Brad Jensen

9.4

Strawberries, eucalyptus and plums on the nose, maybe even a lil crushed raspberry on a medium body, with a ruby core with purple hues through the edges. Old world styled, gripping tannins and dry, with prominent eucalyptus, ripe plum, cigar smoke, and tart cranberries and maybe even a lil tar. Definitely could use some time to soften, but still beautiful! — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium ruby core, garnet rim . More leafy and crunchy cassis, slightly foursquare , cooler slightly mint touches . Crunchy dark fruits on the palate , more tobacco , cedar , grafite notes , fills out on the palate pretty well. Good refreshing acidity , moderate quite fine tannins, slight green notes on the ok length . Good to drink now and probably won’t improve very much , now and over the next 10 years. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Bright Ruby with aromas of red/black fruits, floral and sweet notes. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry, cherry, and currants with notes of licorice and sweet figs. Fine dusty tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit and toasty mineral character. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

You would never pick this as a 26 year old red wine from the colour. A rich Ruby red with no tawny rim. This has the Penfolds DNA of ripe plum, mocha, coffee bean and chocolate - a trace of liquorice. The palate is medium plus weight, balanced and harmonious maintaining that core strength. Those initially firm tannins have become supple. Drinking at its peak but could stay on this plateau for a couple more years. My last bottle of the 96 but I still have a few more bottles of the Bin 707 from 1996 which was a huge wine. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

The 2016 Calon Ségur is dense and radiant on the palate, just as it was from barrel. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 is distinguished by its sense of freshness, lift and nuance, much of which comes from the 18% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Sweet floral, spice and minty notes add aromatic intensity to a core of sweet red cherry and plum fruit. There is plenty of underlying structure, but the tannins are sweet, silky and perfectly ripe. In short, the 2016 Calon Ségur is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Technical Director Vincent Millet and his team did a tremendous job with the 2016. Tasted three times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium deep ruby core , pretty narrow garnet rim , youthful and bright . Slightly funky at first but this blows off to release concentrated spicy cassis , blackberry, red currant , cigar box , wood smoke , truffle. On the palate very rounded with fresh dark blackcurrant and red currant fruits , well balanced acidity. Rounded but quite noticeable tannins. Long sweet red fruit finish with touches of charcoal, grafite and a saline nuance. This is lovely now, and maintained well in the decanter for 5 hours , and will surely last on this high plateau for another decade at least as it appears so young, plump and fruit driven. — 10 months ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.7

Tasted blind. It was evident that this was mature Bordeaux at its finest quality level from an excellent vintage. The absence of brettanyomces and a right bank aroma profile pointed towards Lafleur or Petrus. Deliciously ripe and dried red fruits mingle with black truffle, cocoa powder, forest floor and cigar box. Gently caressing the palate, the 1970 Château Petrus delivers a full-body, velvety tannins, a core of dried red fruits and a long, lingering finish. Probably slightly past it's peak, but still spectacular. Drink now. — a year ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Deep tawny color with clear amber rims. Has "the funk" in the nose - an old aged Bordeaux funk. Notes of red and black fruit, some spice, some old desk wood and a little smoked meat. Very refined in the mouth. Feminine. Has a nice core of fruit, with softened tannins. Silky. As a group we distilled this down to Margaux. Guessed 55 Margaux. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.8

The 2005 Palmer has been absolutely magical both times I have tasted it recently. Still wonderfully deep to the core, the 2005 is dense, packed to the core and luxuriously opulent. Even with all of that intensity, the 2005 remains vibrant. Lush red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender and sweet spice build into the towering finish. The 2005 is an epic wine that will have no problem reaching its fiftieth birthday. It is a rich, dramatic Margaux that checks all the boxes, and then some. I rated a second bottle even higher. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 3 years ago

Eric Guido

9.4

I'm floored.. Seriously... Dark and brooding with masses of dried black cherry and cedar up front, yet beneath it, notes of exotic spice, tobacco, dried flowers, crushed raspberry, and undergrowth gained volume and depth with time in the glass, until they permeated the senses entirely. On the palate, soft, silky textures, which seem to hover on the senses, offset by a tart acid core, yet also complemented by enveloping bittersweet cherry, quinine, spice, and inner earth tones. The finish is incredibly long with saturating dried cherry fruit, sweet inner florals, hints of gruff tannin--yet juicy and fresh, with a note of hard red candies and licorice which seemed to literally last for minutes on the mid-palate. — 3 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2003 Chateau Leoville Poyferre is a spectacular wine from this warm vintage in Bordeaux. The decadent, intense aromatics of tar, blackberry cobbler and mocha are brilliantly woven together with sandalwood and black tea undertones that take shape in the glass. Highly viscous and rich, yet maintaining good acidity, the dense mouthfeel adds a crescendo to the deep core of dark fruits and chocolate covered espresso bean that sing in harmony on the palate. Glorious to savor now, the 2003 Leoville Poyferre will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2020-2033- 95 — 4 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.8

Huge wine wine gobs fruit and mid level tannins. Still opening up after 2+ hours. Still quite young with deep dark fruit core which is not close to maturity. None the less s Classic Bordeaux.! Stunning complexity. — 5 years ago

Doug Powers

9.3

Cigar box, pencil lead, also some lovely spicy redfruit aromas, still pretty structured, but showing a deep core of lovely dried redfruits, some sweet fruit notes in the long, lingering finish, very fine LLC!! — a year ago

with Jim

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured, consumed over three days. Consistent throughout. The 2007 “Pagliaro” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly watery rim. There appears to be a slight sign of sediment. High viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is high intensity and is absolutely mesmerizing with notes of ripe dark brambly fruit desiccated black cherry, beef broth, exotic spices, blood sausage, pipe tobacco, well oiled leather, red flowers and ferrous minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the fruit and non-fruit characteristics. The finish is medium+. This baby is so grippy! An absolutely stellar bottle of Pagliaro that is strutting right now provided it gets some air and then after that, take your time. This has some real staying power. Drink now and through 2035. Bottle No. 5278/14100. — a year ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Great looking bottle, bought on release. Decanted for a few hours, then taken to Saison in SF. Canary yellow gold color, looks young and youthful. Enticing sweet fruit nose. Notes of citrus, kiwi, quince, tan spice, white acacia flowers and wet river stone. Huge impact on the first sip - massive core of fruit, held up by lots of acidity and structure. This has everything going for it, and can easily get better over the next 5-10 years. Hopefully my other bottles of this are equal to this great showing. 96+ — 2 years ago

Carter White

9.7

Soft and supple, almost velvety, featuring a core of red and black fruit, great purity, with touches of leather, herbs, and spice. Nice length, refined. — 2 years ago

Steven Lee

9.2

Xmas 2020 dinner drink. A bit mineral n stony. Savoury chalky. Abit raspberry. Abit hollow in the core — 3 years ago

John A

9.4

Amazing. Pristine after 15 years in the bottle and has at least 10 more years of life. The balanced core of this wine with peaches and sublime minerality. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

Made by superstar winemaker, Randy Dunn, of Dunn Vineyards, the 2017 ‘Feather’ by Long Shadows is a masterful effort from this exciting warmer vintage in Washington. Once on the nose there is a lovely round core of toasty oak that wraps around the rich dark fruits, sagebrush and chocolate fudge aromatics that all meld in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, revealing a round and generous mouthfeel. The seamless effect created mid-palate is utterly fantastic. Black currants and blackberry cordial dance with shades of Black Forest Cake and espresso bean on this highly complex palate. This finishes long with dark fruits and a beam of minerality. While enticing to savor now, the 2017 ‘Feather’ will have a long life ahead of it. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to afford a two hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2021-2040- 95 — 4 years ago