Kimberly Anderson

9.3

Purplish black with heady scents of mocha, blueberry and herbs. Pomegranate, dusty plum, and espresso. Black tea notes on the finish. Plush but not over the top. A 30 minute decant made a big difference with this wine. — 6 years ago

with Chad

Ryan Vento

9.3

Tonight’s wine club gathering was extra special due to the fact that each selection put forward for tasting had a unique and special story behind it; each wine had a “near and dear” element to it that made tasting it all the more enjoyable while the stories surrounding them were told.

This selection and vintage holds special meaning for me. The memories associated with it are truly sweet. So elegant and beautiful; once the funk blew off after about an hour in the decanter the true nature of the wine blossomed. Savory notes of molasses, plum, and fig married with the cool, intoxicating aromas of eucalyptus and mint laced in dark, sweet, dusty fruits. So delicious. I’m thankful I have a few more of these in the cellar. — 8 years ago

with Krystal

Al Shikoh

9.4

Deep ruby color. Dark berries and cherry liqueur on the nose with undertones of red licorice and garrigue. Concentrated dark, brambly fruit and light, dusty tannins on the palate with a long finish. — 8 years ago

with Kelly

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.2

This is a really incredible bottle of wine, and a great value even at 25+ a bottle. Some light cherry, dusty woody tannins, and some gamey meat at the end. Had this vintage 6 months ago and it was not the same wine. This is evolving month by month in the bottle. — 9 years ago

Matt

9.4

Dusty, cigar ash, R. Apple skins, dried earth, spices, dried herbs, smoke. Structurally this wine is very sound with vibrant acid and tannin still holding on. Almost Nebbiolo-like in texture and elegance. Very pretty and beautiful. — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

Rust...dusty and dried tertiary beauty of red fruits, spice, leather and forest floor...fun and actually better than the last bottle!

Should have used the #durand! Old Bordeaux transforms into a much wider spectrum of cuisine pairing. We had this with a seared duck breast and confit leg...excellent match! — 9 years ago

M

9.4

2006 From winebid at 35. For half bottle. Drank may 2016. Absolutely tops. Needs 2-3 hr decant and still opens in glass. Excellent harmony and deep finish 2000 $125 from winebid. Less impressive. Needs at least 2 h breathing. Complex and sophisticated finish but still has some dusty tannin. This one would rate 9.1. I had the 2000 again in Aug 2017 and would rate it 9.4. Sophisticated but definitely needs a lot of breathing. — 10 years ago

Les Huisman

9.2

11 years old, and delicious. Dusty sweet fruit and elegance. 2004 vintage. — 10 years ago

with Justin

Christine Havens

9.2

Beautifully evolved nose of leather, mulberry, brambly red berries, clove and dried mint. Medium-bodied with a regal countenance—there is still tons of structure, with mouth-coating fine grain tannin in abundance. Truly, this wine could go on and on and on in the cellar. The 1989 Château Montrose is not terribly fruit-driven, rather it's interior space is occupied by notes of dusty, clayey soil, cedar, black tea and spice. That wonderful impression of clove is on the finish, too. — 11 years ago

Ben Rossen

9.3

🔥🔥🔥 Needs minimum of 30 minutes to decant but oh man does it open up. So smooth and silky, red fruit (dusty cherries and dried cranberry), cigar box, raisins, wood and ash, cocoa, vanilla and a bit of coconut. Constantly evolving in the glass. Excellent! Wish I bought more. — 7 years ago

Sean Grullon

9.5

Okay - fine. It’s a good, probably great wine. Overpriced? Yes. Opus is filled with pretentious douchbags? Double yes. But this is a well-made wine bridging a gap between Napa and Boudreaux. Dusty nose with menthol, earl grey tea, tobacco, flowers, cassis, and creamy dark fruits. It has a really nice velvety finish. — 8 years ago

Ben Franco

Owner Winedown cafe & wine bar

9.0

Wow, violets fresh floral notes dusty palate powerful yet tame tannins — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.5

Stunning gorgeous old world Rioja in an awesome year @ £75 that's drinking just lovely in a Zalto Burg glass 👍

🍷 Garnet cherry red w/ brick wall

👃 Smokey burnt oak, old sweaty leather, crushed ripe black cherry, caramel, sherry, herbs, earth, dusty cellar, red currant, potpourri & cocoa dust w/ liquorice hint - I ❤️ the 💨

👄 Med smooth balanced body of slight tart & sweet bruised red cherry soaked in earth, oak, sweet liquorice & cocoa - happy mouth 😃

🎯 Long earthy oak cherry linger 👊💥 — 8 years ago

Lenard Henson

9.8

Lenard had this 9 years ago

with Somer

Dexter Freeburg

9.0

Nice and dusty, tobacco and chocolate cherry. Paired well with sautéed green beans dish — 9 years ago

Jim Wagonfeld

9.3

Text book Brunello at a peak. Smooth dusty cherry on a structured backbone. No evidence of the hot vintage. Just a lovely bottle. years to go. — 9 years ago

with Roy and Judy

Katie Winter

9.3

The fruit is so bright and vibrant - clear clean fruit, nothing jammy or sticky. But balanced. Not dusty but a bit funky. I know there's oak but it's not in my face. This wine is artful yet precise. A delight. #rioja #haro #spain #tempranillo #dogsofdelectable — 10 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.1

The way C Classico should be. Purely red fruit, rose petals, earthy minerality, cedar and tobacco oak. Medium to light bodied, fresh and acidic, sour red cherry, cranberry and and a lovely long dusty oak finish. Good purity — 10 years ago

Mike Kerr

9.7

From a warm year but not overly fruit driven. Great dusty qualities — 11 years ago

with Kathy and Michael

Nikki Goddard, DWS

9.3

Dusty earth, liqueur cherries, candied violet petals, pomegranate, stewed strawberries, leather, anise; acidity is still super bright, fine, powdery tannins. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the heart of the Chianti zone, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. Crognolo, aged in French Allier barriques, deep red with red fruit aromas and floral spice. On the palate blackberry and sweet cherry flavors, cacao, spice and fine dusty tannins. Good balance, lingering finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Tasting Sample! — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was fuller bodied & more primary than the LM with dark red cherry, plum, dusty leather & tobacco. — 8 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.2

Dusty, briary fruit. Smokey tobacco and molasses. The palate shows dark berries, cassis, and subtle spice. Tight, grippy tannins. Finishes with some blueberry and black plum. — 9 years ago

with Diana

Andrew Schirmer

8.9

Dusty tawny with rim gradation. Elegant structure. Black pepper and cherries on the nose. Wood, leather, stone fruit. Faded tannins, astringent finish. Drink now. — 9 years ago

with Alsu

Ryan Vento

9.3

Absolutely lovely; dry and dusty. Great way to kick off our stay at Big Cedar. — 9 years ago

with Krystal

Phil Callaghan

9.4

Really nice savoury wine with a juicy fruit backbone. Dusty and nice fine tannins. Drying but not overtly. — 9 years ago

William Hughes

9.0

Ready to drink. Dusty tannins, earth, oriental rug, and dark red fruit. — 10 years ago

Steve Schmidt

9.2

1999: dusty nose, lovely perfume. My favorite of the '99s. — 10 years ago

Austin Ferrari

Wine Director Hillside Supper Club

9.3

Screams Umbria, dusty, bold, and rusty. — 11 years ago

with Kit, John and 1 other

Mike Saviage

9.6

Dusty red fruit, chicory, long and building finish. Very special. — 11 years ago