Jake Thornburgh

9.2

Classic medium-full bodied Barolo. Well balanced and the tar/rose aromas really shine. Got this at Whole Foods. Will get it again — 8 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.1

Classic approachability always found in Raphet, young yes, but with some air it really starts to shine. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Blue fruits shine with dark cassis and dark chocolate. Finishes with dark and mid red fruits. — 9 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.3

Amazing aging potential on (some of) these older Newton Chardonnays.
Starting out a bit questionable (possibly reduced?) it really started to shine after 3+ hours. — 10 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1984 Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cab. We decanted this at the start of dinner at Union and drank after the '97 Ornellaia and before the '94 Harlan. This had much less fruit than the Ornellaia- dusty, earthy notes with mineral, eucalyptus, and spice as well. Enjoyed this wine immensely, but it was hard for this to shine as it was sandwiched between the Ornellaia and the Harlan. This wine was great with pasta, but it would have been equally enjoyable to drink without food. — 10 years ago

Charles (Chad) Bucklin

Owner and founder of C. T. Bucklin Wine Advising

9.2

Rough at first. It took about 3 hours to really shine and show off. #bordeaux #cos #cosdestournel #2ndgrowth — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The 07 Lytton Springs is blackberry,boysenberry, blueberry, mulberry syrup over pancakes, an easy integrated array of spices with a whiff of white pepper in the forefront. Rich, jammy, juicy and syrupy. Really starting to shine but I'll hold the rest of my bottles another three years for it's perfection. — 11 years ago

Chantal Leyden

9.8

I'm usually not a fan of white but this was amazing. Notes of citrus, melons and a hint of honeysuckle — 13 years ago

Niki Sherman

9.0

Scot likes lots — 8 years ago

Eric Egan

9.3

Phenomenal level; slow-oxed for 3 hours and decanted for 30 mins. Deep hue with a hint of bricking but good shine and legs - still vibrant on the nose with clear Cab Franc notes; smokey, almost meaty (bilton-like) with hints of cocoa nibs, roasted peppers, and pipe tobacco. Ever so slightly numb on the palate - clearly well balanced but perhaps becoming slightly unknit. I suspect it will come back together for the long haul so drink now or from 2040:-) — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Creamed fruits, coffee grounds and dry floral nose. Ruby ripe dark fruits; blackberries, dark cherry, stewed plum, dry coffee grounds, tobacco leaf, softened leather, dry brown earth, crushed dry rocks, dry florals, nice acid and finish that will get there...it's just not today. There is great structure here with length and good balance but this needs another ten plus years to really shine. — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

In tonight's WS tasting, we had the 06, 04 and 02. There are at least two things that are true. One, time is kind to the older vintages and/or the 02 vintage was special. Likely, both are true. One thing that is undeniable, WS grows and cellars amazing fruit. Seriously, consistent! The raspberry in their aged fruits really shine. Followed by bright; strawberries,cranberries, pomegranate, limestone chalk, mid minerality, black & red licorice, earth, sweet spice and flat out elegance that goes on and on. The quality amongst their single designated vineyards is marginable from their Sonoma coast blends. Also, how they price them. — 10 years ago

Charles Hetzel

9.7

1989 Chateau Lynch Bages Bordeaux - the WOTN and truly remarkable depth and great fruit. It let the Pauillac shine through. — 11 years ago

Aran Healy

Partner Ruby WIne, Carlotta Cellars, Thistle Cellars

9.3

Great work. Natty PS, done really well...a little marsanne to boot — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Will come around at the moment too young and closed. Chalky rose pedals shine through. — 10 years ago

Michael Mallon

9.0

This was a winner. Black cherries and red fruit shine forth once the tannins have had a chance to mellow out. Chocolate, herbs and earth throughout. Well structured. — 10 years ago

Ginevra

9.5

Rain or shine, this bottle makes me feel happy:-) — 10 years ago

Brianne Guist

8.9

Rich mouthfeel and ripe raspberry and cherry flavors. yum! — 11 years ago

Dick Schinkel

9.1

Firm, masculine and structured, notes of tobacco, cassis, blackberry and earth shine through with effort. Full bodied and traditional in style — 12 years ago