Blake Anderson

8.9

Very drinkable — 2 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

Happy Labor Day holiday weekend in the USA!

We’re enjoying a night off from studying while sipping a lovely Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2011 paired with a grilled steak, baked potato, green beans, and mushroom / zucchini kabobs. Soon (and sadly) we’ll have to say “au revoir” to summer.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is situated on the left bank of Bordeaux, i.e., west of the Gironde Estuary, in the commune of Pauillac. Soils here are gravel-based, and free-draining, ideal for ripening the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which dominates in this Bordeaux blend.

Pauillac is known for producing age-worthy, structured Cabernet Sauvignon wines due in part to the growing environment. No wonder it’s home to 3 out of 5 first growth wines in the 1855 classification, including, Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Château Mouton Rothschild. This particular wine ranks highly, as well, as a fifth growth and understandably so.

Based on our research the 2011 vintage in Bordeaux seemed to fast-forward many typical growing processes and timelines; grapes were budding and ripening ahead of schedule with warmer temperatures early in the season followed by notably cooler temperatures in August, ahead of harvest.

It’s remarkable how variable seasonal conditions can affect a wine’s profile, especially in less consistent climates like Bordeaux where vintage variation is a serious thing… still, this wine is lovely.

It is deep ruby with a medium (+) intensity of developing aromas offering notes of ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, plum, black licorice, anise, violet, tobacco, leather, clove, nutmeg, cedar, pencil shavings.

On the palate, this wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, high tannins that are ripe and smooth, a medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity of flavors consistent with the notes. The finish is medium(+).

This is an excellent wine that is drinking well now and could age further.

Cheers to the beauty born in 2011 in Pauillac AOC with this Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste! — 8 months ago

with Deked1

Mike Sanderson

9.3

Sweet, apple. Really good room temp. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing black currants, cooked cherries, tobacco leaf, herbs, vegetables, light wood, licorice, coffee, light cola, vegetables and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This beautiful 24-year-old Bordeaux from the great 2000 vintage seems still young, although decanted for 4 hours.

Elegant and powerful. Rich, yet subdued. I loved the nose, that showed lots of wild flowers.

Wine Spectator 91 points. Robert Parker 92 points.

This Fifth growth is nicely balanced with nice complexity at this point. Still needs a few more years in the bottle to mature properly.

I've had many vintages of this wine, and so far the 2009 was my favorite.

Good by itself and better with food. Paired nicely with dried meats and cheeses.

12.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$150. — 3 months ago

Aaron Krauss

9.2

Rhonda had it at vernick and liked it. Buy a couple of bottles — 10 months ago

Kirsten Spalding

9.4

Tart, dried blackberry fruit leather, earthy breeze smell on the nose (I don’t know what that means either, but that’s the first words to come to mind). Blackberry bramble, silk, and pepper. Some iron, but it’s soften over the years. This is a Belgian Sheepdog wine. Dark, bold, elegant, eager to please any Syrah fan. I want to go for a long hike through the woods, picking wild blackberries with this dog. Then we go home and share leg of lamb, rub the dogs silky ears, and drink this (just me. Don’t give alcohol to dogs). — a year ago

Matthew Sauter

9.4

Delicious! — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.

This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.

I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.

Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.

Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — 4 months ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

This is Vinho Verde, not Douro. Bright and clear beige gold. No fizz. Light nose and light-bodied bright palate of underripe pear and concrete block. Firm acidity (of course) and medium long finish(surprisingly). Vinho Verde without the fizz makes a wonderfully light and bracing white for seafood or summer sipping. Drink now. — 9 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

Ephraty Estate Winery Raz 2009, Israel

Beautiful ruby in color with a very wide reddish/ brick rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, spices, turmeric, eucalyptus and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth, wet leaves, vinaigrette and soy sauce.

Long tangy finish with soft tannins and raspberries.

This 13 year old Israeli red blend is still drinking very nicely. Easy drinking with nice complexity and a gorgeous nose.

I chose not to decant it, and it didn't last for more than 90 minutes. On its last leg, but still delicious.

Thank you oren for sharing this with me.

A great sipping wine. Good by itself or with food.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carignan. Aged in American oak barrels for 25 months. Unfiltered.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

93 points. — a year ago