Wines

92 Points! A proprietary red blend of Petite Sirah, Grenache, Syrah, and Zinfandel aged eight months in 31% new oak. Orin Swift has opened a new, lovely tasting lounge in the town of St. Helena, CA and is worth a visit for those coming to the Napa Valley. Dave Phinney, the founder of Orin Swift, calls all the picks and continues working and honing these wines in the cellar. Rich black cherry, toffee, and caramel spices lead to a full-bodied wine with red berry fruit and chocolatey, robust, chewy tannins. The long fruit driven finish offers ample brown spices and toasty cedarwood. - Decanter Magazine

91 Points! Potent and dense, with brooding flavors of blackberry and cherry accented by bitter chocolate, cracked pepper and savory meat tones as this builds tannins on the finish. Grenache, Syrah and Petit Sirah. Best after 2025. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! The 2020 ‘Machete’ is a proprietary blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache that was stored in 34% new French oak for 14 months before bottling. A soft texture greets you as green peppercorns greet you alongside black currant jelly, cigar ash and dark chocolate shavings with kirsch cordial notes. Considering the vintage, this is a really good effort. - Owen Bargreen

96 Points! Velvety tannins, perfumed floral nose, opening to cedar, mint leaf, red cherry puree, all expanding outwards through the palate, with finely boned tannins adding a touch of control. Plenty of tertiary notes of truffles, campfire smoke and saffron-laced spices, but the fruit is still very much in tact. As it opens further you get intense aromatics of violet and exotic spices. You could sit with this for hours, just enjoying how finessed Cabernet Sauvignon can become with age - and how the clay that underpins the gravels on so much of Palmer's vineyard has helped keep freshness. Exceptional, and it has been delivering at this level for at least a decade. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, September 2021  

95 Points! The 1990 Palmer has long been one of my favorite vintages; at 31 years of age, it is still utterly sublime. It opens wonderfully in the glass with blackberry, forest floor, crushed iris petals and just a touch of dried blood. You would actually think that this comes from a cooler growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. This has evolved since I last tasted it, mellowed and lost some of its plumpness, becoming more linear and almost reserved towards the finish. There's a touch of green bell pepper on the aftertaste. Wonderful. - Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2022

97 Points! A showstopper of a wine that offers a fragranced nose of purple flowers, blackcurrant, cola and liquorice. Smooth and silky, this has a gorgeous weight and texture, full and filling, a density of chalky, almost chewy tannins but bright, juicy acidity. Excellent construction, delicately layered but builds to an impressive whole that has such allure on the palate. A joyous wine brilliantly delivered. - Decanter Magazine

95+ Points! The 2021 Palmer has turned out beautifully in bottle, wafting from the glass with expressive aromas of blackberries, cherries and mulberries mingled with notions of iris, dark chocolate and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with an enveloping core of succulent fruit framed by rich, sweet tannins, it concludes with a long, expansive finish. It's a blend of 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

95 Points! This wine is very fragrant, with blackberries, blueberries, black olives, bark and forest floor as well as some minerals and stone. Medium-bodied with racy and firm tannins that build to a fresh and steely finish. Needs three to five years to soften. You can almost taste the skins. Reminiscent of the 1995 Palmer but with more precision. 56% merlot, 41% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot. Best after 2028. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Bright and aromatic with flowers, dark berries and hints of rose stems. Full body, with very fine tannins that are polished and silky. The finish last for minutes. A etheral and beautiful wine. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! Floral and fresh with lots of roses and spices with hints of ripe fruit. Love the nose! Full and chewy with polished tannins and a balanced finish. Caressing and beautiful on the palate. - JamesSuckling.com

94+ Points! The 2008 Barolo Monvigliero flows from the glass with layers of silky, textured fruit. This is one of the more feminine wines in the Scavino lineup. Floral, minty notes develop in the glass, adding complexity, nuance and personality. The expression of fruit is very Scavino, while the aromatics and structure are pure Monvigliero. This is another intriguing Barolo from Scavino. - Antonio Galloni, robertparker.com

98 Points! Not made since the 2011 vintage to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the winery and before that not since 1964, the Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Riserva is gorgeous. Made with a selection of the best grapes from the estate’s historic vineyards, it’s intensely fragrant, boasting multifaceted aromas of forest floor, iris, ripe woodland berry, camphor and brown exotic spice. Combining power and finesse, the delicious palate offers cherry marinated in spirits, raspberry compote, licorice and tobacco set against a backbone of firm, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced and energized. Still primary and youthfully austere, it needs a few more years to unwind and develop. Drink 2028–2046. - Kerin O’Keefe

98 Points! Dark red/magenta in color, the 2016 Barolo Riserva is remarkable, offering loads of kirsch, polished leather, balsamic, dark chocolate, and crushed violets. The list goes on and on as it opens and begins to show more mineral aromas of graphite and truffle. Medium to full-bodied, it’s an exquisite red, with ripe, polished tannins, a seamless structure, and a long finish. It retains wonderful purity and ripeness and leaves a haunting sensation as it tapers ever so slowly. This stunning wine from the Scavino family is built for the long haul. Drink 2026-2056.-Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com

98 Points! Though still a bit shy in aroma, this red offers a deep well of ripe cherry, strawberry, raspberry, mint, mineral and tobacco flavors. Intense and vibrant, combining finesse and power, with terrific tension and a long, complex aftertaste. Drink now through 2042. - Wine Spectator

96 Points! Scavino's 2005 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata is all class, not to mention one of the wines of the vintage. Silky, nuanced and polished to the core, the Rocche oozes class. An exotic mélange of dark red cherry, pomegranate, sweet spice, mint and rose petals blossoms in the glass. The balance of fruit, acidity and tannin is absolutely compelling, but it is the wine's centeredness and overall poise that elevate it to its lofty standing. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, 2015

95 Points! Saving the very best for last, the 2007 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata is a gorgeous expression, with towering varietal characteristics that casts a long shadow. There’s so much going on in the glass: Prune, blackberry, cassis, dried herbs and licorice are beautifully woven together. The wine is firm and crisp in the mouth with perfectly integrated tannins. You can drink this wine in a few years, or decide to keep it for later. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

95-97 Points! Ripe currants, scorched earth, and graphite all emerge from the 2024 Château Pape Clément, which shows a terrific sense of minerality. Based on 53% Merlot and 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it's medium to full-bodied, fresh, and focused, with ultra-fine tannins. This understated, seamless, and beautifully balanced Pessac-Léognan is well worth your time and money. Just classic stuff. - Jeb Dunnuck

94-96 Points! The 2024 Pape Clément is unusual in that Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend. That is evident in the wine's strong savory profile and overall structural feel. A reduction in the oak imprint emphasizes fruit and overall vibrancy. The 2024 is not as showy or easy to taste as most vintages, but the style here has also undergone a pretty radical transformation. It was vinified in oak, steel and concrete. A significant portion of the wine saw malolactic fermentation in tank rathan than oak, as had been the case in the past. That adds up to a vibrant, nervy Pape Clément that represents a new era here. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94-95 Points! A rich wine for this vintage, showing roasted spices and some dark chocolate to the blackcurrants, pine cones and berries. Sour cherries with sharp acidity and nicely chewy tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Good structure and length. - Zekun Shuai, James Suckling

97+ Points!  I loved the 2020 Château Pape Clément, and this beauty is up there with the top wines in Pessac. Checking in as equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 18 months in 90% barrels and 10% in foudre, it offers a deep purple hue to go with a powerful, concentrated profile displaying both red and black fruits, lots of spicy, chocolate, flowery incense nuances, full-bodied richness, and an almost salty, bloody character on the finish. This beauty shows the concentrated yet utterly classic, focused, elegant style of the vintage and has so much to love. It's going to be even better with 4-6 years of bottle age and will see its 30th birthday in fine form. - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

98 Points!  Lots of blackberry, iodine and crushed stone here. Some black pepper and graphite, too. Full body and medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open in the mouth. So much going on. Iodine and iron undertones with some raw mushroom bring you back for more. Muscular. This is for the cellar. Drink after 2027. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

98 Points! A perfumed nose of cherries, blueberries, cedar, toast, cloves and walnuts. Full-bodied with a firm, beautiful frame of fine-grained tannins. Layered and elegant. Intense, powerful and spicy. Dark and intriguing, with wonderful presence in the glass. Keeps going. Only 2 hectares in production because 1.5 hectare replanted.Try from 2027. - James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

95-97 Points! The 2019 Pavie Decesse is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, harvested on the 5th of October. The yields this year were 17 hectoliters per hectare, and the alcohol came in at 14.51%, while the pH was 3.51 (remarkably low!). Very deep purple-black in color, it has an intoxicating nose of plum preserves, blueberry tart, kirsch and molten chocolate with nuances of licorice, lilacs, clove oil and cedar chest. The full-bodied palate is built like a skyscraper, with a soaring structure of firm, finely grained tannins and brazen freshness supporting the decadent black fruit and spicy layers, finishing very long and fruity. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

95 Points! Gorgeous cool blue fruits, liquorice and salinity on the nose, clean but really expressive. Full and forward, quite intense with plump fruit, however there's great depth and energy. Concentrated and ripe, but also with cool touches of blueberry, cola and wet-stone nuances. Nice energy and focus, streamlined, but this has a great weight with the bite and grip of 2021. Great effort. - Decanter Magazine

96 Points! A very juicy and rounded young 2021 with berry, chocolate, cedar, balsamic, and redwood aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Velvety tannins. Excellent finish. Extremely well done for the vintage. 79% merlot, 19% cabernet franc and 2% cabernet sauvignon. Best after 2028. - JamesSuckling.com

PLEASE BE AWARE, THIS IS A PRE-ARRIVAL WINE - YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED SHIPPING FEES UNTIL THE WINE(S) ARRIVE

96-97 Points! What a bright, racy wine showing beautiful chalky tannins and mid-palate fruit of good density. Minerally, with blue and red fruit. Taut on the palate, with a medium to full body supported by tense, chalky tannins. The long and really succulent finish goes on for a while. Precise. 84% merlot, 15% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. - Zekun Shuai, James Suckling

94-96 Points! The 2024 Pavie Macquin is positively gorgeous. Silky, layered and voluptuous, the 2024 is so impressive right out of the gate. Plush contours wrap around a core of purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, spice, menthol and chocolate. All the signatures of this site come through loud and clear. Savory and floral notes supported by clean veins of salinity extend the persistent finish. Pavie Macquin shows what was possible in 2024. The choice to harvest everything in October (from the 3rd to the 8th) paid off big time. Aging in French oak, with about 15% in larger 500-liter barrels, 45% new wood overall. Tasted three times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

92 Points! This wine has a very youthful color and seems to be close to full maturity, without the density of the 1998, or its successor, the perfect 2000. It has abundant foresty notes, plenty of spice box, blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, some background toasty oak, medium to full body and sweet tannin. A very delicious wine, it offers a complex and fragrant style. It should be drunk over the next 12-15 years. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com, 2015

96 Points! A great showing for this wine in the mini-vertical, the 2001 Pavie has a slight lightening at the edge of its dark garnet/plum/purple color and a big, sweet kiss of cedar wood, incense, licorice, blackberry and lead pencil shavings. The wine is dense, very rich, multilayered and finishes with at least a 40- to 45-second aftertaste. This wine seems to be close to full maturity, but should hold there for easily another 15-20 years. It’s a sleeper of the vintage. - Robert Parker, robertparker.com, 2015

96 Points! This shows incredible depth and density for the vintage with dark berry, dark chocolate, spice and chalk character. Full body, firm and velvety tannins and a long and powerful finish. Needs five or six years to soften. Try in 2020. - James Suckling

95 Points! The 2012 Pavie celebrates its reclassification and upgrade to Class A St.-Emilion by sporting a new black label with gold print. Fortunately, every Pavie has benefitted since Perse began a complete makeover of this estate in 1998. From 47-year-old vines, the 2012 has an inky purple color, judicious toasty oak in the nose interwoven with copious blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, Christmas spices, as well as licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, rich and moderately tannic, it will require 5-7 years of bottle age but should drink well for 20-30 years. Kudos to Chantal and Gerard Perse for their extraordinary commitment to quality, which is so evident in this more challenging vintage than some of the great years like 2009 and 2010. Very low yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare were obtained from this 92-acre estate. - Robert M. Parker, Jr. - Wine Advocate

100 Points! The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, crushed blueberries and eucalyptus over a core of preserved plums, kirsch, black raspberries and crème de cassis plus hints of licorice and chargrilled meat. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a solid foundation of firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness interknit with the black fruit preserves and minerally layers, finishing very long and very decadent. Superb! - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

100 Points! Spectacular aromas of crushed berries, such as blueberries and raspberries. Fresh flowers with hints of sandalwood. Exotic. Saturated palate of so much fruit, yet remains agile and energetic. Great length and texture. Fills your mouth. This needs time, but a classic. Twin brother of the perfect 2015. - James Suckling