Lee Pitofsky

9.4

The first couple times I tried 08 I was definitely too quick to judge. It needs a ton of air, and it’s different from the rich, oxidative, nutty house style of the past, particularly the warm and ultra forward 2006, the previous release. 2008 is indeed young, tightly wound with a pulsating core of energy.

The first glass offers very little. Subdued, austere and youthfully reserved. But ensuing pours eventually unleash its core of powerful clean orchard fruit, coffee bean and grilled nuts. On the palate it continues to become so much more textural with crazy gains in weight, depth and fruit intensity as the night goes on. It really fills the mouth, saturating the palate with a satin-like texture, ripping citrusy acids and saline laced minerals that follow deep into its finish. Enjoyable now with enough air (needs 2 hours), but no doubt one to hold. To live forever. — 3 years ago

leon egozi

9.3

Realm night at the 305. They are all just great — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Last night in MT at the lake. Gave this several hours of air. Nice dark tawny color. Vibrant in the glass. The nose is great right away and stayed on point through the evening. Notes of black cherries, warm raspberries, old cedar, some plums and a little leather saddle. Rich and silky in the mouth. Velvet glove. Long finish. Great wine. — 6 years ago

Jack Petras

9.8

Fortunate enough to have tasted this along with 6 other stunning wines last night during a cellar tasting. This 36 year old 2nd growth was nearly perfect, unusual but very pleasant mint, camphor, crushed sage and rosemary aromas with the same cooling delicate herbal initial palate. Dried but expressive red fruits mid- palate with a great structural graphite element throughout. Whiff of new leather. Changed in the glass showing different mellow facets. Pretty much intercepted at the exact right time. A real privilege to taste such a renowned vintage with folks who appreciates what was in front of them. — 7 years ago

Nena Madonia

9.9

Sunday night wine — 8 years ago

with Andrew, Dana and 1 other

Alberto Soriano

10

Simply beautiful Beaujolais the aromas bursts out of the glass. Floral and delicate like walking through a garden on a sweet spring day. Tons of red perfectly ripe fruits such as strawberries and red cherries. Just as delicate on the pallet as the nose with mouth filling flavors of cherry and red current. Surprisingly long finish that lingers throughout your pallet. Perfect BBQ wine on a cool summer night simply fresh and enjoyable. — 9 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.4

Wonderful comparison between (as one taster mentioned) the femininity of Lalande vs the masculinity of Baron. The theme held true throughout the night with most Barons being bigger and bolder and the Lalandes being more elegant and refined. Both beautiful but different. — 9 years ago

with Jorge and Ilida

Ed Chang

9.7

WoTN. interesting how the noses grew so similar as the night wore on after being so different upon first pour. — 3 years ago

leon egozi

9.4

2012 night at the 305 — 4 years ago

Philip Deibel

9.5

We enjoyed this bottle last night, but this is a much cooler picture. Earlier this year my sister was invited to a fundraiser in LA where a friend purchased every seat at Thomas Keller’s table. Not only did her friend invite her to come with her boyfriend, but he also invited her to bring our parents. After Christmas I wanted to let her take a bottle back to LA for the dinner. It was a hard decision, but I went with some old world class. It turns out that he knows the producer well and is a big fan! Phew! I’ll be honest, I was blown away by Alban’s Reva, but then we opened this and it just screamed class. Such a refined and elegant beast. Balanced/Seamless. — 5 years ago

leon egozi

9.2

Superbowl of wine night. From a magnum — 8 years ago

Leslie Bartos

9.6

1995 Dom to start the night. Perfection. Toasty, nutty, brioche, lively and bright. Wow! July 28,2017 wine dinner. — 8 years ago

with Tony

Mark Flesher

9.5

Wine of the night. This wine had EXCELLENT fruit, and showed NO VISIBLE SIGNS of decline. Great powerful blackberry. I was guessing 01 Stag's Leap or Rutherford. Turns out it was Caymus SS 01, but I was second guessing myself on the year because it was a very purple color into the decanter and showing well. The wine had great vanilla on the front, blackberry on the front, and a more youthful middle and finish with some herb. This wine has 10 years left in it no doubt. Whoever cut this one off at 2017 has no idea. This one literally showed no signs of decline whatsoever. Drink by date 2007 - 2030. — 9 years ago

B

10

Magnum 1985 Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Rhone. Dinner at T w neighbors. Only Syrah of the night. No decanting, poured straight from the bottle, right after opening. Excellent. It was perfect right out of the bottle. Understandably got flat after sitting in the glass a few hours. Perfect with the lentil soup we started with. — 9 years ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.6

A surprise addition of the night. A great blend, about 75% Cab, 14% merlot with CF and PV filling in the remainder. Plum, blackberry and fig show through nicely. Touches of vanilla. — 3 years ago

with Marilea

Matthew Hughes

9.3

Aged white night. This was good too. — 4 years ago

Mary H

9.6

Standout of the night, 1996-2012 vintages in the 168th edition. Complex flavors of citrus, creaminess, and earth, like a creamy mushroom puff pastry. — 6 years ago

Will Bean

9.4

What a find on half price wine night! Such a deal, especially with so much bottle age! — 7 years ago

with Jack

Mickey K

9.5

Excellent, bold new world take on a traditional CDR. Tobacco and raisins. Maybe cinnamon or cardamom. But more fruit forward with jammy dark berries. Tangy. — 8 years 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. — 9 years ago

with Ryan, Christine and 1 other