Ming L

9.2

I would call this a Nebbiolo if blind. Lovely nose of sweet cherry, orange peel, dried autumn leaf, baking spice, and very light barnyard. Medium to full body. Tasted very youthful on the palate with fresh acidity and good fruit intensity. Tannins start to resolve and lingers around on the long finish.
A blend of Merlot and Sangiovese. This should hold for another 5-8 years. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Served to be double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a beautiful garnet with a deep but translucent core and significant rim variation; from magenta to orange to watery. There appears to be loads of sediment. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful aromas of desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, brambles, plum, pipe tobacco, some green pepper, old leather, damp forrest, mushrooms and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium(+?) acid. Confirming the notes on the notes. The finish is long and delicious. Alcohol is medium.

I was pretty confident that this was a Bordeaux-variety/blend however, I was between two minds as to whether this was left-bank Bordeaux or Napa Valley as I believe the lines truly begin to blur with age. Ultimately, I called St. Estèphe from a classified growth and a warmer vintage like 1985 or 1990. I settled on 1990. Shit. I should have known it was Napa…and as more time went on, the fruit did seem to get a little more heady. Anyway, I don’t hate my call but I should have not rushed my conclusion and considered it a little longer. As for the wine itself, this bottle has excellent provenance and was really quite lovely at 37 years old. Plenty left in the tank. There’s good color and energy with no worry at all about the fruit hanging on. Alcohol is modest at 12.5% ABV. Well-cellared examples should be enjoyed now but will drink very well over the next 5-10 years, easy. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Tasted blind, presented by Sue Bell. I picked Riesling, Australian and missed Porongurups WA. A brilliant Riesling made by Rob Diletti at Castle Rock WA. Lovely aromatics of Musk and Bath Talc. At 5 years the acid had settled and the citrus was going towards stone fruit. Really enjoyed this. — 3 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

Stunning example of this wine which i have been drinking since the 2009 vintage. Rose and intense dark cherry 🍒 on the nose. Touch volatility. Let this blow off. Very dense cherry, very burgundian, could be a 1er Cru NSG blind. But alas it has this E&M touch - black forest slope vines - and whole clusters which i am sure went into this wine. Wild oregano, orange peal, crushed marble. Can easily run for 3-5 more years. Plenty of tannins left. 2018 turns out to be a fabulous vintage for E&M. — 6 months ago

Shay A

9.4

This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.

Poured alongside the 2003 Mondavi VHR as a comparison. 60 cab/40 merlot.

Decanted an hour. The similarities between this and the ‘03 Mondavi VHR the first hour was shocking…even as the host, I wondered if I switched the wines. Slight hint of brett but certainly not overpowering. Leather, herbs de Provence, sweet vanilla pipe tobacco, graphite up front aromatically. Dark roast mocha, red and black berry fruit, cassis, really nice vein of acidity and tannin. This remained unchanged during the lunch. Seems like it’s in a peak window (maybe close to the top?) where I imagine it will hold another 5-7yrs easily before turning more tertiary. — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2008 vintage. Fresh as a daisy. Drinking more like a pinot. Feel like it needs another 3-5 years to transition into some semblance of maturity. Delicious but would have had difficulty believing this was a Syrah blind tasting it. Hasn’t developed that Côte-Rôtie balance-yet. — 2 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.7

If tasted blind would think it was 5-10 yrs old. Deep robust color with no brown edge.Rich plummy youthful Porto. Wonderful. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

If I put this in a blind red tasting, I’m pretty sure that many would not call Bordeaux. Rarely do I call perfectly ripe fruit. This 05 fruit is perfectly ripe. I would say this 05 is at its peak it is so good but it truly isn’t. This D’Issan has 12-15 years left of good drinking with a 5 year slide after. 2005 Bordeaux’s are drinking exceptionally as it was perceived when they were birthed. Three hour decant.

The wine glides effortlessly & beautifully over the palate. It is delicious. Ripe, floral, not quite candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherry kirsch, black plum, strawberries & blue fruits. Mid berry cola/licorice, black tea, softened lead pencil, dry crushed rocks, dry river stone, limestone, mostly fresh tobacco, firecracker, flinty spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, just moist, dark turned earth, drying clay, volcanic stones & ash, loaminess, dry to slightly fresh mixed herbs, sandstone, sandalwood, some black pepper, red, purple, dark, blue florals framed in violets, Hawaii waterfall acidity with a well polished, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured finish that lasts minutes. Wire to wire outstanding.

It is interesting reading the multiple RP reviews after my notes…from 90-92 young by Neil Martin to his 94 later & then Parker himself in 2015 a 96. Not surprising that time in bottle is constant evolution and worth the wait in proper storage. @D&SLounge — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. This 7 year old is showing a great nose now.

Dry on the palate with medium plus acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, herbs, spices, wild flowers, chocolates, leather, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.

This is a delicious, yet very young, Sangiovese from Chianti. Nicely balanced, powerful and tangy.

This 2016 vintage holds great promise for aging gracefully over the next two decades. However, at present, it has yet to fully reach its full potential. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Would have been nice to have it decanted for a few hours, but it wasn't my call. I had it blind, so it is what it is.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Sangiovese grapes.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$350. — a year ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

I miss the tastings with this semi-confinement we are still in and stole the idea of @Benoit Duhamel here, so we made one at home with my son and my wife who are both wine fanatics as I am too. We chose 6 red Burgundies Villages 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune and 3 Côte de Nuits and we tasted these blind, each of us giving ranks and points for each wines. Tasting blind usually doesn’t lie and it can bring numerous surprises which it did in that case. All wines were fo a good level here, no bad wines and all were fun and good indiviually but the results were pretty clear cut in terms of the Côte de Beaune winning this battle.

1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

The Auxey-Duresses: gets more complex with air and extremely aromatic with dark fruit, violets, black berries. The palate has a mice medium strong bodied, some good structure, nice energy, the most balanced I believe too with this elegant power and some nice class. My no 1 but close with Ramonet. 91-92


On s’ennuie des dégustations et j’ai bien aimé l’idée de @Benoit Duhamel , merci Benoit. Alors s’en est fait une à la maison à trois (en respectant les règles bien sûr). Nous avons choisi 6 Bourgogne Villages Rouges 2017, 3 Côtes de Beaune et 3 Côtes de Nuits, nous avons dégusté à l'aveugle et accordé des points à chaque position, il n’y avait aucun mauvais vin dans le lot et tous étaient très bien si bu individuellement, mais la dégustation à l’aveugle ne ment pas et les résultats peuvent être surprenants, les vins de la Côte de Beaune ont remporté la palme facilement ici, alors pour s’amuser un peu, voici le classement que cela a donné :
1- Chassagne-Montrachet villages 2017 Jean-Claude Ramonet 32 pts
2- Volnay Vieilles Vignes 2017, Henri DeLaGrange 28 pts
3- Auxey-Duresses Très Vieilles Vignes 2017, Alain Gras 26 pts
4- Chambolle-Musigny Les Véroilles 2017, Bruno Clair 20 pts
5- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017, Lucien Boillot 12 pts
6- Gevrey-Chambertin 2017 Les Évocelles, Louis Boillot 8 pts

Auxey de Alain Gras: Nez qui évolue beaucoup avec le temps, fruits noirs, mures et violettes. Bouche avec du corps et de la structure avec une belle énergie, le plus équilibré selon moi avec cette puissance contenue et qui a de la classe. Mon no 1 mais assez près avec Ramonet. 91-92 — 4 years ago