Shay A

9.3

Love FBalthazar’s Chaillot Cornas but never had his SS offering. I’d rather catch most SS wines in their youth to not roll the dice and get them super fresh.

Splash decanted; followed over two days.

Deep purple in the glass with hallmark Cornas aromatics…smoked meat, charcoal, dark potpourri/florals, cassis, blackberries. On the palate, the typical Cornas rusticity is more elegant, with peppered black fruits, sweet smoke, mocha, savory spices. It undoubtedly has a very “pure” profile, showing Syrah without any sort of mask. Good acid and tannin. Day two showed the mid-palate lose steam a bit, which isn’t a big surprise. Lovely bottle. If I could guarantee its evolution, this seemed like it would cruise another 7-10yrs, but who knows with SS! — a month ago

Guy Acheson

8.9

Clean. Interesting. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

It’s been a couple years since I last enjoyed the 1996 and based off this experience, it’s continuing to age gracefully.

Double decanted the night before. The wine pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, kirsch, purple flowers, tobacco, dried herbs, green pepper, old wood and gravelly earthy. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and sanguine. So much soul, it could make Marvin Gaye blush. Drink now with patience (and a long decant) through 2041. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 5 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.6

Best wine on Christmas Eve. Such great balance. Tons of fruit and earth and minerals and goodness. Great with food. — 6 months ago

Andrea Watt

8.9

Violet, blackberry, licorice, and cedar. Lighter than I expected given how dark it is. — 6 months ago

JKT

9.0

Balance and soft textures thirty years! Say ten years after acquiring from JR whose email says matriarch passing freed up this library holding back then. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Served alongside beef short rib, xo sauce, pickled mustard seed, cumin stir-fried asparagus. Yes, the 2003 Dominus is big. However, it is also balanced and showing classic Napa typicity with beautifully ripe and some slightly wizened black and red fruit, tobacco, cocoa, some purple flowers and baking spices. I found this to be quite balanced after all the air it saw. Wonderful structure for continued aging as well. Drink now through 2043. — 2 years ago

romo

9.2

Gained sweetness w air. - at Archer — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

A pair of 16’s off of Buccan’s list in PB. Way too young but started to develop slowly with air. I enjoyed both but leaned more to the Beausejour Duffau. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.6

As if it wasn’t enough to experience three separate vintages of Noël Verset; I now get to follow it up with Thiérry Allemand’s Sans Soufre! Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 “Sans Soufre” pours a deep ruby/purple with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with wild notes of pure blue fruits, blueberries and figs, mixed brambles, Fun Dip stick, purple flowers, spiced meat, chanterelle mushroom, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. The structure remains monumental giving me the impression that this could easily see its 50th birthday. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Another great btl that improved with air showing mostly black fruits, full bodied with notes of currant, mocha, cedar, leather & tobacco — 6 months ago

Steve Reiss

9.0

Merry Christmas Y'all 🎅 — 6 months ago

Galen Hasler

9.2

Rich full body, lovely acidity, stone fruit with hints of nut and sherry, soft tannins — 7 months ago

jochen rueckert

8.9

Nice. Sometimes of tastes like a pinau d'aunis — 10 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Soft and good secondary notes. Quite subtle. Delicate lemon and oyster shells. Calm and pretty. Slightly disappointed but changing a lot with air in the glass — a month ago

with Gregg and Rick

Jack Petras

9.2

Had zero expectations for this wine at a party featuring lost bottles from your cellar. It was like a raspberry preserve that you canned 10 years ago and still has the essence of that years growing season. An unexpected joy. — 2 months ago

David Valenti

9.0

This one's 11 old and still has it. Nose on the downside, but it still has it. Amazing palate, full of smoke, wood, meat and tobacco. Lingers playfully, with a pinch of acidity in the aftertaste. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium lemon yellow , though within expectations for a 22 year old white Burgundy . Touches of smoky butter , lemon peel, red apple , ginger, chalky with wet stones and a touch of hazelnut . Complex , open and inviting on the nose , some development but still quite fresh and lively . On the palate this is intense with good grip , again showing the freshness from the nose , lemon peel , chalky , touch of white peach, sea breeze and lightly toasty finish . Long refreshing, mineral tinged finish . Perfect now , though benefits from air , becoming more mineral and focused with time and will continues to show well over the next 5 -8 years , maybe longer . — 5 months ago

Carter White

9.1

Pristine fruit 🍒 — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3 years ago (9.6). Nice fill. Durand used to open. Cork 95% saturated with extensive bottle rim cleaning involved before pouring. Not decanted. Tight, minty nose throughout along with a decided, lingering zinc note under the tongue at the finish line. Tasted 2 hours after opening. Power but without delineation. Just a consistent, forgettable push. Nothing wrong with the wine...it just needed more air/time and a decant but it wasn't my call. Feel like the zinc flavor would have dissipated/blown off with more time. Good but more memorable for what it wasn't vs what it was. Pity and an entire wasting of what could have been. 11.21.25. — 7 months ago