Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium deep ruby with ruby pink rim. Spicy cassis , dark blackberry , violets , red pepper. A touch herbaceous with tobacco and graphite. On the pallet, nice volume, ripe blackberry , dark cherry, cassis, with that herbal touch from the nose. Quite firm sweet tannin and balanced acidity . Medium length graphite and cassis tinged finish. This is still quite young but approachable, will last well over the coming 10 years or so. — 3 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Medium deep ruby , garnet rim . Quite closed at first , touch of spice , wood smoke , grafite , coffee, cocoa . Touches of blackberry , cassis , violet . On the palate quite rich and young still , lots of tannin , balanced alcohol and fresh acidity . Cassis , tobacco , blackberry . Mineral , tobacco tinged finish of excellent length . Still young needs more time , better in 5 or 10 years and will last well a further 20. Great potential ! — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

The last bottle at Mick’s Cellar tasting last Saturday and what a finale it was. Amazingly rich and full bodied for a 42 year old wine from the fabulous 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. One of the best wines (probably top 3) I’ve ever had was the 1982 Chateau Margaux and this nearby neighbour just reinforces that tasting some years ago. Plenty of red and black berry. Full bodied and delicious, still with a future. Supple fluid tannins with a loong finish. A treat to taste this. Thanks Mick. — 3 months ago

Rick Phillips

8.9

Like a lot of the older SO this Alexander Valley didn’t last long. Opened to lots of bright fruits but died quickly. — a month ago

with Letha

John Malcolm

9.2

Beautiful wine. Slightly prefer the 1999, which I had last night. The ‘99 was musty and tasted lots of mushrooms. The ‘01 is still earthy, but fruitier. Dark fruits, with a bit of tobacco and cedar. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3.28.24, 5.5.23, 4.4.23 and 12.9.22. Solid fill and cork. Recommended decanting but was denied. Mmkay. Eventually got clearance to decant after the bottle had been open for 1.25 hrs. Tasted after being open 5 mins, 45 mins and 2 hrs. Light-medium body throughout. Wine was funky and super tight initially. Had to talk a few of the “participants” down from their “this wine ain’t nothing” perch by telling them it needed at least an hour in the glass (since it hadn’t been decanted at that point). Wine threw expected sed on the decant. Started to loosen up at the 45 mins open stage and fairly exploded at the 2 hrs open (45 mins decanted) point. Dude that didn’t want to decant it gave me a wistful, regretful look at that point (since it blew the other 4 reds at the table away and was getting better) and it took waay too much willpower on my end not to say “Congrats on minimizing a fantastic wine experience, bro.” It wasn’t the best 1989 P-L specimen tasted semi-recently but feel this coulda delved into the 9.4 range without the unnecessary power trip from someone that didn’t even bring this wine to the shindig. Hopefully, this individual learned their lesson. 7.6.24. — 3 months ago

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9.2

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)
— 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Deep purple , thin ruby pink rim . Spicy cassis , touch of coconut , violets , blackberry liqueur and meaty, orange rind , slightly medicinal , iodine character . On the palate lovely density , blackcurrant , blackberry , saline and mineral reflexes . Lots of fine , polished quite dry tannins and surprising freshness . Long mineral stained finish , vanilla and cassis stained finish . After a while in the glass this really starts to show its mineral , crushed rock and iodine character. Intense and hugely powerful but also incredibly well balanced , with no warmth from the 14,5% alcohol, finishes dry and savoury , a real feat of engineering! Needs another 10-15 years and will last well a further 15-20 — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.1

It has been a little over a year since my last note on the 2018 vintage. Popped and poured, enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2018 pours a pale garnet with transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with delicate notes of funky cherry, rose water, tar and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A touch thinner than some of the “bigger” vintages but no less charming. I’m sort of a sucker for the 2018 vintage in how enjoyable these are to drink in their youth. Drink now through 2038 — 2 months ago

Ludovic Anacleto

9.6

SPEC TA CU LAR! Here you feel the absolute majesty of a wine who can be promoted to at least 2nd growth. Cedar, camphor, eucalyptus, butterscotch/4 spices, yellow curry. I’ve always loved ‘00 in Pauillac has I think it’s the last great of the classic style. Definitely this bottling is a keeper. — 3 months ago