Light tawny color. Great nose. Notes of cherry, rhubarb, dried flowers, brown spice, earth and gravel. Refined in the mouth. A bit tight, even with many hours of air. Yet great balance and class in the mouth and finish. We got more and more excited about this wine as it got into hours 6 and 7... it needed the air to blossom. — 7 years ago

The wine of the trip for me. This is the best Roberta's I've ever had and was amazed at how accessible this was showing. This wine shows just how good domestic merlot can be and would love to put this against so too end Right Bank Bordeaux in 10 yrs to compare. Works class stuff here. — 9 years ago
Wine Essentials: Classic World Wine Tour @iceculinary
Institute of Culinary Education wine tasting class.
Super great wine. Dark intense colors.
Round, lush smell. Rich ripe dark blackberry and plums.
Dense taste, dusty, tannic.
Red meats roasted, complex sauces best food pairing. — 10 years ago
1973 vintage. In magnum. Medium gold. Fresh still. Bruised red apple fruit profile. Huge complexity. Almond paste. Floral development - violets and rose petals. Xmas pudding richness. A world class champagne for the ages. — 11 years ago
Hey simply outstanding Pinot. Bought it at the Argentinian class April 19 Cellar Rat Wine. Rich but not to Tanic. Just a great balanced wine — 7 years ago
The 2016 Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande is simply sensational in this vintage. This brilliant wine is made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc and it exudes sheer class and elegance. It begins to impress with its beautifully pure aromatics of fresh dark currants, exotic spices, coffee bean, spring florals, graphite, tobacco all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is medium to full-bodied with remarkable structure, balance and depth. It further impresses displaying striking precision and definition through the long, graceful finish. The 2016 may require a decade of cellaring, but it is such a beautiful wine and clearly has the potential to be an all-time classic from this legendary Château. — 7 years ago
A class act. Cherry and plum. A wine with real intensity and class and only a year in French oak. Terrific — 8 years ago
One of the standouts of the vintage, the 2015 Sociando Mallet is all finesse. Light on its feet, gracious and super-expressive, the 2015 speaks to class above all else. The flavors are bright and beautifully lifted in this polished, sophisticated Haut-Médoc. Although a touch light, the 2015 is very pretty. The blend is 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2018) — 8 years ago
Super fun wine to get us ready for the Bordeaux Masters Class this afternoon.
Medium garnet core with bricking in the edges. Layered nose with some definite bret, not off putting at all. Notes of barnyard, leather and dried red cherries. Well integrated and balanced. Moderate tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Very rustic on the palate with some dried red cherries, forest floor and cedar. Long finish. Enough finesse to go another year or two but why wait, drinking well right now. Drink till 2019. — 9 years ago



I was concerned that this was too young and indeed it's absolutely best days are ahead of it but with plenty of air and a good decant it opened up very nicely and showed its class. — 10 years ago
Great. Sometimes one word says it all. Amazing. Sexy. In another class. — 11 years ago
Pure, Blackberry & black cherry. Absolutely gorgeous. A master class in preparation to drink, Dr Cassetta has skillz — 11 years ago
2000 Aging gracefully, this has richness and power combined with elegance and class. Loved it! — 11 years ago
Just dusted of one; not the class act like the 05 but very well structured classic aged fruit profile with a gamey flavor lining. The tannins are soft but hold your attention. If you can fine it buy it this is well done drinking great but has a long life ahead. — 13 years ago
🤯🤯🤯 Mind blown!!! This regional Bourgogne Le Chapitre out punches anything in it’s class as well as many 1er Cru I’ve had elsewhere. 100% stems which may be what adds the slightly spicy notes that followed the ethereal red berry flavors that just float across your palate. Lived up to the hype! — 7 years ago

The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 7 years ago
Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965, with a goal to produce world-class sparkling wines. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. A blend of 88% Pinot Noir and 12% Chardonnay with stone and berry fruit aromas and earthy spice. On the palate the light mousse shows cherry, apple and raspberry flavors with biscuit and slight baking spice notes. Lingering finish, lively acidity ending with creamy yeasty tones. — 9 years ago
In a line up with GC burgundy, blinded. Had everyone fooled. Volcanic shallow soil and young vines. Meticulous berry sorting.
Shows Oregon can produce wines of world class potential. Still a baby. Cooler vintage less critically acclaimed, but probably more aligned with burgundy lover preferences. — 9 years ago
Did a 20 year vertical. It was a moment of zen. Did it with friends, even better... And had a really cool som walk us through every year. World class. Thanks CD — 10 years ago
This the third time I've had this in the last year and it shows beautifully right out of the gate. The wood and fruit are so interestingly and well melded at this point. Oak moves to cedar on the palate. Definite alcohol lift in the nose still and you can feel it the nostrils but not obtrusive...indeed it's actually a promising hint of what's to come on the palate. Dried cherry and stone fruit tastes on right away. Slightly mentholated. Definitely picking up distinct vanilla undertones on the nose and palate but not over the top. Satisfying medium tannins. Soft mouth feel but with really good/balanced structure. Perfect finish in line with what preceded it. Just a great fucking wine. And for the price? Getcha some! Can't believe this is still just around and available (not telling where!). Not for those who don't want wood in their wine but even here what you think will finish moderately chalky moves to soft-ish tannins at the perfect time. So many riojas are over top in the wood category or just so out of balance one way or the other. Everyone has heard of Rioja but have you really had a good one? Here's your chance without breaking the bank. I'd put this one up against the best or at least those considered the best. Maybe lacking a LITTLE finesse to be world class but damn close (can you use the word finesse with Rioja??). Drank in gulps with parmesan dusted NY style mushroom meatball mozzarella pizza from Peppino's in Athens, GA while watching Parenthood with my 17 YO daughter (who also pronounced the wine delicious). What a Tuesday night...thank you sir may I have another. Anyone really disappointed with this wine has WAY more money than me and is a spoiled brat. Geek out. — 10 years ago
A wine where descriptors are almost superfluous. Just a brilliant mature balanced wine. If pushed I would say some licorice, roast meat and a hint of cowyard. A world class Syrah. 18.5- — 11 years ago
Eric Grasser
California white Burgundy of the highest class. Bottle #2174 of reported 102 barrels. Still lively with prominent acidity in its 14th year. Flavors of hazelnut, cashew, pineapple, lime, granite and orange. Spicy wood flavors. Fabulous depth and power balanced by verve and delicacy. Could be at its height of complexity while showing aging colors and the beginning of matured flavors — 7 years ago