Ron Siegel

9.4

Youthful that will need more time but a great future — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Cassis and oak - the latter quite noticeable. From a ripe year where the fruit should be apparent but at the moment the oak dominates - mocha notes, but then again still has a huge future. Amazing what a solid core of self contained full body this has for 16 years of age, but still of profound intensity - dark chocolate and black currant. Will go on for literally decades - only have 2 left. Penfolds “Rewards of Patience “ say through to 2050! That is not as crazy as it sounds. This wine is close to immortal Next one in 10 years. — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2015 vintage. Decanted and tasted immediately. Very little sediment. Medium-medium-heavy body. Structure and both ample grip and fruit in a beautiful balance currently and for the foreseeable future. No rush to crush. Revisit in a decade. Wowzers. 5.17.24. — 6 months ago

Willie Carter

9.1

Deep purple with a garnet core. The nose is absolutely ridiculous with jammy fruit and earth. Blue and black berries with just a touch of cranberry for kicks. It’s so pretty.

Warm and inviting, there’s a good bit of finesse and personality here. It takes around an hour for the heat to blow off and once it does it becomes silky and more refined than you’re probably assuming. More berries and earth on the palate with some really nice spice on the finish. A fun surprise of a wine. — 9 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1995 vintage. High fill and great cork. Used a Durand. Opened but not decanted. Throwing slightly less sediment than expected. Tasted one hour after opening. Medium body. Cassis, graphite, dark plum and spring mud in the nose. All this plus an appearance of cedar and relatively fresh tobacco notes in the tasting profile. Tapered and muscular with zero fat. No flighty components evident so nothing to wax/wane over the next decade. Fairly unified now and for the foreseeable future. 8.16.24. — 3 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

PNP way too young I know. But holy cow what a funky nose right out of the gate. All sorts of green and brown vegetation, very weedy, but tons of dark fruit underneath. So soft in the mouth — which surprised me since I was expecting it to be way too tannic. Deep savory flavors. Great balance. So much character packed and stuffed into this one. Will update as it gains air.

UPDATE: As this gains air, the initial vegetative, weedy notes are being replaced with very pure blackberry liqueur scents and whiffs of smoky sandalwood.

Several wineries take fruit from the old, sandy vineyards in Contra Costa. Some make wines over 15% and the jammy fruit overshadows the other complex earthy notes. Others try to pick artificially early to get dry cranberry juice cocktail. This wine nails the sweet spot. Balance, complexity, and drinkability. — 6 months ago

Ira Schwartz

9.2

As expected petrol nose. Time in the decanter did not provide much relief. Some folks would not even taste given the nose. Once you get past the gasoline lots of material. A concentrated wine with tons of citrus fruits . Concentrated and powerful with many years to go. Singular! — 9 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2018 Vieux Château Certan, which contains 30% Cabernet Franc, has a commendable bouquet given the heat of that season. Blackberry, a touch of damson, scorched earth and light violet scents emerge with aeration. That said, it doesn't fully have the delineation of the previous vintage. The palate is powerful and typically burly for VCC, yet it has a lovely powdery texture (less silky than before) with a vibrant, peppery and persistent finish. Maybe not as opulent as it once was, but it is unquestionably one of the superior Pomerols. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2024)
— 4 months ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Lived up to their reputation. Tannins were prominent but fine and integrated and not overbearing due to the fruit intensity. Balanced and long once it breathed for 1+ hr — 6 months ago

Henry Fuseler

9.2

3/2024. Full of flavor and nice on the palate. A little “chewy”. Would like to try it again in 5 years. — 8 months ago