No formal notes. Maybe slightly less dense ruby, wider rim . More refined and quite elegant , medium bodied , slightly more cooler greener fruits . This quite aromatic initially, mix of red and dark hedgerow fruits . A little more refined and small boned , perhaps a little light a shorter than others . This was impressive out of the gate , aromatic and charming quite mineral also , though it was the only wine that faded a little with time in the glass . This appears to be at its peak though probably will remain here for another 5 -10 years perhaps — 9 months ago
Medium deep ruby , medium wide ruby rim. Slightly more generously fruited , compared to the 2011 . Blackcurrant , cassis, touches of spice , less austere or mineral . Quite round and ripe , rich on the mid palate , but without a lot of tannic structure , balanced acidity. Decent length , with a touch more tobacco and saline quality on the finish. This is drinking well now and will continue to show well over the next 8-10 years or so — a year ago
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.
Strong nose of black plums, black currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, earth and peppercorn.
Full bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, oak, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a young Merlot from Bordeaux. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.
A good food wine that I paired with pizza.
A blend of 68% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon.
15% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$55. — 4 years ago
It's time for some Merlot on this#MerlotThursday. Here's a nice one from Washington State.
Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, spices, coke and peppercorn.
Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.
Dry on the palate and fruity with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth and peppercorn.
Nice length with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a very tasty Merlot from Washington State. Rich and well balanced with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel, spicy and tasty.
This 4 year old is drinking very nicely now. Good by itself or with food.
Good right out of the bottle and better after an hour of airtime.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$14. — 6 years ago
Tasted at Chateau.
52 CF 47 M 1 CS, 100% new oak for 15 m's.
Dark, inky crimson, opaque, compact rim.
Classic Cheval Blanc bouquet. Seductively floral - rose petal, lavender, violet. Elegant red fruit profile with fresh mintiness in abundance.
While evidently young and thus structured, this wine is extremely nuanced and soft (in a good way). Sophisticated and complex black and red fruits highlighted by fresh herbal undertone (mint, sweet basil, and thyme). Incredible finish - long and uniquely memorable.
No doubt, it will be spectacular in 10-15 years and beyond. My first young Cheval is exactly everything I was hoping for and more. 94++ — 8 years ago
Liked this. Not to dry but is fruity. — 9 years ago
Now this is a great wine. Dark in color, almost black with a purple rim.
Magnificent nose with blueberries, figs, plums, and herbs.
Sweet candies on the palate with blueberries, cranberry, dried figs, raisins, peppercorn.
Big, bold and beautiful with gorgeous legs.
Smooth and sexy long finish with bold tannins and ripen fruits.
Great right out of the bottle. After 2 hours in the decanter, chewy tannins on the finish. This is not my first, and definitely not my last. Very consistent from year to year.
Petit petite Ft. My son. — 11 years ago
Deep ruby , thin pink rim . Fresh cassis , blackberry , quite spicy with a touch of vanilla, red plum . Quite open and enticing . On the palate this is somewhat linear with cool dark fruits , cassis , red plum , grafite and saline touch . Fills out well with quite grippy , cool tannins , fresh acidity , and good length with grafite , cassis finish . This is obviously not ready , however it was an enjoyable wine to drink over dinner , the freshness and cool fruit character are quite apparent , and the tannins though gritty are somewhat in the background . Though it was worth the experience , I would leave bottles a further 10 years before trying another. This is an elegant and well judged wine . — 8 months ago
Tasted four #piedrasassi side by side horizontal this was the best. All four were a little #brett Definitely the best in my opinion. Delicious #Syrah with a little bit of everything and balanced. — 9 months ago
Medium ruby , light garnet rim . On the nose spicy , earthy red currant , cassis , tobacco . On the palate quite high acidity with some grippy but slight less rustic tannins . Mix of cool red currant , cassis and a spicy tobacco character . Medium length. This is drinkable now with food but will last well over the next 5-10 years — a year ago
Popped and poured. The 2018 Produttori del Barbaresco classico pours a garnet color with a transparent core; slightly orange around the rim. Medium+ viscosity with very light staining of a tears; no signs of sediment. On the nose, a mix of deep black and red fruits and wow…loads of tar. It’s bone dry, high tannin and medium+ acid. High alcohol. This is a tar bomb right now and the structure is absolutely monumental. The first time I drank the 2018 Nebbiolos from Piemonte, I thought they reminded me a lot of the 2010 vintage when it was young. And when I think about Produttori specifically, this bottle really reminds me of the way the 2010 drank around 5 years after vintage. Only time will tell if these follow a similar trajectory…but I suspect, yes. Drink now but expect a pile of tannin for at least the next 5-10 years and they should drink well for at least 20. — 3 years ago
The only red wine Ross knows. Excellent. Pretty spicy and bitter — 6 years ago
12.26.2019 — 6 years ago
More sweet reisling — 6 years ago
Riesling's are usually too sweet for me, but I love this dry one by Pacific Rim! — 8 years ago
Full body but not heavy. — 10 years ago
I was drawn to the description including caramel and creme brûlée. Delicious! Not too sweet nor too dry. The price makes it even better. Apparently it's hard to come by so I'm buying up all I can tomorrow!!
— 11 years ago
Todella hyvä jälkiruokaviini — 11 years ago
Light and crisp , easy to drink , nice flavor — 8 months ago
No formal notes . Medium deep ruby , thinner rim. Quite deep and spicy nose , dark fruits , quite classic . On the palate quite dense , but rounded and suave tannin . Quite dense and meaty after a while , long and really well balanced , good length and a mineral , slate tinged finish. In this flight this was quite obvious as Latour , just the structure and density marked it out . This is a good Latour to enjoy at the moment , the tannin is polished, good freshness and density. No rush however I expect this to continue well for a least another decade , maybe more — 9 months ago
Medium ruby , quite wide garnet rim, clear and bright . Cassis , blackberry , sous bois , mint , cedar , grafite , good clarity and surprisingly fruit driven still . Good volume on the palate , dark fruits , mint , good acidity and still quite gritty tannins. Saline and grafite tinged finish . Good length . Drinking very well now and over the next 5 years . For 2002 this is showing very well, classic and surprisingly elegant, a really nice surprise! — a year ago
That great Barolo coloring pale at rim and darkening toward center. This was not focused on opening but got there after 2 hours. Truffle cherry earth and a full palate experience. Lots of weight to this wine and it stays heavy on the back end. Went very well with the homemade bucatini. — 2 years ago
Catching up on my March Issue of Decanter, which, among other things, celebrates the wines of Spain from regions such as Rioja, Toro, Rias Baixas, Alicante, Manchuela, Valencia, and Jumilla. 🍷🍷🍷 This Issue reminds me of how much I have yet to explore in this country. 🇪🇸 It inspired me to have a glass of Rioja made from the Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) grapes.
👁 This wine has a medium ruby hue with garnet rim variation. 👃 It has a medium intensity of developing aromas. 👄 Aroma and flavor notes are concentrated and include black cherry, red currant, plum sauce, violet, black licorice, anise, balsamic vinegar, black olive, sweet tobacco, leather, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, clove, earth, and peat. This wine has medium acidity, medium tannins, high alcohol, and a medium(+) finish. It’s complex; it has finesse.
This wine is from La Rioja Alta, S.A., Viña Ardanza, Reserva 2012, with an ABV of 14.5%. This wine is predominately Tempranillo (78%), coming from 30-year-old vines, which is blended with Garnacha (Grenache) (22%). It has extended American oak aging.
I have tried numerous wines from this producer – La Rioja Alta, S.A. – and have loved them all. — 5 years ago



Sweet, crisp, fruity, clean — 6 years ago
21 year old. Location not working...Pacific Beach for a week. Always scary opening a wine this old but turned out surprisingly well. — 8 years ago
Great sweet wine — 9 years ago
Floral 👃🏽 grapefruit, Apple. Good with sushi. NOT SWEET 👍🏿 — 11 years ago
Inky dark color with a purple rim.
On the nose, Blueberries, figs, blackberries, spices, vanilla and black pepper.
Long, thin legs and 14.5% alcohol.
Bold, big and full bodied.
Smooth, sweet and sexy on the palate, with blackberries, dried figs, raisins, black pepper, vanilla and herbs.
Long lasting finish with smooth tannins and black pepper. Excellent!! — 11 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
Medium garnet , quite wide garnet terracotta rim . Quite mature and with mint , herbal cassis , touch of brown sugar, coffee , sous bois. On the palate this is medium bodied , sous bois , some red fruits , red plum , cassis . Quite spicy but still good volume and roundness on the palate also. Decent acidity , and some herbal touches on the good length finish . This is drinking well and will probably not improve . Now and over the next 5-10 years . — 8 months ago