96
points
Grand Rêve 2007 Collaboration Series Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain)
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$75
The purity is astonishing—a ringing bell of vivid, racy blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit. The 100% new French oak is completely absorbed into the wine, its flavors unobtrusive. The essence of the vineyard and the grape, this is a must-taste for lovers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Mountain. Sleek, tight, extremely youthful but polished and dense.
— P.G.
(11/1/2010)
95
points
Mark Ryan 2007 Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain)
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$75
The first reserve from this winery, this is the most structured, dense and tightly layered Mark Ryan wine to date. It has the density and compact structure of Quilceda Creek, with perhaps just a shade less concentration. Aromatically complex, you can pick out early details of seed, coffee, pepper, chocolate and tobacco around the dense cassis, plum and cherry fruit…
— P.G.
(11/1/2010)
95
points
Mark Ryan 2008 Dead Horse Red (Red Mountain)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
-
$45
This is the first wine to be blended each year, though it is not labeled a reserve. The new vintage has amazing depth, running down through a litany of red and black fruits, into veins of earth and tannin and graphite, and finishing with densely textured barrel notes of toast, coffee and bitter chocolate. Beautifully proportioned, deep and cellarworthy.
— P.G.
(9/1/2011)
95
points
Doyenne 2008 Grand Ciel Vineyard Syrah (Red Mountain)
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$60
Certainly the finest Grand Ciel Syrah to date, this is a full-flavored, complete wine, loaded with pure fruit flavors of berry and cassis. The details pile on—a whiff of stone, a hint of chocolate, suggestions of spice, all in perfect proportion.
— P.G.
(2/1/2012)