Napa Valley Red
berries associated with a fine touch of crushed black plum as well as small crushed wild red berries and fine hints of tobacco. Tannins are precise and very finely marked. Good length.
Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
Jericho CanyonVineyard - Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, West Wall
Calistoga, NapaValley
The nose is fruity and offers a fine power, gourmandize and a very fine richness. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, ripe blackberry and small notes of crushed wild strawberry associated with fine touches of violet/iris, dry oak leaf and tonka bean as well as discreet hints of nutmeg and chocolate. The mouth is fruity, juicy, mineral and offers a good definition, tension, a very fine acidulous frame as well as a juicy and ripe fruit. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe blackberry, juicy/ripe cassis and small notes of small black fruits associated with small touches of raspberry, wild strawberry as well as fine hints of violet, spices and cardamom. Good length and persistence.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Jericho CanyonVineyard - Solaire 2016 Napa Valley
The nose is fruity and offers power, a very fine grain and a fine deepness. It reveals notes of wild cassis, small wild berries and small notes of black/ grey pepper associated with fine touches of violet, small blue fruits, spices and incense. The mouth is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a good definition, juiciness and minerality. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe cassis, small wild berries and small notes of wild blueberry associated with small touches of grey/black pepper as well as fine hints of nutmeg, flowers (rose, iris) and clove. Good length.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)
Joseph Phelps - Backus 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, Napa Valley
The nose is elegant and offers power, a very fine grain and a small spicy side. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, wild cassis and small notes of violet associated with touches of wild strawberry, Cuben pepper as well as an imperceptible hint of clove. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a mineral/finely acidulous frame, tension, gourmandize as well as density. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy small red berries, cherry, fleshy cassis and small notes of rose associated with fine hints of liquorice stick, dark chocolate, caramelization as well as very discreet hints of clove. Tannins are elegant and very finely firm.
Score : 18+/20 (96-97/100)
Joseph Phelps - Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa Valley
(Estate Grown) The nose is fruity, elegant and offers power and a fine grain. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, Boysen berry and small notes of strawberry associated with fine touches of cherry, cornflower and very fine hints of small blue berries as well as fine hints of spices. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/acidulous frame, a good definition, gourmandize as well as juiciness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/ripe cassis, black cherry and small notes of blackberry associated with small touches of cherry, wild strawberry as well as hints of liquorice, violet as well as subtle hints of mocha and vanilla. Good persistence.
Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Joseph Phelps - Insignia 2016 Napa Valley
(Estate Grown) The nose is fruity, elegant and offers power, density and complexity. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, ripe blackberry and small notes of small blue berries associated with touches of wild raspberry, cherry as well as hints of violet, rose wood and liquorice stick/tea. The mouth is fruity, mineral, fresh, well-balanced and offers a good definition, gourmandize, a slight acidulous frame as well as density/richness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy cassis, fleshy blackberry and small notes of crushed red berries associated with fine touches of cherry as well as hints of cornflower, lily and blueberry. Good length and persistence. Tannins are elegant, structuring and offer a fine chew.
Score : 17.75+/20 (96/100)
Levy & McClellan - Ampersand 2015 Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers subtilty as well as elegance. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, ripe cassis and small notes of wild raspberry associated with fine touches of flowers, Cuben pepper and very discreet hints of nutmeg. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers an acidulous frame, a beautiful definition as well as dynamism. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of ripe raspberry, ripe cassis and small notes of ripe blackberry associated with small red berries, flowers (iris, violet and small wild flowers) as well as fine touches of tonka bean and chocolate. Good persistence. Tannins are elegant, fine and offer a subtle chew on the finish.
Score : 17+/20 (94-95/100)
Levy & McClellan - Ampersand 2016 Napa Valley
The nose is aromatic, flowery and offers elegance. It reveals notes of ripe raspberry, cornflower, iris and small notes of blackberry associated with fine touches of cassis as well as fine hints of cardamom, sweet spices and dry oak. The mouth is fruity, fresh, mineral and offers a beautiful definition, gourmandize, a slight acidulous fame as well as density (but full of finesse). In the mouth this wine expresses notes of blackberry, raspberry and small notes of arbutus associated with fine touches of flowers (cornflower, lily, wild flowers) as well as fine hints of strawberry and small berries. Tannins are elegant and fine. Good length and persistence. A very discreet hint of dark chocolate from the 3rd caudalie.
Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)
Levy & McClellan 2015 Napa Valley
The nose is elegant and offers power and a beautiful finesse of the grain. It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis and small notes of wild strawberry associated with fine touches of small red fruits/arbutus fruits as well as a hint of juicy blueberry, violet and dry leaf. The mouth is gourmand and offers a juicy/ acidulous frame, tension as well as finesse. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy cassis, fleshy wild raspberry and small notes of juicy blueberry associated with fine touches of juicy wild strawberry as well as hints of lily, violet and hints of sens of the place, chocolate and caramelization. A very beautiful persistence.
Score : 18.75/20 (97-98/100)
Levy & McClellan 2016 Napa Valley
The nose is elegant, powerful and offers a beautiful structure, complexity and a very beautiful finesse of the grain. It reveals notes of blackberry, ripe cassis and small notes of strawberry associated with fine touches of arbutus fruits, flowers (lilac, lily), raspberry as well as very discreet hints of nutmeg and violet. The mouth is fruity, elegant, gourmand and offers a good definition, a great structure as well as a beautiful fruit. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy raspberry, fleshy strawberry and small notes of juicy Boysen berry associated with a fine touch of juicy blueberry, violet as well as hints of sens of the place and grey pepper. Tannins are elegant and very discreetly firm. Good length. A very discreet hint of cocoa and salinity on the persistence after the 3rd/4th caudalie.
Score : 19+/20 (98-99/100)