Shay A

9.2

92-93 for me.

Consumed half bottle at pop, then corked for another 4hrs before consuming the rest. No change.

What a beautifully elegant and refined ‘09. The highest compliment I can give this is that it was a simplistic joy. Some wines make it easy to get nerdy and command your attention…some wines are underwhelming and not worth your time. This was squarely in the middle. It was a joy to not feel the need to overthink…it’s exactly what it should be. No bricking at almost 15yrs. Decidedly black fruit heavy (black currant, cassis, underripe blackberries) with a sprinkling of raspberries and black cherries. Aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, dark florals. Integrated on the palate with good structure and acidity…not a massive wine, but it put on a bit of weight/length the longer it was open. Still sporting a fair bit of tannin at the finish, but it’s balanced. Drink or hold. — 9 months ago

DANIEL SMITH

9.2

Juicy peachy tang — 3 years ago

Mark S.

9.1

Gentle aroma. Black currant. 1 hour decanting is not enough. Drinkable but 2 hours is better. But we can enjoy change over time. Black currant. Inky. Robust structure. I don’t know why it is 8.9. It is ok to keep it for more years. 2006 @2500, Ruth Chris, 220113 — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.3

I compared this 2016 BdB to the 2017 Haliotide Late Disgorged BdB to get a feel for styles. Followed over two days with no change.

One of the better Ultramarine wines I’ve had, and definitely pre-funk. I feel like the last few vintages have shown a lot of bottle variation and sometimes a green/herbal profile, mostly in the BdN and BdB (never in the rosé, that’s my favorite wine in the portfolio).

The older vintages always had a distinct cream-soda aromatic to them that I loved, and this has it in spades alongside truffle Honeycomb and spiced apple. Oxidative flair but not an overly oxidative sparkler. Great depth and richness here…almonds, lemon cream, caramel-green apple. Wears the low dosage so well. Broad on the palate (in a good way). I’d be fine drinking this without food. Tasty. — 9 months ago

Kate

9.6

After decanting this was amazing. Needed a change from California wine. This was bold with a softness. Good price compared to the crazy mark ups of California wine. Was at a chain steakhouse. — 2 years ago

Seiji Takeuchi

8.9

I normally don't buy Bordeau wines, but for a change. Deep dark wine red. Oaky with tannin, and dark fruit note. Decanting should make it better (I just don't care much...). Cericiers means cherry trees, according to google. Should have noticed the cherry. — 3 years ago

Colleen

9.0

Semi-sweet juicy juice with some sulfur — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.9

Redfruit aromas and flavors, this is still hopelessly young, though the tannins have softened a bit and it seems to be inching towards maturity, impeccable balance and great depth of flavors, super long, lingering finish, just an absolutely fantastic, old school California mountain Cabernet. I have always believed this to be the best Dunn Howell Mountain ever made (I’ve tasted 1981-1992, with a distinct style change towards riper and higher ABV starting around 1992, after which I stopped buying the wine). $15 full retail when I bought it in late 1984. — 2 years ago

with Jim

Bobby Gilbane

9.9

Whatever day was today, that’s the day to open this wine. That’s my main take away. You could squirrel this away like some sort of miserly bastard waiting for the winter king to slay your enemies but who the F has time for that shit. Get on with your life, share this divine juice with as many people as possible so long as it’s no more than 3 and change the whole trajectory of your month. — 3 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.2

What a wine and did not show it’s 43 year age at all. The color was very dark with no brick edge. The nose was a bit subdued but had the typical berries, herbs and meat notes that carried over to a very tasty wine. The finish was okay not super long but long enough.

I started buying Beaucastel maybe a few years before this 1978 vintage and in Parker’s reviews of the 1978 vintage was a consistent hold but he did change his mind years down the road and said it was over the hill; well not by a long shot. I constantly purchased 2 or 3 bottle of every vintage till the price was out on my reach in 2001. I also had visited the winery in about 1990. The real kicker with this vintage is the current price estimates of $150 to about $250, current vintages run $80+ and I purchased this bottle for $11.99.
— 3 years ago

with Matt and Barbara