David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy birthday honey. 🎂🥳🎉❤️

The Chateau that got my wife Sofia to finally love Bordeaux (1995). Expected more from the this property in 2000. But 2000 is still either the stubborn I think it is or just not as good as critically advertised. 20 years in bottle and think it needs at least 10 more years. Also, a touch of v/a-bandaid. It has nice balance with soft fruit & earth. It just lacks the wow factor for the property & vintage. Maybe, it is in a dumb faze. But, I’ve been waiting 20 years for 2000 to come out of its shell. I love this property but it is not up to its reputation…even for lesser vintages. It might be outstanding in another 20. This bottle is a little flawed and perhaps maybe (?) a better 2nd day wine. Tonight it is leaner than I would expect. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Sweet lead pencil, charcoal, volcanic ash, spice, nutmeg, some cinnamon, vanillin, dry tobacco, sandalwood, limestone, dry crushed rocks , dry pebbles, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, dry herbs, hints of Worcestershire sauce, moist clay, withering mid floral bouquet with excellent acidity and a wire to wire finish that is balanced, nicely tensioned and elegance that lasts minutes. One of the few slightly flawed bottles in 25 plus yrs of collecting. I can count them on just over one-hand.

Picture of Sofia picking the 2012 Mouton Rothschild Merlot. — 6 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.0

Decided to try this one that has been on the shelf awhile for NYE. Quite nice with a very yeasty, flint, and smoke aroma. Nice Fizz. Yellow-green in color. The cork is a bit unusual as it is held on with a rope as opposed to a wire cage. Smooth with a slight salinity and nice finish. — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Vinaigrette salad with dried, dark cherries & caramelized walnuts calls for Pinot Noir. In fact, the wine needs the salad to really sing. Wine speaks deeply to the skin of the caramelized walnuts.

The one thing about Burgundy is you can get pre-ox, barnyard and VA. Here, you get just a touch of soft VA.

The palate is; round, lush darker fruits that are very ruby. Ripe & more extracted; blackberries, stewed black, plum, dark cherries, plum pudding, blueberries, black raspberries, dried cranberries, raspberries & strawberries on the way to fermentation. Moist clay, dry top soil, sludgy limestone, dark chocolate, notes of maple & brown sugar, dry herb, deeply grilled meats, dry & fresh tobacco, leather notes, oak powder, charcoal, forest floor, dark, tree sap, berry cola, blended black & red licorice, dark spices with a touch of heat, tea with sediment with candied, ruby, dark florals; dark, red, purple & blue florals. The acidity is round & beautiful. The finish is solid wire to wire, rich, lush, well knitted & balanced, sexy and persists endlessly.

Vincent Girardin in excellent vintages, like 2010, is one of my go to value producer for reds & blancs.

VA fades as you sip...salad assists as well.

1/15/21
— 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Thought I’d try the wines Charles Hendricks trained before he left in 2014. While I say the wines are nice, so far, they lack his richness and ability to drink well young. I assume that will age 10-15 years.

The fruit is leaner. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, strawberries, leather, tobacco, barrel shavings/dust, dark spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, dark cola, wet clay, dry top soil to brush, some minty notes, fresh & withering dark, red and purple flowers, a little high on acidity but a nice structured, balanced finish to holds wire to wire and lasts over a minute. — 9 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is 50% Monastrell & 50% Petit Verdot.

This is nice and on latter side of its drinking window. Go figure w/ my palate. Brickish color on the edges. It is interesting, heady wine at this stage, soft, resolved with nice evolution and nothing that bites back. The benefit of drinking older wines. The nose is Spanish rustic. Understated fruits that are floral, slightly bright and yet have a stewy character. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers.

The palate is on the leaner side. Rustic fruits of ; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, sandy limestone, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers. The acidity is really good. The finish is well balanced with nice structure and similar wire to wire.

@Delectable this is the Pico Madama — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Sparkling Shiraz is a tradition on Christmas Day in Australia and is a great match with Roast Turkey and Baked Glazed Ham. A foamy mousse amongst the dark Ruby red colour. Aromas of blackberry plum and spices. A wonderful palate - sweet and rich with soft velvety tannins. Plenty of life and freshness with red and black fruits. Just plain delicious. My only bottle sadly and I hope I have the willpower to leave my 2004 until next Christmas. These Rockford Blacks are rare birds even in Australia. Disgorged 2002. Postscript: Only purchased in mid 2020 from a private cellar. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.

It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.

Excellent gourmet burger wine. — 10 months ago

Erica Wheeler

9.0

Spicy, easy to drink red. — a year ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Nice light lemon color and citrus/lemon notes on the nose. Tons of tiny active bubbles. A bit clunky, but vibrant balanced mid-palate. Weightier than anticipated, but lots going on... pear, ripe apple, Meyer lemon and a touch of toasty fresh baked bread. Lacking the weightlessness and elegance of France, nonetheless a fun companion with King Crab Legs on an early Spring evening. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2005 such an amazing vintage.

The 05 Pipeau is a bottle that I’ve looked at in my EuroCave for awhile & have passed on it for bigger name producers. But, not tonight w/o disappointment. Especially, for $25 a bottle upon release.

It took a small glass & a few sips to get there. I’m there now.
.
Ruby, Claret in a classic style.

Showing the beauty of the age & vintage. Ruby, inky, ripe, slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, raspberries, dried strawberries & notes of dry cranberries. Dry top soils, dark, rich, forest floor, river stones, dry tobacco, graphite, dark, grey volcanics, limestone/sandstone, anise to black licorice, dark, sweet tarriness, dry, dark dates, steeped tea with dark, withering florals that are also, red, purple and red. The acidity is mountain, cool, stream like and elegant finish that set nicely wire to wire with persistence.

Good first look and will drink well for another 15 years with proper storage.

Allen Brothers Ribcap...10 — 3 years ago