Vino Joe

9.6

Rich and layered. Bursting with ripe fruit this is a fast moving bottle. It doesn’t last very long. Ever sip is a treasure. The mix of the balanced grape selection with the Italian terrior gives this lots of heft and kick. I have had. A mixed success rate with this wine but this vintage is outstanding. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

The 2014 vintage was the last harvest while Serge Hochar was still alive. He tragically drowned while on holiday, NYE in 2014. I have no logical reason to be wary of Musar’s future as the team involved in producing the wines have been in place for some time. However, Serge’s death was for me, the loss of an wine hero. This is my first experience with the 2014 and I can’t help but reflect on the unforgettable experiences I’ve had drinking wines that he produced.

Decanted for several hours prior to dinner, the wine appears a deep purple turning garnet after plenty of air with an opaque core. High intensity, medium+ viscosity, a touch of sediment. On the nose, this is a wild carnival for the senses with cherries, mulberries, rhubarb pie, Twin Bing, harissa, kofta, pipe tobacco, oud, teriyaki, and event canned peaches (though only after some time in the glass). On the palate, things are much more modest with a very compelling cherry compote and bright cranberry notes with some tobacco and baking spices. Very primary at this stage. Medium tannin with medium+ acid. The finish long…forever and a day with dried cherries and dates bringing me home. While still an infant, this is shaping up to be a lovely and long-lived vintage of Musar Rouge. Cheers, Serge. Your legacy lives on. — 4 years ago

John A

9.4

See prior notes. Enjoyed my last bottle with good friends and an excellent ribeye — 6 years ago

erto l

9.0

half bottle last night. bit 'much' to start. wee dram of water and we've grand rioja, though. next go was fine without the water . purists, please forgive me for the initial transgression... — 8 years ago

Vic Petroff

9.0

Pretty. Better than last year . — 10 years ago

Jon Barreto

10

2013 is slightly richer than last vintage, showing stones, gorgeous floral notes, and (when chilled) silken toffee. — 11 years ago

George Hesse

9.5

A last bottle for me and the Grownish camera crew. Great finish!!! — 3 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.1

From dad during a visit in late 00’s, in my wine loving infancy. Managed to sit on it, curious to see what would happen. Opened with dad last night to celebrate. Dark purple. Stewed fruits, cigar box, faint cocoa. Bordeaux-esque. Mellowed nicely with age. — 4 years ago

with Guillermo

Diane Kessler

8.9

On its last legs. Still has sweet fruit and cedar. Went well with our hanger steak. — 6 years ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

From the 163rd edition - big dark flavor with very refined bubbles. Very griping champagne. Quite the contrast from last nights Blancs de Blancs — 6 years ago

Dave Schneider

9.2

I have tried several examples of Prieure Lichine over the years. Some were great and others not so good. I was skeptical about 2004 and I shouldn’t have been. What a beautiful example of a mid life Bordeaux that is likely at or near it’s peak. Dry, earthy and tannic with a solid core of fruit. Well done. This can easily last another decade — 8 years ago

Nate Redner

9.5

Crushable. Great summertime wine. — 9 years ago

with Michael

Nate Jolly

9.8

Loved it. — 11 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.3

Our wedding wine, fast-forwarded 20 years. My third-place wine last night. Lovely creamy mousse. — 13 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.6

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is the last wine Bart and Daphne Araujo made from start to finish before selling their winery and vineyard to the Artemis Group. All the Eisele signatures are there, but the volume is just turned down. Dark berry fruit, gravel, spice, earthiness and leather lend striking aromatic nuance throughout. This mid-weight, supremely elegant Cabernet Sauvignon is sublime. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. Superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, May 2022)
— 3 years ago

Severn G

9.6

The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.

Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)

Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...

Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.

Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.

This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.

I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules. — 4 years ago

WC Fields

9.4

Happy birthday J. Fantastic at 38 years. Not showing any ill affects of age. Velvety with nice juicy fruit and secondary notes of leather, bitter chocolate, forest floor and only soft thread of tertiary notes on the finish. Still had tannins. This was 2 of 2 and this drank as good, if not better, than the one last year. A pleasure.
Paired with A5 NY strip. — 6 years ago

Jeff Maybrun

9.5

Big and bold with black and red fruit. Medium tannins. Still has room to improve with age. — 9 years ago

Thomas Hughes

9.5

I was disappointed with my last Caymus Special Selection vintage, but this beauty brought me back to a bottle that won Wine Spectator's #1 Wine of the Year ... Twice!! Incredible fruit and balance. This can be cellared and enjoyed for years to come. Cheers!! — 10 years ago

Kathryn Ryan

9.7

Thanks Brad great last wine! — 12 years ago

with Bradley