Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

My last #wine bottle of this lovely #Margaux from the superb 2005 vintage. This beauty is at its peak, lovely balanced, with a nice blend of earth, coffee, oak, plum , blackberry, chocolate tobacco, cedar, dark fruit, blackcurrant graphite, pepper , savory, medium to full body with Nicky integrated tannins and a pleasant finish. My score 90, drink to 2020 — 7 years ago

Norman

9.4

Hard to score here given the night, so will defer to others but a great night. Gunja throws the the best parties. Great starter. — 9 years ago

with Rich, Jason and 2 others

Jordan Franceschini

9.4

The real deal. Yes a bit early. Score goes higher. Lyle- love that tannin wall you refer to. Hitting on many notes. — 9 years ago

with Lyle

Jan de Weerd

9.1

Nice wine but lacking body for higher score. Oaky upfront and sweet edge at the end. — 10 years ago

with Tammy

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

8.9

One of my last bottles of this wine bought 11 years ago, the wind is at is peak, with lots of sediments and character. Color is red with brown rims, nose us complex mature and rich with licorice, coffee, espresso, plums, black cherry and a touch of port, body is full round and tannins are smooth and velvety,acidity is still there and will carry the wine for a few more years, yet my recommendation is go ahead and finish what you have in your stock, as risk of passing peak is high. My score 89, drink up. — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

The 90 Pichon Lalande is a wine of controversy between professional wine critics, wine lovers and I'm sure the producer. Parker gave this wine a 79. Neil Martin an 86. Wine lovers give it an average score of around 92 on Cellertracker with some scores as high as 96. The 90 left bank vintage is well respected and certainly Pichon Lalande is a well respected producer. While this producer is one of my favorites, the 90 Pichon Lalande does not live up to the grandeur of the 90 Bordeaux vintage. However, is this a bad wine? No, but it is off for such a quality vintage. The 90 does not have distinct or even bright fruit. The fruit is cooked and it also has a green vegetal character with it's strong presence of cooked green bell pepper. The 90 also lacks mid palate and finish. It is however, still elegant in the style of an older Pichon Lalande. When you taste it, you recognize some of the Pichon Lalande characteristics but it lacks the quality one has grown to expect from them. The conversation will likely be the same for their 05 but additional time will be required to make a fair assessment. Open a bottle and join the debate. — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

2003, Lovely wine, new world in style, rich intense and lavish. Deep garnet color, tempting nose of licorice, black cherries, leather, wet soil, chocolate, black rip plums, full body with well integrated rich round tannins, lovely acidity that is quit surprising for the extra warm vintage, long delicious dry yet ripe finish. A truly delightful wine, that is underrated in my humble opinion. My score 90+, drink to 2018, perhaps even longer. — 11 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.1

Still a baby from Pomerol, this lovely wine from the amazing 2010 vintage is still very young, but shows some of the potential to come. Deep garnet color, a lovely complex and rich nose, with lairs of black current, soil, chocolate, light licorice, a touch of iron, a hint of red cherry, red current, and mocha. Full body, with firm tannins, lovely acid to support its long expected maturation, takes time to open up, and rewards you by the hour. Nice elegant finish. My score 91, drink to 2025 and most probably longer. — 11 years ago

Alec Jeffery

9.0

Nose a little closed, decanting helped, cherry and black fruits, soft tannins, a little short on the aftertaste, not rich enough for a top score. Worth seeking out. — 11 years ago

Max Bozoghlian

Owner/Wine Director Carlito's Gardel

9.2

Should merit a higher score after a few years in the cellar. — 11 years ago

Michael Zari

10

Wow! If the score is about perfection, I have never had a better merlot, even Petrus. Just saying! — 12 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

The second label of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion. A lovely elegant and appealing blend of 56% CS, 39% Merlot, and 5% CF. Delicious and still young, another great example of the nice surprises that the 2008 vintage had to deliver. Full of cassis, earth, chocolate, cedar wood, full body, rich, firm tannins, fruity complex finish. My score 90, drink to 2025 — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

A Bordeaux blend. Spends 22 months in 70% new 400 liter oak barrels. Nose of fragrant floral fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum. Licorice, anise, dark chocolate and fresh, dark florals. The fruits are ripe and fresh and match the nose. Black licorice, tarry notes, loamy soils, moist dark soil, lead pencil, cedar, tobacco, underbrush, great acidity and a beautiful long finish. The structure is better as is the tension and length. This bottle needs 8-10 years in bottle for a higher score but for many hard not to dry young. Photos of the view from the Long Shadows patio, another one of the glass blown floor lamps and a concrete fermentation egg...interestingly in an inverted shape I hadn't seen before, no real difference in effect. — 9 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

A fantastic 2002, this lovely wine shows once more that today there aren't really bad years in Bordeaux, this Pontet Canet was well structured rich and tempting. Deep red, tempting rich multi layered nose ripe cherries, black current, coffee, cigar box, and tea leaves, full rich body, dry tannins, full of black fruit, high acidity and a long chewy finish. Was worth the wait, my score 90. Drink to 2022 — 10 years ago

Reza Oliyai

10

Second bottle of 2008 vintage. Perfect score for a perfect wine. — 10 years ago

Richard Steinberg

9.1

This is still a baby. Over time this could score higher. It's all there but a bit too muscular in its evolution. The stuffing is there. — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

8.9

A lovely robust second wine that needs more time to mature, this blend of 50% CS 50% Merlot has a deep garnet color , very expressive aromas of black current, cedar wood, black cherries, cigar box, tea leaves and plums, an excellent melange of earthiness and fruit, full body with firm dry tannins and great acidity, this wine is still young and needs more time to mellow and show his well masked smoothness, long dry delicious finish, after 8 hours starts to open up and deliver more complexity. My score 89, drink 2016-2022, next bottle in 2017 ;-) — 10 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.9

Wow! Yup a AwesomeCab with 1 HourDecanting! This Cab is a must BUY! Gorgeous Fruit layers of soft tannins makes for a great Cab! CB 100. Score a little high but even Robert Parker gives this Great a 97+. WOW ALERT! — 11 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

2008, A great Bordeaux that needs more time to reach its peak. It was decanted a bit before sipping but not enough. The wine had a deep Bordeaux color, the nose is full of black current, chocolate , coffee and smokey earth, it has a full body with firm tannin that needs to open up and will soften with time, long dry finish. My score 90+, drink 2016-2022 — 11 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.5

Amazing Merlot!!! Pure pleasure - an extraordinary mix of power freshness and complexity. A masterpiece. Those who know me, know that I don't easily grant 5 stars. But here each star is well deserved!!!

My score 95, drink 2014-2028!

The wine is almost black in color, the nose is seductive and essentially you fall in love with this wine from the first sniff. The aromas are rich and concentrated, plum, black cherry, sweet spices, licorice, coffee, chocolate, blueberry jam and much more. Body is full, chewy, rich intense , rich and extracted, a rare combination of fruit forward and freshness, the tannins are round, smooth and caressing, the light acidity keeps you addicted. The finish is long, and addictive.. Impossible to stop drinking it — 11 years ago

Ivan London

10

So, this is an eye-opening wine for me. Here are some reviews:

A bright, almost chiseled style, offering fresh-cut pineapple, quince and candied Meyer lemon flavors, with a long, floral-filled finish. Seriously long, with lovely lacy detail already showing on the finish. Should be long-lived.—J.M. Score: 94-97.

97 Points
Wine Enthusiast
Pure, with piercing persimmon, pineapple, white peach and quince flavors. Gorgeous floral notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom form the backdrop, while a heather accent caresses the finish. Overwhelmingly pure in the end, with a finish that sails on and on. Best from 2016 through 2035.

95 Points
Wine Spectator
Deep yellow-gold. Sexy, perfumed nose offers pineapple, honey, nutmeg, marzipan and spicy oak. Big, rich and voluminous as Doisy-Vedrines tends to be, but more refined than usual in 2011, offering enticing, sweet flavors of exotic fruits, spices and honey. Finishes long and sweet, with sexy oak notes of spice and coconut and plenty of spicy botrytis.
Range: 90-93

93 Points
International Wine Cellar
The 2011 Doisy-Vedrines has a far more taciturn bouquet than the Doisy-Daene, offering its trademark tropical, peachy aromas that will hopefully develop more delineation throughout its maturation. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous entry. There are attractive spicy notes and a satisfying build in the mouth towards its botrytis-rich, tropical finish, although on this occasion I find it needing more tension to merit a higher score. Drink 2014-2030.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 Points

92 Points
The Wine Advocate — 11 years ago

Michael Dierberg

9.2

Nice nose. Black currants and tree bark. Finish deprives it of a higher score. — 9 years ago

with JiaMin

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.1

Another visit to this lovely wine and another confirmation that 2008 was a great vintage and most probably one of the best value vintages in the last decade in Bordeaux. The wine is rich, round, elegant and smooth, already ready for drinking, with earthy notes, coffee, black current, wild berries, full round body, lovely tannins, elegant long finish. A pleasure. My score 91, drink to 2025 — 9 years ago

Carl Fischer

9.9

To quote my two friends @Martin G Rivard and @Mike Rowe this is a bad ass wine eliciting smiles all around (and a great way to start 2017). Parker gave this a perfect score and it is a beauty. Decanting is a must at this point. It's been opening up over the last 4 hours and think it will continue to improve if I can sip more slowly lol. Slightly cloudy, and a bright purple in the glass. On the nose, cassis, vanilla and toast dominate. The sips are long and driven by fruit (blue and blackberries and cassis). Liquid silk in the mouth with sweet tannins and a surprisingly strong acidity. The finish is long. This is a total baby but I had to try it. Happy New Year to all my Delectable friends and especially to my fellow Wine Nerd Herd. I've always believed that sharing wine with friends is the greatest gift and this app has enabled me to do that with friends near and far and connect with some great people. May 2017 be a year of great health and happiness and may all our glasses be full! — 9 years ago

Ron R

9.5

I'm struggling to find the words.

I under-clubbed the rating on this. Just revised my score upwards. — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

a lovely super Toscana, still young and has a great potential. The wine is very well crafted with a pleasant balance between the core elements, the color is almost black, the aromas are multi layered with a base full of black fruits that are complemented by notes cedar wood, coffee and chocolate, full body with lavish tannins and wonderful acidity to support aging. Finish is long and delicious. My score 90, drink to 2024 — 11 years ago

Martin Frowde

8.9

Lovely deep purple colour and inviting cassis bouquet (soft and gentle, not in your face despite a hint of black pepper). Smooth mouthfeel with good initial blackcurrant flavour with a hint of eucalyptus but a little acid and the aftertaste just leaves you wanting a little bit more from the wine because it is so close to being "wow". Definitely a good wine to have with food and it needed at least 90 mins post decanting to open up. GBP 40 which to my mind is a little over-priced and prevents me from giving it a score of 9. — 11 years ago

with Georgina

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.1

1996, This 1996 blend of 61% CS and 39% merlot, showed beautifully and justifying the 19 years of cellaring.
A truly deep rich and elegant wine. Lavish red appealing color, lovely nose, leather, black cherries, black current, wet soil, mineral, medium to full body, with soft round tannins, smooth, deep, complex, lovely acidity to balance, and a delicious finish, with hint of sweetness. A truly lovely wine. My score 91, drink to 2019. — 11 years ago

Rajiv Ayyangar

9.3

1995. Medium garnet in the glass, this had a beautiful nose of sweet tobacco, brown liquorice in the sun, light tones of stewed savory bell pepper, concentrated notes of black raspberry liqueur, and an underlying tamari savoriness (very light, not at the level that I get on Musar). It’s the next day and I’m still getting flashbacks.
In the mouth it felt a bit short. Medium body, medium alcohol, medium acid, definitely plusher than Leoville Barton (both due to youth and probably because this is Right Bank / merlot based vs. Left Bank / cab based). Think a light fur coat. The finish is mostly acid and tannins though. Mostly I smelled this.

LM and BD shared their experience and put this wine into context: This is a solid example but will get better in 5-10 years. Still a bit young to their taste.

Score: Between 9 and 9.5. Despite the promise of improving with age, I was so stoked on this that I will probably drink my other bottle soon-ish. As in tonight. As in I might be drinking it right now.

Vineyard: 80% merlot, 18% cab franc, 2% cab — 11 years ago

Lowell Su

9.8

Perfectly balanced Bordeaux. Shoulder height was a slightly low and the cork wasn't in best condition leading to a not perfect score for me. Otherwise the merlot and Cabernet danced together well in flavor and blend. — 11 years ago