Vinous (96+)

Araujo has long made some of the more restrained Cabernets in Napa Valley. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is one of the more Left Bank inflected wines in the estate's distinguished history. Beautifully layered and expressive, the 2011 graces the palate with exquisite finesse and total harmony. The 2011 isn't a huge, explosive wine like the 2010 or 2009, but it stands out for its exceptional length and vibrancy. Readers should not expect an obvious Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I imagine the 2011 will still be marvelous at age 30, and I won't be surprised if it is one day regarded as one of the great, iconic wines of the vintage. The 2011 has been truly special since I started tasting the single blocks in the Spring of 2012. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2010 was a hard act to follow, and the 2011 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard had to fulfill great expectations. There is less color in this 2011 (I popped a bottle of the 2010 for comparison) and more notes reminiscent of Cabernet Franc (Alejandro Vigil harvested even earlier in 2010), because it is mostly Cabernet Franc from a very chalky vineyard in Gualtallary at 1,430 meters altitude that fermented together with a small percentage of Malbec. 50% of the volume was fermented with destemmed Cabernet Franc and full-cluster Malbec. The grapes from the most calcareous soils underwent a carbonic maceration in small bins, and after one week they are pressed and the juice finishes fermenting as if it were a white wine. The texture is very fine and the acidity seems like if it had a timer and shoots a second later than you expect it, creating a small explosion in your taste buds. That provides a very long aftertaste and almost citric flavors with a mineral, almost salty finish. At the end of the day this feels lighter but at the same time more complex than the 2010. If you want to understand what Gualtallary can do, find a bottle of this wine. It's drinkable now, but it should have a long life in bottle. At this quality level the price seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, only 3,400 bottles were produced.

1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2011 – 98 points (WA)
1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2012 – 98+ points (WA)
1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2013 – 100 points (WA)
1 x 75cl - Gualtallary 2014 – 98 points (WA)

El Enemigo Gran Enemigo Gualtallary is a single vineyard (Gualtallary) production combining Cabernet Franc (dominant) and Malbec. After near misses in 2011 and 2012 in 2013 this amazing duo of winemakers produced the perfect wine in 2013. Wine Advocate critic Luis Gutiérrez said the 2013 reminded him of Pomorol’s Lafleur and was “definitely world class” and “worth laying down”. The 2013 has a drinking window to 2030 and all these wines will benefit from a decade of aging. Only around 3,000 bottles are produced, of this incredible wine (far less than wines like Screaming Eagle at 5,000-9,000).

The super high scores and tiny production mean that this is a lovely vertical for collectors or investors to own.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2011 Barolo Unoperuno is an excruciating labor of love. Uno per uno means one for one in Italian and that's how each grape is removed from its cluster. With such a labor-intensive regime, only five barriques of this wine are produced. This manual destemming means that the wine does not show any of the bitter astringency you can get with stem inclusion or even mechanical destemming. The tannins come from the seeds. The Arborina vineyard is the source of fruit and this is the second year that Barolo Unoperuno is produced. It shows a lighter garnet color and pure aromas of wild berry, dried blueberries and cassis. This ensemble is finely textured and elegant. The tannins are silky and lightweight. It takes ten days and ten people to execute the destemming process.

Vinous (93)

The 2011 Barolo Ravera emerges from the oldest vines on the property. Dark cherry, plum, spice, new leather and lavender swirl around the glass in a resonant, generous Barolo that captures the generosity of the year as seen through the lens of Ravera. In this vintage, the Ravera is an especially weightless and simply impeccable in its overall balance. Hints of leather, sweet spices add nuance on the soft yet energetic finish. There is so much to like here.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-95)

(25% vendange entier): Good bright red with ruby tones. Precise aromas of black cherry, licorice and herbs. Spicy and penetrating on the palate; a bit strict but offers a great combination of sweetness and minerality. At once classy and powerful, finishing with a lingering element of saline minerality and firm, noble tannins that saturate the entire mouth.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-93)

Ruby-red. Perfumed, inviting aromas of bitter chocolate, blood orange and Moroccan spices. Round, concentrated and ripe, with sappy density to the flavors of dark fruits and spices. This is much easier to taste today than the Brulees. Finishes with sweet, ripe, even tannins and excellent length. Should be superb.

Vinous (95-97)

(from vines facing southeast, whereas the regular Clos de Beze is from south-facing vines; these vines are also a bit older: 55 years vs. 45): Good deep red. A coulis of red fruits sharpened by blood orange on the nose. Less reduced and more vibrant than the cuvee classique and utterly primary in the mouth, with pure fruit flavors framed and lifted by underlying minerality and perfectly integrated acidity. The explosive, highly perfumed finish features outstanding grip and punch and unflagging perfume. There will be just 4 barrels of this juice in 2011 (the cuvee was originally introduced in 2009), vs. 15 of the basic bottling. Hervet believes the two versions are of roughly equal quality, but today the Ouvrees Rodin is singing.

Vinous (91-94)

(25% vendange entier): Bright red. Highly perfumed nose offers dried rose, orange zest, ginger and dusty stone. Powerful and penetrating but with a light touch and superb precision to its red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. Lovely energy and tensile strength here: I like the stem influence. (Unfortunately, Faiveley's Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses was too reduced to assess in November.)

Vinous (95)

Faiveley’s 2011 Corton Clos des Corton is a fitting conclusion to this great night of wine and food. Intensely saline and pointed, the 2011 impresses for its pure energy and tension. The flavors are vibrant and impeccably delineated in a Burgundy that is all about finesse. This is a great showing from the Clos des Corton.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93-96)

Bright, deep red. Very deep aromas and flavors of raspberry, redcurrant, smoke and crushed rock. At once penetrating and utterly fine-grained; explosive sappy perfume fills the mouth without leaving any impression of weight. Pinot just doesn't pull off this trick anywhere but in Burgundy's top sites. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding palate-staining length.

James Suckling (99)

This is an incredible wine that reminds me of the perfect 2000 Barolo Rocche de Falletto. Flowers, spices, leather and animals. Decadent. Dried mushrooms. Then changes to Japanese ginger and lemon peel. Full-bodied but refined and so long. It has layers of fruit and power. So refined. Ripe and intense. Perfect balance and harmony. It will be released in 2016.

James Suckling (93-94)

A like the quality of the tannins in this with plenty of subtle berry and chocolate character. Full body, with a lovely acidity. Wonderful length to it. This is really pretty.

James Suckling (93-94)

A like the quality of the tannins in this with plenty of subtle berry and chocolate character. Full body, with a lovely acidity. Wonderful length to it. This is really pretty.

Experience the distinguished elegance of Florane Cotes du Rhone Visan 2011. Crafting a blend of Grenache and Syrah, this exquisitely full-bodied French red tantalises the palate with robust tannins and flavours of ripe cherries and blackcurrants. It hails from the southern Rhone region, specifically Visan, where the estate elevates viticulture into an art form.

Well-regarded vigneron Adrien Fabre utilises organic farming practices, ensuring every bottle brims with the authentic terroir of this renowned region. The vineyard's limestone and clay soils bless the Florane Cotes du Rhone Visan 2011 with a sublime minerality that gives a remarkably long finish to each glass.

Aged in oak casks for a period of 12 months, this vintage pairs perfectly with hearty meat dishes. The Florane Cotes du Rhone Visan 2011 is an ideal choice for those desiring to explore the intricate delights of Rhone Valley wines.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (89)

(a blend of 63% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon,10% petit verdot and 7% carmenère): Fully saturated inky purple. Coffee, cocoa and cassis on the nose, along with a musky note that I attribute to the carmenère. Then ample and sweet in the mouth, with syrupy blackberry and vanilla flavors that linger on the tangy, rather light finish.

Immerse yourself in the luxury of vineyard heritage with the Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2011. Originating from the reputable Établissements Nicolas Perrin estate situated in the northern Rhône region of France, this wine exudes the unmistakable aura of meticulously handpicked Syrah and Grenache grapes. The favourable Mediterranean climate, coupled with the estate's deep routed traditions in biodynamic grape cultivation, results in an exquisite full-bodied blend.

Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2011 plays host to a symphony of harmonious notes, teeming with deep black fruit flavours, mingling with hints of olives, earth and smoky undertones. Its distinctive, robust structure, combined with a dash of the Rhône’s characteristic earthiness, conjures an entrancing savoriness.

Regarded as a benchmark of the Côtes du Rhône appellation, Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone 2011--aged to perfection--offers you the quintessence of what a decade-old vintage should embody. An indulgence in every sip, this wine truly captures your senses in timeless French allure.

Vinous (94)

Black stone fruits, smoke, tobacco, incense and sweet spices jump from the glass in the 2011 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo. The 2011 is going to need a few years for the baby fat to melt away. Today the flavors are ripe, dark and resonant, while the tannins are quite silky, but the best is yet to come. Even with all of its richness, the 2011 clocks in with acidity above 6%, which is virtually unheard of for a wine with this much dry extract, but, then again, we are talking about Sangiovese.

Wine Spectator (97)

Beautiful deep ruby with incredible richness in aroma--blackberry, blueberry and plum--tempered by sweet spice from the oak. This offers mouth filling lushness, intense fruit, terrific balance and harmony, with a long, complex finish.--Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Best from 2017 through 2032. 4,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator (97)

Beautiful deep ruby with incredible richness in aroma--blackberry, blueberry and plum--tempered by sweet spice from the oak. This offers mouth filling lushness, intense fruit, terrific balance and harmony, with a long, complex finish.--Non-blind Flaccianello vertical (July 2014). Best from 2017 through 2032. 4,000 cases made.

The Fosse Seche Tris Chapelle 2011 is an expertly crafted French biodynamic wine from the esteemed Loire Valley. Produced by the beloved Arnaud family, who utilise traditional processes, the resulting wine exhibits depth, complexity, and balance. The grape composition of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet allows for a unique flavour profile with a finish as distinctive as its terroir. frameborder>

This bottling expresses a profound minerality and a delightful balance of ripened fruit flavours, buoyed by a rigorous acidity. Matured on the lees for 18 months, the Fosse Seche Tris Chapelle 2011 displays a tinge of honeyed richness, underpinned by smoky undertones - a mélange indicative of an elusive, yet captivating, exotic fruit character.

With each sip, savour the embodied dedication, sophistication, and artisanal integrity, hallmarking the wine as a quintessential Fosse Seche Tris Chapelle. Capture the experience of this famed bottle and let it elevate your wine indulgence.

Vinous (91)

Medium red. Captivating aromas of cherry, raspberry, blueberry and minerals, lifted by a floral topnote. The palate offers excellent cut and precision to the almost Chambolle-like red berry flavors. At once juicy and filled in, this nicely balanced village wine finishes with noteworthy length.

Proudly presenting the formidable Franck Pascal Harmonie Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2011, a pinnacle of elegance and technique from the renowned Champagne region of France. This sophisticated vintage was expertly crafted by vintner Franck Pascal himself, a fervent bio-dynamic practitioner. Being an extra brut, it's intensely dry, yet maintains a compelling energy and vibrancy.

Originating from a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the low-yielding vines on chalky soils impart intense fruit and mineral complexity. The careful handling of the grapes lends a purity and transparency to this wine. Pascal's exceptional skills, combined with meticulous attention to detail, result in richly nuanced flavours with a delicate, silky mousse.

With the Franck Pascal Harmonie Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 2011, savour the perfect balance of depth and lightness, assured to captivate even the most discerning of palates. Truly a sip reflective of Franck Pascal's unwavering commitment to crafting exceptional biodynamic wines.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Nervy and dramatic with lovely balance between fruit and structure. Long and rich and the flavours just yo-yo over the palate. Lovely stuff but look at the price! Clean and long.

Wine Advocate (88)

Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Suchots 2011 is more reserved on the nose than their Chaumées, but there is a touch more complexity, the brambly red and black fruit infused with fine minerality and tension. The palate is smooth and rounded on the entry with a lot of extraction so that it feels plump around the middle. Juicy and pure, what it lacks in complexity is compensated by its saturated tannins and opulent blueberry-tinged finish that is just missing some persistence, cutting away before you have had an opportunity to show your gratitude.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is made from a blend of fruit from three different vineyard parcels. The sites total 25 hectares, with 15 located next to the church, or the Pieve, after which this estate is named. The sites have southwest exposures and different soil types. That flexibility explains the smooth and seamless bouquet offered by this wine. Compared to the single vineyard Sugarille expression, Rennina is more open and immediate. The wine presents fleshy and beautifully plump aromas of red cherry, dried blackberry and exotic spice with tobacco and chocolate at the back.

Wine Advocate (95)

A bit closed at first, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille sees fruit harvested from a five-hectare cru site with galestro limestone soils and all-southern exposures. Despite the initial shyness of the bouquet, this wine ultimately shows a more profound and elegant approach in this warm vintage. It just takes a little longer to get there. The nose offers a full spectrum of fruit, floral and earthy tones that speak so highly of this all-Sangiovese appellation. The wine is smooth and rich in terms of density with beautiful firmness at the back.