Joe Lucca

9.2

Very elegant and well integrated. Quite honestly, this got over-shadowed by the ridiculous group of wines we enjoyed this evening. Smooth and elegant with ripe tannins, the fruit was a bit muted. Nice structure, but missing that extra level I typically find in this producer. — 8 years ago

with Frank, Kevin and 1 other

Kevin Cahoon

9.1

Fun, juicy and spicy Chateauneuf with nice garrigue inflected red raspberry and blackberry fruit. Resolved tannins with sweet berry fruit herbs de prvence and a touch of mushroom. Missing just a bit of depth and length but great to have a mature Chateauneuf. — 9 years ago

Cody Short

9.2

Really good wine but expected more. Missing mid palate after opening and just muted in general. Only after 3 hrs did it start to show its potential. This isn't going to age forever but give it a few more years and cross your fingers. Very nice wine but I expect more from Haut Brion — 9 years ago

with Suzanne and Holli

Neil Barham

9.5

Classic example of 'WHY' Chablis has been quintessential Chardonnay for centuries . . . Citrus-Rock-Acidity. Only missing the needed plate of Wianno Oysters — 10 years ago

Alexander Sanchez

9.2

Red fruits, raspberries, earthy. More alcohol, no acidity. — 10 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.1

I miss the rusticity of the past, but there's no denying that this is cleverly made. Sweet, grainy and accessible tannins, pure cherry fruit, hints of blackberries and freshly cut oregano; this is nicely updated. I like it a lot, but there's just something missing... — 11 years ago

Jeff Vejr

9.0

Missing some brightness, but this beauty is still chugging along. Granny Smith apples dipped in Butterscotch pudding. Probably should have waited a day to drink after opening. — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I can’t pour enough praise on Dan and his talents. I don’t give many wines near perfect scores, but this merits one. The nose is a beautifully balanced mix of floral fruits, earth and spice. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, lilacs, violets and lavender. The balance is incredible...one of the most balanced wines I’ve had. The structure, tension and length are so close to perfect. It’s in the OMG realm. The tannins are nicely resolved but still have teeth. It’s gorgeously lush and rich. Blackberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, black plum, black raspberries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries, hues of blue fruits haunt the palate, dark moist soils, loamy dry soil/clay, raspberry cola, black licorice, touch herbaceous, smoked meats, medium dark spice, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, black & white pepper, dry crushed rocks, stones, lilacs, violets and lavender. The finish is heaven all the way around. To borrow Bordeaux terminology, this is First Growth Shiraz. If you don’t seek out Dan’s wines on the secondary market, you are missing something special. Not at all meant to be enjoyed young. This wine is in a very good spot and has another 10 years of life going forward. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Saturday night...time for steak and claret as my buddy Gary Westby says. In this scenario, I envisioned the wine being equal or even better than my steak. Not to toot my horn but most everyone that's had my steak simply says meaningfully that it is the best they've had. Myself, I've only had one better the Ribcap at Bourbon Steak in SF; which sadly closed as the hotel took back the space they were in. Hopefully, soon to reopen again elsewhere in SF. However, back to the Pichon Baron. I can't say I loved it. I wanted to love it as it is one of my favorite properties in Pauillac. The wine isn't bad but it just never shined. Maybe, it's just not a good moment in it's evolution to open. It's soft, elegant but missing the beauty, flavors and complexity I've come to expect. The fruits are dry blackberry, dark cherries, black raspberries, a touch of juicy strawberries and black plum skin. Dark dry powdery minerals, saddlewood, lead pencil savings, underbrush, dry dark earth, dry pebbles. There is not much on the mid palate, it finishes a little flat and the fruits never really shined. Surprising for such a warm vintage. Hoping it improves over the years as I've got 5 more. Unusual that the wine really needed the steak more than the steak needed the wine. — 10 years ago

Chris MacLean

8.9

Not fully recovered from its term in 70% new barrique. Very perfumed, beefy, saturated. Missing the elegance of the Produttori Montestefano. Pretty good wine nonetheless. — 11 years ago

with Sarah

Cynthia Langstaff

9.0

Two bottles:1)more amber colored; honey nose; flavor followed suit with profound notes of Greek honey and prominent minerality as well, perhaps somewhat madeirized. Some w me did not mind, I did not like. Moderate to long madeira linger, acid is minimal. Second bottle profoundly different: light straw color; light fruitier bouquet; fresh flavor, good acid rounded by light apricot , melon, spice, &honey. This fruit completely missing in first bottle. Good moderate linger with soft acid. MUCH BETTER. Sommelier here at Ousteau de Beaunanière says roussane grape is often responsible for the early deterioration seen in bottle #1. Rating is for bottle #2. — 11 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.3

2007 vintage. Missing the angular crispness of the '02 and '05, but otherwise great. — 11 years ago

Ed Tostanoski

9.5

Super concentrated, black fruits, delicious. Missing that classic eucalyptus note, though — 9 years ago

Raun Kupiec

8.9

Good, but maybe not up to the hype. Probably just too young and the bottle open too long at the bar. Nice complexity in the flavors but finish a bit meh. Some cocoa, mint, olive. Deep colors and smooth but overall feeling was thin and missing a middle. Definitely enough tannins and acidity to wonder what it will be like in a few years, but this is a crap business lounge and I don't want my flight delayed that long... — 9 years ago

Dan Thomas

9.0

Fruit forward easy to like. Missing some structure but for the price it works well — 9 years ago

Chris Mitchell

9.0

A pretty, elegant wine aging gracefully but missing the extra level of the best Bordeaux. — 10 years ago

jams jerfy

9.4

watermelon jolly rancher, cherry jolly rancher, cedar shingle and mushroom. if that sounds bad to you then you're missing the point. — 10 years ago

with Vadino, Scott and 1 other

Alberto Pineda Magro

9.1

Este siii. La calidad se paga!! 🤑🤑 — 11 years ago

with Juan, María Jesús and 1 other

Bryan Garcia

Sales Grand Cru Selections

9.1

Approaching middle age but is still really fresh and alive. Missing a bit of dimension but probably true to the potential of its vintage. — 11 years ago

Nic Z

9.0

Dense powerful wine. However something was missing — 12 years ago