France

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2023

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.
— 3 days ago

Scott@Mister, Daniel and 16 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2002

Was maybe expecting a bit more from this. Think the bottle might have been just slightly off but still excellent. — 18 days ago

Tom, Peter and 16 others liked this

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 2015

Brief notes. Dense crimson with a ruby rim. Traces of cowyard, (mild Brett?) also blackberry and black pepper notes. A rich palate of medium plus intensity - savoury and earthy notes and black olive. A fantastic food wine. Love this style. One of the better world expressions of Syrah. Have my last bottle in early 2028. — 9 days ago

Doug, Ray and 18 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I’ve drank Clape Cornas as far back as the 1985 (though in those days I was always a Verset Cornas guy, others in my wine group preferred Clape). About 2 years ago I brought a bottle of 1991 Clape to a friend’s winery in the Sierra Foothills, we popped and poured it (my wife and his winery intern were also there), and it was nothing short of fabulous!! Anyway, only purpose of my little side story is to suggest that this wine, from a fine vintage, will cellar long past your “last bottle” window (20-25 years without a problem)!! Cheers!! 🍷🍷
Bob McDonald

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@Doug Powers Thanks for your note Doug. Its longevity is not in question…..I guess I don’t have the patience to wait as long as I should and I would like to try the last bottle sooner rather than later! Thankfully I have younger vintages of Clape Cornas waiting in the cellar.
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Same issue here, I always realise that the last bottle of a certain wine I drink over the years is always the best because I also tend to open rather early than late

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2023

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — 13 days ago

Zach, Jae and 14 others liked this
Somm David T

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Top three producer.
Jay Kline

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@Somm David T They’re up there. Certainly Top 6 for me. Foillard, Metras, Guy Breton, Thivin, Roilette and a few of the new comers are all right up there for me
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I have some vintages of Metras. Honored 5th to the Gang of Four. Need to open one soon. Definitely, on the list.

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Still youthful showing red & black fruits, cedar, leather, graphite, spice & tobacco — 4 days ago

David, Dave and 15 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Nice age here

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2016

Elegance in a bottle. Bright, pale straw color, with big bubbles. Nutty, ripe peach, lemon and chalk aromas. Grapefruit, lemon and a mineral finish. Superb!

🏅96 Points - Wine Spectator
— 25 days ago

Billy, Doug and 22 others liked this
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Des bulles pour la vie!!!

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Already so lovely, but still so young. Medium ruby red in the glass with long, lusty legs and a wide brim. The nose is exactly what you think a classic Left Bank Bordeaux should be. Cassis, plums, and tobacco immediately upon opening. New leather and oak with just the right amount of earth. Very nice.

Big, powerful, and virile. Amazing balance and purity for a wine so young. Still a bit tannic at times but decanting certainly helps with that. Pretty fruit on the palate with blackberries and cherries. Soft vanilla undertones from start to finish along with licorice and more earth on the tongue.

Very impressive with such depth and such personality. As good as this is today it will be so much better if you can show patience. Put these away and try your best to forget about them and you will be rewarded.
— 6 days ago

Douglas, Ruud and 12 others liked this
"Odedi"

"Odedi" Influencer Badge

Very nice wine

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Earthy nose with black fruits and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, dark chocolates, coffee, light vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Paulliac. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex, elegant and fruit forward.

This 9 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Easy drinking, and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in (75% new) French oak barrels for 17 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85.
— 19 days ago

Dave, Tom and 21 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 1988

Light amber. Showing secondary notes- dried apricot, honey, brioche. Good tension still and reasonable fizz. For my palate slightly past the best bottles I’ve had of this — 22 days ago

Paul WoollsMatt LichtenbergBOT
with Paul, Matt and 1 other
Jan, Jay and 5 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Youthful, structured with red & black fruits, currant, cedar, spice & tobacco — 8 hours ago

Joel, Tom and 2 others liked this