Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (19%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petite Verdot (3%). Dark garnet/ruby/purple/black color. Aromas of ripe black fruit, rose petals, cigar box and smoked meat. Flavors of blackberry, black currant and black plum fruit with additional hints of tobacco, black olives and cloves. Long lasting velvety finish. Full bodied with noticeable (but well integrated) tannins. Beautiful freshness. Rich and powerful but so well balanced. Consistently Outstanding vintage after vintage. Could continue to age for decades! — 4 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Château Léoville Poyferré 2014
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinguished Deuxième Cru Classé (Second Growth) from Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Poyferré has been elevated under the stewardship of the Cuvelier family and Michel Rolland’s consultancy. The 2014 vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend comprised of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. This cooler year yielded wines with notable polish, freshness, and age-worthy structure.  

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive and refined, the bouquet opens with blackcurrant, cassis, and plum, framed by cedar, graphite, violets, and aromatic spice. The palate is layered with ripe red and dark fruits, along with hints of tobacco, pepper, and soft oak—a harmonious reflection of balanced ripeness and terroir depth.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, with smooth yet structured tannins and vivid acidity. The finish is long and mineral-tinged, echoing Saint-Julien’s limestone terroir while expressing both strength and grace.

Winemaking Notes
Vinified traditionally and aged in French oak barrels (predominantly new), the 2014 benefits from meticulous attention to extraction and maturation, resulting in elegant concentration and finesse.  

Food Pairing
Wonderful with roast lamb, herb-crusted beef, or rich mushroom dishes. Decanting for an hour enhances its layered complexity.

Verdict
A classic expression of Left Bank finesse and depth, Château Léoville Poyferré 2014 strikes an artful balance between fruit, structure, and refinement. Enjoy now with decanter or cellar it to explore its evolution over the next decade.Cheers! — a month ago

Her Mir Tage

9.2

Is the Parker 99-point 2009 VCC Worth Its Price?

From a scoring perspective, you might feel slightly disappointed upon opening it, but in terms of price, it likely aligns with expectations.

Having previously tasted a Parker 95-100-point Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, I found its complexity and aromatic depth more impressive than this wine—though the 99-point VCC is the highest score this estate has ever received from Parker.

After 30 minutes of decanting:
The wine showed dark fruit aromas (blackberry), along with primary, secondary, and tertiary notes—cigar box, leather, and truffle-but the tannins were still tight, indicating it wasn’t fully open.

After 2 hours of decanting:
The wine began to unfold, not with explosive aromas but with a refined, lingering profile.Beyond the initial notes, ripe plum, vanilla, and graphite emerged. However, compared to an older vintage of VCC I’ve tried (which had a rich dark chocolate character), this bottle lacked that particular depth.

The tannins turned silky and smooth, making it very approachable, while a savory umami note complemented the medium acidity. The body was beautifully clean and well-structured. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Bright medium ruby , quite thin violet rim . Quite discreet and fine, reserved on the nose . Red cherry , cassis , mineral tinged blackberry, after a while pomegranate. On the palate this is very detailed and precise , great freshness and with more red fruit, cherry , red plum , blackberry , wet slate , saline oyster shell with very fine tannins . Long mineral finish . Very young obviously but incredibly elegant and fresh . Will need time , this closed up quite a lot after time in the decanter . Better in 10 -15 years , will last well a further 10-15 . Incredibly promising . — 10 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was showing a polished silky mouthfeel with red, mostly black fruits, plum with mocha, graphite, spice box, leather & tobacco — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Every time I have an older BV Tapestry, 15-25 yrs, I am always impressed with their better vintages. 2007 the rule rather than the exception. This when released in 2009-10 was between $35-$40 depending on when & where you purchased it. Having stated the above, these have proven to better than some to many Napa Cabernets costing $125 to $175 with the right long age. Bought in the last six months on the secondary market for $55 if my memory hasn’t failed me.

Tonight from a corvined bottle over the weekend still shows youthfulness but has excellent integration & evolution. Still has 12-15 years of good drinking ahead.

Ripe & lush, touch candied, dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries, black plum, baked strawberries & haunting blueberries/raspberries. Sweet tarriness, dry twig, powdery limestone, anise to some black licorice, soft, wet herbs, baking soda, dry top soil, nutmeg, soft clove, cinnamon, vanillin, dark spices, withering & candied flowers that are dark, red, blue framed in lavender & liquid violets.

The palate shows lush, ripe with M+ velvety rounded tannins. Lush dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries, black plum, baked strawberries & haunting blueberries/raspberries. Sweet tarriness, dry leather, used tobacco with ash, lead pencil shavings, dry twig, powdery limestone, anise to some black licorice, moist & dry herbs, baking soda, dry top soil, nutmeg, soft clove, cinnamon stick, vanillin, dark spices, withering & candied flowers that are dark, red, blue framed in lavender & liquid violets, pretty acidity and a finish that is; well balanced/structured/knitted, elegantly polished that last two-minutes and lands evenly on fruits, soft earth notes & deep spices as it sets. — 2 months ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

9.4

What a great refined wine. The 2018 Insignia opens with aromas of dark fruit, florals, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, mocha, and plum come through with a nice texture and tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. Wow! — a month ago

with Daniel and Michael

Ron Siegel

9.3

Another great drinking older Cali showing red, black fruit, plum with cedar, leather, sweet, savory spice & tobacco leaf — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This was youthful, polished that needed some air to open & show red, black fruits, plum with notes of graphite, mocha, earth, sweet, savory spice & tobacco. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

As I have said many times before, I love these old 90’s Joseph Phelps Napa Cabernets. 1994 was the last vintage Phelps used this label. #oldschool

13.7 ABV. A little higher than expected for this era but way better than 15+.

The nose fruits show that light brickish flare-a touch baked & hints of being stewed, yet still beautifully ripe. Softened, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, spiced plum & dark cherries, some raspberries & blueberry hues. Sandalwood, dry stems, mid berry cola, soft baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, steeped tea, mix of dry & rich dark earth, charcoal, sweet, moist, volcanic clays, light graphite, bright, red, dark, blue florals with a hue of violets.

The fruits in this 93 are still very sound/solid & fresh. It senses just waning from its peak. It’s beautiful, elegant w/ perfect evolution. Glides over the palate, nothing bitty. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, spiced plum, dark cherries, cherries, shades of freshly baked rhubarb & blueberry w/ hues of raspberries. Sandalwood, dry stems, mid berry cola, amazing softened dark spice with some palate heat, dry herb mix, soft baking spice-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, understated caramel notes, vanillin. Steeped tea, mix of dry & rich dark earth, charcoal, light, gentle graphite, dry top soils, dry limestone powder, red, dark, blue florals, red roses with a hue of violets, excellent, rainfall acidity with perfect balance-structure, elegant & softly polished finish that last minutes and lands on softened earth tones & Indian/Asian spices.

I had many 90’s Phelps Napa Cabernets & this might be the most memorable for its tireless age at 32 yrs & style. Amazing treat. Really good with the Ribcap. Sublime.

Amazingly, next to no sediment. — 2 months ago