Reviews

As demand for Châteauneuf-du-Pape has crept up over the years, so has the price of this bottling. It’s still a reasonable value in a silky, full-bodied wine to drink in its youth. A hint of parsley-like green accents gently warmed raspberry compote, all framed by vanilla and mocha. — J.C. 

Full-bodied, concentrated and chocolatey with a wealth of grippy, light-grained and chalky texture and notes of black currant jam, currant leaf and toasted oak. Long, flavorful finish that is simultaneously juicy and drying. Ready-to-drink but will age nicely for seven years or so. 

An ambitious, concentrated, but not oaky wine, this has a very dark color, aromas of black cherries, and ripe but dry flavors of blackberries and dark chocolate. It is medium to full bodied, framed by lots of fine-grained tannins and finishing with more dark fruit. It’s a good wine to lay down and drink after 2019. Best Buy. —J.G.

Offers a broad, rich, expansive mix of citrus-infused tangerine, nectarine, white peach and honeysuckle flavors. Maintains thrust and focus, staying long and deep. –JL

This is singer/songwriter John Legend's inaugural wine project in conjunction with Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Combining 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Petit Verdot, it tells a powerful story in thick layers of blackberry cobbler, chocolate and coffee, the tannin and oak integrated and silky smooth. This is a wine of great presence. – V.B. 

Ripe, soft and easy to quaff. Aromas of raspberry, spice and mocha combine with jammy cherry, licorice and anise flavors. –TF

Offers plump fruit and aromas of floral raspberry and toasty spice that combine with jammy cherry, licorice and cracked pepper flavors. –TF

Supple and jammy, with smoky raspberry aromas and focused, layered flavors of ripe cherry, caramelized anise and cracked pepper.  –TF

Like liquid candy, this combines lemon cake, apple, floral and spice flavors seamlessly, with fine underlying structure. Harmonious and long, echoing with spice on the finish. —B.S.

Lime and lime blossom aromas lead off, with apple, lemon and spice notes underneath. Though on the slim, linear side, this is balanced and ends with a chalky feel. Drink now through 2019.  —B.S.