Leo Gentile

9.2

Dang this is drinking well. Subdued fruity nose and rich purple color. Great balance with spice and tons of black fruit. Tempted to say hold but not too long so one can enjoy the fruits — 9 months ago

romo

9.2

Finally some balance in a not-so great vintage. — 2 years ago

Karl Nichols

9.0

Nice nose, good fruit and nice balance. Taste of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, woody, leather and pepper spice. Tannins have mellowed. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Joseph Phelps Party and the 83 Insignia from magnum.

The nose reveals; floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits; strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, cedar, old leather & tobacco, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with dry & withering dark, red florals.

The body is medium full with a fair amount of tannins in a wine with this age. The structure, tension, length and balance are still quite sound with harmony. Floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits, strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, dark spice with some heat, cedar, old leather & tobacco, cedar, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with some funkiness. withering dark, red florals. The acidity is nice. The long finish still show ripeness, good balance but, has leaned and shows nice persistence. — 6 years ago

Vincy

9.1

Had this lovely Barton together with poyferre, same year. This one is more softer and smoother. Mid bodied with good balance, raspberry, dry stone and mint. It is good enough but not better than the perfect one -year of 2010 I had four months ago. — 8 years ago

James Webb

9.1

Powerhouse of a wine. Like a Marine ready for battle. But zen in balance. It's so smooth and the finish lasts for-ever. They don't make em' like they used to. — 8 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.2

Love the balance of the '95's, everything you want for well aged Bordeaux. — 9 years ago

Richard Adams

9.7

Outstanding purity and balance. Prime window now. — 9 years ago

Ryan Johnson

9.6

Quite the find for a by-the-glass! This exhibited beautiful balance and had the fine grained tannins for days. — 10 years ago

Reilly Brock

9.4

Awesome! Everything I love about VT and CDP. Earth and fruit in perfect balance. — 11 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was rich, ripe, round with dark, berry almost plum like showing good balance that is not your typical Montrose — 10 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Quite light straw , green hints . On the nose this is quite restrained , some apricot , pineapple , white flower notes. On the palate again restrained , lemon peel , touch of apricot , pineapple, hint of toastiness . High acidity and really good balance , nice lemon peel tinged finish . This will probably age well , now and over the next 7-10 years — 10 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

This is serious wine. Open and sophisticated. Oyster shells, salinity. Some muted lemon notes. Incredible balance and poise. This is classic Raveneau. Gorgeous. — 6 years ago

with Bex and David

E & K G

9.3

A real treat that only got better with air in the glass. Good balance of concentrated fruit and grippy but smooth tannins. — 7 years ago

Mike Davila

9.6

This wine amazed me, I’ve had it before and it’s never shown this well, maybe just hitting it’s stride? Beautiful perfumed floral nose ( never thought I would say that about a Dunn), exquisite balance, the fruit is slightly sweet, the tannins are fully integrated and refined, with just the right amount of acid in the finish. I would never guess mountain fruit or let alone Dunn if tasted blind. Can’t wait to try it again in a couple of years. — 7 years ago

Jen Dodd

9.4

Fabulous wine!! Totally through me off in a blind tasting. Lots of bright fruit coming through with. Great balance of oak and tannins. A wonderful wine to taste with @Stephen Dodd, @John Brenton Dodd and @Daniel Kozaczuk — 9 years ago

Shang Wang

8.9

Slightly rustic and the acidity is a bit out of balance. — 9 years ago

Keith Browning

9.4

In magnum, just sublime, delicious fruit and gray balance. A real treat. — 9 years ago

Joe Pea

9.1

This the third time I've had this in the last year and it shows beautifully right out of the gate. The wood and fruit are so interestingly and well melded at this point. Oak moves to cedar on the palate. Definite alcohol lift in the nose still and you can feel it the nostrils but not obtrusive...indeed it's actually a promising hint of what's to come on the palate. Dried cherry and stone fruit tastes on right away. Slightly mentholated. Definitely picking up distinct vanilla undertones on the nose and palate but not over the top. Satisfying medium tannins. Soft mouth feel but with really good/balanced structure. Perfect finish in line with what preceded it. Just a great fucking wine. And for the price? Getcha some! Can't believe this is still just around and available (not telling where!). Not for those who don't want wood in their wine but even here what you think will finish moderately chalky moves to soft-ish tannins at the perfect time. So many riojas are over top in the wood category or just so out of balance one way or the other. Everyone has heard of Rioja but have you really had a good one? Here's your chance without breaking the bank. I'd put this one up against the best or at least those considered the best. Maybe lacking a LITTLE finesse to be world class but damn close (can you use the word finesse with Rioja??). Drank in gulps with parmesan dusted NY style mushroom meatball mozzarella pizza from Peppino's in Athens, GA while watching Parenthood with my 17 YO daughter (who also pronounced the wine delicious). What a Tuesday night...thank you sir may I have another. Anyone really disappointed with this wine has WAY more money than me and is a spoiled brat. Geek out. — 10 years ago

Kellen Freeman

9.5

Super drinkable - aawesome fruit nose, dry finish. A hint of heat but fantastic balance. — 11 years ago

Tom Barras

9.1

It has a nearly opaque, dark fruited appearance that opens up to very appealing and persistent aromatics and flavors of blueberries and blackberries.

There is still a good amount of primary fruit; it is medium/full, well structured with a good balance of juicy acidity and refined tannins at the finish. New oak is there, but unobtrusive.

Overall, this 2010 is a reserved and savory St. Julien that doesn’t whack me over the head with gobs of oak and loads of sweet jammy fruit. It is definitely “worth a search” if you don’t have it. — 10 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Great salinity. Lime and rockpools. Lovely sweet corn notes. Great balance. Still very fresh — 2 years ago

Jon Bergqvist

9.7

Top shoulder. Got the cork out in one piece. Absolutely perfect bottle with a lot left to give. Thick balsamic fruit, soft tannins, integrated oak, fresh acidity, everything in absolute balance. In a way almost perfect on the verge of lacking a bit of personality, but only almost. This has 10 years of life ahead of it but No reason to wait. — 6 years ago

Paul Woolls

9.3

Lovely balance, old world sense. Beautiful leather notes. Long finish. — 7 years ago

William Renert

9.5

Wonderful wine. Full body and great balance, Still has time. — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

One of the most pleasant and unexpected surprises in this tasting, the 2006 Pichon Lalande is gorgeous, which is something I can’t say about too many wines in a vintage marked by climatic ups and downs and irregular ripening. Dark, powerful and intense, the 2006 possesses exceptional balance. A host of black cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and menthol flesh out in this decidedly somber, virile Pichon Lalande. In a vintage in which so many wines are so rustic, the 2006 Pichon Lalande is all class. This sleeper Pichon Lalande will drink well for at least the next two decades, perhaps longer. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Oct 2017) — 8 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.8

A softened ruby color. Beautiful balance, everything in harmony. Wet earth, raspberry, cinnamon, a whiff of truffle, intoxicating nose. So much ripe, fresh red fruit on the palate. Such soft tannins, damson plum, a mineral streak running through. Drinking a 15 year old wine for 15th anniversary of diabetes. This is splendid in the moment — 9 years ago

Matt Duncan

9.5

Very impressive. Wild mint aroma finds seamless balance in mid palate after pure Cabernet attack. Tannins rise subtly on palate and betray their youth only briefly at the resolution. — 10 years ago

Phil Castellano

9.2

Pretty awesome Bordeaux blend from Justin. Nice balance of flavor and the Cab Franc comes though clearly even though it is only 3%. — 10 years ago

Coco&Lucie

9.6

One of my favorite of the appellation. Spice is perfectly balance with red fruit. It´s earthy, complex and refined. A piece of beef tenderloin on barbecue, fleur de sel and a glass of Beaucastel, what else?! — 11 years ago