Rajiv Ayyangar

10

This was the vintage Serge sipped as bombs fell in Beirut in '76.

Moderate ruby-garnet to an orange rim. It was phenomenal straight out of the bottle, with tertiary dark blackberry essence leaping from the glass. It doesn’t show much oxidation at all. Savory integrated brett, complex tamari and blackcurrant notes. Rounded softened tannins, but still present. I can’t believe how good this is!

Overall the character was similar to the ’95 but with an added tone of brilliant blackness. Slightly toasty, blackened and charred blackberry essence. Also at various moments, dried apricot, orange peel, amaro herbal notes, anise, flemish sour notes, like a rich BFM brew.  

Age with power. Complexity with playfulness. Wisdom with unpredictability.  — 10 years ago

with Gence and Tim

Delectable770

9.4

Great taste for great moments! Consommez avec modération, guys! — 10 years ago

jams jerfy

9.6

moments in love. — 10 years ago

with John and David

Bill Beck

9.2

Highly recommended at Specs, so I went for it. A friend has also recommended Ribero del Duero over Rioja, so I thought I'd give it a go. A sort of mild berry-cherry-clove aroma. Mild tannins with a spiced black cherry taste. Really a mildish wine with moments of Spanish flair. Would probably like this wine with lamb or maybe pork tenderloin, depending how it was prepared. Weirdly, I'm curious to maybe try it with like some kind of Indian chutney plate? — 10 years ago

Julia Weinberg

9.5

The master @Jean-Marc Roulot, the prodigy @Kimberly Livingston, the magical liquid thread that entwines us. Some damn good #lapaulee moments. — 11 years ago

with La

Julia Weinberg

9.7

Kismet moments at my favorite place on earth — 12 years ago

Matt Trader

9.7

Jee wiz this is good. A delicious highlands single malt aged in 6 different casks; wine, madeira, sherry, marsala, Kentucky bourbon, and port casks. What does that crazy concoction produce? A ridiculously rich, fruitful, smooth delight in a glass. There is such a complex craze to the nose, one of vanilla cool whip, tropical fruits similar to the nose in a Sauternes, melted dark chocolate, malt, and cedarwood. Then comes the pallet, a wonderful marriage of chocolate covered orange cream, spices, malt, sea salt caramel, and ripe papaya, finishing in a playful white pepper and last second, faint memory of oak lace.
That was exhausting. I'm going to go ahead and finish this complementary glass, and savor these last few moments. This is the definition of comfort in a bottle. — 10 years ago

Ron Westlund

8.9

The fruit popped more a few years ago but a lot easier to drink now as all of the material has integrated. For a few moments during the 2 hours of drinking this gem, the pine forest floor loomed large. Just sublime. The 2006 was the fruit cake special. One left in the cellar. — 10 years ago

Alex K

9.0

Wonderfully dry. Gentle sweetness not overwhelming. Pleasant fruitiness. Apple, moments of light blueberry. Minute kisses of raspberry. Very strong effervescent qualities. — 10 years ago

Curtis Bagnoli

9.0

Nutty and warm bread notes on first wiff, baked apple and pear follow nicely. Rich round mouthfeel gives a touch of lively medium acidity and ties the mirroring nose and palate together with a warm vanilla finish that lingers seductively like perfume in a room moments after a lady departs. ( probably my cheesiest description yet! 😜) — 10 years ago

Thomas Hughes

9.3

Paso Robles vineyards are making some amazing Rhone Valley, France mimics; you can add Epoch's "Veracity" to the list. I even love the bottle's label, which seems like an art piece you would hang on your family room wall. The fruit is bold and powerful, with Grenache dominating the blend. But it's followed with a syrupy finish that lingers on your taste buds for savory moments. My only criticism is it should improve with bottle aging. Definitely worth looking for and trying. Cheers!! — 11 years ago

Vinz Cosello

9.1

Great moments whit friends and a perfect wine — 11 years ago

Andrew Nash

9.8

One of Donn's forgotten wines. Valued at $70. Drank really well with a nice long finials. Nose was a little dank but the tannins lifted after a few moments to leave a great jammy finials. Really enjoyed it. — 12 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.8

A stunner from the very first sip. Maybe the best Poyeux I've ever had - up there with the best Rougeards I've had. Sophisticated and refined texture, feminine and satiny like a fancy Pomerol - even Burgundian in some moments - flowing with pure, ripe, red berry fruit that retains its classy figure and composure despite its piercing primary intensity. The flavors beyond the fruit are classic cabernet franc and a pure STGT of a Loire red, with a vivid snap of cracked black pepper and forestal brambliness. Earthy and yet clean, even slick and shiny. Many luxe Bordeaux would love to taste like this. — 10 years ago

Spinning_spins

9.1

Downgraded a bit. This never seemed to get out of "oak" mode. Be sure to allow at least 2 hours of air time before drinking. Initially, there was only vanilla (oak), but now, it's all about black raspberry, with smoke, rhubarb, earth, pepper and raw meat. It evokes primal tendencies in the moments before a year ends and a new one begins. As the Beatles said, "It's getting better all the time." — 10 years ago

Thomas Bennett-Stroud

9.3

Bright and inspiring, and extremely kind. 3 years old and fresher than most '14s, which certainly says something about screw cap enclosures. The color and aroma somehow made me think of the more tender moments of Mrs. Doubtfire, when she says "the key to a solid marriage is laughter." — 10 years ago

Naboth van den Broek

9.2

At the winery. Great freshness, minerality, fruit, and the same flowers, farmlands, and herbs we smelled walking around the vineyards just moments earlier. — 11 years ago

Christopher McGauran

9.0

Nice and dry with just a hint of sweet. Interesting moments of carbonation and bubbles although there aren't any! Great with food
— 11 years ago

Charlie Abbott

Sommelier Casa Mono

9.1

Buy some cheese and charcuterie, have a picnic, bring this, savor the last moments of summer — 11 years ago

Ryan Key

9.9

HAD to upload this exact picture, as it was my first experience with The Prisoner and one of my most memorable moments in the world of wine. This bottle came courtesy of my best friend and his family at our Christmas cocktail party in 2010 - that's the best indication I have of the vintage. I still remember how struck I was by its deep violet color and complex aroma. This was an amazing gift, amazing experience, and still one of my favorite wines! Thank you, Young family! — 13 years ago