Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Bright Ruby color with aromas of red berry fruits, spice and floral notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and strawberry with spice, licorice and floral notes. Fine chewy tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, floral spice and slight earthy character. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #2 had great color, was developing, fresh, focused, balanced; great structure. One of those glasses of wine you didn’t want to end and, for me, a tough call for favorite of the flight along with Wine #1. I vacillated between this being Dominus or Monte Bello; ultimately calling the former. This is in a beautiful phase of life. Monte Bello is one of those wines that needs decades to show its best. Drink now through 2040. — 3 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

1949 vintage (!!!). Very special half bottle, but more than half the volume lost to evaporation. Opened this gem at Totoraku yesterday to go with two full bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1996 and 1952 (!!). This Temple of Beef demands special occasion wines. Cork fell apart in the bottle so we poured it all in a decanter but did not wait to sip. Pale strawberry-orange color, surprising tart fruit nose, supremely delicate taste with just a bit of fruit and life left. Not the best bottle on the table but certainly not the undrinkable. Interesting experience. Would gladly do it again in the name of science. Oldest Red Bordeaux I have ever tasted. — 6 months ago

Dan Huddleston

9.5

Lots of eucalyptus at opening. 15 mins in it begins to settle in. Leather, mushroom on the nose with the ever present eucalyptus. Really well structure fruit on the palette, a tinge of acidity and a bit sharp on the finish. More time in the glass brings a balance that’s amazing for a 39 year old wine. Thankfully no one here to share!
— 2 months ago

Brett Francis

9.5

This was fantastic, strong, and yet still seemingly understated. Although I am no fortune teller, this seemed strong and young. I couldn’t place all the flavors I experienced, but to my palate there was raspberry, blackberry, smoked meats, soil after a rain, and portobello mushroom all matched with a beautiful color to stare at between sips. Long pauses to enjoy the long finish. — 3 months ago

James K

9.0

Would have been a monster. Past its prime, with no fruit left. Still, some nice tertiary notes. Thanks, Mike! — 5 months ago

with mike

Vanessa

9.2

Happy Labor Day holiday weekend in the USA!

We’re enjoying a night off from studying while sipping a lovely Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2011 paired with a grilled steak, baked potato, green beans, and mushroom / zucchini kabobs. Soon (and sadly) we’ll have to say “au revoir” to summer.

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is situated on the left bank of Bordeaux, i.e., west of the Gironde Estuary, in the commune of Pauillac. Soils here are gravel-based, and free-draining, ideal for ripening the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which dominates in this Bordeaux blend.

Pauillac is known for producing age-worthy, structured Cabernet Sauvignon wines due in part to the growing environment. No wonder it’s home to 3 out of 5 first growth wines in the 1855 classification, including, Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Château Mouton Rothschild. This particular wine ranks highly, as well, as a fifth growth and understandably so.

Based on our research the 2011 vintage in Bordeaux seemed to fast-forward many typical growing processes and timelines; grapes were budding and ripening ahead of schedule with warmer temperatures early in the season followed by notably cooler temperatures in August, ahead of harvest.

It’s remarkable how variable seasonal conditions can affect a wine’s profile, especially in less consistent climates like Bordeaux where vintage variation is a serious thing… still, this wine is lovely.

It is deep ruby with a medium (+) intensity of developing aromas offering notes of ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, plum, black licorice, anise, violet, tobacco, leather, clove, nutmeg, cedar, pencil shavings.

On the palate, this wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, high tannins that are ripe and smooth, a medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity of flavors consistent with the notes. The finish is medium(+).

This is an excellent wine that is drinking well now and could age further.

Cheers to the beauty born in 2011 in Pauillac AOC with this Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste! — 8 months ago

with Deked1

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

No formal notes. Quite rich and full . Buttered pastry , candied lemon peel and brioche notes . On the palate again rich and full with the pastry , buttery notes . Good length and balanced acidity . Drink now and over the next 15 years — 2 months ago

with Stuart

Tom Garland

9.1

1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A majestic dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: black cherry/plum, nutmeg, oak, smokey earth, cedar. Taste: soft, smooth, juicy wine with blackberry, dark cherry, cedar, earth and a medium plus dry potting soil/cocoa finish. YUM!
Purchased on a recent visit...beautiful indoor/outdoor tasting room featuring their small production wines.  If you want to throw down some serious change they offer a terrific multi course food and wine pairing in the underground cellar. — 5 months ago

with Brenda

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.2

I hour decant! First time trying The No Girls 2019 Tempranillo. Color is a dark Ruby red. Nose- raspberry-cherry and roasted meat with a slight funk are the initial notes followed by dark soil, bitter chocolate and a touch of leather and pepper spices. Taste - juicy and chalky but well integrated flavors of red fruit, tart cherry and smoky cedar. Well structured and balance and could age another 10 years. Christophe Baron and his winemaker Elizabeth does it again! — 6 months ago

with Leslie, Karin and 1 other