2018
Anwilka Red Blend 2018
"The 2018 Anwilka offers a delightful refinement and finesse, wafting with layers of dusty red fruit, oak and elegant red flowers. Medium to full-bodied, the palate provides balanced tannins with lively acidity that lingers across the mid-palate through the ever-evolving finish without showing any greenness. Give it a try." - Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate
Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino 2018
"Poggio di Sotto hits it out the ballpark once again with an extremely elegant interpretation that shows the incredible depth and nuance Sangiovese can achieve, even in an uneven vintage such as this. The certified organic 2018 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a dark ruby hue and mid-weight concentration. Indeed, the wine is lighter and brighter than most, despite Brunello's mandatory five years of aging before its commercial release. The tannins are silky and melt over the palate. Along the way, the wine offers high notes of red cherry, cassis and blue flower. This 38,000-bottle release carries a very high price tag, but your high expectations will be met." - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Bodegas y Viñedos Pintia 2018 – 3L
"The 2018 Pintia comes from a cooler and wetter vintage when the grapes were picked between September 20th and October 7th, and it fermented in their new fermentation room where they feel they can be more precise. The wine still has 15% alcohol, with a pH of 3.82 and 4.6 grams of acidity. It had a shorter élevage this year and matured for 10 months in French and 18% American oak barrels, 81% of them new. The nose is very expressive, with bright cherry fruit, and the wine is fresher than the norm in the region, with integrated alcohol and oak, reflecting a very cool year, floral and perfumed. The palate is medium-bodied and reveals very fine and elegant tannins. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Pintia. 251,512 bottles, 14,144 half-bottles, 6,543 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in April 2020." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Bodegas y Viñedos Pintia 2018
"The 2018 Pintia comes from a cooler and wetter vintage when the grapes were picked between September 20th and October 7th, and it fermented in their new fermentation room where they feel they can be more precise. The wine still has 15% alcohol, with a pH of 3.82 and 4.6 grams of acidity. It had a shorter élevage this year and matured for 10 months in French and 18% American oak barrels, 81% of them new. The nose is very expressive, with bright cherry fruit, and the wine is fresher than the norm in the region, with integrated alcohol and oak, reflecting a very cool year, floral and perfumed. The palate is medium-bodied and reveals very fine and elegant tannins. This has to be one of the finest vintages of Pintia. 251,512 bottles, 14,144 half-bottles, 6,543 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in April 2020." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Bodegas Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5˚ 2018 – 3L
"The 2018 Valbuena comes from a cooler vintage with good yields that required sorting and selecting in search of a happy and vertical version of Valbuena, pushing a little more and giving the wine a little more oak, especially American (5%). It was produced with 96% Tinto Fino and 4% Merlot that went through a three- to four-day cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic in stainless steel. The élevage was in new and used 225-liter oak barrels and 21,000-liter oak vats. It has 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.8 and 4.78 grams of acidity (tartaric), so it's ripe and with mellow acidity that gives it a mellow mouthfeel. This is a very spicy vintage for Valbuena, getting closer to the style of Único (while at the same time I felt the 2018 Pintia from Toro was getting closer to the aromatics of some vintages of Valbuena, like 2010). It was a late-ripening year with a tendency toward freshness in the wines. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins that made the wine nicely textured and very elegant. There is a lot of regularity in the Valbuena of the last few years, here with more tension and freshness of the 2017, a little more balsamic even. 180,580 bottles, 5,528 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2021." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Bodegas Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5˚ 2018 Magnum
"The 2018 Valbuena comes from a cooler vintage with good yields that required sorting and selecting in search of a happy and vertical version of Valbuena, pushing a little more and giving the wine a little more oak, especially American (5%). It was produced with 96% Tinto Fino and 4% Merlot that went through a three- to four-day cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic in stainless steel. The élevage was in new and used 225-liter oak barrels and 21,000-liter oak vats. It has 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.8 and 4.78 grams of acidity (tartaric), so it's ripe and with mellow acidity that gives it a mellow mouthfeel. This is a very spicy vintage for Valbuena, getting closer to the style of Único (while at the same time I felt the 2018 Pintia from Toro was getting closer to the aromatics of some vintages of Valbuena, like 2010). It was a late-ripening year with a tendency toward freshness in the wines. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins that made the wine nicely textured and very elegant. There is a lot of regularity in the Valbuena of the last few years, here with more tension and freshness of the 2017, a little more balsamic even. 180,580 bottles, 5,528 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2021." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5˚ Cosecha 2018
"The 2018 Valbuena comes from a cooler vintage with good yields that required sorting and selecting in search of a happy and vertical version of Valbuena, pushing a little more and giving the wine a little more oak, especially American (5%). It was produced with 96% Tinto Fino and 4% Merlot that went through a three- to four-day cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic in stainless steel. The élevage was in new and used 225-liter oak barrels and 21,000-liter oak vats. It has 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.8 and 4.78 grams of acidity (tartaric), so it's ripe and with mellow acidity that gives it a mellow mouthfeel. This is a very spicy vintage for Valbuena, getting closer to the style of Único (while at the same time I felt the 2018 Pintia from Toro was getting closer to the aromatics of some vintages of Valbuena, like 2010). It was a late-ripening year with a tendency toward freshness in the wines. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with very fine tannins that made the wine nicely textured and very elegant. There is a lot of regularity in the Valbuena of the last few years, here with more tension and freshness of the 2017, a little more balsamic even. 180,580 bottles, 5,528 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2021." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2018 Magnum
"Impressing from the first tilt of the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known, with a heady burst of exotic spice and crushed ashen stone giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. This combines the energy of the vintage with the dark balsamic-tinged fruits of Montalcino’s southern reaches, as zesty acidity maintains balance throughout, and flinty minerals saturate toward the close. It finishes long, savory and structured, yet its tannins are more rounded than anticipated, creating both a classic feel, but also leaving a mouthwatering sensation that tricks the taster back to the glass for more. Easily one of the top wines of the vintage, the 2018 is not to be missed." - Eric Guido
Domaine de Montille Pommard Premier Cru “Les Rugiens-Bas” 2018
"Once again, the wood influence is subtle though not imperceptible on the slightly cooler aromas of lavender, violet, rose petal, red and dark cherry and a whiff of plum liqueur. There is excellent volume to the solidly concentrated and intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess evident muscle and power on the firm, serious and complex finale that is also clearly built-to-age. In a word, impressive." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine de Montille Volnay Premier Cru “En Champans” 2018
Volnay Premier Cru “En Champans” 2018, "Once again there is liqueur-like character to the aromas of red cherry, passion fruit, spice and pretty floral elements. There is excellent volume to the caressing and palate coating flavors that are refined yet powerful on the very serious, structured and built-to-age finale. This is excellent but patience strongly recommended." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Capita 2018
"Aromas of dark berry fruit, rich soil tones, spices and raw cocoa introduce Trapet's 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Capita, a blend of fruit from the premiers crus En Ergot, Corbeaux and Combottes, supplemented by a visual selection of small-berried clusters from Petite Chapelle and Clos Prieur that are not destemmed. Deep and layered on the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with a lovely sense of energy, powdery structuring tannins and a long, precise finish." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Grand Cru “Chambertin-Clos de Bèze” 2018
"This too is notably ripe though the spicier and more floral-inflected dark berry fruit aromas are not jammy. While there isn't quite the same concentration there is markedly better vibrancy to the broad-shouldered flavors that possess a highly succulent mid-palate, all wrapped in a discreetly stony and sneaky long finish. The compact and built-to-age finish makes clear that plenty of patience will be beneficial." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Jean Grivot Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru “Les Pruliers” 2018
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges “Clos Fontaine Jacquinot” 2018
This is a special cuvée introduced last year. It comes from the bottom of the village sector of Les Crots which always has miniature yields and a different style. To reinforce this, the wine is vinified with 50% whole bunches, contrary to the usual Gouges technique. And it shows they can do it if they want to. Lighter color and a more lifted nose with some crushed strawberry. It is very pretty if you like the style, which I do, with a lush ripe finish -Jasper Morris MW, Inside Burgundy
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges Village 2018
"A very ripe nose blends notes of poached plum, dark currant and plenty of sauvage character. There is slightly better volume and mid-palate density to the velvety and round flavors that also terminate in a mildly warm finish that is sufficiently chewy and rustic to cut the finish somewhat short." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Pommard “Combes Dessus” Premier Cru 2018
"A slightly riper nose offers up notes of poached plum, dark raspberry liqueur and whiffs of earth and underbrush. The supple, round and appealingly textured flavors possess first-rate delineation and a subtle salinity that adds a touch of lift to the sappy if ever-so-slightly rustic finale." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay Premier Cru 2018
"As usual, the 2018 Volnay 1er Cru is blend of Les Pitures and Mitans. More reserved than the Pommard that preceded it, the wine unwinds slowly in the glass, revealing enticing aromas of rose petals, red berries, blood orange, raw cocoa and deep soil tones. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, charming and elegant, with lively acids and fine, chalky tannins." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Angles 2018
"Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Angles 2018, Once again there an elevated level of ripeness to the still fresh nose of cassis, black cherry and poached plum. The slightly more elegant and more concentrated medium-bodied flavors possess fine richness; indeed the texture is quite seductive, all wrapped in a complex, long and balanced finale where a hint of bitter pit fruit arises."
Domaine Marquis d’Angerville Volnay “Frémiets” Premier Cru 2018
"An overtly ripe yet still reasonably fresh nose combines notes of liqueur-like black berry fruit with those of exuberantly spicy plum and floral scents. The super-sleek, intense and elegant medium weight flavors exude evident minerality on the lacy and refreshing finale that is both sappy and impressively long. This is ripe yet it remains very Volnay in character." - Allen Meadows, Burghound
