David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.

I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.

It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.

Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — 3 months ago

LM Segal

9.6

Still incredibly primary, as if just bottled, powerful nose dominated by classic cigar and cedar notes. Prominent, velvety oak led a rich, round palate of fine tannins and dark red cherry, baking chocolate. Tail went on forever. Give this 10 more years will be even better. — 5 months ago

Brendan Baker

9.3

Perfumed, red cherry, mineral, firm tannin 😋 — 8 months ago

Michael Amoruso

8.9

Big round purple fruits. Milk chocolate. Low acid. Needs time — 10 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Wow! Velvet, dark currants, mocha, caramel, dark chocolate, saddle-wood, underbrush, gravel, stones & elegance that only happens with this much time forward. Round acidity and beautiful balance and finish.

Stupidly good with our Tri-tip!!!

Photos of; my visits to Bodega La Rioja, their well backlit tasting bar, outside patio and large oak barrels that were assembled inside the Bodega more than 100 years ago...they’re that big and have required many repairs over the years. — 4 years ago

with James and Christina

Romain Stamm

8.9

Dinner tasting Paul - at its peak, very round. Cedar notes, dark intense ripe fruitS (blackberries, plum) and notes of tonacco — 5 years ago

with Paul

Tom Lin

9.4

Elegantly balanced all round red. Great to go with meal or savor alone. — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I compare the Heitz Napa to the Joseph Phelps Napa in many ways. I believe the Phelps is slightly less vintage dependent than Heitz. But, this 07 like the vintage in Napa, sensational.

This 2007 is peaking. Perfectly ripe & juicy; brambly blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries/kirsch, blueberries come on late and poached strawberries on the edges. The tannins are still dark and tarry. Rich, sweet, dark soils, mid & dark berry cola, anise, steeped black tea, dry tobacco, used leather, cedar/sandalwood, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, moist, grey volcanic clay, dry crushed rocks, limestone, mid spice, hints of grilled meat, some fresh/dry herds, a tad of eucalyptus, stewy/tumble weed, fresh & withering dark, red, blue florals framed in violets, excellent round acidity, the scope of the finishes encompasses; balance for days, nice structure & tensioned, elegant, polished and lasts two minutes.

Photos all taken around their tasting room on Hwy 29 when their tasting was still the last free tasting in Napa. Still not over the family selling to a corporation that has no wine experience. — 3 months ago

Brett Francis

8.9

A nice, clean and crisp Sauvignon blanc. There were flavors of lemon and apricot, and hints of dry and green grass all paired with a low minerality (which I always like). Easy drinking. Would love another bottle with lunch on a summer’s day. — 4 months ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Way too early. I have a few 375mL bottles and was curious to learn how a wine like this might be even though it was well before it’s suggested drinking window. The bones and structure are evident and this should grow into a monster. It was still a very pleasant wine it was just holding back the whole time. Unfocused fruit and a bit too sweet but I think this score will be significantly higher for round 2. — 8 months ago

Mark Farrell

9.5

Lighter in color for a 2019, more of a medium ruby. Nose is cherry pie, not tart cherries but sweet black cherry. A bit of dust and a lot of cedar chest. Great structure, smooth tannins, and medium to full-bodied. The lighter color fooled me into thinking this would be a lighter cab, but it packs plenty of punch. The finish lingers especially pumping those cedar notes throughout. — 2 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Pontet Canet tasting and dinner with Alfred Tesseron.

The fruits are dark & muted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, plums with strawberries come on late. Lots of moist clay, dry soils, deep dark spice, crushed, rock powder, graphite, black, dry soils, hints of green bell pepper, dry herbs with blue, dark withering flowers. The acidity is round but could be better. The long finish is balanced but, for me, comes up short and a little flat.

Photos of; our dinner group, The K&L Bordeaux Buyer-Ralph Sands and Alfred talking about the wines, Clyde Beffa Jr. -Owner of K&L Wine Merchants and Chateau Pontet Canet. — 5 years ago

Daniel Lim

9.6

Nose - cassis, graphite, blackcurrant, cherries, floral notes, fragrant wood
Body - blackcurrant, lots of graphite and depth, full and round, smooth tannins, structure and backbone to support layers
Finish - moderate to long perfumed finish — 6 years ago

Jamie Thibert

9.0

Perfectly balanced 2022 — 3 months ago

Mike Lev

8.9

Med+ body, med acid and tannin… red cherry and vanilla aromas, red fruit flavor, caramel and woody; for a mass wine, somewhat simple, kinda big, but not exactly unlikeable. — 3 months ago

Lev Donkovtsev

9.0

Ваниль, инжир, дерево передает первый нос, сладость и мягкость во вкусе. Среднетелое, послевкусье недолгое, но аромат пустого бокала радует долго. — 8 months ago

Willie Carter

9.2

Probably my favorite and, in my mind, the most consistent Spanish wine out there. A deep dark plum color in the glass. The nose absolutely shines with cedar and plenty of spice. There’s a bit of smoke here along with cherry cola and a little more spice. Dried herbs and chocolate round things out.

A preponderance of Tempranillo with a nice chunk of Garnacha in the blend. Obviously still so young but readily approachable and enjoyable now. The extended aging makes a world of difference with this wine vintage in and vintage out. Rich and full of personality, this is a beautiful wine that’s just going to continue to grow with age. — 8 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Four day weekend. Gotta get it off to a good start. Been awhile since we had our 375ml of Ruinart.

The nose shows, ripe, slightly candied; black cherries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals.

The palate is full & touch gummy/candied. Fruits are well extracted, deep, ruby; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, kirsch cherries, rich, summertime watermelon, touch of orange citrus family blend, pomegranate juice, hints of fruit roll up & haunting apricots. Ghostly, not quite fruit brandy or fruit liqueur character, sea fossils & spray, a little bread dough, not quite medium, white spice with hints of palate heat, grainy, grey volcanics, chalky powder, orange, spring flowers with fresh & withering, red & pink rose pedals. The acidity lively and crisp. The round, well balanced & polish finish is always consistently satisfying and lingers for minutes.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, Dom Thierry Ruinart, nicely light caves and rolling, hillside, Grand Cru Vineyard.

Not quite sure where “D” gets $83 when you can buy this all day at just under $65. — 4 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.2

Visiting again this splendid Paulliac from the 2011 vintage. 2011 vintage was labeled as mediocre in Bordeaux and this lovely wine showed that it is actually a classic vintage with some great wines, so trust the chateau not only the vintage. The nose is tempting with notes if coffee, earth, oak, cassis, black fruits and hints of chocolate, the body is full with round tannins, acidity is splendid and finish is long. My score 92, drink to 2026, perhaps longer — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is the 08 Insignia out of magnum. This drinking beautifully.

On the nose, ripe, ruby, lush fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices with fresh red and very dark flowers.

On the palate, the body is near full. The tannins are beautifully rounded. It guides across the palate. So fresh and beautiful! blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & creamy raspberries. Black licorice, vanilla, some fig, sweet soils, light baking spices, river stone, crushed rocks, cedar, with fresh red and very dark flowers. Beautiful round acidity and an elegantly polished finish. — 6 years ago