Jay Kline

9.4

This bottle of 1976 Chateau Lafite Rothschild was cellared in a wine cave part of its life and a modern cellar the more recent part of its life. The fill for this bottle was mid-shoulder and the label had been tattered from back when it was in the cave. Using a Durand, I was able to pull the cork intact and it was saturated but seemed to have done its job. The color was good and the wine was sound; in fact, it was very much alive and full of character! Opened about four hours prior to service and decanted for sediment (of which there was plenty). No formal notes. At this stage in its life, the 1976 Lafite pours a garnet color with an orange rim. The nose is straight up old-money. Classy aromas of desiccated red cherries & red currants, dried tobacco leaf, graphite, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, leather and dried baking spices. On the palate, the structure was still quite palpable with tannins till present and acid doing its job with aplomb. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and graceful with some nice stoney minerals. Drink now but well cellared examples could hold longer if you wanted…but if you’re even thinking about it, just open it! — 3 years ago

Arron Sweeney

9.6

Took a while to open up. Purple berry fruits, olive, meaty with peppery and gunpowder notes on the nose. Elegant round tannins were still very youthful and grippy. Sweet cassis, pepper, olive tapenade and gamey flavors on the palate. High acidity and well-structured. Could have given it some more time in the cellar. — 6 years ago

Jeri Lynn W

10

I love the red blend, and Merlot. — 7 years ago

Rick Baraff

9.1

That’s some nice drinkin’ stuff (circa 2017). Thanks to the local somm, Steve, at our Whole Foods for the recom... it was their last bottle and he sacrificed. — 7 years ago

Parijat Talkad

9.6

Smooth, full bodied wine. — 9 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.8

Big rich full bodied wine! Wow after 14 years it still needs more time. If you like deep dark fully extracted fruit that possesses chocolate, plum, blackberry flavors like I do, then this is your wine. Good luck finding a bottle..... @Paul Treadway @Evan Bienstock @leon egozi @Eric S @Eric LaMasters @Jacqueline @Vanessa D @Carl Fischer @Jim Trobaugh @James Parker Huston, CWE @David L @Warren Sapp @TheSkip @Terri Walker @Terri Walker @Warren Sapp @jesus g @Kimberly Anderson — 9 years ago

Tom Wood

8.9

Cedar, malt milo, raspberry, yoyo biscuit and fresh Blackcurrant have been the aromas showing tonight. I do know this wine can show beautiful leather, stalky notes and earthy aromas but it simply did not last long enough. Precise fruit, tannin targets the front palate but acid plays a backing role. Great wine. — 10 years ago

Michelle J Walker

9.3

So delicious. Exactly what SB should taste like. — 11 years ago

Brian Bell

9.0

Way too early to open, but it's Christmas, so why not. — 12 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2003 vintage. Decently respectable Pauillac nose. Solid color still. Wine open for three hours. Leanest body I've ever had with a P-L and lacking the complexity usually associated with this wine. Tight and not giving up much at the 3 hr mark. Nice but disappointing given the producer/vintage combo. Wish I'd had 6 hrs to wait hand and foot on this...perhaps it would have totally revealed the expected P-L charms by then. — 4 years ago

Richard Mills

9.5

Really tasty and smooth. Monthly pick we had with mom and Cali. — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Having had the coveted 2005 vintage just a few months ago, ‘04 is far more open and rewarding today. So seductive and captivating. Smoked meats, black fruits, balsamic glaze and hints of roasted sage leaves and tobacco. The tannins are integrated beautifully and the finish shows wonderful finesse, elegance and length. Gorgeous now but will continue to improve over the next 8-10 years. — 6 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.2

Deep color. More open than the 1990. Stronger fruit profile with herbs and almost a minty nose. Full body and lingers for a while. — 7 years ago

with Frankie

Manchester Sheldon

9.3

Violets and peppercorns on the nose, it needs some air to open up, dark wood and some earth on the background. — 9 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

Yup, a rose, but might as well call it a white. Palate reset as so dry. Unfiltered. What i might expect from a funky Loire producer — 9 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

V13. Very well balanced, very nice food wine. Soft violet and cedar nose. Nice round black cherry and currant fruit. Earthy finish. — 10 years ago

Zorin Dobson

9.4

Fruit bomb. — 10 years ago

Roy Goble

9.5

Fun to open 1986 wines — 11 years ago

Ray Isle

Executive Wine Editor Food & Wine Magazine

9.3

Plenty of time left, but I don't think it qualifies as infanticide when the wine tastes so damn good now... — 11 years ago

Paul Lopez

9.8

I do remember....what a wine! — 12 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.4

Dark inky black almost. Black fruit. First bottle of the Howell Mtn in a while. Just a quick open bottle decant, drinking incredible. Super smooth fine tannins. Lovely balance of ripe black fruit, black cherry. Toblerone. Great mouthfeel and lovely finish. The ‘14s are starting to hit their stride. Really good. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

This 2017 is less opulent, more compact, and tightly coiled compared to the 2016. Because of that, I followed this wine over two days.

On day one, this was tart and tangy…almost steely and too powerful. Day two saw this blossom and expand on the palate. The tart/tangy vibe is still there but it’s accompanied by a deep richness. Everything about this Chardonnay is lemon driven…lemon oil, lemon scone, powdered lemon tart bar, especially on the nose. There is a nervy vein of acidity at the core carrying notes of pineapple and white peach, but never pushed too far to the ripe side. One of those wines that retains freshness with the richness. If popping now, decant 1-2hrs or hold another few years, and enjoy the 2016 before opening this 2017! — 5 years ago

Erin Joyce

9.2

Waited a few years to drink the 2017 and it’s even better than I remembered. In times like these it’s important to savor the floral bouquet and stone fruit deliciousness of this wine and essentials like Clorox bleach. — 6 years ago

with Sandra

David Barnes-Trujillo

9.2

Jeff 9 me 9.7 — 8 years ago

with Jeffrey

Mark Rosse

9.4

Showing beautifully tonight! Well done — 9 years ago

Tim Edge

9.3

Could sit on it for much longer but tastes great now if you give it time to open up. — 9 years ago

J Ferrugia

9.4

This is a superb Silver Oak vintage & this magnum was the finest of the producer I have sampled. The '94 has a Deep rich fruit forward nose with currants, spice & ripe fruit. Open 40 minutes.. Bursting on the .palate with dark cherry and spice.. Hints of old leather & currants. This a huge wine at its peak. The magnum preserved it beautifully. A classic Cali cabernet & a delight with tenderloin of beef. If ya gottem', drinkem'.. You wont be disappointed if you have kept a magnum. — 10 years ago

Flavio Menezes

9.0

Very powerful, extracted. Will still improve, as it took over an hour to open up. Good with food, but I clearly see why I drink less and less Bordeaux. — 11 years ago

Philip Cook

8.9

Black cherry, raspberry notes. Fair amount of acidity. Paired well with baked salmon. — 11 years ago

Gary Hill

9.4

Perfect. Ready to drink. Do not wait. Open it! Went great with braised short ribs. — 12 years ago

with Laura