Highlights from the MMD Portfolio: Selection of 90+ Wines

Roederer Estate

Brut Rosé NV

Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2009

92 points "Almost as pale as a brut, with a touch of salmon color, and deeply flavored, this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend has subtle, inviting flavors of cherries, strawberries, orange zest, vanilla and freshly baked brioche. It's very fine in the mousse, with a silky mouthfeel. Really marked by elegance and structure."

Roederer Estate

2003 L'Ermitage Rosé

Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2009

94 points "This is as fine a rosé sparkling wine as has ever been produced in California. Almost 50-50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it has rich flavors of cherries, raspberries, vanilla, toast and creamy lees, in the style of Champagne, and is completely dry and very crisp in acidity."

Pio Cesare

2007 Barbera d’Alba DOC

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - December 15, 2009

90 points, A Recommended Value from Piedmont "Shows blueberry and floral aromas, with hints of sandalwood. Full-bodied, with cream and vanilla character."

Pio Cesare

2007 Barbera d'Alba Fides DOC

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - December 15, 2009

91 points "A little subdued now, but impressive chocolate, coffee and ripe berry aromas follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and lots of fruit. Big and juicy. Structured."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2003 Blanc de Blancs

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - December 15, 2009

92 points "Very fresh, exuding aromas of graphite and pencil shavings followed by ripe peach, grapefruit and mineral notes. Vinous in character, with a vibrant structure and a long finish. A terrific 2003."

Dominus Estate

2006 Dominus

Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 01, 2009

93 points, Cellar Selection "Right now it shows blackberry, black currant, cedar and baker’s chocolate flavors. Will slowly open and reach maturity after 2011, and could easily develop for far longer."

Roederer Estate

2003 L'Ermitage Rosé

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

95 points "...racy, as well as delicate, layered, savory and gently sweet. ...This is a breakthrough wine for California...Don't miss it."

Roederer Estate

Brut NV

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

92 points, Best Buy "Fragrant fruit ripeness lends this wine penetrating flavors of raspberry essence, tart pear and green apple, a fine mesh of pinot noir and chardonnay. The texture is smooth, the bubbles bringing a touch of yeastiness and almond flavor to balance the freshness of the fruit."

Scharffenberger Cellars

Non Vintage Brut

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

90 points, Best Buy "This is a pale, dry sparkling wine with a robust pinot noir scent. The yeastiness leaves an impression of smoky richness, with a stony mineral note."

Scharffenberger Cellars

Brut Rosé

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

90 points "An elegant wine with tart and juicy sour cherry flavors, this has the full fatness of ripe California fruit. Yet it's harmonious, not aggressive, a finely balanced sparkler for duck meatballs."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2002 Cristal Rosé

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

100 points "There is no singular flavor, but rather a resonant chord, a series of oppositions that create the invisible intensity of an electric current, the power of the charge balanced by the elegance of the flavor and the structure of the wine. You could describe it as light and brisk, or bold and intense; either way you'll still be tasting it ten minutes later."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2002 Cristal

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

100 points "If a wine could ever make you want to pull the top down on your '68 Ferrari convertible, rip off the rearview mirror and take off, this is it. ...All the scents and flavors seem to emanate from limestone, as does the acidity, which hints at the front of the mouth and powers through the wine with the kind of solar energy that lifts mist off the white chalk on a cool morning in Cramant....It's already irresistible, and will only improve with ten, 20, 30 and 40 years of age."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2004 Brut Rosé

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

95 points "Intricate scents of herbs, roses and citrus blossoms start of delicate and build into the graceful flow of the wine, creating a beautiful presence on the palate. ...Delicious as a young wine, this will likely be at its best ten to 12 years from the vintage."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2004 Brut Vintage

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

92 points "The bold fruit flavors make this a wine of primary colors for now, from peach to kiwi, grapefruit and strawberry. The fruit is fragrant and lush while the wine's acidity keeps it mouthwatering and completely dry. A zesty Champagne that's built to age..."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2003 Blanc de Blancs

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

91 points "This has the ripeness and broad richness of the 2003 vintage, while the wine remains savory and dry. The scents are floral, light and lifted, the flavors more substantial, creamy and firm."

Champagne Louis Roederer

Non Vintage Brut Premier

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - December 2009

90 points "Reserve wines add rich, toasty complexity to this blend. The fruit flavors have a red cast, the structure transforming the juiciness of the wine into a mouthwatering, soft line."

Champagne Deutz

2005 Brut Vintage

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2009

91 points "The 2005 Brut opens with a wonderfully expressive, sweet bouquet that melds into an expressive core of fruit. The wine possesses a crystalline purity I find especially appealing, along with pretty notes of mint, minerals and red berries that linger on the close."

Champagne Deutz

1999 Cuvée William Deutz

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2009

90 points "The 1999 Brut Cuvee William Deutz offers up ripe, tropical fruit, sweet spices, butterscotch and toastiness in a big, extroverted style."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2004 Brut Rosé

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2009

90 points "The pale-colored 2004 Brut Rose flows with subtle, silky layers of perfumed fruit. This is an understated, almost shy wine, although its class and pedigree are evident."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2004 Brut Vintage

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2009

90 points "The 2004 Brut emerges from the glass with attractive layers of fruit that come together in a gorgeous expression of perfumed fruit. This silky, textured and totally finessed Champagne is another impeccable wine from Roederer."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2002 Cristal Rosé

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2009

95+ points "The bouquet is beautifully woven into a fabric of layered, ripe fruit. With some time in the glass, the wine’s textural beauty becomes more apparent, but this is a Champagne that needs bottle age."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2003 Blanc de Blancs

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2009

91 points "The 2003 Brut Blanc de Blancs is another terrific Champagne from Roederer. Here the heat of the torrid vintage is beautifully balanced by the wine’s minerality. A soft finish rounds out this caressing, creamy Champagne. ...The wine’s overall balance is impeccable."

Dominus Estate

2007 Napanook

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2009

92 points "The 2007 Napanook...exhibits the Bordeaux style that proprietor Christian Moueix has fashioned from this legendary vineyard in Yountville. Its deep plum/ruby color is accompanied by sweet aromas of cedar, black currants, cherries, spice box, and earth. Lush, fleshy, elegant, and pure, it should drink nicely for 15+ years."

Dominus Estate

2008 Napanook

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2009

90-93 points "...the 2008 Napanook is equally seductive. It offers soft, round, silky tannins as well as abundant red and black currant notes intermixed with hints of kirsch, spice box, and unsmoked, high class cigar tobacco."

Dominus Estate

2007 Dominus

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2009

98 points "A prodigious example of Dominus, the 2007 represents a hypothetical blend of a Pomerol, Pauillac, and a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored with a sweet nose of incense, cedar wood, black currants, black cherries, licorice, and a subtle hint of roasted herbs, it is an expansive, savory, opulent wine with a full-bodied mouthfeel, silky tannins, and sensational concentration. A legend in the making..."

Dominus Estate

2008 Dominus

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2009

93-96 points "This lush, flamboyant, opulent effort is an anomaly for this Napa vintage. It shows outstanding density, richness, a savory flavor profile, and an enduring texture. This full-bodied beauty should drink well young, and evolve for 20+ years."

Champagne Louis Roederer

Non Vintage Brut Premier

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - November 30, 2009

91 points, #95 of Top 100 "Light and lively, featuring apple, toast, ginger and light vanilla flavors. Balanced and on the dry side, with a creamy texture and a lingering butter pastry aftertaste."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2002 Cristal Rosé

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - November 30, 2009

90 points "This is very fruity, boasting apple, cherry and berry flavors, making it open and approachable. There's concentration as well, with a vibrant structure and a berry aftertaste."

Champagne Deutz

1999 Cuvée William Deutz

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - November 30, 2009

91 points "Deep and toasty, with apple, grapefruit, ginger and spice aromas and flavors. A combination of intensity and finesse, with a firm, chalky finish."

Roederer Estate

Brut NV

Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 15, 2009

91 points, Smart Buy "A rich version, loaded with spicy cinnamon notes. Bold apple aromas, with a whiff of yeast, lead to complex, layered pear, crème brûlée and baked apple flavors that linger."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2004 Brut Vintage

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - November 15, 2009

90 points "Crisp and green, in a grassy, verdant way. Shows plenty of lime, orange peel and apple notes, with a touch of fresh-cut grass or chive. Balanced and elegant, with subtle length."

Roederer Estate

2003 L'Ermitage Rosé

Wine Spectator - Tim Fish - November 15, 2009

93 points "Rich yet delicate in style, with a soft salmon color and graceful aromas of strawberry, peach and yeast. Flavors take on complexity, balancing crisp acidity with mature yet opulent raspberry, toasty vanilla and mineral flavors."

Dominus Estate

2006 Napanook

Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - November 2009

91 points "...[I]t’s the best release since 2003. Dry and well-structured, it offers complex flavors of black current and sweet grill oak."

Querciabella

2007 Chianti Classico DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - October 31, 2009

90 points "Sweet berry and raspberry aromas follow through to a full body, with soft, silky tannins and a clean, caressing finish. Harmonious, with pretty fruit."

Querciabella

2006 Camartina

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - October 31, 2009

92 points "A stylish combination of currant and cassis on the nose, with a hint of rose petal, turning to licorice. Full-bodied, with chewy yet polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Polished and very pretty."

Dominus Estate

2006 Napanook

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - October 2009

94 points, Part of the Year's Best Cabernets & Blends "The 2006 Napanook...is transparent, its beauty easy to see. It may, in fact, be the best vintage of Napanook we’ve tasted on release--all black currents and peppercorn spice, lifted, savory, dark and intense."

Dominus Estate

2006 Dominus

Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - October 2009

93 points, Part of the Year's Best Cabernets & Blends "Youthfully floral and tight, this vintage of Dominus is a big wine that holds all of its weight behind a powerful structure. And it’s the power of that structure that is front and center...Stay with it and the wine's earthiness begins to meld with the blueberry and chocolate richness."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barbaresco DOCG

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - October 2009

90 points "The 2005 Barbaresco is a very pretty wine that combines elements of flowers, sweet spices and dried cherries in a firm, structured style."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - October 2009

91 points "The 2005 Barbaresco Il Bricco is a very elegant wine. Layers of perfumed dark red fruit, spices, French oak and roses come together with notable depth on a classic, sturdy frame of impeccable balance."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barolo DOCG

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - October 2009

91 points "The estate’s 2005 Barolo is pretty and sensual in its dark fruit, menthol, spices and licorice. This mid-weight Barolo reveals gorgeous balance and a long finish and a relatively accessible personality for this bottling."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barolo Ornato DOCG

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - October 2009

92 points "The 2005 Barolo Ornato shows outstanding depth and complexity in its note of licorice, iron, plums, prunes, French oak and minerals. ...[I]s lighter in body than has been the case in the past vintages, which renders the wine quite classic in feel."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barolo DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - September 30, 2009

93 points "Very ripe fruit aromas, with sultana, prune and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with seamless yet chewy tannins and a long finish. Lasts a long time."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barolo Ornato DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - September 30, 2009

95 points, A Top-Scoring Wine from Piedmong "Very pretty aromas of sweet strawberry pie, with hints of plum and flowers. Full-bodied, with polished yet chewy tannins and bright acidity. A big, juicy wine. A Barolo for the cellar."

Pio Cesare

2005 Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - September 30, 2009

95 points, A Top Scoring Wine from Piedmont "Shows pure plum on the nose, with a combination of violet and smoke. Full-bodied, with layers of ultrafine tannins and a very long finish. Caresses the palate. A wine of strength and elegance."

Champagne Louis Roederer

Non Vintage Brut Premier

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - July 01, 2009

91 points "Although this tastes younger than some recent bottlings of this great non-vintage, it is still a fine wine. Its apple flavors meld effortlessly with citrus, grapefruit zest, and just a touch of toast to show the depth of flavor that will emerge after a few more months in bottle."

Champagne Deutz

Non Vintage Brut Classic

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - July 2009

90 points Recommended as a "recession-beating Champagne" from a Champagne House

Scharffenberger Cellars

Non Vintage Brut

Wine Enthusiast - July 2009

91 points, Editors' Choice A value sparkler for summer sipping

Marqués de Murrieta

2001 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - July 2009

92 points "Medium red. Impressively complex bouquet of dried red fruits, tobacco, cedar and potpourri. A spicy, subtly sweet midweight, offering lively redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and very soft tannins. The smoky finish features a strong echo of cedary spice."

Ladoucette

2005 Baron de L Pouilly - Fumé

Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - June 15, 2009

91 points "Plump up front, with nice depth to the lemon verbena, straw, chamomile flower and mineral notes. The long, graceful finish really struts its stuff after some airing in the glass."

Ladoucette

2006 Comte Lafond Sancerre Blanc

Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - June 15, 2009

90 points "Tangy and fresh, with nice drive to the citrus peel, grapefruit pulp, herb, straw and mineral flavors that race through the lengthy finish."

La Poussie

2006 Sancerre Blanc

Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - June 15, 2009

90 points "A lengthy, pure, unadorned style, with a beam of citrus peel and floral notes that is backed by hints of straw, wet stone and mineral. The finish is long and very stylish."

Marqués de Murrieta

2005 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva

Wine Enthusiast - Michael Schachner - June 2009

90 points "...With time this serious Rioja unveils toasty raspberry and mineral-tinged cola and plum aromas and flavors. There’s natural snap to the wine courtesy of bright natural acidity, but also some beef and body that manifests itself in a controlled creaminess that houses herbal, chocolaty finishing notes."

Marqués de Murrieta

2004 Capellanía White Reserva

Wine Spectator - Thomas Matthews - May 31, 2009

90 points "This traditional white shows some oxidation, with nut and dried apple flavors. Marzipan, lanolin and floral notes add complexity, and there's weight and liveliness on the palate. Harmonious and distinctive."

Pio Cesare

2004 Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG

Wine Enthusiast - Monica Larner - April 2009

94 points, #65 of Top 100 Cellar Selections "Il Bricco is a blockbuster wine with extraordinary intensity and impressive concentration. It's a dark, spice-driven wine with oak aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and powdered spice backed by black currants, forest berry, pressed flowers, curry and turmeric. Austere and brooding, it’s the kind of wine you’ll want to pair with a heavy winter dish that can stand up to its thick, luscious mouthfeel."

Château Pichon-Lalande

2006 Château Pichon-Lalande

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - February 2009

95 points "The 2006 Pichon Lalande, which blows away the 2005, represents a return to the velvety-textured, rich, sexy style most readers would associate with Pichon Lalande. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot no Petit Verdot was included in the final blend exhibits a dense purple color as well as abundant aromas of chocolate, coffee, cedar, black currants, and a subtle touch of smoke, a rich, savory, full-bodied mouthfeel, plump, fleshy fruit, and a superb finish. This is a 21st century version of the brilliant 1996."

Adriano Ramos Pinto

30-Year Tawny

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - February 2009

92 points "With its age, this has developed complexity and subtlety, very much a hallmark of the elegant Ramos-Pinto style. The wood flavors are evident, not quite dominant, leaving room for bitter orange and spice along with acidity that could come either from the aging or the fruit. The finish is properly long, fading gracefully."

Adriano Ramos Pinto

Quinta do Bom Retiro 20-year Tawny

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - February 2009

90 points "This single-quinta tawny comes from Ramos-Pinto’s vineyard in the Torto valley in the heart of Port country. It shows the warmth and richness from the super-rich fruit, balanced with wood aging and lively acidity, at the perfect moment to be enjoyed. The finish is fresh, the dry wood lifted by fruitiness."

Roederer Estate

Brut NV

Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2008

92 points "Fully ready to drink now, this dry brut shows the classy elegance of a fine Champagne. The Chardonnay contributes white peaches and apples, while Pinot adds a subtle note of cherries with spicy, yeasty nuances....it’s a notable achievement."

Carpe Diem

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Enthusiast - Steve Heimoff - December 15, 2008

90 points "An impressive Cabernet, the winery’s best effort in years. Dry and firm in tannins, it shows a Bordeaux-esque elegance and balance, with sage and cedar notes framing underlying red currant fruit."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2002 Cristal

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - December 01, 2008

98 points "This is an exceptional wine, as is the vintage. The fruits--grapefruit, crisp red apple—-are balanced with a fine yeasty character. There is a great depth of flavor, the fruits going in a pure line of freshness. ...Age this wine for at least four years."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2003 Brut Vintage

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - December 01, 2008

93 points "What a creamy Champagne, its mousse bursting around the mouth. Impressively, all this creaminess is well balanced by full, dry fruits, flavors of pear and fresh bread and finished with crisp apples. This is not a wine for aging, but it is ready to go with many meals now."

Champagne Louis Roederer

Non Vintage Carte Blanche

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - December 01, 2008

90 points "With its good bottle age, this bone-dry Champagne from Roederer has gained impressive complexity. The wine is certainly dry, but toast, vanilla and ground almond flavors add to the fruit. The apple skin texture holds this delicious wine together."

Dominus Estate

2006 Dominus

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2008

96 points "...Its dark plum/purple color is accompanied by aromas and flavors of truffles, forest floor, black cherries, black currants, and Asian spices. One of the finest wines of the vintage, it is complete, full-bodied, and seamlessly built with beautiful ripe tannins, low acidity, and a luscious, layered mouthfeel. The aromatics are even more evolved and complex than the 2005's. The 2006 should drink well for 20-25 years."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2002 Cristal

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2008

96+ points "This beautifully-sculpted Champagne possesses notable clarity but with the additional depth of fruit that is characteristic of this vintage. It is a gorgeous, seductive Cristal of the highest level."

Dominus Estate

2006 Napanook

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2008

92 points "The 2006 Napanook...is made in a riper, more California style than usual, displaying more exuberant, up-front notes of kirsch, black currants, and plums. Deep and full-bodied with low acidity, sweet tannin, and a fleshy, succulent personality, it tastes like a classic Napa Cabernet."

Champagne Louis Roederer

2003 Brut Rosé

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2008

90 points "The color is a light tone of salmon. Layers of sweet perfumed fruit flow onto the palate effortlessly as this sexy, feminine wine opens up in the glass. This is a fairly accessible style of rose, but it has the signature Roederer finesse in spades."

Delas Freres

2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - November 2008

92-94 points "It reveals a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a gorgeous nose of black fruits, spring flowers, licorice, incense, lavender, and grilled Provencal herbs. Dense, full-bodied, flamboyant, and chewy, with that terrific freshness and purity that characterize this great vintage in the south, it should drink well for 12-15+ years."

Querciabella

2006 Chianti Classico DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - October 31, 2008

91 points #81 of Top 100 Wines of 2008, "A rich, round wine, with plum and berry character and soft tannins. Full-bodied, with berry and dark chocolate character and a long finish. Juicy. Outstanding value. Drink now through 2012."

Querciabella

2005 Camartina

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - October 31, 2008

93 points "Blackberry, blueberry and lavender aromas follow through to a full body, with supersilky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Polished and beautiful."

Pio Cesare

2004 Barbaresco DOCG

Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - October 2008

92 points "The 2004 Barbaresco is a beautiful wine endowed with expressive aromatics and an attractive core of ripe red fruit. Subtle notes of spices, smoke, tar and licorice add complexity. The wine possesses outstanding length and refined tannins that will only become more elegant with further bottle age. ...Anticipated maturity: 2009-2024."

Delas Freres

2007 Côtes-du-Rhône 'St. Esprit' Rouge

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - October 2008

90 points "The amazing 2007 Cotes du Rhone St.-Esprit...reveals a northern Rhone orientation, but it is loaded with spice and black fruits, and displays a beautiful opulent texture as well as a gorgeous finish with impressive purity."

Château de Pez

2005 Vintage

Wine & Spirits - October 2008

90 points "Delicate florals surround the firm red berry flavors of this wine. The tannins are gravelly and the fruit is fresh, lingering with a gentle persistence and adding silkiness."

Pio Cesare

2004 Barbaresco Il Bricco DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - September 30, 2008

94 points "This is wonderfully floral and fruity on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Chewy yet polished. Plenty of ripe blackberry, light toasty oak and vanilla on the finish. Best after 2011."

Pio Cesare

2004 Barolo Ornato DOCG

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - September 30, 2008

96 points "Very pretty and focused, with lots of subtle aromas, from black cherry to freshly cut flowers. Full-bodied and powerful, with chewy tannins and a long, rich finish. All to come here. Best after 2011."

Marqués de Murrieta

2004 Dalmau Reserva

Wine Enthusiast - Michael Schachner - August 2008

95 points, Editors' Choice "This is a spectacular wine in every sense of the word. The nose blends alluring scents of smoke, asphalt, rubber and black fruit. The palate is saturated and smooth, with black cherry and blackberry flavors leading the way. Coffee, berry pie and mocha help the finish hold court and then fade away. Already good but best from 2010-2020."

Marqués de Murrieta

2003 Capellanía White Reserva

Wine Enthusiast - Michael Schachner - June 2008

91 points, Editors' Choice "Lucid yellow in the glass, yet lightly oxidized on the nose. A spacy, unique Viura. There’s dry apricot and peach pit flavors, and mouthfeel and acidity are impeccable. A treat for explorers; eschews all blueprints for modern white wine."

Ladoucette

2005 Ladoucette Pouilly - Fumé

Wine & Spirits - Peter Liem - April 2008

90 Points One of the Year's Best Sauvignon Blancs (June 2008 issue) "Vibrant and lively, this show fragrant aromas of peach, pear and guava packed into a sleekly muscular frame. It's rich in body yet never feels heavy, supported by crisp acidity that balances the weight and elongates that flavors on the finish."

Château Cos d’Estournel

2005 Vintage

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - March 31, 2008

98 Points "Black color, with aromas of orange peel, new leather, currant, berry, Christmas pudding. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish of fruit and spices."

Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix

2005 Château Lafleur Gazin

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - March 31, 2008

91 Points "Has berry and chocolate character, with hints of spice. Full-bodied, yet reserved and refined, with silky, tender tannins. Pretty and subtle. Best after 2013."

Château Loudenne

2005 Château Loudenne

Wine Spectator - James Suckling - March 31, 2008

90 Points "Delivers blackberry and pretty, toasty oak, with flowers. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, long finish of ripe fruit, espresso and a hint of licorice. Balanced and refined."

Champagne Deutz

2000 Brut Vintage

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - December 01, 2007

92 points "This is certainly rich, packed with youthful green and white-fruit flavors, but it still has that seductive elegance that is the hallmark of Deutz."

Dominus Estate

2005 Dominus

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - December 2007

96 Points "The 2005 Dominus...has come of age, and is one of the strongest efforts they’ve made. It is possibly the best Dominus since the 2001, and perhaps even the 1997 or 1991. A beautiful, sweet nose of roasted coffee interwoven with kirsch, black currant, cedar, and spice box emerges from this deep ruby/purple-colored wine. The wine has fabulous intensity, a layered, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, well-integrated acidity, and a stunningly long finish. The layering of this wine as it builds incrementally on the palate is something to behold. An outstanding, sexy, ageworthy Dominus, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and last for at least 25 or 30 years."

Domaines Schlumberger

2004 Cuvée Christine

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - October 15, 2007

93 Points "This elegant wine offers a panoply of flavors, with peaty earth and coffee notes underscoring dried apricot and bergamot, with a hint of basil. Off-dry, with well-integrated acidity and a tinge of grapefruit on the finish. Drink now through 2020."

Domaines Schlumberger

2005 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Spiegel

Wine Spectator - Bruce Sanderson - September 30, 2007

90 Points "There’s a spicy edge to the dried apricot and grapefruit flavors in this white, accented by racy acidity and a thread of honey. Delicate, with finely tuned balance. Drink now through 2018."

Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix

2004 Château Certan-Marzelle

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - June 2007

Outstanding, 90 Points "This 100% Merlot cuvee has put on weight since I tasted it last year. It reveals a beautiful, exotic, coffee bean, sweet cherry, and cassis-scented bouquet as well as superb charm, lushness, and fruit. Reminiscent of a lighter-weight Le Pin, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for a decade. It will not make old bones."

Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix

2004 Château Hosanna

Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - June 2007

Outstanding, 90 Points "More structured and tannic than usual, the 2004 Hosanna reveals a noble bouquet of spring flowers, cedar, menthol, and caramelized sweet black cherries and currants. The flavors are rich, savory, and medium to full-bodied, but strong tannins appear in the finish, suggesting 3-4 years of bottle age will be beneficial. It should drink nicely for 12-15+ years thereafter."

Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix

2004 Château Magdelaine

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - June 2007

92 points "A hugely rich, concentrated wine for 2004, packed with ripe black plums and berries. This is a great success, with dry tannins balanced by delicious sweet fruit, finishing with a fresh, currant fruit aftertaste."

Adriano Ramos Pinto

2003 Duas Quintas Reserva Especial

The Wine Advocate - Mark Squires - February 2007

94 Points "The 2003 'Duas Quintas Reserva Especial' has a pungent nose, and sappy, young fruit, but the tannins take over the wine fairly quickly. The mid-palate is elegant, but the power indicates that this is a wine built for aging, and I think it will age very gracefully. ...I predict that this is going to be utterly delicious when it is ready to drink."