Ian Hamel

9.1

2023 fall. Very young - quite powerful and primary, even more so than usual at this stage, but I somehow enjoy that — 5 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

Quite tart strawberry driven. So fresh. Folks at the impromptu ‘case-tasting’ when Lyles wine arrived liked this one the best. More when this is settled after it’s travails. — 6 months ago

Willem Booij

9.4

You can wake me up for this wine, 29 years old and still very much alive. A nose so good that I can snif it for hours. Love it! — 9 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Lemon yellow , really quite young looking, very fine persistent perlage. Slightly reticent at first and then very pure confit lemon , buttered toast , pastry , seashells , mineral , chalky notes , very much like a Montrachet with bubbles . In the mouth really intense minerality , so precisely balanced with mouth watering acidity and very long on the palate . Ripe but steely citrus fruits , pastry notes and lots of minerality on the palate . This is really young still , and probably needs more time in all honesty , no crime to drink now but will surely only improve over the next 10 years and last a further 10 to 15 . — 10 months ago

Martin G Rivard

10

What a beautiful person inside and out! I'm blessed beyond measure to be able to call him "Dad". Words can't adequately express how much I Love him. We opened a few bottles last night that I will hold near and dear to my heart forever. We are celebrating his completion of 6 rounds of chemo therapy in his battle against Prostate cancer. This is his 3rd time in the ring against this opponent and it appears that he's won with a unanimous decision by knockout at this time!!!!!! Love you dad!!!!! So proud of your strength through this process. My Father was born in 1940. A difficult year to say the least:
Germans entered Bordeaux in June of 1940. As dictated by Hitler himself, it was the sworn duty of each and every commander to search and seize whatever could be used for the advancement of the German cause. Bedlam broke out. Chateaux' were ransacked, wine cellars were looted if not used for target practice. The Chateauxs were forced to continue producing wines. It's poetic justice that Mother Nature provided the Germans with the worst growing season from 1940 to 1944!!!! The Germans left Bordeaux in 1944 to the cheers of the residents "Au Revoir Les Allemands"!!!! The 1940 bottle that we enjoyed this evening survived World War II. It Survived the ransacking, pillaging & plunder of countless German soldiers. It's outer capsule showed evident signs of its struggle but it's inner beauty was unblemished and glorious. I've had many, many vintages of Latour from 1928 and on but none have ever tasted as perfect as the one we enjoyed tonight. This 1940 was perfect. It was a fighter, it never gave up, it never relinquished in the face of adversity. That's my Father, that my role model. He's a beautiful person inside & out. I think 1940 is the best vintage that I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. Special thanks to my good friends Michael Troise whom provided me with much of the insights in regards to the incredibly difficult vintage and David Page whom gifted this bottle to me for our celebration this evening. I will never forget your generosity. It was a glorious evening to say the least!!! Wine has a way of bringing people together and encapsulating an evening and event. I couldn't think of a better way to rejoice in his victory than to open a Father & Son birth year wine. — 7 years ago

with Ryan, Christine and 1 other

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

Wow, totally diff profile that 83 MGX. Drinks so much younger than it is. Great bottle. Dark fruit, leather and some nice graphite. Awesome bottle. Shocked at how good this was. Must buy — 7 years ago

Katelyn DeVan

9.0

I don't ever drink Pinot Noir anymore, as I'm a Cab/Zin lady all the way. This was a recommendation from the wine store guy, and it's so good. It's a cab drinkers Pinot for sure. — 8 years ago

Sean Genn

9.7

This wine continues to amaze. 3rd bottle I've had in the last year and it's just getting better and better. So balanced and beautiful. I feel like it's just now hitting it's sweet spot. — 8 years ago

with Michael

Tim O'Rourke

9.6

What? So good. All the olive and pepper and leather that you would expect and plenty of game and mushroom as well. I don't suppose I'll have another chance to taste this, so I'll have to rely on memory of something so delicious. — 9 years 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

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Champagne has gotten expensive lately. This is no different. But, it is my go to N/V Rosé. Seems I’m still willing to pay the large increase for it.

Tis the season for garden tomatoes. So great with Burrata topped with olive oil & Tondo balsamic, (find it, the best), basil, served on olive oil brushed, broiled crostini’s made from Simple Sourdough made by Companion Bakery. From 375ml. — 8 months ago

Dawn E.

9.3

As always this is wonderful! Big wine..smooth as silk..fig..pencil lead..expresso..blackberries..dark chocolate..cassis...earth...eucalyptus and vanilla!
Nice long finish! Will hold on to the next one for another year or so but absolutely no regrets opening this now such a great Cabernet Sauvignon blend! — 4 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This was a gift from a friend. It was laying in a closet at ambient room temp for 30-odd years, so I was nervous to open it, but it was perfect. So complex and fragrant. Acid and tannin still seemingly youthful. Wow! — 7 years ago

Nniccolò Contenta

9.6

This bottle was a bit rattled and drinking inconsistant. My first pour was singing and delicious with textured fruit and a very specific bacon fat lingering in the background which was very seductive . But others had pours that were closed and stemmy tasting. My second pour was much cloudier and closed off from those previous sensations. Maybe I got the right middle pour that happened to reach out to me. — 7 years ago

Nico J. Snyman

9.6

Such a great example of Saint-Éstephe '82, I've always so enjoyed Cos & this is no exception, stored impeccably, which more & more is the only reason for great bottles at this age. — 7 years ago

Richard Worthington

9.8

I love Cheval Blanc- belongs in the classification of a first growth french wine for sure. The '89 is drinking superbly and possesses a beautiful bouquet of roses/fragrant flowers, and is so powerful yet subtle on the pallet with dark berries, ripe cherries, soft tannins yet powrrful and forward fruit. This wine is underrated and under priced. Seek to acquire from good provenance/reliable sources that have properly stored the wine and you will not be sorry. — 8 years ago

Nathaniel DiMaggio

9.0

Yes! Give this 30-40 minutes of air and it sings. So pretty, fun, and delicious. Wow. — 8 years ago

with Todd

Edmond Bordelon

9.0

Wow this one needs some time. Tannins are so pronounced. Wait this one out. — 8 years ago

with Katherine

Rachael Ryan

Sommelier Quince Restaurant

9.5

Why is this wine so good? Fantastic value. Wondering why there isn't more Gamay in the US. — 9 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.8

Holy crap this is crazy and funky and special. Fresh cut grass, licorice, fish oil, like, so crazy special. It’s been open for 24hrs and the acidity is still through the roof. Silky and fresh but with lemon rind and mouth drying freshness, this is delicious and really unique. — 5 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

1949 vintage (!!!). Very special half bottle, but more than half the volume lost to evaporation. Opened this gem at Totoraku yesterday to go with two full bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1996 and 1952 (!!). This Temple of Beef demands special occasion wines. Cork fell apart in the bottle so we poured it all in a decanter but did not wait to sip. Pale strawberry-orange color, surprising tart fruit nose, supremely delicate taste with just a bit of fruit and life left. Not the best bottle on the table but certainly not the undrinkable. Interesting experience. Would gladly do it again in the name of science. Oldest Red Bordeaux I have ever tasted. — 6 months ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Deep and rich and long. The fruit is still rich and really balanced and refilled. Really great stuff. So long and intense. This is ludicrous given its age — 9 months ago

with Chris, Tony and 1 other

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.9

The 2013 Opus One is an absolute stunning release, and is certainly one of most impressive young wines I have ever tasted from this estate. This shows a darker, more forward profile from this warm vintage, and is clearly one to contemplate, as there are so many complexities and working parts to this compelling wine. This instantly impresses as it opens to intense aromatics of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry compote and black plum woven together with mocha, sandalwood. The mouthfeel is voluptuous and beautifully concenrated with deep and penetrating flavors of black cherry, créme de cassis, blackberry cobbler, anise, sage and anise, which all resonate beautifully across the palate. This is already extreamly appealing, but try to resist this hedonistic wine for at least another few years, as there is undoubtedly a long future ahead. Drink 2019-2035-99 — 5 years ago

Michael Adelman

9.3

Black and blue berries, earth, tobacco. Layered beautifully. Power and elegance in harmonious balance! Has so much more to go! Wish I saved this opening for about 10-12 more years! Makes me fall back in love with CA Cabs!!! — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.4

This cork challenged my ah so skills but I prevailed. Slow clap 👏🏽 for me. Decanted for 6 hours and it was in a really nice place. Dark dark fruits, smokey game meats, cloves, herbs and white pepper. Still quite young and on the ascension. — 7 years ago

Michael Perry

9.3

I think i will always enjoy this wine. So classic. So well done. — 8 years ago

Pierre Arneaux

9.2

Wow. More flavor, much better than their regular cab. Silky, velvet, smooth. Chocolate. Rich fruit. Big, full flavor, lots of flavor. Not old world style for sure, not subtle. It's a big bomb. We would pay up to $75 for this so a bit overpriced to us.
— 8 years ago

Barb

9.7

Wow... So many flavors in this wine. It's quite a treat to your mouth. Smooth with a great mid taste and a long finish — 8 years ago

Liz Vicharelli

9.0

Got this at the winery, so delicious. Only scored a half bottle — 9 years ago

Brett Pallesen

9.7

Locorice red medicine. This wine was ET alien and so good — 10 years ago