Ely Cohn

9.1

With Podere Pradarolo, it’s all extreme. Extremely long macerations for all the whites and Rose’s. Ex Alba sees 45 days on its Trebbiano skins then heads to the barrels. This is less than a fourth the time Vej sees on skins by the way.

I prefer Ex Alba. It’s less hops and more florals. Spiced citrus bitter peppery apple cider vinegar tea. — 3 years ago

Zack Hall

9.1

Would guess Macon blind good stuff — 4 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)
— 4 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. — 6 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. — 7 years ago

with Brandi

Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

9.2

God dammit that's good. Fruit forward, pulled back spice. French oak. 92pts. Direct $42.00 — 7 years ago

David Annis

9.1

First of two magnums, ex chateau... for €31. This is a cru bourgeois, which I respect more after having visited and learned more about the classifications. I'm usually worried about older wines collapsing that I don't often decant, although I find myself saying "I'm surprised how it opened up after an hour" enough that I might reconsider. This was one of those. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this wine was how the fruit hits you on the finish instead of at the beginning. Nice, mature, restrained left bank Bordeaux. Impossible to beat for the price. — 8 years ago

David Joffe

9.4

Nice berry notes in bouquet; smooth with pleasant finish; more on fruit side for Pinot — 9 years ago

Michael Ochsner

9.8

Holy shit! Where to start. High toned spice with earthy, peppered nuances, fresh dark fruit to tart fruit leather, but the performance is on the palate...sings. Fresh, infinite finish. — 9 years ago

Melissa M. Sutherland

Importer Winebow Wines

9.4

Three days in…benthic beauty clocking in at 11.5ABV. — 9 years ago

Dana Prescott

9.0

Great wine. 2018 vintage. Lightly Oakes. — 4 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 — 4 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) — 6 years ago

Jake Perez

9.1

Thanks Olivia! — 7 years ago

with Olivia

Tibor Werzl

9.5

Brown apples, nutmeg, great grip... no "in your Face" wine. Needs lot of air — 8 years ago

Eve Stanger

9.4

Jeff really liked it. — 8 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.5

Botteling on the right. Krug Grande Cuvee (2001). Magnum ex cellar — 9 years ago

Andrew Whittle

Co-Owner/Director Summit Estate Wines

9.7

2007 vintage - made by John Duval (ex-grange) - a real cracker with cherry, spice and lovely tannins - seamless with lingering finish — 9 years ago

Mick Ribeiro

9.1

Drinks smooth, great with fried seafood — 10 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. — 4 years ago

Natalie Austin

9.4

Love this wine, we paid 36 USD. Worth every penny — 4 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) — 5 years ago

Greg Koslosky

9.5

I love this wine well balanced complex and young for its age: ex cellar bottle . — 6 years ago

Phil Castellano

9.2

Powerful and fruity. Excellent value. — 6 years ago

Danielle Park

9.3

Really enjoyed it. — 7 years ago

Amanda Rotella

9.7

Yum!!!!!! Great Chardonnay tropical fruits (really taste that banana) with creamy finish. — 8 years ago

Eli Barton

9.0

Drank this a few nights ago, very interesting. Good acidity, aroma and flavors. Thanks Alessandro! — 8 years ago

Glenn

9.4

Heavy flavors, yet playful and poetic — 9 years ago

Mark Gatha

9.8

Smooth and amazing. — 9 years ago

Daniel Aveytia

9.5

Very smooth — 10 years ago