Doug Powers

9.4

Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — 3 months ago

with Jim

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1985 vintage. Top shoulder fill. Cork 100% saturated so even with a Durand, some cork “splinters” afoot. Decanted with appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins and two hours post-decant. Nose was initially tight but yielded cedar, tobacco and fudge/Tootsie Roll scents that carried over into the taste side of things at the half hour mark with some baking chocolate impressions casually tossed into the parade. At the two hour mark, the fudge diminished and an orange peel note started to creep in. Not improving but can hold tight for another 2-3 years before dropping down another notch. Drink ‘em if ya got ‘em. 11.21.25. — 9 months ago

Paul J

9.2

Similar to my last note, strange and somewhat disappointing.

1hr+ decant. Dark red color. Dark fruit, almost stewed in nature on the nose. Wine starts out spicy, settles down, and loses its strength. Not sure what to make of this. — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Shay A

9.4

Last of a 3-pack I bought a few years ago. Should have bought more! Thankfully the ridiculous pricing for the 2008 keeps this 2007 an easy choice when looking for more great champagne.

Having had the 2006, 2007 and 2008 all within the last 6 months or so, it’s fun to see the differences. 2006 seems to be a bigger champagne in regards to richness, yet still has great structure…2008 is wound up crazy tight, extremely chiseled and age worthy…the 2007 is a more accessible version of the three with lots of similarities to 2006.

Right down the middle in terms of style (doesn’t come across reductive or oxidative in profile). Tart lemon, yeasty, chalk, and a hint of nuttiness on the nose. Comtes always has this kiss of freshly baked lemon scone note on the nose to me. Not as multidimensional as 2006, but tons of layers here both aromatically and on the palate. Continuously evolving revealing limestone, powder sugar dusted lemon bars, and roasted almonds. Lemon-lime mineral grip isn’t as prevalent as the 2008 on the finish. This can certainly age, but with how good it is now, pop and enjoy! — 4 years ago

Lynda R

9.0

Just a total surprise for a screw cap. Very smooth. No wierd finish. Just right. — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.0

This bottle of 1990 Lafite-Rothschild replicates the one poured at the château several months earlier. The bouquet offers black fruit, a little dustiness, leather and light marine notes, but again, it never slips into fifth gear. It just lacks vivacity. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly hard tannin, modest fruit concentration and a monochromatic finish that feels suppressed by that summer’s warmth. To reiterate, there are Super Seconds that clearly outperform this First Growth in 1990. Tasted at Noble Rot's “Xmas” dinner. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2019)
— 7 years ago

Pippa

9.2

Unripe peach, maybe a little melon, nice minerality, good with arugula! — 4 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Another solid vintage of this NZ Sauvy B. Bright golden color with green highlights. Aromas of citrus, fresh herbs/grass and tropical fruit. Flavors of grapefruit, lime,passion fruit with a mix mineral/wet stone based backbone. Distinct saline note on the long and crisp and clean finish. Bright acidity and medium body and alcohol (13.5%). Solid freshness and precision. Enjoyed with Asian food at Youyu in the Hard Rock in Atlantic City. — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.3

(Two previous 1983 wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from my CT).

Continuing a run of ‘83s over the last 3-6 months, this not only showed quite well, but it was at its best after almost two hours in the bottle. Whereas the ‘83 Pichon was clean and elegant, this was a bit more dense and powerful. Beautifully expressive aromatics of potpourri, espresso, fig and leather with a flavor profile mostly on the red/black fruit side of the spectrum. The mid-palate showed good weight and continued to bulk-up during the evening. Old cherry-tobacco note at the finish. Honestly, this drank like it was more early ‘90s than it was early ‘80s. Good. — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Opus One tasting

2019 Opus
2017 Opus
2012 Opus

The 12 drinks really well with time to go but hard to imagine it gets a lot better, the 17 was uninspiring with muted nose and subdued taste, the 19 has good potential in 6-9 years. Note: Pours were a little light for the price, so buyer beware! — 4 years ago

with Karin and Brenda

Bob McDonald

9.5

Classic Cabernet descriptors of Cedar, Tobacco, Red and black fruits and a herbal note. Lovely on the palate, drinking at its peak with excellent balance - smooth, fluid, resolved tannins. One could easily pick this as a Left Bank Bordeaux in a blind tasting. Shows more French restraint than the full blown Napa style for me. Medium + weight palate with balance and concentration. Probably my favourite Napa Valley Cabernet though admittedly I have not tried some of the big guns like Harlan. Post script: A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. No Merlot was used in the blend for 2004. — 5 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Complex nose. Bread, nuts, lemon merengue, slate, and a reductive smokey note. On the palate, the wine is stuffed with substance but is yet to unfurl and bubbles are quite pronounced which distracts from the flavour profile. Slightly disappointing but full if potential. — 7 years ago

with Racquel

Kate Leahy

9.0

Cherry fruit and bright acidity. Short,
spicy finish. — 7 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

1st wine. Medium garnet with quite thin , garnet rim . Some herbal touches , with earthy terracotta note , touches of dry spices, grafite . On the palate this has good freshness and of tobacco and earthy cassis , quite grippy, dry tannin. A bit foursquare , but quite good length and balance . This probably needs a bit more time , 5 -8 years and will last well a further decade . Had this down as the Haut Brion. — 5 months ago

Steve Messinger

9.2

Dark ruby, dense black fruit aromas of kirsch and sassafras w a lingering high note of bergamot. Intense black fruit flavors long finish showing a bit of alc — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Always a tasting highlight having a Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir the leading Pinot Noir in Australia although the competition is coming. See previous Delectable note. It pours a medium red with a distinct tawny edge. Barb said red fruits (cherry) and bunchy. I certainly agree on both counts. All BP Reserves are special but the 2012 is not one of the greats. - perhaps a little bunchy, to be ultra picky. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.

This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.

I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.

Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.

Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — 3 years ago

Aren Larson

9.1

Really tasty wine. Total wine 🍷 has it — 6 years ago

In Jin

9.1

This is very good wine for price. Good tanin full body not strong in acid but enjoyable — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.7

Blackberry jam, pepper, a bit of celer, tar, meat juice with a gamey note too. It's intoxicating and it calls for a quick dive. The palate starts with a very nice blackberry jam layer which expands on the width but soon comes a massive acid backbone which pushes the structure toward the end of the palate. It's super powerful yet very complex with different layers: some grip on the side, a buttery, creamy touch and mouthfeel, the acid backbone and some tannins which kick-start and expending finish, very fresh, with blackberry and pepper and a slightly bitter note, just underlined by the gently drying tannins. This is magnificent and comes easily in my top 3 wines all time. I love it and it's an understatement. #birthdaytreat — 7 years ago