ESF

9.3

Yeah yeah, I know this is not considered a great vintage, but this is a Cracking Claret! Leaner in style and not a verbose powerhouse, it still delivers an elegant rendition of traditional Pauillac flavors. The cherry was more like kirsch liqueur, the cassis, graphite, leather, gravel, tobacco, the bay leaf... all beautifully delineated and intense. The mid palate was polished to perfection. Tannins are sturdy enough but seamless & integrated. The finish persists and invites another drink. Got these on a great deal from K&L back in the day and glad I did! In a great drinking window right now. — 8 days ago

Andrew Liguori

9.1

Needs a healthy decant and non hotel glass. Still tight, could go a few more years. But after some swirls and last glass, really elegant and fine tannins. Almost ripe blackberry and currant. Integrated oaky spice and long finish. — 14 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2012 | true to type, eucalyptus, huge potential, too young imo — 12 days ago

Ellen Wright

10

Gabe opened in SF to celebrate the start of the wedding weekend. — 11 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Had this in an early stage. Dark w/ lots of black licorice. Completely different wine tonight. This is what I look for by waiting on wine.

The nose shows floral, ripe, bright, slightly candied fruits of; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, poached to baked strawberries, raspberries, powdery lead pencil, dark, rich forest floor w/ leaves, dark & mid spices, black licorice, mixed berry cola, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, soft leather, fresh tobacco, dry, crushed limestone, river stone, dark, red, blue florals framed in violets.

The mouthfeel is gorgeous. The palate shows its relationship w/ its big brother. The length & balance are excellent. Integration is finally showing like a non stubborn 2000 or one that is finally ready. Floral, ripe, bright, slightly candied fruits of; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, poached to baked strawberries, raspberries, powdery lead pencil, dark, rich forest floor w/ leaves, dark & mid spices, black licorice, mixed berry cola for days, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, soft leather, fresh tobacco, dry, crushed limestone, moist grey clay, river stone, dark, red, blue florals soaked in violets. The acidity is full warm spring day. The well knitted & balanced finish stuns. Starts fruit forward, cola that fall onto earthy perfection.

Elegant, complex wine candy w/ a 3 1/2 hour decant.

Cheers to the King of steak - Allen Brothers & the King of Cabernet - Latour. — 8 days ago

LM Segal

9.5

Pencil lead and forest floor nose, I made the rookie mistake of decanting outside in Covid-friendly but 60f setting. Never completely warmed and opened up, but nonetheless gave up phenomenal purity of black fruit, smooth tannins and rich dark berry melted into the moderate wood frame. We cognac-held our glasses to warm things up, releasing superb layers of vanilla, brambly red fruit, waves of light cassis. Perfectly cellared bottle could easily cruise 5+ more years. This would likely score far better indoors post-Covid! — 21 days ago

Gor

9.3

Classic paulliac with notes of cedar, leather, mint, vanilla, blackberries, asparagus. Primary notes are receding but overall an awesome balanced wine clearly showing it’s maturity. — 8 days ago

Scott Rose

9.3

2000 vintage. Tasted fairly recently and this is consistent with previous review. A little brickish and a bit surprised (again) this wine wasn’t “bigger.” Drinking harmoniously but without any glorious attributes other than that. Leanest Lynch-Bages I’ve had since their comparable 1985 vintage/effort. Wanted more but it is what it is. Still pretty nice. — 11 hours ago

Aravind A

9.8

Popped, 1.5 hrs slow ox. Used a Durand to open, and the cork was probably penetrated 7/8 of the way through with a soft crimson hue, but probably could have opened this with a regular corkscrew. A sublime bottle of wine. I adore this BDX vintage, and this btl was no exception. Pitch perfect aromas of soft cedar, charcoal, smoke, dries bluberry and raspberry. Gorgeous on the palate, with a still present juicy acidic core, lovely density, waves of dried fruit, secondary and tertiary flavors and a very soft tannic finish. — 21 days ago

with Peter

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

New vintage of this second label Bordeaux. This one is dominated by Merlot (66%) with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot. Big and jammy dark fruit aromas and flavors with notes of dark chocolate, truffles, smoke and baking spices. Lots of tannin on the long finish, but this one is still a baby. Would love to try again in five years. — 21 days ago