Kevin

8.9

Rose buds and grapes, purple fruits; beaten against the rocks, suffocated at high altitude and fed a thin diet of air and cool sun. An up-front approach, not much to linger. Fleeting and delicious. — 6 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Wonderful wine. Oak; straw, and vaguely barnyard aromas. Palate opens with stone fruit and oak then evolves into a full middle palate. Big and bold but not heavy. Toffee notes linger with oak and citrus notes on the finish. Super long. Changes with every sip. — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Chris England

9.4

A new upcoming Chilean icon blend @ £100-£120 that’s becoming a favourite of mine 😍 Did you know they play relaxing music to the wine in the barrel whilst it develops 💗 I reviewed the 2012 a few weeks back 😉 and can’t wait for 2013 to come out! I’ve still not tried their first 2010 release ... yet

📍 Vina VIK 2011

🏵 94 points w/ much more potential 👍

🍇 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot & 4% Syrah 😍

🍷Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Chocolatey spicy rich blackcurrant & dark plum w/ soft oak, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, dark cherry, wet leaves, herbs, a hint of purple flower, blueberry & minerals

👄 Full body of rich silky intense but balanced black fruits in oozy melted chocolate & creamy blueberry w/ a raspberry liquorice backbone in fine rock minerals

🎯 Long black fruit, raspberry, touch dry mineral & cocoa linger w/ a lasting purple teeth stain 😁 — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

One of my favourite well priced Pauillacs @ £55 in a great year that keeps evolving lovely 👍 I’ve always loved the label and we call it “The dancing men” 😁 what do you think they’re doing?

🏵 94 points

🍇 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot & 12% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Crushed wet minerals & pencil lead through soft elegant smoked oaky black berries w/ spiced plum jam , light mocha, herby tea, soggy earth & wet autumn leaves

👄 Med bodied smooth rich mocha infused & earthy driven dark berries & plum with a soft liquorice tone

🎯 Med+ earthy mocha dark berry liquorice slight dry mineral linger w/ a black tea smackeroony — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.7

One of my favourite hidden gem BdB champagnes that I loved in 90 & 96 so excited to try the 02 @ £140 that was a generous gift 😍 Tied with string to hold the cork 👍

🏵 97 points

🍷 Golden yellow

👃 Butter baked brioche, cheese scone, tarte tatin, green cooking apple, citrus curd, honey, torched caramel & rock minerals

👄 Super fine bubbled med bodied mousse of citrus, caramel & sour green apple, pineapple & dry stone minerals

🎯 Med+ dry mineral citrus & honeyed fresh cut green apple w/ a burnt caramel linger — 8 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.1

Stunning ...the nose is melted licorice, spice, slight menthol..wonderful smell with ripe red/dark fruit. Med acid/med tannin...long linger. This is day 4 and at its best. Good decant would have made me drink the entire bottle in 2hrs! — 8 years ago

Nicole Hanusek

9.4

Celebrated with this bottle

I’m not a fan of tart flavors that linger and make my mouth pucker, this has some tartness but it didn’t last long — 7 years ago

Anne Carman

9.3

Notes of plum, cherry and spice as it opens up. Hint of burnt orange mid palate with soft enveloping tannins, elegant linger and finish. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.6

This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏

📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001

▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗

🏵 96 points

🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia

👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice

🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

Fab 05 top Rioja @ £70-100 in a great year & a fav of mine - will keep improving but great now 😉 Awesome 2020-30 👍

📍 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2005

🏵 95 points w/ 96-98 potential

🍇 89% Tempranillo & 11% Mazuelo

🍷 Deep ruby

👃 Soft oak through dark spiced berries, currants & cherry with creamy vanilla, light smoked tobacco, leather, mocha, coconut, mint & balsamic into choc cherry gateaux w/ a bit of date coming through

👄 Med+ body of deluxe silky smooth creamy stewed rich dark cherry driven fruits all perfectly balanced w/ thick cocoa cream, vanilla & balsamic touch

🎯 Long seductive oak, cocoa, balsamic & dark fruit cherry boom linger — 7 years ago

Clive McNish

9.2

It’s Thursday but this is a Friday wine. Deep purple in colour, nose is a fruity mix of blackberry, cherry, liquorice and chocolate. Tannins are a little gripping but they allow the flavour to linger, I can taste cherries, blueberries, cloves and pepper. This is a well balanced wine which is very drinkable but no doubt will be smoother in a few years. Recommended. — 8 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.3

Oooo lala. Lovely, and 2012 was a hot year. Sour cherry and dried plums/dark fruits. Some great leather and tobacco that gives it a depth and linger that help it finish strong. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.5

1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣7️⃣

🗞 🌎 Stock 📉, Kings Cross 🔥, Simpsons, -1 second
🎵 Faith, Livin' On A Prayer, With or Without You, I Just Can't Stop ❤️ You
🎥 Three Men & a Baby, Fatal Attraction, Good Morning Vietnam, Lethal Weapon
🗣 Nobody puts Baby in a corner
🌍 4.98B

Stunning Cos @ £180 - RP83 🤣

🍷 Deep ruby

👃 Gravel, flint, minerals & soggy earth through black berry fruits w/ herbs, soot, smokey oak & mint

👄 Med body of smooth b/berry loaded w/ mocha, liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long linger of ⬆️ w/ black tea — 8 years ago

Justin Hart

9.5

Beautiful new vintage! The latest VR Special is true to all the vintages before it, smooth/reposed, easy to sip. Tobacco, cherry, vanilla and cola notes mingle divinely and linger sweetly... yum, just yum! — 7 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Charles Fetter

9.2

Very complex delicious wine. Citrus on the nose. Creamy mouth feel with zesty acid. Pineapple and grapefruit notes that linger. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.7

The 2001 Clos Mogador was stunning aged drank in 2017 but this 2013 @ £65, now £80-£100 as a 98 Parker pointer, has massive potential 😁 Beautiful now but give this 10+yrs & you have a fab priced 98+ point wine in the making 😍 28k bottles so buy if you can 👍

📍 Clos Mogador 2013

🏵 97 points w/ 99+ potential I’d say

🍇 49% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon & 16% Syrah 😍

🍷 Opaque deep ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Rich mocha infused spiced dark cherry/berry bang w/ minerals, pencil lead, herbs, soggy earth, raspberry coulis, hint of prune, soft smoked oak & crushed violets

👄 Med+ to Full bodied ripe creamy smooth dark berry/cherry oozy chocy mocha infused silky boom choc raspberry gateaux fest w/ a rock mineral stoney backbone

🎯 Long deep dark fruits & cocoa linger w/ a raspberry slap & mineral kiss - choc cherry gateaux in a glass 💥 😍

🧀 Paired w/ aged Manchego & Iberian ham 🐷 — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

I 💗 Tig & this 06 gets better & better 😍 For £70 paid now £115 it’s a special treat to pop one of these beauties 😎

📍 Antinori Tignanello 2006

🏵 95-96 points

🍇 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon & 5% Cabernet Franc

🍷Deep ruby with brown garnet edge

👃 Soft oak infused stewed dark cherry & spiced blackcurrant w/ mocha, earthy wet leaves, herbs, black tea, minerals & smokey tones

👄 Med body of super silky dark fruit berries & cherry in creamy mocha w/ dry minerals

🎯 Long slight dry dark fruit finish with a coffee & chocolate mineral linger

Yummy Tignanello one of my (many) favourite go to wines 👍 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.7

Super smooooooth creamy silky velvet Hermitage @ £85 to £120- A shaved piggy wiggy wearing decadent silky pajamas & silk slippers 🐷

📍 Paul Jaboulet Aîné La Chapelle 2011

🏵 97 points & will improve 😉

🍷 Ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Cloves, olives, thyme & other spiced herbs, wet earth & blackberry w/ touch of liquorice, cherry, tar, dried piggy meats & cracked minerals - a full on nasal tease 🐽

👄 Med+ body incredibly super smooth rich creamy olive tapenade, chewy concentrated blackberry & dark earthy chomping thick cherry w/ dollop of liquorice silky sauce

🎯 Long dark fruit gooey gloop & dark olive pure silky velvet earthy mouth coating licking linger 😍 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.6

Bolly GA pink hits the spot & this £74 05 is no exception!

🍾 Disg’d May 15

🍇 72% PN & 28% C

🍷 Peachy salmon pink

👃 Toasted almond brioche & yeasty fresh bread, soft oak soaked peach, fallen red apples & red currant w/ pink blossom & smoke

👄 Med bodied fine bubbled creamy zesty fresh persistent mouse of red apple, sour peach, citrus zests, red currant, cherry, bread & creamy shortbread biscuit in med acidity

🎯 Med+ citrus zest, red apple & cherry dry biscuity linger w/ a touch of pink grapefruit — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.4

Top year 904 @ £75 that was drank in Zalto burg glass as its like an aged burgundy

🐽 Paired w/ Iberian Ham 😍

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick

👃 Smoked burnt oak, soggy earthy leaves, leather, dark cherry & figs w/ balsamic & damson

👄 Med body of creamy stewed cherry w/ earthy balsamic & slight mocha

🎯 Med finish of above w/ earthy balsamic linger

Reaching peak but I preferred the 95 904 over this but the 890 94 was better than the 95! — 8 years ago