Chris England

9.8

In preparing for an upcoming trip to 🇪🇸 we popped a stunning £235 Vega now £320+ Fabulicious now but will be an epic change your trousers moment in time 😍 I better get some spare ones ready 😁 Like eating a decadent cherry raspberry chocolate gateaux in a bramble bush in secret 😎 One of a few wines I think is worth the big bucks 😉
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📍Vega Sicilia Unico 2004
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🏵 98+ points
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🍇 87% Tempranillo & 13% Cabernet Sauvignon
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🍷 Opaque deep ruby
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👃 Rich dark cherry & chocolate gateaux w/ blackberry, vanilla, soft smoked oak & sweet cedar, violets, prune, date, mint driven herbs & blueberry that expressed perfectly in a #zalto bordeaux glass 😍
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👄 Med+ rich chewy cocoa driven ripe concentrated black cherry creamy smooth satin silk body w/ mineral, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry & purple damson
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🎯 Long triple chocy cherry & black berry mouth filling sexylicious yummyness
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⚠️ No trousers were harmed in this review 🤣
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😋 Mrs Es review “It’s Yummy”
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🚨 Don’t forget to enter the Instagram competition for 10k friends to be in with a chance to win a vSpin from @openyourwine & 2 Zalto Burgundy glasses from @zaltify — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

My favourite St J Chateau & been eager to pop this 💯 Parker pointer @ £180 just entering its early drinking window 😁 Already good but a sure 98-100 in 10-30yrs 👍 93-95 today

🍇 60% Cab S, 29% Mer, 6% Pet V & 5% Cab F

🍷 Deep opaque inky ruby

👃 Smokey oak, dark plum, blackcurrant, minerals, pencil lead, soggy earth, gravel, charcoal & sweet cedar

👄 Med+ body of creamy mineral infused ripe black berries & plum in mocha & liquorice

🎯 Long dark fruits filled w/ minerals & lashings of mocha & liquorice — 7 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

A glass of wine to finish up the night...good age, nice evolution and an extremely good value at $25. Recent direct Chateau purchase. While the 1998 Bordeaux vintage was panned by the critics as a whole on the Left Bank, Pessac-Leognan shined better than most on the Left Bank. It was Right Bank Saint Emilion that had the great year. This 98 Haut-Bergey is not quite the wine the 98 Haut-Bailly is. However, it is delicious for $25. Nose of; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries leather, cedar, tobacco leaf, dry stones, vanilla, dark moist soils and fresh red florals. The body is medium to lean. Tannins are completely resolved. Ripe, lean, shining; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries & cherries. Black moist earth, touch of funk, soft chewy leather, stones, crushed dry rock powder, cedar, tobacco leaf, steeped fruit tea, cola, dry underbrush, fresh & dry red florals, liquid violets with raining acidity. The finish has lean, bright mid red fruits, earth and dark spices. Nice wine for the $. While this will hold another 3-5 years, it's not going to continue to improve. So, drink em. Photos of; the Chateau, barrel room, view inside the Chateau and their shiny stainless steel fermentation tanks. — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.8

Parker 98 point taste off today,
Cult takes it at P&P lets see after a couple hours decant,
The nose on this has caught our attention now, not as full bodied as the cult but still delicious. Can't go wrong either way.
Maybach has taken over as it opens, winner! I think Amoenus is the top 2104 I've had, has lingering layers as it opens up, — 7 years ago

James Cahill

9.7

15 Vintages of Montrose dinner. Herve Bertrand flew in from the Chateau for this dinner and all wines came directly from the Chateau cellar except the 1989. A phenomenal dinner with some great back stories about the various vintages by Mr. Bertrand. Served in 5 flights: '12, '08, '95 / '10, '09, '03 / '05, '90, '89, '76, / '00, '86, '85 / '98, '82, and ''70. Food and service at Ripple was off the charts good. If you enjoy Bordeaux from the Medoc, St. Estephe then Chateau Montrose deserves a spot on your cellar. — 7 years ago

Sean Nelson

9.4

Apricots and yeast. Very dry. Mostly 1999, with some 96-98. — 8 years ago

Ryan Davis

9.2

Much riper than the 98 — 9 years ago

Michael Morgan

9.8

One of the more famed expressions of Syrah. Fine spice, herb, dark cherries and sour blackberry. Leather and cedar, some cigar box. Laser like precision of acid and tannin. Fresh and vibrant. Epic length. 98 points — 9 years ago

Cathrine Todd

9.5

Great smokey minerality, tight at this point but more flesh on the body than 96. Other Champagne Houses considered controversial to name 98 as a vintage year due to too much ripeness. But I am a fan of this vintage and will not take as long as the 96 to reach its prime. — 10 years ago

Jens Hoogstad

9.9

98/100. One of Phelp's best efforts ever. A classic. — 10 years ago

Chris England

9.4

I’m a huge Ygay fan so getting hold of the latest 09 @ £85 was like a kid gone wild in a candy store 😁 It’s showing fabulous already but time will definitely bring immense happiness 😉

Needs 4-5 years to shine more 👍

📍Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay 2009

🏵 93-94 with 96-98 potential

🍇 81% Tempranillo & 19% Mazuelo

🍷 Opaque deep ruby

👃 Buttery cocoa vanilla bathed dark cherry in light soft smokey oak w/ balsamic, red fruit tones, subtle blueberry & raspberry liquorice

👄 Med+ body of rich ripe dark cherry bathed in cocoa cram w/ a dry balsamic vanilla backbone

🎯 Long dark cherry & red liquorice cocoa smooth creamy balsamic linger w/ a touch dry end — 6 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.8

Fresh, forest fruits, spicy. Game meat, leather. Clean, focussed and balanced. Elegant Haut Brion. 98+ — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.3

My 2nd try of this £90+ Chilean icon - superb now but 95-98 in 5-10yrs 👍

▶️ Bottle #8661

🍇 55% Cab Sauv, 29% Carmenere, 7% Cab F, 5% Merlot & 4% Syrah

🍷Opaque ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Chocolatey spicy rich blackcurrant & dark plum w/ soft oak, vanilla, wet leaves & light minerals

👄 Full body of rich silky intense black fruits beautifully balanced in oozy chocolate & med acidity

🎯 Long slight sweet & dry black fruits & cocoa linger w/ purple teeth stain 💥 — 7 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.4

Stunning 98 right bank. These 98s from st emilion seem to be firing on all cylinders. Had this beauty with stuffed rabbit at jardiniere while celebrating my moms 70th birthday. It had loads of beautiful fruit, some rose petal / violet and just enough earth to make it really interesting. We finished the bottle in literally no time. Excellent!!!!! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

I always love this wine. I've been fortunate to have a few different vintages ('97, '98, '04) and have been thrilled with each experience. The late '90s bottles were in great shape but felt that they were on the backend of their prime. This '04 is just getting started. Powerful but not overbearing. Red fruit dominant with black cherry mixed in. Can't tell if it's the oak that is giving off a semi sweet smell or a mint note from the wine itself, but I'm not hating it either way. Great structure on this always reliable well made wine. — 7 years ago

with Benjamin and Bill

Hanif Perry

9.3

Really great vintage as the 98 is showing well. — 8 years ago

Merritt Santino Raül Gilé

9.3

I think this is my 4th Cheval Blanc. 73, 80-something, 98, and this one. This was my favorite. Needed to open up a bit. Was still very youthful. I'm sure you could age this for another 20+ years, but why would you. If not, why not? If not now, when? — 8 years ago

with Alison

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.9

Wow! Amazing fruit with great interplay of just a touch of oak and buttery creaminess ! Starter Chsrdvtonight! Amazing CB-98 — 8 years ago

with Karen, Steph and 1 other

Wilfred Wong

Chief Storyteller, Wine.com

9.8

One of my great tasting moments of 2014. Deep ruby, blackish color; outstanding ripe fruit aroma, showing some red and black, a touch of barrel, medium to full depth; medium bodied, firm and stylish at the same time on the palate; dry, medium acidity, well balanced; refined ripe fruit flavors, some sweet oak, excellent concentration; medium to long finish. The only sin this one has is that it is wedged between to incredible vintages. (Best Served: 2017-2035) [Sourcing: Vineyard Region- Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Magill Estate [Composition: 98% Shiraz, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon] #penfolds #australia #redwine — 9 years ago

Gilles de Chambure

Master Sommelier & Educator

9.5

98 charmes chambertin super drouhin great selection only 3000 bts — 11 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

98-100/100 released today! — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!

As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍

🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel

👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones

🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.7

Wow this 11 is up there with 09 for me @ £120 & less subtle than 10 & 13 - my kind of Sass 93-95 going 96-98 👏 20yrs in this beauty 😍

🍇 85% Cab S & 15% Cab F

💨 5hr

🐮 Fillet Steak 🍔

🍷 Dark ruby

👃 Deep rich fresh spiced blackberry, currant & dark cherry jam in soft oak w/ soft earthy mineral undertone & herb sprinkles & dried blueberry 😍

👄 Med+ spiced soft black fruits that slide like silk around your mouth oozing pure class in fine smooth tannins

🎯 Med+ dark berry smooth cocoa finale — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.6

😍 Gorgeous 95-97 going 98

Finished my case of 99 & 02/04 been on wishlist a while 😎 @ £137 this 04 is divine!

🍷 Golden yellow

👃 Toasted singed buttered brioche cover in caramelised honey, orange & lemon zest, yeasty & almond nutty wiffs

👄 Rich full bodied smooth persistent fine buttery caramel biscuit mousse of candied citrus peels in torched honey & apple

🎯 Long buttery honey citrus caramel apple biscuit butterscotch bake — 7 years ago

Neil Shah

9.2

Not as good as the 98...but pretty darn good. — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.7

A wine that I brought tonight and felt strongly about. Incredible pedigree, winemaker is from Araujo which is insane great! Beautiful 12 but I committed infanticide., should laid it down another few years but it did open up like a million bucks after a few hours. Truly opulent Napa wine which is well structured and loved by all tonight. A new rockstar on the block vs the the old rock stars that were drinking in full stride tonight. It's was awesome tonight but I can't wait for it to evolve a little and become STELLAR in the future. I highly recommend this wine. The preliminary rating is 96 to 98 and the 13 is even better if you can imagine that! — 8 years ago

with Christine, Kirk and 1 other

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

About last night..... Dark cherry, blackberry, tobacco and some leather. Hint of astringency on the finish or I would of given this a 98-99. This is awesome right now and will only get better. — 9 years ago

Will Predhomme

Sommelier, Vintner The North Shore Project, Master of Wine candidate

8.9

Brooding & escalating in intensity as it opens up. '98 started almost light fruit, at the bottom it's flowers & brooding Mourvèdre — 9 years ago

Jon Fine

9.8

craziness. One of the best champagnes I've had in a long time. A blend of 98 and 99 but very fresh and ultra-precise. — 10 years ago

Ian Blackburn

10

Wine of the flight at learnaboutwine's (now wineLA) Top Wines tasting - House of Blues. Color: Grenache/brick NOSE: Amazing bouquet of tomato paste, olive tapenade, herb, stone, ((did not need to taste to love)) MOUTH: textured, refined, fresh, amazingly balanced and reminiscent of the legendary 1985 with perhaps a nudge of newer wood. Score 98 points (N2self - one of my greatest bottles this year) — 10 years ago