Premier Cru - Fine and Rare Wine What's New RSS/RDF Feed http://www.premiercru.net/premier/jsp/xml/premiercruwhatsnew.php http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38595 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40215 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40214 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=CE775 96 points Burghound: "A surprisingly expressive and high-toned nose of blue, black and violet aromas trimmed in touches of smoke, earth and wood that precedes the supple and exceptionally fresh flavors that are detailed, textured, serious and powerful with huge underlying reserves of material and along with the RSV, the longest finale of the group. This displays the youthful austerity one would expect from a classically structured Bonnes Mares and should age effortlessly yet is not so firmly structured that it will be unapproachable young. In a word, brilliant. (93-96)/2017+" http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=37985 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40213 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=28599 93-95 points Parker: "The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is such a great effort. Dense purple-colored to the rim, with notes of melted licorice, smoke, pepper, blackberries, kirsch, and incense, it is incredibly aromatic (no doubt because of the cool growing conditions), with excellent concentration as well as lofty alcohols (from the drought that lasted from late spring through the end of September). It reveals wonderful freshness and vivacity, a full-bodied style, and an elegant, pure personality. It should drink nicely for two decades or more. Interestingly, Jean-Paul Daumen compares his 2007 with the 1999, also a great success." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36236 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=14845 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=C3380 88 points Parker: "Made by well-known winemakers Sarah and Sparky Marquis, this elegant, deep ruby-colored 1999 (a blend of 65% Shiraz and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a claret-like delicacy, medium body, and a stylish, supple-textured finish. Drink it over the next 6-7 years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=19243 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=28065 94 points Rovani: "Apples, limestone, and white flowers are found in the nose of the 2003 Riesling Spatlese Graacher Domprobst A.P. #0904. Armed with awesome breadth, this ample, medium-bodied wine bursts forth with crystalline freshness and verve. Loads of quartz, tea, and pear-laced minerals can be detected in its complex, pure, exceptionally long personality. Projected maturity: 2006-2022." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30697 88 points Wine Spectator: "Complex and fruity, with ripe plum, berry, cherry and spicy nuances that hang with you. Turns smooth and supple on the finish." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=R5561 96-99 points Josh Raynolds: "Inky violet. Explosive aromas of blackberry, raspberry, kirsch, lavender pastille and sexy Asian spices show a room-filling pungency. Then remarkably concentrated on the palate, offering an awe-inducing display of red and dark berry flavors, velvety texture and spicy minerality. This is almost overwhelming in its fruit flavors and shows breathtaking persistence through the ripely tannic finish. Stupefying and utterly hypnotic." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36163 95-98 points Josh Raynolds (IWC): "Inky violet. Room-filling bouquet of raspberry, cherry, candied plum, patchouli and exotic spices is utterly compelling. Smoked meat, floral pastille and anise notes accent deep, sweet red fruit flavors, with suave, silky tannins adding structure. Incredibly sweet but precise on the long, juicy finish. This is one of the sexiest wines of the vintage." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35869 90-92 points Parker: "The seductive, soft 2006 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard does not reveal the complexity of the two previous 2005s. It offers plenty of red and black fruits intermixed with earth and spice." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=38967 94-96 points Parker: "The dark ruby/purple-hued 2006 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard Cuvee Catherine Occidental Station offers notes of raspberries, kirsch, plums, Allspice, and damp forest. Although full-bodied with excellent fruit and richness, I do not believe it will be as superb as the 2005." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39471 94-96 points Parker: "The 2000 Chardonnay, from a soft, ripe vintage, offers extravagant levels of glycerin and richness. It comes across like a Chevalier-Montrachet. The wine is exotic, dense, and full-bodied, with abundant quantities of honeyed tropical fruits entwined with subtle smoke, hazelnut, and a steely minerality. This blockbuster offering is one of the most nuanced and complex Chardonnays made in California. Enjoy it over the next 7-8+ years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=26356 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=CE112 95 points Rovani: "The Riesling Auslese Oberhauser Brucke exhibits a terrific nose of perfume, lilies, violets, and apples. Broad, supple, and round, this pure, medium-bodied wine has the personality and grace of a plump, joyful dancer. Its plush, sweet white fruit-packed core is dusted with spices whose flavors are seamlessly extended into its prolonged finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30705 90-93 Tanzer: "Medium red. Wild red berries, coffee, flowers and charred oak on the nose. Silky on entry, then tight in the middle, with excellent verve and suggestions of torrefaction. Today I don't get a lot of sweetness, and the oakiness gives the finish a tannic toughness." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=26915 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=27892 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=27989 89+ Tanzer: "(mostly from Herrenweg fruit, but the yield here was 28 hectoliters per hectare, compared to 49 for the basic Herrenweg bottling; 14.9% alcohol with 26 grams of sugar) Full yellow-gold color. Aromas of apricot, quince, honey, straw and earth. Fat and loaded with fruit, if a bit aggressive with alcohol. Very long, powerful pinot gris, with strong soil tones on the aftertaste." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=29879 96 points Parker: "The inky/blue/purple-tinged 2003 Cote Rotie Les Rochains (a 2.78-acre vineyard) is a floral, bacon fat, litchi nut, black raspberry, and blackberry-filled effort. Opulent, rich, and slightly less tannic and backward than the 2003 Cote Rozier, it is an enormously-endowed, exemplary example of Cote Rotie from an extreme vintage. Well-balanced and incredibly pure, it is one for anthology. Give it 2-4 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following two decades." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35466 90 points Rovani: "Aromatically more demure, the mineral-scented 2003 Riesling Kabinett Oberhauser Leistenberg offers a light to medium-bodied personality filled with fresh herbs. Satin-textured and deep, it sports a powerful underlying minerality, excellent richness, and a gorgeously long finish. Drink it over the next 10 years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30517 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35574 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=37618 93 points Burghound: "A background trace of wood and honeysuckle-infused aromas introduce pure, focused, structured and ultra precise flavors that deliver superb intensity on the linear and mineral-infused finish. Indeed, this is far more soil and stone-driven than it usually is and should age very well. A stunner of a Pucelles. 93/2012+." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=32477 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=A1696 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=25469 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=27085 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=28353 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35725 88-91 points Tanzer: "Bright red-ruby. Fraise des bois and mocha on the liqueur-like nose. Supple and creamy in the mouth, with expressive flavors of plum, dark berries, licorice and exotic spices. Offers a lush old-viney texture but could use a bit more verve and grip. Finishes very long and broad, with fine tannins." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=31814 89-92 points Burghound: "A hint of reduction cannot completely hide the spicy and complex black fruit aromas that lead to round and very rich, delicious, sexy and pure flavors and an abundantly sappy, decidedly punchy finish. This is a seriously impressive wine with firm structure, notable power and fine balance." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=34566 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35936 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35948 94-96 points Parker: "From the oldest vines, the luxury cuvee of 2007 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 3% Syrah, and 2% Cinsault. One of the finest examples of this cuvee Gras has yet made (and I have vintages going back to 1989 in my cellar), the 2007 is a classic. A wine of great intensity, it possesses a dense purple color, full-bodied power, and oodles of peppery, gamy, blackberry and cherry fruit, all presented in a super-concentrated style with superb precision, purity, depth, and length. This stunning wine should evolve for two decades." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=39843 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=25600 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=14918 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=CE225 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=RE487 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=GW005 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=32900 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36578 95 points Rovani (Wine Advocate): "The Riesling Auslese Oberhauser Brucke exhibits a terrific nose of perfume, lilies, violets, and apples. Broad, supple, and round, this pure, medium-bodied wine has the personality and grace of a plump, joyful dancer. Its plush, sweet white fruit-packed core is dusted with spices whose flavors are seamlessly extended into its prolonged finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=31005 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=26245 97-99+ points Parker: "The prodigious 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Clos du Caillou is a legend in the making. Representing the essence of Chateauneuf du Pape, this inky/purple-colored wines concentration is akin to a dry vintage port. It boasts astonishing layers of licorice, blackberries, black cherries, and cassis. Essentially, it tastes like liqueur of Chateauneuf du Pape, with a phenomenal purity, perfect equilibrium, and a 50-second finish (one of the longest I have ever tasted in a dry red wine). As I stated last year, the style being produced at Domaine Les Caillou is a synthesis between the modern approach to winemaking and that which adheres to the traditions of the past. This 2000 displays the typicity of Chateauneuf du Pape, but has ratcheted up the levels of concentration and richness to unbelievable heights. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=22807 95-96 points Parker's WA: "From a tiny parcel in this site planted in 1902, Perrot-Minot will bottle for the third time four barrels (as with the ?regular? Richemone, half new) that reflect the character of a particular selection massale. This 2005 Nuits-St.-Georges La Richemone Vieilles Vignes Ultra captures both a raw and liqueur-like aspect of black raspberry, along with notes of candied violets. Incredibly fat and unctuous in the mouth, yet with persistent fresh fruit intensity, this reveals layers of pungent, tactile spiciness, chalky minerality, tobacco, and creamy, glycerin-rich black fruit liqueur that coat the palate much the way a great Riesling Beerenauslese might, without diminishing the impression of refreshment one iota." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36897 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36526 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35767 95 points Wine Advocate: "My favorite wine has typically been the Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, which comes from vines planted at 400 meters with a south to southeast exposure, which gives the wine its characteristic explosive aromas. The Pajana comes from a vineyard at 300 meters in altitude, with a due south exposure, and as would be expected, it is less perfumed on the nose, but rounder and lusher on the palate. Clerico?s Percristina is produced from old vines planted in the south-facing Mosconi cru. Stylistically I find it more similar to the Pajana, though the older vines give this wine a more concentrated profile along with heady, exotic aromas and flavors. The richly-colored 2001 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra opens with an unmistakable Ginestra nose of menthol, eucalyptus, spices and minerals. It is dense and structured, showing plenty of ripe dark cherry fruit, licorice, tar and toasted oak flavors, with exceptional length and substance on the palate, and closing with an inviting, beautiful, lingering finish that makes you want to come back to the wine time and again. Clerico?s Ciabot Mentin Ginestra was one of the first Barolos that really captivated my attention and for me it remains this producer?s most representative wine. It is a superb achievement and one of the highlights of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=32673 90-92 points Burghound: "A very ripe yet exuberantly fresh nose of spicy black fruit, earth, game and touch of smoke and underbrush combine with supple, sweet and opulent flavors that are precise and possess outstanding volume without being brutish or rustic. I particularly like the finishing intensity on the mouth coating finish framed in a touch of wood spice." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=33745 89-91 points Burghound: "As one would expect, this is finer if less concentrated with more obvious minerality on the ultra elegant and airy red pinot fruit aromas that introduce delicious, round and detailed middle weight flavors that are precise and intense if less deep and complex as well as slightly less structured. As pretty as this is, there is betteroverall material in the Baudes. (89-91)/2012+" http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36359 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35576 91-94 points Tanzer: "Aromas of lemon, apple blossom and sweet, vanillin oak. Smooth, fat and spicy on entry and in the middle palate, then adamantly dry and firm on the end. (Lafon notes that his Charmes was the lowest in residual sugar of all his Meursaults in 2000, and even drier than this 2001.) A very good showing." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=27118 92+ Parker: "By contrast, the 2002 Dead Arm Shiraz was a challenge to effectively analyze. After the magnificent 2001, it comes acroos as lighter, more legant, but also closed and restrained. Several housr of aeration were beneficial, but this cuvee seems to be playing it close to the vest. However there is power beneath the tannic structure. A deep ruby/purple color is folowed by a backward, full-throttle Shiraz lacking the exhuberance, unctuosity, and stunning concentration of the 2001 and 1998.It has noble breeding, but appears to be totally shut down at present." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30923 94-95 points Parker's WA: "From 65-year-old vines in a little-known Premier Cru between Millandes and Blanchards (and tasted just before bottling), Perrot-Minot?s 2005 Morey-St.-Denis La Riotte Vieilles Vignes leads with aromas of toasted almond and pistachio, sweetly ripe plum, black cherry and cassis, segues into a creamy, ripe palate with prominent love handles yet possessed of persistently fresh fruit mingling with brown spices, licorice and mint, as well as a low-toned chocolate richness. The nearly indelible finish preserves layers of fresh fruit, creamy richness, and tactile cinnamon spice." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36894 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36627 91-93 points Rovani (Wine Advocate): "Honeyed minerals are drenched with an herbal liqueur in the fabulous aromatics of the 2002 Meursault Clos de La Barre. This broad, ample, sexy wine is hugely decadent. Medium-bodied, thick, and fleshy, it is a deep, intensely flavored, spicy effort. One of the top Clos de La Barres I have tasted, it should be enjoyed over the next 6-7 years." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=29353 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=36629 92 points Burghound: "A more reserved spicy and earthy nose but there is more depth to the dense fruit black berry and cassis suffused nose that is also quite delicious with a generous but firm flavor profile that culminates in a muscled but not rustic or aggressive finish of substantial length. High quality here and recommended. 92/2014+" http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=37411 93 points Josh Raynolds (IWC): "Bright red. Intensely spicy nose offers ripe cherry and blackberry scents and a strong cracked pepper component. This includes 30% mourvedre and 10% syrah, and it shows today. Quite sweet on the palate, with deep dark berry flavors, a chewy texture and powerful tannins carrying through the bright, focused finish. Has the fruit and structure to repay cellaring." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=33735 94 points Parker: "A brilliant effort is the 2005 Brave Faces, a small barrel-aged (20% new) blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache. Flamboyant aromas of black and red fruits, spice box, flowers, and toast are followed by a rich wine with loads of texture and glycerin as well as a heady, full-throttle yet velvety finish. It should drink well for a decade." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35796 98 points Parker: "The profound 2005 Shiraz Amon Ra is fashioned from a dry grown, 100- to 110 year-old vineyard, and spends 14 months in a combination of 100% new French and American barrels as well as 300-liter hogsheads. A saturated purple color is followed by scents of creme de cassis, incense, licorice, black raspberries, graphite, and sweet wood. It unfolds beautifully on the palate to reveal terrific richness, full-bodied power, great definition, and lovely elegance. This exquisite Shiraz is still young, but it possesses a degree of accessibility. It should age for two decades. It is a superb example of cutting edge winemaking being utilized on ancient Shiraz vines in the Barossa." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35787 96 points Parker: "The profound, opaque purple-colored 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Felix elicited the following words: "Mama-Mia!" A fabulous offering, it provides a lesson in the flavors of Provence. It is like an open air Provencal marketplace with notes of dried herbs, saddle leather, fennel, licorice, black cherries, cassis, blackberries, and tapenade. With tremendous concentration and purity, as well as powerful, balanced, full-bodied flavors, this stunning effort represents the nectar of old vines planted in the sun-drenched appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape. Although more forward than the 1998, it is equally fragrant. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=22811 98-100 points Parker: "The 2003 Ermitage Le Meal blanc may be the finest dry white I have ever tasted. Providing a prodigious tasting experience, it is filled with honeyed citrus, an unctuous stoniness to the fruit character, amazing body, and abundant freshness, precision, and length (the finish lasts nearly 90 seconds). A legend in the making, it is an incredible effort." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=31269 97 points Spectator: "Peach, lime and floral aromas and flavors are highlighted by a golden apple tone in this pure, focused Riesling. It has great definition, based on a vibrant structure and precision balance. It?s all wrapped up in a juicy lime- and mineral-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2009 through 2030. From Germany.?B.S." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=35184 http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=40212 96 points Parker http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=29701 92-95 points Parker http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=29758 90 points Rovani: "Spicy apricots, peaches, pineapples, papayas, verbena, and mangoes are intermingled with faint hints of yeast in the complex aromatics of the 2001 Riesling Auslese Bacharacher Hahn. Lush, velvety-textured, and medium-bodied, this is a broad, creamy wine with lovely depth and purity. Malt, candied pink grapefruit, and pineapples can be discerned in its thick, expressive character." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=25142 86-87 points Rovani: "Licorice, chocolate, and mocha are found in the nose of the 2002 Fixin Les Crais de Chene. This medium-bodied wine is concentrated and displays lively red fruits, blackberries, and dark cherries in its attack and mid-palate. Its finish suffers from some firm rusticity that will need to harmonize for it to ultimately merit a score in the high end of the range given. Drink it between 2006 and 2010." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=30319 92 points Wine Spectator: "Fleshy, seamless and well-endowed with violet, black currant and spice notes. Even the tannins are supple until the finish, where they offer a gentle grip that indicates a bright future. Soft yet balanced and pure, with a lingering finish. Drink now through 2012. 80 cases made." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=33217 93 points Wine Advocate: "Domaine Guy Amiot"s parcel of Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerets is divided into two equal sectors, one planted in 1940, the other in 1970. The limestone-scented 2002 is a dense, medium-bodied effort with a deep, intense, concentrated, and powerful, fleshy character. Loads, of slate, stone, and pear flavors vie for the taster"s attention in this outstanding white Burgundy"s complex core. Projected maturity: 2006-2014." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=28117 93 points Burghound: "(from a parcel in the sub-climat En la Richarde plus another toward Champ Gain at the very top of Folatières; vine age is between 30 and 32 years and it was aged in 1/3 new oak). A very subtle trace of wood frames green, almost Chablis-like fruit that is tight and reserved but ultra pure with tense, nervous and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a pungent limestone character that makes the texture almost chewy. This finishes with stunning length and the balance and harmony of expression here are something to see. Bravo! 93/2009-16" http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=29530 93 points Parker: "The 2003 Oakville Estate Proprietary Red is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and equal parts Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. This opaque purple-colored 2003 offers sweet aromas of scorched earth, tobacco leaf, blackberries, and currants. Layered, beautifully-textured, broad, elegant, and refreshing, this well-structured, superb effort should be consumed between 2008-2020." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=34254 93 points Rovani: "The aromatic clarity of the 2002 Riesling Spatlese Graacher Domprobst A.P. #0903 is something to behold. Its red currant and floral scents penetrate the skull like a laser beam before blossoming into a magnificent bouquet of perfumes. Plush, yet detailed, its personality offers slate, pear, and tangy minerals in a rich yet driven style." http://www.premiercru.net/premier/shop/WineDetails.do?wineId=28055