Big Red

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3.28.24, 5.5.23, 4.4.23 and 12.9.22. Solid fill and cork. Recommended decanting but was denied. Mmkay. Eventually got clearance to decant after the bottle had been open for 1.25 hrs. Tasted after being open 5 mins, 45 mins and 2 hrs. Light-medium body throughout. Wine was funky and super tight initially. Had to talk a few of the “participants” down from their “this wine ain’t nothing” perch by telling them it needed at least an hour in the glass (since it hadn’t been decanted at that point). Wine threw expected sed on the decant. Started to loosen up at the 45 mins open stage and fairly exploded at the 2 hrs open (45 mins decanted) point. Dude that didn’t want to decant it gave me a wistful, regretful look at that point (since it blew the other 4 reds at the table away and was getting better) and it took waay too much willpower on my end not to say “Congrats on minimizing a fantastic wine experience, bro.” It wasn’t the best 1989 P-L specimen tasted semi-recently but feel this coulda delved into the 9.4 range without the unnecessary power trip from someone that didn’t even bring this wine to the shindig. Hopefully, this individual learned their lesson. 7.6.24. — 2 days ago

Shay, Ted and 3 others liked this

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2016

Pretty much always a safe bet with consistent notes. Lively fruit and acidity. Paired well with slow roasted lamb shoulder — 5 hours ago

Austin, Tom and 1 other liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Opened around 8pm the evening prior, double decanted and left in room temperature until service on Friday evening. In total, this was opened 24hours before service. The 1995 pours a beautiful garnet with transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate stating of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with surprisingly boozy dark fruit. Brambles, cassis, bell pepper, licorice, spearmint and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with great acidity. Overall, remarkably youthful. While it’s certainly ready to go, it will likely continue some positive evolution over the next couple of decades. Drink now with a long decant through 2045. — 13 days ago

Jan, Douglas and 14 others liked this

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2005

Opened and poured into a decanter about four hours prior to service. The 2005 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. One the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, cool spices, leather, licorice, and espresso. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, tart and sapid. A wine of pedigree and yet, has a rusticity that gives a nod to its origin. Drink now through 2035+? — 13 days ago

Andrew, Raun and 12 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

A treat to share with @Logan Edwards , this wine is still youthful at 35 years. Nice plum and steelish tones under the ripe dark berry. Probably good for another 35 years — 10 days ago

Logan Edwards
with Logan
Jan, Vino and 4 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1994

This is still primair. But what a big and beautiful wine! — a month ago

Jeroen, Jan and 13 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

42 years and retains dark ruby color with little coaxing required. No decant but opened bottle for about an hour. Cassis in broad shoulders yet elegant wine. Absolute delight. Long life remaining. Wow! — 4 days ago

Vino, Ira and 15 others liked this
Vino Joe

Vino Joe Premium Badge

I have an ‘82 that I have been sitting on. This is great encouragement! Appreciate the experience in avoiding a decant and the 98 result. So glad it delivered for you!

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Showing very well after 2 hours in the decanter but this is still very young and unresolved. Very enjoyable still but a long life ahead. — 4 days ago

Byron, Vino and 16 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Bottle was a little bit off but still an excellent wine in an underrated vintage. The better crust like Ducru Beaucaillou have done much better in 2001 than in 2000. This is so evident these days. Classical vintage and starting to get accessible now. — 17 days ago

Jose Roberto Palazzoveronique paillardAdriana Pagliano
with Jose, veronique and 1 other
Ira, Severn and 10 others liked this