Dark Horse Wines

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1982

Inky and dark. Powerful fruit with iodine, salinity and a cold dark plum. Very fresh and pure. Savory — 7 days ago

Bex GreenWalker StrangisDavid Schachter
with Bex, Walker and 1 other
Bob, Jan and 6 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Somm David T
9.2

The 2006 Bordeaux vintage. The vintage while wasn’t Bordeaux’s best, it certainly wasn’t one of its worst. It had the unenviable position of following a grand 2005 vintage. I think better than 2000, maybe 09 & 10? Jury is still out. The Bordelaise also got greedy and raised their prices from 05. That was a mistake when it came to selling the 2006 vintage and it laid another layer of bad taste in consumers minds.

I really enjoy Pichon Lalande’s style/craft. The 06 is good, not great. In fact, I enjoyed this better w/o the lamb.

The fruits are just ripe. Velvety, rounded M+ tannins. Brambly blackberries, dryish black plum, black cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, some raspberry hues, oak barrel shavings, graphite, dry soils, dry tobacco & leather, dry clay, soft but dark spice, some dry herbs, soft baking spices- clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, light milk chocolate, caramel hues, black tea, anise, some mid berry cola, dry & withering, dark & red flowers, violets, decent, round acidity, balanced, neatly structured/tensioned with an elegant finish that lasts just over 90 seconds and falls on dry earth and soft, dark spice.

Still acceding and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead. Could make a case for rounding up to 93.

Paired w/ Grilled Rack of Lamb, Served with Rosemary Jus, Fondant Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli.

@EK148
— 5 days ago

Ira, Ceccherini and 20 others liked this

Spottswoode

Family Estate Grown St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Beautiful fragrance and on the palate after 20 minute exposure to air. Dark cherry but nice balance. After 14 years, awesome. October 2025. — 3 days ago

Dave liked this

Far Niente Winery

Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Cork came out perfect.

Blasted it with wine2pro for some oxygen and then it really became expressive within about 30 mins.

Good grip and dark structure. Showed some savory notes

Fruit came later on as it mellowed with more airtime. Little blueberry and some black fruits.
— a month ago

Tom, Brandon and 5 others liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1989

Tangy dark fruit. Bloodiness with a dark plum and iron. Rounded and resolved but intense. Very good — 13 days ago

Matt LichtenbergDavid Schachter
with Matt and David
Jay, Bob and 14 others liked this

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990

Sweet dark plum aromas and flavors, this wine still shows nice structure and has many more years ahead before it reaches maturity, long, lingering finish, excellent Bordeaux that will likely longer than me!! — 8 days ago

Monique Jim Powers
with Monique and Jim
Dave, Kland and 7 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Depends how slow you drink it

Penfolds

Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet Shiraz 2022

Dark ruby color. Called the “Baby Grange” for a reason. Wonderful nose with aromas of dark fruit and spice. Dry and bold with medium+ tannins. Flavors of black fruit, mocha, toasty notes, and oak. Balanced acid with a wonderful finish. Great wine for the price. — 5 days ago

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020


Deep opaque core, thin ruby rim. Deep slightly spicy creme de cassis , blackberry , charcoal embers , grafite . On the palate this is quite intense but has good freshness , and ripe but firm , quite dry tannins . Creme de cassis , blackberry , grafite , crushed rocks , quite saline and fresh in style , oyster shell and sea breeze hints . Well balanced alcohol and good length grafite , saline tinged finish . This is actually quite enjoyable , though obviously way too young , fresh and detailed with cool fresh dark fruit and grafite nuance. Better in 10 years and will last well a further 10-15 maybe more . Really enjoyed the style and balance of this .
— 14 days ago

Tom, Tom and 22 others liked this
Somm David T

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My first Bordeaux producer love back in the day. Still great.
Andrew Cullimore

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One of mine too @Somm David T , had a few vintages quite recently , all have shown really well

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.3

Something for my Wagyu Burger.

I do enjoy this producers style/craft. Also, enjoy the elegance of St. Julien. 2012 is a vintage Sofia & 1 worked harvest at Clerc Milon. So, the 2012 vintage will always be a special vintage for me, even if it was only one that was good to very good for the right terroirs and producers. Just wasn’t special like; 00, 05, 09, 10, 16 or 19 etc..

Having said all that, this Ducru is not the 2012 star of the region. It’s elegant but falls short on depth, character & umpf, which are things I have grown to expect and have experienced from this producer in many vintages.

The palate shows, soft, round & velvety M-M+ tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some of both plums, slightly baked strawberries & circling raspberries. Slightly dry tobacco w/ ash, soft leather, sandalwood, mid, dark, rounded spice, nutmeg, clove, some cinnamon & vanillin, dark most earth with clay & dry leaves, herbaceous notes, very soft & elegant graphite, a touch of of mid berry cola/licorice, dark withering flowers, red roses, nice acidity with nicely balance, good tension/structured, elegant finish that last nearly two minutes and long sets on rounded dark spice.

@EmiratesLoungeDubai
— 4 days ago

Paul, Scott@Mister and 17 others liked this
Somm David T

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Yes, amazing the Emirates lounges are an entire floor of all their terminals. Always a great experience. Cheers! 🥂
Jay Kline

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My first bottle of Musar was purchased in the Duty Free at DXB back in 2012. I think it was the 2001 or 2002 vintage.
Somm David T

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Some of their prices aren’t bad.

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1945

Margaux- soft plummy fruit. Rounded and supple with dark cherry and hints of violet. Harmonious, gorgeous and complete — 17 days ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Jay, Juan and 7 others liked this
Ceccherini Cristiano

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🙃🙃🙃🙊🙉🙈
Vino Joe

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That label looks aged as if it’s 2025…
Conrad Green

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I’m guessing a late bottling from the chateau or a chateau reconditioned bottle? It tasted age appropriate albeit a very clean bottle