The Future Laboratory

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2008

Mid-weight on the palate; showed a bit more interest than last bottle. A powerful wine with plenty of fresh baked bread and crisp green apple notes. Long, almost oily finish with a final kick of acidity hints at a long future. — 6 years ago

Billy, Ira and 9 others liked this

Penfolds

Grange Bin 95 Shiraz 1991

Prior to opening I noticed minor ullage with level being at high shoulder. Dense dark crimson - the colour would not lead you to believe it was 27 years old. Dusty dark berries with a whiff of leather (Barb). Strong aromas of cassis and also notes of coconut American Oak which I wasn’t expecting after all these years, but it is in balance with the fruit. On the palate there is power with molten tannins. Still with a good future into the 2030s. The previous vintage 1990 was Wine Spectators wine of the Year and largely put Grange on the map in the USA. Many good judges in Australia now prefer the 1991 to the 1990 and I am inclined to agree. I have 4 left from an original dozen and should have the next in about 2 to 3 years time. — 7 years ago

Scott, Mark and 15 others liked this
TheSkip

TheSkip

Awesome!!
Ira Schwartz

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@Bob McDonald very helpful , I have one bottle left

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2002

Slightly dusty corky note which hung around longer than it should have. Also on the nose Herbs and Mint rule the roost with berry fruit in the background. Cabernet makes its presence felt in this Cab Shiraz blend with its structure and a touch of austerity. Restrained fruit and an elegant style still with a good future. — 8 years ago

Shay, Aaron and 8 others liked this

Alain Graillot

Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2015

The first of two wines enjoyed at Vaucluse. This is a baby. Dark purple, and totally primary with tons of blackberries, cherries and some tar. Delicious now but surely, like so many Rhônes from 2015, one for the future. — 8 years ago

Cara Zimmerman
with Cara
James, Cara and 5 others liked this
Dustin Wilson, MS

Dustin Wilson, MS Influencer Badge

Very strong!

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2007

If there were ever an archetypical Syrah, Jamet's Cote-Rotie would be a strong candidate. To me this is a pure expression of a classic Northern Rhone Syrah. It is not a single site, but a blend of terroirs, encompassing over 20 sites mostly from hard rock schist bedrock with little to no topsoil. There is NO Viognier in this wine like one might expect from most Cote-Rotie that might have 1-5% co-fermented.

Importantly, there is also a lot less of the oak character that can dominate and overwhelm many Northern Rhone wines. The oak maturation, while not short at 22 months, only uses 15% new oak with no trace of it on the palate as it is perfectly integrated. Grape bunches are whole cluster fermented and macerated for up to 3 weeks.

The 2007 we have here was drinking superbly for a young wine, showing lively and racy layers of peppercorn spice, roast beef, and warm blackberry and currant fruit from the hot 2007 vintage. While from a warm vintage, not a hair is out of place. Density and purity exude from the nose and hint at what a brilliant future this wine has. Perfect acidity and fleshy ripe tannin provide the backbone structure for father time to peel back the layers of this beauty. I will be chceking back in 5 years at the earliest.
— 9 years ago

LM, Jim and 11 others liked this
LM Segal

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Nice note. 🍷
Tom Kobylarz

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Thanks! 🍷

Aalto

Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo 2012

This is still a wee babe but has a great future. Huge wine. Needs bottle age. It you will be rewarded. Score will also go up with time if you can keep your hands off of this one. — 9 years ago

John BatesMike Davila
with John and Mike
John, Raul and 9 others liked this
David L

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What a night! Cheers to & your group!

Thomas

Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2013

Unicorn Wednesday! Ethereal, soft, beautiful, bing cherry, sweet flowers, marzipan?, mild fall leaves, smooth very fine tannins but they grip, good acidic backbone, everything in harmony, nothing unbalanced. First try of the '13s, can't wait to see where these go in the future...thanks @Noah Raizman — 10 years ago

Carla, David and 7 others liked this
Doctor No

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This is good sh!t

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

great. all it needs. will bi great in future. — 10 years ago

Larkmead Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Very solid out of the bottle. Still quite tannic and young but you can see the future. — 10 years ago

Steven Beal
with Steven
David, Eric and 10 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011

The power of blending: grapes but different vintages too in Bordeaux! Juicy, good structure, freshness, chewy tannins, the future of Bordeaux? — 11 years ago

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Great vintage for Ducru that seems ready to go with a bright future showing a perfumed nose of black fruits, cassis, cedar, leather, graphite, menthol, spice box, & tobacco. — 6 years ago

Eric, Gaming and 22 others liked this
Ron Siegel

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David as you can see from my note this btl was drinking well & seems to be just entering its drinking window. I have started to delve into the 95’s & 96’s as well as some of the 98 Right banks & for the most part have found them to be approachable as well as offer a pleasurable drinking experience. I would definitely wait on the 00’s & 05’s as they are still not ready. Hope this helps. Cheers!
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I was really asking if you thought the 95 & 96 Pichon Lalande is or ever will live up to critical expectations as you just had it? I’ve had them on a number of occasions and feel they are un-Pichon Lalande like or up to their usual quality Every time I have them, I think, will they ever blossom? 91 was a bad vintage in Bordeaux but, I loved their 91 at 20 years plus of age. Haven’t been able to say that about their 95 & 96. At least, yet.
Ron Siegel

Ron Siegel Premium Badge

Yes I agree the 95 PL may never come around as the btl I just tried was very linear & seemed slightly monolithic compared to other 95’s I have tried recently. I will try the 96 PL tomorrow & let you know.

Freemark Abbey

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Ok ok.... it’s been a while! Maybe this is a holiday affair! I cheat on France when I’m away, shush, she’ll never know. I’m 40,000 feet/11k in meters high on Virgin Atlantic Wi-fi (this is clearly the future). ‘The Storey’
I bought two within the last two weeks. Bought and opened on recommendation (local wine shop in the village). The looks - label old skool European, 15%+ dark and stormy. I drank both bottles at two diffident occasions and felt the same emotion (bit 80’s I know)...... skiing in Whistler, snowy night with Mrs W. Kids sleeping and a plate of plastic North American cheese. Don’t be angry, I loved it. There are wines to be drunk in winter and there are cold wines. This one at room/blood temperature (27c/80f) with 40mins breathing time and it just floored us. I want to point out this wine is not a quick drink. I bolt red like blueberry/cranberry/black currant juice but it just wouldn’t be rushed. Smooth and I mean smooth. Salty, Carmel and Brandy/almonds....... No other description will describe. It’s just like maple syrup in consistency. It snowed outside but it shon in the glass. Second date: New Year’s Eve, -13 outside. 4 other people I didn’t really know on an impromptu dinner. We ate, drank and talked (I talked rubbish but I’ll never see them again) then it came time for the cheese board. The wine was too cold when we arrived. It was too cold for starter and mains but 3hrs in, opened and primed it was sit you down amazing (again). A NYE to remember. Don’t take it from me, ask the nobodies I’ll never see again. I thought maybe I’d/we’d just had a moment the time before but it’s that good (it really was). Don’t take my word for it, try it alone or with strangers but make sure you drink it slooooooooowly
— 8 years ago

Mike, Sean and 2 others liked this

Claude Dugat

Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 2013

Opened it too early. Lots of promise for the future bottles I have. — 9 years ago

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Very intense red fruit. Punchy and juicy. From mag. Still primary but a good future. — 9 years ago

Matt Lichtenberg
with Matt
Anthony, Ira and 4 others liked this

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2011

Still a baby but such a great future! — 9 years ago

DLynn, Anthony and 8 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Soft tannins, balanced fruit, really lovely wine. And wait for it....its 18 years old and still going! I need a few more bottles of this vintage for future anniversary celebrations! — 9 years ago

Chris Harris
with Chris
Paul liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2012

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik
8.9

Well... This is nice... But you should be ashamed of yourself! Great site, a shitload of money and you bottle this? Early maturing vintage too. Just skip it unless you collect for future verticals. — 10 years ago

Lasse, Johan and 14 others liked this

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 1998

So much to say, but yet so much more to tell. Hold onto this one for future study. — 10 years ago

Ata Rangi

Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013

More fruit driven and powerful than the Bindi Original. Ripe fleshy cherry notes. Silky mouthfeel. Through the waves of fruit there is also a reasonable level of tannin and acid which will carry it into the future. A class act. — 10 years ago

Ira liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Jon Maxwell
9.1

Very young... extremely promising future. — 11 years ago

Cori Messinger
with Cori
Gary and Anthony liked this

Anselmo Mendes

Muros de Melgaço Vinho Verde Alvarinho 2009

Icon. Future of serious Vinho Verde, even more serious Alvarinho. Amazing wine! — 12 years ago

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2008

Great champagne.
Heading for a perfect score in the future.
— 7 years ago

Peter, Shay and 21 others liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

The 2013 Opus One is an absolute stunning release, and is certainly one of most impressive young wines I have ever tasted from this estate. This shows a darker, more forward profile from this warm vintage, and is clearly one to contemplate, as there are so many complexities and working parts to this compelling wine. This instantly impresses as it opens to intense aromatics of crème de cassis, black cherry, blackberry compote and black plum woven together with mocha, sandalwood. The mouthfeel is voluptuous and beautifully concenrated with deep and penetrating flavors of black cherry, créme de cassis, blackberry cobbler, anise, sage and anise, which all resonate beautifully across the palate. This is already extreamly appealing, but try to resist this hedonistic wine for at least another few years, as there is undoubtedly a long future ahead. Drink 2019-2035-99 — 7 years ago

Shay, P and 3 others liked this

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Volcanic Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1975

this had to be the surprise of the night. The wind held up after all these years. OMG, they knew how to make wine in Napa way back playing! This gorgeous beast could've been mistaken for a first growth Bordeaux!!!!!!
What a spectacular rockstar it was. Badass in a glass to say the least! I loved it and he just happened to be Shawn Rose's birth year Wine!!
Great birth year bud!!!!! This really held its own I'm on the Titans that we drink this evening. It was my only bottle but I will be sourcing some more within the near future to say the least. The only thing better was our company this evening! Thank you for making a trip down from Texas! Your motto is go big or go home so I had to pull out all the stops this evening!!!!!
@Shawn R @Christine Christine and I loved seeing you. We will definitely repay the favor!!!!! I'm sure your Texas barbecue will make for some great badass pairings!
— 8 years ago

Christine Shawn R
with Christine and Shawn
Martin, Shawn and 43 others liked this
Shawn R

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@David L you can do as many as you want! @Martin G Rivard let's plan it!!!
9.7
Mike R

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😀😀😀
Carl Fischer

Carl Fischer Influencer Badge

Damn!!! Nice one guys. Happy (and a little jealous) you're hanging out !!!

Brand

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Bob Bryden
9.3

Still a super wine but this one a little young to fully shine. Acidity and tannins front and center now but the future is bright. Needs another 2-3 years to mature. — 9 years ago

Gregory SummersTom Gordon
with Gregory and Tom
Gregory, jesus and 4 others liked this
Tom Gordon

Tom Gordon

I agree but glad I have several bottles in the cellar
9.3
Gregory Summers

Gregory Summers

Was my fav of the night...sipping before the meal, had an enjoyable finish...and this one was superlative, without a need for a song & a dance!

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

The sister property of Haut-Brion and a wine many consider an unofficial 1st Growth, La Mission was firing on all cylinders this night. The 2000 nose was classic, showing the signature Graves scorched Earth, ripe currants, creme de cassis, and roasted coffee beans. The palate built around a core of earth and rock, with a structured and textural powerhouse that relents in the glass as you taste it further, unwrapping the aroma and flavor kaleidoscope slowly and keeping you coming back for more.

The 2005 was more of the same but on another level of density and strength being a younger wine and also from an excellent vintage worthy of at least 5 -7 more years before I would go at it again. The nose hinted to a deep future, with the palate clamping down and not showing any signs of relenting that night.

#lamission #hautbrion #graves #bordeaux
#wine
— 9 years ago

Riddley, Andrew and 8 others liked this

Vine Hill Ranch

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

A wine that I brought tonight and felt strongly about. Incredible pedigree, winemaker is from Araujo which is insane great! Beautiful 12 but I committed infanticide., should laid it down another few years but it did open up like a million bucks after a few hours. Truly opulent Napa wine which is well structured and loved by all tonight. A new rockstar on the block vs the the old rock stars that were drinking in full stride tonight. It's was awesome tonight but I can't wait for it to evolve a little and become STELLAR in the future. I highly recommend this wine. The preliminary rating is 96 to 98 and the 13 is even better if you can imagine that! — 9 years ago

Christine Kirk AlexanderRachel Eidelman
with Christine, Kirk and 1 other
Martin, Paul and 30 others liked this
Martin G Rivard

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I would uncork one now to see it's evolution. Decant minimum of 3 hours and it will blow you away!
Eric

Eric Premium Badge

Great note- looking for some of this now @Martin G Rivard !
Martin G Rivard

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@Eric Shanks You definitely won't be disappointed!! Pick up the 13 as well since I think it's even better than their insanely great 12. You can't go wrong with either vintage!👌

Burn Cottage

Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013

So juicy and deep. Such a pretty drinkable wine. Great acid and generous fruit. So good now but will keep for a good future — 10 years ago

Fraser liked this

Hortevie

St. Julien 2010

James McFadyen
9.3

Taut, vivacious, charmingly guarded, smokey notes to red fruit. Great
Young, bouncy, but belies power and long future totally primary. 2010
— 11 years ago

Freycinet Vineyard

Tasmania Pinot Noir 2007

One of Australia's best Pinots IMO. Voluminous ripe nose carrying over to an equally full palate of great length. Great concentration and future. A Pinot where 15 years cellaring like Bass Phillip, is not out of the question. 2007 vintage. 18. — 11 years ago