2014 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos des Ruchottes, Domaine Rousseau
From Rousseau’s prized monopole, the 2014 vintage has settled into a period of quiet confidence. The nose unfurls slowly, laced with red cherries, wild strawberries, and a whisper of rose petal. There is an undercurrent of crushed limestone and fine forest floor, reminding the taster of the vineyard’s stony, high-slope origins. On the palate, the wine balances delicacy and structure with Rousseau’s signature finesse: taut acidity, filigreed tannins, and a mineral precision that pulls the fruit into focus. The finish lingers with lifted red fruit and a saline snap. A Burgundy of understated nobility, built on restraint rather than power. 91 corked Points
2013 Solaia, Antinori
In 2013, Antinori’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon blend speaks with both authority and poise. The nose is dark and brooding, with blackcurrant, graphite, and Mediterranean herbs rising against a backdrop of cedar and tobacco leaf. On the palate, the wine carries a deep, resonant fruit core—ripe cassis and black cherry—yet the cooler vintage lends freshness and linearity. The tannins are finely polished but assertive, guiding the wine into a long, savoury finish edged by cocoa and spice. This Solaia is a portrait of Tuscan Cabernet at once international in polish yet unmistakably shaped by the soils of Chianti Classico. 92 corked Points
2016 Chateau Talbot
Talbot in 2016 captures the spirit of a near-perfect Left Bank year: composed, structured, and deeply satisfying. The aromatics are lifted—cassis, violets, cigar box, and pencil shavings—layered with a touch of graphite. On the palate, it is sleek yet generous, with pure blackcurrant fruit wrapped in fine, powdery tannins. There is a clarity to the wine, a brightness of acidity that carries it forward with grace. The finish is persistent, marked by savoury earth, tobacco, and a refined mineral edge. Saint-Julien at its most classic: precise, poised, and built for decades of quiet evolution. 91 corked Points
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco, Vietti
Vietti’s Perbacco, often seen as a gateway into the soul of Barolo, offers in 2022 a vivid snapshot of Nebbiolo’s youthful charm. The bouquet bursts with tart cherries, red currant, violets, and a flicker of orange zest. On the palate, the wine is bright and transparent, carried by lively acidity and a lattice of tannin that is firm but not forbidding. There is a purity here, a sense of raw Nebbiolo character—roses, iron, and a lingering herbal twist. Fresh, vibrant, and compelling, it shows how Vietti’s deft hand can make even their Langhe Nebbiolo sing with authenticity and depth. 90 corked Points
2014 Dominus Estate, Napa Valley
Christian Moueix’s 2014 Dominus is a study in restraint within Napa’s often opulent frame. The wine opens with layered aromatics: black cherry, plum, cedar, and dried sage, underpinned by graphite and gravel tones that speak to its Yountville terroir. On the palate, it is seamless—ripe but not heavy, with silken tannins and a freshness that lifts the dark fruit. Hints of tobacco and dark chocolate ripple through the finish, leaving an impression of both power and elegance. Less about sheer weight, this vintage of Dominus emphasizes balance, structure, and a Bordeaux-like clarity rarely seen in Napa Cabernet. 90 corked Points
