Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

90% Cabernet, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot. On the nose; rich, lush dark, cassis. Blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, soft minerals and fresh, red & dark florals. The fruits match the nose. Dark, rich soil, leather, crushed rocks, nice amounts of baking spices and fresh violets. Lovely round acidity. The finish is; big, rich, round and elegant. It's a beautiful wine. Photos of; the metal framing of their new winery and tasting facility; which they should move into in January 18 and open to the public in April. The cellar room concrete floor & walls are already poured and painted underneath the metal framing. Also, their new Syrah vines and some experimental Bordeaux varietals planted this spring, their Healy vineyard sign and their barrel cellar. Look for Doubleback to continue to push quality in their new winery starting with the 18 vintage. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Violets & blue fruits leap out of the glass with warm spices. On the palate; lavender, vanilla, light caramel, dark cherries, dark chocolate, olallieberries, blueberries, black raspberries & black plum. The body is leaner than previous Dragonfly vintages I've had. Tannins are M-M+ that are firm and dark. Dark soils & minerals, salted caramel, vanilla, black licorice, leather & wood shavings. Finishes with dry dusty tannins with ripe fruits that rise over the top of the dry tannins. Barrel tasted the 2016 vintage at the Nickel & Nickel Entrecôte. Photos of the decanted wines to enjoy during lunch and the old Nickel & Nickel carriage.

— 8 years ago

David Dorn

9.1

Blackberry and dark cherries. Black currant and silky tannins. Ages in French oak and its stellar! Really enjoyed this wine. Just wish I had more... — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I must say I was a little concerned when I first tasted this wine but after about an hour in the decanter and without food, it was soft, decent fruit richness but lacked power and complexity. However, with the ribeye, the flavors and complexity really shined. The fruits are ruby. Creamy blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, cherry cola, black plum, nutmeg, allspice, star anise, just hint of thyme & rosemary, mocha, caramel & vanilla barrel toast, long smooth finish that doesn't stop. Enjoy now and for another 5-8 years. Best apparently with a ribeye! — 10 years ago

Ryan O'Connell

8.9

Mellowed bananas and roasted nuts. Very smooth. Jameson as it could be — 10 years ago

Meghan Piatak

8.9

Sweet but not overly so
Good body — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

50-100 years old 3500kg per liter very small under2tons per acre 100% new barrels better for barrel fermentation deep dark earth soy espresso dark berry and plum fruit meaty dark and wild animal very aromatic black licorice 2010 the best vintage ever2008amaxing next to 2005and of course 2004 very rich and well endowed on the palate very round and silky tannins a big but well balanced wine lots of dark spices and fresh on the finish dark spices and some wild animal like but has lots of fruit earth and dark earth with layers of everything here and in balance. Finish 50+ most excellent — 12 years ago

David Jackson

9.2

Very good. Nice and smooth. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

On the nose, bramble fruits of; wild blackberries, plum, raspberries & sweet dark cherries. Green pepper, vanilla, salted caramel, dark soils and fresh & dry dark florals. The body is medium lean, tannins are extremely soft & round. Wild blackberries, plum, raspberries, sweet dark cherries, green pepper, black oil, wood shavings, dry stone, black cherry cola, vanilla, salted caramel, dark soils and fresh & dry dark florals. The acidity pours over the palate. The finish is not quite there but Randy's wines are 20 plus year wines. However, it's well balanced with 50-50 fruit and earth. Only concern here was the green bell pepper. Photo tour of; their Howell Mountain vines, barrel rooms, low yield vines and the legendary Randy Dunn. — 8 years ago

Richard Jennings

9.2

Ripe berry, black currant, light licorice nose; rich, tasty, black currant, black cherry palate with sweet tannins; long finish — 8 years ago

Jono Riehlman

9.0

Rich color of shadows [12 month, new French oak barrel program]. 7 day maceration produced jammy aromas and blackberry preservative flavors, black pepper spice. thrilling tannins haven't weakened from aging. Finish lingers nicely. — 9 years ago

Eron Garcia

9.1

Velvety and smooth. Big black fruit flavors (plum, blackberry, currant) but not sweet. Very mild tannins. Works well with food or just sipping on its own. — 10 years ago

John Sweeney

8.9

Very interesting... Crazy what 60+ months in barrel does to a wine. — 11 years ago

Joel McElrath

9.6

Very nice, light and not too dry. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have to say this is my favorite Chateau to stand in front of and gaze. On the nose, spice, wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, mint, tobacco leaf and dark fresh & dry flowers. It's drinking nicely with silty medium-medium + tannins & full bodied. Ruby, ripe wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, crushed dry minerals, mint, tobacco leaf and violets, dark fresh & dry flowers. The acidity is round and mouthwatering. The long finish has great elegance, beauty, length, tension & balance. It's just starting to hit it's stride and has plenty of life ahead of it. Another 15-20 years. Who said 04 was a difficult vintage? This will continue to improve and will stun with another 10 years in bottle. Photos of the the exterior Chateau front & side, tasting room and Christian Seely Managing Director. Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Pichon Lalande were originally part of the same estate. Pichon Baron got it's name when Therese, daughter of the founder, received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament. Chateau Pichon Baron changed because of the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville. He took over managing Pichon Baron when he was only 19 years old! When the Baron passed away at 90 in 1850, he divided his Pauillac estate. The sons were awarded what became Chateau Pichon Baron and the daughters were given what later became Chateau Pichon Lalande. Pichon Baron went through three rough decades in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Part of the issues were, lack of investment and they machine harvested. The first really great vintages for them were 89 & 90 after Jean Rene Matignon, Jean-Michel Cazes join them and AXA Insurance Company purchased them adding capital. The 73 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Baron are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. However, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot are reserved exclusively for the second wine. The terroir is mostly deep gravel, sand clay soils. Pichon Baron uses 80% new French oak and rests in barrel 18 months. @ FogoDeChao

— 8 years ago

Alan Doughty

8.9

Full bodied velvety texture, full of blueberry, black cherry and raspberry flavors. Floral notes on the nose carry through the palate. Natural fruit acidity keeps it balanced whilst dusty, minty herbal notes add complexity. — 9 years ago

Nick Wolfe

9.2

This is the 2005 Edicion Limitada. Wow...big spice, black fruit, smoke, and earth on the nose. Palate is rich and mouthcoating with fruit, dark chocolate, spice, and very-fine-but-still-rustic tannins. Bright acidity that works nicely with the earthiness. Very long finish on this beautiful wine. Very sensual. — 10 years ago

Tim Ito

9.2

Dark thick malt molasses licorice heavy alcohol — 10 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Black cherry, cassis, loamy earth, dusty leather and hints of oak and smoke. Delicious. — 11 years ago

Jonas Johansson

9.8

Time to dress the Christmas tree — 12 years ago