a velvety texture and very fine chalky minerality. The north-facing vineyard, the backbone of this wine in a challenging and cooler year, is now 40 years old and has vigor and balance, which has resulted in an incredible wine through a lot of work in the vineyard. This has to be the finest vintage to date, a real triumph over the adverse conditions of the year that transcends the quality of the vintage. They used a lower percentage of Garnacha to avoid too much florality in the blend, and the wine is more serious. It's less explosive than the 2017, but I'd say, more gravelly... Bravo! 34,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020.

James Suckling (99)

Extremely deep red with aromas and flavors that change all the time with blackberry, black raspberry, black licorice, floral and asphalt. Full-bodied with deep intensity, power and finesse. The tannins are wonderfully polished yet so much there. This is a tribute to the first great Barca Velhas of the 1960s. Drinkable, but better in three or four years.

Matthew Jukes (20)

Every so often, well, to be precise, this is the 21st occasion in 72 years a mind-blowing red wine is released in Portugal. It is no understatement to say that Barca-Velha is a legendary creation. The 2015 vintage will arrive in the UK a couple of days after this piece is published, so you are the first to hear about its greatness. I have been fortunate to taste a number of older Barca-Velha vintages, and they age more gracefully than most top-flight red Bordeaux. Only the other day, I tasted a 1982 that was fresh, supremely complex and mind-bendingly delicious. So, on the brink of the release of the 2015 vintage, I was fortunate to taste it with the President of Sogrape (owners of Casa Ferreirinha) and winemaker Luís Sottomayor, who has worked at this illustrious estate since 1989. And what a wine! Luís explained that the conditions of the 2015 growing season were wholly responsible for this wine’s extraordinary potential. A relatively dry and warm winter and spring led to an early veraison, and then August was cooler with crisp nights, and a couple of showers refreshed the vines in September. These are the conditions that give rise to epic-quality fruit. With the depth and gravitas of the amazing 2011 vintage and the definition and freshness of the 2008, this 2015 combines all the finest attributes of my favourite Barca-Velha wines, resulting in a creation of uncommon purity, depth, and beauty. While a quiet renaissance has been happening at Ferreirinha for a decade or more, the story seems complete, with 2015 Barca-Velha gaining a perfect 20/20 score in my notes. Yes, this is the finest Portuguese red wine I have ever tasted.

Matthew Jukes (18+)

Because this trio of wines runs in a neat sequence, I made one consecutive note to cover all three vintages – a direct comparative tasting note, if you will. 2016 is my preferred wine – it is the grandest, and it has the most potential. It is one of the finest value, elite reds I have tasted in a very long time. The 2017 is more refined, the most forward, most restaurant friendly and most open. It is lighter, more herbal, and it will get you in the mood while the others have a chance to mellow. I will hold back on any more notes on this wine because it is my MoneyWeek wine of the week this Friday! Finally, the 2018, which is a beauty. More flamboyant, more plush and sensual, and it is not dissimilar to the 2016 in fruit expression, but it is not quite as powerful or as impactful. Either way, you need all three in your collection because if you like each of these wines for their respective character traits, I can imagine you will follow this label for the rest of your days.