Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Quite deep ruby garnet core and medium ruby garnet rim. This is showing more development, with cedar , cigar box , cassis and blackberry richness , aromatic and enticing from the very beginning . On the palate with is well balanced with a good mineral backbone , grafite and blackcurrant hints , really good symmetry and balanced , refreshing acidity , polished fine tannin . Long finish . Showing well now , in a really good spot where this has development on the nose but no lack of fruit of backbone on the palate . Will certainly continue at this level for another 10- 15 years . — 18 days ago

Tom Garland

9.1

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment) . An amazing deep dark ruby red color. On the nose: black fruit, stewed meat, cigar box, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: modern style and at 14 years in its drinking window. Soft, but powerful, creamy, with dark plum/cherry, cedar, cocoa, earth, graphite and a medium finish. Drinks well, and looking forward to popping more bottles over the years and see where it goes. — a year ago

with Brenda

Nicolas Greinacher

9.3

This wine was love at first sniff. Medium garnet in color, a mesmerizing perfume of blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, sweet spice, wet tea bag and cigar box introduces the 2001 Château Ducru Beaucaillou. What an elegant, drop-dead gorgeous nose! Medium bodied and silky textured, the wine shines with remarkable balance and wonderful complexity. Drink now until 2030. — 2 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

Surprisingly youthful for 35y, served from a magnum.
Still deep in colour, with not much evolution towards the rim.
Uplifting aromatics with cigar box, tobacco leaf, cedar wood, some kirsch, but also some black currant jam.
Medium bodied on the palate with nice balance, the tannins still surprisingly grippy, though a touch dry.
Nicely poised, with good flow and high drinkability.
What a surprise! — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A dense Ruby in colour. Black currant, dark plum, mocha, dark chocolate, and cigar box. The Penfolds Cabernet DNA if you like. Dense and powerful. This wine at 20 years of age is just a pup. The “Rewards of Patience “ has a window to 2045+. I’ll probably have the next one in 10 years or so. The release price of the latest vintage is now over $600 - too expensive IMO. Apparently substantial material from the old Block 42 in the blend - planted in the 1880’s. — 4 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

Wow. Absolutely stunning tonight. So generous and giving after hardly any aeration, 2000 Angelus wafts from the glass and the decanter with explosive aromatics of blackberry jam, creme de cassis, cigar box and damp earth. It has the most perfect balance of deep fruit intensity and tertiary character, and the palate shows an incredible combination of finesse, density and lift, with a regal mouthfeel and melting tannins. Just stays with you forever. A masterful seesaw between power and elegance. For my tastes, this is in the perfect spot. Fabulous. — 2 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Fun to share this Mag with a couple of old farts who claim this as their birth year @romo @Bill Bender
Great cigar box nose and probably in better shape overall than those two!
— 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.5

The 2014 La Mission Haut-Brion offers bright and vivid scents that immediately captivate the olfactory scenes: black fruit, cedar, pencil box and light, minty aromas. It's much better than its First Growth neighbor. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very harmonious, and has lovely depth with a gentle grip. This is a sophisticated and entrancing 2014, one of my favorites in Bordeaux. Highly recommended. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1998 vintage. Decanted and tasted over the course of two hours. Upper shoulder fill with good (not great) cork. Desired and anticipated "funk" in the nose throughout enjoyment. That light-medium L'Evangile body...the Burgundy of Pomerol. Usual spice box, cloves, tobacco and dust flavors coming in loud and clear with plenty of punch. In a great place currently. Don't see this improving but easily holding firm for another decade. It was ready steady good from the get go and neither gained nor lost anything noticeable during the 2 hour show. 12.8.23. — a year ago

Willem Booij

9.4

This is again a great wine, one of the better vintages of this classic Margaux estate. Such a shame it’s our last bottle. Still a powerful mid palate with dark cassis tones with the old fashioned cigar box with matches in it😉 and a great balance in this impressive wine. — 3 years ago