David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

There are good steak wines and then there are steak WINES! Not that this is the best wine or steak wines I’ve had. It was simply birthed for steak. Allen Brothers Strip Steak. Seasoned with coarse Garlic Salt/ Pepper and Napa Valley Rub from wholespice.com. If you haven’t had your steak this way, my highest recommendation. The fat & gristle are perfect w/ the 08 Belle-Vue. If you olive oil, heavy coarse salt & pepper your bake potato at 475 for an hour & a half, you’ll discover how great, crispy/crunchy/complex a potato shell can be. Older Bordeaux can be good on its own but with beef or lamb, it’s just a marriage made in heaven. Here’s the rub for my friends & I, we can’t find a steak better than we make. That’s what the Covid years firmed up for us. The 08 vintage was saved with late good weather. It sits somewhere between the good and very good vintages. Drinks better earlier than great to grand vintages. Slightly over achieving its young critical reviews.

The palate shows; drier dark currents-blackberries, black raspberries, black plum dark, not quite ripe cherries, raspberries edges. Dark chocolate baking bar (that’s what French oak does), lead pencil shavings, dark rich earth with dry leaves, limestone powder, dry river stone, dry tobacco, chewy leather, dark, intense spices, nutmeg, some cinnamon, vanillin, caramel hues, saline, fresh & withering, dark, purple flowers with lavender hues, nice acidity with a well structured & balanced, rounded meaty tannin, floral finish that lasts minutes. Medoc is always the place to look for nice wines with value…even better in excellent vintages. Even better in 5 years.

It has another 10 years plus of good drinking ahead properly stored. — 8 days ago

Dmitry Muzychak

9.2

Выпито 15.08.23 в Лофте с Астрейко и Котляровым по случаю приезда в Обнинск. — a month ago

John Bratincevic

9.2

NOSE: fur-bearing critter … earth, iron … cacao … a bit of cassis. Savoury. Pine and forest.

TASTE: iron, blackberry, cassis, MEATY, orange chocolate, leaves…good old fashioned dirt. Great deal. Could certainly age a while. 92.

NOTE: I tasted this a year ago (I forgot!) and notes were different. Unsure if it’s me, the bottle, or the extra year of age. Anyway, I liked it both times! — 16 days ago

Nicole Tyler

9.0

So silky smooth and yummy. Highly reccommend. — 22 days ago

Kelley Raymond

9.1

A bit dry for my usual, and very dark color. But very balanced and lively — 25 days ago

Lars Eggestig

9.0

Good standalone — a month ago

Jess

9.1

Deep ruby-garnet color.
Aromas of tomato leaf, soft cherry, oak spice, tar.
Dry. Flavors of dried black cherry, black olive, oak spice, tar. Medium-rich, chewy tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 5 days ago

Andrea Wilson @farmforthesoul

8.9

Very good 🍷 and approachable, but could lay down for a few more years. Not as complex as I like them to be.
Contessa was an amazing restaurant with wonderful views. If in Boston, it’s a must! ❤️ — 7 days ago

with Jeremy

Jason Gelman

9.1

on a Bordeaux kick lately. 06 Cru Bourgeois. very mature at this point, nose is heavy on pencil shavings and tobacco leaf. palate is the same, very tertiary flavor profile. fruit is very muted at this point. it’s nothing particularly special other than a classic mature bordeaux. — a month ago

Ericsson

9.0

This is very composed, ready to serve kinda Bordeaux. Bold and slightly tannic, fruit forward with good acidity. 2016 was a great vintage, tons of value here. Could easily get a case for everyday drinking. — 2 months ago