94 Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A Bordeaux-inspired blend, the 2019 Yettalil Red Wine is considerably darker, deeper and richer than the Napa Valley Cabernet. Scents of cassis, pencil shavings, loam and mocha all appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is expansive and velvety without getting jammy or overly broad. Perhaps most important, for a wine that will presumably be consumed along savory dishes, it's nicely savory itself, with earthy notes and gentle tannins punctuating the long finish.

98 Mark Squires - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2009 Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha Vintage Port is a typical field blend aged in used French oak vats. It comes in with 98 grams per liter of residual sugar. One of the fleshiest wines in the vertical—from a very warm year—this has plenty of power and fine depth, hallmarks of the vintage. This was not always received as well as some lusher vintages, but it was likely also far more closed when young. This is a relative powerhouse even now, stern and dramatically different than the lusher and sexier 2007, for instance. For me, always obsessed with structure, it rings the bell. Laced with herbs and dried fruits, this is mightily impressive on its own terms, though. It adds a long finish, but it shows no trace of maturity anytime in the near future. The fruit is sappy but very dry. For all of its power, it retains some elegance, and it is vaguely approachable. The key word there is "vaguely." Do you want to enjoy it or just fight off the tannins? This is another brilliant Vinha Velha, even if often underrated, probably thanks to its somewhat brooding demeanor. Even now, it is a relatively backward one that needs much more time to express itself. Drink it if you must now, but you'll probably regret it.

93 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2018 Bramaterra is laced with macerated cherry, blood orange, cinnamon, cedar, sweet spice and tobacco. The 2018 is done in a pretty forward style for the appellation, with plenty of upfront fruit and a bit of oak, but retains the stylistic classicism that is so characteristic here. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine.

97 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Another unique, soulful wine from Comando G that is full of dried herbs, thyme, grapefruit, mineral, wild berries and white pepper. This is also one of the palest in color with an orangey hue, yet super ethereal and nuanced. Tangy and chalky on the palate with a medium body, with great precision and purity. The long, mineral finish goes right into your soul. Drink now or hold.

95 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Slightly darker, deeper and less ethereal on the nose than usual, the 2020 Las Umbrías has a lot of grip on the palate and is an earthier vintage of Umbrías, not the ethereal wine like the 2018, despite being the year with less alcohol (13.5%). It was a high-yielding year, and they picked the grapes during heavy rain, so they had to dry the grapes with warm air before putting them in the vat. Umbrías is possibly their most fragile grand cru, and it suffers under certain conditions. It seems to have suffered a bit in 2020, but it still has the elegance of Umbrías, the iron-like sensations from Rozas de Puerto Real and the balance and subtleness in a more earthy way. 2,559 bottles and 40 magnums were filled in March 2022. 2023-2030

95+ Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

"From the lowest yields since 2004, the 2015 El Desafio de Jonata smells like a barrel sample with its jammy blackberry, blueberry, cassis, crushed rock and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Rich, mouthfilling, plush and textured, yet with loads of underlying tannin, it's going to be another terrific vintage for this cuvée, yet it needs to be forgotten for 5-7 years. The blend is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot (there’s no Cabernet Franc) aged 20 months in 80% new barrels."

93 Wine Enthusiast

The superlative wood and dried fruit flavors have coalesced to yield an intense wine. Its sweet sultana flavors and generous richness go with the spice and pepper edge from the wood aging. It is a great wine that is ready to drink. ROGER VOSS

94 Wine Spectator

This is what 20-year-old is all about. Subtle aromas of toffee, caramel and flan, with hints of dried fruits. Medium- to full-bodied, with sweet fruit and a long coffee aftertaste that turns to honey and apricots. Very fine indeed. This is superb. Drink now. 500 cases made.

91 Wine Spectator

Incredibly sweet and unctuous. Medium in body with intense honey, truffle and caramel character and long, long aftertaste. Can’t put it down. (JS)

94 Wine Enthusiast

This inviting, chocolaty wine is super-soft in mouthfeel at first, due to a full body and resolved tannins. But the tannins firm up on the finish to reveal a structure that can help it age well. Milk chocolate, blueberries and mint bring a lot of flavor. Blended from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Best from 2026.

93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

Perfumed aromas of tile, blackberry, bark, earth and pine needles follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins and a lovely savory finish. The balance and drinkability is really right. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 10% malbec. First release. Drink or hold

91 Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux

Finely boned, gentle charcoal, grilled peppers, and spiced black fruits. The Malbec makes a clear impact, and this has depth and character. There is a clear desire to deliver a wine that reflects a European sensibility, and although the intensity of the 2020 vintage comes through, you can drink this now with a good carafe. Justine Labbé winemaker, Frederick Ammons consultant, 40% new oak. Harvest September 9 to October 3, 37hl/h yield.

93-95 Allen Meadows - Burghound

Exuberantly fresh black fruit aromas are liberally laced with notes of earth, clove, anise and wood. The succulent yet muscular and powerful big-bodied flavors possess excellent mid-palate density while exhibiting seriously good length on the mouth coating and strikingly long finish. Note that this is very much built-to-age and a wine that may well require 20 years to reach its apogee. Excellent.

94 Wine Enthusiast

"A superbly dense, concentrated wine so rich in flavor that it almost has a brooding, dark quality. The hint of medicinal character just gives all this intensity a lift, and goes with flavors of roasted nuts and licorice. The aftertaste has just the right acidity."

94+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bettinelli Sleeping Lady Vineyard comes skipping out of the glass with bright notes of kirsch, redcurrant jelly and blackcurrant preserves, giving way to a more serious earthy/savory undercurrent of smoked meats, crushed rocks and wild fungi. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers fantastic freshness to the densely laden red and black fruits, supported by ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and savory.

95 Wine & Spirits

No tasting note provided
"Only every two or three years is a reserve of Port with sufficient structure, fruit and power to age laid aside to age in oak casks. Those that have reached their peak after thirty years are then blended together for balance and finesse, and to ensure consistency of quality and style. The 30 year old tawny is one such wine. The wines are matured in seasoned oak casks in Taylor’s cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Here the cool and damp coastal climate encourages a slow and gentle ageing process, producing aromas of great complexity and finesse." -Winery

94-96 Neal Martin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Château de Fargues 2014 has an opulent, rounded and powerful bouquet that delivers a payload of botrytized fruit that is precise, upholding the de Fargues style, hints of mandarin and Clementine developing in the glass. The palate has a huge weight in the mouth: a fine line of acidity with layers of clear honey, marmalade and a dash of ginger on the finish. This represents an immensely pure Château de Fargues with enormous length and intensity. Superb.

96+ Eric Guido - Vinous Media

Dark and rich in the glass, the 2019 Hexe displays wild strawberry, red plum, anise and peppery floral aromas. This is wickedly fresh yet powerful, with depths of ripe cherry-berry fruits, autumnal spice and lively acidity that holds the entire experience together. The 2019 finishes long and spicy, echoing with blue and purple inner florals. A balsamic twang lingers.

95 Mark Squires - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 1963 Golden White Port (Dalva) is mostly a blend of Malvasia Fina, Viosinho and Rabigato, coming in at 130 grams per liter of residual sugar. This has been seen before, but this is the new 2017 bottling now in the USA. Not much has changed. This takes the gorgeous 1971 and adds some power, viscosity and intensity to it. It shows a little more complexity and it is burlier. It is often very much like a tawny in flavor. Taste this "white Colheita" blind and you may wonder if it is indeed white. It is still fresh and lifted, if not quite as bright and as youthful as the 1971. Overall, though, the added complexity seals the deal here, while the 1971 gets the nod for brightness. You slowly realize this does everything brilliantly. Which you prefer will be a matter of taste. I tend to emphasize complexity and my nod is to this, but I won't be surprised if some argue with me. The 1971 is pretty brilliant, too, if a bit more understated. This is another impressive White Port this issue from C. da Silva. Drink 2017-2040

95 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Casa Piena is done in a very different style from the past. The combination of a cooler vintage and picking at lower sugars yields a vibrant, energetic Cabernet Sauvignon. Floral and savory notes give the 2018 a striking aromatic top register to play off the red-toned fruit. This silky, mid-weight Cabernet represents a pretty big stylistic departure. I hope to have a chance to revist the 2018 in a number of years to see how it has aged. Readers will find a Cabernet of grace and finesse.

92 Susan Hulme - The Wine Independent

Medium-deep, faded ruby in color, the 2018 Mauro Veglio Barolo Arborina has a soft and gently fragrant nose, a little 'sotto voce' or understated, but with pretty tea leaf and floral notes. It has quite firmly structured but nicely managed tannins at the same time. There is a really attractive savory, lingering finish to this wine with sweeping acidity. It is a more classic, traditional style, harmonious and very appealing. Maybe wait one to two years and keep up to 20 years.