2021 Schrader Cellars, LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) JD98
2021 Schrader Cellars, GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) JD98
2021 Schrader Cellars Wappo Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Bottle (750ml) JD97+
2021 Fingers Crossed, Unanswered Prayers, Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley, Bottle (750ml) LB97-99
2021 Aubert, Powder House Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Bottle (750ml) RP97/JS97
2021 Aubert, Eastside Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Bottle (750ml) JS97
2021 Aubert Wines UV Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Bottle (750ml) JS97/AG96/JD96
2020 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Distenta II Syrah, California, Bottle (750ml) JD99/LP99
2020 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Distenta II Grenache, California, Bottle (750ml) JD99/LP99
2020 Sine Qua Non, SQN, Distenta II Grenache & Syrah Assortment Case, California, Case of 2 Magnum [Syrah & Grenache] RP99/JD99
2020 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Case of 3 Btls JS98/DR98
2020 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Bottle (750ml) JS98/DR98
2020 Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Magnum (1.5L) JS99
2020 Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Case of 3 Btls JS99
2020 Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) JS99/DR99
2020 Ornellaia, Vendemmia d'Artista, Special Edition, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Bolgheri Superiore, Case of 6 Btls JS98/DR97
2020 Dominus Estate, Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) DR99/JS98
2020 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Richebourg Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml) AG98/BH97
2020 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, DRC, La Tache Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml) BH99/RP99
2020 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml) DR97/BH96
2020 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Case of 3 Btls [Banded] RP97/AG97
2020 Chateau Troplong Mondot, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bottle (750ml) RP98+/AG98/LP98
2020 Chateau Pichon Lalande, Pauillac, Bottle (750ml) JL99/VM98/JD98
2020 Chateau Palmer, Margaux, Bottle (750ml) DR99/AG98/RP97
2020 Chateau Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe, Bottle (750ml) JD99/JL99/DR99
2020 Aubert, Powder House Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Bottle (750ml) LP99
2020 Aubert, CIX Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Bottle (750ml) LP99
2019 The Third Twin, Nuestra Senora del Tercer Gemelo, California, Bottle (750ml) LP99/JD98+
2019 Sine Qua Non, Distenta I Grenache, California, Bottle (750ml) RP99/JD99
2019 Sine Qua Non, Distenta I Grenache & Syrah Assortment Case, California, Case of 2 Magnum RP99/RP98+
2019 Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District, Bottle (750ml) RP98+/JD98+
2019 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Case of 3 Btls JS99
2019 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville, Bottle (750ml) JS99
2019 Schrader Cellars, RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) RP97+/JD97
2019 Schrader Cellars, LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) RP99/JD99
2019 Schrader Cellars, GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) JD97/DR97
2019 Schrader Cellars, CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Bottle (750ml) RP98/JD98
2019 Schrader Cellars Wappo Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags Leap District, Bottle (750ml) JS97/RP96/JD96
2019 Saxum, James Berry Bone Rock, Paso Robles, Magnum (1.5L) JD98+/WS97
2019 Peter Michael, Les Pavots, Knights Valley, Bottle (750ml) JS99/JD98

97-99 Point Wines - the Wine Collector's Playground, the Best Cross-Section of Value & Quality

No other figure has so thoroughly shaped the modern wine landscape as Robert Parker did with his release of The Wine Advocate, a consumer advice publication providing independent opinions on wine, free from sponsorship. At its inception in 1978, Parker unveiled a 100-point system for grading wines and grew his readership organically, but it was his exuberant review of the spectacular 1982 Bordeaux vintage that led to his meteoric rise in the wine world, securing an authoritative stance with his scoring system as a helpful means of consumer guidance.

The intuitive nature of the 100-point scale created a clear delineation and made wine immediately comprehensible to the public. Over time, the system became de rigueur amongst critics and today there are many talented voices in the industry, each with a different approach and background. Wine critics tend to be fully immersed in the wine industry, surrounded by wine and constantly tasting. Often, tastings are done in verticals (a single style from multiple vintages) or horizontals (a single vintage from multiple regions or sites), shaking loose the granular differences between wines of very similar character. If tasting wine is a sport, these are Olympic athletes, and highly-rated wines give consumers a chance to peer into the world of a well-honed taster to drink at an elevated level.

The scoring system offers a simplified way of narrowing the scope, offering a guiding light in an enormous sea of wine. Any wines ranking in the upper echelons, 95 and higher, will reflect wine of superior quality resulting from premium site selection and dedicated winemaking. How a wine integrates over time, especially with regard to vintage, can create differences enough to inspire a higher score. In glass, these qualities together express themselves with immense complexity (how expressive and engaging are the aromatics) and finish (how long the experience of a single sip lasts on the palate), creating the foundation for a potential “ah-hah” moment.

The apex is represented by the rare 100-point score, which is awarded only to a few select gems each year. These wines represent elusive experiences and the pinnacles of luxury, in part due to their rarity, but also for their price points. To many, 100-pointers represent perfection, making them highly collectable and exciting to pursue.

Just below the lofty 100-point threshold is a wine connoisseurs’ playground as 97-99 point wines offer a perfect intersection of value and quality. Aspects of wine review are subjective, making single-point differences between fine wines a matter of infinitesimal differences. For this reason, these wines are overlooked treasures without the premium that comes with a 100-point score. While 100-point wines are lavish indulgences that can elevate any experience, 97-99 point wines are just as capable of creating a lasting impression and worthy of exploration.

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