Salon

'S' Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut Chardonnay

Justin Sun

9.6

Incredible focus and linearity — 22 days ago

Billy, Joseph and 1 other liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2016

Neil Valenzuela

9.8

The youngster of the group. The 2016 is incredible, with dried fruits, coming through amazingly! — a month ago

Bob, Tom and 19 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2023

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.8

So elegant Montrose. It builds up an epic journey in the aftertaste. Rich and opulent as usual but with a fine touch of incredible level.
Softer extraction resulted on a fruitier, more sapid and rounder wine than usual. It feels it’s going to be approachable in its youth. — 2 months ago

Peter liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2005 vintage. Wowzers. Never been the biggest Lafite guy. Have had all the big vintages since/including 1961 but never been officially “wowed” or wowzered by Lafite. Achievement unlocked. Decanted and tasted after 2.5 hours. Threw a pretty respectable amount of sed. Cork was pristine. Nose was slightly more forward upon a high decant than usual. Light-medium body. Great, underlying richness flowing through from start to finish. An incredible 45 second denouement. Showing fantastically currently but no rush to crush. This ain’t goin nowhere. 11.5.23. — 8 months ago

Shay, Jan and 19 others liked this

Tyler Felous

Curious to ask/learn more about expected sediment in this old of a wine…asking bc I just opened an 03 Ornellaia and it threw no sed whatsoever. Was surprised. What does that mean? Thanks and cheers

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

@Tyler Felous It would seem that the 2003 was both fined and filtered since there was no sediment. Usually, with a 20 yo wine, there would be at least a discernible amount of sediment. Some winemakers neither fine nor filter their wines. Some do one or the other. Some do both. Seems to be a matter of winemaker preference. Intervention vs minimal intervention. Have had great wines on both ends of the spectrum and in between. I post amount of sed(iment) notes for the older wines as more of a “heads up” for those opening those wines in more of a relaxed setting, such as the family over for the holidays. You get to talking while pouring/decanting and a moment’s inattention can result in a glass/decanter filled with grit. Some people love sifting through the sediment but in my experience, it’s a small percentage. They can always pour those last few drops into their glass if they really want to go to town.

Tyler Felous

I see. Thanks for the learning, and, inspo to track down more of these great bottles!

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2001

Rudi Sanchez-Colberg

9.3

Magnum. Yummy. Incredible nose. Still youthful. — 8 days ago

Juan liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Doug Powers

9.5

Initially this was incredibly closed, but after 2 hours in the decanter it’s starting to open, tannic, very structured, very 1986 in its leanness, but incredible depth and length, not perfect, but still outstanding!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Tom, Ron and 12 others liked this

Bob McDonald

Lean doesn’t sound so good.

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I personally have mostly felt that 1986 Bordeaux reds have always shown super tight and structured, but without the riper, rounder fruit of other vintages like 1982, 1985, 1989 and 1990) — so, my use of “lean” is really intended to convey that the fruit never completely overcomes the harsh tannins and structure. I would say that after a few hours in the decanter, I’d be pretty confident that it will easily last another 10-20 years, or more. Ultimately I like my Bordeaux to show a little more elegance and charm. Hope that helps.

Bob McDonald

@Doug Powers Thanks for your thoughts Doug. I recall Jancis commenting on this wine “wondering if the tannins would ever resolve”. Obviously built for the ultra long haul. I might try my first one in the next year or so.

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 2021

Roberto Carli

9.6

Just stunning. Incredible concentration of tiny red fruit tightly wound violets and the smallest hint of barnyard. On the palate a shocking combination of concentration and over the top acidity that tingles and lingers — 3 days ago

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2023

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.8

Great. Incredible. — 2 months ago

Peter and Paul liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

John Osgood

9.6

Incredible bottle! — 3 months ago

romo, Bob and 6 others liked this

Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia

Unico Ribera del Duero Tempranillo Blend 1924

Conrad Green

9.6

The noise in this is amazing given its age. Dark plum, mocha, some funk, some wild brambly fruit, a hint of acetone. In the palate this is still rich and has some iodine and dark minerality. Unbelievable given its age. What an incredible testament to Unico. Delicious — 7 months ago

with Tony and David

Severn, Douglas and 8 others liked this

Severn Goodwin

Wow! This is older than me 😉