Andrew McIntyre

9.4

Was maybe expecting a bit more from this. Think the bottle might have been just slightly off but still excellent. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Fruit is brighter, more brilliant than many other 21’s I’ve had. Texturally & fruit-wise senses more like the 23’s I’ve had. It’s gorgeous. Again, needs a decade or more in the cellar.

Round, lush, creamy blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, poached strawberries, dry, crushed rocks, limestone powder, nice balling spices, caramel, mocha, dry herbs, dry tobacco, lead pencil, dry river stone, leather, melted, dark chocolate, dark spice, fresh & withering dark flowers, red roses, nice round acidity, well balanced, bigger tension & structure, excellent round, excellent finish that last minutes and lands on spice, wet clay and Christmas cake. — 4 months ago

Steven Lee

9.0

xmas 2025 red 5. Nose is subtle and not very aromatic. can smell strawberry and hint of mineral. the palate is still very tannic and grippy at this stage — 5 months ago

Ganesh

9.4

Still young — 7 months ago

Donna Czekner

10

Bought from Far Niente in Napa, 2025. We both love it. — 9 months ago

with Jim

Robert Brown

9.1

One of the best as of late. Eggplant parm, pared perfectly. — 3 years ago

with Cynthia

Rick Baraff

9.1

That’s some nice drinkin’ stuff (circa 2017). Thanks to the local somm, Steve, at our Whole Foods for the recom... it was their last bottle and he sacrificed. — 7 years ago

Ryo Hayashi

9.6

Williams Selyem Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard Pinot Noir - Vintage 2000
熟成感と香りが別格！後味のタンニンが気になったが開くと柔らかくなって行くので問題なし。 — 9 years ago

Patrick Dolan

9.7

Smell of cherry oak and vanilla. Very smooth taste and finish. Touch of acidity and well balanced with nice longer finish. — 13 years ago

Brennan Roy

9.0

Perfect Pinot. — 3 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.1

Still tasting fresh and alive at 40 years! Black fruit present along with mushroom, cedar, and vanilla spice. Tannins are softened but still providing a structure for the wine. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a dull purple/garnet color with a translucent core and significant rim variation, moving towards a rust color. The wine has medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, dried red and purple flowers, old leather bound books, tobacco, a touch of menthol, some earth, old wood and a sprinkle of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Super high quality but a touch thin.

Initial conclusions: Due to the observable characteristics of color, rim variation, sediment, smell and flavor, I think this wine has significant age; 30+ years. However, this is still very alive and showing more than enough markers to give an indication of place. Subsequently, this could be a Cabernet-based blend or a Tempranillo-based blend from the United States, France, or Spain. For me, I’m getting new French oak vibes instead of American so I’m eliminating Spain. I also think this leans more towards its fruit than its structure and since this comes across a little on the thin side, I’m going to say this comes from a tougher vintage. My final conclusion is this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the USA, Napa, 1981. Wow! This showed really well.

It never ceases to amaze me how analogous the 1981 vintage was in both Napa and Bordeaux. I find it equally amazing how well that vintage has held up; particularly when considering its poor reputation, mostly based on the prevailing thought at the time. From my perspective, well stored examples are not going to fall off of a cliff but I would drink now through 2031. — 4 months ago

Chris Anton

9.2

One of my favorite Pinots to serve during the holidays, especially when pairing with a tenderloin. — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of red and blue fruits with light wood, herbs, light vegetables, spices and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, blueberries, plums, cherries, earth, peppercorn, dark chocolates, herbs and light vegetables.

This 6 year old Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley is drinking very nicely now. Fruit forward, rich and nicely balanced. Complex and entertaining. Elegant and tangy.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens up.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

I had this vintage 3 years ago, and decided to let it age a bit longer, and it is drinking so much better now.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged for 10 months in (35% new) French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.

13.7% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 7 months ago

Aimee

10

A great Chardonnay, a perfect anytime in the summer wine — 10 months ago

Erin Joyce

9.2

Waited a few years to drink the 2017 and it’s even better than I remembered. In times like these it’s important to savor the floral bouquet and stone fruit deliciousness of this wine and essentials like Clorox bleach. — 6 years ago

with Sandra

Cal

9.5

Bought this when we got engaged in Nappa. Kept it for 10 years. Amazing to drink on our 10 year anniversary. Awesome wine. — 8 years ago

William Mellon

9.5

Don't get much better. KB mentality is highly evident. — 10 years ago

K L

9.3

Classic. Treat. — 3 months ago

with Matt

Chris Blanchard

9.1

2023 vintage - it opened brighter than expected with bold ripe flavors and more fruit forward than expected. It was a nice surprise. After 30 minutes the flavors balanced a bit and tasted less bright and fruity and more balanced. The wife and I enjoyed the bottle. — 4 months ago

Louis Martin

9.2

Light, smooth, slightly sweet finish. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Quite a light to mid lemon in colour for its 11 years of age. Nutty (almond and cashew) aromas. Oak has integrated. The palate shows those same nutty notes together with that trademark pear character with white nectarine. Overall still youthful. My remaining 3 bottles will easily see out this decade. — 4 months ago

romo

9.2

Some lift on mid-palate with acid on finish. I’ll allow it. — 5 months ago

David Stein

9.5

Still full of youth. Double decanted. — 6 months ago

with Bruce and Marc

Rick Phillips

9.7

Still young. Needs some aging. Should peek at 99-100. — 8 months ago

with Letha

J

9.0

Dusty’s Okemos — a year ago

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 7 years ago

with Bruce

Susan w

9.3

8/11/17 - just wanted we needed on a Friday evening! ❤️ — 9 years ago

Paul Mason

9.3

Always great. — 10 years ago