Her Mir Tage

9.7

1955 Giacomo Conterno Barolo (Ditta) – The "Great Emperor"

Appearance: The wine unfurls in the glass with a majestic, deep garnet core that gracefully fades into a wide brick-orange rim—the unmistakable heraldry of seven decades of life. It is perfectly clear and luminous, promising a profound experience.

Nose (Aroma): The aromatic profile is a walk through an ancient, sacred forest after the rain. It opens with a deep sense of humid earth, fungal truffle, and a subtle, refined smoked leather. As it opens, a beautiful core of blueberry compote and dried dark fruits emerges, intertwined with a complex tapestry of Chinese medicinal herbs and dried florals. It is both powerful and hauntingly ethereal.

Palate (Taste): The palate is a breathtaking journey into umami and complexity. True to the legend, the fruit has transformed into an intense medley of sweet preserved fruit (dried apricot, date). This is immediately met with a profound savory depth: a distinct salted Chinese preserved plum character provides a mouthwatering salinity, while a fine dusting of astragalus root powder and angelica root brings an authentic, warming medicinal bitterness that defines the wine’s regal structure. A hint of spicy dried ginger soda lingers on the mid-palate, adding a lift of unexpected freshness.

Acidity & Structure: The acidity is the heartbeat of this wine—sustained, mellow, and incredibly refined. It does not jab but rather flows continuously, carrying the dense, dried flavors across the palate with remarkable energy. The tannins have fully resolved into a silken, powdery texture, leaving nothing but harmony.

Finish: The finish is eternal, echoing with notes of dried citrus peel, forest floor, and a final whisper of sweet tobacco and herbs. A truly humbling experience; this is not merely a wine, but a living artifact of time, worthy of the title "Great Emperor." — 5 months ago

William Lauder

9.1

Still drinking well after many decades. — a year ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2022 vintage. Cantemerle is always about elegance, and this exceptional vintage is no exception. Cassis, blackberries, subtle floral hints, and very delicate oak. Exemplary purity of fruit, velvety tannins and serious length. Hard to resist young, but this should age effortlessly for a few decades. The best Cantemerle I have ever tasted, and incredible value too. Abv. 13,5%. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.9

Blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that spent 20 months all in new French oak, deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, floral, tobacco and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of rich berry fruits and black currants with cacao and tobacco spice, on a well integrated frame. Fine soft fluffy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, earthy spice and tobacco cedar mineral character. Impressive! A wow factor wine! Will last for several decades! — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Haunting and ethereal aromas of roses, tar, leather and so much more. Classic old school pedal to the medal Neb. Smokey and hickory aromas as well. Stunning. Palate is mega juicy and mega structured with amazing purity and depth and just exquisite fruit and lovely length. This has many decades ahead of it and is really a value when compared to what $40 gets you in the Langhe. As this airs i’ll be back. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#MerlotThursday

So a few years ago I started my Merlot Thursday series, where I drink Merlot every Thursday. This is actually the wine that started it all. After watching the movie sideways a few times, I decided to try to get Merlot back in the game.

This wine was on my wishlist for a long long time, and I'm glad I am able to try it, finally.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing a beautiful nose with great complexity,

Dry on the palate and elegant.

Showing red and black fruits with earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, coffee, graphites, vegetables and herbs.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great experience. A delicious Merlot based Bordeaux blend from Saint Emilion. Not from the best vintage, but at this level of wine making, it is almost always gorgeous.

Feels young and would continue to age nicely in the next few decades.

Showing great complexity and mouthfeel. I loved the nose much better than the palate.

Robert Parker 93 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.

I had it after 6 hours of airtime. I really wanted to love it even more, but it is what it is. Got to keep it real.

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$700. — 4 years ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

St Julien in a perfect drinking now and for a couple of decades to come. Brilliant juice — 7 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.7

Ultra coiled. Super complex already f-ing awesome as is. Will continue for 2-3 decades. Easily. — 8 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant and black plum fruit with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently outstanding vintage after vintage. Could continue to age for decades! — 10 months ago

Frank Artale

9.5

With 20 years of age this wine has evolved. The primary fruit has moved to deep dried versions of cherry blackberry and fig side by side with earth tar leather cedar bitter cocoa and tobacco. The nose is extremely pronounced and the tannins now soft. It was worth keeping these 2 decades. — 2 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.8

The majestic 2016 Las Cases is one for the ages. This ultra complex and ultra appealing wine is already captivating and will very obviously have many decades to shine. You get currants, blackberries, salmiak, violets, tobacco, rosemary, pink pepper, soil and so much more. The texture gradually becomes creamier with fine tannins and fresh and long finish. Will become a perfect wine eventually. — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

Columbia county 2.0: end of a meal, nightcap of sorts. So so perfumed with dill & vanilla & tree sap, as if Willy Wonka decided to get into winemaking. Really just lived for a while breathing this in. On palate it’s remarkably agile & light, even though the body of red fruits is firmly medium boned. No signs of decay or slowing down- even the cork was perfect-easily can go on another several decades ( it feels). God what a treat. — 3 years ago

with Owen

Gor

9.2

Not quite ready IMO. Velvety tannins, huge nose of tobacco, ashes, plums, cherries. A little shy on the fruit notes but the acidity and structure means this will likely last decades. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2014 vintage. 375 ML format. Tasted with @Neil Valenzuela Gorgeous, somewhat candied and dominant melon fruits evident currently. In the youthful, know it all phase now. Has the basis/structure for the long haul. Load up the truck now or in three decades. Thank you @Neil Valenzuela So good. 12.10.25. — 7 months ago

with Neil

Ericsson

9.3

One of the bolder Lafite’s. More body, more alcohol and more tannins than any other vintage I’ve tasted. Great to hold for a couple of decades. — 10 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2005 vintage. Beautiful nose, with cassis, blackberries, cedar wood, a little smokiness,and flowers. Seriously concentrated, combining power and elegance. Layers of fruit in a tight but ripe tannic structure. Showing beautifully now, but it should age effortlessly for decades. Classic Saint-Julien. — 2 years ago

George Chen

9.4

Damn…perfect cork, high neck, in my cellar maybe 2 decades! Had to move over 1000 bottles due to leak …found some fun stuff…agree with rest of pro comments…all there! — 3 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.4

First time I opened one of these 1.5 years ago it was totally closed. Now it’s back open for business and lovely. If blindfolded, based on the perfume alone I would have guessed a Margaux like Palmer as it threw off tons of violets, graphite and blue fruits - gorgeous but a tinge of rough edge that blew off after about an hour. Palate still tasted young but had the complexity you look for in an older claret - spice, leather, graphite, blue fruits and a long finish. This is in a great drinking window but easily has decades of life ahead of it. — 4 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

Oh my, what an absolute joy. This right here sings the song I want to hear. A pale old gold color in the glass. Perfectly precise perlage with a plethora of tiny, fine bubbles and showcasing innate creaminess. The nose is slightly intense opening with aromas of hazelnut, chalk, and lemon zest. Warm buttered brioche takes over for a moment full of bliss then a bit of smoke. Juicy peaches and pears commingle with fresh herbs and spices.

100% Chardonnay from the five Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. The tête de cuvée of Champagne Taittinger and it shows. It’s a very noble, prestigious champagne that matches complexity with downright deliciousness. The juxtaposition between luxury and comfort is evident here. Like coming out of a bath and slipping on your finest robe. The racy acidity and exquisitely dry nature of the wine belies the dosage of 9 g/l.

Very creamy in the mouth and though it starts off a bit demanding, it soon becomes so inviting after some time. Every sip demands the proper time and contemplation. Chalky and rich, positively bursting with citrus fruits. Apples and toast everywhere along with gun flint and more smoke. Medium long finish with traces of spice. A powerful, graceful champagne that’s full of finesse. This can go for decades longer but if you open it now sit with it for a while. Give it the proper time. You might fall in love just a little. — 4 years ago