772 | Wine | 91 to 95, 2011 | Page 5

"This is supple and inviting, polished and expressive, with cherry, cinnamon, raspberry and roasted meat flavors, which linger on the long finish."

"The 2011 Torrontes stretches the envelope of quality for this essentially indigenous variety. Fragrant aromas of lemon, tropical, and floral notes lead to a ripe, rich, vibrant style of Torrontes that will provide much pleasure over the next 12-18 months. It is an outstanding value."

"The wine possesses phenomenal minerality along with notes of crushed rocks/wet steel, graphite, blueberries and raspberries, medium to full-bodied flavors, and sensational purity, texture and length. It should drink nicely for a decade or more."-Robert Parker

"The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Ryan’s Vineyard offers up lime, white peaches, flowers, sage and tomato leaf. The long, cold growing season was beneficial to the development of bright, varietal aromas and flavors. A long, persistent finish rounds things out in style."

"The 2011 Garnacha de Fuego, a 100% Grenache cuvee, was aged in both stainless steel and neutral French oak. There are 10,000 cases for the United States. This amazing wine boasts a dark ruby/purple color along with a sweet kiss of jammy black cherries intertwined with crushed rock notes that give the wine an undeniable minerality. As it hits the palate, a full-bodied, voluptuous texture takes hold and the flavor profile moves towards blacker fruits (ripe raspberries and black currants) intermixed with camphor and forest floor. This full-bodied, rich, glycerin-filled effort should drink well for 4-5 years, perhaps longer." -Robert Parker

"Bright yellow-gold. Pink grapefruit, candied orange peel and smoked pork on the nose. Then rich and deep on the palate, with noteworthy lift and precision to the flavors of tropical fruits, minerals and flowers. Offers superb richness and depth, as well as enough acidity to give shape to the wine. Impressively balanced and very long."

"Bright medium ruby. Restrained but pure aromas of blackcurrant, bitter chocolate, mocha and peppery herbs. Dense, sappy and deep, boasting a seamlessness in spite of its musky dark berry flavors accented by pepper and herbs. Classic, satisfying and complete cabernet, with a lush, round texture, excellent breadth and length, and very suave, fine-grained tannins. This could do some damage in a blind flight of top Napa cabernets. A steal at the price." -Stephen Tanzer

"The 2011 Cornas Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes offers an explosive nose of spring flowers, blackberries, blueberry liqueur, camphor and charcoal. It is a full-bodied, intensely concentrated wine that represents the essence of Cornas. The tannins are sweet, the acidity present but low and the wine is already accessible. It is capable of lasting 10-15 years." -Robert Parker

Limit 6 bottles per customer
"Exhibiting a deep ruby/purple color, lots of crushed rock, red and black currant, forest floor and underbrush characteristics, moderate tannin and medium body, it is built somewhat along the lines of the 1999 and 2001. It should be a 20- to 25-year wine, but it is not at the level of the 2008, 2009 and 2010. Fresh acids give the wine a somewhat more clipped feeling than most great Lafites have exhibited. Nevertheless, there is a lot of freshness and vibrancy to this vintage."-Robert Parker

"It comes across as a top-flight white Chateauneuf du Pape rather than a less expensive Costieres de Nimes. Light gold in color, with an extraordinary nose of vivid honeysuckle, candle wax, marmalade and tropical fruit, the wine is elegant, has good acidity, and wonderful freshness, but a surprisingly intense, full-bodied mouthfeel. Following a tasting, I had this wine with Maryland soft shell crabs, and it was an exquisite marriage." Reviewed by Robert Parker