Jay Kline

9.4

Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #1 had great color, was developing, and probably the earthiest of the group but still had a lovely fruit profile. A really nice balance of fruit and non-fruits. Robust structure. Notably, this was the only bottle in the flight that had Brettanomyces…and while I found it to quite charming, this is what ultimately got me hung up on whether I thought this was the Dominus or the Monte Bello. Ultimately I called the later. I really dig this and wish I could afford more Dominus in my life. Drink now and through 2035. — 4 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2008 Cheval Blanc is one of the go-to wines of the vintage. Now at 15 years old, it has retained the energy and focus it displayed from the outset: black fruit, crushed stone, wilted violet petals and touches of forest floor cohere wonderfully in the glass. The Cabernet here is more expressive. The palate has a slight chewiness on the entry, but it "relaxes" in the glass. It shows off its delicate lattice of tannins and perhaps a bit more backbone than I have observed on previous bottles. It's very intense on the finish where, as before, the Cabernet Franc takes charge. Superb. Keep it another three to four years if you can. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

I’ve often struggled to appreciate Beaucastel, particularly when young. However, the more often I drink older Beaucastel, I find myself slowly starting to understand why these wines are so important.

Opened about two hours prior. The 2001 Beaucastel pours a pale, slightly hazy garnet with a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Strawberry preserves, leather, bacon fat, and some chicory. On the palate, medium tannin, medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Is this the most powerful expression of Chateauneuf du Pape? No. But it’s balanced, complex and it makes me think and I like that.

As a sort of epilogue, I was able to enjoy this bottle with someone who drinks old Beaucastel more regularly than I do. He described this bottle as being one that is in-between plentitudes; which makes sense as some of the tertiary characteristics are beginning to show themselves. Subsequently, you can drink now but this will likely enter a new dimension in the next few years. — 5 months ago

Paul K

9.4

Thanksgiving tradition with 2013 Heitz continues. Now doing every other year instead of every year to stretch it out. Love what time is doing for the complexity of the wine. Happy Turkeyday to you and yours! — 6 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

This was one of my favorites of the night. One of the best young Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted. Ripe and modern nose (fruit forward) with smoked meat and baked blackberry pie. The palate revealed cocoa/dark chocolate, baking spices and a hint of blue fruit wrapped by black fruit. Big. Will obviously get better, but was shocked how good this was now. I called this ‘12-14 Left Bank. — 5 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Richard Adams

9.7

Outstanding purity and balance. Prime window now. — 8 years ago

Dade Thieriot

10

OMG--this old
#Latour is so massive that you could eat it with a fork!
One of the greatest vintages of the 20th century, and, even now, this wine has years of life ahead of it!
And to think that I used to work in a wine shop that had cases piled up ten high priced at $50 per bottle! #1959 — 9 years ago

with Petra and Wietske

Scott Kahn

9.2

This wine is definitely ready for consumption now - full, complex, and rich classic Palmer worthy of sharing with a friend. — 9 years ago

Peter Roldan

9.3

Drinking well now — 11 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Beautiful ruby in color, with a very wide reddish rim. Bricking at the very top.

Light nose with red and black fruits, light cedar and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, cherries, earth, black coffee, oak, herbs, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 26 year old from the great 1998 vintage in Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Soft and smooth, elegant and earthy.

Not so good right out of the bottle, and needed 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 94 points.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Showing nice complexity and good balance.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$120 (current vintage). — 4 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

For me the question for this cuvée is never, “ is it good?”. The question is , “how good is it?” Not as powerful as other vintages but it makes up for it with balance and complexity. I am sure this will age but it is in a very good drinking window right now. — 5 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.8

I can now understand the wine critics who proclaim this among the best ever for Lynch-Bages. Ample dark fruit which opens after a short decant and provides a very long satisfying finish. Approaching 35 years and just hitting stride. — 6 months ago

with Logan

Skip Smyser

9.7

Visiting an old friend. Now I'm down to 2 bottles in my cellar . I bought a case 25 years ago and every once in awhile I enjoy this ageless wine. It still has a soft mid pallet lingering red berry and tannic flavor. The richness of this Cabernet has done nothing but improve over the years. I dare say it will not further improve but hopefully it will linger at this quality level.the mouth feel is an experience in and of its self. What a wonderful treat🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 months ago

Ron R

9.3

Visually, bricking has begun. The nose presented a hint of musty cardboard, at that point, my sphincter started twitching - had I left this too long?
Palate displays spice notes initially, followed by anise, cinnamon and cloves. Mature cherries are also in the foreground with moderate tannins. Finishes with leather, olives notes and moderate sweetness. This is perched on a plateau, and should be consumed now.
The story behind the label is a broken bottle of a 2003 Leoville Las Cases, which pissed it’s pants (so to speak) in my eurocave, back in the day... — 3 years ago

Melody cohen

9.4

Classic and delicious. Getting a bit late to drink imho, so PERFECT now. — 7 years ago

Brian Raney

9.6

In it's sweet spot right now, with definite 5-8 years more aging potential — 8 years ago

Kyo Jin

9.3

Conterno showed better tonight. As expected, too much oak presence right now, but showing sweet and pleasant fruit. — 9 years ago

Alexis A

9.6

1986. Wow. Perfect. At the right place right now. Excellent. — 9 years ago

Nick Wolfe

9.7

This wine is drinking beautifully now. Spice, cherries, and black licorice on the nose. Lovely integration on the palate with balanced acidity, very fine tannins, and a silky texture. Red cherries and dry stone minerality round this out. Nicely long finish too. — 10 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium garnet ruby , with garnet rim . Quite ripe dark fruits , with cassis , tobacco , spicy dark chocolate and cedar notes . On the palate quite strict and delicate , cassis , sous bois , grafite and tobacco . Nice acidity and slightly gritty tannin . Nicely balanced and good to enjoy now and over the next 6-8 years — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Structured and balanced. Very in place and lightly sophisticated. The fruit is all in check as is the alcohol. Still a long life ahead, but very god right now. You need to lean in a bit to feel it — 5 months ago

with Peter and Gregg

LM Segal

9.7

The most evolved and ready Dunn I’ve tasted, generous nose of red cherry and light cedar, Bordeaux-like palate, perfectly resolved after 30 mins and just pure silk. Asian spice, dark cherry, light cocoa. Several thought even better that the ‘05 Haut-Brion! I’d drink these now. — 5 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.6

Berries and herbs with perfect acidity...in a really good spot right now. This is a wine that most definately profits from a long decant! Went well with lamb — 6 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.5

An incredibly strenuous week comes to an end and this top shelve Napa is just what I needed right now. This is beautifully balanced with a bit of menthol on the nose, tart yet smooth red fruit with just the right level of acidity to make this refreshing. It is a monster of a medium bodied Napa Cab with decades left - great to drink right now though :). This is the 2014, not sure why Dectable keeps thinking this is 2011 — 9 months ago

Mike Beltran

9.0

1985 vintage and in good condition. Cork was solid but brittle. Fine color defined Cabernet aromatics with more years of enjoyment. Double decanted because of the cork issue. Very good now and has another 8+ years left. Excellent Napa Cabernet.😀🍷 — 5 years ago

Brian Stotter

9.6

PnP at a friend's house. Wonderful nose of blackberry, black currant, dried blueberries, cedar, eucalyptus, and tobacco that keeps intensifying with time in the glass. Full body with fully-integrated tannins and a long complex finish that fluctuates between black fruits, organic earth, and eucalyptus. Everything about this wine is in perfect harmony right now but it still has plenty of life left. — 6 years ago

Cody Short

9.3

From magnum and more youthful than expected. Still great fruit and just starting to develop the more earthy, leathery notes. Tasty now but could get even better — 8 years ago

with Suzanne and Holli

Alex Alan

Wine Director Hotel Delmano

9.5

2004. Drink now if you're impatient. It's delicious. But drink in 10 years if you're a better man than I. — 9 years ago

Steven Hammer

9.6

Nose of menthol, jam, black tea, old cedar. Complex. Balanced mouthfeel with notable acid and decent heft. Finish layers through cigar to licorice and fresh pepper. Just right now. — 9 years ago

with Lauren

V M

9.3

Beautiful palate of rich deep complex berry fruit with silky smooth feel. Long and complex and velvety. Finishes with streaks of cocoa. No need to cellar this. Drink now — 11 years ago