Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Deep garnet red in appearance. Well rounded nose with truffles, forest floor, black currants, smoke and aniseed. Medium plus tannins (7.5/10) and full bodied. A lot of red fruits on the palate and very dry followed by some branches, cherries, herbs and some light spices. Long finish. Drink till 2036. — 7 years ago

with Sean and India

Colleen Wherthey Dunn

9.2

2014 vintage. Surprisingly well balanced for such an inexpensive wine. Fairly tannic with luscious dark berry/cherry notes and quite a bit of spice. Long and lovely finish. Good value red blend. — 8 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.2

2015 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. I think we all know Jamie's story, stock trader turned winemaker, so I'll not repeat it here. Suffice it to say that I lived vicariously through him for years as he apprenticed with Michael Browne and then graduated to his own label. A nicer man you will never meet ( and he knows a thing or two about Porsche as well). Expressive nose of cherries, plums, menthol and forest floor. The palate is slightly sweet with cherries, black raspberry, clove and a touch of oak and brambles. In recent years, Jamie has progressed away from the big, over-the-top, high alcohol Pinots currently dominating the California market. This wine has an earthy, Burgundian character with mouth-watering acidity and smooth tannins. 12.9% alcohol. I see your vision Jamie @kutchwines and I'm still interested in that 912.) — 8 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Cedar, black cherries, mushrooms, forest floor, tabacco, lovely perfume — 9 years ago

with William

David Lieberman

9.6

This has always been superior in magnum and this one only reinforced the impression. Still powerful, extracted and opulent. Intoxicating qualities aromatically; leafy forest floor, truffles, but also still, ripe black fruits and some gamey, smokehouse umami. A dreamy finish. I'll wait 10 more years before I open another... — 9 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.1

Black cherry, with toasty oak, cigar box and forest floor. Smooth and supple. Good structure and backbone. $18 at Trader Joe's. Great QPR. Stock up. — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

Monkey 47 Dry Distiller Gin. Slightly hazy, water white, colourless. Pronounced intensity of perfume, juniper, lingonberry, violets, lavender, orange and grapefruit zest. With water added, more perfume and citrus notes to the fore. Dry on the palate. Warming alcohol, medium body, pronounced flavour intensity. Long finish. Very complex. Outstanding example of a premium gin. — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

8.9

1995: not a great vintage on the LB, and expected to be average (classic!) but much better. Good black fruit, plenty of forest floor, mushroom, Earth, leather. Some pretty plummy notes too. Medium bodied, good balanced acid and softened tannin. Meaty, smoky, good gravely notes, tobacco, and average e depth. Decent — 11 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Opaque. Dark and brooding tawny to the rim. Fragrant seductive nose. Notes of black cherry, sweet plums, dark soil, moist forest bark and old tree leaves. With air some cherry pie filling, cracked nuts, mocha and a little clove appear. Rich and silky in the mouth. Smooth. Long finish. Still young. Really good wine. — 7 years ago

Patti Gamboni

9.1

All estate, less forest floor and pine (still some) than the 2006, slight meaty thing going on, black cherry, still pretty silly on palate, has some grip though. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tawny scarlet color, dark and opaque. Black fruit, forest floor, cedar and a little camphor in the nose. Rich and powerful in the mouth but with delicate fruit. Tannins are nicely integrated. There is a strong structure that evolves and softens with air, and which is followed by a nice, lengthy finish. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Third of the blind tasting for Father's Day weekend.

Dark purplish ruby red. Dark fruits on the nose with notes of forest floor and some aged characteristics of mushrooms. Solid acidity and heavy tannins (7/10). Rich palate on the attack with black fruits. Opened up to some anise, a touch aged, earthiness and some minerality. Medium plus body and long finish. Drink till 2028. (91+)

Will leave our last bottle for a few years. Hopefully this will improve with age. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

Ted Boydston

9.0

Scents of forest floor, pencil shavings, and violets support this wine's fine pallet of deep bramble notes, black cherries, forest dust, cocoa, and hints of licorice. Sticky, lasting tannins. Somewhat watery mouthfeel. A superb wine on its own; so much so that I almost don't want to pair it. Worth seeking out. — 9 years ago

Tom Wood

9.4

Get at it with a knife and fork. Chocolate powder, Black Forest, soy, stout-like tar, licorice and plum jam. Tar-like density on the palate with insane delivery and drive behind it. Tannins have developed an elegance that I was not expecting and it hides its alcohol. Long, long finish on this. — 9 years ago

Leanne Li

9.0

Drinking at home. Black current. Forest floor. Smooth tannin. — 10 years ago

Scorewine

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

9.0

Yatir is a boutique winery owned by Carmel winery, they produce this in the south Judgean hills at an altitude of 900 meters, the first vintage was 2001, 2005 was just spectacular, this wine is a blend 77% CS , 13% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot. The color is deep garnet, on the nose black current, cedar, spices, light mint, full body with firm dry tannins, great acidity and a long chewy finish. The wine has matured beautifully over the last decade, and has a few more years left. My score 90, drink to 2019 — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

There are few simple life pleasures that are as good as my Ribeye and a well cellared, very good vintage of Pichon Lalande.

One of my favorite New Years Eve traditions is to have an old Pichon Lalande and my Ribeye. This one was close to Heaven.

I come from a mother who raised seven kids on her own as my father passed away five months before I was born. An amazing feat on her part. I say this only to say, if you didn’t eat at rapid pace, you didn’t get your fair share. So, I learned to eat quickly as we all did.

However, this steak and a Pichon Lalande takes over an hour and has lasted two hours on several occasions. One small bite of steak and a small sip of the right Pichon Lalande and my eyes roll as my head dips in complete appreciation and study. This 86 was no exception! Pichon Lalande is simply my favorite steak wine.

The nose on the front end reveals some barnyard but, dissipates as it opens in the glass. Saddle-wood & cedar, forest floor & dark cassis. Ripe & slightly baked; blackberries, dark cherries, mixed dark berry liqueur notes, blueberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, cherry notes on the glass edges and high nose. Black licorice, limestone minerals, dry stones, dry brush, steeped tea, light herbaceous notes, burnt caramel, vanillin, dark spice with bright red & blue flowers and dark withering florals.

The body is medium full and flat out gorgeous as it tantalites the palate. It’s a slow sipper. The tannins are slightly tarry & well resolved with years ahead. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit full harmony. Dark cassis, ripe & slightly baked; blackberries, dark cherries, mixed dark berry liqueur notes, blueberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, plum and cherry notes on the glass edges and high nose. Black licorice, sweet tarry notes, limestone minerals, dry stones, dry brush, saddle-wood & cedar, forest floor, dark expresso roast, pipe tobacco, soft leather, dry crush rocks, steeped tea, light herbaceous notes, burnt caramel, vanillin, dark spice with bright red & blue flowers and dark withering florals. The acidity is like a waterfall over the palate. The long finish can only be described as ripe, ruby, well balanced Heaven and it is persistent for minutes. Puts on weight with an hour & half plus in the decanter. Tannins also...round, slightly gritty and dusty.

Happy New Year! 🥂🍾🎉🎊🎀🎈

Photos of, Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, painting of Virginie, Countess of Lalande and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.3

An interesting nose of big red and black fruit, wet forest floor and a hint of mushroom — 9 years ago

with ADAM

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

More for #wawinemonth! Not the same as other wines by Randy Dunn but solid WA Cab.

Deep ruby red. Layered and slightly aged nose with damp forest floor, baking spices, black cherries and dark red berries. Moderate tannins (7/10) and medium plus body. Definitely needs time to open and has a touch of heat. Complex palate with some bitter dark cocoa, dark fruits, twigs and black cherries. A bit angular but leveled out with time. A touch vegetal with a super long finish. Drink till 2020. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

David L

9.4

12' Edge Hill Field Blend Mixed Blacks 15% ALC. This could possible be one of the darkest wine I've ever poured. It's black. I decanted this for almost 4 hours. The edges have a dark ruby red color to them now.
The nose is almost all blackberries with a touch of lavender. The front of the palate is licorice & oak. The middle/ back of the palate- blackberries, beef jerky, little sweet dark chocolate. This is a powerhouse of a wine. All💪 with hearty, semi-sweet tannins. The acidity/fruit/tannins are all(BIG)& balanced. What a great wine!

Food pairings? Porterhouse steak/ribeye medium rare👌stuffed peppers!?! You could "almost" service with dessert (black forest cake?) just a thought. Cheers everybody!

Now I've got to go take a Brillo pad to my teeth😋. Whitening strips?😬 I want to thank my good friend@Martin G Rivard for such a great wine!! Thanks again buddy. — 9 years ago