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9.2

One encounter with an ex-château bottle suggested that the 1966 Lynch-Bages is not to be overlooked. Deep in color, it has a tempting nose that unfolds gradually in the glass, graphite and cedar commingling with crushed stone and red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm entry, very cedary with touches of desiccated orange peel. It's a bit conservative on the finish, though that is a leitmotif of the 1966 vintage. Well-preserved bottles should still be giving pleasure. Tasted at the Lynch Bages vertical. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023) — 2 years ago

Andre Rodrigues

9.0

Maison Sota — 3 years ago

Richard Portes

9.4

18.5. First and second bottles of a case, tried several years ago, were hopeless - murky, flat. So gave up but didn’t discard the remaining 10, which resurfaced recently. My son and my ex-wife tried one a week ago and said wonderful. Last night, I confirmed that. No excessive wood, indeedno flaws. Nose best early on, faded a bit. But mouthfeel, fruit and length exceptional. An outstanding CR - definitely superior to Chapoutier la Mordoree 2005 that I had last week, which was fine but not outstanding. — 5 years ago

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9.8

The 2005 Cheval Blanc has a very intense bouquet, conveying so much energy that it almost knocks you sideways. That strong marine influence remains, the aromatics have opened up since I last tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, yet more pliant than previous bottles, offering dense black fruit laced with mint and quite a potent saline note that drives the finish. This is surprisingly peppery on the aftertaste that is incredibly long. Awesome, but it needs more time. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at Berry, Brothers & Rudd. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2019)
— 6 years ago

Kyle Gross

9.4

Best Pinot in Canada (2015). Thanks to a Jeff for the invite to Ex Nihilo for a special night. — 6 years ago

with Jeff and Paul

Greg Koslosky

9.5

I love this wine well balanced complex and young for its age: ex cellar bottle . — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.2

UGC Weekend in LA. This showed up. Coming to the end of its life but a few grand old dame. Ex Nego. Bottle. — 8 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.0

Lush green herb/fruit aromas: lemongrass, key lime, chives. Good viscosity on palate, delicious acidity, more rounded finish. Excellent #montereycounty #sauvignonblanc . — 3 years ago

Jorge Pazos

9.5

Restaurante Trumfes de Llívia — 3 years ago

Mark Farrell

8.9

Pale ruby/garnet in color with strong aroma of tart cherries, pomegranate, cola, and a hint of gun smoke. Light body with fine structure and good flavor. Good smooth finish. Not bad. — 5 years ago

Natalie Austin

9.4

Love this wine, we paid 36 USD. Worth every penny — 6 years ago

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9.5

The 1989 Pichon-Baron repeats its performance from the vertical tasting in May 2018. It storms from the glass, bearing copious blackberry, cedar and perhaps a little more mint than I noticed on the previous bottle. There is so much youthful zeal to this harmonious, refined Pauillac that you would barely guess it is 30 years old. Long and tender with a graphite-infused finish, this bottle might be even better than the ex-château example. Tasted at the 1989 Bordeaux dinner at Hatched in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2019) — 6 years ago

Eric Manago

9.2

This is the kind of thing you can only get inexpensively in Europe. Crispness belying it’s age. The vegetal notes from the Sauvignon balanced by the Chardonnay. I’d love to try it again in a decade. This was superb. — 7 years ago

Phil Castellano

9.2

Powerful and fruity. Excellent value. — 8 years ago

Erika Strong

9.3

Back to the earth — 3 years ago

Catherine Leith

9.3

Very unusual. Light and doesn't hold up well to dishes but great by itself. Not sweet like most Riesling. Notes of honey, wildflower, and green apple. — 3 years ago

Kyle Gross

9.3

Again, thanks neighbour!! 14 years on and this has aged beautifully. Rust-coloured, so balanced and round and full and voluptuous.
A real treat. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Though not the same as it was pre-COVID -19, a handful of us were able to gather (while keeping our distance) to celebrate being back together and opened some fun wines to share. Wine is always better with good company.

From the 2018 Cayuse Ex-cellar sale. Followed over two days.

The oldest Cayuse I’ve had to date and a testimony to the quality and longevity of these wines as the wine was drinking beautifully. This sat with the cork removed for about an hour before it was tasted the first time. Aromatically, the Cayuse funk was just barely there (I’m assuming a combo of age as well as less use of whole clusters/stem back during these vintages), but even just a touch of that funk is enough to reel you in. Iron driven, teriyaki, stewed tomatoes, and dark cocoa dusted dates. It has a semi muddled profile on the palate but the acidity is still keeping this lively, and it went from black cherry dominant in day one to a darker, roasted black cherry/underripe blackberry flavor on day two. Olive and truffle mushroom on both days, but day two had a distinct sage/wintergreen type note at the finish. Complex, integrated, and delicious. Thrilled to have been able to acquire one of these, courtesy of @Bill Bender — 5 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

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9.8

The 1978 La Mission Haut-Brion is a candidate for the greatest Bordeaux wines produced during the 1970s. Without question, it is the highlight of the vintage. I have tasted it several times over the years and each time, my appreciation is heightened further. Still youthful in appearance, the bouquet soars from the glass with almost high-toned blackberry, cigar humidor, warm gravel and that signature trait of black olive. You could nose this all day. The palate is medium-bodied yet there is much more density than you will find on other 1978s. Notes of black fruit, bay leaf, graphite and earthy tones, the latter emphasized with aeration. Decanting is strongly advised because it responds to a long opening, deepening all the time, developing a sustained cedar tincture that lingers in the mouth. It is a fabulous La Mission Haut-Brion that at 40-years continues to give so much pleasure. Tasted at a private dinner in London (ex-château bottle). (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 7 years ago

Jared Silvia

9.0

Delightful Syrah. Very fruit forward on the nose. The taste is nicely balanced, the fruit giving way to an unctuous flavor blend, pepper, leather, and bits of olive. The finish could be a bit longer. — 8 years ago

with Brandi