California Napa valley
Robert Mondavi – The Reserve 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon To Kalon Vineyard
Oakville, Napa Valley
The nose is elegant, racy and offers a beautiful power (full of control), a fine/finely tight grain, intensity as well as complexity and energy. It reveals notes of ripe wild blackberry, wild raspberry, small notes of small berries associated with touches of grey pepper, racy minerality, spices as well as hints of oak/dry liege/dry local forest ground, a fine hint of eucalyptus, violet, small pulpy blue fruits, a discreet hint of dry tobacco and a fine hint of dry oak. The palate is fruity, fresh, well-balanced, full of elegance/power/concentration (full of control) and offers energy, dynamism, energy, tension as well as a fine straightness and a beautiful finesse of the grain. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy wild cassis, wild blackberry, small notes of raspberry associated with touches of juicy/pulpy blueberry, lily, cornflower, cherry as well as hints of dry tobacco, cuben pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, mocha, very discreet hints of toasted almond, dry ground of local forest, mushroom, an imperceptible hint of Badiane and toasted oak. Tannins are elegant, racy and precise. Good length. Score : 18/20 (96/100)
The Debate – Cabernet Franc 2018, Sleeping Lady Vineyard
Napa Valley
The nose is elegant and offers power (full of delicacy), finesse of the grain, a beautiful finesse in its intensity as well as a multilayer side. It reveals notes of cornflower, small fleshy/ripe blue berries, small notes of bourbon vanilla associated with fine touches of violet, small fresh flowers as well as hints of crushed cherry, small crushed red fruits, discreet hints of mild tobacco, almond, dry local grove and an imperceptible hint of incense. The palate is subtle, harmonious, delicate and offers gourmandize, a small acidulous frame, tension (full of finesse), an aerial character (full of power) and a certain density (full of finesse). On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, fleshy blue plum, small notes of cherry associated with touches of cornflower, cherry blossom, nutmeg, toasted, sweet spices as well as a discreet hint of toasted/roasted hazelnut, sense of the place, a discreet hint of dark chocolate (in the background). Tannins are soft and elegant. A beautiful gourmand and suave persistence. Score : 18.25/20 (96-97/100)
The Debate – Cabernet Franc 2018, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Napa Valley
The nose is aromatic, full of elegance, marked by the terroir (hot soil) and offers complexity, precision, finesse of the grain as well as a small freshness, a beautiful racy grain, an aerial character, concentration (full of elegance) and a small spicy side. It reveals notes of crushed wild blackberry, small fleshy fruits, small notes of crushed wild strawberry associated with touches of tonka bean, cornflower, toasted almond as well as fine hints of bourbon vanilla, camphor, caramelized oak. The palate is fruity, juicy, elegant, beautifully acidulous, full of length/a stretchy side and offers precision, finesse, a beautiful finesse of the guideline and an acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/acidulous raspberry, acidulous/juicy plum, small notes of cassis associated with touches of violet, tonka bean, toasted almond, cardamom as well as fine hints of tobacco and sense of the place. Tannins are precise, structuring, powerful and elegant. A beautiful persistence. A finish getting tighter. Score : 18.5/20 (97/100)
The Debate – Cabernet Franc 2018, Stagecoach Vineyard
Napa Valley
The nose is beautifully built, racy and offers a beautiful ripe fruit, a certain richness as well as intensity, a small concentration and deepness. It reveals notes of bright blackberry, blueberry, small notes of crushed strawberry associated with touches of cornflower, cardamom, toasted hazelnut as well as discreet hints of caramelization, bourbon vanilla pod and graphite. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, elegant and offers freshness, gourmandize, a beautiful delicacy as well as an acidulous frame and suavity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/acidulous blueberry, pulpy/ juicy raspberry, small notes of small red fruits associated with touches of acidulous cassis, cornflower, cardamom, tonka bean as well as small hints of sense of the place (local biotope) and a very discreet hint of grilled hazelnut (in the background). Good length. Tannins are precise and elegant. A hint of sapidity, a fine chew and a discreet hint of sugared mild tobacco in the finish/persistence.
Score : 18/20 (96/100)
St Supéry – Dollarhide 2015, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant, beautifully racy and offers power (full of control), deepness, a beautiful maturity as well as freshness and concentration (full of control). It reveals notes of pulpy wild cassis, small ripe black berries, small notes of crushed strawberry, griotte associated with touches of Sichuan pepper, mushroom, ripe black pepper as well as hints of tobacco, dry local forest ground, camphor, truffle, chocolate and almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/mineral frame, a beautiful definition, straightness as well as an acidulous frame, a certain tension, power, richness (full of control), deepness, darkness, freshness, harmony as well as silkiness and energy. On the palate this wine expresses notes of quite ripe cassis, black plum, small notes of quite ripe small black berries associated with touches of violet, camphor, griotte, redcurrant jam as well as hints of dry local forest ground, cedar, caramelized almond, dark chocolate, discreet hints of underwood, Badiane and a subtle hint of clove. Tannins are precise, fine, elegant and supple. Score : 17.5+/20 (95-96/100)
St Supéry – Dollarhide 2019, Sauvignon Blanc Estate Vineyard
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a small richness, a fine unctuous sensation, a fine grain as well as a certain intensity. It reveals notes of pear, fleshy apple, small notes of lychee associated with touches of quénette, exotic fruits as well as hints of white flowers, crushed white peach, lemon flowers and dsicreet hints of toasted. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a beautiful definition, gourmandize, a beautiful/fine acidulous frame, a small tension, harmony, a fine grain, a small unctuosity, energy, minerality, harmony and a beautiful juiciness of the fruit. On the palate this wine expresses notes of quenette, exotic fruits, small notes of crushed nectarine associated with touches of white flowers, lemon flowers, lychee, sugared lemon as well as discreet hints of almond, sugared mandarine, dry local grove, very fine hints of toasted and almond. An imperceptible almost saline hint in the finish/persistence which brings gourmandize and a fine sapidity. Good length. An almost saline very discreet sensation in the finish. Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
St Supéry – Moscato 2019
Napa Valley
The nose is fruity and offers gourmandize. It reveals notes of bright vine peach, crushed green apple, small notes of lemon flowers, elderflower associated with fine touches of quenette. The palate is gourmand, elegant and offers freshness, precision, a small tension and fullness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crushed/iced green apple, juicy/sugared lemon, small notes of vine peach, elderflower associated with small touches of quenette and lemon flowers. Good length. A beautiful persistence. Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)
St Supéry – Virtú 2019
Napa Valley
(Semillon 59%, Sauvignon Blanc 41%) The nose is fresh and offers precision as well as a small minerality. It reveals notes of fleshy/juicy nectarine, apple, small notes of lemon associated with touches of small white fruits, quenette, a hint of racy minerality and a subtle hint of local grove. The palate is fresh, well-balanced, mineral and offers a beautiful acidulous frame, a small tension, precision as well as a racy minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh apple, fresh quenette, small notes of lemon associated with small touches of zests, mesocarp, lime zests and racy minerality. Good length. A beautiful persistence with a hint of lemon seed. Score : 15.75+/20 (91-92/100)
Pope Valley Winery – Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Napa Valley
The nose is mineral and offers a certain gourmandize. It reveals notes of ripe white grapefruit, ripe mandarine, small notes of juicy/fresh peach associated with small touches of small pulpy fruits and a discreet hint of fresh almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers minerality, a good balance, a juicy/acidulous frame as well as gourmandize, fullness and a small stretchy side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of quenette, crushed brugnon, small notes of fleshy apple associated with touches of lemon, mandarine zests, a subtle hint of pineapple and an imperceptible hint of fresh almond. Good length.
Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)