Big Wave Dave

9.3

Complex nose. Bread, nuts, lemon merengue, slate, and a reductive smokey note. On the palate, the wine is stuffed with substance but is yet to unfurl and bubbles are quite pronounced which distracts from the flavour profile. Slightly disappointing but full if potential. — 6 years ago

with Racquel

Matt Sterr

9.4

Big citrus rind note ona very weighty fran. Big and delicious...as usual. — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

A yeasty, toasty nose with a settled lemon note. Broad and rich on the palate with beautiful acidity and light touches of sherry. Very complete, broad and satisfying. Delicious. — 8 years ago

with Alan, Jim and 1 other

Mark Flesher

9.3

This wine had some tobacco and earth FUNK after it was opened up. The herbaceous and tobacco ash note on the nose was almost identical to the 1980 Beringer State Lane cab. This did blow off after an hour, but the wine was less fruit than I thought it would have been. Lots of dark figgy jam. Tobacco and cigar box. I'm sure the fruit came back after I left, but this would have been 2 hours after opening and just didn't have the time to see this one though, hence the "NR" rating. Impressed by this wine, and probably one of the older Monte Bello wines I've been able to drink. — 8 years ago

with Benjamin

Keith Crump

9.0

2009 seems a little lighter then the last I tried good acidity — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.8

Giving absolute credence to the reputation that the wines from the Margaux commune show, both displayed an elegance allied with a subtle power and perfect balance, especially 2005.

2000 had a trace pyrazine note that I found unexpected, and quite frankly not that enjoyable. Outside of that the wine was perfect. The second bottle did not throw it as strong, so not exactly in the clear on this night.

The 2005 was in perfect shape, drink now or age it another 20 years easy, this was so enjoyable and balanced with perfect tannin integration and a seamless, dense and pure finish that sailed on forever.

#margaux #bordeaux #wine — 9 years ago

Alessandro Ghizzardi

9.5

AJ 95/100 - Sboccatura tre anni, e questo aiuta la straordinaria freschezza insieme al fatto che diversamente da altri questa annata non ha fatto malolattica. Giallo paglierino limpidissimo, naso intrigante con attacco balsamico, note di mandorla, fiori di montagna, lieve pietra focaia, perlage finissimo e persistente, entra in bocca con incredibile freschezza e acidità, incredibilmente il tartarico mostra ancora i muscoli, forse anche un po' troppo per una simile annata: si perde un po la corrispondenza con il naso. Finale di grande persistenza. — 10 years ago

Lynn Gowdy

9.2

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenére, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Intense blackberry and cocoa aromas. Almost voluptuous-like on the palate with blue fruit, a hint of oak, balanced acid and well-integrated tannins. — 11 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.2

Sweet maturing fruit, lovely balance. At 15 years old, the 5th growth '99s are in full stride. — 11 years ago

Andrew Stueve

9.6

It's the ultimate food wine. Goes with everything. But at the same time, it is too much the chameleon. If it was to be drunk by itself, there isn't a dominant note to define the wine. — 12 years ago

Vijay Parikh

9.3

Zesty, lemon peel requires about 30-45 minutes in the glass. Elegant with a slight note of peach. — 6 years ago

Bryce Wiatrak

9.0

Lovely - a charming value from the Haut Médoc. Rusty strawberry, raspberry, crushed stones, piercing acidity and gentle tannic focus. Easy and delicious. 5th Growth. #sommcon — 7 years ago

with Samantha

Shay A

9.5

One of the highlights of the day was meeting @David T and his wife for a tasting at Joseph Phelps. I’d never had the privilege of trying Insignia, and we were given the ‘12 and ‘14 to taste today.

This vintage of Insignia had a splash of merlot, compared to the ‘14, which had zero. Gorgeous texture. Very smooth and elegant. Black cherry, cigar box, peppercorn, BlackBerry tart. Every note on the wine seemed put together...nothing was out of place. Gorgeous property and gorgeous wines! FYI, their viognier is awesome! — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.8

1986 vintage. At Au Fils du Zinc in Chablis - thank you Fabian for picking the best white wine experience of the year. This was a wine that Mr Raveneau didn't release because he thought there was too much oak and sulphur. Only recently did they realise they had a gem. Medium golden hue. Honeyed, white peach, lemon pieces, iodine and crushed rock minerality. Slight bovril note and sea shell with air. Amazing complexity. On the palate, perfect balance between fresh acidity and body, highly concentrated and layers of complexity. Very very long. Outstanding. Still fresh enough to last another 7-10 years at least. — 8 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.3

Very complex and delicate Chardonnay. Nice front push, dry with slight note that comes through — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

8.9

2000 vintage. From Jay. 2000 Bartolo Mascarello - Brief Note from Galloni Historical Retrospective Held in London April 26, 2016. Black fruits, Black cherry with some menthol. Good sweetness on the entry. Good acidity. Weak on the rear pallet. Finish is somewhat weak. Nice ruby colour. More in the style of what Maria Teresa's father than her. Fruit is much more muted. It has integrated well over the years from the initial barnyard aromatics that it displayed when initially bottled. Drink no to 2020. 89/100 — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.4

2001: going into a black olive, black truffle note. Rich meaty notes, vibrantly meated, smoky, leather, tobacco, cigar. Towards full, complex, chewy. Light liquorice, light black truffle. Tip top. — 11 years ago

David Landrum

9.2

'79 5th growth. 5th element. Tons of life left, fill up in the neck. Old apples, pipe tobacco, raspberries. #Maturewinerules — 11 years ago

May-Line Pmt

10

Une petite note d'amertume mais c'est un régal — 11 years ago

Kell Mc

9.1

Slight fruit up front, dry finish — 11 years ago

Justin Kaneps

9.0

A wine to drink with a lover. — 6 years ago

Kate Leahy

9.0

Cherry fruit and bright acidity. Short,
spicy finish. — 6 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Wonderful Sicilian natural wine! Deep gold (let’s call it light orange) in color. Hints of grilled lemons with a hint of smoke. Beautifully “funky.” A true winner! Great with appetizers! Thank you Franky Bella for this selection. — 8 years ago

with Kasey

Lyn Farmer

9.2

Medium ruby color and a pronounced nose of raspberry, violet and a spice note reminiscent of sandalwood incense. Lovely medium body with silky texture. Good acid balance for food pairing and a long lovely finish. Wonderful evocation of serious Beaujolais — 8 years ago

Nancy Croisier, CSW

9.5

My favorite Pinot in a lineup from Tony Rynders. — 8 years ago

with Doug

Mike Saviage

9.1

Light straw color. Floral nose with sweet apricot and white flower note. Rich and glycerol in the mouth. Some acidity but this is very fruit forward today. Needs to shed its baby fat. — 9 years ago

Eric Guido

9.4

Color me impressed, the nose on the 2012 Opus One was simply stunning. Fresh floral tones of violet and lavender gave way to ripe dark-red fruits and subtle hints of baking spice. It enveloped the senses with silky textures which seem to come in vibrant waves, carrying crushed berry and black currant. It finished back on a floral note, which was offset by cherry pit and hints of sweet spice. The best part, is that it should only get better with age. — 10 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.5

Top '89 Pauillac 5th growths are at their peak right now. I cannot recommend this one enough. — 11 years ago

Max Kogod

Owner Kogod Wine Merchant

9.7

1977. Floored by extreme caramel note on nose and palate completely backed up by gorgeous purity of fruit, acid, levity and all the tertiary elements that make Martha's Vyd what it is. — 11 years ago

Kevin Walsh

Wine blogger doxologywine.com; Freelance Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) Doxology Wine Consulting

8.9

2008. Dried cherry, black tea, dried mushroom and rose, prosciutto. Minerality is reminiscent of standing on a dry, dusty dirt road. Only criticism is that it falls off in the mid palate, but finishes with a nice gamey note. — 12 years ago