2018
Marquis D’Alesme 2018 Margaux
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aging in 65% new oak
96 Points, Robert Parker: Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive black cherries, warm plums, crème de cassis and red roses scents with touches of baking spices, potpourri and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and opulent, it completely fills the palate with hedonic black fruit preserves and spices, framed by firm, velvety tannins and finishing with fantastic length.
95 Points, Wine Spectator: Gorgeous mouthfeel right from the first sip, with a velvety, fine-grained texture that lets the range of dark plum, black currant and blackberry fruit flavors splay out without losing focus, while mouthwatering black tea, alder and mineral notes wait gracefully in reserve, showing just a hint, for now, of what they can do on the finish.
Grgich Hills 2018 Chardonnay
This gorgeous Chardonnay opens with fresh, citrus aromas of meyer lemon and lime followed by juicy, ripe peach, with underlying notes of honeysuckle, herbs and vanilla. The 2018 vintage showed above average natural acids in the wines, which, along with lower sugar levels, make the 2018 vintage white wines exceptionally fresh and vibrant. Take a sip, and you’ll find that this 2018 Chardonnay, Napa Valley exhibits extraordinary balance of citrus fruit on the front palate with minerality and depth of flavors on the mid-palate. The aftertaste is harmonious and lingers well beyond expectation.
Montelena 2018 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Fresh and dynamic, with cranberry, cola, and raspberry jam. The acidity is laser focused, the spine pulling the layers of flavor into harmony with the wine’s supple, yet dense, structure. The tannins here serve to elevate not overwhelm the kinetic balance of texture, ripeness, and vineyard character.