Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2005 vintage. Wowzers. Never been the biggest Lafite guy. Have had all the big vintages since/including 1961 but never been officially “wowed” or wowzered by Lafite. Achievement unlocked. Decanted and tasted after 2.5 hours. Threw a pretty respectable amount of sed. Cork was pristine. Nose was slightly more forward upon a high decant than usual. Light-medium body. Great, underlying richness flowing through from start to finish. An incredible 45 second denouement. Showing fantastically currently but no rush to crush. This ain’t goin nowhere. 11.5.23. — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

This bottle of 1983 Pichon-Lalande (I really can't be bothered to type out its full name) is the best of many encountered over the years. This offers gorgeous melted red fruit, woodbines, smoke and cigar humidor scents that could only come from Pauillac. Hints of black truffle and morels follow after about an hour in the glass. The palate displays lovely balance, poised and fresh, perhaps more vigor than I ever expected, with just a hint of dried blood on the finish. Impeccable provenance played a role here, but it is still a 1983 that should not be underestimated. Tasted blind at Pichon-Lalande. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 9 months ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.5

Aroma is uncanny; a perfume of rose petals and coconut cream wafting from the glass. Totally beguiling. Vanilla and marzipan lead the way with fresh and dried red berries, red cherries, dried flowers and orange peel. So polished, but this needs more time for the oak and fruit to integrate. The 2010 Ardanza remains my favorite now for its classical balance. — 3 years ago

Les Huisman

9.2

From magnum. Breaking in Tim's cellar.
So fleshy yet — 8 years ago

with Tim, Karl and 1 other

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

9.6

From magnum. From my daughter Adrienne's birth year and beautifully crafted by my buddy Rob Davis. Good luck to Adrienne as she starts a new page in her life in Atlanta! — 10 years ago

WC Fields

9.1

2 hour decant and it’s barely peeking out from behind the cloak of tannins… — 7 months ago

Will Stanley

9.6

Such is the way of life at López de Heredia, the 2010 Reserva was only released to the market last year, while most bodegas are currently extolling the virtues of their 2019s. Well, as a fan of Viña Tondonia, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the 2010, fabled year that it is, having enjoyed many a superb wine from other producers in this vintage.

Decanted for four hours, this wine is effusive from the glass, with a strikingly darker, richer aromatic profile compared to vintages such as 2007 and 2001, and more in line with 2008 - but better still. The oak provides a generous chocolate- and vanilla-laced bouquet that also has blackcurrants, blueberries, cranberries and kirsch, and bouquet garni. The palate is, predictably, very austere at this primal stage, but again has a richer, more rounded mouthfeel to prior vintages that is simply wonderful. Needless to say, this is a benchmark wine for the region and will age rather well, and what a wine it will be in decades to come.
— 7 months ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.4

A 2012 from Alexander Valley. Fully integrated tannins. Balanced and lush. Delicious! — 9 months ago

Alan Weinberg

9.2

168 from half bottle. So young and so promising. Delicious already. Citrus and orchard fruits, a little oxidation. — 3 years ago

Leah Tarpy Rodgers

9.9

You know, when your dad is suffering from cancer, and you need the best bottle of wine possible — 5 years ago

with Marilyn

Samantha (Jacob) Berman

9.5

@Ron R this one wasn't my own, but was a step up, from my older brother's table. (Thanks Bri) — 7 years ago

Rejeana Scarpello

9.5

Night in with Biag — 8 years ago

Nate Stiles

9.3

This Pinot is a blend from three California counties. Tons of fruit and a bit of pepper made this an instant delight. — 11 years ago

with Drew

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — 7 months ago

Phoebe Li

9.4

Quite savoury when first opened, earthy and leathery, decant in bottle for 2.5 hours and it started to blossom with a lot of red fruits and vanilla taste (from oaks). Silky smooth tannin. Absolutely stunning — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1990 vintage. Last tasted 01.20.23 (9.6) and 05.16.21 (9.4). This slots in just between. Tastes as if from a colder cellar because this specimen was as fresh (too fresh) as a daisy. Decanted and tasted after 2 hours. Tannins for tannins sake. And I love big tannins. Less evolved than the January visit and drinking better than the 5.16.21 visit. Still bleeping massive as it ever was upon release back in the day. Very little has changed. This wine and the 1989 Gaja Sorí Tilden Barbaresco the two biggest, uncompliant wines with years to go before really revealing those hidden charms that I've tasted in recent memory. Getting closer but not quite ready to settle down any time soon. Out of a larger format bottle, must be positively overwhelming…like jumping to hyperspace accidentally…or on a boozy dare. 9.21.23. — 8 months ago

Mike Beltran

9.3

Stunning quality from a stellar Napa producer. This Cabernet flows with bright dark berries and medium toast oak. It continued to reveal complex flavors throughout the evening. Under 14%ABV and still quite young on the palate. Classic Napa Cabernet. 🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

Scott Munro

9.4

butter and vanilla from oak on the 2015, still v good — 6 years ago

Mitzi Inglis

Marketing/Public Relations, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.3

From magnum. #dunnvineyards — 8 years ago

Paul Costigan

Founder Courtier Wines

9.3

1976: Solid in every way. Derived from the classic period, before anyone had known to coin the term classic period e with regard to California wine. Great length, and pleasing at each stage. Would love to experience again. — 9 years ago

with Michael