Tom Casagrande

9.2

Quick double decant. After 15 minutes, it’s already cookin’. Nose shows cassis, clay, a little underbrush, a slight menthol note, a little violet. Lots going on. Rich and a little macho in the mouth, like many ‘18s. There’s a fair whack of soft tannin, but it’s already drinking well. Intense and full. Not elegant, but gives you more than your money’s worth of flavor. Certainly will be better in 5 years or so. — 6 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Blend of about 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot and rest Petit Verdot. Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruit aromas and herb notes. On the palate black raspberry and blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, leather and smoky oak notes. Fine tannins, mefium+ finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, drinks well now. — 14 days ago

Pierre-Nathan Argaud

9.3

Depth and concentration, this bottle is an ode to south saint joseph wines, with great balance and complexity. To achieve a better grade I need more finesse, but the vintages is also like that — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 12 days ago

Nathan Renfro

9.9

Christmas Eve dinner with ribeye steak. What a wine! Lovely aromatic of ripe blue fruit, crushed stone, leather baseball gloves. Almost black color. About as perfect a wine as I have had. Blue and black ripe fruit, softened edges but powerful tannins. Perfectly matched acidity. Structured brilliantly. Graphite, stone, hint of menthol, licorice. Nice medium + finish. Perfect wine yet still so youthful, many, many years left. Will wait a few years before opening another bottle. — 3 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

In a good spot with room to improve. Beautiful texture, mousse, micro beaded.

Notes of Honeycomb and butterscotch. Both yellow & white peaches, nectarines, tropical melons, pineapple, understated lemon, cream, baguette, beautiful fine chalky powder, saline notes, sea spray, yellow & spring flowers, excellent soft acidity and a well made elegant, smartly polished finish that lasts nearly two-minutes.

Another 15-20 years here of quality sipping. — 20 days ago

Vijay Parikh

9.4

With a four hour decant this bottle was brilliant! Notes of cedar, tobacco, cassis, dried blueberries it was an excellent accompaniment to the Matsuzaya beef — 2 days ago

Austin Blackwell

9.3

Heady aromas of dark fruits and graphite. Tannins are developing nicely and soft enough after a 2 hour decent to drink easily. — 2 days ago

web bond

9.3

2012 Pierre Gonon Saint Joseph — 2 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2019 vintage. From Magnum. Medium body up front with that pirouetting away at the end and finishing with a lighter footprint. Drinking great now and just dropped into cruise control for the next 2.5 decades. Great effort. 12.11.24. — 16 days ago