Wow. This is young, and the nose is a bit of dark red berry suffusing a sea of resolving American Oak. The American oak is so pronounced that, had I tasted this blind, I might have taken it for Ridge... :) This has decades ahead, even if -only- a Riserva. Like La Rioja Alta 904, a fantastic value in old school Rioja... — 9 years ago
Love what Pax has done over the years. I have a few bottles of his 2003 Griffins Layer... It's a beautiful wine that is probably mind-blowing at this point; however, this wine shows restraint, refinement and a sense of place. Looking forward to owning a bottle in a few years. — 10 years ago
Very complex, perfectly balanced a ton of fruit with savory Syrah notes. Very special. — 10 years ago
Raymond had this 11 years ago
Very nice pinot noir but not traditional by pinot standards. Very clean and complex. Layers of great berry fruit and spice. Interesting textures. Very pleasant finish. — 11 years ago
I do remember....what a wine! — 12 years ago
I will preface this note by disclosing that I am generally not a fan of Super Tuscans. I like old school Toscana. But I will try to be objective here. The nose is very evocative of a classified growth Bordeaux: lots of cedary, gravelly scents and some dark berry fruit underneath. In the mouth it is concentrated and soft, but develops weight in the back half of the palate. Some peppery heat from alcohol at the end too. I know it’s predominantly Sangiovese, but it really does taste very Left Bank, except for a little note redder fruit at the end. — 8 years ago

A lot of oak with berry berries and very dark color. A joy to drink. — 10 years ago
Very smooth with wonderful chocolate,dark berry, and oak flavors. — 11 years ago
Better as it gets warmer. — 11 years ago
Very tasty affordable ($42) Shiraz. Rich berry flavor with deep dense color. Beautiful addition to any charcuterie plate! — 12 years ago
Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!
As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍
🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎
🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel
👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones
🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger — 8 years ago

Intense raspberry on the nose with hints of smoke. Amazed how time has tamed this wine. Rich and lush red fruit this has successfully transformed itself. Reverberated in every nook and cranny of my mouth Carries its alcohol effortlessly. Last of 3 bottles and this one was head and shoulders better than the previous 2. — 10 years ago
Crazy awesome. Tons of black pepper, smoke, tobacco and bacon fat. Luscious dark fruits. Very fruit forward palate. Waaaaaay too young. — 11 years ago
Black berry tangy flavors on nose and palate. Great balance overall. good wine. — 11 years ago
So refined for a 2013. Very drinkable now. Floral nose and berry finish. — 11 years ago
Mike Daniel
Delightful bouquet full of candies berry landing on the palate with lots of layered flavor - fig, blackberry, licorice - and just a little glycerol, but a nice lingering and headed length. Might last longer still if I didn’t need another swirl and sip before it passed ;). Good value under $24 — 8 years ago