Eric Urbani

9.3

This is about as far from Provence as you can get - 15.5% ABV, Grenache, fantastic depth of flavor. Great solution for a hot day to pair with food you normally drink with a red. I’m having it with beef rib BBQ that’s been in the sous vide for 48 hrs — a month ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

Nose has ripe plum, ripe blackberry, black currant, mashed black cherry, crunchy dry leaves, moist soil and mild cedar notes.

Palate has tart plum, blackberries from a heavily rainy grow season (not concentrated), dried cranberry, dried cherry, leather, touch of cocoa powder and (light) anise/licorice. Tannins are still making themselves known, but not obtrusive.

Young bottle, future bottles may be 2021-23 in hopes of more palate concentration. A lovely producer whose entire lineup is worthy of your attention. A solid wine for the vintage, embrace and be happy.

(Likely better scoring at an 8th or 10th year birthday.) — 4 days ago

Mike Saviage

9.2

Dull tawny color. Anything but dull nose. Notes of bright ripe fruit, strawberries, moist black soil, some kirsch and a little black olive. Rich and round in the mouth. Still young. Fruit comes off as a little overripe but paired well with lamb chops. — 11 days ago

Matt Sterr

9.2

Tempranillo and Sherry Barrel finishes. — 15 days ago

Shawn Thompson

9.0

A nice light Gamay, perfect for Thanksgiving. Pale garnet colour, fruity and floral with aromas of raspberry, violet, and a hint of potting soil. The palate has great acidity with some red currant and sour cherry flavours. Paired with turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes. — 5 days ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.5

Deep purple; medium plus intensity aromas of blackberry, black plum, black cherry, bramble, intense vanilla, cloves; dry, medium acid, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, full body, pronounced intensity flavors of ripe blackberry, ripe black plum, black cherry, vanilla, baking spices; long finish, very ripe, juicy and concentrated; outstanding — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

For our wedding reception in Cortona, I packed a magnum of 1986 Haut-Bages Liberal. Since then, we have bought it in all good Bordeaux years and have one on our anniversary. Sadly, I have an 86 somewhere in my EuroCave cabinets. I just couldn’t find it. It has been a challenging afternoon. Next year! A excellent vintage of Haut-Bages Liberal will just have to fill in.

The nose reveals; dark currants, heavily extracted blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, mix of purple fruits, sweet tarriness, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, cinnamon, vanilla, light clove, some dark spices, lots of steeped, dark fruit tea, fresh Provenance herbs, anise, limestone minerals, dry clay, dry top soil, dry stones, a fair amount of graphite, fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood to cedar, leathery notes, dry underbrush, bright; dark, red, blue and violet florals.

Most of the 2000 Left Bank wines typically remain tight as a drum. This is just starting to open up and ascend.

The body is full, ripe, rich, lush and showing the beauty of the vintage. The tannins are rounded but, still show plenty of teeth and meaty, sticky, tarriness. The structure & tension are just starting to relax. The length and balance are really nice and will continue to better with many years in bottle. It’s still a hold for 7–10 years for its full beauty. Dark currants, heavily extracted blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, mix of purple fruits, strawberries, sweet tarriness, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, cinnamon, vanilla, light clove, dark spices with palate heat, lots of steeped, dark fruit tea, fresh Provenance herbs, anise, expresso roast, limestone minerals, dry clay, dry, crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry stones, a fair amount of graphite, hints of black pepper, old & fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood to cedar, leathery notes, dry underbrush, bright; dark, red, blue and violet florals. The acidity is round and near perfect. The long finish is; ripe, well balanced with fruit and earth with penetrating earth/minerals and persists several minutes.

Happy Anniversary Sofia...would love to do it all over again as we did in 2012.

Photos of; the Piazza of the La Repubblica...the building we were married, us leaving for our reception and one of the better meals of our life, walking through town on the way to our reception and our wedding ceremony. — 14 days ago

Paul Hoffert

9.2

I have said it before and I am saying it again. This is a good wine. Pop and sniff shows highlights of blackberries and a touch of fall leaves. All of which remain after decanting for over an hour. On the palate you will get blackberries, cigar box, hints of chocolate, dry soil and tobacco. The finish it lovely. — 2 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

One of my favourite Champagnes. At the Come Taste the Stars Dinner hosted by Tyson Stelzer. 100% Pinot Noir. Barely a foot of top soil before the roots enter the chalk. Incredibly minerality. Egly prefers NV to vintage for the Blanc de Noirs. Disgorged 2018 with 6 years on Lees. A blend of 2010 and 2011 both average vintages incredibly. Full bodied and powerful. Stunning. Amazing value compared to the Krug Clos de Ambonnay at $4500 and 10 times the price of the Egly. — 8 days ago

Aaron Tan

9.9

An absolute privilege to have tasted this drop of liquid history. How well it showed is a testament to the provenance and ultimately, the strength of the terrior. Constantly evolving in the glass. How I wished I had more time with it. I believe my dear friend SC described the wine aptly as follow:

A 1934 Trockenbeerenauslese from Franz Karl Schmitt’s plot on Pettenthal , the same vineyard used by KPK to produce this stunning Nierstein auctioned GG in our days. The long aging time reveals here the potential of the terrior, the expression of the soil stands out and dominate the characteristics of the Pradikat, could be even a red wine blindly. The wine is nearly dry, with a refreshing mix of acidity and tannin-like bitterness (soil characteristics?), so complex and long with unique velvety mouthfeel.

NB: Found in an old cellar, unmoved from day 1 by MH, and also generously shared by him at the Keller household. I can't think of a better way to have enjoyed this wine. — 13 days ago