Needed to open up, but held up great with a lot of dark ripe fruit, leather, oak, mild tannins, and great depth of flavors. — a year ago
This wine rocks. Gripping wine.
Raspberry and some black fruits. Very dense and structured.
Held up well with heavy Italian food
Softening with airtime. Around 3 hour mark - provides some interesting elegance with drying tannins.
A winner for the birthday queen — 6 months ago
Last of our ‘07 Peays. Wow. This bottle was spectacular, held better than our other Peay SS ‘07. — a year ago
1978 vintage. Great fill with a fully saturated cork. Used a Durand to remove and cork held up but big cork splinters shedding upon removal. Decanted and tasted over the course of an hour. Super silky, not chunky, sed. Light-medium body. Had to coax the nose out a little but revealed cassis, tobacco, dark plum, sandalwood and cherry pits. All these plus a slight, beef broth touch in the flavors. Not improving but can sustain another half-decade in this incarnation. Gorgeous, old BDX. Drink now till 2029. 12.8.23. — 5 months ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing currents, plums, cherries, oak, wet leaves, herbs, black pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee and black tea.
Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 26 year old Merlot is still drinking very nicely. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years, but will not improve from here on.
Needs an hour to open up properly, so be patient.
This was not a good vintage in Pomerol, but it held up pretty well.
Good by itself or with food.
A blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$250. — 10 months ago
Shay A
Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.
Here we are six years after my last ‘88 Montelena and I’m looking at my old review as if I wrote it about this current bottle! So bright and lively. Gorgeous deep ruby color (darker than the ‘88 Leoville Barton). There is a Christmas spice (maybe more mint-driven) aromatic with bing cherries and floral notes. Red fruit to the core with some spiced blackberries, earthy/herbal savoriness, great acidity and a snappy/youthful finish. Cedar and espresso. Held strong over a few hours open. Not falling off a cliff, but don’t miss this window if you have some! — 13 days ago