David Dorn

9.4

Very great nose. Had to air it quite a bit to taste the richness. Happy 2025 — 2 days ago

Chris Buggy

9.0

Delicious. Berries, good structure, good counterpoint to the spice — a month ago

with Jennifer

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 4 months ago

Mike Evans

9.4

Opened up a lot with air, excellent but not up to the standard of the Roumier BM. — 4 days ago

Bruce Leboff

8.9

A little long in the tooth. Colour a deeper yellow than a younger example. Nose is subtle ( read limited) interesting on the palate. Pleasant with a medium long finish. — 2 months ago

with David

Pooneet K

9.3

First time trying this. Opened 8 hours before and decanted for 4, which I’d suggest at this stage. I don’t think I would have guessed Bordeaux blind, probably would have gone something from Piedmont. Not actually giving a ton on the nose, but quite nice and deep plum / purple fruited / leathery on the palate. Hauntingly balanced finish that goes on and on. Very nice. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

This bottle was a library release from the Chave cellars. Decanted about an hour prior to service (but could have benefited from more time) and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2001 Chave rouge pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of charred blueberry pie, mushrooms, scorched earth, grilled meat, coffee, black pepper and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super complex. With more and more air, this really came into its own. Totally Chave. Totally Hermitage. Totally awesome. Drink now with a little patience and through 2041. — 6 months ago

Jason Gelman

9.1

1985 Cru Borgeois from Bel Air Lagrave. Tobacco leaf, cigar smoke, really subtle leather. Very pretty. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. Yes, the 2003 Dominus is big. However, it is also balanced and showing classic Napa typicity with beautifully ripe and some slightly wizened black and red fruit, tobacco, cocoa, some purple flowers and baking spices. I found this to be quite balanced after all the air it saw. Wonderful structure for continued aging as well. Drink now through 2043. — 2 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

My 2nd bottle of the 2003 and wow this is a stunner. Warmer vintages in cooler wine regions is where it’s at. Glorious nose of mid season cherry, sour cherry and more! Smoke, tar, tobacco, cigar box. Unreal minerality and a distinctive earthiness. Just gorgeous. So expansive and detailed. Palate is so so juicy and fresh with unreal acidity that buffets the incomprehensible juicy cherry and meaty fruit. Getting Gevrey vibes here. Amazing purity and freshness and just super clean. Opulent with so much energy and depth. Really covers the inner mouth with so much sexy fruit. The sexiest one yet but still has the house style. I’ve never had a wine where a warm vintage has elevated it this much. Genius and stunning. Nose starts with some oolong tea now after air. Palate has mid season juicy cherries that are in such abundance. It’s so well made, so balanced and just off the charts pure with velvety and sweet tannins and just such insane fruit capture. — 5 months ago