Jim Anderson

9.5

Russian River royalty in a bottle. Darker, sweeter fruit. Cherry, plum, currant, blackberry, black tea. — 5 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.3

Wow, delicious. Had as the finishing wine of a tasting menu and pairing at Otoko in Austin. Very bright, slight oaky flavors, dry but not puckering, and apparently made for Hungarian royalty. Will absolutely buy again. — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

I’d been warned this was going to be an oak bomb and...nope. There’s oak but it isn’t, say, Guigal levels. And if there were a human oak detector equivalent of, well, bomb-sniffing dogs, that’s me. There are pleasant vanilla things going on with this. It tastes like expensive winemaking—focused voluptuous tannins, ripe fruit in a myriad of colors, earth that certain was trod by royalty and CEOs and...this is luxurious cab franc I would not know was in fact cab f but...do I care? Not right now, no. I’m enjoying my wine that is not an oak bomb. It simply is bomb. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

At the Downs Club Magnum Christmas Dinner. In this case me holding a 6 Litre Methuselah or Imperial as it is also known of Eldertons Best Cuvée - the Command Shiraz. A very generous gift from Cameron Ashmead of the Ashmead Family , the owners of Elderton for the support and business from the Club. Barossa Valley royalty was mentioned in a previous note and it applies here in spades. Rich dark chocolate and earthy berry aromas. A flat out delicious palate with soft resolved tannins and oak influence judiciously used. Will live for years particularly in an Imperial. A treat to taste this - thanks again Cameron. — 7 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

8.9

I’m always wary of products that wear a an association with royalty (outside of a royal warrant) on their sleeve. Witness a certain dodgy perfume company that uses the Prince of Wales’s Three Feathers device (without the “Ich Dien” motto). The typo-riddled text on the _front_ label of this wine states that the vines grow in the “Barco Reale” mentioned by Cosimo de [sic] Medici in his decree of of 1716. What a surprise, then to look up the history, and it checks out! So what does it taste like? A sort of baby-supertuscan, just enough Cabernet in the blend to add a nice international feel and structure. A screaming bargain, the low price perhaps justifying a Medici namedrop. — 8 years ago

with Alsu

David Shaw

9.4

Betsek single vineyard, no Furmint in this one. Clear brown in color. Butterscotch, stone fruit-nectarine, dried apricot, citrus flower and higher alcohol like notes in nose (though only 10.5% alc). Hibiscus-like tannins in front, then orange, apricot and caramelized or grilled nectarine notes in mouth. Grape skin flavored tartness on finish. Great length on most flavors. Well balanced overall. This bottle aged very well! Baron von Munchausen and European royalty of the 18th Century would approve, greatness is here. We should all drink the likes of this more often — 9 years ago

azita k

9.2

The most overpriced Chianti you have had yet bordering on the cheapest Brunello. The Marchetti made this wine royalty. Paired with osso bucco. — 5 years ago

ESF

9.0

Along w/ Pra & Pieropan - the royalty of Soave. Ca’Rugate also make fantastic reds. Their wines always technically correct and strike the proper balance of extraction & finesse. This was no different: floral and citrus, vein of minerality, suave acidic backbone, delicious finish. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.6

An absolutely stunning lunch from @joe leatherwood today. 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

In. The. Zone. The first of five mind blowing reds. This, to me, epitomizes first growth version of Bordeaux. In fact, I called this Napa royalty style first growth style. It is dusty and just starting to channel some herbal and leather notes, but the density and purity/softness of the fruit (still quite dark, hint of red fruit), scream older Napa Cab. Added notes of fig, leafy tobacco, and truffled dark cocoa. Wonderful! — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 1 other

Bob McDonald

9.6

The 2nd of 2 Australian Icons from 1999. Jasper Hill is Heathcote Royalty and their Emily’s Paddock is an unusual blend of Shiraz with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Beautiful aromas of pipe Tobacco Earth and Cocoa. The palate is defined by an all pervading Earthy sweetness with Cocoa notes and great length, concentration and persistence. Cannot detect the high 15.5 % Alcohol just giving this beautiful full bodied Wine stacks of flavour. Like the Semillon this has a way to go. Next in at least 5 years. — 8 years ago

Michael Mathews

9.1

Absolute brilliant wine. Cab Franc is my fav and this is off the charts. Dark plum, tobacco and cigar on the nose. Earthy, huge mouth feel. Elegant with massive legs enveloping the som glass....deep ruby purple color suggests royalty and luxurious!!!! And it is. — 8 years ago

with Brad, Kelly and 3 others

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

From CA vineyard royalty. Improves as it warms and with air time. This is a lesson in balance. Not a steely chard full of tropical flavors yet retains its minerality. Not an oak laced butter bomb but merely hints that it saw a minimal amount of oak in it's lifetime. Only 12.2% which is incredibly refreshing in a chard, especially one from a warmer climate. Tragic that 2013 was the last vintage before the chard vines were ripped out of the vineyard. — 9 years ago

Devin Bray

9.2

90% Viuria, 10% Malvasia from La Rioja Alta, Tondonia is a very well respected family that's been making wine for royalty there for centuries. They developed the superb 2007 Viña Tondonia Blanco Reserva following the founder of López de Heredia's admiration for the wines of Graves, France - renowned for their austere and dry whites. 2007 was a very good vintage in Rioja, much better than anticipated with perfect weather in the months prior to harvest. Hand destemmed and aged for 6 years in new Spanish oak. The wines are evolving slowly and in a positive way.

This has such fresh aromas of peaches and dried pears, dried apricot pit, as well as some fresh almonds and lemon pith in the mix. So youthful. The palate is beautifully fresh and super long, full of energy and lively grapefruit and lemon. Silky texture and a smooth, lightly toasted almond and beeswax finish, with a hint of salinity. María José López de Heredia considers 2007 a great vintage for their wines—extraordinary. — 5 years ago

James Webb

9.6

Dsgd 12/1/17 - how does one put this wine into words... it’s sheer complexity and unrivaled structural perfection. Its nose has caramel, mahogany, citrus, berries, flowers all packed into so many layers. The wine changes with air and temperature revealing all things interesting. They attack is so well balanced, as is the entire wine. It’s a black LBD of a wine with sequins all over. Not gigantic but also fully expressive, it sits on a throne of champagne royalty. — 6 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.3

From mag. This is young and lively! No rush. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

At the Downs Club Magnum Christmas Dinner. Aromas of coffee grinds. Certainly considered as Barossa Valley Royalty with access to fruit from ancient vines. A powerful full bodied wine with glycerol and supple tannins. Extracted but not overly so. Very easy to like and to drink. A good future ahead particularly coming from Magnum. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Monthly guys group wine meet-up. No theme tonight aside from “it better be good”.

Bordeaux, bordeaux, Bordeaux. Dusted cocoa leaves, stewed blackberries. Hint of cranberries. Spices on the palate with fresh squeezed blackberries. Touch of leather on the finish with some pepper. Head strong through 2+hrs of being open. Napa royalty. — 7 years ago

with Andrew, Bill and 1 other

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.4

Loving 2013's from Roulot. This is beginning to show royalty. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Notes of strawberry raspberry with savoury wild thyme aromas. A silky full bodied palate showing good intensity of cherries and plums. Still with a good future. NZ Pinot Royalty but have had better Block 3s. The winery now says Block 5 is just as good and priced accordingly. — 9 years ago

Nora S

9.0

There is a reason royalty used to order crates from this place. #southafrica #red# — 9 years ago