Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.2

Subtle hints of red fruit and citrus on the nose. Lots of raspberry, plum and spice on the palate. Very elegant in style with refined tannins and firm fruit overtones makes this a great wine now. — 8 years ago

with Lisa

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Light ruby red. Beautiful color. Intense and rich nose from the pop-n-pour. Plum cherries, red berries, purple floral notes, some cinnamon and a touch of petrol. Great structure on the palate with moderate acidity (6.5/10). Medium to medium plus body with tons of red berries, light broken twigs and wet minerality. Medium plus finish. We believe this is their entry level Pinot. Excellent work. Drink till 2021 — 8 years ago

with India

Rich Friedland

9.1

Medium-high acidity. Leather, currant and gooseberry. Nice for duck or rack of lamb. — 10 years ago

Jon Snow

9.2

Delicious wine for a great price. Very good balance of fruity and dry. This is definitely a go-to favorite. — 10 years ago

John Kemper

9.8

I dug deep in the cellar for this one, but the '93 Joseph Phelps Red Bordeaux Blend 'Insignia' amply delivered. Decanted for three hours, this dark purple/crimson blend was remarkably fresh and vibrant with lovely scents of black currant, red licorice and eucalyptus. Tons of black cherry, black pepper and cigar box flavors on the palate. Well-balanced and silky smooth on the long aromatic finish. Still plenty of life remaining and I luckily have two more bottles. — 11 years ago

Ryan Mayes

9.7

Wine of the weekend! Only the second time in Diamond Creek’s illustrious history when they’ve blended fruit from all three vineyards. Having tasted all three ‘13s (which are all outstanding wines — RP gave 98, 99, 100 I believe), this bottling is my favorite. Drinking remarkably well today and will just get better with time. Thank you for opening and sharing with us, Cidy! — 7 years ago

with Marcus

Ryan M

9.6

WOW at first pour this was incredibly smooth. After 2 hours this tastes like one of the best cabs I’ve ever had. Dark red, tart raspberries, cinnamon, spice box, cherry early but subsided over the decant, clove, pine tree, chocolate early, french oak intensified over the hours. — 7 years ago

with Larissa

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Some more #whiteglovelove for you guys haha @David L @TheSkip @Bill Bender @Martin G Rivard @Shay Aldriedge @Shawn R @Ron R
@Carl Fischer @leon egozi


First wine in flight three for the Bordeaux Master's Class at Heart's Delight with all wines from Margaux.

Medium to deep ruby red. Layered nose with an attack of blackberries and cinnamon. Followed by an undertone of red cherries. Heavy tannins (7/10) with a touch gritty in texture, almost like a soft sandpaper. Quite a bit of a acidity but still balanced with notes of yeast, sweet spices, cinnamon, vanilla, and dark black fruits. Dry medium plus to full body with a long finish. Drink till 2037+. (91+) — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Hannah Mcchesney

8.9

Very good take on Rhone style wine, with a big, fruity Shiraz being 52% of the blend. — 9 years ago

Angela Malo

9.0

Tastes good. — 10 years ago

James Darch

9.1

Great value drop — 10 years ago

Paten Hughes

9.9

My favorite :) thinking of my Olga's, Masha's & Irina :) — 11 years ago

with Kevin

Ellen Clifford

9.1

K, this rating is certainly biased by my past experience with A. Rafanelli which has been amazing. Unless you want to open 2015 and allow to sit a couple days...wait! This is too young to be opened which makes me grateful I have another bottle I’ll crack open in, say, a year or so and it’ll be perfect out of the bottle. That said I tasted this day by day for three days and it just kept improving. If you open too young give it TIME. In youth it needs some time but once it has time? Hot damn. The tannins, alcohol, acid and fruit are in equal balance three days in...now. Wait two years and it may be extraordinary out of the bottle. — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Medium ruby red with very fine sediment. Definitely from a wet and cool vintage from the characteristics on the nose with herbal notes, green bell peppers, touch of sweet spices and a little stinky. Medium tannins (6/10) and solid acidity with a medium body. A bit gritty in texture with notes of red berries, herbal, truffles, plums and forest floor. Medium plus finish. Better with a little bit of air. Drink till 2020. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Josh Copeland

9.3

Outstanding. Just out fucking standing. Still a cherry bomb after all this d time. Perfect tannin structure. I could have crushed three of these to my face without coming up for air. — 8 years ago

David L

9.3

13' 3/4 of the winery is sold to Kosta Browne. They sell to 26 different labels😳 — 9 years ago

Paul Schmidt

9.3

Beautiful peach and waxy notes. A hint of honeysuckle weaves around a minerally core. Just beautiful with Ahi — 10 years ago

with Ashley

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.2

Part of the three vineyard dites very forward and delicious pear fruit — 11 years ago

Erin Norris

9.4

One of my favorites — 12 years ago