Class Wines

Château Fleur Cardinale

Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Lovely on all fronts — I would have thought this was Left Bank (not a bad thing :) ). But the 2012 is drinking wonderfully now. Classic BDX flavors and characteristics. This punches well above its weight class. — 7 days ago

Jeremy Samuels
with Jeremy

Enderle & Moll

Muschelkalk Pinot Noir 2021

Tried side by side. Tasting these since 2009. These are now classic wines. The vineyards are very close to the tree line of the western slope of the black forest in Baden. Who knows what these clones are? May be the Cluny Monks brought them up from France. These are world class Grand Cru level Pinots and are stupid underpriced. With age they turn into incredible beauties which easily match GranCru Burghs. Will be a 10 in 5 years from now. The Muschelkalk is always lighter in color ethereal and elegant. Black forest thyme, touch crushed marble, wild sour raspberry, hint of black forest morello cherries, cranberry, Mexican lime, green moos. This needs to uncoil over night to really get the potential of this. Quite acidic. 12.5%. A stellar vintage. And sleeping beauty. I would say not approachable for a novice at this point. Lucky for me my neighbors get it. Revisit in 2031. — 10 months ago

Iwan, Jakub and 6 others liked this

Markus Molitor

Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese*** Mosel Riesling 2019

Very magnificent, extraordinary precision and great purity. Just like so much of Molitor’s wines. This is world class. — 2 months ago

Peter, Vin and 2 others liked this

Vieux Château Certan

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Delectable Wine
9.9

The 2016 Vieux Château Certan was picked at 40hl/ha. Layers and layers of pure black fruit billow from the glass, showing stunning delineation, tension, real mineralité and harmony. The oak is seamlessly integrated, and the aromatics just seem to "purr" with quality and class. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly judged acidity, judiciously spiced with a peacock's tail on the finish that deserves a standing applause. The greatest VCC in recent years? Without question... Until 2020. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 5 months ago

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2011

I have favoured Haut-Brion in blind tastings before, but not this time. This is not the most praised vintage by any means but still. Haut-Brion still comes with some expectations. It’s solid and well made, but fairly closed. There are of course signs of class and aristocracy shining through but too underwhelming at this occasion. — 10 months ago

Andrew, Fabian and 3 others liked this

Virginie de Valandraud

St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

KA
9.1

First Class Bar on Board Emirates — 2 years ago

Vanessa liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004

+1 hour decant(some fine/chunky sediment). A splendid crimson red color. On the nose: wonderful bouquet with plum, stewed meat, cassis, sweet tobacco, funky earth, leather. Taste: silky, finessed, balanced wine with red berries/plum, coffee grounds, cedar, tobacco, and a nice peppery pencil lead long finish. YUM! Pure class in a glass. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Vino and 22 others liked this

Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé

Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Musigny Grand Cru Pinot Noir 1970

1970 vintage. Good not great fill. Cork an absolute mess. Decanted and tasted after an hour. Wow. Light body but still going strong. Big spice and orange peel components. Excellent length of finish and obvious class in the glass. 3.5.24. — 10 months ago

Ira, Jan and 8 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

1995 vintage. Great aging cork in good shape. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after 2 hours. Decent amount of sed. Slight brickish color. Initially and generally throughout, reticent nose and flavors. Very tightly wound overall. Eventually able to coax a small amount of black olive out of the nose along with minerals for days. Some dark cherry and plum allied with baking chocolate in the transition from mid-palate to finish. It was tough sledding in the frontal palate. Super dry with summer earth/dirt at the start. Obvious class but never really flashed more than a few cards to play. Perhaps a different bottle shows a little more love? Producer is always on the leaner side so unbridled optimism on that front is likely wasted energy. 10.25.23. — a year ago

Ted, Andrew and 9 others liked this