Weingut Helga May
Château La Mission Haut-Brion
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1945
The 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion from the château cellar is transcendental. It is blessed with the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine, effortless and natural, featuring woodland, red-berried fruits, a minerally quality and a faint touch of leafiness; given time to settle, it develops a lovely gamy note. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied and sublimely balanced, upholding that effortless grace with an elegant, bittersweet, dried orange peel finish. One of the most harmonious wines I have ever consumed. Perfect. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London in September 2009. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 5 years ago
Domaine François Raveneau
Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2012
This has less air. Very tense and dense. Almost syrupy in its tight, tart fruit. Really delicious and packed. Alongside the 10, a significantly tighter and younger wine but that may be the lack of air. Lemon, lime, sizzling acidity and great tension. Amazing stuff with a long life ahead. — 6 years ago
Glenelly Estate
Lady May Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2010
Great left bank Bordeaux blend from South Africa. Dark fruits, pencil lead...Cabernet Sauvignon taste....actually this is all Cab Sav. Made by a Bordeaux lady who moved to South Africa — 6 years ago
Château Pavie Macquin
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
The Pavie flagship may get all the love but this Macquin is extraordinary! This may have the most intriguing sultry nose of any wine I’ve opened this year—crushed violets, burnt cedar chips and granite with a dash of garrigue. My actual nose actually touched the wine and got wet, that’s how drawn I was to the bouquet. But this Bordeaux was a a great deal more than mere aromatics.....dark full viscosity waves mark the sides of the glass, the oak is there but it melds very harmoniously with the black cherry, blackberry compote, stewed fig and damp earth flavor flood. Very lush, undeniably elegant and so smooth and satisfying. I’m enjoying this tonight and I know this is my first post in a while but I’m still alive....I hope to catch up with my @Delectablewine Delectablewine wine fam and post all the wines in my photo queue soon. Cheers 🥂 — 7 years ago
Domaine Saint Nicolas
Gammes en May Fiefs Vendéens Gamay
Medium bodied, medium acid, notes of lilac — 5 years ago
Rocca di Montegrossi
Toscana IGT Sangiovese Rosato 2019
The 2019 Rocca di Montegrossi Rosato is gorgeous, both spicy and floral, with zesty bright cherry and a hint of grapefruit. On the palate, silky, soothing textures usher in ripe red fruits offset by vibrant acids, as hints of sweet spice and salty minerals buzz on the senses. The finish is medium in length and remarkably fresh. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2020)
— 5 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010
A friend had a “reduction party” as he was needing to thin out his cellar. Definitely a party I’m happy to attend!
Had the 2012 Odette Reserve or 2012 Bryant Family not been on the table, this may have won the night. Whereas the other two were drinking deliciously, this displayed more youthful notes than I expected. The fruit here was really bright...candied black cherries, fresh blueberries and blackberries, baking spices, toasted oak, and savory charcoal. Nicely compact on the palate...bing cherries dusted in dark chocolate shavings, Black Forest cake, sandalwood, and smoked meat. If opening now, decant for a few hours. — 6 years ago
La Rioja Alta
Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2010
Has too much presence in relation to the structure but authentic and authoritative aroma makes it compelling. The flavor could dig deeper into the core and bit more continuous but that may happen down the road. Conventional but true classic. — 6 years ago
Michael David Winery
Freakshow The Strongest Man on Earth Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Color of dark purple, ruby, and a bit brown note on the rim. Nose of dark fruits, tobacco leaves, spice, and indeed some strawberry. Taste is sweet! Zest, cherry, , spice, marginal tannins come next. Quite milky. Aftertaste is also a bit spicy, tobacco leaves, and just a bit too watery. Too sweet for me but may be a good one in the party. — 7 years ago
Billecart-Salmon
Brut Réserve Champagne Blend
Harlan Estate
Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend 2001
Deep medium ruby with no sign of development. Musky aromas of blackberry, blueberry, soy sauce and licorice; almost liqueur-like. Huge, savory and utterly silky on entry, then plush and superconcentrated in the middle palate, boasting blackberry, licorice and mineral flavors of incredible intensity and penetrating sweetness. Utterly palate-staining in its breadth. Leaves the palate vibrating with black fruits and licorice pastille. When I originally tasted this wine from barrel, I noted that it was one of the greatest California Cabernets I had tasted to that point. This massive, three-dimensional wine finishes with huge, noble tannins and outstanding rising length. I suspect it's just embarking on its plane of peak drinkability, which might last another two decades. This may be the longest Cabernet of the 2001 vintage. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, June 2020)
— 5 years ago
Opus One
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
2014. Just really good. May have aged a little longer, but definitely drinkable right now. — 6 years ago
Kongsgaard
The Judge Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015
R. López de Heredia
Viña Cubillo Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2005
A really interesting wine. Even though I know these can be everything from black fruit dominated to more of an ash dominated type of wine, the notes here were a little bit tart and even a little on the sweeter side. Dates, sweet plums. Had a hint of tobacco, very ashy in the middle and finish. There is suggestion that this one may even be on its way down, and I definitely question that now. Left remaining 25%of bottle for 12 hours later and although the nose had markedly improved, the wine had not. This doesn't seem to be a good ager. — 7 years ago
La Spinetta
Il Rosé di Casanova Prugnolo Gentile - Sangiovese Rosé Blend 2016
29 May 2018. Brooklyn, NY. — 7 years ago
Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
Pichon Lalande is my favorite 2nd growth with a steak. Yup...it's #SteakandClaret night to quote my buddy Gary Westby. Further, it's certainly one of my favorite producers period. I've waited for this wine to be in the bottle for 10 years before finding out definitely how good it was or wasn't. You see, the 05 Bordeaux vintage was exceptional. It's drinking right now better than 00. 00 may turn out to be better, but not for some time. The real issue was the division of scores between RP & NM. Parker had this as low as an 86 and now has it at 89. Neil Martin has been consistently at 95-96. I found it simply inexplicable that Pichon Lalande could have bombed in such a great vintage. Tonight, I know they didn't. This wine is beautiful. Although, I don't believe it will cellar as long as their some of their very best vintages and many others I've enjoyed. On the nose, bramble, ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries, graphite, baking spices, cedar, lightly perfumed violets and dark, fresh & dry red flowers. The body is medium-medium plus, tannins nicely resolved with 10 years to be completely resolved. Fruits of; ripe blackberries, dark cherries, notes of blueberries, poached strawberries and pomegranate with a whiff of spice. There's notes of dry bramble, soft leather, fresh violets, graphite, cedar, dry stones, dark rich earth, limestone, tobacco, spice-box, vanilla, very light cinnamon & nutmeg. The finish is very long, elegant, ripe, round, smooth, good acidity and beautifully elegant...50-50 earth & fruit. I bought more bottles of this at $85 after it's was first released in futures and I do not regret it. $85 is proving to be a steal for this wine when it normally sells for between $100-$150 a bottle and higher. Might heavy up further after tonight if I find more around the same price. Oh yes...I'm with NM on the scoring. Photos of the Chateau, estate vines, newer tasting room & the Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande. Forgive my long post, but my passion and love for this producer is profound. Producer history and notes...as I wrote in an earlier post for Pichon Baron, Pichon Baron and Lalande started as one entity. The first mention of what is now called Chateau Pichon Lalande was the creation of Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan. Pierre de Mazure de Rauzan is responsible for forming many of the top Bordeaux estates today. Pichon Lalande was given its name when Therse, the daughter of the founder received the estate as a dowry when she married Jacques de Pichon Longueville. Pichon Lalande was essentially managed by three women, Therese de Rauzan, Germaine de Lajus and Marie Branda de Terrefort. On the eve of his death in 1850, Baron Joseph de Pichon Longueville divided the property between his five children. His three daughters received Pichon Lalande and his sons Pichon Baron. What happened next was Virginie, the wife of the Count of Lalande took over the management of the estate under the name of Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 she commissioned the popular, architect Duphot to build a residence inspired by the Hotel de Lalande, located in Bordeaux. Without heirs, Pichon Lalande passed down from aunts to nieces. Following World War I, the Miailhe brothers, bought Pichon Lalande in 1925. They were the ones who planted even more Merlot. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, the daughter of Edouard Miailhe became the new owner and general manager of Chateau Pichon Lalande in 1978. She expand the size of Chateau Pichon Lalande from 40 hectares to it's current 89 hectares. Chateau Pichon Lalande remained in the same family for more than 250 years! In fact, over three centuries, only two families have owned Pichon Lalande. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing sold Pichon Lalande to the owners of Roederer Champagnein in January 2007. This family-run company is managed by Frederic Rouzaud who owned several other wine estates in Bordeaux; Chateau Bernadotte, Chateau de Pez, Haut Beausejour and Chateau Reaut la Graviere. He sold Chateau Bernadotte in December 2012. In February, 2011, Sylvie Cazes was named the director of Chateau Pichon Lalande. She replaced Gildas d’Ollone. Sylvie Cazes was replaced in 2012 by current Director Nicolas Glumineau, who was previously at Chateau Montrose. In 2012, Pichon Lalande renovated the estate with a budget estimated at over 15 Million Euros. The new facilities included; building of a new underground barrel aging cellar and several new buildings...one that houses their new tasting room as shown. This renovation provided numerous improvements in their wine making. Most importantly, in the vinification. They created a new, triple tiered, cellar where everything moves by gravity. They also added numerous new, stainless steel, temperature controlled, double skinned vats. These new vats allow Pichon Lalande to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis as well as get much softer & gentle extractions. The 89 hectare vineyard of Chateau Pichon Lalande is located adjacent to Chateau Latour and and across the road from Pichon Baron. The terroir of Chateau Pichon Lalande is deep gravel with clay and limestone soil and is planted to; 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. — 8 years ago
Blake Walker
Dank, musty nose, & fruit was muted. Question if slightly corked. Slightly better with air, showing red berries, round mouthfeel, oak spice. Typically love LRA, but this bottle may have been flawed. — 5 years ago