Paul J

9.3

PnP. Dark red color. Subtle pencil shavings, cedar, and cherries on the nose. Rustic wine. Similar to previous bottles and notes. — a month ago

with Manish and Brooke

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Neal and Judy Ibbotson have been viticulture pioneers in Marlborough with over 30 years of viticulture knowledge of the region. Pale lemon with aromas of citrus and tropical fruit with herb and floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, guava, grapefruit and pear fruit with some floral tones, lively acidity adding mineral notes. Medium+ finish ending, citrus, with fruit, herbal, floral and salty mineral notes. Nice! — 6 months ago

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9.6

The 2016 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is consistent with previous bottles. It soars from the glass with those (to use a word I used last time) disarming array of blackberry, iris and fig aromas, but displaying a little more blue fruit than I recall. The palate is very well balanced with a velvety texture, pure with just a hint of black pepper. Interestingly, the 65% whole bunches are barely noticeable, just a guiding hand that shapes the finish. Sapid yet tender, this is an outstanding Pessac-Léognan. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2024)
— 2 years ago

Paul J

9.8

Merry Christmas!!

1hr-+ decant. Dark red color. Cedar, dark cherries, and subtle pencil shavings on the nose. Drinking at its apex! Could be mistaken for a high end Bordeaux. Silky texture, juicy but elegant with lovely terroir, and complex. Nice depth and long finish. This is right in my wheelhouse!!

Pairs perfectly with ham!! — 2 months ago

with Brooke

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2004 Vieux Château Certan was picked starting September 20. This is a little fuller on the nose compared to the 2002, with more fruit concentration, red plum and raspberry, wilted rose petals and a touch of thyme. This is very endearing and open, yet there is vigor. The palate is well-balanced with finely chiseled tannins. While not the most complex vintages of this decade, it is very well-balanced with a fine bead of acidity, lightly spiced with a dash of cracked black pepper on the finish. I have admired this Pomerol since first tasting it from barrel, and I still do. Drink now or over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 years ago

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9.0

The 1975 Batailley is a vintage poured at a vertical at the Pauillac estate with Frédéric Castèja a few months earlier, but perversely, this bottle shows better. There’s a strong marine influence on the nose, and kelp and crustacea intertwine with slightly rustic but attractive black fruit, austere, compared to recent vintages, albeit typical of that period for Batailley. The palate is gentle, perhaps a little angular, though this bottle exhibited a touch more black fruit on the finish to counterbalance its obdurate tannins, a trope of the 1975 Left Banks. The aforementioned vertical will appear this year. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2024)
— 2 years ago

Celeste Player

8.9

Nice pick up for the house — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Opened some time prior to service; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2022 Zinfandel pours a ruby color with a nearly transparent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of Bing cherry, black plum, red and purple flowers, tobacco and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. To my palate, this needs some years on its side to gain some complexity but the components are there. Drink now to experience its fruit dominated youth; best from 2027-2042. — 6 months ago

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9.0

The 2004 Montrose has a slightly rustic bouquet but is quite charming. It offers mainly red fruit, bacon fat, undergrowth and peaty scents, which are very Saint-Estèphe in style. The palate is medium-bodied with melted tannins. It is savory and a little dry, especially towards the finish, though there is good weight, and it is well balanced. Perfect to drink now. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 2 years ago

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9.4

The 2006 Latour shows some reduction on the nose, although it soon blows away to reveal pencil-shaving infused black fruit, wild hedgerow and light cassis aromas. The palate offers up a mixture of red and black fruit. This has a firm grip with an uncompromising backbone. Dense yet refined, it is refreshingly saline toward the finish, yet there are a few hard edges to be addressed. Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)
— 2 years ago