Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Merlot (59%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (41%). Dark purple color. Fruit forward aromas of black fruit, sweet oak, violets and baking spices. Bright and ripe dark berry and plum flavors mesh nicely with touches of spices and minerals. Long and lingering finish. Smooth tannins. Excellent balance and freshness. Nicely layered and precise. — a month ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2019 vintage. A bit more Merlot than Cabernet, but the latter seems to dominate the nose. — 9 months ago

Shay A

9.4

This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.

My goal was to compare this 2003 next to the 2003 Pichon Baron. I’ve had the 2002 Mondavi VHR a few times and have been floored how good they’ve been. Read a review from WA and it said the 2002 was a spitting image of the 2002 Pichon Baron, so I figured I’d see if the 2003 was worthy of the same comparison.

Decanted an hour. Whoa! Much more Bordeaux like than the ‘02, and a touch lighter. Mushroom, pipe tobacco and fig, with mineral/graphite note on the nose too. Mocha dusted red and black berries, currant, herbs and saddle leather. At the end of the lunch, this eventually turned to a more resolved (and deeper core of fruit) with the tannins integrating beautifully. Really enjoyable. Pop and enjoy. — a year ago

Mark S.

9.0

Violet Pichon Baron 19 @34980, Pieroth, 241115 — a month ago

Jacob Onufrychuk

9.0

Not particularly noteworthy but good I’ve it has had a chance to breathe. Dark berry etc. — 7 months ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Spoto Family wine dinner under the stars: always a fun night with Stuart and family!

DINNER WINES
2021 Spoto Oakville cabernet rose
2019 Spoto Godfather red....a blend you can't refuse.
2019 Spoto cuvee Christiane
2018 Spoto Beckstoffer amber Knolls malbec
2018 Spoto family reserve cabernet
2015 Spoto late harvest viognier
Also:
2004 Las Cases
2005 Pichon Baron
2009 Cos d'estournel
2012 La Mission Haut Brion
2005 Spottswood
1989 clerc milon
2005 Spoto private reserve
2001 clos du val

FOOD
Oysters, lamb lollipops, feta skewers
Tomato and nectarine panzanella
Ricotta, summer pea and corn agnolotti
Wood fired gulf prawns
Five spice grass-fed short rib, Yukon potato
Apricot and vanilla custard tartelette — a year ago

with Brenda

Laura Purdy

9.5

Newly released Grand Selection- holy cow! — 4 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Equipo vaquero — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1990 vintage. Excellent fill and halfway saturated cork. Used a Durand but surmise a regular waiter's friend, wielded carefully, could have done the trick with the cork. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins, one hour and two hours. Some obvious sed but not troublesome or overtly noticeable. Original owner-château direct on original release. Super cold cellar because this was lagging noticeably behind other '90's and LB's. Bigger tannic structure (for a generally feminine-styled house) than anything save a Latour, Mouton, Ducru Left Bank property. Even more guts than Lynch-Bages or Pichon-Baron '90's currently stored above 55 or so degrees. Surprising but made sense. Light-medium body. Appropriate color. 3-4 years left in this stage unless larger format in play. Slight, fleeting burst of richness in the frontal palate and a tad brickish and then it just flowed on, without speed bumps. A little cocoa powder and cedar/tobacco. Suspect 750ml specimens not stored as cold/religiously will be showing more in the 9.0-9.1 range and farther down the backside of the bell curve. 10.26.24. — 2 months ago

Paul J

9.2

PnP. Dark red/purple color. Young, deep wine. I thought it actually smelled a bit like the ‘66 Pichon Baron somehow. Earthy with cedar. Fruit was reserved. More alcohol than I was expecting. Needs 5+yrs. — 2 years ago

with Brooke