Bret Barker

9.6

Smoke on the water.... Deep Purple. Great song and this is a great wine. After 17 years in the bottle I was blown away the color of this wine and how vibrant it was. Easy 15 years left on this thing. I had the 04 a few weeks ago and it was good but lacked the fruit and precision this vintage has. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.3

Spalding get your foot off the boat! Thought of that quote when my wife told me to put the phone down that half of the 30 people following me don’t care about what I’m posting. I told her correction- less than 10 people follow me and NO one cares! I digress. Oh yes the wine. I have a soft spot for this wine. I bought this when I first started collecting. I have reviewed it before. Still think 04 is better than 03. Medium weight and still a decent inky purple with dark fruit, tobacco some smoke and mineral. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.2

Lover oreno. Good acidity here with fruit and finesse. Don’t wait in this vintage, it’s ready to go. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.8

Woo wee woo waa.. very nice! ( in your best Borat voice). I understand it’s too young but this was awesome. I have never had this and was expecting a tannic bomb- like the Pahlmeyer merlot I had the other day- instead- silk. The acidity is a touch high but this wine is perfectly balanced with rich fruit and chocolate. I have no idea if it is a 9.8 or 10.0 but is one awesome wine! — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.5

On the back nine for sure but still excellent. Floral notes and mineral flavors really show through with hints of cherry. I saved a glass for the next day. It held up well and took on more dried fruit notes. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.3

Magnum format- delicious. Medium bodied with red fruit and graphite. The nose was amazing. Table had it with charcuterie plate , worked wonder with the cheese. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.4

Switched gears to Barolo. Beautiful. Solid fruit, medium weight no tannins. Barolo Xanadu — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.3

Love this producer and this wine but this wine was a little perplexing. Not much on the nose and the color is just starting to turn from the deep purple but it never came around. 2-3 hours decanted and the acidity was on volume 11. Good red fruit and tobacco with a short finish. — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.4

This isn’t the tannic bomb you are looking for. Surprised how approachable this wine was. Still very tight and structured with blackberry and more tobacco and licorice than I’m used to but still very good — 6 years ago

Bret Barker

9.7

Magnum format- we decanted for over two hours. This was deep, deep purple and fantastic. The fruit and tannins are bold but not over the top for being so young. The table ordered porterhouse and the fat worked like magic with this opulent wine. — 6 years ago