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$349.95
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RP 99
JS 97
WS 96
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
Pre-arrival,
4
available
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99 points Robert Parker: "A candidate for one of the finest Angelus produced to date (and there have been many, including 1989, 1990, 2000 and 2005), this blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc was fashioned from tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts a black/purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of blueberry liqueur, spring flowers and graphite. In the mouth, notes of incense and cassis also emerge from this velvety-textured, full-bodied, intensely concentrated 2009. With silky tannins, low acidity and spectacular purity, texture and depth, it is already approachable (although I’m sure proprietor Hubert de Bouard would think drinking it now is akin to infanticide), but should keep for 20-30+ years. (Feb 2012)"
97 points James Suckling: "Gorgeous nose of crushed blackberries with bramble berries and sweet tobacco. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and polished tannins. Compacted texture. Long, long finish. Try in 2020. (2/14/12)"
96 points Wine Spectator: "Rich and rather stolid now, this features a wall of roasted apple wood and charcoal flavors in front of the dense core of black Mission fig, steeped black currant fruit and espresso notes. Extremely dense on the finish, but the inlaid spice and tobacco hints are there just beneath the surface, needing only extended cellaring to emerge fully. One of the larger-scaled efforts of the vintage. Best from 2018 through 2035. (1/18/12)"
95 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "Tasted at Farr Vintners’ vertical from ex-château magnum, the Angelus ’09 is finally opening up to reveal a beautifully defined bouquet with fresh blackberry, raspberry and small cherries with underlying mineralité. The oak is very well integrated. The palate is supremely well balanced with fine purity, firm backbone and a pixelated finish that is enthralling. Bravo Hubert. Tasted October 2011."
95 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep, saturated ruby to the rim. Superripe, high-toned aromas of kirsch and dark chocolate. Large-scaled, ripe and chocolatey, conveying a distinctly exotic character and an impression of power. Finishes with huge but ripe tannins and a lingering note of mocha. For the first 24 hours in the bottle the vintage dominated the wine's cabernet franc character, but eventually blackberry, violet and licorice elements emerged. Built for a long life in bottle. (Jul/Aug 2012)"
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$13.95
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WS 89
RP 88
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $25.00
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89 points Wine Spectator: "Shows bright, lively red and black currant fruit, with racy spice and graphite notes. Fresh and open-knit on the finish, but keeps your interest. Drink now through 2015. (2012)"
88 points Robert Parker: "[$25 list] The basic cuvee, the 2009 Arnauton, is 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It exhibits loads of crushed chalky minerality, some jammy berry fruit, good glycerin, medium body, and a clean, fresh, lively finish. It is a little less complex than I’d hoped, but still a fine effort. (Feb 2012)"
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$749.95
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RP 100
WS 98
In stock,
1
available
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100 points Robert Parker: "One of the most singular Bordeaux I have ever tasted, it verges on being port-like, but it pulls back because of the extraordinary minerality and laser-like focus. The wine is massively concentrated, still black/purple-hued to the rim, and offers a nose of incense, blackberries, blueberry liqueur, acacia flowers, and forest floor. It reveals low acidity and high tannins, which are largely concealed by the sheer concentration and lavish glycerin the wine possesses. Aging at a glacial pace, it is approachable, but it will not hit its peak until 2020; it should last for twenty years thereafter. (Jun 2009)"
98 points Wine Spectator: "Liquid cashmere. Stupendous St.-Emilion. Dark ruby color. Wonderful aromas of blackberries, preserved cherries, Indian spices and violets. Full-bodied, with fabulously polished tannins and a long, long finish.--1990 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2006. (8/31/00)"
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$99.95
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RP 94
WE 94
WS 92
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
6
available
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94 points Robert Parker: "This is the finest Brane-Cantenac I have tasted in over thirty years. Unusually perfumed and already approachable (atypical for most 2005 Medocs), it reveals a deep plum/purple color as well as a stunningly flamboyant bouquet of smoked herbs, licorice, camphor, black cherries, currants, and notions of plums and blackberries. Elegant with silky tannin and medium body, it is clearly a classic statement on the Margaux appellation. While not a powerhouse, it is beautifully concentrated, stunningly balanced, and surprisingly forward. It could be drunk now after several hours of decanting, but it should age easily for 20+ years. (Apr 2008)"
94 points Wine Enthusiast: "The fruit has become the main attraction here--layers of ripeness, tempered with an elegant smoothness. The tannins are certainly present in this powerful wine, but they are here to lend support, not dominate. With herbs and very clean black fruits, this is a wine to follow. (Jun 2008)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "Shows mineral and blackberry aromas, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a long, smoky, earthy, meaty and fruity aftertaste. Long and stylish. Very refined and beautiful. Best after 2012. (3/31/08)"
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$14.95
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France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The magnificent Château Cadillac was built in the 13th century. This very limited cuvée, created by the Lesgourgues family, is a medium-bodied wine that offers depth and elegance, with lovely fruit and spice notes. Ideal with roast, grilled meats and cheese. Alcohol 14%."
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$129.95
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WS 93
WE 93
BT 92
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
5
available
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93 points Wine Spectator: "Lovely berry, spice and leather aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with firm and silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. A harmonious wine. Not quite what it was from barrel, but outstanding all the same. Racy Calon. Best after 2010. (3/31/03)"
93 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is a solid, huge wine, with rich but very dry tannins. With its dense, almost black color, and its sense of brooding power, it promises long aging. It will never be in the opulent Bordeaux camp, despite its prominent new wood flavors, but will probably outlive all but a handful top wines. (Jun 2003)"
92 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Expansive and almost exotic on the nose, with notes of eucalyptus and ripe bell peppers, held in check by a tight texture. Drink: 2011 up to 2020. (2011)"
91+ points Robert Parker: "Back when my bottle reports came out in 2003, I urged extreme patience for this wine, which is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. I projected a maturity curve of 2012-2040, but based on this tasting, I would say the wine needs another 5-6 years, so call it 2016-2040+. One of the most unyielding wines in my tastings of the 2000s, the wine still has a very healthy, deep, dark ruby color, and earthy hints of herbs, licorice, and black currants. Medium to full-bodied, the hard, elevated tannins give this wine a certain austerity, but its outstanding weight, richness, and that very classic style argue for further discipline. Forget this for another 3-4 years and drink it over the following three decades. (Jun 2010)"
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$99.95
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WS 95
BD 95
RP 94
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
6
available
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95 points Wine Spectator: "Loads of crushed berries, with mineral, lightly toasted oak and licorice. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is the sleeper of the vintage. Best after 2010. (3/31/06)"
95 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Very elegant shape and structure, with a dreamily velvety texture. The flavor has more pronounced notes of cabernet sauvignon than most of the other Second Growths from this appellation. Great follow-through on the palate. Drink: 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"
94 points Robert Parker: "This extraordinary 2003 tops the scale at only 13% alcohol, but it exhibits a similarity at this stage to the brilliant 1982. A dense plum/purple color is followed by a big, sweet, ripe nose of blackberries, kirsch liqueur, earth, and hints of truffle and licorice. The wine is opulent, even unctuously textured, with low acidity, but powerful, concentrated, dense, chewy flavors. The wine is high in tannin, but it is sweet and well-integrated. Madame Gasqueton thinks it is an atypical but brilliant wine for Calon-Segur. By the traditional standards practiced at this estate, the 2003 is a more precocious and flamboyant effort. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2030. (Apr 2006)"
<94 points Wine Enthusiast: "A powerfully velvety wine, which still packs a walloping punch of Saint-Estèphe tannins. The fruit, under these tannins, is pure, ripe, black and generous. But there is the proper dryness that shows how the team at Calon-Sègur managed to tame some of the excesses of the 2003 vintage. This will develop, slowly, into a great wine. (May 2006)"
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$109.95
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BT 96
WS 93
RP 92
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
3
available
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96 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Sublime cedar and red-fruit aromas, full body, noble tannins; this wine flirts with the Premiers Crus and commands respect for its authenticity, sincerity, and magnificent expression of terroir. (2011)"
93 points Wine Spectator: "Has a beautiful nose of crushed berry, spices and nutmeg, with a hint of coffee. Then turns to licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish of vanilla, berry and cinnamon. Beautifully crafted. Best after 2014. (3/31/08)"
92+ points Robert Parker: "A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the totally closed 2005 Calon Segur is one of those traditionally made, backstrapping, uncompromising Bordeaux that will last 30-40 or more years. Its dense ruby color with purple nuances is followed by a nose that reluctantly offers up scents of damp earth, wood smoke, black cherries, cassis, and an exotic Asian spice character. The wine is formidably endowed and broodingly tannic, with noticeable acidity and a structured, nearly impenetrable mouthfeel. Nevertheless, it is easy to sense the weight, extract, and richness in this pure, deep wine. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050. (Apr 2008)"
92 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "[$110 list] Deep, bright ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, leather, smoked meat, earth and menthol. Chewy, brooding and deep, with concentrated black cherry, menthol, mineral and leather flavors framed by a powerful spine of acids and tannins. Really saturates the palate on the tannic back end. I'd give this classic St. Estephe a decade of aging, at which time this wine may well merit an even higher score. (May/Jun 2008)"
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$44.95
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RP 93
WE 92
WS 90
France
-
Bordeaux
-
White
In stock, 12+ available
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93 points Robert Parker: "This superb 2008 exhibits lots of fig, honeysuckle, orange zest and lemon butter notes. It should drink well for 15-20 years. (May 2011)"
92 points Wine Enthusiast: "A beautifully balanced wine, its acidity and green fruits, slipping easily into a more intense pear and apricot character. The tang comes back with the citrus on the finish. (Apr 2011)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "Pretty flavors of peach and beeswax are accented by grapefruit and green almond notes in this lively, medium-bodied white, with bright acidity and a fresh, minerally finish. Not complex, but delivers a lovely purity. Drink now through 2016. (4/30/11)"
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$10.95
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France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc. This family owned winery in Bordeaux is situated just outside of the famous appellation of St. Emilion. It offers more character than the average Bordeaux Supérieur beginning with the dense ruby color. The aroma follows with notes of red fruit and spice, followed by similar flavors of cherry and plum, with a note of tobacco and a long finish. Enjoy this elegant wine now with roast duck or other meat.
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$75.95
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WE 92
France
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Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
8
available
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92 points Wine Enthusiast: "Rich and generous, this is purely indulgent Merlot. The sweet fruit balances with sweet, almost opulent and well-integrated tannins, and ripe plum flavors. There is some dryness right at the heart of the wine; a pleasure of a wine. (Jun 2008)"
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$9.95
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WE 87
France
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Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $12.00
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'Best Buy' and 87 points Wine Enthusiast: "[$12 list] With soft tannins, this wine has a full, fleshy character that’s laced with acidity. Black currant fruits and only hints of dryness suggest it is ready to drink. (Sep 2012)"
60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc. Lovely fresh fruit; rich intense and vivid with more red fruit than black. Plenty of concentration on the palate. A big wine with lots of fruit and tannin. Serving Suggestions: Sauteed mushrooms, pate, artisanal cheeses and light pork preparations.
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$24.95
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WE 89
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
4
available
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89 points Wine Enthusiast: "It takes a while to get beyond the dry structure of this wine. But underneath that initially forbidding exterior, there is a solid core of ripe, sweet black fruits and an elegant balance with the acidity coming through to finish well. A wine for some aging--maybe 3-4 years. Alcohol 13%. (Dec 2009)"
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 30% of the wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak; 70% in 1-year-old oak. 2006 was a very good vintage at du Seuil. The wine has many of the characteristics of a classic Bordeaux vintage: good acidity, concentrated, forward tannins and a complex, pleasant fruitiness. Multiple levels of structure and integrated oak flavors.
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$49.95
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WE 89
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
10
available
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89 points Wine Enthusiast: "It takes a while to get beyond the dry structure of this wine. But underneath that initially forbidding exterior, there is a solid core of ripe, sweet black fruits and an elegant balance with the acidity coming through to finish well. A wine for some aging--maybe 3-4 years. Alcohol 13%. (Dec 2009)"
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 30% of the wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak; 70% in 1-year-old oak. 2006 was a very good vintage at du Seuil. The wine has many of the characteristics of a classic Bordeaux vintage: good acidity, concentrated, forward tannins and a complex, pleasant fruitiness. Multiple levels of structure and integrated oak flavors.
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$122.95
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WE 89
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
3
available
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89 points Wine Enthusiast: "It takes a while to get beyond the dry structure of this wine. But underneath that initially forbidding exterior, there is a solid core of ripe, sweet black fruits and an elegant balance with the acidity coming through to finish well. A wine for some aging--maybe 3-4 years. Alcohol 13%. (Dec 2009)"
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 30% of the wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak; 70% in 1-year-old oak. 2006 was a very good vintage at du Seuil. The wine has many of the characteristics of a classic Bordeaux vintage: good acidity, concentrated, forward tannins and a complex, pleasant fruitiness. Multiple levels of structure and integrated oak flavors.
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$22.95
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France
-
Bordeaux
-
White
In stock, 12+ available
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A blend of 60% Sémillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc from 35-year-old vines in the commune of Cérons. Sémillon fermented in new and 1-year-old French oak barrels and Sauvignon fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Left on lees for stirring using the oxoline system for six months. Sémillon aged for 6 months in new and 1-year-old French oak. 2010 was a year for freshness and clean floral aromas with a balanced level of acidity. As always, distinctive mineral characters typical of Graves terroir are in evidence. Bouquet consists of honey and citrus fruit. Sauvignon Blanc adds vivacity and floral aromas. Long considered the finest, privately-held château and vineyards of Graves.
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$45.95
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France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Our objective with Héritage du Seuil is not only to fully recognize the potential for certain parcels of fruit but also to produce a different more concentrated and complex style of wine. It is not our intention to produce this wine every year but rather when it is warranted by the strength of the pending vintage. The vines from which the grapes are selected are planted on a plateau of river gravel and sand deposits which has a sub soil of limestone, clay and iron pan. This plateau called 'Le Seuil' is over looking the Garonne River and enjoys all day sun. It is considered some of the best terroir in the Graves appellation. Yields are kept low at around 35-40 hectolitres/hectare by pruning and the canopy is managed to ensure good levels of ventilation around the grape zone and moderate sun exposure with deleafing. Barrel aged 18 to 20 months in 100% new French oak."
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$8.95
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France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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88 points CellarTracker: "Black pepper and generic red and black fruits with a hint of orange peel which is a nice touch. It has some aging potential. It will open up over the next ten years and should be drinkable for 20 but it won't be making any major improvements. Very basic Bordeaux but definitely a good value."
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$595.00
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WS 100
RP 95
IWC 94
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
1
available
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100 points Wine Spectator: "Dark color. Black licorice, coffee, currants and black olives. Complex nose. A full-bodied, chewy blockbuster of a wine that is not giving anything at all away. It is like buried treasure still; you have to search for the gold. And it's there. Fabulous. Please give this time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2014. (2007)"
95 points Robert Parker: "Bottled very late (November, 1997), the 1995 has continued to flesh out, developing into one of the great classics made under the Mentzelopoulos regime. The color is opaque ruby/purple. The nose offers aromas of licorice and sweet smoky new oak intermixed with jammy black fruits, licorice, and minerals. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with extraordinary richness, fabulous equilibrium, and hefty tannin in the finish. In spite of its large size and youthfulness, this wine is user-friendly and accessible. This is a thrilling Margaux that will always be softer and more evolved than its broader-shouldered sibling, the 1996. How fascinating it will be to follow the evolution of both of these vintages over the next half century. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040. (Feb 1998)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Excellent deep ruby color. Very complex aromas of blackcurrant, wild plum, violets, minerals, tar and smoky oak. Dense and supple, with great sweetness of fruit. Doesn't have quite the sheer power of the '96, but the flavors build and build. Substantial tannins are chewier than those of the '96 but hit the palate later. 1986 was the vintage with the highest level of polyphenols ever recorded at this estate, but '95 was the runner-up, according to Pontallier. Because this big, tannic wine needed longer barrel aging, it was bottled later than normal, in November of '97. (May/Jun 1998)"
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$35.95
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RP 89
IWC 89
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
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89 points Robert Parker: "One of the least expensive wines produced by Gerard Perse, the 2005 Clos l’Eglise (70% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) exhibits notes of sweet cranberries, jammy black cherries and strawberries, crushed rocks, and flowers. With a dense purple color, medium body, loads of fruit, and a soft, round mouthfeel and finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-6 years. (Aug 2008)"
89 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep ruby-red. Currant, licorice, mocha and cedar on the nose, with suggestions of superripe fruit. Fat, lush and chewy, with a firmly mineral character underpinning the sweet berry flavors. A serious, structured Cotes de Castillon wine that finishes with big tannins that reach the incisors. (May/Jun 2008)"
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$33.95
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RP 93
JS 93
WS 90
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $45.00
|
93 points Robert Parker: "[$45 list] This is a gorgeous effort, made from a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cropped at 22 hectoliters per hectare from their clay over limestone soils, the wine displays oodles of new oak, crushed chalk, and blueberry and blackberry fruit with hints of raspberries and pen ink. It is full-bodied and layered, with a fleshy, even succulent mid-palate and a long, long finish. This is terrific Castillon to drink over the next 10-15+ years. (Feb 2012)"
93 points James Suckling: "This is big and juicy with lovely blackberry and chocolate character. Full and round with pretty fruit and a long finish. A beautiful wine from Castillon. Fabulous. From owner of Pavie and Pavie Decesse. Try after 2016. (4/29/12)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "Shows the ripe, fleshy, polished profile of the vintage, with mouthfilling plum, blackberry paste and fig fruit flavors caressed by subtle cocoa and tobacco shadings on the finish. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2017. 1,665 cases made. (6/30/12)"
Decanter: "Gerard Perse of Château Pavie in St-Emilion bought the former Château Lapeyronie in 2001. The Perse style -- with a preference for super-ripe grapes and prolonged barrel-ageing -- is replicated here, with the wines aged for up to two years in 60% new oak. They are predictably opulent, sometimes thick in texture, and quite extracted and tannic. Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but Clos Les Lunelles is in the forefront of modern-style Castillon. (Jul 2012)" -Stephen Brook
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$195.00
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RP 98
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
6
available
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98 points Robert Parker: "St.-Emilion’s smallest vineyard produces so little wine (600 or so cases) that it is virtually impossible to find. This beautiful site (somewhat ghoulishly situated adjacent to St.-Emilion’s cemetery) produces what I have often called the 'Lafleur of St.-Emilion.' Classic notes of crushed rocks, spring flowers, kirsch, and even blacker fruits along with stunning nobility, complexity, and precision emerge from this beauty. The extraordinary 2005 possesses fabulous concentration, terrific texture, length, and depth, and huge tannins, so it requires at least a decade of bottle age. It is one of the vintage’s most compelling efforts. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2040. (Apr 2008)"
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$199.95
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RP 95
WS 94
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
3
available
|
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95 points Robert Parker: "A wine of extraordinary intensity and accessibility, the 1995 Cos d'Estournel is a sexier, more hedonistic offering than the muscular, backward 1996. Opulent, with forward aromatics (gobs of black fruits intermixed with toasty pain grille scents and a boatload of spice), this terrific Cos possesses remarkable intensity, full body, and layers of jammy fruit nicely framed by the wine's new oak. Because of low acidity and sweet tannin, the 1995 will be difficult to resist young, although it will age for 2-3 decades. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2025. Both the 1995 and 1996 vintages of Cos d'Estournel were even more impressive in late 1997 than earlier in the spring. (Feb 1998)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous blackberry, toasted oak, Indian spice and light sweet tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a caressing texture. Pretty and refined. Holding back. Give it time. --'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. (2007)"
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$250.00
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RP 98
WS 97
BD 97
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
7
available
|
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98 points Robert Parker: "The prodigious, fantastic 2003 Cos d’Estournel is a candidate for 'wine of the vintage.' A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusually high for this chateau), 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 17,500 cases were produced from low yields. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by a compelling perfume of black fruits, subtle smoke, pain grille, incense, and flowers. With extraordinary richness, full body, and remarkable freshness, elegance, and persistence, this is one of the finest wines ever made by this estate. The good news is that it will be drinkable at a young age yet evolve for three decades or more. Kudos to winemaker Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier. (Apr 2006)"
97 points Wine Spectator: "Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, spice and mineral. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. This is first-growth quality. Best after 2012. (3/31/06)"
97 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Magnificent color, powerful aromas dominated by spice, oak well integrated on both the nose and palate. A wine with all the body and structure of a great vintage. Tannins are neither aggressive nor tight; tremendous length. A superb wine, very generous. Drink: 2011 up to 2025. (2011)"
95 points Wine Enthusiast: "With its aromas of new wood, spice and black fruits, this promises from the start to be a powerful, polished wine. It is dense, very ripe (from the high percentage of Merlot in the blend), but still packed with tannins. It’s a massive wine, bringing together the heat of 2003 with the big tannins of Saint-Estèphe. (Apr 2006)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Red-ruby. Knockout nose combines currant, espresso, earth and exotic spices. Wonderfully round and sweet, with outstanding volume and density. A spherical, seamless wine that saturates the entire palate. The huge but lush tannins coat the teeth. This is accessible now but has the sheer material for long aging. (May/Jun 2006)"
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$235.00
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RP 98
WS 98
WE 97
France
-
Bordeaux
-
Red
In stock,
6
available
|
List $300.00
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98 points Robert Parker: "While I am not convinced the 2005 Cos d’Estournel will eclipse the compelling 2003 Cos, it is unquestionably another superb classic from proprietor Michel Reybier and his brilliant winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats. Made from an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) and the balance mostly Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, this superb effort requires plenty of time in the bottle. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a glorious perfume of licorice, Asian spices, creme de cassis, blackberries, and toasty oak. This full-bodied St.-Estephe is exceptionally powerful, pure, and dense with a layered mid-palate that builds like a skyscraper. While there are massive tannins, they are remarkably velvety and well-integrated in this big, backstrapping effort that should enjoy an unusually long life. Forget it for 8-10 years, and drink it between 2017-2040. (Apr 2008)"
'Top 100 Wine of 2008 (#28)' and 98 points Wine Spectator: "Black in color, with aromas of orange peel, new leather, currant, berry and Christmas pudding. Full-bodied, with layers of velvety tannins and a long, long finish of fruit and spices. The cashmere texture is all there. 2003 plus 2000 equals 2005. Best after 2015. (3/31/08)"
97 points and 'Enthusiast 100 of 2008', Wine Enthusiast: "Saint-Estèphe has a reputation for tannins, and this 2005 Cos lives up to that. But it does much more, because the tannins add richness along with intensely ripe black fruits, dark plums and figs. The dense tannins are finely balanced with fresh acidity, and a long-lasting aftertaste. Impressive. (Jun 2008)"
96 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good ruby-red. Knockout nose combines currant, plum, minerals, licorice and graphite. Wonderfully sweet, rich and deep, but with near-perfect balancing acidity to frame the wine's lush fruit. This superb 2005 has it all. Finishes with noble, sweet tannins and palate-saturating persistence. On my most recent visit, Prats told me he considered 2005 to be superior to the 2003, and that the '05 may be 'our best wine ever.' (May/Jun 2008)"
18/20 points La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2005 possesses a volume, youthfulness, and and impressive power. The palate is rich and full, with abundant tannins but ripe with a warm finish. It prefigures the new style of Cos. (Jan 2012)"
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