Published in the Year's Best 2005

Wines, Spirits and Beers published in the the Year's Best 2005 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

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Shafer 2001 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District)

Cellar Selection

Price $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)

points

Schramsberg 1994 Reserve Late Disgorged Sparkling (Napa Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $200

This is a gigantic wine, but it’s so well structured and refined, so beautiful, you can drink it now and fall in love with it. It’s perfectly balanced, enormously complex and not too sweet; the highest-scoring California sparkler we’ve ever tasted, blending rich toasty notes with well-ripened fruit. This fabulous wine should come together, mellow and gain… — W.E. (12/31/2005)

points

Staglin 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford)

Cellar Selection

Price $125

Starts with an extraordinarily complex, refined aroma, detailed and inviting in cassis, tobacco, anise, cocoa and smoky oak. In the mouth, there’s fantastic depth and complexity. The wine is rich, profound, a star even in its Rutherford stable of thoroughbreds. It has enormous power, with finely ground, sweet tannins. Absolutely gorgeous now, with the stuffing and… — S.H. (12/31/2005)

points

Krug 1990 Brut Sparkling

Price $224

A bit dark in color and lacking in bubbles, but when it comes to aromas and flavors it’s out of this world. Vanilla, cinnamon, almond and apple scents are ethereal and mature as can be, while the palate deals layered apple and spice in multiple layers. Runs a mile long but soft on the finish. Unique in style; not the least bit zesty. Imported by Clicquot Inc. — M.S. (12/31/2005)

points

Domaine de la Janasse 2003 Vieilles Vignes Red (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

Editors' Choice

Price $100

From four parcels of vines, all giving different characteristics to the final blend. This is a beautifully structured wine, almost charming at first, and then packing an intense mouthful of fresh, balanced and dangerously delicious fruit. There is a touch of new wood, but the fruit is the star of this great wine. Imported by European Cellars. — R.V. (12/31/2005)

96-100

points

La Favorite Coeur de Canne Rhum Agricole Blanc

Best Buy

Price $28

A lovely rich and spirity agricole perfume with grassy, spicy, cucumber and cane-like notes. The palate entry is bittersweet, raw and cocoa-like; the midpalate stage is sweeter and multilayered with tastes of marshmallow, refined sugar, vanilla cake frosting, and flan. Finishes divinely sweet, balanced, grassy-floral, and at the tail end, fruity. Wow, what a… — P.P. (12/31/2005)

96-100

points

La Favorite Rhum Agricole Ambré

Price $36

A strange but agreeable bouquet that includes disparate scents of beeswax, green peppers, toasted marshmallow, light toffee, yeasty sourdough and green olives. The palate entry is semisweet, honeyed, and a bit sherry-like; at midpalate there are tastes of spice, honey, sherry, caramel, and nougat. Concludes rich, oily and wonderfully creamy. — P.P. (12/31/2005)

96-100

points

La Favorite Rhum Agricole Vieux

Price $48

The nose offers scents of oaky vanilla, rum cake, holiday fruitcake, black pepper, cigar tobacco and nutmeg. The palate entry is sweet and moderately oily; the midpalate boasts flavors of butter cream, dark chocolate, cream sherry, cola, citrus, and honey. Ends on an opulent sweet caramel-like note. Dark, oak-aged rum at its finest. — P.P. (12/31/2005)

2010 Center of Effort

A big, strong Pinot with pure, focused flavors of raspberry cream…

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