The Outsiders: Modern Greats From Across The World

Release date: 2/9/2021

The 2019 Seña was produced with a Bordeaux blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 4% Petit Verdot with the Chilean character of the high percentage of Carmenere. Most of

The 2019 Seña was produced with a Bordeaux blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, 15% Carmenere and 4% Petit Verdot with the Chilean character of the high percentage of Carmenere. Most of the volume fermented in stainless steel with some 10% in concrete vats, and the final blend matured for 22 months in French oak barrels, 80% of them new, and 10% in Stockinger vats. It's 13.5% alcohol and has good acidity and freshness, coming through as medium-bodied, elegant and balanced. This is incredibly elegant, subtle and harmonious even at this early stage. It has floral aromas, notes of orange peel, a touch of creamy sweet spices and great freshness. The palate is medium-bodied, seamless and pure, with pungent flavors and a soft texture. It's long, clean, defined and super tasty. I feel this wine is getting better and better by the vintage. The grapes were picked quite early, and that helped to contain the ripeness and seems to have been a great decision. There was also an exception in the Panquehue zone where the Seña vines are, where the summer was cooler than the average, so quite different to many other regions in Chile. 100,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2021.

Seña celebrates its 25th anniversary with the 2019 vintage that will be launched the 2nd of September 2021 through the Place de Bordeaux négociant system. There are 100,000 bottles from their 42 hectares of vineyards planted in 1999.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec (35%) made from 210 micro-productions whose end result is approved by Nicolás Catena. A kind of summation of a long history, the grapes come from specificA blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec (35%) made from 210 micro-productions whose end result is approved by Nicolás Catena. A kind of summation of a long history, the grapes come from specific parcels of vineyards that Catena planted in the Uco Valley and Luján. The results are breathtaking. Purple in the glass with garnet flecks, this wine delivers layers of aroma, beginning with black currant and moving on to intense, precise notes of lavender and mint along with hints of black tea, sage and cigar box. In the mouth, austerity vies for supremacy with sheer power, a balance overseen by polished, grippy tannins placed into relief by a well-judged freshness that keeps the whole package light on its feet. This is a wine of tension foregrounded by the blend: the Malbec smooths out the Cabernet Sauvignon, which in turn brings energy to a red with an extremely long finish. Drinking range: 2020 - 2032 Rating: 96 Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous.com (Oct 2020)

Full of character and depth, stretches out as it opens. Higher alcohol than the estate’s 2nd wine Le Petit Clos, but you feel it less in this wine because there is so much at play here. Complex andFull of character and depth, stretches out as it opens. Higher alcohol than the estate’s 2nd wine Le Petit Clos, but you feel it less in this wine because there is so much at play here. Complex and confident, with a flood of flavour; extremely muscular and intense but you get salinity and juice that keeps up the pace, running along- side the fruit from start to finish. Tight tannins, needs a few years in bottle. Drinking range: 2023 - 2036 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter (Oct 2021)

The opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, thisThe opaque blue/purple-colored 2011 Palmer reveals a stunning bouquet of licorice, truffles, camphor, spring flowers, black raspberries and black currants. One of the superstars of the vintage, this brilliant 2011 possesses superb concentration and purity, medium to full body, and remarkable length of close to a minute. A tour de force in winemaking, the Palmer team merits accolades for achieving this level of quality in a more challenging vintage than either 2009 or 2010. The “wine of the vintage” in Margaux, tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare, a final blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a severe selection (only 55% of the production made it into Palmer) are the reasons for this success. Winemaker Thomas Duroux continues to fine tune this already brilliant estate, producing first-growth quality wines year after year. Rating: 96 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Apr 2014)

This wine has yet to be tasted by ourselves or critics, so we have no notes to provide.This wine has yet to be tasted by ourselves or critics, so we have no notes to provide.L&S (Aug 2021)

Very aromatic and lively on the nose with currants, fresh herbs, white pepper and cherry blossoms. Full-bodied with a vertical, multilayered structure and ultra fine tannins. Velvety texture.Very aromatic and lively on the nose with currants, fresh herbs, white pepper and cherry blossoms. Full-bodied with a vertical, multilayered structure and ultra fine tannins. Velvety texture. Extremely long and focused. Complex and succulent. This is the smallest production of Solaia ever. Great length. This is a beautifully complex red that’s open now, but needs another three to four years to show even more of its excellence. Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2021)

The 2019 Masseto is fabulous. Silky, gracious and super-refined, the 2019 is a total knock-out. So often Masseto is a powerhouse at this stage, but the 2019 is so elegant, so precise. This is theThe 2019 Masseto is fabulous. Silky, gracious and super-refined, the 2019 is a total knock-out. So often Masseto is a powerhouse at this stage, but the 2019 is so elegant, so precise. This is the first year that includes Cabernet Franc, 10% in this case. I can’t say I am at all surprised given how much Franc has added to Massetino. Red berry fruit, mocha, cinnamon and blood orange lend freshness throughout. The 2019 has just been bottle, so it's early. But there certainly appears to be a lot to look forward to. (Originally Published in March 2022) Drinking range: 2029 - 2049 Rating: 98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jul 2022)

Concentrated but tender, opulent and silky, with depth and freshness to the blueberry and raspberry fruits, all laid over with espresso and saffron notes. I love the elegance of this wine, and itConcentrated but tender, opulent and silky, with depth and freshness to the blueberry and raspberry fruits, all laid over with espresso and saffron notes. I love the elegance of this wine, and it really leapt out of the glass once we tasted it again over lunch. Sculpted and attractive, this vintage showcases Masseto as a great European wine, with all the nuance and beauty that entails. Not as concentrated as some years but fragrant, enticing and incredibly moreish, showing the benefit of old vines. 100% new oak. Drinking range: 2024 - 2044 Rating: 99 Jane Anson, Decanter (Dec 2021)

The 2019 Cote a Cote might be the best yet, offering an incredible perfume of jammy blackberries, spice, and violets. The purity of fruit is stunning. It’s full-bodied, has a seamless, elegantThe 2019 Cote a Cote might be the best yet, offering an incredible perfume of jammy blackberries, spice, and violets. The purity of fruit is stunning. It’s full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, and is just a heavenly wine in the making. The blend is similar to the 2013 and 2014 and is one-third each of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Rating: 96-99 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Jan 2020)

Lastly, the 2019 Estate Cuvee is 50% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, which is a classic blend for this cuvée. Not far from the style of the 2018, yet possibly slightly moreLastly, the 2019 Estate Cuvee is 50% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, which is a classic blend for this cuvée. Not far from the style of the 2018, yet possibly slightly more approachable, it has a killer bouquet of jammy black and blue fruit as well as notes of smoked earth, crushed rock, and peppery herbs. Super-rich, full-bodied, and loaded with fruit, it nevertheless has purity, balance, and structure. Rating: 97-99 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Jan 2020)

The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% YountvilleThe 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. 17,000 cases were made. Drinking range: 2024 - 2044 Rating: 97+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Jul 2021)

The very deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Maya is shy and restrained to begin. With swirling, it begins to reveal beguiling notes of fragrant earth, lavender, garrigue and Sichuan pepper, giving wayThe very deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Maya is shy and restrained to begin. With swirling, it begins to reveal beguiling notes of fragrant earth, lavender, garrigue and Sichuan pepper, giving way to a core of wild blueberries, boysenberries, black raspberries and black currants plus a hint of iron ore. The palate is full-bodied, revealing itself in slow-releasing layers of black and blue fruits with exhilarating earth and mineral sparks, framed by firm, beautifully ripe tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a persistent ferrous note. As cerebral as it is downright hedonic, this Maya is simply jaw-dropping. Drinking range: 2024 - 2054 Rating: 100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Jan 2021)

A little sweeter than the Monte Bello 2011 tasted alongside initially but it finishes dry and appetising – and definitely has a bordeaux-like structure. Impressively long. 14% A little sweeter than the Monte Bello 2011 tasted alongside initially but it finishes dry and appetising – and definitely has a bordeaux-like structure. Impressively long. 14% Drinking range: 2022 - 2034Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2022)

The 2019 Optimus showed beautifully, displaying a soft, full-bodied, impressively textured style as well as the classic cassis and darker berry fruits along with the peppery notes this cuvée alwaysThe 2019 Optimus showed beautifully, displaying a soft, full-bodied, impressively textured style as well as the classic cassis and darker berry fruits along with the peppery notes this cuvée always shows. Rating: 94-96 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Jan 2020)

The glamour, spice and power that you find with Epu but here given the full weight and balance of concentrated black cherry and damson fruits, cardamom pod and white pepper spices and confidentThe glamour, spice and power that you find with Epu but here given the full weight and balance of concentrated black cherry and damson fruits, cardamom pod and white pepper spices and confident tannins. A serious Almaviva, one that has personality and focus. It will benefit from a few more years in bottle from now - and then suggest drinking it within the next 5 to 10 years to make the most of the generosity that is just overflowing. 75% new oak. Drinking range: 2023 - 2035 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, Decanter (Oct 2021)

This is a plush, rich Cheval with blueberry and floral aromas and flavors. Hints of tar and fresh lavender. Full body. The depth and richness are impressive, as are the ripe yet fresh tannins. VeryThis is a plush, rich Cheval with blueberry and floral aromas and flavors. Hints of tar and fresh lavender. Full body. The depth and richness are impressive, as are the ripe yet fresh tannins. Very long and structured, yet controlled and in balance. This will be a great wine indeed. Release in September 2021. Drink after 2023. Rating: 98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Dec 2020)

I also rated a barrel sample of what may be South Africa’s most famous wine: Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine 2018. It could be the greatest Vin de Constance I have ever tasted inI also rated a barrel sample of what may be South Africa’s most famous wine: Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine 2018. It could be the greatest Vin de Constance I have ever tasted in my career, with its unique balance of sweetness and savoriness & an almost salty undertone.
(BARREL SAMPLE) Very perfumed aromas of lemon zest, ginger and lychee. Some apricots as well. Full-bodied with brightness, freshness and phenolic tension. It’s sweet, but not overly sweet. Salty and umami notes with some salted caramel. Unique wine worldwide. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2021)

This wine has yet to be tasted by ourselves or critics, so we have no notes to provide.This wine has yet to be tasted by ourselves or critics, so we have no notes to provide.L&S (Aug 2021)