I Mandorli

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 2 days ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 34 others liked this
Ron R

Ron R Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@David T, those are relevant and salient insights. For me, when I purchase wines I'm not familiar with, I look to balanced critics for guidance. Most of the high-end wines I purchase, I don't need much critical input. Wines such as Pontet, Ducru, Troplong, The Pichons, Leovilles et al., I'm more comfortable buying, unless the growing season is a disaster. Here in my opinion, the critics value is amplified. Happy holidays, bud! @ESF, no rush my friend...
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

All great input! I agree WS is advantaged with the blind review but WA is always more detailed. There are definite patterns as WA loves the turbo charged but I find PP to be the most helpful but they generally are European only. It’s like finding a movie critic. No one is the best but you find the one that matches your tastes the closest and use it to help make best choices. Love the dialog!
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

wow, let me know when I can come over and share...!
Merry Christmas Ron.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

When the weather gets colder sometimes I drink Bordeaux. Probably one of the best vintages for the Château along with ‘82, and it’s in a great spot. Classic mature Paulliac with terrific complexity, an alluring sweetness and long, balanced finish with fully resolved, silky tannins. Fully open and giving. — 20 days ago

Mario, Bob and 5 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2022

One could argue it was a bit young, but this wine to me - every vintage - remains one of the greatest of all time. I smell and taste the dark fruit (currants, etc), I taste the iron, i taste the dark stones, I taste the garam marsala. And holy sh!t, the texture… — 22 days ago

Chris, Severn and 15 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2007

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of black fruits, cedar, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, light vanilla and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, cooked cherries, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, cedar, earth, dark chocolates, licorice, cola, spices, vegetables, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 17 year old Napa Cabernet Sauvignon feels more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Fruit forward with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing great complexity and delicious, but I expected more from this great 2007 vintage. I had the 2001 not too long ago, and it was so much better.

Nicely balanced and good by itself or with food. A good food wine too.

A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$350.
— 10 days ago

Paul, Juan and 15 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 9 days ago

Ira, Jan and 25 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

I had the 2014 Latour a couple of years back. It was from a half bottle and I remember it was rather disappointing. But this wine has really come around. Or maybe it has been developing much better in a full size bottle. Today it’s graceful, with great posture and in perfect balance. A timeless beauty. I had a few 2014 (both left and right bank) lately and I find them very appealing right now. A unsung vintage that turned out pretty good imo. — 22 days ago

Billy, Andrew and 2 others liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1989

After 35 years I was not expecting much. Especially when the cork disintegrated on opening. Aureated on decanting and was happily surprised. After about 20 minutes opened to dark chocolate, leather but so smooth. The last glass was pure delight. Howell Mountain at its best! — 9 days ago

Letha Phillips
with Letha
Rick, Tom and 5 others liked this

Bodegas Faustino

Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010

Aged gracefully, super smooth tannins, dark ruby color, fruit perfect for a 14 year old wine. Thicker mouthfeel. Concentrated. — a month ago

Brian liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Medium ruby , terracotta /garnet rim. Quite round and ripe , red plum , cigar and ripe blackberry, touch of soy . Touch of cocoa , blackberry and ripe dark cherry , black tea . Quite sweet , rich on the palate, generous for Las Cases , slightly dried fruit , fig and red plum . Pretty decent length , balanced but quite discreet acidity , rounded tannins . This is at peak now and I don’t see much up side from here , so best to drink over the next 5 years or so, though it did hold up in the glass quite well . Atypical for Las Cases with its ripe fruit, quite low acidity , sweet tannin: also this only has 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. Overall probably the least successful of the wines in this tasting , but the level overall was very high. — 11 days ago

Daniel, Jan and 11 others liked this