Cellar Notes

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2002

See several previous Delectable notes for this Cuvée. I have 2 bottles left after this one. Penfolds have a whopping drink window up to 2045. The colour is a pale mid crimson with a tawny rim. Mocha, dark chocolate and blackberry notes on the nose. From a low yielding cool vintage which is made for long cellaring. Absolutely superb at the moment. Great palate intensity (mulberry, black berry and dark chocolate) with mellow resolved tannins and a very long persistent finish. No wonder Penfolds tasting book is called The Rewards of Patience. — 15 hours ago

Somm, Daniel and 14 others liked this
Somm David T

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Nice & smart hold.
Peter van den Besselaar

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Fine description

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1985

No formal notes . Quite deep ruby , garnet , thin garnet rim . This is quite open and aromatic , with a spicy , herbaceous cassis , truffle , tobacco , grafite hints , very classic and serious but also really attention grabbing . On the palate this is quite rounded and juicy for Las Cases , good mineral , grafite tinged cassis , quite fine but present tannins , balanced acidity with a tobacco tinged finished and pretty good length . Drinking well now but also can go a while yet, perhaps over the next 10 or so years . — a month ago

Dave, Bob and 13 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2009

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour or so. No formal notes due to the setting. The 2009 seems to break from the reputation of the vintage with a freshness and verve that surprises. The typical quality of Cristal is there with its persistent mousse and attractive texture. Good acid too. Pretty tasty stuff and I’m not sure I would ever turn down a glass of this. Drink now through 2039. — a month ago

Lyle, Jeroen and 16 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Pretty deep ruby , thin ruby rim . This is quite closed at first , but very focused mineral and grafite , oyster shell notes with dark blackcurrant and blackberry notes , spicy touches too . On the palate this is really focused and reserved , lots of mineral tinged black fruits , tobacco , oyster shell . Quite rich yet very good balance, fresh acidity . Ripe but gritty tannins , saline and really long finish . Accessible now , but really destined for the long term. Wait another 5-10 years , will drink well a further 20 . At Vinous Icons, Pier 60 NY, Feb 2025 — 10 days ago

Dave, Tom and 12 others liked this

La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2015

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 22 days ago

Paul, Dave and 12 others liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

From Mac. An intense, savory, grapey fresh palate with some floral notes, roses, violets, a salinity and iron/Ferris notes. Some dried herbs. Savory and complex and drinking well now. Medium bodied with decent life ahead. — a month ago

Jeroen, Juan and 17 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

A powerhouse Napa classic showing its age with grace and density. The 2012 vintage leans fully into Caymus’ signature fruit-forward opulence, offering a deeply concentrated and aromatic experience.

👃 Bursting with overripe black cherries, baked blueberries, and fig compote, layered over leather, toasted oak, and a warm touch of vanilla spice. Aromas are rich, seductive, and unmistakably bold.

👄 On the palate, it’s full-bodied, plush, and multi-layered, with flavors of cooked dark berries, espresso, and unsweetened dark chocolate. The tannins have softened beautifully, giving way to a silky texture and a dry, gently fading finish that still echoes with flavor.

Mouthfeel overall: Velvety, dense, and evolving, the age is starting to mellow the edges, but the wine still holds depth, richness, and a long tail of flavor. Caymus lovers, this vintage hits all the lush, hedonistic notes.

Drink now, or enjoy watching the last stretch of its maturity unfold over the next 2–3 years. 🍇🍫🖤
— a month ago

Ted and Dave liked this

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Lafite is a medium minus bodied wine with notes of bright red berries, it has medium alcohol and high acidity. The tannins are round and finish lingers. — a month ago

Peter, Andrew and 8 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. A young poet full of art and glory. Deep ruby colour, with scents of raspberry and red currant with graphite and even leather. Imposing on the palate yet balanced and elegant. Full bodied, high alcohol, fine grain tannings, medium acidity, with a long finish and notes of ripe red fruit. Wine with great aging potential. — a month ago

Andrew, Severn and 9 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Pretty deep garnet ruby , garnet rim . This is pretty open and aromatic, with smoky creme de cassis , grafite , blackberry and cedar , light herbal touches , really quite classic and noble . On the palate this has good balance and density , good freshness also . Ripe , very fine but perceptible tannins . Dark fruits , grafite , tobacco , long and detailed slightly mineral notes on the good length finish . Really elegant , though quite serious and traditional, not easy to pull off. This is drinking perfectly now (Coravin might have helped here , I would certainly decant if I had a full bottle) , though still quite fruit driven with some tertiary complexity coming through . Really harmonious and complex . From now and over the next 15 years, maybe more . At Doppo Restaurant, Soho . — a month ago

Tom, Dave and 15 others liked this
David White

David White

Wow 🚀 that was an exciting line up of wines and it seems like the Pichon, Brunello and Lynch Bages were the cream of the crop
Somm David T

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Had one of mine two years ago. Didn’t think it was ready like a lot 2000’s I’ve had so far. Think it is either a forever vintage or just not living up to the hype of 2000? Cheers! 🍷
Andrew Cullimore

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I thought this was really quite excellent @Somm David T , it did seem quite open , though this might be to do with it being under Coravin.. I would certainly decant for a while if opening a bottle . Or alternatively leaving for another 5-10 years will do no harm at all . One of the better 2000s I have had , in some ways it is a bit of a hit or miss vintage .. but the peaks are very high . Hope you enjoy your other bottles !