La Belle France

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2005

I’ve been fortunate to consume several bottles of this legend. However, this was the first bottle that did not have me babbling to my dinner guests. All the Rayas traits; elegance , pure fruit , spice were present just not oversized. — a month ago

Andrew, Jay and 42 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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@Jay Kline - I should have such Rayas-serving friends!!
Ira Schwartz

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@Tom Casagrande Probably the only reason I get invited to anything
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande we all should!

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Light to medium body, floral and perfume bouquet, smooth and easy to drink, ripe berry finish, light yet strong enough to pair with beef. Fantastic! — 2 months ago

Dave and Ludger liked this
Dave

Dave

I bet that was great!

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2021

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, spices and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Grenache blend is starting to drink very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Elegant and rich. Interesting and engaging. A very traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape in style.

Well balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of all 13 allowed grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but mostly Grenache. Hand picked and whole cluster. Aged for 2 years in large French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110.
— 2 months ago

Dave, Jay and 14 others liked this

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2017

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2017 (S) pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with pretty notes of mostly red, tart fruit: strawberry, raspberry, Montmorency cherry, licorice, dried green herbs, menthol, and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and just a touch mousy but within the acceptable range. Refreshing and a lovely pairing with burgers on a warm Spring evening. Drink now through 2032. — 2 months ago

Ceccherini, Lyle and 14 others liked this

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah

I was going through my La Chapelle section today and my eyes got stuck on this 1999 - bottle looked absolutely pristine and I decided it was a perfect age to drink. Cork was in great condition and the wine was powerful and youthful with no signs of oxidation. Could have kept the bottle for a few more years, but it was probably perfect today. All the complex leathery earthy goodness you expect from this wine was there. — 5 months ago

Tyler liked this

Château d'Esclans

Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé Blend 2023

One of the best roses I have drank. Clear and elegant taste. Long fruity aftertaste. — 7 months ago

Lee and Ludger liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Pretty deep garnet ruby , garnet rim . This is pretty open and aromatic, with smoky creme de cassis , grafite , blackberry and cedar , light herbal touches , really quite classic and noble . On the palate this has good balance and density , good freshness also . Ripe , very fine but perceptible tannins . Dark fruits , grafite , tobacco , long and detailed slightly mineral notes on the good length finish . Really elegant , though quite serious and traditional, not easy to pull off. This is drinking perfectly now (Coravin might have helped here , I would certainly decant if I had a full bottle) , though still quite fruit driven with some tertiary complexity coming through . Really harmonious and complex . From now and over the next 15 years, maybe more . At Doppo Restaurant, Soho . — a month ago

Tom, Dave and 16 others liked this
David White

David White

Wow 🚀 that was an exciting line up of wines and it seems like the Pichon, Brunello and Lynch Bages were the cream of the crop
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Had one of mine two years ago. Didn’t think it was ready like a lot 2000’s I’ve had so far. Think it is either a forever vintage or just not living up to the hype of 2000? Cheers! 🍷
Andrew Cullimore

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I thought this was really quite excellent @Somm David T , it did seem quite open , though this might be to do with it being under Coravin.. I would certainly decant for a while if opening a bottle . Or alternatively leaving for another 5-10 years will do no harm at all . One of the better 2000s I have had , in some ways it is a bit of a hit or miss vintage .. but the peaks are very high . Hope you enjoy your other bottles !

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay

Amazing.Great acidity and minerality. — 2 months ago

Dave, Quinn and 1 other liked this

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2005

Very lush and punchy. Dark plum and cherry with a hefty dose of alcohol. Rounded and bright. Black cherry and violets. Good — 3 months ago

Jay, Shay and 7 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2015

Absolutely singing at 10 yrs. Beautiful weight. Age coming thru with beeswax and acacia with plenty of acidity to back it up. — 5 months ago

Pooneet, Tom and 7 others liked this

Bollinger

La Grande Année Brut Champagne Blend 2005

Etwas in die jahre gekommen - prickeln nur noch dezent, präsente röstaromen, pfirsich, hauch aprikose und litschi. — 10 months ago

Lyle and Ira liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

Medium deep garnet with a terracotta rim . This has some sous bois , earthy tobacco , coffee grinds , herbal touches , cedar and dried currants . On the palate this is quite dense and classic in profile , still quite a lot of tannin , sous bois , cedar , some cassis , tobacco and a little herbal. Quite stocky and chunky . Medium length , and balanced acidity . This is still quite dense on the palate , with grippy , slightly rustic tannins . Probably just past peak , but will hold over the next 5 years or so . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London …. No label on the bottle ! — a month ago

Dave, Tom and 16 others liked this

Bollinger

Special Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

QPR hard to beat. Just a really good Champagne — a month ago

Dick, Ted and 12 others liked this

Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay 1996

No formal notes . Medium lemon colour . Quite a lot of very fine bubbles still . Quite young in appearance. Elegant and relatively youthful with citrus , white flowers, baked pastry , good freshness with mineral, oyster shell notes. On the palate very high acidity , really marked by that taut profile but still enough creamy mouthfeel to make this very complete with a pastry , citrus and mineral focused finish . Very intense and long. Drinking perfectly now and over the next 5-10 years — a month ago

Dave, Jan and 8 others liked this

Pierre Péters

Cuvée de Réserve Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

Base year of the blend: 2021.
Disgorgement date: 2024-01-19.
OF No: L01E2102
— 2 months ago

Dick, Aravind and 7 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2006

Has a little brown toast note that is distinctive. Overall very nice and worthy of a graduation celebration. — 2 months ago

Rob liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1962

Slightly medicinal notes. Dark fruit, leather, cedar, plum and bitter cherry. Soft and long. — 4 months ago

BOT Paul WoollsMatt Lichtenberg
with BOT, Paul and 1 other
Jan, Ceccherini and 7 others liked this