The owner of Sena believes this is his best ever and I have to agree. It has fabulous character of blackberry, licorice, sandalwood and hot stones that turns to cigar box and hints of sweet tea. Rich, agile and playful...

An evolved and layered Champagne with aromas of ripe pineapple, stone fruit, caramelized nuts, white chocolate, apples and refreshing touches of white flowers and candied citrus. Full-bodied with a creamy mousse, a zesty...

This goes from zero to 60 right out of the gate, with an intense spine of acidity driving tightly meshed flavors of crushed black currant, ground coffee, candied grapefruit peel and toasted almond. The profile expands on...

This complex Champagne has delicious aromas of waffle cones, vanilla beans, apricots and pastry with touches of white chocolate and salted caramel. It’s electric on the palate, which is creamy yet structured and focused...

A lavish application of wood all but overwhelms the red currant, menthol, earth and pungent sauvage nuances. There is excellent punch to the large-scaled, intense and mineral-driven flavors that possess fine mid-palate...

(97+ points) A blend of 45% Pinot Noir and 55% Chardonnay, the 2012 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is a real success, wafting from the glass with aromas of red berries, rose, peony, orange blood and dried flowers...

Easily one of the top wines in the vintage, the incredible 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Quet comes from the northern part of the appellation and is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre. Full-bodied, decadent and...

Just a small step back from the Les Bessards, the 2012 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is a stunning effort that exhibits blockbuster notes of toasted spice, leather, peppery herbs and sweet black and blue fruit. Seeing...

Dark but perfumy, with black tea and warm ganache notes followed by silky plum, fig and blackberry fruit flavors. A long echo of licorice snap lines the finish. Best from 2015 through 2025. – JM

The 2012 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem offers dark, mineral-laced aromas and flavors of smoked earth, licorice, wild herbs and blackcurrants to go with a firm, structured and age-worthy...

(BH91-94 points) There is enough reduction present to push the fruit to the background though it does appear to be ripe. There is a really lovely mouth feel to the lightly mineral-inflected medium weight flavors thanks to...

(BH89-91 points) There is a touch of wood to the softly reduced nose where some spice elements are still discernable. There is good concentration to the velvety and lightly mineral-inflected medium weight flavors that...

A joint venture between Eric Solomon and proprietor Nuria Altes, this is an unreal value made from 100% Grenache from vines planted nearly 100 years ago. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a flowery perfume...

Due to the very hot growing season, the 2012 Percarlo shows slightly evolved and spicy aromas of tobacco and leather on first nose. This pure expression of Sangiovese from the cooler Gaiole in Chianti sub zone is aged in...

Made from equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the 2012 Champagne Brut Millésime is the 30th vintage of this cuvée, and the next vintage will be 2015. For at least the last five vintages, the wine was aged a minimum of...

What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of...

The 2012 Trotte Vieille is medium to deep garnet colored. Notes of dried roses, kirsch, and blackberry preserves leap from the glass followed by hints of smoked meats and licorice. The medium-bodied palate delivers ripe...

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2012 Rauzan-Segla is a tad closed to begin, soon unfurling to reveal notes of dried sage, iron ore, and fertile loam over a core of blackcurrant jelly, kirsch, and Ceylon tea. The...

The 2012 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese (AP #15 13) opens clear, cool, precise, smoky and very elegant on the nose. Light but intense and very elegant on the palate this delicious, racy and stimulatingly piquant and grippy...

A silky and structured red with tiles, dark berries and lightly shaved chocolate. Full body, firm tannins and a persistent finish. Shows zest and liveliness. Drink or hold until 2017.

This is very clear and precise with limes, lemons and sliced pineapple. Full body, tangy fruit and a dense, caressing, textured finish. Racy. Needs three to four years to soften.

Savory berries, plums, iron, minerals, tobacco, ink and blood oranges. Very bright, juicy and structured, with sensational balance, aged savoriness and brightness that are typical of Tondonia reds. Beautiful now.

(96-97 points) Over the past few months, the wine has added structure and fleshed out following the initial April tastings. Pure sensations of wild, ripe and overripe cherries, boysenberry, plum, espresso and stone. Full...

More reductive on the nose than the Himmelreich Auslese Gold Capsule, the 2012 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (AP #19 13) combines its deeper mineral character with a perfect expression of highly noble...

If price wasn't a concern we'd all just want to drink bucket loads of this. It's all class and quality but the drinkability factor is extremely high. It's like sitting with someone expert in the art of conversation; it...

One of the stars in the vintage is the 2012 from Beausejour Duffau which checks in as 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. It sports an inky purple color as well as classic notes of blackberries, blueberries, crushed...

Functioning as a second wine, the 2012 D2 Proprietary Red Wine checks in as a blend of 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in 100% new French oak. It's one hell of a second wine and...

(95-97 points) In this context, the 2012 Chapelle-Chambertin comes across as a bit burly. Firm tannins provide the backdrop for an intense, structured Burgundy that will require at least a handful of years to start...