Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2023 vintage. More acidity than the riper 2022 version of this. Needs another year to really come around but current signs indicate it is heading in the right direction. 5.20.26 — a month ago

Paul Weil

8.9

This inky, Merlot-dominant blend is a full-on Goth wine: dark currants, dark cherries, dark blueberries…

The oak is restrained and the jamminess is less than in recent releases. A bit of decanting helps to reduce the jam factor a lot.

I’m still not completely sold on the “new and improved” Langtry wine style, but I see this as a solid step in the right direction, perhaps someday restoring Old Soldier Road to its former greatness. — 3 years ago

Gene Harlow

9.3

This wine was not this good three years ago, but has really moved the needle in a good direction! Only one bottle left. Will pair well with a lot of things as it has some wonderful delicate nuances. I guess this one is a blend but seems to have Sarah as a primary varietal. I may need to check that out!! Great wine! — 5 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.2

Unknown % of GSM+Carignan

Delicious fruit, raspberry and boysenberry. Dark notes in the direction of chocolate and Fig, nuance without being the direct flavor profiles (wrapper of dark chocolate bar etc) . Woody notes from Tannin, and interesting milky aspect at times.

Enjoy young (now-3years) fruit is fantastic, tannins are fine and smooth.
Very happy with this selection, great PQR.

Give a min 1.5 hour decant, if not 3 hours. Didn’t decant, keeps getting better with more air & time. Second day is great.

Very yummy, more please. — 5 years ago

Casey Schneider-Mizell

9.5

Totally in love with this wine. It has the body and acidity of a brilliant chenin, apple and cantaloupe and mango fruit, and an undertone of fennel seeds and a bit of petrol. Everything happens at once with this wine, a shoegaze-esque wall of flavor that pulls every sip in a new direction. — 6 years ago

Josh Houghton

9.2

Great flavor all the way through. Not to strong in any direction — 7 years ago

Martin Mills

9.0

Still a little young with unresolved tannin but pointing in the right direction. Hint of alcohol on the nose but mostly that menthol eucalyptus note along with honeyed fruit, a hint of coffee. Dark colour mostly opaque and still youthful right to the edge. The palate is mostly fruit, fig, more herbs, quite dry but in a dark chocolate kind of way, that is, more-ish. — 8 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.1

This one went in the opposite direction of the Baudry—shut down a bit with some air. Not sure whether it maybe needs more time? — 3 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

With Pinot Noir direction André Perret Saint Joseph Syrah 2017 @4620, Academy D, 240323 — 2 years ago

Mark S.

9.0

A bit sweet but still tannic. It would be matured to this direction. Le Rocche Dei Barbari Riserva Alivio Barbaresco 2012 @, Boboli, 211125 — 5 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

Silky, smooth Right bank style blend of 53 Merlot, 29 Cabernet Franc 13 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 Malbec and 1 Petite Verdot from the Stillwater creek Vineyard Blueberries, Vanilla, blackberry jam and fine tannins.p95 points Wine SpectatorbrThis has great presence, offering a dense cloud of blackberry, cherry and spice flavors that hover over a sleek frame of fine tannins, with just enough acidity to keep it fresh. The finish sails on beutifully. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petite Verdot. Winemaker Lance Baer founded Baer Winery in 2000 with a single passionato bring something unique to Woodinville. After years of working with some of the most prestigious wineries in the area, Lance wanted to take his winemaking skills in his own, creative, direction. Lance succeeded in handcrafting blends distinctly his own, and in April 2003 the wineryas signature blend, Ursa, was released. Ursa, a feminine expression of red wine, predominantly Merlot and Cabernet — 5 years ago

Victor Charcan

9.3

Elegant nose of sour cherries, smoke, bacon, slate, blood. A metallic mineral hint and fantastic acidity that points you in an Atlantic direction. A beauty, at a very affordable price, if you are a Burgundy lover this is Spain’s closest — 6 years ago

Sam Cornwall

9.3

2011 vintage. Really delicious and Goes in a direction you wouldn’t expect. A little cucumber-y finish — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

As I was showing up, this bottle had already been opened for about two hours and was right at its prime. Poured a lighter straw color into the glass. The nose was very heavily honeydew and melon with a hint of lemon. Hint of straw also in this nose. The front of this wine is powerful yellow fruit. Didn't get much of a tropical note. Didn't go more the direction of grapefruit as it did guava and pear. Finished strong. Full and in-your-face. I think that this is the first Belle Cote I've had the chance to have, and definitely didn't disappoint. I was definitely not wanting to open up a white wine to compete with this one! Drink or hold, as I feel that this one has another 5-7 years left and will probably develop quite nicely in that time frame. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Keith

Michael Dierberg

9.4

Don’t open it yet! Took 11 hours to open up! But all signs point in the right direction. — 5 months ago

with JiaMin

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2009 vintage. Smelled a little hot and saline along with some dill and fresh mint leaf in the nose. A bit of frontal palate richness along with mid-palate concentration. Finish was initially flat upon decanting but picked up some stream after an hour. 15% ABV. In a state of transition currently but headed in the right direction. Really nice blend and a very pleasant surprise. 3.11.23. — 3 years ago

Bromento Mori

9.0

I reckon it’s about in its moment, but wouldn’t be surprised in either direction. A little hint of mystery, the nose you expect, & soft & earthy & midbright to drink. For the money I reckon it’s outstanding, & for the drinking a pleasure. — 5 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.0

Very nice for the price point.

Love Albariño, am I going to the seaside, am I going Tropical, bitting lemons... ? Should we come up with a scale, like the sugar ladder on bottles of Riesling?

Slap you awake, crisp lemony acidity, some stainless, mineral in the direction of salinity but could also be a fusion of stainless and acidity, slight waxy floral.

Bright yellow synthetic cork was fun, noticeable, and investigable. Orange would be more aligned with the hues in the label, but, thats just me.
— 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

150+ years ago Giovanni Gaja opened small restaurant in Barbaresco, making wine to complement his food. 1859, he founded the Gaja Winery. Winery has been shaped by that of Angelo Gaja. Under Angelo's direction, the the native Nebbiolo grape was elevated to world-class esteem. Ruby, rich berry fruits aromas, earthy herbs. Palate, juicy cherry and raspberry with tobacco, black pepper, leather, savory tannins, great mouthfeel on rich long finish. Needs Cellaring! Tasting Sample! — 6 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.2

April 2019. Starts off with that creamy, powdery Barbera berry fruit, like a blackberry pie. On the second day, it’s redder - moving in a Nebbiolo direction, relatively speaking. Great mouthwatering acidity — 7 years ago