Dan K

8.9

A bit like Sandhi outstanding PQR — 16 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.

I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.

It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.

Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Drinking nicely but still quite youthful.

The nose shows ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum skin, plum, poached strawberries & and soft mix of purple & blue fruit hues. Dark spice but not overpowering, chocolate fudge/pudding, dry tobacco, leather, sandalwood, some nutmeg & clove, vanillin, crushed limestone, dry river stones, dark, rich earth, soft herbaceous notes, hint of eucalyptus, brambly/dry twig, dry top soil, delicious lead pencil notes, moist volcanic ash, withering; dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets, very good acidity with a well balanced, nice structured & tensioned finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Excellent w/ the Bone in Ribeye.

This has 15-20 years of good drinking life in it.

@Cole’sChopHouseNapa. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

8.9

1986 vintage. Ripped through six bottles (one corked) for a 1986 BDX dinner @ Mister A's-San Diego. All bottles appropriately aged fill and decent+ corks. Double decanted and tasted over the course of 5 hours. Mix of powdery and stubborn (non-chunky) sed amongst the 6 bottles. Light-medium body throughout. Somewhat muted experience overall. None of the bottles (with variation) shone/sung. Wine is firmly on the downside of the bell curve with best days behind it (based on the 5 + corked bottle examples). There was none of the usual P-L flavor markers but the body hung in there. Pains me to say this but drink up now unless you've got a larger format bottle. Maggie (+) would probably yield a higher score. 3.14.24. — a month ago

James Everhart

9.5

$50 for 2016 vintage. Needed a reconsideration. Red fruit continues on and on in the finish, allowing wondrous sipping throughout the evening — 3 months ago

Kelsey Guenther

9.0

Good everyday table wine. Light in the glass, no legs. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

An ardent traditionalist, Laurent Charvin makes one of the more interesting wines in the CdP AOC. There is no super-cuvée; their best fruit goes into their standard (and only) bottling.

Opened several hours prior to service. The 2015 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, developing with an intriguing combination of fresh and desiccated brambles, Cedar forest, Christmas fruit cake, black pepper, and well-oiled baseball glove and a mix dried green herbs. On the palate, the wine is bone dry, medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, rich and juicy with surprising structure. Delicious. Drink now and through 2030+ — a month ago

Chuck Davis

9.0

Really good after it opens — 2 months ago

with Kay

Jay Kline

9.4

Flight #1 of our 1997 Retrospective. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. This had a really compelling mix of fruit and non-fruit notes; multifaceted, balanced. Superb structure. Bordeaux-like. Called this “Insignia”. This was my favorite of the flight and the most complete wine in the line-up. Drinking well now and should hold that way well through 2027. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured. The 2019 RTW “Lodi” appears a deep ruby color with a slight magenta tinge and a near opaque core. Viscosity is medium with no obvious staining of the tears. There appears to be some very light sediment. On the nose, whoa…this is way funkier that I recall in its youth. It smells like there’s some whole cluster being used and I love it! There is a mix of red and dark fruits; brambles and cherries with purple flowers, garrigue, dried herbs, black pepper, crushed gravel. I just want to keep smelling this. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium (+?) acid. The body is medium. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, peppery and laden with minerals. Brilliant. I knew there was a reason to hold some of these RTW’s back to see how they develop…and now I feel validated. This is so awesome. There is so much soul! Sadly, this is my last 2019. Drink now and through 2030, easy. — 8 months ago