William Feinstein

9.2

The wine has evolved nicely over the last few years resulting in a beautifully balanced and complex Sonoma Pinot. Rose petals, lavender and eucalyptus notes on the nose. Cranberry and sour cherries dominate the palate. Finishes with a little spice. While it is drinking well now it should continue to evolve over time. — 4 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Cigar ox nose with a mix of leather a touch of Pierre a fusille. Drinking well for a dark, cold winter night smith with lists of backbone to this wine. Years left but expect it will evolve well in the glass — 5 years ago

with David and Danielle

Bruce Leboff

9.4

Excellent wine. Some hint of cherry and sandalwood on the nose. Touch of herbs as well. Nice and well balanced on the palate with a super long finish! Gracias #riojalta I will wait on the rest of the case to see it evolve. ! — 5 years ago

with David

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 — 6 years ago

Eric

9.5

Oh my ... my last again. I’m impressed by this bottle of exquisite Merlot. Drinking at its peak, in my opinion. Soft, velvet in the mouth, with a firm mid palette and a perfumed, lavender-like finish that intoxicates. Continued to improve and evolve over the evening and reminded me that you can’t rush a river...you must let nature take it’s time and then magic happens. — 7 years ago

Ron R

9.2

A very contemporary, young Bdx 2nd wine - superb showing. Big extraction, sweet and textured. Will evolve to a better better place with time. Thanks @Mo Salem for bringing this to the devil’s den. — 7 years ago

with Mo

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.0

I'm not sure I love how these super modern chateauneufa evolve in bottle. Very port like on the nose. On the palate very nice. Soft and velvety. I prefer more old school cdp with age whereas a prefer the more modern style while they are young. I'd be interested to try this again in 5-10 years — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

History of Chapoutier family dates back to the early 19th century when current owner Michel Chapoutier’s great-, great-, great-grandfather Marius purchased estate & famous l’Hermitage vineyards. Medium Ruby with aromas of rich red/black fruits and spice. On the palate raspberry, cherry & black currant flavors with notes of oak. Firm tannins, well balanced ending with fruit, spice and cedar. Very nice! Tasting Sample. Has lots of room to bottle evolve. — 4 years ago

Jane Dunkley

8.9

Bright and youthful in colour, the nose was initially closed but opened up on decanting. Sour cherry and dried mint. Medium high acidity and firm, tight tannins. Needed decanting to evolve the palate. Great food wine. Probably deserves more patience and time to be more giving. — 5 years ago

Sean Thomas

9.1

I straight up love Matthiasson. This one needs a little time to open and evolve. First smell and sip was straight up cherry off the bat. After opening up...on the nose: cherry, floral, Stoney mineral, very slightly dusty. On the tongue: cherry, blueberry, blackberry, slight “forest-ish” finish. Tannins are light and it’s mouthwatering. Who makes a Napa cab at 13% alcohol? This is food wine. Paired with a bison strip, phenomenal. Any kind of lean meat will pair well with the light, well rounded tannins. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

Taken from what was generally a tough vintage in the Northern Rhone, the 1997 ‘La Chapelle’ Hermitage is a striking rendition at more than twenty years of age. Bulls blood, iodine, red cherry puree and crushed mint flavors provide some serious refinement. Silky throughout, this will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years — but is marvelous right now. Drink 2019-2025- 93 — 6 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.4

Outstanding power is hidden underneath its youthful facade, it needs time to evolve, either in the decanter or cellar. It shows a dense fruit profile, ripe but with a vibrant backbone, evolving complexity that developing through a long finish. — 7 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.3

Earthy and dusty on the nose, while also offering up blue fruits. The palate is fruit forward, a touch savory on the back notes. Tannins are present but soft and balanced by a nice acidity. Pop and pour though it did evolve in glass. @Severn Goodwin - half price bottle night is over! — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.3

I know, I know...it’s really not fair to rate this because it’s so stinking young. That being said, you can still get a good idea of where this will go...amazing potential. Could easily creep up to a 9.5. The nose on this is insane...mimics a high end RRV Pinot. Cedar, sweet tobacco, rhubarb. Acid is very balanced. The finish is very dominant of black pepper and peppercorn. Some beef jerky. Finish is mainly one dimensional that way, but you can tell it will evolve beautifully. — 8 years ago

with Mark

Scott Petrus

9.3

This baby was given 3 hours in crystal. In classic ridge style the big Cali bomber came off with unexpected elegance. Red berry and supple tannins this wine would be great to watch evolve over the next 10 years. — 5 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.7

The 2016 Lauren has really evolved since I had it last a couple of years ago. A lot of the bright lemon peel and white flower aromatics have given way to more complex, more subtle earthy components, highlighted by aromas of what I can only describe as a subtle yeast-like aroma - toasted bread. Expansive on the palate, full bodied, with a 45-second finish. Tastes more like a Batard-Montrachet than a Sonoma chard. Should be cool to see where this goes as it contiues to evolve in the glass. Awesome. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Bruce Leboff

8.9

A bit disappointing. Strong start but fishes mid palate. Nice left bank nose. Dark fruit. A hint of cherry leather and chocolate. Tannins present but doesn’t feel like it will evolve to be a classic. — 5 years ago

with David

Joe D'Angelo

9.2

The 2016 Crozes-Hermitage is bright and vivid, with aromas of dark wild berries, fresh flowers, dark olives, white pepper and a gorgeous saline character that all takes shape as this unwinds in the glass. On the palate this is medium-bodied with a wonderful velvety texture backed by a racy core that shows a wonderful combination of acidity and minerality that leads up the the mouthwatering finish. This continues to become more compelling as it sits in the glass, and its freshness makes it appealing today, however it should go on to evolve beautifully over the course of the next decade. — 6 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

Super approachable even if young. Strawberries & cream, a touch of roast aromas, a bit of cherry and a whiff of herbs. Juicy, a bit tart with nice structure (the tannins still a bit edgy) and nice depth. Good fruit, too. Needs a lot of air now, so should evolve nicely. Not bad for a normal Pinot. Not bad at all. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

It’s a B-day double dip of Pichon Lalande. Following up the 89 with the 96. I Coravined this 96 about a year ago and put it back because it wasn’t ready. I still feel that way, but my trust in Coravin has been a little shaky lately. So, I figured I’d I finish it just in case the Coravin advanced it too far or to spoil as I’ve experienced in the last year. On the nose; scorched earth, spearmint, cigar, dark currants, well baked blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, cherries, strawberries, steeped black tea, slight tarry notes, herbaceous character, soft, subtle spice, dark chocolate, black licorice, expresso grounds, cedar, used leather, dry, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets. The body full and putting on weight as it continues to open up. The tannins have softened & are rounder but still have big teeth. The structure, length, tension are still quite big. The balance is in a very good spot and will continue to evolve to a better place. The palate fruits are like the nose with lots of dark currants. Well baked blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, cherries, strawberries, steeped black tea, slight tarry notes, scorched earth, spearmint, cigar box, herbaceous character, soft, subtle spice, dark chocolate, black licorice, expresso grounds, cedar, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry river stones, dry, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets. The acidity is round & well done. The finish is big, thick, rich, long with split evenly with dark currants/earth and lasts minutes. Still needs at least 5 years plus in the bottle to really get to a sweeter spot with another 15-20 years ahead. Personally, I’ll wait 10 years to open another. Photos of; Pichon Lalande, Virginie de Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, their library cellar I’d love to spend a weekend opening bottles and their barrel room. I remember being at dinner about 8 years ago where their Director told us they had recently opened three bottles of 1897 and one was still good! Wish I’d been in line with a glass. 😋 Anybody notice the difference in the 96 & 89 label? — 7 years ago