J. Kim

8.9

No question about the complexity and the concentration, but the acid structure is uneven, not enough inner brightness, resulting in a lack of symmetry. — 4 years ago

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9.1

Deeply alluring with dusty purple-tinged florals, sweet spices and black currants. The 2017 Ripasso is silky with cool-toned textures, further accentuated by vibrant acidity. There’s beautiful symmetry and persistence here, coming across as powerful yet remaining energetic throughout. $22.00 (Eric Guido, Vinous, January 2021) — 4 years ago

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9.7

The 2010 Château Margaux performed far better at this horizontal than at Farr's blind tasting a few days later. It has a beguiling bouquet, highly perfumed with crushed violets infusing the blackberry and crushed strawberry scented, hints of pencil box and cedar emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is a wonderful sense of symmetry here with a silky elegant finish that is amazingly persistent. It is one of the best wines that Paul Pontallier ever made. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago

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9.6

The 1990 Lynch-Bages remains the towering Pauillac it has always been, even if Jean-Michel Cazes personally prefers the 1989. It has a riveting, graphite-infused bouquet that is brilliantly defined, very focused and sharp as a razor-blade. Poured directly against the 1990 Lafite-Rothschild, this Fifth Growth beats it hands down. The palate is very well structured; this is an aristocratic Lynch-Bages with impressive grip after 28 years. There is a symmetry underpinning this wine, a sense of energy undiminished by the passing years, that makes this 1990 Lynch-Bages so compelling. Just awesome. Tasted during the Christmas Dinner at Noble Rot restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2019)
— 5 years ago

Neal Schaffer

9.0

Drinking window is now. Israeli Syrah needs to be in the conversation. Displays exotic spices of mace and allspice but keeps its symmetry with blueberries and hanging gyro meat. Where this separates itself from the Rhône Valley or Washington is it’s unique numbing character. The finish leaves your palate with the same sensation Szechuan peppercorns demonstrate. Structured tannins accentuate it’s fleshiness and edginess. Savory lovers unite on this one. — 7 years ago

with Dana

Pam Noldan

10

Love this wine — 7 years ago

Chris Harwick

9.3

Very nice symmetry. This 2001 is living up to its baby brother to '00 and '05 value. Full bodied and can be enjoyed for many more year. But why wait. — 8 years ago

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9.6

The 2018 Montrose delivers on the promise that it showed from barrel. I gave this a three-hour decant before broaching, since Montrose is always backward, albeit far less ferociously than even just a decade ago. It offers copious blackberry and blueberry scents on the nose, plus pressed violets and a light estuarine scent that becomes accentuated with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky-smooth texture. Finely chiseled tannins frame multilayered black fruit infused with crushed stone, and it has retained that subtle graphite element that lends it a Pauillac-like personality, though less so than out of barrel. This is a beautifully defined Montrose with entrancing symmetry, and it should drink earlier than other recent vintages thanks to a little more pliancy. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 4 years ago

Vanessa

8.9

Deep ruby hue. Noticeable tearing and extraction. Nose offers intense, round red and black fruit aromas such as black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, plum, and spices such as anise, molasses, nutmeg, with a strong floral undercurrent and delicate peat moss, tobacco, and leather notes. Palate is largely consistent with the nose, offering a medium body, medium tannins, medium+ acidity, and tart but flavorful impact with that hint of spiciness. Definitely worth a breathe after opening to let the intense flavors integrate and settle a bit. Medium finish. Interesting new world take in Cabernet Franc (100%) from Southern Oregon. Vintage 2018. ABV 14%.
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I imagine this may pair well with grilled brats or burgers or pork chops where the fruitiness is a contrasting complement to the savory dish and the smokiness lends some symmetry with similarly intense flavors. Thoughts 💭? — 5 years ago

with Deked1

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9.7

The 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru is blessed with a bouquet of real pedigree: very complex mixture of red and black brambly fruit, sous-bois, crushed stone and rose petal aromas. The harmony and delineation is outstanding. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, pliant tannins that lend this Clos Saint-Jacques symmetry and poise. Fresh and vibrant, it never relinquishes any of its breeding and tension. The finish is persistent and utterly captivating. Fabulous. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting. (neal Martin, Vinous, October 2019) — 6 years ago

J. Kim

9.1

2014 is slightly less concentrated than the previous vintage, but better-behaved and more refined, with even better symmetry and proportion than the 2010. Modern and stylish wine but serious, authentic and substantial. — 7 years ago

John Bodin

9.3

Vanilla and cherries. Long finish. One of our favorite blends. — 7 years ago

Ana Carras

9.2

Not sure where this came from but discovered it in my wine stash this weekend. Very enjoyable combination of fruit, spice, and earthiness. — 8 years ago

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9.1

The 2016 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso Ca'del Laito boasts a seductive and perfumed bouquet, with notes of brown spice and tobacco blossoming further to show raspberry coulis and a lifting hint of fresh mint. This is quite savory, with silky textures ushering in cool-toned red and black berries and inner herbal tones. Sweet tannins come forward through the long finale, balanced by a concentration of primary fruits, promising years of positive evolution in the cellar. The Ca'del Laito is matured in a combination of 50% third-pass tonneaux and 50% large, 25-hectoliter barrels for 23 months. There’s beautiful symmetry in this gorgeous Ripasso, but don’t expect it to perform like a baby Amarone. (Eric Guido, Vinous, February 2021)
— 4 years ago

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9.6

The 2018 Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru has an intense bouquet of black fruit with veins of blueberry, infused with crushed rock and rose petal. Full of tension, this is classic Ruchottes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, and lightly spiced, displaying an unerring sense of symmetry toward the saline finish. It needs bottle age to fully knit together, and whether it will surpass the 2019 we will have to see. Still, this is a superb Ruchottes that will evolve over 20–30 years. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2020)
— 4 years ago

J. Kim

9.2

More forceful but remains in scale and maintains wonderful symmetry. He seems like a master of restraint and refinement. — 5 years ago

J. Kim

9.0

Super purity and super symmetry — 6 years ago

Gavin Baum

9.0

Not totally sure how I feel about this wine. On the one hand it's lovely and pure and clean, with decisive, cleansing minerality that gives focus and drive to its bright, fresh flavors of tangerine, sesame, and sea salt. On the other it's just a little lacking--in structure, in acidity, and in intensity as well. I like it a lot, don't get me wrong. We tasted this wine from tank though and were totally blown away by its symmetry and completeness. Perhaps the filters simply claimed their share. — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.2

Floral, tropical, share on the deck in your flip flops Summer symmetry. You can’t have enough of this at the ready to battle the swelter of the next 2 months. Reminds me of the Lail Georgia with a small injection of La Doriane Condrieu. — 7 years ago

Jeffrey Lew

9.9

Amazing bottle like a time capsule. Perfect cork, fill way into the neck. Glove leather, tobacco and fruit. This is special stuff. Symmetry and polish. Can prob go for a very long time. A real treat. — 8 years ago