Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Equally enjoyable on both nights however, the nose was most powerful on Day 1. “Ampodium” (formerly Classique) is 100% Syrah sourced from a dozen or so vineyards and made in a largely traditional style; plenty of whole cluster and a very judicious use of new French oak. The 2010 “Ampodium”pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe, some desiccated and some tart, black and blue fruits: blackberries, blueberry pie, fields of lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, iodine, and granite earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and laden with rocky minerals. Totally in balance and at peak. Lovely. Drink now through 2035. — 23 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2015 | Italian rooftiles coloured rim, spicy smell and nicely developed velvety taste. Chinon that is aged can be só comforting. Cab franc shines. Paired with a simple but good spaghetti meatballs tomatosauce. It makes my day. — 3 months ago

Roberto Carli

9.4

Opened a great wine at the wrong time. Clocking at 35yo, like a wise grandpa it has wisdom to share but only talks when it’s quiet. Right after opening it has a mix of ripe, evolved pyrazines but with an hour or so the black olives are there in your face like in cote rotie, with a touch of their brine but without the VA you would expect. dried black fruit makes an appearance, even a medium bodied texture (!!!) which already isn’t Chinon’s strength and fine tannins still with some good grip, leading to a bright lingering acidity. Of course it can’t stay too long in the glass as the age shows some fragility. Still, it delivers — 8 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.0

A bit blown out to me but tasty. Maybe a vintage thing or the 15.5 abv. — 6 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. Last tasted 07.30.23 (9.5). Good lord. This is still (unsurprisingly) effing ridiculous. Explosive and giving without being compliant. Every time tasting this, attempt to renounce Cabernet Sauvignon/BDX blends forever. Hopefully someday, I'll make it stick. 02.28.25. — 2 months ago

Todd Scurci

9.0

#legacyrecords #burgandy — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2018 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 10 mins and 45 mins. Light body. Initially reticent but started to emerge after quite a bit of decanter agitation. Still, a bit more on the delicate side with cinnamon, rhubarb, tree bark, spearmint and raspberry impressions. Tasting like it's in a period of transition but it fills you up to the brim, Jim. 05.09.25. — 4 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2019 vintage. Last tasted 08.19.23 (9.5). Still medium heavy-heavy bod. Plushy nose, aggressively undying flavors and brick + mortar structure. Comparable to what it must have been like to see Mozart live back in that day. Confusing. Pure. Beyond mortal comprehension. "It's getting better all the time." 03.08.25. — 2 months ago

Inseon Hwang

9.0

Solid mid range burg. — 3 months ago

Michelle Berryman

9.4

Fabulous, paired with beef Wellington — a year ago