Jan de Weerd

9.2

Okay. Again the same dilemma. If a wine does not meet expectation is it basically bad (for me)? 🤔 because in life everything is relative, right? Any thoughts on puzzling matter??The wine was well balanced, dark red fruit flavors, polished, smooth tannins, good intensity and concentration, but limited length and lacking any meaningful complexity… Eight year old left bank Bordeaux. A fourth or fifth growth winery, maybe not, can’t remember for sure. Do remember what I paid though, $120. Definitely too much for what we experienced this evening…. as to our expectations. — 8 months ago

with Tammy

Paul Benson

9.3

Very smooth flavorful Pinot noir. Good vanilla notes. Great inexpensive table wine. — 3 years ago

Jane Day

9.8

Bought in 2005 at the bargain price of $22. I’d been saving it. Worth the wait. It was absolutely delicious, old school, refined, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. If I could only drink one wine for the rest of my life, this would be it (assuming availability). — 4 years ago

WC Fields

10

A ten for ten. Everything you want, all that you need. Frames life in all of its wonder, not perfect but shows how time and commitment can appreciate and create wonderment, finesse, maturity, and lasting power. — 6 years ago

Raj Ajrawat

9.4

All spice. Burnt pomegranate. Life goal is to make this my everyday drinker. — 6 years ago

Randy

9.3

Great value wine. Simple, approachable, and versatile. — 7 years ago

Selim Batibay

9.2

Had this as a night cap on the steps outside our hotel, over looking St Emilion. Amazing bottle full of life 37 years in. Once again proves "don't buy the vintage, buy the producer". Without a doubt one of the few royalties of Margaux. — 8 years ago

Keith Ward

9.3

Beautiful Cab Sauv from a stellar year in Napa! Can’t beat Montelena for structure, balance and a long shelf life. The only comparable wine (I’ve tasted) from this vintage is Shafer Hillside Select. This wine was fruit forward, mid pallet of aged leather, tobacco, nice tan is and a finish that lasted until the next sip!! Drink now, but would still be a very nice wine 10+ years from now!! — 2 years ago

Kurt Schuster

9.2

Stinky guava nose. Lychee fruit. Cleansing astringent flavor. Fresh acid, cuts through other flavors. Tropical mango and guava high notes. Lovely. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Dark scarlet color with translucent light reddish rims. Old wine nose. Notes of black and red fruit, gravel, barnyard floor, old leather and some old desk wood. Fruit is a bit faded but this has plenty of life with decent acidity and a nice structure. Got better with air and opened up nicely. Better than the last bottle of this lot, despite being a more ragged looking bottle. — 3 years ago

Gordana Josovic

9.5

Fabulous! A long life ahead it of, complex, wild, personality for days. — 4 years ago

Adam Nesto

9.4

Amazing wine. Still got life in it. — 6 years ago

Scott Soren

9.4

Soft tannins plummy fruit nice long finish. On the backside of its life but still yummy — 7 years ago

Rob Moose

9.3

A special find in 375 in Ojai. Beautiful tobacco and spice blend with mellowing bright red fruit, gorgeous with filet and grilled veg. Tons of life here but good development — 7 years ago

Chad Brewer

10

Without a doubt the wine of my life. Elegant, dried cranberries, cigar box, beechnut tobacco, great texture. A truly magnificent bottle. 1/100 that would be perfect. — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Until Caroline Frey took over wine making responsibilities, “La Chapelle” was sort of known to me as a perennial underachiever with very few vintages in the last 40 years really meeting their potential. The late 90’s was perhaps the deepest point of the malaise. That being said, this bottle proves that the underpinnings were always there and I found it to be very enjoyable, if not quite on the level of the other examples of late-90’s Hermitage we enjoyed on the night. There is still quite a bit of life left. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

One of the few producers that I purchase each and every vintage. I find that Laurence Feraud’s wines are consistently some of the more interesting and enjoyable wines made in all of Chateauneuf du Pape; particularly when value comes into play. This bottle is my first experience with her 2018 vintage and the first bottle of a small tranche that I swooped up upon release. Popped and poured; consumed over 5 hours. The color is deep ruby with a near opaque core; glossy and gorgeous to behold. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this is classic Pegaü with loads of dark cherry and bramble fruit, a veritable hillside full of garrigue, lavender, black pepper, and something that reminds me of old books. On that palate, the fruit is equally generous, brambles and cherries, exotic spices, Herbs de Provence and a somewhat sanguine-like character to it. Substantial structure, though it seems to be a notch lower than the previous three vintages at this point in its young life. The tannins are very sneaky. Almost imperceptible for the first hour and yet, by hour four, they were very much making themselves known (in the Medium+ range). Acid is also Medium+ indicating these have an exciting life ahead. The finish lasts for well over a minute. All in all, another lovely Pegaü that will likely live in the shadow of some of the more heralded vintages in the last ten years however, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a stunner. Absolutely lovely stuff and I very much look forward to enjoying these well into the 2030’s. — 4 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.4

Wonderful example of how there can be surprises in these under rated vintages. This was full of life. — 6 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.4

Quite elegantly red fruited, a bit of musk and savory notes, but surprisingly primary. Compared to the ‘89, this is lighter in structure, almost airy, but with years of life left. — 7 years ago

with Abiel

Dave Wood

9.0

Still with some life after 50 years. Nice with hazelnut espresso chocolate pot de creame. Nice way to end the 50th birthday dinner. — 7 years ago

with David