A rare vertical tasting of domaine leflaive%e2%80%99s chevalier montrachet copy

Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet: 1981-2012

France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured

Stephen Tanzer, Sep 2019

An extensive vertical tasting of Domaine Leflaive’s Chevalier-Montrachet encompassing wines from four decades demonstrated the remarkable longevity of an exalted white Burgundy terroir in the right hands.

A 100  year old vineyard planted with pre phylloxera malbec at colom%c3%a9 estate in salta copy cover

Argentina Reaches New Heights

Argentina, featured

Stephen Tanzer, Sep 2019

Despite economic tumult, Argentina is making better wines today than ever before, thanks to a recent string of very good to outstanding vintages, increasing vineyard plantings in cooler, higher-altitude sites, and winemaking techniques designed to produce fresher, better-balanced wines with clear site character.

Larkmead's winery copy

Larkmead’s Solari Cabernet and LMV Salon: 2001-2015

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California

Stephen Tanzer, Aug 2019

My recent tasting of Larkmead’s Solari Cabernet and LMV Salon blend showcased the comprehensive renewal that has taken place at this venerable property over the past 20 years in both the vineyards and the winery under the tenure of Cam and Kate Solari Baker.

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Raveneau Chablis Montée de Tonnerre: 1985-2015

France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured

Stephen Tanzer, Aug 2019

Raveneau’s Chablis Montée de Tonnerre is one of the most coveted wines in the world. And with good reason. The Raveneaus have established an enviable track record for consistent quality and longevity through three generations of winemaking. A recent vertical tasting back to 1985 showed why this premier cru Chablis is so highly regarded.

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The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernets at Age 10

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California

Stephen Tanzer, Jul 2019

The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernets, beautifully balanced wines from a mild growing season without weather extremes, are aging slowly and gracefully, with the better examples still short of their peaks, proving once again how well the best Napa Valley Cabernets can develop with time in bottle.

A comprehensive tasting of paul hobbs's beckstoffer to kalon vineyard cabernet sauvignon cover

Paul Hobbs’ Cabernet Beckstoffer To Kalon: 1999-2016

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California

Stephen Tanzer, Jul 2019

The prolific Paul Hobbs makes his most complete Cabernet Sauvignon from the historic To Kalon vineyard, with recent vintages displaying all of the elements to ensure exceptional longevity.

The no nonsense kapcs%c3%a1ndy winery copy

Kapcsándy Roberta’s Reserve and Grand Vin

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California

Stephen Tanzer, Jun 2019

In less than 20 years, the Kapcsándy family has created two flagship wines that can stand with the world’s finest Cabernets and Merlots. This double vertical of the flagship Merlot Roberta’s Reserve and Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin provided a unique opportunity to trace the history of the winery back to the early days.

Fresh from the cellar  chambertin back to 1949 copy cover

Domaine Trapet Chambertin: 1949-2012

France: Burgundy, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured

Stephen Tanzer, May 2019

Tireless work in the vineyards and a lighter hand in the winery have enabled Jean-Louis Trapet to restore his family’s estate to greatness in the 21st century. This remarkable vertical tasting of the flagship Chambertin encompassed most of the vintages made under Jean-Louis Trapet’s tenure, along with a handful of older gems from the Trapet family’s cellar.

Chateau montelena's estate cabernet sauvignon copy

Chateau Montelena Cabernet Estate: 1977-2010

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California

Stephen Tanzer, May 2019

Chateau Montelena’s classic, long-aging flagship Cabernet from Calistoga has been steadily updated in recent decades through harvesting and cellar improvements as well as by the addition of fruit from volcanic hillside vineyards, which has contributed power, clarity and minerality to the wine. This retrospective traces the history of the Estate Cabernet back to 1977.

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Vintage Retrospective: The 1999 Napa Valley Cabernets

Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: California

Stephen Tanzer, May 2019

Napa Valley’s Cabernet crop in the mostly cool growing season of ’99 benefited from a late burst of heat, yielding lively, moderately dense, aromatically complex wines with very good staying power.