Jerry Raphael

9.5

I purchased this wine for $60 as a Bordeaux future offering from MacArthur’s in DC, with the hope of opening it when my younger son—born in 1982—was old enough to share it. We finally did just that this Thanksgiving, celebrating both him and the bottle.
The fill was mid-shoulder, but the family was together and it felt like the right moment. I gave it about an hour in the decanter before dinner. Early on it showed blackberries, a touch of veg, lead pencil, cedar notes and a smooth elegant finish. As the evening went on it opened a bit more, gaining some depth.
A few hours later I revisited the small amount I’d saved and found it had dried out some—but that was expected for a 43-year-old First Growth. Ultimately, it was a wonderful experience and a memorable way to share both the wine and the moment with family.
— 7 months ago

Norman

9.2

Nice but I think there are better Born bottles to be had. Better as the chill comes off the bottle. — a year ago

Deborah M

9.0

Really delicious. Dry sake. Great mouthfeel. Refreshing. @Niwa (Japanese BBQ). — 3 years ago

Martin ho

9.2

Lovely finish, sweet finish. Not too dry. Some floral notes. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous note from 96 weeks ago where I said that I would drink the last one when my son Hugh was home from NY (born 1987) which came to pass last night. Overall not as impressive as the previous tasting but retains its silky tannin structure. Very dark in colour - opaque. Notes of cassis and pipe tobacco - overall dusty without the depth of fruit of the previous tasting. Just medium bodied. Tasting Book recommend a drinking window till 2035 which I would not agree with. Leads me to think I will be drinking my bottles of 86 Mouton sooner rather than later. — 4 years ago

Angie Streck

8.9

A fresh, light, Cabernet — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Owes name to man of the cloth born in 1264, Bertrand de Goth, Bishop of Comminges, in the Pyrenees, later became Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299. Blend, 57% Merlot, 38% Cab Sauv & 5% Petit Verdot & Cab Franc, aged in new French oak for 18 months. Pronounced youthful black fruit aromas with earthy baking spices. Blackberry & plum palate flavors with cedar & spice integrated with firm tannins, long ending, earthy oak with a mineral tang. Needs more bottle age! Tasting Sample! — 6 years ago

Norman

9.1

Born “Dreams Come True” is a Junmai Daiginjo from Kato Kichibee Shoten in Fukui Prefecture. It’s aged for five years at –5 °C (some sources mention –8 °C). This is supposed to be one of the top Born sakes and it would be interesting to try with a couple others side by side. It’s a liter bottle and when it got opened it was on the cold side. As it warmed and opened up you can see why people call it flamboyant. It becomes a big, powerful sake with big flavors and a long finish. Heavy weight on the palate but very smooth and as they say velvety. It was nice but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it - not sure why other than maybe how it started out which was a bit sharp, angular and lean. Need to pull these earlier. — 10 months ago

Caleb Kneip

9.0

My 2nd daughter was born today, cracked this open while she and mom rests.
Brilliant fruit and roasted nut- cashew maybe? A much lighter, fresher style of Viognier than the heavier stuff. My nose is a bit stuffy today so the only notes I'm getting are dusty apple and green peach leaf. Balanced acidity and a touch of sweet that cooperate to make a quenchable bottle. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Prisoner Wine Company was born different, designed to disrupt. The Chard has added Roussanne and Gewürztraminer to this blend, Pale and lemon with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with toasty oak aromas. On the palate flavors of crisp apple and peach with citrus zest and nutty vanilla notes, well balanced with acidity. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, oak and mineral character. — 4 years ago

Ben Steinbock

9.1

Delicious pet-nat. $25 restaurant price. — 4 years ago

Hector Escaton

9.4

Back at it. — 4 years ago

Noren Kawakami

10

Born Chogin Junmai Daiginjo — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Made from the other White Burgundy grape, Aligote. Made by probably the most famous name in Burgundy, Aubert de Villaine and his American born wife, Pamela. Aubert is the wine director and proprietor of the Domaine de la Romanee Conti. This is his own personal project. The wine itself:- Mid lemon in colour. Herbs, citrus and a touch of aniseed on the nose. The palate is very citric and mineral with a noticeable saline note. More palate weight than it had a few years ago. Medium minus Acid. Drinking well now and no need to cellar any further. Great winemaking at an affordable price. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Grgić Pošip, Korčula Island 2022
A Croatian white with California roots and Adriatic soul.

Crafted by Grgić Vina, the Croatian project of Napa legend Miljenko “Mike” Grgich (of Judgment of Paris fame), this 100% Pošip is sourced from steep, sun-drenched vineyards on Korčula Island, overlooking the Adriatic.

Pošip, a native Croatian grape born from a spontaneous crossing of two local varieties, delivers a crisp, dry, and complex profile. This 2022 vintage is beautifully aromatic, with notes of citrus, ripe melon, apple, and savory herbs, rounded by hints of vanilla, hazelnut, smoke, and lemon rind. There’s even a faint whisper of resin and orange blossom in the background.

On the palate, it’s voluptuous yet vibrant, a brilliant balance of brisk minerality, layered fruit, and a clean, snappy finish.

Pairing tip: It sings with seafood, think oysters, shrimp pasta, grilled white fish, or even creamy pasta with wild fennel. Also works nicely with soft cheeses.
A standout wine that’s both regional and refined, offering a true taste of Dalmatian coastal charm.
Cheers!
— a year ago

S.S. Mandani

9.5

Money.

Actually born gold. Name lives up!

Soft, silken, balanced, clarified, pear and lychee.

Beautiful. — a year ago

Alice Lee

10

Diana Bravo gave me this wine when Preston was born — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa! 🇿🇦 In South Africa, Chenin Blanc also goes by the name “Steen.”

It’s such a versatile grape and wine, capable of producing beautiful sweet, dry, still, and sparkling wines.

This wine is still and dry. We’ve paired it with sushi and it’s a delightful duet.

The grapes for this wine were grown organically in the Citrusdal Mountain district, north of Cape Town, west of the Olifants River, on the Western Cape. The bush vines were originally planted in 1957 (old!!), contributing to an intensity and a concentration of primary aromas and flavors in the grapes.

Indeed, the nose and palate offer medium(+) aromas and flavors of ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, vegetal, boxwood, white blossom, crushed stone, and aged cheese rind notes. Lively acidity gives it lift and balances the high alcohol and intensity of fruit.

This wine was produced by Ginny Povall, American-born proprietor and self-taught winemaker of Botanica Wines. I love the botanical images on her labels, each an homage to the flower farm on which she began her wine production journey in South Africa.   

Botanica Wines, Chenin Blanc (Mary Delany Collection), 2019, ABV 14%. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Pablo Cetlinski

9.6

Wine from the place where Da Vinci's Mona Lisa was born and where probably the name Chianti came about for the first time in 1404. What a treat! — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.5

So delicious. Plums, black cherry and Christmas spices. Lots going on and lots to love about it. This wine will also have a special place in our hearts because it was the first wine we opened after our son was born. Unbeknown to us before pulling it, the cork says "Love Your Mother". — 6 years ago