Jay Kline

9.4

Opened a few hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of an hour. This bottle of the 1986 was re-corked at the chateau in 2011. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and some dried dark and red fruits: black currants, brambles, black plum, tobacco, pencil shavings, some dried flowers, green pepper, leather, some earth and a gentle mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This seemed evergreen and this bottle spending most of its life in the cellars of the chateau likely has a lot to do with that. Fabulous stuff. Drink now through 2046. — 5 days ago

Bruce Leboff

9.2

Nose of hibiscus and menthol. Tannins present and well balanced. A bit forward on the palate - meaning it is powerful mid palate. - finish is long but slightly off balance on the palate @Rajat Parr wouldn’t be happy - striving for balanced wine - but this one is a bit off the mark … — 5 days ago

with David

Jay Kline

9.5

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a brilliant, deep ruby color with a transparent core and some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a heady perfume of mostly ripe and some tart fruit: mixed brambles, black cherry, purple flowers (lavender?), animale, some pepper, a touch of olive, a touch of leather, some green herbs, fine warm spices and rocky earth. I believe this has seen oak and it’s beautifully balanced and smells expensive. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium+. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is grippy. This is delicious.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Gamay, a Grenache-based blend or possibly Syrah; from Italy, or France. Immediately after I was presented the glass, I liked this being Sangiovese, however, there was too much new French oak for me to feel comfortable. Besides, the florals were too purple to be Sangiovese anyway (never mind Grenache or Pinot Noir). Then there were the non-fruits: it could be justified by whole cluster Pinot or Gamay…or was this a really impressive Syrah? This wine seemed familiar to me. This could be Chave. I did think this had some age based on color and rim variation. Final conclusion: I’m calling this Syrah, from France, from Northern Rhône, Hermitage, with 20+ years of age, from a decent vintage like 2004. And for the hell if it, I called producer: Jean-Louis Chave. Boom. Bottle No. 3981 — 5 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Other than the style of well made 80’s Bordeaux’s, 2005 is my favorite modern vintage. It was a grand slam year/vintage for the Bordelaise.

2005’s are drinking beautifully with still room for improvement. Of course, Saint Julien is known for its elegance and this Lagrange is all that. The evolution at this point is sheer beauty.

Round, lush, ripe, soften fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums, black raspberries & slight bake strawberries. Some red & black licorice, dark red, cola, soft used leather, dry tobacco, soft graphite, savory herbaceous notes, beautiful, relaxed, dark spice, dark rich earth with stones & dry leaves, limestone, gentle unstated spice, undertoned; cinnamon, nutmeg & clove. Black coffee hues, black tea, red roses, red & dark fresh & withering flowers, perfect acidity, balance for days, elegant, smartly polished, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on spice & minerals.

Delicious today & will drink beautifully for another 15 years.

Winemaking; 46% Cabernet, 45% Merlot and 9% Petit Verdot. From 40 year old vines and rested in 60% new & 40% used oak for 21 months. — 19 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured from magnum; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2022 pours a deep ruby/purple with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart red and dark fruits: Bing cherry, pomegranate, licorice, dried green herbs and rocky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A young Côte du Py, especially in this format. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 25 days ago

Joe DAscoli

9.5

Boom! From the first sip - this wine was explosive and delicious.

Dark and black fruits come out and then lend to some red fruit and while it has good depth, this wine is very smooth.

Seems like it’s in the drinking window — 16 days ago

Jan A

9.6

First bottle badly corcked, luckily I had a couple of backup bottles 🤣 🤜 🚀 — 4 days ago

Paul J

9.4

1hr+ decant. Great wine and vintage. Dark cherries with subtle tar and cedar throughout. Medium plus depth and great texture. — 12 days ago

with Geoff and Brooke

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2017 vintage. Saint-Julien stands out in 2017. — 11 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Classy & polished consistent with my prior notes — 13 days ago