Bruce Dunbar

9.0

The recently released (3/24) Bodega Theriot Chardonnay from Rivers-Marie is excellent. Sunlit straw color, subtle nose, beautiful white fruits, crushed stone and the slightest bit of oak at the back to round it off. This should gain depth from its existing heights! — 23 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Not to be outdone, the 1989 Chave Hermitage Rouge showed more brambles than the ’88 along with other desiccated blue and black fruits. Dried flowers, beef, blood, leather and mushrooms. Every time I have the pleasure of drinking old Chave, I’m reminded that these wines have so much character and there is a reason they are so adored. Lovely with grilled lamb and Moroccan spices. Drink now through 2040. — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

9.4

Still shows some lovely primary redfruits, cassis, currants, quite tannic as well (characteristic of the 1986s I cellared), long, lingering finish, should show even better after my wife’s grilled lamb and my grilled steak come off the grill. I will say I was nervous when the final 1/8-inch of the cork severed off my old Ah-So cork puller, but not a problem!

Interesting sidebar — I purchased this upon arrival in 1989 at K&L in SF — by that time there were widespread reports of bad corks in Ducru from (at least) 1985 and 1986, so when I visited the shop I explained the situation and committed to purchasing 6 bottles, but only if I knew this batch didn’t have the cork problems — so, I said I’d pay for another bottle and we could open it together in the shop, I’d pay and also buy the other 6 bottles if it was NOT corked, and said if it was corked, then they’d pay for the opened bottle and I wouldn’t take the 6 other bottles — they agreed, we mutually tried the bottle then and there, no cork taint so I paid for 7 bottles total.

Telling the story in part because K&L has always been, IMHO, one of the classiest wine shops in the U.S., and they deserve credit agreeing to my deal (BTW, Wine Advocate had written about the cork taint issue within the preceding 3-6 months, so they were aware of the potential for it) — anyway, they’ve gotten a lot more of my business in the past 35+ years since!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Mazf lalo jesus augusto diego jeff tim jason — 23 days ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Compared to the last Becker dry Spatlese tasted, this was less inviting: a bit more mineral & stony, with none of the fruit flavors associated with Riesling to be found. Very chiseled & imagine needs time in bottle/ long decant. You can still taste the precision though. — 2 months ago

with Owen

Conrad Green

8.9

Lovely and ripe on the nose with really punchy plum and pepper. On the palate a bit hot and short compared to the others alongside — 2 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Steven Heydemann

9.4

WotN this evening. Lovely. — 11 days ago

WC Fields

9.2

Big. Rich. — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.4

warm hints of apricot, lovely tension and depth. Mature now. Very good — 2 months ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.3

Dark plum with a hint of sweet butterscotch at the edges. Lovely purity — 2 months ago

with Paul