Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Sample.
Medium pale greenish yellow. Tons of oak influence, cinnamon buns, baked apples and creme brulee on the nose. Very interesting compared to the palate. Moderate acidity (6/10) and tangy. Delicious orange zest, and a creamy texture. Medium plus bodied and lingering finish with a touch of graphite. Drink till 2021. — 9 years ago

with Sean and India

John Van Trijp

9.6

What? Laurel G? Noooo!!! Yes! Wooow! What a surprise! As always! Bargain of the night.....Respect! — 10 years ago

Ron R

9.3

A very impressive convict... Look, I'm English, so I can jab em every now and then. But for this example, I have to respect their gangster.

The nose is exotic with dominant barrel toast and cherry compote.

On the palette, it has a cab signature. Pepper is almost absent. It has a perfect weight, gliding across the tongue with maple syrup, sandalwood and mocha notes.

No signs of aging, this has the stuffing to glide on for 12 - 15 years, at least.
@Joe Lucca enjoy yours, as I recall, we purchased these together. — 10 years ago

with Anne-marie

John Van Trijp

9.6

Dominus....respect! — 11 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.6

1985. Tasting this was like sitting next to a WWII vet on a train...some respect for an old school gentleman...they don't make wines like this any more: herbal, pencil shavings, cigar, tea, lots of acid, grainy tannins, light body, refreshing...let's bring cab like this back! — 11 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.5

Button down the hatches folks, we're going for a ride - destination Montilla-hey-o! Distilled peanuts, racy pineapple pith, pear and pencil shavings. The acidity cuts through, well, everything, sashaying forth with pronouncements long on macadamia and happiness. Also: Salt lick that you like. Marcona almonds. Caselvetrano olives. Respect. — 11 years ago

Zack Parchman

9.4

Frank is the man, I respect his art and passion! — 11 years ago

Jason Covey

10

Respect your Elder — 11 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.9

Almost perfect....respect! — 11 years ago

Charlie Koster

9.1

Respect these sisters. They'll put hair on your chest. — 12 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.5

This was the wine of the night. Lovely in every respect, with a nice nose and finish. Classic Chave Hermitage. A wonderful wine that still needs years to develop. — 12 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

This is my 1000th wine on Delectable and I wanted to post something that meant something special to me. @Steve Anderson brought this to an incredible tasting we attended last night at a beautiful cellar in the home of @Scott Kahn who graciously hosted many of our local tasting group among wives, neighbors and other friends of his. It was an exemplary night that I had to cut much shorter than I preferred because I had to pick up my teenage daughter from a friend's house. It was a perfect storm of many important elements impacting my life both past and present. First and foremost I am a Father and even though my daughter called me much earlier than I wanted on an evening of wine involving first growths, Napa giants and Burg greats....I left because I was needed. My daughter just recently started living with me and we've been through a lot in the last year. The men I was with are almost all parents who totally get the importance of my daughter in my life....they are exceptional Dad's who have raised special kids. I respect them immensely and that is why I am honored that wine brought me together with a group that I would not likely have become friends with without it. Wine does that. It bridges gaps. It creates memories. It develops community. Delectable has done that for me as well. I have never been much of a social media guy but something about this app drew me in. Yes it was the wine...but it's the people that make this "place" truly special. I've made legit friends here and I'm better for it. I spent an amazing weekend in Chicago this summer with @Roman Sukley and @DAG...those 2 couldn't have been more generous, gracious or cool. I've also developed a synergy with @Ron R @TheSkip @Martin G Rivard @David A Lentine @Kimberly Anderson and many others I've never met but I feel like I know somehow. These people know who they are.....but back to the wine. Montelena has a special place in my heart. When I passed the bar in '93 I brought a '87 Montelena to dinner that night. Just me and my Mom. She grew up on a dirt road in a small rural town in North Carolina. Not wine country. By the time we shared the Montelena she had become a pretty ardent Chardonnay fan but did not seem to take to reds. Wine was fairly new to me but I was always trying to get her engaged with my love of red wine. Unsuccessfully. That night we shared a meal and memories at the La Valencia hotel in La Jolla and enjoyed that bottle. She was proud of me and said so. Without reservation. I was the first person on either side of my family to graduate college and now I was a lawyer. The moment touched her and it has stayed with me always. She said "you're my only child and I'm so proud of the man you've become and now you're a lawyer. I can't believe it. More than that I can't believe how much I loooooove this wine. I'm actually more impressed with that!" My Mom had a sense of humor too 😉 and right there a lifetime memory was created over a bottle that now had meaning beyond the wine. When she passed suddenly in '05 I had dinner with her husband. I brought a '90 Ausone and a '91 Montelena. We toasted my Mom. I have no recollection of the $500 Ausone but the Montelena is still one of my top 10 wines of all time. Each wine is its own experience and those you share it with enhance that experience immeasurably. Cherish each glass....and @Steve Anderson thank you for granting my request by bringing that bottle. You know now why I chose it. — 10 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.7

Whaaaat? Noooooooo. Wooooow! Noooo this can't be THIS wine!!!! Yes....it is....we thought Lafite...respect! — 11 years ago

David Kline

9.3

This thing is like a merengue cookie after you get through the citrus zest and gum arabic candy crust. There is a tangerine characteristic, that turns into tangerine pith, and has a powdered sugar millisecond before becoming bony and rich. This thick little lady is bumping in every respect! — 11 years ago

with Courtney

Rita Jammet

Owner La Caravelle Champagne

9.3

There's a majesty and respect in a 19 year old #champagne While I would say it was time to drink this teenager, I loved the confit lemon and honey notes and a hint of acidity to finish off. Nice. — 11 years ago

David Speer

10

Phenomenal. Finally a cristal that shows why those I respect love this wine. — 11 years ago

terroirista-cy

10

Wine tasting lunch @ a friends house in Paphos
This 1985 was scrumptious what a wine, respect, everyone was impressed, by this astonishing vino. Amazing with elegance, finesse, personality, amazing balance & a very sexy acidity. First time I've ever tasted this wine. While tasting it I could see Principessa Coralia in front of me. Total her wine.
O.F.S. — 11 years ago

Charlie Abbott

Sommelier Casa Mono

9.2

Almost like unfortified Madeira. Can't believe it's lasted this long. "Grandfather" not at his best moment but still show some respect ;-) — 12 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.1

Sicily respect! Freshy fresh fruit, bright acid and volcanic minerality. — 12 years ago

with Josefa

John Van Trijp

9.5

Respect!!! — 13 years ago

Ron R

9.7

Yet another wine that has presented perfectly on day two. I have more respect for Cali producers who produce juice that is able to stands upright on day two. It's still ultra-rich, and deeply textured. Kudos to the winemaker. There are also some very interesting text referencing early English monarchs on the front label. Will ask my art historian daughter to assist with decoding the faint signals. — 10 years ago

with Anne-marie

Rob Moose

9.2

Lotta respect for Yvonne. — 10 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.5

Pretty sexy wine right here. Very silky tannin, sort of like a Petits Monts in that respect, but with more body and flesh. Still showing a light touch of cedary oak complemented by a nice dusting of cinnamon spice. — 11 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.2

From magnum, which undoubtably helped with the preservation, still some fruit and tannin structure, old no doubt, but still alive and providing pleasure, old wines are like old people, they may smell a bit and not say a whole lot, but you have to listen tongues and give them respect for still being around. — 11 years ago

Richard Garcia

9.0

Respect! This wine has me craving fall produce. Oily/creamy texture. — 11 years ago

Megan Long

9.0

Glou glou from the southern hemi. Giving #pais (#mission) grape some love & respect. Props to #Luyt for giving me a reason to want to drink a red wine from #Chile. — 11 years ago

Christine Havens

9.4

With respect to Washington producers, Quilceda Creek is in a league of it's own. I found the Galitzine to have a slightly different profile than their flagship Columbia Valley Cabernet, which often has a unique fingerprint of soy and Asian spices. Even so, this Red Mountain Cab is exquisite and pristine. Notes of violets, graphite, wild plums, boysenberry, incense, and smoke. Well-structured, with firm, precise tannins. The structure, in fact, overwhelms the fruit at this stage, more cellaring is needed. — 11 years ago

Sander Schaap

8.9

Old, but definitely not dead. An elegant Madiran, respect! — 11 years ago

Tom Riley

9.0

Bright lemon and apple in the nose, with a touch of minerality. Palate mimics the nose a bit, but on the softer side. Tastes of apple pie and lemon filling. Light in the mouth yet medium bodied. Good acid, hint of oak. Crisp-ish and quaffable. Like it quite a bit. A wine worthy of respect, not just respectable. — 12 years ago

with Mary

Alex Alvärëz

9.0

One of the skills I'm coming to respect as a hallmark of really great producers is the ability to convey place and vintage well in their entry level bottlings. Von Winning has that hallmark. — 12 years ago