Jay Kline

9.5

Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #2 had great color, was developing, fresh, focused, balanced; great structure. One of those glasses of wine you didn’t want to end and, for me, a tough call for favorite of the flight along with Wine #1. I vacillated between this being Dominus or Monte Bello; ultimately calling the former. This is in a beautiful phase of life. Monte Bello is one of those wines that needs decades to show its best. Drink now through 2040. — 4 months ago

Tim Lee

9.1

Deep intensity with ruby color. Nose medium with notes of black fruit. Notes of vanilla from the oak. Full body with a great mouth feel. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

I’ve often struggled to appreciate Beaucastel, particularly when young. However, the more often I drink older Beaucastel, I find myself slowly starting to understand why these wines are so important.

Opened about two hours prior. The 2001 Beaucastel pours a pale, slightly hazy garnet with a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Strawberry preserves, leather, bacon fat, and some chicory. On the palate, medium tannin, medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Is this the most powerful expression of Chateauneuf du Pape? No. But it’s balanced, complex and it makes me think and I like that.

As a sort of epilogue, I was able to enjoy this bottle with someone who drinks old Beaucastel more regularly than I do. He described this bottle as being one that is in-between plentitudes; which makes sense as some of the tertiary characteristics are beginning to show themselves. Subsequently, you can drink now but this will likely enter a new dimension in the next few years. — 5 months ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.6

Yummy. Dark, Smokey but balanced with plum, currant and cherry notes. — 10 months ago

with Marilea

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot, aged in French oak for about 18 months, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, sweet spice and herbs. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with tobacco spice, toasty oak and floral notes. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice, oak and mineral character, Nice, should age well. — 8 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

10

Deep ruby color. Aromas of blueberry, iron/blood, smoked meat, saline with some floral notes. Intense nose, silky smooth flavors of blue fruits with an elegant finish. Superb! — 9 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy 4th of July everyone.

I can’t think of many other N/V Champagnes we’d rather kick-off the long 4th of July weekend.

Happy Birthday America & Cheers! 🍾🥂 🇺🇸 🧨

Numerous notes all apply. — 4 years ago

Jamie Michelson

9.7

Found cellar notes. Bought for $25 in 1990 in NY for New Years Eve dinner. Still memorable. — 7 years ago

Sean Wallner - WSET II

9.5

Definition of refreshing!
Nose: Stone fruit, minerals, lemon grass
Notes: same with a hint a pineapple and orange peel.
All around impressive Sav Blanc, can't believe I waited this long to try it. — 9 years ago

Mark Yandle

9.1

A bit past it's prime, but delicious regardless. Leather and mild cigar on the nose along with subtle floral notes. Fruit flavours were very light blackberry and plum. Very warm earthy tones. Tannins were all but gone. A great way to celebrate a birthday! — 10 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby with wide garnet rim . On the nose quite red fruit focused with earthy , sous bois and truffle notes , grafite coffee and cedar . On the palate medium bodied with a mix of red and dark fruit, soy , tobacco , iron filings and cedar. Quite good acidity , with fine tannin , balanced alcohol . Pretty good length with a saline , grafite finish . This is showing well now and be at its best over the next 5-8 years , and last a further 10. On Singapore Airlines FRA - SIN — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Brief Notes:- A medium weight red fruited savoury, earthy, bombshell of M+ intensity…a tarry note with liquorice adding to its Chateauneuf personality. An excellent example. More Burgundian than Rhone in weight and texture. Not sure further cellaring will add much but delicious right now. NB I have a bottle or two left and maybe a magnum? Must check. Had another bottle 17 weeks later on 18th May 2024 with similar notes. Pale tawny, dirty Ruby in colour - almost transparent. First aromas of tar, roses and violets. Medium bodied / red fruits, strawberries and raspberries in a savoury style. — 4 months ago

John W

9.0

Deep ruby coloration. On the nose, forest floor, plum, cherry, currants, spice and bbq. On the palate, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, plum, and high acidity right out of the bottle. After breathing some, notes of cedar, minerals, tobacco, and spice, carrying through to a longer finish of cherry, vanilla and mint. Tannins strong but balanced. — 6 months ago

Kristen Grimes

9.3

Rich dark fruits, leather, vanilla/dark caramel. Light but rich, good acid for 16 years, strong but not overpowering tannins, balanced fruit and oak notes. — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

From a just opened owc purchased on release. This needed a little air to show mostly black fruits with spice box, dried herbs, earth, leather & tobacco notes. — 8 months ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.4

Delicious wine from a generous friend, Dr Joe. Juicy red fruit holding up very well with years to come! Herbaceous notes underlie foresty flavors underly cassis and developed red berries. — 9 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

Great color in the decanter... medium gold with an enticing perfume. Notes of sweet Meyer lemon, apricot, gravel stone, tan clay, some mint, a little ginger and some sweet marzipan. Has an exotic and slightly musty (desirable) funk. Huge weight with great fruit and solid acidity in the mouth. Decanted for 2 hours before drinking. Awesome juice! If you Google “why should I age white burgundy?”, an image of this 35 year old bottle should be shown... — 3 years ago

Gladys Xiques

9.4

It's delicate and refined. A slight hint of talking us at the beginning but the Notes evoke honey and maple. — 9 years ago

Taft Morgan

9.0

Lovely noted of sweet strawberry jam and white pepper. The palate is a fantastic smoky beef jerky with floral perfume notes at the end — 9 years ago

with Ginette

Mark Lee

9.4

Excellent notes. High complexity — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium garnet ruby , with garnet rim . Quite ripe dark fruits , with cassis , tobacco , spicy dark chocolate and cedar notes . On the palate quite strict and delicate , cassis , sous bois , grafite and tobacco . Nice acidity and slightly gritty tannin . Nicely balanced and good to enjoy now and over the next 6-8 years — 4 months ago

LM Segal

9.6

Still incredibly primary, as if just bottled, powerful nose dominated by classic cigar and cedar notes. Prominent, velvety oak led a rich, round palate of fine tannins and dark red cherry, baking chocolate. Tail went on forever. Give this 10 more years will be even better. — 5 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 1970 Palmer is a vintage that I have tasted on several occasions, although recently, I have encountered some variation, including a rather rum example in 2015. The most recent example has an attractive tobacco-infused nose, perhaps more akin to a Saint-Julien than a Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm backbone, a slight dryness around the edges and fine salinity with lightly-spiced cedar and tobacco notes on the finish. This is a solid 1970 Margaux, though I would not keep it long-term. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— 6 months ago

Sagee Aran

9.2

Never fails. A beautiful medium body Rioja with dark palm notes and matured cherries. Tanins already soft. — 8 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Big and bold Pinot! Deep purple/garnet color. Aromas of cooked black berry/raspberry, purple flowers, black licorice and pepper spice. More black cherry and blueberry fruit on the palate with notes of dark chocolate, baking spices and maple. Quite rich, concentrated and viscous. Velvety tannins and moderately low acidity. Big Pinot! — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.6

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 89% Tempranillo & 11% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak. On the palate flavors of jammy dark berry fruits with spice & smoky earthy notes on ripe full soft tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — a year ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Great vintage for DB that is still showing up at 65 yrs with notes of dried cherry, berry fruits, cedar, leather, savory spices, dried herbs, forest floor, lead pencil & tobacco leaf. — 4 years ago

Doctor No

8.9

Classic, if a bit foursquare. Subtle meaty notes, slightly faded black fruit, hints of white pepper, a little soil. — 6 years ago

Reid Robinson

9.2

Drinking very well deep rich cherry and like woodsy notes. — 9 years ago

Ben Tollin

9.4

Let it breathe 40 min. Sweeter than expected. Easy drinking with med + tannin. Zin based fruit notes evident. Excellent! — 9 years ago