100 Pontos por Robert Parker – Safra 2002

Seguindo com os vinhos pontuados por Robert Parker com a nota máxima, chegamos a Safra de 2002. O destaque neste ano foram os vinhos americanos. Dos 12 vinhos que tiveram a nota máxima, 8, isto mesmo, oito foram vinhos produzidos nos Estados Unidos. A Safra de 2002 por lá foi realmente sensacional.

Vamos aos vinhos e suas resenhas, lembrando que os valores descritos aqui são em dólares e com base no mercado americano.

In Vino Veritas!

Gustavo Kauffman (GK)

100 Pontos por Robert Parker – Safra 2001

2002 Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon Thorevilos

A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from , Napa, North Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #162 (Dec 2005)

Rating: 100

Drink 2009 - 2030

Cost: $765

The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Thorevilos is a monumental wine that is as brilliant as wine can possibly be. The wine has an inky purple color to the rim and an extraordinarily sweet, expansive nose of blueberries, licorice, acacia flowers, and creme de cassis with a hint of sweet oak and licorice. Phenomenal concentration, extraordinary purity, a multi-layered, full-bodied palate, and a magnificent finish of close to a minute are the stuff of legends. This is a profoundly great Cabernet Sauvignon that can be drunk young or cellared for up to two decades or more. This is a prodigious effort from Napa’s top viticulturalist - a man who has had an enormously positive impact on the quality of the finest wines of Napa Valley. (Release date Fall 2006)

2002 Chris Ringland (formerly Three Rivers) Shiraz

A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia,

Review by

eRobertParker.com # , #186 (Dec 2009)

Rating: 100

Drink 2009 - 2027

Cost: $575-$750

The 2002 Chris Ringland Shiraz comes from a great vintage Ringland likens to 1991, 1996, and 1998. It is a more saturated color than the 2001 with a superb perfume of Asian spices, game, bacon, lavender, and blueberry compote. Plush, succulent, and powerful, it will age effortlessly for a decade and provide enjoyment through 2027.

2002 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard

A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from , Napa, North Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #157 (Feb 2005)

Rating: 100

Drink 2009 - 2028

Cost: $800-$895

The amazing 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up a fabulously fragrant perfume of chocolate, barbecue smoke, creme de cassis, crushed rocks, and spring flowers. A wine of enormous concentration, multiple dimensions, layers of flavor, and a sensational one minute plus finish, its purity, harmony, and symmetry are prodigious. It should be at its peak between 2009-2028. (Release date 11/05)

2002 Greenock Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Roennfeldt Road

A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia,

Review by

WA # , #181 (Feb 2009)

Rating: 100

Drink -

Cost: $325

The two Roennfeldt Road cuvees, from one of Barossa’s most esteemed addresses, appear to be the finest since the legendary 1998s. The purple-colored 2002 Roennfeldt Road Cabernet Sauvignon offers up a soaring, already complex perfume of wood smoke, spice box, scorched earth, licorice, blackberry, and black currant. This is followed by a full-bodied, opulent, seamless Cabernet with gobs of spicy black fruits, an extra dimension that only old vines can provide, and a nearly endless finish. It would be fascinating to place it in a blind tasting with the 2002 vintages of Harlan, Colgin, Bryant, and Screaming Eagle. Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars, owned by Michael and Annabelle Waugh, remains one of South Australia’s iconic wineries. Start with a great terroir, add in old vine material and meticulous winemaking, and end with extraordinary results.

2002 Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road

A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia,

Review by

WA # , #181 (Feb 2009)

Rating: 100

Drink 2009 - 2040

Cost: $475

The two Roennfeldt Road cuvees, from one of Barossa’s most esteemed addresses, appear to be the finest since the legendary 1998s The 2002 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz was aged in new French oak. Aromas of pain grille, truffle, mineral, violets, blackberry, and blueberry compote are ethereal and lead to a voluptuous, densely layered, succulent, complex Shiraz with 10-15 years of aging potential, This extraordinary effort should drink well through 2040. Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars, owned by Michael and Annabelle Waugh, remains one of South Australia’s iconic wineries. Start with a great terroir, add in old vine material and meticulous winemaking, and end with extraordinary results.

2002 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red Wine

A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from Oakville , Napa, North Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #162 (Dec 2005)

Rating: 100

Drink 2005 - 2035

Cost: $725-$1748

I believe the 2001 Harlan Estate and 2002 Harlan Estate’s 100 point scores represent the first time I have given perfect ratings to two successive wines produced in the New World. However, the styles of the two wines couldn’t be more different as each reflects its particular vintage. The 2001 is a classic, long-lived, backward wine with most of its potential concealed at present. On the other hand, it is impossible to resist the flamboyant, extroverted 2002 Harlan Estate’s charm, richness, and overall seductive personality. This profoundly complex wine exhibits notes of cedar, black currant liqueur, scorched earth, smoke, and graphite. Incredibly broad, sweet, full-bodied, opulent, and voluptuous, it literally has everything one could ever want in a great Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine. Already drinkable, it promises to evolve effortlessly for 25-30 years. This prodigious offering is worth mortgaging the farm! Bill Harlan, winemaker Bob Levy and consulting oenologist Michel Rolland have achieved spectacular results in an amazingly short time at this estate in the western hills overlooking the Oakville corridor. The introduction of a second wine, The Maiden, has allowed this team to ratchet up the level of the grand cru. From over 40 acres of vineyard, only 1,500-1,600 cases of Harlan Estate and 800 cases of The Maiden are produced. In order to keep quality at such an extraordinary level, I suspect production will never go much higher.

2002 Hermann Donnhoff Riesling Eiswein Oberhauser Brucke

A Riesling Sweet White Dessert wine from Oberhausen, Pfalz, Germany,

Review by Pierre Rovani

WA # , #151 (Feb 2004)

Rating: 100

Drink 2015 - 2040

Cost: $249

The 2002 Riesling Eiswein Oberhauser Brucke is a grand slam home run for Donnhoff. It is so intense, so powerful, and so complex as to instill fear in the taster. Its apricot and peach cobbler aromas lead to a jellied core of cassis, raspberries, syrupy slate, and oodles of spices. It is simply amazing that a wine of this richness, ripeness, and depth can retain perfect definition, grip, and refinement. What is truly terrifying, however, is that Donnhoff produced a three-star Eiswein from the same vineyard in 2002, one he presumably considers better than this sublime nectar. Part of me is grateful that I was unable to taste it, however, as I have only 100 points with which to work. Bravo! Projected maturity: 2015-2040+. For the second year in a row, Helmut Donnhoff has left me shaking my head in wonder. Having tasted the greatest wines in the world, year in and year out, as a wine merchant and as a critic, did not prepare me for the awe-inspiring experience of tasting through Donnhoff’s 2001s and 2002s. They are magical, emotional, breath-taking. My words cannot do them justice.

2002 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from Oakville , Napa, North Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #157 (Feb 2005)

Rating: 100

Drink 2010 - 2030

Cost: $450-$1292

The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard is one of the greatest young Cabernets I have tasted from California. Believe it or not, it reminds me of the way the 1986 Mouton-Rothschild tasted at age two or three. It is a classic from the tenderloin of Napa Valley – the Oakville corridor. This 650-case cuvee has a dense purple color to the rim and an extraordinary nose of cedar, licorice, spice box, and gobs of creme de cassis liqueur-like notes. The wine has tremendous opulence, massive body, but unbelievable intensity, balance, and overall harmony. There is considerable tannin and acidity that offers vibrancy and delineation, but all this is seamlessly integrated into this modern-day classic. This is a fabulous wine made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030. This wine requires patience. (Note: this wine was rated 99 when the review was printed in The Wine Advocate but the rating was subsequently raised to 100 as posted here.)

2002 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from Washington, USA,

Review by Pierre Rovani

WA # , #164 (Apr 2006)

Rating: 100

Drink 2006 - 2022

Cost: $300-$399

Unlike some minuscule production “cult” wines or luxury cuvees culled from a winery’s primary product that have earned perfect scores over the years, Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon is the winery’s raison d’etre and is produced in significant quantities (3,400 cases in 2002, 3,425 in 2003). For accomplishing this feat the Golitzens should be doubly proud. Dark ruby-colored and sporting a nose of violets, sweet blueberries, dark cherries, and slight undertones of asphalt, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon blossoms on the palate to expose a wine of ethereal delicacy yet immense power. Medium to full-bodied, it expands to reveal concentrated layers of cassis, blackberries, red cherries, raspberries, violets, spices, and touches of candied plums. This rich, exquisitely balanced, sweet, and broad wine is harmonious, graceful, and awesomely long. Projected maturity: now-2022. Congratulations Alex and Paul, welcome to the big leagues.

2002 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

A Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Red Table wine from Stag's Leap District , Napa, North Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #168 (Dec 2006)

Rating: 100

Drink 2006 - 2036

Cost: $389-$771

One of the world’s most extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignons is the 1,800-2,400-case offering of Shafer’s Hillside Select. It was a treat to re-taste the utterly perfect 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select. A dark purple color is accompanied by a gorgeously powerful nose of pure creme de cassis, pain grille, flowers, licorice, and spice box. Full-bodied with multiple dimensions, superb purity, layers of fruit, and a blockbuster finish, it is an amazing offering. This wine should drink well young yet evolve for 2-3 decades.

2002 Sine Qua Non Just For The Love Of It (Syrah)

A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from Central Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #154 (Aug 2004)

Rating: 100

Drink 2004 - 2019

Cost: $565-$1624

A dead-ringer (at least aromatically) for Guigal’s single vineyard Cote Rotie La Mouline, the 2002 Just For The Love of It is the greatest California Syrah I have yet tasted. A one-thousand case blend of 96% Syrah, 2% Grenache, and 2% Viognier, it is nearly equal parts Alban, Bien Nacido, and Stolpman fruit with a small amount from both Shadow Canyon and White Hawk. It boasts a provocative perfume of creme de cassis, toast, blackberries, licorice, barbecue spice, and exotic floral scents. Extremely full-bodied, with fabulous intensity, great purity, awesome length, and a finish that lasts over a minute, this classic is a must purchase. Already accessible, it will drink well for 10-15 years.

2002 Sloan Proprietary Red

A Proprietary Blend Dry Red Table wine from , Napa, North Coast, California, USA,

Review by Robert Parker

WA # , #162 (Dec 2005)

Rating: 100

Drink 2008 - 2020

Cost: $589-$1250

The 2002 is indeed one of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignons I have ever tasted from California. Boasting enormous concentration, extraordinary complexity (roasted coffee notes intermixed with blueberry, blackberry, jus de viande, subtle smoky oak, and a wealth of spice), it possesses terrific fruit, extraordinary intensity, and an amazingly pure, rich, long (over 50 seconds), blockbuster finish. This brilliant, uncompromising expression of Cabernet Sauvignon clearly demonstrates this vineyard’s potential as well as the enormous, multi-million-dollar effort Stuart Sloan has put into both the winery and the vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+. Talk about coming out with a Big Bang! Stuart Sloan, the Seattle businessman, has hit both gold and home runs with his extraordinary vineyard perched high on a hill above the renowned restaurant/hotel complex of Auberge du Soleil. A 60-acre estate only partially planted in vines, with David Abreu handling the viticulture and Martha Levy (wife of Harlan Estates’ Bob Levy) making the wine, this is as impressive a new operation as I have ever witnessed.