Displaying 17051 - 17075 of 23456
Score
Hartford Court
2011 Far Coast Vineyard Chardonnay
92-93 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright yellow. Powerful, deeply pitched poached pear, mango and iodine aromas, with a zesty mineral overtone. Rich and broad but energetic as well, offering chewy orchard and citrus fruit flavors and a smoky nuance. Quite lithe for such a powerful wine, and showing no excess fat. Closes on a spicy note, with excellent clarity, energy and length.

Hartford Court
2011 Fog Dance Vineyard Chardonnay
92-93 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Vivid gold. High-pitched aromas of pear, anise, iodine and zesty minerals, with a sexy floral nuance that builds with air. Spicy and incisive on the palate, offering vibrant citrus and orchard fruit flavors and notes of honeysuckle, saffron and tarragon. Tightly focused and very lively on the long clinging finish.

Cardinale
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
92(+?) Points Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92 (+?)

Good bright ruby-red. Refined, restrained, slightly medicinal aromas of cassis, licorice, herbs, lead pencil and coffee. Sweet, plush and energetic but youthfully reserved, with the medicinal quality carrying through on the palate. Most impressive today on the broad, slowly building finish, which features firm but very suave tannins and terrific lift. This may merit an even higher rating by the time it's released next fall.

Anakota
2010 Helena Montana Cabernet Sauvignon
92(+?) Points Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92 (+?)

Deep medium ruby. Precise aromas of black raspberry, licorice, espresso and spices. Less obviously sweet in the early going than the Helena Dakota, showing more mineral firmness to the flavors of black raspberry, spices and tobacco. Finishes very long and firm, with solid tannic structure for aging.

Lokoya
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain
92(+?) Points Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92 (+?)

Dark ruby-red. Musky, reduced aromas of black cherry and dark berries. Surprisingly plush and ripe on entry, then tighter in the middle, showing medicinal restraint to the dark berry flavors. This very dry, backward wine finishes with serious tannins that will require patience.

Arrowood
2009 Réserve Spéciale Cabernet Sauvignon
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Inky ruby. Powerful aromas of black and blue fruits, vanilla and smoky oak spices. Deeply pitched cassis and blueberry flavors are impressively concentrated but energetic as well. Becomes spicier with air and finishes sweet and long, with the blueberry and vanilla notes repeating.

Anakota
2010 Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon
92 Points Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright medium ruby. Brooding aromas of black raspberry, dark chocolate and spices. Sweet, ripe and compellingly rich, offering terrific depth to the lush black raspberry and chocolate flavors. This very ripe cabernet will need time in bottle to absorb a bit of its alcohol.

Stonestreet
2010 Legacy Red Wine
92 Points Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Full ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, cassis, violet, coffee, licorice and fresh herbs show a lightly medicinal quality. Surprisingly lush and plump on the palate, but without quite the fruit intensity of the Stonestreet Christopher's Cabernet Sauvignon that preceded it in my tasting. But this very round wine has the stuffing to handle its big, ripe tannins.

Maggy Hawk
2010 Unforgettable Pinot Noir
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright red. Black raspberry, incense, dried lavender and allspice on the exotically perfumed nose, with a note of cola gaining strength with air. Sappy and concentrated, with sweet red and dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter cherry. Shows real depth and finishes with excellent energy and lingering spiciness.

Maggy Hawk
2010 Jolie Pinot Noir
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Light, bright red. Powerful, smoke-tinged aromas of cherry, licorice and sassafras, with slow-building spiciness and a hint of dried rose. Powerful, sharply focused cherry-cola and black raspberry flavors show very good depth and clarity. Becomes spicier with air and closes with impressive energy and subtle, harmonious tannins.

La Jota
2008 Merlot Howell Mountain
92 Points Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

A dazzling Merlot, rich and complex, offering immediately appealing waves of cherry pie, red currant, cola, mocha, brown sugar, cinnamon and sweet oak. Even though the tannins are thick, they're as soft as velvet. The structural integrity of this wine is pure Napa Valley and makes the wine particularly fine.

La Crema
2010 Nine Barrel Pinot Noir
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright ruby. Smoky, pungent aromas of dark berry preserves, cherry pit and Indian spices, with a bright mineral topnote. Offers gently sweet cherry-cola and black raspberry flavors that are given lift and bite by tangy acidity. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with excellent clarity and persistence. I find this suave pinot very approachable now.

La Crema
2010 Shell Ridge Pinot Noir
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Ruby-red. Heady red fruit, potpourri and cola aromas, with a sexy vanilla nuance in the background. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering pliant raspberry and cherry compote flavors and a bracing jolt of white pepper. Closes with impressive focus and length, with silky tannins adding subtle grip.

La Crema
2010 Nine Barrel Chardonnay
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Pale gold. High-pitched lime zest, lemongrass, jasmine and chalky mineral aromas, with a deeper anise nuance in the background. Bright, racy and very precise, offering concentrated citrus fruit and floral flavors and a hint of iodine. Lingers with impressive tenacity, leaving mineral, smoke and floral notes behind.

Hartford Court
2011 Land's Edge Vineyards Pinot Noir
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright ruby. Pungent cherry and dark berry aromas are complicated by Indian spice and floral nuances. Broad and chewy in texture, offering sappy blackberry and cherry-cola flavors that provide impressive palate coverage. Gripping tannins build on the long, spicy finish, which leaves notes of bitter cherry and candied lavender behind.

Hartford Court
2011 Four Hearts Vineyards Chardonnay
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Light, bright gold. Sexy, floral-accented aromas of orange, poached pear, iodine and honey, with a minerally topnote. Densely packed and firm, with very good clarity to its citrus fruit, iodine and buttered toast flavors. Finishes silky and long, with suave aromatic persistence.

Hartford
2011 Jolene's Vineyard Zinfandel
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Opaque purple. Explosive, very ripe aromas of black raspberry, Indian spices, licorice and mocha. Sweet and fat on the palate, with an exotic spicecake quality to its dark berry and floral pastille flavors. Fleshy, harmonious zin, with excellent finishing clarity and lingering spiciness. These vines are over a century old, according to Hartford.

Hartford
2011 Hartford Vineyard Zinfandel
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Saturated ruby. Ripe black and blue fruits on the nose and palate. Exotic Asian spice and floral nuances gain power with air, along with a touch of candied licorice. Weighty but energetic, with strong finishing cut and smooth, well-knit tannins that add grip.

Hartford
2011 Dina's Vineyard Zinfandel
92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Opaque purple. Extremely fragrant, with red and dark berry aromas and suggestions of anise and fresh rose. Smells and tastes like a ripe pinot, with elegant raspberry and blackberry flavors and supple, seamless texture. Finishes smooth and long, with resonating spiciness and well-judged tannins. This is surprisingly delicious now but I'd let it age for at least a few years. As with the rest of these zins, from a vineyard that was planted over 100 years ago.

Hartford Court
2011 MacLean's Block Pinot Noir
91-92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Vivid ruby. Smoky cherry-cola and Indian spice scents show very good energy and focus. Rich but lively, offering intense dark fruit flavors and a brighter note of orange zest. Shows impressive clarity and energy on the finish, which features fine-grained tannins and a late touch of candied rose.

Hartford Court
2011 Jennifer's Pinot Noir
91-92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Dark ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas and flavors of bitter cherry, cola and Indian spices. Sappy, penetrating and pure, with a note of star anise gaining power with air. Closes on a smoky note, with impressive cling, chewy tannins and persistent sweetness.

Hartford Court
2011 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir
91-92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Full ruby. Primary dark berry and cherry pit aromas are complicated by notes of lavender and peppery spices. Silky and appealingly sweet, offering vibrant black raspberry and floral pastille flavors and an exotic touch of star anise. Silky tannins make a late appearance and add shape to a smooth, clinging finish.

Hartford Court
2011 Hailey's Block Pinot Noir
91-92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Vivid ruby. A pungent, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, cherry pit, anise, vanilla and medicinal herbs. Sappy, penetrating red currant and cherry compote flavors gain sweetness with air and show a suave, silky texture. A spicy nuance adds lift to the impressively long, sweet finish, which leaves a juicy raspberry note behind.

Hartford Court
2011 Stone Côte Vineyard Chardonnay
91-92 Points Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright, green-tinged yellow. Intensely perfumed bouquet evokes dried pear, honeydew, jasmine and chamomile. Spicy and firm on the palate, with bitter lemon and orchard fruit flavors that flesh out with air. A juicy melon nuance emerges in the glass and carries through a long, supple, spice-dominated finish.

Lokoya
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
91+ Points Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Good ruby-red. Tight, high-pitched, very subdued aromas of cassis, licorice, espresso and fennel. The most backward and youthfully imploded of this set of 2010 cabernets, hinting at intense black fruits and licorice but coming across as uncompromisingly dry today, with rather tough tannins. This will need another look in a few years. Incidentally, assistant winemaker Laura Diaz-Munoz describes the 2009 Lokoya cabernets as bigger wines. The 2010s are more elegant and will age well, she adds. They have higher acidity but similar pHs.