Sipping Fine Wine

9.8

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 10 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Nose of red and black fruits with light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, light oak, licorice, chocolates, spices and earth.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Grenache blend is starting to drink very nicely now, with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

Elegant and rich. Interesting and engaging. A very traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape in style.

Well balanced and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of all 13 allowed grapes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but mostly Grenache. Hand picked and whole cluster. Aged for 2 years in large French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$110. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — a year ago

Nathan Renfro

9.2

Bordeaux style with earthiness and loads of structure. Wine has many years left. Crisp mouthfeel. Dark ruby colored. Red/black fruit, earthiness, mushroom, red licorice. Med finish. — 3 years ago

Dawn Cole

9.5

2018 Deep Ruby in color, the 2018 Austin hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses aromas a fresh black currents and cherries accompanied by Subtle smoky nose and dried spices on the pallet this lavish powerful wine is layered with juicy blackberry, ripe cherry, vanilla bean and brown butter. It’s full-bodied and rich, balanced by a touch of bright acidity and firm polish tenants number seven top 100 winds of 2020. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

This is the first wine that made me fall in love with Chile 🇨🇱 wines back in early 2000 when it was around £25-£30 😍 Now at around £60-£65 does it still deliver? Oh yes baby this is delish now but in 5-8 years a 😈

Tomorrow I’ll post my newest love from Chile to wrap up a week of my 🇨🇱 favourites - darn I forgot Ocio Pinot Noir to 😊 Have you enjoyed my week of my personal Chile favourites ❓

📍 Concha Y Toro Don Melchor Puente Alto Vineyard - 2013

🏵 94 points w/ much more potential having had these aged 😉

🍇 91% Cabernet Sauvignon & 9% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep dark opaque ruby

👃 Dark smokey plum dragged through a dark berry bramble bush then swished into the soggy earth w/ lashings of melted cocoa & a dollop melted raspberry & blackcurrant liquorice

👄 Med+ body of creamy smooth rich dark berries, dark plum & raspberry w/ a touch of cherry all bathed in gloopy cocoa cream

🎯 Long ripe blackcurrant, dark plum & raspberry cocoa silky slight herby linger

— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

Fab GPL reaching peak drinking window @ £75-£90 always a lovely wine 👍

📍 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2001

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc

🍷 Deep alight garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Heady smokey oak through black currant & berry loaded with minerals, pencil lead & flint stone w/ dark plum, red berry, leather & damp cellar

👄 Med body of smooth touch dry mineral infused black berry fruits w/ a touch of red berry & cocoa

🎯 Long slight dry black fruit mineral bomb w/ a mocha liquorice kick — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.6

This may be the smoothest Hermitage I've had @ £83 it's like a pig rolling in velvet 🐷 so smooooth 😍 Great now but 97+ over next 5-20yrs 😎

🍷 Ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Cloves, Olives, thyme & piggy 💩 through blackberry w/ touch of liquorice & minerals

👄 Med+ body incredibly super smooth olive tapenade, blackberry & dark cherry - surprisingly well balanced @ this age 👍

🎯 Long dark fruit & olive pure silk finish — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep ruby red with concentrated aromas of ripe black fruit with subtle nutty spice and bitter chocolate. The wine is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. The palate offers flavors of dark fruit, sour black cherry and dried blackberries, with a firm touch of oak and leather. Tannins are present, but soft due to the age of the wine. The finish is elegant with a slight dry mineral tang, medium in length. Very Nice. Should last a few more years, but why wait, it’s perfect now! — 10 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.1

Gamey, rubbery, almost Shiraz-like burnt quality on the nose. Wild berries with zippy acidity and a rustic, herbal edge. Still has Malbec (or should I say Cot) concentration. — 10 years ago

Tom Garland

9.7

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment) A beautiful deep ruby red color. On the nose: Expressive nose captivates with dark red fruit, espresso, chocolate, floral, menthol, sweet tobacco. Taste: rich, round, intense wine with dark cherry/blackberry, minerals, cedar, tobacco, and a peppery-pencil lead-dried herb long dry finish. YUM! A brilliant wine just entering its drinking window with time to go. — a year ago

with Brenda

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium ruby garnet quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite herbal , dried strawberry and red cherry nose , touch of iodine , sous bois , dried mushroom notes , discreet roasted coffee note after a while. Quite pretty red fruits on the palate with good freshness , strawberry , earthy cherry and a marine , iodine like note , sous bois underneath . Quite elegant and well balanced acidity with fine tannic grip . Good red fruit , earthy tinged finish . This is showing more advanced than the 2001 Reserva , and would like to try another bottle of this , as I suspect this half is a bit below par. On the basis of this bottle drink now and over the next 5 or so years . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

No formal notes. Maybe slightly less dense ruby, wider rim . More refined and quite elegant , medium bodied , slightly more cooler greener fruits . This quite aromatic initially, mix of red and dark hedgerow fruits . A little more refined and small boned , perhaps a little light a shorter than others . This was impressive out of the gate , aromatic and charming quite mineral also , though it was the only wine that faded a little with time in the glass . This appears to be at its peak though probably will remain here for another 5 -10 years perhaps — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Inspired by @Eric 94 Dalla Valle tonight.

Decanted for sediment (some fine/cloudy sediment). A sensational tawny ruby red color. On the nose: Very aromatic nose of black cherry, currants, barnyard, earth, leather, and smoked meat. Taste: Damn, must have added some water from the fountain of youth. A smooth, still bright, juicy medium body wine with black currants, leather, hint of red berries, musky earth, and a minty espresso medium finish. Nice classic aged Cali cab! — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Willie Carter

9.2

Dark ruby with light purple accents in the glass. Big, rich nose of vanilla, plums, bright cherries, and a touch of oak peeking out. The good thing about drinking these so young is that the fruit is so bright and fun. Such nice acidity running throughout, even though this vintage is a little thinner than previous ones at this moment. Plenty of ripe red fruit and herbs on the palate with more oak, old leather, and cloves. If you have any of these sitting around, leave it alone for a few more years. Or do like me and open it now. — 7 years ago

Luca Lerario

8.9

4h decanting
Dark ruby color, creamy
Dark berries, leather, tobacco at nose. Earthy notes
Medium long at palate, good acidity, full body — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.8

The fight was a draw on points but on QPR the judges voted on the Palmer 🥇

At £340 it has less life but better & a bigger thrill drinking today 🥊 a bit more masculine than Ch Margaux

🍷 Deep ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Perfumed red flower, burnt oak, musty cellar, dark berry fruits, cocoa Black Forest morello cherry gateaux, liquorice & herbs

👄 Med body of super smooth dark berry w/ rich mocha liquorice

🎯 Long lingering rich deep liquorice dark mocha through dark spiced berries — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.1

Dark ruby. Nose of plums, earth, herbs and brush. With air the wine got better in the mouth and had a finish that grew with each sip. Can get better with some additional age. Give it lots of air. — 9 years ago

Leslie Cole

10

Quite possibly my favorite wine ever!!! — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

Regrettably the one Bodega I missed from a stomach bug on my trip last week, though I still love love you Spain and look forward to going back. Now back to the wine....
A beautiful ruby core with some orange and pink at the edges.
The nose is elegantly fruited, with dry flowers, cherry and American oak notes of coconut, dill and toast.
The palate is elegant, refined, while masterfully complex and persistent at the same time. The finish is long and crazy silky. One of the few GR from a very older producer that uses only proprietary fruit.

— 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

No formal notes . Quite deep ruby , garnet , thin garnet rim . This is quite open and aromatic , with a spicy , herbaceous cassis , truffle , tobacco , grafite hints , very classic and serious but also really attention grabbing . On the palate this is quite rounded and juicy for Las Cases , good mineral , grafite tinged cassis , quite fine but present tannins , balanced acidity with a tobacco tinged finished and pretty good length . Drinking well now but also can go a while yet, perhaps over the next 10 or so years . — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

I bought this bottle in Florence around 2019. I later found out the shop was owned by Antinori - the producer of the wine. An excellent Super Tuscan from Bolgheri. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Dark Ruby with a tawny rim starting to develop. Classic Bordeaux descriptors of Cassis, herbs, tobacco and hints of cocoa with oak totally integrated. A rich and mouth filling palate such that it could have been from a new world vineyard in a good vintage. This is comparable in quality to a good Super Second. Interestingly the 2007 had the major change of Syrah being eliminated from the blend in favour of Cabernet Franc. An outstanding Bordeaux blend which exceeded expectations. I should keep an eye out for more bottles. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.9

100% Tempranillo, about 12 mos in mostly new French oak. Deep Ruby, aromas of dark fruits, spice, floral and earthy oak. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry & currants with tobacco, licorice and gentle bits of cedar. Tannins, are tight supporting the backbone of the wine, needs more bottle age, resist opening now. Well balance with acidity, full body, long finish ends with some fruit, spice, and earthy character. Nice! — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I corvined this last weekend and put it back in storage for tonight. I had a very different experience & thoughts on this wine last weekend un-decanted. This is wine comes from a period when I loved Caymus. After 2011 when they started picking later and at higher brix’s, they lost me but, got higher Parker scores and rave words from people that like sweeter Cabernet that drinks young.

Last weekend without a decant, very dominate bright cherries and vanilla.

Tonight, the nose reveals, dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominate, baked strawberries, black licorice, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, underbrush, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets.

The body is full, sexy, gorgeous and voluptuous. The structure, tension, length and balance are at the start of its high point with another 7-10 years of good drinking ahead. Dark, slightly syrupy currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, creamy, black raspberries, blueberries, black plum with lots of skin dominating, baked strawberries, black licorice to deep anise, vanilla, some clove and a touch nutmeg, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, dark spices with just a touch of palate heat, underbrush, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, volcanic minerals, black tea, touch of black coffee expresso, liqueur/dark berry cola, used leather, hints of graphite with ruby, fresh, dark, fresh, dark, red, blue florals with violets. The acidity is like a needed waterfall shower. The long finish is, deep, dark, well balanced, elegant, ruby, ripe, polished and persists endlessly.

It’s been awhile and I’ve missed it. This is a very good example of why I used to adore Caymus. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

One of the better-known Crus Bourgeois of the Medoc.
Had another ‘11 in cellar. Dark Ruby with aromas of black and blue fruits with tobacco spice. Palate displays blueberry and blackberry with cacao and earthy herbs. Smooth characteristics, well balance full body wine with velvet tannins. Not a satisfying wine. Prrfect now. Consistent wine! — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.5

VCC is my favourite Pom & @ £130 this shows how great an off vintage can be 👍 Great now but will improve 😍

🍇 83% Mer & 17% Cab F

🍷 Garnet ruby

👃 Soft oaky smokey spiced plum, damson, cherry & blackcurrant in damp earth, prune, vanilla, honey, liquorice, flowers & dark mocha - divine 😎

👄 Med creamy silky smooth body of chewy spiced plum & blackcurrant in liquorice mocha

🎯 Long stewed dark plummy fruit earthy mocha linger — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Dark ruby red with a purplish hue. Good dark fruits on the nose with some forest floor and truffles. Light bell peppers in the finish. Moderate tannins (5.5/10) and medium bodied. Lots of soft dark fruits and damp leaves. Medium plus finish. Great restaurant wine and solid Sonoma Cabernet. Drink till 2022. — 10 years ago

with Sean

Hao Feng

9.2

Clear, deep ruby with tears. Clean nose, developing medium plus aroma of savory, spice, peppery, mint, black fruit, earthiness, mushroom and leather. Dry, medium plus acidity, mid plus tannin, high alc, high body, mid plus flavor strength and mid plus finish. Very good wine, good for aging — 10 years ago

Dick Schinkel

9.8

Deep ruby red in color.
In the nose: Wowww, a very nice bouquet of Sun riped dark fruit with black berries and wild cherry, pepper, nicely integrated wood, tobacco, autumn forest.
In the mouth: powerful. Soft acidity, with existing but butter soft tannins. Huge concentration. Great long finish. Beautiful mature wine.
The interplay of fruit and tannins that sooo mouth caressing and super fruit-mineral-berry finish, and a snowflake of dark chocolate................. gorgeous!!!
Now optimal mature 97 DSP
— 12 years ago