1 | Wine | 86 or higher | Page 3

"Sleek and impeccably focused and balanced, with floral apple, cinnamon and anise aromas and crisp yet supple lemon tart, cherry and spicy hazelnut flavors."

"Subtle, leesy aromas of apple, spices, flowers and nuts. Dry, racy and perfumed, with intense ginger and apple flavors complicated by nutty and floral nuances. Finishes quite dry and restrained. Unusually subtle, fresh, clean Cava." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva is striking. Succulent dark cherries, flowers, mint and licorice burst from the glass in this exuberant, sexy Riserva. The tannins are nearly buried by the opulent fruit, but the wine retains great balance, while avoiding any sense of heaviness. The 2009 captures the heat and richness of the year while never abandoning its classic sense of structure. This is a superb wine from Monsanto with plenty of upside potential. Sweet floral notes add an elegant, feminine touch to the finish."

"Gentle, silky and appealing for its warm red berry, cherry and herb flavors. Cocoa overtones enliven the finish."

"A beautiful sleeper of the vintage, this is possibly the best wine I-ve ever tasted from this over-achieving estate near St.-Christoly-de-Medoc. A blend of 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, this wine normally sells for about $15 a bottle, making it an absolutely staggering value in the worldwide marketplace. The 2010 exhibits classic cedar wood, tobacco leaf, creme de cassis, licorice and some balsam wood notes in a strong, medium to full-bodied, layered style with good opulence, purity and overall harmony. A real beauty, it should be drunk over the next 4-5 years." -Robert Parker

"Open-textured, velvety and appealing for the rhubarb pie-accented currant and floral flavors, lingering on the expressive finish against fine tannins."

"Abundant amounts of red and black fruits intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, earthy soil, pepper and spice. This supple-textured, delicious red is exactly what one expects of a very good Cotes du Rhone."-Robert Parker

"Trim and restrained, with a narrow beam of currant, tobacco, cigar box and cedar. Well-made, focused and persistent."

"This beautiful, hand-harvested effort reveals clean notes of poached pears, honeyed citrus and tropical fruit. Medium-bodied with loads of fruit as well as purity, a beautiful texture, and a subtle note of wood, it will provide plenty of pleasure if consumed over the next year."

"No oak is used in this totally naked red. It emphasizes minerality and fruit, as evidenced by its crushed chalk-like notes intermixed with sweet kirsch, lavender and licorice. This fresh, medium to full-bodied, supple-textured, hedonistic as well as intellectually challenging wine should drink well for 2-3 years." -Robert Parker