Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Still ruby centre just, with terracotta rim. Quite ripe red fruits , spiced red cherry. On the palate quite mineral , and touches of liquorice , lovely red cherry and strawberry fruit . Sweet tannin and good balanced acidity . After a while a mineral , iron filing touch. Quite open and ready for business , good to drink now and over the next 10 years . — 2 years ago

Scott Petrus

9.3

This baby was given 3 hours in crystal. In classic ridge style the big Cali bomber came off with unexpected elegance. Red berry and supple tannins this wine would be great to watch evolve over the next 10 years. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Mid to dense Ruby. Herbaceous aromas with graphite and black currant. A sweet fluid palate showing black currant of medium plus intensity and partly resolved Tannins. Oak has been absorbed. In a great spot at the moment - excellent balance. Drink remaining 4 bottles in next few years but it is essentially at its peak. A really good wine but from an Aussie point of view tasting more South East than West Australia. Had another bottle 25 weeks later on the 6th October 2020 with consistent notes. The main feature was that it was less herbaceous than it usually is for Margaret River. Showing more ripe berry fruit and cassis in this warmer year. More McLaren Vale in style. Still very good. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Tasted next to the 2014 Charvin. This was obviously dark fruited in comparison...and perhaps a bit more ripe? Not quite as tannic. The future isn’t quite as clear on this one but it’s certainly a fine glass at this moment in them. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 7 years ago

Raymond C Wiley

9.3

This was a house warming gift from a old friend. Love the nose and legs on this wine. Absolutely great for watching the sun go down next to a fire with your favorite someone! — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.3

2004 vintage from Clape. Deep ruby hue. Violet and floral, very plummy - dark fruits. Hints of sweet spice, nutmeg and cardoman, smokey notes. On the palate, medium plus body, high acidity - integrated and refreshing. Medium plus, plush and ripe tannins. Long finish. The plums to the fore. Still quite primary and youthful. Should develop nicely over the next 15 years. Open in 2025. — 10 years ago

Dylan Casey

9.8

Next level — 10 years ago

John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company

9.7

Mag- glad I still have a 750 & a 1.5, perfect gift for someone I know who turns 40 next year! — 11 years ago

Jay Miele

10

A nose of dried prunes, 30 second finish with minimal tannins. Nice bouquet. Drink within the next few years. — 12 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color with a short purple rim.

Pretty nose of blueberries, cooked black cherries, blackberries, figs, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs, coffee, tobacco, licorice and black pepper.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, currants, black cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, cola, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a Bordeaux touch. Fruity and rich, yet elegant.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, but it definitely needs longer than that.

What a great mouthfeel. I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.

Still young and would be better in 5 to 10 years. Could be a 97+ point wine in 10 years. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Thank you John for sharing this with me.

A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$500. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, blended then aged for 24 months in 50% new and 50% once-used American oak. Deep Ruby color with aromas of black fruit, licorice and minty floral notes. The palate beautifully displays rich ripe blackberry and black cherry, a hint of sweetness, vivid acidity and the right touch of toasty vanilla oak, still youthful in development. The wine has nicely integrated tannins, still holds some grip on a long finish which should give way to let this wine age for the next decade+. Excellent, Tasting Sample! — 5 years ago

LM Segal

9.6

Off the scales elegant, refined and beautifully lifted. Roses and dark cherry with stems on the nose led a seamless and perfectly integrated Orni verging on Burgundy. Restrained power and overt femininity. So lovely from magnum. Drink over next 5 years. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.3

The latest newly released 904 vintage 🎉

What do you folks think of the new more modern label? Personally I find it too modern for an old world wine 😁 but the great news is the contents are still superb 🎉

We killed 3 bottles of this at the weekend & alas I didn’t take notes, so will do so next time, but it had the typical old world LRA 904 nose with a fab well balanced yummy body that should match the 04/05 in quality given a few years 👍

LRA does it again 👏
Incredible quality @£38 ✅
93 going 94-96 — 7 years ago

Richard Rosensweig

9.3

Sassicaia's little brother delivers delicate violet, black currant, and a dusting of chocolate. Jammy, but also balanced like a classic Bordeaux with lighter tannins. Enjoyable young it will undoubtedly get deeper in the next 4-5 years. — 8 years ago

David Langstaff

9.4

This wine needed about 3 hours to release. Initially tight with uncomfortable medicinal nose which then totally dissipated. Drinking now next day and you get the age of fully integrated but not fading tannins. Nose has a delightful dark fruit and smokiness. Great fit of nose and taste, meaning - when tastes after smelling the experience is consistent and not jolting. I think the color purple in a subdued way. Very nice. Memo to self: decant and watch for sediment, and enjoy three hours later. — 8 years ago

with Cynthia and Chris

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.6

1985. Tasting this was like sitting next to a WWII vet on a train...some respect for an old school gentleman...they don't make wines like this any more: herbal, pencil shavings, cigar, tea, lots of acid, grainy tannins, light body, refreshing...let's bring cab like this back! — 10 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.5

Very Pauillac like served blind and tasted next to the 86 Mouton. I guessed 86 Dominus as I have had this wine more than a dozen times over the last few years. — 10 years ago

Rob Mondavi

Owner/President of Winemaking Folio Fine Wine Partners

9.9

Drank with my buddies Geoff and Danny. It's amazing. Here is the thing when drinking next to a 70 R Mondavi CS you really see the Bordeaux wooly aromatic thing. Napa is so clean and offering of florals and fruits, yet the Bordeaux had the forest floor and wooly thing. Both awesome but night and day. — 11 years ago

Keith Browning

9.5

So floral on opening and just exploded with subtle flavors over the next hour. — 3 years ago

Martin Mazner

9.0

Lovely smooth cab. Mellow, full bodied wine just made for a perfect medium rare filet. I’d bet it has a bit of merlot blended in. Would love to taste it with 5 years of aging but probably give in and drink it with my next hunk of red meat. Very enjoyable! — 3 years ago

with Jeremy

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Having had the coveted 2005 vintage just a few months ago, ‘04 is far more open and rewarding today. So seductive and captivating. Smoked meats, black fruits, balsamic glaze and hints of roasted sage leaves and tobacco. The tannins are integrated beautifully and the finish shows wonderful finesse, elegance and length. Gorgeous now but will continue to improve over the next 8-10 years. — 5 years ago

Paul Mason

9.2

Really good given its age. Amazing with roasted Chicken. Drink in the next year. — 6 years ago

Abby Hood

9.5

Nice wine for the price. Bought at Trader Joe’s. — 7 years ago

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

9.3

Definitely one of the best Napa Cabs of the vintage. Dark cassis and blackberry combine with sweet herbs and a hint of oak spice. Long, savory finish ensures this will only get better over the next 15+ years. — 8 years ago

Eric Linderman

9.5

No 4 in magnum — 8 years ago

with Jill and Stephen

Geoff Troup

Sales Eder Brothers, Cellar Fine Wines

9.4

Such beauty and elegance. I'm sure some of it is the age, but an AOC known for power emitting such elegance...Wow. Anyhow, jammy raspberries and a whole garden of vegetables on the nose. Palate is quite refined with white pepper, rock and all the trademark CDP flavors. Im never a huge fan of that fruit in the front, but the mid and back arr gorgeous. What's truly remarkable is the balance...The ability to isolate any single flavor to ruminate on, how each nuance to perfectly morphs into the next. Still some pronounced tannin in this guy! — 8 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

First taste reminded me of Firenze in that the leather belts and purses were on the nose. Lots of floral arrangements now, solid round, very nice as always. Shout out to my 1 follower @Bill Bender ... it's my birthday and my goal is to be drinking at your level next year!

94 points — 9 years ago

Rick Stiles

9.2

A very good Lytton Springs, one of the best I've had in quite a while. Should be interesting to see this one develop over the next few years. — 10 years ago

Faith Wells

Media Epoch Estate Wines

9.4

Young and beautiful. Next time, a light decant would be nice. — 11 years ago