What a wine and did not show it’s 43 year age at all. The color was very dark with no brick edge. The nose was a bit subdued but had the typical berries, herbs and meat notes that carried over to a very tasty wine. The finish was okay not super long but long enough.
I started buying Beaucastel maybe a few years before this 1978 vintage and in Parker’s reviews of the 1978 vintage was a consistent hold but he did change his mind years down the road and said it was over the hill; well not by a long shot. I constantly purchased 2 or 3 bottle of every vintage till the price was out on my reach in 2001. I also had visited the winery in about 1990. The real kicker with this vintage is the current price estimates of $150 to about $250, current vintages run $80+ and I purchased this bottle for $11.99.
— 4 years ago
This is really good almost immediately out of the bottle. Really nice full bodied and with a bit of fruity bites. Excellent by itself or with food. Buy loads because it will go quick! — 6 years ago
The 88 out of 6 liter.
On the nose; sweet mid red fruit with a pruny character. Cooked blackberries, dark cherries, old plum, rhubarb, vanilla, stones, dry minerals and withering red florals.
On the palate, the body is lean and tannins well resolved. Fruits show a pruny quality. Blackberries, dark cherries, cherries, strawberries, rhubarb, cola, fine powdery minerals, used leather, underbrush, limestone, waterfall acidity and a leaner sort of water back fruit finish. Such a treat to drink these wines these old wines out of big formats.
Photos of the Phelps party.
— 8 years ago
Dry but flat. I think this wine is good to drink now ( not sure how much longer it would stay good). There is nothing that really stands out about this wine. Not very complex. — 8 years ago
Has improved out of sight in the past year. Suspect this will get better and better and might be worth laying down for a few years. — 9 years ago
🇬🇧 Vivino London Dinner - 01 Apr 🇬🇧
Wine 1️⃣1️⃣
d'Yquem 99 from Mami
📝 What a perfect sexual climax to a stunning meal with fab folks 😍
Mami generously brought a 75cl bottle of this god nectar to wash down the cheeses 🧀 I died & went to heaven when I had this with blue Stilton cheese 😍
I think I had more than my fair share of this silky sweet seductive love juice 😎
Too busy enjoying for notes so check out others reviews 😜
Thank you Mami for sharing this superb treat 👍😘 — 9 years ago


Quite deep ruby and , garnet terracotta rim. Quite spicy nose , slightly green touches , mix of red and dark fruit . On the palate fills out quite well , good acidity , slightly gritty tannins still with mineral , tobacco notes on the finish . Ok reasonable length . This comes across a bit greener than I remember it , so not sure how representative this bottle is , fine to drink now and over the next 10 years . 91
Second bottle medium deep ruby with garnet rim . Took a bit of time to open up , but very good definition , red and dark fruits, truffle , undergrowth, cigar box and grafite. On the palate quite charming sweet red fruits, red plum, cassis , dried spices, undergrowth , elegant for las cases , grafite and tobacco stained finish . Well balanced acidity and quite gritty but ripe tannin . This is lovely now with time in the decanter and over the next 10 -15 years . Completely different from first bottle . — 2 years ago
2003. Last bottle was 3 years ago, and this one I liked better. Starts out austere with evidence of a difficult hot year. But after hours in the decanter it cycled thru some almost port like caramelized tapenades and ended the evening with a somewhat strange but delicious red crème brûlée thing. So if you have one… I suggest patience thru the awkward opening hours to get to the awkward good part. Cheers. — 4 years ago
This is just a delicious brut rosé, really one of the best out there that isn’t four figures...beautiful fruit that melts on your tongue, just excellent — 7 years ago
I’m really beginning to see this transition where the 2013s-16s of Rhône and Burgundy are already so drinkable and showing ripe fruit. Like they are making them to drink now, this winemaking style is showing a little more fruit extraction and from what I’ve seen here in Napa, you’re sacrificing the ability to age there for the early drinkability. Hopefully I’m wrong and these are all just warmer vintages. I just wanna see these wines reach their potential 10/20 years out — 7 years ago
We were worried this was gonna be cooked. But actually ended up being wonderful, tannins and acid mellowed out, still super balanced, slightly pyrazinic (tomato vine?), still has some leather and black currant. — 8 years ago
Funny story, we ordered the bottle of wine on the line after this bottle on the menu. The waiter brought this bottle as a mistake which we found out was listed as a $485 bottle of wine! We took one sip and knew that it was too good to be true. Come to find out that this is one of the first super tuscan wines ever made. Even though management took the bottle from our table as soon as it was realized, that was the luckiest and most delicious mistake that's ever happened to us. — 9 years ago

The essence of ripe cherries and strawberries invade every nook and cranny of this wine. Extremely silky and smooth in the mouth which produces a finish that reminded me of the horizon when you are looking out from the deck of a boat, just does not quit. — 11 years ago
This was poured through a Zazzol aerator and just spilled out Cassis, black olive, cigar box and vanilla/brown sugar from the glass. Should she well for another 8-10 years. Delicious! — 11 years ago
Oh my, what an absolute joy. This right here sings the song I want to hear. A pale old gold color in the glass. Perfectly precise perlage with a plethora of tiny, fine bubbles and showcasing innate creaminess. The nose is slightly intense opening with aromas of hazelnut, chalk, and lemon zest. Warm buttered brioche takes over for a moment full of bliss then a bit of smoke. Juicy peaches and pears commingle with fresh herbs and spices.
100% Chardonnay from the five Grand Cru villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger. The tête de cuvée of Champagne Taittinger and it shows. It’s a very noble, prestigious champagne that matches complexity with downright deliciousness. The juxtaposition between luxury and comfort is evident here. Like coming out of a bath and slipping on your finest robe. The racy acidity and exquisitely dry nature of the wine belies the dosage of 9 g/l.
Very creamy in the mouth and though it starts off a bit demanding, it soon becomes so inviting after some time. Every sip demands the proper time and contemplation. Chalky and rich, positively bursting with citrus fruits. Apples and toast everywhere along with gun flint and more smoke. Medium long finish with traces of spice. A powerful, graceful champagne that’s full of finesse. This can go for decades longer but if you open it now sit with it for a while. Give it the proper time. You might fall in love just a little. — 4 years ago
Tasted blind. Dark reddish brown color, port-like in color and in the nose. Notes of raisins, molasses, tobacco. What is this? While it seems like it could be Madeira, the impact in the mouth and the tastes in no way resemble that. Someone threw out the guess that it could be really old Bordeaux. Yep. Drinking some history tonight! — 6 years ago
This is really good. Almost black with rich purple highlights. Limited fragrance out of the bottle but only 30 minutes in the decanter opens this right up and its delicious. Nose is dark fruit, earth, mushroom and vanilla. On the palate cassis, vanilla, spices, floral notes and an almost creamy finish with some dry tannins but also lasting sweetness and evolving fruit flavours, there’s even some delicate mint tea in there as well. Highly recommended. — 7 years ago
Good anise, forest floor, spices to round out the dark fruit. Love the rose petal notes. Tannins are elegant but would love to taste this again in a few years. — 8 years ago
Another great Classic Wine Happy Hour in the books! Always a treat to have a designated day each month where guys can pull out some unique bottles!
Thanks @Will Adams for opening this! Gorgeous juice. A nod to how Caymus used to operate. Velvet like. Blue and blackberries, vanilla, cocoa, espresso. — 8 years ago
Lots of color, but not inky, just dark red and the start of a lighter rim. Smells and tastes like black cherry or blackberries, and cedar, and also cocoa powder(?). Fruit is well integrated but a bit quieter at first. This is a more subtle wine, than expected. A little bit of tannin still that needs airing out. The longer it's open the more the fruit emerges, it's got a great body to it. It's delicious. — 9 years ago
This is the 1985 Napa Cab and was tasted out of 5 liter. This wine was excellent! Herbal notes with a touch of saddle. I was so surprised by how much red fruit was on the pallet with a wine this old! Amazing! — 10 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! — 9 months ago