Massive Cellars
Dunn Vineyards
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1986
Grands Vin indeed. Opened with massive tannins and was wound very tight. Nice bright core opened up, with great length and precision after and hour. — 5 years ago
Cantina Luigi Pira
Vigna Marenca Barolo Nebbiolo 2004
Loads of dark fruit, tar, gravel, dried herbs and espresso with massive tannins still! This bottle, despite being 15 years old, seems like it was born yesterday. I wish I had more because this would be a treat to try again in 2034. Decades of life left, obviously. This is what I love about Cru Barolo. — 6 years ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
Drummond's Cuvée California Petite Sirah 2015
Orin Swift Cellars
Machete Petite Sirah Blend
Didn’t live up to massive hype, but was enjoyable. Dark fruit and chocolate, yum! — 8 years ago
Screaming Eagle
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
2009 Screaming Eagle cabernet. The single Cal cab we drank during the K charity wine dinner. Massive wine- we decanted about 2 hours by the time it was served and it was still enormous. A little bit unfair to drink this after the '90 Cheval and '90 Rothschild. This wine was just all around bigger in every way- more fruit, riper fruit, heavy leather and tobacco, huge tannins, plus additional savory notes of olives, and game. Fun to try it in the order we did and definitely noted that we can decant for longer next time. — 9 years ago
Schrader Cellars
GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Massive nose of cherry cobbler and sugar plums, currant, and wood brambles. Palate is polished but still with formidable tannins (decanted over an hour). Cherries, mocha dust, vanilla and light cedar are all present. Finish is soft and goes on and on. Awesomeness. Perfect to brighten a washed out rainy Sunday. — 9 years ago
Masseto
Toscana Merlot 1997
1997 Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia Masseto MLA Merlot. Drank at DR concert. This followed the 1986 Margaux. Definitely much bigger, just massive. Concentrated dark fruit, balanced with a nice earthiness. Despite its (relatively) intense structure, this wine drank beautifully, with a smooth, long finish. — 9 years ago
Château d'Yquem
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1961
Tasted blind. Dark gold color. Notes of burnt oranges, apricot and strong tan spice. Very perfumed... wakes you up with it's power in the nose. Massive fruit and acidity in the mouth. Some petrol and spice notes evolve. Guessed 59 d'Yquem, and while 61 wasn't known for being a great vintage for Sauternes, this bottle tonight was right up there with some of the best old d'Yquems we've had. Great finish to an epic evening! (M's 60th bday 14th of 14) — 5 years ago
Domaine Jamet
Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2008
Blackberry jam, pepper, a bit of celer, tar, meat juice with a gamey note too. It's intoxicating and it calls for a quick dive. The palate starts with a very nice blackberry jam layer which expands on the width but soon comes a massive acid backbone which pushes the structure toward the end of the palate. It's super powerful yet very complex with different layers: some grip on the side, a buttery, creamy touch and mouthfeel, the acid backbone and some tannins which kick-start and expending finish, very fresh, with blackberry and pepper and a slightly bitter note, just underlined by the gently drying tannins. This is magnificent and comes easily in my top 3 wines all time. I love it and it's an understatement. #birthdaytreat — 6 years ago
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2000
The 2000 is delicious but, it is evolving at a glacial pace. Out of magnum.
On the nose, touch of barnyard, glycerin, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, strawberries & cherries. Vanilla, dry clay, limestone, river stones, just a touch of pyrazines & bandaid, dark,,turned, moist earth, dry grass and dry & fresh dark florals.
The body is full, round & sexy. Dry softened, sweet tannins. ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, strawberries & cherries. Vanilla, dry clay, limestone, river stones, just a touch of pyrazines & bandaid, fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood, dry underbrush, dark, turned, moist earth, dry grass and dry & fresh dark florals. The acidity is magnificent. The structure, tension, length and balance are sensational. The finish is drop dead gorgeous. I’d still hold mine another 5 years as long as you have 3-4 bottles for more 5 year increments.
Photos of, their Estate vines, Clyde Beffa-Owner of K&L Wine Merchants, Owner of Chateau Lynch Bages - Jean-Michel Cazes, guests of the dinner and a sunset view from their Estate.
Producer notes and history...Lynch Bages takes its name from the local area where the Chateau is located in Bages. The vineyard of what was to become Lynch Bages was established and then expanded by the Dejean family who sold it in 1728 to Pierre Drouillard.
In 1749, Drouillard bequeathed the estate to his daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Lynch. This is how the estate came to belong to the Lynch family, where it remained for seventy-five years and received the name Lynch Bages. However, it was not always known under that name.
For a while the wines were sold under the name of Jurine Bages. In fact, when the estate was Classified in the 1855 Classification of the Medoc, the wines were selling under the name of Chateau Jurine Bages. That is because the property was owned at the time by a Swiss wine merchant, Sebastien Jurine.
In 1862, the property was sold to the Cayrou brothers who restored the estate’s name to Chateau Lynch family.
Around 1870, Lou Janou Cazes and his wife Angelique were living in Pauillac, close to Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron. It was here that Jean-Charles Cazes, the couple’s second son, was born in 1877.
In the 1930’s, Jean-Charles Cazes, who was already in charge of Les-Ormes-de-Pez in St. Estephe agreed to lease the vines of Lynch Bages. By that time, the Cazes family had history in Bordeaux dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century.
This agreement to take over Lynch Bages was good for both the owner and Jean Charles Cazes. Because, the vineyards had become dilapidated and were in need of expensive replanting, which was too expensive for the owner. However, for Cazes, this represented an opportunity, as he had the time, and the ability to manage Lynch Bages, but he lacked the funds to buy the vineyard.
Jean-Charles Cazes eventually purchased both properties on the eve of the Second World War. Lynch Bages and Les-Ormes-de-Pez have been run by the Cazes family ever since. In 1988, the Cazes family added to their holdings in Bordeaux when they purchased an estate in the Graves region, Chateau Villa Bel Air.
Around 1970, they increased their vineyards with the purchase of Haut-Bages Averous and Saussus. By the late 1990’s their holdings had expanded to nearly 100 hectares! Jean-Michel Cazes who had been employed as an engineer in Paris, joined the wine trade in 1973. In a short time, Jean Michel Cazes modernized everything at Lynch Bages.
He installed a new vat room, insulated the buildings, developing new technologies and equipment, built storage cellars, restored the loading areas and wine storehouses over the next fifteen years. During that time period, Jean Michel Cazes was the unofficial ambassador of not just the Left Bank, but all of Bordeaux. Jean Michel Cazes was one of the first Chateau owners to begin promoting their wine in China back in 1986.
Bages became the first wine sent into space, when a French astronaut carried a bottle of 1975 Lynch Bages with him on the joint American/French space flight!
Beginning in 1987, Jean-Michel Cazes joined the team at the insurance company AXA, who wanted to build an investment portfolio of quality vineyards in the Medoc, Pomerol, Sauternes, Portugal and Hungary.
Jean-Michel Cazes was named the director of the wine division and all the estates including of course, the neighboring, Second Growth, Chateau Pichon Baron.
June 1989 marked the inauguration of the new wine making facilities at Lynch Bages, which was on of their best vintages. 1989 also marked the debut of the Cordeillan- hotel and restaurant where Sofia and I had one of our best dinners ever. A few years after that, the Village de Bages with its shops was born.
The following year, in 1990, the estate began making white wine, Blanc de Lynch Bages. In 2001, the Cazes family company bought vineyards in the Rhone Valley in the Languedoc appellation, as well as in Australia and Portugal. They added to their holdings a few years later when they purchased a vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape.
In 2006, Jean-Charles Cazes took over as the managing director of Chateau Lynch Bages. Jean-Michel Cazes continues to lead the wine and tourism division of the family’s activities. Due to their constant promotion in the Asian market, Chateau Lynch Bages remains one of the strongest brands in the Asian market, especially in China.
In 2017, Chateau Lynch Bages began a massive renovation and modernization, focusing on their wine making, and technical facilities. The project, headed by the noted architects Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei, the sons of the famous architect that designed the glass pyramid for the Louvre in Paris as well as several other important buildings.
The project will be completed in 2019. This includes a new grape, reception center, gravity flow wine cellar and the vat rooms, which will house at least, 80 stainless steel vats in various sizes allowing for parcel by parcel vinification.
The new cellars will feature a glass roof, terraces with 360 degree views and completely modernized reception areas and offices. They are not seeing visitors until it’s completion.
In March, 2017, they purchased Chateau Haut Batailley from Françoise Des Brest Borie giving the Cazes family over 120 hectares of vines in Pauillac!
The 100 hectare vineyard of Lynch Bages is planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vineyard has a terroir of gravel, chalk and sand soils.
The vineyard can be divided into two main sections, with a large portion of the vines being planted close to the Chateau on the Bages plateau. At their peak, the vineyard reaches an elevation of 20 meters. The other section of the vineyard lies further north, with its key terroir placed on the Monferan plateau.
They also own vines in the far southwest of the appellation, next Chateau Pichon Lalande, on the St. Julien border, which can be used in the Grand Vin. The vineyard can be split into four main blocks, which can be further subdivided into 140 separate parcels.
The average age of the vines is about 30 years old. But they have old vines, some of which are close to 90 years old.
The vineyards are planted to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is about 30 years old. But they have old vines, some of which are close to 90 years old.
Lynch Bages also six hectares of vine are reserved for the production of the white Bordeaux wine of Chateau Lynch Bages. Those vines are located to the west of the estate. They are planted to 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 32% Semillon and 15% Muscadelle. On average, those vines are about 20 years of age. Lynch Bages Blanc made its debut in 1990.
To produce the wine of Chateau Lynch Bages, vinification takes place 35 stainless steel vats that vary in size. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of 30% French, oak barrels with the remainder taking place in tank.
The wine of Chateau Lynch Bages is aged in an average of 70% new, French oak barrels for between 12 and 15 months. Due to the appellation laws of Pauillac, the wine is sold as a generic AOC Bordeaux Blanc, because Pauillac does not allow for the plantings of white wine grapes.
For the vinification of their white, Bordeaux wine, Blanc de Lynch-Bages is vinified in a combination of 50% new, French oak barrels, 20% in one year old barrels and the remaining 30% is vinified in vats. The wine is aged on its lees for at least six months. The white wine is sold an AOC Bordeaux wine.
The annual production at Lynch Bages is close to 35,000 cases depending on the vintage.
The also make a 2nd wine, which was previously known as Chateau Chateau Haut Bages Averous. However, the estate changed its name to Echo de Lynch Bages beginning with the 2007 vintage. The estate recently added a third wine, Pauillac de Lynch-Bages.
— 8 years ago
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia
Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1961
Tasted blind. Dark reddish tawny. Mostly translucent. Amazing nose. Powerful. A spectrum of notes including red fruit, cola, pencil lead, black truffles, coffee, blood sausage and some dry dark soil. Animalistic. Massive fruit and structure with a long finish. Someone says "honey ham" as a note in the nose and we all agree (first ever note involving the word "ham"). This was a wine where everyone's score or appreciation greatly improved over the evening. A best ever Unico for me. (M's 60th bday 4th of 14) — 5 years ago
Tenuta Sette Ponti
Oreno Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2013
Rich and powerful. The nose features cassis, blueberry, cedar, and sweet spice, accentuated by incense, tobacco, and hint of dried flower. The lush and dense palate is ripe and concentrated but with good balance. The dusty tannins, though very polished, is still quite massive.
The 13’ is more akin to new world than old, and will benefit for at least additional 5 years of aging. — 5 years ago
Emilio Lustau
Very Rare Oloroso Emperatriz Eugenia Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palomino Fino 1556
What you get for the extra $10 (and 250ml less) from Emperatriz Eugenia is massive compared to the entry Don Nuno (both Oloroso). Depth, complexity, something to think about.
Mahogany caramel colored with aromas of sandalwood and sweet dates. Winey sweet palette of dried figs, golden raisins, and burnt toffee. — 7 years ago
Maybach Family Vineyards
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon
2005.... has settled somewhat, fruit is now not as in your face, still needs time to integrate the massive oak here; however, overall this is a very good drinking experience — 8 years ago
Le Clos du Caillou / Domaine du Caillou
Les Quartz Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2005
This wine's so massive it's bigger than your mom! The acid is good too :) — 9 years ago
Realm Cellars
The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2004
Total beast. Did a quick double decant since it's 12 years old but should have let it open for a couple of hours. Eye watering nose of dirt, nutmeg, cinnamon, bramble, and camphor. Massive palate with plenty of fruit and tannin left. 45 second finish. What an awesome cab blend! — 9 years ago
Bruce Dunbar
There’s a song that includes the line ‘Forget about experience, I’d rather have potential.’ The 2017 Hayne PS brings both — old vine depth with lots of room for aging. Coming out of the bottle an almost milky purple color and with a nose that full of dark fruits and a bit musty, the 2017 is taught, full of massive tannins, and has streaks of vanilla, dark berries and maybe even a bit of lemon. Enjoy it and tuck a few away for 5-30 years to get the full potential. — 4 years ago