Severn G

9.4

Nose has ripe plum, cedar shavings, dried blackberry, over-ripe black cherry, crushed black currant, menthol syrup and dried violets.

Palate has dried black currant, moist soil, cedar shavings, moist cigar, ripe blackberry, dried black cherry, rose hip tea with light tannins.

A beautiful cork, almost no soak; pulled clean with a standard screw. This is really in the zone tonight after a 6H decant. Drink 2022-2028 from proper storage.

Paired to Allen Bros USDA Prime Hanger with Dijon/Rosemary/Garlic/Lemon Zest marinade. Grilled to great 130° centers, 10m rise/rest to absolute perfection.
(I was honestly fighting with two cats to eat dinner tonight.) — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2005 such an amazing vintage.

The 05 Pipeau is a bottle that I’ve looked at in my EuroCave for awhile & have passed on it for bigger name producers. But, not tonight w/o disappointment. Especially, for $25 a bottle upon release.

It took a small glass & a few sips to get there. I’m there now.
.
Ruby, Claret in a classic style.

Showing the beauty of the age & vintage. Ruby, inky, ripe, slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, raspberries, dried strawberries & notes of dry cranberries. Dry top soils, dark, rich, forest floor, river stones, dry tobacco, graphite, dark, grey volcanics, limestone/sandstone, anise to black licorice, dark, sweet tarriness, dry, dark dates, steeped tea with dark, withering florals that are also, red, purple and red. The acidity is mountain, cool, stream like and elegant finish that set nicely wire to wire with persistence.

Good first look and will drink well for another 15 years with proper storage.

Allen Brothers Ribcap...10 — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

We had the 2000 with the Allen Brothers Ribcap’s. Might have been the most tender cut of meat we had. Even more tender than their Bone-in Fillets. Allen Brothers is currently selling to consumers during Covid-19 as most restaurants are shut or barely open. Order online before the go back to restaurant only sales. You’ll be glad you did. You can see on their site what revered steakhouses they sell their beef etc. Cooked them in the Green Egg. 👌

Perhaps the first 2000 that I’ve opened that was truly ready. Yet, it will improve for another 5-7 years and hold for another 5-10 years properly stored.

The tannins were round and supple...like velvet. Good balance fruit & earth. The structure, tension, length and balance just hit a good stride. Dark, rich, but, muted fruits, dark chocolate, mocha powder, touch of caramel, nicely layer baking spices, dark rich earth, clay, stone, fresh, soft tobacco notes, saddle-wood, soft graphite notes with fresh & withering dark flowers. The acidity nice & round...definitely shows the strength of the vintage. The finish, well balanced-knitted, plush, velvety, flat out elegant & smooth.

Photos of, Chateau Belle-Vue, living area shot of inside the Chateau, perfect fruit ready for harvest and their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.2

A really fun wine from Travis Allen in WA. Lots of juicy yellow pear notes with a chestnut dash, light on its feet but just enough viscosity to give it presence. — 7 years ago

Richard Russell

9.3

Very nice cab for steak night. We both think delicious. — 8 years ago

Heidi Harrison

9.3

Lean, bright, salty, nutty, honied, excellent w/squash-leek soup, needs decant & only a slight chill @William Allen - Two Shepherds #rhonewhites #rhonerangers #xmaswine #deedubcellar — 8 years ago

with Philip

Eric

9.2

Needed a big gun to tame this dry aged beast from Allen Brothers. — 4 years ago

Eric

9.4

My last -05 went with an Allen Brothers dry aged bone in roast. Incredible wine with plenty of road ahead. Bright rusty red fruit. The roast was amazing and blew more funk than any meat I’ve ever had. Great pairing. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

If I am having an Allen Brothers Ribcap, I am also opening a good bottle of Bordeaux.

The 08 Bordeaux vintage goes down in the record books as good not great. This is not nearly as good as the 2000 I had a few years back...one of the few 10’s I’ve scored since starting to write notes. However, it does drink better earlier than 2000.

Ten years in bottle was just the right amount of time to check in on this 08. It will continue to improve over the next 5-7 years and hold another 8-10 years with proper storage.

With the first sip, it was elegant, refined and showing it is Latour’s close relative. My next thought was how good it will be with the Ribcap. Good on its own but, even better with steak.

It shows classic Bordeaux style. Just ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, hints of blue & purple fruit. The tannins nicely round and velvety. The structure, tension, length & balance are just starting to hit their groove. Black licorice, black tea, stones, dry loamy topsoil, dark rich earth, less pencil shaving, soft leather, understated baking spices with withering; dark, red and blue florals. The acidity was nicely executed. The finish is; stunning, elegant and very well balanced with excellent persistence.

Photos of; Chateau Latour, iconic building that since in the middle of their Estate vines, barrel room and wide shot of their estate.

Side note. Having visited Latour three times, it has always been the most clean & pristine winemaking facilities I’ve seen in my many world wine region travels. You could eat off the floor. For me, they are the “King of Kings” in Cabernet. — 6 years ago

Dani Kaulakis

9.6

Not much on the nose but very tastey dry and full-bodied red — 6 years ago

William Hughes

9.3

This is another terrific wine from William Allen. Slightly honeyed nose with a chalky note that comes through on the palate as well. Add apricot, quince, and wildflowers and you have a delicious wine. I paired this with some Maryland Rockfish and the match was a hit. — 7 years ago

Solomon Jones

8.9

free run verdelho is a lovely drop. Would happily drink with or without food. — 8 years ago

Aroon Sehgal

9.9

Bold and dry! — 9 years ago

Steve S

9.0

Nice with tapas. Allen street — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has ripe plum, cut red cherry, black currant, dried blackberry, shaved milk chocolate, old pipe tobacco, moist leather, dry oak firewood, wet oak barrel with fading volatile acidity on the initial attack.

Palate has blackberry juice, over-ripe plum, dried black currant, over-ripe black cherry, wet garden soil, dried tomato with a lightly drying finish and still showing mild tannins.

A recent acquisition, provenance is good but this bottle seems lightly undeveloped on the palate still, decanted 3H.

Paired to Allen Bros. rib caps, cast iron pan oven pre-heated then 1/2 stick of non-salted butter over the stove with constant basting, 5M to a beautiful medium rare. Served alongside our garden smashed potatoes, nothing finer than the vegetables we labor.

Wine Spectator: 97 points
Top 100: 1989, Rank: 2 — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When things are great, they’re worth redoing!

The Wagyu Ribcap & Rib Cover steaks comparison from Allen Brothers. The sell only the top 1% of beef.

The Barton is 100% steak wine.

Classic Caret even in a marginal vintage...Anthony to the rescue.

The body is medium to full & sails on the palate. Ripe & ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, uncooked rhubarb with hue of raspberries. Cedar, sandstone/limestone, tobacco, leather, graphite, dry river stones, dark, rich, earth, licorice, dark cola, dark spice with heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, moist clay, melted caramel & mocha, dark chocolate bar, black pepper with bright, candied, fresh, dark, red, purple & blue florals. the acidity is a gentle, cool to warm rain shower. The finish is, all St. Julien elegance, well intergraded, balanced, landing on earth & spice that is persistent for days. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Happy Birthday Christine & Hedy!

Allen Bothers meats; Tomahawk, Filet Milon, New York Strip & Ribeye served family style. Allen Brothers buy only the top 1% of meat quality available on the market.

St. Julien beauty & elegance with steaks cooked on the Egg Grill. Heaven together. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Tropical Chardonnay with great weight and density. Went well with Greek food. Nose of pineapple and honey and a touch of basil. Entry that is also very tropical and quite dense. Mouth coating. Didn't compete with the food like I thought it would, but instead really danced around the fare. Went best with the basil pesto hummus. Finished with more acidity than it started with. Aftertaste was kind of strange, almost like a tart peach. I truly think this wine needs to sit another couple of years before trying again, but it's still a very solid wine for the price point. — 7 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.4

Unofficial Thursday HdR opening dinner with a loose “non-Rhône” theme.. this was actually a one-off, not to be released natural Mourvèdre from Travis Allen, hence the upside down label. Stunning. — 8 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.3

95% Syrah, 5% Cab. Allen Shoup winemaker of this and Penfold Grange. Long life ahead. 93-94. — 9 years ago