Mark Flesher

9.4

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say about this wine. But...here goes. This has to be one of the worst QPR wines I've ever had, but I'm also taking into account how young this wine is. I have to remember that I'm rating the WINE here, but the price tag and hype just can't help but to get in the way. Drank over 6 days. Poured initially from Coravin and let sit for about an hour. I will tell you that I was excited initially, as the nose of this wine overpowered the grass fed beef burgers that were just cooked about 2 feet away from where the wine was being poured. DENSE blackberry and vanilla rolling out of the glass. The entry of this wine is silky, but also has that gritty Napa youthfulness. POWER. Fruit forward monster, ripe blackberry, graphite, mineral and spice rich middle with cherry blossom and finish with a very deep, dark core of blackberry, black pepper spice. The finish is where chocolate covered blackberries and minty notes come out, but the wine was still rather tannic. Developed a bit more after I uncorked it at the end of the week. I blind tasted my wife on this one who guessed that it was a '13 William Harrison cab (vineyard is only 2 miles away as the crow flies, maybe, although Hall's is elevated 750 feet). That cab is $50. This one still has a **LOT** of integrating to do which I am taking into consideration which is why the other bottle is locked up tight, and this one just might not have been on its A-game. — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

I had 2 or 3 bottles of this in last few years & was consistently underwhelmed, was a disjointed, ugly duckling. Well, the ugly phase is over. Gorgeous deep black currant color w red rim. Resolute & length, medium weight. Game, currants, & cooked herbs (sage?). Uber enjoyable w beef stew & potato pie. Threw off alot of sediment- should have decanted, but luckily was a good pour — 7 years ago

with Owen

Justin Hart

9.1

A little lighter than other vintages (thanks to Mother Nature), both in the nose and the palette. But if you are a fan if the more delicate Rhone characteristics, you may enjoy this thoroughly. Delicately spicy, hints of red plum and game. Nice! — 7 years ago

with Cherish

Jeffrey Long

9.0

Okay, but one of the biggest let downs for a Richebourg that I've had in a long time. Came as the top recommendation out of a deep list of Richebourgs, so the sommelier here needs to up her game. — 8 years ago

with Chris and David

Matt Perlman

9.2

Still young but tannic edge softened a bit with some air. Really lovely savory flavors of leather, earth and game. Getting close to ready, maybe another 2-3 years — 8 years ago

Scott Moye-Rowley

9.0

Love the show, would buy the stout anytime. Winter is here and it's time for stouts. — 8 years ago

with Mary and Mike

Joe Paradise

9.1

Developing black fruit. Clove and cocoa and light pepper. Whiffs of game and saddle leather pop out now and then. Fine silty tannin provides an elegant frame — 9 years ago

Ludovic Anacleto

9.3

Guigal has total domination of his game. This is a wine for ages — 9 years ago

Adam Jesberger

9.8

Excellent bottle. The 01 is supposedly a better vintage but im not sure when it comes to this producer. Clear, day bright, garnet and orange brick like color, medium - concentration, orange/peach rim variation, slight sediment, low viscosity. Nose: sound, moderate intensity, stewed cherries/strawberries/raspberries, floral, spicy and lots of dill pickle and slight game. A mushroom note as well. Palate: dry, med- body, stewed plums over ripe cherries/strawberries, lilies, dill, vinegar, leather, button mushrooms, game, mulch with some cedar and coconut. Very complex. Med- tannins, medium alcohol, high acid, long finish. Between the 01 and the 98 its a tough choice of which one to put in the wine cooler to store. — 10 years ago

Robert Stefan Wood

9.7

Really good I was shocked — 6 years ago

Elizabeth Rice

9.0

Perfect way to end a Friday afternoon at work. Sipping a fresh aromatic delicious Magnum of a white wine blend with fantastic work colleagues. We played the varietal guessing game which no one got right. — 6 years ago

Emma Forster

9.0

Delightfully untamed, savage, aroma of well-hung game (which you know you like). This baby stinks but give it a few swirls in your glass and it’ll start to sing sunshine like it’s chateauneuf neighbors. — 7 years ago

Shawn R

9.4

Maggie was once a student under Manfred Krankl, this bottle was her second vintage. Shows a restrained nose even after 3 hours after the decant. Hints of wild game and blackberry compote on the nose. Sweet tannins that integrate well and provide backbone. Layers of cassis, plum and wild flowers set up a stellar finish that sails for over a minute. — 7 years ago

Adam Crane

9.8

Possibly my favorite wine of 2016. Incredible intensity in a delicate, nuanced package. Black pepper, game, and black raspberry. If you can find any of this, buy it! Thank you @Ron Siegel — 8 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

Wild blue and red berry fruit, subtle notes of spice and game, a barely there touch of green comes through as herbal. While the alcohol is high, the wine shows elegantly and very feminine in style. Sauve and silky textured this has very ripe and fine tannin that get lost in the glycerol of this wine's youth. Always a perennial wine of the vintage and a great value (imo). #pegau #grenache #CdP — 8 years ago

Ron R

9.3

I really like it when I get recos from fellow oenophiles which turn out to be spot on - @Jörgen Lindström Carlvik, take a bow.

In the glass, the wine appears to be very extracted, which I find is a pleasant first indicator. The wine coats the glass, demanding your attention.

The nose is pristine, yet urgent. Cigar notes, cherries and dark fruits are perfectly integrated.

On the palette, I'm in raptures. This is a seamless example which is tight, compact and dense. It has a viscous mouthfeel, finishing with polished tannins and a touch of sweetness.

This is a brilliant effort, which is begging for bottle age. Thanks to Jorgen, I've finally found a Sangiovese which does not require me to sell my house to buy a bottle (you get my point).

Paired with my own Sheppards pie (made from scratch). Don't hate the player, hate the game! — 8 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

9.0

Succulent and immediate fruit, vanilla, cigar box, subtle game/leather, and no sign of fading. — 9 years ago

with Paul

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.6

Tres Beautiful nose 👃👃👃
Caramel apple-banana brûlée top notes, pear and spice underneath, still-pert lemon zest and peach custard, too. Palate delivers that Cali-leonine body -ie big! - but with enough brisk acidity to keep things more than decent. Long, with flavors that echo the nose and all around beautiful balance. Drinking super well at moment, near its peak and rewarding this bit of bottle age with plenty of secondary characteristics. PLUS:: #winebling (yes, there are some tartrate crystals, folks - all just adding to the allure - game on!) — 9 years ago

Magnavita Cellars

9.1

Well balanced & plenty of green apple & white pepper on the nose. There is nice depth of fruit, likely owing to a cooler, slower fermentation. Broad stone fruit finish puts this wine in the top tier of Chenin Blanc at this price point. — 10 years ago

Christian Ramirez Romanini

9.0

It shows an aristocratic aromas and flavors of black fruits, forest undergrowth and leather, which enhance a polished, velvety character on the palate, before firm but noble tannins to a great finish...

Would say it goes well with roast beef, or game meats, and/or aged hard cheeses. — 6 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

In game, with curry. Such a fortunate one to drink a bottle of this every year. Even if it is only one bottle, considering myself lucky. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This had a floral elegance with lots of black cherry, a deep core of mineral, game, iron, dried herbs & violet. The Somm recommended doing the Fourrier shake because of his usage of co2 where she opens the btl and then puts the cork back in, turns the btl upside down & vigorously shakes the btl. She then pulls the cork back out & there is a sound of spritz. Seemed to be effective. — 7 years ago

Christine Havens

8.9

Wines I bring when visiting the boyfriend—as a chef he has a real passion for game meats, so seemed like a good choice. Brooding plums, black cherries, and grilled meat form the base of the profile. Add to this a dusting of earth and iron ore followed by lighter notes of anise and violet. Medium-bodied with muscular, chewy tannins, aging in concrete has graced this Gigondas with texture and trace minerality. Drinking well now. 14.0% ABV — 7 years ago

Matthew Gray

9.2

Possibly one of the best Sauvignon Blancs I've had... — 8 years ago

Berg

9.3

After the failure of big domestic red last game, we're back to my favorite; good Burgundy :)

And this is good...I still think 07 is fairly overlooked, I've enjoyed most I've had, and prices are still rational. Somewhat.

Right up my alley here. Great nose of earth, meat, vanilla, saffron, cherry, umami soy, spices, and an interesting hint of pachouli I dont think I've ever found in a wine before...just good stuff. Pretty palate too, lingering savory finish. Smooth, medium tannins that grip, a ways to go before they fully integrate.

#rockthered #capspens #letsgocaps #playoffs — 8 years ago

Ted

9.5

Cedar cigar box. Zippy tannins this one has. I hope moonshiners is on tonight tired of watching endless bowl game after bowl game. Let's get to makin the shine boys and evading the law — 8 years ago

admiral von schnauzer

9.0

So muscular. Incredible aromas of berry meat game....just dark yummy deliriousness — 9 years ago

Sophie Collins

9.8

One of my faves of the night raspberry — 9 years ago

Rob Freelen

9.7

Most exciting wine I've had in weeks. Fascinating nose of flowers, blue fruit brightness and game. Smooooth. Great finish. Not overblown. Great stuff! — 10 years ago

with Mark

Jennifer Toto

9.6

One of my fav SA wines! — 12 years ago