Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Pronounced rich aromas of ripe dark fruits and spices. On the palate ripe cherry and plum with rustic spices and some tea notes. Fine ripe tannins, with slight grippy edge, hints of oak on medium+ finish ending with fruit and slight mineral edge. Nice Hermitage. Nice! — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.5

😍 @ £31 this Musar is top & I’ve reviewed a few times 👍 personally i find it the best of many vintages I’ve had & not as funky as others 😉

🏵 495 points

🍇 Cab S, Cinsault & Carignan

🍷 Garnet cherry w/ brick edge

👃 Smokey oaky spiced leather infused cherry choc gateaux, red potpourri, prune compote, red berry jam, barnyard, mushroom risotto & herbs - gorgeous in a Zalto Burg 😎

👄 Med balanced body of earthy smooth red cherry in mocha, date & prune sauce w/ strawberry & redcurrant tones

🎯 Med+ earthy red berry/cherry gateaux💥 — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.2

This £126 Talbot feels a few years past its peak but still enjoyable; mainly on the aromas 😉 prefer 03, 05 & 86 but better than 81 😁

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Gravel, soot & burnt smoked oak driven mineralised herby faded dark berry fruits w/ melted liquorice, dry cured meats, gravel, pencil lead & dirty earth

👄 Med body of liquorice infused dark fruits w/ a red berry undertone & dry mocha blackcurrant tickle

🎯 Med earthy liquorice charred dark fruit silky finale w/ a red berry kick — 7 years ago

Nicholas Flagler

9.0

on the edge, almost rusty but brilliant ripe plum, betaine, long finish. what made this a mark lucky to taste this — 7 years ago

Elizabeth Criner

9.4

Wonderful, classic Willamette Pinot Noir — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.4

My favorite Napa field blend. Huge dark fruit nose., not for the faint of heart!! It is drinking incredibly well. Decanted 6 hours prior to drinking... was silky smooth yet with incredible intensity and depths of flavored. 😍 love it! This was the 3rd wine opened — 9 years ago

with Roderic, Cindy and 3 others

Loren Larson

9.3

Complex and opens into a spectacular wine with richness across fruit balance and depth of body including a tannic edge. Wish I had a few more in the cellar. — 9 years ago

Thomas Smart

8.9

Great nose and very pleasant overall — 10 years ago

Jason Sarten

9.5

This fantastic 2000 Cabernet was an anniversary gift from my father in law. The bouquet was full with undertones of pepper and earth. Completely without edge in the mouth, I was left with tastes of tobacco and dark chocolate. Obviously loved it, as did the rest of my family...a winner! — 10 years ago

Casey Curbow

Sales Associate Windsor Wine Merchants

9.0

Elegant macerated strawberries with cream alongside a delicate mineral edge. — 10 years ago

with Gerald

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The reason I fell in love with Bordeaux is because I had one of the greatest mentors one could have, Clyde Beffa Jr. - Owner of K&L Wine Merchants. I could never thank him enough or show enough gratitude for the kindness he has shown me. He has been going to Bordeaux multiple times a year for 40 plus years and shown me the greatness of well made Bordeaux’s enjoyed at the age of 25 years plus!

Many who open well made Bordeaux’s young will never know the absolute Heaven they bring to the palate and even more so with a great steak. You only rob yourself of perfection when you open them inside of 25 years. Sure you can check em at 10-15 years for longevity but, you need to have/save bottles for 25 years plus.

Also, an old Bordeaux at 95 is not nearly the same as a young 95. At this age, technical scores are simply not the same as young wine. The enjoyment is completely different.

The nose reveals; a slight touch of funk, dark, ripe, currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, strawberries on the edge of the glass, anise, cedar, graphite, used leather, just a whiff of green pepper, vanilla, caramel, mocha, dark Asian spice, incense, dark & mid berry cola, dark, rich earth, underbrush, limestone, dry stone, hint of sweet tarriness, light, dry herbaceousness, black tea, with dry, withering, fresh, dark, red, blue candied flowers and violets and lavender for days.

The body is round, soft and full. The 90 is the definition of elegant and floral. The structure, tension, length and balance are perfect with another 5-10 years of pleasure to give. It’s gorgeous and sexy. Dark, ripe, currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, some blueberries, strawberries on the long set, anise, cedar, graphite, soft, used leather, vanilla, caramel, mocha, dark chocolate, salted, milk chocolate, dark Asian spice with just a touch of palate heat, a hint of green pepper, savory meats, incense, dark & mid berry cola, dark, rich earth, underbrush, limestone, dry crushed minerals, dry stone, hint of sweet tarriness, light, dry herbaceousness, black tea, with dry, withering, fresh, dark, red, blue candied flowers and violets and lavender for days. The acidity is perfect like a warm gentle rain shower. The finish is a “forget about it.” It’s; gorgeous, sexy, lush, ripe, just the right amount of earthiness, elegant, well balanced and will persist until you go to sleep.

13% ABV. I sure miss the 12–13% ABV of the 80 & early 90 Bordeaux’s.

Photos of; the majestic Chateau Cos d’Estournel and Estate vines, their barrel room with translucent floor to walk above, their library cellar that most would love to raid and their sitting salon.
— 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Potent! Deep dark sweet plum/fig with a spicy edge. Smooth finish for a perfect landing. — 7 years ago

with Tammy

Chris England

9.2

Fab St J drinking great @ £79 just past it's peak so enjoy now 👍

🍷 Light blocking opaque ruby w/ brown edge

👃 Damp oaky musty dusty cellar filled with old squished blackcurrant & plum, liquorice, herbs (bouquet garni), aged wet earth, soggy leaves, tobacco smoke & bad boy leather w/ eucalyptus hint

👄 Med body of stewed slight sweet black fruit, liquorice & mocha all well integrated

🎯 Med dark aged fruit & mocha w/ a touch of cherry & herbaceousness — 8 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.5

4th wine of the night. Opened 6 hours prior and this vintage is in full stride. Simply beautiful and drinking very, very well. Definitely pick up in the dark fruit, mocha and espresso. Loved it!! May I have some more please!! — 9 years ago

with Roderic, Cindy and 3 others

Laura Carlson

8.9

Pour this by the glass at Contra, unfortunately this bottle is over the edge and destined for some short ribs tomorrow. — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

1986 vintage. From Jay. The bottle was decanted about one hour before being poured. Crimson/purple in colour. Very slight bricking on the edge. Some taint but luckily this blew off while the wine was breathing in the decanter. Cedar and cassis on the nose along with some dung. Hints of violets and eucalyptus. Tannins have become very soft and polished. Lovely freshness of fruits. Good viscosity. Coats the mouth with a certain exuberance. This is a wine that has matured with both grace and elegance. Finish is long, profound and classy. A lovely lady that is ageing with charm. One hour in the decanter, however, was too long - 30 mins next time. 94/100. Will last a little longer but I see no compelling reason to wait. Drink now until 2025. — 9 years ago

John Moccia

9.0

Haven't had this one in a while. I like, but where's @Marysol Castro ? — 10 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.4

Light ruby with a brown edge. Everything you expect on the nose from a mature Bordeaux, tobacco, pencil, plum and touch of smoke. Medium complex fruit in the mouth that leads to a rounded finish. — 10 years ago

Mike Mighetto Hoefling

8.9

Stone Edge Farm 2004 — 12 years ago

Bill Bender

9.2

Some bricking, garnet with orange on the edge. Dried red fruit, fig, leather and fun musty old CA Cab flavors. Nearly resolved tannins but the acidity is there and completely smooth tasty sailing. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Our favorite Figgins blend. 2011. A tough year but Chris Figgins turned it into a gem. Minerally. Full body, rich mid palette with a sweet edge, evolving into a dry, grippy finish with with minerals edging the experience. Perfect with aged Gouda cheese. — 6 years ago

with Tammy and Chris

Kimberly Anderson

9.4

Blackberry, bramble, and dried herbs. So smooth. Black fruits, spice. Delicate, but not wimpy. Dry finish. Really lovely wine — 7 years ago

with Chad

Chris England

9.5

My 28th/29th/30th & 31st bottles of the beautiful 04 & @ £40 & they are still superb value for a stunning old world Rioja 👍 & keep getting better & better 😁

🍷 Garnet w/ brick edge

👃 Old world Seduction of soft smokey oak, leather, plum, spiced cherry, vanilla, red berry & fig jam w/ a balsamic prune tone

👄 Med body of silky creamy red cherry/berry driven earthy & oaky mashed fruits with cocoa, fig & thick balsamic

🎯 Long soft smooth oaky rich cherry fruit linger with earthy cocoa & balsamic
— 7 years ago

Kim Wade

10

With Wendy and Jerry — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.1

Had a wine tasting with Anthony Weytjens at our house this weekend . This was the 1st wine opened. Great old world mixed white with grape varietals not often found in Napa.
A huge hit among the 30 which attended. — 9 years ago

with Susan, Kirk and 3 others

Lauren Fowler

9.0

Delicate yet dirty and funky in good ways. Grew on me the more I sipped. — 9 years ago

Alex Hill

9.1

Leathery red fruit with a ferrous edge. Has gone through a brett bloom and come out a more complex wine because of it. — 9 years ago

Dock Hooks

9.4

Crazy good paired with dipping into gamba al ajillo (emphasis added), at Napa's groovy/real Zuzu, catching a classic deeply dirty nose while still sporting sun-drenched fruit that initially reworks one's first blush front mouth with an iodine edge that morfs into red and black fruit edgy with acid/tannin slow dancing to the depths and begging for another pinch of broth soaked chewy freshly baked bread and the associated next swig of this sweet juice...rhythmically stellar by day or by night😎🌌👣🍷🌀🎼

PS hit Zuzu (friendly, delicious and real...

— 10 years ago

Gordon Walker

9.3

Savory, on the edge of aging, little green, leatherish, eucalyptus, lavender, chewy — 11 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

9.3

Just a great Sonoma Pinot. Always consistently good. Great fruit both on the nose and palate. — 11 years ago