Reviews
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence.
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday.
Dark berries, dark chocolate, licorice and bark on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with powdery tannins and ripe but juicy fruit character. Velvety finish.
Year's Best for $20 or Less
Aromas of very ripe, mixed berries with hints of forest floor, chocolate-coated turkish delight and some ash. Full and silky with an intense core of ripe fruit and bright, spicy notes taking hold at the end. Leaves you with fresh salt on your lips. Intriguing and delicious, but this will need a bit of time to meld together better. Best from 2022.
A fruity and softly textured red with plums and light chocolate. Medium body, round tannins and a fruity finish. Delightful to drink now.
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot
Fruity and delicious with crushed berries and hints of chocolate and wet earth. Medium body, light tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.
Rich and rather fresh at the same time. This is an impressively structured and modern Piemont red for this difficult vintage. A very good balance of black fruits and well-crafted dry tannins on the palate, which are present right through the rather long finish. Drink or hold.
A rich, velvety red with glorious dark-fruit character of blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Full body. Juicy finish. A juicy, delicoius red from a grape that is a cross between nebbiolo and barbera. Drink now.
| Review product name | Reviewer | Rating | Review text | Date posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Enthusiast | 91 pts | August 11, 2025 | |
| 2020 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2020 Thick Skinned is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Malbec and only 1% Petit Verdot. Still a baby and set to be released at the end of 2024, it’s still incredibly tight and youthful but has good bones. Firm, bold, spicy and juicy, it’s like a puppy with big floppy ears and paws that will undoubtedly grow into its size. With plenty of hedonistic, juicy dark red fruit flavors and oak essences, this will be a knockout for years to come. Your patience will be rewarded. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2019 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 93+ |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2019 Thick Skinned is over half Cabernet Sauvignon with a quarter Malbec and 15% Petit Verdot. The 2019 has some similarities with the 2018, yet it is still firm and tannic, offering a dusty and rustic nose that needs some time to fill its shoes. Full-bodied, spicy and fresh, the Cabernet blend should find its stride in about two years. Until then, it will have plenty of time to hit its cadence. |
December 11, 2024 |
| 2022 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | James Suckling | 90 pts |
Sliced apples, green pears and white peaches on the nose. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Fresh and well-rounded, with a caressing texture and a delicious finish. Drink now. Screw cap. |
August 9, 2024 |
| 2018 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts |
Tasted in a vertical setting of 2015 through 2020, the 2018 Thick Skinned is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with36% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The nose is bigger, plummier and juicier, with a bolder frame that is slightly out of step with the rest of the vertical and marked with amore generous dollop of oak. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy, generously layered and robust and will need another year in the bottle but will have no problems reaching its 20th birthday. |
April 1, 2024 |
| 2017 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 94 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2015 Thick Skinned Red Mountain92 | Wine Advocate | 92 pts | April 1, 2024 | |
| 2020 Banfi La Lus Piemonte DOC | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Dark berries, dark chocolate, licorice and bark on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with powdery tannins and ripe but juicy fruit character. Velvety finish. |
September 19, 2023 |
| 2021 Rainstorm Pinot Gris | Wine & Spirits Magazine | 90 pts |
Year's Best for $20 or Less |
September 30, 2022 |
| 2018 La Lus Albarossa | James Suckling | 92 pts |
Aromas of very ripe, mixed berries with hints of forest floor, chocolate-coated turkish delight and some ash. Full and silky with an intense core of ripe fruit and bright, spicy notes taking hold at the end. Leaves you with fresh salt on your lips. Intriguing and delicious, but this will need a bit of time to meld together better. Best from 2022. |
January 10, 2022 |
| 2017 La Lus Albarossa | James Suckling | 92 pts |
A fruity and softly textured red with plums and light chocolate. Medium body, round tannins and a fruity finish. Delightful to drink now. |
August 31, 2020 |
| 2016 Thick Skinned Red Mountain | Wine Spectator | 90 pts |
Potent and dense, with sturdy blackberry, orange zest and dark chocolate accents that finish with mild tannic grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot |
August 18, 2020 |
| 2016 La Lus Albarossa | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Fruity and delicious with crushed berries and hints of chocolate and wet earth. Medium body, light tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now. |
October 22, 2019 |
| 2014 La Lus Albarossa | James Suckling | 91 pts |
Rich and rather fresh at the same time. This is an impressively structured and modern Piemont red for this difficult vintage. A very good balance of black fruits and well-crafted dry tannins on the palate, which are present right through the rather long finish. Drink or hold. |
July 5, 2018 |
| 2012 La Lus Albarossa | James Suckling | 93 pts |
A rich, velvety red with glorious dark-fruit character of blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Full body. Juicy finish. A juicy, delicoius red from a grape that is a cross between nebbiolo and barbera. Drink now. |
March 31, 2016 |