David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Nearly 20 years in bottle. It is still ascending will drink well for another 15 days plus years.

From a warm vintage. Beautiful, even toned fruits with elegant earth & amazing lead pencil bloom for days.

This is approaching its peak, another 5 years from its peak.

Well resolved wine-fruits. The fruits are juicy, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark cherries & slightly, poached strawberries with a highlight of pomegranate. Mocha, dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, sandstone, limestone, some mushroom notes, dark, rich turned earth w/ dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry herbs, dry stone, caramel notes, dry, withering, dark, purple & red flowers with excellent acidity, balance, tension, structure and finish for days that lasts 90 seconds. — 5 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

My prior notes still mostly apply, though it’s mellowed a little and is entering the “drink up” stage. — 4 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Nice drinking Sancerre. Notes of citrus, lime, pear fruit, saline with floral tones — 7 months ago

Tori Smith

9.7

Very lovely Pinot, easy drinking and delicious. — 15 days ago

Mike Miles

9.1

Ein wunderbarer Burgunder. In der Nase geschmorter Apfel, Bratbirne, Limettenschale, und einen leichten Hauch von weissen Blüten. Am Gaumen saftig, sanfter Holzeinsatz aber nicht so mächtig wie sonstige Meursaults, jedoch auch nicht so mineralisch wie die Puligny‘s aus dem angrenzenden Gebiet. Angenehme Feuerstein-Mineralik und leichte Salzigkeit. Ein Genuss zum servierten Steinbutt mit Spitzmorchel und Frühlingserbse. Säure: Medium, Alkohol: Medium +
Preis-Leistung: 7/10 — 2 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Are there many/any better Pauillac second growths?

2003 a ripe, warm vintage.

Soften medium plus tannins. It’s Bordeaux lush, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum that leans into pudding, dark cherries, ripe strawberries, hues of purple & blue fruits. Dark spice w/ palate heat, nutmeg, clove , cinnamon notes, mid berry cola, some black licorice, vanillin, dark, rich forest floor with a touch of dry leaves, lead pencil shavings, dry tobacco, sandalwood to cedar, 1/2 used leather, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry river stone, dry herbs, dry to moist, grey, volcanic clay, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, framed in lavender & liquid violets, excellent acidity with excellent; tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that goes on and on.

First wine w/ an Allen Brothers Ribcap.

Photos of; Chateau Pichon Lalande, Virginie de Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, library cellar and estate vineyard. — 7 months ago

Tobias Linzert

9.1

Fantastic wine with complex aromas of blackberry jam, cassis, violet, licorice, earthy and oak. Wonderfully balanced on the palate with well-integrated tannins and great length. — a month ago

Anthony Hughes

9.3

Dark cherry and raspberry, leather, and a dry finish with moderate tannins. — 2 months ago

with Nikkisa

Doug Powers

9.3

Lovely floral and mineral aromas and flavors from these super old Clairette vines in Lirac (I’ve walked this vineyard, and they are old head-pruned, super-gnarled, vines), this vintage has aged beautifully and is still not at peak, outstanding!! — 6 months ago

with Jim

Paul T HB

9.4

This was even better on day 2 Notes from K&L, 88-acre estate, Château de Montfaucon sits just across the Rhône River from the esteemed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is owned and operated by Rodolphe de Pins, a UC Davis graduate and former member of the winemaking staff at Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Over the years, Château de Montfaucon has developed a HUGE following among both our staff and customers.The vines for the Mme la Comtesse vineyard were planted in the 1870s (that's not a typo). These old gnarly vines with their highly restricted yields produce some of the richest most concentrated Clairette in the entire Rhône Valley. Planted on a mix of sand, clay and pudding stones, this wine is the essence of sleek minerality. A touch of barrel fermentation adds volume and structure. The flavors resonate with ripe stone fruit flavors and white flowers, a touch of fennel pollen rounds out the finish. This reminds us of Château de Beaucastel's Châteauneuf Vieilles Vignes Blanc which sells for well over $100 a bottle. This is just as limited and just as cool for under $50. — a year ago