Inseon Hwang

9.3

It’s great but I don’t get why it’s the wine of the year. — 3 months ago

Doug Powers

9.2

From a Napa vintage that I recall as being so-so, this wine shows the Howell Mountain terroir without the normally harsh tannins that were characteristic of Dunn HM wines in the 1980s. But, honestly, this is really lovely, suave, red fruited, with a medium-long finish, and seems way younger than I expected from a 37-year-old Napa Cabernet!! — 4 months ago

with Jim

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Trivia at Aldo Sohm wine bar. Our team lost by one point. This wine won by many points. I blind tasted my staff and they converged around Rhone. Great stuff! — 4 months ago

Vino Joe

9.7

Even more fantastic than the previous bottle of 2010 I enjoyed a year ago. Decanted and enjoyed over 7 hours. This was good from first pour but became great and then magnificent over the next 3.5 and 7 hours. It was still full of verve on the last sip! Early only it was more dark fruit but over time the wines softened and became a bit sweeter and rounder. Tremendous length and complexity. — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Deep ruby , thin pink rim . Fresh cassis , blackberry , quite spicy with a touch of vanilla, red plum . Quite open and enticing . On the palate this is somewhat linear with cool dark fruits , cassis , red plum , grafite and saline touch . Fills out well with quite grippy , cool tannins , fresh acidity , and good length with grafite , cassis finish . This is obviously not ready , however it was an enjoyable wine to drink over dinner , the freshness and cool fruit character are quite apparent , and the tannins though gritty are somewhat in the background . Though it was worth the experience , I would leave bottles a further 10 years before trying another. This is an elegant and well judged wine . — 6 months ago

Victor Charcan

9.4

Great wine in a great vintage. Dark fruit, well handled oak, plums and cherries, great acidity and fine tannins and length — 8 months ago

Paul K

9.5

Got a great deal on 6 pack of these two Bordeaux greats. Both got scores of 99, but the range of scores was pretty wide for both as well. I know I have to lay them down for 10 years+ but I wanted to try both for a baseline.
The Palmer is showing a lot more than the Ducru. It’s very enjoyable now! Nose is fantastic if a touch muted but still get nice cedar, black cherry, hint of floral, and something herbal. The palate is slate, cherry, blackberry, and currant. Not muted or closed in the least, but the slate thing overlays the fruit. Does that make sense? Help me describe that.
All in all I love this wine. Can’t hardly wait for 10 years from now. Guessing I won’t! — 3 years ago

Alex Whitcomb

9.3

me likkkkey — 6 years ago

Joel Armijo

9.0

Solid vintage but didn't age as well as I hoped Still very enjoyable — 9 years ago

Michael Pennington

9.0

Fruit has gone mostly, but some dark baked prunes and figginess remains. Nice old Bordeaux, on its last legs I think. Stood up really well for the last 45 years though... — 10 years ago

Nick McGlaun

9.0

Great blend! Tried it a few times - pairs well w/ steak & also went well with Italian dishes (pizza, veal or meat based pasta dishes w/ red sauce). Tried 2011 and 12: I prefer the 11 but both are great! — 11 years ago

Jack Gyben

9.6

We could not believe this was 1996. Young gorgeous fruit in a wine I tasted blind that I thought might be 2009. Gorgeous… a revelation about what a nearly 30 year old Bordeaux could be! Wow! — 3 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Decant and pour. Restrained notes of dark fruit, smoke, leather, tobacco, grilled bell pepper. Taste: cherry, blueberry, currants, crushed granite, truffles. A young wine that I would luv to drink again in 15 years. — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.5

94-96. Potente e bilanciato. Molto legno a naso al momento che compre un po’ le ceste di frutta matura che vengono fuori da questo vino. Veramente notevole la maturità del frutto. Forse anche grazie ad appena il 26% di Merlot. Ma i Cabernet sono intensi e maturi. Lungo ed equilibrato sul finale. — 4 months ago

Ron R

8.9

I can’t remember the last time I tasted this brand, and while it’s very approachable, it’s a total construction site. Vanilla and over-sweet brown sugar with resolved tannins. Not my cup-of-tea, but will be enjoyed by others. — 4 months ago

with Andrew and Rick

Mariana Puga

9.7

this is really nice! i notice some floral and strawberry notes — 6 months ago

with Raul

David White

9.3

It’s 10 years since Serge. Hochar’s death whilst swimming in Acapulco on NYE 2014 and I think it’s appropriate to celebrate his legacy that is the modern Chateau Musar.
I first tasted Lebanese wines in London circa 1986 when I used to go to a couple of Lebanese restaurants in Shepherds Market near Mayfair in London
Al Hamra is still in business
I’ve been to Beirut several times and always stock up at the airport duty free
So a toast to a departed icon of the wine world
Since my last 2011 4.5 years ago (see note) this has aged wonderfully and I’ve up my rating several points
Another few years and it will be further improved
Optimal decant time was around 3.5 to 4 hours
Ethereal stuff — 8 months ago

E & K G

9.1

A bit disjointed and not the balanced velvet powerhouse I remember when I had the 2003 vintage. — 6 years ago

Paul K

9.4

@Ryan Mullins and @Jeff Loo are spot on. This needs 10 years. I double aerated back into bottle for 12 hour corked decant and after two hours open in glass this is still closed. You can still taste the potential though. There is a density and purity of fruit behind it that I’m excited to open up one day. Was still a great experience. 94 for now. Will hold remaining bottles for at least 5 years. Please yell at me if u see another post of this wine before then. — 6 years ago

Reilly Brock

9.4

Awesome! Everything I love about VT and CDP. Earth and fruit in perfect balance. — 11 years ago

Patrick Forde

8.9

Dark Pinot, med to heavy body, slightly smokey, smooth, I like it. $18 — 13 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

It is really no surprise that this 05 is incredible and yet still extremely youthful. This 05 will out live almost anyone 50 years old. It is good for another 45 years.

I had their 16 La Dame last weekend & commented it should not be opened for another 10 years.

The core on the nose is dark velvet black currants. There’s a bit of melted dark chocolate-mousse. Ripe but subtle blackberries, black raspberries, black plum-plum pudding, very dark cherries, some mulberries, mocha powder, dark, rich earth, dry river stone, limestone, anise, mix of dry/fresh herbs, fine, undertone of baking spices, moist grey clay, slightly dry tobacco, sandalwood, mild, elegant spice, just the slightest hint of mint, very, slightly candied, dark, withering flowers & red roses.

The palate is rich, round with velvety M+ tannins. The core is dark fruits blended in melted dark-mocha chocolate. Blackberries, black raspberries, both plums w/ heavy skin, dark cherries, poached to slightly baked strawberries & raspberries over the top. Dry bay leaf-sage, moist clay, rich, dark, turned earth, dry river stone, limestone powder, stem inclusion, red licorice/cola, anise to black licorice candy, sandalwood to soft cedar, slightly moist tobacco, used leather, mild, dark spice, a touch & just a touch of tomato leaf, hints of cardamom, dark/red withering flowers with just a touch of violets, perfect acidity and a very well knitted, tensioned, balanced, structured, elegantly polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on nice earthiness & softly muddled spice.

Paired w/ their bone-in Ribeye. Best steakhouse steak that I’ve had out and not made by friends and or myself. Rich fat, tender and nice flavor. Lacks a bit of char and Napa Valley Rub from wholespice.com.

Open in another 15-20 years.

A real shot at a 💯 in another 15-20+.

@Delmonico Steakhouse Las Vegas — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The last of the 2002 in mags brought from the property. Delicious. I would have thought these would have been saved for their member parties. So, a nice surprise.

From The Cellar event at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. — 4 months ago

romo

9.0

Sure. I mean, I guess.. like, ok. — 6 months ago

Claire Mangine

9.0

I asked for a jammy red and that’s what this is !! Not super into these “commercialized” wines, but it does the job for easy drinking. Yum — 6 months ago

Melanie Hogan DelBuono

9.3

I was surprised it was in a clear glass bottle. Still very young but surprisingly light. Very vanilla with fresh cherry’s. Not a big Cabernet at all. — 8 months ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.2

Tart pomegranate, crisp acidity with some minerality. Underappreciated. Incredible for the price. Great way to start off dinner at Vicia. — 3 years ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Krug is always most welcome, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. This is edition 169. A bit more yeasty and slightly less acidic than previous versions, to my taste. But if you like the Krug style - which we do very much - it hits the spot per usual.

My wife used to work with Fritz Hatton, proprietor of Arietta wines and auctioneer for Zachys. Fritz always says to have a half bottle of champagne waiting in the fridge in case you need a “midnight snack”, and I have to agree with him! — 5 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.5

Yeast, green apple, heavenly. Will only get better but I don't think I will have the patience to hold my few remaining bottles. — 8 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.5

Drinking very well in youth. Very dark fruited & tannic. I suspect more MVD & less Grenache. Consistently excellent & the living embodiment of producer over vintage. — 9 years ago