LSV

9.0

Light and summery — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

Coming from an exceptional vintage, the 2005 Viña Tondonia from R. Lopez de Heredia is a compelling blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%), all sourced from their estate vineyards and aged for six years prior to bottling. This sensational wine opens with a bright bouquet of leather, cranberry, orange rind, forest floor and suggestions of black tea. Showing incredible focus and poise, this balanced Rioja is framed around flavors off leather, red cherry, teaberry, Mandarin orange and pipe tobacco that sit alongside brisk minerality, as the wine shows tremendous freshness and length through the long finish. This is an absolute stunning effort from this storied Estate and should continut to drink beautifully for years to come. Drink 2019-2035- 94 — 8 years ago

Bill Bender

9.3

After a spirited tussle between myself and the Durand vs a dry and crumbly cork I was able to double decant this and segregate away the remnants of floating debris. I was immediately struck by the bouquet which was unmistakably borne from Cabernet Franc (and I believe this blend is less than 10%). It was a positive sign. The wine is completely intact and boasts ample fruit albeit waning acidity. Simple Concord grape, bruised black plum and sweet oak flavors are holding on 2 hours in. This has some time left, but not much. This is a testament to Opus One quality in the early days (I believe this was the 3rd or 4th vintage) and while I think the ‘87-‘97 era was their best, this is an profound example of an exemplary wine at age 37! — 8 years ago

Jeremy Bowen

9.7

Blueberry and spice bouquet. Rich and smooth palate. A great wine for a special occasion. Happy anniversary to us! Thanks Molly! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

As good as this is tonight, it's a bit of a shame to drink it. It's beautiful, ripe, rich but the tannins still need some work. This wine will be amazing in 15-20 years. Dry blackberries, dark cherries, dark cherry liqueur, black plum skin, cooked strawberries, dark coco, minerals are so fine & elegant, suede leather, dry dark earth, decayed floral bouquet, black licorice anise, good acidity and a round plum dry finish. — 10 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.5

V13. Very good today, great tomorrow! Very nice cedar bouquet, deep blackberry and plum fruit with a spicy and very slight green pepper finish . Wine is really good today , but there is a slight "newness" that will eventually round out. Enjoyable dinner wine. — 11 years ago

Bryan Flewelling

8.9

All kinds of delicious dark fruit...juicy and baked blueberry. For the $ it's a knockout.--2010 vintage — 11 years ago

Chris Bensick

9.0

Thanks to a good cork, still alive, with a super bouquet, although a bit faded in the mouth. Wish I was in as good shape! — 12 years ago

Jay Miele

10

A nose of dried prunes, 30 second finish with minimal tannins. Nice bouquet. Drink within the next few years. — 13 years ago

Delectable Wine

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10

The 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion from the château cellar is transcendental. It is blessed with the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine, effortless and natural, featuring woodland, red-berried fruits, a minerally quality and a faint touch of leafiness; given time to settle, it develops a lovely gamy note. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied and sublimely balanced, upholding that effortless grace with an elegant, bittersweet, dried orange peel finish. One of the most harmonious wines I have ever consumed. Perfect. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London in September 2009. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Max Reichwage

9.2

39 years old, tertiary town, mushrooms, wax, lots of bottle bouquet, good with dessert! — 8 years ago

Sara

10

Great! Floral, and just dry enough. — 9 years ago

Mark Osmers

9.0

A lovely blend with a light bouquet of fruits and mild oak flavor — 9 years ago

Joseph Locke

9.0

Mineral tasting. Good bouquet. Lacks vibrant fruit flavor — 9 years ago

Knox Knox

9.1

This is definitely a great bottle. High alcohol but once it opens up the bouquet is marvelous; Vanilla, baking spices, fresh berries and cream. All upfront taste... bright fruit, berries, orange notes, red apple skin, medium-high tannins but all upfront clean finish, surprisingly light body. I would recommend this wine and would be an easy seller with a decent price point. — 10 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.5

V08. Delicious! Eucalyptus and violet bouquet. Rich, deep jammy blackberry and currant fruit with a slightly talcy finish . — 11 years ago

Matt Lierz

9.5

Fruit filled nose bouquet, red cherry palate with long/strong acidic finish. — 11 years ago

Bob Busch

9.2

Bouquet where the cab franc comes right out. Love cab franc. Taste is long and delicious. Medium body. — 12 years ago

with Winston

Edmond Ng

9.9

Beautiful bouquet. Smell of roast meat. — 12 years ago

George Chen

9.5

Drinks better now than 61...more lushness and full bouquet. Haunting layers of flavor, beautifully extracted front to back balance is amazing!!! — 13 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Bouquet of strawberries and rhubarb, fig jam, herbal notes, saddle leather, moderate acidity, cedar box. Lovely. — 7 years ago

with Deked1

Pablo Garcia

9.3

Excellent.... fresh ...clean shiny light red color...great bouquet of leather. Iron dried roses..., a beauty.., now I know why people love the produttori!! — 8 years ago

Ariel

9.0

Full bouquet, taste of fruit blackberry and aged oak with a noticeable amount of tannin and a loooong finish as it opened up. Going from tangy to spicy and leaves your mouth feeling like it went to sleep for a good 30 seconds. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

While not the highest scoring wine of the weekend, it was my favorite. The 99 Palmer is gorgeously textured, sexy, velvet in the mouth, nicely rounded subtle dark red cassis, mint, menthol, dry stones, dark florals, forest floor, smoke, soft leather, iodine, fresh floral bouquet, beautiful round acidity and a well balanced elegant finish. Paired nicely with our Ribeye and rack of lamb. Still needed a two hour decant. If you have the 99, I’d hold it another 10 years if you have the patience. — 9 years ago

Narun P

9.3

Lower neck/high shoulder fill. Cork intact but crumbled as it was pulled out. The appearance was excellent – fresh, dark, deep, no sign of letting go at all. On the bouquet, there was a strong Cabernet perfume. Cassis, black fruits. The tannic structure was still very healthy. No trace of oxidation whatsoever. This Montrose lived up to its name as a long distance runner! — 9 years ago

Linda

9.2

Minimal bouquet. Smooth eminently drinkable light red — 11 years ago

Karen Fricke

10

Light dry crisp smooth lovely! — 11 years ago

Peterjmaes

9.0

Excellent. Even better the second day. A lot of grip but the tannins are well integrated. — 11 years ago

Tim Murphy

9.4

Lovely , fragrant bouquet, nice legs — 12 years ago

Paul Borys

8.9

1934 Château Margaux

Top shoulder fill. Semi-opaque at the core, almost like an old burgundy with its brownish hews. Beautiful and graceful bouquet of roses, raspberries that have been baked, very elegant and healthy nose. At first very dry, with the fruit barely hanging on for dear life, but after 15 minutes in the decanted it comes alive with sweet fruit, high acidity and just a kiss of tannin. This is very complex and sublime for about a period of 20-40 minutes, what else could you ask for from a 80 year old bottle of wine.
THANKS DAVE !!

50-5-12-13-5=85+ — 12 years ago