Château Lestang May
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1945
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)
— 5 years ago
Domaine François Raveneau
Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2012
This has less air. Very tense and dense. Almost syrupy in its tight, tart fruit. Really delicious and packed. Alongside the 10, a significantly tighter and younger wine but that may be the lack of air. Lemon, lime, sizzling acidity and great tension. Amazing stuff with a long life ahead. — 5 years ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
Just had this in Bordeaux a few weeks ago. Like most wines of this vintage it took a bit of imagination to fully appreciate. It is clearly time to drink this wine, it may be on the downhill side of life. Overall a good experience for what was not noted as a premium vintage, but is a very solid wine. — 6 years ago
La Spinetta
Il Rosé di Casanova Prugnolo Gentile - Sangiovese Rosé Blend 2016
29 May 2018. Brooklyn, NY. — 7 years ago
Château Cheval Blanc
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1948
The 1948 Cheval Blanc may well constitute the most unheralded legendary wine of the 20th century, in no small part because it precedes the 1947. However, after years of several mavens lionizing this vintage and after one impressive but not convincing bottle, I encountered a 1948 Cheval Blanc that frankly, blew me away. This third bottle originates from the same source as that and mirrors its performance. Deep and lucid in color, it has a quite astonishing bouquet that is high-toned and decadent: kirsch, blueberry and a hint of liquorice, all beautifully defined. But it is the power that knocks you sideways. The palate is exquisitely balanced with supple tannin, velvety in texture with a multi-layered smorgasbord of glistening red fruit towards the finish – wild strawberry, Morello cherry, and cranberry all mixed with subtle ferrous and tobacco notes. It is a wondrous Saint-Émilion that I would dearly love to compare with the 1947 one day! Tasted at a private dinner in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 7 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
Just a stunning Champagne & one of my favs for its richness, intensity, mineral & depth of complexity. May 2016 DG — 8 years ago
Domaine Saint Nicolas
Gammes en May Fiefs Vendéens Gamay
Medium bodied, medium acid, notes of lilac — 5 years ago
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2001
Deep medium ruby with no sign of development. Musky aromas of blackberry, blueberry, soy sauce and licorice; almost liqueur-like. Huge, savory and utterly silky on entry, then plush and superconcentrated in the middle palate, boasting blackberry, licorice and mineral flavors of incredible intensity and penetrating sweetness. Utterly palate-staining in its breadth. Leaves the palate vibrating with black fruits and licorice pastille. When I originally tasted this wine from barrel, I noted that it was one of the greatest California Cabernets I had tasted to that point. This massive, three-dimensional wine finishes with huge, noble tannins and outstanding rising length. I suspect it's just embarking on its plane of peak drinkability, which might last another two decades. This may be the longest Cabernet of the 2001 vintage. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, June 2020)
— 5 years ago
Opus One
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
2014. Just really good. May have aged a little longer, but definitely drinkable right now. — 6 years ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Cubillo Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2005
A really interesting wine. Even though I know these can be everything from black fruit dominated to more of an ash dominated type of wine, the notes here were a little bit tart and even a little on the sweeter side. Dates, sweet plums. Had a hint of tobacco, very ashy in the middle and finish. There is suggestion that this one may even be on its way down, and I definitely question that now. Left remaining 25%of bottle for 12 hours later and although the nose had markedly improved, the wine had not. This doesn't seem to be a good ager. — 6 years ago
Château d'Yquem
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
The 1988 d'Yquem is almost identical to the bottle I tasted in 2016. This is almost Barsac-like in style on the nose with scents of barley sugar, complemented by marmalade and mandarin, fresh and vibrant with a palpable sense of energy. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous texture but it is not, and has never been, as unctuous as either the 1989 or 1990. However, what the 1988 does possess is a surfeit of vitality and tension. There are layers of blood orange, quince and marmalade towards the finish that as the aromatics suggest, comes across as quite Barsac in style. Superb. Tasted at Château Batailley. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 7 years ago
Dom Pérignon
Brut Champagne Blend
Rich though lacked some oomph. May have been open awhile (by the glass) — 8 years ago
Rocca di Montegrossi
Toscana IGT Sangiovese Rosato 2019
The 2019 Rocca di Montegrossi Rosato is gorgeous, both spicy and floral, with zesty bright cherry and a hint of grapefruit. On the palate, silky, soothing textures usher in ripe red fruits offset by vibrant acids, as hints of sweet spice and salty minerals buzz on the senses. The finish is medium in length and remarkably fresh. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2020)
— 5 years ago
Kongsgaard
The Judge Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015
Michael David Winery
Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Color of dark purple, ruby, and a bit brown note on the rim. Nose of dark fruits, tobacco leaves, spice, and indeed some strawberry. Taste is sweet! Zest, cherry, , spice, marginal tannins come next. Quite milky. Aftertaste is also a bit spicy, tobacco leaves, and just a bit too watery. Too sweet for me but may be a good one in the party. — 6 years ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Réserve Champagne Blend
1 May 2018
When this is €65 on the restaurant wine list, this is what you drink with great tapas... Yum! — 7 years ago
Dan K
Hmmm. Have to agree with prior comments. Wouldn’t touch this for a while. Didn’t do too muchfor me. Nothing wrong just nothing epic. So i guess my 15s 16s -and 17s may be late in the game for me. — 5 years ago