Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 4 months ago

Will Norman

9.1

minerals and a little funk, nice w/ a chill — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

94 that’s drifting towards 95. Hour decant.

Christian Moueix’s Oakvile property that sits to the north of Dominus and located on the Oakville Bench. There are some that believe there is a bench & others who don’t. I guess it comes down to education & experience that determines one’s opinion.

First time having the Ulysses and is different than the single digit 2000’s of Dominus I’ve had. More a bit of Cabernet candy. Less herbal, gobs of melted dark chocolate to chocolate cake, dark currants & cassis.

The nose shows; dark, ruby, ripe, dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh tobacco, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, whiffs of graphite, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers.

The palate has M+ rounded, velvety tannins. It’s ripe, rich & lush; dark currants/cassis, black raspberry, blackberries, black cherries, black plum skin, plum, baked strawberries & hints of hovering raspberries. Melted dark chocolate bar to cake, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, cocoa powder, caramel, some fresh tobacco w/ ash, sandalwood to cedar, mid used leather notes, steeped black tea, mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, dark spice with some palate heat, moist clays, very light, fresh herbs, understated dark spice, more pronounced graphite, dry top soils, dry crushed limestone, volcanics, dry river stone, dry brush, slightly withering; dark, red, blue & purple flowers-violets, excellent, round city with an elegant, lush, balanced, well kitted & tensioned, polished finish that lasts 90 seconds landing on fruit with softened earthiness.

Roughly 9 yrs in bottle & is just starting to reveal nice integration & evolution. Still acceding & has 15 plus yrs of life ahead of it, properly stored of course.

Paired w/ a Wagyu Ribcap.

I’ve been fortunate to sit next to Christian Moueix at dinner twice and he is authentic/genuine & humble as it gets.

Photos of; Ulysses winery, Christian Moueix, Cabernet fruit and their estate vineyard. — 10 months ago

C Burwell

9.0

w bolognese, a party — 6 years ago

Emily Anderson

8.9

@Christian W. Liedtke — 7 years ago

Samantha I.

9.0

Had in summer 2019 in PA — 5 years ago

Emma Janaskie

9.2

Birthday Wu’s w the friendos😩😎 — 5 years ago

with Chris and Gillian

Samantha I.

10

Had in 2019 in PA. Very good. — 5 years ago

CookDrinkFeast

9.0

Lovely nose w/ Floral, tropical fruit, and apricots. Apricots and floral notes with some sweetness on the palate. Pairs fantastically w/ salmon & shrimp in a Cajun cream sauce. — 7 years ago

Emily Anderson

9.4

Trying to make up for not making it to the kafer tent this year. Drinking with wiesnhendl tonight. @Christian W. Liedtke — 8 years ago