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

Jerry Raphael

9.2

What a wine and did not show it’s 43 year age at all. The color was very dark with no brick edge. The nose was a bit subdued but had the typical berries, herbs and meat notes that carried over to a very tasty wine. The finish was okay not super long but long enough.

I started buying Beaucastel maybe a few years before this 1978 vintage and in Parker’s reviews of the 1978 vintage was a consistent hold but he did change his mind years down the road and said it was over the hill; well not by a long shot. I constantly purchased 2 or 3 bottle of every vintage till the price was out on my reach in 2001. I also had visited the winery in about 1990. The real kicker with this vintage is the current price estimates of $150 to about $250, current vintages run $80+ and I purchased this bottle for $11.99.
— 3 years ago

with Matt and Barbara

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. — 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

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. — 6 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Byron Hewett

9.1

This didn’t show as well as the 2019. It was missing the next gear. — 2 years ago

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

Delectable Wine

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9.5

Brilliant ruby. Smoky, mineral-tinged aromas of raspberry, cherry preserves, garrigue and exotic spices show excellent clarity and acquire a gamy nuance as the wine opens up. At once rich and energetic in character, offering well-concentrated red berry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors and a sweetening touch of candied lavender. Shows fine definition and finishes gently, spicy and impressively long, with repeating florality and steadily building tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, October 2021)
— 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Needed a full hour in the decanter before it really began to show up, but could have used several more for sure. Rich, textured and with with quite racy acidity for 2009, showing squeezed lemons, yellow apple, ripe pear, spices and crushed oyster shells. Great purity and energy for the vintage as well that leads to a long intense and mineral infused finish. — 5 years ago

Lauren Ruvolo

9.1

Steakhouse dinner at home. Was the star of the show. Held up nicely to some hefty meats and buttery potatoes. — 6 years ago

with John

Kevin Rogers

Owner/Winemaker Nico Wines

9.1

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

Jake Hajer

9.0

Fan of oakville fruit. Big, round, dry. Well made, but think it needs some time in the bottle for real character to show. — 8 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.0

Starting to show its age. — 2 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 — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

50/36/12/2 CS/ME/CF/PV. Deep, deep ruby. Almost impenetrable with just a little violet tinge. Oak was very prevalent upon first opening but blows off after decanting. A terrific amount of fruit on the nose. Stewed plums, red cherries, and blackberries stand out. Black olives and old leather show.

You say Pauillac and people usually sit up. Left Bank gloriousness for sure. Full bodied and deep, this is a silky smooth Bordeaux that has style, grace, and presence. And there’s power here, as well. The palate shows generous amounts of dark fruit, more oak, and clove cigarettes. Black pepper, black olives, and black cherries. Terrific value for the address. Really nice — 4 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

9.2

D6. Young. Very young. Even though it was decanted and frequently agitated, this one didn't come out to play until almost 2 hr after opening. Nose of Bing cherry and mint. Some red clay must. The entry is very acidic. Black cherry hint but Bing cherry backbone. Herbal middle. Started to show terroir-driven notes to the finish. Youthful and tight tannin. LOTS of life ahead. Be in NO HURRY to drink this one. I'd say optimal drinking time 5 to 10 years. — 6 years ago

Douglas Tan

9.0

Very disappointing for a 1st growth!
Not much to show,nothing special about this vintage! — 7 years ago

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