The 2008 Cheval Blanc is one of the go-to wines of the vintage. Now at 15 years old, it has retained the energy and focus it displayed from the outset: black fruit, crushed stone, wilted violet petals and touches of forest floor cohere wonderfully in the glass. The Cabernet here is more expressive. The palate has a slight chewiness on the entry, but it "relaxes" in the glass. It shows off its delicate lattice of tannins and perhaps a bit more backbone than I have observed on previous bottles. It's very intense on the finish where, as before, the Cabernet Franc takes charge. Superb. Keep it another three to four years if you can. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 10 months ago
Starting to fall in love with these Montepulciano reserves. This is a great one. Dark penetrating extracts of prune and dark tart cherry that unfold in your mouth like a 500 page book. Subtle, fine grained tannins carry the wine for a 3 minute lingering finish. Montepulciano wines are made from a special Sangiovese selection called Prugnolo gentile, a smaller berry with thinner skin than the larger berries from the Sangiovese grosso selection used in Brunello wines from Montalcino. Destiny flavor, needs a bit of an acquired taste , but once adapted they become addictive. — 2 years ago
[Half bottle] This lovely 17-year-old Banyuls has finally knitted together into a very fine example of Dr. Parce Banyuls (old vine Grenache made in the same way as Port), earlier bottles were terribly disjointed and lacking balance and sweetness). Served with Viennese Sacher Torte my wife made for dessert!
Our first Dr. Parce was the 1967 “Vielles Vignes” which was fantastic and is still my reference point. We had that in 1987 at Pierre Gagnaire’s restaurant in St. Etienne, before he moved on to Paris, his staff was kind enough to comp us a bottle — blind — while my brother and I embarrassed ourselves trying to identify the wine!! That bottle was tried with Pierre’s famous “chocolate soup” dessert, the recipe for which was in Patricia Wells’ “Food and Wine Lovers of France” book from the mid-1980s — memorable combination!!! — a day ago
Love this Riesling from Long Shadows. You’d easily think Walla Walla Riesling would be a hot sugar bomb like your mom due to the climate but not so here. 12.5abv, nice acid, a wee bit of residual sugar. Dig it. — 7 months ago
Pours deep rich red. Initial mild dark fruit quickly changes to a quick burst of baking spices and cherries and then changes to a dryness of plums. Some soft tannins on the back. Love the changing layers. — a month ago
My ideal Chardonnay- different, unique
Manchester wine tour @ sterling bar Bruised melon, burnt lime. almond, popcorn, smoky bacon, damp pavement — 2 months ago
The 2021 Riesling displays spring flowers, crushed green apples and ginger spice. Soft textures and ripe tropical citrus tones appear on the palate, while kiwi and candied lime nuances linger. At 1.27 grams of residual sugar per liter, it maintains a lovely balance of sweetness and energy. $14.00 (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023) — 2 years ago
See previous note from 96 weeks ago where I said that I would drink the last one when my son Hugh was home from NY (born 1987) which came to pass last night. Overall not as impressive as the previous tasting but retains its silky tannin structure. Very dark in colour - opaque. Notes of cassis and pipe tobacco - overall dusty without the depth of fruit of the previous tasting. Just medium bodied. Tasting Book recommend a drinking window till 2035 which I would not agree with. Leads me to think I will be drinking my bottles of 86 Mouton sooner rather than later. — 3 years ago
"Odedi"
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark Inky in color with a reddish/ purplish rim.
Fruity nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, light dried fruits, cedar, light vanilla, herbs, licorice, spices, dark chocolates and light cola notes.
Full bodied and elegant, with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, black cherries, black currants, bitter herbs, earth, chocolates, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco leaf, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a wonderful Merlot from Columbia Valley. Soft and fruit forward. Rich and nicely balanced.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of air time.
This 8 year old Merlot is complex and spicy. Really enjoyed the nose at this point, and the high alcohol is well integrated by now.
Easy drinking and a good sipping wine. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
I had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious. I just love Michel Rolland wines.
A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new).
14.9% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$75. — a month ago