Aaron Rankin

9.0

Was sad to find this old dog is tired. It’s lost all its texture and nice savory elements. What remains is smooth stewed fruit. Drink up. — 6 years ago

Danny Martinez

9.1

Staycation 2018 @CAA ; Josie is upstairs FREAKING OUT and we enjoyed ridiculously good mussels in a lobster curry broth, caesar salad, pork + halibut. Solid night for romance, per Danny. As for the wine, not as dry as AUS SBs, though light fruit with a quick finish. Easy to drink and would have again. Now to finish so we can eat affogato and return to Josie before she dies of a heart attack (that old dog does *not* like change) — 7 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

Move over Lopez, this has attained top dog of old school rioja. More leathery & plump. — 8 years ago

with Paul and Owen

Jason Clayton

9.5

Mmm - a little creamy, with nice nutty maltiness. — 8 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.0

Always one of my favs... nice darker orange/red in glass. Plum, melon and rhubarb notes with some serious structure and weight. Prob capable of a year or two... but I imagine it will be hard to resist during the "dog days". — 9 years ago

Rob McCaughey

9.2

Wow. Truly outstanding. 05 vintage and still plenty of life in the old dog. — 9 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.4

Holy moly so much complexity in this old dog! — 9 years ago

Lindsey King

9.3

In a newsletter I wrote: ‘Margalagua’ roughly translates to ‘Mother of Water’ and I think it is obvious that the Mother of Water is wine. This is a wine for all weather, the weather forever thirsty, you always in need. The grapes are a busy blend of Listan Negro, Listan Prieto, Baboso, Negramoll and Malvasia Negra. The vines are at least 100 years old and untrained like an old dog that can’t learn new tricks but aren’t his old tricks still so good? He can’t differentiate a formal paw shake and a casual high five but he knows raising a paw to yours results in a mouthful of flavour and you too can expect a mouthful of flavour from the Margalagua. Fermented in old 500 liter barrels with the whole grape clusters included, and then raised in neutral 500 liter French oak barrels for 11 months. A tantalizing mixture of pepper and stones, pungent aromatics, with wonderful deep umami notes, high-toned citrus, spice and flowers. Float in this current, dream in the stream. — 7 years ago

Ted

9.8

Even at almost 17 years old this is still very much on the young side. Very dark in color with still tons of tannins. Black licorice, chocolate and cigar. Fantastic bottle only got better. I enjoyed this fine bottle with a 32 ounce dry aged Tomahawk Ribeye steak then shared the bone with my dog. She looked at me like a Greek God as I handed over the remains. Woohoo it’s the weekend!! — 8 years ago

with Jeni

Liz O'Neal

9.0

Not overly acidic, not too tart. It’s just perfectly balanced. Citrus blossom - like an orange tree when it’s not blooming. A good neutral white wine - middle ground for sauv b and chard drinkers to share

Lovely with the foie gras & cherry parfait 😍 and lobster on brown butter toast

“As a 33 year old man, this is what I’d put in a water bottle to take the dog for a walk in the evening” - Jeff — 8 years ago

Rob Young

9.1

Still life in the old dog yet. In a great place, blackcurrant, menthol, leafy. Best of all, fresh, lively and leggy. Love it! — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

Ol' reliable. Perfumed, ripe but not too jammy, full. Great weekday dinner Zin, says my dog Zinny. — 9 years ago

Sarah Sampsel

9.2

"Like a sly old dog" — 9 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.0

Dark ripe red cherry nose. Slightly bloody color, full smooth body. Plum, pepper, old leather, chewy. Cherries coming through tannins. Deliciously drinkable. Mushroom and sausage marinara on the stove- simmering- yes to this and a late lazy afternoon..... old and new Jazz and the fire my happy dog curled next to it. — 7 years ago

Anthony Pro

8.9

Tastes old world. Good Pinot Noir. Long dog? #NameOfMySexTape — 7 years ago

Connor McMahon

9.3

Needs a bit more air but this is showing nice! Always a crapshoot with old French wine on how much Brett will be present. None on this old dog — 8 years ago

Sarah C

9.0

2013. Bright, vibrant and fresh at 4 years old. Classic Bing cherry, strawberry, cranberry and spice with hints of mineral and savoriness. Medium plus acidity and fine, integrated tannin. Lovely. — 8 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.2

Drinking well now with a short decant but still young. Floral aromas that are very inviting. Cherry, strawberry, rose petals, and tar on the palate. Broke this out to enjoy since my 2 yr old son fed our 25 lb dog about 16oz of filet mignon and now I can say this paired well with McDonald's chicken nuggets and fries. — 9 years ago

kasimir bujak

8.9

Smells likecoconut, spice, coca-cola, wet dog, ripe blackberry, ripe red plums, faint red licorice... tasting brings in sweet blackberry, blackcurrant, ripe plums and black cherry, wood. big woody fruit bomb- but well-balanced despite being 15.5%....nice fine tannins to. 70% old vine monastrell and 30% cab with two years of oak. — 9 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Beautifully balanced Zin (depicted with my dog Zinny). Fragrant, but in a laid back way, with classic scents of spicy ripe blackberry along with almost Australian warm sandstoney scents. Large framed in the mouth, with rich flavors, peppery heat, and very good acids playing off one another. 130 year old vines. History! — 9 years ago

with Angelo