Vanessa

9.3

Deep ruby hue with the onset of some garnet…

Medium(+) aromas and flavors of cassis, plum, blackberry, clove, sweet baking spice, cedar box, vanilla, mint, potpourri, violet, black olive, leather, balsamic, graphite; tobacco, cigar, and forest floor.

— 15 days ago

with Deked1

Jay Kline

9.4

Part of a Chateau Mouton Rothschild vertical from 1988-1990. This was my second time enjoying the 1990 vintage and, much like my previous experience, this was rather quiet early and then came on with the business, late. As before, a mix of red and black cassis, ripe and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. After two similar experiences, I believe this vintage needs a lot of patience and a lot of air to wake up. Without either, it will be misunderstood. Drink now through 2040+ — 15 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Rich dark fruits, sweet on the palate, spice box, graphite, mocha & tobacco — a month ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.5

Cigar box, lovely fruit, still showing beautiful. Amazing find. — a month ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

At almost 25 years old still an infant. Needs considerable time in the glass to open up. Lead pencil and cedar box, pronounced but delicate tannins. Not yet at plateau. — 5 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Still youthful that is suave & polished with red & black fruit, cedar, leather, graphite, mineral, spice box & tobacco — a month ago

Jarrod McCann

9.7

Beautiful St Estephe 23 yo and not yet peaked. Fresh berry fruit, red and blue, chokecherry, cigar box,mocha, thyme, cinnamon, crushed granite, — 2 months ago

Alexandre Czesnat

9.4

Perfect balanced, cigar, tobacco, oak. Leather, blackberry. — 16 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Another great btl from a vintage I have had many times. This was fresh and drinking much younger than its age with red, black fruits, currant, cedar, leather, earth, sweet spices, tobacco & cigar ash — 8 days ago

Will Stanley

9.4

A gift from my old man for my thirtieth birthday this year. My last experience with this wine was the 2001, enjoyed around ten years ago. I described then how the wine lived up to its popular reputation. Happy to reaffirm that feeling with this 1994, that is an absolutely gorgeous, captivating wine that ticks every box one may have for older Rioja. It marries sweet with sour in that way that the best wines from this region do, a medley of ripe blueberries with sour cherry; bitter orange, coconut, balsamic, tobacco and cranberry. The finish is long, with flecks of sweetness that beg you for another sip. I would imagine that Faustino produce in excess of a million bottles of this stuff, given the size of their holdings, which only impresses me even more that it turns out so well. — 22 days ago