$200-$299 - Vinrare - Buy Fine Wine Online - Fine Wines International

1963 Warre (750ml)

$201.00

Wine Spectator 92

Extremely impressive, with beautifully balanced, harmonious sweet fruit on the palate. Medium ruby-red, ripe cherry and cassis aromas, medium-bodied, with rich, velvety fruit flavors, full, soft tannins and a powerful finish. (JS)

Serena Sutcliffe

Masses of rich plums and prunes on the flavour. So rich-such a surprise. Big wine. This is a great Warre and should not be missed whenever it appears.

1966 Grahams (750ml)

$235.00

Michael Broadbent 5 *

..another beauty, backed up with dozens of admiring notes..Eleven bottles decanted and consumed at the great dinner to clebrate the 30th anniversary of Christie's wine department: sheer perfection.

Wine Spectator 93

Elegant, silky and youthful, this is a sexy wine. Medium ruby-red, showing aromas of plums, chocolate and ripe fruit. The palate follows through with a bounty of sweet plum flavors and a fleshy mouth-feel. It should continue to improve with age.

1966 Taylor (750ml)

List Price: ~~$201.00~~ Our Price: $175.00

$175.00

Michael Broadbent 5 *

Deep, rich, maturing; sweet, full-bodied, shapely, firm, good length, still tannic in the early 1990s.

Wine Spectator 89

Rather perplexing, since it is still very hard and coarse. It makes one wonder if it will ever come around. Medium ruby, with a prune and ripe berry nose, medium-bodied, with ripe fruit flavors and rather lean, hard tannins.

1967 Caillou (750ml)

$300.00

FineWine International

A tremendous vintage in Barsac and Sauternes.

1971 Remoissenet Nuits St Georges Les Argillieres (750ml)

$220.00

1976 Heyl zu Herrnsheim Niersteiner Rehbach TBA (750ml)

List Price: ~~$275.00~~ Our Price: $238.50

$238.50

1977 Grahams (750ml)

$300.00

Robert Parker 93

Graham is another great port house, producing one of the deepest-colored and sweetest styles of vintage port. Along with Taylor and Fonseca, Graham has probably been the most consistent producer of great port in the post- World War II era. Their tawnys are quite good rather than exceptional, but their vintage ports are truly sublime and sumptuous.

Michael Broadbent 5 *

A very good wine. ..gradual colour loss through the 1980s but, as it matured, a wonderful melange of fragrances developing: liquorice, strawberry, fig; fleshy, lovely fruit. Nearly 20, always admiring notes..very rich, powerful bouquet opoening up beautifully; sweet, good body and backbone, marvellous length, spicy finish. Most recently: deliciou!

1978 Jaboulet Cote Rotie Les Jumelles (750ml)

$190.00

1979 La Mission Haut Brion (750ml)

$275.00

Robert Parker 90

"A strong effort from La Mission, the 1979 retains its healthy dark ruby/purple color. It offers a spicy, mineral, and cassis-scented bouquet, medium to full body, ripe, concentrated, muscular flavors, and a long finish."

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 88

The nose is very closed upon first acquaintance, but then some soft red-berried, wild hedgerow aromas reluctantly emerge. The palate is a little funky and I am not sure how representative it is? But still it has some attractive, ?animally? qualities in the middle with a herbaceous, almost rustic finish that has charm if not breeding. Drink now. Tasted May 2008.

1980 Sassicaia (750ml)

$300.00

1982 Leoville-Barton (750ml)

$260.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91+

Red-ruby. Highly aromatic nose of raspberry, redcurrant, graphite, licorice and cedar. Leanish, dry and classic, with firm acidity but less flesh than the '96. Lovely traditionally made claret, with terrific finesse and grip. Still evolving. (A second bottle showed a somewhat leathery nose and came across as drier in the middle palate; it was not quite as fresh as the better sample.) Drink now through 2020.

Robert Parker 92

This traditionally made, old style, extremely dense, powerful wine requires another 7-10 years of cellaring. An opaque dark garnet color is followed by aromas of sweet cedar, old wood, truffles, smoke, and underbrush. Big, thick, juicy, black currant, and cherry flavors can be found in this muscular, monster-sized, exceedingly tannic, dense, backward wine. Immensely impressive for its size, strength, and structure, this 1982 requires another 5-10 years of cellaring. It is unquestionably one of the most concentrated wines of the Medoc, and it should last another 30-40 years.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90

Tasted blind at Harry Gill?s annual lunch. This is one of the best bottles I have had: open-knit and rather herbaceous at first with wild hedgerow, pine cone, pencil shavings and cedar on the nose. It has lost a little intensity over the years, but still well defined. The palate is well balanced with leafy black fruit, very natural with fine acidity, though without the depth and the chutzpah that marked out later vintages. Drink now-2020. Tasted February 2010.

1990 Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Lumiere (750ml)

$250.00

Wine Spectator 93

For the adventurous. Bold, full bodied and assertive from the toasty-earthy aromas to the broad texture and nutty, buttery flavors that linger on the finish.

1990 Penfolds Bin 90 A (750ml)

List Price: ~~$275.00~~ Our Price: $225.00

$225.00

Robert Parker 91

"The Bin 90A is an outstanding wine with a deep, saturated ruby/purple color, and a smoky, roasted herb, blackcurrant, jammy-scented nose. Thick, rich, and full-bodied, with elevated tannin, this spicy, boldly-styled wine will drink well for 15-20 years."

FineWine International

Bin 90A is part of the special bin program developed by Max Schubert, the creator of the acclaimed Grange. The program was created in the early 1960's to isolate certain outstanding parcels of vineayard that produced exceptional wines. The Bin 90A is only the third special release since 1962.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 94

Tasted at the Fine Wine Experience Dream Fourteen tasting with Peter Gago. Sourced directly from Penfolds' library reserves. This is much more muted on the nose compared to the Bin 707. Sultry black cherries, raisin, a touch of date and Satsuma developing with time, good definition but this needs some more cellaring. The palate is medium-bodied, beautifully balance and pure with polished, rounded tannins. Very supple and lithe with mint, macerated black cherries, dates, leading to a sleek, liquorice and peppermint infused finish. The Bin 90A is a very classy number and at 20-years young, just a pup. Drink 2015-2030+ Tasted October 2009.

1990 Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne (750ml)

$185.00

Wine Spectator 94

A grand, traditional Champagne in the best sense. Full-bodied, beautifully balanced and luxuriously smooth in texture, offering subtle, complex accents of toasted almond to complement the base of fine fruit flavor.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92

Complex, nutty, vibrant aromas of orange peel, lemon oil, and biscuit. Very concentrated and intensely flavored; thick with extract in the style of the best '90s, but without any heaviness. Lemon and apple flavors really cling to the palate. Finishes very long and thoroughly ripe.

1990 Phelps Insignia California (750ml)

List Price: ~~$195.00~~ Our Price: $185.00

$185.00

Wine Spectator 90

"Still unyielding at age 10. Firm, dark and intense, chunky and chewy, with gritty tannins wrapped around a core of stewed plum and black cherry, with dashes of mineral and sage. Turns dry and tannic, but offers lots of substance and depth." --California Cabernet Retrospective. Best from 2002 through 2012. 5,725 cases made.

1990 Pol Roger Brut Rose (750ml)

$250.00

Wine Spectator 91

Great combination of abundant fruit flavors and elegant texture in a memorable rose. Has an authentic copper color, bright cherry-berry aromas shaded by spices and toast, and a lingering finish.

Robert Parker 90

" Salmon-orange color. Lively aromas of strawberry, orange peel, brioche and earth. Fresh, dry and intensely flavored, with subtle notes of red berries and earth. Long, clinging aftertaste."

1993 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne (750ml)

$181.00

Robert Parker 88

The most tannic of the three famous single vineyards is the 1993 Cote Rotie La Landonne. It is amazingly powerful and rich for the vintage, and reveals more fruit and intensity than it did prior to bottling. It exhibits a saturated ruby color, and copious amounts of pepper, tar, olives, licorice, and black cherry fruit in the nose. It remains the most muscular and structured of the three wines, and has managed to avoid the hollowness and vegetal character that plague so many 1993 northern Rhones.

1993 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline (750ml)

$181.00

Robert Parker 88

The 1993 Cote Rotie La Mouline exhibits a deep ruby color, light to medium body, soft, elegant aromas of toasty new oak, and a short finish with some unmistakable herbaceousness. The La Mouline character does come through in this supple wine, which is best drunk over the next 7-8 years.

1993 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve (750ml)

$201.00

1995 Bollinger R.D. (750ml)

$220.00

Wine Spectator 95

A dry, oxidative style, with wholegrain bread, ginger, roasted hazelnut and yeast notes lending complexity. Its structure comes into relief due to the dryness, but overall this is balanced and well-integrated, with a very long finish and an expansive aftertaste. Ideal with seafood and rich sauces or game birds. Drink now through 2020.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 93

Tasted at the Bollinger RD vertical in Paris. The 1995 RD has a more exotic nose than the 1996, perhaps more similar to the 1999 RD. It takes more time to unfurl, more introspective and delicate with touches of quince, litchi and mandarin. Good definition and focus. The palate is certainly more forward than the 1996 RD, but it has a beautiful entry with subtle honey notes, dried apricot, a touch of yeast, perhaps a finer thread of acidity that renders this a more elegant RD than the 1996, but not with the same sense of thrust and power and just a tad drier towards the finish. I would be drinking this now, but would cellar the 1996. Tasted July 2011.

1995 Lokoya Mt Veeder California (750ml)

$98.00

Wine Spectator 92

"A big, ripe and firmly tannic style, dense, chunky and chewy, but wade past the tannins and you'll get a glimpse of a complex, concentrated wine."

Robert Parker 91

The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder (1,600 cases) reveals an opaque purple color, and a sumptuous, Medoc-like nose of lead pencil, minerals, black currants, and smoky oak. It is extremely full-bodied and massive in the mouth, with sweet tannin, a layered, plushly-textured mid-palate, and a firm, exceptionally long, pure finish. This classic mountain-styled Cabernet Sauvignon can be drunk now, but it will be even better with 5-7 years of cellaring. It will keep for 2 decades. Another luxury operation in the Kendall-Jackson portfolio, this winery appears to be doing everything right. The wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignons made in limited quantities of 250-350 cases. The wines are aged in 100% French oak casks (45%-75% new), malolactic fermentation is done in barrel, and the wines are bottled with no filtration. All of these wines revealed outstanding aromatics, natural, chewy, expansive textures, and exceptionally ripe, concentrated fruit. Moreover, they are candidates for 20 or more years of cellaring. In short, I am very enthusiastic about this project.

1995 Lokoya Mt Veeder California (750ml)

$98.00

Wine Spectator 92

"A big, ripe and firmly tannic style, dense, chunky and chewy, but wade past the tannins and you'll get a glimpse of a complex, concentrated wine."

Robert Parker 91

The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder (1,600 cases) reveals an opaque purple color, and a sumptuous, Medoc-like nose of lead pencil, minerals, black currants, and smoky oak. It is extremely full-bodied and massive in the mouth, with sweet tannin, a layered, plushly-textured mid-palate, and a firm, exceptionally long, pure finish. This classic mountain-styled Cabernet Sauvignon can be drunk now, but it will be even better with 5-7 years of cellaring. It will keep for 2 decades. Another luxury operation in the Kendall-Jackson portfolio, this winery appears to be doing everything right. The wines are 100% Cabernet Sauvignons made in limited quantities of 250-350 cases. The wines are aged in 100% French oak casks (45%-75% new), malolactic fermentation is done in barrel, and the wines are bottled with no filtration. All of these wines revealed outstanding aromatics, natural, chewy, expansive textures, and exceptionally ripe, concentrated fruit. Moreover, they are candidates for 20 or more years of cellaring. In short, I am very enthusiastic about this project.

1995 Rochioli Little Hill Block California (750ml)

$225.00

Allen Meadows, Burghound

Noticeable brett mixes with otherwise pretty primary and secondary red fruit aromas complement sweet and delicious flavors of significant distinction and fine length. There is a slightly candied element to the finish but this is really quite lovely as the brett does not overwhelm the nose. 88 pts.

1995 Royal Tokaji, Tokaji Aszu Essencia (500ml)

$163.00

FineWine International

The Tokaji Aszu Essencia is the wine of legends. Made from super-concentrated botrytisized grapes, the Essencia is only made in exceptional years. Because of its high concentration of sugar it can take years to ferment. The alcohol is a very modest 8.5%. It can age almost indefinitely. The just released 1995 most be tasted to be belived. The wine is thick, unctuous but not in the least cloying thanks to the the acidity of the Fermint grape. The aromas and flavors combine peach, apricot,quince, orange, raisin, honey, and fig. The finish lingers on the palate for minutes. If you were down to your last sip of wine...this is the one you would want.

Wine Spectator 95

Thick and dense yet never heavy, with aromas that flit from floral and vegetal to caramel and smoke and back again. There's noticeable sweetness matched by a brisk acidity that need time to integrate. Fine, lingering finish. Seems monolithic today, so be patient.

1996 Jadot Batard Montachet (750ml)

$170.00

Robert Parker 92-95

Maison Louis Jadot's Batard-Montrachet has a super-ripe, intensely floral nose and a massive, muscular, dense, oily-textured, and full-bodied core of sweet fruit. White peaches, poached pears, juniper berries, and oak nuances can be discerned in this opulent yet focused wine. It should be at its peak from 2003-2010.

Allen Meadows, Burghound 91

Classic '96 in style and character with intense, pure, airy and superbly elegant, still entirely primary white fruit aromas followed by medium weight, delineated and cut flavors that offer wonderful length and first class transparency. What this is not is especially dense but the purity, vibrancy and sheer length are most impressive.

1996 Jadot Echezeaux (750ml)

$181.00

Robert Parker 89-91

This wine is medium-to-dark ruby-colored and exhibits dense and earthy red cherry aromatics. It is full-bodied, thickly-textured, chewy, and structured, packed with powerful freshly laid asphalt, blackberry, and charred oak flavors. Its long and well-defined finish reveals loads of powerful yet ripe tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2008. This wine (note: this is the Domaine bottling, there may also be a negociant bottling) is produced from a parcel in the Rouges sector (the western-most) of this large grand cru vineyard.

Wine Spectator 90

Oaky Pinot, with lots of mocha and vanilla, but the ripe fruit and cigar-tobacco complexity draw you in on the finish. Plenty of tannins, but it's round all the same. Pretty long finish. Much better than previously reviewed. Drink now through 2006. 150 cases made. ?PM

1996 Jadot Romanee St. Vivant (750ml)

$255.00

Robert Parker 91-93

This medium-to-dark ruby-colored wine exhibits lace-like, delicate and refined aromas of sweet red fruits, flowers, and perfume. This is a medium-bodied, feminine, intricately detailed, and elegant wine with tightly wound red berry fruit. It is obvious to me that with cellaring this wine will develop more body and power as its fruit blossoms and expands. Its persistent finish offers loads of perfectly ripened soft tannins. It should be at its best between 2003-2009.

Allen Meadows, Burghound 90

Deep ruby. Aromatically still quite closed and revealing only glimpses of earth and spice notes with racy and pure middle weight flavors that offer exceptionally good detail on the sappy finish underpinned by firm tannins and acidity. This is a really pretty effort that isn't particularly dense but it is well balanced and long.

1996 L'Eglise Clinet (750ml)

$179.00

Robert Parker 93

One of the few profound Pomerols in 1996, l'Eglise-Clinet turned out an uncommonly rich, concentrated wine that is performing well from bottle, even though it is displaying a more tightly-knit structure than it did from cask. The dark ruby/purple color is followed by notes of charcoal, jammy cassis, raspberries, and a touch of sur-maturite. Spicy oak emerges as the wine sits in the glass. It is fat, concentrated, and medium to full-bodied, with a layered, multidimensional, highly nuanced personality. This muscular Pomerol will require 3-5 years of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020.

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 90

Tasted single blind at FINE magazine?s vertical in Dusseldorf. There has a lovely, opulent, almost Burgundian bouquet in terms of its purity and verve. There is a pastille quality to the aromatics: strawberry and raspberry mixed with a touch of crushed stone. Very fine delineation. The palate is sweet on the entry with notes of mulberry, cedar, blackberry and a little white pepper. It is well balanced, concentrated, harmonious and it is just starting to melt towards the soft caressing finish. This is a good wine for a Pomerol ?96. Tasted February 2011.

1997 Giacosa Barbaresco Rabaja (750ml)

$285.00

Robert Parker 96

Giacosa's 1997 Barbaresco Rabaja boasts a fabulous nose of caramel, soy, herbs, black cherries, plums, and kirsch. Dense and full-bodied, with a spectacular, silky texture, gobs of glycerin, and a layered, multidimensional palate, it is immensely satisfying from both hedonistic and intellectual perspectives. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.

1997 Jadot Clos de la Roche (750ml)

$181.00

Robert Parker 89-91

The black/purple-colored 1997 Clos de la Roche bursts from the glass with mocha and baked berry fruit aromas. This is a huge, thick, muscular wine with cocoa powder and blackberry jam flavors. Deep, intense, and chewy, this powerful offering also possesses an impressively long and fresh finish. Drink it between 2002 and 2012

Allen Meadows, Burghound 90-93

An intensely sauvage nose that remains fresh and bright but clearly with forest floor and game nuances that also run through the rich, full and seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that possess good power and weight on the dusty, mouth coating and impressively persistent finale. Lovely and while not a truly large-scaled Clos de la Roche, this definitely enjoys grand cru focus and punch.

1997 Marilyn Merlot California (750ml)

$98.00

Wine- Maker Notes

The 1997 Marilyn Merlot is an exceptional bottle of wine. This rich Napa Valley Merlot is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, creating an impression of fullness in the mouth with a nice balance of acids and tannins and a suggestion of oak. Aromas of ripe, plump blackberry complement the lovely, lingering fruit on the finish.

1997 Peter Michael Les Pavots California (750ml)

$168.00

Robert Parker 96

The last two vintages of the proprietary red wine called Les Pavots have been spectacular. The 1997 Les Pavots (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc) possesses a hefty 14.5% alcohol. Nevertheless, there is no sense of overweight or flabbiness to this brilliant, Bordeaux-styled blend..The 1997's saturated black/purple color is followed by a gorgeously perfumed nose of licorice, cassis, sweet foresty scents, and toasty new oak. On the palate, the wine offers licorice, black currant jam, and notes of a woodfired oven. Dense, full-bodied, and huge, with superb purity, it performed amazingly well for having been bottled several months earlier.

1998 Araujo Eisele California (750ml)

$190.00

Robert Parker 91

"Medium-deep red. Complex, inviting aromas of plum leather, spice, game and Burgundian earth tones. Lush and sweet in the mouth, with plum, meat and leather flavors. Harmonious acids give shape to the wine without drying it. Finishes with sweet, rich tannins and very good length. This has filled in very nicely since I tasted it from barrel a year ago. A real standout of the vintage."

Wine Spectator 90

A supple, harmonious, well-crafted effort, with rich yet subtle earthy currant, tobacco, toasty-cedary oak and spicy anise notes. Very complete and focused, with fine-grained tannins on the finish.

1998 Boillot, Jean Marc Batard Montachet (750ml)

$225.00

Wine Spectator 97

Amazing mouthfeel to this ultrarich and super silky white Burgundy. Full-bodied, it displays loads of personality, with floral, dried apricot, perfume,late-harvest like notes, and the texture is to die for, as this balanced beauty curls around thepalate and ends with honeyed opulence. Drink now through 2015. 80 cases made.

1998 Clarendon Hills Astralis (750ml)

$260.00

Robert Parker 98

Just beginning to emerge from a relatively dormant state, this prodigious wine was showing the best it has yet performed., suggesting again that Clarendon Hills wines behave more like European wines in terms of needing time in the bottle. The saturated blue/purple color offers up notes of ripe black fruits intermixed with graphite, vanilla, mineral, and spice. Extremely thick, with a viscous texture, good underlying tannin and acidity, and fabulous length (nearly 50 seconds), this is certainly a prodigious effort that is now living up to the fame and extraordinary quality of this vintage. Nevertheless, I thought the wine needed about five years of cellaring two years ago, but now I tend to think it needs at least another 5-7 years of cellaring before it will begin to become an adolescent. It is a majestic, multi-dimensional, individualistic wine that certainly is world-class and undoubtedly profound. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030.

Wine Spectator 93

"Deep, dark and dense, a powerfully concentrated mouthful of cherry, blackberry, plum and exotic spice flavors that linger on the beautifully crafted finish. Stylish and graceful, it also has power."

1998 Harlan The Maiden California (750ml)

$110.00

Robert Parker 91

"The 1998 Maiden is also prodigious. I know it is tempting to pooh-pooh second wines, but this is no aftertought from owner Bill Harlan and the winemaking team of American Bob Levy and Frenchman Michel Rolland. The 1998 Maiden possesses a dense purple color and a knockout nose of cocoa, prunes, blackcerries, plums, and cassis. Spicy, with moderate tannin, and a viscosity and richness akin to beef blood, it is a gorgeous, concentrated, thick effort."

1998 Marilyn Merlot California (750ml)

$98.00

Wine- Maker Notes

This is the 14th vintage. It is a supple blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc grapes from the Napa Valley viticultural areas of Oakville, Rutherford and Yountville. Cinnamon and vanilla aromas from the oak compliment the milk chocolate and black cherry flavors of the fruit.

1998 Pride Mountain Reserve Claret California (750ml)

$163.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92+

"Saturated purple-ruby. Restrained but complex aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet, licorice, bitter chocolate and minerals. Juicy and very firmly built; conveys a stronger impression of acidity. Black fruits complicated by mocha and dark chocolate notes. Less broad than the reserve claret but subtler and longer. Finishes with nobler tannins and slowly mounting, extremely persistent flavor."

Robert Parker 93+

"The opaque purple-colored 1998 Reserve Claret (a blend of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot) reveals red and black fruit scents intermixed with vanilla, underbrush, and mocha/coffee. Long and opulently-textured, with lower acidity, fabulous fruit, a succulent, expansive mid palate, and a blockbuster, long finish, it is compelling stuff! Drink it over the next 12-15 years."

1998 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve (750ml)

$315.00

Robert Parker 94

"The color is medium to deep ruby, and the bouquet offers aromas of ripe strawberry and cherry candy, with kirsch liqueur thrown in for additional interest. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and fat, with high levels of sweet fruit, a velvety texture, multiple dimensions, and an explosive finish. It is an undeniably sexy, compelling Rayas that is already performing exceptionally well, despite having been bottled only a few months ago."

Wine Spectator 94

Deceptive because this isn't a showy wine-the aromas are soily, minerally, and shy-but there is amazingly intense ripe and lovely fruit here. Full-bodied, the ripenes of its black and red fruit coats and seduceds the palate. A symphony of flavors that plays harmoniously.

1998 Vieux Ch. Certan (750ml)

$235.00

Robert Parker 94-96

A prodigious effort, this dense ruby/purple-colored 1998 reveals an explosive bouquet of licorice, cedar, spice box, and jammy blackberry, currant, and cherry fruit. Profoundly concentrated, with great flavor, purity, as well as extraordinary complexity and palate presence, this wine boasts multiple layers of flavor, silky tannin, a thick, viscous texture, and a 45-second finish. The glycerin and huge extract conceal what appear to be high levels of tannin. Unusually for Vieux-Chateau-Certan, this wine contains no Cabernet Franc, being a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested at a low 34 hectoliters per hectare. It is a superstar of the vintage!

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 95

Tasted at the Bipin Desai?s VCC vertical in Los Angeles. This is obviously one of Alexandre Thienpont?s favourite vintages under his tenure (so far) ? no wonder he was disappointed when I told him the bottle was tainted. Sipped from another glass, this is patently developing a precocious bouquet brimming with cassis, blueberry and violet scents, spilling over the top of the glass. The palate is concentrated, silky smooth, viscous, almost opulent in style with a slightly lower level of acidity than I expected. A ravishing, Reubenesque finish, this is a decadent VCC that is turning out to be a generous wine. Drink 2012-2035+. Tasted November 2008.

1999 Kistler, Kistler Vineyard California (750ml)

$129.00

Robert Parker 93-95

"Also profound, the 1999 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard exhibits floral, black raspberry, berry, and earth notes. The wine is strikingly rich, with a velvety texture and underpinned by good acidity, full body as well as superb density, purity, and equilibrium."

1999 La Mondotte (750ml)

$290.00

Robert Parker 94

"Along with the 1997, the 1999 is the most forward and accessible La Mondotte yet produced. Its opaque purple color is followed by a glorious nose of candied black fruits, graphite, licorice, and underbrush. It is full-bodied and sumptuous, possessing amazing extract and richness for the vintage. Its high tannin is hidden by a wealth of glycerin, fruit, and extract. Moreover, the finish lasts for 35-45 seconds. This is an amazing achievement in 1999."

1999 Olivier-Leflaive Batard Montachet (750ml)

$185.00

Robert Parker 88-90

The 1999 Batard-Montrachet has demure flower and pear aromas. Medium-bodied, well-focused and balanced, this is a lemon, mineral, and crisp apple-flavored wine. It has excellent to outstanding grip as well as a driven personality.

2000 Araujo Eisele California (750ml)

$215.00

Wine Spectator 92

"A very complete and complex offering, exhibiting rich plum and red currant flavors, touches of anise, sage, herb and mineral, finishing with a plush, focused aftertaste."

Robert Parker 91

2000 La Vieille Julienne V.V. CNDP (750ml)

$220.00

Robert Parker 97

The 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (15% alcohol) emerges from a cold terroir in the northern sector of the appellation. The blend is generally 85% Grenache and equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre. Its opaque purple color is followed by a sumptuous perfume of creme de cassis, kirsch liqueur, licorice, plums, minerals, and smoke. Mammoth in the mouth, but surprisingly structured and tannic for a 2000, it is more evolved than its 2001 counterpart. This profound Chateauneuf should evolve slowly and age magnificently for two decades. It is a monumental effort, but patience will be a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025.

2000 Marcoux Chateaunuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (750ml)

$220.00

Robert Parker 96

The 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes carries its 15% alcohol well. Though a compelling offering, and undoubtedly one of the wines of the vintage, it does not possess that magical extra dimension of greatness found in the 2001. Nevertheless, I would be thrilled to drink it anytime ... anywhere! The floral component of white flowers intermixed with melted licorice, blackberry liqueur, plums, and prunes is followed by an expansive, sexy, silky-textured, full-bodied Chateauneuf with great depth, purity, and lusciousness. As with its younger sibling, the finish lasts for nearly a minute. Again, it is a singular expression of Chateauneuf du Pape that is totally different than its peers. Strikingly rich, dense, and opulent, with a breathtaking array of complexity and flavors, its low acidity, ripe tannin, and wealth of glycerin suggest drinking it now and over the next 15-16 years.

2000 Marilyn Merlot California (750ml)

$98.00

Wine- Maker Notes

The 2000 vintage Marilyn Merlot is a blend of 87% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. The addition of the two Cabernets gives the wine an increased floral fragrance and a more solid structure on the palate. Vanilla and milk chocolate aromas from French oak barrels nicely frame the ripe black cherry flavors of the fruit."

2000 Montrose (750ml)

$181.00

Robert Parker 96

This estate has frequently hit the bull's eye over recent vintages, and the 2000 Montrose is the finest effort produced since the compelling 1990 and 1989. This gigantically sized, tannic, backward effort boasts a saturated inky purple color followed by a huge nose of acacia flavors, crushed blackberries, creme de cassis, vanilla, hickory smoke, and minerals. Extremely full-bodied, powerful, dense, and multi-layered, this unreal Montrose should last for 30+ years. A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, this is a special wine that has exceptional purity and length.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94

Full red-ruby. Roasted, smoky aromas of blackberry, blueberry and licorice. Plush, dense and large-scaled; expands impressively in the mouth. Chocolatey-ripe but kept fresh by nicely integrated acidity. Offers lovely sweetness without going over the top. Finishes with big, dusty, horizontal tannins and lovely aromatic persistence. Offers extraordinary texture and depth of flavor for a wine with just 12.8% alcohol.

Robert Parker 95+

I found this to be one of the more backward wines of the 2000 vintage and gave it a window of maturity of 2015-2040 when I reviewed it in 2003. In my two recent tastings of it, I changed that window to 2018-2050, which probably says more than the following tasting note could say. This is a behemoth � dense, highly extracted, very tannic, broodingly backward, with a dense purple color and very little evolution since it was bottled 8 years ago. Wonderfully sweet cedar and fruitcake notes are intermixed with hints of creme de cassis, licorice, and earthy forest floor. It is full-bodied and tannic, with everything in place, but like so many wines that come from Leoville Barton, it makes a mockery of many modern-day consumers wanting a wine for immediate gratification. Those who bought it should continue to exercise patience and be proud to own a wonderful classic with five decades of longevity ahead of it. June 2010

2000 Pichon Lalande (750ml)

$295.00

Robert Parker 97

"A dramatic effort, the 2000 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and a whopping 10% Petit Verdot. Only 40% of the harvest made it into the grand vin. Its dense purple color is followed by fabulous aromas of creme de cassis intermixed with roasted espresso, violets, and toast. It has a superb entry on the palate, full body, an opulent texture, silky tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. This stunning wine will provide unreal drinking early on, but age for three decades. Bravo! Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025."

Wine Spectator 95

"Muscular Pichon. Classic character. Intense aromas of currant bush and minerals follow through to a full-bodied palate, with loads of velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Some people find this herbraceous, but it reminds me of a currant bush more than something green. This character is dues to a higher percentage of Petit Verdot than normal. Best after 2010."

Robert Parker 96

Sitting next to my former colleague, Pierre Antoine Rovani, at one of the tastings, he commented that he didn�t like the striking green note in the aromatics of this wine, which I didn�t detect at all, and a subsequent bottle at another tasting did not reveal it either. I do think there is a hint of bay leaf and a meatiness to it. In short, I find this to be a spectacular Pichon Lalande. Dense purple in color, with loads of coffee, mocha, creme de cassis, and chocolate notes, this is a somewhat unusual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and a whooping 10% Petit Verdot, with a little bit of Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot certainly gives the wine more of a tapenade, floral note, which I think can be interpreted by some as herbal. This is a rich, opulent, stunning Pichon Lalande that is beginning to drink beautifully, yet should continue to improve for at least another 10-15 years and last 30 or more years June 2010

2000 Vieux Ch. Certan (750ml)

$225.00

Robert Parker 95

The dense ruby/purple-colored, tight 2000 gradually reveals notes of oak, tapenade, blackberries, spice box, licorice, and vanilla. Deep, medium to full-bodied, and powerful, with superb purity, low acidity, and high tannin, this backward, concentrated Vieux Chateau Certan falls just short of rivaling the sensational 1998.

Robert Parker 95

A gorgeous wine of grace, elegance, and power, this youthful 2000 will benefit from another five years of cellaring. It appears to have 25 more years of life ahead of it. A deep ruby/purple color is just beginning to lighten at the edges. The bouquet offers up scents of cedar wood, melted licorice, black currants, blackberries, caramel, and mocha. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and pure with low acidity as well as formidable tannins in the long finish, the 2000 should rival vintages such as 2005, 2006, and 2009. June 2010

Neil Martin, Wine Journal, eRobert Parker 96

Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index?s 2000 tasting in London. This has a very pure, very sensuous nose with red-berried fruit, wild strawberry, raspberry, a touch of marmalade and quince in the background. Very good definition with a faint hint of iodine developing with time. The palate is full-bodied, very pure and well defined, yet so linear at this point. This is a wine that retains its foetal position but what a future in store! It is so smooth and harmonious towards the elegant, feminine finish. Drink 2028-2040. Tasted March 2010.