The Farm

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 4 days ago

Ericsson, Ron and 26 others liked this
Vino Joe

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Good to know! How long was your decant? And over how long a window did you enjoy it?
Jay Kline

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@Vino Joe great questions; I have answers. Note updated!

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

A physically pristine example from a well established cellar, the cork pulled clean and without so much as a hint of compromise. It was subsequently double decanted several hours in advance. The 2000 Margaux pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. The nose: developing and simply stunning. A cornucopia of cassis, black bramble fruit, purple flowers, tobacco, new leather, cocoa, fine woody notes, dry gravelly earth and gorgeous baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid; the structure acting like the flying buttresses of Notre Dame. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is forever long and impossibly silky. Sensationally balanced.

To my palate, this falls into the very small category of wines that require no additional inquest. It is utterly complete. And, when I consider the company and circumstances, perfect. Drink now with a healthy decant and through 2100.
— 22 days ago

Peter, Juan and 21 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Lyle Fass thank you…and I believe it. Were/are you celebrating your 50th?!
Lyle Fass

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@Jay Kline yes sir! 50th is in the books!
Jay Kline

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@Lyle Fass congratulations!!!

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Great bottle, a bit on the oxidative side but very complex and long, we liked it a great deal. — 5 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Adriana, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

The closest thing to true Bordeaux style red blend from Napa. This wine really accentuates the vintage and the terroir, along with fruit and soil. The Dominus Estate manages the vineyard via dry farming, relying on nature for water, making a profound difference on great vintages such as 2016. Find a good vintage Dominus and you’re bound to have one of kind. Cheers. — a month ago

Adriana, Billy and 12 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082.
— 8 days ago

Ira, Jan and 25 others liked this
David T

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I picked the Mouton Merlot in 2012 for a day. At the two harvest lunches I attended, they served the 82. Every time they bottle, they take the remaining barrel juice, filter it and then serve the remains at their harvest luncheons for workers & guests. The second lunch I attended, we were seated at the Baroness’s table may she RIP as she passed in 2014. In 2012, they drank the last of the 82.
Jay Kline

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@David T what an awesome story and experience
Bob McDonald

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@Jay Kline I agree re the 1982 Bordeaux vintage. The Chateau Margaux was one of the greatest wines I have ever drunk whereas the Lafite Rothschild was somewhat underwhelming. Bought at the same time from the same shop and stored the same way.

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Ron R
9.5

Good god. Peaking right now.
Huge aromatics on the nose. Superb weight, balance and texture. No rush to consume. Cedar and macerated black cherries transition to coffee and hints of maple. Blew me away. In raptures over this. Direct from the winery when I lived in Europe.
— 17 hours ago

Mo Salem
with Mo
John, Vin and 24 others liked this
Vino Joe

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Wonderful notes! You may have compelled me to break out my lone 2003 this holiday season…
Ron R

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@David T, so subjective. Personally, I prefer WS ratings (due to blind tasting scores), but I do my research before investing. I always assume “buyer beware” when I purchase wines.
David T

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@Ron R My point was really this…there are deals/value to be had on the vintages William Kelly reviewed. The Wine Advocate still basically sets prices for wines w/ their reviews. Right or wrong, like it or not. That William Kelly’s reviews were an aberration over other known & used critics reviews who all gave those vintages reviewed by Kelly high 90’s. If you can’t taste a wine before buying it, the logical thing to do is look for similarities in reviews and if you don’t do that, follow the one you agree w/ most. I taste a lot of wine so I don’t have to rely on other critics. But if you don’t taste a lot of wine, the advice I give people is to look for agreement amongst critics. The Pontet Canet vintages reviewed by Kelly I am seeing those priced sub $100. I saw one of those Kelly vintages at Costco yesterday sub $100 and the reason I brought it up. The non Kelly vintages are selling quite a bit higher. This Chateau has produced consist high 90’s scores since 2005 across a wide band of critics. So, the question I ask is, did the Chateau’s quality dip or did a reviewer change? Something to watch and be aware of as a wine buyer. Cheers & happy holidays. 🍷

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 4 days ago

Jakub, Tom and 11 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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You've been hitting all my favorite Léoville lately, so jealous
Jay Kline

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@Severn Goodwin I catching up on some notes from a night with a line-up of bangers from Bordeaux. It was pretty awesome, ngl

The Mascot

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Deep ruby color. Aromas of black cherries, blackberry, black currant and leather. Silky smooth, with big red and black fruit flavors. — 17 days ago

Joe, Daniel and 20 others liked this

Jean Foillard

Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2022

One could argue it was a bit young, but this wine to me - every vintage - remains one of the greatest of all time. I smell and taste the dark fruit (currants, etc), I taste the iron, i taste the dark stones, I taste the garam marsala. And holy sh!t, the texture… — 21 days ago

Chris, Severn and 15 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Super sweet and oaky on first open but matured up with a 3 hour decant

Still quite fruity but with steak, it gives a lot of red berry fruit and the oak is reasonable and the sweetness is gone with the airtime.

Overall good wine but I thought it lost out to the Paul Hobbs LPV ‘14.
— 19 days ago

Bob, Andrew and 3 others liked this