David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite.

Saskia told me they are buying an existing property or starting one new in China.

The nose reveals; ripe and slight stewed fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid=VA, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers.

The body is full and thick. This wine is just coming out of its infant stage and just starting to stretch it arms & legs. The tannins are firm, rounded with powdery dry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance show the beauty of the vintage but, the drinking window on their 2000 is somewhere between 2035-2080. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, lots of graphite, crushed rocks, limestone, dry crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry herbs, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is very good now but, if you don’t cellar 35 years from birth, you are cheating yourself out of something truly special. Its well balanced, rich, ripe and persists for days. 95 with more to come in 16-25 plus years.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 2 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for some #MerlotThursday.

This is a very young,
yet approachable, Right Bank Bordeaux with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.

Dry and fruity on the palate with wood, vanilla, earth, spices, leather, tobacco, milk chocolates, black pepper, vegetables, bitter herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy cranberries.

Already delicious and will age nicely in the next 15 years. Needs 3 hours to open up properly.

A blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — a day ago

Shay A

9.3

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

This producer was new to me. Loved it! The nose has such dark fruit wrapped in smoked/chargrilled meats. Not overly savory and zero funk, but just a killer mesh of sweet and savory. Tobacco, graphite, cassis up front with a finish of blackberry pie, leather, and herbs de Provence. This could be a wonderful wine in 7-10yrs. I called this left bank 2012 vintage. — 2 days ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is owned by the Rothschild Family.

The nose reveals; ripe, ruby, brightly floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, cedar, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals.

The body is full. It’s mouthfeel beautiful and gorgeous already. Brightly floral, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & dry cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, dry cedar plank, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, volcanic minerals, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals. The acidity is round & really nice. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting a good stride. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, beautifully floral and persists for several minutes. Needs to be held 15 years from birth and will drink through 2035+. 93 now with room for more down the road.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco and the Bay. — 2 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2010 / archetypical Haut Medoc smell with dark fruit tones, spices like laurel, forrest, a hint of a stable, even chocolate. Good acidity. And not sturdy stubborn in concentration but light footed which makes it a lovely Sunday luncheon wine. It’s not only the quality of a wine that counts but also if it matches the occasion. This is probably the most quaffable Sociando Mallet I ever tasted. / Paired with Cantonese beef and paksoi. — 6 days ago

Paul B.

9.3

Dense-ish purple with multicolor rim tinged brown from age. Needed 45 minutes to open but didn’t disappoint and was easily the headline of the night. Deep dark black cherry was present but secondary to smokey earthy goodness. A flourish of tannins integrated beautifully and lingered. A rich, dense texture that will stay with me. But still soft and so so drinkable. Med plus body and med acidity. What a great treat for me and my wife (and in-laws). A solid “A” experience for my first (somewhat aged) Bordeaux. — 5 days ago

Shay A

9.4

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

This was one of my favorites of the night. One of the best young Bordeaux’s I’ve tasted. Ripe and modern nose (fruit forward) with smoked meat and baked blackberry pie. The palate revealed cocoa/dark chocolate, baking spices and a hint of blue fruit wrapped by black fruit. Big. Will obviously get better, but was shocked how good this was now. I called this ‘12-14 Left Bank. — 9 days ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Masterclass with in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Duhart-Milton is another property the Rothschild’s own.

The nose shows, bright, ripe, candied fruits with pleasant, bright florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, strawberries & pomegranate. Tobacco notes, leather, dry brush, limestone, crushed dry rocks, beautiful red, dark fresh florals with violets.

The body is full and shows the strength of the 15 vintage but, this is one should not be enjoyed at least for 10-15 years. Tannins are fine and firm. Ripe and slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, strawberries & pomegranate. Tobacco notes, leather, dry brush, limestone, crushed dry rocks, dry river stones, black dry earth, cedar, graphite, beautiful red, dark fresh florals with violets. The acidity is really good. The structure, tension, length and balance are good now but, show greater promise down the road. The finish is very good, well balanced, elegant and persists minutes.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the City and Bay with Alcatraz. — 2 days ago

Ken Z

8.9

Drank 5/17/19. Paired with bacon cheeseburgers.

Nose of sweet plums, blackberry, and a touch of earth. Palate of blackberry liquer, over ripe plums, and a touch of leather. Perhaps it's the food pairing, but this came across as a bit ripe tonight. More of a napa palate, despite the more old world nose.

4/23/6/3/3 +50 =89 pts — 7 days ago

Shay A

9.2

Very enjoyable Wednesday Wine Committee lunch today with @Weston Eidson & @Colby Siratt hosting. Same format as always...1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine all tasted blind.

Lovely aromatics here. Mix of red and black fruit. Tar, pipe tobacco, graphite and black cherry cola. This picked up steam the longer it was open. I’d hold these. I called this left bank 2012 vintage. — 2 days ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others