Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of ripe and tart, mixed brambles, blueberries, figs, lavender, a touch of animale, black pepper, rocky earth and fine, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(?) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This seemed to get younger the longer it was exposed to air. The Benjamin Button of wine, lol. Might even rate it higher down the road. Lovely with kofta on a Thursday. Drink now through 2045+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 months ago

Louis Martin

9.4

Smooth, hint of sour cherry, cigar and leather flavor, bolder than a normal Margaux due to the higher level of Petit Merlot in the blend, paired beautifully with a rich pumpkin ravioli dish. — 6 months ago

GT

9.4

Very dry, high high acid. Leather, smoke, cedar, minerals. Not much fruit. Higher tannins. And a good borolo flavor — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Medium plus Ruby in colour - when swirled a tawny note shows. Dusty berry derived aromas - cassis/blackcurrant on the medium weight palate; cedar/cigar box with a touch of capsicum. A very good mature left bank Bordeaux from an excellent vintage. I had a bottle of this 3 years ago and received some commentary from other Delectable users that I was drinking this too early. It does have a longer life than I said 3 years ago but I am more than happy to drink it now. As LM Segal said about this wine on Delectable, “If you’ve got em drink em”. As always with Lynch Bages it deserves a higher rating than 5th Growth - but in summary not overly complex. — 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Lamy’s En Remilly is usually a wine I hold in higher regard, but this bottle was knocked back by a touch of… dare I say… premature oxidation. With Diam 30 and a thick white wax cap (plus a great track record), you can be sure this was again a function of bad cold chain in Malaysia. Sigh. Having said that, it was still a decent showing - loved the mineral saturation the wine displayed from start to finish. The nose was rich and still detailed with aromas of popcorn, wheat grain, iodine, pear, unripe pineapple, lanolin, and a tinge of mint as well as the dreaded oxidative musk. The palate was dense, saline, expectedly taut, and had a lovely texture that seemingly enveloped the tongue. The oxidative honey note was rather distracting in the finish, but a chill did help mask it. Actually superb with confited ocean trout, but I can’t help but feel robbed of the full enjoyment of this wine. — 4 years ago

Angelo Casagrande

9.0

Deep purple and an amazing floral nose. tv14%, higher in alcohol than I’ve seen with Lacrima, but u can’t taste it. This wine is so unusual- no other grape that I know of ( my brother will correct me?) has a nose and taste like this. Tannins are there but in check. Went great with pappadelle and pancetta/ tomato sauce. — 6 years ago

Matt

9.4

Happy to see how this has developed. Still has lift and more freshness than some CNDP, but its settled into its own, the balance of acid, alcohol, and tannin and settled in nicely. Strawberry compote, Christmas spice cake, dried lavender, licorice root, black tea, sweet meat, slight hint of beef broth. Seems like another day will unfold more. Surprised with how some of the 2011’s have aged, given how charming and open knit they were on release. Day 2 is another wine, the stoney mineral and spice notes have really came to the front; Allspice Dram, baked rocks, iron, cinnamon and clove. Without the lush fruit the wines structure is way more apparent, its become more rectangular in shape and the higher elevation site seems to come through on the acid and tannin. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed alongside Texas BBQ on the plane home. The 2005 “Hommage a Jacques Perrin” pours a deep purple with a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly dark fruits: mixed brambles, black cherry, animale, star anise and black pepper, garrigue and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This continues to be ever so dense but paired admirably with the BBQ. Drink now through 2055. — 2 months ago

Paul J

9.7

@ Silverspoon. Open 30+ minutes in the bottle. This was amazing!! Bold yet refined. Savory with that Napa sweetness present. Could mistake for a higher end Bordeaux with cedar and anise. Simply great! — a year ago

with Brooke

Paul J

9.5

1hr+ decant. Loved this! Dark red color with a high quality nose and finish. Tough to describe but it’s what you expected to smell and taste in a higher end Bordeaux. I sensed some Italian influence as the tannins were prominent. Paired nicely with ham and sweet potatoes. Merry Christmas!! — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Ed Chin

9.2

PnP. My initial impression was something wasn’t right. Not reductive or oxidative just couldn’t figure it out. Took about an hours time swirling and a heavy shake. Nice zesty zing that grew in weight to almost having a tropical note to it. Would have scored higher if not the weirdness upon opening. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Dark Ruby with aromas of black fruits and complex notes of spice, herb and earth. It was a cooler season in 2010, resulting in higher acidity that made this wine big and needed a lot more time in the bottle, than the last time I tried in order to soften the massive tannin structure. On the palate plum and blackberry flavors with some nutty notes, wet stone and earthy herbs show harmoniously on the palate. Full body, fine tannins with a deep rich long finish. A Gem! Tasting well now! — 6 years ago

Adam Halverson

9.3

Really good, smooth and enjoyable Pinot, higher price for me at $23 for the 2018 vintage but I’d buy it again at that price! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Pretty sure I haven’t had a better bottle of Champange at $24.99 and even some higher.

The nose reveals; bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, soft honeycomb, oysters, sea spray, baguette crust, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies.

The entry is clean, fresh, rich and lively. Bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, golden apple, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, caramel, soft honeycomb, sea fossils & spray, baguette crust, nice white spice with some palate heat, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies. Crisp lively acidity. The finish is refreshingly delicious, well balanced, good, seamless, delineation, nice polish and persists with spice for several minutes on the long set.

Photos of; The House of Baron Fuentes, grapes at harvest, Proprietor Eric De Brisis and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 4 months ago

Carolyn Patrone

9.6

Wonderful nose, toasted almond, sherry, lemon, ripe pear. Oxidation is just right- not overwhelming, but adds to complexity and character. Slightly orange color, full bodied. Would love to know actual alcohol, label says 11-14%, but tears indicated higher alcohol, but very well balanced. Disgorged 14 November 2019. — 3 years ago

Doug Powers

9.9

Redfruit aromas and flavors, this is still hopelessly young, though the tannins have softened a bit and it seems to be inching towards maturity, impeccable balance and great depth of flavors, super long, lingering finish, just an absolutely fantastic, old school California mountain Cabernet. I have always believed this to be the best Dunn Howell Mountain ever made (I’ve tasted 1981-1992, with a distinct style change towards riper and higher ABV starting around 1992, after which I stopped buying the wine). $15 full retail when I bought it in late 1984. — 3 years ago

with Jim

Scott Soren

9.5

@Epoch Estate Wines nails it. Singing Grenache. Big florals on the nose. Crushed raspberries. The mouthfeel drives a long finish with higher acidity. Macerated raspberries and hints of eucalyptus. Just awesome juice — 6 years ago

Ta Ta

9.0

The nose is all that I hope for in a Chard. Beautiful wine start to finish but perhaps a bit young, as the acidity (on the finish) seemed higher than the 2017, to my recollection. I’d imagine, some time might mellow it out a bit. — 6 years ago

Dawn E.

9.1

Here is my #fridaycabernetfix ! Not sure of the "somewhat low ratings" on this! This wine is really good! Super Smooth...dark fruits..molasses..sage..leather...vanilla..nice long finish! I picked this up for $40..pretty comparable ..previous purchases at a much higher price point.

Update..post 4 days vacuum pumped and in Refrigerator..this wine has lost some ground ..once being opened. Not bad..but heavy on the oak..and loss of acidity present post 1 hr. Decant. Not bad....just different.... — 7 years ago