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

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

Christian Bronstein

9.1

Needs more time to evolve, but enjoyed none-the-less — 8 years ago

Richard Worthington

9.5

Crisp fruit and great acidity, lovely minerality, limestone and complexity to this premier cru Chablis. Could go many more years in the bottle and evolve even more. Great value at $85 per bottle — 8 years ago

with Patrick

Max Kelly

9.0

Blackberry liqueur, a little tobacco leaf, and some earthiness with a barnyard accent comes out with air. Dense flavors in a medium bodied package, decent length, and a little grip that suggests this will evolve positively. All together, a lovely wine for the money. — 9 years ago

Raye Ackerman

9.5

Wow. Big and complex and has a truly young bouquet but a wonderful balance. Back currants and licorice were what jumped out at me. We did not decant and let breath briefly. Continues to evolve. — 9 years ago

M

9.3

2003-From wine.com at 160. Perfect balance. Cigar box finish. No sweet aftertaste or dustiness. Slight bitterness. Llllong finish. The one issue is that the complexity is low and does not evolve either in the glass or the palate. — 10 years ago

Doug Hengel

9.4

2011. Wonderful. Ready now but will evolve and become even more elegant over time. At the winery today. — 10 years ago

Lisa Baldwin

9.6

Very complex wine decanted three hours drink over a course of two hours continued to still evolve. Flavors of cigar smokiness very smooth, dark berries, oak, spice, and a hint of vanilla. well balanced wine. Bordeaux characteristics. — 10 years ago

John Prentis

9.6

Wow! Viscous and honeyed. Quite deep golden color. Outstanding wine that will be interesting to watch evolve. Definitely a food wine and a real treat. — 11 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

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

Juan Menendez

9.4

I have to say this is great right now. What a great bang for the buck. Seems like this could further evolve for another 6+ years... but why wait? — 8 years ago

Christian Bronstein

9.4

Not quite in the sweet spot of maturity. Finish still holding onto some bitterness that'll evolve. Nose compliments of fruit and oak through mid-palate flavor is seductive and not drawn out richness but balanced — 9 years ago

Larry Irving

9.5

1997 vintage. Still lots of life left for this wine. Drank at a tasting of ten wines. Poured into decanter and then glass within five minutes. Tight at first then opened up with great nose and lots of fruit and smooth tannins. Would have loved to see this evolve over an hour or more... Next time — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.5

A small departure to explore the provenance of this wine...

As you can see from the image, this wine was purchased from British Airways after Concorde was decommissioned in 2003. I was in the right place at the right time when Concorde's cellar was liquidated - My then wine merchant secured 10 bottles. Now onto the tasting.

No visible signs of aging. The nose is redolent, but carries the typical French Bdx wine signature of dark fruits, graphite and licorice.

On the palette, the wine is pristine and so precise. It's deftly balanced with plums, cloves, tobacco and saddle leather. I decanted this and it continues to evolve to a lovely place.

28 years on, this wine is singing. A real pleasure and a privilege to taste it. — 10 years ago

Gene Harlow

9.3

Wonderful Napa cab with great fruit and a long finish. This is a big Cab that will evolve well with more age. — 10 years ago

Cody Short

9.8

Every time I have this it confirms that even "off" vintage Yquem is outstanding. Continues to evolve and improve and and while it will last many more years it's providing tons of pleasure in it's youth. — 11 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

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

Bruce Leboff

9.4

An excellent example of French Syrah Well integrated. A slight chocolate nose. Slightly dry on the palette but well balanced and enjoyable. Finish is medium to long. Well executed. Lots of life left. Fun to drink over the next 10 years and see it evolve. — 8 years ago

with Michael and David

Jim McCusker

9.4

Harlan's second label (don't have the coin to afford the first label!), this is a classic Napa cab. Intense nose of cassis with hints of vanilla, black fruits, and perhaps a trace of leather. Still a bit closed on the palate, this is a great example of a CA cab that will evolve into a great wine, but probably a few more years down the line. Not convinced on the quality/price ratio, but this is a terrific wine. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Drinking beautifully, it will still evolve over the next few years but not sure how much better it will get. — 9 years ago

Skip Smyser

8.9

A baby but luxurious with multiple layers of fruit. We decanted and it continues to evolve. — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Very impressive for such a young vintage.

Lovely nose cinnamon and spice box. On the palette, it's wonderfully weighted. Tobacco and sweet dark fruits blend perfectly. Tannins are somewhat integrated, but need more time. This has the potential to evolve to a much better place. Lay this down for 3 - 5 years. — 10 years ago

Andre Lopez

9.8

Unbelieveable wine. I've been waiting so long to try these wines and am glad that it was worth the wait. Insanely clean, pure flavors of citrus, almond, lemon meringue and wet stone. Great dimension, weight and intensity. Glad I bought three bottles to see how this will evolve. — 10 years ago

with Susan

Franco Michienzi

Sommelier, Hawksworth Restaurant

9.0

Lush red fruit and silky tannins. Just starting to evolve with a lively freshness and welcoming earthiness. — 11 years ago