Vinous (93-95)

The 2021 Chardonnay Chloe is a powerful, dense wine that is going to need time to come around. Lemon confit, dried herbs, menthol, spice and chamomile all take shape, gradually, in this potent Chardonnay. The Chloe is a blend of fruit from El Diablo and Flora Marie, plus fruit from the Estate. This deep, phenolic Chardonnay has a ton to offer.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2021 Chardonnay DuMOL Estate Vineyard is a powerful, phenolic, driving wine. Sage, crushed rocks, lemon peel, mint, white pepper and dried herbs infuse the Estate with tremendous complexity. High-density plantings of Mount Eden clone Chardonnay on this site yield a wine of tremendous distinctiveness and vibrancy.

Wine Advocate (98+)

The 2021 Chardonnay Isobel Charles Heintz Vineyard is the 20th bottling of a Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay at DuMOL. It was harvested September 25-27, matured in larger barrels and finished with six months in stainless steel. "There are very few better vintages of this," winemaker Andy Smith exclaims during our tasting, and I have to agree. It's bursting with scents of matchstick, chamomile, Greek yogurt and white peach, and over time, it unfurls unique spicy, herbal undertones. The palate is intensely concentrated, boasting expansive, dynamic flavors that segue from stone fruit to honey. Satiny and seamless, it has a tremendously long finish with mind-altering depth of flavor. Fans of Burgundy will love it for its flinty tones, and fans of California for its concentration and power.

The Wine Independent (99)

The 2021 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard needs quite a bit of coaxing to unlock notes of ripe yellow apples, grapefruit oil, orange peel, and juicy peaches, leading to wafts of wet slate, shaved ginger, and almond croissant. The medium-bodied palate has super-charged intensity, delivering layer upon layer of citrus, stone fruit, and mineral flavors with a silky texture and laser-precise acidity, finishing with incredible length and so many citrus and mineral sparks. This is phenomenal Chardonnay! These Hyde Vineyard vines were planted in 1986. "Hyde were the first to do custom growing and they do it so well," commented DuMOL's winemaker, Andy Smith. "The shoot growth in 2021 was very low and the yields were down from a typical 21 barrels to 17 barrels. But I believe this is the best quality is the best they've ever had from here." I agree. For number crunchers, the pH is 3.38, and ABV is 13.7%.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (100)

The 2021 Pinot Noir MacIntyre Estate Vineyard is magnificent. Dark, plush and exceptionally vivid, the 2021 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. The mix of Calera and Swan clones yields an unctuous, rich Pinot that does not taste like a wine from sandy soils. The 2021 is sensational. I don't think I have ever tasted a wine like this before here. A rush of dark blue/purplish fruit, gravel, spice and menthol builds into the huge, structured finish. Unforgettable.

Vinous (96)

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Meteor Vineyard captures all the pedigree of this well-known Coombsville site. Powerful and intensely savory, the 2019 offers up copious dark fruit, lavender, sage, grilled herbs and licorice. The tannins are both potent and present, yet they are beautifully balanced by the luxuriousness of the fruit. This is a superb showing from DuMOL.

Jeb Dunnuck (94+)

The 2017 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard is more earthy and savory, with a concentrated, foursquare style that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring. Notes of black cherries, bouquet garni, earth, and chocolate all define the bouquet, and it has building tannins, a great mid-palate, and impressive length.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

The 2021 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard soars out of the glass with breathtaking aromatics. Crushed flowers, mint, spice, blood orange and pomegranate are immediately captivating. The 2021 has it all—striking perfume, deep fruit and structure to burn. This is showing so well, even with its brooding personality very much on display. The Estate is a blend of Swan and Calera selections.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

The 2021 Pinot Noir Finn pours a jeweled ruby and is sourced from two vineyards. It offers up nearly ripe, attractive smoky notes of cherry, cracked pepper, and dusty earth. Full-bodied, it’s expansive on the palate, with ripe black raspberry, pine, and anise. This needs time but is well structured and has excellent balance.

Vinous (91)

The 2019 Pinot Noir Highland Divide is a joyous Pinot Noir from DuMOL. Punchy red/purplish fruit, mint, lavender and spice are front and center. This mid-weight, supple Pinot is all charm. The Highland Divide Pinot is a blend taken from three high-density blocks at the DuMOL Estate.

Vinous (95)

The 2019 Pinot Noir Wildrose Estate Vineyard is one of the most elegant wines in this lineup. Silky, aromatic and gracious, the Wildrose is super-expressive right out of the gate. Blood orange, pomegranate, raspberry and sweet floral notes fill out the layers effortlessly. Readers will find a Pinot with notable brightness and energy.

Vinous (96)

The 2016 Syrah Eddie's Patch Greywacke Vineyard is just as impressive as it was from barrel. A rush of aromas and flavors builds in a Syrah endowed with huge depth and complexity. Black pepper, sage, menthol and licorice develop in the glass, adding to the wine's tremendous appeal. This is a stellar showing from DuMol.

Vinous (90-93)

The 2017 Syrah Eddie's Patch possesses notable depth and textural intensity, but it is also raw and not fully put together. I won't be surprised if it is much more expressive in bottle.

Vinous (96)

The 2019 Syrah Eddies Patch shows the more savory, pungent site of Russian River Syrah. Blue/purplish fruit, sage, black pepper, licorice and menthol are front and center. The tannins are a bit prominent at this stage, so a few years in the cellar is probably a good idea.

Vinous (92)

The 2011 Altagracia is round, sexy, supple and beautiful, especially within the context of the year. Sweet red berries, mint, tobacco, savory herbs and anise meld together in a distinctive wine long on personality. With time in the glass the wine fleshes out nicely, as the flavors become darker, richer and layered. Altagracia is a blend of mostly Eisele fruit, plus a bit of Vine Hill Ranch, a well-draining site in Oakville that is among Napa Valley's very best. The blend is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.

Wine Advocate (91)

The 2012 Proprietary Red Altagracia is 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot and Malbec. A beautiful nose of red and black cherries, blackcurrants, spice box and earth jumps from the glass of this expressive, fragrant, medium-bodied wine that has velvety tannins, a burgeoning complexity and a savory, lush mouthfeel. This is a strong second wine from this famous vineyard. It can be drunk now or cellared for up to 15 or more years. It’s pure seductiveness.

James Suckling (96)

Lots of violets and dark berries with sweet underbrush and fresh mushrooms, following through to a medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a succulent and refined finish. It remains supple and beautiful. Hard not to drink now. Better after 2023.

James Suckling (97)

Intense aromas of black fruit, cocoa powder, black olives, dried violets, tar and cigar box. Some black peppercorn, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, chalky tannins. Incredible intensity and purity of fruit with gorgeous breadth and depth. Superb, new-wave Napa red. 80% cabernet sauvignon, the rest mostly cabernet franc with a hit of petit verdot. Try from 2025.

James Suckling (97)

There’s purity and focus to this wine with blackberry, blackcurrant and spices, such as nutmeg. Ink pot, bark and asphalt, too. So long and polished. Chewy tannins. Hints of stone and ash. 88% cabernet sauvignon. 7% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Give it time to soften, but already a beauty. Drink after 2026.

Decanter (100)

One of the most legendary vineyards in the Napa Valley, the Eisele Vineyard was purchased by François Pinault of Château Latour in Pauillac in the Médoc, Bordeaux from the Araujo family which had owned it for 23 years (from 1990 to 2013). The winemaking is now in the hands of 41-year-old winemaker Hélène Mingot. For this vintage, Hélène used only rockiest blocks planted in shallow soils near Simmons Creek.

It contains two bottles of each:

2x75cl Perihelios - 100 points | Jeb Dunnuck

2x75cl Polysipine - 98+ points - Jeb Dunnuck

2x75cl Sine Fine - 98 points | Jeb Dunnuck

100 points | Jeb Dunnuck (Perihelios)

One of two perfect wines in the lineup of 2018s, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Perihelios comes from Thomas Rivers Brown and is another seamless, elegant, yet powerful wine that’s just a joy to taste. Cassis, blackberries, tobacco, graphite, licorice, and a kiss of iron define this incredible beauty, and it's full-bodied, with a multi-dimensional, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and an incredible finish. Coming mostly from the Upper Range Vineyard and brought up in new barrels, it has ample up-front appeal given its balance, purity, and texture, yet there's no shortage of tannins, and it's going to evolve gracefully for 20-25 years or more.

98+ points | Jeb Dunnuck (Polysipine)

Made by Philippe Melka and a blend of sites, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Polyspline is all Cabernet Sauvignon that saw a small amount of barrel fermentation and aging in 88% new French oak. It's the most structured, backward, and in need of bottle age of the trio and has a dense purple hue to go with powerful notes of blackcurrants, tobacco, licorice, spicy oak, and graphite. Full-bodied on the palate, it's a powerhouse of a wine that has a great mid-palate, building, substantial tannins, and a great, great finish. It needs to be forgotten for at least 4-5 years but will have decades of longevity.

98 points | Jeb Dunnuck (Sine Fine)

Coming from the talented Benoit Touquette, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Sine Fine offers more blue fruits as well as lots of floral, violet, iron, spicy wood, and lead pencil-like aromatics. Another exuberant, incredibly sexy wine under the Fairest Creature label, it’s full-bodied and has just about perfect tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a gorgeous finish. It's already impossible to resist, yet I've no doubt this will evolve for 20-25 years or more. The purity of fruit as well as the tannins in this wine are exceptional.

Experience an unprecedented tasting odyssey with the Faethm Assortment Case 2020. Exclusively curated by master vintner Nikolas Krankl, these exceptional California wines deliver an exploration of unique varietals that exemplify genuine winemaking passion. The Faethm journey begins with grapes meticulously chosen from distinctive vineyards in state's most renowned wine regions, each handcrafted vintage unfolding an intimate narrative of the terroir's soul.

The 2020 Assortment Case features a compilation of wines that embody balance and finesse, from robust Grenache to elegant Syrah, each bottle undergoes an exacting vinification process, ensuring unparalleled individuality and cellar-worthy longevity. Savour the volley of sophisticated aromatics and intricate palate surprises, masterpieces crafted under the revered Faethm label. These limited-production bottles are a testament to Krankl's dedication to New World viticulture influenced by Old World tradition.

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Exquisite in every sense, Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2016 is meticulously crafted by the world-renowned Grgich Hills Estate located in California's fertile Napa Valley. Produced by Mike Grgich, a celebrated winemaker, this luscious chardonnay illustrates his masterful winemaking methods. Juicy and energetic on the mid-palate, Grgich Hills Chardonnay 2016 flows with layers of vibrant yellow apple, pear and white peach.

Introducing sustainable farming and handpicking at the peak of ripeness, every grape is delicately pressed as whole clusters and fermented with wild yeast in French oak barrels. The wine is stirred every month for nine months and aged in barrels for another nine, enriching it with a creamy texture and enhancing its naturally zesty acidity. This top-tier vintage from Grgich Hills Estate truly captures the winery's classic style, skill and the fruitful bounty of Napa Valley - it's a bottle sure to captivate the palate of any discerning sommelier.