Brandon Boesch

9.5

Excellent! Great balance with plum and some darker sweeter fruits, some woodsy notes, so good with food. — 5 months ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Huge -not we was amazing. Notes of rose petals and dark fruit and berries. A hint of hibiscus. Drinking really well still tons of life left. The last bit - perfumed and elegant - the rest will wait another 5-10 years. Really fun to drink. — 10 months ago

with David

Jody Scharf

9.2

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

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Albeit young, 2008 Cristal is drinking very well at this point in time, even if unsurprisingly not yet showing all that it can be. Drank solo over the course of 3 hours in a Burgundy glass, it had plenty of time to evolve and express. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 08 Cristal flaunts a gorgeous bouquet of fresh white flowers, yellow orchard fruit, baking spice, vanilla bean and crushed seashells. The palate is searingly intense with ripping citrusy acids, incredible elegance and pin point precision in its delivery before giving way to a saline and mineral infused finish that just keeps going. Again, very young, no doubt, and while already terrific, it’s easy to see what the fuss is about and how special the vintage will be down the road. But in my opinion there’s no harm in drinking now if you accept and enjoy the stage it will be in. — 3 years 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. — 7 months ago

Ian Hamel

9.1

2023 fall. Very young - quite powerful and primary, even more so than usual at this stage, but I somehow enjoy that — 2 years 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! — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple/ inky in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose of black fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice, light earth, herbs, spices, tobacco, chocolates, mocha, light perfume, cola and peppercorn.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity, with black plums, black currants, blackberries, dark chocolates, coffee, cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, light earth, herbs, peppercorn and tobacco leaf.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is already very approachable and good right out of the bottle. Nicely balanced with a beautiful nose.

Complex and fruit forward. Rich and extracted. Elegant with a nice mouthfeel.

Better after a couple of hours of airtime, when more earth notes show up to compliment the fruits.

I've had a few vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

A good wine to pair with a big piece of steak, but also a nice sipping wine.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 9 months ago

with Donald

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

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. — 3 years ago