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

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

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

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.9

Hands down. Perfect Barolo in my opinion. Started to showing tertiary notes. Decades of life ahead. What a treat! — 7 years ago

Richard Sohn

8.9

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

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

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

Scott Gargus

9.7

Delicious now, but showing little age. Could be awesome for decades still! — 13 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

Marcio Morelli

9.4

Hold for two or three decades — 5 years ago

with Otavio and Evandro

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

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

Sam Klingberg

10

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

Richard Jennings

10

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

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

Delectable Wine

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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

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

Berg

9.3

Hint of blackberry, band-aids, roses, leather, tobacco, slight asparagus. Has the big, grippy tannins of a much younger wine. Probably 2 decades easy left here. — 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

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

Mark Royer

9.4

So young still. Great structure that will last 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

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