KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"Inky ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet and licorice. On the palate, dense, smoke-tinged flavors of bitter cherry and blackberry are complicated by hints of peppery spice, cocoa powder and licorice. Finishes gently tannic and long, with a subtle oaky element. -JR"
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (July / August 2014), 90 pts

Go To Morambro Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

"Firm in texture, with a layer of drying tannins around a brilliantly focused core of blackberry and currant, coming together on the finish and persisting well. Best from 2016 through 2021.—H.S"
- Wine Spectator Insider (August 13th 2014), 93 pts

Go To Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

"More serious, and one of the wines of the vintage, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has uncommon concentration and depth in the vintage, as well as a broad, structured profile that will allow it to age gracefully. Loaded with sweet creme de cassis, exotic spice, licorice and graphite, it's a full-bodied, elegant and classically styled effort that has nothing out of place, fine, building tannin and a rock star finish. It will be approachable at an earlier stage than most vintages, yet still have two decades of longevity.

Always producing some of the finest Bordeaux blends in any vintage, owners/winemakers Alex and Paul Golitzin continue to keep Quilceda Creek at the pinnacle of Cabernet Sauvignon in Washington State with these 2011s and 2012s. Looking at their 2011s, yields were down close to 40%, and this shows with the wines possessing gorgeous depth, richness and concentration. While Paul feels his 2011s are just as concentrated as his 2010s, the overall impression between these two cool vintages is distinctly different and the 2011s show much more up-front, perfumed and supple profiles. As always, the tannin management here is second to none and while the 2011s have plenty of tannin, you have to hunt for it as they're incredibly polished and silky. These 2011s will be approachable at an earlier stage than normal, yet evolve gracefully on their overall balance. Looking at the 2012s, I was blown away by these samples, which were shipped to Colorado and then followed for multiple days. Described as a "good" and "welcome" vintage by Paul, the wines have blockbuster levels of concentration and richness, yet stay beautifully pure, elegant and focused. They're up there with the creme de la creme from this fantastic estate. Don't miss them. Alcohols here are in the 15.5 range (with the 2011 around 15), but you'd never know it from tasting the wines. The big news at this estate is that with vineyard-owner Paul Champoux retiring, the Golitzin's were able to increase their ownership in the Champoux Vineyard from 40% to 66%. Other owners here include Powers, Andrew Will and Woodward Canyon. How this effects the overall production levels is yet to be determined, but a top producer getting more grapes from a top site is never a bad thing from a consumer standpoint. - Jeb Dunnuck"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue #213, June 2014), 96 pts

Go To Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

"Bright and juicy, with a thin layer of fine tannins underpinning the fresh currant and red berry flavors, lingering on the focused finish. Drink now through 2017. 4,000 cases made. –HS"
- Wine Spectator (August 31st 2014), 87 pts

Go To Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon

"Brilliant ruby. Fresh cherry and cassis on the nose, with smoky mineral, oak spice and floral qualities adding complexity. Supple red and dark berry flavors provide very good palate coverage and show an energetic character thanks to juicy acidity. This suave, approachable cabernet finishes with very good thrust and persistent sweetness."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, 90 pts

Go To Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

"(35% new French oak barriques): Opaque ruby. Ripe cherry and cassis aromas are complemented by notes of licorice, candied flowers and cured tobacco. Offers an array of black and blue fruit flavors that are lifted and sharpened by juicy acidity and a smoky mineral quality. Finishes on a sweet note of vanilla, with very good energy, building tannins and lingering smokiness. - Josh Raynolds"
- Vinous (March 2016), 91 pts

Go To Morambro Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

- Australian Wine Showcase Award 2016, 96 pts

Go To Morambro Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

"The Limestone Coast, which encompasses the noted regions of Coonawarra and Padthaway, is known for its Cabernet and its big gum trees. There's certainly more than a bit of mint to this wine, but there are also notes of cassis and even a hint of bell pepper. It does turn a bit astringent on the finish, so pair it with lamb chops or hamburgers. Drink now–2020."
- Wine Enthusiast (October 2015), 88 pts

Go To Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon

"Deep ruby. Fresh blueberry and cherry on the fragrant, spice-accented nose and palate. Juicy dark fruit flavors show good energy and focus thanks to zesty acidity. Lively and tannin-free, with an echo of spiciness on the smooth finish. - Josh Raynolds"
- Vinous (July 2014), 89 pts

Go To Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon

"(raised for a year in new and used French oak barrels): Saturated ruby. Aromas of cherry liqueur, blackcurrant and licorice, with a peppery element adding lift. Broad, fleshy and appealingly sweet, offering juicy black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors plus a touch of succulent herbs. Closes smooth and spicy, with good cling and round tannins. - Josh Raynolds"
- Vinous (March 2016), 89 pts

Go To Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

A terrific value if you can find it (alas, only 150 cases were imported), this is full bodied and richly textured, marrying hints of peppery spice with grilled lavender and rosemary that perfectly season the beach cherry and mocha flavors. It's stout, tannic and mouth coating on the finish, ideal for matching with roasts or steaks. Drink 2018–2025."
- Wine Enthusiast (November 2016), 91 pts - Rank #39 - Top 100 Best Buy Wines for 2016.

Go To Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

- Australian Wine Showcase Award 2016, 94 pts

Go To Morambro Creek Chardonnay

Go To Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon

"The barrel-fermented 2015 Chardonnay offers a lovely blend of oak and fruit, balancing each other out in their citrus and vanilla intensities. Toasted grain, white peach, ample weight and texture on the palate, all these point to a high-quality effort that should please any Chardonnay drinker. Yum! - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Interim end of September 2018), 92 pts

Go To Morambro Creek Chardonnay

- Australian Wine Showcase (December 2016), 93 pts

Go To Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon

"Bold, with dark chocolate accents to the plum, black cherry and fig flavors, set on thick, almost chewy tannins. Shows plenty of structure, black tea details and hints of smoke that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 4,000 cases made. –MW"
- Wine Spectator (Web only, November 2017), 90 pts

Go To Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

"From the small Padthaway region three hours' drive east of Adelaide, this is a full-bodied Cab that, despite the region's warm climate, avoids being bombastic. The nose feels Christmasy: baking spices laced with purple beets, dried mint and red berries. In the mouth it's ripe and generous, and there's a fair bit of oak showing but all is held at bay by taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2025."
- Wine Enthusiast (January 2020), 90 pts

"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a juicy, cassis-scented wine. Medium in body, it shows crisp acids and soft tannins, being quite sleek and linear in style. Drink it over the next few years. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Interim end of September 2018), 87 pts

"Deep, glistening violet. Ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, licorice and a hint of vanilla on the nose and palate. Plush, warm and round, with soft tannins on a nicely persistent finish that features a touch of jammy dark fruit. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (September 2022), 88 pts

"Mint, chocolate and cassis play easily on the nose of the 2016 Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of several vineyards, including a bit from Eden Valley, its medium to full-bodied yet shows the variety's hallmark restraint and fine tannins on the finish. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue #238, August 31st 2018), 90 pts

Go To Terra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

"A heady combo of ripe fruit and soapy oak lead the way on the nose of this powerful Cab. Amidst plush blackberry and cassis are notes of mint, olives and slightly charred, mocha barrel characters. Grippy leathery tannins prop up the velvety fruit, balancing this youthful, dense wine. Drink with a decanter and plenty of protein at hand. - CHRISTINA PICKARD"
- Wine Enthusiast (December 2019),88 pts

"Blackberry, licorice and espresso flavors show good intensity and a distinct minty herbal streak. Dense tannins mingle with a juicy element on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 4,000 cases made, 300 cases imported. — MW"
- Wine Spectator (August 2019),88 pts

"Brilliant purple. Smoke-tinged black and blue fruits and a hint of licorice on the nose. Round and jammy on the palate, offering plush cherry, cassis and bitter chocolate flavors that are sharpened by a peppery nuance. Echoes the spice and cherry notes on a persistent finish that's framed by smooth, even tannins. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2021), 90 pts

"Black violet color. Aromas and flavors of plum pudding, raspberry jam, cinnamon mocha latte, licorice, dark chocolate, and eucalyptus with a slightly chewy, vibrant, dryish medium-full body and a warming, subtle, medium-long finish that presents shades of key lime pie, candied jalepeno, and orange marmalade. An inky, powerful Barossa Valley Cabernet."
- Tastings (2019), 91 pts - EXCEPTIONAL - BEST BUY

"A simple, ripe and plummy cabernet, this is sleek in texture and lasting in the intensity of its floral fruit. Warm and savory in the end, for flank steak. - Joshua GREENE

- Wine & Spirits Magazine (Spring 2024), 89 pts and BEST BUY

 "Vibrant gold in color, this Chardy, from a small region in South Australia, has a flinty, salty edge, but it doesn't overwhelm the concentrated citrus and stone fruit. There's a whiff of oak-derived smoke, like the embers of a beachside campfire. The palate offers tingly freshness and medium weight. Oak is present but more in a supporting role. Think Mâconnais with Aussie sunshine. Drink now–2028. Christina PICKARD."

- Wine Enthusiast (December 2022), 91 pts

"Dusty ruby color. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, eucalyptus, red currant and nutmeg, and leather with a satiny, crisp, dry medium body and a warming, interesting, medium-length finish with impressions of blackberry, cherry, and mint chocolate with well-integrated, grippy, medium tannins and a suggestion of oak flavor. A delightfully light and crisp style of Cabernet for versatile food pairing options."

- Beverage Testing Institute (June 2023), Gold Medal, Best Buy

 

2023 BTI World Wine Championships - GOLD
2023 Australian Wine Showcase Magazine – July - 93 POINTS

Sometimes the best things are hiding right in plain sight! We discovered a treasure in our own warehouse this week, the Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mt. Monster wines are produced by the Bryson family, who have been cultivating land in South Australia for 5 generations. The Bryson brothers now grow & bottle wine under 3 labels - Morambro Creek, Jip Jip Rocks, and Mt. Monster - in the picturesque and historic Padthaway valley. Their vineyards are planted on some of the world's oldest mineral rich soils and in the most temperate of maritime climates, where low-yielding vines give way to excellent fruit quality & exceptional handcrafted wines.

David Bryson stopped by for a visit earlier this month, and he sat down with Fran Kysela to taste some new vintages as well as some of our existing stock. Fran was blown away when he sipped the 2012 Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon - the rich, full flavor was almost too good to be true. He couldn't believe we were housing such a terrific bottle of juice.

The wine is here & ready to ship - get this one before its gone!

Contact your Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD. sales representative, state distributor, or local retailer to order Mt. Monster Cabernet Sauvignon

When it comes to value for the money, our Rubus wines are hard to beat. This week's feature is our 2012 Rubus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rubus is a private label created and used by Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD in order to buy, bottle and market wine found at an incredible quality/price ratio. Over the past few years, Rubus has become an international brand, encompassing wines from various continents. All Rubus wines are selected by Fran Kysela MS.

A Napa Valley Cab is what put our Rubus project on the map, so we're excited to keep this tradition going. This Napa Valley Cabernet has a long finish that displays full mature flavors of blackberry, currant and chocolate with just a hint of toasty oak and black cherry. The tannins are refined and polished, allowing the fruit to be the focus. It's a great compliment to bold flavored dishes, from Osso Bucco to grilled red meats and cheeses.

Contact your Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD. sales representative, state distributor, or local retailer to order Rubus Napa Cabernet!

Want to check out more Rubus wines? Try one of these!

-New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

-Lodi Zinfandel

-Chilean Chardonnay

-Australian Red Blend (newest addition to the Rubus family - arriving late April!)

We are ALL ABOUT CHILE this week at Kysela, and we are celebrating the accomplishments of our favorite Chilean winery, Siegel Wines.

The Siegel family's vineyards are located in the Colchagua Valley, the leading fine-wine producing region of Chile. Alberto Siegel grew his first vines here 30 years ago, and the family now has over 700 hectares planted from the Andean foothills to the coastal zone of the valley. 

In 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Central Chile, and for the past 5 years, the Siegel family has been heavily investing in the improvement of their winery & vineyards. Not only have they rebuilt the winery, but they have also employed terroir specialist Pedro Parra to plant and enhance their vineyards. They are preparing to release their 2015 vintage, which they believe has produced some of the best wines ever!

 Siegel Wines represent great value for the price. Here are five of our favorites:

2014 Siegel Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon "Uber Cuvee
"Opaque ruby. Heady, spice-accented cherry and dark berry scents show good clarity and gentle smokiness. Sappy and seamless on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that become sweeter with air. Shows very good energy and lift on the finish, which is firmed by supple, slow-building tannins."
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 90pts

2013 Siegel Reserve Red Blend 1234
"Saturated ruby. Smoky aromas of dried cherry, cassis and game, with a peppery note adding lift. On the palate, bitter cherry and dark berry flavors are underscored by tangy acidity and complicated by smoked meat and succulent herb qualities. Gentle tannins shape the persistent, smoky finish."
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 88pts

 2014 Crucero Chardonnay
Attractive yellow color with pretty green tones. Its intense varietal character evokes ripe citrus fruits, with floral and honeyed tones along with well integrated wood. In the mouth it is rich, round and fruity with some creamy notes.

2013 Siegel Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
"Glass-staining ruby. Powerful aromas of cherry pit, cassis, pipe tobacco, violet and leather. Sweet and focused in the mouth, offering chewy red and black fruit flavors and a jolt of peppery spices. The spice and dark berry flavors carry through a long, smoky finish, which is shaped by dusty, late-arriving tannins."
Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 90pts

2013 Siegel Single Vineyard Los Lingues Cabernet Sauvignon
Viña Siegel Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is the result of the family's continuous search for quality wines that faithfully reflect the best of our terroir. This wine comes from selected grapes from the "Los Lingues" vineyard in Alto Colchagua, at the foothills of the Andes, where the influence of the Andean winds result in an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with great concentration of ripe red fruits, cassis and chocolate, and a balanced, richly structured, and long finish.
"Interesting blackberry, black currant and tar aromas. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a savory finish. Drink or hold."
James Suckling, 91 pts

 Be sure to check out out full selection of Siegel Wines!

Contact your Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD. sales representative, state distributor, or local retailer to order Siegel Wines.