Wines From France

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Somm David T
9.4

My last of three.

The 05 vintage is basically perfect fruit etc…

This started a bit slow from an hour decant. It really pick up steam w/ the Waygu Ribcap.

The Bordeaux elegance & earth profound. The fruits are floral-laden. Dry blackberries, raspberries, both plum, with skin, dark cherries, dry strawberries, baked rhubarb, hints of raspberry, dark chocolate bar, light caramel, dark spice with a little heat, dry limestone. topsoil, dry riverstone, cigar box with ash, old used leather, dark forest floor with leaves, clove, touch of cinnamon, vanilla and a pinch of nutmeg sweet graphite, used charcoal, black tea, mid berry cola dark wuthering flowers, hence of lavender and old violets, perfect around acidity with a well-balanced structured, evenly tensioned finish that last minutes and lands on dry earth and spice with florals
— 5 days ago

Jeroen, Rick and 8 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

F. Haven't had the 05 and it's a fave BDX producer. Priorities...

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, capsicum, leather, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The label is beat to hell but the condition of the wine inside the bottle was perfect. Classic, old school Bordeaux from a classified growth. Drink now through 2043. — 12 days ago

Somm, Juan and 15 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

I don’t know that paper labels pair well with older Bordeaux. 😂

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2004

Blend of Chardonnay (55%) and Pinot Noir (45%). Pale gold color. Aromas of freshly baked bread, toasted nuts, white flowers, citrus zest and a chalky/smoky note. Flavors of grapefruit, green apple, tropical fruits, roasted nuts, and a lovely note of brioche. Long and lingering mineral driven finish. Vibrant acidity along with wonderful tension and complexity. Creamy mousse and texture with a steady stream of fine bubbles. So beautifully savory. Thank you Jason B. for sharing this beautiful wine (and storing it so well) to toast Matt A’s 50th Birthday! — 5 days ago

Dave, Scott@Mister and 5 others liked this

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006

Fully mature with resolved tannins, quite dry, easy going, medium length aftertaste. Very good wine from very good vintage. — 10 days ago

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Tasted blind. Deeper slightly brighter in colour, deeper ruby and a thinner garnet rim . Bit more closed and deeper in fruit , grafite , blackcurrants , wet stones , mineral . There is also a seaside , sea shore hint coming back to this . On the palate this has more volume than 1 , richer in style . More dusty and drier tannins , balanced acidity and good grafite tinged length . Mouton ? Lovely depth and expressiveness , exuberante, young still but with time really shows well. From now and over the next 10 -15 years. This was the Lafite , which surprised me , but still a beautiful wine. — a month ago

Jeroen, Tom and 16 others liked this

Bollinger

Special Cuvée Brut Champagne

Amy
9.1

good! fruity, wish it was yeastier, $60 from gary — 18 days ago

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2015

Fill was 3cm below the cork and there were signs of seepage, so I assume this was better a few years ago, — 17 days ago

Jan, Tom and 2 others liked this

Taittinger

Comtes de Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 1995

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min before and during dinner. The 1995 pours a straw color with a gorgeous, persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with apples, ripe passion fruit, fresh brioche, lemon curd, toasted marshmallow and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A freaking delicious Champagne. Drink now through 2035. — 4 days ago

Jeroen, Matt and 11 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

So did this still taste fresh, curious? I know you liked it. Was just curious about its freshness.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I’ve had a lot of good, old Champagne. I love good, old Champagne. This was fresher than a good, old Champagne.

Château Calon-Ségur

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

I always get excited when there’s a bottle of Calon-Ségur open. Classic Saint-Estèphe and, to my palate, these wines consistently deliver what I want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. I believe this bottle was double-decanted prior to service. The 1988 pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with winsome notes of ripe, tart and dried fruits: cassis, mixed brambles, pencil shaving’s, tobacco, capsicum, a whiff of horse blanket, gravelly earth and a mix of herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. I absolutely love it. This is the picture of Bordeaux in the dictionary. Drink now through 2048+. — 12 days ago

Jan, ESF and 10 others liked this

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2023

A delicious Grenache based blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and entertaining.

A great vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that will show itself in the future.

Still young and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is always delicious.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, and 5% local varieties. Aged in large French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered and unfined.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$120.
— 5 days ago

Tom, Jose and 10 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

The last several years this producer’s wines have generally been around 15.5%. Glad to see this one coming in under 15%. I will look for it.

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1998

A real treat as I’m in town for the Rush show. Sourced from his cellar. - at Little Beast — 18 days ago

Brian, Steve and 9 others liked this

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Again quite deep ruby , with a wider garnet rim , slightly cloudy appearance. This is a little more smudged on the nose with , earthy , slightly swimming pool note , tobacco and some dried flowers . However with time this starts to gain stature and complexity with cigar box , cedar and grafite notes . On the palate this is a little rounder and deeper in style , a bit more generous . More cassis and blackberry , along with some cherry . Herbal tobacco notes , fresh acidity and more rounded tannins , perhaps better length that the Ducru too. This also is showing well , if not as young as the Ducru , from now and over the next 10 years in this format. — a month ago

Jeroen, Jan and 8 others liked this

Château Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . This is quite aromatic with dusty summer fruits , tobacco , burnt embers , quite classic . On the palate this is quite strict with refreshing acidity , spicy mix fruits , slightly gritty tannins. Quite good length , with dusty , grafite tinged finish . Quite classic and lean in style , with good balance and length . Perfect now and over the next 10 years . — 17 days ago

Tom, Ira and 8 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Double-decanted prior to service. The 1989 pours a garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of cassis, brambles, tobacco, leather, cocoa, some graphite, inorganic earth and a mix of herbs and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. The fruit is generous and sort of the star of the show. There is no wonder why so many love Cos. Still years and years to go. Drink now with some air and through 2049+. — 9 days ago

Jeroen, Juan and 9 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Regrettably tired. From magnum. 10.26.26. — 2 days ago

Ted, Jeroen and 12 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne 2015

This vintage from Cristal is outstanding and delicious. 👏👏 — 19 days ago

Ron, Joe and 9 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Fantastic wine. Cheers!

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2009

I am torn with the rating here. We had this after the Dom Rose and man did this need a lot of air. Very closed and tannin forward upon opening and decanting, then slowing opening up - an hour was not enough. It really came together after 3-4 hours and then had an amazing balance. Evolved from 9.0 to something 9.6 through the course of the evening. — 16 days ago

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1966

Excellent share from the Acker Autumn harvest auction

Still alive and kicking. This wine was very good
— 11 days ago

Tom and Jean-Philip liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Tasted blind. Medium ruby garnet , medium garnet rim . Quite classic and elegant, with cigar box , grafite and some dried earth , some slightly toasty notes also . On the palate this shows good balance , fresh acidity , classic blackcurrant , cigar box , earthy touch . Good depth and length , grafite tinged finish , quite correct and no extra sweetness or weight . Good length and a spicy , mineral , blackcurrant tinged finish . Lafite ? Still young , really well balanced. From now and over the next 10 to 15 years. This was actually the Mouton , which was a great surprise, but certainly a pleasant one ! — a month ago

Jeroen, Tom and 9 others liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend

introed to me at cote 550 as the “monster” champagne they serve on JAL. I loved it though. holds it’s own against a steak — 11 days ago