Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

For me, there are a lot stories associated with this little brother to Leoville Las Cases. Made by the same technical team, but certainly a different terroir.

Older vintages that were brought in by Clyde Beffa at K&L Wine Merchants kept me from opening my more expensive-younger Bordeaux in my collection. Starting w/ the 97 vintage well after its original release, I believe they sold through two lots of 5,000 cases over different years. A vintage crushed by critics. But with some long time cellar, value & quality. Magic!

This has always shown me QPR and to be a great fatty steak wine- Ribeye or Ribcap.

The 2007 Bordeaux vintage, critically not well reviewed. With basically 16 yrs plus in bottle, more special.

This has really come around and still ascending. Ripe, elegant, lush; dark currents, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherry skin, black plum skin, poached strawberries, black, rich, turned earth with dry leaves, moist & dry clays, graphite, tobacco w/ ash, slightly used leather, dry river stone, limestone minerals, dry top soil, pepper, some sweet tarriness, mix of fresh & dry herbs, mid, dark spices, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & understated vanillin, dry, withering, dark & red florals, nice acidity with good tension, structure, finally balanced & elegant finish that lands squarely on soften earthiness, some spice and lasts two-minutes.

This still has 15 years plus of life ahead.

Paired with Costco Prime Ribcaps. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

Margaux and Rack of Lamb. I’m in. The 05 vintage…magic!

Lamb w/ just enough fat, spice meet perfect ripe, bright, floral fruits of; blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, strawberries, red & black licorice/cola, perfect mid spice, sweet, lead pencil shavings, charcoal, cedar, not old, not fresh, tobacco, touch of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, pea gravel, dry twig, dry limestone powder, steeped tea, dark, rich soil with dry leaves, herbaceous notes-bay leaf, moist clay, an array of fresh, withering, floral bouquet, amazing, rainfall acidity, perfect, tension, balance, structure and polished finish for days. Absolutely stunning! — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.1

A staple and for all the right reasons. Ripe is the word of the day here. Ripe cherries on the nose along with vanilla and toasted wood. There’s a bit of mushroom and grass going on here that’s really nice. Some smoked tobacco and tea leaves definitely enhance things.

Singular and perfected, this is a must buy all the time. You know exactly what you’re in for and you love it. Nice weight and complexity without too much fuss. Full bodied without being dense and plodding. The red and black fruits shine on the palate along with leather and oak. Always so delightful.
— 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

2010 is a vintage to leave to your children if you bought this at 50 years old forward. This is a 50-60 year wine with proper storage.

The nose shows nice ruby, fruits of; dark cherries, cherries, strawberries with a dark currant center, blackberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Chocolate mousse, melted, milk chocolate, light caramel, moist sage, warm, slightly sweet dark earth with withering dark & red florals.

The palate is warm, inviting & beautiful. Easy to drink. Dark cherries, cherries, strawberries with a dark currant center, blackberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Red cola/licorice, dark chocolate, melted, milk chocolate, light caramel, moist sage, warm, oak barrel shavings, moist, dark earth w/ dry leaves, celery, used leather, moist tobacco, with withering dark & red florals. Perfect acidity with an excellently balanced, nicely knitted, perfect tension & structure with elegance for days the falls evenly on ripe fruits & soft earthiness.

94-96 in another 10 years. Outside chance at 97. — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Just entering its drinking window. It has 40 years ahead of it. Excellent with Ribcap from Costco.

Interesting that there are some vegetable notes on the nose.

Very good evolution. Medium plus tannins. Juicy, ripe blackberries, black raspberries, darkest cherries, black plum/ with skin, ripe strawberries, some blue fruit hues, cedar, black licorice/cola, dark rich earth w/ leaves, sandstone, steeped sun tea, light limestone powder, ripe, light, dark spice, clove, light cinnamon, hints of nutmeg, vanillin, moist volcanic clay, fresh red, dark flowers, framed in violets, round acidity with polish/balance, softly tensioned, elegant that falls on mineral & clay that lasts two-minutes. — 2 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Over the weekend I opened the 2019 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon Bordeaux Blend from Barboursville, Virginia. A blend of 62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, vanilla, spice, licorice and earth.

On the palate I find black cherry, blackberry, black plum, licorice, black currant, spice, herbaceous notes and dark rich earth.

This is a medium + to full bodied wine with medium + acidity and medium + fine grippy astringent tannins which leaves you with a long black fruit crushed stone finish. Spring has arrived this week, so try and have a great full week in anticipation of the coming greenery and foliage. Stay safe and healthy and please be kind to one another. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 1991 | Year of birth wine | Autumn leaves, leather, cedar in smell, elegant taste. Difficult year of the April frost. Still a joy to drink, although the wine misses tension now | paired with beef loin and shitake — 8 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

A complex and evolving red blend from Pessac-Leognan, yet approachable. Plenty of red fruits, multi-layered on the secondary aromas, great mouthfeel, medium plus tannins, dry to mid-range of the palate. Finish is under 7-10 seconds. Nice structure, well-balanced between wood and dry leaves. Alone or with food pairing does the job. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing currents, plums, cherries, oak, wet leaves, herbs, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee and black tea.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 26 year old Merlot is still drinking very nicely. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years, but will not improve from here on.

Needs an hour to open up properly, so be patient.

This was not a good vintage in Pomerol, but it held up pretty well.

Good by itself or with food.

A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$250. — 2 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

If you are in the mood for a NZ Sauvignon Blanc that’s not tooo New Zealand here ya go. I like this one. Passion fruit and tangerines. Peach and pebbles. And just a touch of grass and gooseberry to remind you this is NZ Sauvignon Blanc — 4 years ago