Jules

9.5

great chardonnay reminiscent of a sauvy b — 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! — a year ago

with Deked1

"Odedi"

9.3

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a beautiful one from Bordeaux.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and black pepper.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, earth, wet leaves, herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead, dark coffee, dark chocolates and tobacco leaf.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.


This 7 year old, from the great 2015 vintage, is drinking very nice right now.

This Fifth growth Bordeaux is showing nice complexity, with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 3 hours in the decanter.

Young, but already delicious, and will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Robert Parker 97 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food too. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A Delicious wine that drank better than the 1996 I had 4 years ago.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels (50% new) for 16 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$130. — 3 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Okay. Again the same dilemma. If a wine does not meet expectation is it basically bad (for me)? 🤔 because in life everything is relative, right? Any thoughts on puzzling matter??The wine was well balanced, dark red fruit flavors, polished, smooth tannins, good intensity and concentration, but limited length and lacking any meaningful complexity… Eight year old left bank Bordeaux. A fourth or fifth growth winery, maybe not, can’t remember for sure. Do remember what I paid though, $120. Definitely too much for what we experienced this evening…. as to our expectations. — 2 months ago

with Tammy

Jennifer Memmolo

9.3

lychee and red berries — a year 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. — 2 years ago

Blake Anderson

8.9

Very drinkable — 9 months 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. — 10 months ago

Jody Wycech

8.9

A tasty white. Full bodied. Would have again. — 2 years ago

with Ethan, Peter and 1 other

Mike Sanderson

9.3

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