Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

My last ‘10, wow how nicely this aged. One of Chile's finest premier wines. Dark deep Ruby, a blend of 71% Carmenère, 18% Cab Sauv and 11% Merlot, aged in 100% new French oak for 24 months. Aromas of ripe red fruit with sweet spice and earthy herbs. On the palate flavors of ripe plum, raspberry and black cherry and notes of figs, mushroom, vanilla and cacao. Complex structure, round velvet tannins, good balance, long finish ending with some herb, leather and espresso notes. Outstanding. — 5 years ago

George Cave

8.9

Back home for Christmas — 5 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

Bollinger's 2008 Grande Année is rich, ample and full-bodied, with all of the pedigree of the vintage on display. Dried pear, dried flowers, chamomile, red plum and mint develop as the 2008 shows the breadth and creaminess that are such signatures of the Bollinger house style. A whole range of brighter, more floral and chalky notes appear later, adding translucence and energy. The 2008 is 71% Pinot Noir and 29% Chardonnay taken across 18 crus, and it is the Pinot that very much informs the wine in both flavor and texture. More importantly, the 2008 is one of the best Grande Années I can remember tasting. Bollinger fans won't want to miss it. Disgorged November 2018. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019) — 7 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on February 23, 2018 at the Palm in Nashville with Jay]

Purchased during 2010 visit to winery. 71% Cabernet Sauvignon; 21% Merlot; 4% Petit Verdot; 4% Cabernet Franc. Philippe Melka is winemaker. Blackberry, black cherry and chocolate, with a mineral note. — 7 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.5

2012 Vintage. 15.7% Alcohol. 71% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, 1% Viognier. Very good showing for this wine. Fruit bomb with enough to hide the alcohol. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.6

🥂 Valentines 💕 Bolly @ £71 in sexy metal box 😍 Quite a unique pink 🍾

🍇 72% PN, 28% Ch & 7% red wine

🍷 Soft peach salmon pink

👃 Subtle red fruits through grapefruit w/ minerals galore, zested honey, sweet biscuit, brioche, dried raspberry, mashed pairs, rose water, chamilia & fuchsia w/ a touch of new oak

👄 Med bodied fine mousse of creamy grapefruit biscuit driven red fruits w/ dry minerals oozing through dried raspberry & hint of peach

🎯 Med+ grapefruit & red fruit biscuity dry peach linger — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

It's definitely time for a great Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Great nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead and earth.

Full bodied with medium acidity and elegant.

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

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Napa Valley. Rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward with nice complexity.

This 8 year old Magnum is drinking very nicely now. The fact that it is from a great vintage doesn't hurt it either.

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

Excellent quality. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Thank you Barry for sharing this with me.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with delicious lamb chops.

Grapes are grown at 2,100 feet of elevation. A blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak barrels (31% new) for 25 months. A small production of 579 cases. Made by Philippe Melka.

15.1% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$350 (Magnum) — 5 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.3

Leather, old shoes, toffee on the nose
Salt, burnt sugar and barrel.
Palate is the seashore, brine, loooong finish, very umami. Perfect with sardine and tomato toasts. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

M’s bday dinner (9/12). Tasted blind. Light tawny and translucent. Great nose. Notes of bing cherry, roses, spice, some rhubarb and a bit of English tea. Rich in the mouth despite what appears to be a really old burg. Great structure and balance. Refined. Long finish. Guessed 60’s La Tache. An amazing wine that on the whole was probably a better wine than the 71 Richebourg, but for a few of us the Richebourg provided more emotion driven by its intoxicating nose. — 7 years ago

David Hulsey

8.9

We normally don't care for whites, but we like this one. Light & smooth. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Medium to rich palate - Oak influence apparent. More in balance with the oak than previous Delectable note 71 weeks ago. Now exhibiting a mouth perfume of Rose. Can’t see it gaining more complexity with cellaring but it is a tasty wine. Drink last one up to 6 months. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Superb €38 now £65 personal fav from St Em in top year 👍 w/ fab QPR & a soft spot for me as I had this same vintage from the barrel 😍 93 going 95-96

🍇 71% Merlot & 29% Cab F

🍷Opaque ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Chocolate coated black cherry, berry & plum through smokey oak, liquorice & wet crushed mineral rock w/ violets

👄 Med+ creamy silky mocha dark berry plum bang w/ liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long mocha berry plum slight dry mineral linger purple teether — 8 years ago

Ashley Ready

9.2

Surprisingly good. Went well with pasta. — 5 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.6

What a treat. Followed the ‘71 Terrantez— itself excellent. Despite the extra 121 years, the verdelho had brighter acids and shows torrified fruit, salt, caramel, apricot, and just tremendous palate density pulled along neatly by the acids. — 5 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.4

71% Merlot, 19% Cab, 10% Petit Verdot. Cinnamon dusted plums across the palate with a racy, bright character on the mid palate. The nose is amazing with spicy dark fruit. Mild, chalky tannins finish it off. Great wine for Christmas Eve. — 6 years ago

Gordon Smouther

8.9

2016 vintage at Rats Restaurant. Paired with fluke crisp appetizer. Marketed as Wine Spectator 71. — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 2015 / 71 cabernet sauvignon 15 merlot 4 Malbec 7 petit verdot 3 cabernet franc / 22 mnd barrel aging — 7 years ago

Mark Coleman

9.1

71 vintage maintaining nice fruit and tannin, leathery, tar cherry notes , Don’t decant. — 8 years ago

Ed Tostanoski

9.6

Highlight of tonight’s vertical (58, 64, 67, 71, 80, 82, 85, 86, 88, 89, 95, 96, 98) — 8 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.4

‘71 and still so very solid. Dare I say almost primary.... Pretty! — 8 years ago