Severn G

9.6

Happy Father's Day 2020 to all; I'm posting pictures of our fur-kids, an independent and somewhat self-interested bunch. Two boys (9) and two girls (3), all rescued from various locations across the East Coast of the US. They generally bring the utmost of joy to my life on a daily basis.

Nose has blackberry jam on moist leather, minor cedar, very light barnyard notes, grilled blackberry,
blueberry compote, brewed dark roasted coffee, wet garden soil, chocolate vines candy and dried orange peel.

Palate has over-ripe blackberry, wet tanned leather, dark chocolate syrup, dehydrated black cherry, chocolate covered blueberry and moist cedar.

Silky smooth, intense finish running +2m, still showing tannins. Expect this bottle to easily hold another 10+ years without concern, in proper storage.

Decanted ~5h. Paired with well salted (in advance), medium-rare, grilled NY strip steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm) and sauted, early season, baby squash in ozro with our garden herbs.

INAUGURAL vintage on this wine, I certainly didn't realize that fact when we bought it in September 2005! This has been in storage for the prior 15 years, just coming back home in January 2020.

Merlot 50% / Cabernet Sauvignon 40% / Petit Verdot 10% — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Top year 904 @ £75 that was drank in Zalto burg glass as its like an aged burgundy

🐽 Paired w/ Iberian Ham 😍

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick

👃 Smoked burnt oak, soggy earthy leaves, leather, dark cherry & figs w/ balsamic & damson

👄 Med body of creamy stewed cherry w/ earthy balsamic & slight mocha

🎯 Med finish of above w/ earthy balsamic linger

Reaching peak but I preferred the 95 904 over this but the 890 94 was better than the 95! — 8 years ago

Joyce Lin

8.9

Purple/red flower on the nose, candied cherry, tiny touch of black pepper, thyme, mint, cinnamon, nutmeg, medium plus tannin, a touch of tobacco, cocoa powder, beautiful and velvety. A very nice Chinon. Had pasta asparagus/mushroom pasta with anchovy garlic butter sauce with it. It's a wonderful pairing. — 10 years ago

Brett Fromme

9.5

Decanted 2 hours. A fantastic Tuscan IGT that will impress even the most discerning wine lovers. Nose of herbs meat and subtle cherry. On the palate dark fruits, herbs, meat, and loads of spice. Very complex. — 10 years ago

Cory Fierro

9.8

BEAUTIFUL color on this wine, just stunning.

The nose gives off delicate red and pink flower notes, along with cola, cedarwood and white chocolate.

This is one of the prettiest wines I've ever tasted. Pure velvet luxury on the palate with candied red cherry and balanced acidity.

Compared to the Belle Glos Dairyman pinot noir I had last month this was a good deal better. Now onto Las Alturas! — 11 years ago

with Adolfo and Holly

John-Louis Kronfeld

9.2

Beautiful aromas of milk chocolate covered cherries with a cherry liquor note. Undertones of leather and vanilla. The palate is soft, juicy. Dry on the finish and showcases the ripe black fruits, creamy oak and fine grained tannins. — 12 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

What a nose. Spice, ripe and overflowing mid season cherries, pine resin and sap. Wow. Huge sweetness as well. Smells like 1er Cru Côte de Nuits. Stunning. Palate is nervy and engaging with huge mid season semi sweet cherry fruit. Juicy and prickly acids with wonderful juicy and ripe tannins with a citrus twang on the finish. In the zone right now. So elegant and yet so flavorful. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Just love these old Lynch Bages as they made so many great wines in off vintages. The 79 from an owc is sweet on the palate showing red cherry, cassis, cedar, earth, leather, mineral & tobacco. — 7 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.4

Classic Rioja. Dark cherry and blackberry nose with cigar box in the background. More dark cherry, plum, leather and mocha on the palate. Chewy tannins and lingering acid through the finish. Powerful but balanced from start to finish. — 9 years ago

Rob Chen

9.5

Drinkable now or lay down. Plum, leather, dark cherry. Jordan cabs are classics and always reliable. What got me hooked on wine. — 9 years ago

Megan Russell

9.0

On the nose, I smell cherry and vanilla. Tasting wise, it's very smooth. Not super tannic, more juicy. Notes of blackberry and cherry. — 10 years ago

Joe Lucca

8.9

Spring flowers and dried herbs on the nose. Tart cherry, black plum, and raspberry. Tons of minerals!!!! Himalayan salt, crushed slate, wet river rocks. A trip beneath the earth's crust in the shadow of Etna. This has the grip and saline acidity to cut through richness. Might be a good match with grilled sausages. Or a foil to long simmered tomato sauce. — 10 years ago

with Diana

Jim Daunais

9.6

What Rioja should taste like - classic strawberry, cherry, hint of vanilla - and plenty of earth tones on the nose. — 12 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.4

Shimmering ruby. Expansive aromas of fresh dark berries, cherry cola, potpourri and exotic spices; vanilla and espresso notes emerge as the wine opens up. Sweet, fleshy and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining black raspberry, cherry liqueur, vanilla and spicecake flavors and a sexy violet pastille nuance. Velvety tannins build slowly on the finish, which hangs on with impressive, floral- and spice-dominated persistence. (60% new French oak) (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, June 2019) — 7 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.2

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. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A redo after that disappointing 2002 Pichon Lalande two weeks ago on #steakandclaret night. While this is not again what I expect from this producer, it is better than the 02. Nose of cedar, fresh tobacco, stones and dry soil, quiet baking baking spices, ripe & lean; blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate, hues of blueberries, light mushroom, soft leather, black licorice cola and fresh red florals. The body is leaner to medium and well resolved. The fruits are fresh & bright. Dark cherries, cherries, lean blackberries, strawberries, cherries, pomegranate & cranberry juice, hues of blue fruits, saddle-wood, sweet suede leather, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar, dry stones, top soil & rich turned dark earth, limestone minerals, dry stems, slight touch of dry herbs, round, mouthwatering acidity and lean, long, well balanced fruit & earth, good structured finish with length. Finish lasts a full minute. Still 8-10 years of good drinking ahead. 9.3 with the ribeye. — 9 years ago

R J Thom

9.0

Well balanced fruit with cherry and leather. Nice tannins on the finish. Overall, a great value wine. — 10 years ago

with Askly, Charlotte and 1 other

Patrick McKee

9.4

Opaque red w slight orange rim. Iron, earth, funk, dried herb, black cherry, rose. On palate red apple peel, more metal/funk; good acid, mild tannin, slightly bitter. Mourvèdre dominant. — 10 years ago

with Kim

Martin Redmond

9.0

Dark ruby color with dried herb, raspberry, cherry, and a bit of spice aromas. On the palate it approaches medium-bodied, with a harmonious, elegant character and silky texture with dark chocolate covered cherries, pomegranate, and a bit of cola flavors. Med long finish. — 11 years ago

Kai Chang

9.2

Clear deep purple colour with watery rim. Clean medium intensity aroma with minty black cherry and black currant with hint of oak smokiness and vanilla. Dry on the palate full bodied medium alcohol with medium acidity and high but smooth velvety tannin. Flavours of earthy black currant, black cherry, and vanilla. Flavours last through into its long pleasant finish. Very good quality, drink now but can age for another 3 to 5 years for a even more balanced complexity. — 12 years ago