From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 4 years ago
Boom! The 2016 Alexander Valley is so good! Big fruit, beautiful nose, great balance, so well crafted and simply delicious! And for the price it really is a steal. Excellent the second night as well. Need to get some mote! Well done! Cheers! — 6 years ago
It was simply fantastic! — 7 years ago
Smooth and not sweet! Love it! And I appreciate that it announces it is unoaked. I wish more brands would announce that for those of us that don’t like the oak, buttery flavor — 8 years ago
10/21 disgorgement is simply perfect, rocking tonight and unmistakable with its infinite layers of red berry fruit, blood orange and chalky minerals that wrap around the palate, with incredible texture, density and intensity before its forever finale. The best. — 3 years ago
Joseph Phelps Insignia 2008: Bold. Rich. Stunning. Velvety black fruits. Mocha. Eucalyptus. Leather. Consisting of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot & 4% Merlot, this was the perfect 1.5L of pure liquid greatness. What better way to celebrate two milestone events but with this extremely special bottle. Simply the finest Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blend ever! Happy Birthday mom & Happy belated 50th Anniversary! Cheers🍷 — 5 years ago

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve!!! 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️
Maybe, it’s the Christmas spirit and/or I really needed a good glass Rosé Champagne tonight but, I don’t recall this ever tasting better. Could simply be a better disgorgement? Ah, I’ll just say it’s Christmas Magic! Cheers! 🍾🥂
Shots around the house listening to our Christmas Eve Mix.
Yup, that’s my Wine Snowman! ⛄️
Be pairing this later with the Shari’s Chocolate Covered Strawberries that arrived today.
12/23/20. — 6 years ago
2017. Decanted 4+ hours. Pains me to not give one of my favorite labels a 95+, but this hot vintage is simply missing the red fruit to go with all the rustic leather and barnyard funk that makes Pegau so unique. Rich but not sure fruit is going to come around. Discounted- $50 at Wine Library, elsewhere. — 6 years ago
The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 8 years ago
Simply remarkable- as it should have been for the $$$. Top notch Cali Cab. — 8 years ago
Simply WOW!! I have now experienced the pleasure of tasting my initial First Growth Bordeaux. Simply unbelievable! 90% Cabernet Sauvignon. Highly aromatic! A lovely nose of violets, pencil shavings, cigar box, and red and black berry fruit. The pallet is red fruit forward with accents of cooked blackberry, and Belgian chocolate. It also features beautifully soft tannins and perfectly integrated acidity. This is an experience that I will never forget. Thank You so much, Petey! Merry Christmas, 2021! — 5 years ago

The 2008 R. Lopez Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia Reserva’ Rioja is a marvelous effort from this challenging vintage in La Rioja. The wine is a complex blend of Tempranillo (75%), and Garnacho (15%), with Graciano and Mazuelo (5%) that was aged for six years before bottling. The wine is might be showing a bit more depth and concentration than the ’07 bottling while the ’07 is slightly more geared towards finesse. Deep white truffle and wild blackberry notes combine with shades of cinnamon, orange rind and sour kirsch on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is wonderfully viscous and concentrated. Layers of sour red and ark fruits collide with minerals, smoky terroir and shades of blood orange zest and peat moss on this simply gorgeous palate. Rich and layered, yet having a sterling sense of tension, this magical new wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — 6 years ago
This wine was opulent, elegant, and simply spectacular. Milk chocolate, black cherries, and cassis. If you are lucky enough to have a bottle, you are in for a treat. — 7 years ago
Wow, just wow, this is simply one of the best wines I have tasted. Toasty nose, big and rich without being heavy, perfect with everything on the table, awesome experience! — 8 years ago
David Hale Smith
Simply perfect — 4 months ago