Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nose is bright dark fruit and bright red florals. Dark core of black currents, blackberries, dark cheeries, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, light baking spices, melted, dark chocolate, baking soda, dry tea leaves, dry pebbles, black rich earth, stems, some mid berry licorice, almost candied dark flowers with red & pink roses.

The palate reveals the elegance of St. Julien straight away. It’s beautiful. Core of black currents, blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, light baking spices, melted, dark chocolate, dark spices, clove, some cinnamon, vanillin, baking soda, dry tea leaves, dry pebbles, black rich earth, stems, moist tobacco, used leather, barrel shavings, mix of dry & moist clays, volcanic minerals, some mid berry cola/licorice, dark, almost candied dark flowers, red roses. Excellent acidity with beautiful elegance, well balanced, nicely tensioned/structured finish that lands on florals, ripe fruits and nicely resolved earth.

You can drink now with a good decant and will last 2+ decades. Better things lie ahead in 5-8 years. 92+ in time. — a day ago

Vino Joe

9.7

Even more fantastic than the previous bottle of 2010 I enjoyed a year ago. Decanted and enjoyed over 7 hours. This was good from first pour but became great and then magnificent over the next 3.5 and 7 hours. It was still full of verve on the last sip! Early only it was more dark fruit but over time the wines softened and became a bit sweeter and rounder. Tremendous length and complexity. — 21 days ago

Scott Soren

9.5

At nine years old it’s still quite young. Deep garnet, color, robust nose. This is a pure pleasure a good blend of power and elegance. I will drink for the next 20 years.  — 22 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 1991 | Year of birth wine | Autumn leaves, leather, cedar in smell, elegant taste. Difficult year of the April frost. Still a joy to drink, although the wine misses tension now | paired with beef loin and shitake — 8 days ago

Steve Rura

9.5

40 year old vines. Blend of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. 13.5% abv. Feels so young for a 2016! Red berries, spice, raisin and fresh greens on the nose. Delicate palate, underripe raspberry and red currant, with a refined long herbal finish and bitter notes. Great soft, tingly tannins. Excellent Bordeaux, I have to say. St Julien style. I’m amazed at how fresh this tastes after almost a decade. — 20 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.2

Pretty big wine. Good tannin. A lot of cedar, tobacco, red berry, maybe some flowers, shaved dark chocolate, cherry compote. Will be interesting to see how it evolves. — an hour ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Drinking well with its perfumed aromatics, fruit & spice that needed some air to open — 7 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Welcome to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

2012 in Bordeaux is a great memory as Sofia & I had a great 5 year anniversary trip to Italy where we were married, ending in Bordeaux. Picking Mouton Merlot for a day, lunch with the Baroness, having steak and sipping 82 Mouton. Pinch me is what I said to Sofia.

Saint Julien is the elegant region on the Left Bank. While 2012 was an ok to good vintage it will always be packed with great memories.

Branaire-Ducru in grand vintages is still a great value. Always elegant with this kind of bottle age and more.

Hour decant starting notes.

Tonight smooth, ripe, round, juicy; brambly blackberries/black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black plum, some strawberries, raspberries with blueberry tones. Dry tobacco with ash, leather, spice box with some heat, lightly grilled meats, volcanics, moist clay, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, light vanillin, mid berry cola, dark chocolate bar, forest floor with leaves, sandalwood, steeped black tea, bay leaf, dry thyme, mocha powder, dry caramel, crush, dry rock/limestone, dry river stone, bright red flowers mixed with dark withering flowers, nice round acidity and a balanced, smartly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on herbs & earth. — 23 days ago

Roberto Anesi

9.4

Frutto scuro, evoluzione, tanto mentolo. Rotondo. Elegante, tanino ancora ruvido. Molto molto buono — 19 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

The second wine of Chateau Montrose. 91 but if I rounded up with more time in the glass, 92.

Nose not entirely expressive. Not a surprise as this Chateau makes wine for the ages. Nice soft fruits of, dark cherries, blackberries & strawberries. Sandstone, dry herbs, some light non distinct earth with bright red flowers, red roses framed in dark, dry flowers.

The palate is good but is begging to remain in bottle. Nice soft, ripe, fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries. Dark chocolate bar, some chocolate pudding, moist clay, dark spices w/ just a touch of heat, moist herbs-sage, sandalwood, dry tobacco, little in the way of baking spices-clove leading the way, mocha, very little caramel notes, dry top soil, river stone, withering to dry, dark, red flowers with liquid violets, beautiful acidity and a well knitted/made, balanced, nicely tensioned finish that lands on some fruit, clay & soft spice.

Very good value here but would not open one for another 10 years. — a day ago