Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Owned in collaboration with Chris Ringland, Jorge Ordonez, Miguel Gil and others, located in Valley of La Aragona inside the Murcia district of Jumilla. Very dark Ruby, purple edges with floral fruit aromas & floral spice. On the palate blueberry & sweet black cherry flavors, savory with great mouthfeel, 24 months aging on French & American oak, the 70% Monastrell & 30% Cab Sauv has fine soft tannins, well integrated with oak, long finish ending with mineral tones, Will age well! — 12 days ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

The 1995 Lynch-Bages has a well-defined bouquet with intense blackberry, undergrowth and tobacco scents. Bold and lifted, this is a nose that wants to make an impression. The palate has more concentration and tannic backbone than others in this era. Dark berry fruit mixes with cola and black pepper, and tobacco comes through toward the finish with an austere, grippy finish. This would benefit from decanting for a couple of hours and is a bit of a bruiser, though not without charm. Tasted blind at the Lynch Bages vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023) — 9 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Deep scarlet color, almost opaque. Sweet fruit nose. Notes of red and black fruit, spice, some wood and moist dark earth. Has great complexity in the mouth. Awesome juice, but this bottle of the 61 did not reach the superlative heights of others we've had of this. — a year ago

Randall Brater

9.0

Coffee, vanilla, plums, raisins on the nose. Light to medium fruit with hints of coffee, caramel, toasted oak, and a hint of tannins. This has a nice balance of fruit, spice and tannins, but is a little light for my taste. This bottle is quite enjoyable, but Hartford has others that are better. — 3 years ago

Brian Saunders

9.6

I guess I’m drinking this too soon! Need to better manage the cellar… tremendous fruit on the nose as I decanted that became more vegetal with time. Bright and leathery on the tongue, rich and luscious in the mouth. Strong tannins — easy to see how others are enjoying it at twice the age. — a month ago

Shay A

9.4

Forgot I opened one of these earlier in the year. Whoops. Wish I had more.

Hour decant, then consumed from decanter over the next 3hrs.

My note here is fairly similar to the 2014 note, but there is more concentration and power going on. Dark purple in the glass, with aromatics of both sweet oak as well as a kiss of whole cluster stem inclusion. Loads of dark floral notes, ripe blackberries, and smoked jerky. Large-scaled mid palate depth and richness of blue and black fruits with plenty of herbal flair and spice but it’s more iron fist in a velvet glove style. There’s black peppercorn and iron, as well as big central coast Rhône style with its rich and textural palate.

I love Syrah in all expressions. It’s natural to compare these wines to SQN (and Andremily), and rightly so. These are dialed up to 9, but pull back, whereas the others aren’t afraid of going to 11. No right/wrong answer, just style preference. I happen to love both. — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A joint venture of Jorge Ordonez, Bodegas Borsao and others, in conjunction with Chris Ringland. Dark Ruby with dark berry fruit aromas, from 40+ year old vines and aged for 16 months in oak. On the palate flavors of ripe plum and black fruits with cacao, spice and smoky notes. Soft tannins, vivid acidity ending with gentle oak spice on the long finish. Wines from Spain are superb and at great values, especially Bodegas Alto Moncayo wines. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Amazing pair w/ my Braised Short Ribs. Savory meets savory fruits.

Photos of; Pierre, staff and Sofia & I in La Landonne Vineyard, the process of Short Ribs.

The one mineral you see in this vineyard with some prevalence that I’ve not seen in others is quartz. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah & Mourvedre, deep Ruby with aromas black fruits and floral notes. On the palate flavors of plum and blackberry with notes of cacao, spice and earthy notes. Medium+ finish, fine tannins, great mouthfeel (15.2 ABV), ending with fruit and earthy spice, nice! — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Served blind alongside what was eventually revealed to be the 1971 Mouton Rothschild. This almost had me leaning Napa by a classic producer due to the gorgeous fruit and generous, scratch that, lavish use of new French oak. After careful deliberation with those at the table with more experience drinking Mouton both young and old, I was able to come alongside the others that this was indeed young Pauillac. All the cassis, cigar box, tobacco and baking spices ones heart could desire with some of the loveliest acid. Speaking of, the structure still has quite a grasp of this one but with all the lovely fruit, everything is in brilliant balance, even at 18 years young. Given that, I expect this wine to drink well for decades to come, particularly since secondary characteristics have hardly entered the chat. Definitely a wine I hope to enjoy many more times over the years but so grateful I got to try now. — 10 months ago