Michael Chelus

9.3

Cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus, vanilla, cassis, mossy earth and oak. Full-bodied and soft tannins. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed from red Solo cups over the course of an hour. No formal notes. At this stage, the 2015 is more than giving, full of delicious ripe orchard fruits, tiny bubbles, racy acidity and minerals. I imagine this vintage will be really easy to love over the next 20 years or so. — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This bottle of 1976 Chateau Lafite Rothschild was cellared in a wine cave part of its life and a modern cellar the more recent part of its life. The fill for this bottle was mid-shoulder and the label had been tattered from back when it was in the cave. Using a Durand, I was able to pull the cork intact and it was saturated but seemed to have done its job. The color was good and the wine was sound; in fact, it was very much alive and full of character! Opened about four hours prior to service and decanted for sediment (of which there was plenty). No formal notes. At this stage in its life, the 1976 Lafite pours a garnet color with an orange rim. The nose is straight up old-money. Classy aromas of desiccated red cherries & red currants, dried tobacco leaf, graphite, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, leather and dried baking spices. On the palate, the structure was still quite palpable with tannins till present and acid doing its job with aplomb. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and graceful with some nice stoney minerals. Drink now but well cellared examples could hold longer if you wanted…but if you’re even thinking about it, just open it! — 3 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

8.9

Still holds but needs to be drunk. No more fruit left, leather and being really light. Stage before vinegar. — 3 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.6

Medium Ruby with a pronounced bouquet of crushed strawberry and raspberry, black cherry, garrigue, leather, violet, thyme and lavender. Well balanced acidity and tannin even at this early stage and an exceptional finish. A wonderful wine with years ahead but already great. 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% “sundry others.” 14.5% abv — 4 years ago

Chris Grimm

9.2

Great wine. Higher acid, sweet fruit, seemed a bit light on tannins for a Napa Cab at this stage in the game, which I didn’t mind at all. Lots of baking spice after being open for a bit. Would be curious to see how it ages. — 6 years ago

Nick Damiano

9.3

2010 vintage. Nice and smooth, jammy blackberry and strawberry notes with good level of tannins to balance, right in the “sweet” spot between sweet and dry, long and deep finish. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Brane-Cantenac 2023 – Margaux, Grand Cru Classé, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A highly aromatic and deeply concentrated Margaux showing impressive layering, polished texture, and outstanding fruit density, with oak integration still prominent in its youth. Built for complexity and long-term evolution.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, wild blueberry, cassis, black cherry liqueur, violet petal, sweet cedar, cocoa powder, graphite, subtle vanilla and toasted spice from new oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with silky, refined tannins, dense mid-palate concentration, seamless flow across the palate, and a long, plush finish. Oak remains slightly forward at this stage but clearly destined to integrate.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, rosemary lamb, duck confit, porcini risotto, aged Gruyère or Comté.

Verdict
A seductive, high-concentration Margaux with real depth and aromatic brilliance. Oak currently rides slightly high, but the underlying fruit density and texture suggest excellent aging potential and future harmony.

🍷 Personal Pick
The perfume is intoxicating and the fruit core is massive, this just needs time for the oak to melt into the frame. Big upside once the pieces lock together. — 5 months ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.5

This is always a beautiful. At this stage it’s quite complex to understand. But it’s clear that with the time it’ll turn onto a special wine. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 3 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

hearty pinot for a cold, dark, rainy,snowy day in NJ. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Of course this is young and primary but 2015 is just so juicy and giving and offered plenty to justify an early pop, especially from a list at a good price. Previous Roumier experiences with surrounding vintages like 12, 13, 14 and 16 across the line always seem to be shut down and just simply not ready to drink. But 2015 Les Cras wafts from the glass with gorgeous floral and juicy dark fruit aromatics. The palate is pure silk with an incredible purity and focus to its ripe fruit expression and underlying mineral backbone. It saturates and wraps around the palate with stunning length, fine grained tannins and vibrant lift. Lovely at this stage, but in 10 years it’ll be a true stunner. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne is a thrilling, dense new offering from this historic house. On the nose this takes on rich brioche and baked Pazzaz apple flavors that combine with lighter kumquat and marzipan tones that all meld in the glass. Fresh and vibrant, with a remarkably silky mousse, the weight and richness of this wine is impressive, while the bright character provides a wonderful foil. Rich layers of lemon zest dusted brioche with toasted hazelnut and Gravenstein apple with lighter vanilla cream and starfruit tones seamlessly combine on the palate. As several hours develop, the wine pieces itself together more magically with the intense citrus components melding with its weighty stature. Marvelous at this stage in its development, the 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to give this at least another year of bottle development before savoring. Drink 2021-2040- 97 — 6 years ago

Mark Rosse

9.3

In its next stage. Light golden in color. More like drinking an old burgundy with a bit of frizz. — 7 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

Excellent! Great balance with plum and some darker sweeter fruits, some woodsy notes, so good with food. — a year ago

Ge Reid

9.0

Enderle & Moll Pinot Noir
Liaison 2021
Baden, Germany
12.5% ABV

German Pinot is supposed to be the next big thing, the best Pinot Noirs outside the Cote D'Or. And Enderle and Moll is reputedly its top producer , with a cult-like following in the German-speaking world. They make 3 versions, somewhat comparable to regional level , village level and grand cru, their top wine being the Buntsandstein. The Liaison is their mid-level offering from old vines up to 50 years old grown on limestone and sandstone soils. Needless to say , I've been dying to try one and see if it lives up to the hype.

On Day One , pop and pour. Very light, translucent ruby. Pretty red fruit and fresh mushroom aromas lead to a light yet intense entry on the palate with bracing , mouthwatering acidity dominating the wine at this stage. Showing more '21 Germany than Pinot character at this stage, so corked and revisited the next day.

On Day Two, this has completely transformed . The first thing noticed is that the color has become darker and deeper, and now looks like classic young burgundy. Aromas are also much more developed , with scents of Indian spices underneath the cherries , raspberries and forest floor. The tiniest hint of wood adds breadth and depth to a bouquet of classic pinosity, but with a character all its own.

On entry, this shows typical flavors of red fruit (currants , marasca cherries , cranberries ), brown spices , and sous bois in a light -bodied but incredibly intense package , with bracing acidity unlike any Pinot Noir I've ever tasted. Despite all the mid-palate energy , this has only moderate length and intensity on the finish. There's a bit of barely noticeable tannin. Built for medium term aging , it will be interesting to see if it remains balanced as it develops. Regardless , the acidity helped make it exceptionally good at the table , here paired with an herb and teriyaki roasted Salmon.

The Liaison can be found for around $30 here in the States , making it an excellent value, though California Pinot lovers might find the level of acidity shocking . While it's not going to make me think about pouring my Wilamette Valley Pinots down the drain , this is really good for the level, and really food friendly. A Pinot for Italian Wine lovers . — 3 years ago

Jon Ebsworth

9.0

The fabled 2005 showed well, not sure it will for decades though. Fruit crunch persisting and dusted tannins at this stage. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Continuing on with the Shaw and Smith tasting from the Cellar Door. Raspberries and a confectionery note with silky tannins. Similar in style to the nearby Ashton Hills which I have often bought. The 2019 S and S Pinot was a sellout. — 5 years ago

Aravind A

9.1

A very nice wine, but at this stage my least favorite of the 18 Wittmann GGs. On the nose: more yeast than the other GGs, then loads of lemon and lime and wet stone minerality. On the palate, lovely acidity, but a bit yeastier than I like, followed by lemon and lime and wet stone. Fantastic palate density, and a very long finish. — 6 years ago

Ken Z

9.7

Drank 1/18/19 at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux event in Miami.  All wines from the 2016 Vintage.

Tasting pour, no formal notes taken.  Most of these wines are very tight, and will require 5-15 years to really come together.  Many will likely improve a few points with time.

My runner up for left bank WOTN. All of the Pauillac wines tasted were fantastic, but this was a bit above most. Waves of dark fruit, lots of complexity, and fantastic length. Firm structure, but still beautiful at this stage. — 7 years ago

with JT