Cognac, France

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2015

Always a hit!

Medium straw color, small delicate bubbles. Aromas of citrus, apricot, eucalyptus and orange blossoms.

🏅95 Points - Robert Parker
🏅97 Points - James Suckling
🏅96 Points - Wine Spectator
— 6 days ago

Ed, Scott@Mister and 15 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 3 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 34 others liked this
Ron R

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@David T, those are relevant and salient insights. For me, when I purchase wines I'm not familiar with, I look to balanced critics for guidance. Most of the high-end wines I purchase, I don't need much critical input. Wines such as Pontet, Ducru, Troplong, The Pichons, Leovilles et al., I'm more comfortable buying, unless the growing season is a disaster. Here in my opinion, the critics value is amplified. Happy holidays, bud! @ESF, no rush my friend...
Vino Joe

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All great input! I agree WS is advantaged with the blind review but WA is always more detailed. There are definite patterns as WA loves the turbo charged but I find PP to be the most helpful but they generally are European only. It’s like finding a movie critic. No one is the best but you find the one that matches your tastes the closest and use it to help make best choices. Love the dialog!
Jody Scharf

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wow, let me know when I can come over and share...!
Merry Christmas Ron.

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 6 days ago

Jakub, Tom and 11 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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You've been hitting all my favorite Léoville lately, so jealous
Jay Kline

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@Severn Goodwin I catching up on some notes from a night with a line-up of bangers from Bordeaux. It was pretty awesome, ngl

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 10 days ago

Ira, Jan and 25 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 6 days ago

Ericsson, Ron and 26 others liked this
Vino Joe

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Good to know! How long was your decant? And over how long a window did you enjoy it?
Jay Kline

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@Vino Joe great questions; I have answers. Note updated!

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1998

No specific notes but very good vintage and a classical Pauillac, ready to drink but no rush. — 15 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Scott@Mister and 4 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Great bottle, a bit on the oxidative side but very complex and long, we liked it a great deal. — 7 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Medium ruby , terracotta , garnet rim . Quite aromatic , with cedar , tobacco , leafy redcurrant , blackcurrant , wet earth. Slightly rounded and red fruit focused sous bois on the palate , quite high acidity , but refined and red fruit focused. Slightly green tannins , but overall reasonable mineral tinged length . This is at peak , leafy but charming — 7 days ago

Andrew, Tom and 7 others liked this

Vincent Dauvissat

La Forest Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 2022

David T
9.2

Continuing quest to taste as many 22’s as possible.

Beautiful honeysuckle notes, Meyer lemon and spring flowers on the nose.

The palate show a good presence of Meyer lemon right at the top. Butterscotch notes, honeysuckle-honey comb, apricots, yellow peach, ripe, syrupy pineapple, cream, slivered almonds, saline, flinty notes, limestone marl, toast, some soft white spices, lots of moist to mushy chalk, yellow & spring flowers, excellent, round acidity and a well made, elegant, round, lush, finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on spice & minerals.

This will merit another point of two with appropriate age but still hard to justify $240 a bottle. The strong lemon presence needs time to calm.
— 14 days ago

Daniel, Ceccherini and 13 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

From 3L bottle

1 hour decant. A majestic dark garnet color with some bricking. On the nose: perfumed fragrant notes of dark plum, currants, creme brulee, herbaceous, eucalyptus, wet forest floor. Taste: silky, creamy, wonderful coat your palate wine with red plum/cherry, that Cos spice, mineral, graphite, worn leather, and a smokey chocolate coffee medium plus finish. YUM!
— 8 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Ron and 26 others liked this
Ron R

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@Tom Garland, very nice. Cracking such a large bottle, what was the celebration? Happy holidays.
Tom Garland

Tom Garland

x Birth year wine for our son. Not sure if he and his friends appreciated all the qualities of an aged Bordeaux, but my wife and I really enjoyed it. Cheers! and happy holidays.
Ron R

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Wonderful Tom and Brenda. Congratulations to you both and your son. A great way to celebrate for sure…