Doug Powers

9.8

Cork broke into two pieces, but got the bottom 1/3 carefully using a standard French waiter, no cork was left in the bottle. Color looks quite youthful for a 36-year-old Grand Cru Chablis, initially some SO2/matchstick aromas, but they blew off quickly. Followed by lemon, mineral, flavors are similar, perfect, lively acidity, great persistence and length, for Chablis I suppose 1990 was a warmer vintage (13.5% ABV), but this bottle is amazing and almost perfect, WOW!!’ — a month ago

with Jim

sasha

9.4

VvNp. Puts all the pieces together. Excellent balance of fruit, acidity and tannins with full body — 2 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.3

First time trying this Merlot. Dark ruby. Slightly floral, dark red/black fruit, oak, vanilla. Really nicely structured, all the pieces fit really nicely. Could still use a few years to soften these dense chewy tannins, but I bet will be nice after time in the glass. Dark plum, blackberry cobbler, oak, spices. Really drinks very nicely. Nice thick mouthfeel with a good med-long finish. — 4 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.5

Celebrating another publication this year, for a total of 13 pieces: 10 short stories and 3 installments of the beverage column, Liquid Carriage at No Contact.

Described to me by the owner and resident vino at Frankly in TriBeCa as an electric Chenin that changes over a few days from slightly bready to fresh and zippy to Burgundian-like.

I had to experience this chameleon of flavors.

Fresh Focaccia on the nose. Bready and boozy in the bouquet. Aromas of tropical fruit, papaya and lemongrass.

Super well balanced, fresh acid, nice RS, beautiful softness like rose petal mouthfeel.

Love this. So much. — 5 years ago

Lindsay Corrigan

8.9

Enjoyable PN with unusual tasting notes. Nose was light maraschino cherry & brown sugar essence. Appearance is transparent electric red & legs are skinny. A debate on tastes between myself & my trusty intern...I had splash of raspberry with flavour of Kahlua throughout mouth & end of sweet chilli warmth. The intern had flavours of Lowney’s chocolate Cherry 🍒 Blossom nugget bar. Maraschino Cherry + syrup, milk chocolate, shredded coconut and roasted peanut pieces. #Grasshopper👏🏻 well played. Bargain @ $15 🍷! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

On the nose, deep, dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dry cranberries, some blue fruits with baked strawberries on the edges. Black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, dark spices, smoke, softer leather, dry stems, dry rich soil and fresh & withering flowers.

The body is much fuller than the 14. The fruits are also darker. The tannins are big, firm but nice rounded. dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dry cranberries, creamy raspberries come on as it opens open and coats the palate, some blue fruits with baked strawberries on the palate edges. Black licorice, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, caramel, dark & milk chocolate dark spices, mint, expresso roast, tobacco, cedar, smoke, softer leather, dry stems, dry rich soil, tarry notes, crushed rocks and fresh & withering flowers. The structure, tension are more like 13 vintage. The length & balance is beautiful but, will take time to flush out. The finish is big, rich, elegant, glorious and lasts minutes.

Their Winemaker is Aaron Potts. Small production wine, under 500 cases.

Photos of; the several ton Artwork stones that they use as their logo & brand. The seven stone pieces are held together by gravity. Human relaxing art piece on the grounds, painting in the winery and the view from the Estate. — 8 years ago

ESF

10

birth year treat with close friends: oxidized magical goodness, still had freshness & acidity, cornucopia of flavors & aromas ranging from oloroso sherry to port. bottles are meant to be drank & not stored like museum pieces — a year ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.7

Cork busted into a million little pieces. Very dark color still at this stage. Smells like berries. Black and huckleberry. Flavors are deep and elegant. Fresh despite the age. It’s got plenty of molasses and licorice/anise stuff. This is amazing still after all these years. Complex and fruit driven. Like really good black colored berries (cassis, blackberry, and huckleberry). Tasty, tart and delicious. — 2 years ago

Louis Martin

8.9

Smooth, clear, simple, perfect to sip as a palate cleanser between Omakase pieces. — 4 years ago

Iwan

9.2

Quite remarkable for a 46 year old bottle. The cork was completely saturated and brittle and came out in multiple pieces. After smelling at first I was sure that the bottle was corked and the wine may be vinegar. But the taste is still vinbrant, and if I had to guess I would have said that it’s half its age at most. Still a rich burgundy color, vibrant acidity, a little red fruit, eucalyptus and some of the tertiary notes you would expect. I really had no expectations and and was pleasantly surprised. — 4 years ago

Matti Jokelainen

9.2

I know it's too young, I know it's traditionally made and should be opened post 10y mark. But it's just so darn delicious barbaresco. All the bits and pieces of exceptional young Barbaresco are there; sweet fruit, nose to die for, palate cleansing acidity and almost powdery and still perky tannins framing the package. Just flat out great stuff! — 5 years ago

D Scher

9.2

1984 vintage. Cork difficult to extract, ended up in several pieces. Beautiful deep color, little to no bricking even at this age. Seductive at one hour+ of air with black cherry, raspberry, some vanilla, green pepper, graphite. 12% ABV. From the FIL’s collection. — 6 years ago

Daniele Cuzin

9.4

YES we had the 1980 on November 2018 for Thanksgiving with the family. Amazing still awesome but it was time to open it, the cork was in pieces. This one was a gift for MP’s birth year and it is 38 old! — 8 years ago

Greg Koslosky

9.4

All the pieces in place for greatness and starting to drink now . — 8 years ago

JKT

8.9

Still ok but a bit disjointed with interesting pieces not quite fitting tighter or together — a year ago

Doug Powers

9.7

Cork came out in 3 pieces, but no cork pieces left in bottle. Color is still medium-red, very faint browning on edges, massive cedar and cigar box aromatics, some pencil lead as well shows on palate, medium-weight, lovely balance, long, lingering finish, great older Bordeaux. Purchased at release for a song ($125/case) still have 5 left, this is one of my all-time favorite Pauillacs in the “non-1st, non-super 2d” category, amazing juice!! — 2 years ago

with Jim

Carly

8.9

3rd anny (Pieces of Her watch) & First Mother’s day! — 4 years ago

Brian Kostreba

8.9

Good fruit, graphite, leather, tannins quick to the tongue. The only problem was the cork broke into 3 pieces with the wine key, tried an ah-so to extract the third piece stuck in the neck but pushed through into the bottle. Ran it through a screen and consumed. Paired with a prime rib & spuds. — 5 years ago

Jared O'Connell

8.9

Cloudy AF. Super sour in a way that matched the tartness and gaminess of a yogurt sauce on lamb meatballs. Ocean spray & hi-c juice. — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

@Dominik SonaYou're the best! Walks off into the cellar, comes out carrying a massive bottle in a sleeve that could barely cover the label. I just love how ridiculous magnum riesling bottles look! I mean, we could see that it's a Koehler-Ruprecht for sure and the table shot straight to a warm vintage on the first sip (warm finish). Didn't take long for Franzi to identify the vintage and the rest of the pieces fell together subsequently (the body = spatlese, forget identifying the "R"). Guess making wines at the winery itself helps 😂

What to say about this wine? It's pretty intense, but the acidity and minerals kept it in check. Finely strung with pitch-perfect tension. This is the kind of wine that needs very little to push it over the edge into the hedonistic territory. Begs for time (like other 09's), as it's true elegance only revealed itself with air (bring on the crushed rocks and chamomile!). The nose is deep, with exotic fruit aromas, flint, toasted almond, florals, and that classic KR funk. Immense palate with lots of lychee and grapefruit, plus superb minerality with air. Creamy and long finish. Yes, the wine finishes a little warm and could be touch more focus, but it's a real class act for 09'! Power without weight, if you ask me. — 7 years ago