My first #chateaurayas and now I understand the hype. Very Burgundian in style but this is just a unique wine deserving its own category. This wine had profound complexity and was perfectly balanced. It is so young. #chateauneufdupape #southernrhone #rhonevalley #grenache #ctbucklinwine — 9 years ago
Tasted with finest provenance - direct at the winery. A beautiful and perfect mature version of Monte Bello that has transformed into the kind of secondary aromas and flavors you most likely find in fine Bordeaux. The color is an attractive medium-light red with a hint of amber at the edges. The nose is all red apple skins and the bright earthy aromas of the forrest floor in Fall. Palate is herbal with tea and rose petals, herbs, and tobacco. Fruit isn't gone, but overwhelmed by the complexity of the other elements. Finish in long (about 60 seconds) and echoes the complexity of the palate.One of the finest "Old California" wines I've yet tasted. A revelation that shows Monte Bello to be a European wine trapped in a California label. $400 Winery Retail. www.austinbeeman.com — 9 years ago
Terrific nose, good fruit, wonderful complexity, lingering finish. — 10 years ago
Impressive complexity and concentration. Nose of dark ripe fruit, truffle, and violet. Silky smooth palate, round tannins. Enjoyable now, but will really improve with time! — 10 years ago
A wonderful color, nose fantastic multiplex, a hint of oak but also minerals and fatness, taste delicious velvet fullbodied Chardonnay , is approachable but needs more time to develope more complexity. — 8 years ago
Delicious, silky and mellow. But where is the complexity and backbone? Nevertheless an enjoyable wine. — 9 years ago
Delicate and rich with meaty nuttiness. A superfine bead, there is plenty of toast, dried fruit and hazelnut complexity. Magnificent! — 9 years ago
Who knew B.Gros could age? Oak has integrated, cranberry,
Forest floor, cola, sandalwood, Alc is almost unbalanced, fine grain tannin. Solid complexity/finish — 10 years ago
Sublime depth and complexity, mushroom, leather, black pepper, charcuterie, intergrated with beautiful red and black fruit. Beautiful texture and weight - rounded but with good heft. Lots of oomph — 8 years ago
Deep garnet red with lots of bricking on the edges. Light cassis and dark cherries on the nose with some tertiary notes like earthiness and damp leaves. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Lots of complexity with light cassis and dark cherries, a little bit of tomato leaves and earthiness. Very well rounded and integrated with a long finish. This will only keep losing fruit and get earthier with time. Drink now. — 8 years ago
Powerful wine with lots of complexity and depth. — 10 years ago
Rich tobacco and leather nose with a strong cassis, barnyard, baking spice and stewed tomato aromas. Great complexity and smooth elegance. It has the structure and complexity to go another 10 to 20. Deeeelicous! — 10 years ago
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. — 11 years ago
Great wine. Good color intensity, dark cherries, spices, cigar box and Back fruit notes. Good complexity and extraordinary length with Well tamed tannins. Ridge always delivers — 12 years ago
Benjamin Keator
Fuck me! I have never had a Leoville Barton at this level! The nose actually made me hard. Probably smelled it for 15 minutes before my wife told me to eat my damn dinner. This is one sexy bitch. Total balance. Great complexity. Wanting for nothing. Give it a 30 minute decant and sit back and enjoy. I'd happily trade a 2010 Hundred Acre for another one of these. Not going to bullshit you with hints of truffle and smoke and other bullshit...this is just damn fine wine...thy I have had way too much of tonight😳 — 8 years ago