Jay Kline

9.5

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 10 days ago

Baker-Taitague

9.2

Velvety, smooth, full bodied and gorgeous — 7 months ago

Aravind A

9.4

I adore this vintage of this wine, but next to the 83 Las Cases, this came off almost like a jammy fruit bomb. Still, nice for the second red of the evening. — a year ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.0

Château Léoville Las Cases ‘La Petite Marquise’ Saint-Julien 2018: Medium-full bodied. Medium-high acidity. Noticeable tannins that mellowed out over time. Deep purple in color. Tasting notes of blackberry, plum, strawberry, cedar & oak. Smooth warm finish. All in all, a rich & delicious Saint-Julien wine however very worthy of additional years of cellaring. Be well wine friends! Cheers 🇫🇷🍷 — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2013 vintage. Decanted with a little sed. Great cork. Tremendous power and on the leaner side of the ledger...think bigg vintage Leoville Las Cases or 80's/early 90's Montelena or *gasp* La Jota before the Helen Turley fruit bomb intervention in the early 90’s. Drinking a little "hot" but only at 14.9% ABV. Definite palate-wrecker with tannins for daze. Will take this wine in their lineup nearly every time vs the pricier Pritchard Hill shizz. The off the charts QPR is easily tasted vs the rest of their Cab/Cab-based lineup. Awesome now but will consolidate even further into a wolverine wine. Be very afraid. If you're looking for a quiet, placid dinner for two, then a rom-com snugglefest, this is not your beautiful house. This is someone else's beautiful wife. 12.01.24. — 23 days ago

Ashish Pant

9.4

Whoa! Yes yes yes, let this one breathe! But once you’ve been patient it will reward you with an evening that sings. — 10 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Spoto Family wine dinner under the stars: always a fun night with Stuart and family!

DINNER WINES
2021 Spoto Oakville cabernet rose
2019 Spoto Godfather red....a blend you can't refuse.
2019 Spoto cuvee Christiane
2018 Spoto Beckstoffer amber Knolls malbec
2018 Spoto family reserve cabernet
2015 Spoto late harvest viognier
Also:
2004 Las Cases
2005 Pichon Baron
2009 Cos d'estournel
2012 La Mission Haut Brion
2005 Spottswood
1989 clerc milon
2005 Spoto private reserve
2001 clos du val

FOOD
Oysters, lamb lollipops, feta skewers
Tomato and nectarine panzanella
Ricotta, summer pea and corn agnolotti
Wood fired gulf prawns
Five spice grass-fed short rib, Yukon potato
Apricot and vanilla custard tartelette — a year ago

with Brenda

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s a night of first year consecutive decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order

From the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases.

Another great Clyde Beffa direct purchase from the Chateau or Negociant.

Still ripe older Bordeaux fruits with smoothed out lead pencil. Blackberries, black raspberries that lean into pudding, black plum, darkest, cooked cherries, raspberries edges, baked rhubarb and hues of poached strawberries. There is nothing that bites back. Dark chocolate, smooth mocha, caramel, soften baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, old tobacco w/ ash, used leather, dry top soil, limestone powder, black licorice to anise, dry river stone, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, amazing, rainfall acidity and a well; balance, structured, knitted and smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Steak slow cooked in the oven at graduating low heats and then seared at 1300 degrees, 30, 30, 30 & 30. .

“The Truth is Inside” is an expression about the very bottom of a bottle of wine. Tannin soaked & it never lies. Typically the best part of the bottle. 93 that lands 94 in truth. I always leave two-three inches of wine in bottle just because it is always slightly better than the rest of the bottle. It is more concentrated. — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1994 vintage. Decanted and throwing heavy sed. Tasted after 30 minutes. Medium/medium heavy body. Dark fruit and earth components driving the bus. Nose with plenty of leather and dirty durty. Has 5-6 more years at this plateau before dropping down a notch. Plenty of pleasure still to be had here if this is your preferred style/jam. The Napa equivalent of Leoville Las Cases. 5.15.24. — 7 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

Still youthful and robust. Black cherry and ground forest thingy. Many years left — a year ago