Randmaster Flash

8.9

Very delightful — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Today, I get to celebrate 29yrs of being alive. Figured a while back that I'd like to have a birth year wine at some point, and with Napa not being a great vintage for 1988, I searched for Bordeauxs. Many thanks to @Mark Flesher
for helping me hunt this down!

I was astounded at how this bottle seemed to have been stored. The bottle looked pristine...unbelievable. Once poured in to the decanter, there was hardly any brown color to this wine. Still displayed a beautiful purple with slight ruby hues. At first whiff, it was still sleeping quite a bit. First taste affirmed that, though I could already tell I had nothing to worry about in terms of how it would end up tasting due to how it was stored. Earthy and fig notes up front. After about 15mins, some cranberry notes came around and the finish started improving. At about the 30min mark, this hit stride and brought some black tea and very faint hints of blackberry to the palate, with a beautiful lingering finish. This wine changed about 3 times over 30mins and showed it still has some years to it. Amazing to me how wine can sleep for 29yrs, and within 30mins, show you it's still got it. What an absolute treat!

And happy birthday to my birthday buddy @Shawn R ! — 9 years ago

with Mark

Rob Moose

9.3

Talk about overperforming. Really seriously impressive. Waxy honeysuckle gave way to mineral bliss over 5 hours. For an AC from 09?! Turner wedding — 9 years ago

with Chris and Brendan

Bryant Bickel

9.2

Lets talk turkey how is this not the the go to for thxgiving magnum perfection with food, cranberry in a bottle fuck your relish! Great depth a spot on wine from a spot on producer. — 10 years ago

Mselle

10

What an excellent wine to enjoy with family and friends. Forget all the flowery talk from amateurs and wine experts,just take it from me, this wine is damn good. — 10 years ago

Julia Weinberg

9.2

Getting a terroir lesson from Pedro Parra. When talk turns to CA limestone, had to hunt this down. @Sashi Moorman @Rajat Parr — 11 years ago

Simon Haidamous

9.2

Wow. Talk about full flavor with a little bit of dust. My new favorite discovery. Anything Venge is going to be excellent. — 11 years ago

Mitchell Mulder

9.7

Amazing Brew, Excellent example of a truly great west coast IPA, this is the reason beer lovers from other countries are seeking out these fine brews, Germany was always the true brew masters, but even Germans are giving high praises to brew like this one, talk to people in the UK and they are blown away my this brew and others from Firestone and Stone, Balast Point, really great to see this happening here in the Great USA, Proud to call this brew as OURS! — 12 years ago

Jay Latham

Sales & Marketing AI Selections

8.9

Bumped in to an old buddy at dinner tonight and he sent this over. Quite a treat. — 13 years ago

Tanja Yokum

9.0

Always trying "Loup wines" to honor my buddy @CathyLoup. This "Vent d'Ange" Chablis is divine, lush minerality defined. — 8 years ago

Jason Chang

Proprietor NINE SUNS Winery, HOUYI Vineyard

9.5

Catching up with my good buddy. Old BV never disappoints. — 9 years ago

with Mike

Rob Moose

8.9

Can we talk about this label? Who is this for? Anyway, this wine is a stark contrast to the 2012 Tribut. Not particularly noticing the step up in pedigree, which is maybe 2013's fault. Very tropical and soft, quite expressive but I miss some minerality. Not bummed to be drinking it though. Bus hang in Gateshead — 9 years ago

with Alex and Gabriel

Glenn Newbeck

10

Can you guys not talk to me right now. I'm having a moment. High quality modern winemaking with vineyard the romans thought were awesome.

"Damn kids get off my lawn!"
Not really said by Chevalier de Sterimberg — 10 years ago

James Casey

9.4

Buddy of bolognese — 10 years ago

with Alastair and Edo

Juan Luis García Ruiz

9.1

pure classicism #garnacha #tempranillo #mazuelo #graciano vintage that gives a lot to talk #riojawine #riojalover #cvne #winelover #wine #rioja #granreserva #1998 — 10 years ago

Brook Jennings

9.6

1998 vintage has held up really well! With my buddy Gibby and wife. Let it decant over several hours and it opened up beautifully. Cedar, leather and mineral on the nose. Long finish with full body. Wish I has 10 moe bottles. — 11 years ago

Wine Snob

9.1

Convinced by buddy to try it, glad I did. More like cab than Merlot. Great with a ribeye! — 11 years ago

Mark Lindzy

8.9

Oyster buddy — 12 years ago

Christina Turley

Sales & Marketing Turley Wine Cellars

9.0

More rapt attendees for flor talk by @joecampanale — 12 years ago

Jarrod Mclendon

9.6

Bloody buddy — 9 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

Rich and mature. Hmmm. Makes me second guess the sponti talk on Mosel rieslings - I reckon it's probably to do with SO2. Quite a bit younger than the german rieslings in our little study the other day, but so much more advanced. Or maybe it's the sugar that helps with longevity in the german stuff.

Waxy, honeyed, floral, petrol notes, with the green apple and pear fruit playing second fiddle. Hint of aldehydes. Mineral and weighty. It was delicious! — 9 years ago

Jim Levantino

9.2

This Pinot Noir (the t in Pinot is silent) is delectable. A true shining star. The aromatic treat starts with strong notes of red, and screams 'drink the entire bottle buddy'. Succumbing to the temptation you will discover a blissful elegance as this masterpiece flows through your body. Invigorating your inner youth, enchanting your inner sommelier, and appeasing your inner drunkard with the 16.0% alcohol by volume. This reasonably priced bottle of happiness would truly be a delight on any occasion. Additionally the surgeon general declares consumption of such a magnificent beverage could be detrimental to the growth of a child, pregnant women be warned. — 9 years ago

with Vin

Mark Oldman

9.5

the only thing better than your buddy serving Dom Perignon 2006? when you notice 11 more bottles on deck, ready to pop...classic DP lemon-cream-yeasty complexity with a voluptuous texture that stays fresh and zesty on the enduring finish — 10 years ago

Dr. Wo

9.9

A spectacular 24 year old treasure I hauled up from the cellar to share with my buddy Josh. Fresh, vibrant and fruitful with eucalyptus scented nose characteristic of Insignia. Fab! — 10 years ago

Kerstin Baker-Ash

9.0

Surprised by this lovely little white. — 10 years ago

with James

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.0

Talk about value. Very juicy strawberry and cherries. Pleasing amount of ripeness with just enough tannins to keep it approachble but satisfying. — 11 years ago

Jim Nelson

8.9

This is so nice and dry I expected to see the word "trocken" on the label. Alas, it's Italian and they don't talk like that — 11 years ago

Angela DeGarmo

10

Oh, I love this wine so much, I call it Denzel. Every single time I talk a client into having this at their event or table -- they love it. It is perfect for compromising different palates when only one wine can be had... Merlot lovers, Pinot snobs, Cabernet aficionados ... They all can get along with this blend. It is wonderful to drink on it's own, but it shines wonderfully with food. Duh, I love this stuff. — 11 years ago

Pam Strayer

9.6

Opened this bottle after seeing Kermit Lynch's book talk - a worthy tribute to both man and wine — 12 years ago

Parag Lalit

10

These chaps always deliver. Always. Another decade of cellaring wont do any harm. Talk about 1st growth quality at a 2nd growth price tag.
— 13 years ago