Mike Saviage

9.7

Wanted to put up a future all-time great against two all-time great HBs... the 45 and the 61. Opened and decanted this 9 hours before serving. Light tawny color, translucent and darker than the other HBs. Intense nose with notes of black cherry, black raspberry, hickory, gravel, moist soil, some mocha and some menthol. Huge and powerful in the mouth. Still tannic and young at age 31. Almost port-like. This is easily a 75 year wine, like the 45 sitting next to it - a wine that it can probably surpass as it gains more age, weight, advanced notes and complexity. (Bday 11 of 13) — 5 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Wine Nerd Herd a week ago in Iowa with gracious host @Eric LaMasters on Thursday night for paired tasting - the herd delivered some amazing wines — 6 years ago

with David, Aaron and 3 others

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; consumed over four hours. This was a beautiful wine from the start. Loads of currants and sweet tobacco with some baking spices and graphite in the mix. On the palate there were layers of dark fruits with just the slightest a touch of leather and kalamata olive peeking through. However, this gives an overall impression of being fresh and full of vigor. Tannins are firm yet silky in their delivery. I thought there was adequate acid to give it some lift too. The finish lasts for well over a minute and there is a savory element that is simply beguiling. This is a lovely wine that's drinking so well right now but has the balance and pedigree to suggest it will gracefully see the latter part of the next decade. This bottle was already throwing a good amount of very fine sediment but it's nothing that interferes with the experience. — 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

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. — 9 years ago

with Cynthia and Chris

Ryan Carey

Founder Wine Confidential

9.5

Drinking by myself tonight. This should do the trick. Yes, individual notes to follow, but wanted a pic of these two beauties next to each other first — 9 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

My friend graciously shared his 1979 Robert Mondavi Winery ‘Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon(WWB, 92), a wine I had not visited since I was at the winery several years back. The nose is highly Bordelaise with layers of red currents and red bell pepper with shades of dusty terroir that all mingle in the glass. The wine still has a good degree of freshness and a core of dark fruits with red bell pepper, damp earth and sandalwood tones. This now forty one year old wine has aged very gracefully. While not in its prime, it will provide drinking enjoyment over the next five to ten years — yet another resounding success from this Oakville estate. Drink 2020-2025- 92 — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

Taken from what was generally a tough vintage in the Northern Rhone, the 1997 ‘La Chapelle’ Hermitage is a striking rendition at more than twenty years of age. Bulls blood, iodine, red cherry puree and crushed mint flavors provide some serious refinement. Silky throughout, this will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years — but is marvelous right now. Drink 2019-2025- 93 — 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

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Final red wine of the night. Moving more towards bold fruity forward wine to cap the night. Dessert wine next. — 9 years ago

Nathaniel Jones

9.1

A classic Aussie Cab Sauv with no fruits bombs! — 9 years ago

Jeff Shapiro

9.2

The trademark burnt oak takes this cab to the next level. Sitting on a bottle of the 08 and can't wait to compare. Coffee, blueberry, leather. Everything in every sip. — 10 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

50-100 years old 3500kg per liter very small under2tons per acre 100% new barrels better for barrel fermentation deep dark earth soy espresso dark berry and plum fruit meaty dark and wild animal very aromatic black licorice 2010 the best vintage ever2008amaxing next to 2005and of course 2004 very rich and well endowed on the palate very round and silky tannins a big but well balanced wine lots of dark spices and fresh on the finish dark spices and some wild animal like but has lots of fruit earth and dark earth with layers of everything here and in balance. Finish 50+ most excellent — 12 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

Martin G Rivard

10

Quick funny story:
Christine & I are LUCKY to have Kelly work in our office but we are BLESSED to be able to consider her and Darryl as dear friends.
We recommended to Kelly, prior to her going on vacation in Charleston SC, that they should stop by the Belmont hotel. They have a bar and restaurant that is 2nd to none in that area. Christine & I LOVE it!!!! Kelly sent me a quick text to say “hey, we’re at the Belmont! And about to have dinner!”
Being the goof ball that I am..... .....I called the Somm and said “I don’t care what they ordered, bring them a Shafer Hillside Select with some age on it!!!”. 10 minutes later he was decanting a 2003 Hillside Select table side! I love that hotel! Incredible service, incredible food and always a phenomenal experience! The only thing better are-our friends that are there right now!!!!

I didn’t Have a drop of this wine but I am scoring it a 10 based on experience alone!! It must have been “Badass in a Glass” as I always say!
I’ll let Kelly and Darryl fill in the official tasting notes!
by the way Kelly: don’t love SC tooooooo much, Christine & I can’t operate that place without you! See you next week! 👍👏👏👏👏👍
— 7 years ago

with Christine

Bruce Leboff

9.4

An excellent example of French Syrah Well integrated. A slight chocolate nose. Slightly dry on the palette but well balanced and enjoyable. Finish is medium to long. Well executed. Lots of life left. Fun to drink over the next 10 years and see it evolve. — 8 years ago

with Michael and David

Mike Saviage

9.7

From the wine list at EMP bought by a new friend at the table next to us to go mano a mano against the 88 La Turque I shared. Slightly darker red and more pure in color. Amazing aroma that is more linear than the animalistic La La but in the same league. Hit its stride right out of the pop and pour gate. Lovely perfume with a more briary nose but speaks Cote Rotie from the get go. Perfectly integrated fruit and structure. Best Jamet I've had. Thanks to Danny for this treat. — 9 years ago

Frank Zbignewich

9.0

Young Caymus wine so some of the comments are interesting. Great dark berry flavors and much room to develop. Not the toasty oak of the 2012 but still needs some time to evaluate over the next 4 years. Still a fun wine to drink. — 9 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. — 12 years ago