Cellar Selections
Cellar Selections are wines deemed highly collectible and/or requiring time in a temperature-controlled wine cellar to reach their maximum potential. A Cellar Selection designation does not mean that a wine must be stored to be enjoyed, but that cellaring will probably result in a more enjoyable bottle. In general, an optimum time for cellaring will be indicated.
Harlan Estate 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- $300
A stupendous wine that epitomizes the Harlan style of grace and power. Shows how the most elaborate vineyard and winery practices can contribute to a near-perfect wine, even in a less heralded vintage. The flavors cascade in endless tiers, black currant, cherry, mocha, Indian pudding, oak and spice, all coming together in a minute-long finish. Magnificent.
— S.H.
(11/15/2004)
Shafer 2001 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District)
- Cellar Selection
- $175
No Cabernet smells better. This is an enormously attractive, well-oaked wine constituted from the best possible fruit. In the mouth, it immediately seduces. Shafer knows it has to rise to expectations with this wine, and the 2001 does not disappoint. The fruit is spectacular, all cassis. The oak is rich, flamboyant and delicious. Structurally, the wine has the best…
— S.H.
(12/31/2005)
Colgin 2003 IX Estate Red Wine (Napa Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- $175
From the winery’s estate vineyard, high up on Pritchard Hill above the Silverado Trail, comes this spectacular Cab-based masterpiece. The color is purple-black, and massively saturated. Very intricate, complex, totally enjoyable, almost perfect. Like a great Pauillac, this monumental wine announces cassis, blackberry, cigar box, pencil lead, spice and cedar flavors…
— S.H.
(9/1/2006)
Clarendon Hills 2004 Astralis Syrah (Clarendon)
- Cellar Selection
- $325
The flagship of the Clarendon Hills line, this comes from a patch of 80-year-old vines that winemaker Bratasiuk claims routinely provides his best fruit. The 2004 is a stunner, yielding up scents of flowers and spice, framed by hints of vanillin oak. It’s dense and amply textured in the mouth, packed with wonderfully expressive blackberry and blueberry fruit, then…
— J.C.
(12/15/2006)
E. Guigal 2003 La Turque Syrah (Côte Rôtie)
- Cellar Selection
- $450
This is breathtaking stuff, incredibly complex on the nose, where it features hints of vanilla, clove, cinnamon, cassis, pepper and asphalt. It would be a wine to sit and smell all day if it weren’t so delicious to taste. Rich waves of cassis fruit cascade over the palate without losing complexity, buffered by incredibly supple tannins. The virtually endless finish…
— J.C.
(9/1/2007)
Torbreck 2004 RunRig Shiraz-Viognier (Barossa Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- $220
Despite being loaded with complexity—spicy, meaty, savory and vanilla notes all feature in this wine—there’s also explosive fruit. Swirls of blueberry and blackberry flavors are head-spinning and the texture is compellingly rich and velvety. If that isn’t enough, the finish lasts for minutes. A blend of Shiraz from eight vineyards, all at least 90 years old, plus a…
— J.C.
(11/1/2007)
Château Haut-Brion 2005 Red (Pessac-Léognan)
- Cellar Selection
- $1500
A big, virile wine, dominated by dark and firm tannins. The structure comes from powerful black fruits, the wood only showing as dry edge to the tannins. It’s firm, obviously destined for long aging, with initial blackberry fruits powering through the density. A stupendous wine that will last many decades.
— R.V.
(6/1/2008)
Quilceda Creek 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (WA))
- Cellar Selection
- $125
The 2006 flagship Cabernet from Quilceda Creek is a massive wine that has just begun to emerge from its slumber. When first released the wine seemed to have entered a dumb phase, but six months later it responds to decanting and shows its muscle. Fruit flavors of black, brandied cherries, cassis and bourbon-soaked plums are wrapped in generous, layered oak. The…
— P.G.
(3/1/2010)
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