David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

So, the owner of K&L Wine Merchants - Clyde Beffa has made a living finding good 1997 Bordeaux’s after the fact in a difficult vintage. It is these kinds of buys ($17.99) that have keep me from opening other more prestigious wines too early in my early years of collecting. He still bats 1000.

If you always open your wines too early, let this be an opportunity to try wines on their longer evolution. You won’t be sorry.

Snap peas & zucchini from the garden this week.

Excellent with the rib covers steak.

You simply cannot equate a 9.1 24 years old Bordeaux to a 9.1 Bordeaux to a young one. The complexity, integration & nuances take precedent. Not a fair race. — 5 days ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Checking in on the hyped 09 vintage.

2 hour decant(fine/cloudy sediment). An astonishing inky dark crimson color. On the nose: Beautiful Margaux nose of ripe berries, floral, wet forest floor, little stewed meat, leather, creme de cassis, and vanilla. Taste: smooth, rich, elegant, brooding wine with blackberry, cassis, espresso, graphite, and a long smokey spice finish. Some slight tannins still present, but drinks well with the decant. Will give it a few more years for my next bottle. — 8 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2014 59 Merlot 37 cab Sauvignon 3 petit Verdot 1 cab franc Rich, still future, swallow reflex — 9 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dark Ruby red in colour. Red florals - rose petals, hint of geranium, leafy, dusty Bordeaux, cedar, elegant and refined. Way better than my previous two notes. Medium bodied with cassis and a little sweetness but overall impression is restraint and balance. Often it is easy to say refer to earlier notes on Delectable but on this occasion this was a much better tasting experience and what one would expect from such a producer in a good year. Perfect with Roast Beef last Sunday lunch. — 12 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

This is a very tasty Bordeaux blend from Medoc.

Showing black fruits with chocolate notes, tobacco, vanilla, licorice, wood, spices, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead, bitter herbs, light cola and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and nicely balanced with lots of fruits and a nice mouthfeel.

Will age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

Rich and good right out of the bottle. Becomes earthier after 3 hours of airtime.

Good by itself or with food, and would pair nicely with BBQ Meats.

A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30. — 11 hours ago

ESF

9.3

Yeah yeah, I know this is not considered a great vintage, but this is a Cracking Claret! Leaner in style and not a verbose powerhouse, it still delivers an elegant rendition of traditional Pauillac flavors. The cherry was more like kirsch liqueur, the cassis, graphite, leather, gravel, tobacco, the bay leaf... all beautifully delineated and intense. The mid palate was polished to perfection. Tannins are sturdy enough but seamless & integrated. The finish persists and invites another drink. Got these on a great deal from K&L back in the day and glad I did! In a great drinking window right now. — 5 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2015 vintage. Second vintage consulted by Hubert de Boüard. A blend of 55% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot. Textbook Margaux of Cru Classé quality. Refinement and depth with a serious soft tannic backbone and great length. Terrific value at 20 euros. Highly recommended. — 9 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Had this in an early stage. Dark w/ lots of black licorice. Completely different wine tonight. This is what I look for by waiting on wine.

The nose shows floral, ripe, bright, slightly candied fruits of; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, poached to baked strawberries, raspberries, powdery lead pencil, dark, rich forest floor w/ leaves, dark & mid spices, black licorice, mixed berry cola, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, soft leather, fresh tobacco, dry, crushed limestone, river stone, dark, red, blue florals framed in violets.

The mouthfeel is gorgeous. The palate shows its relationship w/ its big brother. The length & balance are excellent. Integration is finally showing like a non stubborn 2000 or one that is finally ready. Floral, ripe, bright, slightly candied fruits of; dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plums, poached to baked strawberries, raspberries, powdery lead pencil, dark, rich forest floor w/ leaves, dark & mid spices, black licorice, mixed berry cola for days, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanillin, soft leather, fresh tobacco, dry, crushed limestone, moist grey clay, river stone, dark, red, blue florals soaked in violets. The acidity is full warm spring day. The well knitted & balanced finish stuns. Starts fruit forward, cola that fall onto earthy perfection.

Elegant, complex wine candy w/ a 3 1/2 hour decant.

Cheers to the King of steak - Allen Brothers & the King of Cabernet - Latour. — 5 days ago

Ivor

9.0

Classic HM. Cassis, smoke and fresh tobacco on the nose. Palate fills with pencil shaving, cigarboxes and blueberry & cranberry. Medium + finish. Still pretty young butting coming around nicely. Textbook basic Bordeaux ticking all boxes. — 13 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Located on the terrace of alluvial gravel bordering the river. The "Village de La Lagune" was a tenant farm in its place and gradually transformed into a wine-growing estate. Dark purple with red fruits spice, cedar and flinty aromas. On the palate blackberry and cherry flavors with cedar, cacao, tobacco and leather notes. Fine sweet tannins, well balanced on long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy mineral notes. Nice! — 3 hours ago