No formal notes . Medium deep ruby . This seems a bit more advanced . This is a bit harder and more structured on the palate , more tannin , less velvety and a bit more astringent . More spicy , drier on the palate . This needed more time to open . This was quite difficult to judge , I wasn’t 100% convinced about this bottle as it just seemed a little oxidative, however it did actually seemed to come together better after an hour or so , but still quite hard and astringent in comparison to the others (especially La Mission) . Showed a touch more mineral and grafite on the finish too after a while. This needed time , and I would imagine another bottle might tell a different story . — 5 months ago
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. — 5 months ago
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. — 6 months ago
1990 vintage. Excellent fill and halfway saturated cork. Used a Durand but surmise a regular waiter's friend, wielded carefully, could have done the trick with the cork. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins, one hour and two hours. Some obvious sed but not troublesome or overtly noticeable. Original owner-château direct on original release. Super cold cellar because this was lagging noticeably behind other '90's and LB's. Bigger tannic structure (for a generally feminine-styled house) than anything save a Latour, Mouton, Ducru Left Bank property. Even more guts than Lynch-Bages or Pichon-Baron '90's currently stored above 55 or so degrees. Surprising but made sense. Light-medium body. Appropriate color. 3-4 years left in this stage unless larger format in play. Slight, fleeting burst of richness in the frontal palate and a tad brickish and then it just flowed on, without speed bumps. A little cocoa powder and cedar/tobacco. Suspect 750ml specimens not stored as cold/religiously will be showing more in the 9.0-9.1 range and farther down the backside of the bell curve. 10.26.24. — 8 months ago
Annual Holiday Dinner. So much life to this wine. — 7 years ago
The rating scale goes up to 10 for wines like this. Insanely enchanting nose. Reminded me of smelling a perfectly cooked duck drizzled with pomegranate reduction. More aromatic inspection leads to rose water, hibiscus, subtle dried oak leaves and so many more tiny lovely things. Bright, vibrant but not sharp, this is the definition of great wine. Mind blown! — 9 years ago
(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. — 4 months ago
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. — 5 months ago
A physically pristine example from a well established cellar, the cork pulled clean and without so much as a hint of compromise. It was subsequently double decanted several hours in advance. The 2000 Margaux pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. The nose: developing and simply stunning. A cornucopia of cassis, black bramble fruit, purple flowers, tobacco, new leather, cocoa, fine woody notes, dry gravelly earth and gorgeous baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid; the structure acting like the flying buttresses of Notre Dame. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is forever long and impossibly silky. Sensationally balanced.
To my palate, this falls into the very small category of wines that require no additional inquest. It is utterly complete. And, when I consider the company and circumstances, perfect. Drink now with a healthy decant and through 2100. — 7 months ago
Notes are cumbersome, so no notes today but plus side, scores are honest and I should be a professional reviewer, LOL. (Good, but not 2019 good, detailed notes on future bottles...)
On the Lawn at Tanglewood this final afternoon with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is leading IVES (Psalm 90) and BEETHOVEN (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Opus 125).
After a two-year pause, we arrive again to the day when Beethoven concludes on these hallowed grounds. The 9th by Beethoven is always bittersweet for us, as it marks the end of the official Symphony and Pops season for the BSO at their Summer home. It is a wonderful and singularly emotive piece moved with the full force of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (110+) conveying the message of a divine spark of joy that makes all people one. The music and the day almost bring me to tears on an annual basis...
'Freude, schöner Götterfunken!' / 'Joy, beauteous, godly spark!' — 3 years ago
Incredible. Jaboulet family apparently inconsistent in final years of ownership, but this one had everything. So dense still, with lots of kalamata olive, olive brine, cherry, blackberry, black pepper, leather, cured meat, earth. Savory, sweet, powerful, elegant, hit every end of the taste spectrum. Super long. In magnum — 8 years ago
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 — 9 years ago
(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. — 4 months ago
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. — 5 months ago
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 — 6 months ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Strong nose of black fruits, cedar, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, light vanilla and black pepper.
Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, cooked cherries, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, cedar, earth, dark chocolates, licorice, cola, spices, vegetables, herbs and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This 17 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon feels more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Fruit forward with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.
Showing great complexity and delicious, but I expected more from this great 2007 vintage. I had the 2001 not too long ago, and it was so much better.
Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. A good food wine too.
A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$350. — 6 months ago
Mid-shoulder fill. There was a slight indication of oxidation on the nose with some interesting cheesy smell. However on the palate this wine was so complex expressing all sorts of things ranging from sour cherry, mushroom, earthiness, strawberry (!), fresh vegetation or herbaceous note (in a good way). — 8 years ago
Everything about this BSR is perfect right now. Certainly, one of my favorites and the start of Christmas dinner makes it all the better!!! The fruit is sensational strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, watermelon, touch of tangerine, the acidity so fresh and perfect, powdery gentle chalkiness, soft minerals and a finish I simply love. — 8 years ago
Very young but lovely fresh apricots, peaches and pineapple. Honeysuckle and white flowers. What really makes this wine amazing though is the body. It's big and round the whole way through where so many Sauternes fall either in the middle or finish. Lovely. — 9 years ago
Freddy R. Troya
Very pleasant blend out of Pauillac; 67% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cab Franc work so harmoniously together that delivers an enjoyable medley of red berries and black currant aromas and taste. This particular wine has been aged for 18 months in 75% new wood French barrels, which shows it finesse and precision on the elegant finish and mouthfeel. Unbelievably smooth and noble on the palate. Enticing finish and incredibly structured tannins. This wine can age beautifully! — 3 months ago