Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2018 vintage. Last tasted 04.08.23 (9.5), 12.01.22 from a 375ml (9.5) and upon release 06.07.21 (9.5). Decanted and tasted after 45 minutes. Mysterious, dark-fruited and dusty nose. Medium body with excellent darkness of night color. Previous baby-fat overtures approximately 90% gonzo. Slimming down and getting more toned. In a state of transition with undeniable tension that can easily be misconstrued as underperforming. Last wine I tasted that was under this sort of metamorphosis at this level was the 1996 Pichon-Lalande about 1.5 years ago. Such a privilege to experience world-class wines in such a vulnerable moment. Everything is laid out bare/naked before you and you can see where the wine is headed and whether it will be following a trajectory that agrees with you. Definitely unusual to find this occurring in a wine this youthful but the 21st Century is smashing the old 20th Century clay tablets and digitizing. For most wine enthusiasts sampling this wine now, expecting some disappointment in the scoring. For myself, this is currently in the perfect symmetry of past, present and future. Will it show critically better in the future according to the accepted trials, palates, judges and juries? Probably. Will they experience the potential, doubts, insecurities and questions? Doubtful. This kid stays in this exact picture for another 2-4 years imho before striking another pose and I would love to taste this again during that time frame. An above and beyond thank you to FLB (Friday Lunch Bunch) regular Todd. 08.15.25. — 18 days ago

Bruce Leboff

9.6

Boom. Still lively and fresh. Tannins present but smooth. Still has life left. What a treat. Well balanced. Medium long finish Really a privilege to experience — 2 days ago

with David

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Deep ruby garnet , thin garnet rim . Just beginning to show some development, with grafite tinged , pipe tobacco, cassis , spicy herbal hints and oyster shell notes. On the palate this still comes across as very young , dark cassis , blackcurrant fruit and a very long , detailed mineral and saline length. Sweet but grippy tannin , and fresh acidity. Tobacco and oyster shell return on the long finish . Needs time but has a great future . Come back in 5 -10 years , will last well a further 25 . Apologies for the silly stock photo , don’t think I took one having been so excited by both the 2016 and 2010. A huge , vast improvement on the rather chunky , forced and flat 2009 had at Vinous Icons Miami in Nov 2024. At Vinous Icons NY , Pier 60 , Feb 2025. — 25 days ago

Gene Buonviri

9.0

Salmon pink color, crisp , fresh with a great acidic balance. Green apple, red raspberry and tangerine. Delicious, need more! — 5 days ago

with Justinian

John Malcolm

9.6

I love Lynch Bages, and this is a great one. A very soft, elegant, medium-bodied, beautifully balanced wine. Cedar, cloves, black currants, plums, and graphite. — 3 days ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

I’ve been fortunate to consume several bottles of this legend. However, this was the first bottle that did not have me babbling to my dinner guests. All the Rayas traits; elegance , pure fruit , spice were present just not oversized. — a month ago

David Koenen

9.6

Birth year tastings, evening 3. Enchantingly beautiful nose. Sweet and sour in a wonderful balance. Licorice, blackcurrant, Indian ink, dense structure, The smell of a just delivered newspaper in the morning. Chocolate, soft, pleasantly firm tannins. — 11 days ago

Michael Dierberg

9.7

My dad bought this through the Commanderie de Bordeaux in the late 70s or early 80s. Stored in his cellar since, Wonderfully alive and fresh, great nose. In the conditions of his cellar, this might have held up well for another 20 years. — 3 days ago

with Ellen and JiaMin

David White

9.2

Bordeaux aromas and like opening the wine game box 😋
Still fresh colour and some tobacco and pencil shavings on palate.
Good claret that will improve further — 21 days ago

Eldon Sproule

10

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 13 days ago

Randy Fillingim

9.4

Held this wine for 43 years. drank on my 75th birthday. decanted -tasted delicious near perfect harmonies with the tannins and fruits. I was pleased. My last bottle out of six that I bought in futures in 1984.  — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.8

Blend of Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, & splash of Merlot; estate-owned vineyards Rutherford, Napa, St. Helena & Stag's Leap District. Just opened, 14 years in the bottle after couple of years in the barrel! Still tasting well, young & juicy, should easily last another decade, but nice now. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. Palate reflects juicy rich berry fruits, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and earthy tones. Wow! — 17 days ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Delicious per usual. Last had 2 years ago and this is in a nice place. Perfect with skirt steak off the grill. A treat. — 24 days ago

Bob Eisenbach

9.3

One of the best rosés. Delicious fruit, lovely mineral notes, and well-balanced. — a day ago

romo

9.5

En mag. WotN. Overtly sweet yet earthly forest. Brett bomb in the best way. Wow. — 10 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Youthful showing mostly black fruits with cedar, graphite, mocha, spice & tobacco — a day ago

Inseon Hwang

9.1

Delicate with amazing aging. Still taste the licorice and blackberries. Fruit is subtle with age; the oak and earthiness remain. — 2 days ago

Severn G

9.3

1995 | Red Blend
(74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc)
Château Léoville Barton
Bordeaux; Médoc, St. Julien, France
(92-94; Drink 2020-2035)

When you can drink anything you want...this was a spectacular paring with Wagyu burgers. — 23 days ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.5

Magnum, last part of the decanted bottelen — 8 days ago

Ericsson

9.8

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Mind blowing. I mean, from a weak Bordeaux vintage comes this masterpiece which can be enjoyed now or saved for decades to come. Beautiful nose and almost perfumed with roses and black cheery and blueberry, cedar, and pencil shavings. The palate is pure bliss full of complexity, intensity yet balanced and the finish just goes on and on. Cheers. — a month ago