Doug Powers

9.3

[En magnum] This was aerated for 3 hours, and is still currently quite closed and structured, works great with the UCD Meat Lab rib roast, but needs a fair amount of cellaring to soften. — 5 months ago

with Monique and Jim

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Quite smoky & raw. Gravel & raw cacao. The fruit really hidden right now. Barely hinted. After some time a bit of cassis emerges.
Dense on the palate. And quite burly. Big tannins, juicy yet very present. Great depth. Roast, cacao, very masculine.
This is way too early to drink this, still needs time to settle down. Brilliant but way too young. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Last Sunday lunch with Roast Lamb. A 20 year old Rioja fitted the bill nicely. A blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. Aged in new French and American oak for 24 months. Aromatics of tobacco leaf, plum, ashphalt and a bit of tar. A medicinal note the following night. The palate is medium to full bodied with berry, plum and liquorice. Resolved Tannins - quite fluid. This was Wine Spectators No. 1 wine for 2013 and now drinking at its peak but could go on for another 5 years on the evidence of this superb wine. — a year ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Really excellent. From half bottle and was worried this would be too far gone. Certainly doesn’t need more time - but still quite together. Pretty minerally (in a nice St Julien way). Lighter bodied at this point but still with a nice lifting acid at the finish. Excellent pairing with a simple roast chicken with lemon. — 6 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.6

Vintage 1989 | unbelievable youghtful, cedar, tobacco, spiced cherries, extremely balanced, a joy | with duck breast and beetroot | at Hofstede De Blaak Tilburg — 9 months ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.4

2010 is in such a lovely place right now. Such freshness and so fragrant (opened an hour before Xmas dinner): raspberries, red and black currant, bing cherry, geranium, anise seed, dill, potting soil, sandalwood, cocoa butter, cayenne pepper, cumin, iron. Paired with herb-crusted, slow roast pork butt, heirloom beans, turnips and chard (aka Christmas carnitas). — 2 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

So dark & brooding, savoury, earthy. Going through a less fruity phase right now. Dark earth, bit of roast, rosemary, sage, a faint whiff of black fruit. Yet there’s purity here. And incredible energy.
On the palate this is youthfully burly, with a powerful tannin frame. Yet the tannins are juicy, fine, polished. And the acidity within - zingy & fresh. There’s character & depth here. And tension. Great balance & length.
This is way too young but will evolve beautifully - I’m sure of that.
An incredible savoury Sangiovese that just begs a solid piece of meat!
I so much prefer this style to the plush, shiny modern Brunellos. — 3 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

What a pair w/ Crostini, Chervil Sheep Cheese & Duck Confit. 👌

Dark, juicy, lush to mid fruit core, dark cherries, strawberries, hues of blueberries, raspberries, limestone, softened granitic earth, deeper red cola, black & red licorice, baseball card bubble gum, understated fresh herbs, dark, rich, sweet earth, hints of maple syrup, tree bark w/ sap, dark & red florals for days, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, relaxed tension, polished, lush finish that lasts 90 seconds. Delicious.

This is better than some premier cru red burgundies for far less $.

Absolutely one of the top three producers of Grand Cru Gamay. — 7 months ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Really delicious. Wasn’t sure what to expect at this stage, have others in storage for some evolution but this was wonderful tonight. Opened the bottle 7 hours before but no decant and it was very giving. Somewhat pale in the glass but so much red fruit on the nose and the palate. Almost feels slightly carbonic in terms of how it is expressing but I don’t think it actually is. Incredible length and freshness on the finish - great acid. Excellent pairing with a Tuscan style roast chicken and mushrooms. — 2 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Dark, brooding, almost fruitless. Deep and yet fresh.
Classic Bandol on the nose with leather, spices, garrigue, roast, dried mint and just barely a hint of dark, ripe, creamy blueberries & cassis.
On the palate this is supple, mid-weight, rich with pronounced yet so finely polished tannins. Juicy & fresh, poised and with great depth. A iron fist in a velvet glove.
Surprisingly accessible right after opening yet gains complexity & depth with time. A brilliant food wine! And great value, too!
Love it!! — 3 years ago