Keith Levenberg

9.0

Surprisingly open-knit and in a very friendly stage for drinking. This is an elegant wine for Hermitage, middleweight and fairly refined in texture. Still has those aged beefy Hermitage flavors though. — 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.0

Selected lots of Sociando-Mallet, 100% cabernet sauvignon in 100% new oak - in other words a pretty good candidate to be shut down hard from the 2005 vintage, and sure enough it's got Sociando's hallmark austerity in spades, but there is no doubt this is a serious bottle of wine. It is a throwback Bordeaux, capable of giving you a petite madeleine moment for the kind of claret they don't really make much anymore. It's red-fruited with a tinge of something almost walnutty, for now the material is fairly tense without a whole lot of inner flesh (100% cabernet!) - looking forward to what develops here but will have to leave it in a deep, dark corner of the cellar. Will try the 1995 soon... should be interesting. — 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.4

This is flat-out stunning right from the very first sip. It almost seems like a contradiction in terms - I don't even understand how something with an oxidative elevage can end up with such a slicing cut. It almost has the acidic profile of a trocken riesling. It doesn't have any overtly oxidative flavors, either, except in its deeper, brassy tone. The minerality is off the charts. It feels as though it's flecked with quartz, like the crystal crunch you get in a gruyere or some cheddar cheese. — 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.0

Keith had this 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.3

Keith had this 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

8.9

Still plenty of personality to this, but neither the freshest nor cleanest bottle of wine you're likely to come across. Starts out smelling of musty attic and old used books, and it never kicks it entirely, but does pick up enough other elements like cedar and cigar box to keep things interesting. What it doesn't really pick up is any fruit, which is fine for its age, but it's a bit disappointing once you compare it to something like the '75 Beychevelle which is in much better shape now with plenty more stuffing. The tannins have completely melted away so the texture is fine and it goes down easy. Interesting now, but would have been better 5-10 years ago. — 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.3

Keith had this 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

8.8

Very familiar Chave Hermitage flavors of dry-aged meat and iron. The fruit's started to take a back seat though which leaves the tannins somewhat drying and harsh. — 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.1

Keith had this 8 years ago

Keith Levenberg

9.1

Keith had this 8 years ago