Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I corvined this last weekend and put it back in storage for tonight. I had a very different experience & thoughts on this wine last weekend un-decanted. This is wine comes from a period when I loved Caymus. After 2011 when they started picking later and at higher brix’s, they lost me but, got higher Parker scores and rave words from people that like sweeter Cabernet that drinks young.

Last weekend without a decant, very dominate bright cherries and vanilla.

Tonight, the nose reveals, dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominate, baked strawberries, black licorice, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The body is full, sexy, gorgeous and voluptuous. The structure, tension, length and balance are at the start of its high point with another 7-10 years of good drinking ahead. Dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominating, baked strawberries, black licorice to deep anise, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, dark spices with just a touch of palate heat, underbrush, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets. The acidity is like a needed waterfall shower. The long finish is, deep, dark, well balanced, elegant, ruby, ripe, polished and persists endlessly.

It’s been awhile and I’ve missed it. This is a very good example of why I used to adore Caymus. — 7 years ago

Jeremy Buss

9.1

Excellent Riesling! Bright acidity. Dry and some citrus on the palate. — 9 years ago

Jose Espinosa

9.6

Combines with everything — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Tried this again, about a year later. Time proved well. The vines of Lilian-Ladouys are found a stone's throw from the Graves of Cos d'Estournel and the Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. Purple, with inky tones. Aromas of black and blue fruit, smoky notes and soft spice. Palate displays black and blue fruits with toasty oak flavors, full body with round tannins. Finish ends with earthy mineral tones. — 9 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.7

Classic Gran Reserva. Nose is leather and oak. Complex in the mouth with leather, oak, clove, cinnamon, tobacco, fig and a hint of blue cheese. It finishes with more oak, medium acid and chewy tannins. A lovely dark, blood red color to boot. At a meal, this is the main course. Me gusta. — 10 years ago

with Susan

Rebekkah Stoeckler

10

My favorite Malbec ever. I will definitely drink this again. — 10 years ago

Nick Hammerschlag

9.5

About as good as California Pinot gets in my humble opinion! — 11 years ago

Milla Champion

9.1

Red blend from Sonoma at The Vine! — 11 years ago

Chris Thile

9.5

I really dug this. Blue cheese with honey vibes. — 12 years ago

Monroe Bryant

9.8

Ethereal. — 13 years ago

Paul Rollett

9.0

Earthy and tons of red berry goodness. Classic pencil eraser on the nose, great Gamay! — 8 years ago

Cate Harmon

9.8

crisp and strawberry-y — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 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

Tracey LaPointe

9.0

Such a beautiful sparkling. Refined and restrained. Lovely. — 10 years ago

Chris McGuire

9.3

2013 Vintage - seriously big Shiraz!! Big fruit, big alcohol, must find more!! — 10 years ago

with Andy

John Lin

9.2

Good St Julien typicity, sous bois, cedar, blue and black berries. Good concentration, juicy, good! — 11 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.0

Didn't blow me away but was enjoyable. — 11 years ago

with Ilida

Remi Cohen

Director of Winemaking & Viticulture Cliff Lede Wines

9.8

Love this wine and winery! Fresh blue and black fruit, violets, sueded texture, polished tannin — 12 years ago

with Lede Family

Paul K

9.8

This wine is outstanding! I tasted a bit pop and pour and knew it was special. It started out bright fruit and floral. I left it alone for two hours and then drank through the evening. Outstanding. It is delicate with red and blue fruit, yet dense and complex. Floral, bright fruit, and chocolate? on the nose. I took it outside on a 90 degree humid, MN afternoon and the nose got even more intense. I will do this on purpose again. — 8 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.0

Generally I pass on California Pinots, however this one is well worth the time — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Glorious stuff. Dark fruit. Inky blue fruit with sandalwood and intensity. Splendid stuff. You’d think this was 20 years old. Spectacular. — 9 years ago

with Walker and David

Steve Parker

9.0

Fresh and well balanced. Not over worked. Lovely Chardonnay. Paired nicely with fresh pasta, Okanagan to Matt and hand peeled shrimp. — 9 years ago

Beachin Wino

9.3

Like Baby Blue the blueberry aromas jump right out of the glass. First glass, honestly didn't seem any better than the Baby Blue. One hour later with filet mignon the wine had opened up considerably and WOW! This is one to pair with a juicy steak🍷. — 9 years ago

with Fred

Cody Milch

10

Last bottle of last vintage, lavender fizz — 9 years ago

Luke Quanstrom

9.0

Smooth, easy, sweet — 10 years ago

Sam C

9.0

"yeah fine" — 10 years ago

Mike Wolf

9.0

2011 vintage. Strawberry and stewed rhubarb on the nose, nicely balanced taste with pleasant minerality on the finish. Better then the 2009 or 2010 vintages which had a bit too much acidity, and drinking well right now. — 11 years ago

with Jennifer

Alex Powell

9.6

Absolutely stunning, the wine of the evening in a tough crowd. So many notes on nose, hung meat, sweat, earth, blue cheese, orange, cardamom pepper and ginger with some hoisin sauce...magnificent. Silken and exotic on palate as well, so smooth now fully mature, resonating finish of the above. Stupendous. 1982 vintage. — 11 years ago

Nick Lobaccaro

9.6

Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Pabst Blue Ribbon is an American brand of beer sold by Pabst Brewing Company, originally established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1844, but now based in Los Angeles. Wikipedia — 13 years ago