Best Buys
Showing 1981–1989 of 2662 results
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Cayuse 2019 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard
$139.99Walla Walla Valley
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Rating
Gorgeous Bing cherry and blueberry fruits as well as tobacco, peppery herbs, iron, and mushroom notes all emerge from the 2019 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard, another medium to full-bodied, incredibly seamless, flawlessly balanced Syrah in the lineup. I love the overall mix of savory, classic Rocks style with its beautiful core of fruit, and it has incredible tannins, beautiful balance, and a great, great finish. Flirting with perfection, this straight-up incredible Syrah will evolve nicely for 25 years or more. Best After 2022. SP19-2 -
Cayuse 2016 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard
$129.99Walla Walla Valley
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
The 2016 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard checks in as 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier that was fermented with roughly 70-80% stems and brought up in 15% new demi-muids and foudre. This beauty has incredible elegance and purity as well as full-bodied richness, complex notes of blackberry, cherries, stone hearth, decayed flowers, and salted meats, and a savory style that’s going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15 years or more. SP19-1 -
Pax 2014 Syrah Griffin’s Lair Sonoma Coast
$64.99Sonoma County California
Antonio Galloni 93 Rating
The 2014 Syrah Griffin's Lair Vineyard is another incredibly expressive, deep wine from Pax Mahle. Lavender, menthol, sage, iron, smoke, leather, licorice and intense, inky fruit confer tremendous richness and dimension to a Syrah endowed with tons of complexity and personality. SP15-5 -
Epoch Estate Wines 2015 Estate Red
$59.99Paso Robles California
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Rating
What used to be the entry-level effort of the estate, the 2015 Estate Blend is year in, year out at an incredible quality level that it’s hard to think of the wine those terms. The 2015 is 52% Syrah, 26% Mourvèdre, 13% Grenache, and the rest Tempranillo and Zinfandel, all from the Paderewski and Catapult vineyards on the west side of Paso Robles. It offers a terrific bouquet of black plums, ground pepper, charred meats and charcoal. Full-bodied, smoky, meaty, and rich, it stays light and graceful on the palate, with sweet tannins. SP20-1 -
Epoch Estate Wines 2015 Tempranillo
$79.99Paso Robles California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
I suspect the finest vintage to date, the 2015 Tempranillo shows a more elegant, seamless style that’s reminiscent of some of the great Tempranillo releases from Spain. Tons of black fruits, charcoal, charred meats, and graphite notes all give way to a full-bodied red that has a weightless, seamless texture, building tannins, and a blockbuster finish. I haven’t had a truly aged Tempranillo from California, so I hate to push too hard on the aging curve (especially when it’s this good already), but I suspect this will have over two decade of longevity. SP20-1 -
Epoch Estate Wines 2017 Authenticity Red
$89.99Paso Robles California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
One of the deeper hued wines in the lineup, the 2017 Authenticity checks in as 92% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, and the rest Viognier. Classic Paso Robles notes of blueberries, melted licorice, ground pepper, cured meats, and bacon fat all flow to a deep, full-bodied, opulent wine with terrific purity, a rounded, sexy texture, and a seriously good finish. R21-2 SP20-2 -
Chave 2019 Hermitage Blanc
$319.99Northern Rhone Valley France
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Rating
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Another incredible white from this family is the 2019 Hermitage Blanc, a powerful, concentrated, and remarkably pure Hermitage that has laser-like focus as well as textbook Marsanne notes of quince, green almond, powdered rock, licorice, and spice. It’s still tight, focused, and inward at present, yet it reminds me of the 2018 with its purity and rare mix of power and elegance. It’s worth trying a bottle any time over the coming 3-5 years, but after that, I’d recommend waiting until after 2031. R43-2 -
Opus One 2019 Red
$349.99Napa Valley California
James Suckling 99 Rating
The purity of fruit is really something else here, with currants and fresh flowers, such as violets and roses. Flower stems as well. Fantastic length and structure to the wine, with tightness and focus. Wonderful fruit. Graceful. A blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 7% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% malbec. Try after 2028. SPBX-6 SP13-3 -
Merry Edwards 2015 Pinot Noir
$64.99Russian River Valley California
Wine Enthusiast 95 Rating
Made from grapes sourced from several sites across the appellation, this shows deft winemaking skill in its velvety, gritty texture and beautiful aromas and flavors of cured meat, rose petal and Asian five spice. Bright acidity lifts the tones of cranberry, rhubarb and mushroom earthiness, with a touch of crushed stone. R25-2
