Imperial Stag Reserva Iconic Red Mendoza is made from 55% Malbec and 45% Syrah.
This is a single vineyard planted with Malbec and Syrah with low yields (2.5 ton per acre for the Malbec and 3.5 ton per acre for the Syrah).
Bright and intense, full bodied red wine with violet hues at the lips. Elegant and savory, with silky persistence. Captivating aromas of currants, raspberries and other red fruits. Distinct tobacco and chocolate aroma melded with honey and amalgamated notes of pepper and nuts from its passage through French oak barrels.
Pair with venison of course ! but also duck, lamb and strong cheeses.
Imperial Stag Reserva Iconic Red Mendoza is made from 55% Malbec and 45% Syrah.
This is a single vineyard planted with Malbec and Syrah with low yields (2.5 ton per acre for the Malbec and 3.5 ton per acre for the Syrah).
Bright and intense, full bodied red wine with violet hues at the lips. Elegant and savory, with silky persistence. Captivating aromas of currants, raspberries and other red fruits. Distinct tobacco and chocolate aroma melded with honey and amalgamated notes of pepper and nuts from its passage through French oak barrels.
Pair with venison of course ! but also duck, lamb and strong cheeses.
Review:
“Benefiting from the addition of 15% Cabernet Franc for the first time, this is a structured assemblage of Malbec and 40% Syrah. The oak is a little sweeter and more assertive than on the other Imperial Stag wines, but there’s plenty of palate weight to cope. Dark chocolate and Asian spice aromas are joined by plum and blackberry fruit. 2024-29.”
Tim Atkin 2024 Best of Argentina Report, points 91
Inglenook Rubicon is made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Since its inaugural vintage in 1978, Rubicon has been the Estate's premier red wine, reflecting the soul of the property and expressing Francis Coppola's wish to create a Bordeaux-styled grand wine, that is, "a wine that can please contemporary taste, but with a historical aspect [that defines] our vineyards at their zenith."
Rubicon was named after the small river crossed by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C., declaring his intention to gain control of Rome, thereby launching a civil war among opposing factions. Over time the phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has come to signify any irreversible action with revolutionary intent or the outcome of which holds great risk. True to its uncommon depth, Inglenook's Rubicon continues to be a testament to the finely tuned rendering of a risk well-taken.
Strikingly rich in color and extract, the 2018 Rubicon is unquestionably a precocious, hedonistic wine. The exotic, well-knit aromas and flavors include ripe cassis, allspice, star anise, vanilla and black licorice. Upon entry, this full-bodied wine envelops the palate with its luxurious concentration and supple, silky tannins, supported by vibrant freshness from the balanced acidity, and perfectly-integrated French oak. Very long and expansive in the finish, the 2018 Rubicon will be memorable for decades to come.
Review:
Subtle and complex red with blackberry, black truffle, sweet tobacco and mahogany. Highlights of lavender and violets. Full-bodied and very tight with finesse and tension. Very polished, fine tannins. Long finish. Delicious already, but best after 2022.
-James Suckling 97 Points
Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc.
Stunningly deep ruby in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with heady aromas of brambly black cherry, vanilla, warm brioche, and crème de cassis. As the wine warms on the palate, notes of red cherry, graphite and fennel emerge, as very polished, refined tannins carry the wine into a long, fragrant finish. Layered flavors, good tension, and a perfect integration of wine and oak interact to create this classic expression of Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon.
Review:
This shows notes of ripe blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of licorice, cloves, walnuts and chocolate. It has full body and a velvety tannin structure. Juicy and vibrant fruit on the palate with a touch of earthiness. Smooth and delicious. Long, fruity finish. Very pure fruit. Try after 2024.
-James Suckling 95 points
Introvert Cabernet Sauvignon AVA CA is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
A very balanced and refined Cabernet with blackberry, blackcurrant and floral character. Medium-to full-bodied, subtle and complex. Very drinkable and approachable, this wine is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
J Lohr Signature Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon 6% Cabernet Franc 6% Saint Macaire 4% Petit Verdot 4% Malbec.
J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced to honor the 80th birthday of founder Jerry Lohr. This limited release was specially selected and blended from the exceptional 2016 vintage in Paso Robles. It is both a tribute to Jerry's pioneering efforts in the region and our red wine portfolio's ultimate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. VINEYARDS & CELLAR Beck Vineyard, in the Creston District of Paso Robles, is a unique, high elevation site that sits at 1,700 feet above the early morning fog line. Its calcareous soils and cooling afternoon winds are perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet from this vineyard ripens early with excellent color, purity of fruit, and phenolic maturity. Incorporation of Cabernet Franc brings freshness to the blend, while the rare Bordeaux variety, Saint Macaire, brings density and a savory character. Petit Verdot and Malbec add structure, color, and a component of bright fruit. The hand-harvested grapes were held separate at harvest and berry-sorted into six-ton open top tanks for fermentation. Maceration took place on the skins for five days, before early pressing to achieve ideal tannin extraction. Aged 19 months in 100% new French oak from coopers Nadalie and Sylvain.
Review:
Almost opaque in the glass, this luxury bottling entices with intense aromas of black currant and blackberry sauce on the nose, with savory hints of dark olive and caramel spice. It's quite dry on the palate, where licorice, violet and cassis flavors linger amidst the polished tannins
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
Prager’s stylistic signature is that of aromatic complexity coupled with power and tension. High- density planting and long hang times ensure ripe fruit flavors and concentration, yet allowing leaves to shade the fruit lend vibrant aromatics of grasses, herbs, and wildflowers. Minerality is a constant feature of any Prager wine.
Review:
This is a cool, brilliant and mineral riesling with so much wet stone character alongside lime peel, white grapefruit and small white flowers on the nose. Coriander leaf and root. Sharp and exciting, medium-bodied, precise and full of mountain freshness.
-James Suckling 97 Points
Fullerton Three Otters Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir - 7-40 years old
This Willamette Valley blend hails mainly from three different vineyards in the north, east, and south of the Willamette Valley, with a smaering from five of Fullerton's other sites. The soils of the vineyards represent the breadth and diversity of the Willamee Valley with both sedimentary- and volcanic-based soils.
Blueberry and ripe strawberry with a dash of baker’s spice, bramble, and herbs. The palate carries the fruit forward elegantly with balanced tannins following. Intriguing complexity and depth—an impressive wine for all.
This wine comes from 100% destemmed rotator barrels fermented at ambient temperature reaching a peak temperature of 73° F. The rotator barrel spun twice daily during fermentation yielding a gentle extraction. After fermentation, the wine went through a three-week extended maceration, allowing the tannins to polymerize, soffening the wine. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and three months in tank, the wine was then bottled after filtration.
This wine is handled very gently in the cellar allowing the nuances of the delicate fruit to be preserved and the wine to be very approachable in its youth. We have a preference for pump-overs versus punch-downs for its smoother extraction and softening effect on the tannin. To retain freshness and verve we age most of the wine in tank. However, we softened up and rounded out about 25% of the blend in barrel. The result is a fresh, fruit forward, yet earthy and intriguing, Pinot Noir.