Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2020 vintage. With @Beth Novak . Decanted and tasted after one hour. Medium body. Nose practically leapt out of the glass with plenty to discuss. Flavors a bit more subdued but definitely present. Just enough back-end, tannic presence to hold court. This should be absolute dynamite in 3-5 years. Initial visit a bit over two years ago (9.5) and was more explosive but will cede that to the last impression getting more air time. Said then that this was my fave since the 1991 vintage and sticking by that. 1.2.26. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Something for my Wagyu Burger.

I do enjoy this producers style/craft. Also, enjoy the elegance of St. Julien. 2012 is a vintage Sofia & 1 worked harvest at Clerc Milon. So, the 2012 vintage will always be a special vintage for me, even if it was only one that was good to very good for the right terroirs and producers. Just wasn’t special like; 00, 05, 09, 10, 16 or 19 etc..

Having said all that, this Ducru is not the 2012 star of the region. It’s elegant but falls short on depth, character & umpf, which are things I have grown to expect and have experienced from this producer in many vintages.

The palate shows, soft, round & velvety M-M+ tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some of both plums, slightly baked strawberries & circling raspberries. Slightly dry tobacco w/ ash, soft leather, sandalwood, mid, dark, rounded spice, nutmeg, clove, some cinnamon & vanillin, dark most earth with clay & dry leaves, herbaceous notes, very soft & elegant graphite, a touch of of mid berry cola/licorice, dark withering flowers, red roses, nice acidity with nicely balance, good tension/structured, elegant finish that last nearly two minutes and long sets on rounded dark spice.

@EmiratesLoungeDubai — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. Yes, the 2003 Dominus is big. However, it is also balanced and showing classic Napa typicity with beautifully ripe and some slightly wizened black and red fruit, tobacco, cocoa, some purple flowers and baking spices. I found this to be quite balanced after all the air it saw. Wonderful structure for continued aging as well. Drink now through 2043. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

Celebrating our completion of the WSET Level 3 exam today!

It was a labor of love. Results won’t be released for several months, but, hey, we poured ourselves into this prep and so wine not celebrate the milestone of getting ‘er done!

Cheers @win_tries_wine @deked1 — 6 years ago

with Deked1

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark purple plum skin color from center to the rim’s edge where some scarlet also appears. Opaque. Great fruit forward nose that grabs your attention. Notes of blackberries, ripe plums, violets, tobacco, forest floor and some crushed walnuts. Rich and silky in the mouth. Great balance and texture. Tannins perfectly integrated. Long finish. If a Cal Cab can be seductive, this is it. Still youthful but in a great zone tonight. — 8 years ago

Jeff D.

9.3

From a magnum...for a '90 there seems to be no color progression on it at all, even at the edges. There is a minty, herbaceous note to it but it has great blackberry flavors and nice firm tannins on the finish. Really incredible how well this is holding up and an outstanding expression of Napa Valley Cab! — 9 years ago

Jimmy Hayes

Estate Director Mayacamas Vineyard

9.6

Sometimes kings deserve to be kings. This bottle was great. In a mature place, but might stay on a plateau for a while longer. Soft black plums, tea, caramel. Sturdy in the glass for an hour. Enjoyed with great company at a great place in London. Consumed, with other bottles, alongside Mayacamas Cabernet 03. I'm always struck by how much in common our wine has with the structure and profile of Nebbiolo. — 10 years ago

Laura Howard

9.6

Must be nice, Waugh. — 10 years ago

with Seth

Ian Blackburn

9.3

I have tasted many 1961 over the years, this continues to be one of my favorite wines...The strange thing is that this bottle with its high necklinewas the youngest 1961 that I had ever tried, wine had an great Providence - One owner and one incredible cellar.

1961 was a magical year on the right bank; now over 50 years of age it has lost some weight but picked up elegance on the nose - wet clay, graphite/lead pencil, umami/truffle - nose candy for sure. — 11 years ago

Noah Chasin

9.2

Initially concerns it was shot, three hours later it proved to be quite delightful. — 6 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

I don‘t know. This has so much oak it overpowers everything. Might need another 10 years to be approachable. Cigar box, black berries. Deep, big and profound. I am not sure I would spend 70$ on this. It needs much much more time. Probably needs to be open for 2 days. Out of the machine at the Wine House in LA. — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1989 vintage. From a 375ml. Opened not decanted. Great top shoulder fill. Used a Durand. Pristine cork. Throwing slightly less sed than anticipated. Dusty and earthy nose. Tasted 30 minutes and 1 hour after opening. Light-medium body throughout. Front palate a bit thin and watery but back end had some gamey/meaty notes intertwined with dirt clods. Despite the descriptors, maintained elegance for the duration. Seems to be holding the line here for a spell in the 375ml format. 10.17.25. — 8 months ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Soft peach and apricot with a touch of brioche and delicate honey. Rounded and mature., suffers a bit by the pristine 2002 alongside. Lovely stuff but could be a touch more dynamic — 10 months ago

with Matt and David

Edwin Edwards III

9.1

Had this on Christmas Eve with family, and it is a very good, light Pinot. Will be getting again when I get the chance! — 6 years ago

Rob Russell

9.0

Just had this in Bordeaux a few weeks ago. Like most wines of this vintage it took a bit of imagination to fully appreciate. It is clearly time to drink this wine, it may be on the downhill side of life. Overall a good experience for what was not noted as a premium vintage, but is a very solid wine. — 7 years ago

GabWine

9.6

When we open from 1987, we expect everything. One thinks of its conservation in cellar, the risk that it is passed or incredible, with the tannins having evolved in this vial ... The cork pulled-out, in perfect state and one knows in advance that one hit the jackpot and that it will be phenomenal. A coppery robe, a complex nose with aromas of black and floral fruits. In the mouth, an explosion of flavors that take the length and makes us go back in time. A very large estate for an incredible wine, to fall 😍🍷 — 8 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.8

If there were ever an archetypical Syrah, Jamet's Cote-Rotie would be a strong candidate. To me this is a pure expression of a classic Northern Rhone Syrah. It is not a single site, but a blend of terroirs, encompassing over 20 sites mostly from hard rock schist bedrock with little to no topsoil. There is NO Viognier in this wine like one might expect from most Cote-Rotie that might have 1-5% co-fermented.

Importantly, there is also a lot less of the oak character that can dominate and overwhelm many Northern Rhone wines. The oak maturation, while not short at 22 months, only uses 15% new oak with no trace of it on the palate as it is perfectly integrated. Grape bunches are whole cluster fermented and macerated for up to 3 weeks.

The 2007 we have here was drinking superbly for a young wine, showing lively and racy layers of peppercorn spice, roast beef, and warm blackberry and currant fruit from the hot 2007 vintage. While from a warm vintage, not a hair is out of place. Density and purity exude from the nose and hint at what a brilliant future this wine has. Perfect acidity and fleshy ripe tannin provide the backbone structure for father time to peel back the layers of this beauty. I will be chceking back in 5 years at the earliest. — 10 years ago

Stuart Paynter

9.9

Truly delicious. Smooth as can be. — 10 years ago

Drew Summers

Sales Northampton Wines

9.1

Soft & Easy, as good Morgon should be — 11 years ago

with Rachel

Aran Healy

Partner Ruby WIne, Carlotta Cellars, Thistle Cellars

10

A perfect 10. What a pleasurable balanced vintage. With so much life. If any soil and earth, it would be black soil, rich and full of life. But the fruit, it's so full and vibrant still. Really hit this on a good year to drink! — 12 years ago

Andrea

10

Delicious!!! Warm, soft. Enjoy and be merry. Lucious purple plum flavor. #MAH — 6 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Lovely, sweet mature fruit (dried redfruits), there might be a touch of Brett (but less than the 1995 Beaucastel I posted last week), suave and complex on the palate, lingering finish, excellent Chateauneuf-du-Pape at its peak!! — 8 months ago

with Jim

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium light lemon straw colour , very fine constant bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral on the nose , with some light toasty notes , white flowers , lemon oil . Quite closed . On the palate this is really quite intense and mineral , oyster shell , chalky , limestone hints . Some lemon pith and a lightly toasty with a saline hint , fresh acidity , long and detailed , refined and very balanced . Really young still , needs time to open and will be long lived . Better in 5- 10 years and will last well a further 5-10 years — 9 months ago

Will Stanley

9.4

The 2016 Chateau Musar, the winery’s latest vintage on release, is much less forthcoming on the nose than the 2013 and ‘15 that I’ve tried recently, despite - or perhaps because of - the fact that the Hochars consider 2016 to be a successful and very ageworthy vintage.

The nose is quite dense and tightly wound, much like a left bank Bordeaux presents in its youth, not yet revealing its cards besides aromas of cedar, steeped plum, smoked beef and cinnamon. The palate, however, is open for business - powerful and saturated, striking that wonderful Musar balance between dark fruit and tangy acidity, expanding towards a puckering finish with good length.

The lasting impression here is of a very modern rendition of Musar, with great clarity and purity to the fruit, fine tannins, refreshing acidity on the palate and great drinkability now (though equal potential to age). My preference of late remains the 2013, but that’s now quite hard to buy - so I’d happily have a case of this instead.

94+ — 4 years ago

Steven Gage

9.4

Wow, one of my favorite wines. Very big and should be left to open up, loads of black fruit - black berry and black cherry with a little rose and a lot of spice. Really a wonderful wine that goes great with any steak! Enjoy. — 7 years ago

Chad Thompson

8.9

Might be the bottle but just a bit past its prime. Still good - sweet core, good acid, dark fruits. — 8 years ago

David L

9.5

04’ Joseph Phelps Insignia . Thought it would be close to a pop & pour...NO! Thick tannins that dissipate nicely after a 45 minute decant. Full - bodied.
Color- Dark purple
Nose- Flowers , lavender
Palate- Blackberry , espresso, light oak, nicely integrated acidity.
WOW... Seamless/smooth.
Drinking- now with another 5+? great years. Could possibly be many more. Drinking so nicely, why wait. — 9 years ago

Brian Duffy

Sommelier & Beverage Director The Barrymore Las Vegas

9.5

Outstanding! There is the perfect moment for a bottle to be opened and tonight was it. It was the wine equivalent of a album that you can listen to from start to finish. — 10 years ago

Raul Puga

9.3

Love me some Rafanelli Zin. This is the wine that got me into wine. Yes I know it's young but oh so yummy!!! '14 looks like it will be great in a couple of years — 10 years ago

Mike Shinn

10

Everything it's cracked up to be. What an amazing red blend. Delicious. — 11 years ago