Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 2 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Happy New Year Delectable!

Double decant and pour. A splendid tawny red color. On the nose: dark fruit, cigar ash, cedar, smoked meat, pencil shavings, mint. Taste: soft, silky, elegant, still fresh wine with dark red fruit, worn leather, graphite, loamy soil, spiced herbs, minty black tea and a dry medium finish. YUM! What a fun wine to end 2024 with. A wine bought at auction, and a cork which was not in the best shape, so not sure if this is a true representation of where this wine is at.

FOOD:
Island creek oyster and cavier
Lobster butternut bisque
Pan roasted duck breast
Braised beef short rib
Black forest chocolate cake — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.3

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating/intense nose of black fruit, dark currants, worn leather, forest floor, coffee grounds, minty dark chocolate. Taste: smooth, satiny, structured, balanced wine with chocolate covered brambly blackberry, tobacco, earth, cedar, black pepper, and a herbal licorice long finish. A medium body old world style wine that shows well right now and should continue to provide more years of enjoyable sipping. — 6 months ago

with Brenda

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 8 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 3 years ago

Stephen Mandy

9.8

Stunning nose of cedar, tobacco and smoke with a hint of hot gravel. Rich silky fruit with awesome sweetness and freshness. Long lingering finishing that haunts the palate. Incredible. — 6 years ago

Terri

9.4

Wonderful! Enjoyed this delicious wine with beef spiedini and pasta with fresh tomatoes. — 7 years ago

Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.2

Lovely secondary elements of sweaty saddle leather, cedar and later some cigar box. Soft, integrated tannins. Long finish and very nice nose. — 9 years ago

Michael Thambuswamy

9.3

At Hakkasan — 12 years ago

Paul J

9.6

This was awesome!! 1hr+ decant. Nose of a great Bordeaux. Super complex with cedar, dark fruit, some sweetness, and a touch of vanilla. Well structured and balanced. — 3 months ago

with Brooke

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2016 vintage. Cantemerle is always a good idea if you want value for money. Like many left bank Bordeaux in this great vintage, it tends to close down a bit, so give it some time in the glass or decant. The nose slowly develops after an hour, with a mix of black and red fruit, classy cedar notes, and flowers. As usual, it's all about elegance, but it doesn't lack power either. Still needs a few more years to reveal all its complexity, but very good already. Ab. 13%. — 4 months ago

Adam Kincaid

8.9

Another oldie, probably just past its peak. 38 years old - not bad! Barn-sided red with some brick on the edge. Lots of cedar, graphite, black pepper and cigar ash to smell but little fruit. Nice smooth tannins, still a little puckering. Medium acidity. For flavor there are some darker berries and red cherry notes. It’s a nicely balanced wine. Good length on the finish. — 10 months ago

with Jillian

Ron Siegel

9.3

Rustic old school styled Bordeaux with black fruits, cedar, leather, earth, graphite & cigar box. A wine I have had many times that is just hitting its prime with many years ahead — 8 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Starts off with a very evolved fruity character, but that quickly blows off.
Lovely purity beyond that - fresh black currant, with a bit of darker, earthy undergrowth, some red fruit, a hint of cedar wood, a touch of bell pepper. A bit evolved yet still juicy & pure.
Beautiful mouthfeel with nicely evolved, slightly mellowed yet still juicy tannins, evolved fruit yet still fresh acidity.
This is peeking or already has peeked but today is drinking so nicely!
A really nice one! — 2 years ago

Sean Lyons

9.5

A absolute steal at $35, this Rioja is aging beautifully and I’d say 2022 is the perfect time to drink this. A light, tawny color. A nose of cranberries, cherries, leather, tobacco and what I’m calling a fresh goat cheese. The palate is perfectly balanced. Lots of intense, bright fruit with a wonderful acidity that reminds me of ouzo or lemon curd. The finish is long and smooth with some leathery and cedar notes. Nearly perfect structure. Wow. — 3 years ago

Paul H

9.4

When they say bring your A game you can think of this bottle. This is an amazing glass of wine. It benefits from decanting for a good bit. Upon opening I thought of dusty plum and cedar on the nose. Tasting brought plum, currant, blackberries, vintage leather plus an array of other items indicative of this style of big wine. There is a good mix of tannins and acid that makes this a classic great glass of wine. I want to try it again in a few years to see how much better it may get. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.3

Medium to full bodied, dense and very good structure, black currants, earth, tobacco, graphite and cedar with hints of espresso and a silky smooth finish with soft tannins. — 6 years ago

Matthew Davis

8.9

Strong cherries on the nose, some cedar and leather notes. Cocoa on the palate, too, fuller bodied and decently strong tannic backbone. — 7 years ago

with Rivka and Navin

Eileen M

9.0

Very smooth — 9 years ago

P. Shields Ferber

9.8

Nice light Zin served at the Lorian. — 12 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This was still youthful showing black currant, plum, cassis, cedar, damp earth, menthol, sweet spice & tobacco. — 3 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2022 vintage. Deep dark red, with purplish rim. Very attractive nose already, with cassis, blackberries, raspberries,flowers and subtle cedar.
Midweight, with layers of succulent black and red fruits and fresh acidity, embedded in a ripe tannic structure. Great length, with a distinctive mineral touch. Not sure if it is as good as the incredible 2016, but a close contender for one of the best wines ever for this estate. Abv. 13%. It totally outperforms the Croizet Bages 2022 tasted alongside. — 4 months ago

Jack Krawczyk

10

cedar nose with black currant + plum finish — 4 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

A good, solid California Cab but what’s all the fuss about? I’m seeing ratings of 98, 99, even 100 from JS. Really? No way. This is a clear case of praise crossing over into hype. Granted, still a bit young and not at its peak but after five years in the bottle and an hour of decanting it needs to be more than just fine if it wants to justify stratospheric scores. This wine compares unfavorably to Ridge Monte Bello, Stags Leap Cask 23 and other peers. It lacked sophistication and poise—where’s the promised minerality, graphite, cedar shavings, oak, leather, blackcurrant, cherry, and complex balance of fine grained tannins, fruit, acid and alcohol? Where? We chose this wine for a birthday dinner at Lawry’s Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. Not a disaster but a disappointment given our high expectations (and the high price).
— 7 months ago

John Malcolm

9.2

Beautiful wine. Slightly prefer the 1999, which I had last night. The ‘99 was musty and tasted lots of mushrooms. The ‘01 is still earthy, but fruitier. Dark fruits, with a bit of tobacco and cedar. — 9 months ago

Dick Schinkel

9.2

Always a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
On the nose blue berries, cassis, earth, tobacco, cedar, pencil, medium to full bodied on the palate with the same fruit flavors, this wine does not impress at this moment, unresolved tannin and a short finish 92 DSP — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Blend of 54% Cab Sauv, 34% Merlot & 12% Cab Franc. Deep Ruby with aromas of pronounced dark fruits, sweet spice, floral and herb notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum with notes of cacao, cedar and subtle herb spice. Well balanced with acidity, fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cedar and earthy mineral character. Nice! — 4 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.5

Bright, clear ruby with a great nose of cassis, blackberry, violet and mint.
Beautiful length and finesse. Great impression of crushed fruit with hints of forest floor and cedar. The finish leaves a lasting impression of sweet red fruit and supported by a soft blanket of tannins. This is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove - just lovely — 7 years ago

John Malcolm

9.5

A jewel in a tough year. Wonderful nose. Fresh berries, cassis, cedar, and tobacco. My favorite of the night against some higher rated wines. — 7 years ago

Roman Ochocki

10

Wood (cedar), plum, tobacco. Pure ecstasy. — 10 years ago