After an hour and a half in the decanter, this was delicious — 2 months ago
1985. 40 years young. Gave it an hour to open up before dinner (paired orange ginger glazed duck with pistachio apricot farro). Thankfully my partner is a master of the Durand. There’s very little for me to compare this too - most aged whites are preserved by acid; Chave relies on glycerol here. It gives the wine gravitas but also life and freshness. Pleasant wood veneer/wood shop notes, dried apricots at first (become fresher with time), yellow plum, truffled earth. Salty poached apricots and timelessness. In a perfect world, we’d be sharing this with my dad. Strange & sensational. — 3 months ago
Beyond beautiful! Immediately soft upon opening—had planned to decant for 4-6 hours but decided against. Open and had small taste with Maggie Harrison around noon. Decided to re-cork it and decanted at 4PM.
At noon I got (very unexpected) cranberry notes on the nose and the palate was considerably more gentle than expected.
After two hour decant: Soft (cat tongue), integrated tannins, pomegranate, black cherry begins to emerge. Herbs, smoky/meaty notes emerge
Tasted: 5.20.26
Attendees: Mark Cerimele, Maggie Harrison, Steve Pfancuff, Lorne McClelland, Andy McCray, Denise Casino, Randy Nelson — 2 months ago
Aromas of kirsch, dried cherry, old wood, leather, and warm spice lead into a broad, supple palate. The fruit is ripe and generous, with earthy undertones and hints of black olive and dried herbs. Structure comes more from fine tannins than visible acidity, giving a smooth, gently weighted flow rather than lift. The finish is savory and persistent, marked by a candied touch.
A nice traditional CdP, but it does not show the fruit purity and freshness that’s one of the hallmark of the great 16’ vintage. — 2 months ago
The fruit for “Pi” is sourced from Foillard’s oldest vines on Côte du Py. These vines are believe to be more than 100 years old. Popped an poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2014 “Pi” pours a deep ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of funky dark fruit: black cherry, purple flowers, a whiff of horse blanket, sous bois and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Beautiful stuff. Drink now through 2039. — 3 months ago


from spirited gourmet- loved! even better on day 2 in eto decanter — 19 days ago
A 1/4 century in bottle…mmmm. I have had every 90’s vintage of Phelps Napa, except a 90 I think. Many of those multiple times at 15 yrs plus. This 99 is as good as any of the ones I’ve had. 98, not a great vintage but the 98 consistent with the rest and 99 better than many would expect.
Siting it, it has a dark core with little or no brickish edges. The fruit still very lively.
The nose shows; slightly candied to ripe & some slightly plummy fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, graphite, cocoa powder, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed I liquid violets with a touch of lavender.
This is still around its peak. M-M+ velvety, round tannins. It’s round w/ elegance defined. Nothing that bits back. Palate confirms the nose. Slightly candied to ripe fruits; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, baked strawberries, pomegranate & raspberries. Cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise to black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry tobacco, used leather, dry stems, dry crushed rocks with dry top soil, limestone, dark Asian spices with some palate heat, dry herbs w/ a sage lead, graphite, used charcoal ash, cocoa powder, caramel, dark cola, steeped berry tea, moist clay, dark & red bright florals framed in liquid violets with a touch of lavender, very round, beautiful acidity, well; made, knitted, structured, tensioned w/ excellent length and elegance-balanced finish that lasts minutes & lands on moist clays and ripe, evolved fruit.
Perfect w/ the Prime Ribcap. — a month ago
2022, figgy, plum with undertones of bacon at first open. very elegant and soft on palate. beautiful. about 4 hrs later- decanted. change? more mineral, tannins are showing more now than at opening. dried fig, meaty. bolder fruit on back end of palate thru the finish. iron on finish. drinking great but more time would certainly be better. — 2 months ago
Clean fruit. Mixed peppercorn. Tasty old world Syrah. — 3 months ago
Great wine. Will improve but not a bad time to open. Aromatics started with a distinctive smoky or reductive note that I couldn’t quite place but dissipated and morphed. Good structure. — 3 months ago
1 hour decant(lots of sediment). A gorgeous purplish garnet color. On the nose: Intoxicating musky notes of dark fruit, potting soil, worn leather, truffles, stewed meat, slight menthol. Taste: velvety, seamless, balanced, intense wine with dark fruit, cassis, earth, tobacco, mineral, herbs, and a chocolate graphite long never-ending finish. YUM! This wine has aged gracefully and has more gas in the tank. Enjoy. — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel
Dark red cherry, berry fruit with notes of meat, savory spices, licorice, violets & tobacco — 19 days ago