In the name of science, a few champagnes/sparkling wines were sampled today in an effort to help a friend for comparative research reasons. Hard way to spend a Monday...
Probably the most rich out of the lineup and always a favorite of mine. Definitely oxidative in style. Sweet toasted oak, marzipan, honeycomb & key lime pie. The mousse with Bolly is always one of my favorite traits...incredibly smooth with zero tart fruit. Thanks @Dan Fitzgerald — 8 years ago

Had this at a Tapas Bar! The pillars on which the 5 founding families erected a winery in 1890 built a way of living, feeling and producing wines of the highest quality that continue to evolve. Not released until 2015, bright Ruby, complex aromas of fruit, spice and oak. 90% Tempranillo from 3 villages & 10% Graciano from 2 villages. Cherry & blackberry flavors, with a feel of currants around the core, espresso & spicy notes on mouthwatering tannins. Wow! Lingering finish. Will get better over next 15 years — 9 years ago
This tastes more like a Bordeaux to me than a Cab from Napa, but it is so excellent that I'll let it slide. This is a full bodied wine with strong oak, leather, smoke, and honestly a hint of tree bark (in a wonderful way!) This is close to a perfect wine. Buy all you can. — 10 years ago
Oh so yummy and smooth. Savour it in front of a fire on a cold night — 10 years ago
Very young but lovely fresh apricots, peaches and pineapple. Honeysuckle and white flowers. What really makes this wine amazing though is the body. It's big and round the whole way through where so many Sauternes fall either in the middle or finish. Lovely. — 10 years ago
Pretty seamless wine. Elegant but in no way meek. Represents both the style of the Chateau and the vintage well. Red and black currants, violet florals and great length. Delightful to taste at the Chateau, while discussing winemaking with Mr. Pontallier! #margauxmoments — 11 years ago
Way too young! Big tannin structure — 13 years ago
Tasted blind. Dark reddish brown color, port-like in color and in the nose. Notes of raisins, molasses, tobacco. What is this? While it seems like it could be Madeira, the impact in the mouth and the tastes in no way resemble that. Someone threw out the guess that it could be really old Bordeaux. Yep. Drinking some history tonight! — 6 years ago
Picked up in auction. Label is trashed but decent fill. So deceiving. Nose from bottle yuck. Nose from glass oh my. This is beautiful. Soft. Some tobacco. Some fruit like an old blackberry but not in a bad way. Giving no it a 8.9 bit could move it up a notch. — 8 years ago
Can't say enough about a wine this serious at this price point. Absolutely stunning, elegant, and even (in a chinon way) powerful. Floral aromatic dominate - lavender and a bit of rose. Graphite, dusty chalk, red pepper, some raspberry. Fresh yet not primary. Hints of savory notes as well. Incredible spine of minerality runs through the palate. Great acidity and structure. Coiler and energetic. Finishes long and bright with refreshing pyrazines for days. In an incredible place now, so no fault in drinking but has a long, long life ahead. One of the best values in the wine world. Just exceptional — 9 years ago
To be a 100 points by Parker wine, 2003 latour is way better than 1996. It's just ok. — 10 years ago
Early nose was austere, even a bit severe, then giving way to sticks and leaves and wet earth - like walking through the woods early in the morning. Light to medium in body. Stones and mushrooms and earth and sweet red fruit - all you can want in a Pinot Noir. I really like this wine. — 10 years ago
Fall has finally arrived in Texas and no better way to enjoy it than sitting outside, watching football, grilling and drinking some amazing Champagne from one of my favorite Houses — 11 years ago
1996. Boom. Amazing. Full on. A wine. Way heavier than the Dom 1996. — 11 years ago
Atractive nose of spices, candied cherries, marzipan and leather. A mushroomy background makes it way up along with an intriguing minerality. The length is medium -, a real shame for such a promising nose! — 12 years ago
Started off tight and tannic with a lot of green vegetable notes. After about an hour in the decanter all the big fruit came through on the nose and palate. Viscous, but not in bad way. Smooth and velvety finish. — 7 years ago

Leathery and red floral nose. After 1 hour decant, opulent, lightly spiced and earthy-red palate infused with dried mushrooms, iron and throughout with notes of garrigue. Punching way above its weight in a meh vintage...just entering a window that will last 10+ years. — 8 years ago
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
Awesome experience a 1991 Caymus Special Selection. Upon opening showing good fruit in the nose. Tannins have dissipated. Thought it might be over the hill? No Way! Tried with WW staff. A gift from Dr Bill! You know who you are. Great 25 yr old bottle of Cab! Big Wow! — 10 years ago
Nice way to ring in the new year! — 11 years ago
Great way to finish a tasting a nice champagne blend. Opens very well, in a beautiful pale salmon color. Chalk full of fruit fresh wild strawberries, pairs, apple, and lots of cherries. — 11 years ago
Wow! 14.5% full of punch... Very jammy. All berries. My kind of vino. — 13 years ago
Alan Weinberg
painfully intense in a very good way, bright fresh dense fruit all lifted by a well-integrated acid backbone. Superb creaminess, fine mousse, long future. Damn, makes me want 08 even more. Blows away 04 and 06. — 6 years ago