Close
Álvaro Palacios “Quiñón de Valmira” 2016
"I had the chance to preview the 2016 Quiñón de Valmira, a wine that can seem perplexing during the élevage, as it's very pale and ethereal, but it has incredible power and depth, even if the sample was a bit shaky. There is great harmony and elegance here, with very good freshness. Even if it feels light on the palate, it seems to have more clout, concentration, power and acidity than the 2015, like it wants to go one step further. It's not very clear yet, but I believe this is a better wine than the 2015. This should be bottled around February 2018; I tasted a sample from an oval oak cask. There will be some 2,400 bottles of this. I also saw a very raw sample of 2017, from an atypical year of extreme heat and drought, and the wine had a lot more color, extract and concentration. We'll have to wait and see if this ends up being the great wine produced from Valmira. There will be a bit more wine in 2017." - Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Bodegas Mauro Cosecha 2016
"The eponymous 2016 Mauro is mostly Tempranillo (or Tinto Fino) with some Syrah from 80 hectares of different vineyards, mostly in the villages of Tudela de Duero, Traspinedo and Santibañez. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French and American oak barrels and foudres for 15 months. 2016 is a cooler, more Atlantic and more drinkable vintage with contained ripeness, fine tannins and nice balance. 300,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2018." - Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Château Cos d’Estournel 2016
"In my last sighted review of the 2016 Cos d’Estournel, I wrote: "I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth." Perhaps it is already beginning to shut down, because though this wine was deeply impressive, it fell just a notch short of ethereal previous bottles, despite its "pixelated black fruit" on the nose and "sublime balance" on the palate. I tasted the wine twice thereafter, though this time with a 4-6 hour decant, and this revealed the Cos d'Estournel that has amazed since I first tasted it out of barrel." - Neal Martin, Antonio Galloni's Vinous
Château de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône “Les Deux Albion” Rouge 2016
"A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone les Deux Albions continues that run. Garrigue notes accent blueberry fruit in this full-bodied, plush wine. Loaded with hints of cherries and stone fruit, it's a cornucopia of ripe fruit waiting to be slurped down, velvety and long on the finish." - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Close
Château Leoville Las Cases 2016
"Very deep purple-black colored, the 2016 Léoville Las Cases (composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc) is quite closed to begin, yet with patient coaxing it unfurls beautifully to reveal suggestions of ripe blackcurrants, black raspberries, warm redcurrants and wild blueberries, followed by touches of unsmoked cigars, tilled red soil, cast iron pan, fallen leaves and lavender plus wonderfully fragrant wafts of lilacs and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly knit, very subtle layers of minerals, floral notions and black and red berries, all framed by exquisitely ripe, silt-like tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. Simply captivating even in its youth, give it at least a decade in the cellar and then enjoy it over the next 50+ years." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Close
Descendientes de José Palacios Moncerbal 2016
"Saturated ruby color. Deeply pitched cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by suggestions of exotic spices, smoky minerals and lavender, along with a candied licorice note that emerges with air. Silky and alluringly sweet, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and floral pastille flavors that are sharpened by a strong jolt of juicy acidity. Finishes sweet, mineral and extremely long, showing superb delineation and smooth, even tannins that add framework to the wine's intense dark fruit." - Josh Raynolds, Antonio Galloni's Vinous
Domaine de Montille Beaune “Les Aigrots” Premier Cru 2016
"A fresh array of pear and apple scents is cut with subtle citrus nuances. There is good richness but also good detail to the appealing mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that terminate in a delicious and persistent if not especially complex finish. In short, this is pretty but not refined." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Cuvée Reservée” 2016
"Still in foudres, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is even more impressive than it was last year. It's still firmly tannic, but the fruit seems to be growing in stature, adding volume and richness sufficient to round out the tannins. This full-bodied, concentrated wine offers hints of mocha and raspberries, but it seems a bit more monolithic than the 2015 at the moment." - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Close
Domaine du Pelican Arbois Poulsard 2016
"Produced exclusively with the fruit from the old Jacques Puffeney vineyard, the 2016 Arbois Poulsard is the second vintage of a very pale, floral and light red that many could call a rosé, with the character of the grape and Burgundian precision and clarity. The destemmed grapes fermented in oak vats and aged in oak foudre for ten months. It's really fresh, light and tasty. They produced 4,000 bottles in this second vintage." - Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Close
Domaine du Pélican Savagnin Ouillé 2016
"Showing the pure varietal profile, the 2016 Arbois Savagnin Ouillé reflects very much the style of Domaine du Pelican—clean, fresh and focused wines. It fermented and aged in foudre and 500-liter barrels for ten months. It has good ripeness and nicely integrated oak. The palate revealed pungent flavors or great intensity and good acidity. 18,000 bottled produced. The aim is to make Savagnin the grape of the Domaine. This is my favourite wine of the portfolio, a wine with energy and character" - Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf du Pape Rouge 2016
"Undoubtedly one of the top vintages of this wine, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau features classy notes of crushed stones and black tea to go along with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet silky, there's more power and richness in La Crau than in Piedlong, yet there's commensurate elegance and finesse. The wine grows in intensity on the finish without ever seeming heavy or overripe, instead offering hints of tea and licorice." - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Close
Domaine Lafarge-Vial “Chiroubles” 2016
"A peppery nose is comprised mostly by earth-infused plum aromas that lead to energetic, detailed and solidly concentrated flavors that deliver lovely persistence on the balanced and complex finish. This bitter cherry pit-inflected effort should drink well young but offer 5 to 8 years of development potential." - Allan Meadow, Burghound
