Jon Bergqvist

9.2

Cork wet. I had to push it through. Some brickish color but still some depth. Beautiful nose with clear signs of maturation but still very much alive. Not super vibrant or concentrated but very elegant with wonderful notes of fresh sour cherry. Etheral and very easy drinking. — 6 years ago

Shane Walker

9.0

Crisp, clean, clear, dry Champagne — 7 years ago

with Michele

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

Finally on the balcony...

I know I love this wine, so I should exercise patience. On open, it's crystal clean, ruby to pink to clear rim. Nose is evolving from initial raspberry and vanilla to mild petroleum and veggies. What I need patience with is the middle and end. Quite tart and the pucker carries through to the finish. Will update...

So the acidity balanced by about 20%. This makes this a good choice with a rib eye, but I max out at 92 points on this. — 7 years ago

Arecibo Message

9.0

Cheap and serviceable, like my ass. Blends with spicy sauciness well. Not as chocolatey as before, which is a good thing. Good fruit notes. — 8 years ago

with jo

Eric Urbani

9.5

Islay style and in an old fashioned - yum. Warning - extra smoky! — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Giving absolute credence to the reputation that the wines from the Margaux commune show, both displayed an elegance allied with a subtle power and perfect balance, especially 2005.

2000 had a trace pyrazine note that I found unexpected, and quite frankly not that enjoyable. Outside of that the wine was perfect. The second bottle did not throw it as strong, so not exactly in the clear on this night.

The 2005 was in perfect shape, drink now or age it another 20 years easy, this was so enjoyable and balanced with perfect tannin integration and a seamless, dense and pure finish that sailed on forever.

#margaux #bordeaux #wine — 9 years ago

with Eric

Conrad Green

9.4

Very good bottle. Pure, restrained. Clear fruit with that funky, leathery thing but real balance. Excellent. — 9 years ago

with Howard, Tony and 3 others

Eric Egan

9.3

It's young, no doubt about that. Might wait 5 years to open the next one... A lovely pure, greenish hue, fine, crystal clear; toast all the way - still closed but alluring; rounded and balanced, with good acidity. The fruit and sugar are present but well hidden. This will go on and on - a Bruce Forsyth like virility will keep this up for decades... — 10 years ago

B

10

Double Magnum 1995 Joseph Phelps Insignia. Drank w K, Ash, and Sush at Lawry's Phelps dinner. This was the clear winner of the night. Perfect. Super lush and velvety. Awesome treat. — 10 years ago

Brandon Wright

9.7

Clear, fading ruby color. Purple highlights of yourh. Nose is pure bliss! Warm cherries, pits, earth, sappy, tart cranberry. Medium body (surprising weight), low tannins, acid medium. Light, luscious red fruit with some hints of dark cherry. Very pretty! Very feminine! Very good! Drink or hold. — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Brownish tawny. Regal, clear and almost opaque. Sweet old Bordeaux nose. Notes of cola, cranberry, plums, dried fig, earth, spice and some wood. A bit thin in the mouth at the start but with air it firms up. Decent finish. Grows nicely in volume and impact. The fragrant nose is what you remember. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

A very special treat as the first wine of a Cheval Blanc vertical cultivated by @Martin G Rivard @David L @Shawn R for their visit to SD this week and an incredibly generous hosting gift from them to me. This was astonishingly intact and not falling off much at all. The finish was initially astringent with a slight bleachy quality that blew off quickly. Still an ample amount of red fruit with a clear taste profile of blood, iron and mushroom. Fun as F*%* — 7 years ago

Victor Hwang

9.7

Wet towel, funk, spices and fruit emerging. A bit cloudy but as it opens, the body and length are amazing.
As it opens its clear this is a baby. It needs at least a 2-3 hour decant to bring out its full expression. This is elegant, but has plenty of power. Can age easily another 10 years. — 8 years ago

Rick Jordan

9.0

Super bright, clear wine, lighter bodied. Wonderful melon, lemongrass, passion fruit and white pepper nose. Green melon, passion fruit, peach, ginger and some herb notes I'm struggling to identify beyond the lemon grass, maybe tomato leaf? Passion fruit comes through nicely on the finish. Really pleased with this one! — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Very bright and fresh. Sappy. A clear and lifted palate with citrus, chalk, a strong mineral line through it. A lovely mouthfeel. Still young. — 9 years ago

with Howard, Tony and 3 others

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.2

Medium red with moderate bricking. Perfumed nose of red fruit, flowers and herbs. A touch rustic. Medium body, bright and clear, with a long finish. Very precise and gains complexity with air. This drinks well at the moment. — 9 years ago

with Frankie

Richard Adams

9.5

Ruby orange hue, clear rim, great nose of moist soil, truffles, burnt embers. Still good fruit, roasted meat, blackberry. — 10 years ago

with Beau, David and 1 other

Justin Hansohn

9.8

First timer here on the Allemand vibes, nth timer on the Cornas vibes. For only expecting some level of finesse I am absolutely blown away at the brilliance on display here. The aroma is so insanely intense and balanced immediately...mainly deep polished open authentic leather all the way through the bouquet is so loud and femininely rounded in its masculinity. In the mouth this reminded me more of Aloxe Corton than anything. Mega deep cherry, resinous sap, and smooth as fuck. 👌🏼💪🏼 no way I would ever call this Cornas if I hadn't the bottle in front of me. Nothing artificial about it either. — 10 years ago

Katie Winter

9.0

Very nice. Clear deep ruby with garnet edges, smells of dark berries, dark cherries, concrete (?). Good acidity, good tannins, bright plummy flavor with a hint of petrol and a little bit grassy (?) - something rustic and outdoorsy but lots of precise fruit. Great with my fresh ricotta and flatbread. I like! — 11 years ago

Keith Crump

9.3

Remarkably clear and precise not over oaked a great wine — 7 years ago

Madeleine Ray

9.8

This was arguably the best Chardonnay I’ve ever had. Absolutely stunning. Chamomile and lemon zest and salty oyster shells. Bracing acidity, gorgeously balanced. Bright minerality, like sunshine and clear blue coastline. With scallops and lemon caper angel hair. 😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥 — 7 years ago

with Gavin

Shane Walker

9.2

Clear, ruby colour. Clean nose with aromas of blackberry and chocolate. Medium to full bodied with balanced acid and lovely smooth tannins. Long finish with hints of truffles and licorice. — 7 years ago

with Michele

Jen

9.6

Clear perfect flavor. Really good! At l'etoile. — 8 years ago

Yarrow Beydoun

9.2

Iron strong, cran, dust, Pom and raspberry. Slight tight but still beautiful — 8 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

A little volatile whiff of high toned acetone. A very poised and clear character. Great purity and acidity. Minerality rolling on. Lovely age. Great shape — 9 years ago

with Howard, Tony and 3 others

Michael Greene

9.1

Past peak but still some nice cassis fruit and acid in there to go along with smokey forest floor notes. Clear quality as elegance. — 9 years ago

David Jacobs

10

Extraordinary. Iron fist in a velvet glove. Very light, almost rose in weight but the glycerin and power, the most brilliant tannins and a acids/fruit finish that you find on very few wines. Port without the sugar. Licorice. Unreal. It's 21 years old for crying out loud! — 9 years ago

Ove Gustafsson

9.3

Oranges, fresh vanilla and sweet wheat rolls on the nose. Grapefruit, lemon, oranges, freshly baked wheat bread and liquorice root on the palate. Rich, complex and clear taste. — 10 years ago

Brian W. Anderson

9.5

Clear expression of soil and salt in this one. Paired with everything on our menu (earlier) brilliantly with both weight and acidity. — 10 years ago

Dmitry Koutcherouk

9.2

Beringer Clear Lake Zinfandel 2012. Light rubin red colour, tobacco, blackcurrant leaf, black spice, liquorice, red grape and asparagus. Balanced, high alcohol, high acidity, smooth and pronounced velvety tannins, medium high body. — 10 years ago