Brandon T

9.2

Wound tight- still not where I expected it to be after a 5 hour decant. A beast right now that definitely needs a few more years, IMO. — 6 years ago

Adam Eagan

9.6

This bottle marks the first time I have had a booker wine with this much bottle age. IMO, still a long way to go with this one. Deep blue and blackberry flavors with rocky minerality, and vanilla flavors (almost root beer like). Love pretty much anything Booker makes. This wine included. — 6 years ago

Eric

9.3

Ripe strawberries and raspberries. Lush as a mutha yet smooth. Not really a Merlot IMO but still love it. — 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Quite a bit more flavor than the Herman Story, IMO
But is a bit younger so the dry tannins are still present — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Opened tonight, this wine was IMMEDIATELY approachable and the first wine of 16+ that was completely wiped out. If tasted blind, I would have guessed a 2009-2010 Napa floor cab. Youthful fruit, this wine had a very silky mouthfeel. Acidity is nearly zero. Tannin resolved and fully integrated. Wine has youthful blackberry. Middle is elegant, structured; finish is soft, rounded, fruit rich. This wine has integrated nicely, and I still feel that this wine is on its way up or at least right at the top. Although IMO not the best wine on the table, it was certainly the wine that impressed with "youth maintenance." Glad to have opened it for this great crowd. — 8 years ago

with Benjamin

Ryan Wofford

9.2

New vintage, same world class #albarino this stuff is on par with cru burgundy imo — 8 years ago

Kaitlin Ohlinger

9.2

I can't recall the reasoning, but this was labelled as "Oregon pinot noir" and I'm almost certain it's estate. The 13 was beautiful and vervey, very alive and energetic. It tasted well against a 12 that was $20 more a bottle, IMO. — 10 years ago

Zach Cherry

Account Manager Worldwide Wine & Spirits

9.0

But over the top, malo-heavy style. But I can see the quality through it. Definitely overpriced, imo, but if cost isn't an issue, it's juice of the cougar. — 10 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Drinking at its peak. One of the top 3 or 4 Aussie Pinots IMO. Has been great for many years. Obviously a brilliant terroir. 18- — 11 years ago

Matt Gundlach

9.4

Pure, perfectly ripe bing cherry slight earth component. Still a few years away imo. — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

The epitome of Moss Wood. Cassis, Herbs, Brambles, and Tomato bush aromas. A beautiful aged Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon flying high at 23 years of age - at it’s peak. Seamless on the palate still with great intensity and balance - resolved Tannins. Would hold its own with top shelf Left Bank Bordeaux IMO. The winery says 1996 was a 10/10 vintage. My last bottle of 750 ml but the good news is I have a Magnum which I will leave for a few more years and probably consume on my 70th!!! — 6 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.5

Unfortunately we were not able to give this a proper decant this time. Nonetheless the quality and finesse still shines through. IMO the 2003 is just now entering it prime drinking window. Tannins have softened nicely. Good fruit integration. Still needs a bit of time in the glass to open. Over the course of an hour it was only getting better and better. Wish we had had time to do a 4-5 hr decant. — 6 years ago

with Jimmy

Matt

10

Gorgeous! Purity, length, complexity and harmonious structure throughout. Blown away by the freshness this had, from color to fruit character to energy on the palate. Carries the vintage well, structured yet showing incredible finesse right now. I don’t drink Bordeaux often, but damn when it hits, it hits in all the right spots. This will be even better with time IMO. What a wine — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

1992 was a lighter year for Grange giving more herbal notes than full throttle berry. Medium weight with impeccable balance as always. Trademark choc malt with Liquorice notes. Interestingly in Penfolds book they normally over estimate the cellaring potential IMO particularly for the big years but for the 1992 they say thru to 2018 which I think is about right. Always an experience drinking a Grange. PS If you have any 1992s no need to urgently drink them. I have 2 or 3 left and will probably drink them in the next year or 2. Unlike the 1990 and particularly the 1991 which will cellar for a long time yet. Penfolds say through to 2040! — 7 years ago

Sean Lowry

9.1

2013v. The nose on this wine is complex and reserved at the same time: aged cranberry and cherry, rose and potpourri, earth and dried leaves, mushroom and baking spices from the oak. Lots of legs on the glass. Dry on the palette with rich, tart red fruit. Very soft tannins coat the mouth and hang on the finish. I've not had much Oregon pinot, but this is a deep and smooth wine. The flavors of the wine come out best with food, IMO. 13.3% ABV. — 8 years ago

David Luther

9.0

Blueberries, blackberries, earthy. Tasting in a vertical. Far superior then the 2010 IMO — 10 years ago

Paul Malboeuf

9.0

Excellent example of the type IMO — 10 years ago

Ryan Wofford

9.2

Rich fruity central coast #Pinot that has some Loire style tendencies imo — 10 years ago

Kelly Schmoyer

9.8

Cheers to this wine. Much better than the z IMO. Love the cab, yet still smooth. — 11 years ago

Magno González

9.5

Best wine of Chile by a large margin imo. — 11 years ago

Scott Kahn

8.9

A rich medley of mature berries integrated with savory spices. The wine opened quickly which added to our enjoyment of the bottle along Spain’s northern coast, but not at the expense of an overall complexity that remained with the wine. This wine is ready for consumption now IMO. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Very nice Riesling, and so so young. Pours a lighter straw color than I thought it would. Nose of kiwi, peach, hint of butterscotch, hint of rosemary, hint of cashews. Entry is initially rather acidic which carried through the entire experience. Tames to a sweeter tropical character that fades in the back. Lemongrass, mango, herbs and peach on the finish. This wine is really nice now. And will continue to improve over the next 5 years IMO. I don't think I would be in a hurry to drink this if I had more. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Out of the 4 wines opened at The Bird, this one edged out the Numanthia 12 by a hair. Quite similar profiles IMO. This Walla Walla Syrah was quite enjoyable with dark black fruit on the front. Consistent with the 2015 I tasted a bit ago but IMO, this one had a bit more of a smoked beef flavor in the middle that the dark sweet and still youthful fruit gave way. Chose this as the "food" wine since most chose the Bird Burger (a grass fed beef burger)....it went rather well. Popular with the crowd of novices and winos, the smoky finish was very complementary. Maybe I might acquire a few of these WA Syrahs afterall to have for these purposes....(not a word, @Shay A .... 😆) — 7 years ago

Brandon T

9.3

Very good fruit-forward Syrah. Has improved drastically over the past few months, IMO. — 7 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Looking at the Gramenon Cep Centenaires again. As with before, high toned red fruits (almost candied) dominate the nose and palate. I had a second look the next day with BM (winemaker). Less fresh definitely, seeing some Brett. Olives, meat, bunch, herbs, and some sweet spice that extends to finish. Rustic tannins. I always forget to assess tannins. BM noted the tannins appear disjointed here. Agreed, but what you can you expect of such a young wine with 100% whole cluster(?). It's got potential IMO, and I'd drink it anyday. — 8 years ago

Spinning_spins

9.4

This is a fantastic white wine! Light gold in color, with green highlights. Lychee, slate, beeswax and more on the nose and palate, with a lithe yet slightly viscous mouthfeel, perfect fruit/acid/alc balance and even a little tannin to complicate matters (pleasantly). And, this one has more years of aging potential, IMO.

Thanks to @Josh Grovefor uncovering this treasure! — 9 years ago

Charles Antin

Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys

9.3

Precision, surprisingly(?). But with some heft. Begs for crab imo. — 10 years ago

A. R.

9.0

Nose of green peppers and tobacco with some red fruit. Nice tannins and acid. IMO the best entry level cab made in California. For 20 bucks? Absolutely. — 11 years ago

with Paulette

Scott Reinhart

9.7

Imo and koji shochu aged in oak. Very smooth, whiskey characteristics. — 11 years ago

with Kumi

Tri Tang

9.9

Ever so slight bite but worth the cost IMO. — 13 years ago