Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

13.2%. A perpetual favorite. This vintage seems more fruit driven compared to previous renditions. Quite dark. Cherries, raspberries, cranberries and some tea notes, well integrated tannins and dare I say “smooth” mouthfeel. Sadly/unfortunately in a different prize range compared to a decade ago. 75$ or so. Seems high to me. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A benchmark Pauillac delivering depth, precision, and classical balance at a very high level, driven by a 75% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 20% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc as a support. The wine shows beautifully layered red fruit, refined structure, and seamless integration, expressing terroir purity and composure from start to finish.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, red cherry, wild raspberry, cassis, graphite, cedar, pencil shavings, subtle tobacco leaf, gentle cocoa and crushed gravel.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus to full-bodied with finely polished tannins, excellent mid-palate density, vibrant yet controlled acidity, elegant grip, and a long, harmonious finish that remains lifted and precise.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, rack of lamb, beef Wellington, mushroom-forward dishes, aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully executed Pauillac that balances power and finesse effortlessly. Everything feels aligned, fruit purity, structure, tension, and length, making this a top-tier reference for the appellation and vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is Pauillac done right, deep fruit, flawless execution, and a finish that feels complete and satisfying rather than forced. A wine that earns admiration through balance and quiet authority. Hard to pass, even harder to forget. — 5 months ago

Garen Staglin

9.5

Terrior driven. Acid and fruit with power and finesse. — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2008 Vieux Château Certan was cropped at 34hl/ha and contains more Cabernets compared to other vintages. Their contribution is tangible on the nose: pencil shavings and tertiary scents are pretty potent and lend it a Left Bank allure. The palate is fresh and vibrant with grainy tannins, graphite-driven, fresh and tensile with a persistent finish. Certainly, one of the best Pomerols in this challenging growing season, VCC at its most Médoc. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2204)
— 2 years ago

Ivor

9.1

Lovely nose of fresh see breeze, shell fish and blossom. Palate of intense lemon, crème fraiche, hay and again oysters. Very mineral driven finish. Wine improves with air and slightly higher temps. — 3 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Last nights comparison. Both were very much cherry driven fruit, but more acidic sour cherry in the 2013 at first while an almost cough drop deep cherry in the 2014. I found the 2013 had a more earthy nature while the 2014 seemed more rounded and had more deep fruit. — 5 years ago

with Barbara

Brad Jensen

9.4

Bold flavor, delicious medium body, heavy red fruit driven. Will buy again. — 5 years ago

with Tiva

Joaquin Martinez

9.0

From the first pour to the final glass, the wine unfolded in distinct, mesmerizing phases. It opened with dark plum, blackberry, and cassis layered over crushed rock and a saline, limestone-driven tension. As air worked through it, violet perfume and a cool sea-breeze freshness emerged, softening the initial mineral edge and allowing the Merlot core to broaden into darker, richer fruit. Iron began to surface — subtle but structural — weaving into the acidity and fine, silky tannins as the frame reasserted itself with vibrancy and precision. Later, Cabernet Franc lifted the palate with herbaceous green pepper nuance, while oak, spice, smoke, and cedar gradually revealed the élevage beneath the fruit. By the final glass, the wine felt harmonious, alive, and architecturally sound. It was structured yet integrated, clean and refreshing on the finish, with layers continuously revealing themselves rather than fading. Mesmerizing in its evolution. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Léoville Barton 2023 – Saint-Julien, Grand Cru Classé en 1855, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Saint-Julien expression showing clarity, harmony, and structural polish, driven by a 77% Cabernet Sauvignon–led blend with 20% Merlot Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc as a support. The wine balances ripe fruit concentration with restraint, delivering precision, finesse, and a seamless flow from attack through finish.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, ripe blackberry, red plum, cassis, graphite, cedar, subtle baking spice, crushed stone, light tobacco and gentle floral lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with finely woven tannins, excellent balance, fresh integrated acidity, supple texture, and a long, graceful finish that feels effortless rather than forceful.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, roasted duck breast, grilled filet mignon, mushroom risotto, aged Comté or Gruyère.

Verdict
An elegant, dependable Saint-Julien that delivers purity, structure, and drinking pleasure without excess. Refined, polished, and quietly authoritative, a wine that rewards both immediate enjoyment and patient cellaring.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of wine that wins through composure and precision rather than horsepower. Easy to enjoy today, yet layered enough to keep you leaning back into the glass. Subtle sophistication done right. — 5 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Deeper ruby , redder thinner ruby rim . Quite round and rich , inviting , earthy dark cherry , spicy blackberry notes , touch of tobacco and dark chocolate. On the palate this is also riper and richer , though with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , raspberry, cherry , red plum . Round sweet tannins , balanced acidity , a bit more alcohol perhaps and slightly sweeter medium length finish. Still quite young and fruit driven , probably will enjoy another 10 years of prime drinking . Quite generous and plump in personality , but still balanced with enough freshness and polished tannin — a year ago

Zimran Ahmed

9.2

Lovely. Floral nose with a mineral driven, bright attack. Herbal. Olive. A little grippe. Great with seafood. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

When offered a glass of Domaine William Fèvre, my answer is (always) a resounding “yes!”

Domaine William Fèvre is justifiably one of the most significant producers in Chablis, representing a gold standard for high quality, terroir-driven Chardonnays, produced from a collection of estate vineyard sites located across the region, including many carrying the prestigious “Premier Cru” or “Grand Cru” title.   👏🏻👏🏻

This wine is 100% Chardonnay (as is required for all “Chablis”) from Premier Cru vineyards in Vaillons on the left bank of the River Serein.

It is refined and elegant with bright acidity, steely minerality, white blossom, toast, and concentrated citrus and green apple, white peach, nectarine fruit notes while also exhibiting a textural, creamy mouthfeel and richness, perhaps in part due to lees and partial (older, French) oak aging.🙌🏻🙌🏻

Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2020 (ABV 12.5%). — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Matt Perlman

9.0

From mag. Had not yet tried this wine with this much age before and didn’t know what to expect but it was really quite nice. Develops kind of like a gamay or Pinot. Black cherry and raspberry still there but definitely leaner and more acid-driven and savory at this point. Dried flowers, stewed tomato, dried herbs, mushroom, maybe a little sweet tobacco and mesquite. Overall I think I would still drink this young for the exuberant lip smacking red fruit but this was interesting — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.1

Yesterday’s Wednesday Wine Committee, hosted by @Jeff Meyer , was so educational with fantastic German & Austrian wines. 1 sparkler, 5 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert wine. All served blind as usual.

This was more mineral driven than the first red in every way. Not necessarily savory, but very herbal. Almost grassy. Sour and underripe cherry, bitter dark cocoa, medium acidity, and surprisingly tannic on the finish with too many herbs to differentiate against! Complex. I called this Spätburgunder. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 1 other

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Château Haut-Batailley 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully structured and layered Pauillac delivering serious grip, depth of red fruit, and refined finesse, driven by a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend with 37% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot support. The wine shows clear complexity and architectural balance, combining power and polish without heaviness, positioning itself as a confident mid-pack contender capable of punching above its weight.

Aromas & Flavors
Red currant, cassis, wild raspberry, graphite, cedar shavings, crushed gravel, subtle tobacco leaf, cocoa dust and fresh spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with firm, finely grained tannins, excellent mid-palate density, vibrant yet integrated acidity, precise structural tension, and a long, focused finish that grips beautifully without roughness.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb rack, beef bourguignon, duck breast, rosemary potatoes, aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A poised and confident Pauillac showing layered complexity, structural clarity, and real finesse. Not a brute-force heavyweight, but a beautifully driven, technically precise wine with strong aging potential and excellent balance.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a wine that thrives on precision rather than raw horsepower, beautifully controlled grip, layered red fruit, and elegant finesse throughout. The kind of bottle that rewards attention and quietly impresses from start to finish. — 5 months ago

Damian

9.4

First glass is fresh, driven by acidity, toast and orchard fruit. After some the acidity fades and gives way to creamy notes, caramel, hazelnut and honey. It also gave me a note of Werther’s Original candy. On the other hand the Chardonnay provides plenty of mineral and chalky notes. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Macchia – “Delicious” Barbera – 2023
Heaven’s Vines, Lodi – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Barbera from Lodi. an Italian indigenous grape known for its naturally high acidity, juicy fruit, and casual drinkability. Macchia Winery, celebrated for producing over 20 distinct styles of Zinfandel, also showcases its versatility with Italian varieties. Consistently recognized with domestic and international awards, the winery brings Barbera into the spotlight with this vibrant estate bottling.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherries, plum, blackberry compote, and a touch of vanilla and sweet spice. Fresh, fruity, and forward with that classic Barbera brightness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a smooth, easygoing finish. Juicy fruit drives the palate, making it approachable and highly sip-worthy.

Food Pairings
Perfect with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces, grilled sausages, roasted vegetables, or charcuterie. A true “any day, any time” red.

Verdict
A fun, approachable, and fruit-driven Barbera with Macchia’s signature Lodi generosity. Casual enough for weeknight sipping yet polished enough to show the quality behind this estate-grown wine.

Did You Know?
Barbera is one of Italy’s most widely planted red grapes, cherished for its fresh acidity and versatility. In California, Lodi’s warm days and cool delta breezes help the variety express generous fruit while maintaining balance. — 7 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

A rough day. So which wine will never disappoint? Dampt Cote de lechet.

Nose: lovely. A green apple skin mineral perfume. White flowers get this to 94.

Palate: sweet green apple. Salty. Mineral. Utterly delicious. This is not the acid driven hammer that 21’was but it’s in the range of being as good.

Fass selections. — 2 years ago

Ron R

9.2

Displays a distinctive personality on the nose and palate. It’s a leanish, mineral-driven expression of Chardonnay. Hints of ginger and lanolin combine with taught acidity. Sweetness is light to moderate. Very little oak to talk about, mostly steely. This will partner perfectly with sushi, but it does need a wingman. — 4 years ago

with Anne-marie

Shay A

9.4

I’ve been a fan of Realm for quite a while, but this was the first time I’ve opened their merlot driven wine, Tempest.

95% merlot, 5% Cabernet. Inky dark red/black in the glass. Fresh baked mixed berry pie notes jump from the glass along with espresso, dark chocolate and baking spices. Astoundingly silky and elegant on the palate. While this is certainly a bigger expression than most merlot, it still has classical merlot notes at the core…black cherry with beautifully lifted profile. Rich red, blue and black fruits, cocoa, and graham cracker. The finish has great acidity and fine grained tannins. A very sexy expression of merlot. Fantastic! — 5 years ago