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

Bill Bender

9.6

3 hour Audoze followed by a 2 hour decant and poured back in the bottle for dinner. This was extraordinary! Every bit as impressive as the ‘01 and ‘02. Robust blackberries, graphite, a smooth yet substantial mouthfeel and a sensational lingering finish. I recall reading a review of the Shafer HSS that descried the wine as “an elegant sledgehammer”....a perfectly succinct and apt description — 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

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

Kimberly Anderson

8.9

What a difference an hour decant makes! Pitch black in the glass. Barnyard funk on the nose. Blackberry and leather mid-palate. Lots going on with this wine and time will only improve this vintage. Tart cherry and cranberry on the finish. Firm tannins and quite dry. — 10 years ago

with Chad

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

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

Tony Lalli

9.0

Recommended at World Market — 10 years ago

Michael Piaker

8.9

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

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

Jeffrey Woo

9.3

Ruby hue with medium-plus saturation. Aromas and flavors of chocolate, Maraschino cherries, oak, plum, raspberry, rubber, strawberry, and vanilla. Medium body; ripe, medium-heavy tannins; and medium-minus acidity. Ripe, intense fruit on the nose and palate, with an oaky but easygoing finish of medium-short length. — 6 years ago

Elizabeth Verity

9.3

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

Michael T McAlhaney

8.9

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

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

Nick Jouras

9.4

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

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

Sunny Vy

9.6

Weird, in a good way — 11 years ago

Nick Davis

9.4

Super cool. — 11 years ago

23media girl

8.9

With Greg & Jill at their friends house — 14 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

"Odedi"

9.7

Celebrating 20K on Instagram with this beautiful wine!

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim. Doesn't show age at all.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, black currants, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cloves, cola, chocolates, mocha, caramel and black pepper.

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

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, mocha, coke, light earth, peppercorn, leather and tobacco.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Napa Bordeaux blend. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and fruit forward.

A fantastic wine from a great vintage. I've had a few different vintages of this, from older to younger, and this 2012 vintage is so nice right now. Will be even better in the next 10 to 15 years.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

Rich yet elegant. Opulent and luxurious. Delectable and delicious.

Robert Parker 96 points.

Good right out of the bottle and much better after 3 hours of airtime. Fun wine for parties if it's in the budget. 😉

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged in New French oak barrels for 24 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

97 points.

$250. — 6 years ago

Rachel Holzman

9.2

Really great for how young and fresh it is! — 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

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

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

Neil Cornish

8.9

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

with Michael and Jon