Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2018 vintage. Nicolas Jay 10th Anniversary wine dinner @Mister A’s Restaurant-San Diego. 4.12.26. — 2 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I’ve had a number of PC 96’s over time, none quite this good. The fill line & cork perfect. Very little sediment. Some bottle neck tannin burn. For me, Pontet Canet didn’t really hit its consistent, quality stride until 2005. Doesn’t mean they didn’t make a few beauties before then. Pontet Canet is proof that the 1855 Bordeaux Classification needs to be redone. Unlikely it will in my lifetime.

This 96 maybe just short of its precipice. Stylistically a little better than 94.

The nose reminds me of everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola. Sweet forest floor w/ leaves, sweet mushrooms, sweet led pencil shavings, steeped tea w/ hints of fruit, charcoal, dry tobacco/leather, some dry herbs, withering dark, red flowers, red roses with violets.

The palate is also everything I love about older Bordeaux. Dark core of currants/cassis. Ripe, floral; blackberries, dark, baked cherries, sweet, black plum, poached/strawberries, raspberries, hints of baked rhubarb & blueberries, mixed berry cola/red vines. Everything I understood the first time standing in the estate vineyard of Pichon Baron. Tasting limestone, dry river stone, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, dry stems. In fact, I’ve tasted vineyards soils everywhere I have been in every world wine region. Basically, everywhere in the wine world that has reliance. Many multiple times. Sweet graphite, steeped tea w/ hints of dark fruit, understated, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanillin, dark cocoa, dark exotic spices, some anise to black licorice, charcoal, dry tobacco with ash/leather, some dry herbs-safe/bay leaf, limestone, dry river stone, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, earth with dry leaves, dry topsoils, dry stems, withering/dry dark, red flowers, red roses with violets, excellent, rainfall acidity with an extremely well balanced/structured/tensioned, great length and an elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls nicely on dry earth and dark spices.

A very, very slow roll with my Ribcap. Definitely better with the steak than on its own.

This bottle tells me this 96 has plenty of good drinking ahead, another 8-10 yrs+.

ABV is 13%. Disappointing it ever changed. — 5 months ago

Karyn Fricke

9.1

Berry aromas, smooth tannins and lingering finish. Nice on its own and even better with steaks. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Although I find that La Closerie generally needs some bottle age to fill out and come into its own, LC19 is already showing fabulously flaunting deep, powerful layers of ripe orchard fruit with smoky minerals, toasted hazelnuts and exotic spices. The palate is impeccably structured and concentrated with a satiny texture and vibrant energy that gives way to a long mineral inflicted finish. Pinot Meunier from the master, it just can’t be matched. This is the best release since LC13. — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.8

The 2008 Dom Pérignon is a huge, powerful Champagne and also clearly one of the wines of the vintage. This is one of the most reticent bottles I have tasted. So much so that I am thinking about holding off opening any more bottles! The 2008 has always offered a striking interplay of fruit and structure. Today, the richness of the fruit is especially evident. Readers who own the 2008 should be thrilled, but patience is a must. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2021)
— 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Been awhile since I pulled out an Insigna.

The 03 Pichon Lalande is the better wine and steak pairing. However, Napa Cabernet is the choice to finish steak and enjoy on its own after. You never want to do Napa before Bordeaux IMHO. It’s much harder to adjust from sweeter to something more earthy.

Enjoyed the 05 as my score reflects. I don’t remember it being as sweet as it was in previous tastings. Still quite good. It just tipped my sweet scale a little too much.

The body is, rich, lush & round. It’s achieved good evolution after 13 years in bottle and will continue to improve over the next 6-8 years and last another 15 years. As I mentioned, the fruit was ripe & sweet. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, plums, hints of blueberries and strawberries haunting the backend. Rich, dark earth, Rutherford dusty tannins and dry soils, purple cola, touch of fresh tobacco & graphite, light baking spices of; cinnamon, dash of clove, nutmeg and vanillin, anise to black licorice, saddle-wood, used leather, dry stems, some dry, crushed rocks/limestone with red, dark, purple and blue florals. The acidity round and nicely executed. The finish was similar wire to wire. It’s, lush, rich, elegant, touch too sweet, polished, well balanced & knitted with a soft, persistent, dark spice on the long set. Very enjoyable second bottle.

Photos of; Joseph Phelps Winery & sloping estate vines, inside lounge are with views of the back side, tasting terrace and front lobby/salon area upon entering past check in. — 6 years ago

with Christina and James

Brett Vanderbrook

8.9

On the nose I get black currant, cedar, leather, anise. Elegant and lighter than you might expect from California Cab. A long, lingering finish with toothy tannins and noticeable oak. I’m drinking it on its own but it would be fantastic with meat or cheese. — 3 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.5

Aromas of lemon zest, white peach, and chalky minerality are layered with hints of toasted brioche and hazelnut. On the palate, vibrant acidity with a creamy, seamless texture. The finish is long and precise. A confident elegance. This bottle makes you yell , “Why don’t I own magnums?” — 6 months ago

Ron R

9.5

This producer is in a class of its own.
No signs of maturity. Pure notes of saddle leather and oak on the nose. A pure expression of Bdx with balance and power. Mid palate displays mature cherries and a hint of olives. Grainy tannins play second fiddle to prominent acidity.
My mental shortcut here is; GET SOME!
Thanks Rick. — 9 months ago

with Andrew and Rick

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

For my remote friend Severn. In Boston right now at Lenox Sophia. A great bring your own bottle Restaurant. An awesome place. Sit at the counter. 4 seats only. This 2019 is tart and fantastic no VA at all. Can’t help it E$M is still the unparalleled. — 4 years ago

Lauren Young

9.1

Excellent drinking on its own — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This bottle was hand carried from the Middle East, seven years back, and my first time enjoying the 2002 since release. Cork was perfect. On the nose, some VA but nothing crazy. Notes of balsamic, teriyaki, sandalwood and charred meat. On the palate, still quite primary with dark cherries and dried dark fruits being predominate. Plenty of structure. The texture is remarkably fine and silky. Quite classy actually! Nevertheless, this isn’t the most soul stirring vintage of Musar Rouge. At nearly 19 years of age, this bottle still comes across as youthful with developing vinousity. Perhaps time will coax more out...but I suspect, as others have previously stated, that the 2002 is more of a modest wine by their standards...which is still quite delicious and enjoyable in its own right. This will easily live for another 10+ years. — 5 years ago

Jilanne Doom

9.5

Love this easy sipping red blend. So smooth with a medium fruitiness. I could pair it with almost anything, honestly! — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Fragrant and structured. Densely colored with no bricking. Lovely nose shows rich cassis fruit, a bit of scorched earth, a little clovey oak (not too much), ashy cigars, and a note that reminds me of collard greens simmering with a smoked ham hock. Very youthful in the mouth, with vigorous tannin giving lots of structure. Clingy but somewhat austere in the mouth. This plainly needs more time than I thought it would. It’s still nice on its own before dinner, but should be better with rich food.

UPDATE: Now, after two hours open, this has become soft and friendlier than it was. Still nicely structured, but the fruit is more welcoming. — 5 months ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Burst of blackberry aroma, earthy and smoky, with a hint of cigar aftertaste. Juicy and delicious, more than held its own with the Lafite Rothschild we also had at same dinner! — 6 months ago

Christie S

9.1

Delicious. Smooth red that would pair with almost anything or perfect to drink on its own. — 3 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.6

I thought I would retire. But for this I came back. A stunning wine 9.6 now will be 9.8 or more with age. Turmeric, oregano, Vernet Branca without the bitterness. World Class - a class of its own really. Too bad so little is made. — 3 years ago

Z. R.G.

8.9

Good on its own — 4 years ago

GHol

9.3

Decanted for 24 hours so that it could open up as it’s so young.
Incredible flavour, complex, red fruits but not too bold and some nuisance too.
Time will serve this well. A winemaker who dances to his own tune and making great music. — 5 years ago

Tabitha Doyle

9.7

Lovely, lots of fruit without alot of sweetness. Value priced for a wine that can be drunk on it's own or served with food. Very happy with this one. — 8 years ago