Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid to deep Ruby in colour. Some maturity in evidence on the rim. Cedar/cigar box aromas with black currant and cassis - classic Pauillac descriptors Only medium bodied - lacked some intensity for the vintage. Restrained - 20 years might be its limit. It will sit on the plateau but won’t improve. In summary a lovely old claret and has been better than its 5th Growth status for decades. “Lunch Bags” as old poms used to refer to it as. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

The 1989 Palmer has vied with the 1983 as the highlight of the decade, so it is fascinating to revisit it at 30 years old. It has a wonderful bouquet of degraded red berry fruit, singed leather and hints of game and mint, beautifully defined and still so fresh, yet undeniably old-school in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and still brimming with vigor, delivering a fine bead of acidity and a touch of cracked black pepper. A very detailed, engaging finish urges you back for another sip. A brilliant Palmer, and judging from this showing, it has another two decades of pleasure to give. Tasted from an ex-cellar bottle at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2019) — 7 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.3

The 2001 Château Haut-Brion is approaching two decades since harvest, and it is moving along nicely in its evolution. Composed of 52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc this is displaying wonderful mature characteristics, with aromatics of dried cherries and plums, followed by dried spices, cigar box, dusty leather and meat drippings all taking shape in the glass. On the palate this is medium/full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a gorgeous velvety texture. It continues to impress as it shows excellent overall balance and finesse, ending with a long elegant finish. The class and sophistication of this legendary Château is certainly evident, however it seems as if some of the late heat spikes and temperature fluctuations from the vintage may be starting to taking a toll on its ability age with the best vintages. — 7 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.1

Is there a better wine for roast chicken than Loire cabernet franc? Rhetorical question, of course. 2011 so tight, even after two hour decant. It slowly unveils its charms, like Jo Fiennes unwinds Gwen Paltrow in the otherwise forgettable "Shakespeare in Love". Unlike that film, this has staying power. Stash away a case, it will develop beautifully over the next three decades. — 9 years ago

with Alsu

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Preliminary note: Quick coravin to check in on this sample before the weekend. Deep ruby red. On both the palate and the nose with lots of savory elements mixed in with some red berries and a little dark at the end. Some floral notes too like roses. Amazing structure and backbone. So balanced for being so young. Heavy tannins (8/10), full bodied and super long finish. Time will only help this wine and I can easily see up to another two decades from now for this wine. Killer potential and a real surprise! Can drink now with a super long decant which we will do. Drink from 2018 till 2036. 92+

Already starting to open up with some more dark berries on the nose. Also some good spices coming through on the palate. — 10 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.8

Brought by Naoko. Stunning. Still a baby. Color doesn't have a hint of brown to it. This wine has decades left. If you have more than one bottle drink it now and then save the rest. — 10 years ago

with Bong

Conrad Green

9.3

Great fruit. Such power, yet ripeness perfectly in check. This has decades ahead but is absorbing right now. Really very good — 11 years ago

with Larry and Rajat

Dave Chambers

9.7

One of my all-time favorite Napa producers, Cathy Corison produces wines that are always true to her style - low alcohol wines built to last for decades. This wine is no exception, even though it's her negotiant wine, purchased from Rutherford vineyards with long-term relationships where she controls the growing decisions. — 11 years ago

Richard Jennings

10

Gorgeous, complex, cigar boxy '75 Vega Sicilia Unico, with decades to go yet, of course. — 12 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Tightly wound, a touch reductive and shy on the nose emphasizing its youth. With time it opens beautifully showing black currants, wild raspberries, violets, spices, stems and pixelated minerals. Finishes with great length, concentration and balanced acidity. Easily built for decades of aging. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2016 Figgins Red Wine is a stunning new bottling by superstar winemaker Chris Figgins. On the nose you can really smell the Petit Verdot undertones as this shows off gorgeous blackberry compote with blueberry pie, sagebrush and green pell pepper aromas that all build marvelously in the glass. The palate is gorgeous, showing a silky texture and wonderful sense of minerality. A bright beam of salinity runs through this beautiful wine, slowly unveiling bright black cherry and Turkish coffee flavors that collide with blueberry pie and Chinese black tea flavors. Polished and layered, this is seriously good in its youth but it will evolve well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2040- 95 — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Italian wine dinner 3 decades.
White flight: Groups favorite was the Valentini.
Gravner 1998
Kante 2005

— 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Sour blue fruit, dried sage, blood, a real freshness. Lovely savory juice with real intensity. Excellent. Decades ahead. — 7 years ago

with Bex

John Zuzek

9.5

The nose is floral with loads of brambly fruits. Still has string tannins although they have mellowed somewhat. This one could easily cellar for another couple of decades. The palate is loaded with cassis and black currants, blackberry and boysenberry. Quite dynamic. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have to say this is my favorite Chateau to stand in front of and gaze. On the nose, spice, wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, mint, tobacco leaf and dark fresh & dry flowers. It's drinking nicely with silty medium-medium + tannins & full bodied. Ruby, ripe wild blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum, plum, leather, cedar, dark moist soil, wet stones, crushed dry minerals, mint, tobacco leaf and violets, dark fresh & dry flowers. The acidity is round and mouthwatering. The long finish has great elegance, beauty, length, tension & balance. It's just starting to hit it's stride and has plenty of life ahead of it. Another 15-20 years. Who said 04 was a difficult vintage? This will continue to improve and will stun with another 10 years in bottle. Photos of the the exterior Chateau front & side, tasting room and Christian Seely Managing Director. Chateau Pichon Baron and Chateau Pichon Lalande were originally part of the same estate. Pichon Baron got it's name when Therese, daughter of the founder, received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville the first President of the Bordeaux Parliament. Chateau Pichon Baron changed because of the Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville. He took over managing Pichon Baron when he was only 19 years old! When the Baron passed away at 90 in 1850, he divided his Pauillac estate. The sons were awarded what became Chateau Pichon Baron and the daughters were given what later became Chateau Pichon Lalande. Pichon Baron went through three rough decades in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Part of the issues were, lack of investment and they machine harvested. The first really great vintages for them were 89 & 90 after Jean Rene Matignon, Jean-Michel Cazes join them and AXA Insurance Company purchased them adding capital. The 73 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Baron are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. However, the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot are reserved exclusively for the second wine. The terroir is mostly deep gravel, sand clay soils. Pichon Baron uses 80% new French oak and rests in barrel 18 months. @ FogoDeChao

— 9 years ago

Mark Oldman

9.6

nothing better than a lil' red #wine with yer pasta. Intense, beautiful nose of red fruit and beetroot, joined by a touch of smoke. A powerful, balanced, near full-bodied Pinot which will improve for decades. — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

A lovely performer in the problematic 2012 vintage, this Saint Julien blend of 65% CS, 32% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, has a deep purple color, a tempting compressed nose full of black fruits, dark cherries, black pepper, licorice, coffee and stone notes, full rich round body, with acidity that will carry this wine for a couple of decades and a long lasting finish. My score 90, drink to 2033 — 11 years ago

Flavio Menezes

9.8

WOTN, was a bit warm, but after 5 mins in the ice bucket, exploded in complexity and sweet fruit. This is close to perfection, and will get even better for decades! — 11 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.8

Fantastic with decades of life left. Beautiful and well on its way to elegance. Dropping with granit — 12 years ago

with boyd and Ryan

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The great 2005 vintage. Power and structure, rich black fruits, pencil shavings, saddle leather, tobacco and spices. Finishes with exceptional length and complexity. A bottle that can be enjoyed thoroughly now or age for decades. A terrific treat at Tak Room. — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.8

The 2014 Mouton Rothchild is a stunning wine that is already making its case for one of the wines of the vintage. Graphite, salted dark fruits, tar and mocha with a touch of red bell pepper all marvelously combine on the nose. Silky and marvelously textured, with an incredible complexity and viscosity, the wine shows wonderful brightness and a seamless quality that artfully dances across the mid-palate. Stunning and simply marvelous even at the five year mark, this is only an infant now and has decades of life to go. Try to resist this beauty for at least three more years. Drink 2021-2045- 98 — 7 years ago

Nick H

9.4

This easily has another few decades left to offer, but quite approachable today. Smooth and powerful; can’t wait to have another glass in the future. — 7 years ago

Richard Sohn

8.9

Sweet up front, then lots of burn and spice. Long. — 8 years ago

Eric Guido

9.4

The nose was gorgeous, displaying sour cherry, plum, roses and violets, dusty spice, and hints of floral undergrowth.  On the palate, I found soft, lifted textures with amazing purity to it’s ripe strawberry and cherry fruits, along with inner floral tones and hints of spice.  The finish was long yet fresh with medium-grained fine tannin, dried strawberry and inner rose tones. This may not be a vintage to age for decades, it’s so beautiful already, the hard part will be saving them long enough to watch them mature. #collisioni17 — 9 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Now to the star of the show the launch of the 2014 - generally considered to be the best vintage since the storied 1965 (examples of the 65 Lindemans HR Burgundy still fresh and drinking superbly according to Jim Chatto). Now using up to 66% Rosehill fruit. Bright Ruby with a purple tinge. Primary fruit aromas of plum and cherry with vanillan oak and palate staining intensity. An inner core which will carry this on for decades - Halliday says as close to a 100 year old wine as you are ever likely to see. Most probably but who will be around to check? — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.9

Chateau Latour is my favorite 1st Growth, they demand patience and inspire not just hedonistic pleasure but also analytical thought.

Both amazing but need massive amounts of air or another 15-20 years minimum in the cellar. I get the feeling they both will hit a plateau once they blossom and slowly move towards full maturity for decades.

The nose on the 2005 rose with little agitation and shot from the hip to nose with ease. By far the most youthful and I tense nose of the evening.

The 2000 was not dissimilar in its progression, if a bit more refined from the extra few years in the glass. A cerebral wine that was also deeply pleasurable, it kept bringing me to what this wine will be like in 15-20 or more years. Easily a 50 years wine from a macro view.

Epic #latour 2000 and 2005 #pauillac — 10 years ago

Jimmy Hayes

Estate Director Mayacamas Vineyard

10

86 HM - what else to say other than it's the wine that got me into wine; every time I taste it I remember why I got started in this business.. First tried at 16 years old at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver with my Dad. Today, a couple decades later, got to enjoy it again from 5L surrounded by good friends and family. 10 is for all of it, not just the wine. Grateful to Jason and Sarah Heller for their generosity. #happyeaster — 11 years ago

with Douglas, Helen and 4 others

Mark Royer

9.4

So young still. Great structure that will last decades. — 11 years ago

Sam Klingberg

10

First time with Homage, and '94?! Beautiful wine that's still rippling with fruit at two decades young. — 12 years ago

Steve Unwin

9.6

Oh wow. Comes off like a comic book version of a napa cab. Just dump trucks of pitch black fruit. Finish is lighter and tannins are less grippy than its cabby cousins but this is so bloody delicious I can't stand it. — 13 years ago