Delectable Wine

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10

The 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion from the château cellar is transcendental. It is blessed with the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine, effortless and natural, featuring woodland, red-berried fruits, a minerally quality and a faint touch of leafiness; given time to settle, it develops a lovely gamy note. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied and sublimely balanced, upholding that effortless grace with an elegant, bittersweet, dried orange peel finish. One of the most harmonious wines I have ever consumed. Perfect. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London in September 2009. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

Birth year wines are a tricky thing. We all want them to show well because we are opening them for an occasion. ‘81 North Coast is not a vaunted vintage but this is the the 3rd year in a row I’ve shared a birthday bottle with one of my all time favorite females....and each and every time the ‘81s deliver. Fully mature and delicious. The fruit is still going strong, ripe plum, tobacco, sandalwood and blackberry. Lots of length and silk on silk. — 7 years ago

GabWine

9.6

When we open from 1987, we expect everything. One thinks of its conservation in cellar, the risk that it is passed or incredible, with the tannins having evolved in this vial ... The cork pulled-out, in perfect state and one knows in advance that one hit the jackpot and that it will be phenomenal. A coppery robe, a complex nose with aromas of black and floral fruits. In the mouth, an explosion of flavors that take the length and makes us go back in time. A very large estate for an incredible wine, to fall 😍🍷 — 8 years ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.2

Note vintage: 1976! The fist release by Jordan. It's a window on another time - sleek, elegant and slightly more herbal that contemporary versions it still is charming and seductive rather than overpowering. Drink one if you see it. — 9 years ago

with Sung

Martha Richards

9.4

So full bodied and rich... — 9 years ago

Daryl Calhoun

9.6

Remarkable evening last night at VHR sponsored tasting of the 2014 vintage VHR. Heather and Bruce (@Bruce Phillips) hosted a lovely evening for the VHR faithful popping a Shramsburg Champagne toast with heavy appetizers followed by comparison of the 2012 and new 2014 vintages. Notes for 2014: Obviously young, but the aromatics hitting the nose are alive and run the continuum of all the green leaves in your spice drawer mixed together. Heavy mouth feel with flavor from the darker end of the spectrum: licorice, dates, tobacco. Finish is long and constant. Will be interesting to see how this one changes over time. — 10 years ago

with Ryan

Renegade Wines

9.1

Conservarive rating. Give this one time — 10 years ago

Sarah Dade

10

Hands down the best cab I've ever had. Its worth all the hype. Consistent perfection from nose to finish. This is one you take your time with. — 11 years ago

Corey Zamora, CSW

9.4

One of the best noses I've had the pleasure of inhaling in a long time. Like sugar covered roses. This is terrific entry level Nebbiolo and for the price, grab lots of it. Bravo #produttori! — 11 years ago

John Lawrence

9.6

Amazing wine with Kat and John — 12 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. The fourth bottle and the second of the two rando bottles. This was actually one of the better 2011 wines I’ve had from Napa. I thought it was not only an accurate representation of a cool and wet vintage, it was quite a delicious example of one and still has years to go. — 7 years ago

Christina

9.5

Deliciously tart and sweet! — 7 years ago

Daniele Cuzin

9.4

YES we had the 1980 on November 2018 for Thanksgiving with the family. Amazing still awesome but it was time to open it, the cork was in pieces. This one was a gift for MP’s birth year and it is 38 old! — 8 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. — 8 years ago

Christopher Nettuno

9.6

Such a moment each time I get to drink this bubbly.... Beautifully salmon colored, with elegant, yet rich, (if you can say that in the same sentence) strawberry mousse flavors and a perfect subtle mineral note! It has the perfect crisp notes to tickle your palate, leaving a longing for one more sip! I'm in love! — 9 years ago

with Tiffany and Christopher G.

Meghan Hamilton

Wine Educator Joseph Phelps Vineyards

9.5

One of my favorite Insignia vintages and a great time to drink it. Blackberry, plum, caramel, graphite, chocolate, and smooth finish. Biased review :) — 10 years ago

Joe Pea

9.1

This the third time I've had this in the last year and it shows beautifully right out of the gate. The wood and fruit are so interestingly and well melded at this point. Oak moves to cedar on the palate. Definite alcohol lift in the nose still and you can feel it the nostrils but not obtrusive...indeed it's actually a promising hint of what's to come on the palate. Dried cherry and stone fruit tastes on right away. Slightly mentholated. Definitely picking up distinct vanilla undertones on the nose and palate but not over the top. Satisfying medium tannins. Soft mouth feel but with really good/balanced structure. Perfect finish in line with what preceded it. Just a great fucking wine. And for the price? Getcha some! Can't believe this is still just around and available (not telling where!). Not for those who don't want wood in their wine but even here what you think will finish moderately chalky moves to soft-ish tannins at the perfect time. So many riojas are over top in the wood category or just so out of balance one way or the other. Everyone has heard of Rioja but have you really had a good one? Here's your chance without breaking the bank. I'd put this one up against the best or at least those considered the best. Maybe lacking a LITTLE finesse to be world class but damn close (can you use the word finesse with Rioja??). Drank in gulps with parmesan dusted NY style mushroom meatball mozzarella pizza from Peppino's in Athens, GA while watching Parenthood with my 17 YO daughter (who also pronounced the wine delicious). What a Tuesday night...thank you sir may I have another. Anyone really disappointed with this wine has WAY more money than me and is a spoiled brat. Geek out. — 10 years ago

Bill Aker

10

One of my all time favorites. Nice big red, once it opens. — 11 years ago

Jason Stone

9.2

Found this one in an oddball store a few months back, time to give it a try. High hopes! — 13 years ago

Miriam De Lyon

9.0

100% Monastrell from Jumilla. Very nice with the big flavors at this restaurant — 7 years ago

Daniel M

9.1

Fourth time tasting Lapierre in 2017. I've got a bit of a cold so I'm not enjoying this one as the previous ones. The nose is still a cherry bomb and bears a violet stamp. The palate is still very well balanced with a strong acid backbone, lots of ripe cherry all over the place, some grip, some width. The palate is a cherry song that plays for a very long while. 24 hours later it's still singing. Great! — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

One of my all time favorites, the 1982 Cristal is magnificent. Fresh, nuanced and exceptionally beautiful, the 1982 remains one of the all-time great Cristals. Apricot, almond and chamomile nuances suggest the 1982 is just starting to turn the corner into its plateau of maturity. This bottle lacks a bit of excitement, but, then again, the 1982 Cristal is not exactly the sort of wine I get to taste on a regular basis, so it is possible this is not the best showing. Hopefully, I will get a chance to taste it again soon. Even so, well-stored bottles will drink well for another decade-plus. “In my opinion, 1982 is the first vintage of climate change in Champagne,” Lécaillon explains. “Sugars were higher than we were used to seeing. As a comparison, the 1981 Cristal is also concentrated, but it is concentrated by low yields. In 1982, we had high yields and elevated ripeness, meaning it was the sun that ripened the fruit.” (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 8 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

Seavey makes wines endowed with real personality and character. Credit for this must go to the late founder William Seavey, who left a terrific legacy to the next generation, and Philippe Melka, the estate’s long-time consultant. Seavey’s Caravina is one of very few top tier estate Cabernets in Napa that you can buy and still have plenty of change from a hundred-dollar bill. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Caravina is going to need at least a few years to fully come together. Aromatically expressive and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2014 delivers superb quality and pedigree for the money. Smoke, cedar, tobacco, graphite, tar, licorice ,and dried herbs add the closing shades of nuance. Caravina remains one of the very best values in Napa Valley Cabernet. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Dec 2016) — 9 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

I bought a case of this delicious Barolo a while ago and am delighted every time I open a bottle. Texturally this is a wonderfully attractive wine. Both ripe and floral, it lingers powerfully and yet with lightness. One of two Vietti wines enjoyed at Antique Garage's original location is Soho (having enjoyed some haloumi the week prior at the new location, I was back for more). — 9 years ago

Thomas Gillham

9.2

Big, elegant nose -- violets over blueberries with a menthol backbone. Soft mouthfeel; the tannins have long since melted and it's definitely time to drink. Lamb really brings out the sweetness and there was zero throw left in the bottle -- I think that this was just a stellar bottle, as the one I drank a few years ago indicated that this was on its way out. Classic Napa cab. — 10 years ago

Jordan Gianelli

9.5

Loved it at Press in St Helena after Albariño and Pinot Noir. Strong but soft, my happy place when one begins to describe older characteristics in a wine without the wine becoming a dead piece of acid without elegance and all you are left with is a sharp sensation and a longing to have opened the wine 10 years ago. Anyhow- beautiful wine and definitely the time to drink it!! — 10 years ago

Jeff Denes

8.9

Had it straight out of the bottle, no time to decant. Still a fantastic wine. Can't go wrong with this one. — 10 years ago

Miguel A. Nistal

9.0

I love Stags Leap and this one is crazy reasonable and so good. Cherry flavored, soft on pallet. Beautiful wine. — 11 years ago

with Miguel

Christopher Watson

9.7

One of the best aus wines of all time. — 11 years ago

Robert Potanovich

10

One of my all time favorites — 14 years ago