Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. This bottle of 2006 was throwing a ton of sediment. Showing mostly red fruits with red currants, new leather, tobacco, earth, forest floor, baking spices…a touch green. Hello Cabernet Franc!! Good structure. The finish is long. Every time I have the opportunity to enjoy Sassicaia, I am reminded why it’s one of the great wines of Italy. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. Drink now through 2036. — 6 months ago
Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 9 months ago
All class, all sophistication. Lots of black fruit, currants, cedar, earth. A touch of oak, well balanced acidity and fruit. Can age well much longer. Beautiful long finish. Very savory. Smoke meats and salt. Dark chocolate and dusts of graphite also noticed. 13% — 3 years ago
Elegant and balanced with dark fruits and long finish. — 7 years ago
As always, Krug is for me, the perfect illustration of power and fineness. The common thread amongst all of the bottles I have been fortunate to taste is a sense of luxury. In a wine, luxury is not an easy to define, but most certainly Krug has it. A generous nose of brioche, apple galette, quince and nutmeg. The mousse is quite fine, gracefully leading into full texture, and an acid spine that pierces through layers of crème and orchard fruit. And the finish—as long and languid as any great story arc. — 10 years ago
$55 bucks, spectacular — 6 months ago
Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 6 months ago
Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 32 months in 100% new 60-gallon French oak barrels. Deep Ruby with pronounced aromas of dark fruits, with hints of cedar, floral, oak, herbs and spice. On the palate flavors of concentrated ripe blackberry, cherry and blackberry, pepper, tobacco, leather and earthy cacao. Fine savory tannins, well balanced, long finish, great structure ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy mineral character. Outstanding! — 9 months ago
Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 89% Tempranillo & 11% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak. On the palate flavors of jammy dark berry fruits with spice & smoky earthy notes on ripe full soft tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 2 years ago
Agree with those who describe the finesse in this reserve. Long open but worth the wait every time. apparently higher in sangiovese than other vintages and it works just fine. Really nice Antinori offering! — 4 years ago
M+ acid, ripe tropical fruit, Mod alcohol, off-dry. Nice WA example. — 9 years ago
One of my faves. I ordered two half bottles - imagine my delight when I received two full bottles at the half bottle price. — 12 years ago
Medium lemon colour . Lovely lemon, buttered pastry nose , still so fresh and lively . Mineral with a honeysuckle note , touch of blanched almond . On the palate quite rich and complex , with high acidity and mineral , honied , brioche notes , still quite fresh though with lots of creamy lemon hints. Long mineral tinged finish . Lovely now and over the next 5-10 years . — 6 months ago
Pours deep rich red. Initial mild dark fruit quickly changes to a quick burst of baking spices and cherries and then changes to a dryness of plums. Some soft tannins on the back. Love the changing layers. — 7 months ago
An outstanding wine that is drinking very well now. Powerful, but smooth and refined. Blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, truffles, and cedar. Long, satisfying finish. — 7 months ago
Luminous coral pink. Strawberry, watermelon, peach, grapefruit on the nose with hints of minerality on the palate. Dry with medium body and acidity. Enjoyable summer rosé. Went perfectly with a strawberry and feta salad. — a year ago
Boysenberry and blueberry, some tannins, very rich. — 3 years ago
Citrusy with a strong aroma of orange zest, fresh coriander and sal del mar, finishing smoothly with a palate cleansing clean high acid taste. Pairs well with salmon, sautéed mushrooms, summer evenings. — 9 years ago
Lee Pitofsky
When the weather gets colder sometimes I drink Bordeaux. Probably one of the best vintages for the Château along with ‘82, and it’s in a great spot. Classic mature Paulliac with terrific complexity, an alluring sweetness and long, balanced finish with fully resolved, silky tannins. Fully open and giving. — 5 months ago