Matt Franco

9.1

Perhaps just past peak but plenty of pleasure to be had. Into its 4th hour lots of smoky/meaty nuance emerged. — 8 years ago

David Wanek

9.8

Need to try this in a line up of other HS. The nose seems to be bigger and more aromatic on this one versus past vintages (from memory). As always super smooth, concentrated and exceedingly well made. — 8 years ago

Matt Brock

9.3

I've had this bottle in the cellar for a LONG time (probably past peak)...waiting for the right occasion. Here is to ten eventful years of Builders Bargain. Jammy, delicate flavor. 13 years of aging has given this a very earthy quality. Decanted for 90 minutes but should get even more spectacular through the evening. Cheers! — 9 years ago

with Jennifer

Will Stanley

9.2

Bags of mango, passion fruit and lemon wrapped up in a juicy, fresh package. Scornfully have I dismissed Cloudy Bay in the past. The 2015 vintage has changed that. — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.4

A remarkable wine, a bit like many ‘45’s in its power and concentration. And while those who are after some more of the La Chapelle structure may be disappointed (and I have sympathy with aspects of the assessment), this is such an full expression of fruit and terroir, that I can really only cheer. Plums, orange zest, pepper and currants on the enticing nose. The palate is awash in luscious, sweet fruit, soy tinged, with melting tannins, round and soft, pure velvet past the mid palate, and it finishes with gusto, batons twirling, with layered exuberance and appealing length. — 9 years ago

Noé

9.6

Blackcurrant and cherry brandy nose, mouth still young with juicy tanins and vibrant density, tanins are still in your mouth after 10 seconds, as the flavours of black truffles and dried shrooms — 10 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.4

Herbal, menthol, smoke, barrel, licorice and forest berries. What an impressive mixture of flavours! What a tour de force to pull off a wine like this on an off-year in Napa. So good. — 10 years ago

Michael Januszeski

9.4

A cab from one of my favorite Napa wineries. This 1997 Silver Oak has done exceptionally well over the past 18 years. I'll plan to tap his brothers over the next few years to see how far this vintage can go — 10 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.0

Beaucaillou means beautiful stone. This for sure is beautiful, but a bit one sided right now. The nose is elegant, delicate and complex. The nose has loads of rotting macerated black cherry and dried black currants. For sure what one would love from an aged bordeaux, however, the palate was a bit flat. Mainly earthy and herbaceous and lacking fruit. The nose barely translated to the palate besides its sage and dried mushroom like earth. I did love it, but i think it could have shown better fruit on the palate a few years ago. Very difficult for me to find that perfect scale of aged tertiary notes with enough fruit presence to keep it balanced. This, for me, was past its prime. Not what id expect considering Bordeaux's classic aging ability. — 10 years ago

Jeremy Giesbrecht

9.5

Um yeah... #BOOM status granted for this at the #yulwinethrowdown . 81 not the best of vintages and wines are reportedly past peak but this first growth was not. Very interesting flavour profile, certainly secondary characteristics but structurally still pretty sound. I was glad to find it still alive and in my opinion had many more years left before the big decline. Awesome privilege to have tasted. — 11 years ago

Tom Higgins

Owner/Winemaker Heart & Hands Wine Company

9.3

Aromas of buttered toast, honeysuckle, almonds, and fig. Vanilla, ripe peaches, and truffles on the palate. Alc shows through a little more than the fruit at this point. The wine is a little past peak. — 12 years ago

Marek Svanda

9.7

Lots and lots of vanilla. But not overpowering. Just lovely piškot flavours. Finish is never ending. Basically there is no finish as that would employ an end. Lovely stuff — 8 years ago

with Kamila

Jay Kline

9.4

Brought the bottle up from out of the cellar and pulled the cork about an hour before the first pour. Bin-stained label. Cork was in perfect condition. After pouring the first glass, it was clear that we were in for a treat as we could smell the bouquet from across the table, drawing me in closer. Notes of cassis, dried apricots(?!), tobacco, damp forest floor, well-oiled ball glove, fresh asphalt and a touch of green bell pepper. So many wonderful layers! The color was deep garnet and hardly showing any signs of age. Some fine sediment was present. On the palate it was cassis, tobacco and a touch of cocoa. Finish lasts for 20-30 seconds. Beautiful body. Tannin is still a factor though it's not a chore to get past. Considering the adequate acid, considerable structure, and the fact that this tasted nowhere near 17 years old, I would have to say that the 2000 vintage will last for decades to come. This was an outstanding bottle. Drink now or Hold. — 9 years ago

Rob Squire

9.4

Very tasty. Nice cab sav bite and flavours with no after bite of nitrates — 9 years ago

Greg Gregory

9.8

You had blueberry, caramel, potpourri, plum and cassis on the nose, a gorgeous medley. The palate opening has licorice, espresso and blackberry. There is marvelous concentration here, somewhat emblematic of the vintage, but the supple tannins, and seamless texture, rein in potential excess. You get cedar, tobacco, and fascinating salinity past the mid palate, and its power has graciously mellowed, leaving you with a delectable expression of Petrus prowess. You get sumptuous black plums and sweet tobacco, with a blaze of Pomerol’s essence on the layered, ebullient finish. — 9 years ago

GHol

9.5

Not going to pretend I have the palate or the language to describe the subtleties and nuances of flavours, bubbles, colour and texture to match what this wine presents. Did I want to do headstands because my tastebuds were struggling to keep up with all the different contrasts of flavour and other possibilities this wine was throwing at me? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Totally. — 10 years ago

James Webb

9.7

Stewed fruit - horse blanket - mossy forest floor - cherries, strawberry, tobacco. Palette of tart fruit, soft and building. Light dusting of tannins. Past prime but still amazing. — 10 years ago

with Megan

Benjamin Hickey

9.6

Super complex, great flavours, still some fruit but lots of secondary flavours. Amazing flavours, complexity, balance and length. — 10 years ago

Joseph C Burke

9.4

Deep red with slight brick edging; nose of ripe black cherry, cedar and herbs; soft and luscious cassis and sweet oak on palate with a lingering finish of mushroom with a hint of sweet tobacco. Perfectly integrated and just past its peak from a 25 year sleep in my cellar. — 10 years ago

JCB

9.4

Extraordinary. Slightly, slightly past its peak. Lovely berries, currants and a hint of shoe leather. Twinge of gunpowder still there but faint. Fading, fading... — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.6

Still has a bit of red currant berry fruit notes of cigar box spice and coffee dried herbs and earth. Very smooth and silky drinking a bit past it's peak but still nice. Excellent — 11 years ago

Jason Brater

9.2

Sampled over time over about 3 hrs. This needs at least 2 hrs decanting as it only started to hit its stride after it past the 2 hrs open. Lingering tannins w dark red fruits. A beautiful example of syrah. — 8 years ago

with Heather and Trent

Lewis Chester

9.3

1994 vintage. On a sailing boat in Sydney Harbour not with the proper glassware. On the nose, fresh black fruits, gentle spices and leather notes. More savoury than sweet. Not obviously a 20+ year old wine. On the palate, mild alcohol and body, good concentration of flavours and soft but noticeable tannins. Elegance with a touch of umph. Very Hill of Grace. The finish was good, but not quite as long as some other vintages I have recently had. This wine was certainly not fully mature. Could age for another 15 years I suspect. Very good. — 9 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.0

CabS 60%, Merlot 29%, CF 9%, Petit Verdot 1%, Carmenère 1%. Deep reddish purple color. Powerful, concentrated and aromatic. Persistent flavors of black fruits. Complex with good finish. Wine have just reached its peak and will stay there for at least 5-7 years. Château Clerc Milon rated as a 5th growth Grand Cru (1855 Class.), but given its great quality for past decades deserves 3-4th growth. So it is a bargain most of the time. Belongs to Baron Philippe de Rothschild since 1970. Rating 4,0/5 — 9 years ago

Jim Barri

9.2

One of my favorites for past 10 years. I'm afraid new ownership could effects future productions we have wait and see. — 10 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Great breeding trumps a below-average vintage. Blind, the nose alone gives away the DNA of this phenomenal wine. This Merlot-dominated Cheval has a beautiful core of cocoa powder, prune and plums. Structure from sweet oak and cab franc skins come through on the finish. Excellent, but a world away from the 2000 that's a palate-reference for me. Don't wait on this one, this well-stored bottle felt past its apex. — 10 years ago

Mark clowes

9.0

Aroma of Spanish flowers complex flavours' spicy with smooth tannins 2001 vintage — 10 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.5

1958 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino: from Jay. This was the Ying to the Mascarello's Yang. Lovely rich ruby colour with virtually no bricking on the edge. The nose developed over the course of 15 to 20 mins in the glass. Unlike the Mascarello that was shedding perfume from the moment it hit the glass, the Monfortino needed more air before becoming less brooding. Dark fruits on the nose. Purple plums, black cherries, some forest floor, light tobacco as well as some floral elements prevailed. The palette was a reflection of the nose so no surprises. The fruit was far from dried out and this particular bottle still had plenty of life left in it but from my recent experience this is the exception rather than the rule. I have had around 10 bottles of old Monfortino ('55 / '58 / and '61) over the last year and the bottle variation, as you would expect, is tremendous with the majority of them past their prime. The finish was strong and in keeping with the rest of the package with reasonable length and quality. Drink now. 95/100.

— 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.1

Lovely champagne, so young and fresh, though it is at its sweet 16. Light gold color, lovely bubbles more on the mild side, I guess it was a bit more perky in the past, nose of citrus, grapefruit, hint of tropical and oak with a touch of yeast. Super fresh body, crisp and appealing, with long yummy fresh finish. A lovely champagne. My score 91, drink to celebrate life any day until 2020. — 10 years ago

Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe

9.7

Bright fruit, floral and crushed stone. Still a very focused wine with lots of energy and refreshing acidity. Has not seemed to age over the past few years. — 11 years ago