Kyle Groombridge

9.1

Wow, this is an orange that needs some air, but when its’ aggressive tannins calm down - watch out. After an hour of air and a bit warmer temp, beautiful notes of lily, orange blossom, and stones waft from the glass. The palate is rich, moreso than most oranges I’ve had to this point. As previously mentioned, loads of tannin and a seductively powerful mouthfeel. This is pure joy for the red wine drinker wanting something a tad more refreshing in summer. Surprisingly, this wine paired beautifully with toast with peanut butter and honey (yes, you read that correctly, and yes, I tried it, and yes, it worked.) — 7 years ago

Bret Barker

9.3

One of my favorite producers, you want top quality at a good price this is it. This st julien is drinking beautifully- get involved and yes I'm usually a 03 hater but this great — 8 years ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.4

2006; yes still a little bit of that "bananacream" in the nose, but this is a real crowdpleaser. Fantastic dept of fruit and spices it ends with a great long finish. Terrific wine! — 9 years ago

Julia Weinberg

10

One of those "holy fuck yes!" wine & pairing moments. Stoney, saline, citrus perfection with squid ink/summer veg/persevered lemon pasta.

Officially on my list of world's greatest white wines. — 9 years ago

with Karina and Kelli

Brian Thompson

Sales & Marketing Krupp Brothers Winery, Stagecoach Vineyard

9.4

Another 2003 Napa Cabernet that is drinking gorgeously with proper aging. Velvety with mellowed tannins. Beautiful nose of cassis, cedar, and blackberries. A good pairing with frozen pizza? Why yes! — 9 years ago

David Lieberman

9.2

A business lunch with Jonathan and Gillian at one of the great Italian restaurants of Los Angeles. Recent commentary implying that the 97 was a bit wobbly and on the downslope required I pull the cork on one of my small stash of Le Pergole Torte. Happy to say the reports of a deteriorating state seem exaggerated. Mature, yes - decrepit, no! A beautifully developed berry richness with a hint of tea rose in the nose. Supporting tannins are gentle, but firm. Not PC to buy this wine any longer, a pity, as I imagine later vintages will develop into something as inviting as this one in time. With Gino's fantastic array of pastas; lamb ragu, limonate, seafood. Loved the wine loved the food. — 10 years ago

Neil Schlecht

9.3

We drank a 98 Pingus on election night when Obama was elected in 2008; so we're having its little sister, Flor de Pingus (02) on the occasion of his final State of the Union. yes, we mix wine and politics. — 10 years ago

with Sharon

Carly Streeter

9.9

YES. I love this. just the right amount of oak — 10 years ago

with Meeghan, Sean and 1 other

Pedro Rusk

Wine Educator Kendall Jackson

9.6

Why yes when I drink 2004 Crystal it is poolside and out of Magnum the proportion that is correct for two — 10 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.5

Crunchy, stem-y, spicy with a kiss of California sunshine, as it should be. Yes, please! Really admire the bravery in making this wine. — 11 years ago

Drew DiMatteo

9.3

Dark chocolate and a bit of cayenne pepper, definitely some backbone here. Long sassy plum finish. @BedrockWineCo YES! — 11 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Yes, Virginia, there is a reason Gaja is...well, Gaja. And I ain’t Santa Claus, but the kind somm who brought this by as a gift gets that moniker. Ethereal nose of dried, dirty mushrooms, light tar and asphalt. Meticulous layers of cherry tea, dried strawberry and old leather. Despite a few angles this was silky, sensual. Years to go. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Pichon Lalande is my favorite 2nd growth with a steak. Yup...it's #SteakandClaret night to quote my buddy Gary Westby. Further, it's certainly one of my favorite producers period. I've waited for this wine to be in the bottle for 10 years before finding out definitely how good it was or wasn't. You see, the 05 Bordeaux vintage was exceptional. It's drinking right now better than 00. 00 may turn out to be better, but not for some time. The real issue was the division of scores between RP & NM. Parker had this as low as an 86 and now has it at 89. Neil Martin has been consistently at 95-96. I found it simply inexplicable that Pichon Lalande could have bombed in such a great vintage. Tonight, I know they didn't. This wine is beautiful. Although, I don't believe it will cellar as long as their some of their very best vintages and many others I've enjoyed. On the nose, bramble, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries, graphite, baking spices, cedar, lightly perfumed violets and dark, fresh & dry red flowers. The body is medium-medium plus, tannins nicely resolved with 10 years to be completely resolved. Fruits of; ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries and pomegranate with a whiff of spice. There's notes of dry bramble, soft leather, fresh violets, graphite, cedar, dry stones, dark rich earth, limestone, tobacco, spice-box, vanilla, very light cinnamon & nutmeg. The finish is very long, elegant, ripe, round, smooth, good acidity and beautifully elegant...50-50 earth & fruit. I bought more bottles of this at $85 after it's was first released in futures and I do not regret it. $85 is proving to be a steal for this wine when it normally sells for between $100-$150 a bottle and higher. Might heavy up further after tonight if I find more around the same price. Oh yes...I'm with NM on the scoring. Photos of the Chateau, estate vines, newer tasting room & the Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. Forgive my long post, but my passion and love for this producer is profound. Producer history and notes...as I wrote in an earlier post for Pichon Baron, Pichon Baron and Lalande started as one entity. The first mention of what is now called Chateau Pichon Lalande was the creation of Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan is responsible for forming many of the top Bordeaux estates today. Pichon Lalande was given its name when Therse, the daughter of the founder received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Pichon Lalande was essentially managed by three women, Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus and Marie Branda de Terrefort. On the eve of his death in 1850, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the property between his five children. His three daughters received Pichon Lalande and his sons Pichon Baron. What happened next was Virginie, the wife of the Count of Lalande took over the management of the estate under the name of Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 she commissioned the popular, architect Duphot to build a residence inspired by the Hotel de Lalande, located in Bordeaux. Without heirs, Pichon Lalande passed down from aunts to nieces. Following World War I, the Miailhe brothers, bought Pichon Lalande in 1925. They were the ones who planted even more Merlot. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, the daughter of Edouard Miailhe became the new owner and general manager of Chateau Pichon Lalande in 1978. She expand the size of Chateau Pichon Lalande from 40 hectares to it's current 89 hectares. Chateau Pichon Lalande remained in the same family for more than 250 years! In fact, over three centuries, only two families have owned Pichon Lalande. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing sold Pichon Lalande to the owners of Roederer Champagnein in January 2007. This family-run company is managed by Frederic Rouzaud who owned several other wine estates in Bordeaux; Chateau Bernadotte, Chateau de Pez, Haut Beausejour and Chateau Reaut la Graviere. He sold Chateau Bernadotte in December 2012. In February, 2011, Sylvie Cazes was named the director of Chateau Pichon Lalande. She replaced Gildas d’Ollone. Sylvie Cazes was replaced in 2012 by current Director Nicolas Glumineau, who was previously at Chateau Montrose. In 2012, Pichon Lalande renovated the estate with a budget estimated at over 15 Million Euros. The new facilities included; building of a new underground barrel aging cellar and several new buildings...one that houses their new tasting room as shown. This renovation provided numerous improvements in their wine making. Most importantly, in the vinification. They created a new, triple tiered, cellar where everything moves by gravity. They also added numerous new, stainless steel, temperature controlled, double skinned vats. These new vats allow Pichon Lalande to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis as well as get much softer & gentle extractions. The 89 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Lalande is located adjacent to Chateau Latour and and across the road from Pichon Baron. The terroir of Chateau Pichon Lalande is deep gravel with clay and limestone soil and is planted to; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. — 8 years ago

Benjamin Keator

9.9

Wine of the year so far (yes, it's barely February). Coffee, chocolate, white and black pepper. The nose is incredible. The La Mouline may edge this out, but just barely. Worth every penny. — 10 years ago

with Will and Weston

Jeffrey Lew

9.7

From a very generous guest. Yes that's a cheese burger, and yes I think the paring worked! Awesome stuff but oh soooo young. Incredible texture of fruit and spice..very multidimensional wine. Took all of a few hours to get going to really see what's there. Would love to have another shot in 5yrs but this will last 3x that. Truly exceptional. — 10 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

Thick and opaque in the glass. Dark and brooding. Still ruby. Nose of dark fruits, lead pencil, a little menthol and saddle leather. Great roundness in the mouth. Everything is integrated. Still young. Yes. Still young. — 10 years ago

Jessica Garcia

10

Oh I love this! Balanced, subtle but there- aromatics of peach blossoms, banana, pineapple. I said "oh hell yes!" when I tasted this one. — 11 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.1

Tonight's tasting: group ranked 1 of 4. Aromas of black pepper and cherry. Nice round rich black fruits. Tasted older and better than the 2011 and nearly as good as its big brother. Yes, 2012 was a great year, but it doesn't hurt that this wine has a great pedigree. — 11 years ago

Scott Cunningham

Owner/Importer Bottleneck Wines

9.4

Expensive? Overly so. Too large of production to consider this a rare find? For sure. Delicious? Hell yes! — 12 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

I very much dislike cabarnet franc but this wine is the exception. Yes there is a vegetal, grassy nose but this wine is complex, peppery and a true joy to drink. Plenty of good acidity, full in the mouth, long finish. Fresh — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Artesa (ahr TESS uh) means "craftsman" and connotes "handcrafted" in Catalan, language of Barcelona and their owner, Codorníu, one of the world's largest and oldest wineries. Ruby with sweet berry fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate cranberry and cherry flavors with spice. Fine savory tannins medium finish ending with mineral notes, nice value. — 8 years ago

Caleb Schiff

9.3

Yes. Lovely blend of Schioppettino and Refosco. Aging in used oak for 22 months. Freshness of Refosco remains and pepper notes of Schioppettino on the finish. — 9 years ago

Mark Howard

9.5

Balance & elegance shine through the entire experience. Full Cabernet flavor spectrum- red & black berries, leather, tobacco with a spicy finish. Tannins in balance with fruit. Much more elegant than my memory of this wine as a youngster. Bravo! Yes, we miss the wine making skills of Chuck. — 9 years ago

with Elizabeth

Brian Thompson

Sales & Marketing Krupp Brothers Winery, Stagecoach Vineyard

9.4

Yes, you can get elegance and balance for $30. What a find! Gorgeous floral and mineral notes with a touch of cranberry. Delicate and lively on the palate. Will be seeking out more Cru Beaujolais! — 9 years ago

David Beck

9.0

Yes! More please. Really well balanced from start to finish. Just the right amount of dark cherry tart. Clean finish. Would definitely drink again...and again — 10 years ago

Matt Trader

8.9

Papillon, meaning 'butterfly' in French, is a good representation of this bottle. Elegant, smooth, and fluttering tannin. It is a Bordeaux style blend, all 5 Bordeaux varietals to be specific, and mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is full of fragrant sweet cherries, creme-de-casis, and cocoa powder. The pallet, although slightly thin, exhibits blackberries, tart blueberries, brown spices, and yes..chocolate milk, surrounded in sweet, well integrated, yet soft tannin, and a smooth finish. Not a bad wine, much better quality than the stuff under that bottle, however I feel it is a touch overpriced. Not as big as you expect Orin Swift to be. — 10 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

World Class! Nose: Tart blackberries. rosemary, cardamom? black currant. I would spend at least 3 minutes to figure out the nose! Taste: Tart Black Forest wild morello cherries, leather belt, Black Forest tyme yes there is a thyme which grows in the meadows of the Black Forest. Color: light. Best Pinot made in Germany. If you have any ANY, ANY chance ever to get your hands on this wine get it. Usually highly allocated.
Imported by Lyle Fass or Stephen Bitterolf (vom Boden) often only one keg made. 300 bottles.
Can run with burgundies at 120$ any day tasted side by side with 2013 Mark Haisma Morey St. Denis.


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— 10 years ago

Phil Green

9.0

Black cherry and dried herbs. Full bodied. Great but high priced pizza wine. Hard not to be swayed by the romance of the name. Would I buy more? Yes. It is a wine that is of another time that is unfortunately disappearing — 10 years ago

Courtney Cochran

Sommelier/Host hiptastes.com

9.6

Tres Beautiful nose 👃👃👃
Caramel apple-banana brûlée top notes, pear and spice underneath, still-pert lemon zest and peach custard, too. Palate delivers that Cali-leonine body -ie big! - but with enough brisk acidity to keep things more than decent. Long, with flavors that echo the nose and all around beautiful balance. Drinking super well at moment, near its peak and rewarding this bit of bottle age with plenty of secondary characteristics. PLUS:: #winebling (yes, there are some tartrate crystals, folks - all just adding to the allure - game on!) — 11 years ago

Adam Wills

9.1

Lime Stoned//
Yes. Thank you.
Perfectly elevating this salmon/corn/basil/vermouth/tomato scenario — 11 years ago