Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This 2006 was a tale of 1/2 of the bottle decanted in a wide decanter and the other 1/2 left in bottle. The bottom 1/2 bottle better than the 2 hour decant. The decanted part lost complete Bordeaux character, mid palate and depth. A shorter decant was in order, but that doesn’t mean this 06 is waning. It has another 7–10 yrs from bottle.

2006 was the vintage that followed the grand 2005 vintage, not an entirely fair growing seasons. Based on the 2005 vintage, the Bordelaise overpriced the 2006 vintage. The Bordelaise disappointed in the price they sold 2005’s looked to make up their perceived losses in 2006. Except, the quality wasn’t the same. Not even close.

The nose shows brambly, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries and lean raspberry edges. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark chocolate bar, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather,. softy layered baking spices, black licorice-tarriness, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender.

The palate is ripe, juicy w/ medium, rounded tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, strawberries and lean raspberry. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dark & slightly melted chocolate, mid berry cola. steeped black tea, charcoal, graphite, soft, fresh tobacco, used leather, softy layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, mid dark spices w/ some palate heat, black licorice-tarriness, dry herbs, dry river stones, dry limestone powder/bits, dry top soil, moist, grey, volcanic clay, dark, red florals with fresh, blooming violets & understated lavender, very nice acidity, nicely balanced, well structured/tensioned w/ an elegant finish that lasts a minute plus and lands on earth & spice with mid intensity palate heat.

92 decanted. 93 the bottom 1/2 of the bottle, not decanted. — a month ago

LM Segal

9.5

Not really fair to rate this now, so damned primary. Dark cassis and coarse cocoa, dark red fruit. Even after an hour not totally sorted but the quality burst through at the back of the palate where it lingered for >a minute. Would love to see this in 10 years. — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Did a blind taste off with this and a very high end Napa Cab. Two of six chose this one. Fair enough. It is explosive, complex and delicious. Dark fruit, leather. All very distinctly Bordeaux. Yum. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It is really not fair to have their 06 after their 09. It’s good but, all you can think about is the 09.

The nose reveals, slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice and withering red & dark florals.

The body is lean, not quite full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are just ok to good and reveal the shortcomings of the 06 vintage. slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, some v/a or bandaid, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice with some heat across the palate and withering red & dark florals. The finish is nice and elegant but, lack the fullness and beauty of most really good vintage Palmer’s. It finishes with nice persistent dark spice on the long set. Just give me another taste of the 09. 😜

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 7 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Dusty left bank aromatics. Strong at 15 years - a medium to full bodied palate still vibrant and alive. A word on Drinking Windows - A UK source I respect greatly said 2016-2018 for this wine but this tasting showed there was a lot of life left - maybe another 4 to 5 years I would say. To be fair it is an inexact science. This the Argentinian venture of Right Bank Icon, Chateau Cheval Blanc. 55% Malbec, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. There is no doubt you could mistake this as Bordeaux. An excellent Wine singing at 15 years. — 7 years ago

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.2

Smooth and floral with notes of honey. Celebrating our 4 year anniversary. — 8 years ago

Alejandro Rabinstein

9.1

Nice blend with fair complexity and a little kick at the end. — 8 years ago

Doug Powers

9.1

[40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon] Jonathan and Susan’s homage to Priorat, red and black fruits from the Grenache and Syrah, respectively, and then the structure of the Cabernet Sauvignon, this is drinking well tonight, but might evolve for a few more years, very fine Sierra Foothills Priorat look-alike!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Shay A

9.4

I’ve had a fair amount of either 5-7yr old PR or 20-30yr old PR, but never one in-between. I was pleasantly surprised how enjoyable this was, and seems to be drinking at peak (but certainly not fading, at least this example).

Pop and pour. Deep purple with no fading. Couldn’t believe how Bordeaux-esque this smelled! Wow. Kiss of brett to it, just enough to make it interesting. Brambly black fruits, leather, herbs de Provence, vanilla pipe tobacco too. Supremely well balanced on the palate…baked dark fruits in a dense but tantalizingly elegant profile. Integrated oak in the background. Sweet tannin on the finish. Followed over two days and stayed strong. If I could find more of these at a good price, I’d jump on them. — 3 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

You really can't give this one a very true rating right now. This bottle still has a lot of red fruited baby fat. After about 3 hours of air, it started to settle into more of a black cherry with hints of blackberry kind of a wine. But it definitely was not like that sooner. It is amazing how 15 years seems to be the dividing line and the characteristics change so much. It took a little coaxing. This one has a fair amount of herb influence. Also has some menthol or eucalyptus. Not sure that was there when I tried one of these even earlier. Overall, I make no apologies for opening this one now. It is still a very good wine. But when you know how these drink at 15 to 20 years, you know that it will continue to develop and change so much. Still a lot of stiff oak astringency at the moment. — 6 years ago

Anastasia

9.5

Good fresch — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

If you didn’t know already, this is the second wine of Dominus.

The nose reveals; sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, blue fruits, vanilla, light clove, anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth,sweet tarriness, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, leathery notes, cedar, moist crushed rocks, dash of dry herbs with withering, dark, red flowers and old violets.

The body is medium full. The tannins nicely resolved but, still show a fair amount of firmness. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit a high point. Sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, a fair amount of blue fruits that hide on the nose, vanilla, light clove, dark spice anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth, dark tar, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, underbrush, tough shoe leather, cedar, moist crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, dash of dry herbs with fresh & withering, dark, red flowers and bright violets. The acidity is vibrant and fresh. The long finish starts ripe, bright candied fruits and slides into slightly dominate, dry earthiness and persists several minutes.

I would say this is still a hold for another 3-5 years. The 05 could show another point or two then. Just missing 92 now.

Photos of; Dominus and their estate vines, wine making legend, Christian Moueix, (been blessed to sit with him through a couple of dinners), their barrel room and the reverse view as you approach the winery. — 7 years ago

Dean Rogers

8.9

I like this one sweet but not too sweet! — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Another wine from the Burgundy dinner in Sydney 6 weeks ago. I have been figuring out how to get photos from my camera roll to Delectable. It is not always straightforward. Notes to come later. We had 2 vintages of La Grande Rue. This is the 2012. I found my notes. Not a big fruit influence from this cooler year. Initially a fair bit of oak and a fair bit of whole bunch. Medium weight at best. Meadows tells us that the wines ageing potential most closely mirrors that of Romanee Saint Vivant. After La Romanee, La Grande Rue is the smallest of the Vosne Grand Crus. — 9 months ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.1

Cork was soaked through and spongy on this 22-year old magnum, but the wine was still drinking nicely, with a fair amount of fruit still evident and balanced well with still active acidity, floral notes, secondary earthy notes, and well integrated tannins. — 4 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.2

2020 fall. Similar to other recent bottles. Really nice wine for a fair price - I’ll be looking for some more — 6 years ago

Gary Grose

8.9

8.9 is a really fair rating for this consistent Pinot from WA. Sometimes the Pinot producers try for too much and miss? This isn’t it. All you want in a subtle Pinot and none of the heavy alcohol content. You get the lite wood and the fruit. Actually doesn’t change much from first glass to last. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Classic Kistler. Bright red fruits of, cherries, strawberries, dry cranberries, lots of baking spices, cola, fair amount of woodiness with bright red florals, nice acidity and good polish — 7 years ago

Craig Otten

9.3

Happy Birthday Doug W. — 7 years ago

with Felisse

Shay A

9.4

I really enjoyed tasting this next to the ‘14 Progeny Veeder Cab. Same winemaker. While I thought the Progeny edged this out slightly (though it wasn’t entirely fair with them being different vintages) this was still a textbook Veeder wine. It is rich and powerful without being out of balance. Inky blue and black fruits, sweet oak and vanilla tobacco on the nose (almost identical to the Progeny). The palate here was a bit more expansive and less reigned in than the Progeny...signature mountain structure, dusty youthfulness in the ripe fruits. Dark chocolate & plum on the finish. This will improve a point or two in the next few years...fantastic. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 1 other