Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.1

This Chateau Lafon Rochet from the superb 2005 vintage is beaming with elegance, still a bit young, yet delicious, sublime and tempting.
My old tasting note stays firm as I go through the case, the nose is a bit restrained yet tempting and complex, notes of black currents, leather, earth, oak, dust and pepper. The body is full with round tannins and balancing acidity, the finish is long and chewy. I recommend a couple of hours decanting before enjoying at this early stage.
My score 91, drink to 2030 — 6 years ago

Conrad Green

8.9

Dark color. Hints of marmalade and toffee. Not much fizz. A slightly tired bottle but fascinating still with good intensity and depth and a balancing acidity. — 6 years ago

with Aaron, Walker and 1 other

L Bram

10

Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Velvety smooth, beautiful rounded fruity flavour balancing the earth but subtle smokey flavour. I would drink this ever single week if I could. The most beautiful Rioja I will probably ever have. Served it NYE with Lamb. — 7 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Very good B.B. nice richness. Balancing acidity. A touch of minerality. — 8 years ago

Dan Hess

9.0

Thanks Steve! — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Pale gold. This wine swept all before it on the Australian Show Circuit and has stamped Heytesbury as one of our great Chardonnays. A leesy smokey nose with a hint of sewing machine oil. Still citrusy with medium + intensity. A class act. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Tough act to follow after the Masseto — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.1

Massive, super-ripe, block-buster nose revealing acacia honey, partly dried tropical fruits and spice elements. Exotic on the palate with acidity balancing the RS, in this off-dry and powerful version. — 11 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

An ode to 2 amazing women who look and act far younger than this '66 BV with whom they share a birthday. Still fresh and gaining weight in the glass for an hour, the nose was classic Napa. It showed neither bricking or shading of the cassis and black cherry fruit, with acidity and tannins on the downside but fading gracefully. What a pleasant surprise - thanks to @benchmark and sommelier Brian @farm at carneros inn, who cracked a cork I would've destroyed! — 11 years ago

with Melissa

CK Vong

9.8

2001. Wotn by split vote 3-2. I voted for it. If u dig 01 Bordeaux becoz of low tannin but good structure, u will admire this. Bouquet forming, juicy balancing red n black fruit and the tannin magnificently round! Opens up after an hour in decanter. Buy. — 12 years ago

Barry Shailes

10

Full bodies. Excellent with cheeses. Smooth. — 6 years ago

Eric Guido

9.4

The 2009 Donnhoff Hermannshohle is rich and ample in the glass, showing sweet peaches and pear, with hints of kiwi, honeysuckle, and white smoke.  It races across the palate with precision and poise, delivering mineral-tinged orchard fruits, perfectly balancing weighty textures and ripeness with an acid-mineral thrust. The finish is long and floral, complemented by lingering flavors of lime and green apple with cheek puckering tension. Wow! — 6 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

Beautiful, silky Syrah unfolding with the brilliant record Dark Bird has flown by The Tallest Man on Earth. The songs here are short stories and reflections while the wine is a connector with pretty bright fruit & balancing structure. I love when acidity emerges in Syrah and it comes in spades here. — 7 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Deep ruby , still young looking. Aromas of ripe plum, cherry and spice . Still youthful and exciting on the nose . In the mouth also , lovely balancing acidity sweet tannin. Very long and balanced on the finish . Perhaps it is missing a bit of complexity , but it may come with more bottle age — 8 years ago

Lisa McCosker

9.0

Really beautiful, light but full of flavour — 9 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

The first hour is a bit bitter but good and interesting. After an hour it integrates and wow. Still has that vintage bitterness but fruit comes out with balancing sweet licorice. A very tasty wine but it's singularity is impressive. This is why you buy natural wine from great winemakers. You get wine that is good but also a new experience. Man delivers what God hath wrought. Wow. Bravo. — 10 years ago

Mike Davila

9.5

Had the magnum a while back with family and was impressed. This wine is wonderful a nose you want to dive into, and then just a wonderful collaboration of fruit, tannin and balancing acid. Bravo - just placed my order for the 2012. — 11 years ago

Mark Maruszak

9.4

Such a baby yet, huge aromatics of apricot, lemon zest, stone fruit. Bright crisp acidity balancing a luscious sweetness. Power and finesse in one. Tons of age left. — 11 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Had last tried this at ep tastings in 2005. This is actually even better than I had expected. Lovely black fruits with balancing acidity lovely finish ..... Bravo Pontet Canet! — 11 years ago

Nhan Huynh

9.1

Very good nose with intense aroma of ripe fruit and cassis. Its dark ruby red color does not deceive ones sense. The density of the wine with well balancing between tannin and acidity. This will get even better in the next 5-10 years. — 13 years ago

TA

9.0

A great dinner party red - not too easy to drink that you drink without really registering anything except “red wine” but not one you have to dry to decide whether you like or not. — 6 years ago

Jess Van

9.9

Enjoy with food — 6 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Amazing qpr burg. Great controlled fruit. Balancing minerals. Almost a hint of lime zest. So balanced and clean. Amazing with food. Finish is clean and refreshing and mineral. Almost crunchy pebbles. bought from fass selections. — 7 years ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.8

Stupendous. Creamy, lemon meringue and apricot nectar caramel. Nice balancing act that included enough acidity to keep in dancing on the tongue. It’s crazy expensive to make these wines. I’m always glad when I share one. Different from d’Yquem but every bit as great. — 7 years ago

with Jack

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

On the flight from Dubai to Singapore . Ch Cos d'Estournel, 2004. Deeper core than the Quintet tasted alongside , less bright rim bordering on garnet , but young I suppose for the age , viscous legs . Classic cigar box , truffle and blackcurrant, cassis notes . Serious , cool vintage character. Lovely fruit on the palate , nice balancing acidity , cassis and darker fruits predominating. Tannins slightly drying , though this seems to be entering mid life they still may resolve . There is a nice quantity of fruit , but this does come across as an 'off vintage' , though I don't particularly like that term. Again elegant and reasonably long finish . An interesting pair of wines , this and the Mount Mary Quintet as it happens . — 9 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

8.9

Big and ripe for a Swan, but has some balancing pomegranate and cranberry tartness that lifts it up a little. Better with pork tinga that muted a bit of the heat. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

More fruit driven and powerful than the Bindi Original. Ripe fleshy cherry notes. Silky mouthfeel. Through the waves of fruit there is also a reasonable level of tannin and acid which will carry it into the future. A class act. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Usually have the best wine of the week at Sunday lunch. The 86 Latour is this weeks wine of the week. Hi Tannic year in Bordeaux and many experts think that Latour lost the plot in 86 with most thinking that Mouton was the wine of the vintage. This wine had lots of leather savouriness with no fruit character but still a class act. A good wine but not at the usual superlative Latour standard. — 11 years ago

Kondo Yoshifumi

9.0

Australia 旨い白だ！ — 11 years ago

Lyle Coffield

Sommelier Kokkari, Evvia Estatorios

9.2

Under the radar California class act. But BEWARE!!! She's a bug'un! Like a female bodybuilder muscle and grace. — 11 years ago