Right Bank

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Beautiful, classic aged Bordeaux that is drinking very well right now but shows signs it could continue improving. Unfortunately I only have one more bottle so will drink that in the next 2-3 years. Cheers! — 6 months ago

Shay liked this
Shay A

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Love this ‘03!

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Expensive but worth it. This Bordeaux is just right now. Paradigmatic Pauillac with deep brooding flavor and bitter finish. Tannins are perfectly smooth. Perfect with steak or on its own while listening to music while contemplating the meaning of life. All of the leather, earth, and tar one can expect from a fine Pauillac and under $100. — 8 months ago

Neil, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

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Have poured this via Coravin at the resto last 2.5 years. I go 9.5 but tremendous concentration and QPR. Old-school BDX experience.

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1996

Presented double-blind. The wine appears straw in color with medium viscosity and, apparently, there lots of tiny bubbles so there are signs of gas, LOL. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe orchard fruit, red forest berries, marzipan, lemon curd, fresh brioche. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity. The texture is ever so creamy. Wow…well, I was drinking something special. Had to be Champagne. Maybe vintage? Maybe a tête de cuvée? The style was similar to Krug. Called Champagne from a producer like Krug. OMG…the 1996 Vintage Brut?! Sheesh…someone was feeling generous! Admitted, I don’t often get to drink vintage Krug (for many hundreds of reasons!) so my experience is obviously limited. However, there’s clearly no question in this being true to house style and, now that I know the vintage, this is showing why 1996 is so special. As others have noted, this is fresher than the 1995 I had some months ago (though, that was very special too) and had greater acid. I would like to think this provides a crystal ball for the 2008 vintage that is sure to follow a similar trajectory. Drinking very fine indeed, right now and should continue to do so through 2046…depending on how you like to drink your Champagne. — a year ago

Ira, Ely and 25 others liked this
Somm David T

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Had this a few years ago, special.

Château Cantemerle

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

1990 left bank tasting Le Vineur. Alive, bit green, cigar, tobacco, silky, lacks bit of depth but still very enjoyable. Rather prefer the 89... — 5 years ago

Peter, Josh and 5 others liked this

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1928

Stunning. Right from the start this was singing. I do wish I encounter this wine again. — 6 years ago

Keith and Ron liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

Classic Left Bank Bordeaux. Black fruit and leather with long finish — 7 years ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Started out shaky but rose to an eclectic dinner. Wine after decanting had the right tannins and a dried cherry linger that worked well on my palate. — 6 months ago

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

Tipicity! You know it’s Bordeaux, and great, the moment you smell it. Yet this dark fruit, pencil lead one took me to the wrong bank. It felt fresh, and less dark. Blackberries and plums, for sure. A great wine. So young… — 8 months ago

Ira liked this

Château L'Evangile

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Smooth, silky, beautifully balanced with elegance and the right amount of exuberance. Even though in its youth it is decadent. — 9 months ago

Juan, Vino and 10 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2014

Now I see how this wine can be so divisive. LOTS of brett at first, more band-aid than barnyard. Takes a while to get past it and then lots of exotic spices show up. But after 40 minutes in the glass still nothing primary. It’s got the funk I can appreciate in some good left bank Bordeaux but also feels somewhat single-threaded. — 4 years ago

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Seemed like the right time to open this. The candy like flavor that I see people complain about had blown off this wine and it just had this incredible purple inky color and rim to it. Very enjoyable. Still had good fruit and sweetness without losing too much luster. Caymus used to age forever but I would drink these up by 10th bday. — 5 years ago

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

1996 is drinking perfectly right now, pure perfection. Alive and acidic, with smooth tannins. — 5 years ago

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Shay A
9.4

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

This was one of my favorites of the night. One of the best young Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted. Ripe and modern nose (fruit forward) with smoked meat and baked blackberry pie. The palate revealed cocoa/dark chocolate, baking spices and a hint of blue fruit wrapped by black fruit. Big. Will obviously get better, but was shocked how good this was now. I called this ‘12-14 Left Bank.
— 7 years ago

Andrew HeffleyJack ThompsonMichael Rariden
with Andrew, Jack and 6 others
Jack, Michael and 37 others liked this
Somm David T

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So young! Just a new born.
Shay A

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@David T : Couldn’t believe how good it was! 4hr decant certainly helped.
Severn G

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Very nice!

Château Figeac

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2024

97-98. Best wine tasted in the right bank.
Pure flowery and fruity aromas of incredible precision.
In the mouth it is simply perfect. Given the challenges of the vintage it is really incredible.
Technical yes, but not lacking personality.
A real great wine.
— 8 months ago

Paul liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2018

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. It’s been almost a year since my last visit with the 2018 vintage and it’s in a very pretty spot right now. All notes previously apply though I should point out that the florals are especially showy right now. The nose is simply beautiful to experience. The fruit remains fresh and mostly red fruited. The structure is still firm. Very, very easy to enjoy on its own or with a meal. Drink now through 2038+. — 8 months ago

Tom, Douglas and 16 others liked this

Ridge Vineyards

Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2005

Enjoyed with a Cantonese beef stew, dad's recipe. Decanted 3 hours before dinner and it still held tight graphite, cedar, and black fruit notes. A touch closed up or young right now, will revisit my next bottle in 5 to 10 years — 9 months ago

Langmeil

Orphan Bank Barossa Shiraz 2017

Decantered for 2 hours, low tanins, not too acidic. Big, bold, smooth. — 4 years ago

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah

Had an op to re-buy at $115 and wanted to check in on the 2006. What a nice rendition. Perhaps not the best vintage overall, but in really great shape right now with the typical tobacco aromas. Needless to say, I am buying more — 5 years ago

Jonathan liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 1999

From a mag and what a offering. I think drinking at it apex right now. Excellent. — 6 years ago

David L
with David
David, Shay and 39 others liked this
David L

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This was ready to go. Crowd pleaser for sure.
9.4

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

1995 vintage. Still deep purple red, subtle earthy leather aromas with a burst of fresh red raspberries mid palate. Lots of herbal hints like anise and tarragon. Finished with graphite and iron. Changed with each sip. Very nice mature and fully approachable left bank beauty. — 7 years ago

Trixie liked this