Premier Cru - Parker 100 Wine RSS/RDF Feed http://www.premiercru.net/premier/jsp/xml/premiercrurp100.php 96-100 points Parker: "A blockbuster, extraordinarily profound effort from proprietor Christine Valette, the 2005 Troplong Mondot is the finest wine she has made since the other-worldly 1990. It dense black color is followed by a stupendous bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, truffles, graphite, and smoke. It cascades over the palate with exquisite density, purity, full-bodied power, and remarkable freshness as well as delineation. This magical wine somehow manages to harness extraordinary power and structure with a sense of delicacy and finesse. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025+." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=34912 100 points Parker (in his new book): "The 1976 (100 points; last tasted 12/02) is an Yquem on a relatively fast track for this property. It seems to be close to full maturity, and remains a very powerful, thick, viscous Yquem with notes of honeyed tropical fruits, spice box, creme brulee, smoke, and orange marmalade. The wine is viscous, rich, and an amazingly great Yquem. Among the vintages of the last 30 years, this is perhaps the most complex and ready to drink of the great years for Yquem. It should continue to evolve and last for another 50 or more years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=A1345 98-100 points Parker: "The 2008 Lafite Rothschild is one of the most profound young wines I have ever tasted. From a taster?s perspective, it is reminiscent of a blend of the 1996 and 2003, but when you compare those vintages analytically, that makes no sense whatsoever. Representing only 40% of the production, this blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc boasts an opaque ruby/purple color (one of the darkest Lafites I have seen in 30 years) as well as an extraordinary, blockbuster aromatic profile of lead pencil shavings, forest floor, black fruits, licorice, and a hint of unsmoked, high-class cigar tobacco. In the mouth, a massive richness is accompanied by a freshness, delineation, nuance, delicacy, and mind-boggling density. Even after three decades of tasting, I am still astonished when tasting such a prodigious wine as this. Full, inky, and rich with creme de cassis and spice box characteristics as well as a length that I stopped measuring after a minute, the wine reveals a sweetness to the tannin and an opulence to the fruit that suggests a hot, sunny vintage, but again, that was not the case. There wasn?t a great deal of heat, but there was more sunshine than the negative press reported at the beginning of September. This is a great, great wine. The harvest at Lafite took place between October 1-7 for the Merlot grapes, the Cabernet Franc was picked in mid-October, and the Cabernet Sauvignon between October 7-14 - an unbelievably late harvest for this estate. This wine should evolve for 30-40 years and last 50 or more. As I have indicated before, Lafite?s second wine is now one of Bordeaux?s finest second wines, and is made very much in the Lafite style." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39926 100 points Parker: "A superstar of this great vintage, the 2000 La Mission Haut-Brion is as profound as the 1989, 1982, and 1975. It is more structured and tannic than the 1989, more civilized and refined, but not as thick as the 1982, and sweeter as well as purer than the 1975. The 2000 is neither flamboyant nor accessible, but what upside potential it possesses! In time, one might have to return to the prodigious duo of 1959 and 1961 to find a La Mission with this much potential. While still tight from bottling, its inky purple color is accompanied by extravagantly sweet aromas of blackberries, blueberries, toast, scorched earth, coffee, asphalt, graphite, and smoke. Super-intense and unctuously-textured, with a sumptuous mid-palate and finish, this is an explosively rich, layered effort that possesses everything I could ever want from a terroir that has given me as much hedonistic and intellectual pleasure as any other wine in the world. It is an amazing achievement for administrator Jean-Bernard Delmas, his son, Jean-Phillipe, and the entire winemaking team. The phenomenal aftertaste goes on for over a minute. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2045." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=21085 98-100 points Parker: "In 2007, there will also be a Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo produced, emanating from the appellation?s well-known sector known as La Crau. This cuvee resembles the 1998 Capo more than either the 2000 or 2003 Capos. From 80-year-old vines, the 2007 tips the scales at 15.8% alcohol, which is .5% less than the 1998, .3% less than the 2003, and is identical to the 2000. The wine?s intense, deep plum/ruby/garnet color is followed by a stunning perfume of smoked herbs, grilled meats, blood, figs, plums, blackberries, and kirsch. This big-boned, highly-structured effort possesses enormous concentration, great sucrosite and glycerin, and a heady, long finish. It will be a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39864 98-100 points Parker: "In 2007, there will also be a Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo produced, emanating from the appellation?s well-known sector known as La Crau. This cuvee resembles the 1998 Capo more than either the 2000 or 2003 Capos. From 80-year-old vines, the 2007 tips the scales at 15.8% alcohol, which is .5% less than the 1998, .3% less than the 2003, and is identical to the 2000. The wine?s intense, deep plum/ruby/garnet color is followed by a stunning perfume of smoked herbs, grilled meats, blood, figs, plums, blackberries, and kirsch. This big-boned, highly-structured effort possesses enormous concentration, great sucrosite and glycerin, and a heady, long finish. It will be a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39691 98-100 points Parker: "In 2007, there will also be a Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo produced, emanating from the appellation?s well-known sector known as La Crau. This cuvee resembles the 1998 Capo more than either the 2000 or 2003 Capos. From 80-year-old vines, the 2007 tips the scales at 15.8% alcohol, which is .5% less than the 1998, .3% less than the 2003, and is identical to the 2000. The wine?s intense, deep plum/ruby/garnet color is followed by a stunning perfume of smoked herbs, grilled meats, blood, figs, plums, blackberries, and kirsch. This big-boned, highly-structured effort possesses enormous concentration, great sucrosite and glycerin, and a heady, long finish. It will be a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39692 98-100 points Parker: "In 2007, there will also be a Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo produced, emanating from the appellation?s well-known sector known as La Crau. This cuvee resembles the 1998 Capo more than either the 2000 or 2003 Capos. From 80-year-old vines, the 2007 tips the scales at 15.8% alcohol, which is .5% less than the 1998, .3% less than the 2003, and is identical to the 2000. The wine?s intense, deep plum/ruby/garnet color is followed by a stunning perfume of smoked herbs, grilled meats, blood, figs, plums, blackberries, and kirsch. This big-boned, highly-structured effort possesses enormous concentration, great sucrosite and glycerin, and a heady, long finish. It will be a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39693 98-100 points Parker: "In 2007, there will also be a Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo produced, emanating from the appellation?s well-known sector known as La Crau. This cuvee resembles the 1998 Capo more than either the 2000 or 2003 Capos. From 80-year-old vines, the 2007 tips the scales at 15.8% alcohol, which is .5% less than the 1998, .3% less than the 2003, and is identical to the 2000. The wine?s intense, deep plum/ruby/garnet color is followed by a stunning perfume of smoked herbs, grilled meats, blood, figs, plums, blackberries, and kirsch. This big-boned, highly-structured effort possesses enormous concentration, great sucrosite and glycerin, and a heady, long finish. It will be a stunner. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39694 96-100 points Parker: 'The greatest Pape-Clement ever produced? There is no question that proprietor Bernard Magrez, backed up by the eminent consulting winemaker, Michel Rolland, has produced a succession of brilliant wines over the last decade or more. The 2005, a potential legend, boasts a dense purple color along with a glorious, smoky bouquet displaying notions of graphite, plums, cassis, licorice, and subtle oak. Full-bodied with magnificent intensity, beautiful fresh acidity, tremendous definition, and a powerful, moderately tannic, super-concentrated finish, this beauty should come into its own by 2010, and last for three decades or more. It is a prodigious effort!" http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=34834 100 points Parker in The Hedonist's Gazette (from the same batch as the bottle Parker tasted): "A dinner with good friends included one of the most remarkable white wines I have ever tasted, a pristine, still youthful and fresh bottle of 1973 DRC Montrachet. Still possessing wonderful acidity, magnificent flavor concentration, and a light gold color, this wine (which came from a top-notch vintage for white rather than red Burgundy) has aged marvelously well. Seemingly younger than many more recent vintages, this bottle came from a cold, private cellar. It was packaged in the old, deep green-colored bottle that the DRC changed a few years later." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38792 100 points Parker in The Hedonist's Gazette - 98+ points Rovani (Wine Advocate): "The 2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port improved each time I raised it to my nose or mouth. It displays a black color and a salty, graphite-laced nose packed with sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour. With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices, and jammy plums emanate from the glass. Full-bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also amazingly balanced and harmonious. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black cherries, plums, and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless character. Its interminable finish reveals additional notes of chocolate, kirsch, red as well as black currants, dark cherries, and rose blossoms. Armed with exceptional power, depth, and purity, this Taylor will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by the Fladgate Partnership. Projected maturity: 2035-2060." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=32176 96-100 points Parker: "The 2005 Ermitage l?Ermite probably needs 20 years of bottle age. It is incredibly tannic and tastes like liquid minerals infused with creme de cassis, blueberry, and melted licorice. Powerful, full-bodied, but excruciatingly backward, this huge, massive wine will last for 100 years. This is amazing stuff, and like so many wines Michel Chapoutier has produced over the last 17 years, another legend in the making." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35130 96-100 points Parker: "The 2005 Ermitage l?Ermite probably needs 20 years of bottle age. It is incredibly tannic and tastes like liquid minerals infused with creme de cassis, blueberry, and melted licorice. Powerful, full-bodied, but excruciatingly backward, this huge, massive wine will last for 100 years. This is amazing stuff, and like so many wines Michel Chapoutier has produced over the last 17 years, another legend in the making." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35131 100 points Parker: "From the Pritchard Hill Vineyard, the 2006 IX Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. The good news is that there are 1,500 cases of this cuvee. It, too, reveals the noble sweetness of tannin, the extraordinary rich, intense mouthfeel, and sumptuous aromas of flowers, burning embers, blackberries, blueberries, spice box, and cedar. With extraordinary intensity, beautiful purity, a texture and flavors that build incrementally on the palate, and a significantly long finish, this is a perfect wine." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40316 100 points Parker: "Along with Clos St.-Jean?s Deus Ex Machina, Vieille Julienne?s 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve (200 cases produced) is the wine of the vintage. From 101-year old Grenache vines planted in sandy soils, it boasts a black/purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, meat, blackberries, sweet cherries, creme de cassis, licorice, spice, and a hint of pine forest/underbrush. The fruit dominates in this rich, intense, remarkable effort. It requires 5-7 years of bottle age, but should keep for 35-50 years, proving to be one of the most legendary Chateauneuf du Papes ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040+." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=37593 98-100 points Parker: "An amazing effort is the 2005 Ermitage Cuvee de l?Oree. This should flirt with perfection given its nose of white peach liqueur intermixed with quince, acacia flower, hazelnut, and honeysuckle. This amazingly full-bodied, powerful wine has zesty acidity and a tannic structure which is exquisite. It will be a 50+-year wine." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35146 96-100 points Parker: "The 2008 Ausone tasted much more forward and softer than most Ausones do at this stage, which is remarkable considering the extremely late harvest and slow, late malolactics. Nevertheless, it is a packed and stacked St.-Emilion displaying an inky/blue/purple color, unreal fruit density, and that liquid mineral component that comes from this steep, limestone vineyard. The wine possesses dense fruit, full-bodied power, remarkably sweet tannins, and more elevated acidity than in such years as 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006. The acidity seems low because of the wealth and density of the fruit. Everything is incredibly pure, and the cascade of blue and black fruits interwoven with notions of crushed rocks, flowers, and forest floor is as provocative as it is grand. I can conceive of drinking this Ausone with some degree of complexity in less than ten years, which may be considered sacre bleu by the proprietor since many of his wines will last 50-100 years where well-stored. Yields were a ridiculously low 20 hectoliters per hectare, and the grapes were harvested in mid to late October." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40037 100 points Parker!!!! http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=14258 100 points Parker: "It is interesting to note that many 1959s, much like the 1982s, were maligned for lacking both acidity and aging potential. How does one explain the fact that many 1959s are less evolved, as well as richer, fresher, and more complete than many 1961s? For example, as great as the 1961 La Mission is, the 1959 is a richer, deeper-colored, more concentrated and powerful wine. It needs at least 3-5 more years of cellaring to reach its plateau of maturity. Spicy and super-concentrated, with a dense, plummy/purple color, this young, broodingly backward, formidably-endowed wine should be at its best before the end of the century and drink well for the first 20-25 years of the next millennium." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=C2105 96-100 points Parker: "There are only around 125 cases of the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve, which is fashioned from 102-year old Grenache vines planted in pure sand, and is aged totally in neutral foudres or tanks. Dense purple to the rim, with an extraordinary perfume of graphite, blackberries, cassis, kirsch, melted licorice, smoke, pepper, and a hint of chocolate, it is fabulously concentrated, with an unctuous texture, amazing purity and generosity, a multidimensional mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts well past a minute. It should drink well for 25-30 years. Make no mistake about it ... this is the wine of the vintage!" http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39031 100 points Parker: "Tasting like an eau de vie of rocks, the 2006 Ermitage l?Ermite blanc, from the top of the appellation, is utterly profound. An astonishing achievement, there are 227 cases of this beauty. With its light straw color, thickness that resembles a liqueur, and remarkable aromatic intensity of flowers, honeyed white currants, quince, pineapples, and stones, this wine is an education in tasting what rocks might taste like if they were liquified. Exceptionally full-bodied, it is a modern day legend that should have 50-75 years of longevity." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38488