Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 7 months ago

with Brenda

Michael Phillips

9.3

Somewhat disappointing for a great producer in a great year. Medium body medium color, dark fruit hint of tobacco.
Hopefully a few more years will improve this wine. — 4 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Dark, inky color. Aromas of boysenberry jam, licorice and mossy forest floor. Black and red fruit on the palate, mocha and tobacco finish. Big and bold. — 6 years ago

Robert Henalt

9.2

Nice rich color. Red fruits some stone medium finish. Moderate oak — 6 years ago

Chris Leon

9.0

Tons of loud notes of rose petals, stone fruit, citrus pith. Also, that color. So much fun. — 9 years ago

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

9.5

21 years old, so legal to drink. And ready to drink too! Hard to believe this is more than 10 years old. Color is ruby; fruit shows some dried notes but is still juicy and bright; tannins have mellowed beautifully. — 10 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

9.4

Deep ruby in color. Bursts with sour cherry, cedar, savory tobacco and leather. Neither gamey nor oxidized. Tannin and fine and silly and finishes with lithe acidity. — 13 years ago

Vanessa

9.5

Château Latour is an iconic estate in the Pauillac commune on the left bank of Bordeaux, achieving coveted ‘First Growth’ status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

The estate has roots dating back to the 14th century and derives its name ‘La Tour’ from a fortress tower built during the Hundred Years’ War, which no longer exists but is prominently featured on the label in recognition of its history.

We weren’t sure what to expect, as many have predicted these 1983s are likely past their prime, but this wine was a masterpiece. 🤩

It was medium garnet in color with expressive notes of cedar box, cigar, clove, peat, leather, forest floor, fig, prune, dried black cherry, plum, cassis, blackberry compote, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, dried violet, potpourri, kalamata olive, pencil shavings, graphite, & bacon fat.

It had the most velvety, fine-grained tannins that washed across the palate with ease, with a gentle but notable acidity that maintained lift and balance. It was concentrated, complex, and had a long, elegant finish. — 7 months ago

with Deked1

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Medium gold color. Nice weight with an enticing nose. Notes of citrus, toast, clay, river stone and pit fruit. Rich and palate staining in the mouth. Seems young. I guess 02 Leflaive Combettes. We were all surprised with the reveal as a few of us have had this bottle a dozen times or more and we didn’t guess it. This bottle had many years of life in front of it yet. Great stuff! — 5 years ago

Denice Carney

8.9

Dark red in color, slight bite, very smooth finish. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.

1997 a difficult vintage for reds in Bordeaux. The upside is, when the reds lag, the whites almost always shine.

The nose shows; marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals.

The body is thick, gluey and rich. The mouthfeel magnificent. There is almost a dry tannin presence but it is it’s dry, gritty volcanic minerality, marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals. The acidity round and splendid. The finish is rich, well balanced, elegant, polished and delicious.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, glass of 1997 showing color, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 7 years ago

Peter Bourget

10

2013 Whispering Angel Rosé. Pale salmon color. Light berries in the nose. Flavors of red berries, a little citrus. Long finish. — 11 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Deep purple color. Aromas of raspberry, cherry cola and cedar. This one is still young and a little tight- definitely needs more time or decanting. Very good flavors of red fruit, spices and oak finish.

95.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.1% Merlot, 1.4% Cabernet Franc, 0.7% Petit Verdot, 0.6% Malbec

🏅94 Points- Decanter — 9 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(lots chunky/fine sediment). A gorgeous inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: dark fruit, forest floor, smoked meat, floral, cigar wrapper, pencil lead. Taste: smooth, rich, creamy mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, dark chocolate, earth, tobacco, baking spice, and a cedar/graphite medium plus finish with some slight dusty tannins. Had this 2 years ago, and it's improved. In the beginning of its drink window at 18 years? Wow — 9 months ago

with Brenda

D Scher

9.2

1984 vintage. Cork difficult to extract, ended up in several pieces. Beautiful deep color, little to no bricking even at this age. Seductive at one hour+ of air with black cherry, raspberry, some vanilla, green pepper, graphite. 12% ABV. From the FIL’s collection. — 6 years ago

K Karls

10

Delicious!!! Ripe dark fruit, long finish, deep dark color with a soft pallet! — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 9 years ago

Joseph Romano

8.9

Very dark color. Not too tannic but pours very dark colored with a citrusy nose. Slightly imbalanced but relatively easy to drink. — 10 years ago

Jason Boland

10

This gets a 11+ rating if it was possible. The gods would be so lucky to have a sip of this. Incredible wine for Christmas. Such a light color for the age. So round and perfect. Finish that never ends. Doesn't get better. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

2008 very light color cigar box spice fresh earth coffee very pretty and classic bouquet. Fresh and lively on the tongue with a spicy finish tangy red currant berry fruit fonish40 very good + 2009 herb fresh loam peppery spice and a good hand of red currant berry fruit toffee coffee very fresh nice core of red currant berry fruit zesty spice coffee and herbs long finish very elegant wine finish 50 most excellent 2010 ripe currant berry fruit toasty oak spice very youthful a bit musty pnthepalate with good grip with firm tannins and along finish classic pitching contessw finish 50+ most excellent — 13 years ago