$50-$99 - Vinrare - Buy Fine Wine Online - Fine Wines International

2001 Karl Lawrence California (750ml)

$65.00

Wine Enthusiast 92

"This is a big, dry, plush, ripe and very fine Cabernet, but it?s an infant in serious need of time. There are numbing tannins that frame deliciously sweet black cherry, blackberry and herb flavors."

2001 Kistler, Hudson California (750ml)

List Price: ~~$72.00~~ Our Price: $62.10

$62.10

Robert Parker 91

The 2001 Chardonnay Hudson E-Block exhibits a light gold color as well as scents of butter, caramel, and hazelnuts. Made in an exuberant, medium to full-bodied style, with loads of fruit, outstanding purity, and a long, lusty finish, this classic Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay should drink well for 5-6 years

Wine Spectator 91

"Deep, rich and concentrated, with a complex range of ripe pear, citrus, fresh earth, herb and sage flavors that are well-focused and persistent, leading to a long, supple, harmonious aftertaste."

2001 La Rasina IL Divasco Brunello (750ml)

List Price: ~~$91.00~~ Our Price: $79.00

$79.00

Wine Spectator 96

"Blackberry, licorice and cherry with hints of vanilla. Full-bodied, with fabulous fruit and ultrafine tannins. This goes on for minutes on the palate. A selection from a 2.5-acre plot on the estate, containing 12-year-old vines. This is the first year for this cru. Best after 2009. 200 cases made."

2001 Leonetti Washington (750ml)

$61.00

Wine Spectator 92

Bright and generous. A lively mouthful of blackberry, currant and floral aromas and flavors, picking up a fresh-earth quality as the finish lingers. Shows less oak than earlier vintages and gorgeous fruit.

Robert Parker 90

Cedar spices dominate the nose of the 2001 Merlot. A well-structured, medium-bodied wine, it offers loads of blackberry flavors in its broad, lengthy personality.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90+

Bright ruby. Primary aromas of black raspberry, licorice and espresso complemented by sexy oak. Penetrating and intensely flavored, with a tight, sweet kernel of dark fruit flavor. Quite bright and shapely, but really needs another year or so in the bottle to show greater complexity. 90(+?)

2001 Palazzo Brunello (750ml)

List Price: ~~$60.00~~ Our Price: $55.00

$55.00

Wine Spectator 88

Crushed berry character, with lots of new oak and vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh finish. Firm still. A little austere. Best after 2007.

2001 Pavie Decesse (750ml)

$85.00

Robert Parker 95

"This 23-acre vineyard, acquired by Gerard and Chantal Perse in 1997, is situated on the south-facing limestone plateau above Chateau Pavie. This blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc (from vines averaging 41 years of age) was cropped at a meager 30 hectoliters per hectare. After a five week maceration, the wine was aged 18 months in 100% new oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered (as are all the Perse wines). An inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by rich aromas of Asian spices, soy, black truffles, licorice, espresso, and intense cherry and blackberry fruit. It displays great intensity, medium to full body, low acidity, and high tannin. This beauty is not far off the pace of the blockbuster 2000. "

Wine Spectator 93

"Big and Porty, with loads of berry, vanilla, spice and floral character. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, rich finish. Very impressive. "

2001 Pian Dell Orino Brunello (750ml)

List Price: ~~$69.00~~ Our Price: $59.00

$59.00

Robert Parker 91

"Impressive blackberry, floral and mineral character. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and beautiful berry, plum and vanilla flavors. Long and flavorful."

2001 Poggiarellino Brunello (750ml)

List Price: ~~$50.00~~ Our Price: $40.00

$40.00

FineWine International

?Poggioiarellino cares for the vineyard in traditional manners. The grapes are thinned while still green on the vine and are carefully selected and sorted at harvest. While this practice limits quantities it raises the quality in the bottle. Fermentation is done with wild yeast in the traditional manner and aging is done in mid-sized Slovenian oak barrels. After aging the wine is bottled without filtering and is aged an additional 8 months in bottle.?

2001 Saint Cosme Cotie Rotie (750ml)

$88.00

Wine- Maker Notes

100% Syrah from some of the greatest top secret sites on the C�te Brune. Aged 15 months in new oak and bottled without fining or filtration.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89

Dark red. Aromas of raspberry, coffee, mocha, flowers and exotic woodsmoke. Sweet and fairly pliant but powerfully structured and backward, with a strong impression of extract. Finishes with pepper and oak notes and fairly fine tannins. But this big boy needs a few years of additional bottle aging.

2001 Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Reserve California (750ml)

$75.00

Robert Parker 89

The 2001 Elivette, which is again a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend, is better than I remember it after bottling. Foresty black currant notes intermixed with some fresh sauteed porcini mushrooms, damp earth and a floral note are all noticeable in the impressive perfume. Medium-bodied, slightly more compact than the Cabernet Sauvignon, but displaying nice, sweet tannin and very good fruit, this wine should drink well for another 10-12 years.

2001 St. Clement Howell Mountain California (750ml)

$82.00

2001 Stony Hill California (1.5L)

List Price: ~~$85.00~~ Our Price: $69.00

$69.00

Wine Enthusiast 92

"Stony Hill Chards are famous for their longevity, but the price of that is hardness in youth. This is a mineral-laden, acidic young wine. The fruit has barely begun clawing its way to the surface. I?ve had Stony Hill Chards at 20-plus years of age and they were fabulous. "

2001 Tenuta di Belguardo, IGT (750ml)

List Price: ~~$65.00~~ Our Price: $55.00

$55.00

Wine Spectator 94

Wow. Rich and powerful, with intense aromas of crushed raspberry, blackberry and just a hint of wood. Full-bodied and very rich in ripe tannins, with a long, rich fruit finish. Mazzei knows how to make serious wines. Proves that Maremma is an excellent region. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot.

2001 Turley, Rattlesnake Acres California (750ml)

$78.00

2001 Verasion, Stagecoach Vineyard California (750ml)

$50.00

2001 Villa le Prata Brunello (750ml)

List Price: ~~$63.00~~ Our Price: $58.00

$58.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"Full red-ruby. Quite reduced on the nose, with a dominant aroma of crushed blackberry. Sweet, dense and concentrated if a bit unrefined, with reduced flavors of dark berries, cherry and cola, complicated by smoke and meat. Very rich, old school Brunello with strong material and good backbone. Give this a good aeration if you plan to serve it anytime soon."

2001 Vineyard 7 Reserve Cabernet California (750ml)

$98.00

Robert Parker 90-92

"The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve reveals more texture than the 2000, in addition to concentrated black fruit intermixed with hints of tar, vanilla, and spice box. Nicely layered, medium to full-bodied, dense, and firmly tannic, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring, and should age well for 15+."

FineWine International

With hints of cocoa, vanilla, black cherry and cassis, this rich yet sleek and complex Cabernet Sauvignon has all the hallmarks of a grand cru Bordeaux. Exhibiting well integrated, ripe yet firm tannins and a long lingering finish, it is very enjoyable now but will gain even more complexity with age.

Wine Enthusiast 90

"From the former general manager at Ch�teau Lafite, this is a young, tannic wine, with a considerable amount of new oak, yet it shows quite a degree of balance and finesse. Very dry, with a fresh Cabernet nose, this wine is also earthy and a bit astringent."

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences

"Exceptional: Cedar and sandalwood with superb black and deep-set fruit. Seems to have the tannin to aged. Time will tell."

2001 ZD Reserve California (750ml)

$75.00

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 90

Rich in the toasted coconut, vanilla bean smells from oak barrel aging, this ripe, balanced and somewhat fleshy offering delivers plenty of Cabernet fruit once past its creamy, cedary coverlet. In the mouth, it is especially impressive for its admirable depth and its luxuriously lengthy flavors. It should improve for some years yet and hold for up to a decade. Limited production and/or limited geographic distribution.

Wine Spectator 91

This wine grows on you, revealing both rich and subtle flavor nuances that spread out nicely. Built around a core of ripe cherry, wild berry and blackberry fruit, it picks up hints of sour cherry candy, currant, anise and cedary oak. The long, complex finish is supported by firm but ripe and polished tannins.

2002 Almaviva Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml)

$97.00

Robert Parker 93

"The 2002 Almaviva is the finest produced to date by this joint venture between Vina Concha y Toro and the Baron Philippe de Rothschild. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine has a saturated, opaque, black ruby color as well as nose of sweet dark fruits, spices, and vanilla-laced smoky new oak. On the palate, this medium to full-bodied effort is broad, lush, and velvety-textured. Blackberries, cassis liqueur, and black cherries make up this deep, seamless wine?s flavor profile. It is concentrated, has outstanding balance, and a long, suave, ripe tannin-filled finish."

Wine Spectator 91

"Mature now, with a softening backbone and notes of roasted sage, tobacco, briar and cedar emerging from the core of plum and black currant sauce notes. The cedar edge blossoms on the finish."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90

"Dense ruby color. Cassis, cherry preserve and dark plums tinged with oak spices on the nose, with suggestions of cured tobacco and fresh herbs. A supple midweight with rich dark berry flavors and strong suggestions of bitter chocolate and cracked pepper that build with air. Impressive for the vintage and already showing well. Finishes with silky tannins and repeating exotic oak tones."

2002 Banyuls, Dr. Parce, Le Coume (375ml)

$50.00

2002 Chappellet Pritchard Hill California (750ml)

$72.00

FineWine International

This is the best Cabernet Franc I can remember tasting from California. It is approachable now, with very supple, beautiful fruit flavors of cherry, and blackberry. Add hints of spoice, licorice, nutmeg and ginger and you have the making for a complext wine not typical for California. A long, long finish cmpletes the package. Highly recommended.

2002 Darioush Signature California (750ml)

$84.00

Wine Spectator 91

Dark and immense, with deeply concentrated currant, plum and black cherry fruit that's accented by exotic spices and pretty toasty oak scents that unfold, revealing extra facets of depth and complexity. On the finish the fruit is still prominent with rich, chewy tannins and a dash of chocolate.

2002 DuBrul Vineyards, Carriage House Washington (750ml)

$69.00

Wine- Maker Notes

"The 2002 C�te Bonneville Carriage House is estate grown DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) Cabernet Franc (13%) and Merlot (10%). The wine was aged for 20 months in new French oak barrels. Although unfined and unfiltered, the wine exhibits remarkable clarity in its deep purple color. Aromas and flavors of bright cherry and black raspberry are accented by vanilla with hints of cocoa and cinnamon lingering on the finish. The wine is very approachable now, unfolds with decanting, and will continue to develop for a decade. It pairs well with lamb, beef or wild game, and is delightful with dark chocolate. This vintage of Carriage House was bottled on May 24, 2004 Alcohol measured 14.4%. 200 cases were produced."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89

Red-ruby. Superripe aromas of plum liqueur and cedary, nutty oak. Fat, sweet and large-scaled, with a liqueur-like exotic quality to the sappy cassis, redcurrant and red cherry flavors. A concentrated, dense fruit bomb that finishes with nicely integrated tannins.

2002 Dunn, Howell Mountain California (750ml)

$87.00

Robert Parker 91-93

The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain exhibits an inky/blue/purple color along with a sweet perfume of pure blackberries, meat, new saddle leather, and flowers. From an unusually ripe harvest, this sweet, rich, fleshy offering displays more accessibility than many Howell Mountain vintages. Randy Dunn said it was important to drop crop, and he eliminated 40% of the fruit from the vines in both 2002 and 2001. The long, concentrated 2002 may not be the biggest Howell Mountain cuvee, but it will provide lovely drinking between 2009-2024.

2002 Kistler, Vine Hill California (750ml)

List Price: ~~$72.00~~ Our Price: $62.10

$62.10

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93

"Bright, pale medium yellow. Captivating nose combines grapefruit, underripe pineapple, crushed stone and musky baking spices. Then rich and lush yet sharply delineated on the palate, with very dry flavors of pineapple, spices and stone. A very rich chardonnay that's still a bit youthfully subdued. Finishes long, ripe and dry, with a flavor of dusty stone."

Robert Parker 92-95

"A spectacular offering, the 2002 Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard (adjacent to the Kistler winery) tastes like a California version of a great Batard-Montrachet. This dense, rich, layered, multidimensional Chardonnay builds incrementally in the mouth to reveal leesy notes intermixed with liquid minerals, lemon rind, citrus oils, and orange marmalade. Like its siblings, it reveals subtle oak notes along with great purity, tremendous palate presence, full body, and a majestic style. However, patience will be required."

2002 La Jota Anniversary California (750ml)

$80.00

Wine & Spirits 94

The graciousness of the fruit defies the tannic weight of this wine, leaving a velvet impression, remarkably approachable for a young Howell Mountain cabernet, and extremely delicious. It's from vines the Smith family, the founders of La Jota, originally planted in the late '70s. The structure is there, underpinning the fresh black fruit, the acidity edging it with eucalyptus. Plump and satin-textured on release, this should age into a beauty. Drink 2010-'12 with a grilled rib eye."

Wine Enthusiast 96

"Classic Howell Mountain tannins, powerful and focused, but ripely sweet, frame opulent cherry, cassis, plum sauce and new oak flavors, and for all that, there?s a crisp edge of acidity that makes everything clean and bright. Drink now through 2012."

2002 Montelena Napa California (1.5L)

List Price: ~~$90.00~~ Our Price: $79.00

$79.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90

"Bright aromas of spiced apple, pear, lime and mint; a bit cooler and livelier than the more tropical, caramelly 2001. Then juicy, firm-edged and penetrating, with a strongly mineral quality. Shows very good flavor development and intensity but is not yet pliant in the middle palate. Finishes with a juicy apple quality and very good length and cut. This will call for at least a year or two of additional aging when it's released in the fall."

Robert Parker 90

"After a year of bottle age, the 2002 Chardonnay continues to reveal fresh apple blossom, white pear, and white peach notes in a medium-bodied, crisp style with good depth as well as refreshing acidity. Purity is a characteristic of these Chardonnays, and it is found in both the 2002 and 2003. Montelena has gotten away from their Calistoga cuvee, a blend of Cabernet, and now simply calls it Napa. They are trying to ratchet up the level of quality and are being more selective about the fruit that goes into this bottling."

2002 Ramonet Chassagne Montrachet Les Chaumees (750ml)

List Price: ~~$87.00~~ Our Price: $75.60

$75.60

Allen Meadows, Burghound 91

This is quite ripe but there are still aromas of green fruit mixing with the peach and apricot notes. Exuberant, fresh and very sappy medium full flavors that offer excellent definition and vibrant, indeed very firm acidity on the backend. This completely coats the mouth and I especially like the finishing intensity. Outstanding

2002 Taupenot-Merme Morey St. Denis La Riotte (750ml)

$55.00

2002 Tor Kenward Clone 4 California (750ml)

$75.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91

"Deep ruby-red. Claret-like aromas of currant, plum, cedar and mocha. Tightly coiled and complex, with plum, smoke and graphite flavors complicated by fresh herbs and a saline nuance. Finishes long and firmly tannic but not dry. Offers very good life in the mouth, especially for a cabernet from this vintage. Strong potential here."

Robert Parker

The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll Clone 4 is not as impressive as the 2001. Leaner, with dry tannin, a distinctive herbaceousness, medium body, and red/black currant flavors, this correct, pleasant Cabernet lacks the depth found in Tor Kenward?s other cuvees.

2002 Turley, Hayne Vineyard California (750ml)

$98.00

Robert Parker 93-95

The 2002 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard (400 cases) represents the essence of this varietal. It is an intriguing, provocative effort boasting an inky/purple color as well as a sumptuous nose of graphite intermixed with melted licorice, espresso, chocolate, blackberries, blueberries, and concentrated creme de cassis. Pepper and flower-like aromas are also present, but no oak is noticeable in this massively extracted, phenomenally rich, shockingly well-balanced Petite Syrah. Its purity and palate impression are fantastic. Cellar it for 5-10 years, and drink it over the following two decades.

2002 Twomey California (750ml)

$75.00

Robert Parker 94

Even better than the 2001 is the 2002 Merlot, a blend of 99.4% Merlot and .6% Cabernet Franc. The good news is that there are 10,845 cases of this sex pot of a Merlot. An exotic perfume of pepper, herbs, black cherries, plums, and raspberries is accompanied by an exciting texture, a plush, fleshy palate, and a concentrated, long heady, moderately tannic finish. This wine should improve over the next 2-3 years and last for 10-14. Very impressive! This is a top-flight single-vineyard wine aged completely in French oak, which is in total contrast to the wines made at Silver Oak.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91

Deep red-ruby. Ripe, complex nose melds plum, currant, chocolate, beefsteak tomato and smoked meat. Lush and sweet in the middle palate, with very fine-grained flavors of dark currant, smoke, licorice and sassafras. Finishes longer and sweeter than the 2003. Very sexy and complex California merlot.

2002 Vineyard 7 Reserve Cabernet California (750ml)

$98.00

FineWine International

The 2002 Vineyard 7 Reserve is a bigger wine than the 2001 but not at the expense of elegance and finesse. It already exhibits a complex nose of ripe, black currants and blackberries intermixed with whiffs of cedar, tobacco, spice and cocoa powder. There is a wonderful balance to the wine in the mouth and the rich complex flavors reflect their aromatic profile. A touch of smoky oak enhances the complexity without taking away from the exquisite flavors and long lingering finish. While impressive now this wine is destined for a long life. Additional aging for a decade or more should bring out the best in this wine.

Decanter Magazine 4*

"Complex, and evolving, integrated oak and fruit. Beautifully complex, integrated wine. Harmonious now but has structure to last. Long finish. Up to 7 years." (Beverly Blanning MW)

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences

"Exceptional: The 2002 is bolder, (than the 2001)..but younger wine with eqal richness and structure."

Robert Parker 90-92

"The ripest effort of this trio is the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Sweet black currant fruit, earth, cedar, licorice, and a touch of toasty oak scents are followed by textured, chewy, red and black fruit flavors, hints of chocolate and loamy soil notes, and a chewy, long finish revealing large-scaled but ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2023."

Wine Enthusiast 92

This 100% mountain Cab is very, very tannic. Ripe blackberry fruit begins to flatter, and then those tannins rush up like linebackers and shut everything down. This suggest aging. Balanced and dry, it should begin to come into its own by 2008 and develop for many years. Cellar Selection

2002 Williams Selyem Vista Verde California (750ml)

$78.00

Robert Parker

The monolithic, foursquare 2002 Pinot Noir Vista Verde exhibits a deep ruby color along with hints of black and red fruits. This tight, structured Pinot Noir is not my style, but it should last for 5-6 years.

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 91

If slightly restrained with respect to fruit in the nose and showing touches of mushroom and a bit of forest-floor spice atop its subdued sense of cherries, this one comes up big on fruit on the palate with a healthy sense of ripeness and plenty of oak to its deep and continuous flavors. There is again a light touch of the soil lurking back of its fruit, and the wine is as complex in taste as it is genuinely rich. Its last-minute trim of finishing toughness will easily smooth out with age, and it keeps comfortable pace with the more serious entrants in this month's race for recommendation. Two Puffs

2003 Braida Barbera Al Suma (750ml)

List Price: ~~$92.00~~ Our Price: $80.00

$80.00

Antonio Galloni 90

2003 Barbera d?Asti ai SumaFully saturated violet. The 2003 is a touch more complex, with a huge nose of ripe fruit, chocolate, spices, licorice and toasted oak followed by masses of concentrated over-ripe dark fruit, in a full-bodied style that offers much persistence on the palate and finishes with considerable length. 90/drink now-2013, 08/05

2003 Campo Eliseo, Tinto de Toro (750ml)

$72.00

Robert Parker 90

Not as profound as the 2001, this wine, made by the brilliant Bordeaux oenologist team of Dany and Michel Rolland, exhibits a dense ruby/purple-tinged color along with sweet aromas of kirsch, black fruits, licorice, pepper, and spice box. Opulent and medium-bodied, with abundant fruit, nicely integrated wood, acidity, alcohol, and tannin, and a fleshy, long finish, it will drink well for 7-8 years.

Wine Spectator 92

This modern red is rich and plush, coating the mouth with ripe tannins that carry coffee, chocolate, plum and cassis flavors. Big but balanced. Stays harmonious through the floral finish.

2003 Climens (375ml)

$72.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92-95

Palish yellow color. Aromas of peach, mirabelle and mentholatum. Racy, gripping and quite fine, with juicy acidity contributing to an impression of energy. Very Barsac in style, even in this freakishly hot year. Still some oakiness to be integrated. Not at all exotic in the middle, but hints at almond and plum brandy on the back. This will need time to harmonize.

Robert Parker 95-97

2003 is a rich, sweet vintage of powerful, full-bodied wines that possess huge levels of glycerin, alcohol, and residual sugar.

Wine Spectator 96

Loads of honey, maple syrup, dried apricot and spice. Full-bodied, medium-sweet, with a refined, spicy character. Pretty wine. Masses of botrytis. This is refined and long, a racy wine compared with the power and muscle of so many others. Beauty among the beasts.

2003 Clos du Val Reserve (750ml)

$50.00

Decanter Magazine

Best New World Red: Although based in the Stags Leap District, Clos Du Val's Pinot Noir comes from the cooler Carneros. Full velvety colour, fine ripe Pinot fruit with more weight than expected, great purity and depth, this is a very good wine from an estate better known for its Cabernets.-- Steven Spurrier

2003 Dancer, Vincent Chassagne Montrachet La Romanee (750ml)

List Price: ~~$87.00~~ Our Price: $75.60

$75.60

Robert Parker 89

"Toast, minerals, pears, and hints of citrus fruits make up the aromatic profile of the 2003 Chassagne-Montrachet La Romanee (white). This excellent, refined wine is one of the two whites Dancer acidified (the other is the village Chassagne). It reveals lovely depth of fruit, a medium-bodied personality, and a silky, well-fashioned character filled with pears, minerals, and spices whose effects linger in its long finish. Projected maturity: now-2010."

2003 Duckhorn Napa Estate California (750ml)

$77.00

Wine Spectator 89-91

Turns up the volume, with spicy, toasty oak and firm, chewy tannins wrapped around a core of spicy currant, blackberry and plum fruit. Fine structure.

Wine Enthusiast 92

As always, Duckhorn�s Cab this year is a very tannic wine. But it�s a very fine wine, packed with ripe black currant and cassis fruit, and coated with spicy, toasty oak. This firm wine needs long decanting, and should develop well through 2012 or so.

2003 Forman California (750ml)

$55.00

Robert Parker 90

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is uncommonly approachable. Its dark ruby color is accompanied by sweet aromas of plums, black cherries, and currants. With soft, silky tannin, medium body, and a Bordeaux-like weight, this Cabernet was clearly inspired by Bordeaux clarets. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91+

Bright ruby-red. Very ripe nose shows an almost Margaux-like floral lift to its aromas of boysenberry, licorice and mint. Sweet and elegantly styled, with very suave, nicely delineated flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and violet. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and lovely juicy persistence. Less dense and perhaps lower in extract than the 2004 but brighter and more ethereal. This may well merit an even higher score with three to five years of additional bottle aging.

2003 Fuligni Brunello (750ml)

List Price: ~~$65.00~~ Our Price: $50.00

$50.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93

Medium red-ruby. Complex aromas and flavors of plum, redcurrant, tobacco and earth. Round, sweet and concentrated, with a fine-grained texture and considerable elegance. I like the sexy oak spice component here, which is in harmony with the wine's fruit. Finishes quite long, with well-buffered tannins. A beauty.

Robert Parker 93

Fuligni's gorgeous 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is unquestionably one of the stars of the vintage. Made in a style that captures elements of both traditional and modern styles, it presents a very attractive array of ripe red fruits, smoke, tar and tobacco and toasted oak on a firm, classically-built frame. While it isn't quite as fresh as some of the other Brunellos from this part of the zone, its seamless texture and silky tannins make for a beautifully-balanced wine to enjoy now and over the next dozen years or so. This is just about as good as it gets in the tricky 2003 vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015. Antonio Galloni

2003 Grand-Puy-Lacoste (750ml)

List Price: ~~$80.00~~ Our Price: $70.00

$70.00

Robert Parker 88

An atypically superficial effort from one of my favorite Pauillacs, the 2003 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is very good, but it does not stand up to some of the finest northern Medoc offerings. A deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a moderately intense bouquet of black currants and underbrush. It hits the palate with good fruit and medium body, but tails off in the finish. It is an elegant, lighter-styled example of this generally high-class performer. It can be consumed over the next 10-12 years.

Wine Spectator 92

Blackberry and licorice aromas, with full body, very fine tannins and a long finish. Very silky. So much for jammy wines in 2003. Very fresh and refined. Best after 2008.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90

Good red-ruby color. Very ripe aromas of redcurrant and smoke. Dense and sweet but a tad rustic, with flavors of roasted dark fruits, chocolate and menthol. Offers a smooth texture, ripe acidity and sneaky length, but could use more precision of flavor and thrust.

2003 Highland Estates, Hawkeye Vineyard California (750ml)

$50.00

Robert Parker 88-90

Top-notch, although slightly tannic and earthy, the 2003 Highland Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Hawkeye Mountain emerges from a very high elevation (1,822 feet) vineyard planted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its dense purple color is followed by a stony, earthy, terroir-driven nose, black currants, high tannin, and a backward, primordial personality. It requires 2-3 more years of bottle age to round into shape. Only time will tell whether the tannin or fruit will ultimately dominate.

Wine & Spirits 91

"..this wine leads with tannin and ends with more savory tannin. In between, there's plenty of wild cherry and fresh black currant flavor to cut through the dense blackness. A sophisticated, foresty cabernet with the structure to evolve for a decade, this could be made accesible sooner by paring it with a grilled T-bone.

2003 Hyde de Vallaine California (750ml)

List Price: ~~$60.00~~ Our Price: $52.20

$52.20

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89

"Peach skin color. Subtle, cool aromas of citrus fruits and herbs. Dense, brisk and minerally but pliant, with fleshy fruit flavors of citrus, apple and pear. Lingering finishing flavors of orange, stones and spicy oak."

Restaurant Wine

"Exceptional quality. Refined and complex in character (apple, toast, honey, vanilla), full bodied, very supple and long on the palate, with a persistent finish. Seamless. Unfined, unfiltered."

Wine & Spirits 91

"The wine is complex and earthy, with mineral tones set into brisk, lemony flavor. Bright, golden delicious apple flavors come up with air, as does a lot of youthful oak influence."

2003 Hyde de Vallaine California (750ml)

$65.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

"Good ruby-red. Slightly herbal aromas of blackberry, brown spices, licorice, pepper, chocolate, leather and spicy oak. Pliant and ripe, with enticing flavors of blackberry, cherry, licorice and dried herbs.Finishes lush, round and long, with sweet tannins.This merlot/cab blend initially came across as a bit green, but ultimately showed lovely ripeness and suavity."

2003 Jericho Canyon Vineyard California (750ml)

$66.00

Wine Spectator 87

Smooth, supple and harmonious, with layers of red currant, blueberry and loamy earth that lay on the palate, gaining complexity and nuance on the finish. Very complete. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2007 through 2011. 466 cases made.

Wine- Maker Notes

Jericho Canyon Vineyard's 2003 is a full-bodied wine rich with aromas of ripe black fruits and luxurious chocolate. Juicy tannins blend with cr�me de cassis, espresso, and a hint of spice to round out the flavors of this high powered Napa Valley blend. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon,10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc .

2003 La Tour Blanche (375ml)

List Price: ~~$65.00~~ Our Price: $56.70

$56.70

Wine Spectator 97

dark gold in color alreayt, with intense aromas of dried apricots, citrus, honey and maple syrup with lots of spice. Fullbodied, with lovely sweetness and a long, creamy peach tart, tobacco, honey aftertaste. This is pure botrytis. Best ever here. Has an incrdible finish. Best after 2010.

2003 Louis Latour Pommard Les Epenots (750ml)

$85.00

Allen Meadows, Burghound 89

"This is the first wine to display any wood at all as subtle oak spice frames somber red and black fruit aromas that are ripe but unquestionably pinot-based. The earthy, dense, concentrated and powerful flavors stain and coat the palate with copious amounts of extract and real punch. Like so many of this group, this isn't elegant but again, its got excellent depth of material."

Wine Spectator 91

"A mix of freshness and ripe black cherry and blackberry aromas and flavors mark this intense, muscular Pommard. Dense with fruit and tannins, they meet on the long finish. This needs time. Drink now through 2020."

Wine Enthusiast 88

"This is a powerful, structured wine, with dark tannins, a dry feel and ripe fruit flavors. Somewhat out of balance now but should even out as it ages."

2003 Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch California (750ml)

$60.00

Robert Parker 95

The 2003 Syrah Zio Tony Ranch Gianna Marie has only 14.9% alcohol, which almost makes it seem wimpy compared to their Zinfandels. There are 182 cases of this monster Syrah that boasts classic bacon fat aromas intermixed with blackberry liqueur, cassis, melted licorice, and pepper. This amazingly rich, full-bodied, unctuously textured wine should drink well for at least 10 years or more.