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$595.00
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WS 100
RP 95
IWC 94
France
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Bordeaux
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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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$149.95
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France
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Rhone
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
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Not reviewed. Harry Karis (The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Book): "Cuvée Réserve is made from 60% Grenache (planted in 1930) in La Guigasse), 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Syrah (planted in 1939 in Les Bedinés). Cuvée Réserve stays on the skins for 40 days, i.e., substantially longer than the other cuvées... aged completely in foudres... (2009)"
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$199.95
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RP 95
WS 94
France
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Bordeaux
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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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$112.95
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IWC 90
Spain
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Red
In stock,
6
available
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Direct from the winery! (Dec 2011) We had the opportunity to taste this wine in May 2011 at a library tasting of Cune wines ranging from the 1973 vintage to present. We were amazed at the freshness and vigor of these wines.
CVNE (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) is one of the most renowned and historic bodegas in all of Spain. Founded in 1879 by the Real de Asúa brothers, Eusebio and Raimundo, the company has been an integral part of the Rioja region’s ascendance in the world of fine wine. With their combination of traditional roots and innovative vision, CVNE has been one of Rioja’s most reliable sources for high quality wine. The company is still run by descendants of the Real de Asúa brothers, now represented by the fifth generation with current CEO Victor Urrutia Ybarra. Cune is the winery where the company began in 1879. It still sits on its original site, Barrio de la Estación, in Haro, Rioja Alta, directly next to the train station. They produce white, rosé, crianza, and reserva wines, sourced almost entirely from Alta fruit.
The Finest Wines of Rioja: "Imperial is one of the icons of Rioja and one of the strongest and most prestigious brands in Spain. It is produced as Reserva and, in exceptional years, Gran Reserva, though the latter will most probably disappear in the future, leaving only one Imperial... Current vintages age for at least 36 months in oak barrels... Imperial is archetypal Haro: serious, austere, subtle, refined, fresh, and balanced. It ages magnificently and, along with Viña Real, remains our favorite of the CVNE wines, even though the company now has more expensive wines in its portfolio... 1995 is remarkable among more recent wines. (2011)"
90 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good full red. Deeply pitched aromas of smoke, minerals, leather and truffle. Supple and silky but nicely penetrating, with ripe, intense flavors of cherry, minerals and oak perfectly framed by harmonious acids. Subtle, textured Rioja finishing with good grip and thrust. (Jul/Aug 2003)"
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$189.95
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WS 95
RP 94
JG 94
France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock,
4
available
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95 points Wine Spectator: "Subtle yet aromatic character of Indian spices, currants and dried cherries. Full-bodied, with super well-integrated tannins and a long, caressing finish. Wonderful texture. Classy and structured. Long. This was wine of the year in 1998; well deserved.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2009. (2007)"
94 points Robert Parker: "This wine is of first-growth quality, not only from an intellectual perspective, but in its hedonistic characteristics. More open-knit and accessible than the extraordinary 1996, Ducru's 1995 exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color, followed by a knock-out nose of blueberry and black raspberry/cassis fruit intertwined with minerals, flowers, and subtle toasty new oak. Like its younger sibling, the wine possesses a sweet, rich mid-palate (from extract and ripeness, not sugar), layers of flavor, good delineation and grip, but generally unobtrusive tannin and acidity. It is a classic, compelling example of Ducru-Beaucaillou that should not be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. It should be obvious to readers of my preliminary reports on both the 1995 and 1996 vintages that the family of Jean-Eugene Borie produced some of the greatest wines ever made at their respective chateaux - Ducru-Beaucaillou, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, and Haut-Batailley - in both 1995 and 1996. That has been confirmed once again in the bottled 1995s, and in the evolution of the powerhouse 1996s. (Feb 1998)"
94+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "I love the style and shape of the very classic 1995 Ducru, which is the most promising vintages here in the decade of the 1990s. The utterly classic nose soars from the glass in a refined and timeless mélange of cassis, dark berries, cigar ash, fresh herbs, tons of gravelly soil tones, a discreet base of cedary new wood and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and very suave on the attack, with a rock solid core of sweet black fruit, blossoming layers of complexity, impeccable focus and balance and a very long, primary and still fairly tannic finish. It remains young days for the 1995 Ducru-Beaucaillou, but this will be a brilliant wine in the fullness of time. 2020-2075. (May/Jun 2012)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Bright dark ruby. Knockout perfumed nose of great purity: cassis, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate. A penetrating wine of outstanding vinosity and verve; offers great tensile strength. Youthfully tight, classic claret whose extremely long finish features very fine tannins. I'm not convinced Ducru has made a wine in recent vintages to equal its '95 and '96 releases. Drink 2005 through 2025. (Jul/Aug 2002)"
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$595.00
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RP 96
WS 94
IWC 94
France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock,
10
available
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96 points Robert Parker: "A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050."
94 points Wine Spectator: "Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2009. (2007)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep ruby-red color. More expressive aromas of crystallized dark berries, dark chocolate and animal fur. Lush and sweet; thick but delineated. Wonderfully concentrated. This, too, seems rather withdrawn today, but the strength of material is clear to see. Finishes with firm tannins and explosive fruit that goes on and on. (May/Jun 1998)"
19.5/20 points Clive Coates (The Wines of Bordeaux): "Fullish colour. Very good fruit. Quite oaky. Excellent grip. Not too austere. Fullish and backward. Very lovely fruit. Very complete. This is really excellent. marvellous breed. Splendid intensity. Very fine indeed. Drink: 2005-2025. (2004)"
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$1,295.00
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RP 96
WS 94
IWC 94
France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock,
4
available
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96 points Robert Parker: "A beauty, the opaque dense purple-colored 1995 exhibits jammy cassis, vanillin, and minerals in its fragrant but still youthful aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with exceptional purity, superb concentration, and a long, intense, ripe, 40-second finish, this is a magnificent example of Latour. As the wine sat in the glass, scents of roasted espresso and toasty new oak emerged. This classic will require considerable cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050."
94 points Wine Spectator: "Black licorice, cedar, cigar box and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and very structured, with firm, silky tannins and a long finish. Needs time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2009. (2007)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep ruby-red color. More expressive aromas of crystallized dark berries, dark chocolate and animal fur. Lush and sweet; thick but delineated. Wonderfully concentrated. This, too, seems rather withdrawn today, but the strength of material is clear to see. Finishes with firm tannins and explosive fruit that goes on and on. (May/Jun 1998)"
19.5/20 points Clive Coates (The Wines of Bordeaux): "Fullish colour. Very good fruit. Quite oaky. Excellent grip. Not too austere. Fullish and backward. Very lovely fruit. Very complete. This is really excellent. marvellous breed. Splendid intensity. Very fine indeed. Drink: 2005-2025. (2004)"
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$199.95
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RP 95
WS 95
IWC 94
France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock,
4
available
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95 points Robert Parker: "If it were not for the prodigious 1996, everyone would be concentrating on getting their hands on a few bottles of the fabulous 1995 Leoville-Las-Cases, which is one of the vintage's great success stories. The wine boasts an opaque ruby/purple color, and exceptionally pure, beautifully knit aromas of black fruits, minerals, vanillin, and spice. On the attack, it is staggeringly rich, yet displays more noticeable tannin than its younger sibling. Exceptionally ripe cassis fruit, the judicious use of toasty new oak, and a thrilling mineral character intertwined with the high quality of fruit routinely obtained by Las Cases, make this a compelling effort. There is probably nearly as much tannin as in the 1996, but it is not as perfectly sweet as in the 1996. The finish is incredibly long in this classic. Only 35% of the harvest was of sufficient quality for the 1995 Leoville-Las-Cases. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025. (Feb 1998)"
95 points Wine Spectator: "Pure violets, minerals and blackberries on the nose. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful. Still holding back a lot. This wine needs to break its chains. Give it time.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. (2007)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Deep ruby-red. Deep, lively aromas of red- and blackcurrants, licorice, tobacco and grilled nuts. Great sweetness and silky texture in the mouth currently overshadows the wine strong supporting acidity and tight core of spice and minerals. The toothcoating tannins don't cover as much of the mouth as those of the '96 do, but this wine offers uncanny length. (May/Jun 1998)"
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$89.95
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IWC 95
WA 94
Spain
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Red
In stock, 12+ available
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List $105.00
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95 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(80% tempranillo, 15% garnacha, 3% graciano and 2% mazuelo): Dark red. A kaleidoscopic bouquet evokes candied red fruits, incense, pipe tobacco and potpourri, with hints of woodsmoke, leather and Asian spices gaining strength in the glass. Silky and sweet, with intense raspberry liqueur and bitter cherry flavors that take a darker turn with air. Tangy acidity adds lift and focus to a strikingly long, sappy finish. This wine belies its age with its vivacity. (Sep 2012)"
94 points Neal Martin (Wine Advocate): "[$105 list] The 1995 Vina Bosconia Gran Reserva has an alluring leather, dried orange peel and strawberry leaf scented bouquet that blossoms beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine, elegant tannins. It is both precise and exquisitely defined with hints of cured meat and leather towards the graceful finish. Drink now-2018+. (Aug 2012)"
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$229.95
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RP 96
WS 94
France
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Bordeaux
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Red
In stock,
5
available
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96 points Robert Parker: "What sumptuous pleasures await those who purchase either the 1996 or 1995 Pichon-Lalande. It is hard to choose a favorite, although the 1995 is a smoother, more immediately sexy and accessible wine. It is an exquisite example of Pichon-Lalande with the Merlot component giving the wine a coffee/chocolatey/cherry component to go along with the Cabernet Sauvignon's and Cabernet Franc's complex blackberry/cassis fruit. The wine possesses an opaque black/ruby/purple color, and sexy, flamboyant aromatics of pain grille, black fruits, and cedar. Exquisite on the palate, this full-bodied, layered, multidimensional wine should prove to be one of the vintage's most extraordinary success stories. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020. (Feb 1998)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "Crushed blackberries, with licorice and light spice. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a caressing, delicious finish. Starting to come around. Rich, racy and balanced.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2007. (2007)"
18-18.5/20 points Stephen Brook (The World of Fine Wine): "Very deep red, scarcely any evolution. The nose is spicy and flamboyant, distinctly toasty from the new oak. Aromatically, this has rich cassis and black-cherry fruit and plenty of lift. The palate matches the nose: rich, very dense and concentrated, black fruits, with chewy tannins still very much present, without being either baked or dour. There is a lot of spice and a light savory character, plenty of life in the wine, and good drive. It's no longer youthful but not that evolved either, with good length and some finesse on the finish. (Issue #23; 2009)"
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$325.00
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WA 97
IWC 95
Italy
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Veneto
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Other
In stock,
5
available
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97 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "There’s not too much I can say about the 1995 Recioto other than it is a stunning, unforgettable wine. It explodes from the glass with an array of heady, exotic black cherries, graphite, roasted coffee beans and spices. Endowed with an almost port-like richness, it offers phenomenal concentration and depth on the palate without ever giving the impression of heaviness. It, too, is a remarkable wine in every way and is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025. (Oct 2007)"
95 points Ian D'Agata (International Wine Cellar): "Ruby-red. Pleasantly sweet nose of red cherry, espresso, milk chocolate and rose petal, with hints of peach and apricot. Remarkably fresh and lively in the mouth, with the peach and apricot notes adding another dimension to the chocolatey-ripe red fruits. A powerful yet graceful wine of uncommonly layered complexity and silky sweetness. The delicately balsamic finish goes on and on. May well be Italy's best sweet red wine. (Mar/Apr 2006)"
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$139.95
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RP 91
United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock,
4
available
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91 points Robert Parker: "The 1995 Monte Bello is actually a Proprietary Red Wine as the blend is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. It was made from an extremely severe selection of only 25% of the harvest. Paul Draper feels it is the biggest, brawniest, and most muscular Monte Bello of the 1990s, and in need of 10-15 more years of cellaring. This saturated ruby/purple-colored effort is still backward, with a closed nose of minerals, oak, and subtle black fruits. In the mouth, it is large-scaled, tannic, rich, and long, but nearly abrasive because of the wine's high tannin level. This youthful, muscular, monster Monte Bello will require significant cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035. (Dec 1998)"
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$69.95
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IWC 90
Italy
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Piedmont
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Barolo
In stock,
1
available
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Valentino Migliorini's first single-vineyard and most elegant Barolo, Vigna d'la Roul debuted with Rocche dei Manzoni's first vintage in 1974. Showing restraint, finesse, complexity and admirable structure, this wine speaks to the seasoned Barolo drinker. The most masculine of Manzoni's Barolos, Vigna d'la Roul displays intense notes of leather, earth, smoke and spice, along with a good dollop of fruit.
90 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Slightly deeper red. Deeper pitched aromas of plum, redcurrant and loam. Silkier entry, then richer, fuller and denser than the Vigna Big. Already shows inner mouth personality. Finishes long and sappy... (Nov/Dec 1998)"
Bastianich & Lynch (Vino Italiano Buying Guide): "The late, legendary Valentino Migliorini was one of Barolo's 'modernists,' and one of its biggest personalities. His wines have always been deeply extracted and aged in barrique, but for all their richness they hold on to their nebbiolo personality... 'Vigna d'la Roul' [is] the most delicate of the three [Barolos]. (2008)"
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