Ming L

9.3

Quite approachable at this young age. 30 minutes decant and it’s open for business. Aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, sweet spices, cocoa, and lightly roasted nuts. The depth of flavors and elegant medium to full body show the pedigree. If blinded, I would not be able to tell this is a Sangiovese dominant blend. Would prefer a bit more acidity. But who am I to complain. — a year ago

Shay A

9.5

I brought this to a big 2012 retrospective tasting of Napa Cabernet but wasn’t able to stop by my offsite in time to get a ‘12.

Cork came out terribly. Double decanted 30-45 mins. 100% Cabernet. Sporting a deep purple color even at 15yrs. Just shy of explosive aromatics…ripe red and black fruits, mocha, cocoa powder. Sheer To-Kalon power on the palate with the velvet glove approach…layered dark fruits, black currant, cassis, charcoal and graphite. Mid-palate here has great depth and the finish is beautiful. This has evolved wonderfully. Pop now but no rush. — 3 years ago

Anna Sangiacomo

10

This Vintage is pure perfection !!!! Thank you @David L for giving me the heads up. I was able to stock up. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

Classically styled and balanced. Very reminiscent of Spottswoode’s SB. Floral with tart fruit and medium acidity. Lots of lemon-lime here but also melon. Crushed rocks. Vibrant. — 6 years ago

Jason Sliwa

9.6

Gotta wait for it, but Sagrantino from Paolo Bea can be great. Best sagrantino I’ve had. Magnum. So happy to be able to share it with appreciators. — 2 years ago

with Vicki, Tim and 2 others

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 3 years ago

Tom Wildenhaus

8.9

Don’t let this score away you. This is a wonderful wine. Very well balanced, tons of complexity and down right nice to drink. I called it wrong in a blind tasting but was so glad to be able to finish the glass. — 6 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.2

WNH 2009/2010 Bordeaux tasting.

I was able to find a couple of these 2-3yrs ago locally at a great price, so I’ve opened one a year since then, and this was my last bottle.

My familiarity with this producer isn’t extensive, but this 2009 shows so much character from that warm, powerful vintage while also providing a bridge to those who enjoy new world Bordeaux blends. 60/40 cab/merlot. I followed this over two days. I decanted almost two hours the first day and had half a bottle, then vacuumed and had the second half the next day. Funny enough, this wine was more tannic the second day! The aromatics here sport a more modern, ripe profile of toasty oak and roasted fruits (blue and black fruits, plum, fig). Even the palate mirrors much of that with added bitter dark chocolate and only a kiss of herbal flair. Zero brett. A mix of mocha/espresso on the finish with structure that really flexed muscles on day two. My initial reaction was enjoy over the next five years, but this has ten in it easily.

As an aside, I tried this out of my new Grassl 1855 glass and loved it, even more so than Zalto’s Bordeaux glass. Weight and balance are impeccable. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

This felt like it was just starting to hit its drinking window. Very pretty and aromatic. Potpourri, lavender, dusted dark cocoa bits, plum and savory smoke on the nose with underripe blackberries, baking spices and nutmeg. Lovely. — 6 years ago