The end of February to early March was a blessed with two outstanding wine tastings held back to back. First there was the Vinous Icons tasting, followed a couple of days later on March 2 & 3 by the James Suckling Great Wines World tastings.

Like the host of the Icons event Antonio Galloni, James Suckling is a wine critic and is Chairman and Editor of an online wine magazine.

Unlike the Icon event, there were no wine dinners or seminars, only two days of walk around tastings featuring 700 wines and 350 producers from 60 wine regions that have been rated highly in Suckling’s magazine.

This is one of the top three tastings of the year that was open to both the Trade and Consumers giving both the opportunity to sample copious amounts of some of the best wines in the world.

The event was held at The Glasshouse event space at 660 12th Avenue on the far west side of Manhattan.

I attended on the first day and was only able to sample a fraction of the wines that were on hand.

Old World

2015 Chateau Phelan Segur (St Estephe): Clear brick, graphite and cooked black fruit on the nose, dense fruit with graphite notes ending with silky tannin.

2016 Domaine de Chevalier (Pessac Leognan): Clear medium brick, tar and graphite on the nose, chewy and juicy fruit, balanced with a good grip.

2016 Chateau Pontet-Canet (Pauillac): Opaque brick, sweet graphite and cooked red fruit on the nose, chewy and silky red fruit with cooked tar notes, good grip.

2016 Chateau d’Issan (Margaux): Clear medium red, tar and sweet black berry on the nose, chewy with slate and graphite notes on the firm finish.

2018 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou (St Julien): Opaque dark red, purple rim, crushed sweet red fruit on the nose, tight and dense with crunchy tannin and crisp acidity.

2018 Cvne “Imperial” Reserva (Rioja): Opaque medium, red, graphite, petroleum and sweet red fruit on the nose, tight and concentrated red fruit, firm tannin.

2022 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Puente Alto): Clear medium red, tarry red fruit on the nose, chewy and chunky with slate notes on the finish.

New World

2018 Stoller Family Estate Pinot Noir Reserve (Dundee Hills): Clear light brick, tar and green herbs on the nose, juicy red fruit with tree bark notes on the silky finish, nice balance.

2019 Sea Smoke Cellars Pinot Noir “10” (Clea. Rita Hills): Clear medium red, cigarette smoke and petroleum on the nose, tight red fruit with a nice grip and moderate tannin and acidity.

2021 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, closed nose of crushed stone, tight and chewy ending with lip smacking tannin

2022 Tokalon Vineyard Co.“Eliza’s” (Napa Valley): About an equal blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Opaque black, purple rim, tar, graphite and crushed black fruit on the nose, dense and chewy black fruit with slate notes, silky tannin with a good grip.

2022 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, juicy milk chocolate on the nose, dense and silky fruit ending with lip smacking tannin.

2022 Quintessa Red Blend (Napa Valley): Opaque dark brick, white pepper and crushed red fruit on the nose, chewy dark fruit with firm tannin on the long finish.

2022 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon “Cinq Cepage” (Sonoma County): Opaque dark purple, tar and sweet black cherry on the nose, chewy dark fruit ending with firm and dusty tannin.

2023 Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon “Monastery Block” (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, cigarette smoke, cooked crushed black fruit on the nose, chewy and dusty black fruit, silky tannin with good acidity on the long finish.

2023 Amici Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Hopper Vineyard (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, dirt and crushed black fruit on the nose, dense, chewy and silky fruit with slate notes on the long finish.