Ron Siegel

9.8

A pair of 99’s where the RSV was one of the top of the night among some greats — 8 months ago

Scott Kahn

9.2

A beautifully aged ducru that had no cork issues and that was punching above its wait class! Typical tertiary flavors of forest floor, leather and cigar box - with livery dark fruit in the glass. This was the first 70’s Bordeaux that brought a smile! — 9 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

This Grand Vin Beychevelle is in a beautiful window, like most 2005’s that I would characterize as brilliantly elegant as opposed to brut strength. Medium to full-bodied, with soft tannins, texture and purity. — 2 years ago

David L

9.3

Araujo Altagracia ,VHR, Realm Bard, Palmaz. Favia La Magdalena. These are a few of my wife’s favorite 2011’s . Okay... secondary market bargains. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

A Merlot dominant (90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc) right bank special from an exceptional vintage. One of the 1001 wines. More tertiary aromas at 20 years of tobacco and spice. On the medium plus bodied palate the wine shows great richness, savouriness and elegance. The following night aromas of pipe tobacco as I often get with right bank Merlot. So much inner strength with this wine which will carry it through to the early 2030’s. An interesting back story with Chateau Gazin :- A neighbour of Chateau Petrus. Gazin does not have the same power and weight as Petrus. The owners of Gazin also own Chateau La Dominique in St. Emilion, but to keep hold of Gazin they were forced to sell almost 12 acres of Gazin’s own vineyards. The purchaser was none other than Petrus and this sale robbed Gazin of some of its best parcels. — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1998 vintage. Cork a little dry near the bottom so called out the Durand for a rescue. Less meniscus than expected. Dusty, earthy nose. Medium body. Heaps of allspice/sandalwood, prunes and baking chocolate hovering about in the medicinal/oily nose and (mostly) in the flavor profile. Ridiculously reminiscent of an aged (‘80’s-‘90’s) Branaire-Ducru St. Julien BDX. So much so that, if blind tasting, that is the guess. This is gliding along. No highs or lows to navigate currently. Not a showstopper by any means but one helluva ringer in a blind tasting. Some bretty influences here and there but nothing warranting a red card/dq. Picked up slightly more body and a noticeable cinnamon/clove note on the finish after being open for an hour. Also...some muddiness along with a sudden frontal-palate richness (at the 1.5 hours open mark) reminiscent of Petit Verdot involvement/influence. WTF?!?! Bring it! 4.21.24. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you see my posts, you know all too well that I am addicted to Rosé Champange. Also, I love to pair food & wine.

Everyone has a passion and or gift(s). One of the other things I do well is make the best fruit tart I’ve had anywhere. I’m not bragging, just relaying something that has played out through my experiences. I make it twice a summer season and have been waiting to pair with the Ruinart Rosé this season. I simply knew these two would be perfect together and it didn’t disappoint. Even over the Billecart Rosé which, on its own, I enjoy more over the Ruinart Rosé.

The fruits in each marry perfectly. The crust of the tart picked up and extenuated the dough/baguette crust in the Champagne. There is a perfectly even tug of war between the dessert and the Champagne which, is the primary essential building block of any good food & wine pairing. The wine and dish should not dominate one over the other. The flavors of each should complement each other in some fashion and there are normally many paths to choose from in getting there. This happened perfectly tonight with this Cuvée and my tart.

The Ruinart shows rich, deep and ripe fruits. Black cherry, strawberries, citrus blend, raspberries, soft, delicate chalkiness, mid intensity volcanic minerals, bread dough/Baguette crust, excellent acidity and beautifully, delicious, rich, elegant polished finish that persists minutes. 9.2 on its own and 9.4 with the fruit tart.

Photos of; the House of Ruinart, famous painting of Ruinart’s founder-Dom Thierry Ruinart, my fruit tart and the walk down to their chalky caves. So chalky, its seeped through the bricks they laid to support the ceiling and walls. — 6 years ago

Willem Booij

9.0

Sometimes is good to go back to basic, we used to love a Cru Bourgeois in the 80’s and 90’s.

But like the most of us we climb the ladder and spent our money in the higher ranges. Nothing wrong with that but there are nice wines in this categorie. — 8 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

One of the more accessible and expressive 05’s I’ve had in a while, Cathiard’s Vosne-esque Aux Murgers is open and giving wafting perfumed and spice laced dark berry fruit with violets, black tea and damp earth. The palate is pure silk, elegant and seductive, perhaps even belying the burly vintage typicity, with terrific persistence, balanced acids and soft tannins. An 05 that is finally ready to go! Beautiful wine. — a year ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Just needs some air👍🏼
Parker dropped his score from a 95 to a 93 back in 2010..
Not as enjoyable as the late 90’s Napa cabs I had earlier in the week, those had more complexity — 6 years ago