2018 Red Wine

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: A brand new "third" label from Eisele Vineyard, the 2018 Pickett is composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and a tiny splash of Syrah. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it strolls...

Vinous, 96 points: The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up...

Decanter, 100 points: Finely textured, with a nuanced perfume that fills the glass and takes you to the intense underbrush of Tuscany. Succulent and yet savoury, this has a lilting freshness that is overlaid with ripe berry fruits, sage and...

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: This is a trademark, deeply rich impression with an unctuous, violet-flower layer, together with blueberries, cherries and sweetly toasty woody spices, as well as forest wood and fresh, leafy and sappy nuances. The palate...

Vinous, 98 points: The 2018 The Bard is fabulous and also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Realm. Vertical structure, power and explosive energy infuse the 2018 with tremendous character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate...

jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (97-100) The grand vin of this terrific estate, the 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that will spend 18 months in new barrels. It’s as classy as they come, boasting a deep...

Vinous, 95 points: The 2018 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is superb. A burst of sweet red/purplish fruit, exotic spice, flowers and blood orange fleshes out in a Zinfandel of tremendous class. The Pagani has a level of textural breadth and...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: (92-94 points) Moving to the Cornas releases, the 2018 Cornas Granit 30 comes from slightly younger vines and vineyards further down on the slope, closer to the village. Completely destemmed and brought up in used...

Wine & Spirits, 93 points: The Anthill team makes several single-vineyard wines from sites in the coastal Sebastopol Hills and in Annapolis, on Sonoma’s far north coast. This bottling is a blend of fruit from those sites, and while it may be less...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: Solitude's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault, aged in a combination of barriques, demi-muids, foudres and concrete (only one-fourth went into wood). For the vintage, it...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: This is such a beautifully nuanced red with tobacco, dried herbs, wet earth and currants. Some leather and rose petals, too. Full-bodied and chewy, yet refined with great polish. It’s rich and intense at the same time...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Juicy and forward, with enticing plum, boysenberry and plum compote flavors. Light licorice threads stitch up the finish, along with a flash of sweet spice. Drink now through 2027. — J.M.