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Below you will find a list of wines rated 95 points and above. All of these wines have been priced at the lower end of retail and definitely below retail in Texas' market. Many are normally locked down or "allocation only" for restaurants. All the wines listed can be shipped with reviews and gift cards within 3 days. There are 10 wines listed, they are not sorted by type, but by vintage! Mix and match as you wish.
All the best,
Rex & Michele
24 bottles - 2013 Ramey Chardonnay Platt Vineyard, Sonoma $59
96 points Wine Advocate
The 2013 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard, under the well-known Sonoma Coast terroir, offers elegant white currant, quince and stony notes with hints of apple blossom, lemon oil and a touch of orange rind. This medium-bodied wine should drink nicely for 3-4 years.
93 points Vinous
David Ramey's 2013 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard is a wine of precision, nuance and understatement. Orchard fruit, mint and white pepper are some of the notes that emerge from this crystalline, focused Chardonnay. Still, there is plenty of the classic Ramey texture, but the wine remains reticent and in need of at least a few years in bottle. The Platt will require a little more patience than most Ramey Chardonnays.
18 bottles - 2014 Blackbird Paramour, Napa Oak Knoll District $89
95 Points - Wine Advocate
Another terrific example of Blackbird is the 2014, Proprietary Red Paramour, a fabulous blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. The Cabernet Franc comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard. Consultant Aaron Pott said he thinks they have a magical spot for it on that large eastern Napa Valley mountain site. This is terrific stuff from the super-intense fragrance of white flowers and forest floor to the blueberry, black raspberry and graphite notes. The wine hits the palate with dazzling fruit intensity, loads of glycerin, a round, juicy, succulent mouthfeel, a layered personality and a long, supple finish. Drink it now or over the next 15+ years. - Robert M. Parker, Jr. (28th Oct 2016)
11 - 2014 Hestan Cabernet, Napa $120
96 points Wine Advocate
Hestan Vineyards' 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which emanates from their 56 acres of Bordeaux varietals, is aged 20 months in new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration by proprietors Stanley and Helen Cheng. A beautiful set of aromatics consisting of white flowers, blueberries, blackcurrants and black cherries emerge from this opaque ruby/purple wine. The palate is flawless, with a seamless integration of acidity, alcohol, tannin and wood. It is full-bodied, rich and impressive. Add to that its thrilling purity and length, and this is a top-notch, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon from Hestan. Drink it over the next 20-30 years.
94 points Wine Spectator
Bold, rich and pure, with tiers of loamy earth, cedar, dark berry, licorice and spice. Gains power without losing finesse, ending pure and chewy. Drink now through 2030.
20 - 2015 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Australia, Barossa Valley $79 95 points Wine Advocate
Winemaker Ben Glaetzer continues to fashion big, bold Barossa Valley Shiraz. The 2015 Amon Ra Shiraz is another in a long line of muscular wines that manage to offer complexity, power and a surprising degree of elegance. Charred beef, black olives and espresso notes meet blackberries and cassis on the nose and palate, delivering near-tidal waves of flavor and personality. Full-bodied, intense and velvety, it should age well for at least a decade, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it still drinking well past 2030 (assuming proper cellaring, of course).
95 points Vinous Inky purple. Explosive black and blue fruit, vanilla, Indian spices and floral scents show superb clarity and pick up a smoky nuance with aeration. Coats the palate with sweet blueberry, cherry-vanilla, cola and fruitcake flavors that show an uncanny blend of richness and vivacity. Finishes with outstanding energy and thrust and serious persistence; supple tannins lend shape. A large-scaled, emphatically fruity wine and, at 15.5 percent (declared) alcohol, no poster child for elegance, but I find it almost shockingly graceful for its sheer depth and mass.
-- Josh Raynolds
94 point Wine Enthusiast, Cellar Selection From Barossa's newest generation of superstar winemakers, Ben Glaetzer's Amon-Ra-his top wine-is the label that's gained him the most glory, and for good reason. It's hugely cellar worthy, with a pretty nose of dark cherry fruit, cola, licorice, cocoa powder and a little meatiness in the background. The medium-bodied palate is juicy and restrained, with muscular but silky tannins and a long juicy, savory finish; The perfect example of the elegant style the latest generation of Barossa producers excel at. While approachable now, it would drink best between 2022-2032 93 points Wine Spectator
Rich, velvety blackberry and plum flavors show toasted walnut and sandalwood accents in this rich and generous red, which is spicy and detailed on the long, lingering finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,000 cases made. - MW
93 points James Suckling This is a heroic, sweetly-fruited cut of Barossa shiraz that has a big wave of ripe boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavor. Sweetly spicy, vanilla-dusted oak influence and an approachable, juicy resolve.
9 - 2015 Gros Ventre Cellars First Born Pinot Noir, Sonoma $59
95 points Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir First Born has pronounced notes of crushed black cherries, fresh raspberries and pomegranate with touches of roses, menthol, black soil and fungi. Medium-bodied and delicately crafted with a firm frame of very ripe, very fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, the red fruit and earthy layers give way to a good, long, perfumed finish.
5 - 2016 Bevan Cellars Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend, Napa $199
97+ points Wine Advocate
The 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Very deep purple-black in color, it features earth, redcurrants, red and black cherries, plums and loads of florals with a waft of dried herbs. The palate offers loads of lift from the menthol and red fruits, with a fine-grained texture and tons of energy on the finish. 605 cases produced.
97 points Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, the 2016 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was brought up all in new French oak, which has been absorbed beautifully. With terrific intensity in its blue fruits and floral aromatics, this terrific 2016 is full-bodied, powerful, and layered, with ultra-fine tannins that emerge with time in the glass. It has the purity and elegance of the vintage front and center, yet backs it up with both texture and depth. In short, it's another rock star wine from this estate.
24 - 2016 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, Napa Oakville $195
97+ points Wine Advocate
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is very deep purple-black in color with an earthy, meaty, broody nose with notes of mocha over baked plums and crème de cassis plus wafts of spice box and mincemeat. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated, rich and earthy with great vibrancy on the finish. 839 cases produced.
24 - 2016 Hourglass Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa $165
98 points Jeb Dunnuck
There are two monumental wines in the lineup. First up, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hourglass Estate offers an insane bouquet of pure black fruits, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, and hints of mint to go with a full-bodied, incredibly layered and seamless profile on the palate. It has plenty of structure yet just glides over the palate, is perfectly balanced, and has a finish that won't quit.
95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Hourglass Estate is deep purple-black in color and offers up notes of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves, blackberry jam and violets with touches of licorice, black soil and cracked pepper. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length.
93 points James Suckling
Very tannic and muscular with blackberry and blueberry character. Full-bodied, powerful and rich. Ripe and layered with gorgeous fruit and tannins. Muscular. Drink in 2021.
2017 Roar Pinot Noir, Sierra Mar Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands $57
97 points Wine Enthusiast, Editors Choice
Rich and ripe in aromas of red cherry, caramel and oak, this bottling is made elegant and complex from the crushed slate and stony qualities that thrive throughout. A concentrated Bing cherry flavor rings on the bone-dry palate, lifted by mint and more chiseled stone. This is amazingly ripe and delicious, yet hewn with impressive minerality.
96 points Jeb Dunnick
One of the standouts in the vintage is the 2017 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard. This brilliant wine comes from more decomposed granite and gravelly soils and was brought up in 71% new French oak. Thrilling notes of crushed rocks, rose petals, gravelly minerality, and ample black cherry and black raspberry fruit all flow to layered, medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir that carries remarkable intensity yet stays weightless and balance. It's pure class. -
94 points Vinous
Deep glistening red. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe red berries, incense and candied flowers, along with building Asian spice and mineral nuances. Vibrant, palate-staining raspberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors take on subtle vanilla and floral pastille qualities as the wine opens up. Shows excellent delineation and finishes extremely long, sweet and lively, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins adding shape and grip.
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