Deborah M

9.5

My favorite at the dinner with Lingua Franca founder, Larry Stone. Mimi’s Mind was complex, beautiful, nuanced and everything I enjoy about Pinot Noir. Seductive yet powerful. I want this one with some age. — a month ago

Vanessa

9.3

In my mind, there’s no better way to celebrate another trip around the sun than with loved ones, watching the sunset, while sharing a delicious meal and wine pairing. This evening hits the mark!

This wine is a 2nd growth Saint-Julien from the Médoc, left bank, region of Bordeaux, France. When I say 2nd growth, that means the Château from which this wine hails received the second highest quality designation as of part of the “1855 Classification” that took place during the Universal Expedition in Paris in 1855. This quality designation remains intact today despite the centuries that have passed.

This wine is clear with a deep ruby hue and garnet rim variation. On the nose this wine has medium intensity(+) of developing aromas with a large focus on blackberry, fig, cassis, prune, potpourri, incense, anise, cedar, vanilla, clove, nutmeg, earth, leather, and tobacco. On the palate this wine is dry. It has medium acidity, a medium(+) body, medium alcohol, high tannins, and medium intensity in flavors consistent with the nose. The finish is long.

Interestingly, the fermentation took place in various vessels, including those made from oak, steel, and concrete and then this wine aged in oak barriques (small oak vessels) until it was ready for bottling.

It was also cellared at the Château from harvest until shipping in 2015.

Château Léonville, Grand Vin de Léonville du Marquis de Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Médoc. Vintage 2005. ABV 13%.

This wine has complexity, balance, structure, and length. It’s outstanding. I’m not surprised to see a 100-point rating from Wine Spectator. Thank you @Deke for the amazing Birthday selection! — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Ely Cohn

9.3

Color of dried orange peel or Hot Tamales. Beautiful little firecracker.

Smells oxidized, though crisp in the mouth. A duality of candy and fresh fruit, like biting into a caramel apple. Deep, and whole, and very appley indeed. Also dried apricots and butterscotch and fresh peach.

A deep, complex wine that could go the million and one directions of a human mind. — 10 months ago

Joshua Sadono

9.4

Light sparkle, crushable — 4 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.2

This was absolutely mind blowing white blend mainly of Garganega and others...from amazing producer of course...apricot and slight vanilla, apples, lemons...wonderful acid..paired great with light lunch... — 5 years ago

with Ryan

Matthew Cohen

9.5

Needs an hour. Dont waste sips before then. Maybe needs 2 hours. Density creeps up over time.

Nose is gorgeous sweet earth. Cranberry flower. An our in this is grand cru. Hard to describe but gorgeous deep and dense. Amazing cranberry perfume. You duck it in and it seems like a half a sniff fills the nostrils.

Palate is perfect sweet cranberries. Gorgeous texture. Incredible purity. As this opens more delicious. Just seeps into the palate. Almost this cherry anise cranberry otherworldly thing. Some spice. This vintage is more very good 1er cru on the palate. Very good but not elite density. But very good. Some cranberry licorice as this opens.

Finish is cranberry flower extract. So clean and pure and elegant. Wow. Elite finish. Sticks to the palate and just sits there defiantly. Eff you. I’m not leaving.

Needs air.

Bought from fass selections. — 5 years ago

Da Gabe's

10

Mind blowing. Legs for days. So complex and sophisticated, elegant, velvet, super sexy, knocked my socks off at the same time! — 2 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.2

Stunningly good at 22 years old. Deep and dense. Soil’y with aromas of black currant and bittersweet chocolate. I’ve been enjoying a lot of 00-05 medoc wines lately. While not mind blowing they are wonderful all alone or with the right food. Shows what a $30 bottle from a great terroir / producer is capable of. Not every wine needs to cost hundreds of dollars to be enjoyable — 3 years ago

Kai Wright

9.2

This is weird, but if you read NK Jemisen’s Broken Earth series, and you think about the all-powerful onyx obelisk—that’s what it feels like I’m drinking. Overwhelming in every way—Big, bold, ripe, boozy. But balanced and smooth and soft like velvet glove. I just fall deep into the glass and wanna stay there. The dark, juicy fruit — a blackberry/blueberry cobbler comes to mind—lingers forever. — 4 years ago

Martijn

9.2

My only advice do not battle with it, dont compare. Simply enjoy old school smooth BDX!!! With good company or alone!! — 5 years ago