Delectable Wine

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9.5

I tasted the 1982 Lynch-Bages twice within a month, both at a private dinner in London and at the château, from bottle and double-magnum on separate occasions. Both vindicate an exceptionally fine 1982, perhaps a bit overlooked in a vintage full of stars. Curiously, the bottle in Bordeaux does not fully deliver the mesmerizing freshness and energy compared to the bottle in London: pencil-lead-tinged black fruit intermixed with clove and freshly-rolled tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, perhaps just a little austere compared to its peers. Yet, indeed, the bottle in London exudes class and composure with a detailed, mineral-driven vintage belying that year's unseasonably warm period. Superb. Tasted both in London at a private dinner and at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2023) — 3 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

N: Blood orange, pith, as it opens, an underlying woody musty/funk shows. There’s some caramel, heady fruits, citrus.
P: Oranges, Young strawberries, that specific LdH barrel, terrific bitterness on the finish. A myriad that draws you back.
Special stuff indeed!
I have a 2008 waiting, curious to see. — 5 years ago

Bruno Osorio

9.1

Delicious Zinfandel. Aromas of strawberry jam, cinnamon and tobacco. It is indeed oaky, but I expected it to be even more oaky as it is aged in bourbon barrels. Nice tannins. — 6 years ago

James Forsyth

9.6

Holy smokes this is good. Backbone aplenty and intense acidity define this beauty. Red fruit and licorice about. It tastes like a baby still. Indeed, in the coming years I'm sure it'll become much more giving. I've been using my Coravin on the 2013 Felsina Rancia for around a month. Consistent impressions so far. — 6 years ago

Chris Gillespie

9.2

Enjoy indeed Larry! Happy thanksgiving all, turley magnum...mmm! — 8 years ago

Perry Riddle

9.1

Fleur de Champagne indeed — 9 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.6

Color of dark purple with yellow and brown note on the rim. Nose is so beautifully fragrant. Peppery with nice dried strawberries, cherry jam, cedar wood, clove, rose, leather, and actually a touch of cola note. Taste is lighter than expected. Some cocoa note, long and profound balsamic vinegar note, cured meat, peppery, dried strawberries, cherry jam, and nice backbone of tannins. Aftertaste is medium long, with good solid tannins, balsamic vinegar note, some zesty note, and some more cola note. Very good Barolo indeed. — 9 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The sleeper vintage. Simply just ready to go, holding nothing back as it wafts from the glass and the decanter with layers of cassis, cedar, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture, as Margaux should be, and indeed its greatest attribute on this occasion. Liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins, it’s sensual and elegant, caressing the palate with each sip, leading to its black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Excellent showing tonight, and for my tastes drinking at its apogee. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

An absolute monster of a wine. 4 hours in the decanter served perfectly to allow this 2001, perhaps one of the best Hommage vintages ever, to flaunt its incredibly complex aromatic array of black fruits, roasted Provençal herbs, licorice, campfire smoke and Christmas spices.

It’s still youthful with ripe tannins and a ton of muscle. Nowhere near its peak. But it’s entering its drinking window seamlessly, being incredibly giving and expressive with sufficient air. Similar to how VV Gonon differs from the regular bottling, Hommage just cranks everything up to 10 and it’s concentrated flavors come at you in waves. But it never gets heavy as there is just enough lift and precision to keep everything harmonious. A very special bottle from a very special vintage indeed. — 5 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Color - burnt red with some bricking and a bit cloudy—a savory look indeed! Nose - dark deep cherry, smoked meat, pencil lead, gravel and notes of mint, cream cassis vanilla and with a subtle funky spice at the tail end giving much character to the wine. Taste definitely does not disappoint—an immediate creamy feel and dark cherry, savory, spice initially hits the pallet followed by cocoa, graphite and a smoke like aged vanilla long finish. Dusty tannins linger long after each taste. Loving it!! — 5 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Evan Bienstock

9.2

Continuing my Gamay journey. This is more complex and rich and structured than some others from the region. Very nice indeed. — 6 years ago

Raisa Friberg

9.4

Nice indeed 2016 — 8 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.2

Out of a magnum and shining from beginning to end through 24 hours. Value is an understatement. That minerally pixelated crispness I got when I first tasted this 3 years ago has fleshed out to a quite noble expression of Chablis indeed. Wish I had more magnums of this village level juice. 👌🏼 RIP — 9 years ago

with Gregory, Taylor and 1 other

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

The first couple times I tried 08 I was definitely too quick to judge. It needs a ton of air, and it’s different from the rich, oxidative, nutty house style of the past, particularly the warm and ultra forward 2006, the previous release. 2008 is indeed young, tightly wound with a pulsating core of energy.

The first glass offers very little. Subdued, austere and youthfully reserved. But ensuing pours eventually unleash its core of powerful clean orchard fruit, coffee bean and grilled nuts. On the palate it continues to become so much more textural with crazy gains in weight, depth and fruit intensity as the night goes on. It really fills the mouth, saturating the palate with a satin-like texture, ripping citrusy acids and saline laced minerals that follow deep into its finish. Enjoyable now with enough air (needs 2 hours), but no doubt one to hold. To live forever. — 3 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.4

2021/3-4. Really lovely - at 20, it is indeed Burgundian in its open, red fruit character, but it still has that hot-stone Chateauneuf character. I’m so glad I kept a few of these - I now have just one more left. Considering the price has doubled, I don’t know how many more I’ll get to lay down, so I’ll look forward to that last bottle of 2001 with a mix of excitement and sadness. — 5 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

This really could be left bank Bordeaux, with a very pure expression of fruit, pencil shavings and dark chocolate. The wine is quite primary, primal even, with intense flavours of candied red fruits - certainly this is more red fruited than black - and a dark, bitter finish akin to coffee beans. The tannins are actually quite mellow, but acidity high, all of which contributes to a strangely Tuscan feel. Nonetheless, it’s a terrific wine that should age very well indeed. — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

Pear, peach, elderflower. Good freshness but with warmth and depth. Very good indeed. — 6 years ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

6/19. Yes indeed a fine Cab. Bold flavor with a great finish. — 7 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.6

The Dos Cortados is very fine indeed. This bone dry sherry is very much on the amontillado side of palo cortado yet is deep and kaleidoscopically complex. The finish had focus worthy of a Mesnil Champagne and every kind of fancy nut one could imagine. — 9 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.2

A delightful wine with a heavy hit at 15.5 ABV. Full bodied and rich with plenty of character. While I am sure time will yield a more balanced wine, this selection is quite nice on the pop & pour. The nose yields sage, dried herbs, cedar, blackberries, plums, and spices. The palate is surprisingly smooth for such a bold wine with notes of tobacco, dark fruits & jam, fig, and balsamic. A delicious wine, indeed. — 9 years ago

with Krystal