Ted Grigsby

9.1

Excellent. Big wine, balanced and flavorful — 5 years ago

with Kristin

Phil Kessling

9.0

Classic Rioja from legendary producer. — 6 years ago

Jeremiah Allen

9.7

Pure magic! ‘67 is a legendary vintage, lucky to experience a flawless bottle. This was fully resolved and hauntingly aromatic. It’s was energetic and lasted in the glass. Probably another decade of life left for these Normale bottlings — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.9

The 1948 Cheval Blanc may well constitute the most unheralded legendary wine of the 20th century, in no small part because it precedes the 1947. However, after years of several mavens lionizing this vintage and after one impressive but not convincing bottle, I encountered a 1948 Cheval Blanc that frankly, blew me away. This third bottle originates from the same source as that and mirrors its performance. Deep and lucid in color, it has a quite astonishing bouquet that is high-toned and decadent: kirsch, blueberry and a hint of liquorice, all beautifully defined. But it is the power that knocks you sideways. The palate is exquisitely balanced with supple tannin, velvety in texture with a multi-layered smorgasbord of glistening red fruit towards the finish – wild strawberry, Morello cherry, and cranberry all mixed with subtle ferrous and tobacco notes. It is a wondrous Saint-Émilion that I would dearly love to compare with the 1947 one day! Tasted at a private dinner in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 8 years ago

Stephen Mandy

9.1

Although not a legendary vintage this wine was thoroughly enjoyable. Smoked flavors mixed with red fruit and lovely balance and texture. Great cellar surprise. — 9 years ago

Ming L

8.9

First time to taste the legendary Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and it did not disappoint! Composed yet lively. — 9 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Great vintage from this legendary producer. — 9 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.3

Cuvée Karatas, not botrytized. A legendary wine from legendary vines: 140 year old Semillon vines from the majestic Monte Rosso vineyard. Sauv blanc on the nose, Semillon body. Still just a little baby wine with lots of promise. Right now this wine is all about texture and tension. Virtual bedrock tasting with Chris C. — 5 years ago

Anastasia

9.5

Good fresch — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Legendary vintage for LLC that is drinking beautifully with perfumed aromatics of black fruits, cassis, cedar, leather, graphite, & tobacco. Full bodied, still youthful, perfect balance that will offer many years of great drinking. — 7 years ago

Crystopher

9.5

Excelente Cabernet Sauvignon, comprado numa boa loja no Vale de Casa Blanca, a caminho de Valparaíso.

Notas de ameixa preta, baunilha e carvalho. Rubi intenso. Muito corpo, taninos mercantes e com final intenso (sugestão: decantar por no mínimo 30min). — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Deep Crimson with purple rim. Has the colour of a less than 5 year old wine. Earthy tarry aromas. On the palate very savoury and enticing with meaty notes. Old School Hunter Valley Shiraz from Vineyards worked by the legendary Maurice O'Shea in the 1940s and 50s. Like the wines O'Shea made this will live for decades although this wine is more full bodied than these wines from that era. About 10 years ago I was lucky to buy a 1952 (my birth year) at Auction made by the legend. Still holding up at 50+ years of age and barely medium bodied. — 8 years ago

Christine Havens

9.5

As stately as I expected it to be (can one really expect anything less of a wine as legendary as Cristal in one of Champagne's most celebrated vintages?) glinting pale gold, the color of a freshly-minted coin. The 2002 Champagne Cristal Brut Millésimé is imbued with soaring notes of pear and smoke, brioche and chalk. Disgorged in 2009, this is a precise wine—it has a sort of crystalline weightless density, with fruit buoyed by a fine mousse, and edgy saline-tinged minerality emerging at the close. 10 grams dosage.

"You must be as precise as a Swiss watchmaker, I tell my team," our host, M. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Chef de Caves at Roederer stressed. Precision in spades. — 9 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

10

The 1945 Haut-Brion is poured against the legendary 1945 Mouton and might just have come out on top. It is difficult to put this wine into words. Showing modest bricking, it presents a sublime bouquet of vibrant red fruit, warm gravel, wilted rose petals and a hint of earthenware. It is crystalline in terms of definition. The palate follows suit with pitch-perfect acidity, a very slight, refreshing hint of balsamic, and finely chiseled tannins. Beguiling in every way, this is a profound Haut-Brion that is absolutely flawless. Tasted at Koala's 1945 dinner. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Classic GL & one of my favorite vintages for current drinking next to their legendary 82. Lovely sweet red fruits, cassis, cedar, leather, sweet spice & cigar box. — 7 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Legendary vintage that has not budged. Still needs more time. — 7 years ago

Lucas Wittmann

9.5

Legendary. — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

10

1982 Monfortino. I love this wine. I last had it at the epic magnum vertical in London a few years ago with Vinous. At the end of the night I saved one bottle to put on the shelf, this wine (ok, the other reason was that my better half is of this vintage, but the wine had to be incredible too!). It has an iced tea quality, incredible complexity and grip. Legendary. — 8 years ago

Guilherme Corrêa Dip WSET

9.6

The most spectacular white from the Mediterranean basin, always revealing great smoky minerality (no new oak at all), amazing depth and tension. Displays almonds dragees and saffron, lemon confit, hay, dried flowers, kaleidoscopic. So young for a 2010, will evolve for decades… One of the best vintages ever from this legendary Italian wine, mind-blowing for a Trebbiano!!! — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

10

2002 Krug will be a legendary vintage. By far one of the best that I have tasted within the last 20 years. Amazing. It will cellar for ages to come! Truly incredible vintage. — 9 years ago

with Christine