Austin Hohnke

9.2

Beast! Big, burly, brooding, and bawesome.
Rich and gamey with smoky olive brine and savory layers of earth. Tucking a couple away. — 6 months ago

David White

9.3

It’s 10 years since Serge. Hochar’s death whilst swimming in Acapulco on NYE 2014 and I think it’s appropriate to celebrate his legacy that is the modern Chateau Musar.
I first tasted Lebanese wines in London circa 1986 when I used to go to a couple of Lebanese restaurants in Shepherds Market near Mayfair in London
Al Hamra is still in business
I’ve been to Beirut several times and always stock up at the airport duty free
So a toast to a departed icon of the wine world
Since my last 2011 4.5 years ago (see note) this has aged wonderfully and I’ve up my rating several points
Another few years and it will be further improved
Optimal decant time was around 3.5 to 4 hours
Ethereal stuff — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Sitting for lunch in the heart of the city of Bolgheri, at a great restaurant, I had to try something I never had before. This entry level Bordeaux blend was a nice surprise.

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, light earth, herbs, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, licorice and a touch of vanilla.

Tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Bordeaux blend from Tuscany is already drinking nicely, even right out of the bottle. Spicy and rich.

Opulent with lots of fruits, but also some earth notes to compliment the fruits.

Tannins show up after 30 minutes of airtime. A great nose shows itself after 90 minutes in the decanter. Much better once it opens up, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food. Tangy, spicy and entertaining. I paired it with beef stew.

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in oak barrels for 14 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

The 2018 Winner of the Margaret River Cabernet Trophy at the London International Wine Challenge. This is a producer new to me in Marg River. Medium bodied but intense Tomato Leaf, Capsicum Mulberry and Black Fruits. A classic Margaret River expression of Cabernet Sauvignon in a good vintage. Ticks all the boxes - finishing with resolved tannins. Quite delicious - deserves a Gold Medal at 95 points. — 4 years ago

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10

The 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion from the château cellar is transcendental. It is blessed with the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine, effortless and natural, featuring woodland, red-berried fruits, a minerally quality and a faint touch of leafiness; given time to settle, it develops a lovely gamy note. The palate is medium- rather than full-bodied and sublimely balanced, upholding that effortless grace with an elegant, bittersweet, dried orange peel finish. One of the most harmonious wines I have ever consumed. Perfect. Tasted at the La Mission Haut-Brion vertical in London in September 2009. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2020)
— 6 years ago

Philip Patston

9.2

One of the classic London Dry gins. Great for g and t and as martini. Quite assertive so maybe not for everyone. — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium lemon , light copper hue . Some light but persistent bubbles still. This is quite serious and rich on the nose , with some orange rind , walnut , touch of mushroom and meaty , soy hints . Quite rich , intense and dense on the palate but with good freshness still , long with orange rind and walnut. Perfect now and over the next 5 years or so . At Noble Rot , London , 15th Jan 2026 — 6 months ago

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9.3

The bottle of 2014 Pontet-Canet showed better than the previous one at the 10-Year-On tasting in London. This offers much more restraint on the nose. It's quite precise, with greater mineralité seeping through the black cherry and cassis fruit. The palate has a sorbet-fresh entry, fine tannins and a silky sheen. The oak is fully subsumed after a decade, plus there is a little more depth on the finish compared to previous showings. This is a fine example of the vintage, and bottles should drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Pontet-Canet dinner in Washington DC. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 2 years ago

Tim Crakes

9.1

The heat from the vintage has bowed out of the fight, giving way to the vibrancy and horsepower of fruit these vineyards are known for. I tasted David Abreu’s 2009 Madrona Ranch at Vinous’ Napa in the City two years ago and am being reminded once again how magical of a vineyard site Madrona and Thorevilos are. — 3 years ago

Andy Stabile

9.1

Made some list for one of the best affordable wines out there. I get it… silky sweet flavor in waves. Some spice… some earth… some fruit. Soft tannins become crisp. Good juice. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Last ‘17 in cellar! In the heart of the Chianti lies Estate of Sette Ponti, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past village of San Giustino Valdarno. Has 10% Merlot, aged in French Allier barriques, deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with blossom notes, spice and fine integrated tannins. Good balance, long finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Will age a bit more! Tasting well now! — 5 years ago

Michael Mugmon

9.5

Brought this home from the office before the lockdown. I carried this back from London, where this is one of the main gins they serve at the Dukes Bar for their legendary martinis. Hope I can get back there again. — 6 years ago

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9.4

The 1982 Léoville Poyferré has long been one of my favorite Saint-Julien wines, and this does not disappoint. Dark in color, it has a gorgeous bouquet of mulberry, raspberry, melted tar and rose petal aromas, and a little exoticism courtesy of a dab of fig. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and quite dense black fruit that merges with blue fruit in the latter half. There is fine backbone to this Saint-Julien, which reveals cedar and graphite toward the fresh, convincing finish. Bottles are just reaching their peak, while large formats will last many more years. Tasted blind at "Xmas" lunch in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2019)
— 7 years ago

Ericsson

9.3

Arguably the best producer of dry Chenin Blanc. These wines can age for decades. WSET3 London. — 8 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Moraga Estate – Sauvignon Blanc – Vintage 2005
Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A rare gem from the limestone-studded canyons of Bel Air, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc continues to shine in 2025. Two decades in the bottle and it still delivers poise, energy, and a layered expression that challenges assumptions about the longevity of this varietal.

Aromas & Flavors
Opening with lifted citrus zest, preserved lemon, and green apple skin, it deepens into honeycomb, dried herbs, land gentle nuttiness. Secondary notes of chamomile and a faint saline edge complete the picture.

Mouthfeel
Bright yet rounded, linear acidity still carries the wine, while age has smoothed the edges into a harmonious, almost waxy texture. The finish is long, mineral, and quietly elegant.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled halibut, herb-roasted chicken, or even aged goat cheese. A wine this mature also deserves space on its own, meditative sipping recommended.

Verdict
Impressive endurance and balance. This is a testament to site, winemaking, and patience. Moraga once again proves itself as a hidden enclave of age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc.

Did You Know?
Moraga is one of the few vineyards within Los Angeles city limits, producing wines since the 1980s from a terroir influenced by both limestone soils and cooling Pacific breezes.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This bottle reconfirms my awe for Moraga whites, Sauvignon Blanc with two decades under its belt, still lively, still complete. A benchmark in my experience of California whites. — 9 months ago

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9.1

The 2021 Smash City is bright and floral with a wild blend of crushed strawberries, dusty rose, citrus and spice. This is juicy and fruit-focused, with crisp red berries elevated by traces of citrus under an air of violet inner florals. The Smash City cleans up beautifully, full of energy and perfumed, leaving the palate nicely refreshed. This lively Pinot Noir is produced with all Bien Nacido fruit. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2023) — 3 years ago

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9.0

The 2005 Duhart-Milon is a bit of a beast. Displays quite a dense, unforgiving pencil lead and tobacco-scented nose, and the fruit seems to take a back seat at the moment. The palate is well-balanced but undeniably brawny and rough-hewn, the kind of Pauillac you wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley at midnight. This is a bit hard going at the moment. This was an ex-château bottle served at Maison François in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2023) — 3 years ago

Andre Japiassu

9.0

Really great Zinfandel brilliant deep ruby, full body, fruity and flavors of raisins and redcurrant. Ready to drink. — 6 years ago

David Walser

9.0

Pastiche has half price wines on Wednesday’s so I went for one of their higher priced ($64) bottles. Haven’t had a Jack London Vineyard in a long time so I thought this was the time to try it. Not very complex and a tad sweet. I’m amazed that they can sell this at the $64 price on other nights. Don’t know the retail for this wine. Don’t think I would order again. — 6 years ago

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9.7

The 1989 La Conseillante is one of the top performers in Pomerol and arguably now one of the best values. This bottle confirms that exuberance and joie-de-vivre on the nose, displaying the telltale crushed violets in bloom, with precious but controlled red and black fruit underneath. The palate is sumptuous from the start, presenting cashmere tannin and perhaps a little more glycerine in this bottle. The bravura finish leaves you grinning from ear to ear. Stunning, and it will remain on its plateau for many years. Tasted at the 1989 Bordeaux dinner at Hatched in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2019) — 7 years ago