Yoly Sardinas

9.2

Capital Grill - Providence RI — a month ago

Ming L

9.3

100% Merlot from Margaux?! This is the inaugural release.

The nose is opulent showing black pepper and cocoa layered over ripe black plum and mulberry, with subtle purple floral lift. The palate is rich, plush, and velvety with great depth. Yet the wine remains poised with fresh acidity and fine, polished tannins carry a sense of precision.

Doubling the price of the grand vin, but not unreasonable IMO.
— 3 months ago

Jan-Willem van der Hek

9.0

1990 left bank tasting Le Vineur. Still alive, fresh and drinking well. Not the depth or complexity like some other wines in this flight but in much better shape than the Lascombes. Nr 5 — 5 years ago

Bret Barker

8.9

I want like this wine more. Why? I own more of it and lascombes and lichine are some of my go to Margauxs. This took a solid 2 hours to open. Upon opening nothing on the follow the flavor was all up front and heavy on the alcohol. After two hours the fruit showed up, medium bodied and a touch dry on the finish. Btw went to a 2016 Bordeaux tasting. Bees knees! not saying you can justify the price but the 16 of lichine was great — 7 years ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Delicious aged Bordeaux. Little lighter than expected and not quite as robust as the Lascombes, which came next — 10 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This was an experiment started in early 2008. To see if Costco/Kirkland could bottle a good 2005 Margaux yrs later. The answer, yes.

This is better than some not as grand Margaux vintages. Better than Lascombes and a few others. 🤷‍♂️ Think this was $18.99 or so.

I met the Costco buyer at the time in Bordeaux at En Primeur in 2014. She had worked her way up from idle to the buyer for one of the largest wine seller’s in America. Costco’s number one position was recently was overtaken by Total Wine. Her path an amazing success story.

If you were poured this blind now, you would called higher. Especially, with a good steak.

The nose is classic Bordeaux. Dark currants, brambly, blackberries/ black raspberries, ripe; dark cherries, strawberries, plum, cherries, anise to black licorice, mid berry cola, graphite, used leather, moist to dry tobacco, steeped tea, dry limestone powder, sandstone, moist clay, touch of bay leaf, hint of pepper-grilled meats, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, bright to candied; red, dark florals framed in liquid violets.

The palate is; rich, ripe, kinda candied fruits that are; dark currants, brambly, blackberries/ black raspberries, ripe; dark cherries, raspberries m, strawberries, plum to plum pudding, cherries, anise to black licorice, mid berry cola, dark chocolate baking bar, baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, graphite, charcoal, used leather, moist to dry tobacco/ cigar box w/ ash, steeped tea, dry limestone powder, sandstone, dry river stone, moist, grey volcanic dark spices w/ palate heat, clay, touch of bay leaf, hint of pepper-grilled meats, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, gorgeously bright to candied; red, dark florals, lavender framed in liquid violets, rainfall acidity, well knitted/balance, mid toned/structured with an elegant/polished finish that last minutes and lands on graphite, spice and earthiness.

Moved between 92-93 with the steak.

Has another 7-10 yrs of road ahead.

An example of don’t judge a book by its cover. — 7 days ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Medium garnet red with a hint of ruby. Lovely aged nose with notes of wood, tobacco, wet forest floor little raisin and dark cherries. Medium tannins (6/10) and medium bodied. Dry palate with notes of cedar, dried cherries and a touch of spice. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2022.

Had side by side with a 1985 Chateau Lascombes — 7 years ago

with India

Jusden Aumand

9.0

Very lush and approachable. Great transition wine for those starting to explore old world style wines — 8 years ago

Norman

9.5

So much lighter than the CA wines but delightful. Possible WOTN. — 2 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Night one at Bern’s, from deep in their cellar. Nice bottle condition. Decanted and poured. Amber tawny, a little cloudy with clear rims. Opaque. Notes of sweet red fruit, cranberries, cedar desk, dusty earth. Like the 29 Lascombes, this started quietly but with air this firmed up nicely to have good structure and acidity that nicely matched the remaining fruit. Great finish. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Allen Brothers Lava Cakes/Soufflé & 1977 Port. Pinch me!

Whenever I have wine this old, I always ask the people I share it with, what were you doing in 1977?

The beautiful thing about really old Port is how it softens all the edges & the elevated ABV. Smooth as silk.

This was a 375ml and farther along than a 750ml. The color was more Tawny than Port at this point. Wine on the leaner side. The fruits were; Thompson raisins, dates, figs, prunes, and some dried blackberries. Caramel, molasses, melted brown sugar, Cognac & Brandy presence, subtle wood shaving, nuts, butterscotch, graham cracker, dark withering flowers with beautiful acidity. The long finish was; rich, polished, well balanced, smooth and persistent for minerals.

If we had gone out for this dinner, it would have been $2500 plus tip & it wouldn’t have been this good which, is why we choose to cook rather than go out.

Cheese Course $25 pp
Salad $18 pp
Allen Brothers 6oz Ribcap $85 pp
Carrots $9 pp
Crispy Potato Wedges $12 pp
Soufflé $20 pp
Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs N/V Champagne $150
Glass of 2017 Pierre Boisson Bourgogne Blanc $25 pp
2018 Enderle & Moll Pinot Rose $75
1967 Bertani Valpolicella Amarone $625
2003 Chateau Lascombes $325
1977 Dow Port 375ml $275
Glass of Ruinart N/V Rose $35 pp
$2591 plus tax and gratuity
7 Hour Dinner

Nor would the music & ambiance been as good.

Interesting exercise penciling it all out.

Photos of; the boats used to transport Port from Douro to Oporto called a “Barcas”, grape stomping in a Lagare and our Allen Brothers Lava Cake/Soufflé. — 6 years ago

with Sofia, Christina and 1 other

Christophe Aebi

9.0

Not up to the Lascombes, but 05er rock! — 11 years ago