Sara Derr

9.2

Very drinkable and great finish. Preferred over most other House champagnes I’ve tried. — 4 months ago

Stephen Mathews

9.3

This vintage is made from Geyserville Negro Amaro — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

You would never pick this as a 26 year old red wine from the colour. A rich Ruby red with no tawny rim. This has the Penfolds DNA of ripe plum, mocha, coffee bean and chocolate - a trace of liquorice. The palate is medium plus weight, balanced and harmonious maintaining that core strength. Those initially firm tannins have become supple. Drinking at its peak but could stay on this plateau for a couple more years. My last bottle of the 96 but I still have a few more bottles of the Bin 707 from 1996 which was a huge wine. — 2 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Medium deep ruby core , pretty narrow garnet rim , youthful and bright . Slightly funky at first but this blows off to release concentrated spicy cassis , blackberry, red currant , cigar box , wood smoke , truffle. On the palate very rounded with fresh dark blackcurrant and red currant fruits , well balanced acidity. Rounded but quite noticeable tannins. Long sweet red fruit finish with touches of charcoal, grafite and a saline nuance. This is lovely now, and maintained well in the decanter for 5 hours , and will surely last on this high plateau for another decade at least as it appears so young, plump and fruit driven. — 9 months ago

Martinez

9.0

Good Pomerol from one of the appellation’s largest estates, with around 12 hectares on the southern part of the Pomerol plateau, in an area known for its iron-rich clay subsoils. Known locally as “crasse de fer” or iron dirt, this type of subsoils have a high content of iron-oxide, which gives Pomerol wines their characteristic aromatic richness. It was also the inspiration for the estate’s name (“taille fer” translates to “carve the iron”). 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc, aged for 12 months in oak barrel (40% new). Aromas of dark fruit, plums, chocolate and earthy notes. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated. Noticeable tannins. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

A captivating display of blackberry, plum, grilled herbs, cedar dust and balsamic spice wafts up from the 2016 Mille e una Notte. It’s silky in texture and polished in feel, offering ripe black fruits lifted by cooling minerality. This remains tightly wound up in its youthful state, as a fine coating of sweet tannin settles in to create a structured finale, with pretty purple-tinged florals and hints of licorice lingering long. The 2016 may be one of the most refined expressions of Mille e Una Notte that I’ve ever tasted, but it will need some time to show its best. This is composed primarily of Nero D'Avola, Petit Verdot and Syrah, which is expertly refined in new barriques for 14 months. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2021)
— 3 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Deep ruby , very little lightening at the rim . Really closed on the nose , lots of grafite and a mix of mostly red fruits . On the palate , real structure , a lot of tannin but with very good balance , excellent intensity. Lots of mineral depth , red fruits dominating, long on the finish with refreshing acidity. Needs time still, another 5-10 years and plateau for a further 20 . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Bit if development, quite wide ruby garnet rim . Nicely open and ready to go , cigar box , ripe cassis , touch of soy , cedar , Asian spices . On the palate quite strict and serious , dark cassis , soy , grafite , spicy touches . Good length and still pretty grippy tannin . Very nice now , in a good place though will stay on this plateau for a while , drink over the next 10 years . — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of mostly Nero d'Avola adding some Petit Verdot, Syrah and a few other grapes. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, sweet notes and spicy scents. On the palate flavors of blackberry and black cherry, currant like, with notes of cacao, licorice and sweet spice, well balanced with acidity. Fine tannins, long finish, ending with fruit, tobacco and sweet earthy character. Very nice! — 2 years ago

Ron R

9.3

Visually, bricking has begun. The nose presented a hint of musty cardboard, at that point, my sphincter started twitching - had I left this too long?
Palate displays spice notes initially, followed by anise, cinnamon and cloves. Mature cherries are also in the foreground with moderate tannins. Finishes with leather, olives notes and moderate sweetness. This is perched on a plateau, and should be consumed now.
The story behind the label is a broken bottle of a 2003 Leoville Las Cases, which pissed it’s pants (so to speak) in my eurocave, back in the day... — 3 years ago