Jay Kline

9.8

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082. — 7 months ago

David Kline

9.3

Nano hazelnut chocolate on coffee rye, blackened sponge cake, well done steak, black sesame, lavender and baked blackberry. Well knit.
Graphite glimmers on dark chocolate and cedar-oak slivers, smoky tobacco leaf, and tea. Immersive.



#cosdestournel #grandcruclassé #bordeaux #stestephe #appellationsaintestephecontrolée #misenbouteilleauchateau #saintestèphe — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.1

Happy belated birthday wine to me.

Nose is all earth and truffles and cigar tobacco; wet forest leaf and barbecue sauce. Some cheese rind and dirty sock. Definitely past it’s aromatic peak, but at 37, who isn’t?

Palate is bright though with red acids and tastes young!

Better on day two... cheese is toned down and some fruit is peeking out. — 4 years ago

Mars P.

9.7

best rum and coke ever. or mix with calamansi and soda — 5 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.4

That’s how you finish a long work day. Sake, sandwiched between Negronis. — 6 years ago

with Tyson

Michael Schamis

9.2

I feel that this is probably the best Pinot Noir producer out of the finger lakes although the competition is finally a good one. The nose has a wonderful aroma of currant a plum with undertones of spice including nutmeg and mulling spices. The palate is gorgeously light and elegant but still somewhat juicy at the same time. Flavors of plum, sour cherry and baking spice along with wonderfully balance acidity. The finish is soft and elegant with juicy fruit notes of lingering acidity. Wow... a great pairing for roasted pork. — 7 years ago

with Kati

Shay A

9.5

After missing a ‘70s and ‘80s Heitz vertical many years ago, I vowed to seek out a bottle as all the comments from the tasting were astoundingly positive. My last bottle of Heitz Martha’s was the ‘01 (which was great) a few years ago, but at 46yrs, this was quite the experience.

The ‘78 has a bit of a legendary status, so expectations were high. Upon opening, the cork was in good shape (sigh of relief) and the color was unbelievably dark ruby with some bricking (another sigh of relief). The singular signature menthol/eucalyptus began to fill the glass, alongside aromatics of red berry fruits, espresso, some sort of sweet brown sugar/caramel note, and a savory-graphite type note too. Beautifully elegant on the palate with more red fruit, herbs (bay leaf?), and even some pipe tobacco (subdued, not in your face), but it sports the classical old Napa cab profile that is pure. Spectacular wine, and I could simply smell the wine all day…the aromatics were so powerful the entire time.

Open in bottle for three hours and powered through the entire time. Wish I had another so I could have the same experience! — 8 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This had the classic LB nose showing mostly black fruits with currant, cedar, leather, menthol, spice box, cigar ash & tobacco leaf. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

In 1877, Illario and Leopoldo Ruffino laid the foundations of their dream to make Italian wines from the heart of Tuscany. Medium Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit and earthy spice. On the palate black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors with tobacco, pepper and earthy cedar notes. Full-bodied, well balanced soft drying tannins on a smooth medium+ finish. Grab some Italian food and enjoy the great value wine. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.5

WNH Montelena Estate virtual tasting. Others represented were the ‘94 (evidently corked), ‘01, ‘03, ‘07, ‘15.

I may be an outlier here, but Montelena is one of the few wineries where I not only don’t care for them young, I just honestly don’t enjoy them at all (and that’s coming from someone who enjoys the likes of Myriad, Bevan, Rivers Marie, etc on the young side). For my preference, they are just so vastly better with 15+yrs of age to them. YMMV.

After standing this upright for about two weeks, I gave this about a 45min decant. Starting off fairly thin and having some funk to blow off, it really bulked up after an hour and a half. Dark ruby/tawny in the glass. Reminiscent of left bank Bordeaux (leather, herbs de Provence, only a hint of tobacco), but a sweet cherry liqueur and dried cranberry on the nose bring this back to possibly New World. On the palate it sports underripe and dried black cherries, red clay, cedar, bay leaf, and earthy tertiary notes. Gripping, tannic finish with balanced acidity. In harmony here. I’d say this likely has another 3-5yrs in this beautiful drinking window before evolving more. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the opening salvo and a very good one at that. Perfumed, lush, velvety fruit with lovely structure. Hugely quaffable and already drinking very well with a short decant but I think this is pretty characteristic of the 2014 vintage. — 6 years ago

WC Fields

9.4

Delicious. Blackberries, forest floor, tobacco leaf, anise, pepper, cloves, mint with bitter chocolate. Decanted 90min and the tannins were an excellent foil to a prime tomahawk ribeye. “Save the neck for me Clark!” — 7 years ago

Donald Williams

9.4

All Iron Horse Chardonnay is wonderful. Hard to pick a favorite. — 9 months ago

with Bonnie

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Château dates back to 1560, records suggesting back to 12th century making it one of oldest estates in the heart of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC region near Avignon. Ruby with aromas of red fruit. Blend of about even amounts Grenache, Syrah, Mouvèdre & splash of mostly Cinsault. Aromas of berry fruits, oak & sweet spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry & blackberry, hints of oak, leather, vanilla spice & black pepper, aged in 20% new oak, complex & elegant, fine soft tannins, long finish, will age well. — 10 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Taken to Merrimans in Waimea on the Big Island. Darkish tawny, not quite opaque. Notes of black cherry, tobacco leaf, cedar, plums, cigar box and some spice. Super silky. Paired perfectly with my ribeye. The waiter said it best, “Oooh… Yummy!” — 3 years ago

Kayla Buchanan

9.5

One of my favorites. Love this wine but can never find it anymore! — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Deep, dark color. Sharp nose. Notes of tobacco leaf, cut Cuban cigar, black fruit and some cedar wood. Very angular in the mouth. This was good but had an odd mean streak in it that was herbal and very strong. After 7 hours of air it mellowed a bit. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 5 years ago

Lynn Gowdy

9.0

La Rioja Alta 2007 Grand Reserva 904- cherry, forest spice, forest red and black berries, cinnamon, slight leather, mushrooms, bay leaf, dried herbs, sousbois, smooth drying resolved tannins that are fondue like, a small element of astringency. The color has fallen out yet very traditional style Rioja. — 6 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

Distinct flavors. Dark black cherry. Chocolate and tobacco. Smell and taste the terroir. — 7 years ago