Jay Kline

9.6

At this point, with this group, a Legends dinner simply wouldn’t be appropriate without at least one bottle of Chave Hermitage.

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1994 Hermitage pours a slightly hazy garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with perfumed notes of dried brambles, dried blueberry, dried purple flowers, black olive, mushroom, espresso, leather, stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly sanguine. Delicious with the 5 Spice Cured Duck prepared with marinated Bing cherries, crispy shallot and Olathe corn polenta. It was such a pleasure to taste the ‘94 Chave next to the ‘85 Gentaz. Two Northern Rhône Legends working with their respective terroirs. Where the Gentaz was all about the aromatics of Côte Rôtie, the Chave was brought more of the power from the Hill of Hermitage. Drink now through 2056. — 8 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Always a great choice for a 2nd btl off the list to finish lunch. Lots of berry fruit, citrus, pastry dough in a creamy finish — 5 years ago

Mitch Powell

9.0

Christmas Eve lunch — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon in colour. Stone fruits on nose and palate. The big peaches and cream style. A typical delicious Leeuwin Art Series palate of profound intensity with Oak playing a supporting role to the abundant ripe fruits. Medium minus acid. A big generous Art Series Chardonnay which went well with fresh prawns. I think I would need to drink the remaining 3 in the next 18 months. Had another bottle with friends for lunch 9 weeks later on 16th November. All agreed this was the white wine of the day marginally from the 1998 Lovedale. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It’s been another long day of landscaping and I’ve been looking forward to a glass of Champagne all day. Sofia says, “she favors the Ruinart Rosé over Billecart-Salmon Rosé.” So, we’ll be working this in a little more often. They are both very good. I think she likes the Ruinart Rosé better as the fruits are more ripe, richer, bolder. The black cherries, strawberries & cherries are certainly more pronounced over the Billecart. 375ml. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Dog Point Vineyard combines experience of Ivan and Margaret Sutherland & James and Wendy Healy. Ivan and James met while working at Cloudy Bay Vineyards. Light straw with typical SB aromas adding a touch of smoky mineral character. On the palate melon and grapefruit with lemon/lime notes, generous acidity, great mouthfeel with lingering finish ending with an earthy tone. Exceptional value! — 9 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.3

Opened after Xmas lunch as we needed a follow up to the Black Shiraz. Did not disappoint. Mature and soft with all the lovely spice and dark fruit of the basket pressed. Lovely. — 8 months ago

President Obama

9.4

Brought to Hanukkah lunch by Ron — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Dark tawny, opaque. Powerful nose. Notes of red and black fruit, leather and cassis, dark soil. Has the funk. We're all in the same camp of where it's from so there is lots of working out who made it. I go with a 59 Latour guess. Really good today, better than a bottle we had of this earlier in the year. Thanks Stan! — 4 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.7

If somebody can find a better way to finish lunch then this, please let me know! A perfect balance of cooked apricots and honey. As usual, the crème brûlée didn’t hurt us at all either! — 7 years ago

with Leonard and Joe

Jay

8.9

Lunch @ Montmartre, French bistro near Eastern Market. Washington D.C. 🇺🇸 — 7 years ago

Nick Ferrall

9.2

Tasted blind. Eventually got to Super Tuscan, but it was a long road working through the Cab blending. Very young, but very beautiful. — 7 years ago

with Pietro and Brad

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.2

wonderfully chalky, round even though very young. Perfect lunch wine with homemade charcuterie — 8 years ago

Ebbe Bonde Soerensen

9.5

This was again tasted on New Years Eve and next day, a stunning experience to drink this fantastic wine at lunch, again pricy stuff, but in my world the best Rosé🥂 — 9 years ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). I was really hesitant to open this given the fanfare of this specific wine, but also how DrCrane can be an in-between wine for me (so explosive young, shut down at 5-10yrs, re-open 10+). Decanted two-three hours.

Classic deep purple-black DrCrane in the glass. Aromatics are immediate with ripe blue and black fruits, baking spices, mocha and graphite. Just a little bit of high-toned EA to make it pop, along with this roasted character I always get from DrCrane wines. Opulent and polished in every way on the palate, this is a tidal wave of flavor with no hard edges. It’s a towering wine in the sense of so much concentration and depth on the mid-palate, but it’s so incredibly polished at the finish…almost shockingly so. The ripe fruits and the dark chocolate linger longer than any Napa cab I can remember. Iron first in a velvet glove.

No need to worry, these are open for business. Plenty of structure to carry a while, but this window seems like it was made for how this wine is drinking now. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Christmas lunch date at V. Mertz. Disgorged January 2013. No formal notes. Rich in style with bruised apple, brioche, honey and some nutty, oxidative notes too. Zippy acid still. A truly wonderful way to close out the meal. — 5 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.4

Magnum lunch — 7 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.0

A fantastic day in Santa Clara! Enjoying this wonderful wine with lunch before seeing the Rolling Stones at Levi Stadium.. A blueberry dark cherry on the nose. The dark fruits, floral and spice burst in the mouth lingering with cassis, chocolate and vanilla notes. Medium finish and a beautiful dark purple color. — 7 years ago

with Franca and Jill

Matt Sterr

9.1

Gorgeous. Big, round with lush fruit and lactic notes. Barrel fermented, partial malo w/French Oak. — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Medium gold, heavy and viscous in the glass. Classic aged Raveneau nose with stone, honey, apricot, white clay and a little spice. With 3 hrs of air this blossomed and had full on fruit and acidity that fought to see what wins. It was a draw and My lunch mates were the winners. I think this is still in a good spot but I don't think it will get better; enjoy it now. — 9 years ago