Highly Allocated Gems
Showing 325–333 of 644 results
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Guado al Tasso 2016 Bolgheri Superiore
$159.99Tuscany Italy
James Suckling 98 Rating
Beautiful center palate of fruit here with ripe and silky tannins that are resolved and fine-grained. Full-bodied, polished and ever so refined. Oyster shell, stone and hints of rosemary and lavender. Driven finish. Better after 2022. R39-1 -
Guado al Tasso 2019 Bolgheri Superiore
$139.99Tuscany Italy
James Suckling 98 Rating
This has a wild and perfumed nose of dried thyme, sage, blackberries, cocoa, graphite and white and green peppercorns. Then dried flowers. Full-bodied with firm, tight and precise tannins. Vibrant. There’s so much character and structure. A new benchmark for this winery. More cabernet franc than in the past. Best yet? 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc and 10% merlot. Try from 2025. R39-3 -
Hartford Court 2014 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard
$109.99Russian River Valley California
Wine Advocate 96 Rating
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What is usually their finest Pinot Noir hails from Hartford’s oldest vines, planted with the Martini clone in 1975. The 2014 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is often not picked until after Halloween, as it is one of the coldest vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Its spicy, complex notes of allspice, sassafras, sweet black cherries and Asian plum sauce are exotic, fragrant and intense. The superb fragrance is matched by an exotic, silky, fleshy wine with dark berries (especially ripe raspberries and black cherries), soft tannins, and full body. This is a head-turning “wow” Pinot Noir to drink over the next decade. R15-4 -
Hartford Court 2015 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard
$85.99Russian River Valley California
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Rating
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From the oldest vines planted in the 1970s, the 2015 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is a perfumed, spicy wine that's just singing on the nose. Ripe cherries, raspberries, candied orange, and exotic spices give way to a medium to full-bodied, supple, seamless Pinot Noir. It has bright acidity, sweet, vibrant, fruit, notable tannin, and a great finish. Like a lot of the wines here, it has the fruit to shine, but this is certainly one of the more structured and tannic wines in the lineup. SP7-4 -
Hartford Court 2015 Pinot Noir MacLean’s Block Vineyard
$79.99Russian River Valley California
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Rating
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Also from the Green Valley portion of the Russian River Valley, from two separate blocks in the vineyard, the 2015 Pinot Noir MacLean's Block offers ample black cherries, exotic darker fruits, some toasty oak, medium to full body, and a lush, rounded, deep style on the palate. This cuvée sees a touch of whole cluster inclusion and is aged in 29% new French oak. Give this savory, rich, concentrated (masculine even) Pinot Noir a few years and enjoy over the following decade. SP7-6 -
Hartford Court 2016 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard
$109.99Russian River Valley California
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Rating
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I also loved the 2016 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard. Located in the Russian River and planted in 1975 to a heritage Martini Clone, this cool site struggles to ripen, giving this 2016 an exotic, complex, vibrant style along with its ample red and black fruits, candied violets, potpourri, and sandalwood. It’s one of the more vibrant, racier wines in the lineup, yet its acidity is nicely integrated, it’s flawlessly balanced, and it has a great, great finish. Give bottles a year or two and enjoy over the following decade. R15-1 -
Hartford Court 2017 Chardonnay Stone Côte Vineyard
$58.99Sonoma Coast California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
From a site on the Sonoma Coast (this comes all from a block within the Durell Vineyard), the 2017 Chardonnay Stone Côte Vineyard reminds me of a Grand Cru Chablis on steroids, with gorgeous lemon curd, white flowers, crushed chalk, and a touch of green almond, with its oak beautifully integrated. Showing medium to full-bodied richness as well as flawless balance, this is a Chardonnay that builds with time in the glass as well as on the palate and has bright, salty acidity and incredible length. Beautifully done, it’s another thrilling Chardonnay from this estate. R35-1 -
Hartford Court 2017 Seascape Vineyard Chardonnay
$99.99Sonoma Coast California
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Rating
Coming from a site on a panoramic ridgetop located at 1150 feet in elevation, west of the town of Occidental and facing Bodega Bay, the 2017 Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard is another magical effort from this estate and is a quintessential Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. White flowers, salty minerality, apple blossom, and tart pineapple all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied and has a wonderful purity, bright (almost racy) acidity, and a great finish. Brought up in 42% new French oak, it shows almost no trace of its élevage, and while tight and slightly closed on the palate, it’s nevertheless insanely good. Give bottles another year and enjoy over the following decade. R32-6 -
Hartford Court 2018 Chardonnay Stone Côte Vineyard
$58.99Sonoma Coast California
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Rating
Also from the Sonoma Coast, the 2018 Chardonnay Stone Cote Vineyard offers up an exotic, full-bodied, concentrated style as well as complex lemon and orchard fruits, notes of chamomile, toasted almonds, and baking spice notes, flawless balance, integrated acidity, and a chalky, mineral-laced finish. This magical, thrilling Chardonnay will cruise for 5-7 years (probably longer) in cold cellars, and it ranks with the top handful of wines in the vintage. R42-2