Château Haut-Batailley

Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot Blend 1996

9.3

Smooth, round and delicious, with gentle tannins and woody, plummy spice. Lovely red Bordeaux—we could dink this all night. Still balanced after 27 years but its acids seem a bit faded. I would guess that it’s at a high plateau that may be gently dipping so my daughter Rachel, who owns this wine, needs to finish the rest of her stash within the next year. The vintage of this bottle is her birth year, and we laid down a half case along with another half case of Chateau Lynch Bages. Both bottles are now soft, special treats. We enjoyed the 1996 vintage with prime steak at the Palm Restaurant in downtown LA, celebrating her graduation from UCLA Law. Congratulations, Rachel! — 4 days ago

LM, Peter and 1 other liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Norman Gennaro

9.4

This one was up there for me. — 8 days ago

David, Shay and 12 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Rioja Rosé Blend 2010

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured into a porron. The ultimate baller birthday move. The 2010 Rosado pours a rose gold color; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. Some slight signs of sediment in the bottle. On the nose the wine is developing with notes of red cherry, blood orange, grapefruit, apricot, nuts, dried flowers and just a hint of lightly toasted coconut. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with remarkable, creamy texture and substantial (but not overbearing) weight. To my palate, this has hardly aged since my last experience in 2021. If anything, it has only gained in character and significance. World class is every sense of the term. Drink now through 2035. Thank you for the birthday bottle Matt! — 3 days ago

Juan, Ceccherini and 12 others liked this

Tom Casagrande

Sounds amazing!

Severn Goodwin

I'm waiting these out 👍

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Conrad Green

9.6

Dark and brooding with great rich fruit. Dark plum, leather, cedar, a whiff of iodine. Still tight and pure. Very good. Years ahead. — 6 days ago

with Garth and Matt

Shay, Jan and 13 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Doug Powers

9.5

Initially this was incredibly closed, but after 2 hours in the decanter it’s starting to open, tannic, very structured, very 1986 in its leanness, but incredible depth and length, not perfect, but still outstanding!! — 19 days ago

with Jim

Tom, Ron and 12 others liked this

Bob McDonald

Lean doesn’t sound so good.

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I personally have mostly felt that 1986 Bordeaux reds have always shown super tight and structured, but without the riper, rounder fruit of other vintages like 1982, 1985, 1989 and 1990) — so, my use of “lean” is really intended to convey that the fruit never completely overcomes the harsh tannins and structure. I would say that after a few hours in the decanter, I’d be pretty confident that it will easily last another 10-20 years, or more. Ultimately I like my Bordeaux to show a little more elegance and charm. Hope that helps.

Bob McDonald

@Doug Powers Thanks for your thoughts Doug. I recall Jancis commenting on this wine “wondering if the tannins would ever resolve”. Obviously built for the ultra long haul. I might try my first one in the next year or so.