サンフランシスコ angler — 10 months ago
Just rock-solid Châteauneuf, this is exemplary and for me personally my exact sweet-spot in terms of the varied styles from this region. The nose takes a little coaxing, but has a great yin / yang profile of pure, fresh blue fruit, liquorice, violets, and garrigue, versus seared meat, iron and loamy earth. This all puts it square in the middle of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ schools, broadly speaking, and it’s a wine that has the best of both worlds as a result.
The palate is huge, an iron fist in a glove of velvet and so much more, but in no way imbalanced or over-extracted - not overtly alcoholic, at a modest 14%. It spreads out in waves across the palate, ripples which are felt long after the finish. This is clearly a baby now, but it drinks well and will see its 20th birthday in damn fine fettle. Excited to have a case in the cellar.
Decanting not required nor recommended. — 3 years ago
Very drinkable at Love & Salt — 4 years ago
it’s interesting because this bottle was not properly kept for several years, the cork fell apart upon opening, but this 1983 vintage ,was still delightfully good ! in spite of the improperly kept history, as a Sauturne. It has a nice delightful, sweet and aromatic taste that was quite pleasant to drink. It was open today, March 22, 2026. — 2 months ago
This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.
This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.
Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.
@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit. — 2 years ago
Had this for $23? At Al Giardino in Taormina Sicily. A bargain and a different blend. We thought it was great for the price/value consideration. Dark berries and plum. A bit of leather with the tannins just fine. You can pick apart the two grapes in the blend. — 4 years ago
Held up well over the last 28 years! Took a gamble on some birthday wine and it payed off well. Prominent bricking and the cork obviously fell apart, but the wine maintained the rustic, leathery notes of age, with hints of black tea, overripe plum, and some lingering acidic energy, like a ripe strawberry with some dark chocolate. Medium bodied, with some leathery, smoky ash over the dark cherry like fruit, there’s notes of cranberry and strawberry compote still alive in here. The finish lingers for a while, fresh, but not acidic with tannins that only really started to show after a few hours of opening. Grippy, but well integrated. If the measure of a great wine is in its ability to last, this wine has earned the title despite poor storage conditions and lack of faith from its sellers. — 7 months ago
Liked the combination blend. Best of two worlds. — 4 years ago
Paul K
Actually kindof fell apart after 3 hours. Nose and palate were better 30 mins in. Chalking it up to odd bottle. — a month ago