Ron R

9.4

Home alone, and as a result, I can return to some French faves. Regretfully, wifey tastes vomit if it’s anything other than a Napa fruit-bomb. Yes, I’m exaggerating, but you get my point...
This is on another level. 2009 was in my opinion a breakout year for this winery. With the winery renovations complete in 09, and Michel Rolland consulting on the winemaking, it’s easy to see the future state. This is a Merlot blend with double digit cab franc, and a dollop of cab sauv. I poured this pretty much at cellar temp (unusual for a typical Bdx), and it’s simply wonderful at this point.
Nose displays kirsch, nutmeg and a hint of sweet tobacco. The palate explodes with fresh black fruits, brown sugar, bold tannins, and a touch of white pepper. Judicious oak treatment allows the components and winemaking to take center-stage. A very contemporary example, which will sail on for another 15 years, minimum.
@Deborah M, your gentle nudge moved me. While I didn’t decant, I did open it 2hrs prior to tasting 🙂 — a day ago

with Mo

David Schneider

9.2

From a 375. I bought this one 15 years ago for $12 and I’ve been waiting to open it on a Tuesday night with some take out Chinese. I finally found the night! At first, it was very tight and backward. Huge tannins that I thought would never fade. I figured it was a 2003 that was off center And funky. After 30 minutes it was still tight but the black fruit rose out of the glass and the tannins faded revealing a beautiful claret that was a little hard around the edges but offered immense pleasure. Fun to find something that was laying around so long — 12 days ago

Joe Gillies

9.2

Happy valentine's day aka my first date and engagement anniversary with my wife (got married in 2010). Big black and blue fruits with charcoal, mint, eucalyptus, and cedar along with tannins that are still showing fairly well. No rush, easily have a decade plus to go. — 9 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Château Croix de la Nauve Saint Emilion 1982, Bordeaux, France

Time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a gorgeous one from Bordeaux.

Dark brown in color with a wide copper rim.

Nose of cherries, blueberries, wood, licorice, spices, dark coffee, green tea, light barnyard, black pepper and tobacco.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, earth, wet leaves, leather, light vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, black tea, dark coffee and black pepper.

Medium finish with no tannins and cherries.

This Saint Emilion from a the great 1982 vintage is drinking very nicely now. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel. Smooth, soft and elegant.

Not very earthy, which surprised me, and easy drinking. Simpler on the nose than on the palate, and still holds lots of fruits.

Good right out of the bottle and didn't need much to open up.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

91 points. — 10 days ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2017 Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse in bottle offers a mélange of red and black fruit: cassis, raspberry coulis, veins of Valrona chocolate and a touch of crushed stone. It feels fresh and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, saturated tannins. There is plenty of black fruit here laced with traces of marmalade and fig jam, perhaps a touch exotic considering the vintage but everything is controlled and focused on the finish. I would just like to see more personality here - maybe that will evolve with time? (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2020)
— 11 days ago

Ken Z

9.2

Drank 2/16/20. Beautiful with a New York Strip.

No formal notes taken, but scents of plum, blackberry, mint, and tobacco. Flavors of black fruit. Nice balance, black fruit on the finish. Very nice. Ready to drink now, but will easily hold another 5 years.

92 pts — 7 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for some #Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from Bordeaux.

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick/ reddish rim.

Nose of blueberries, black currants, wood, vanilla, vegetables, spices, tobacco, forest floor, nail polish remover, Indian spices and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, cedar, leather, vanilla, vegetables, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, black pepper, peppercorn, tobacco, earth, green herbs and forest floor.

Medium plus in finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice Right Bank Bordeaux. Probably has some flaw on the nose, but not corked. Much nicer on the palate.

This 15 year old from a great vintage, is rich and extracted with a lot of earth notes. Showing a nice mouthfeel with nice complexity.

Needs a few hours to open up properly. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to evolve in the next 5 to 10 years.

Thank you Jesus for sharing this with me.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses, crackers and fresh berries.

A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 16 months in Oak barrels

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 17 days ago

Martijn

9.0

Aged beautifully! Nice nose with some tertiary notes but limited. Still enough fruit there some dark cherries, milk chocolate.
Tanins smoothly integrated. Nice drink on a stormy sunday afternoon! — 15 hours ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Very push deep and sexy. A lavish nose with damson and floral notes. Big fruit with plums, dark sweet fruit and some menthol. On the palate this is lush and mouth-filling. Hints of tobacco at the edges are the only sign this is 30 years old. Powerful. Lovely stuff. — 14 days ago

with Gregg and Rick

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

The wine I have opened tonight is the 2016 Château La Vieille Cure. 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, black plum, bell pepper, black pepper, licorice, violets, oak and earth.

On the palate I am getting nice dark fruit, black cherry, blackberry, plum, green bell pepper, leafy herbs, cassis, black pepper and earth.

The wine is medium to full bodied with mouth watering medium + to high acidity and medium + fine tannins that leads right into a long dark fruit finish. This is a very nice Right Bank Bordeaux. I hope everyone is having a great weekend with family and friends? Please be safe and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 8 days ago