Tom Garland

9.2

2nd vintage from the Kronos vineyard

Decant and pour(lots of sediment). A medium tawny red color. On the nose: very expressive port like sweet notes with dried cherry, stewed meat, eucalyptus, cedar, herbs. Taste: silky, still fresh for its age, amazing acid wine with sour cherry, loamy soil, licorice and a peppery espresso medium plus finish. YUM! Sure, on the downside, but holds it own tonight. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

John Van Trijp

10

2nd Edition In optima forma. 40-45 Years old with a very active mousse.. what a Privilege to drink!! ❤️ — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous notes on 2 tasting occasions. Coincidentally all at Paros on the Beach Apartments - all 3 tastings. One of my favourite 2nd wines in Australia. Often associated with white pepper, this exhibits more plum and spice. A very good wine and great QPR. — 5 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.4

Tagged “Proprietor’s Reserve,” the wine is entirely from the small Last Chance vineyard and is a numbered bottle. Mine was Number 48. Pale garnet; pronounced intensity aromas of black cherry, fresh herbs, violets, High acidity, low velvety tannin, sour cherry, violet, very clean lingering finish. outstanding quality. Will improve with further age but delicious now. A stunning wine. — 6 years ago

Peter Phillips

9.1

2nd to last bottle last night with a roast beef. I'll look forward to the last very soon — 7 years ago

Mark S.

9.1

Good aroma and even concentrated compared with 2012, from the beginning. Blackberry, licorice. Enough acidity, still need a decanting time. 2nd day, I found ink flavor. 4th day, much better in concentration and ink flavor. 2010 @2500, wine plus - XH , 180908-190330 — 8 years ago

Martin G Rivard

10

Quick funny story:
Christine & I are LUCKY to have Kelly work in our office but we are BLESSED to be able to consider her and Darryl as dear friends.
We recommended to Kelly, prior to her going on vacation in Charleston SC, that they should stop by the Belmont hotel. They have a bar and restaurant that is 2nd to none in that area. Christine & I LOVE it!!!! Kelly sent me a quick text to say “hey, we’re at the Belmont! And about to have dinner!”
Being the goof ball that I am..... .....I called the Somm and said “I don’t care what they ordered, bring them a Shafer Hillside Select with some age on it!!!”. 10 minutes later he was decanting a 2003 Hillside Select table side! I love that hotel! Incredible service, incredible food and always a phenomenal experience! The only thing better are-our friends that are there right now!!!!

I didn’t Have a drop of this wine but I am scoring it a 10 based on experience alone!! It must have been “Badass in a Glass” as I always say!
I’ll let Kelly and Darryl fill in the official tasting notes!
by the way Kelly: don’t love SC tooooooo much, Christine & I can’t operate that place without you! See you next week! 👍👏👏👏👏👍
— 8 years ago

with Christine

Joan Ziegler

9.3

A welcome addition to our wine tasting at our 2025 Christmas party! Very big and bold. Well, structured and smooth.! — 6 months ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.2

Beautiful perfume with dark and smoky black fruit, currants, violets, herbs, Asian spice, cedar, some coffee tones and a faint of wet stone on the palate. An excellent 2nd wine that delivers after 10 years. — 8 months ago

Patrick Hu

9.4

2nd birthday wine - outstanding! Love the wet stones/graphite. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Always a great choice for a 2nd btl off the list to finish lunch. Lots of berry fruit, citrus, pastry dough in a creamy finish — 5 years ago

Steve S

9.0

Bordeaux 2nd wines event — 7 years ago

Jack Petras

9.8

Fortunate enough to have tasted this along with 6 other stunning wines last night during a cellar tasting. This 36 year old 2nd growth was nearly perfect, unusual but very pleasant mint, camphor, crushed sage and rosemary aromas with the same cooling delicate herbal initial palate. Dried but expressive red fruits mid- palate with a great structural graphite element throughout. Whiff of new leather. Changed in the glass showing different mellow facets. Pretty much intercepted at the exact right time. A real privilege to taste such a renowned vintage with folks who appreciates what was in front of them. — 8 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.1

🏅 Rating: 91/100 (4,1🌟)

Clear bright ruby. First nose of perfumed red sour cherry in chocolate, dark cherry. Wet wood. Spices: black pepper. Tannins are firm, but not green.

In 20 min developed in Burgundy style similar to one of youthful Mercurey - red berries over meat and spicy tobacco, slightly green.

Shows beautifuly on the 2nd day, but fruits are more cooked.

Wine has reached its maturity and should drink nicely till 2025 — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

After pressing dried grapes from making Amarone, Valpolicella wine is passed over the still warm skins of Amarone for 2nd alcoholic fermentation, increasing the alcoholic content, aromas and color. Blend of 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta. Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet dried berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, currants and sweet cherry with complex spice. Well balanced with acidity and alcohol, full-body with soft tannins on long finish. Nice value. — 7 months ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Really a wonderful St J and a crazy value as a 2nd wine. Lovely pairing with roast rack of lamb with garlic / rosemary / mustard. In a good window but could take more time honestly. Wonderful acid, quite deep fruit, long finish, tannins still very there, delicious. — 2 years ago

Jaq Sebastian

9.3

A must try if you like rich, generous and concentrated flavour, with a hint of smooth sweet dark berry and luscious oak. Intense. — 4 years ago

Justin

9.2

$54.98 & Total Wine. 2nd Growth. A bit sweet. Medium bodied. Needs more age, will be great. — 6 years ago

Paul J

9.0

This is the bottle I opened but not the wine I’ve had! Totally faked or doctored.

I’ve had enough of this wine and comparable Bordeaux’s to know this was not right.

Probably an over the hill (2000-2004) Australian or California Cabernet that is over oak’d, fruit forward, from a mediocre producer. Outside chance it’s a Spanish Priorat.

Wine actually wasn’t bad, but not as advertised!! — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Chris England

9.4

Second wine of Palmer in a top year @ £45, now £70+ & still has 10 yrs life in it easily 👍 Excellent value from a top Chateau & one of my favourite 2nd wines showing great elegance 😎

📍 Chateau Palmer Alter Ego Margaux 2009

🏵 94 points

🍇 52% Merlot & 48% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷Deep opaque ruby red

👃 Juicy plump blackcurrant & dark plum through soft smokey oak, mocha, cracked mineral rock, soggy earth & leather w/ lead & liquorish

👄 Med rich body of ripe blackcurrant & dark plum w/ earthy mocha, red berry liquorice & a touch dry mineral in fine slight dry tannins & minerals

🎯 Med+ mocha blackcurrant & red liquorice slight dry finale which lingers raspberry & blackcurrant mocha — 8 years ago