Eric Urbani

9.2

In magnum. Still one of my faves from Russ and always fun to tell the story (wine club gets to submit grade school photo and if you win, you get to be on every bottle for the vintage). lol. 100% Grenache from Paso. 15.8% ABV so drink responsibly. — 4 days ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Christmas day fire up with 49ers Santa and some snacks.

1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A stunning dark ruby red color with some bricking. Nose: jumping from the glass are perfumed notes of dark plum/currants, cigar box, potting soil, smoke, touch of mint. Taste: lovely, smooth, balanced, savory wine with earth, leather, dark plum, cedar, little pepper, and a minerally dark chocolate medium plus dry finish. YUM! — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Eric Urbani

9.3

Simply one of the best domestic Syrahs, from the storied Bien Nacido vineyard. — 4 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.3

Lafite Rothchild and Harlin Estate side by side tasting. Both are 2008 vintages

Lafite Rothchild - A magenta color. Initial aromas of dark black cherry and currants with beautiful floral and subtle vanilla notes. Herbaceous and leather secondary notes. Taste - blue-black fruit, licorice and cedar/tar coat the palate followed by crushed rock, minerals and mocha giving it dry med-long finish. 9.3 rating

Harlin Estate - color is a dark garnet. Nose - notes are restrained and muted. Dark fruits, perfume and dark chocolate followed by notes of graphite and planting soil. Taste - creamy and coats the palate with notes of dark fruits, chocolate espresso, pencil lead and cedar with a long dry finish. Tannins are still present giving the wine more time to age. 9.3 rating



— 8 months ago

with Leslie, Karin and 1 other

Doug Powers

9.4

Still shows some lovely primary redfruits, cassis, currants, quite tannic as well (characteristic of the 1986s I cellared), long, lingering finish, should show even better after my wife’s grilled lamb and my grilled steak come off the grill. I will say I was nervous when the final 1/8-inch of the cork severed off my old Ah-So cork puller, but not a problem!

Interesting sidebar — I purchased this upon arrival in 1989 at K&L in SF — by that time there were widespread reports of bad corks in Ducru from (at least) 1985 and 1986, so when I visited the shop I explained the situation and committed to purchasing 6 bottles, but only if I knew this batch didn’t have the cork problems — so, I said I’d pay for another bottle and we could open it together in the shop, I’d pay and also buy the other 6 bottles if it was NOT corked, and said if it was corked, then they’d pay for the opened bottle and I wouldn’t take the 6 other bottles — they agreed, we mutually tried the bottle then and there, no cork taint so I paid for 7 bottles total.

Telling the story in part because K&L has always been, IMHO, one of the classiest wine shops in the U.S., and they deserve credit agreeing to my deal (BTW, Wine Advocate had written about the cork taint issue within the preceding 3-6 months, so they were aware of the potential for it) — anyway, they’ve gotten a lot more of my business in the past 35+ years since!! — a month ago

with Jim

Brent S

9.2

Opened and stoppered in the fridge for a couple of days did this wonders. — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

2004 not the greatest Bordeaux vintage on record. Lascombes faired a bit better than norm. Paired with AB Lamb Lollipops.

The palate is round and lush. Ruby fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, dark cherries, strawberries, hints of purple & blue fruits. Round, semi-sweet lead pencil, charcoal, mixed mid berry cola, moist clay, sandstone, sandalwood, dark rich soil, dry riverstone, dark withering florals, excellent, round acidity and a well balanced, structured, nice tensioned, polished finish that lasts 90 seconds. Has another 10-15 years of good sipping properly stored. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Dark ruby red color, some purple edges, with aromas of dark fruits and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with vanilla, cedar and cinnamon spice. Fine tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, cedar and spice. — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

The follow up to the 03 Leonetti. @Paul T- Huntington Beach & I have been telling readers about older Jones Family Vineyards for some time. If you haven’t had or not tried this producer it will be the last time I try to entice to you to try this producer. Talking about it more will only drive up the prices on the secondary market.

This 09 is damn beautiful after nearly a four hour decant but it is still fairly youthful.

It is ruby, lush, gorgeous, ripe fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, plum, hues of purple, blue fruits & raspberries, poached strawberries, black licorice, mixed, dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry top soil, dry herbs, hints of eucalyptus, dry clay, dry tobacco, new leather, spice, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & vanillin, withering red & dark florals framed in violets & lavender, beautiful round acidity, beautiful; balance, tension, structured, smartly polished finished that lasts minutes.

Still needs another 5-8 years to show its best self.

The Jones Family vineyard is located off Bale Lane in Calistoga and was planted to all five Bordeaux varieties by David Abreu in the early 1990s. Heidi Barrett made the wines until 2008, and Thomas Rivers Brown now makes the wines. — 3 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Real pleasure. Started out surprisingly soft and elegant and about 1 hour in it just jumped the river and became a true grippy left bank Bordeaux. I had to check our claim that Vilafonté Bordeaux series m and c can stand shoulder to shoulder with the big rollers of Bordeaux. They sure do! Try for yourself and experience a wine from an ancient soil. You will not be disappointed. www.spokenwines.com. — 4 months ago

with Tammy