Doug Powers

9.5

Great fill, first 2/3 of the cork came out via Ah-So, last 1/3 via waiters’corkscrew (and no residue pieces left in bottle), lovely honeyed, buttery, saline, mineral and dried fruit aromas and flavors, spot on balancing acidity, not youthful but extremely fresh and lively on the palate, better than the 1986 Clos and 1989 Valmur opened 1-2 months ago, I remain extremely impressed by the 1989s, long, lingering finish, absolutely outstanding 1er Cru Chablis!! — 2 days ago

with Jim

Nathan Renfro

9.4

@"Odedi" comments below are spot on. Gave this bottle 2 hours decant and it was drinking very well. Very approachable, a lighter Napa cab, very well balanced with just ripe dark fruit, medium plush tannins, med acidity. Drinking very well. Really enjoyable. Can’t wait to watch this evolve with many more years left. — 2 years ago

Evelyn Manlove

9.2

Described to me as an easy drinker but with enough interest to chew over with grassy, herbal notes. I found this to be spot on. I was also told it's a grape usually used in blends, but put center stage here. That intrigued me. I really enjoyed it and hope i come by it again. — 5 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.3

This is in a very good spot right now. I had the 2017 Les Aussigouins earlier this year and felt it was a bit disjointed and needed time. I would think this is drinking at about peak right now but it could still go for a few more years if you have a bottle around. This has some classic beeswax/lanolin character but really relies on its acid structure to carry it. Lots of minerality and texture. — 6 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.5

Spot on and still young. Dark red color no bricking. Showing some secondary notes of charred wood and leather with light tobacco. Still tannic and could’ve used a decant. Great wine — 7 years ago

Erik Rupinski

9.0

Spot on varietal profile. Nice. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

When it comes to my B-day, there is only one fit, an old Pichon Lalande with my Ribeye. As a lover of Bordeaux, these two are my favorite pairing. It’s a very slow walk to the finishline. A small bite of steak and a sip of 89 Pichon Lalande. Then, repeat until finished. I had some concerns about this bottle. A slightly slippery and crumbling cork. The first sip was not bad, but not what you want or are expecting. After some time in the decanter, it really started to shine. On the nose; ripe, ruby, floral cassis, blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The body is full, round and silky. Tannins are well resolved at around 80%. The texture, length, tension and length are in a sweet spot. The fruits are ripe, ruby & expressively floral. Blackberries, dark sweet & sour cherries, baked strawberries, blue fruit hues, dry cranberries, baked rhubarb, saddlewood, soft, used leather, bay leaf, touch of sage, hint of spearmint, eucalyptus, vanilla, cinnamon, crushed dry crushed rock powder, black turned earth, dry brown soil with clay, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and perfumed red florals with violets. The acidity is just a little off but still nice. The finish is divided nearly equally in fruit, earth, florals and herbaceous. It’s very enjoyable but falls just a little short in longer, lingering length. This bottle had good storage, not great. Even so, still has another three to five years ahead. A bottle with excellent storage has another five years beyond this one. Photos of; the backside of Pichon Lalande, angled terrace view of their vines right next to Latour, my steak & twice baked potato (so good) and CEO Nicolas Glumineau. — 8 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium ruby garnet with quite wide garnet rim . Still quite youthful for age . Aromatic from the off, with red plum , cherry , hedgerow fruit , cigar box , scorched earth , dried flowers . On the palate this is medium bodied , with lots of herbal tinged red fruits , tobacco , grafite, with good volume. Perfectly balanced acidity and suave resolved tannins . Long tobacco edged , red fruit finish . Very detailed and aromatic, no need to decant , really pretty and in a lovely spot though don’t see this improving further, as after about 2 hours this particular bottle starts to fade a little , loosing its aroma and showing a touch of rain water and wet rock hints on the nose, and fading a little on the palate . Drink now and over the next 5 years or so to get the best of this . At Restaurante Fasano , Jardins , São Paulo — 9 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

One of the best CDLR’s in the biz showing beautifully tonight with an ultra complex and seductive bouquet of candied red cherries, rose petals, coffee beans and game meat. The palate is luxuriously silky with obvious grand cru and old vine concentration, particularly for the vintage, and there is beautiful purity and elegance to balance its power. Its spice and mineral inflicted finale just keeps on going. 07 Burgundy are in such a great spot. — 10 months ago

Lolis Elie

9.1

Beautiful. Drinking on the sweet spot. — 3 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.3

This wine is still solid after 50 years. Cork in decent shape and the fill was on spot. Delicious is the simple description... — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

A few wines from last week’s 4th Friday event!

In a wonderful spot and classically classic. Could smell the herbs de Provence and old leather from the moment it was poured in the glass. More on the touch of blue and black fruit spectrum, with vanilla pipe tobacco, sweet tar, clove and even some smoked meat toward the finish. No hurry here, but it sure is enjoyable now. — 7 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.4

Wow. So deep. But still a bit tight and bites down on the finish. The 2nd day hinted at the potential with a big open nose checking all the Syrah goodness boxes; flowers, smoked meats, etc. I'm going to wait a few years with my remaining bottles hoping to hit that perfect spot. — 7 years ago

Daniel Taub

9.3

Drinking spot on PNP. Wouldn’t wait — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2003 vintage. Opened and decanted without issues or concerns. Used a Durand to open and cork was in great shape. Tasted after 30 minutes. The usual light-medium body. Plenty of polish at the 20+ year marker with unanticipated, ruff splash of chunkiness on the finish. Approx 4-5 years away from the absolute, top of the bell curve now but, given the pedigree, could possibly absorb that timescape another 5-spot and I wouldn't argue. Drink now or later. Either or. Ain't gonna disappoint unless you swing exclusively on Napa mountain fruit vines. 7.1.26. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Although I find that La Closerie generally needs some bottle age to fill out and come into its own, LC19 is already showing fabulously flaunting deep, powerful layers of ripe orchard fruit with smoky minerals, toasted hazelnuts and exotic spices. The palate is impeccably structured and concentrated with a satiny texture and vibrant energy that gives way to a long mineral inflicted finish. Pinot Meunier from the master, it just can’t be matched. This is the best release since LC13. — 4 years ago

Blair Campomizzi

9.2

Really hit the spot. Hints of bitter cherry, grapefruit and slight ginger. Even a little toasty notes on the end. — 6 years ago

with Arthur and Marilea

Ted

9.0

I like it. Matchsticks. Took me a minute then it hit me. Easy to drink and on one of the last nice Michigan days it hits the spot. — 7 years ago

with Jeni

Ron R

9.3

I’ve always had a sweet spot for this producer. When I saw the WS rating, I had to try it.
It’s my sort of Napa cab, without the nosebleed at the checkout. Rich, plush nose of coffee and maple syrup. Presents with depth and texture on the palate. Tannins are ripe, indicating longevity. I’m going back to the well! — 8 years ago

with Mo