Ericsson

9.9

The nose is profoundly layered and regal: cedar chest, humid tobacco, graphite, and dried rose petals, unfolding slowly into red currant, black tea, sandalwood, and the faintest whisper of truffle and old parchment. It’s not about intensity; it’s about dimension…

On the palate, it is seamless and sovereign. Red and black fruits are fully resolved into essence rather than flavor; currant, cherry skin, a touch of plum; all wrapped in polished leather and earth. The tannins have dissolved into silk, the acidity remains statuesque, and the finish lingers with a calm, noble persistence that feels endless rather than long.

Chateau Margaux at its absolute summit: complete, composed, and eternal; power expressed through grace, and grace sharpened by the patience of time. Do drink now. — 18 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Showing mature flavors & drinking well! Purchased on release in 2014 — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Trader Joe’s – Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 2023
Carneros AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An entry-level Pinot Noir from Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve series, designed to be approachable and wallet-friendly, yet sourced from Carneros, a region with a strong pedigree for Pinot Noir thanks to its cool climate influenced by the San Pablo Bay.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherry, cranberry, and a touch of strawberry compote. Subtle notes of baking spice and a faint hint of cola.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, soft tannins, and moderate acidity. Smooth and approachable, leaning more toward fruit-forward than earthy complexity.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs, Margherita pizza, Mushroom risotto, Soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.

Verdict
A casual, weeknight Pinot Noir that shows off the Carneros fruit in an uncomplicated way. Don’t expect Burgundian elegance or layered depth, instead, it’s a friendly, fruit-driven Pinot that hits the right notes for its price. Cheers! — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

There are always exceptions to the rule! Usually known as a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, but this vintage is Merlot based.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, blackberries, plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, chocolates, black pepper and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cherries, light oak, spices, chocolates, herbs, coffee, licorice, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and engaging. Rich and powerful, but not extracted.

This 8 year old First Growth Bordeaux is starting to drink nicely, but feels very young and closed. Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, but already very complex and delicious by itself. Will continue to age nicely in the 25 years.

Showing good structure and quality, fruit-forward, elegant, and soft. Evolved beautifully in the glass, and gained depth and complexity as it opened up.

I had its brother/cousin, château Mission Haut-Brion, recently and it is not as earthy as the Mission was.

Tasting these kind of wines at this early stage, is always hard, but someone's got to do it.

A great sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (70% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$550. — 20 days ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Cute drawing on the label. CA villa. Nice color. Smells nice. Cranberry sauces and cherry cordial. Stems of bushes from a northwest forests. Flavors are crisp and tart. Easy drinking, but interesting. Backbone is good. — 2 months ago

Greg Andrew

9.0

10/25/25 - Steak, loaded potato & Brussel sprouts — 3 months ago

with Beth

John Van Trijp

10

Weekend with Friends and average wines…😎 wooow, FU..ING WOOOW! Maybe the best Bordeaux I ever drunk…… — 4 days ago

Nishith Jobanputra

9.2

Cork and Board. Excellent. — a month ago

Michael J Lanni Jr

8.9

A great blend of five grapes. Enjoyed with grilled chicken thighs and oven roasted mushrooms. Combo of berries and a hint of pepper. Smooth and stately finish. — 2 months ago

Jan A

9.5

Needs a lot more time! — 2 months ago