Nicholas Reder

9.0

Fizzy and bright. A fun wine that went well with chicken soup — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth

Tara Rowland

9.5

When Swiss M Sager picks your wine for fondue night.🔥 one of the best alpine producers. — 5 years ago

Erik Rini

9.2

Very good, never tried Niellucciu before, tastes a bit like a cotes du Rhône, Parker said it is best Corsican red wine he has ever tried.... — 6 years ago

Maurizio Abbà

9.2

2016 has been a challenging year for Hermitage, as hail in April caused a severe reduction in volume. The quality of the final product, however, benefitted from perfect temperatures in Autumn. Silene is a selection from Jean Louis Chave, who cultivated this land since XV century. The granite soil of Crozes is fully reflected in the wine, showing raspberry notes on a mineral vein. Time will allow to grow up some more interesting tertiary flavors, for now limited to tobacco and a hint of licorice. The taste, however, is already balanced, with soft and ready tannins balancing a strong minerality core. I'd suggest to leave it there for 2-3 years at least, to check whether the potential it showed on the nose can fully develop. — 7 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.1

This is actually Une Annee LeSeul XV American Watermelon Wild Ale. Supremely tart and lightly funky with watermelon coming through on the nose and up front. Most refreshing on a warm afternoon, although perhaps not the best pairing for the rich nuttiness of a Bolivar Royal Coronas cigar. It's good to be home. — 8 years ago

Niall Gibson

9.4

Outstanding. Had the 2015 — 8 years ago

Olga

9.0

Delicious! — 9 years ago

Alex Bird

9.0

Nicely balanced, fresh — 9 years ago

Kristina A.

9.1

Thanksgiving — 4 years ago

Jordi Pazo

8.9

13º Premio Vila Viniteca de Cata por Parejas. Casa Llotja de Mar.
01.03.20 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pompadour Brut Rosé celebrates the life and times of Madame de Pompadour (mistress of Louis XV) credited with introducing Champagne to the court. Blend of 58% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, aromas of floral strawberry scents with yeasty notes on good mousse and bubble flow. On the palate raspberry and strawberry flavors with round yeasty tones adding bits of vanilla. Well balanced, lingering ending in true brut style, dry with yeasty mineral character. A joy to drink. — 6 years ago

Mick Farrell

9.0

Viva Panama! Feliz Navidad! 🇵🇦 🎄 — 7 years ago

with Paul, Marco and 8 others

Bo Bo

9.1

Benoit président !!!! — 8 years ago

Antoine Pin

Wine Buyer Kroger/QFC

9.0

This is solid. Better than a lot of domestic wines. — 8 years ago

Francesco Fusina

9.3

Good chardonnay with great flavour and body — 9 years ago

Mick Farrell

9.1

Tokyo cigar bar with my cuz Adrian! Cohiba bar!🍻🍺🍷🍸👊 — 9 years ago

with Adrian and Ben

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

One of my very favorites!!!!!! Blackbird XV Paramour 2017 blend. Cab franc, cab sav, merlot. Black bird is born to fly baby!!!!!!!! Loads of black berry and elderberry fruit. This is followed by dark chocolate and smoke. There is a well rounded silkiness that tantalize is the tongue. Then there is a spicy, earthy, oaky finish leaving you screaming for more. See what happens when the bottle is taken away and you’re ready for more!!!!!!  Or someone over pours themselves a big glass and they dont even know what good wine is. You will SCREAM!!!! Im ordering more!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — 5 years ago

Melissa E

9.0

A dark golden rose, fine bubbles, not as acid. Apple — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 06 vintage was more highly praised by the Bordelais than it delivered. That’s not to say, some producers didn’t deliver.

This 06 is not at its peak...still needs a few years. Will it be a wine that blows you away? Not likely but, it will deliver nice fruit, earth & balance. Especially, with a Ribeye.

The nose shows; ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, dry cranberries & some black plum. Saddle-wood, limestone minerals, dry stones, cinnamon, soft spice, light vanilla, black rich earth, touch of black licorice and red & dark fresh florals.

The body is round and a little lean but puts on weight with food and decanting. The structure, length & tension are falling into place. The fruits are ripe and expressive. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, haunting blue fruits, dry cranberries & some black plum. Saddle-wood, touch herbaceous, mint, limestone minerals, dry clay, dry stones, cinnamon, soft spice, cola, light vanilla, black rich earth, touch of black licorice and red & dark fresh florals. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is on the leaner side but, well balanced and lasts a full minute. 9.1 without the Ribeye, 9.2 with it.

Photos of, Duhart Milon, Cabernet ready to to be pressed, wine making facilities and their barrel room.

Producer history and notes...the Rothschild family is divided into two sects for lack of a better word. There are the ones that own Mouton Rothschild and Cleric Milon etc. and the other owns Lafite and Duhart. The two sides of the families don’t necessarily get along. However, they are two of the oldest/wealthiest families in recorded history.

Duhart Milon was originally known only as Chateau Milon. At one time the estate was the second wine of Chateau Lafite.

The story about how this came to be is interesting. The owner of Lafite at that time was the Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Segur. King Louis XV called him “The Wine Prince” because of his extensive vineyard holdings in Bordeaux. The Milon vineyards were well regarded but, not as good as Lafite, which is how the wine came to be thought of as the second wine for Lafite.

In 1815, the property was considered by some people as a fourth growth Bordeaux wine in the making. In those days, the wine was sold under the name of Chateau Mandavy-Milon. Between 1830 and 1840, the Casteja family inherited the estate.

The label of Duhart Milon, according to family tradition came about from an old legend written about one of their ancestors, Sir Duhart. Sir Duhart, was rumored to have been a pirate for Louis XV. He retired in Pauillac. The “Pirate’s House” on the Pauillac port existed up to the 1950’s. That original building inspired the label for the Duhart-Milon wines.

The Casteja family remained in possession of Duhart Milon until the first part of the 20th century. At the time, Chateau Duhart Milon was one of larger Pauillac estates with around 50 hectares of vines.

In 1937, the result of successive inheritances led to the sale of Duhart Milon. The Left Bank property went through five different owners in just 25 years. As well, the vineyards were split up and with the frost of 1956, the quality of Duhart Milon continued declining until the Rothschild family purchased the property in 1962.

At that time of the sale, Chateau Duhart Milon included 110 hectares of land, of which only 17 hectares were planted with vines. The entire vineyard was in desperate need of replanting. Major renovations were urgently needed in the vineyards, which demanded work on the drainage and replanting.

The size of their vineyards were also increased with the purchase of other parcels adding to the size of their Medoc holdings. New cellars needed to be built as well.

Chateau Duhart Milon remains one of the few 1855 Classified Growth estates without an actual Chateau. At Duhart, all you will find are the cellars, vatting rooms and barrel storages.

During the period of 1970 to 2000, the vineyards nearly doubled in size! Additionally, they constructed new cellars, renovated and modernized their wine making facilities as well in 2003. By 2008, the wine of Duhart Milon increased in quality, stature and price.

Much of the price increase had to do with the association with Chateau Lafite Rothschild, which had by that time, become the most in-demand, collectible wine in China. By the time the 2015 vintage was offered, prices had dropped to a more affordable price level due to changes in Chinese laws regarding client gifts/bribes.

The 152 hectare vineyard of Chateau Duhart Milon includes; 76 hectares of vines planted to 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot. This makes Chateau Duhart Milon one of the few 1855 Classified Growths with only two grape varieties planted in their vineyards.

The average age of the vines are 30 years old. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 7,500 vines per hectare.

Duhart Milon vineyards are located in northern Pauillac, on the western side of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, on the Milon hillside, which is not far from the Carruades plateau...now Lafite’s second wine. This places the vineyard quite close to Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Clerc Milon. However, because of micro climates, this is a slightly cooler terroir, due to its northern exposure.

The naturally cooler soils provides more freshness to the wine, and allows for later picking. The terroir of Chateau Duhart Milon is a combination of gravel, sand and limestone soils. The Duhart Milon vineyards are unique in Pauillac, as the vines are for the most part, located in 1 single, large parcel.

The vinification of Chateau Duhart Milon takes place in temperature controlled stainless vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. Chateau Duhart Milon is then aged in an average of 50% new French oak barrels for 14 to 16 months, depending on the vintage.

There is a second wine, Moulin de Duhart, that was created in 1986. There is also a third wine produced by the estate, Baron de Milon. — 7 years ago

Bryan Jones

9.0

Nice and developed, biscuity and yeasty goodness — 9 years ago