Tom Garland

9.2

30 min decant (decent fine/chunky sediment). A splended medium dark garnet with some bricking. On the nose: plum, sweet aged cab perfume, musky wet forest floor, eucalyptus, crushed rocks, and smoke. Taste: soft, smooth, delicate, med plus body wine with a little red fruit, leather, cedar, and a herbaceous bitter chocolate finish. What a treat!!! to drink this 12.5% alc, 32 year old wine. Still kicking, even though on the downside. Cheers! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.2

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A dazzling dark ruby red color with some bricking. On the nose: bursting from the glass are dark plum, toast, stewed meat, graphite, and a sweet minty chocolate. Taste: a elegant, smooth, medium weight wine with plum, currants, tea, crushed rocks, earthy....velvety mostly resolved tannins coat the mouth with a chocolate tobacco long dry finish. — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve everyone! 🎄🎅🤶⛄️❄️🎁🍷

On the nose, leap dark currants & cassis with bright red, dark, blue & purple florals at pop & pour. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals.

The body is; round, ripe, & rich. The tension, structure, length and balance are just beginning their sweet spot. The tannins are; rounding, tarry & still chewy. Plenty of life left in the 09...8-10 years. Dark currants & cassis. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, cherries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry stems, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals. The acidity is round & spot on. The ripe, rich, ruby, elegant, balanced & polished finish is splendid and persists nicely on the palate with mid, dark spice on the long set. So much better with this much age. Really delicious tonight!

A steal now at under $35 upon release at Costco.

This wine is close to its peak and will hover there 3-4 years.

Photos of; the Estate, old large oak vats and David Heitz.
— 6 years ago

John Willison

9.3

Myer lemon, crushed rock, dusty citrus. Such a good wine. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Dark purple plum skin color from center to the rim’s edge where some scarlet also appears. Opaque. Great fruit forward nose that grabs your attention. Notes of blackberries, ripe plums, violets, tobacco, forest floor and some crushed walnuts. Rich and silky in the mouth. Great balance and texture. Tannins perfectly integrated. Long finish. If a Cal Cab can be seductive, this is it. Still youthful but in a great zone tonight. — 8 years ago

Matt

10

This was exceptional and played the perfect tune to a classic French meal. Classic in many ways yet surprising and novel simultaneously. Complex and overt, layered, and lengthy as hell. Roasted red plum, blackberry compote, crushed cherry, smoked meat, leather, licorice whip, crackes peppercorn, violets and lavender, roasted herbs, allspice, cardamom, baked earth. An amazing wine that I will be ingrained in my memory forever. — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2011 vintage. At Au Fils du Zinc in Chablis. Fabian recommended this bottle over the more famed Les Clos 2011 as he thought it would be drinking better. And boy he was right. A very big wine, I would recommend serving it ever so slightly colder than normal to restrain the power in this wine. Medium golden hue. The wine has crushed rock chalkiness, honey blossom and plenty of ripe peach notes. On the palate, this wine explodes with power and ripeness, medium plus body and a very broad mid palate that coats your tongue. The acidity makes your lips smack and powers the very long citrus finish. Hugely impressive compared with my expectations. Really enjoyable particularly with the cheese I had for dessert. Drink now - doubt it can get much better from here. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Randy Dunn makes wine for your retirement and perhaps your grandkids. This 02 is just coming into it's elegance/groove. When you consider it's been in bottle for basically 12 years, it's still a pretty big wine. Tannins are resolving but still packs a palate punch. On the nose, it's a wild berry blend, baking spices and a mix of dry and fresh roses. The fruits start elegant transitioning to juicy & finishing with dry medium tannins. Blackberries, black cherries, black plum, raspberries with very ripe juicy strawberries painting the back palate. The mix of fruit is incredible. Baking spices of caramel & vanilla, just a touch of spice; allspice & light sage, black tea, dessert style dark minerals that finish with dry crushed rocks, graphite & eucalyptus. Followed by; raspberry cola and acidity that is just short of perfect. The finish pierces the mid palate with dark tannins. However, the mixed berry fruit finishes long, juicy to dry & with sheer beautiful elegance. The finish lasts & lasts. It's simply a guilty pleasure. I have two more bottles. I'll have one in 7 more years and the last in 15 years. Love to note the changes! That's the really enjoyable part of cellaring wine. — 9 years ago

Mark Freund

9.7

Mature, beautiful CDP. Elegant, minty, fresh crushed berries. Amazingly fresh stuff for 16 — 12 years ago

with Greg

Rachel Voorhees

9.6

2010 Opus One ~ 84% Cab Sauv 5.5% Merlot 5.5% Cab Franc 4% Petite Verdot 1% Malbec. Blackberry, plum, cassis, espresso, crushed granite, fine grain tannins, nice balance, structure and acid — 12 years ago

John Willison

9.2

Pink grapefruit, herbal, crushed white stone, citrus acid finish. — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

This had nice richness & purity showing notes of citrus, green apple with saline, crushed rock & white flower — 5 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.2

Memories of our visit to the winery and cellars - with the temperature and humidity regulated by the mild on the walls. a nice Tempranillo blend. Crushed berries on the nose, with slight floral notes. Well balanced with a nice long finish. — 6 years ago

with Steven, Allan and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It is really not fair to have their 06 after their 09. It’s good but, all you can think about is the 09.

The nose reveals, slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice and withering red & dark florals.

The body is lean, not quite full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are just ok to good and reveal the shortcomings of the 06 vintage. slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, some v/a or bandaid, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice with some heat across the palate and withering red & dark florals. The finish is nice and elegant but, lack the fullness and beauty of most really good vintage Palmer’s. It finishes with nice persistent dark spice on the long set. Just give me another taste of the 09. 😜

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 7 years ago

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9.8

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is once again stunning. More than anything else, I am surprised by how well the 2008 drinks given all the tension and energy it holds. Then again, that is precisely what makes 2008 such a unique vintage – namely that the best wines are so chiseled and yet not at all austere. Lemon peel, almond, mint, smoke and crushed rocks are all finely sculpted, but it is the wine’s textural feel, drive and persistence that elevate it into the realm of the sublime. The 2008 will be even better with time in the cellar, but it is absolutely phenomenal even today, in the early going. Three recent bottles have all been nothing short of magnificent. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2019)

— 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s officially Summer! Time for Rosé. Tempier is one of my favorite Rosés. They’re even better when you let them round out a year in bottle before enjoying. The color darkens to a slightly rustic orange color.

On the nose, some sour notes with a little funk. Sweetness and sourness in the fruits. Strawberries, tangerine, cherries, Georgia peach, nectarine skin, juicy watermelon near the rhine, unbelievably just a touch of petrol, gummy character, chalkiness and fresh pink spring flowers and pink roses.

The body is round and full for Rosé. Sweetness and sourness in the fruits. Strawberries, tangerine, oranges, cherries, Georgia peach, nectarine skin, juicy watermelon near the rhine, well ripened rhubarb, just a touch of petrol, gummy character, spice, chalkiness, perfect intensity of crushed volcanic minerals with fresh pink spring flowers and pink roses. The acidity is like a waterfall. The length, structure, tension and balance are excellent. The long, rich, elegant finish is beautiful and lasts minutes. It’s delicious!!!

Photos from our 2016 visit. Domaine Tempier tasting room and cellars, shot of our barrel tasting w/ their assistant Winemaker (a sweetheart), the digging for their additional cellar; which I imagine is now complete and the view from the Domaine entrance — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, dark sour cherries, dates, burnt figs, grilled meats, burnt ambers, liquid smoke & dark dry florals. The core color is dark with garnet edges. The palate is; slightly sour but mostly sweet dark cherries, stewed plum, cooked strawberries, rhubarb, dates, figs, tomatoes, smoke, grilled meats, brewed coffee, light tarry notes, dry crushed rock powder, volcanic minerals, dark rich earth, dusty tannins, dry dark florals, soft chewy leather, nice round acidity with a decent, soft, elegant finish...50-50 fruit & earth. This is the largest co-op producer in Europe with 50 members. They collectively have 250 acres; which is about 1/6 of the total under vine. Photos of; the town of Barbaresco (their tasting room near the tower), Produttori cellar and their tasting bar. No appointment necessary. Close to Gaja and the town has one of the best one star Michelin lunches as well as the best service we've experienced. Just right of Gaja. Good with our Veal Bolognese. — 9 years ago

Brian Platton

9.4

Like the '97, this wine displayed a wonderful nose of crushed hazelnut, creme brûlée, white flowers and nutmeg, and burnt sugar. On the palate, light though impeccably balanced. Wonderful. — 10 years ago

Matt

9.5

Love this wine so much. Young, bright, energetic, and lively. Dried florals, crushed granite, pure tart red fruits, and slight herbaceous note. Balanced acidity and soft and silky tannins that are seamless. Delicious now but can expect great things in the future. — 11 years ago

Amy Morgan

9.3

Ripe red fruits (strawberry, red cherries) sweet baking spices (nutmeg, cinnamon) with an earthy core of mushrooms and dried crushed leaves. A medium balanced silky body with bright acidity and soft tannins. A medium flavor intensity of ripe red fruits married to earthy notes. Perfumed floral notes hold on to a long finish. Elegant and floral with complexity and length. — 12 years ago

Matt

9.6

Hot iron, iodine, olive tapenade, beef, creosote, curing salt, pink peppercorn, talcum, garrigue, scorched earth, granite, black raspberry liquor, grapefruit, crushed cherry, creme de cassis, rose petals. Ripe, full of flesh with sinew to back it up, found the balance quite remarkable here. The sun and warmth is felt in the generosity, but the tannins and acidity are well within reason. Granite and iron still at its core. — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Another great one from the master. His wines are always so elegant, floral & complex. The 08 Reynard is youthful, inky with a silky texture showing notes of black cherry, graphite, crushed rock, licorice, violet, meat, black olive & pepper — 5 years ago

Kristen Grimes

9.0

Lots of crushed chalk on the nose with some apple, big body and good acidity with tart lemon curd and more chalky minerals that coat the mouth. #gotm2020 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Joseph Phelps Party and the 83 Insignia from magnum.

The nose reveals; floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits; strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, cedar, old leather & tobacco, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with dry & withering dark, red florals.

The body is medium full with a fair amount of tannins in a wine with this age. The structure, tension, length and balance are still quite sound with harmony. Floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits, strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, dark spice with some heat, cedar, old leather & tobacco, cedar, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with some funkiness. withering dark, red florals. The acidity is nice. The long finish still show ripeness, good balance but, has leaned and shows nice persistence. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The Joseph Party and the 1983 Insignia from 3L.

The nose show lean, stewed fruits. While it is always a treat to drink their older vintages, this one probably better served 5 years early. Still enjoyable. Blackberries, dry, dark cherries, rhubarb, bright cherries, ripe strawberries, old leather & tobacco, limestone minerals, cedar to saddle-wood, steeped tea, touch mint & dry herbs, crushed dry rocks, underbrush, forest floor with withering, dry red floral bouquet.

The body is lean and very well resolved tannin structure. The tension, structure, length has lost some their step. Blackberries, dry, dark cherries, rhubarb, bright cherries, ripe strawberries, old leather & tobacco, limestone minerals, cedar to saddle-wood, steeped tea, touch mint & dry herbs, crushed dry rocks, barnyard, pine twigs, underbrush, forest floor with withering, dry red floral bouquet. the acidy is nice. The finish while fun, interesting has lost some of its flare but, again, still enjoyable. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.3

Gahdamnnnn this is some good Riesling. A less sweet, more nervy, pre-war style. Another stellar example of the '15 crop of Rieslings in Germany. Tense with incredible purity and focus. Pours a bright, ever-so-slightly hazy pale straw hue. Concentrated, complex nose of lime, Granny Smith apple, white peach, almost smoky crushed slate minerality, cherry blossom and jasmine floral tones, a slight beeswaxy character, and a touch of petrol as well as some slight leesiness and cardamom spice. On the palate it's more white peach, crushed slate, lime juice, beeswax, and leesiness riding on a wave of high, intense acidity. Medium (-) body with nice oily texture. Just off-dry. Impeccable balance. For under $30 this is a no-brainer. Delicious. — 9 years ago

Jamm Aquino

9.6

Yup. Crushed. Olive. Green peppercorn. Game recognize. Revealed herself after 1.5 hours and was mesmerizing. — 11 years ago

with Michael and Erica

Lewis Chester

9.7

1986 Vintage. Butteaux. Dark lemon in colour. Very mature. Mushroom. Oxidative. Lanolin. Earthy undergrowth. Crushed nuts. Ripe baked apple and tarte tatin. Botrytis here. Minerality strong as wine develops in the glass. Dry with sweet impression. Like an old Chenin or Viura Rioja or old Riesling. Waxy and honey and savoury. Huge concentration. Full body. Great acidity keeps this wine powering on. Long finish. — 11 years ago

V M

9.5

Gets better with air as their tannins while silky are still formidable. Big beautiful blackberries, blueberries and cherries on the palate with notes of crushed stone and coffee. Multiple layers to this wine and a long finish. Awesome Typical Colgin — 12 years ago