Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deeper ruby color with a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity; slight staining of the tears. On the nose, dark cherry, dried herbs and baking spices…it smells Italian. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with monumental structure. The fruits and non-fruits are confirmed. I gotta say this is painfully primary. It took half a day of air to even budge. I vacillated between Sangio and Nebbiolo…the color didn’t quite seem right for Nebbiolo but the structure was beyond what I would expect for Sangiovese. So, I called Barolo from 2017, from a modern producer. Welp…I got the Italian part right! In hindsight, I should have trusted the color. If you have these, slow-ox for at least 12 hours before service. This will drink nicely, well past it’s fifteenth birthday. — 3 years ago

Andrew Turner

9.1

With hindsight probably should have decanted — 4 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

Dense apricot pit, white flowers, volcanic pebbles. So dense & concentrated that in hindsight a decant may have helped. Still, absolutely fascinating in its layers. Paired with another DeGrom masterpiece; with strong farmers Cheddar & Aged Provolone , then with broiled chicken thighs marinated in yogurt, lemon zest, z’atar, garlic& served w cilantro, Israeli couscous w raisins & toasted pumpkin seeds. — 4 years ago

with Owen

Aaron Tan

8.9

Fancy seeing this in Malaysia. This wine's a throwback to when I first got into wine back in Australia. I can clearly remember being recommended this Sancerre by our local bottle shop as a study of the appellation. In hindsight, I can see why. Excellent typicity in this 2018 iteration - on the nose, ripe gooseberry and melon fruit, flint, and a grassy asparagus-like note. The palate's less overt, showing more grapefruit and green apple. It finishes a little "sweet" for my liking, but that's tamed by crisp acidity and a subtle stony character. While it doesn't bode well with my preference these days, this drinks well as a nice trip down memory lane. — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

So far, I've enjoyed everything I've tasted from this brewery - the nameworthy Chocolate Stout, the super smooth and nutty Hazelnut Brown Nectar, and perhaps my favourite so far, the orange wine-tasting Combat Wombat. The verdict is the same here. The Mocha Porter's a good beer.

Had a similar dark beer a couple of weeks ago with chocolate and coffee notes all over, but this felt much more nuanced in hindsight. The Kasteel was full on with the chocolate, but the Mocha Porter let's it play second fiddle, allowing the chocolate to play a supporting role to the more "beer-y" malty hoppy elements. Same can be said of the coffee notes. They basically highlight all that bitter sweet toasty elements. Finishes fresh and creamy. Would definitely drink this again! — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

Sassicaia has never been to my liking, but it's probably because I've never drank it with enough age (the 06' which I had a couple of years ago was perhaps the oldest bottle). Nevertheless, it has always been a solid wine in my books and the 14' delivers in this vein. Quite red fruited on the nose, but it's all about blackcurrants on the palate, oak vanillin stood out for me here, green tones - sage and menthol comes to mind, quite silky texture. Air brought out some earthy salinity and some subtle spice notes - cinammon, anise. It's still a fruit bomb for me at this moment, but I think that's partly our fault for not giving it enough aeration.

Another bottle that was popped, poured, and blinded. Didn't do too well here - thought it was a Merlot with the red berry and plum notes, and it didn't quite sport the Cab pyrazine. Somehow thought it might have been New World. In hindsight, not sure why. 85% Cab Sauv, rest Cab Franc. Fermented in tank with indigenous yeasts. 11-15 days' vatting (longer than usual). Aged 24 months in French oak barriques (40% new). — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Missed out on acquiring this wine in 15, and damn sure didn't want to miss out on the 16's. But, perhaps my desire for this one to be an extra year in the bottle deceived me a little. This wine has excellent structure and balance. The start is a medicinal, herbal dirty black cherry with a nice, balanced middle and acidic finish. But umm....yeah, this one isn't really ready to go yet. Still VERY drinkable. The Coravin found its way to the first glass, and then I asked myself just WTF I was thinking and opened the rest of the bottle (who am I kidding??). Hindsight? Leave this one alone for 2 years. Since I obviously won't be able to hold the other 2 for as long as they should, I'll have to stalk people who have this wine and beg for a pour. — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

My gut feeling on the identity of this blind was a young Brunello or Rosso with new oak. In hindsight, if I had been a little more methodical, the identity would have been obvious - the stickiness of the tannins as it hits the palate on the tongue was a dead giveaway of the Merlot (49%) component, while the directionality of the tannins as it moved across the palate along the gums (on the base of teeth) can clearly be attributed to Cabernet Sauvignon (51%). Flavours again tripped me. The Morello cherry aroma, sheen of volatile acidity, fresher fruit ripeness, elegant medium body, and tart acidity just never put me onto Bordeaux… but of course it was a Margaux.

This was a really elegant example of Bordeaux, but does come off a little simple - just juicy fruits (red on the nose, black on the palate) and new oak, which leaves you yearning for more complexity to fill the “void” between the flavours. It is perhaps still a little young at this stage (my notes came after 3 hours of aeration; started off real tight according to RL), so could offer more with cellaring. Notably, I enjoyed this without much palate fatigue, although the new oak still irks me. A huge victory for young Bordeaux in my books. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Rich Ruby in colour. Muted nose. I made the mistake of not decanting but ended up putting it through one of those funnel type aereators. With swirling this released black pepper, red and black berries with a note of cinnamon. The medium bodied palate was latent, tight and self contained finishing with fine sandy tannins. In hindsight I should have left this for a few years but was guided by JM’s drinking window from Wine Spectator of 2019 to 2021. This is a better class of CdR and priced accordingly. Vine age is 30 to 60 years with a small amount (2%) from young vine Cornas. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Initially pretty muted before a sufficient decant allows the sister’s magic touch to slowly be revealed. When it finally does come around, it shows superb delineation, balance, detail and finally does unfurl a wondrous bouquet. Fresh red and black fruit, exotic spice, and a touch of saline on the energized and mineral infused finish.

It shows good verve and signature MG elegance and purity. There is plenty of depth but what’s missing is the length and persistence you expect from this wine. In hindsight a pre-dinner decant would have served well, because the last pour was the best. Nonetheless, more time will allow for the palate to come around. — 5 years ago

Galen Antle

9.0

Tasted blind...initially very tannic but settled down after a few minutes (or my palate was subdued into compliance). Elegant notes of dark, tart red fruit and earthy spices. Black pepper and smoke complimented the finish, which was tart but appropriate and enjoyable. I was surprised on the age but in hindsight this was a good thing, as the tannin has mellowed enough to allow for the fruit to really come through. Overall a very well done wine. Nice job Jean-Luc! — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.6

Ah! The prima ballerina of Rheinhessen. The precise footwork, elegant gait, and undeniable presence. Usually, she takes centre stage, but tonight, the queen of Nierstein has decided to make a forceful announcement during her grand performance - "I will dance instead, and you will love it!" :)

We thought that drinking the 17' Hipping first was a good idea. In hindsight, I'm not even sure why, especially given how the Abtserde was totally eclipsed by it. Nevertheless, the 14' Abtserde was still a great expression of riesling

For me, Absterde is usually the most filigreed and electric of KP's vineyards, but this time, it was showing a more breadth than the typically weightier Hipping. Very powerful with exotic fruits dominating, set on a backdrop of herbs and spice. Concentrated, but in the same vein as the 17' Hipping - new KP in my eyes. I can see why some would prefer KP's older vintages compared to this, which are seemingly more extracted. There's a mineral drive and acidity which really dances on the palate. Admittedly, this finishes a touch hot but nothing to detract from the sheer energy of this wine. It needs time to bring it more balance and finesse I feel. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

Last of these enjoyed tonight and I must say that I was really quite impressed. My last impression of this wine ended in an NR rating, but I think I'm ready to give this one a 91. This wine started rather flabby in the front. This is a parcel of three Lake Hennessy / Pritchard Hill vineyards so in hindsight I probably should have kept the cork in this one for another 10 years. Still pretty delicious tonight. Dark, thick, blackberry cassis, hint of iodine. Middle of this wine shows a gritty, terroir-driven note. The finish is where this one kind of lacks. A little acidic, mature black fruit, black pepper, but really not very long....at all. I think this one could benefit from a couple more years in the bottle, but not sure how much more this one would improve in the bottle, if at all. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Normal Barolo descriptors but in this case a little detuned. Notes of earth, red savoury fruits and a touch of orange peel. Persistent tannins need to be resolved. In hindsight this is my first of three bottles and may have been drunk a little too young but drinking Windows from the Pros are widely divergent here. Ornato is only produced in outstanding years. James Suckling liked it with a 98 point score. I must be missing something. — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

This was more open and giving than the 2014 I had in May, which although was very enjoyable and likely eventually the better wine, was tight as a drum and took lots of time to come out if its shell. In hindsight with that wine, I wish I had decanted. But ‘13 is another story. Ready and raring to go right on the pnp. Her wines are such a treat, especially this coveted BdN. — 4 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.1

Blinded - called it a Cote Rotie 🤦‍♀️. Tart red and dark cherry, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, leather, tar, crushed stone, roasted wild herbs, balsamic oil, black licorice, and black pepper. Fruit went tart and red on the palate - almost tomatoey. In hindsight it’s less floral without the black olive note signature of northern Rhone, tighter longer grained tannins, and fruit a tad riper more blue than Cote Rotie. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Rich crimson in colour- quite dark for a 14 year old Premiere Cru but it is from Gevrey Chambertin. Spicy aromas with ripe cherry and some violet. On the palate ripe red fruits but unfortunately some coarseness and rusticity - lacking in balance. Expected more from the vintage, the vineyard and the producer. Still a little tight and contained. Jancis Robinson’s drinking window to 2025 might make a difference. With the benefit of hindsight would have left this for a few more years. — 6 years ago

Lennon Duggan

9.0

Balanced, easy drinking red. Deep red color. Round but bright — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Domaine Coche Dury is arguably the most sought after internationally of white Burgundy domains according to Jasper Morris MW in his tome “Inside Burgundy “. This wine had aromas of Lemon and Citrus flowers. On the palate Lemon juice - lean with mineral and M plus acidity. In hindsight should have left this last one for a few years. A wine of restraint and elegance - a tinge of honey after a while. For the Coche Dury village style only 25% new wood is used. This wine rarity was suggested to me years ago by a former owner of Prince Wine store and Burgundy nut Phillip Rich. Must seek out later vintages. — 7 years ago

Jamelle Legaspi

9.8

A ~$40 bottle that drinks like an $80 bottle. Good structure, with a solid oak and cassis finish. This is what cab is supposed to taste like. — 7 years ago