Tom Garland

9.3

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable dark magenta with some bricking. Nose: Captivating savory notes of dark fruit, herbaceous, funky earth, worn leather, pencil shavings, cedar, smoked meat, maybe a touch of bandaid(brett). Taste: A savory wine with class and elegance... dark currants, tobacco, graphite, saline, cedar, and a spiced earthy minerally medium plus finish. YUM! — 6 days ago

with Brenda

Doug Powers

9.3

[En Magnum.] Medium-dark color, some Brett aromas, fruit still pretty youthful, loads of structure still in this Bandol, long finish, very good! — 10 months ago

with Jim

Shengli Hu

9.2

Bright medium ruby color!! Brett, black olives, black pepper, FRESH red and black fruits, jerky, fruit wrapped acidity and tannins. Called it 1996 Cote Rotie. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

It's Open That Bottle Night(last Sat in Feb), and thought this would be a nice pull to celebrate the occasion.

1 hour decant(decent sediment). A striking still dark garnet with some bricking. On the nose: perfumed stewed cherry/plum, smoked meat, worn leather, cigar ash,milk chocolate, rich soil, some band-aid(brett) Taste: smooth, polished, vibrant wine with plum, tobacco, bitter chocolate, worn leather, earth, and a long graphite coffee ground finish. YUM!!!! — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Shay A

9.4

This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.

Poured alongside the 2003 Mondavi VHR as a comparison. 60 cab/40 merlot.

Decanted an hour. The similarities between this and the ‘03 Mondavi VHR the first hour was shocking…even as the host, I wondered if I switched the wines. Slight hint of brett but certainly not overpowering. Leather, herbs de Provence, sweet vanilla pipe tobacco, graphite up front aromatically. Dark roast mocha, red and black berry fruit, cassis, really nice vein of acidity and tannin. This remained unchanged during the lunch. Seems like it’s in a peak window (maybe close to the top?) where I imagine it will hold another 5-7yrs easily before turning more tertiary. — 2 years ago

Ben Lehman

9.0

For one of my all time favorite wines, this was a bit disappointing. What has previously smelled like garrigue and lavender, this time around smelled a bit too much of brett for my taste — 4 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.5

Initially Raspberry tart and Brett in a good way. Cork is amazing! Rich thick chewy mouthfeel. Fruit and wood still very prominent and well integrated. Surprised this has really held up well. — 5 months ago

Doug Powers

9.4

[En magnum] Dried redfruits, smooth and mature, relatively clean (very low Brett) bottle, good balance and length, lingering finish, very fine aged Beaucastel. — 7 months ago

with Jim

Aaron Rankin

9.4

These have begun showing Brett/funk, but this bottle is clean. My first without the horseshit kiss. PnP. Forest floor, wet sticks, and a bramble pie cooling by a distant window. This is Autumn Pinot at its most perfect. Plush mouthfeel with viscosity like a mild reduction (not reductive). While the tannin has faded, the concentration provides more than expected structure. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Had this on Sunday with Roast Pork which was a great match. 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% other varieties. Plum, raspberry and garrigue. Prior notes indicated notes of Brett. This bottle might have a small influence but a long way off bandaid and down the sink. I think I was influenced by my fellow judges at the Toowoomba Wine Show judges dinner last year - some of whom delight in picking the smallest shred of Brett and declare the wine blacklisted. I would hate to be a Somm serving these chaps. — 4 years ago