The Outsiders 2020: Modern Greats From Across The World

Release date: 2/9/2020

Le Petit Clos is the second wine of Clos Apalta, it even comes from the same vineyard as the 'Grand Vin', and benefits from the exact same care both in the vineyard and in the chai. However, this isLe Petit Clos is the second wine of Clos Apalta, it even comes from the same vineyard as the 'Grand Vin', and benefits from the exact same care both in the vineyard and in the chai. However, this is a very different expression of the place - with a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend it is a completely individual style and is totally delicious!. Organically certified this little sister is a superbly attractive wine - one of our favourites in a tasting of all these new releases - and also, refreshingly, it is one of the most well-priced. Excellent value and totally joyous.L&S(Sep 2020)

This is really sensational as always with dried-apricot, dried-pineapple and honey character with salted nuts and hints of white syrup. It’s very sweet, yet energetic and intense. It goes on for soThis is really sensational as always with dried-apricot, dried-pineapple and honey character with salted nuts and hints of white syrup. It’s very sweet, yet energetic and intense. It goes on for so long. And then again. Yet, it remains balanced. A great sweet wine through and through. Drink or hold Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com(Sep 2020)

The approachable 2017 Nicolás Catena Zapata has a little more Cabernet Franc in the blend, even if the majority is Cabernet Sauvignon and there is some Malbec. In 2017, they sourced CabernetThe approachable 2017 Nicolás Catena Zapata has a little more Cabernet Franc in the blend, even if the majority is Cabernet Sauvignon and there is some Malbec. In 2017, they sourced Cabernet Sauvignon from Altamira and Gualtallary, and it fermented together with the juice of the Cabernet Franc. It has a touch of ripeness in the nose but without excess; it's balsamic, with the Cabernet dominating the aromatics. The palate comes through as really balanced and perhaps a little lighter. It has very fine tannins and a clean, focused finish. 78,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2018. Drinking range: 2019 - 2027 Rating: 95 Luis Gutierrez, www.robertparker.com(Oct 2019)

Average growing season temperatures at Seña were significantly lower in 2018 than in 2017 and that, coupled with a subtle Pacific Ocean influence, has delivered a fresher style. For all that, itAverage growing season temperatures at Seña were significantly lower in 2018 than in 2017 and that, coupled with a subtle Pacific Ocean influence, has delivered a fresher style. For all that, it remains the most exotic and “Mediterranean” of the top Errázuriz reds, with more colour than its partners and top notes of rosemary and lavender. The palate is still quite firm, with sinewy tannins, toasty, cigar-box oak and good depth and structure. Marrying Cabernet Sauvignon with 45% Malbec, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with ageing in 85% new wood, it’s youthful, assertive and slightly inchoate, hinting enticingly at more to come in bottle as the oak integrates into the wine. Rating: 96 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com(Sep 2020)

Clos Apalta 2017 remains inherently true to its origins. Deep garnet in appearance, the wine reflects the intense colour of carmenere grapes and typical aromas of ripe fruits. On the bouquet, anClos Apalta 2017 remains inherently true to its origins. Deep garnet in appearance, the wine reflects the intense colour of carmenere grapes and typical aromas of ripe fruits. On the bouquet, an abundance of aromas, including redcurrant, raspberry and wild strawberries, reflects the stunning complexity of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and carmenere. On the palate, the initial wave of berry fruits, underpinned by soft, silky tannins, is pursued by contrasting touches of black olive, blackcurrant and liquorice. Incredibly long and taut on the finish, revealing exquisite, delicate tannins, and expressing the great elegance of the Apalta terroirs. • 48% - Carmenère• 26% - Cabernet Sauvignon• 25% - Merlot• 1% - Petit VerdotWinemaker's notes(Sep 2020)

This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting.This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling. Drinking range: 2024 - Rating: 100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com(Jul 2020)

The 2010 Palmer is one of the superstars of the vintage, a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, which is just slightly different than what I indicated two years ago. TheThe 2010 Palmer is one of the superstars of the vintage, a blend of 54% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, which is just slightly different than what I indicated two years ago. The alcohol level hit 14.5%, and the wine comes across like a more stacked-and-packed version of their 2000. It is tannic and backward, but has a sensational black/purple color and a gorgeous nose of camphor, barbecue smoke, blackberry and cassis. Full-bodied, with oodles of glycerin but a relatively healthy pH, this wine has a precision and freshness that belie its lofty alcohol and extravagant concentration. This is a sensationally rich, full-throttle Palmer that could well end up being one of the all-time great wines made at this estate. It needs a good 7-10 years of cellaring and should keep for 50 or more years. There’s no question that Thomas Duroux and the staff at Palmer are producing wines of first-growth quality, and have been for nearly a decade. Rating: 98+ Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com(Mar 2013)

One of the flagship cuvées, the 2018 Côte A Côte checks in as 48% Grenache, 26% Mourvèdre and 26% Syrah that’s aging in plenty of new oak. Loads of blackberries, chocolate, ground herbs, and graphiteOne of the flagship cuvées, the 2018 Côte A Côte checks in as 48% Grenache, 26% Mourvèdre and 26% Syrah that’s aging in plenty of new oak. Loads of blackberries, chocolate, ground herbs, and graphite nuances give way to blockbuster style, powerful yet elegant beauty that has silky tannins and a great, great finish. It’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise over the following decade Rating: 95-97+ Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com(Sep 2020)

The 2018 Estate Cuvee checks 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new French oak. Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose ofThe 2018 Estate Cuvee checks 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new French oak. Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and crushed flowers. This carries to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured red with incredible balance, no hard edges, a thrilling mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It's going to benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of two decades or more. Hats off to winemaker Stephan Asseo on another incredible wine, as well as, I suspect the wine of the vintage. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 100 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com(Sep 2020)

Offers a chunky feel, featuring a mix of dark plum and black currant fruit, with singed mesquite, dried bay leaf, sage and licorice root notes. Shows youthful rambunctiousness, balanced by goodOffers a chunky feel, featuring a mix of dark plum and black currant fruit, with singed mesquite, dried bay leaf, sage and licorice root notes. Shows youthful rambunctiousness, balanced by good underlying structure and ample fruit.Should resolve easily with cellaring. Drinking range: 2022 - 2034 Rating: 92 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator(Sep 2020)

The 2017 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is a barrel sample blended of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, projected to age 24 months in 100% new French oak. Medium to deepThe 2017 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is a barrel sample blended of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, projected to age 24 months in 100% new French oak. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it features lovely crème de cassis, blackberry preserves and spice cake scents with touches of plum preserves and dried Provence herbs plus hints of tree bark and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with energetic fruit, framed by firm, grainy tannins and finishing with a lovely minty lift. 7,700 cases are expected to be made Rating: 94-97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com(Apr 2020)

A remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed andA remarkable wine for the year, the 2017 Opus One is a dense, full-throttle beauty. Plush fruit and soft, silky contours give the 2017 its racy personality. Exotic, beautifully perfumed and impeccable in its balance, Opus One is one of the most complete wines of the vintage. In 2017, Opus One has a distinctly red-toned fruit profile that distinguishes it from the surrounding vintages. Rating: 95+ Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com(Sep 2020)

All the 2018s were tasted from barrel. The 2018 Optimus shows both the style of the estate as well as the purity of the vintage with its rich, power-ful, full-bodied style and loads of black fruitsAll the 2018s were tasted from barrel. The 2018 Optimus shows both the style of the estate as well as the purity of the vintage with its rich, power-ful, full-bodied style and loads of black fruits and chocolate aromas and flavors. A blend of 53% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot and a splash of Mourvèdre, drink it on release and over the following decade. Rating: 92-94 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com(Sep 2020)

This is such a beautifully nuanced red with tobacco, dried herbs, wet earth and currants. Some leather and rose petals, too. Full-bodied and chewy, yet refined with great polish. It’s rich andThis is such a beautifully nuanced red with tobacco, dried herbs, wet earth and currants. Some leather and rose petals, too. Full-bodied and chewy, yet refined with great polish. It’s rich and intense at the same time. Very focused center palate. Broad layers of tannin and fruit. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Better after 2024, but already a joy to tasteJames Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com(Sep 2020)

One of the more supple, sexy vintages I can remember for this cuvée, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin nevertheless has power to spare, offering a beautiful bouquet ofOne of the more supple, sexy vintages I can remember for this cuvée, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin nevertheless has power to spare, offering a beautiful bouquet of blueberries, ground pepper, smoked meat, truffle, and liquid violets. Full-bodied, opulent, and mouthfilling, it starts out relatively tame yet builds on the palate, showing good acidity, plenty of tannins, and a finish that makes you salivate. It’s a brilliant wine that was compared to the 2001 by Marc Perrin. Rating: 96-98 Jeb Dunnuck - www.robertparker.com(Aug 2019)

Extremely aromatic with sage, lavender, blackberries and currants. Full-bodied with chewy and very polished tannins that melt into the wine. Foursquare and slightly austere. Fresh and well framed. AExtremely aromatic with sage, lavender, blackberries and currants. Full-bodied with chewy and very polished tannins that melt into the wine. Foursquare and slightly austere. Fresh and well framed. A wine that needs five to six years to soften and come together completely. Try after 2025. Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com(Sep 2020)

The Masseto 2017 Masseto puts on another exhilarating, knock-out performance for the third year in a row. The Masseto vineyard is a triangular-shaped plot tucked in at the back of the same propertyThe Masseto 2017 Masseto puts on another exhilarating, knock-out performance for the third year in a row. The Masseto vineyard is a triangular-shaped plot tucked in at the back of the same property that houses the Ornellaia vineyards and winery. This special site is located at the base of the mountains that rise gently from the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the picturesque silhouette of the Castiglioncello castle at the top. The vines are planted at an altitude of 80 to 100 meters above sea level in blue clay soils that are unique to Bolgheri. That ideal position opens the vineyards to soft breezes, proximity to the sea, long daylight hours and cool diurnal shifts from the protective wall of low mountains at the back. It's a little garden of Merlot Eden. The center of the vineyard now is home to the new Masseto winery and an adjacent tasting room built into a pre-existing farmhouse. This wine was made in the old winery (the existing Ornellaia winery). Fermentation kicks off in a combination of steel and oak tanks before the wine is racked over to barrique, where it rests for two years. The wine then goes into bottle for 12 months before its release. Like most vintages of Masseto tasted this early in the game, the oak is omnipresent, and it grounds the wine in terms of texture and structure. It is powerful, but that's always the case with Masseto (this vintage records a 15.5% alcohol content). I tasted this wine next to the decidedly more playful Massetino, and the Masseto moves over the palate with substantial fruit weight and concentration gained over the course of this hot and dry growing season (which produced smaller, richer and more compact berries). Perhaps, what this vintage lacks is that profound varietal character that we saw in recent vintages like 2016 and 2015. If concerned that the hot vintage would draw out too many ripe fruit tones, the oak serves to soften some of the more volatile components of the fruit. Those distinctive notes of macchia mediterranea (wild bush) that I always associate with Masseto are less present in this vintage. You feel the oak tannins on the finish with toast and vanilla that will certainly shed as the wine ages. In fact, I went back to taste the wine 12 hours later, and they had already softened considerably. This 2017 vintage will be released in October 2020. Rating: 97 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com)(Sep 2020)