Connor Smith

9.2

With the Wine Blight laying waste to her vineyards, France went from 8:1 exporter in 1870 to 6:1 importer in 1887. Legions of wine farmers faced total financial ruin. With no cure - or even a proper diagnosis - in sight, many saw no option but to flee to lands not yet affected.

The influx of institutional knowledge that flooded into former backwater wine regions like Rioja catapulted them into relevance, and soon matured into a world-class standard. The farmers had found respite, but couldn't run forever. By the time Phylloxera crossed the Pyrenees, however, there would be new ways to fight back.

French botanist Jules-Emile Planchon had a theory. If the blight was caused by a microscopic American insect as he suspected, perhaps grafted European varieties on American rootstock would be resistant. This would be confirmed by Missouri entomologist Charles Riley, and with millions of rootstocks supplied by Texas horticulturalist T.V. Munson, the Wine Blight was soon in remission.

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 6 years ago

Mark Grammer

9.3

Excellent nose with a lot of fruit on the palate. Long finish with firm tannins still present. Could cellar at least 5-10 years before peaking. — 7 years ago

Ashwin Muthiah

9.5

The first thing that grabs you about this beauty is the lively acidity - still present and poignant many years after bottling. Candied plums, blackberries, dark cherry, toast, tobacco, and some leather on the nose. Light body with supple, delicate tannins. Hints of baking spices and cured meat in the finish. — 7 years ago

Kenta Hayashi

9.3

Ripe red fruits, particularly ripe strawberry jam, liquorice, and earthy. Tannins are notably present, low acidity, definitely feel the warmth from the alcohol. First Sandrone and I doubt it'll be the last. — 8 years ago

Chris Forest

9.2

Dark berries currants and spices on the nose with some eucalyptus and possibly sun-dried tomatoes. A nice nose that is more new world than old world. Lots of spices, dark berries, a little bit of heat from the alcohol with minerals, currents and some hints wood on the Finish. Full bodied some tannins present but well-integrated. The wine is tight young but showing potential in the future.. Needs to be cellared for a few years. — 9 years ago

Clark Beaty

9.0

Second bottle of 78 I've had this year. The fruit is still present but soft, this wine has surprisingly held up beautifully and is drinking very well. — 9 years ago

Darren Guillaume

9.7

This 2006 still needed decanting to open up. The tannins are silky and the fruit jumps out on the palate. It brought back memories of how the best wines of Saint-Emilion present themselves in tannic structure and darkness of in color. But 100% Sangiovese on the nose. Old world at it's finest. — 10 years ago

Matt Wickham

9.3

Elegant display of classic jalapeño, olives and rustic farm notes. Yet the fruit is still present with beautiful tinges of plum and raspberry. — 10 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.4

Lovely luncheon claret- not for the cult cab lover. The tannins are resolved and the body light to medium and the breed of the site is present- yum! — 10 years ago

Thomas Droumenq

8.9

This delectable taste of a fine old Bordeaux, a bit musty, tannins still very present, some complexity but most surprisingly so much length. Perfect with the veal chops in oregano and rosemary sauce. — 11 years ago

John Kemper

9.2

Although a light ruby, the '98 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage 'La Chapelle' is a full-bodied wine. Dusty, smoky and meaty aromas are present along with jammy black raspberry and green been flavors. Chalky tannins lead to a mid-length finish. — 12 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.3

From Magnum. Surprised this was so good. Lascombe was have some issues back then, but this certainly matured well. Smokey and earthy with some forest floor, but fruit still present. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.6

Day 2 of Napa in the books!

We were told that we were the first non-employees to taste the ‘16 Continuum. Only decanted an hour or so prior to arrival. Very young. Highlights Pritchard Hill/Sage Canyon wonderfully. The depth here is what is special...heavy/baked black cherry, surrounded by mineral & herbal notes. Ripe and sweet red, blue and black fruits present. Massive in structure to go on for years. Loved this. — 6 years ago

Jörgen Lindström Carlvik

Owner, Brix Wine Consultants

9.3

A bit angular a first. Needed lots of time. Obvious oak even after 4 hours, shading its powerful fruits and serious minerality. At present, it lacks details. The ugly duckling of the 3 today... heat on the finish too. 93+ — 7 years ago

Eldon Sproule

9.2

Black liquorice on the nose is delightful. Spicy black fruit, very present tannins and huge body. Inky, deep purple colour. The finish is exceptionally long, where many of the secondary flavours appear (cedar, caramel, hot apple cider). Unbelievable for a young wine, and will get better and better with age. — 8 years ago

Nick Piccone

9.5

Awesome graduation present and a great dinner — 9 years ago

Paul Stroud

Sommelier/Wine Director

9.5

I thought this was perfect. Thanks Dad. Bought on current release and cellared until now. Plenty of plum, vibrant acidity, tannis present on the end. Great complex finish. I'm happy there are 6 more in the cellar — 9 years ago

GaYoung Kim

Graileys Fine Wines. Sommelier. Broker

9.3

Powerful yet seamless!! Dried dark fruit still present amongst a plethora of earth, gravel, dark spice notes. — 10 years ago

Gaby

9.4

Got the bottle as a present and now a great fan! Excellent, good body and crispy flavours — 10 years ago

Pierpaolo Petrassi MW

Master of Wine; Head of Beer, Wine & Spirits Waitrose

9.5

Had the honour of tasting the '71 and it proved amazing. Bordeaux is so often referenced in terms of how it will continue to develop and we rarely taste a truly mature vintage. This was it. Beautifully fresh, balanced, still packed with fresh fruit & tannins fully resolved but present and lending structure. Awesome. — 10 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

2011. Blanc. No one drinks enough of this. That's because there are so few things to which its a good partner, but it would be an incredible cheese-and-charcuterie wine. Broad and oily, there's just enough acid to keep you coming back for more. Sun-baked yellow orchard fruits dominate, but there's more exotic fruits too (mango and dried pineapple) yellow flowers, tons of almond husk bitterness, green olives, bay leaf, oregano, tarragon, white cheddar. Oak is assertively present but not overwhelming. Place dominates over grapes here, as it's a mix of Clairette and Grenache Blanc and a hodge-podge of other things. — 10 years ago

Shay A

9.5

Day 2 of Napa in the books!

20yrs young! This was also served to us blind and we all guessed it was mid-late 2000s Seavey Cab. All the red and black fruit notes are still present with mellowed out tannin. Very smooth and polished. Big note of baked mixed berry (cherry, blackberry) pie that is covered in a cloud of sweet vanilla pipe tobacco. Ripe & rich up front, savory in the middle, balanced finish. Incredible for its age. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

I haven’t had the 2005 Chateau Musar Rouge since it was released whilst living in the Middle East. Recently, I picked up a half case each of the 2005 Rouge and Blanc since it’s an anniversary wine for Holly and I. One thing is certain, no one could ever accuse Serge (and now Gaston) for making boring wines. Decanted for five hours prior to drinking. This had a crazy bouquet of grapefruit, brambles and strawberries, pipe tobacco, wild flowers, horse blanket. Delicious red fruit, spices and earth on the palate. Tannins are still present but much more integrated than when I had this on release. Examples like this bottle will continue to age gracefully for years to come. QPR is through the freaking roof. — 7 years ago

Tony Capone

9.5

Wow, this wine was fabulous, Dark rich color, black plums, licorice and some light tobacco, a very dense wine, tannins are still present, this wine is still aging beautifully, the finish was long and elegant. Only two left. — 7 years ago

Mark Villa

9.5

Absolutely smooth and delicious. I can't say that it has tremendous character, or anything that makes it stand out apart from its smoothness or deliciousness, but it is certainly a pleasure to drink, and I would NEVER turn it down! This was purchased for me as a present by dear friends for my 40th birthday. I enjoyed it tremendously! I hope that we can all enjoy this wine (regardless of vintage) together as a special treat, in good health, for many years to come. — 9 years ago

Eric Egan

9.4

I suspect this didn't get quite enough air. Not quite pop and pour but it was only open for 45 mins before we drank it (we were perhaps over-concerned about the mid shoulder level). Lovely (and lively) russet core with long legs as a ruby rim; nose of pencil shavings, cigar tubes (hint of metal with lots of tobacco), blackberry stalks, and lingering aromas of compté cheese rind and venerable (on-the-edge) rose petals; long and satisfying - persistent tannins and well integrated but still present acidity. From half bottle - need to give the next one more time!!! — 9 years ago

Brett Vanderbrook

9.0

In honor of Raina's 31st birthday, we open this 31 year old wine. Nose has the classic dead leaves and cigar box. Faintest touch of soy sauce, in the best way. Pours a surprisingly dark purple with a rim of brownish brick red. Surprisingly fresh for being 3 decades old, and even more surprisingly there are still some tannins present. Drinking really well right now, but I don't think I'd hold it any longer. — 9 years ago

with Kieran and Raina

Alexis Davis Iaconis

Hospitality Director Copain Wines

8.9

Bretty! Soft and still fruit present — 10 years ago

Steven Spencer-Steigner

10

Absolutely LOVE! Great holiday present from my generous partner. — 10 years ago

Scott T

VP/Senior Wine Specialist Christie's

9.5

Amazeballs! Half btl. Base neck. True '61 character still present. Needed 1hr to fully blossom. About twice the color of the Lafite 70 and 3x the complexity. A testament to great storage. Only one owner. (cellar inspection for upcoming online auction) — 11 years ago