by Dwight Casimere
Wine Spectator 2025 Grand Tour returns to Chicago’s Sheraton Grand River Walk in grand style. With a total of 234 wineries presenting wines with ratings of 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale, it was an opportunity to catch up with old friends and favorites in the wide world of wine. In addition to the presentation in Chicago, the Grand Tour is visiting the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. and making an inaugural visit to Wynn Las Vegas.
A unique feature of the Wine Spectator tasting is an opportunity to meet the winemakers and estate owners face-to-face and to learn first-hand about the craftsmanship behind the delicate gems they are pouring.
Clos du Val was the first stop on my personal Grand Tour where I met owner and CEO Olav Goelet for a taste of his Clos du Val Yettalil Stags Leap District 2021. Yettalil is a tribute to the winery’s founding matriarch, Henrietta Goelet, mirroring her husband’s pet name for her.
A captivating blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Mouth filling, it is packed with pure, fresh, floral fruits, yet it suggests a little exotic spice. The soft yet ample tannins are evident, lends the wine its food-friendliness. This is a true Bordeaux blend that is right at home with a classic steak dinner. At around $200 a bottle, it is perfectly priced for the true connoisseur. This is a wine I have rhapsodized in past articles. It brought back fond memories of my association years ago with founding winemaker Bernard Portet, whom I was happy to hear is still out and about in Napa Valley after more than 50 years of winemaking! Cellar aging potential has this wine lasting through 2034, but why would anyone deny themselves the opportunity to enjoy this ready-to-drink-now beauty! Don Shula’s Steakhouse is just an elevator ride down off the Sheraton Grand’s main lobby. I was almost tempted to grab a bottle and head down there for a Caesar Salad and Prime Aged New York Strip!
Darrell Holbrook of Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards and Winery was my next stop. His 90 points Chalk Hill Estate Red 2018 knocked my socks off! Its rich floral aroma literally jumped out of the glass before I’d even taken a sip. Flavors of ripe raspberries and plum washed over my tongue with just a hint of licorice to slap my taste buds to attention before I was lulled into a state of ecstasy by its smooth tannins and long finish. At just $70 a bottle, this is a real steal for someone wanting to experience all the exquisiteness of Napa Valley from an armchair’s point of view.
Malek Amrani, Co-Founder and Winemaker of The Vice Napa Valley was the next to grab my attention. Along with Co-Founder and CEO Torie Greenberg, they greeted me with a giant Jeroboam bottle of their The Vice Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Maverick 2021. There’s nothing like tasting a wine from a large format bottle. The experience really brought out the opulent dark blackberry and applewood accents of this exceptional wine. A terrific dinner wine at a modest $115 a bottle, I wouldn’t mind settling in with a Davidoff cigar or a nice Fuente Maduro while sitting in front of a fire pit listening to some Miles.
Over to Gosset to freshen the palate with a nice glass of Champagne poured by my old friend, Regional Export Manager Phillippe Antony. Gosset Brut Champagne Grand Millesime 2016 is a rich, racy example of why drinking Champagne remains at the pinnacle of wine experiences. With its subtle blend of dried tropical fruits, toasted almonds and a hint of Grand Marnier liqueur, it is a masterful blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that lingers long in the mouth. Only $112 a bottle and well worth the money for every delicious sip.
Katie Parker, Midwest Territory Manager for Marchesi Antinori got my attention with a hearty glass of Antinori Bolgheri Superiore Guado Al Tasso 2021. Founder Piero Antinori truly put his personal stamp on this vintage. It is the pedigree of wines from the Land of the Super Tuscans in the heart of Florence, Italy. This wine is all about finesse and harmony. A blend of international grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is literally a symphony of dark fruit flavors, well-integrated tannins, oak and wild herbs. At $175 a bottle, it sits in a class all its own.
These were just a few of the wines presented at the Wine Spectator’s 2025 Grand Tour. Conceived by Editor and Publisher Marvin R. Shanken, this is one of the industry’s premiere events. Coming October 16-18, New York Wine Experience. Three days of elevated tastings, seminars, wine luncheons, dinners and an elegant Closing Champagne Reception. Early Bird Weekend Registration is now open at winespectator.com.
