Martin's Wine Collection

Producer

Year

Name

#

Rating

Notes

ADW

1998

Alliance Shiraz

3

RP 91 WS 93

Parker: 91 immense body, low acidity, sweet tannin, and subtle integrated wood. This fruit and glycerin driven, blockbuster Shiraz should drink well for 10-15 years."

ADW

2001

Alliance Shiraz

5

Angus

2002

Angus the Bull Cabernet Sauvignon

7

RP 90

Parker: ''Wow! What a spectacular value in 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Four Thousand cases of this gorgeously rich, pure medium to full-bodied 2002 were produced. A dense, ruby/purple color is followed by copious quantities of creme de cassis, spice and earth aromas. Rich and textured, it is a total hedonistic turn-on that readers should consider purchasing by the case. Why can't California wineries produce a Cabernet Sauvignon for a similar price? Drink it over the next 4-5 years.'' Robert Parker, THE WINE ADVOCATE, 6/30/03.

Chateau Montelena

1993

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 95 WS 94

Spectator: 94 'A very precocious wine, with lots of forward, supple plum, black cherry and berry flavor and a long, rich aftertaste.'

Parker: 95 'It is a weighty, hefty, powerful wine, with a dense purple color, ripe, sweet black fruit flavors, considerable muscle and depth, and a spicy, full-bodied, tannic finish.'

Chateau Montelena

1994

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 95 WS 95

Parker: 95 'Toasty oak notes are barely discernable given the wine's bombastic display of black fruits, huge, chewy glycerin level, and sensational finish.'

Spectator: 95 'Slowly unleashes a wonderful core of tightly bound, elegant currant and black cherry that turns creamy, deep and profound.'

Chateau Montelena

1995

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 94 WS 92

Parker: 94 'There is massive body and elevated, but sweet tannin that is well-integrated with the wine's other components, a blockbuster mid-palate...'

Spectator: 92 'Elegant and rich, with currant, cherry, cookie dough and vanilla-scented oak.'

Chateau Montelena

1996

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 93 WS 92

Parker: 93 'Full-bodied, but closed, with gorgeously pure black fruits, powerful, loamy, earthy scents along with fruit and extract...'

Spectator: 92 'Openly fruity and seductive, with layers of cherry, currant and berry; extraordinary flavors and balance'

Chateau Montelena

1997

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 98 WS 95-100

Parker: 98 'This brilliantly made, super-concentrated, pure, blockbuster possesses sweet tannin as well as a terrific finish.'

Spectator: 95 'This California Cab serves up lots of ripe, supple black cherry, currant and plum-laced flavors, as well as pretty touches of earth, anise and mineral. Turns smooth and supple, finishing with polished tannins.'

Chateau St. Jean

1995

Cinq Cepages, Cabernet Sauvignon

2

WS 91 RP 93

Chateau St. Jean

1997

Cinq Cepages, Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 94 WS 96

Spectator: 96 'Ultrarich and chocolaty, with layers of cedar, plum, currant and black cherry, revealing uncommon depth and tiers of flavor as it picks up coffee, toffee and anise. Finishes with firm tannins.'

Parker: 94 '...it boasts a super-complex bouquet of licorice, dried herbs, black currants, spice box, and cherry liqueur. In the mouth, notes of chocolate, new oak, and red and black fruits caress the palate in a medium to full-bodied, succulent style.'

Constant

1995

Cabernet Sauvignon

1

WS 94

Cornerstone

1996

Betty Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon

4

WS 94

Spectator: 94 'Dense, tight and concentrated, a bold expression, with rich currant, earth, mineral and sage, picking up spice and floral notes and revealing rich flavors on the firmly tannic finish.'

Cornerstone Estate

1997

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

4

WS 96

Spectator: 96 An immense yet elegant wine--dark, ripe, rich, flavorful--with concentrated currant, black cherry, anise and wild berry, turning rich and polished on the finish. Best from 2002 through 2012. 850 cases made. (JL)

d'Arenberg

2001

Footbolt Shiraz

5

WS 90

Spectator: 90 Bright and jazzy, with delicious blackberry and cherry and subtle touches of anise and pepper weaving through the lively, long finish. Drink now through 2010. 5,000 cases imported. (HS)

Flora Springs

1996

Trilogy

2

WS 94 RP 92

Spectator: 94 An impressive red blend, tightly structured, with a rich array of currant, black cherry, anise, cedar, tar and spice flavors of remarkable harmony and finesse, ending in a long, complex aftertaste. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2000 through 2009.

Forman

1995

Cabernet Sauvignon

1

WS 91

Spectator: 91 'Ripe, rich, smooth and concentrated, still rangy and a bit raw around the edges, but the core of fruit is sharply focused on currant, black cherry, sage, cedar and spice. Finishes with a long, complex aftertaste.'

Forman

1996

Cabernet Sauvignon

1

WS 92

Forman

1997

Cabernet Sauvignon

2

RP 90 WS 90

Parker: 90 'This is a medium to full-bodied Cabernet exhibits firm tannin in the finish, in addition to excellent sweet fruit, and a subtle, nuanced personality. Cellar it for 3-4 years and drink it over the following two decades.'

Spectator: 90 'Supple and concentrated, with tight currant, mint, sage and cedar. Gains depth and nuance, with a complex aftertaste'

Glen Carlou

2002

Chardonnay Paarl

3

WS 91

WS: This pulls no punches, with lots of grilled hazelnut, matchstick and piecrust aroma followed by ripe pear, fig and melon flavors. Long, smoky finish delivers another wave of fruit. Drink now through 2005. 15,000 cases made. (JM)

Kaesler

2002

Stonehorse Shiraz

2

RP 94-96

Parker: "The 2002 Shiraz Stonehorse (the least expensive of Kaesler’s Shiraz offerings) is spectacular. It is indicative of just how special this vintage is in the Barossa. It is a teeth-staining, mouth-filling, extremely concentrated Shiraz displaying a level of quality that makes the 2002 Bogan and 2002 Old Bastard’s potential quality level look scary. The inky purple-colored Stonehorse offers a great perfume, beautifully integrated wood, and sensational richness as well as length. A prodigious effort that easily conceals its 15.5% alcohol, it should drink well for 10-15 years. "

La Jota

1990

Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain

1

WS 90-94 RP 92

La Jota

1991

Cabernet Sauvignon, 10th Anniversary

1

WS 90 RP 94

La Jota

1992

Cabernet Sauvignon, 11th Anniversary

1

RP 98

La Jota

1993

Cabernet Sauvignon, 12th Anniversary

1

WS 91 RP 96

La Jota

1994

Cabernet Sauvignon, 13th Anniversary

1

WS 93 RP 96

Parker: 96 '...a smoky, toasty, mineral, and cassis-scented nose, great persistence in the mouth, massive body, and an expansive, chewy, blockbuster finish, without coming across as excessively heavy or overweight.'

Spectator: 93 'Bold, rich and concentrated, this wine packs in lots of thick, complex, concentrated currant, black cherry, anise and cedar flavors that fan out on the finish.'

La Jota

1995

Cabernet Sauvignon, 14th Anniversary

0

RP 94-98

La Jota

1996

Cabernet Sauvignon, 15th Anniversary

1

WS 93 RP 96

La Jota

1997

Cabernet Sauvignon, 16th Anniversary

1

WS 91

Lake Breeze

2000

Cabernet Sauvignon

11

WS 91

Spectator: 91 "A big, muscular red, dripping with peppery red berry and currant fruit, shaded with all sorts of mineral and dusky spice notes, all of which linger enticingly on the fine-grained finish. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2010. - H.S."

Martinelli

1997

Zinfandel, Jackass Vineyard

1

WS 92 RP 95-97

Miner

1996

Cabernet Sauvignon

2

WS 93

Miner

1997

Cabernet Sauvignon

2

WS 89

Noon Eclipse

1998

Proprietary Red Wine

1

RP 96

Pahlmeyer

1993

Estate Red Wine

2

WS 91

Pahlmeyer

1994

Estate Red Wine

2

WS 92

Parker: 96 'The 1994 Proprietary Red Wine exhibits a purple/black color, as well as sweet, integrated tannin, a gorgeous blackcurrant, toast, tar, and licorice-scented nose, fabulous texture, and a 35-45 second finish.'

Spectator: 92 'Ripe, complex and full-bodied, with pretty currant, black cherry, spice and cedary oak flavors that continue to develop far into the finish. The tannins are a little rough around the edges, but they're not out of line for a wine this young.'

Pahlmeyer

1995

Estate Red Wine

2

WS 92 RP 96

Parker: 96 'The wine boasts an explosive blackberry/blueberry/cassis-scented nose that has completely soaked up all the new oak in which it has been aged for the last 22 months.'

Spectator: 92 'Lots of ripe, juicy plum and black cherry up front, with hints of anise, sage and mineral. Finishes with well-integrated tannins touches of tobacco and creamy oak.'

Pahlmeyer

1996

Estate Red Wine

2

WS 93

Parker: 95 'Concentrated, with fabulously high extract, sweet tannin, and full body, this wine has an elegant feel on the palate, but is still a blockbuster.'

Spectator: 93 'Packs in layers of black cherry, anise, blackberry and plum, showing a sense of elegance and finesse. Firms up on the finish, where the tannins are tight and spicy.'

Pahlmeyer

1997

Estate Red Wine

2

RP 98 WS 97

Parker: 98 'A prodigious red, with low acidity, spectacular concentration, and fabulous purity as well as overall symmetry...'

Spectator: 96 'Ultraripe and rich, with jammy wild berry, blackcherry, currant and spicy nuances that are deep and concentrated, finishing with a long, detailed aftertaste.'

Pahlmeyer

1997

Jayson, Red Wine

4

WS 91

Spectator: 91 'Dark, rich and plush, with complex, detailed currant, leather, mineral, sage and spice flavors that are broad and deep. Long, rich aftertaste. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.'

Paradigm

1995

Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

2

WS 93

Paradigm

1996

Cabernet Sauvignon, oakville

2

WS 91

Paradigm

1997

Cabernet Sauvignon, oakville

2

Peju

1994

Cabernet Sauvignon (HB Vineyard)

1

WS 92

Peter Michael

1996

Les Pavots, Knights Valley

2

WS 96 RP 96

Parker: 96 'The nose offers up blackberry, licorice, cassis, and pain grille aromas. The superb extract, well-defined personality, and smoky, licorice, Asian spice, and blackberry flavors provide a thrilling tasting experience...'

Spectator: 96 'This Cabernet blend is simply brimming with ripe, juicy, complex flavors of black cherry, currant, wild berry and plum. The wine is sharply focused, supple and elegant in texture and capped by a lingering, flavorful finish.'

Peter Michael

1997

Les Pavots, Knights Valley

2

WS 92 RP 96

Parker: 96 '...extraordinary bouquet of toast, blackberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and cedar. Full-bodied, with silky tannin, low acidity, and layers of concentrated, pure black fruits judiciously wrapped in subtle toasty oak,...'

Spectator: 92 'Dark, ripe, rich and focused, this California red offers tiers of currant, mineral, anise, sage and cedar, all folding neatly together and finishing with a chocolaty edge. Drink now through 2009.'

Philips-Marquis

2003

Cabernet Sauvignon

12

Philips-Marquis

2003

Shiraz

12

Philips-Marquis

2003

Shiraz 9

6

Pride Mountain

1997

Cabernet Sauvignon

6

WS 94 RP 93

Parker: 93. "Opaque black/purple-colored 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (3,472 cases) offers sensational notes of black currants, minerals, smoke, licorice, and new oak. Full-bodied, with fabulous extract and power, the acidity, tannin, and potentially harsh components are well-meshed with the wine's personality. This is a large, ripe, impeccably balanced Cabernet Sauvignon that achieved 14.1% alcohol naturally. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020. This is a spectacular wine that must be tasted to be believed."

Spectator: 94. "Dark and intense, with a solid, plush core of ripe, rich currant, black cherry, blackberry and light cedar notes. Jam-packed with flavors, it's an immense wine but beautifully balanced. Best from 2002 through 2012. 3,742 cases made." (JL)

Pride Mountain

1998

Cabernet Sauvignon

3

WS 93 RP 90

Spectator: 93 'Deliciously ripe and complex, overflowing with layers of exotic spice, mineral, sage, currant and blackberry, and finishing with a burst of flavor. Tannins are well-integrated. Drink now through 2010. '

Parker: 90 '...a dense, chewy mid-palate, a fleshy texture, low acidity, and a tannic finish. It is a classic Cabernet Sauvignon with medium weight, as well as outstanding ripeness, richness, and balance.'

Ridge

1996

Zinfandel (Geyserville)

2

WS 93

Sharpshooter

2000

Cabernet Sauvignon

2

Silo

1997

Cabernet Sauvignon

2

The Hess Collection

1995

Cabernet Sauvignon

2

WS 92

Torbreck

2002

Woodcutter

9

RP 92

Parker: 92 "A 100% Shiraz cuvee aged in wood foudres and bottled without filtration, the sumptuous 2002 Woodcutters Red is unquestionably one of the world's greatest red wine values. A dense saturated purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of blackberry liqueur, licorice, and a hint of chocolate. It is full-bodied with opulent flavors, low acidity, and a textured, long finish. Drink this stunning effort over the next 2-3 years." (08/03)

Von Strasser

1994

Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

1