Bob McDonald

9.2

Aromas of poached pears, verging on tropical fruits. The palate is luscious and delicious of medium plus intensity. A blend of Pinot Blanc (35%) and Auxerrois (65%). The latter originates from the Pinot Blanc (just like Chardonnay) but they are quite different. Auxerrois has less acidity, ripens to a higher alcohol level and is more aromatic than Pinot Blanc They complement each other well. This wine is a real crowd pleaser and excellent value. Finishes dry. Tasted again 55 weeks later on 12th November 2022 with similar notes. Poached pear notes on nose and palate. Wonderful QPR. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This is a nice surprise for #MerlotThursday.

Pretty color of dark ruby with a wide brick rim.

On the nose, red currants, plums, blueberries, cherries, vanilla, black tea, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, cedar, licorice, mint, spices, vinaigrette, earth and black pepper. Really lovely nose.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, dark chocolates, espresso, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium finish with medium plus tannins and pomegranates.

This 8 year old is still drinking nicely, although past its peak. Showing nice complexity, especially on the nose. Tangy and very easy to drink, with a nice mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

Wine Enthusiasts 89 points.
Thank you David and Elvira for sharing.

I paired it with a big piece of steak and grilled asparagus.

A blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

13% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$15. — 5 years ago

Darren Stevens

9.2

Tim’s Wine Market. $65 deGrazia night 2018. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2010 ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza Rioja is a compelling blend of 65% Tempranillo, and 25% Garnacho, with equal parts Mazuelo and Graciano. This single vineyard Rioja opens with an intense bouquet of sandalwood with pipe tobacco, leather and red fruits that align with the citrus zest and peat moss undertones. The palate revels in its silky texture and soft mouthfeel. Generous red fruits dance with exotic spices, and shades of orange infused black truffle on this exotic palate. Marvelous now at the nine year mark, the 2010 ‘Vina Cubillo’ will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92 — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Mid to deep ruby red. 65% Cabernet 35% Merlot so the minty Cab influence from Coonawarra not as noticeable as usual. A detuned Cedary nose with red and black fruits. On the palate smooth and supple - seamless with largely resolved tannins. My last one of 6, but if I had more they would last another 5 years +. A very good wine made by Brian Croser. — 6 years ago

Samuli Jokipaltio

9.3

Wonderful and unusual 65/35 blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. Ready to drink. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.1

2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣7️⃣

🗞 Tesla, A380, 1st iphone, Madeleine McCann
🎵 Girlfriend, Umbrella, Big Girls Don't Cry
🎥 Transformers, 300, AvP, Zodiac
🗣 This is Sparta!
🌍 6.6B

Paid £65 now £210+ nice but overpriced - I’d leave until 2025 or sell em 😁

🍷 Opaque ruby

👃 Chocolate covered blackcurrant in soft smoked oak w/ dark cherry, fine blackberry, cedar & herbs

👄 Med+ body of creamy mocha dominated black fruits that need more time

🎯 Long dark 85% mocha & ripe ninja fruit sludgy linger & green stalky kick — 7 years ago

David L

9.3

09' Booker Alchemist . 65% Syrah, 15% CB, 10% PV, 10% Grenache. A short decanting of an hour does wonders for this . After an hour it all comes together.

The nose just sells this wine with inviting black cherries & black raspberries. Palate- Sweet black raspberry, cedar, toast, healthy amount of spices. Long & lingering finish. Medium + bodied & drinking in it's prime now. Edit- Much better then it was just a few years back. Note to self- BUY MORE BOOKER- — 8 years ago

Megumi Gotoh

8.9

TARLANT Cuve Louis
樹齢65年 瓶内熟成12年
ドサージュ2g/L Ch50%,PN50%
¥10368/本
熟成したブーケ。複雑で余韻長い。感動はないがとても良いシャンパーニュ☆ — 11 years ago

Giampiero Nadali

Wine Blogger Aristide

9.3

Garnacha 65%, Carignan 25%, Syrah 10%, old vines (80yrs. old), 12 months in barrels. Elegant, excellent! — 12 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cab Franc and 5% Cab Sauv, aged 65% in new French oak, deep Ruby with ripe fruit aromas & enticing herb notes. On the palate flavors of black cherry & blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, cacao and smoky oak notes. Dusty fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, tried a while ago, opening up nice but will last for a decade+. Nice! — 4 years ago

Serena Peters

9.1

This one is a crowd pleaser. Super jammy on the nose with ripe bright red fruit like strawberry and raspberry peeking through hints of herbaceousness through green pepper. On the palette medium to full body with medium + acidity and medium - tannins. Super smooth which makes sense at 65% Merlot. A delight! — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Israel.

Inky in color with a short reddish/brick rim.

Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, light cedar, spices, cola, tobacco leaf, black tea, alcohol, coffee, milk chocolates, light herbs and black pepper.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, cedar, vanilla, spices, earth, milk chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and light vinaigrette.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a wonderful Merlot blend from Israel. Showing nice complexity and well balanced with a great mouthfeel. Really enjoyed the nose here, even after a few minutes out of the bottle.

This four year old is already yummy right out of the bottle, but better after a couple of hours in a decanter.

I've had this before, and this time I decided to give it a slight chill, and boy it was delicious.

Nice buttery mouthfeel, even looks buttery when poured. Drinking very nicely now.

Very tasty and fruit forward. Dark, extracted and rich. Feels like a Napa Bordeaux blend.

A blend of 42% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit verdot and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and Kosher. Mevushal.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 5 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

8.9

13.5% ABV.
65% Grenache, 35% Syrah.

Fair warning - if you’re sensitive to Brett this is not for you. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.4

II’ve loved all the Sandhi 2012 range of whites & this £65 S&B is superb 👍 Paired with enough curry to get a small village going regular for a week 🤣 💨 sorry I didn’t take pics of that feast 😁

📍 Sandhi Sandford & Benedict Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay 2012 @sandhiwines

🏵 94 points

🍷 Golden yellow

👃 Chopped pineapple, crushed rock mineral, lemon oil, key lime pie, honey gloop & white jasmine flowers w/ light oak, vanilla & apple

👄 Med+ body of creamy refreshing clean tropical & citrus yummyness without being overly syrupy & a hit of green apple, pineapple, honey & minerality in med acidity

🎯 Med+ fresh apple, citrus & tropical trickle w/ a dry mineral honeyed pineapple slapette — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

(koo dah foo drah) - The moment when "lightning strikes" or something unforgettable occurs. A blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cab Franc & 5% Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months on new oak. Fresh berry fruit aromas and exotic soft spice. On the palate sweet blackberry & cherry with vanilla spice and oak tones. Lingering ending with well balanced fruit spice and oak. — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.7

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier has turned out even better than I expected. Bright floral notes give striking aromatic lift to the rich, sumptuous fruit. A marvelously complete wine, the 2015 is racy and silky on the palate, yet also has tremendous freshness. Bright red cherry, blood orange, white pepper, spice and dried flowers build into the super-expressive finish. The 2015 has been nothing less than stunning the three times I have tasted it so far. This is a tremendous showing from proprietor Olivier Bernard and his team. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Feb 2018)
— 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Superb €38 now £65 personal fav from St Em in top year 👍 w/ fab QPR & a soft spot for me as I had this same vintage from the barrel 😍 93 going 95-96

🍇 71% Merlot & 29% Cab F

🍷Opaque ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Chocolate coated black cherry, berry & plum through smokey oak, liquorice & wet crushed mineral rock w/ violets

👄 Med+ creamy silky mocha dark berry plum bang w/ liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long mocha berry plum slight dry mineral linger purple teether — 7 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.3

2012: 80% Roussanne. Quite opulent, floral, sweet, stone fruit apricot and peach. Vanilla. 65-70 year old Roussanne vines. Very creamy, almost ice-cream, vanilla, stone fruit, lovely opulence and good balanced acidity. Good length, complex and long. — 10 years ago

Thomas Porter

9.2

Monte De Oro 2010 Synergy 65 blend (Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel). Flavors of cherries, current, creme de cassis, blue plums, and hints of vanilla, creme mocha, and spice. — 11 years ago

Jill James

9.9

Refreshing sweet — 12 years ago

with Mandy

John Wayne Ma

10

210320週六老婆作菜請兩位小學同學帶酒和甜點同聚。
1778 在 Pauilac 北邊 St. Estèphe 開滿小花的山坡建立，所以取名Montrose的二級酒莊。
June. 2016 Robert Parker 給1989年這瓶滿分100，並稱其為 80 年代 Bordeaux 前5名！
65% Cabernet Sauvignon
25% Merlot
10% Cabernet Franc

到2030年都適飲，同學阿達本想過10年再品嚐，想人生無常、又被同學小琳拱了下、就先喝先贏了。

一開瓶的味道輕柔、不像是32歲的酒，但還是有陳年Cab 的香味，丹寧...filigree
30' 香味變黑梅味、丹寧益加柔順
60' 黑梅香更淡，口味回甘
90’ 香味回到淡cab，酸甜口感well balance
150’ 餘韻猶存 — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for a good Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Washington State.

Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Nose of black plums, cedar, chocolates, coffee, cooked cherries, leather, light vegetables, earth, licorice, black tea, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, chocolates, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Another delicious wine from Michel Rolland.

Still young, but already tasty. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle, but better after an hour of airtime, as the complexity comes in. Showing nice complexity already.

Wine Enthusiast 89 points.

Tangy and interesting. A Delicious wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.1

The 2017 Gloria was cropped at 48hl/ha and the Grand Vin comprises 65% of the total production. It has a generous bouquet with red berry fruit, warm bricks and light tobacco aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, a pretty and understated Gloria. A classic tobacco and bay leaf finish does not quite kick on like other recent vintages. Nevertheless, this is a delicious Saint-Julien that will give 20 years of drinking pleasure. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2020)
— 5 years ago

Mark Presswood

9.1

Sharing with Trey, Jessica, and the Wife at Waters in Fort Worth, crisp, clean, with the beautiful methode classique notes and rose color is beautiful — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.7

The 2001 Clos Mogador was stunning aged drank in 2017 but this 2013 @ £65, now £80-£100 as a 98 Parker pointer, has massive potential 😁 Beautiful now but give this 10+yrs & you have a fab priced 98+ point wine in the making 😍 28k bottles so buy if you can 👍

📍 Clos Mogador 2013

🏵 97 points w/ 99+ potential I’d say

🍇 49% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon & 16% Syrah 😍

🍷 Opaque deep ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Rich mocha infused spiced dark cherry/berry bang w/ minerals, pencil lead, herbs, soggy earth, raspberry coulis, hint of prune, soft smoked oak & crushed violets

👄 Med+ to Full bodied ripe creamy smooth dark berry/cherry oozy chocy mocha infused silky boom choc raspberry gateaux fest w/ a rock mineral stoney backbone

🎯 Long deep dark fruits & cocoa linger w/ a raspberry slap & mineral kiss - choc cherry gateaux in a glass 💥 😍

🧀 Paired w/ aged Manchego & Iberian ham 🐷 — 6 years ago

Jessica Thompson

9.4

Screw top 13.5% great taste — 7 years ago

Eric

9.5

65% Semillon/35% SB. Wafty layers of apple, Carmel, light roasted nuts, lemon oil, and butterscotch. Looong oily finish. Probably in my top 3 lifetime white wines. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Decanted for about an hour before we tasted Franco Batzella’s wines. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 to 24 months in French Oak and a further 12 months before release. The wine is Deep Ruby red with aromas of red/black fruits and sweet spices. The palate shows black cherries, blackberries and cranberries with some cacao, leather and vanilla spice. The wine had soft structured tannins, medium length and ended with earthy notes. Drinkable now but a few years would enhance the experience. Very nice! Tasting Sample. — 9 years ago

V M

9.6

Big bold blend of 65 percent cab sav and 35 percent cab franc. Where most napa vintners struggled with their 2011s Russell Bevan did just the opposite and thrived. Inky black with a deep ruby red around the edges. This wine has a big nose of strawberries and dark berry liquor with a hint of underbrush. — 11 years ago