All class, all sophistication. Lots of black fruit, currants, cedar, earth. A touch of oak, well balanced acidity and fruit. Can age well much longer. Beautiful long finish. Very savory. Smoke meats and salt. Dark chocolate and dusts of graphite also noticed. 13% — 4 years ago
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 — 6 years ago
Outstanding! There is the perfect moment for a bottle to be opened and tonight was it. It was the wine equivalent of a album that you can listen to from start to finish. — 9 years ago
Spectacular! Mind blowing. One of my top 10 of all time. On every serious wine lover’s bucket list, and here we had a nigh perfect bottle. While aromatically a little recalcitrant, you still got some of the Margaux violets and potpourri on the nose, hints of clove, all trying to shake off their doldrums. But on the palate, it was timelessly ravishing. The finesse, richness, balance and smoothness, with an underlying, almost flabbergasting mixture of complexity and delicacy, was just astonishing. The finish is marvelously sweet and intense, with chocolate and cassis and utterly seamless tannins. This is a miracle of wine making and an exaltation of vintage and terroir besides. Wow! And bravo! We can only pray for an encore of such a wine. — 9 years ago


Still youg, a lot of fruit, soft tannin, a beautiful wine. Prouve that good chateau can make beautiful wine with bad year. — 11 years ago
Not a typical cab. Easy for a beginning can drinker. Bit pricey, but good. — 11 years ago
A fav that I can find at most west coast whole foods — 12 years ago
1990 vintage. This was the start to the weekly tasting day with the reps. A fave guest brought this in. Was summoned to open it immediately despite having just strolled in. Grabbed the Durand and pounced. Didn't get the opportunity to see the fill but the foil, label and cork were all pristine (too little cork saturation for a 3+decade-old bottle). Screamed château reconditioned. Opened but not decanted. Good color. Great nose immediately. Tasted after 15 mins and 45 mins open. Tasted around noon but bottle needed to have been opened at prior midnight. Showed pretty well, however, with the delicate intricacies this wine is renowned for. Would have presented better with more air time but you can only control so much. 01.29.25. — 9 months ago
Now I see how this wine can be so divisive. LOTS of brett at first, more band-aid than barnyard. Takes a while to get past it and then lots of exotic spices show up. But after 40 minutes in the glass still nothing primary. It’s got the funk I can appreciate in some good left bank Bordeaux but also feels somewhat single-threaded. — 4 years ago
Dark purple plum skin color from center to the rim’s edge where some scarlet also appears. Opaque. Great fruit forward nose that grabs your attention. Notes of blackberries, ripe plums, violets, tobacco, forest floor and some crushed walnuts. Rich and silky in the mouth. Great balance and texture. Tannins perfectly integrated. Long finish. If a Cal Cab can be seductive, this is it. Still youthful but in a great zone tonight. — 7 years ago
Smooth finish, love this addition from Mondavi. Can taste the hint of bourbon — 8 years ago
Whoa, this was rockin'. Amazing aromatics. Fully mature wth life ahead. Clean and focused and very complex. Love it when you can find old rioja — 9 years ago
Early nose was austere, even a bit severe, then giving way to sticks and leaves and wet earth - like walking through the woods early in the morning. Light to medium in body. Stones and mushrooms and earth and sweet red fruit - all you can want in a Pinot Noir. I really like this wine. — 9 years ago
Incredibly full and balanced. Loved it. — 10 years ago
What can one say!! Delish! — 11 years ago
Drink it again — 11 years ago
My first 'old' Champagne: no fizz, just some vague tingling. Mild oxidation, sauteed pineapple, caramel, hint of salivating sweetness, really complex and deep. Pretty impressive what chardonnay can do! — 12 years ago
Only so much cheap wine a person can take. The 13 is definitely not feminine in style.
I’ve been eye balling this for months now.
Down to my 2005 & 12 stock wise. This I could drink everyday, needs hours of decant per norm.
Grab a glass re cork then decant 4 hours on the 2nd day.
I’ve had 92,03,05,06,07,08,11 & 12 — 3 years ago
A Bordeaux that can stand up to diverse Chinese food — 8 years ago
Funky at first but subsequently blown away. Fresh, leathery, flowery, with some structure. Can tell it was once a great bottling. A bit long over due. — 9 years ago
Tart cherries, smokey, and really high acid upon opening. Need to give this some time before final conclusion. But a lot to like here. I can see this could easily age for a long time. After a few hours, still quite bright and tart. But has a softer feel. Quite delicious. — 9 years ago
2004—part of a Vieux Telegraphe vertical. Excellent, with layers of good dark fruit and hints of leather and smoke, plus a nice earthiness overall. A lesson for me on the effect of bottle age. (And also how pro ratings can be off the mark—this was wonderful!) Drinking nicely now... — 11 years ago
Clear deep purple colour with watery rim. Clean medium intensity aroma with minty black cherry and black currant with hint of oak smokiness and vanilla. Dry on the palate full bodied medium alcohol with medium acidity and high but smooth velvety tannin. Flavours of earthy black currant, black cherry, and vanilla. Flavours last through into its long pleasant finish. Very good quality, drink now but can age for another 3 to 5 years for a even more balanced complexity. — 11 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
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. — 9 months ago