Jay Kline

9.2

First pour of this and I was like, “uh-oh”. It was clearly full of flaws (Brettanomyces, VA and maaaaybe some slight TCA) but would they be too much to appreciate the wine? Only time would tell so into the decanter it went. After a lot of air, it became clear this was Brett and VA. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) with notes of blackberries, umeboshi, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, red Flintstone vitamin, horse blanket, wood varnish, and sous bois. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An elegant, complicated bottle. This is my second time with the 1997 vintage and due to the flaws, a different adventure than previous. That being said, this decidedly grumpy, Burgundian expression of Clape’s Cornas paired really well with the dry-aged steaks. Drink now, with a lot of patience, through 2037? — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Dark cherry, some tang some lovely plum fruit. Clear with a touch of band aid and some gnarly fruit. Complex and fresh — 8 months ago

with Bex, Walker and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.4

Clear and light. Pear and hints of lime. White pepper, a bit of tang. Slate. Salty edges and great texture. Very correct. A touch of sweetness. — 8 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Conrad Green

9.2

Surprisingly fresh with a really pretty mulberry and black cherry nose. A blackcurrant confit center with hints of oak and a bit of musk. Stop a bit of hidden power but clear and precise. Very good — 2 years ago

with Bex

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Not clear appearance , medium bricking garnet core and browning rim . Quite a lot of tobacco and slightly green spicy notes , cassis, decayed red fruits , soy sauce meatiness. On the palate medium bodied with good acidity still , rounded tannin , slightly hollow palate but still notes of cedar , tobacco and sous bois, red floral notes also. Ok balanced finish , quite enjoyable still and actually fills out with a bit of time in the glass . Commendable , probably past best but still provides enjoyment . Drink now . — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Old tawny color. Mostly transparent with clear rims. Great old wine nose. Notes of ripe plum, red fruit, some earth and spice, a little kirsch and some herbs. Silky in the mouth. Great texture. Very Burgundian. Still at a nice peak in terms of where it’s at. This was from a great looking bottle with a high fill. Good stuff. — 4 years ago

Sarah Noh

8.9

Super light bodied, fresh cranberry — 5 years ago

with Jean

Christian Fischer

9.0

We are tasting this 2013 against its 10 year older brother and while they are clearly siblings, this 12 year-old bottle is still quite muted and hasn’t entered the 2nd maturation phase - clear yellow color and earthy stone fruit flavor profile — 4 months ago

with Ruchia

Conrad Green

9.4

Monty and clear. Lovely supple fruit. Lots of character. Savory — 6 months ago

with Peter, Gregg and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.8

Both intense and haunting at the same time. Lovely clear complex fruit with raspberry, deep cherry, a hint of orange rind. Spice and brooding dark gnarly fruit underneath but still light and deft. This is so complex and beautiful — 8 months ago

with Matt

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.6

Two great thanksgiving wines but with a very clear winner and not even difficult to guess. I have zero emotion with the Margaux and love the elegance of the Rayas even in a year that may be a bit less. — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.2

I have been sitting on this awhile so I was looking forward to trying this style. Not yet enjoyed this wine before. I liked it but didn’t love it. Peppery and with clear but mellow meat notes. It was solid and I suspect would have been better with a more appropriate food pairing (I had a homemade turkey burger with it). Will look forward to the next time. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.4

In keeping with the Aussie theme from a recent Grange dinner (1997-2001, 1998 was the clear winner), this was brought as a starter.

With about 9yrs on it, this is the oldest Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay I’ve had, and I’m impressed at the evolution. Slightly reductive (sweet smoke) upon opening, but it added great character. Color was a beautiful deep yellow (but not oxidized gold). Tropical (white peach, nectarine) but also honeyed cashews and honeysuckle aromatically. Great depth on the mid-palate with added tropical notes carried by faint oak but a distinct mineral driven finish. Drinking beautifully. Wish I had more. — 3 years ago

Meredith Moody

9.5

This is what I think of when I think of Rioja. Dried cherry and cranberry is what I get right away, and then it has more savory/earthy notes like leather and mushroom. When I tasted it I said “it tastes old.” That is a compliment. Hints of vanilla and spice. Felt elegant with a long finish. Had it with fatty new york strips. Tannins and acidity balanced it well. Not a loud wine, but a great one. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.5

My contribution for a large, annual BYO champagne dinner. While this was a standout, others were: La Closerie LC20, ‘07 Cristal rosé en mag, ‘19 Westborn BdB

This vintage had 20% addition of red wine.

The notes below about bottle variation is exactly what was experienced this evening. A friend also brought the ‘06 Dom Rosé but there was a clear difference between the two. Whereas my bottle was deep, rich and an interplay of florals, juicy red fruits, fleshy peach and strawberry shortbread cookies, his seemed like a slightly less vibrant (not off putting) and more muted version (maybe low trace TCA?). The significant portion of red wine in this vintage has provided great structure at nearly age 20, and not as evolved as the regular 2006 Dom (more vinous than the creamy ‘07 Cristal rosé).

If I had another, I’d open it in the next year or two for this same profile but wouldn’t be worried about holding another 5+. — 5 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.7

Smooth and effortless with no hard edges, even in a warm year. Seductively savory with currant, strawberry, leather, tobacco, coffee bean, and bone marrow. There’s an incredible gamey streak here. Oak is impeccably balanced. Just tip toeing into some bricking.
The pedigree is clear. Counting myself lucky.
My #1 tonight. — 9 months ago

Antonella Criscola

9.2

Smell: strong tropical smell, combination of peach, melon and passion fruit.
Taste: strong taste of peach and pineapple. Off dry taste with low acidity and low tannins.
Appearance: clear liquid with a very pale intensity.
Conclusion: very good wine. — 2 years ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Beautiful clear fruit with plum, wild strawberry, some herbs. A touch of sweet syrup. Still quite contained and compact. Very good — 3 years ago

with Paul, BOT and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.6

Gorgeously pure. Damson, plum, blood, leather, garrigue. Light and clear. Awesome. — 4 years ago

with Paul and Ara

Conrad Green

9.5

A gorgeous rich nose of plum, pepper, iron, violets, roses, meat, leather, band aid. Round and clear in the midpalate. Salinity and savory notes. Really pretty and powerful. Young still — 4 years ago

with Major-General