Carrying 14% alcohol with negligible residual sugar, Trimbach’s 2009 Riesling Clos Ste-Hune leads with high-toned pear, kirsch, and almost bitingly piquant holly berry distillates. Huckleberry, holly, and fruit pit bitterness are well woven into a tight-grained, seamless fabric of fresh white peach, with further chalky and alkaline accents. The finish is a veritable rolling block of mineral and fruit distillate, boasting energy and grip, if also a bit of heat. I suspect that the Frederic Emile will retain an edge in elegance over this, which I would drink on the early side for a Ste-Hune, say over the next 10-12 years. The Wine Advocate (194), 2 May 2011, David Schildknecht
The Fallers’ 2004 Riesling Schlossberg Vendange Tardive Trie Speciale – representing a further selection of the fruit that informed their “regular” Schlossberg V.T. – leads with glazed pineapple, quince and apricot preserve, red currant, and honey; fills the mouth with creamy, honeyed richness; and offers fabulous refinement and delicacy. This displays a less overt sense of citricity than the “regular” V.T., but its acids clearly efficacious in balancing nearly 90 grams of residual sugar and aiding in the remarkable impression of delicacy and buoyancy in this beauty’s long finish of spiced fruit preserves, citrus and honey. The standards of the dry Weinbach Rieslings of 2004 may have been dragged down a bit by their botrytis character, but when it comes to the botrytis selected for sweet wines, its quality was obviously unusually noble for the vintage. This should remain glorious for 15-20 years. The Wine Advocate, Feb 29, 2008, David Schildknecht
Complex aromas of blueberries, pie crust, fresh flowers and currant bush with hints of baking spices like nutmeg. Medium- to full-bodied with extremely fine tannins that are integrated and gorgeous. Graceful and refined, with super length. Interestingly, 20% of the wine was aged in large oak casks (2,500 liters), mostly from Slovenia. James Suckling
The 2020 Cheval des Andes was harvested from the last of February for the first time ever. It was Gabillet's second vintage at Cheval des Andes, and that year, he had to start without waiting for Pierre Olivier Clouet and Pierre Lurton from Cheval Blanc; when they arrived, they had finished picking the Malbec, which surprisingly was fresher in Las Compuertas (because of the higher percentage of clay?) than in Altamira (where the vines suffered more stress), saving the freshness. They now harvest using cold trucks (for the first time), and they also started earlier in the morning (six in the morning, impossible earlier in Mendoza...), which he reckons was very good for the precision of the wine. They used 40% 225-liter barrels, 40% 400-liter oak barrels and 20% 2,500-liter foudres, half of them new and with an élevage of 15 months on average, depending on the lots and varieties from 12 to 18 months. The final blend was 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, which makes a comeback as it was not used since 2016. The key was to finish the fermentation of the Petit Verdot without skins, and that way, they have been able to use it in the blends of 2021, 2022 and 2023 in small but increasing percentages. This is slightly riper than 2019, with a little more alcohol (14.5%) and with very good structural tannins but saving the freshness, and it has the spicy side from the Petit Verdot (Gabillet talks about white pepper). The wine has the ultra sleek and polished texture and the elegance and the balance that is the signature here; the wine is very clean and precise. I see very good regularity across the three vintages I tasted next to each other—this 2020 and the 2018 and 2019. Overall, this is a triumph over the adverse conditions of the vintage. They produced their usual 100,000 bottles (since 2018), as they are renewing their vineyards and want to keep the volume stable. They produce this volume from the 36 productive hectares they have in Las Compuertas and Altamira.There are some more changes: in 2020, they went for a lighter bottle, weighing 100 grams less than the one they used in 2018 and 2019, but close to 300 grams less than the bottle from before. It's also a slimmer bottle, always thinking about the environment. They are very focused on agroecology, accelerating the regenerative viticulture and using cover crops; they have planted 1,900 trees in the last three years, creating small clusters of biodiversity for birds. They have transplanted some centenary olive trees and keep their sheep and lamas on the property. Very green-minded. Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate,
This is a plush, rich Cheval with blueberry and floral aromas and flavors. Hints of tar and fresh lavender. Full body. The depth and richness are impressive, as are the ripe yet fresh tannins. Very long and structured, yet controlled and in balance. This will be a great wine indeed. Release in September 2021. Drink after 2023. James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
Incredible purity of fruit in the nose, offering crushed, perfectly ripe blackberries and currants with raspberries and citrus. Some black licorice, too. It’s full-bodied with density, precision and gorgeously fine tannins. Great length going on for minutes. A blend of mostly Chanares with some old-vine fruit from Marchiori and Sengeretti. Such precision to this. Tight now. Try after 2026. James Suckling, Mar 2021
A very elegantly complex nose with meticulously fresh aromas that range from red florals to violets, blueberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants and such sweetly perfumed cedary-oak spice. The palate has a very elegant, focused and piercingly central delivery of fine tannins,carrying pristine redcurrant and blackcurrant flavors. Seamlessly long, super fine and really packed with concentrated, contained, red-cherry and redcurrant flavors. Impressive. Drink or hold. James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
The 2016 The Armagh Shiraz, tasted in a lineup of four vintages (2016 - 2019), has the highest alcohol of the lot (14.2% alcohol) and remains perfectly in balance. These are not the big wines that we may expect them to be. The vintage variation across them is subtle but evident, revealing the beauty of this single vineyard, planted in 1968. This 2016 wine is now starting to settle into its first drinking window and speaks of an array of deli meats, forest berries, exotic spice and even a hint of red curry paste. This has all the complexity you could want, and in terms of tannins: texture, density and rippling muscles. Sensational stuff. Drink it over the next two decades. The Wine Advocate, Sep 15, 2022, Erin Larkin
The medium-bodied 2015 Malbec is a fresh, raspberry-laden offering, with hints of fresh flowers, sage and bay leaf bringing nuance, the oak pushed into the background to provide bass notes of cedar and earth. Silky, vibrant and perfumed, this is less powerful than the 2014 but ultimately more appealing and complete. The Wine Advocate, Jun 12, 2019, Joe Czerwinski
Pale ruby colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir has a delicately perfumed nose of lavender, cinnamon stick and red roses over a core of pomegranate, rhubarb and Bing cherries. Light-bodied, very fresh and finely crafted in the mouth, it offers a very elegant yet fully ripe and intense expression with lovely harmony in the finish. 233, The Wine Advocate, 1 Nov 2017, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2014 Malbec boasts scents of leather and cedar overlaid on a base of black cherry fruit. There's a vaguely floral note on the nose as well as an earthy undercurrent. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a crisp, mouthwatering finish. The Wine Advocate, Jun 12, 2019, Joe Czerwinski
Deep garnet-purple, the 2013 Cloudburst Cabernet Sauvignon reveals notes of red and black currants, dark chocolate, dried herbs, cedar and yeast extract. Medium-bodied, elegant and with tense, muscular fruit at this primary stage, it has an approachable, finely grained tannic backbone and great persistence. 223, The Wine Advocate, 4 Mar 2016, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2013 Cloudburst Malbec is deep garnet-purple in color, with a heady blackcurrant and plum perfume plus meaty / earthy notes and a savory chocolate suggestion. Medium-bodied with good concentration, it has a chewy tannin backbone and long finish with a touch of balsamic coming through. 223, The Wine Advocate, 4 Mar 2016, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale fruit, the 2010 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz presents a very deep purple black color and is profoundly scented of warm black berries, blueberry pie filling, licorice and cloves with hints of Chinese five spice, mocha and cedar. Very rich, powerful and very full bodied, the concentrated fruit is well balanced by a medium to firm level of rounded tannins and lively acid. It has a very long milk chocolate and coconut laced finish. Give this wine another year for the oak to marry and drink it 2013 to 2020+. 199, The Wine Advocate, 23 Dec 2011, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2008 Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from Barossa vineyards over 100 years of age. The wine was barrel-fermented in new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple-color, it exhibits a soaring bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, incense, plum, blackberry, and black currant. On the palate it reveals a glossy texture, an opulent personality, superb density, and enough well-concealed stuffing to evolve for 5-7 years. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2030. The Cellar Reserve wines are limited production bottlings sold mainly at the winery and to mailing list customers. Wine Advocate (186), Dec 2009, Jay Miller
Deep garnet with hints of purple, the 2006 RWT Shiraz has a warm cassis and black cherry compote nose with hints of pepper, cedar and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, muscular and powerful, the concentrated palate is structured by firm and rounded tannins through the long finish. 221, The Wine Advocate, 30 Oct 2015, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet in color, the 2005 Block 6 Shiraz exudes beguiling notes of warm black cherries, raspberry preserves and Chinese dried plums with hints of fruit cake, salami, mocha and licorice. Very big, full-bodied and rich, the palate is very spicy, densely laden with dried fruits and savory flavors and structured by medium-firm grainy tannins through the long finish. Mature now, it should cellar to 2024+. Wine Advocate (211), Feb 2014, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
After re-tasting the 2002 The Dead Arm Shiraz, I believe my initial rating is correct. It still plays it close to the vest, exhibiting loads of cassis, asphalt, smoke, and barbecue spice-like aromas along with full-bodied flavors. While well-made and impressive, it remains backward and restrained, and does not appear to be up to the quality of either the 2003 or the great 2001. Wine Advocate (161), Oct 2005, Robert Parker
The 1990 performed well in the tasting, but, along with the 1980, was the least impressive of these Granges. The 1990 is loosely knit, seems to border on overripeness with its jammy character, and has a slightly more aggressive style of tannin ... or are the acids more pronounced? It is certainly outstanding, displaying full body along with a classic smoky, blackberry, cassis, pepper, and forest floor-scented bouquet. Of all these wines, it appears to be the most evolved. 183, The Wine Advocate, 30 Jun 2009, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Deep brown in color, the 1989 Hill of Grace has an appealing nose of dried cherries, fruit cake and cloves with underlying dried lavender, thyme and salami hints. Medium-bodied with tons of savory and dried berry flavor layers, it has bright acidity, a medium level of rounded tannins and a long finish with a herbal lift. It is mature. 206, The Wine Advocate, 25 Apr 2013, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 1988 Hill of Grace is medium deep brown in color and replete with earthy and leathery aromas marred by a touch of rancio /aldehydic notes that seem to recover after a few minutes and show some treacle and Indian spice hints. It is an interesting wine, though just a bit flat and tired on the palate with of medium level chewy tannins, crisp acid and a good length on what remains of the fruit. It is mature. The Wine Advocate, Apr 25, 2013, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Leeuwin seems to be striding from strength to strength. The ever-dependable, consistent, age-worthy Art Series Chardonnay is great every season. It is always a reflection of the vintage, but it is Art Series Chardonnay first. The style is entrenched in the history of the wine, and as the vines gain in age, the fruit spectrum of the wines expand in complexity. So, each year seems to be "better than ever," and that makes sense when you drill down into site and production, both of which are tightly controlled to a high level of detail. While the 2021 Art Series Chardonnay is arguably finer than the 2020 or undoubtedly the 2022 yet to be released, it makes an impact as an excellent Art Series Chardonnay and sits beside the 2017 in style. Jul 03, 2024 The Wine Advocate Erin Larkin
No.1, Zweigelt - Nouvelle Vague 95+ points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “Vinified in new barriques for more than two years, the 2020 Trockenbeerenauslese No. 1 Zweigelt Nouvelle Vague displays a brick, almost dark salmon color. It is intense and finely concentrated yet also super pure, fresh and elegant on the exotic, tropical nose with candied orange zest and sugared pink grapefruit aromas intertwined with notes of dragon fruits, lychee, plums, cherries, fresh strawberries, raspberries, coconut (Bounty) and nougat notes. Dense, round and sweet but elegant and refined on the palate, this is an intense yet balanced, stimulatingly saline and nicely bitter reddish/pink TBA with a serious and long finish structured by tart but fine tannin bitters. Try it with game dishes, classic tartes and chocolate desserts. 10.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork.” No.2, Traminer - Nouvelle Vague 96 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “Aged for 24+ months in new barriques, the 2020 Trockenbeerenauslese No. 2 Traminer Nouvelle Vague is very clear and concentrated on the detailed and saline nose with lemon zest, pepper, lychee and dragon fruit aromas intermingled with notes of caramel and nougat. Lush and generous on the dense yet fresh and even stimulating palate, this is a very elegant and remarkably refined yet intense Traminer with a concentrated but mouthwatering finish. There is great precision and finesse here. Try it with foie gras and brioche or drink it on its own. 11% stated alcohol. Natural cork.” No.3, Scheurebe - Zwischen den Seen 96 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “Fermented for several months and aged for about two years or more in stainless steel tanks, the 2020 Trockenbeerenauslese No. 3 Scheurebe Zwischen den Seen opens with a clear, intensely aromatic and fruit-driven bouquet of passion fruit, lemons and grapefruits as well as candied pineapples, mango and maracuja. Dense, lush and round on the palate, this is a sweet and intense but savory, lively, very elegant and tropical TBA with typical Scheurebe features and a stimulatingly tart and bitter finish. The terroir salinity is still very discreet but palatable on the finish. The wine is really sweet on the palate but also balanced and even delicate. It will gain enormous complexity over the next 20-25 years and become more of a terroir wine than a Scheurebe varietal wine. 10.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork.” No.4, Grande Cuvee - Nouvelle Vague 98 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “The 2020 Trockenbeerenauslese No. 4 Grande Cuvée Nouvelle Vague is based on 70% Welschriesling (vinified in large oak casks) and 30% Chardonnay (aged in barriques) and opens with an intense and concentrated bouquet with spicy quince aromas, lemon chutney, candied lemons, ripe and lush apricots and pineapples, hints of nougat, caramel and salt. It is very deep and complex but also refined, fresh and very elegant! Round, intense and highly refined on the palate, this is a saline and elegant, seemingly weightless Grande Cuvée that develops a spectacularly long and intense finish with salts and concentrated fruits such as melons, apricots, lemons, quinces and grapefruit. The aftertaste is intense and very long but of great finesse and elegance. This is a gorgeous wine, indeed, that is stunning a day after the opening and will need about a decade or more to gain even more complexity. 10% stated alcohol. Natural cork.” No.5, Rosenmuskateller - Nouvelle Vague 97 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “Aged in new barriques for 24-28 months, the 2020 Trockenbeerenauslese No. 5 Rosenmuskateller Nouvelle Vague offers a clear, deep, intense and pure yet complex bouquet of blood oranges, roses, herbs, Italian salami, game, coffee, toast and nougat and, initially, also sage and chamomile aromas intertwined with herbal tea, candied bitter oranges and buttery aromas. Round, sweet and lush on the palate, this is a noble, very elegant, dense, refined, finely tannic and persistently saline TBA with citrus-bitters on the long, structured yet still very young finish. This is another great 2020 TBA from Gerhard Kracher! 9.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork.” No.6, Welschriesling - Zwischen den Seen 97+ points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “Vinified in stainless steel, the 2020 Trockenbeerenauslese No. 6 Welschriesling Zwischen den Seen is pure and intense on the concentrated, saline and caramelly nose that displays candied lemon, strawberry, raspberry and ripe pear aromas. Full-bodied, intense and concentrated on the palate, this is an elegant, refined, finely saline and beautifully juicy TBA with sweet pear and peach aromas and a long, intense, crystalline and mouthwatering finish. It was bottled with 310 grams per liter of residual sugar but is nevertheless highly stimulating. 8.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in Lütjensee, Hamburg, in June 2023. Only 2,500 to 3,000 0.375-liter bottles were filled from four vineyards totaling five hectares due to very strict selections.”
