Domaine Loïc Durand

Domaine Durand (Eric & Joel Durand)

Confidence Cornas Syrah 2012

13.5%. Wonderful Syrah, violets, dark berries (blackberry), touch dark cherry, hint band-aid, quite spicy!, tannins fully resolved and super soft. Drink now - this is ready. At its peak from here it will go down hill. — 13 days ago

Rob, Neil and 3 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

2005 vintage. Last tasted 11.23.23 (9.4), 11.15.19 (9.4), 06.01.17 (9.5) Last bottle. Respectable, low neck fill. Used a Durand and excellent cork. Decanted with sticky (to the bottle) sediment and not that much floating loose to navigate. Tasted after 30 minutes. Those inimitable, sexy Cos stylings. Medium/medium heavy (still!?) bod. Richness. Ample fruit. Slight amount of aged George Clinton/Bootsy funk. Highly restrained tannins. Woah. This. Did. Not. Suck. Time to reorder. 9.13.25. — 2 months ago

Jan, Jeroen and 25 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Still have not opened one of mine. Soonish.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Somm David T Dunno how many you have lying around but if it be multiples, like 3+, I’d crack one for the holidaze or before to assess. If it is not at the top of the bell curve, it’s pretty damned close. Can’t imagine it getting better.

Robert Mondavi Winery

Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1976

Somm David T
9.4

Hints of Maple Syrup in the nose.

This is still very fresh. Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherries, black plum pudding, strawberries, notes of blue fruits, dark spice, black licorice, mid berry cola, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, anise, cedar to sandalwood, dry herbs, mint/eucalyptus, used leather, dry, crushed, rock powder, notes of maple syrup, caramel, dark, red withering rose petals with violets, waterfall acidity and an elegant, balanced, softly tensioned, well knitted, smartly polished finish that lasts minutes.

Color is still dark. Cork came out whole with a Durand but was completely soaked.

What a treat to drink well stored old Napa Cabernet. Will hold another 3-5 years.

Bottle semi-recently acquired from the property via a Somm buddy.
— a year ago

Andrew, Ceccherini and 12 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3 years ago (9.6). Nice fill. Durand used to open. Cork 95% saturated with extensive bottle rim cleaning involved before pouring. Not decanted. Tight, minty nose throughout along with a decided, lingering zinc note under the tongue at the finish line. Tasted 2 hours after opening. Power but without delineation. Just a consistent, forgettable push. Nothing wrong with the wine...it just needed more air/time and a decant but it wasn't my call. Feel like the zinc flavor would have dissipated/blown off with more time. Good but more memorable for what it wasn't vs what it was. Pity and an entire wasting of what could have been. 11.21.25. — 10 hours ago

Loïc Massart

Opale Cairanne White Rhone Blend 2021

Vintage 2021 | Note to self: móre Rousanne. After tasting I put half a bottle in the fridge for 48 hours. Drank it with a baked dab, cichory and baked potatoes. Makes me happy. The wine is Rousanne 40 Grenache 30 and Clairette 30. Much violets in smell and a perfectly balanced taste. — 8 months ago

Lyle, Anthony and 8 others liked this

Loïc Cailbourdin

Les Cris Pouilly-Fumé Sauvignon Blanc 2022

2022 vintage. The warmer vintage suits the wine well. Very ripe, but good freshness. Intense and long. Abv. 14%. — 8 months ago

Peter, Tom and 2 others liked this

Kobalt

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Drinking as well as it did 2 years ago, another soft cork that needed the Durand to open. But 30 minutes of air to blow off 23 years. After that it was fantastic — a month ago

Paul, Tom and 12 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. From a 375ml. Opened not decanted. Great top shoulder fill. Used a Durand. Pristine cork. Throwing slightly less sed than anticipated. Dusty and earthy nose. Tasted 30 minutes and 1 hour after opening. Light-medium body throughout. Front palate a bit thin and watery but back end had some gamey/meaty notes intertwined with dirt clods. Despite the descriptors, maintained elegance for the duration. Seems to be holding the line here for a spell in the 375ml format. 10.17.25. — a month ago

Ted, Shay and 12 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Vine Hill Ranch Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Procured via auction. Have had bad bottles before but cork looked solid (used Durand to take no chances).

This bottle was excellent and the wine developed nicely in the glass over about 1.5 hours. Kept in my ETO.

Nice black and dark fruits with a little muscle. Oak integrated and not overpowering.

Lovely pairing with steak.
— 8 months ago

Bob, Jean-Philip and 4 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

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

1982 vintage. Great, upper shoulder fill. Long, aging cork fully saturated but removed with a Durand. Splintered a little upon removal. Decanted and threw less sed than expected. Decaying leather, cedar, hot gravel and lightly roasted button mushrooms in the nose. Light-medium/medium body. All this + some undying cherry and plum flavors mixed in amongst remaining tannins. More thrust and fruit than anticipated with expected structure firmly in place. Really beautiful specimen. Based on this bottle, can hold steady without dropoff for another 4-5 years. 1.12.24. — 2 years ago

Joel, Jan and 25 others liked this
Severn G

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Fantastic, a favorite BDX of ours, but no '82 in the cellar.