Aaron Tan

9.1

I joined this white wine blind tasting session for a taste of the illustrious Chard duo from Catena Zapeta, despite knowing full well that white wine condition in my area has a pretty lacklustre record; and I’m pretty glad I did. The White Stones, thankfully, was [mostly] singing. Yes, there was a touch of honey and musk in the back end, but I felt it didn’t distract from the general message. Perhaps the reticent winemaking style here helped give it a little more resilience against the arduous travel. On the nose, there was nearly no fruit at the start - just sulphurous, flinty aromas. It does eventually yield to heavy swirling in the glass, revealing some pear and nutty notes. The palate was textural, sharp, and mineral. In fact the name could not be more apt. It was like licking stones, all covered in salt, lime juice and chopped sage. I really enjoyed it, but the wine that could have been still lingered on the back of my mind. One to revisit for sure. — 2 years ago

Elizabeth Verity

9.3

Love this, highly drinkable, smooth and flavorful — 8 years ago

Leslie Bartos

9.5

Tony’s 50th at Felix Trattoria, 2004 vintage on May 20, 2018 4th of 9 bottles. Decanted 3 hours, drank over 2, last glass better than first. Lush. — 8 years ago

with Tony

Justin Hart

9.4

Ah, the Rocks at Milton-Freewater produce such remarkable and distinctive fruit. Morgan Lee’s take on the Stoney Vine Syrah is outstanding. Earthy, gamey, succulent, dark and full stone fruit (plum) that just keeps going. This is good for another 5 years I think. — 8 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Colin Nuckolls

9.5

Outstanding chard! Thanks to rovis for sharing — 9 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.0

Dark hazy purple mixed with bloody red, almost inky dark. Nose of hickory fragrance, nice sweet oaks, warmth, some hit spice, some leather, and some powerful alcohol in the nasal cavity. Very nice nose. Taste of some dark chocolate, ample acidity, leathery, tinkling sensation, silky mouthfeel, zest, sweet plum mixed with sweet oak. She shows good Syrah flavors, and low in tannins. Aftertaste of nice zest to balance the sweet note, medium long and tasty, a bit too much sulfate bittersweetness is a pity. She is a decent NV. — 9 years ago

David Langstaff

9.4

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 10 years ago

with Cynthia and Chris

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

South African gooseberry, tart apple another winner from the 2015 vintage. — 10 years ago

Sunny Vy

9.6

Weird, in a good way — 11 years ago

Michael Piaker

8.9

17 August 2013. The Wine Country, Long Beach, CA. — 11 years ago

23media girl

8.9

With Greg & Jill at their friends house — 14 years ago

"Odedi"

9.6

#AgedWineTuesday

Here is a fabulous 99 point wine by Robert Parker.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Great nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, earth, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, figs, cedar, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, herbs, light earth, cola and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley.

Showing nice balance and a great mouthfeel. Round and rich. Elegant and smooth.

This 22 year old still has a lot of power in it, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

So soft and powerful, with a great nose. This is a gorgeous wine right now.

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$250. — 3 years ago

Rachel Holzman

9.2

Really great for how young and fresh it is! — 8 years ago

Chip Hughes

9.5

On tap. One of the original greats. Dank, juicy, crunk. #threefloyds #paleale — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.6

🎉Celebrating today’s hot news of 3 Years Cancer Free!!!

Lou said “F#££ me that hits the spot” 🤣 my classy wife ha ha 🤣

We can best this thing 👊💥

Apologies for no notes but we’re a little too happy drinking right now 😍

💗 Love, health & happiness to you all my friends 😘 — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have to say this is my favorite Chateau to stand in front of and gaze. On the nose, spice, wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, mint, tobacco leaf and dark fresh & dry flowers. It's drinking nicely with silty medium-medium + tannins & full bodied. Ruby, ripe wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, crushed dry minerals, mint, tobacco leaf and violets, dark fresh & dry flowers. The acidity is round and mouthwatering. The long finish has great elegance, beauty, length, tension & balance. It's just starting to hit it's stride and has plenty of life ahead of it. Another 15-20 years. Who said 04 was a difficult vintage? This will continue to improve and will stun with another 10 years in bottle. Photos of the the exterior Chateau front & side, tasting room and Christian Seely Managing Director. Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Pichon Lalande were originally part of the same estate. Pichon Baron got it's name when Therese, daughter of the founder, received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament. Chateau Pichon Baron changed because of the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville. He took over managing Pichon Baron when he was only 19 years old! When the Baron passed away at 90 in 1850, he divided his Pauillac estate. The sons were awarded what became Chateau Pichon Baron and the daughters were given what later became Chateau Pichon Lalande. Pichon Baron went through three rough decades in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Part of the issues were, lack of investment and they machine harvested. The first really great vintages for them were 89 & 90 after Jean Rene Matignon, Jean-Michel Cazes join them and AXA Insurance Company purchased them adding capital. The 73 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Baron are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. However, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot are reserved exclusively for the second wine. The terroir is mostly deep gravel, sand clay soils. Pichon Baron uses 80% new French oak and rests in barrel 18 months. @ FogoDeChao

— 9 years ago

Fernando Fernandez

9.5

Awesome .. Young and full of life ... Decanted 3 hrs prior to dinner and just kept getting better over the next 2 hrs.. — 10 years ago

Neil Cornish

8.9

Out of 3 liter. Fresh and minty! — 11 years ago

with Michael and Jon

Linda Chew

9.2

Hints of cherry. Great — 11 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2003 vintage. Decently respectable Pauillac nose. Solid color still. Wine open for three hours. Leanest body I've ever had with a P-L and lacking the complexity usually associated with this wine. Tight and not giving up much at the 3 hr mark. Nice but disappointing given the producer/vintage combo. Wish I'd had 6 hrs to wait hand and foot on this...perhaps it would have totally revealed the expected P-L charms by then. — 4 years ago

Glen Shikunov

9.5

May be the best Malbec I’ve ever had. Smooth blackberry jam with ripe dark fruit, less bite than typical Malbecs. Would buy again. — 5 years ago

Michael T McAlhaney

8.9

A mammoth wine with dark berries and ripe bramble fruit. — 8 years ago

Galen Hasler

9.2

Classy subtle oak. Moderate acidity. Beautiful balance and richness — 8 years ago

Mike K

9.2

Really enjoyed this as an evening sipper by itself. Subtle notes of the bourbon barrel, fairly well balanced. Would get again, especially for price. — 9 years ago

Pam Starr

Owner/Winemaker Crocker & Starr Wines

9.1

Great start to the evening stones macaroni and opens to fleshy fruit. Decanted and chilled tomperfect 50 f. — 9 years ago

Nick Jouras

9.4

Christmas Day 3 Litre 12 years old and a lot left — 10 years ago

Kristine Williams

8.9

Delicious!! — 10 years ago

Renee Mcl

9.2

I do believe this is thee* best $8.00 bottle of wine I can ever remember buying. *cheers* — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

Of the 2 Bordeaux drinking the best tonight, but long term the Brane-Cantenac 2005 will outlive this wine by 10 years easy. While very complex, a fine touch a green is traceable.

A classic currant and forest floor nose, fall leaves abound with a spike of spice and a barely there green that while subtle is apparent.

The pleasure here is higher for its more mature tasted and feel, while the brawny 2005 is a better wine it was not as enjoyable to me and feel it will be another notch enter in 3 years, and likely 2 notches better in 5.

The elegance and feel on this wine is ready to go and will easily go another 5+ years. — 10 years ago

Nick Davis

9.4

Super cool. — 11 years ago