Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium ruby garnet terracotta rim, slightly wider than the Lynch. This is cooler and slightly sterner in character than the Lynch. More mineral , with ash , cedar and grafite in character , cassis , blackberry , dark cherry fruits. On the palate this is denser with more tannin , and balanced acidity . Grafite , cassis , herbal cedar , menthol touch . Long fresh but densely fruited, grafite finish . This is younger and more serious than the Lynch, more austere . Probably deserves a little time in decanter, though this is probably in the middle of its drinking window . Certainly no rush here , can go on well for the next 10 if not more years . This shows a really good mix of St Estephe austerity , seriousness and the ripeness and generosity of 1990. A great bottle , showing very well. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.9

100% Tempranillo, about 12 mos in mostly new French oak. Deep Ruby, aromas of dark fruits, spice, floral and earthy oak. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry & currants with tobacco, licorice and gentle bits of cedar. Tannins, are tight supporting the backbone of the wine, needs more bottle age, resist opening now. Well balance with acidity, full body, long finish ends with some fruit, spice, and earthy character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Perfect btl out of an owc showing the classic LB character with black fruits, cedar, leather, earth, licorice, smoke, graphite & tobacco. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured from my cellar. The cork was absolutely perfect. The 2005 pours a rather turbid, deep garnet at nearly 17 years old. There's quite a bit of fine sediment that clings to the edge of the glass with each swirl. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this was initially a bit grumpy but within minutes, it relaxed and started to show some real charm. A fully developed wine, this is becoming a bit of a Leather Daddy, full of leather (obviously), bruised and desiccated red, black and blue fruits, Christmas spice fruit cake, coffee, damp earth, and candied nuts. On the palate, the fruit remains quite stunning and confirms the mix of bruised and desiccated fruit with a sort of sherried character. Loads of salmiakki (salted licorice), spiced nuts, pepper, coffee and, you guessed it, leather. The wine was dry, technically, but almost gives the sensation of some RS with all of the over-ripe fruits and the texture was almost sappy, in some ways. However, while this was absolutely rich and well-endowed, it was not cloying. Tannins have fully integrated (though still present) and the acid was like a girdle keeping everything held together. This remains a rather large personality even if it's showing its age. Definitely in a lovely spot...but how much longer will that last? If this wasn't my last bottle, I would probably be drinking these over the next five years unless you want the full Leather Daddy experience...which is okay if that's your thing. — 4 years ago

Chris

9.2

Really nice fruit forward Oregon Pinot, with earthy character. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale yellow with pleasing aromas of citrus and sweet peaches. One of the few barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc's which adds a wonderful toasty oak flavor setting this wine apart from the rest. Complex palate of flavors, fresh fruit, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, Asian pears and baked apple with tea and spicy acidity. Slight herb notes with a smooth and creamy well balanced finish ending with a gentle sweet character. A Fav! — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep garnet ruby , quite thin garnet terracotta rim . This is quite classic and more austere on the nose after the 1990s , grafite , cedar, sweet spice , earthiness and mint. More dry and four square on the palate compared to the 1990s but enough stuffing to fill out. Cassis , plum and blackberry , coffee , grafite . Refreshing acidity , slightly grippy drier tannin. Sous bois , grafite , herbal character with good length and earthy cassis finish . This got better with time in the glass and probably should have been decanted . This shows there is some upside , from now , with time in the glass, and over the next 10 years. The wine that improved the most during the dinner , quite impressive . — 7 months ago

Sue Cooper

9.1

Excellent blend! — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 96% Sauv Blanc with 4% Sauv Gris adding an interesting dynamic to the wine & distinctive aromas (prior to ‘18 vintage some Semillon added). Pale lemon color, citrus, tropical & floral aromas. On the palate peach, melon, herb & earthy tones, well balanced with acidity, smooth yet robust on a long finish ending rich with wet stone character. Good value! A Fav!! Very consistent! — 4 years ago

Howard Greenfield

9.4

Sleeping Lady gets better each year — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Just tried another ‘18. Cakebread wine offerings are among my Favs, Chard is no exception, consistent quality year/year. 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, ‘18 saw 8 months on 1/3 new oak with about 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of stone fruits, slight & honey scents. On palate complex flavors of apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, aging well. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A special wine not produced every vintage, BDX presents a different expression of Oakville in a Bordeaux blend of 79% Cab Sauv and 21% Cab Franc (To Kalon fruit), aged in French oak (87% new) for 27 months. Aromas of rich ripe berry fruit with oak spice and cedar notes. On the palate blackberry and cherry flavor with cacao and cedar spice, great balance and structure. Soft tannins with balanced acidity on a lingering finish ending with a tobacco earthy character. Nice! — 6 years ago

AC Fiedler

9.2

Delicious. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc & 35% Semillon, pale lemon-green color with pronounce aromas of tropical and stone fruits with herb notes, 25% new oak. On the palate flavors of melon, apple and grapefruit with peppers and a touch of herbs. Medium+ length, balanced lively acidity, ending with a fruit and mineral character. Very good to drink now, will benefit from bottle aging. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Pale lemon with complex aromas of fresh ripe citrus and tropical fruits with zesty floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, lime citrus and melon with lemongrass and floral herb notes. Long finish ending with juicy fruit, herb and citrus notes, lively acidity with mineral character. Outstanding! Will reward with a few years of age! — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This bottle of 1976 Chateau Lafite Rothschild was cellared in a wine cave part of its life and a modern cellar the more recent part of its life. The fill for this bottle was mid-shoulder and the label had been tattered from back when it was in the cave. Using a Durand, I was able to pull the cork intact and it was saturated but seemed to have done its job. The color was good and the wine was sound; in fact, it was very much alive and full of character! Opened about four hours prior to service and decanted for sediment (of which there was plenty). No formal notes. At this stage in its life, the 1976 Lafite pours a garnet color with an orange rim. The nose is straight up old-money. Classy aromas of desiccated red cherries & red currants, dried tobacco leaf, graphite, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, leather and dried baking spices. On the palate, the structure was still quite palpable with tannins till present and acid doing its job with aplomb. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and graceful with some nice stoney minerals. Drink now but well cellared examples could hold longer if you wanted…but if you’re even thinking about it, just open it! — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 50% Malbec, 22% Merlot, 22% Cab Sauv & 6% Cab Franc, aged in French oak 50/50 new & 1 year old, combining fruit from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — 5 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Decanted for around an hour, the recently released 2013 Grand Vin from Chateau Musar is an enormous wine at present in its youth. Gradually, it opened into a gorgeous, exotic and utterly unique product of this unlikely corner of the wine world. There’s plenty of Bordeaux-like character in the form of dark fruit and cigar box, but there are notes too of cranberry, liquorice, clove, mandarin and five spice. The mouthfeel, as a whole, has a quasi Brunello quality to it, with its bright cherry fruit and mouthwatering acidity. But woe is anyone to compare this wine to any other, for it is incomparable. One of Serge Hochar’s last vintages before his passing in 2014, and one that will doubtless have a long life. — 5 years ago

Molly Farrar

9.7

Wow this is one of those wines that makes you say “wine can taste like that?!” — 6 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

Showing little sign of age, this 2004 CNdP is a beautiful, robust wine with fine tannins, fresh acidity and a sweet glimmer of liquorice and chocolate alongside a notable gamey character. Mellow, rich, harmonious and brilliant all round. The finish is ultimately very savoury and long. This could age decades. Wonderful now, but in 20, 30, even 40 years time this would no doubt sing. The Perrin family use all permitted varietals in their Beaucastel CNdP, but the predominant blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 10% Syrah is masterful here. — 6 years ago