Dave

9.1

This is hitting the spot tonight. Probably because I'm back in my own home with my lovely wife. But, the wine is super pleasant. At 12 years, this Syrah shows bright red fruit, apple skins, a little herbal spice, and a touch of tar on the back end. It's very good, and probably in its prime.
Listening to Duke Ellington — 5 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Bought at an estate sale & guessing from the 70’s, but if any Madeira enthusiasts out there know a trick to figure the year, I’m all ears(the foil capsule is wrapped with a printed number ending in 72, which one Bourbon fan suggested is the year). Fresh as a daisy: date, dried fig & prune, roasted tamari almonds. In sweet style but the acidity is there, keeping a nice snap between the flavors & a moderately unctuous texture. A simple Madeira to begin with, but nothing like simple pleasures. Had at sunset w friends, munching on cocoa dusted & roasted cinnamon almonds, & Parmesan. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

One barrel made from a single vineyard. Debut vintage. OMFG what a nose. Jumps so high out of that glass Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina had scouts at the winery when it was being bottled. A nose that is hard to describe but I’ll attempt it. Just stunning. Gorgeous mulberry, mid season cherries, some sour cherries but it’s all ripe and perfect. Layers and layers of spice, hint of sweet oak that is so so alluring. Man this smells like a great all time great Burgundy. A stunning stunning nose. Tree bark, Tolkien middle earth elements. I love it. What a palate. This is Grand Cru all the way. Incredible spice and beautifully elegant and sappy, sweet fruit that does not quit. Silky and with a gorgeous hidden structure. Amazing palate presence and leaves one’s palate stained with such intensity you get impatient waiting for it to clear so you can sip it again. Wow what texture. Like a silky velvet. Explosive sweet fruit. It is young and also accessible but has the potential to age 15+ years. Amazing wine. Gorgeous, lithe tannins and incredible freshness gives this a wonderful buoyancy. As this opens the texture becomes more haunting and the persistence is just beyond. This is one of the greatest German Pinots I have had. Stunning beyond belief. The length is crazy. I need a restraining order on this wine or it won’t leave my palate alone. Judge! — 7 years ago

Kyton Blair

9.5

Lots of structure from the grapes that have mellowed to allow all that black and red jammy fruit to shine. Well worth the wait — 9 years ago

Rahul Mukherjee

9.5

Pop and pour sampler before decanting ahead of Duke/UNC. Amazing. Plum, silky, subdued fruit but just right. Slightly tannic, decanting for a couple hours and expecting an insane wine. Trying side by side with 2013 Moon Tsai which I loved last weekend. Insignia makes that seem like an unfocused fruit bomb. — 9 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.8

John Wayne's son, Ethan, teamed up with Jayson Woodbridge at Hundred Acre to crate this 80 proof homage to his 100 proof dad, who was a lover of great brandies and kept a stash of a few barrels on his boat, that has been sealed for 30 years. Duke Special Reserve brandy, made from a blend of the last two remaining 24 and 30 year-old barrels, produced by a 12th-generation master distiller. Originally distilled in an alambic pot still using seven fraction distillation. This is just spectacular stuff, as you would expect from a 24+ year old brandy. — 10 years ago

with Katherine and Janette

Dave

9.3

This wine is polarizing because of the merlot and cab sauvignon added. I call BS. It's delicious.
I've been drinking 2015 all this year, and found a 2014 today at my local shop. It is so nice. Maybe a little more leather and tar than the 2015. I appreciate that. It's rustic and juicy, and that's what I want from Langhe. Great wine!
Listening to Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. — 10 months ago

Donald Williams

9.4

Packed with a number of ‘09 Wellington wines, so best guess is around that same time for the NV Duke. In any case, it held up beautifully. — 3 years ago

with Bonnie

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark ruby garnet. Initially shy nose of black cherry drops. Medium-bodied palate echoes the nose with a hint of stony licorice marzipan mid-palate to finish. Medium acidity. Sneaky medium tannins that assert on the finish. A nice intro to the “Duke” of Tuscan Sangiovese-based wines. Not quite as structured as higher-priced offerings, but that’s good for the novice. Drink now through 2024. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose is a little shy with just a touch of funk. Muted; lemon, lime, white peach, apricot, grapefruit with pith, cut grass, hints of flint, light volcanic minerals, beautiful soft chalkiness, vanilln, oak notes and spring flowers.

The palate shows some age and softening. This bottling might need some food to really make it shine. The body is round and softer than their 2018 1865 bottling. Understated lemon, lime, white peach, apricot, grapefruit with pith, touch of cut grass, hints of flint, a little green bean, light volcanic minerals, beautiful soft chalkiness, vanilln, oak notes and spring flowers. Nice high acidity and a beautiful understated finish with the exception of more pronounced minerality on the long set.

Photos of, an aerial photos of the vineyards with designations, branded oak barrel, a bottle in their tasting room Alnwick Castle Constantia of 1791 or 1809 from the Duke of Northumberland and tasting lounge area. — 7 years ago

Matt Finelli

10

So hard for this wine. Duke Nukem retro throwback to 2012, bombs of pepper with an explosion of cherry vanilla smoothness. As the mouth begins to pucker a sudden surprising splash of chalk fills the mouth with complex layers of elation. I am naked, absolute panty dropper. — 8 years ago

with Katie

Steve Anderson

9.4

I knew something was up when Mrs A grabbed the last glass in my flight and quickly poured it all into her glass. "This one is mine. You can have the other ones" She was kind enough to allow me a sip. On the sweeter end of the Amarone spectrum, but deep and powerful. Excellent. Thank you @Michael Meyer , Arch Duke of Amarone. — 10 years ago

Tuomas Vaittinen

9.0

Incredibly smooth — 10 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Presumably decades old, surprisingly vital — 2 years ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.4

This vintage has noticeably more color and concentration than other years. Wonderful fragrance symphony of juniper berries, terra cotta, rosehips and May Duke cherries. The first attack delivers powdery vegetal notes, terra cotta impressions, sweet forest fruit, ash, white pepper and saltiness. This is a very complete, and harmonious overachieving Cotes-du-Rhone which impresses with umami in excelsis. — 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

8.9

Dark ruby with near black core. Black raspberry, black cranberry, and ash lead the abundant nose. Medium full palate echoes the nose adding firm tannins from entry and hints of berry compote and birch. Finish is long and dark. Antinori’s Nobile arm has a rich history and under their watch is producing as expected. A fine expression of Tuscany’s Duke that’s ready for hearty meat dishes now, but can lay down for a decade or so. Drink now through 2030. — 4 years ago

Laurent Jacques

9.5

This aromatic and robust classic is made by a venerable Tuscan estate with a history that dates back to 1877. First produced in 1927, it pays homage to the Duke of Aosta, who crossed the Alps to taste the wine whose reputation was already well established in the 19th century. — 6 years ago

David Walser

8.9

Took this wine to Duke of Marlborough restaurant in Russell, New Zealand. Maybe a bit past it’s prime. — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Delicate edges with a rose center. A subtle nose with spice, soy, roses, a bit of stink. There’s a salty freshness to this still and gorgeous soft presence. A hint of mint and drying notes on the finish. Pre La Tache. From the Doris Duke cellar. This is unbelievable. — 7 years ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Keith Watson

8.9

Duke of Sussex pub — 10 years ago