So Rare

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011

Medium ruby garnet , quite wide light garnet rim. Quite round sweet red cherry , spiced strawberry , blackberry , quite fruit driven still . With some tobacco and earthy hints . On the palate this is more red fruited , quite spiced cherry and strawberry with iodine hints and seaside notes . Good fresh acidity and quite rounded ripe tannins . Not particularly dense or intense on the palate , but well balanced and elegant with a reasonable , iron filling tinged finish . This is showing well now , and will continue to do so over the next 5-8 years. From magnum — a month ago

Ira, Anthony and 11 others liked this
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

I have this one in mgm too. Do you see it improving over the next 5-8 years or lasting for 5-8 years? Thx
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

@Anthony De Blasi I don’t see it improving much , it’s already delicious and the tannins are pretty much resolved , it already shows some development but still has enough fruit, there is no rush to enjoy it however . So my 5-8 years is estimating its prime drinking window … and as usual I would prefer to underestimate than overestimate…. Though these wines tend to age at their own pace 😅… enjoy your magnums !
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Thank you for your feedback Andrew!

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1983

Lyle Fass
9.8

Really just stunning. So nimble, so tight, so compact, so elegant. Brilliant! Didn’t taste the 89 sadly. — 2 months ago

Rob, John and 15 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2015

Good after sitting for an hour or so, and with food — 2 months ago

Brian Broxson
with Brian
Bobbi Jo, Brian and 1 other liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Shay A
9.3

(Two previous 1983 vintage wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from CT).

My experiences with 1983s has been fairly positive, and this PL certainly is among the better I’ve had from the vintage. Holding color nicely with deep ruby and slight bricking around the rim. Started off a bit dense and muddled, but hit stride about 30mins later with a mix of red and black berry fruit, cassis, a streak of herbal green down the middle (something I always get with PL). Excellent example of the fruit showing lots of flavor without being overly ripe. Leather, sweet pipe tobacco, graphite, and still some vibrancy at the finish with tannin structure. Clean and elegant at this stage. Showed well over the course of two hours. Drink up and enjoy.
— 3 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 34 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2022

So good, with age or without. — 3 months ago

Jan, Ira and 8 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2011

It’s 10 years since Serge. Hochar’s death whilst swimming in Acapulco on NYE 2014 and I think it’s appropriate to celebrate his legacy that is the modern Chateau Musar.
I first tasted Lebanese wines in London circa 1986 when I used to go to a couple of Lebanese restaurants in Shepherds Market near Mayfair in London
Al Hamra is still in business
I’ve been to Beirut several times and always stock up at the airport duty free
So a toast to a departed icon of the wine world
Since my last 2011 4.5 years ago (see note) this has aged wonderfully and I’ve up my rating several points
Another few years and it will be further improved
Optimal decant time was around 3.5 to 4 hours
Ethereal stuff
— 4 months ago

ESF, Bob and 1 other liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

Tipicity! You know it’s Bordeaux, and great, the moment you smell it. Yet this dark fruit, pencil lead one took me to the wrong bank. It felt fresh, and less dark. Blackberries and plums, for sure. A great wine. So young… — a month ago

Ira liked this

Krug

Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend

Magnum of 168. Absolutely love Krug and it has become my favourite Champagne. Fresh yet complex...so much to enjoy! — a month ago

Bob, Ted and 8 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes of black & red berries, truffles, loamy soil, worn leather, tobacco leaf, floral, herbaceous. Taste: soft, elegant, balanced, layered mouthfeel wine with blackberry, dark plum, leather, crushed granite, dried herbs, and a spiced cedar long finish with some dusty tannins. YUM! At the start of its drinking window with 20-30 years to go, so no rush. — 2 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Cassandra and 18 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Nice!!!

Piper-Heidsieck

Cuvée Rare Brut Champagne Blend

At 23 years of age And 22 years on the lees, this wine has loads of toasty autolytic flavors combined with lemon drop, dried orange rind, dried raspberry, baked apple, toast, pastry, honey, hazelnut and acacia. Soft but persistent mousse and an extremely long finish. — 3 months ago

Justin, Paul and 4 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Shay A
9.3

(Two previous 1983 wine reviews never made it on here, so copying from my CT).

Continuing a run of ‘83s over the last 3-6 months, this not only showed quite well, but it was at its best after almost two hours in the bottle. Whereas the ‘83 Pichon was clean and elegant, this was a bit more dense and powerful. Beautifully expressive aromatics of potpourri, espresso, fig and leather with a flavor profile mostly on the red/black fruit side of the spectrum. The mid-palate showed good weight and continued to bulk-up during the evening. Old cherry-tobacco note at the finish. Honestly, this drank like it was more early ‘90s than it was early ‘80s. Good.
— 3 months ago

Scott@Mister, Jan and 34 others liked this

Château Cheval Blanc

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

No formal notes . Medium deep ruby again. This is a bit greener , spicier , with some red pepper , smokier and darker fruit on the nose . Spicier and a bit more plush on the palate . This actually improved a lot in the glass and was changing quite a lot , became more floral with crunchy fresh dark berries . Polished tannin but nice fresh acidity , quite velvety on the palate . No lack of weight either . Really quite liked this and will no doubt age gracefully even if it is enjoyable today with time in decanter. For enjoyment over the next 10 years or so. — 3 months ago

Anthony, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2008

A wonderfully balanced Cabinet blend from Bolgheri. Definitely Cabernet notes but so balanced that nothing stands out. Sassicaia is definitely Bordeaux First or Second Growth standard. Understated but irresistible nonetheless. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Cabernet Franc. Probably one of the best non Bordeaux Cabernet blends. — 4 months ago

Ira, Jeroen and 26 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

Silky silky smooth...so well made. Still young but very enjoyable. Has a long future ahead — a month ago

Bob, Ted and 10 others liked this
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

Wow. You are on a roll!
Andrew McIntyre

Andrew McIntyre

@Jan de Weerd was a good night! Sore heads the next day though 😵‍💫

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (24%), Petite Verdot (3%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). Dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of plush black fruit, violets, graphite, leather, cedar and wet gravel. Jammy raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors with additional notes of plums, black currants, mocha, coffee, tobacco and baking spices. Beautiful hints of smoke and dusty earth on the long and precise finish. Rich and concentrated with great intensity. Medium-plus body and some noticeable tannins. Still a bit tight, but heading to a very good place. Thank you so much for the wonderful gift, Kasey and Pete! — 2 months ago

Paul, Jamie and 9 others liked this

Enderle & Moll

Liaison Pinot Noir 2021

Wow! So glad I bought a bottle of this. Funky on opening. After 2 hours it is so good. Violets, roses, cherry, baking spice is in background, there’s an earth/herbal component I cannot pinpoint. It is so drinkable but evolves with almost every sip. Need more Pinots like this in my life. — 2 months ago

Vanessa, Austin and 9 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1983

Outstanding. A little light in body. But wow. So delicious. — 3 months ago

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

No formal notes . medium deep ruby , medium bright ruby rim. Quite spicy a little oak noticeable at first . Mixed dark fruits . A bit more round and juicy on the palate , good acidity , slightly grippy but polished tannins . This becomes a bit more restrained and reserved after a while. Served blind , I actually put this as Haut Brion , due to its generous personality, and polished tannins. Overall showed well in the flight was my top wine (though the Cheval Blanc may well be better in absolute terms) . Can be enjoyed now , though has the substance to last a further decade or so, a good showing for the Mouton. — 3 months ago

Anthony, Andrew and 10 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2013

Popped and poured. We enjoyed this as an apéritif so no formal notes but this was absolutely delicious. So easy to love; phenomenal balance. Like so many 2013’s, this is great on the pop and pour and easier to appreciate than the 2012’s which simply need a lot more time. — 4 months ago

Jan, Billy and 15 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2021

Okay this wine was amazingly delicious but was undoubtedly quite young in this present moment.

There is so much more potential to unveil over time.

It has concentrated plum, fig, red currant, pomegranate, boysenberry notes next to licorice, meat, earth, peat, clove notes. Tannins and acidity are firm.

With time, we anticipate edges will be soften and complexity will be deepen with more tertiary notes and we cannot wait to revisit this wine down the road again.
— 4 months ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Ira and 19 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

2021 was such an outlier from the previous seven vintages in the Rhône, which were all warmer and made fairly powerful wines. For the record, I love the ‘21’s as they remind me of the 2014 vintage which I found to be more Burgundian and showed more of the rotundone I adore in Syrah.
Vanessa

Vanessa

@Jay Kline Thank you for your note! We can see what you mean. It was elegant, refined, with classic spicier notes. We are fans! We’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for the 2014s, too. 👀 Cheers!