Conrad Green

9.0

Slight marmalade, hints of honey. A bit like aged Chenin in character. Still fresh but a little tangy. Fleshed out — 4 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon with aromas of pronounced ripe stone and tropical fruits and floral notes wrapped in a frizzante. On the palate flavors of peach, apricot and mango with notes of white floral. Good balance with lively acidity, medium finish ending with ripe fruit character. Nice! — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Decanted for around an hour, the recently released 2013 Grand Vin from Chateau Musar is an enormous wine at present in its youth. Gradually, it opened into a gorgeous, exotic and utterly unique product of this unlikely corner of the wine world. There’s plenty of Bordeaux-like character in the form of dark fruit and cigar box, but there are notes too of cranberry, liquorice, clove, mandarin and five spice. The mouthfeel, as a whole, has a quasi Brunello quality to it, with its bright cherry fruit and mouthwatering acidity. But woe is anyone to compare this wine to any other, for it is incomparable. One of Serge Hochar’s last vintages before his passing in 2014, and one that will doubtless have a long life. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A special wine not produced every vintage, BDX presents a different expression of Oakville in a Bordeaux blend of 79% Cab Sauv and 21% Cab Franc (To Kalon fruit), aged in French oak (87% new) for 27 months. Aromas of rich ripe berry fruit with oak spice and cedar notes. On the palate blackberry and cherry flavor with cacao and cedar spice, great balance and structure. Soft tannins with balanced acidity on a lingering finish ending with a tobacco earthy character. Nice! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Family-owned and operated artisan producer of wine, started in 1999 by Dr John and Karen Bergstrom. Had a bottle year ago, dark red with fresh berry fruit flavors with a bit of earthy spice notes. On the palate, cherry and raspberry flavors with complex herb spice notes. Fine tannins on lingering finish ending with enticing earthy character. Aged well, very nice Pinot. — 7 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.3

Very high quality; utterly complex with a grand cru identity. Concentrated fruit, still showing plenty of primary character, good development in the glass and a defined minerality. Long finish encircled by a fresh and vibrant aura. — 8 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

90% viura 10% Malvasia
Nutty, high acid, roasted lemon, herbs and strong mineral character. A little oxidized note but not too much, the concentration is really profound in this vintage in all facets this is a powerhouse of a white that should age quite well.
Clean and long finish, bright, crisp and fresh with a lingering crystalline taste of citrus and sea salt.
30-45k production #lopezdeheredia #rioja #blanco — 10 years ago

with Miguel

Ira M. Harmon, MS

9.3

1984 Opus slightly browning but very good ruby. Opening up nose of cedar cassis Tabacco slight vanilla. Taste is definitely showing some age but expressing power of Napa. Med acid med + body. Tannins mature long finish! Very balanced!! A touch of Brett but only enough to give level of character! — 11 years ago

with Jowai

Cameron Porter

9.6

Green apple, wet rock, brioche nose. Nicely balanced between primary character and more developed notes. Creamy on the palate, with enough acid to keep it bright. Disgorged 4/14 — 11 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.2

Classic CUNE Riserva. Showing very well for a year that is not an excellent vintage. A lovely wine with food. Shows good balance and fruit and character. — 13 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc with 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas (prior to ‘18 vintage some Semillon added). Pale lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! Very consistent! — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Just tried another ‘18. Cakebread wine offerings are among my Favs, Chard is no exception, consistent quality year/year. 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, ‘18 saw 8 months on 1/3 new oak with about 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of stone fruits, slight & honey scents. On palate complex flavors of apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, aging well. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale yellow with pleasing aromas of citrus and sweet peaches. One of the few barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc's which adds a wonderful toasty oak flavor setting this wine apart from the rest. Complex palate of flavors, fresh fruit, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, Asian pears and baked apple with tea and spicy acidity. Slight herb notes with a smooth and creamy well balanced finish ending with a gentle sweet character. A Fav! — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

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

Martin Redmond

9.2

Slightly bricking with a savory dried red fruit, earthy, cedar, and cigar box character. Delightful! — 10 years ago

Geoffrey Luce

9.0

2003. Warm vintage perhaps created a slight raisiny character — 11 years ago

Tom Gendall

9.4

Beautiful wine. Thick and unctuous and a delicious spicy phenolic character. — 11 years ago

Thomas Pastuszak

Sommelier/Wine Director The NoMad

9.2

Smokey, Briney, intense with olive, saline, mineral character: swoon — 12 years ago

Patrick Knöfler

8.9

Half-bottle. The wine was medium amber in colour and offered orange peel, apple, honeycomb, caramel, smoke, spices, sherry and a mouldy note on the nose. On the palate the wine showed orange, peach, apple, cane sugar, caramel, smoke, spices, creamy honey, some coffee, a hint of chocolate, sherry, mild black tea and a mouldy note, paired with medium-plus acidity, a creamy honey mouthfeel and very good length. Judged by this half-bottle the wine has just passed its plateau and started its slow journey on the downward slope. A good, medium-bodied Sauternes with lots of botrytis character. Drink now. 89 — 12 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured from my cellar. The cork was absolutely perfect. The 2005 pours a rather turbid, deep garnet at nearly 17 years old. There's quite a bit of fine sediment that clings to the edge of the glass with each swirl. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this was initially a bit grumpy but within minutes, it relaxed and started to show some real charm. A fully developed wine, this is becoming a bit of a Leather Daddy, full of leather (obviously), bruised and desiccated red, black and blue fruits, Christmas spice fruit cake, coffee, damp earth, and candied nuts. On the palate, the fruit remains quite stunning and confirms the mix of bruised and desiccated fruit with a sort of sherried character. Loads of salmiakki (salted licorice), spiced nuts, pepper, coffee and, you guessed it, leather. The wine was dry, technically, but almost gives the sensation of some RS with all of the over-ripe fruits and the texture was almost sappy, in some ways. However, while this was absolutely rich and well-endowed, it was not cloying. Tannins have fully integrated (though still present) and the acid was like a girdle keeping everything held together. This remains a rather large personality even if it's showing its age. Definitely in a lovely spot...but how much longer will that last? If this wasn't my last bottle, I would probably be drinking these over the next five years unless you want the full Leather Daddy experience...which is okay if that's your thing. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 54% Cab Sauv, 34% Merlot & 12% Cab Franc. Deep Ruby with aromas of pronounced dark fruits, sweet spice, floral and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum with notes of cacao, cedar and subtle herb spice. Well balanced with acidity, fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cedar and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 5 years ago

Chris

9.2

Really nice fruit forward Oregon Pinot, with earthy character. — 6 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

Showing little sign of age, this 2004 CNdP is a beautiful, robust wine with fine tannins, fresh acidity and a sweet glimmer of liquorice and chocolate alongside a notable gamey character. Mellow, rich, harmonious and brilliant all round. The finish is ultimately very savoury and long. This could age decades. Wonderful now, but in 20, 30, even 40 years time this would no doubt sing. The Perrin family use all permitted varietals in their Beaucastel CNdP, but the predominant blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 10% Syrah is masterful here. — 6 years ago

Kyle McGrotty

9.5

Napa meets Europe. Old world character and ridiculously good. — 8 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.2

Dark Ruby. Very dense for a Chianti. Dark and red fruit, backed by tobacco and wild mushroom character. Soft medium+ body, with hints of wood. Long finish. This softened up considerably over the years. — 9 years ago

with Frankie

Mitja Sirk

Production La Subida, Aceto Sirk

9.2

Dominate by iron and blood character.. — 10 years ago

Alex Setzler

9.4

Great red with hints of Tobacco, leather and an overall savory character. — 11 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.1

2003 vintage. Citrus - lemon peel and ripe. Medium plus acidity and medium bodied. Little flat to me. It's not good character. Little manufactured. Lacks some concentration. More about freshness and elegance, presumably as an attempt to swerve this difficult vintage. — 11 years ago

Michael Gallagher

9.8

Vibrant fruit driven with a nice mousse character. Great with the salmon/tuna rillette — 12 years ago

with Ryan