Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Merlot based Bordeaux blend. Dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of blackberry, black currant and black olives. Same fruits on the palate with additional notes of graphite, dark chocolate, black pepper and baking spices. Note of strong coffee on the finish. Full body, creamy and extremely precise. Rich, velvety and nicely structured. Thank you for securing this bottle, Kase! — 12 days ago

Phil Kessling

9.0

As good as Beaujolais gets. From the oldest vines at Roilette. Have had numerous bottles of Griffe and it always delivers. Darker and heavier then typical Cru Beaujolais. More cherry and less berry flavor. Little tannic and ages well. Just getting harder to secure bottles. — 9 days ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.4

Made Witham parto of Merlot of the grand vin. Iper fruity and floral. Consistent mid palate. Nice and pleasant all the way thru. — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Are there many/any better Pauillac second growths?

2003 a ripe, warm vintage.

Soften medium plus tannins. It’s Bordeaux lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum that leans into pudding, dark cherries, ripe strawberries, hues of purple & blue fruits. Dark spice w/ palate heat, nutmeg, clove , cinnamon notes, mid berry cola, some black licorice, vanillin, dark, rich forest floor with a touch of dry leaves, lead pencil shavings, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, 1/2 used leather, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry herbs, dry to moist, grey, volcanic clay, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, framed in lavender & liquid violets, excellent acidity with excellent; tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that goes on and on.

First wine w/ an Allen Brothers Ribcap.

Photos of; Chateau Pichon Lalande, Virginie de Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, library cellar and estate vineyard. — 15 days ago

Vino Joe

9.5

This should cellar longer. Maybe another 5 yrs before I try again. Decanted over 3 hrs. Tight in first hour. It needs a lot air now. Many layers and complex fruit. It lingers. Meaty after taste. Dark fruit. Earthy. I liked it very much and look forward to the next one. — 14 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Best BAMA ever. Young bottle but so so good. — a month ago

Turd Ferguson

9.0

Medium body, drinks fairly light for bdx. Well balanced by age. A little gravelly/dusty. Very tasty. Pair with marinated grilled sliced tri tip. Don’t forget to pound your meat. — 7 days ago

David Koenen

9.5

At first: yeasty and spicy tones, shoe polish, dried herbs. Then, after a few minutes: grilled pepper, open knit, balanced, ecoline paint, earthy, licorice, bacon, very complex. Love it. — a day ago

Norman Gennaro

9.5

I’m tasting a bit of greenness and it’s faded but for what it is and its age - nice — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Brought to a dinner with some guests visiting from Piemonte. The 2008 “Taillepieds” pours a deep ruby with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no obvious staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and slightly underripe strawberry, cherry, mushrooms, red flowers, varnish (yeah, there’s some VA) stony earth and delicate baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin, medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is fit and the finish is long and full of energy. This is a really attractive beauty; the sort that you might feel compelled to apologize to for gawking. And, while I found this to be really tasty at nearly 16 years of age, it clearly has a long way to go. Drink now through 2033+. — 2 months ago