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. — 5 years ago

Eric Egan

9.4

What a beautifully graceful wine! A bit muted on the nose (slow ox for three hours - perhaps I should have decanted) but one of the most amazingly expressive palates I have experienced for a very long time. All the elements in perfect equilibrium; one of the rare times that I would actually apply the term 'smooth' to a wine. Tannins still lightly peppery, poised acidity, and an insanely long velvety finish that kept revealing hidden layers of complexity. Like a Burgundian peacock's tail that keeps expanding, adding new layers of graceful shades and patterns to the rolling tapestry of flavour. — 7 years ago

Bill Makens

9.3

Really enjoying this one. Smooth and drinkable right after opening and only getting better with the more time it decants. — 7 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.0

First time trying the '15s and it's as great as always. This is definitely a decent amount more brawny and ripe than the '14s but still identifiable as a Lapierre wine. That said, I'm still not the biggest fan of most of these '15's so far, they are too hot and ripe and don't really fit the profile of what I want from most Beaujolais. This is still pretty good on its own merits though. Day 1 it was closed and not giving up very much but on this morning, Day 2, it's come around and opened up quite a bit. Ripe, juicy strawberry and raspberry red fruit, tart rhubarb, wild violet, smoky gravel minerality, with a nice briny, almost gamey salinity underscoring things a bit. Nice medium (+) acid, medium (-) body with a great, soft texture. Just a touch of fine, supple tannic grip. There a bit of brett and VA but they're in balance rather than being a faulty distraction; the VA helps give a little extra lift, if anything. Will try another bottle after some more time has passed because even though it's good now it honestly still needs to come together a bit more; it seemed almost still slightly bottle shocked when I first opened it yesterday. If you're opening one soon I'd recommend giving it a little air to let it unfurl. — 7 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. — 8 years ago

Roland Boney

9.8

What a classic wine produced by one of the classiest winemaker in Napa Valley #eliasfernandez. Beautiful nose and perfectly layered followed by a long lasting finish. Still plenty of time left for this 100 point wine. — 8 years ago

with Missy

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. — 9 years ago

with Miguel

Julie Cervone

10

One of my all time favorite reds! ❤️ — 9 years ago

Michael Falcone

9.8

Killing it...a true classic, blackberry, leather, a great funky burnt leather nose...one of my fav all time Bordeaux — 10 years ago

Christina

9.5

Deliciously tart and sweet! — 5 years ago

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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) — 5 years ago

Martha Richards

9.4

So full bodied and rich... — 7 years ago

George Yasutake

9.7

#2 Insignia of the night for our vertical. Very different from the 1999, but still one of my all time favorite Insignias. Let's see how it compares to the 1997 vintage. — 7 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.0

First time with the oddball '03 vintage. Lacking some of the standout aromatics of typical Tondonia. I wouldn't mind laying one down and see where it goes, seeing as Lopez wines defy logic, time, and space. — 7 years ago

with Adam, Bill and 1 other

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!! — 8 years ago

Ali Yigitbasioglu

9.9

Very powerful intense cab sauv blend, good time to crack open. Dark saddle leather spicy bouquet, balanced acidity, tobacco and wild boar scents, strong earth nose. The taste stays in the mouth for a long time. Spectacular. One of sassicaia's strongest showings, good time to drink — 8 years ago

Mike Davila

9.5

I drank this at their open house, and at the time I thought it was one of the best 2011's we tasted. This is another example of a wine that will have the "experts" pondering the 2011 vintage. This may be similar to a 2003 for selected wineries. I'll go on the record that I like it - a lot. — 9 years ago

Christopher Watson

9.7

One of the best aus wines of all time. — 9 years ago

John Lawrence

9.6

Amazing wine with Kat and John — 10 years ago

Daron Watson

9.6

Pulled the cork and the juice smelled and tasted DELI$H ~ I’ve had many great wines, plenty I’ve rated higher, but the pull-n-pour instant gratification AND appropriate drinking time doesn’t happen often ~ it will age effortlessly for years but I’m not sure one “needs” to cellar more — 5 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

One of my favorite vintages for Trotanoy. Had dinner with Christian a couple of years ago. He said he spends the same amount of time & expense to make the Trotanoy as the Petrus. Red berry & plum fruits, earth, tobacco, leather, green bean & olive. Just reaching its prime with many years ahead. — 7 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). — 7 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! — 7 years ago

with Tiffany and Christopher G.

Brandon Tomes

9.0

I was on a time crunch but a little too tight for me. Strong French oak flavor, silky smooth, and well rounded finish. Overall a great Cabernet but not what I was expecting from a Shafer. — 8 years ago

Antoine Bouchard

9.4

One of the best Cabernet Franc I've ever had. It's Christmas time ladies and gentlemen! @PE Mouton @Antoine Goubert We have to try that one all together 🍷 — 8 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. — 8 years ago

Bill Aker

10

One of my all time favorites. Nice big red, once it opens. — 9 years ago

John Kanellopoulos

9.0

One of my all time favorites from Alexander Valley CA almost 10 years old opened very mature excellent value for money! — 9 years ago

Eric Floyd

9.1

Tasty Chardonnay. Full bodied, high alcohol Californian style. Pineapple and creme brûlée were most noticeable. Would love to see what happens with time. — 9 years ago

Robert Potanovich

10

One of my all time favorites — 12 years ago