(Two previous 1983 vintage wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from CT).
My experiences with 1983s has been fairly positive, and this PL certainly is among the better I’ve had from the vintage. Holding color nicely with deep ruby and slight bricking around the rim. Started off a bit dense and muddled, but hit stride about 30mins later with a mix of red and black berry fruit, cassis, a streak of herbal green down the middle (something I always get with PL). Excellent example of the fruit showing lots of flavor without being overly ripe. Leather, sweet pipe tobacco, graphite, and still some vibrancy at the finish with tannin structure. Clean and elegant at this stage. Showed well over the course of two hours. Drink up and enjoy. — 8 months ago
Deep ruby in color, almost purple; cassis, black cherries, and cedar on the nose; high acidity; high tannins; tastes like black plums, berry jam, and baking spices with a medium finish. Nellie says it's ok, and I like it. We both think it goes well with a steak. — a year ago
Good berry flavor. 100% best one I’ve had so far — 5 years ago
Dr. Steve Brule gets a 10! Drank the 3L at the ranch. Worth it!!! — 5 years ago
Consumed 03/2020. It is an appellation of Monterey county 56%, Santa Barbara County 26%, and Sonoma County 18%. It is a layered blend with spice filled aromas, bright berry flavors and rich textures. — 6 years ago
Mid 20th century fashionable country resort, popular with Hollywood due to 1892 stone Manor House & historic gardens. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, rest other Rhone varieties, aged 20 months in 37% new French oak. Dark Ruby, aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs & spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and black currant with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Well balanced, fine tannins long finish ending with fruit, espresso notes and sweet spice! Nice now and will drink well over next decade. — 7 months ago
Granular, ripe and heavy. Syrupy berry and smokey notes. Quite smooth. Enjoyable? Yes. Whopping alcohol level? Yes. Worth fifty bucks? No. At mom's. — 8 months ago
From a recently purchased owc showing the classic LB personality of red cherry, black berry fruit, cassis, leather, menthol, graphite, sweet savory spices & tobacco. This has been fully mature for a while where perfectly stored btls are still drinking well. — 9 months ago
Deep ruby, full body, high tannic, high acidity, black fruit, cherry, tobacco, chocolate, berry jam, sage, sandal wood, eucalyptus, spice, thyme, long finish, fruitful, good complexity — 2 years ago
Gift pats
Really like this. Complex on front and middle. Let's you know it's here for the full experience — 4 years ago
12/24/20 (Out of Magmun) Immense and dark ruby-black in color the nose offers mature currant coffee sage and dusty berry and anise flavors that have some youthful nuances. Complex and concentrated it's well-focused and appealing...... A perfect score.🥰💯 — 5 years ago
Blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 80% new oak, deep Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruits, cedar, floral and earthy spice notes. On the palate flavors of blueberry, cherry and blackberry with vanilla, licorice, tobacco and toasty oak notes. Long rich finish on fine juicy tannins, drinking ok now but has room to age. Very Nice! — 7 months ago
Blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, & Charbono. Deep Ruby color with aromas of ripe berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of cherry, blackberry and plum with cacao, baking spice and vanilla. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and tobacco notes. — 8 months ago
I’ve got lots of love for these wines, but I always struggle with when to open. They are fantastic young and equally fantastic with age. Jeb said of this wine, “the greatest GSM blend from California, ever.”, and stamped it with a perfect score. Strong praise, and while I’m not there, I don’t regret opening this.
Consumed from decanter the first 2-3hrs before decanting back to bottle and finishing the remaining third later in the evening. Much better later in the day. Wound up tight initially. Classical high end Paso with this distinct airy-jammyness. So much going on with squeezed blackberries, peppercorn, lots of kirsch. Some garrigue. Mouth coating and a total wave of flavor on the palate…black fruit, cherry cordial, cherry drizzled smoked meats. It’s both supremely juicy and hauntingly tannic at the finish. Even with time to open, the ABV makes itself known, but you know that going in. If you like the style, it’s hard to beat. — 2 years ago
2005 Vintage. 16.4% Alcohol. 93% Grenache, 7% Syrah. Wow, this wine was stunning. Cork broke in two using the lever screwpull but saved it with a hand corkscrew for the remaining half inch. Even under the intact wax cap. Found it hidden in double deep racking on the white/rose side of my cellar. Big fruit and velvety mouthfeel. Not obviously hot, but packed a punch! — 5 years ago
Sipping Fine Wine
Crafted by Joseph J. Wagner, 4th generation winemaker, with winemaking roots in the Napa Valley since 1906. Deep Ruby with red berry fruit aromas, tea and sweet spice notes. On the palate flavors of jammy blackberry and cherry with pronounced sweet vanilla oak, cacao and pepper spice notes. Soft tannins and bright acidity, well balanced, with mineral tones on a long finish ending with toasty spice! Nice! — 7 months ago