Y'Quem

Y'quem

d' Yquem was established during the time when Jacques de Sauvage exchanged other properties for the House of Yquem. In 1785, Lady of Yquem married Louis Amedee de Lur Saluces who was the godson of Louis XV and Lady Victorie de France. D' Y Quem had gained in prestige through the efforts of Lur Saluce's family. The wines are known for their delicious taste, as they are intensely concentrated and sweet with a high level of acidity. If these wines are properly cared for and stored, they can easily last centuries.

Y'quem, the best wine of the Bordeaux region of France, is the world's most expensive wine and is considered incomparable. The vineyards of Y' Quem are known for the perfection of their wines. It is made from the Semillon grape and Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes are taken out of the botrytis mould to ensure their sweetness. This also helps in removing excess water from the grapes. The remains of these grapes are then taken to create the best wines in the land of red wines.


Vintages of Y'quem

2004 Y'quem

The vintage comes in an exclusive mid gold color. The nose features figgy toastiness, dried apricot, caramelized orange fruit, and cream. With fruit flavors like pineapple, ripe mango with notes of tobacco, tealeaf, and herbs, it also tastes of apricot, and nectarine skin on the finish.

2003 Y'quem

It is an excellent and superb wine offered in pale gold color. The aromas consist of honey, dried apricots, spice, and botrytis. It features sweet fruit on the palate and is quite convincing in terms of structure.

2002 Y'quem

It comes in pale yellow color, creating magic of ripe white fruit, and blackcurrant. This vintage is known for its elegance and a long finish. In addition, it also features notes of vanilla and oak.

2001 Y'quem

Offered in light gold color, it renders aromas of tropical fruit, sweet crème brulee, buttered nuts, pineapple, and orange marmalade. Known as the best vintage among others, it is a perfect combination of freshing acidity and high concentration.

1999 Y'quem

The vintage is offered in pale lemon gold and characterized by aromas of candied fruits. It is convincing on finish and length. You may have to cellar it.

1998 Y'quem

It has an attractive lemon gold color and features nose of botrytis. It is better than its predecessor vintage, as it sounds good in its richness and concentration. Featuring flavor of apricot, and orange, it is a nice wine presented with balanced acidity.

1997 Y'quem

Offered in golden hue, it is an excellent wine that is convincing in terms of its balance of richness and structure. It features texture of cream. You may cellar it.

1996 Y'quem

Presented in moderate gold color, it renders aromas of ripe fruits, and smoky white fruits.

1994 Y'quem

A vintage of wet harvest, it has aromas of smoke but lacks efficiency in the palate. Featuring botrytis sweetness, it does not offer long finish. Over all, it is not accepted as a good wine.

1990 Y'quem

It renders a nose of volatile acidity, ripe white fruits along with the aromas of orange and apricot. Perfect combination of balance and richness, it is convincing with flavor of peaches and apricots. You may cellar it for years.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

Stag's Leap

The Stags’ Leap is located seven miles north of the Napa. Horace Chase and his wife Minnie Chase established the winery in the year 1893. The 240-acre property has an old stone winery, manor house and guesthouse that still exist. Not much has changed since the Chases built on the property. They constructed the first in-ground fresh water swimming pool in North California.

The rich natural heritage has been maintained all these years, which makes the valley so astoundingly attractive. Mrs. Frances Grange acquired the estate in 1913 from Horace Chase, and converted part of the property into Stags’ Leap resort, which attracted Hollywood stars and other prominent names.

Not much care was taken of the property after Mrs. Grange. It was only in 1971 that Carl Doumani took upon him to resurrect the property. In 1997 Beringer Wine Estates bought Stags’ Leap, soon to sell it to Foster’s Brewing Group Ltd, an Australian company, which combined its two wine groups to form Beringer-Blass Wine Estates.

Vintages of Stag's Leap

2001 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 2001 vintage consists of aroma of lavender, blackberry, black currant, raspberry, violets, clove and red cherry. The palate comes with flavors of smoky oak, red fruit, clove and vanilla bean. Though it has smooth tannins, it lacks in finish.

2000 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 2000 vintage has quite a nose with red cherry, raspberry, blueberry, cedar, and dusty fruit. The palate consists of blueberry, raspberry, black pepper and plum. It has a non-complex structure.

1999 Stag's Leap Cask 23

With an aroma of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, ripe red fruit, caramel, and bramble, the 1999 vintage, is great on the palate with coffee, vanilla, clove and smooth tannins. This wine has a nice finish.

1997 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 1997 vintage is aromatic with whiffs of black cherry, blackberry, vanilla, clove, anise and brambles. It is a full-bodied wine with a firm structure, great on the palate that consists of chocolate orange truffle, and blackberry flavors.

1995 Stag's Leap Cask 23

Aromatic with fragrance of clove, cedar, caramel, raspberry, blueberry and chocolate, the 1995 vintage is full on the palate with flavors of dried fruit, vanilla, toasted chestnut, lacking in intensity of fruit.

1994 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 1994 vintage is aromatic with fragrances of black currant, black fruit, plum, cola, anise, plum, nutmeg, and pepper. The palate is well structured with flavors like black cherry, and blueberry, in addition to earthy and rich chocolate flavors.

1993 Stag's Leap Cask 23

Aromas like raspberry, red cherry, green tea, clove, and pepper make the 1993 vintage quite a wine, with distinct flavors of raspberries, red fruit, brambles and green tea. The mid-palate is full and has good potential to age.

1992 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 1992 vintage is aroma rich with black currant, ripe plums, raspberry, black truffle, anise, licorice, and milk chocolate as distinct fragrances. The palate has good tannin content and structure, with flavor-rich chocolate, brambles, and cola.

1991 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 1991 vintage is aromatic with fragrances of black berry, black fruit, plum, mint, celery root and white pepper. The palate is well structured with flavors like black tea, anise, cola and brambly fruit.

1984 Stag's Leap Cask 23

The 1984 vintage has a strong nose of chocolate, herbs hickory smoke, cassis, cedar, and fruitcake. It owns plum/purple color along with the great richness and silk texture. It is offered with a great structure and concentration. You may cellar it for another 10-15 years.

Silver Oak Cellars

Silver Oak

Silver Oak came into existence in the year 1972 and began operations in the old Oakville Dairy. The Silver Oak vintage in 1980 was made here. The Lyeth Winery located in the Alexander valley was acquired by Silver Oak in the year 1992. The location of vineyards was carefully selected to encourage Cabernet Sauvignon growth. With about 200 acres of land in the Alexander Valley, a lot of effort and resources go in to ensure the quality of the produce.

Apart from the fine vineyards from the Alexander Valley, Silver Oak takes pride in the produce that it derives from the Napa Valley vineyards. Silver Oak acquired 100 acres of hills south of Napa’s Stags Leap district in the year 1999. The rocky, well-drained soil ensures flavors that enshrine blackberry and cassis notes and textures that are soft.

Vintages of Silver Oak

2000 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

A lovely ruby-red color characterizes this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon’s appearance coupled with aromas of cassis, blackberries, blueberries, vanilla and soy sauce. The palate is full-bodied, with a finish of ripe berry fruit and vanilla.

2000 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This vintage displays a dark, ruby-red color with aromas of violets, cassis, chocolate, roasting coffee, vanilla and cloves. The palate is suggestive of a rich feel of ripe berries and chocolate.

1999 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon consisting of a dark ruby-colored appearance, is well balanced with aromas of cassis, raspberries, violets and soy sauce. It has lovely fruity and full-bodied flavors that linger on into a nice finish.

1999 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This garnet colored Cabernet Sauvignon, composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Cabernet Franc (8%), Merlot (6%), and Petite Verdot (3%), owns aromas consisting of ginger, cassis, roasted coffee, and black licorice.




1998 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

This vintage has a garnet color. It owns nose of coffee, black licorice, cassis syrup, and cocoa. Being full bodied on the palate, it gives flavor of black licorice and vanilla on the finish. It is quite convincing in its richness of flavors.

1998 Silver Oak Alexander Valley

It is offered in ruby red color. It renders aromas of cassis, vanilla, iris blossom with notes of red pepper. On mid palate, it exudes flavor of fruits and on the finish; the palate consists of herbs and fruits.

1997 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Being offered in dark garnet color, it owns nose of coffee, cassis, plums, and dark chocolate. It is quite convincing on the palate too. It has a nice structure with an impact of fruits on the finish.

1996 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It has an attractive dark ruby red color with a nose of roasted grain, violets, blackberry, and sandalwood. Being long on the finish, it is a perfect blend of complexity and balance.

1996 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Offered with dark ruby red color, it owns a nose of chocolate, toffee, black plum, and cassis syrup. It has tannic finish and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Overall, it is a nice wine with a great body.

1995 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It renders aromas of roasting coffee, sandalwood, blackberry, and black plum. Having a tannic finish, it is a wine that is offered in dark ruby to garnet color. It is a perfect blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petite Verdot (1%).

Pride

Pride

The history of Summit Ranch can be traced back to the year 1872, when there were no phones until the 1920s, no electricity until the 1940s and no paved roads until the 1950s. Life was tough in those days. Since then the property has changed many hands and at present, the vineyards are controlled by Pride Mountain Vineyards.

Records suggest that vineyard plantings were done first in 1869, but not much has been known about the varieties that were produced then at the Summit Ranch. A huge plantation is evidenced by the presence of a three-storey winery made of stone, which was built in 1890. The entire mountain population was served by the winery.

The Pride Mountain Vineyards is situated at a height of about 2100 feet on the Mayacamas Mountain Range. According to government regulations in 1990, the 170 acre Pride Mountain Vineyards has been split by the Napa/Sonoma county line and now has two separate facilities, one each in both the counties.


Vintages of Pride


2003 Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It owns a nose of jam and screams of fruit. It contains 100% Cabernet along with the notes of sharp tannins, and a darn lot of wood. It contains alcohol too.

2003 Pride Merlot

The vintage comes with flavors of cassis, cocoa, currants, and espresso bean element on the palate. Showing notes of soft chewy tannins, Pride Merlot 2003 contains 100% Merlot. Offered with high concentrations of ripe black fruit flavors as well as aromas, it is rated as one of the best wines among the prestigious Pride wines.

2002 Pride Reserve Claret

Being a perfect blend of balance and complexity, it is offered in purple color along with the aromas of blueberry, blackberry, currants, licorice, and chocolate. You may cellar it for another 12-15 years.

2001 Pride Merlot

The 2001 Merlot comes from the appellations of Napa and Sonoma counties. The wine, which is made from 55% fruit from Napa and 45% fruit from Sonoma, has a nose of creosote, black cherry, currant, and damp earth. It is quite intense and rich with a purple color body.

2000 Pride Merlot

The 2000 Merlot has a rich and long palate, with great flavors of plums, blackberry, and a good chocolaty finish in company of smooth tannins.

2000 Pride Claret Reserve

It is characterized by a nose of bitter chocolate, cassis, violet, and lead pencil. Being sweet, and suave, it has flavors of deep oak berry, and lead pencil. It also features notes of blackberry and currant. Overall, it is an excellent wine.

1999 Pride Merlot

A complex and concentrated wine, the 1999 Merlot is rich in taste. The palate has a spicy herbal presence, with mocha, currant and brown sugar to boot.

1998 Pride Merlot

The 1998 Merlot has a firm finish, with rich currant, blackberry, and coffee nose. It is a great wine. Full-bodied and mouth filling, the 1997 Merlot is smooth with accents of creamy oak. The palate contains concentrated flavors.

1996 Pride Merlot

The 1996 Merlot is a bit tannic, firm and strong in structure. It contains young fruit and rich ripe cherries.

1995 Pride Claret Reserve

It is offered in opaque purple color. The nose shows the notes of black cherry, tobacco, and gun smoke. It is quiet convincing in terms of palate as it offers flavor of chocolate, black plum, and cherries. Overall it is an excellent wine.

Opus One

Opus One

Opus one, a great wine, is the result of the joint efforts undertaken by Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe Rothschild. They planned about it when they were in Hawaii but chalked it out in Bordeaux. Both of them purchased prime vineyard property of about 50 acres and made the 1978 and 1980 vintages of Opus One at the same time. They got successful in creating the Opus One brand as the first ultra premium wine of America.

Vintages of Opus One

2002 Opus One

This vintage is a perfect balance of complexity and style. It is offered with flavors of minerals, blackberry, earth, and currant. It shows its potential on the finish. In addition to this, it also features leathery tannins, and notes of minerals. May be used before 2012.

2000 Opus One

This vintage renders aromas of chocolate, thyme/fennel, plum, cassis, coffee, and black olive. With notes of fruits on the finish along with the texture of soft tannins, and rich fruits, it features flavors of cherry, black pepper, and plum.


1997 Opus One

The 1997 vintage of Opus One has soothing aromas of vanilla, toasty oak, clove, ripe blackberry cassis, and licorice. Great on the palate, it is vanilla that rules the flavor with extracts of blackberry and brown spices. This vintage is an excellent blend of Cabernet Franc (8%), Merlot (5%), Malbec (4%), and Petit Verdot (1%).

1996 Opus One

The 1996 vintage of Opus One consists of aromas of clove, sandalwood, dusty herbs, leather, toasty oaks, and ripe black fruits. It is enriched with the flavors that are concentrated. It is an excellent blend of Cabernet Franc (8%), Merlot (3%), and Malbec (3%). The taste of ultra ripe black fruits is presented with a wisp of Medoc-like green herb. Vintages of the year 1994 and 1995 are offered with the same levels of concentration.




1995 Opus One

The 1995 vintage of Opus One is a fine blend of Cabernet Franc (7%), Merlot (5%), and Malbec (2%). When it is opened, it renders the aromas of vanilla, caramel, toasty oak, clove, and lead pencil and cassis. It is great on the palate with concentrated blackberry cassis fruit and supple tannins.

1994 Opus One

The 1994 vintage features a blend of Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. It carries aromas of black fruits, cinnamon clove spice, French oak, and dried thyme. Its palate consists of plumy fruit with dried herbs at the finish. This vintage is a fine blend of Cabernet Franc (4%), Merlot (2%) and Malbec (1%).


1993 Opus One

The 1993 vintage comes in the exclusive aromas of sandalwood, mineral, geranium, black cherry and vanilla. It is a blend of Cabernet Franc (7%) and Merlot (4%). The palate is juicy with medium full tannins. The vintage has concentrated flavors. Overall, it is a delicious wine.

1992 Opus One

The 1992 vintage of Opus One renders the aromas of cinnamon cloves, spice and black fruits. A blend of Cabernet Franc (8%) and Merlot (3%), it has great flavors of ripe tannins against the texture of chocolate, smoky oak and veritable wall of sweet fruit.
1991 Opus One
The 1991 vintage comes with exotic aromas of mild cedar, red meat, violet, black fruits, accented by dried herbs, anise, roasted almond, and smoke. As far as its palate is concerned, it is quite crispy and renders notes of bright and vibrant cassis fruit with high concentration. It is an excellent blend of Cabernet Franc (5%) and Merlot (1%).
1990 Opus One
The 1990 vintage comes in the fragrant aromas of cherry berry fruit, bell pepper, violets, minerals, vanilla, and smoke along with flavors of blackberry and cassis tinged with toasty oak. The vintage needs much time to develop. It is a blend of Cabernet Franc (10%) and Merlot (3%).

Chateau Lynch Bages

Chateau Lynch Bages

The brand name Chateau Lynch Bages lies with its founder Michel Lynch. The brand name was founded in the 18^th century and he is the person who personifies the tradition of great Bordeaux wines. His efforts and hard work helped the family to earn a name in wines. Michel Lynch was the son of Thomas Lynch and Elizabeth Drouilbacon, who was the daughter of the owner of the Bages estate in Pauillac. The property was given into the hands of Michel Lynch by his elder brother Jean- Baptiste

The vineyards of Chateau Lynch Bages are situated on the South and South-West boundary of Pauillac. The other buildings of the Chateau are about 500 yards away from the Pauillac.


Vintages of Chateau Lynch Bages

2004 Chateau Lynch Bages

The vintage comes in an attractive scarlet deep and bright color. There is the richness of black currant on the palate and it renders a racy quality.

2003 Chateau Lynch Bages

It is characterized by a strong nutty and macerated fruit nose with an intense dark fruit palate. Red in color, it features wonderful concentrations of fruit.

2002 Chateau Lynch Bages

It is presented with a concentration of ripe fruits that is mixed with smoky undertones. It is one of the potent wines that offer richness of fruits.

2001 Chateau Lynch Bages

The vintage is a wonderful wine that comes with a full textured palate along with ripe tannins. One experiences a dark and nutty fruit aroma. You may drink it over the next eight years.

2000 Chateau Lynch Bages

It is a result of wonderful ripening, harvesting and natural yields. Its palate promises smooth tannins and remains in the mouth for long.


1999 Chateau Lynch Bages

Pale golden in color, it stimulates the senses with its complex nose. It is complex in terms that in the beginning it renders aromas of wet stones, lemon pastry and golden fruit, but later on it soothes the nerves with marzipan and pineapple. Known for its balance, it is a fine wine.

1998 Chateau Lynch Bages

It is characterized by the aromas of blackcurrant fruits and renders a magical fruit flavor with a smooth palate. You may have wine after cellaring it for two to four more years. Possessed with great tannins, it promises great ageing potential.

1997 Chateau Lynch Bages

The 1997 vintage comes in a fabulously intense red color that possesses complex aromas. Like the vintage of 1999, its nose differs in the beginning with the aromas of Asian spices, sweet roasted plums and black beans, and later these aromas fritter away and leave a fairly dull nose. It comes with a palate of spicy tannins.

1995 Chateau Lynch Bages

The 1995 Lynch Bages comes with a nose of blackcurrants, earth and oak. It is a vintage of rare quality that produces profound pleasure with its complex flavor.

1990 Chateau Lynch Bages

It comes in a very dark color with a nose suggestive of coffee, cocoa, cedar and peppermint. The wine tastes great and stays longer in the mouth.

Lewis Cellars

Lewis Cellars

The city of California is famous for producing domestic wines such as Lewis Cellars wine. Grapes of the finest quality are found in several regions of California. The most popular regions include Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara.

A former Indy car driver Randy Lewis, along with his wife Debbie introduced Lewis Cellars wines. In the year 1992, they established a small winery. Later, their son Dennis also joined them. The Lewis Cellars produces some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah wines.

In the last few years, there has been considerable growth in the wine industry of California. California is considered the’ Golden state’ so far as wine is concerned. The growing of grapes and making of wine is one of the most famous of occupations in California. Mostly, people prefer wines from California, which are appreciated throughout the world, including the United States.

Vintages of Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

2003 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

The vintage renders great aromas of currants, cocoa, and sweet oak spice. Being complex and rich, it gives a broad, round mouth-feel with notes of tobacco and briar. It is characterized by soft, integrated tannins on the palate.

2002 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It is an excellent blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%), and Cabernet Franc (6%). Offered with aromas of cedar spice soar, clove, vanilla, sweet oak, and blackberry fruit, it features mature tannins. It is convincing in terms of complexity on the finish.

2001 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It has notes of mocha laced oak, blackberry, currant, and black cherry. It is quite convincing in terms of the flavors with rip and round tannins. You may cellar it and it is expected to improve further until 2012.

2000 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

The 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is an excellent wine with a cedar nose based on luxurious black fruit. It consists of a wonderful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%), Cabernet Franc (7%), and Merlot (3%). The palate consists of clove, and vanilla, with a core of currant and wild berries and a dash of chocolate and anise.

1999 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

This vintage shows notes of currant, black cherry, blackberry, leather, and flavors of mocha. It features the perfect balance of concentration and complexity along with a strong finish.

1998 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It is a dark wine that comes with mature tannins, and spicy oak. It is highly concentrated.

1997 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve consists of complex aromas of bacon, cassis, and espresso. The palate is ravishing with concentrated earth flavors and rich dark fruit. It is an excellent young wine.

1996 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It has dark ruby garnet color. It features aromas of cassis, and shoe polish and sounds fine in terms of its consistency.

1995 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It is offered in red color. It has musty aromas along with the flavor of bitter tannins. This vintage does not show much promise and features searing acidity and bitter tannins. It does not own flavors of any fruits.

1994 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

It comes in a fine red color and owns a deep nose. The palate consists of a nice and an elegant flavor of dark fruits. Overall, it is a well-structured wine. On finish, it gives the taste of bitter tannins.

Joseph Phelps

Joseph Phelps

Its history dates back to 1972, which turned out to be a landmark year in the career of Joseph Phelps. It was the year, which finally culminated into the establishment of wineries and vineyards. The Joseph Phelps vineyard is situated in Spring Valley near St. Helena, the original estate comprising of a six hundred–acre ranch. With the passage of time, it started making phenomenal growth. Joseph Phelps had a dream, and his effort to achieve those dreams was met with great success. His labor started bearing fruit, as soon the estate, which was a ranch earlier, was got transformed into a vineyard and winery.

Phelps started planting certain grape varieties in pockets that were best suited to their growth. He considered other factors like soil, climatic conditions, and exposure to be of equal importance, where as most California growers gave more weightage to climatic conditions to procure a good produce.

Vintages of Joseph Phelps Insignia

2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It offers aromas of black cherry jam, and allspice along with notes of ripe plums, toasted oak, tobacco, and boysenberry. It is an excellent blend of cabernet sauvignon (78%), merlot (14%), malbec (1%), and petit verdot (7%). It is a concentrated wine.

2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (89%), petit verdot (8%), and malbec (3%). It comes in ruby/purple color and features the nose of crème de cassis, licorice, chocolate, and spice. It has a well structured body accompanied by superb intensity.

2000 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (77%), petit verdot (3%), and merlot (19%) and is offered in ruby/purple color. It creates the magic of aromas of licorice, black currants, and expresso roast. It has a concentrated finish too. You may cellar it for another 10 years.

1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It comes in dense purple color and features nose of spice box, black fruits, vanilla, and incense. It is a perfect blend of cabernet sauvignon (71%), petit verdot (6%), cabernet franc (1%), malbec (1%), and merlot (21%).

1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia

This vintage is convincing with the aromas of chocolate, currants, toasty oak, plum, and black cherry. It is superb in terms of its richness, and flavor.

1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It is a nice blend of cabernet sauvignon (83%), merlot (14%), and petit verdot (3%). It comes in blue/purple color and features aromas of licorice, jammy black fruit, Asian spices, and cedar. It is an evidence of superb assimilation of acidity, alcohol, and sweet tannin.

1995 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It is as good as the vintage of 1994. It features aromas and palate of black cherry, wild berry, plum, earthy currant, and cedar oak. It is convincing in terms of fruit flavors and integration of tannins. You may cellar it.

1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia

This healthy saturated dark purple color wine features a delicious finish, and sounds good in the structure. You may cellar it for another 3 years. It has aromas of black currants, pain grille, soy, fragrances of burning wood, and allspice. In addition to this, it is highly concentrated and an explosively rich wine.

1993 Joseph Phelps Insignia

It is offered in deep black cherry red color. This vintage renders aromas of cedar, spice, and roasted black fruit, and licorice. Known to be a highly extracted wine, it features tannins that are rich in flavor.

1992 Joseph Phelps Insignia

This vintage features nose of cocoa, black olive, anise cedar, cassis, along with notes of the bell pepper. You may cellar it for more years. In addition to this, it creates flavor of chunky tannins at the finish.

Dominus

Dominus

In the year 1836, George Yount started the plantation of wines at Yountville. He named the place after him. It is located at the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. He later sold the site to Charles Hopper in 1850. The land changed hands several times. Among the owners were Hugh La Rue and John Daniel.

While studying at UC Davis in 1968 and 1969, Christian Moueix took great fancy for the valley and in 1982, he entered into a joint venture with John Daniel's two daughters, Robin Lail and Marcia Smith. Thus, began the journey of Dominus. Christian Moueix put in a lot effort to bring back the old glory of the vineyard. In the year 1995, he bought the entire winery.

In the year 1983, the first vintage of Dominus was harvested, and since then it has earned a good name for its wine that bears an earthy character. Great care has gone into the development of the vineyards. Each vintage is characterized by a variety of blends based on the climatic conditions of that particular year and the nature of the vineyard.

Vintages of Dominus

2002 Dominus

The Dominus 2002 vintage is expected to age beautifully. It comes with a high concentration of fruit flavors, depicting depth and complexity. It is a nice blend with great balance.

2001 Dominus

The Dominus 2001 is considered a classic wine that will mature well. The grapes that went into making the wine were outstanding in quality and maturity. The fruit matured slowly due to favorable weather conditions, which gave enough time for detailed care of the produce. It is expected to be rich and smooth in texture.

2000 Dominus

The Dominus 2000 is strongly flavored and is quite complex. It is a fine quality wine that saw a long harvest season not normally offered by nature. Proper care could be focused to the produce, which reflects upon the quality of the wine.

1999 Dominus

An unusually long growing season makes the Dominus 1999 a wine of classic quality. It is a wine of exceptional complexity and character. The growing season was dry, followed by a cool spring and mild summer. The grapes were small that made the wine concentrated.

1998 Dominus

The Dominus 1998 vintage was a produce of a cool climate. With the weather being unusually cool, the produce was bound to be affected. However, Christian Moueix's knowledge about such weather conditions owing to his French connection saved the situation. When the weather warmed a bit, his team resorted to crop thinning to help concentrate the flavors in the remaining few grape clusters.

1997 Dominus

The Dominus 1997 vintage was a turn around to the original blend. There was great balance in the three varietals of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These were blended without the need to blend in the Petit Verdot.

1996 Dominus

The Dominus 1996 wine is both a complex and well-balanced blend, owing to a great growing season, coupled with hard work put in by Dominus workforce.

1995 Dominus

An exquisite wine from the Dominus vineyard, the 1995 vintage can be relished young with a potential to age into a beautiful wine.

1994 Dominus

The Dominus 1994 is a classic wine that reflects the right percentage of all the varietals planted.

1991 Dominus

The Dominus 1991 owns aromas of brown spices, plum liqueur, chocolate, and leather, currant along with notes of ineffable animal or vegetal element. It is great on the finish. It is altogether an excellent and a rich wine.

Dom Perignon

Dom Perignon

Dom Perignon is a wine that is named after a Benedictine Monk who was born in France and was known for his outstanding sense of smell and palate. Dom Perignon, the monk was a wine expert and discovered the ‘Champagne’ method of making sparkling wines. He had such a strong sense of smell that he could even predict the vineyard from which the grapes came. He assembled the qualities of one wine into another in such a way that the concoction resulted in brilliant wine. Now the Dom Perignon Champagne that people know and love is renowned for its delicate flavor. An expensive Champagne under the production of Moet et Chandon, it is produced in two styles and in exceptional vintages.

Vintages of Dom Perignon

1998 Dom Perignon

It renders the nose of puree of apples, vanilla, hazelnuts, melba toast, poached pears, and yellow plum jam along with the notes of quince ands chalk. On the palate, it provides acidic freshness as the bubbles ooze out of it. In addition to this, it consists of ripe light colored fruit flavors.

1996 Dom Perignon

Dom Perignon is believed to be a great wine and offers wonderful aromatic intensity along with hints of bread, dough, wheat-thins roasted hazelnuts, and tropical fruits. It is in fine golden colored hue with bubbles oozing out when poured in the glass. It gives notes varying from wheat bread, pineapple, mango skins, and toasted almond to crushed apricot pits.

1995 Dom Perignon

It is convincing in terms of its aromas of white flowers, acacia honey, nuts, mushroom, and minerals. It is not a heavy wine and renders flavor of yellow plum, and strong soil stones at the finish. It is an excellent wine.

1993 Dom Perignon

It gives an unusual nose of yeast, walnut, and cream and is known to be perfect for celebrations. It is one of the elegant wines but at the same time powerful too. It suits the palate too with its superb citrus acidity.




1992 Dom Perignon

It is not too convincing in its palate and needs cellaring for more years. Its aromas consist of yeast, peach and it renders some notes of acid. It is not as exhilarating as the vintage of 1990.

1990 Dom Perignon

Dom Perignon is known as Geoffroy’s first vintage of Dom Perignon. It is a little grapey and requires three years before opening. It renders the aromas of apple, and green pipped fruit. It has a superb minerally palate and has unbelievable elegance.

1988 Dom Perignon

It owns nose of toasty almond and is rated as the best wine by the tasters. You may not cellar it as it is convincing in its maturity. It is bright as well as crispy in taste.

1985 Dom Perignon

It comes in greeny golden hue color. It is convincing in its palate with the notes of apple, honey, and grass. It is excellent champagne with a superb flavor and a complex one too.

1982 Dom Perignon

It comes in an impressive straw color. However, the wine is a bit tart and short in the aftertaste. It is one of the best Dom Perignon champagnes.

1980 Dom Perignon

This Dom Perignon offers almond-honey flavors and promises an excellent finish. It comes in white color and features freshness of citrus fruit on finish along with the taste of toasted brioche and candied citrus fruits.

Cristal

Cristal
Cristal Champagne was founded by Louis Roederer who was born in Alsace. He joined the Champagne winery in the late 1820’s. By the time Roederer died, he was among the top three in exports to the United States. The champagne Cristal was specially made for Czar Alexander II to suit his sweet taste. Roederers’s Cristal has earned a big name for itself in the area of champagne making. Cristal is famous among the rock stars and drug dealers. It usually comes in sweet and fruity taste and each bottle is wrapped with cellophane that is golden in color. Cristal is verified and aged in oak.

Vintages of Cristal Champagne

1999 Cristal Champagne

Louis Roederer Cristal 1999 is produced almost every year. It is in a clear bottle with a fine and silky texture in which it looks striking. It is known for its refined elements with potential longevity. It is a wine of great purity. The freshness of this wine lies in its crisp acid finish. The 1999 Cristal vintage can be cellared for up to two years. It tastes of citrus flavors with a hint of vanillin oak.


1997 Cristal Champagne

Talking about the vintages of Cristal, the 1997 vintage was much citrus than its previous vintages. It is really convincing in terms of taste as it has a lemony note on the nose and it is crisp too.

1996 Cristal Champagne

Cristal’s 1996 vintage was out in the market by the name of 1996 Louis Roederer Cristal. Structurally, it has a large body with a balanced finish and is elegant. The 1996 vintage is in medium light yellow color and is quite acidic and strong.

1995 Cristal Champagne

It renders aromas of vanilla, hay, fruits, and hazelnut. As far as its flavor is concerned, it creates the magic of dry grape, peaches, cream, toasted nut, and plum. It finishes with a touch of minerals and citrus notes.




1994 Cristal Champagne

Offered in pale peach skin color, it has aromas of ginger apple, caramel, crystallized ginger, and cinnamon. It is concentrated champagne and has strong extracts. It gives the flavor of honeyed apple at finish.

1990 Cristal Champagne

Offered in sparkling white, it renders the aromas of acacia honey, and primary fruit. It is good in terms of its structure and is a concentrated wine. You may cellar it as it is a very young wine.

1989 Cristal Champagne

The vintage has nose of oily-brioche and is known to be a full-matured wine. It has an excellent mousse and gives the flavor of ripe creamy fruit on the palate along with a sweet flavor. Tasting great at the finish, overall it is a delicious wine.

1988 Cristal Champagne

Being light and acidic in nature, it is known to have toasty and fresh fruit complexity and is well-balanced wine. You may cellar it. It is offered with a touch of cassis and renders aromas of strawberries and toast.

1985 Cristal Champagne

Offered with the notes of acacia honey, and almond notes, it is one of the excellent wines manufactured by Cristal. It is known to create magic with aromas of hazelnut, fragrant almonds, and white flowers. It tastes of cream on the palate.

1983 Cristal Champagne

This vintage is one of the best from the vineyards of Cristal. It owns aromas of walnut and features a great finish. You may cellar it. It is likely to improve until 2012. It has a dry taste and renders a fresh experience.

Cheval Blanc

Cheval Blanc

For more than 150 years, the vineyard where one of the finest wines is obtained comes from the property of Fourcaud-Laussac. Monsieur Ducasse acquired 15 hectares of land in 1832, followed by another acquisition of 15 hectares in the year 1837. In the year 1854 another 5 hectares were included in the land when Mademoiselle Ducasse married Fourcaud-Laussac. The land has never changed hands and has remained with the heirs of Fourcaud-Laussac.

Saint Emilion is situated in Bordeaux in the southeastern part of France, towards the north of the Dordogne River. Saint Emilion and the area surrounding it are famous for excellent wines that are produced by the vineyards known for Merlot grapes. Merlot has been mainly grown for its feature of ripening earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. However, it is quite like Cabernet Sauvignon in many ways, being lower in tannins and maturing faster. Wines from the Merlot grapes are softer in texture. The region gets frost earlier than the Medoc region, home to many excellent wines.

The wines from Chateau Cheval Blanc along with their recent ten vintages are listed and described below.

Vintages of Chateau Cheval Blanc
2004 Cheval Blanc

The 2004 Chateau Cheval Blanc comes with a nose that is quite closed. It has a well-defined palate, and is medium than full-bodied, being more focused and cohesive.

2003 Cheval Blanc
The nose being dominated more by merlot at this stage, the 2003 Chateau Cheval Blanc apparently is a bit over-macerated with a note of hot fruits. It might lack a bit in character but the palate is pure and well knit.

2002 Cheval Blanc

The 2002 Chateau Cheval Blanc is broody and backward on the nose, and the palate has an elegant, dense savory Cabernet Franc. It is quite an excellent wine.

2000 Cheval Blanc

The 2000 Chateau Cheval Blanc is another excellent wine that has an intense nose. It is real smooth with a brilliant definition with ripe tannins. It has very good acidity and great balance.

1999 Cheval Blanc
The 1999 Chateau Cheval Blanc is a bit disappointing by Cheval standards, with a low intensity nose that is earthy with low vigor. It has moderate tannins and acidity, and lacks complexity though the palate is elegant.

1998 Cheval Blanc

A rich and elegant palate is what characterizes the 1998 Chateau Cheval Blanc. It is an excellent wine with an intense nose of herbs, truffles and cassis. The palate is full-bodied, backward, and dense.

1997 Cheval Blanc

The 1997 Chateau Cheval Blanc has cherry and blueberry nose with a soft and supple palate because of high merlot content. Low on Cabernet Franc, it loses on the meaty edge.

1996 Cheval Blanc

The 1996 Chateau Cheval Blanc disappoints as the nose has woody, smoky scents. The palate appears not so smooth with a bit of under-ripeness on the mid-palate. Overall, it is quite an ordinary wine.

1995 Cheval Blanc

The 1995 Chateau Cheval Blanc is a great tasting wine with a nose of black cherry and minerals. The palate is harmony personified with very smooth tannins. It has a very fine definition and is a classy wine.

1994 Cheval Blanc

The 1994 Chateau Cheval Blanc has a very dark ruby color, with a little unimpressive nose. It has a well-balanced palate with dark chocolate notes. Though a fine wine, it does not measure up to the name of Cheval Blanc.

Chateau Margaux

Chateau Margaux

The Chateau Margaux history can be traced back to the year 1400. Since then the ownership of the property has changed many hands. The estate has an impressive history, as it also was the residence of Edward III, the King of England at one point of time. Presently, the chateau is in the hands of the Mentzelopoulous family. Margaux wines have a propensity to mature a little in advance than other first growths.

Where it was expected to take a few vintages for the wine to make a mark, just one vintage of 1978 was all it took to prove how good Chateau Margaux could be.

Vintages of Chateau Margaux

2003 Chateau Margaux

The 2003 vintage is an excellent wine, though it was not as good in quality as Pauillac and St. Estephe. This out of the ordinary 2003 Chateau Margaux standard–wise dominates virtually all the other Margaux estates. With maturity, this wine is supposed to do even better.

2002 Chateau Margaux

It is an ideal blend of cabernet sauvignon (85%), petit verdot (5%), cabernet franc (2%), and merlot (7%). Known as a classic wine, it renders the aromas of minerals, cherry, berry, and currant. It is a perfect balance of fine tannins and excellent finish. It has deep velvet color.

2000 Chateau Margaux

Offered in saturated purple, it gives aromas of graphite, blackberries, crème de cassis, and oak. . It is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (90%), and merlot (10%). It is becoming more popular with each year as it keeps attaining the level of maturity.

1999 Chateau Margaux

This specific vintage demonstrates extraordinary balance as well as flavor of fruits, spring flowers, and spices. It is rich in tannins and flavors. Over all it is an excellent wine.



1997 Chateau Margaux

It is a highly concentrated wine and is known for its being well balanced. It features black and red currants, loganberries, gooseberries, and oak. You may cellar it for the next five years.

1995 Chateau Margaux

It features exotic aromas of smoky oak, licorice, and mint. As far as its palate is concerned, it renders the flavors of minerals, currants, black fruits, and hint of crème caramel. You may cellar it for another four to five years. It is a wine from mediocre harvest.

1991 Chateau Margaux

The wine is not known as the best wine by Margaux. It comes with the aromas and flavor of berries. It has sweet taste on the palate. You may not cellar it, as it is appropriate to drink now.

1990 Chateau Margaux

It is deep in color and is known to give aromas of blackberries, currants, spices, and plums. It has smooth tannins. You may cellar it for another five years. Being well balanced, it is an excellent wine and has a full-bodied structure.

1989 Chateau Margaux

With this specific vintage began a new era of prosperity for all practical purposes for Bordeaux. The credit for this goes to the favorable situations prevailing in the market globally, apart from the great vintages. Many of the commentators realized the dawn of a new beginning in the world of wines.


1929 Chateau Margaux

Supposedly, this is the legend of all vintages of the century gone past. The kind of brand it projected in the market was no doubt simply superb. Going by all the details, it clearly indicates that for a pretty long period of time it dominated the market later, which proved to be a truly branded product internationally. Looking back to its reputation, in the early part of the twentieth century, this vintage was very popular. For all practical purposes, there was hardly any contemporary, which could have matched its standard.

Chateau Petrus

Chateau Petrus

The Chateau Petrus was founded by the Arnaud family. In the beginning of the 20^th century, Madame Loubat purchased the shares of Societe Civile du Chateau Petrus. By the end of the World War II, she was the sole proprietor of the Chateau Petrus. The distribution of Chateau Petrus came under the authority of wine merchants from Libourne. The wine needs 3-5 years of cellaring.

Talking about vintages of the Chateau Petrus, its 1996 Vintage is in striking opaque purple color with sweet berry fruit intermixed with earth, pain grille and coffee scents. The levels of tannin are high and the style backward. The 1996 Petrus is a big and monolithic wine.

Vintages of Chateau Petrus

2002 Chateau Petrus

The 2002 Chateau Petrus looks great with notes of licorice, plums, black cherries, and some herbs along with damp earth. The palate lacks some sweetness. It has a tannic complex and does not score on charm. You may cellar it.

2001 Chateau Petrus

The 2001 Chateau Petrus has a bright, deep red color appearance filled with the aromas of red cherry, sandalwood, mulberry, iron, minerals and licorice. It gives a smooth taste to begin with and displays excellent grip. The vintage 2001 of Chateau Petrus gives pungent flavors of spices and berries with a cool and reserved sweetness.

2000 Chateau Petrus

The 2000 Vintage of Chateau Petrus cast a magic spell on the wine-lovers with its inky black, ruby and purple color along with aromas of concentrated black fruits. It has a huge tannic structure and immense body.

1998 Chateau Petrus

The 1998 Chateau Petrus has great aromas of blackberry, cassis and gun smoke. The flavors are powerful, concentrated and quite complex. It is expected to develop into a fine wine.


1995 Chateau Petrus

The 1995 Petrus comes with scents of black fruit aromas and exudes the same quality that is found in the exclusive vintage of 1975 Petrus. It is imbued with its own style.

1992 Chateau Petrus

The 1992 Petrus created such a magic that it is taken as “wine of the vintage”. It is a rich wine with a dark, saturated purple/ruby color with nose of vanillin, caramel, herb tinged mocha and sweet black cherry fruit.

1990 Chateau Petrus

The 1990 Chateau Petrus consists of great aromas of black fruits, mocha, mulberry, and burnt toast. It is well defined and an expressive wine. Greatly balanced flavors with smooth tannins indicate to a great wine in the making. It has a long earthy finish.

1989 Chateau Petrus

The 1989 Vintage of Petrus contains all the qualities that one can desire to be present in the best wine. It provides exotic taste and a wonderful experience.

1985 Chateau Petrus

The 1985 Chateau Petrus has a relatively thinner nose in comparison to the 1989 vintage. With vigor not quite there in the aroma, the palate is medium-bodied with a smooth texture. With a dull finish to contend with, the vintage does not quite live up to the Petrus name.

1975 Chateau Petrus

The 1975 Chateau Petrus is an excellent wine with a dark chocolate and espresso aroma. The tannins are smooth, and the balance perfect with the palate well focused on mulberry and mocha.

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

The history of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild goes back to the year 1720 when the vineyard was set up by Joseph de Brane. The chateau is located at a height of approximately 40 meters above sea level. The Branes continued to work on the vineyard called Brane-Mouton all through the 18^th century and it indeed was superior to the future second growths. Though its market price was at par with that of Chateau Lafite Routhschild, yet it was excluded from first growth status in 1855, which was considered grave injustice.

There has been controversy over its meriting first growth status, since questions were raised over the quality of the wine. Critics do not view kindly Mouton's self-promotion strategy, and the present first growths consider Mouton to be forcing its way into their exclusive group. Whatever the controversy, Mouton Rothschild wine has many admirers among wine lovers.


Vintages of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 2004
The aroma comprises of cherry, blackberry, and citric fragrances. The flavors are tannic, and masculine.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 2003
The vintage is not very aromatic, though the palate is very tannic, smooth and rounded. It has a well-balanced toasty finish. It is considered a good Mouton, but not quite there with Lafite and Latour.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 2002
It has a very interesting and fascinating nose with black coffee, and tobacco aromas. The flavors are quite smooth, intense, and full-bodied.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 2000
The nose is not all that concentrated. This vintage does not have a strong structure and depth; the flavors too lack in fruit concentration, though they are a bit toasty.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1999
Rich in aromas that are almost expressive, this vintage has concentrated flavors of cassis and cranberry. It is not quite there in comparison to other firsts. Though high on acidity, it is not that strong on structure and tannins.

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1998
It is an intense dark purple wine. The aromas are not quite there yet, though the tannins are great. Flavored with vanilla and blackcurrant, it has a moderate length.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1997
The nose is uninspiring with restrained violet aromas. It has good concentrated flavors of cassis with leather notes. Smooth on tannins, it is a well-rounded wine, though lacking in depth and complexity of a Lafite or Latour.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1995
It is a very fine wine with a beautiful aromatic presence. The palate gives a rich taste of peppermint, mint and cedar that are blended well; with fresh acidity and well-knit tannins. It is complex with black fruits and mint. Though absolutely stunning and elegant, the wine is a little poor on the finish. It gets meatier in the glass, and hence more palatable.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1994
The vintage is clearer than Latour, with a delicate nose that is elegance personified. The flavors are soft, feminine, rich in red fruits, and mint. It is better blended and smoother in comparison to Latour. It has a peppery finish. Over all, it is a fine wine. With age, it tastes more tannic, with better acidity. Though very rich, it is not all that complex on the finish.
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1991
The aroma is not quite fulfilling, while the flavors are great. Being firm in tannins, it offers a taste that is rich in Cabernet with an affluence of strawberry. This vintage is a classy wine.

Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena


Chateau Montelena's rich history can be traced back to January 1882, when a San Francisco entrepreneur, Alfred L. Tubbs, bought 254 acres of rugged land two miles north of Calistoga on the base of Mount Saint Helena. In the year 1886, Alfred L. Tubbs employed a French-born winemaker, and within a period of ten years, in 1896, his winery, Chateau Montelena, was the seventh largest winery in the Napa Valley.

Some of the finest red wines in the world come from the grape, Cabernet Sauvignon. In certain appellations in France and in Napa Valley, California, Cabernet Sauvignon produces wines known for their richness.

Vintages of Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2003 Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Estate comes in an attractive dense purple color. It renders the aromas of creme de cassis, earth, and forest floor scents. It offers mid palate and contains 14.3% alcohol.

2002 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

It is an excellent blend of cabernet franc (1%), alcohol (14.3%), and cabernet sauvignon (99%). The aromas of sweet creme de cassis liqueur along with the fragrances of beef blood, underbrush, and licorice characterize this vintage.

2001 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The magic that the vintage creates with the aroma of crushed rocks, cre;me de cassis, and a hint of licorice is spellbinding. An excellent blend of cabernet sauvignon (96%), cabernet franc (4%), and alcohol (14.1%) makes it a fine wine.

2000 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

It provides the sweet aromas of black currants. A pure and excellent wine, it has a full-bodied structure with smooth tannins. It creates the charisma of earthy berry fruit on the palate. Known for its balance, the vintage emerges in inky deep blue color.



1998 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

This vintage is known as the best vintage among other vintages. It is offered with aromas of currant, black raspberry, licorice, cassis, cedar bark, and menthol, tarry oak and dark chocolate. The palate consists of currant fruit, toasty oak and concentrated black cherry.

1997 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The palate is big and juicy upfront, with multilayered flavors. As far as its nose is concerned, this vintage gives the aromas of berry fruit, earth, and smoke. Over all it is an excellent vintage from the vineyards of the Montelena Cabernet Estate Sauvignon.

1996 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

This vintage has dark garnet color. Its aroma maintains the dignity of the Montelena trademark and seems very natural with scents of cassis, briar, earth, oak, and leather. The palate renders flavors of jam, ripe cassis, nice tannins, tons of extract.

1995 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Known for its perfect fruit balance, it has inky color and gives the aromas of earthy berry, and tonal black tea. It creates magic on the palate with cassis berry, earth, smoke, and spice.

1994 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The vintage gives the nodes of the ripe varietal Cabernet fruit with ripe rich berry and jam. It characterizes the flavor of fruits on the palate. Featuring some of the qualities of the classic Montelena, you may cellar it for more years to enjoy the vintage.

1993 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

It comes in deep color that gives an impression of the black color. With a spicy taste, it is different from the vintage of 1992. It is concentrated and has good acid balance, creating a smooth effect on the palate.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild

Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Baron James de Rothschild acquired Chateau Lafite in the year 1868. Soon after the purchase, the Baron died leaving the property behind to his three sons, Alphonse, Gustave, and Edmond. A decade thereafter saw some great vintages from the vineyard. However, the late 1800s and the early 1900s were not conducive to the wineries. The grapevines had to endure mildew and a phylloxera emergency. This crisis was followed by World War I, the Great Depression, and occupation of France during World War II, which had some exceptions however, in the form good vintage years 1899, 1900, 1926, and 1929.

Barons Guy, Alain, Elie, and Edmond inherited Chateau Lafite in 1946. Thus, began a revival under Baron Elie de Rothschild. The vintages of 1947 and 1949 did cover some ground only to be set back by frost in early 1956. However, the vintages of 1959 and 1961 put them back on track again.

Vintages of Chateau Lafite Rothschild

2004 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 2004 Chateau Lafite Rothschild has a soft nose with an aroma of blackberry and tar. The flavor is that of blackberry fruit and plums. The blend does not appear to be harmonious and focused.

2003 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 2003 Chateau Lafite Rothschild has great aroma with blackberry, mocha and violets. The flavors are self-indulgent, and harmonious. It has the potential to age beautifully.

2002 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 2002 Chateau Lafite Rothschild has at this point a very backward nose. However, the flavors appear great having a luscious blackberry feel, with soothing elegance and a smooth texture.

2000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 2000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild comes with a closing nose with sweet berries, cherry and vanilla. It appears to be structured well with more cedar and black fruits. Seamless tannin and great poise makes it an exciting vintage. It is expected to mature well by 2015.

1999 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 1999 Chateau Lafite Rothschild has a graceful and open nose, aromatic of roasted herbs. The flavors are supple and spicy with a fleshy mulberry-plum finish. It is not measuring up to the Lafite standards.

1998 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 1998 Chateau Lafite Rothschild has a very cabernet like aroma with hints of blackberry and chocolate.On the flavor front, the tannins are firm, and strong in structure and focus.

1997 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

Characterized by a dumb nose, the 1997Chateau Lafite Rothschild has strong and focused flavors of cedar and blackcurrant. It is a great wine with layers of cassis and tobacco notes.

1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild has a closed nose aromatic of wood and tobacco, and hint of licorice. The wine is well defined, with a full-bodied structure. The flavors are nicely focused and concentrated.

1995 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 1995Chateau Lafite Rothschild comes with a blackberry, tar and damp earth like aroma that is low on intensity. It has meaty and fleshy flavors with moderate acidity, which are soft and elegant on the palate.

1994 Chateau Lafite Rothschild

The 1994Chateau Lafite Rothschild has a developing strong perfumed nose. The palate is strong with concentrated blackcurrant, earth and wood flavors. The finish is not all that smooth, and lacks some depth, though it is a fine wine.

Chateau Haut Brion

Chateau Haut Brion

The Chateau Haut Brion dates back to year 1525. It is said about Chatueau Haut Brion that it is the only American-owned first growth and definitely Bordeaux’s first globally acclaimed wine making estate. With the passage of time it kept on growing at a fast pace. Since 1525, Chateau Haut Brion has grown in stature. The rate of growth is virtually amazing. Not only that, it has even made it’s presence felt across the globe. In the contemporary phase of 1960’s Haut Brion understandably, was said to be the first of the big and great growths to come out with the new ideas of stainless steel fermentation vats.

Vintages of Chateau Haut Brion

Chateau Haut Brion 2003

This vintage is known to render the aromas of chocolate, tobacco, currants and toasted oak. It features deep ruby/purple color, gives the palate of ripe fruits, and is offered with velvety tannins and great depth of fruits.

Chateau Haut Brion 2000

This specifically is characterized by aromas of spring flowers, blackberries and seductive strawberry. The flavor is milder and more ethereal than La Mission’s two thousands.
Chateau Haut Brion 1996

It has a lovely golden color backed by a well-formed nose. Its flavors are well blended with rich and smooth, creamy and buttery pear fruit acidity. In addition, the flavor shows hints of almonds, peach and citrus. In all, the Chateau Haut Brion 1996 is a well-balanced vintage.

Chateau Haut Brion 1995

In this case, the nose is found to be very rich and fruity, which is in contrast to the 1996 vintage. More so, the palate is inelegant and the finish is a bit long.

Chateau Haut Brion 1994

This vintage is dry and tinged with a black cherry note, gentle, restrained, and earthy berry fruit. It is crimson, dark, and rich ruby in appearance. It has quite generous fruit peaks as also good balance and length.

Chateau Haut Brion 1990

This vintage is high in glycerol, having enormous depth and quite an evolved nose of roasting coffee with caramel and cooking fruit. It possesses very delicate tannin and a good deal of savory fruit.

Chateau Haut Brion Blanc 1989

The vintage has a nice golden yellow color, with an aroma of developed wax, wet wool, peaches, vanilla, and nuts. The palate has fullness of fruit with flavors of lush apricot, oranges and some creaminess. Medium bodied, this wine is rich in texture. The well-integrated acidity leads to a long and rich finish. It is a tasty and excellent wine.

Chateau Haut Brion 1988

It is much less forward than the 1990 vintage, with a more focused pencil, chocolate, mint, violets and nose of black currant with a very long spicy finish .

Chateau Haut Brion 1985

It has a haunting nose of mint, bricks and chocolate, odd and brilliant. It is supple, without the complexity of some other vintages with velvety texture.

Chateau Haut Brion 1982

Chateau Haut Brion 1982 contains a gamey, spicy nose, properly evolved with tertiary and undergrowth features. However, the important point to be taken into consideration is that balance plays a very important role.

Caymus

Caymus
The history of Caymus goes back to Charles F. Wagner, Lama B. Wagner and their son Charles J. Wagner where they founded the winery in 1972 on the family’s Rutherford property. The first Caymus Special Selection Cabernet was made from the 1975 vintage.
The name Caymus was taken from Rancho Caymus, which was acquired by George Yount in the year 1836. However, Mishewal-Wappo Indians, inhabitants of a village to the north of Yountville town, were also known as Caymus.
All through the years, Special Selection Caymus vintages have been considered as fine wines. However, so far as some prominent vintages are concerned, the 2001 vintage is considered an excellent wine.
Vintages of Caymus Cabernet and Cabernet Special Selection

2003 Caymus Cabernet
Known as a concentrated young wine, the 2003 Caymus Cabernet gives fruity aftertaste along with fine-grained tannins. It renders the palate of creamy, oak, ripe currant, black cherry fruit, and plum.

2002 Caymus Cabernet
The exotic wine comes in rich ruby color with a palate of fully ripe black currants against a sweet and velvety texture, black cherry, anise, chocolate, and spice. As far as its aromas are concerned, it gives a fruity fragrance that creates magic. It is a wine of high concentration and density and is more known for maintaining a fine balance of fruit and oak.
2001 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection
The 2001 Caymus Cabernet Special selection has fine drained tannins and is concentrated. Highly rich in flavors, its palate consists of ripe plum, mineral, cedary oak, blackberry, and slate.

1997 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection
The 1997 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection comes with a nose of minerals, rich cassis fruit, and smoke. It gives the effect of cassis extract along with the magic of fine-grained tannins on the palate too. It is highly concentrated and is known to have a perfect balance. One can experience a rich, smoky spice in the aftertaste.

1996 Caymus Cabernet
The 1996 Caymus Cabernet is itself a unique wine. Its palate consists of black cherry, supple currant. Up-front it renders the flavor of toasty oak. It has a complexed finish and is more concentrated than its previous vintages.

1995 Caymus Cabernet
The 1995 Caymus Cabernet features currant, black cherry, plum, and olive. Its tannins are known to be smooth and polished and need cellaring for short duration.

1994 Caymus Cabernet
The 1994 Caymus Cabernet is highly concentrated and a ripe wine. It features layers of currant, black cherry, spice, plum, cedary oak, and vanilla. One can drink it now and may cellar it as well. It gives notes of tobacco and coffee. It is known to have smooth texture with thick core of tannins.

1993 Caymus Cabernet
The 1993 Caymus Cabernet is known to have the flavors of spice, cherry, currant, and cedar. It is highly refined and leaves a complex note aftertaste. It is altogether a stylish wine.

1992 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection
The 1992 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection comes in ruby or purple color. Providing the aromas of sweet, toasty oak and red, black fruits, it is highly concentrated. It may last for another 12 – 15 years.

1990 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection
The 1990 Caymus Cabernet Special Selection is offered in ruby red color. It gives the aromas of tobacco and licorice. As far as its palate is concerned, it creates the magic of anise, licorice and ripened red berries.

Beringer

Beringer

The Beringer Vineyard was established by Jacob and Frederick Beringer in the year 1876 in St. Helena, California. Frederick built a villa on the 215-acre land and named it Villa Beringer, which now is known as the Rhine House. Jacob was not interested in making bulk wines like other wineries. His focus was on making wines with distinction. Jacob managed the vineyards for about 37 years and during that period, he had cultivated varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Zinfandel.

The wines from the vineyards of Beringer were so great that the brothers won medals and accolades at international competitions. They were acknowledged among the best of California producers. The prohibition all but put an end to the California wine chapter.

After its acquisition by the Australian Blass Wine Estates, Beringer Vineyards are now known as Beringer Blass Wine Estates. The Beringer Blass Wine Estates includes some great wineries such as Stags’ Leap Winery, Chateau Souverain, Meridian Vineyards, St. Clement, and Chateau St. Jean in California; The Rothbury Estates, Wolf Blass, Black Opal, and Greg Norman Estates in Australia; Travaglini and Castello di Gabbiano in Italy; and Vina Tarapaca in Chile.

Vintages of Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve


2001 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 2001 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve renders the aromas of crème de cassis, smoky oak, and chocolate. It is highly concentrated and intense. It is comes in a beautiful purple color and is known to be the best wine produced by Beringer.



2000 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 2000 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve provides aromas of plum, licorice imbued red and black currant. It comes in red ruby with purple hue. Its palate creates the magic of chocolate and cocoa. It is highly concentrated.

1999 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1999 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve is offered in ruby red color and features sweet and fine tannins. It has a nose of plum, smoky oak, currant, mint, licorice, and minerals. The palate consists of minerals, brown spices, and currants.


1997 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1997 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve has a closed nose with an appearance of opaque red color. It has a great structure that ensures its ageability. Strong on tannins, it has a nice blend of fruits.

1996 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1996 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve has a lighter color, with a good balancing potential of fruit and tannin in a few years. Fruit from the Tre Colline vineyard forms a major part of the blend.


1995 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1995 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve is very strong on tannins as compared to the fruit content. It might balance ultimately with time.

1994 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1994 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve is strong on tannins, with a lovely red color and closed nose. Rich on fruit, it will develop well.



1993 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

Stronger on tannins than fruit, the 1993 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve has a nice color, which will develop well.


1992 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1992 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve is a full-bodied wine with great fruit content. It is said to mature well, if well stored.


1991 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve

The 1991 Beringer Cabernet Private Reserve is among the best three vintages of the 1990s. It has a beautiful opaque red color with strong flavors of fruit.

Turley Winery

Turley Wines

The Turley wineries have been producing some of California’s finest since 1993. The ever-expanding vineyards of the Turley provide cult wines that tantalize the senses and offer a unique tasting experience every time. The label is synonymous with world class Zinfandels and the range and quality of the wines is second to none.

Turley Napa Valley Hayne Petite Sirah 2001

This bottle has a very dark black tone with an intense complexity of aromas and flavors. The bottle opens up to a layer of chocolate and pepper with a boysenberry and licorice undertone. Toasty oak and a meaty game aroma finish the bouquet. Ripe boysenberry, cola and chocolate flavors are off set with a spicy oak note and peppery licorice finish.

Turley Napa Valley Hayne Petite Sirah 1997

This vintage has an inky dark tone with a fresh nose of dark raspberries and white pepper with an earth undertone. The dark fruit flavors are dominant in this bottle with a pepper zest that bursts onto the palate.
This is a full-bodied fine wine with a lingering finish.

Turley Lodi Zinfandel Dogtown Vineyard 2002

The 2002 vintage possesses the warm dark tone and delightful fresh fruit concentration. Heavy aromas of blue and black berry with a mingling of Italian herbs deepen and develop on the palate. The wine has a long fresh finish.

Turley Lodi Zinfandel Dogtown Vineyard 2001

This Turley bottle has a dark opulent tone and a warm fruit concentration. Ripe jam, blueberry and plum are combined with a strawberry essence in the bouquet. The flavors are full and supple black berry, plum and strawberry with a layer of spice to finish.

Turley Napa Valley Zinfandel Moore-Earthquake Vineyard 2001

This wine is inky and dark with a strong infusion of dark berries and spice on the nose. Black berry and boysenberry flavors are layered upon toasty oak with warmth lingering on the palate. The flavors continue to deepen with a lengthy finish.

Turley Napa Valley Zinfandel Moore-Earthquake Vineyard 1995

This vintage has a slightly warmer dark tone with a ripe smoky bouquet. Cigar box and cedar greet the senses with a hint of raspberry. The wine flows smoothly onto the palate-infusing raspberry, cedar and cigar box flavors with a hot fruit finish.

Turley Napa Valley Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard 2001

This wine is almost black in tone with a very strong fruit and earth bouquet. Blackberry and boysenberry aromas are layered with a dusty and earth note. A high concentration of dark fruits and ripe tannins define this Turley Zin.

Turley Napa Valley Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard 1993

This Turley Zin is well balance and vibrant with a fresh ripe bouquet of black cherry, anise and plum and a layering of lush raspberry. The aroma melt onto the palate with a deep velvet finish further revealing the fruit flavors.

Turley Duarte Zinfandel 2002

This is a complex bottle with an invigorating combination of aromas and flavors. Upon opening the bottle reveals a delicate bouquet of floral and blueberry notes. The wine has a dark tone and is very well balanced with the flavors of fresh fruit and a peppery bite.

Turley Duarte Zinfandel 1996

This wine possesses a rich complex infusion of black cherry and raspberry on the nose that deepens on the palate with a smoke and oak undertone. The 96 bottle is fresh and well structured with a full body and an intense lingering finish.

Sine Quo Non

Sine Qua Non Wines

SQN are unique and distinctive cult wines produced by Manfred Krankl. Founded in 1993 SQN began producing wines for a Las Angeles restaurant owned by Manfred and his wife Elaine. In 1994 they released their first label the Sin Qua Non Queen of Spades, the wine was made in a Las Angeles warehouse.

The label took off with its daring, bold blends and in 2001 Elaine and Manfred purchased and planted their own vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley.

Sine Qua Non Pinot Noir Hollerin' M Shea Vineyard 2002

This vintage has an opulent dark red tone with lavender purple traces at the rim. The bottle opens up to a floral aroma with underlying cinnamon notes. On the palate a velvet finish complements the ripe taste of sweet black cherry.

Sine Qua Non Incognito 2000

This bottle has a warm soft ruby glow with a deepening at the edges. The nose is a dynamic melding of plum and cherry with a hint of herb. The wine flows softly onto the palate with a full velvet body and a distinctive cola and plum taste. The flavors deepen further with layers of raspberry and a soft caramel essence. The finish is warm and full leaving a lasting impression.

Sine Qua Non Veiled Pinot Noir 1998

This SQN wine has a bouquet of earth and wet leaves with a black cherry undertone and subtle hint of warm spice. On the palate the wine overflows with notes of spice, cinnamon and nutmeg. This is a fine well-structured wine that will mature nicely.

Sine Qua Non E-Raised Cabernet 1998

This wine is a strong and powerful vintage with a heavy concentration of fruit. The aromas of plum, currants, red and black berries dominate the bouquet and extended warmly onto the palate. This wine has opulence in tone and a supple texture.

Sine Qua Non Twisted and Bent 1997

Like all SQN blends this bottle is unique in taste and texture with a lively pear and melon fragrance that is further defined on the mouth. Floral notes and a subtle seaweed aroma combine with an oak and straw finish. This wine has a smooth flowing texture with a charred after taste.


Sine Qua Non Imposter McCoy 1997

This vintage has a dark plum coloring and a vibrant lively bouquet. The wine opens up to a heavy hit of oak and an underlying floral fragrance. Plum, cherry and rhubarb aromas dominate with a delightful berry flavor the feature of this bottle.

Sine Qua Non Omadhaum & Poltroon Alban Vineyard 1996

This is a unique and elegant wine with the fragrance of matchsticks and fresh juicy pears. The bouquet fulfills its promise on the palate with the fruit flavors developing further. This is a rich wine with a high concentration of fruit.

Sine Qua Non Against the Wall 1996

This 1996 SQA bottle has a heavy dark bouquet of plum and tar with a dusting of oak. This is a full-bodied rich wine with plum and dark berry flavors and a distinctive bite to it. The fruit undertones wash over the palate and leave subtle tannins to finish.

Sine Qua Non The Other Hand 1995

This year’s vintage has the rough aroma of stone and mineral with a dark red tone. The wine possess a slight oak aroma with infusions of deep purple plum, dark berries and tar. On the palate the fragrances evolve and leave a lasting impression.

Sine Qua Non Queen of Spades 1994

This bottle has a dark inky ruby tone with an interesting array of aromas. The bottle reveals grilled meat and burning rubber aroma upon opening. The flavors pour onto the palate with rich berries and plum, coffee and a trace of herb.

Harlan Estate

The Harlan Estate

"For nearly two decades, Harlan Estate has been committed to creating a California "First Growth" wine estate."

The Harlan Estate is set in the hills of the Oakville wine country, overlooking the Napa Valley. For the past 20 years the Estate has produced some of the finest wines ever made in California. The 240 acres of the Harlan estate is lush with oak studded valleys and has the ideal environmental make up for vine planting.

The estate encompasses traditional and natural wine making methods with a friendly family orientated philosophy of excellence. Harlan wines include rich cabernet sauvignons, delicious merlots, ripe cabernet franc and petit verdot.


Harlan Estate Red Blend 2001

A deep ruby tone is complemented with the ripe fresh aromas of black raspberry, licorice, kirsch and a warm hint of menthol. The bottle has a sweet first impression with an increasing depth and a firm strong taste. The chewy flavors of black fruit melt onto the palate cascading over the entire mouth. This is a Harlan estate special, one of the finest California wines of the year.

Harlan Estate The Maiden 2000

This years blend is a full-bodied ruby red with a dark spicy aroma. Black and red currants dominate the nose with a licorice, mocha and toasty oak impression lingering on the senses. This is a rich and very ripe drop with full fruit flavors and a subtle bite. This wine has a thick lush finish that leaves a lasting impression.

Harlan Estate Red Blend 2000

This wine has a vibrant deep garnet tone with the unfolding aromas of tabacco, mocha and currant. This is a full flavored bottle with a rich taste and the warmth of black raspberry sliding onto the palate. This is an elegant long cabernet with a heavy fruit concentration and a delicate finish.

Harlan Estate The Maiden 1999

This year’s Maiden has a deep ruby coloring with the vibrant aromas of black cherry, smoky oak and brown spices. A full round mouth with a heavy sweet flavor defines this Harlan Estate bottle. The flavor fully coats the palate with ripe tannins and leaves a smooth impression to finish.

Harlan Estate Red Blend 1999

This year’s vintage possesses a ripe and rich nose of black cherry, currant and plum with a heavy melding of meat and smoke and a lasting aroma of cedary spices. This is a very sweet wine with an intense flavor and a deep texture. The fine ripe tannins slide onto the palate leaving a long impression and a strong after taste.

Harlan Estate The Maiden 1998

This year’s vintage has a vibrant ruby red tone and a full aroma. The bottle opens up to a nose of black cherry and licorice. The flavor is peppery with a black cherry taste and a thick full texture. The finish is dusty with dry tannins and a long impression.

Harlan Estate Red Blend 1998

A dark warm tone and a complex aroma of black fruits and bitter chocolate define this year’s wine. The sweet thick nose deepens with caramel, nut and charred oak essences. The wine is flavored with ripe black cherry, black raspberry and licorice. This is a vibrant well-balanced concentrated bottle with a smooth even finish.

Harlan Estate The Maiden 1997

This bottle has a heavy bouquet of roasted fruit with a sweet lingering fragrance. Black raspberry and currants are complemented by a maple syrup essence. This wine has a lasting sweetness and a supple texture. The ripe tannins saturates the palate and leaves a distinctly Harlan after taste.

Harlan Estate Red Blend 1996

This wine features a dark red tone and the warm roasted aromas of plum, black cherry and chocolate. The bouquet is extended with currants, lead pencil, mineral and nuts. The wine flavors are rich and ripe with a full concentration of black cherries. This year’s bottle has a balanced texture and a good strong finish.

Harlan Estate The Maiden 1997

The 97 Maiden has a soft red tone with a strong intense fruit aroma. Black plums and raspberries are melded with mineral and Cuban tabacco in the bouquet. The palate is treated to a full infusion of black raspberries, mineral and tabacco. This is an age worthy drop with a slight oak hint and a supple texture.