Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Out of magnum and a direct purchase from the Chateau. What a pleasure to drink older Bordeaux. Whenever I have a wine like this, I like to ask, what were you doing in 1978? Langoa is the 2nd wine of Leoville Barton. This bottle is just past it’s prime but still drinking excellently. Nose of plumy fruit, used leather, saddle-wood, leaner but still bright blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, rhubarb, dry cranberries, dry soil, dry stems, dry rocks & stones and dry/decayed florals. The tannins are completely resolved. The body is lean to medium and flat out elegant. There is still beautiful; structure, tension, length and balance. The fruits are leaner; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, rhubarb, dry figs & dates, strawberries haunt here and there with dry cranberries. Used leather, saddle-wood, dry underbrush, sharp light spice, dry top soil, dry rocks & stone, anise, black cherry licorice/cola, fresh & dry red florals, fresh violets, acidity like a waterfall and a long, very balanced and elegant finish. 39 years from inception! Wow what wine and value! Merry Christmas all! 🎄⛄️❄️🎅🥗🍷What a pair with Hedy’s harvest vegetable soup and Prime Rib. Definitely needed “The Durand” corkscrew for this 78. — 7 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.4

Organically grown from inception! Barrel fermented. Faint autolysis, bright — 8 years ago

with William

Christian Bronstein

9.2

Halloween tradition since inception and has delivered each year. Although 2013 showed the balance of the growing year for the better with toned down notes — 9 years ago

Anna Tyack

9.8

The ultimate NZ chardonnay from super high-density planted vines (9,000 - 12,500 vines / ha) on limestone in North Canterbury | 1,767 btles made in 2011 | Biodynamic since inception in 1997 — 10 years ago

James Goldman

9.8

Outstanding. Light head with sharp carb. The buffalo trace barrels are strong. Amazing nose and slightly hoppy. I bet it would age VERY well. — 12 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

The flagship wine from Burn Cottage, a Central Otago, New Zealand producer focused on Pinot Noir. Husband and wife owners Dianne & Marquis Sauvage sought out Ted Lemon of Littorai, and SF Chronicle's winemaker of the year for 2010 (Jon Bonné: "The simple version of Ted Lemon's story: Young American goes to Burgundy. Becomes first American to run a Burgundian wine estate. Comes back and stays true to Pinot's motherland."). Lemon oversaw the planting of the vineyards, along with all aspects of vineyard management and winemaking, chief of which being Biodynamic from inception. The label is a derivative of a 1795 fairy tale called “The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily” which represents the ideal intersection of people and the land reflected in Biodynamics. Black cherry, citrus, and lavender pastille, with some secondary loam and herbs. — 8 years ago

David Newland

9.0

Surprised! Very nice cab blend from the Texas panhandle region. Deep purple color. Nose has dark fruits and berries. Maybe a hint of zin pepper on the palate with a nice long finish of cab and oak. — 8 years ago

Trae Apodaca

9.2

Wow, from Central Coast. — 8 years ago

aj puccia

9.2

ESP fun to finish with after reading the history of the original estate from inception through today | wine is massive, if not overdone, happy to have more in the fridge to chill for many more years. — 10 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.7

The 91 Dominus is the greatest Dominus produced and I have had every vintage since it's inception in 83. The group all thought it was a 1st Growth guessing 82 a Mouton. One of the best Cali's ever made. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, liqueured dark cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, dark raisins, plums, dates, figs, baking spices, chocolate, dark rich soils, light spice and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is thick, rich and nicely resolved. Although it's nearly 20 years from inception, it's quite fresh and somewhere just the other side of it's peak. Dark cherries, plum, raisins, figs, dates, prunes, cherries, poached strawberries, somewhere between black raspberries & raspberries, dark & milk chocolate, light spice, rich, dark, moist soil, dry loamy top soil, violets, decayed, dark florals, light baking spices and caramel with nice round acidity. The finish is thick, rich 50-50 fruit and earth and lasts nearly a minute. This 98 is drinking nicely tonight with our Burrata, olive oil, Tondo balsamic, roasted garlic, garden cherries tomatoes and pesto sauce. Photos of; their beautiful villa estate, straw mats in warm rooms for drying the grapes to make this wine, Owner/Ambassador-Marilisa Allegrini, one of their vineyards and our charcuterie. Producer history & notes...Allegrini is one of the most acclaimed wineries in Veneto and a benchmark producer of Amarone. Their owner Marilisa Allegrini is a global ambassador for the region and internationally. Many in the industry considered her, "the voice of Amarone.” The Allegrini legacy spans six generations of wine growers. The Allegrinis have played a leading role in Valpolicella since the 16th century. Giovanni Allegrini is the patriarch of the modern estate. Today, his children, led by owner Marilisa, carry his legacy forward as one of the Veneto’s most acclaimed estates. Marilisa is the Ambassador for the estate while her brother, Franco, is internationally praised as one of Italy’s finest winemakers. They have 247 acres of vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico, the Allegrinis nurture a collection of remarkable sites. Each with its own personality, soils and focused microclimate. All seven vineyards range from the steep hillsides of La Grola to the plateau of La Poja and offer uniquely special expressions that make up their truly amazing wines. Allegrini has earned many accolades. In 2016, they were named Winery of the Year by Gambero Rosso, Italy’s definitive wine and food magazine. Parker called Allegrini the “reference point for fine Amarone.” Tonight this 98 was a nice example of those accolades.
— 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Since its inception in 1993, Archery Summit has been crafting Pinot Noir from its 120 acres across 5 estate vineyards. Ruby with red fruits and a bouquet of floral spice. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with rustic notes of espresso, cacao and licorice. Fine tannins with juicy acidity leading into a lingering finish. — 8 years ago

Vino Kaela

9.3

Impressive wine! Decanted it for 30 min. Checked it at opening again at 30 min but it opened up around 50 min. Full and complex with strong black fruit, cocoa, and oak spice. This is still a baby in terms of maturity. As always Insignia delivers as true as a Bordeaux first growth would, which was their model from inception. — 10 years ago

Laura Jack

10

This is the 2005. Wow. This is a complex wine with more layers than Inception. Made me feel rich when I sampled it. — 10 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.3

I've always admired Donjon for producing only one bottling since their inception in 1966. — 12 years ago