California Napa valley
Hill Family Estate 2018
Napa Valley
The nose is spicy, aromatic and offers a small certain power, a fine intensity as well as a fine/discreetly tight grain. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, small wild fruits, small notes of spices associated with small touches of red fruits, incense as well as discreet hints of nutmeg, grey pepper and a hint of almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a mineral frame, suavity, an aerial side (full of balance), a very fine concentration and a small freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, small juicy wild fruits, small notes of raspberry associated with touches of cherry blossom, violet, spices as well as fine hints of incense, toasted, a very discreet hint of grilled almond, vanilla and pepper. Tannins are wellbuilt and very finely soft. Good length. A discreet hint of good bitterness of the cocoa and an imperceptible hint of grilled in the finish/persistence.
Score : 16+/20 (92-93/100)
Clark-Claudon Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Estate Grown
Napa Valley
The nose is elegant and offers delicacy, a certain controlled power, deepness as well as a beautiful pulpy/generous fruit. It reveals notes of bright cherry, blueberry, small notes of cassis associated with touches of small fresh flowers, crushed redcurrant as well as delicate hints of fresh liquorice stick, black olive, discreet hints of chocolate and an imperceptible hint of coffee. The palate is fruity and offers delicacy, freshness, a beautiful juicy/generous fruit, gourmandize as well as a good structure, a certain deepness, a beautiful definition of the fruit, a fine grain, fullness, a small fat and a beautiful touch. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cassis, crushed blackberry, small notes of juicy/fresh plum associated with touches of bright redcurrant as well as hints of tonka bean, chocolate, bourbon vanilla pod. An imperceptible hint of aromatic herbs in the finish/persistence.
Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)
Clark-Claudon Vineyards – Eternity 2018, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant, beautifully built and offers a certain power (full of control/ finesse), a beautiful freshness, deepness and a fleshy/juicy beautiful fruit. It reveals notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, raspberry, small notes of black/griotte cherry associated with touches of small bright berries as well as hints of fresh liquorice, fresh almond, discreet hints of hazelnut, pepper, sense of the place (local biotope) and fresh vanilla. The palate is fruity, juicy, full of elegance and offers brightness, gourmandize, a beautiful juicy/acidulous fruit, tension, an acidulous frame and a certain small concentration. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cassis, juicy/ acidulous Boysen berry, small notes of fleshy raspberry associated with touches of small juicy/ripe red fruits, cherry as well as hints of spices, toasted, fine hints of hazelnut and a discreet hint of sense of the place. Tannins are structuring.
Score : 17+/20 (94-95/100)
Sunshine Valley Vineyards – Jubilee 2018
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, fresh and offers a bright fruit as well as a beautiful definition. It reveals notes of bright redcurrant, raspberry, small notes of cassis associated with touches of violet, zan as well as fine hints of sense of the place (local biotope, dry local biotope), discreet hints of fresh tobacco and a subtle hint of black olive. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers suavity, a delicate touch, silkiness, an acidulous frame, a good definition, gourmandize as well as an aerial side and precision. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy redcurrant, crushed raspberry, small notes of bright strawberry associated with touches of acidulous cassis, cherry, cherry flowers as well as hints of liquorice stick, discreet hints of pepper, toasted, roasted almond, a subtle hint of mocha and black olive. Tannins are structuring, precise and fine. A persistence on discreet hints of good bitterness.
Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)
S. R. Tonella Cellars – Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Rutherford, Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant, aromatic and offers complexity, a certain power (full of freshness). It reveals notes of bright/fresh raspberry, blackberry, small notes of small bright black fruits associated with touches of bright violet plum, violet, Sichuan pepper as well as hints of aromatic herbs, laurel, tonka bean, fresh mild tobacco, delicate hints of bourbon vanilla pod and fresh hazelnut. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, racy and offers deepness, a multi-layer side, a certain tension, gourmandize, a good definition and a juicy/acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cassis, juicy/pulpy blackberry, small notes of crushed raspberry associated with touches of acidulous/crunchy plum, pink laurel as well as hints of sweet spices, fresh blueberry, black olive, zan and a subtle hint of toasted/roasted almond. Good length. Tannins are precise and soft. Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Medlock Ames – Fifty Tons 2018, Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
The nose is fruity, racy, fresh and offers a certaine intensity, power as well as a fine sensation of tension. It reveals notes of crushed cassis, fresh strawberry, small notes of ripe/fresh redcurrant associated with touches of griotte, small bright blue berries as well as hints of zan, tobacco, a hint of black pepper and a discreet hint of clove. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a mineral frame, juiciness, a beautiful fresh/juicy fruit, gourmandize, a certaine tension, fullness, a certain generosity, a racy minerality and intensity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh/pulpy blackberry, fleshy raspberry, small notes of fleshy redcurrant associated with touches of small pulpy berries, liquorice stick, fresh tobacco leaf, clove, discreet hints of cardamom and a subtle hint of caramelization. A small sapidity in the finish/persistence.
Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
Medlock Ames – Fifty Tons 2018, Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
The nose is fruity, fresh, racy and offers a certain intensity, power as well as a fine sensation of tension. It reveals notes of crushed cassis, fresh strawberry, small notes of fresh/ripe redcurrant associated with touches of griotte, small bright blue berries as well as hints of zan, tobacco, a hint of black pepper and a discreet hint of clove. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a mineral frame, a beautiful fresh/juicy fruit, juiciness, gourmandize, a certain small tension, fullness, a certain generosity as well as a racy minerality and a certain intensity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/fresh blackberry, fleshy raspberry, small notes of fleshy redcurrant associated with touches of small pulpy berries, liquorice stick, fresh tobacco leaf, clove as well as discreet hints of cardamom and a subtle hint of caramelization. A small sapidity in the finish/persistence. Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
De Loach Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2016, Heritage Collection
California
The nose is fruity and offers a small pulpiness as well as a fine richness. It reveals notes of creamy black plum, cornflower, crushed blackberry, small notes of vanilla pod associated with touches of raspberry, small crushed fruits, fine hints of hazelnut and a discreet hint of caramelization. The palate is fruity and offers minerality, fleshiness, a certain small unctuosity as well as minerality and a small acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy violet plum, cornflower, small notes of fleshy blueberry associated with touches of crushed strawberry, crushed cassis as well as fine hints of lily, caramelization, vanilla, a very discreet hint of hazelnut, a subtle hint of minerality (in the background) and acidulous redcurrant. Good length. Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)
De Loach Vineyards Chardonnay 2017, Heritage Reserve
California
The nose is aromatic and offers a small concentration, freshness as well as a fine concentration and a very discreetly tight grain. It reveals notes of fresh pear, small crushed white plum, small notes of quince associated with touches of dry zests, small yellow berries/kumquat, very fine varietal hints, a subtle hint of fresh local grove as well as an imperceptible hint of asparagus and fresh honey. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers an acidulous frame, fullness, a small fat, a buttery side as well as fine tension and minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of quince, pulpy/fleshy pear, small notes of small pulpy yellow peach associated with touches of crushed Mirabelle, hazelnut butter, lemon flowers as well as a subtle varietal hint (in the background), an imperceptible hint of verbena, fresh honey/fresh brioche and fresh hazelnut. Good length.
Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)