Alexandre Pagliano

9.2

Dark garnet robe, nose of blackcurrant and anise, then dark fruits, violettes and spices together with tobacco and tar, pepper. Medium bodied, elegant, long, its opening now but no rush. We liked it a great deal, its a very fine wine. — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Clive McNish

9.2

Loving this, 18 years old, rich and dark in the glass with no real sign of ageing. The nose is great with plenty of blackcurrant, tobacco, cedar, oak, truffle and mushroom. Balanced flavours on the palate with a long fruit, leather and Christmas spice finish. Tannins are present and a little drying but the layers of flavour keep them subdued. There is plenty of life in this wine, probably another 10+ years. Rating tonight and will update if what is left shows higher tomorrow. — 5 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Quite nicely aromatic , cedar , black fruits touch of truffle , leather perhaps . In the mouth nice ripe black fruits , blackcurrant and blackberry , a mineral and earthy note also . Nice acidity and quite suave tannins . Length is alright , not the longest. Overall a nice drinkable claret , drink now but will last quite well over the next 5?years I suppose . — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Lynch Bages is one of my favourite wines & clearly it’s too young to open this 98 pointer 09 but I’ve found a stash @ £120 so wanted to unleash a bottle for the community 😁 oh and me 😉

📍 Chateau Lynch Bages 2009 Pauillac

🏵 94 points now but 96+ potential in 3-5yrs

🍇 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, & a dollop of Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot

🍷 Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Gravel, flint & pencil lead infused soft smoked oak through earthy blackcurrant w/ wet leaves, red liquorice & mocha

👄 Med body of rich ripe blackcurrant infused with minerals, blackberry, blueberry, red liquorice & mocha w/ fine dry tannins

🎯 Long touch dry vibrant earthy blackcurrant & blackberry, red liquorice, blueberry & mocha mouth coating w/ a mineral stone linger — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

12th bottle of this beauty we can't stop drinking as so good young! @£50 - reviewed before & was a quick bottle last night so I think what I said before captures it well 😁

A proper good Margaux! Dark plummy blackened red. Aroma of plum, blackcurrant & wet stones. Thick intensive balanced smooth jammy blackcurrant, cocoa & plums on palate with med body. Long back fruit finish with little acidity.

Mrs E suggested it's like "bare breasted maidens under a blackberry waterfall!" Who am I to argue 😎😍 — 8 years ago

Steven Lee

8.9

Mulberry, blackcurrant, tobacco, light and savoury with a distinct minerality and chalky feel. Quite pure and herbeceous. Quite grippy tannin with slight bitter aftertaste. Overall it is quite drying — 9 years ago

Chris England

8.9

£99 Magnum that RP said "one of the most disappointing St.-Juliens I tasted 84pts" well I think he should retry the great numpty 😜 Still could do w/ 2-5yrs 👍 Great nose but palate still a little tight

🍇 63% Cab S, 25% Mer, 9% Cab F & 3% Pet V

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Smokey oaky earthy farmyard through shy blackcurrant & spiced plum w/ minerals, leather, musky cellar & wet leaves - fab nose 👍

👄 Med earthy mocha blackcurrant body w/ dry tannins & touch of tart cherry

🎯 Med dry earthy blackcurrant finish — 9 years ago

Rajiv Ayyangar

10

This was the vintage Serge sipped as bombs fell in Beirut in '76.

Moderate ruby-garnet to an orange rim. It was phenomenal straight out of the bottle, with tertiary dark blackberry essence leaping from the glass. It doesn’t show much oxidation at all. Savory integrated brett, complex tamari and blackcurrant notes. Rounded softened tannins, but still present. I can’t believe how good this is!

Overall the character was similar to the ’95 but with an added tone of brilliant blackness. Slightly toasty, blackened and charred blackberry essence. Also at various moments, dried apricot, orange peel, amaro herbal notes, anise, flemish sour notes, like a rich BFM brew.  

Age with power. Complexity with playfulness. Wisdom with unpredictability.  — 10 years ago

with Gence and Tim

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.2

Excellent style, open and opulent. Dark blackcurrant, gravelly, graphite, stone, tobacco and ash. Well integrated green pepper and mint. Medium to full, good grainy tannic structure and vibrant acidity to back it up. Really coming into its own. Great length, and very good typicity — 11 years ago

Kai Chang

9.6

Tried this for the first time at the Vancouver International Wine Festival, I had such a great memory with this wine. It hits you with a fully oak filled fruity and substantial aroma of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, cigar, caramel, vanilla and a little breadiness. Burst of energetic fruit flavours supported by its vibrant acidity and smooth yet chewy tannin goes into long a fulfilling finish. Still young, still a lot of potential.. Thanks to my wife for a great dinner of pan seared beef shank steak. — 11 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.5

No surprise this was wine of the Christmas Europe trip. Initially quite high-tones and acid dominated (even after 90 mins’ decant). Nose of graphite and blackcurrant— and soaringly so. Eventually settled to darker fruit. Not fleshy in any way, just plumes of flavor incredibly well-knit. Always a joy for how seemingly *not* powerful it is— that is until the structure registers like a bass blast. — 4 years ago

Clive McNish

9.2

The Purple Angel lives up to expectations. A great blend of Carmenere and Petit Verdot which actually has a vibrant purple edge in the decanter. It is early days for this one but it can already be enjoyed with some decanting time but I think it is better than the 2016. Deep ruby and purple colour, the nose is a combination of Napa Cabernet and Australian Shiraz, rich, smokey, plenty of dark fruit and some nice burnt rubber and tar. On the palate there is blackcurrant, cherry, smoke and green and black pepper. This has a nice long finish and while it is definitely young, the tannins and acid are not overpowering. Definitely plenty of ageing potential and I think this will get better and better. Rating now is 9.2 but I’m sure it will end up at 9.5 in the future. — 5 years ago

Chris England

9.7

After a tiring day shopping 👠 👜 with Mrs E you gotta love Barcelona that you can pop to the local supermarket next to the hotel, grab some meat, cheeses, hummus & bread as well as a €295 98-100 Point by Vega Sicilia Unico 🤣 & a decanter + some glasses, then sit in your room overlooking the beach & city to chill @ sunset 😎 💗 Barcelona 🇪🇸

⏩ scroll for night pic 🌌 on Instagram

Drinking superb already but will become legendary 😍

📍 Vega Sicilia Unico 2006

🏵 97 points w/ huge potential but I prefer 04 at this crazy price 😁

💥 14% ABV

🍇 94% Tempranillo & 6% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Opaque pitch black ruby

👃 A heady intoxicating nose of date & prune jam, chocolate kinky goo sauce, raspberry & cherry Black Forest gateaux, melted liquorice, smoked dry cured meat, mint infused fresh cut cedar & herbs w/ spiced damson plums & subtle oak 😍

👄 Full bodied rich & ripe raspberry & cherry through creamy cocoa w/ dark plum, prune, blackcurrant, liquorice & parma violets

🎯 Long prune choc cherry & raspberry gateaux cake food fight eruption in your cake hole 💥 Did somebody say food fight 🤣 — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

A yum 01 @ £74 that is singing right now with a sexual nose teasing tickle 😍

🍇 63.5 % Cab S, 33.5 % Mer & 3 % Cab F

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Deep rich tantalising smokey oaky blackcurrant plummy plump squishy earthy oozy nasal tease w/ minerals, pencil lead, leather, herbs & mocha

👄 Med body of silky cream dark plum & blackcurrant in a mocha liquorice w/ a touch of dry minerals

🎯 Med+ dark berry bang w/ a liquorice mocha mineral smooth kiss — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.5

👨‍👨‍👧 Joint rev w/ Burgnut & Deena

❤️ 09&10 got 11/12 to try, so 13 @ £130 how's it stacking up? Like Deena said before - this needs more time to flex its 💪 as it's very delicate 👶

💨 8hr

🐮 Beef Wellington

🍇 85% Cab S & 15% Cab F

🍷 Dark ruby

👃 Smoked cedar through spiced blackberries, herbs, flint minerals, black tea, lavender w/ a touch of cherry & cocoa

👄 Med bodied med acidity tart blackcurrant & red cherry w/ fine tannins & hint of light mocha

🎯 Med+ length light dark fruit dry finish

.... 💥 Extra Note: @ 6 hrs w/ no food this was a 4⭐️ pushing 4.25 but after 7-8hrs air & food it was a solid 4.5⭐️ - loads of potential in this bottle 2020-2035 😎 very elegant but 09 more punchy now 👍 — 9 years ago

Chris England

9.6

Latest vintage of Tig @ £67 & wow it's another winner 😍👏 drinking great already after 3hrs 💨 but set for stardom - buy this beauty 😉

🍇 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cab S & 5% Cab F

🍷 Deep Ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Red cherry, spiced blackcurrant w/ sweet black & blueberries through mocha, minerals & smoke

👄 Med+ bodied ripe creamy smooth rich blackcurrant, red & dark berries through mocha in super fine tannins

🎯 Long black & blue berries slight sweet finessed linger — 9 years ago

Chris England

9.5

👊💥 £39 unbeatable QPR Pomerol & my favourite 👍 This Chateau is next door to Petrus and produces stunning wine for a fraction of the price! Perfect to drink now to next 5 yrs 😎

🍇 80% Mer & 20% Cab F

🍷 Dark ruby red w/ purple hue

👃 Dark jammy plum & blackcurrant through smokey oak, double choc mocha & minerals

👄 Med+ creamy smooth ripe dark plum & blackcurrant body with mocha infusion 💥 🥊

🎯 Long dark fruit, mineral & rich mocha linger - oh yeah 👍 — 9 years ago

Ekasit Poositranusorn

9.0

Intense ruby red color with nice aromas of ripe dark fruits, mocha, and cigar box. Full-bodied with ripe blackcurrant, plum, creamy vanilla, coffee, and soft spices on the palate. Meaty structure & smooth tannins coupled with nice long length on the finish. Pair well with lamp. — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.1

2002: good opulent nose, blackcurrant, mineral, tobacco, graphite, leather, forest floor touches coming through. Sweet and attractive. Lovely wine, lightly grippy, fresh acidity, grainy and minerally, oaky, black fruited through to the length. Very good, medium bodied, good balance. — 11 years ago

Tim Goddard

9.6

Deeply coloured, attractive blackcurrant/berry fruit, well structured, no edges, very good intensity. — 12 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.1

Dark rubi robe, nose of blackcurrant, top soil notes and hints of anise, pepper and asian spices. Medium bodied, tamed tanins and really good if not very complex. Great bottle now and no rush. We bought it for a song couple of years after it came out and is one of our best ROI in the cellar :) — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Chris England

9.3

My favourite Cotes De Bourg wine in a top vintage @ £60 😁 will keep improving 👍 If you’ve never tried this tiny region of Bordeaux you should check it out as there are some great value bottles here; this being one of the more expensive as made by the folks behind Tertre Roteboeuf 😎

📍 Chateau Roc De Cambes 2010

🏵 93 points

🍇 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon & 5% Malbec

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 Cracked mineral rock & gravel through blackcurrant, dark plum & raspberry w/ cocoa, soggy earth, black cherry & herbs

👄 Med body of rich creamy plump fruit filled blackcurrant w/ dark plum, cocoa, dark cherry & raspberry liquorice

🎯 Long ripe dark fruit blackcurrant burst w/ a raspberry mocha liquorice cherry smacker of a kiss
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

I picked up this Magnum of Palmer for £200 recently 😱 from a shop closing down RRP £430+ so I was a happy boy 😊 Not as rich in depth as top vintages but a beautiful elegant Margaux nevertheless 😉

📍 Chateau Palmer 2003 Margaux Magnum

🏵 93 points vs the pros who say 89 - really? Did they try the same wine 🤣

🧀 Paired with Iberian cheeses 👍

🍇 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot & 12% Petit verdot

🍷 Deep opaque ruby

👃 Smokey oak through blackcurrant & dark plum w/ minerals, cracked pencil, gravel, tar, soggy earth, herbs, mocha & blackberry liquorice - yumtastic 😍

👄 Med body of smooth earthy mineral infused blackcurrant & blackberry w/ slight butter mocha & red liquorice

🎯 Med+ touch dry minerality bathed in dark berry fruits w/ a stoney mocha finale
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

One of my fav hidden gems from St Emilion as every vintage delivers & @ a bargain €33/£24 this is fab now but will age well in 5-10yrs 😉 Can’t wait to try 2015 😁 09 & 10 are fab today 👍 More pics on Instagram ⏩

🏵 92 points

🍇 68% Merlot & 32% Cab Franc

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Blackcurrant & dark plum bathed in minerals w/ chocky sprinkles

👄 Med body of ripe rich blackcurrant & plum w/ blueberry & cocoa then a touch dry mineral kick

🎯 Long blackcurrant driven dark fruit finale w/ dry cocoa & minerality — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.1

🎅 Advent 📆 Day 2️⃣1️⃣

Nice aged Pauillac halfy @ £22 showing superb value for quality 👍

🍇 53.5% Cab S, 40% Mer w/ Pet V & Cab F

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Pencil lead, minerals, tar & gravel through black berries & dark plum w/ soggy poop earth, soft smoked oak & liquorice

👄 Med+ body of smooth ripe dark plum & blackcurrant bathed in minerals w/ tea, cocoa & liquorice tones

🎯 Med+ earthy mineral infused plummy black fruit w/ black tea liquorice cocoa linger

4 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.4

One of my favourite Margauxs w/ mixed reports on drink early or hold! @ £85 it's drinking superb but will improve over 10yrs 👍

🍇 48% Cab S, 48% Mer & 4% Pet V

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Stomped lead pencil, minerals, gravel, wet leaves & earth through charred oak & spiced blackcurrant/berry w/ light farmyard, black tea & mocha

👄 Med creamy smooth silky earthy mineral loaded b/currant & berry w/ light fine dry tannins & black tea undertone

🎯 Med+ earthy mineral elegant yet gritty dark fruit & black tea 😎 — 9 years ago

Chris England

8.9

One of my favourite St Estephe chateaus on great QPR 👍 @ £40 this 04 was at its peak 2yrs ago but still an enjoyable drop that won't improve

🍇 48% Cab S, 50% Mer & 2% Cab F

🍷 Dark ruby

👃 Mellowed gravel, minerals, leather, wet leaves & earth through aged stewed blackcurrant & fresh blackberry w/ light smokey oak & herby tones

👄 Med smooth body of deep earthy blackcurrant, dark plum & double shot mocha

🎯 Med earthy muted dark fruit mocha kiss — 9 years ago

Guy Davies

9.8

Everything I could possibly want it to be at this age. Damsons and blackcurrant, meat, smoke, earth. Depth, power, complexity. Packs a huge punch (I laughed when I first put my nose in it) yet stays dainty and elegant. A hippo in a tutu doing a startlingly good pirouette, a wild animal and an aristocrat. Am almost frightened by how good this will be when fully mature. — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.1

2000 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon:
From Jay. Dark ruby red in color. A preponderance of black forest fruits on the nose mixed with cedar and some menthol and a touch of spice. Rich blackcurrant, black cherries and traces of vanilla on the palette. This is a solid effort from Ridge and although it does not have the makings of an epic wine it will certainly improve with time. Drink 2017 to 2030. 91/100


— 10 years ago

Alex Powell

9.2

A bit wound up on nose, still smoky with fresh blackcurrant and elderberry, pine bough, tangy orange and tobacco leaf. Very woodsy, but also quite shy...palate is hugely mineral and mouthcoating, touch of spice, monumental and fresh, long length. No doubt quite excellent, but not showing its arsenal today...wait 5 years at least if you have such patience! — 11 years ago