Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The 1999 Bordeaux vintage for many was not stellar. However, if their was one region that excelled, it was Pessac-Leognan. I actually spent two nights at this beautiful Chateau during En Premier in 2014.

The nose is soft & subtle. Mid fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cooked pomegranate, poached strawberries, black plum with heavy skin, & haunting blueberries. Well cooked toast-not burnt, soft lead pencil shavings, dry top soils, limestone minerals, used tobacco, old leather, dry river stone, dry black earth, vanillin, gentle spice, steeped tea left in the glass for an extended period with withering dark, red florals with dry lavender.

The palate is dry with fruits that are cooked yet juicy. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, cooked pomegranate, poached strawberries, black plum with heavy skin, & haunting blueberries. Cherry cola/licorice-cherry nibs, well cooked toast-not burnt, soft lead pencil shavings, dry top soils, limestone minerals, used tobacco, old leather, dry river stone, moist black earth with dry leaves, mint, dry herbs, charcoal, vanillin, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, gentle dark Asian spice, steeped tea left in the glass for an extended period with withering dark, red florals with dry lavender. The acidity is delightful. The finish is well balanced, structured, same wire to wire with a slight dry end that lasts two minutes.

She’s pretty with Tri-tip. — 2 years ago

Chris Allison

9.0

Smooth and a little sweet. Light bodied. Would get it again. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tawny with reddish amber rims. Dark yet translucent. Great old Chave nose. Black cherry, wet forest floor, smoked meats, menthol, slate stone and rhubarb notes. Vibrant in the mouth right out of the gate. Lots of structure and pucker. Fruit present but starting to fade. This was at peak first two hours and then started slowing down, opposite of the Trimbach CSH next to it. Still this was really good ~37 yr old grape juice. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

A great balance between fruit and funk. In my opinion, this one is right at the peak of drinking, because it is only going to get Bordeaux funky from here. On the nose and entry, lots of black cherry in fig, baking spices give way to haymore weedy and herbaceous sign that turns to a hint of Brett and funk towards the finish. Although this wine is very good, someone who likes this style a little bit more may have rated this a couple of points higher than I did. Very enjoyable wines, and definitely belonged on the table next to a high-profile Napa cab, high profile Australian Shiraz, and twenty-year-old CDP. — 5 years ago

with Dan, Bradley and 2 others

Mike Saviage

9.4

Le Parc at Les Crayeres in Reims. Deep dark ruby color, opaque. Wild nose with notes of black cherry, violets, menthol, slate stone and some mocha. Very perfumed. Rich and silky in the mouth. Tannins integrated. This is ready for consumption. — 6 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.3

Massive nose, massive wine. Huge fruit with jam, herbs, stone, and spice. Finish lingers with tannins and tart raspberry jam. Overall nice. Reminds me of a Santa Barbara Syrah. — 7 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.1

Funky vegetal nose, opened up to a nice black cherry, tobacco, prune delivery with some Mediterranean spices added in. Cool year profile. — 7 years ago

Kristen Grimes

10

Rich fruit aromas, blackberry and black cherry, and a little herbaceousness. The same on the palate with tart cherry acidity balanced by black pepper tannins and a slightly rounded body. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Taken to Hawksmoor in NYC for our uncle’s 75th. Decanted in hotel for 7 hrs before dinner. Dark reddish amber edges with dark tawny color center. Opaque. Great aged Bordeaux nose. Notes of black fruit, tobacco and cigar, cassis, old desk wood, saddle leather, some anise, some barnyard and a little mint. Rich and silky in the mouth. Long finish. The bottle (mid shoulder) wasn’t in as good of condition as the one we had a few weeks ago, but the outcome was similar. Family and the Somm all loved it, as did I. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind... we're served three glasses from three brown bagged bottles. They all are similar in color: dark reddish tawny. This has black fruit in the nose, along with some prominent wood, some spice, some earthiness, slate stone and dark earth. More masculine than the other two glasses, but also becomes more floral over time. More inky and dense than the other two. We've figured out these are 1990 La La's, so which is this? I guess La Landonne, which it is. This bounced around during the evening from being the best of the three to a step below the other two. I liked the Mouline and Turque a little more tonight but I'm splitting hairs as this was superb and the ranking is more about preference than quality. — 5 years ago

D Scher

9.2

1984 vintage. Cork difficult to extract, ended up in several pieces. Beautiful deep color, little to no bricking even at this age. Seductive at one hour+ of air with black cherry, raspberry, some vanilla, green pepper, graphite. 12% ABV. From the FIL’s collection. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Last night in MT at the lake. Gave this several hours of air. Nice dark tawny color. Vibrant in the glass. The nose is great right away and stayed on point through the evening. Notes of black cherries, warm raspberries, old cedar, some plums and a little leather saddle. Rich and silky in the mouth. Velvet glove. Long finish. Great wine. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2002 Guigal ‘La Turque’ is the finest Rhône wine that I have sampled from this challenging vintage. Flowering issues and problems obtaining phenolic ripeness plagued the N. Rhône in 2002 but the ‘La Turque’ was not lacking in richness. Black cherry, wild blackberry and huckleberry flavors connected with shades of iron and wet stone on the palate. Fresh and vibrant, this beautiful wine is drinking brilliantly now. Drink 2019-2029- 92 — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tasted blind. Tawny color, translucent with amber rims. Notes of black cherry, cedar, some spice and a little barnyard floor. Sweet fruit in the mouth, with tannins fully resolved. Guessed 1955 Calon Segur. Perfect looking bottle, the cork revealed this bottle was reconditioned by the Chateau in 2000. — 7 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Enjoying some wine with Santa on Christmas eve.

2 hour decant (moderate chunky/fine sediment). A prodigious dark crimson with some bricking. On the nose: beautiful notes of red cherry, cigar box, cedar, little barnyard funk, herbaceous. Taste: old school and elegant! with black plum, red currants, scorched earth, cedar, crushed stone, and tobacco. YUM! In a nice place with the decant and still time to go. — 3 years ago

with Brenda

David Nicewicz

9.4

Back to 1995 tonight and one of my favorite BDX producers. This Ducru is rich and still drinking very young with huge fruit, black currants, spice and leather with a long finish. Structure is excellent but still has a little oak to smooth out, which I was somewhat surprised by. An excellent wine overall. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 5 years ago

with Christina and James

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Main course is a Beef Tenderloin Roast with Rosemary, Crispy Duck Fat Potatoes, Sautéed Greens. The beef is among the most tender (cut it with a fork) & flavorful we’ve had.

From magnum. The nose shows; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, anise, dry soils, dry crushed rocks, some graphite, cigar, dark, rich earth, blue/purple fruit cola, very soft dark spice with blue and purple florals set in lavender.

The body full, lush & thick. The tannins, rounded, tarry and velvety chewy. The structure & tension have hit its stride but, a little leaner than I’m used to in a Phelps Cabernet. The length and balance are exactly what I expect from them. It’s elegant, ripe & juicy. Dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, soft clove, vanilla, nutmeg, dry soils, dry crushed rocks, moist clay some graphite, cigar, leather, limestone, dry herbs, dark, rich earth, blue/purple fruit cola, very soft dark spice with blue and purple florals set in lavender. The acidity is a gentle rain shower. The long finish is delicious and persists into a dark spice.

Perfect with Hedy’s Boeuf.

Wine is peaking in Magnum with another 5-8 years ahead.

The “Truth” which, is the very bottom, concentrated part of the bottle is a 9.3.

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🤶🎁🦌❄️⛄️🍷 — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tasted blind. Dark reddish purple color, opaque. Looks and smells rich. Notes of black berry fruit, tobacco, some cassis and a little anise. Chewy in the mouth. Powerful fruit and structure - this is still young. Easy to guess as a young Cal Cab, althought it wasn't that young. — 6 years ago

William Hughes

9.3

Aging beautifully! Still loads of currant and lavender. Add a touch of iodine and some more black fruit, mix with lean tannins and fine acidity. Here is to Maryland wines! — 7 years ago