Jay Kline

9.5

Girl. Sup? Shoot. This was utterly brilliant tonight. Classic Bordeaux yet, even at 26 years young, somewhat precocious still. A beautiful mix of deep, dark and red fruit with currants, blackberries and cherries with chocolate, purple flowers, green pepper, tobacco, earth, leather and awesomeness. Plenty of structure to keep this strutting for years to come. Fabulous balance and complexity. Drink now through 2047+. — 8 months ago

Starven Marven

8.9

Last time i took out the purple cowboy was a lot different but it was great to enjoy this one and not need a new sofa. — 2 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Likely not an ideal bottle with what I felt was excessive volatile acidity. Nevertheless, the red fruits and spices were still clear, and the velvety texture was quite delightful. Finished with bright acidity and an acetic-mineral mix. Probably a showstopper if pristine. — 2 years ago

Rob Iracane

9.0

Surprisingly refined and restrained expression of Pinot noir. Paired with polenta and chicken not too overly seasoned to hide the subtlety of the wine. — 3 years ago

Brent Young

9.3

Nose was mostly floral with some stoney minerality and herbs. The palate leads with honeysuckle nectar and white flowers. The fruit is the usual mosel riesling mix of apples and pears that veer toward peach and stone fruit on the quite lengthy finish. Tasty and elegant. — 4 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2015 vintage. A blend of Merlot (90%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). Certified organic since 2015 and now biodynamically farmed. The estate was bought in 2015 by the Labrune family, but it had a very good reputation before. This wine certainly does not disappoint. Smells like a mix of red and black fruit (raspberry, cherry, blackberry) with attractive floral hints and a discrete vanilla touch. In the mouth it has impeccable balance, the ripe concentrated fruit balanced by fresh acidity and probably the most civilised tannins I have ever tasted in Fronsac (they tend to be a bit rustic over there). This has class, great length and purity. Well worth the 22,50 price tag. The 14,5% alcohol is perfectly integrated. What's not to like? — 5 years ago

Paul J

9.3

1+hr decant. Definitely drinking young. Dark purple color. Nice mix of Bordeaux and Napa. Seems higher in OH than 13.5%. Nice deep cherry fruit with hints of smoke. Strangely I think it got worse with air. This was better than expected. — 6 years ago

with Brooke

Vin d’Ottawa

9.1

Something around a mix of blueberry and raspberry but jammy & with some black pepper. — 9 months ago

with Gillian

Somm 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. — a year ago

Kevin Dale

9.1

Interesting wine. Almost a raspberry jam flavor without being sugary. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tawny color, mostly opaque. Herbal nose. In contrast to the Roty red burg which is rich and silky, this is more angular and herbal – pairing well with food. Notes of red briary fruit, herbs de provence, dusty earth and some tobacco leaf. Great balance in the mouth with a great mix of fruit, acidity, structure and softened tannin. In a good spot right now. — 3 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Cigar ox nose with a mix of leather a touch of Pierre a fusille. Drinking well for a dark, cold winter night smith with lists of backbone to this wine. Years left but expect it will evolve well in the glass — 4 years ago

with David and Danielle

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2015 Harbison Estate ‘The Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply magical wine at this young stage in its development. The aromatics of the wine are quite powerful immediately, as the wine showcases mocha, tar and exotic spices with creme de cassis and shades of black tea all entering the fray. Dense and plush, with a chewy mouthfeel and wondrous texture, this silky wine is not only rich but shows great freshness and finesse. Intense creme de cassis, espresso bean, dusty terroir, creosote with minerals all impress on this gratifying palate. An absolute delight to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for decades. Drink 2020-2045- 97 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

2nd Ribcap wine. Delicious!

2006 followed the grand 2005 vintage. It was overpriced based on 2005 & critically reviewed as a difficult vintage. I can tell you 06 was overpriced, but still a good to very good vintage depending on the region & producer.

The fruits are classic Bordeaux…nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, very dark cherries, black plum, plum, mix of strawberries & red cherries. Wet, volcanic clay, lead pencil for days, slightly, dry tobacco, dark spices, mix of mostly dry & fresh herbs, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, volcanic ash, used leather, sandalwood to cedar, forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry river stone, steeped, dark fruit tea, withering, slightly candied; dark, red florals with hints of violets, round, fresh, river stream acidy, a plush, round, elegant, nicely; tensioned, structured, balanced and elegant polished finish that last 90 seconds. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured. This bottle was consumed over three days and fairly consistent throughout. The 2021 RTW “Lodi” pours a ruby color with a transparent core, moving towards fuchsia/magenta on the edge and a slightly watery rim. No signs of particles. Medium viscosity with very light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is of moderate intensity with a mix of black and red fruits: predominantly blackberries and strawberries that are mostly bruised with some red and purple flowers, fresh basil and sort of crushed gravel and sand aggregate mix. On the palate the wine is dry with medium- tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium and the finish is medium. Overall impression: this is a wine of freshness and balance and a tremendously versatile red wine for food. 25 barrels produced from a blend of 3 varieties from 3 vineyards in 3 equal parts. Cinsault from the Bechthold Vineyard (planted in 1886), Carignane from Spenker Ranch (planted in 1900) and Zinfandel from Kirschenmann Vineyard (planted in 1915 & Teagan’s home ranch in Victor). — 2 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.2

Crunchy red cherries, red currants, black pepper, smoke, cigar box, mushroom, tea leaves, oregano, red flowers, a mix of baking spices and mints. long finish. high acidity, high levels of fine/smooth tannins. Compared to 2015/2016, 2013's fruit appears more blue - blueberry? more mineraly and chalky on the palate. 3 years in new French oak, 1.5-2 years in bottle. Organic biodynamic: 501 cow horn prep, 508 prep, native yeasts, cover cops - chamomile, muster green, no fertiliser, dry farm mostly with drip irrigation as backup. wine turbines in the vineyard to prevent mildew. — 3 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.0

Solid OR Pinot. Light and balanced. — 4 years ago

Randall Brater

9.0

Green pepper, graphite and tobacco on the nose. Spice, raspberry, pencil shavings and leather on the palate. A little on the high end of alcohol, but it burned off a bit on the second day. — 5 years ago

Brendan Devine

9.1

Raspberries. — 6 years ago

with Kevin

Blue Dee

9.2

This is actually the regular wine, not the dry. It’s lovely!!! — 7 years ago