Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The first thing I would say about the bottle is if served blind, most…including me would not gravitate to St.Emilion. Some might go Napa Cabernet here it is so ripe. I think it rides the fence of 65% Napa Cabernet & 35% Pauillac.

The second thing I would say it definitely shows the beauty of the 2009 vintage. This will be even more amazing in 8-10 yrs.

This is as ripe of a Bordeaux that I’ve had since the 2003 vintage. Maybe, more so at least here.

M+ velvety yet chunky tannins. Ripe, lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, boysenberries, strawberries, sweet tarriness, black licorice, baking spices, dry tobacco, lead pencil shavings. Leather, dark cola, dark chocolate baking bar, dry top soils, limestone, dark rich earth, river stone pebbles, touch of black pepper, oak barrel shavings, dry tea leaves, hint of mint, mix of fresh, candied & withering; dark, red, blue flowers framed in liquid violets & lavender, round acidity with balance, nice structure & tension, lush elegance for days and lands on fruits & earthiness lasting two-minutes.

These are not easy notes on a turbulent EK226. — 10 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.4

No formal notes. A stunning rich bottle at its peak - Opened for a crowd of unmasked 8 at a dinner celebration for all of us being fully vaccinated- hurray. — 5 years ago

Mabel Hsu

9.1

Not as structured as I would expect. Still has some edge. Was much better after half hour — 6 years ago

B

10

2013 Lafon Mersault-Porusots. HB w Mark R and J&H R. No decanting. Didn’t try this one, but Jeanne really enjoyed it. Gave it a thumbs up. — 8 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2004 - it’s quite comforting and energizing to drink a good bottle from my cellar after a hard day’s work. This special cuvee from old merlot vines exceeds my expectations: very rich and complex smell with tobacco, vanilla, morello cherries and a taste of minerals, beautiful ripened. What a great effort of grower Denis Lafon this is, it makes me só happy. #bordeaux #merlot #cotedeblaye #petitbordeaux Partnered it with a deer hamburger. — 8 years ago

Nicolas Tsikhlakis

9.1

Very well balanced with good body and bouquet. — 9 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

8.9

Thats a fine drink lads. — 10 years ago

with Peter

Evan Bloom

9.2

Pear, tart apple, slight bit of nutty salinity. Punching way above its weight class! Aww yeeeahhh — 11 years ago

Philippe Dauguet

9.5

Puissance, subtilité , léger boisé et pas solaire ! — 11 years ago

Red Wine Lovers

9.1

Elegance in a glass — 13 years ago

Mark S.

8.9

Minerally and acidic. Citrus. Bitterness. Heritiers Du Comte Lafon Mâcon Milly Lamartine 23 @5478, Toscan, 250927 — 10 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Again, so good! — 4 years ago

Pierre Gourinchas

9.0

Weird at first -some residual volatil compounds, but then settled very nicely. Elegant, nice structure. Lovely overall — 6 years ago

John Willison

9.2

Pale color. Lemon zest nose. Meyer lemon, lemon cream, and dusty minerality. This is a good wine. — 8 years ago

MH

Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.0

Showing well with nicely restrained fruit and earth — 8 years ago

Peter Grossi

9.4

Birthday wine — 9 years ago

Neil Cornish

8.9

Quiet the beast for Volnay. Ripe and rich. Hefty oak treatment. — 10 years ago

Sasha Agapov

9.4

Great balance here. Concentrated cheery, black currant and forest on the nose. Finish is quite short, but fun and playful. Definitely needs more cellar time, will check back in a couple of years. — 11 years ago

Napa Valley Wine Academy

9.0

Showing the glory of the 2009 vintage! — 11 years ago

Sam O'Brien

9.4

Amazing white burgundy. Pure fruit with a touch if funk. Great acidity and length. Yum! — 12 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.4

A beauty. — 2 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

Rich but balanced style. Golden apple, honeysuckle, brioche. — 3 years ago

President Obama

9.6

$25 @ Domestique. — 5 years ago

Brendan Baker

8.9

Black cherry and plum, gravel, black licorice, damp earth, seems like a good bit of new oak, bit rustic — 6 years ago

Diane Kessler

9.0

It was pretty right out of the gate. With air, it became more open and expressive. — 8 years ago

Rob Moose

9.0

Wanted to drink this after listening to Dominique’s IDTT interview. Found the best nationally priced bottle in Pasadena and it showed really nicely, particularly after being open for something like 4 hours. I like his winemaking approach here, which doesn’t seem to be about elevating it beyond its provenance. It’s a delicious, mineral wine that would crush with shellfish and was lovely in the afternoon along with The Trip to Spain. — 8 years ago

with Brendan

Colleen DeCourcy

9.0

Unusually earthy for a Bordeaux — 10 years ago

with Emma

Bradley Brown

Owner/Winemaker Big Basin Vineyards

9.1

Fresh and bright fruit of the vintage, med body with nice texture — 11 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

At 1st matchstick and citrus opening into burnt orange, honey, hazelnut, butter cream, has a slightly oily texture, tangerine, lingering nose, very complex and rich. Absolutely a stunner! — 11 years ago

Philippe Dauguet

8.9

Vif, nerveux et frais ! — 12 years ago