Opened around 8pm the evening prior, double decanted and left in room temperature until service on Friday evening. In total, this was opened 24hours before service. The 1995 pours a beautiful garnet with transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate stating of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with surprisingly boozy dark fruit. Brambles, cassis, bell pepper, licorice, spearmint and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with great acidity. Overall, remarkably youthful. While it’s certainly ready to go, it will likely continue some positive evolution over the next couple of decades. Drink now with a long decant through 2045. — 12 days ago
The 2004 Léoville Las Cases has a noticeable mintiness on the nose that actually complements the red fruit, though it deviates away from what you might call Saint-Julien typicité. After ten minutes, it coheres with ash and black tea aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded texture on the entry. The 2004 shows fine acidity and is lightly spiced with cracked black pepper towards the finish. A little conservative, but it acquits itself well considering the vintage. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— a month ago
Fruit forward but with the earthiness you expect from well made Rioja. Excellent wine that will continue to get better with time in the bottle. — 9 days ago
Opened the evening prior at 7pm and double-decanted; the bottle was left at room temp with the cork pressed lightly back into the neck until service. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly water rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and showing some real power with a compelling combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: dark brambles, cassis, leather, dill, olives, spiced meat, tobacco and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and whoa is it ever delicious. This has to be one of the wines of the vintage. Drink now through 2040. — 12 days ago
Bottled in June 2023, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape ended up slightly below my initial assessment from barrel last year. Nonetheless, it presents a distinctively elegant and refreshing character that’s neatly defined by ripe black cherry, licorice, violet, strawberry and meaty traces. Round tannins neatly frame this savory and polished red that offers highly enjoyable drinking right out of the gate. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, June 2024)
— 23 days ago
From a 1 liter bottle. Which frankly was marketing and sales genius by the Wanner’s.
Fruity. Sweet. Lots of oak. A bit better with some bottle age. Let this breathe for quite a bit.
Did not hold a candle to the Paul Hobbs LPV — 2 days ago
Wine looks very young reflecting a beautiful crimson color and an expressive nose. Red fruit and perfume aromas jump from the glass with secondary notes of cassis, subtle vanilla crème, cigar box and stewed meat. Delightfully delicious, juicy and flavorful coating the entire palate. Red fruits dominate with herbaceous and mineral notes followed by earthy soiled and cedar pepper secondary notes adding to its medium plus finish. — 20 days ago
Recommendation from Yoga, NCL — a month ago
Lisa Brosnan
Cabernet 56%, Merlot 33%, Cab Franc 6%, Malbec 3%, Petit Verdot 2% — a month ago