Willem Booij

9.4

This 49 years old LLC was in the first sniff a bit dull, but then miraculously this grand master of BDX stood up and showed its pure class. Ok it’s not a young bastard but what a pleasure to drink with friends. — 3 months ago

with Kees and Hans

Evelyn Frison

9.0

Extreme value.
BF that knows wine: There are wines that you’d only date and there are wines you’d want a relationship with and this is a relationship wine.
Not too fussy, very consistent, medium bodied but with some spice. Financial goals are aligned. Not a trophy wife wine - but someone you’d be proud to introduce to your friends .

Me: 👀 idk what that’s description is about bc I’m in this relationship and those characteristics don’t describe me. But my thoughts: I’d buy again and it pairs well with White Lotus. I’m going to bring it to my “2023 intention setting dinner” with a group of girlfriends. Will update if it pairs well with intentions. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

At an old friends place in Scarborough on Moreton Bay having a wonderful seafood meal. The nose is textbook Art Series with ripe grapefruit, citrus and pear Toasty notes. The palate shows that rich oak is resolving with the powerful fruit - profound intensity which is a great match with the mornay seafood. Great persistence and length in this 3rd of 6. Hope I have the patience to have just one each year until 2024. — 3 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.7

Deep ruby color. Aromas of black cherry, kalamata olive, earth, cigar box and allspice. What an amazing wine. Gets better with good friends and good food. Great black fruit flavors, dry cedar finish. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

15 person Champagne tasting with friends.

We inserted what we all feeling is more or less the gold standard of n/v Rose’ to pair with duck and goat cheese on crostinis. — 5 months ago

Amy Mercovich

9.5

2018, fruit forward with great tannins, one of my favorite wines, had with dear friends and a braised beef and polenta dish to die for — 2 years ago

Jason Brater

9.0

Bold brambly fruit up front with some cocoa powder notes. A punch of black pepper and a smooth but grippy finish. Really nice everyday Aussie Shiraz. Costco price nice, too. — 3 years ago

with Heather

Deborah M

9.2

Pulled this one for “Thirsty Thursday” WebEx social time with a few friends. Beautiful Napa Cab that didn’t disappoint. Second wine with great QPR. Dark fruit. Smooth tannins. Bright acidity. Really opened up nicely after an hour in the decanter. I need to find more of this one. — 4 years ago

Robert Torretti

9.4

A lovely bottle of classic Lafite Rothschild. Ordered with old friends and new at Waldhaus Sils on the fourth anniversary of my father’s death. He was biased to Cabernet Sauvignon / Left Bank Blends, and appreciated his Lafite, even if he stopped buying them as prices got out of hand. 1995 was chosen in honor of the year that I met my friend Julian, with whom I have worked at two companies across 20+ years and now count as a dear friend and peer in our industry. The bottle was in great shape, likely bought en primeur and stored in the Alpine retreat’s cellars (tour tomorrow!). Oscar, the manager and sommelier has been at the Waldhaus for 32 years, so it was purchased in his early days. The tannins were very well integrated, with some dark fruits, delicious tobacco and cedar, and a long finish. — 9 months ago

Carter Pelham

9.7

Shared with close friends - everyone’s first Monte Bello, and a great one at that.

Took this bottle out to share at a local fine dining establishment, to pour it blind for our friends. Wrapped neatly in foil. We get seated and explain to our waiter. “The bottle MAY be a little bit older so take care with the cork,” I said, not wanting to give away the age to our friends. He proceeds to break the cork about halfway down, right through. No big deal. He’s a younger guy and I think a little flustered, he goes off to get assistance.

Comes back with another server. As the guy walks back up, I say “Thanks for helping us with our mystery bottle”, clueing him in on the idea that there’s a reason that we have it wrapped in foil. “Would have been nice to know it was an older vintage wine,” he replied brusquely. Ok… Server 2 digs around for a bit with an ah-so before punching the cork into the drink. Oh well. None of us are really phased by this, it happens.

They grab a strainer from the bar. Server 2 starts pouring at a decanter and immediately the first glass or so just goes everywhere on the table. I start to die inside. He remains silent. Gets on target with the rest of the bottle, finishing pouring, and says “Your 2004 Ridge Cabernet”, purposefully ruining the blind tasting, I guess. Walks away without another word, leaving his mortified coworker to clean up his mess and apologize.

This actually happened. On to the wine:

Beautiful medium opacity ruby with no browning.

Smells like a Pauillac on the nose. Blackcurrants, blackberry, black licorice, slight graphite, and damp tobacco. As the night goes on it reveals dill, vanilla, buttered toast, and slight dry woodsy notes.

The wine is surprisingly light in body, very much a claret. The tannins are silky, finely woven, and extremely integrated. The main thing we notice on the palate is that the wine is so perfectly integrated it is a little difficult to pull individual notes out of it. Expansive over the palate without being weighty. The finish is forever.

A memorable evening. — 3 years ago

with Linh and Sarah