Recent Arrivals

Tasting Notes for Petrus, 2007:
Rated - No tasting note given. Wine Advocate # 176 Apr 2008
Parker Points: 90-93
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Haut Brion, 2005:
The 2005 Haut-Brion is another wine that has put on weight over the last year. While I still believe the 1989 is the great classic, it is difficult not to admire the architectural structure and seriousness of this extraordinarily elegant effort. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon (which came in around 14% natural alcohol), 39% Merlot (over 13% natural alcohol), and 5% Cabernet Franc, only 9,000 cases were produced in this vintage, significantly less than in other great years such as 2000 or 1998. It appears to be a big, bulked-up version of the 1996 or 1995. While almost primordial in its denseness, richness, and body, it retains its elegance and surreal nose of flowers, cherries, pain grille, crushed rocks, flowers, and ripe fruit. Powerful, dense, and in need of a decade of cellaring, this will be a 30 to 40-year Haut-Brion that should end up being a modern day version of the 1955. Although closed at present, it is enormously impressive, and is a treat to taste next to the more flamboyant La Mission Haut-Brion. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040+. The Wine Advocate #170 Apr-07.
Parker Points: 98
Drinking Period: 2015-2040

Tasting Notes for Leoville Poyferre, 2005:
While perhaps not up to the standards of the extraordinary 2003, the 2005 is still a strong effort from an estate that has been doing everything right over the last two decades. Sweet toasty oak intermixed with jammy black currant, plum, and licorice aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-hued wine. In the mouth, there is great fruit, tannin, body, structure, and delineation. This impressively endowed, well made St.-Julien will require considerable patience (as will most 2005 northern Medocs). Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+. The Wine Advocate #170 Apr-07.
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2015-2030

Tasting Notes for Malescot St Exupery, 2005:
This estateÕs finest effort - ever, the 2005 Malescot St.-Exupery should be sought out by readers looking for intensity combined with superb richness, fascinating elegance, and a surreal concoction of blue and red fruits, a silky texture, and a delicate yet powerful wine that builds incrementally, never becoming overwrought. This dense purple-colored, medium to full-bodied tour de force in winemaking is already displaying remarkable complexity. It should only get better over the next decade, and will last through 2030. I would not be surprised to see this wine merit a few more points with additional aging.
Parker Points: 97
Drinking Period: 2018-2030

Tasting Notes for Pontet Canet, 2005:
The work that Alfred Tesseron and his winemaking team have done at this estate since 1994 is remarkable. At this fabulous terroir just south of Mouton-Rothschild, Tesseron has made major investments, and instituted incredibly severe selections in both the vineyard and winery. The result is a succession of extraordinary wines. It is difficult to know whether the 2005 Pontet-Canet will ultimately eclipse the hedonism and density of the flamboyant 2003, but it is unquestionably a stunning effort. Inky/black-colored with a classic Pauillac perfume of licorice, black currant liqueur, graphite, cedar, and spice box, it is full-bodied, with magnificent concentration, formidable tannins, and an Arnold Schwartzenegger-like structure (when he was 25 years younger). This backward, formidably endowed 2005 will require patience.
Parker Points: 96+
Drinking Period: 2017-2040

Tasting Notes for Vraye Croix de Gay, 2005:
Somewhat disappointing, the 2005 Vray Croix de Gay is closed, but exhibits plenty of muscle, a rustic style, meaty, truffle, and licorice characteristics, and astringent, firm tannins. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 15 or more.
Parker Points: 88
Drinking Period: 2010-2025

Tasting Notes for Leoville Poyferre, 2004:
Along with Leoville Las Cases and a few others, this is among the stars of the appellation. Made in a more floral, supple, Margaux-like style, the deep ruby/purple-hued 2004 Leoville Poyferre exhibits sweet, broad flavors, and plenty of tannin lurking beneath the surface. However, the abundant cherry, black currant, licorice, and smoke notes obscure the tannic clout. This rich, powerful, broad beauty should be drinkable in 2-3 years, and last for two decades. The Wine Advocate #171 Jun-07.
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2009-2027

Tasting Notes for Montrose, 2004:
An impressive effort for the vintage, the 2004 Montrose possesses a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with notions of smoke, cold steel, earth, and subtle background wood. With excellent texture, a sweet ripeness, medium to full body, and moderate tannin, it should drink well for 15+ years. Also tasted: 2004 La Dame de Montrose (88) The Wine Advocate #171 Jun-07.
Parker Points: 91
Drinking Period: 2007-2022

Tasting Notes for La Fleur Petrus, 2003:
An open-knit Pomerol, the 2003 exhibits a medium ruby color, an opulent, sweet cherry-scented nose, low acid, plump, round flavors, a fragile constitution, but an incremental richness that builds on the palate. A light effort for the vintage, it comes across like a round, juicy Pinot Noir because of its sweetness of fruit and expansiveness. Drink it over the next 10-12 years, although it may last even longer as its balance is impressive.
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period: 2006-2018

Tasting Notes for Cos d'Estournel, 2002:
One of the candidates for wine of the vintage, this beauty has a dense purple color to the rim and a classic, noble nose of graphite intermixed with black currant, spice box, licorice, and red and black fruits. Medium to full-bodied with exceptional precision and definition, this beautifully textured wine stands out as one of the most successful wines of this irregular vintage. A brilliant effort. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2008-2020

Tasting Notes for Margaux, 2001:
Performing well from bottle, Chateau MargauxÕs 2001, which is somewhat reminiscent of both the 1985 and 1999, is an elegant, seamlessly constructed effort with a deep ruby/purple color, and a beautiful nose of flowers, creme de cassis, blackberries, and cedar. A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, this forward, opulent beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years. This is one of the most elegant wines of the vintage. Wine Advocate # 153 Jun 2004
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 2004-2024

Tasting Notes for La Lagune, 2000:
An uninspiring effort from one of my favorite estates, La Lagune's dark ruby-colored, elegant, medium-bodied 2000 reveals plenty of new oak, but lacks concentration, expansiveness, and persistence. It is a pretty wine, but short and insubstantial. Anticipated maturity: now-2011. The Wine Advocate, #146 Apr-03.
Parker Points: 86
Drinking Period: 2003-2011

Tasting Notes for Petrus, 1999:
This wine is turning out much in the style of such wonderful Petrus vintages as 1967 and 1971. Although not as outstanding as either the 1998 or 2000, it displays beautiful intensity and finesse in a more evolved style than one normally expects from this estate. The wine has a dense, nearly opaque ruby/purple color, sweet black cherry, mulberry, truffle-infused fruit, full body, low acidity, admirable purity, and sweet tannin. It should be ready to drink in 5-6 years, and will last for two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. Only 2,400 cases were produced. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate #140
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period: 2007-2030

Tasting Notes for Vieux Chateau Certan, 1998:
A fine offering, the 1998 has closed down, but there is no doubting its fabulous potential. The color is a dense purple. The wine reveals high tannin, huge body, and classy black fruits intermixed with minerals, spice box, cedar, and tobacco. A long, persistent, tannic finish gives this majestic effort a closed but formidable personality. Patience will be required. Wine Advocate #134 April 2001
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 2008-2030

Tasting Notes for Cos d'Estournel, 1996:
93 points. Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, this is a huge, backward wine. The 1996 possesses an opaque purple color, as well as pure aromatics consisting of cassis, grilled herbs, coffee, and toasty new oak. Massive in the mouth, and one of the most structured and concentrated young Cos d'Estournels I have ever tasted, this thick, structured, tannic wine has closed down significantly since bottling. It requires 7-8 years of cellaring, and should last for 30-35 years. It is a fabulous Cos, but patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. Wine Advocate 4/99.
Parker Points: 93
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Haut Brion, 1995:
96 points. This wine has been brilliant on every occasion I have tasted it. More accessible and forward than the 1996, it possesses a saturated ruby/purple color, as well as a beautiful, knock-out set of aromatics, consisting of black fruits, vanillin, spice, and wood-fire smoke. Multidimensional and rich, with layers of ripe fruit, and beautifully integrated tannin and acidity, this medium to full-bodied wine is a graceful, seamless, exceptional Haut-Brion that should drink surprisingly well young. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2030. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate 2/98.
Parker Points: 0
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Margaux, 1985:
91 points. The 1985 Margaux continues to age well and can be drunk with great pleasure. It is a lovely, seductive, medium-bodied wine with a gorgeous bouquet of toasty new oak, berry fruit, and violets. Rich, concentrated, supple, elegant, and graceful, the 1985 Margaux has turned out to be a beautiful wine that will evolve for at least another 15 or more years. Remarkably approachable and enjoyable to drink, for the next decade it will provide considerably more pleasure than the more ballyhooed and backward trio of 1986, 1983, and 1982. Anticipated maturity: Now-2005. Last tasted, 6/93. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate.
Parker Points: 0
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Lafite Rothschild, 1982:
The 1982 Lafite possesses a dark, dense ruby/purple color with only a subtle lightening at the rim. Spectacular aromatics offer jammy cherry and black fruits intertwined with lead pencil, mineral, and smoky wood scents. Powerful for a Lafite, this wine unfolds to reveal extraordinary richness, purity, and overall symmetry in addition to stunning flavor depth and persistence. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. Plenty of tannin remains, and the wine displays a vibrancy and youthfulness that belie its 18 years of age. The modern day equivalent of Lafite-Rothschild's immortal 1959, the 1982 will enjoy another 30-70 years of life! An amazing achievement! Wine Advocate # 129 Jun 2000
Parker Points: 100
Drinking Period: 2007-2070

Tasting Notes for Dom Perignon - Moet et Chandon, 1996:
The brilliant 1996 Dom Perignon, which has largely disappeared from the marketplace, may be the finest young example of DP I have ever tasted. Notes of crushed rocks, honeysuckle, lemon oil, orange marmalade, and white pear provide a stunning aromatic display as well as palate impression. Great acidity and huge flavor intensity backed up by vibrant acidity make this an exquisite Champagne. It should drink well for 20-25 years, possibly longer. Readers should remember that the 1971 Dom Perignon Rose is still drinking exquisitely. I recently had the 1969 and 1970 Dom Perignons (from magnum), and both were drinking brilliantly. It makes one realize just how long-lived these wines can be. Production is confidential, but there must be hundreds of thousands of cases of Dom Perignon since it available in most of the world's luxury hotels and restaurants. The Wine Advocate, #162 Dec-05.
Parker Points: 98
Drinking Period: 2005-2030