Doug Powers

9.0

Found a box of this the other day in the cellar, the original Jaboulet box was damaged and so I’d moved it to a non-Jaboulet box 7-8 years ago. Further, this was the only bottle showing any real ullage (about 1.5”), so opened it first (I do have more, and will report when I open the next bottle).

Color is medium-dark ruby, some bacon fat and meaty aromas, lovely fruit still, structured has softened, long finish, but I’m sure a pristine bottle will show even better!! — a year ago

with Jim

Blair Campomizzi

9.6

A surprise addition of the night. A great blend, about 75% Cab, 14% merlot with CF and PV filling in the remainder. Plum, blackberry and fig show through nicely. Touches of vanilla. — 3 years ago

with Marilea

Bob McDonald

9.1

Tuesday the 26th of January was Australia Day and a public holiday. What better way to celebrate than Australia’s best fizz Arras Grand Vintage from Tasmania. Quite light lemon in colour. Very citrussy and mineral on the nose. 7 years on Lees showing in the complexity of the palate which still shows tension and refreshment. See previous notes for the 2007 which was slightly better and Champion Wine of the Royal Brisbane Show. — 5 years ago

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.6

Beautiful color, with just the beginning of brick on the rim.
Aromas of tar, black currant leaf, dried black fruits. Still so youthful.
Actually this wine needs more time so show more complexity and has lots of life left. — 7 years ago

Kevin Rogers

Owner/Winemaker Nico Wines

9.1

Damn delicious Gville. Needs time to really show its greatness. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This wine has all the makings of being great one day. It’s just about 8-10 years more years away.

The wine is just staring to round out, integrate and show its elegance. Ruby, creamy currants, earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, stones, dark most soil, round acidity and a very well polished finished.

This is my favorite Ribeye wine and it didn’t disappoint...only that is still too young. 95-96 in another decade.

Photos of, the Chateau & grounds, newer tasting room & barrel room and Estate vines that are adjacent to Chateau Latour. — 7 years ago

speedy duncan

9.1

So much potential just beginning to show up, the weight alone is worth the ticket fruit, mineral and acid all compacted and balanced-wish the meal lived up to it — 8 years ago

with Eli and Laura

Adam Gäfvert

9.2

The 2005 Pichon Baron show a fair amount of tertiary characteristics. It is dense and inky. Medium to full bodied. Currants, bayleaf, mushroom, forrest floor, truffle and tons of pencil shavings. — 2 years ago

Doug Powers

9.2

Shows fully mature aromas and flavors, a little Brett, but not overpowering, lovely complexity and balance, starting to show more as it aerates, lovely. — 3 years ago

with Jim

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured from my cellar. The cork was absolutely perfect. The 2005 pours a rather turbid, deep garnet at nearly 17 years old. There's quite a bit of fine sediment that clings to the edge of the glass with each swirl. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this was initially a bit grumpy but within minutes, it relaxed and started to show some real charm. A fully developed wine, this is becoming a bit of a Leather Daddy, full of leather (obviously), bruised and desiccated red, black and blue fruits, Christmas spice fruit cake, coffee, damp earth, and candied nuts. On the palate, the fruit remains quite stunning and confirms the mix of bruised and desiccated fruit with a sort of sherried character. Loads of salmiakki (salted licorice), spiced nuts, pepper, coffee and, you guessed it, leather. The wine was dry, technically, but almost gives the sensation of some RS with all of the over-ripe fruits and the texture was almost sappy, in some ways. However, while this was absolutely rich and well-endowed, it was not cloying. Tannins have fully integrated (though still present) and the acid was like a girdle keeping everything held together. This remains a rather large personality even if it's showing its age. Definitely in a lovely spot...but how much longer will that last? If this wasn't my last bottle, I would probably be drinking these over the next five years unless you want the full Leather Daddy experience...which is okay if that's your thing. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Joseph Phelps Party and the 83 Insignia from magnum.

The nose reveals; floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits; strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, cedar, old leather & tobacco, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with dry & withering dark, red florals.

The body is medium full with a fair amount of tannins in a wine with this age. The structure, tension, length and balance are still quite sound with harmony. Floral liqueur notes, more mid red fruits, strawberries, cherries & dark cherries. Blackberries, black raspberries, rhubarb, soft, volcanic minerals, limestone, steeped fruit tea, dark spice with some heat, cedar, old leather & tobacco, cedar, dry crushed rocks, dark spices, dry herbal notes, eucalyptus, dry stems with some funkiness. withering dark, red florals. The acidity is nice. The long finish still show ripeness, good balance but, has leaned and shows nice persistence. — 6 years ago

Cody Short

9.3

Really gaining complexity and starting to show very well. — 7 years ago

Michael Greene

9.2

Fantastic. Super floral nose. Cherries and leather in the palate. Super balance, but needs a long decant and good for the tannins to settle down for it to really show its stuff. Immensely satisfying with a bowl of truffled gnocchi. — 8 years ago

Phil Stice

8.9

Dark cola. Viscous. Alcohol doesn't show though. Raisiny — 9 years ago

with Josh, Jim and 3 others

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.4

Magnums show you care — 3 years ago

RustyR

9.2

Surprising still fresh. Raspberry brambles leather some graphite/wet stone fruit starting to show In flavor after 30 min. Quite long finish. 1996 vintage — 3 years ago

romo

9.4

Every time I drink cote rotie, I miss cote rotie. Plenty bright and starting to show its stuff. Phenomenal with filets. — 5 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.1

Ripe blueberry, baking spices and slight leather...took some time to open...then the cab frank started to show itself and integrated beautifully.. — 5 years ago

with Gregory

Mark Flesher

9.5

It was between this and the 1987 Spottswoode. Glad I chose this one. This is a black fruit dominated wine that actually had a rather sweet nose even after 2 hours of popping the cork. There is still so much youth here, but the middle shows an extremely mature integration that only time I can give these wines. Some herbs showing here in the middle. Super impressed, and this one is drinking extremely well. It is not showing the aged black fruit profile that lots of wines of this year are starting to show. If served blind, I would have guessed this was a 2005. Finishes soft, with excellent tanic integration. I still think this bottle would appreciate over the next couple of years, and then it will be at peak for who-knows-how-long. Wow. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Bryan Glanzberg

9.5

About two hours in the decanter before drinking. Really started to open up and show its true self. Light rose petals, tar and whole lots of earth. Definitely fading but a nice surprise — 8 years ago