Nathan Renfro

9.4

After 1.5hr decant, right but beginning to express itself. The fruit is there, but a bit muted at this point, cassis, black currants. Gravely, softened but strong tannins with a tight acidic backbone. This is gonna be really good in 10 years. — a month ago

Brett Vanderbrook

9.0

Here’s the thing: this is good wine. It’s dense, chewy, and structured. There’s a nice balance of red and black fruit, graphite, cedar, mushroom, soil, and just a touch of Brett funk. It’s fairly tannic, so probably best with food, but can still be enjoyed on its own. I would never be mad if I was offered this. I was lucky to take home an open bottle from a job tonight, but I think the price tag on this is ridiculous. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2004 vintage. Decanted and tasted after two hours. Used a Durand but cork was great. Top-notch fill. Super chunky sed..like vintage port. Nose good, not great, but biggie structure and balance all there. Medium body. Not a personal fave but may hafta pick up a few more of these for those inclined to partake. There will be 2004 Insignia going steady for quite some time. 12.22.23. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured, no formal notes. Despite its relative youth, the 2017 Sassicaia is showing very nicely right now. To my palate, this does as good a job as any in deftly straddling New and Old World…and just leans enough towards its structure and non-fruit characteristics to give it a sense of place. To be clear, there is plenty of fresh and delicious fruit, it’s just that the structure and the firmness of the tannin and acid is so “favoloso”. Drinking well in its youth but should drink very well through 2042. — 8 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

It’s early, likely very early, to be messing with the ‘21 Hayne Petite Syrah from Turley. Typically inky, this new vintage has a mineral driven nose that’s crisper than usual. It’s velvety smooth, loaded with plum, lead pencil, and other good dark things. The tannins are firm to steely at this point; the rest are going away for 5-15+ years. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium ruby with wide garnet rim . On the nose quite red fruit focused with earthy , sous bois and truffle notes , grafite coffee and cedar . On the palate medium bodied with a mix of red and dark fruit, soy , tobacco , iron filings and cedar. Quite good acidity , with fine tannin , balanced alcohol . Pretty good length with a saline , grafite finish . This is showing well now and be at its best over the next 5-8 years , and last a further 10. On Singapore Airlines FRA - SIN — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy birthday honey. 🎂🥳🎉❤️

The Chateau that got my wife Sofia to finally love Bordeaux (1995). Expected more from the this property in 2000. But 2000 is still either the stubborn I think it is or just not as good as critically advertised. 20 years in bottle and think it needs at least 10 more years. Also, a touch of v/a-bandaid. It has nice balance with soft fruit & earth. It just lacks the wow factor for the property & vintage. Maybe, it is in a dumb faze. But, I’ve been waiting 20 years for 2000 to come out of its shell. I love this property but it is not up to its reputation…even for lesser vintages. It might be outstanding in another 20. This bottle is a little flawed and perhaps maybe (?) a better 2nd day wine. Tonight it is leaner than I would expect. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Sweet lead pencil, charcoal, volcanic ash, spice, nutmeg, some cinnamon, vanillin, dry tobacco, sandalwood, limestone, dry crushed rocks , dry pebbles, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, dry herbs, hints of Worcestershire sauce, moist clay, withering mid floral bouquet with excellent acidity and a wire to wire finish that is balanced, nicely tensioned and elegance that lasts minutes. One of the few slightly flawed bottles in 25 plus yrs of collecting. I can count them on just over one-hand.

Picture of Sofia picking the 2012 Mouton Rothschild Merlot. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Deep ruby in color, almost Inky, with a short reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Very dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, black currants, light cedar, dark coffee, chocolates, earth, peppercorn, pencil lead, tobacco leaf, light vegetables and bitter herbs.

Short, tangy finish with fine grained tannins and pomegranates.

This 8 year old Rioja Reserva is still young and very dry, but already drinkable.

Lacking a bit of fruits on the palate, but the nose is gorgeous, once it opens up. The nose is more interesting than the palate at this point.

Needs a few hours to open up properly, so take your time.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years. Would be interesting to try it again in 5 years.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Graciano.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$50. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Beautiful ruby in color, with a very wide reddish rim. Bricking at the very top.

Light nose with red and black fruits, light cedar and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, cherries, earth, black coffee, oak, herbs, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 26 year old from the great 1998 vintage in Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Soft and smooth, elegant and earthy.

Not so good right out of the bottle, and needed 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 94 points.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Showing nice complexity and good balance.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$120 (current vintage). — 3 months ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.3

This is the 2019 Chateau Montrose La Dame de Montrose. Saint-Estèphe Gironde, France Bordeaux. The blend is 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, perfume rose petals, green bell pepper, spice, vanilla and earth.

On the palate is black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, herbaceous, green bell pepper, licorice, black pepper and a real dark earth edge.

This wine is beautifully full bodied with medium + to high but not overbearing acidity and medium + sinewy muscular firm tannins that nicely move into a long black fruit rich earthy finish. This can definitely be a top line Bordeaux. I hope everyone is well. This weekend looks to be a good one. Drink something special with someone special. Stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 8 months ago