Contentious Character

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Gorgeous texture and character. Dark plum and leather. Notes of stone and herb and iodine. Great length. Superb — 24 days ago

Walker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Walker and David
Bob, Juan and 5 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2006

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of slightly bruised apple, white flowers, lemon curd, brioche, slivered almond and a mix of chalk and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. I wish I could drink this all night long. Alas, only a single 750mL and not a Methuselah. Drinking well now and will only be taking on more secondary and tertiary character. But if that’s your thing (and I can get down), this will deliver well past 2036. — 4 months ago

Tom, Zach and 15 others liked this
Ely Cohn

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@Jay Kline I’ve been saving this same bottle same vintage. Great review!
Jay Kline

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Thanks @Ely Cohn If your bottle is anything like this one, I think you’ll be in for a treat!

Château Talbot

Saint-Julien Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2022

Blend of about 73% Sauvignon Blanc and 27% Semillon, aged in oak for 8 months. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with biscuit and floral notes. On the palate flavors of peach, golden apple and melon with white floral and herb notes. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, herb and yeasty notes, lively acidity with slight smoky mineral character. Small production, nice, good now! — 7 months ago

Andrew, Tom and 4 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1961

Broad and supple. Very fresh fruit still. Great character. Smooth and pure. Excellent — a month ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Ira, Jay and 5 others liked this

Domaine Coillot

La Charme aux Prêtres Marsannay Pinot Noir 2023

Established in the village of Marsannay in the 1960's by Bernard Coillot, father of owner Christophe Coillot. Deep Ruby red color with aromas of berry fruit and spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with notes of fig, mushroom and spice. Fine soft tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy mineral character. Very Nice! — a month ago

Anthony and Paul liked this

Wine & Soul

Pintas Character Douro Red Blend

Opaque purple in color, Welch's grape juice, cedar, and anise on the nose. Palate is evolved and settled with muddled blue and blackberry. Definitely nods to Porto with a tawny hint. A bit hot on the alcohol (guessing 14.8 ABV). Wine is dry, medium minus acidity. Full bodied. A bit of bitterness keeps this from presenting a rounded mouth feel. Tannins non existent at this point. Good.

92 points
— 7 months ago

Andrew, Tom and 1 other liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Medium deep garnet ruby , quite thin garnet terracotta rim . This is quite classic and more austere on the nose after the 1990s , grafite , cedar, sweet spice , earthiness and mint. More dry and four square on the palate compared to the 1990s but enough stuffing to fill out. Cassis , plum and blackberry , coffee , grafite . Refreshing acidity , slightly grippy drier tannin. Sous bois , grafite , herbal character with good length and earthy cassis finish . This got better with time in the glass and probably should have been decanted . This shows there is some upside , from now , with time in the glass, and over the next 10 years. The wine that improved the most during the dinner , quite impressive . — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 12 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

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A previous, all-time fave. Haven't had it in a larger format in the last decade which I feel would yield a 9.5-9.6 now. Out of a 750ml package currently, feel like the 1996 (difficult to source) is the superstar right now.
Andrew Cullimore

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Yes @Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego I would imagine in large format this would be spectacular, in regular bottle still needs a little time to show its full colours . I remember having this at my 21st birthday party in 2001 …. Everyone complained it was too young and tannic , typical 1986 , though in 12 people (and pretty light drinkers I might add) we still managed to struggle through 7 bottles !

Cakebread Cellars

Two Creeks Vineyards Pinot Noir 2023

Ruby red color with red fruit aromas and spicy floral notes, aged for 10 months in 40% new French oak. On the palate flavors of cherry, raspberry and strawberry with tea and earthy tones. Fine smooth tannins, well balanced with acidity, nice mouthfeel, long finish ending with earthy toasty oak character. Very fresh will continue to age! Nice! Pair with with a grilled chop! — a month ago

Joel, Rob and 7 others liked this

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Chardonnay 2015

Quite a light to mid lemon in colour for its 11 years of age. Nutty (almond and cashew) aromas. Oak has integrated. The palate shows those same nutty notes together with that trademark pear character with white nectarine. Overall still youthful. My remaining 3 bottles will easily see out this decade. — 4 months ago

ESF, Pooneet and 20 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Impressive!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Love the Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. That downstairs art gallery at Leeuwin Estate with all those paintings is amazing!!
Bob McDonald

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@Doug Powers They also have great concerts there. I remember one year the London Philharmonic (I think) was drowned out by the kookaburras at various times!

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Medium ruby garnet terracotta rim, slightly wider than the Lynch. This is cooler and slightly sterner in character than the Lynch. More mineral , with ash , cedar and grafite in character , cassis , blackberry , dark cherry fruits. On the palate this is denser with more tannin , and balanced acidity . Grafite , cassis , herbal cedar , menthol touch . Long fresh but densely fruited, grafite finish . This is younger and more serious than the Lynch, more austere . Probably deserves a little time in decanter, though this is probably in the middle of its drinking window . Certainly no rush here , can go on well for the next 10 if not more years . This shows a really good mix of St Estephe austerity , seriousness and the ripeness and generosity of 1990. A great bottle , showing very well. — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister, Ira and 18 others liked this
Somm David T

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That’s a good color.