Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was a check-in to see how ready my 2000 Montrose’s are doing. A good check.

This is absolutely a close relative of the 2nd Growth Montrose. The thing that experience has taught me is, Montrose is a long in the tooth producer. As well, the 2000 Bordeaux vintage mimics that completely.

I would say the 2000 Montrose is finally ready with a longish decant.

This is completely classic Bordeaux and Saint-Estèphe.

The nose shows ripe, lush, nearly candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices, limestone/sandstone, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, semi-used charcoal, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers.

The palate shows nicely resolved M+ rounded, tarry tannins. It has freshness and bright fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark spice w/ palate heat, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & very light vanillin, limestone/sandstone, moist clay, crushed dry rocks, grey volcanics, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers, beautiful acidity, it is nicely toned, good structure/tension with a well balanced, elegant & polish finish for days that lasts two-minutes and lands on dry earth & spice.

91-92.

Still has 5-10 yr of life ahead depending on your storage. — 19 days ago

"Odedi"

9.6

Drinking this pre-release bottle of this iconic wine from Bordeaux.

Light gold in color.

Strong nose and Full-bodied.

Sweet on the palate with high acidity to balance the sugars.

Showing melons, tropical fruits, apples, light earth, guava, herbs, spices, papaya and honey notes.

Long finish with herbs and tropical fruits.

This is a gorgeous sweet wine from Bordeaux. Sexy, seductive and fresh. Creamy and buttery.

Showing great potential, but oh so young. Already delicious and complex. Round, opulent and powerful.

Loved the nose once it opened up (20 minutes in the glass).

Rich and extracted. Fruit forward and intense, yet elegant. Well balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Drunk from a Magnum.

A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months.
154 g/l sugar.

14% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$500. — 5 months ago

Jamie Lauder

9.4

2013 vintage.
Grown on terraced mountain slopes between 350 and 500 meters.
The soil is Llicorella. Reddish black slate with mica quartz.
49 % Garnacha, 25 % Carinena, 16 % Syrah and 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dark cherries, blackberries, beautiful black violets, graphite earthiness, black olives and fennel.
Nicely rounded tannins with a layered and long finish.
Mi Corazon — 9 months ago

Marc Melser

9.2

We had the 2013 Vintage on 6/28-29/25. Nice bouquet black fruit and cedar. The palate had blackberry, plum, tobacco, leather and spice. Medium bodied, terroir driven. Old World and very good — a year ago

Neel Master

9.2

Sunshine and tropical fruit just lovely — 4 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.2

From Russell From of Herman Story. Love his wines. This is one we probably should have had a year or two ago. Still really good, but a lot of the vibrancy that makes grenache so spectacular has largely fallen away. — 6 years ago

with Vanessa

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Been a bit since my last but still do not think much of the style of their Cabernet. Especially, given its price point.

2022 Napa Cabernet’s more than less boil down to when did you harvest, before or after the 10 days of intense heat during the harvest window.

2026 Taste of Oakvile — 2 months ago

Rick Phillips

9.1

Not sure what’s up with Deletable. Can’t see who I’m following anymore and half the time my wines don’t post. Days later I’m able to post them! — 4 months ago

with Letha

Paul K

9.3

I know, I’m here too early, but I bought 3 cases for a steal. I’m excited to see the evolution over next 25 years and I can have more than a bottle a year so no scolding required! 😉 looking forward to the education. Makes you think though. I’m about done buying Bordeaux futures. Too long to wait, store, and 20-25 years is starting to look blurry in the telescope. Now it’s on to auctions and buying wines that are ready. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

One of the wines that has made Allegrini famous, vineyard surrounds Villa della Torre. A blend of about 40% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, 25% Rondinella & 5% Sangiovese, deep Ruby color with aromas of dried berry fruit and pepper spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry with vanilla, figs and licorice notes, good balance, lively acid with fine chewy tannins. Medium finish ending with fruit, mineral and earthy spice. Nice value. — 10 months ago

Neil Blaze

9.5

Damn. I am all about this wine tonight. Cherry and raspberry notes on both the nose and palate. Beautiful pinot coloring in the glass and a glorious finish. I will definitely be seeking this one out again. Highly recommended! 75% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, 5% Pinot Gris. 5/1/22. — 4 years ago

Scott G

9.5

How does she do it? That shimmering Alsatian minerality balanced out with this almost metallic salinity, nutty sherry oxidation, and a squeeze of lime. — 5 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Bianco Antico sees a ridiculous 180 days on the skins of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica (different from plain Malvasia). It’s a grippy fully hopped juicy East Coast IPA. Copper tone. Bitter citrus and green tea and grapefruit.

Must love orange wine. Must love bitter dry. — 6 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.0

2025. The skin contact amplified some of the floral notes of base wine. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.8

Tasted blind. Medium deep garnet ruby and medium garnet ruby rim . Quite cool and restrained , again lots of grafite and mineral , dark fruits . This is quite deep and dark spicy cassis , blackberry and sea spray , saline . Quite dense and robust on the palate again , lots of fine but ripe tannins. Very long , dense , cassis , cedar grafite saline finish . This is a complete and great example of 2005 , great balance and enormous length , the longest of all on show here. Drinkable now , but surely it’s best days are in the future , wait another 5 -10 years , will last well a further 20 - 25 if not more . The apex of 2005 ? For me this had to be the Latour , and an archetypal example of Latour no less . 1st place and the gold medal . — 4 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.5

After hearing of Arnaldo’s passing today, we decided to have a bottle of the 25th anniversary bottle. This is really a great wine for such a difficult grape…a masterpiece. Dark ruby red with aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, plum, tobacco, and stew fruits. On the bud, it luscious and smooth. The tannins are present, but just right. The finish is long. Cherry, licorice, and stewed fruit flavor. — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1990 vintage. Last tasted 11.19.25 (9.6)…yes…two days ago! Someone’s gotta do the dirty work. Comparable experiences with the cork, fill and flavors from the 11.19.25 visit. Not decanted. Tasted one and two hours after opening. After one hour open (not decanted)...a 9.4. two hours...a 9.5. Perhaps decanted, surmise it could have touched 9.6 but we'll never know. This specimen slightly more advanced but still ridiculously phenomenal. 11.21.25. — 9 months ago

AHF

9.3

Deep color, no bricking at 25 years. Nice wafting nose, lead pencil on palate, very smooth, a little drying tannins. — 10 months ago

Robert Torretti

9.4

A lovely bottle of classic Lafite Rothschild. Ordered with old friends and new at Waldhaus Sils on the fourth anniversary of my father’s death. He was biased to Cabernet Sauvignon / Left Bank Blends, and appreciated his Lafite, even if he stopped buying them as prices got out of hand. 1995 was chosen in honor of the year that I met my friend Julian, with whom I have worked at two companies across 20+ years and now count as a dear friend and peer in our industry. The bottle was in great shape, likely bought en primeur and stored in the Alpine retreat’s cellars (tour tomorrow!). Oscar, the manager and sommelier has been at the Waldhaus for 32 years, so it was purchased in his early days. The tannins were very well integrated, with some dark fruits, delicious tobacco and cedar, and a long finish. — 3 years ago

David S. Lopez

8.9

An excellent blend of 75 % Cabernet and 25% Syrah. It went well with the ribeye steak at California Pizza Kitchen. Many thanks to Chris and Ron for bringing it to our vacation in Solana Beach. — 5 years ago