Freddy R. Troya

9.6

An exceptional wine that shows its age ability to endure and improve over time. The 2009 vintage has 76% Cab Sauv, 18% Merlot, 4% Cab Fran and 2% Petit Verdot and was aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels. Extremely opulent and luscious, though tannins were already falling, but its elegance and finesse was compelling. All ripe red fruits with a persistent perfumed aromas. Elongated finish with some fig notes as a bit of baked raisins. It can continue aging for another 15 years without compromising its elegance and complexity. This is a show stopper!! — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend 95% Cabernet Sauv, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, splash Malbec and Petit Verdot, blended before being aged 24 months in American Oak, 50/50 new and second used. Deep Ruby color with aromas of black fruits, spice and hints of cedar. On the palate flavors of blackberry, raspberry and currants with licorice, cacao, vanilla and savory herbs. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and savory mineral character. Nice!
— 5 months ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

@"Odedi" comments below are spot on. Gave this bottle 2 hours decant and it was drinking very well. Very approachable, a lighter Napa cab, very well balanced with just ripe dark fruit, medium plush tannins, med acidity. Drinking very well. Really enjoyable. Can’t wait to watch this evolve with many more years left. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

At the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. A blend of Shiraz, Viognier, Mataro and Marsanne. The original vineyards of Shiraz and Marsanne were established in 1969 with additional vineyards of Mataro and Viognier planted from 1984 to 1995. A lovely red berried perfume (raspberry) with some stalks added back in. Interestingly some fermenters have added frozen Viognier skins to the bottom, some have Marsanne skins. Sarah is always wanting to push the envelope with her winemaking. A classic Rhone style, blended with perfume in mind. Red wine of the year from the Halliday Wine Companion and awarded 99 points from Philip Rich from that publication. — 9 months ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.3

2 hrs in the decanter.
Coolish and classic nose. Kinda smooth.
On the palate sturdy tannines! Lots of minerality, yet very soft acidity. Black fruit, cloves, coffee, smoke, leather and graphite.
Give these bottles a few more years in the cellar to smoothen out the tannines. Potential plus. — 3 years ago

Jonathan

9.3

Berry. Guessed this but was 2 years off. — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 4 months ago

Arnold Ha

9.5

Took 2 hours to open. Hints of mummified cheese on the nose. Incredible gravitas. — 6 months ago

with Melody

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Winegeeks Chih 2 esparzas 2 aguas — 6 months ago

Carlo Maria Rossotto

9.0

With Joulan in Dubai. Nice and fruity — 7 months ago

Natalie Logsdon

9.3

Bought in Tennessee. Not too much of a metallic taste. Enjoyed this. — a year ago

Angelo Casagrande

9.0

Big and muscular, but I wouldn’t call it jammy or a fruit bomb. Maybe the mataro mellowed it a bit? I like Aussie Shiraz, and Penfolds is usually very good ( as was this). Big plum/ cherry action. Thanks bro. — 3 years ago

John Brandau

9.4

Drinking so nicely on day #2. Refreshing and bright, with a slow weighted finish. — 6 years ago

Ayda Gordon

9.0

Juicy and bold at the front. Delicious and easy to drink! Starts out sweet, with a medium finish. — 7 years ago

with Thyla

Steve Rura

9.1

Darker fruits, raspberries, vanilla, fig, dry minerals and gentle tannins. Quite nice. Organic. Priorat is always good in the dead of winter. — 5 months ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Tight as a drum at open. Loosened to trampoline tension after 2 hours. Finally was loose after 4. Spicy and hefty. More inward. A sophisticated mix and quite good but as with most Leoville Las Cases it needs to sit longer for the next iteration. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2002 vintage. Last tasted 10.06.22 (9.4). Similar "gliding along" impressions with feminine characteristics. This bottle (nice fill, cork and decent sed) was a goody. Decanted and tasted after 5 mins, 30 mins and 2 hours. Bit more structure evident after two hours open as to be a different, yet fantastic, wine. Funny how some of these underwhelming, less than aggro wines can take on another life of their own, on their terms, by gently removing all doubt. Still another 5-7 years-easy. 11.21.24. — 7 months ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.3

The 2023 Selección Especial Nº2 Victoria was sourced from a 1920-planted vineyard in Vélez-Málaga, Alta Axarquía, in the Sierras de Málaga. This late-harvest wine was aged seven months on the lees and bottled with 190 grams of sugar. Yellow in hue, it presents herbal aromas with peach and apricot notes and a faint hint of nard. Sweet and balanced on the palate, it offers an intense mouthfeel with a long-lasting savory finish. This is a delicate, well-crafted wine. (Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous, September 2024)
— 9 months ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.0

Another great bottle. 2009 out of 500ml (was meant for bistro and not import). Lovely from a ripe year. I prefer the less ripe / more restrained versions but this is as good as vacqueras gets. The new vintages are top notch but fun to try these older ones as well: modern and plush but still some old school roots. For around $20 it’s pretty insane (email me alex@nolimitfinewines.com and I’ll send you two bottles for the price of one) — 4 years ago

WC Fields

9.3

Winner! Blackberries, violets, anise, wild herbs. Nice acid and smooth tannins. Nice to have 2 left. — 6 years ago