Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Medium pale ruby , wide garnet rim . This shows some development with porcini , sandalwood , bitumen , black tea and some sweet blackberry and red cherry . On the palate a bit more of the blackberry , cherry and sous bois , with herbal hints , quite rounded and juicy but with balanced acidity and still gritty tannin. Slightly warming alcohol , so would drink this a little on the cooler side . There is a liquorice and tar like tinge on the good length finish . This is drinking well now, though needs a bit of time in the glass, and will continue to show well over the next 5-10 years or so , perhaps longer . If not the most complex or structured Cascina Francia this makes up for it with its attractive , heart on sleeve personality, and is a great choice to open at the moment . This was still going the day after , bit more dark fruit on the nose and saline , mineral on the palate, still grippy tannins . — 2 months ago

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9.3

The bottle of 2014 Pontet-Canet showed better than the previous one at the 10-Year-On tasting in London. This offers much more restraint on the nose. It's quite precise, with greater mineralité seeping through the black cherry and cassis fruit. The palate has a sorbet-fresh entry, fine tannins and a silky sheen. The oak is fully subsumed after a decade, plus there is a little more depth on the finish compared to previous showings. This is a fine example of the vintage, and bottles should drink well over the next 12 to 15 years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Pontet-Canet dinner in Washington DC. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 8 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Taken to Hawksmoor in NYC for our uncle’s 75th. Decanted in hotel for 7 hrs before dinner. Dark reddish amber edges with dark tawny color center. Opaque. Great aged Bordeaux nose. Notes of black fruit, tobacco and cigar, cassis, old desk wood, saddle leather, some anise, some barnyard and a little mint. Rich and silky in the mouth. Long finish. The bottle (mid shoulder) wasn’t in as good of condition as the one we had a few weeks ago, but the outcome was similar. Family and the Somm all loved it, as did I. — 2 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.1

Very good. Lots of black fruit aromas (a plum, blackberry & black currant), an oak & a vanilla, so I”m a little disappointed. — 2 months ago

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9.2

The 2004 Léoville Las Cases has a noticeable mintiness on the nose that actually complements the red fruit, though it deviates away from what you might call Saint-Julien typicité. After ten minutes, it coheres with ash and black tea aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded texture on the entry. The 2004 shows fine acidity and is lightly spiced with cracked black pepper towards the finish. A little conservative, but it acquits itself well considering the vintage. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 8 months ago

Shay A

9.2

Annual birthday WWC hosting. As normal, 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert, all presented blind.

Fun to open birth year wines around your birthday, especially when you can do a Bordeaux and Napa side by side. While not a great vintage, this held up well after a few hours and presented as expected. Clean and zero Brett. Great color! Deep ruby with hardly any bricking. Leather, cassis, vanilla pipe tobacco on the nose. Sporting a good bit of dusty red and black fruits (mostly tart raspberries and blackberries), there was a little savory truffle note mixed with an herbal and mocha finish. Still quite grippy. Pretty. — 10 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Scarlet tawny with mostly clear rims. Barely translucent in the center. Impactful and exciting nose. Notes of black cherries, blueberries, cracked walnuts, cut Cuban cigar, some dry brush and a little camphor. Smooth in the mouth. The nose is so floral, which makes up for some fading fruit in the finish. I think this bottle was slightly past its peak given the drying fruit posture, but the nose and scents make up for it. — 4 years ago

Alexandre Czesnat

9.0

Red fruits, black plum, oak, tobacco, smoke, leather, excellent balance. A little too soft for my taste — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, stewed cherries, raisins, figs, light oak, licorice, spices, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, spices, light wood, peppercorn, dark chocolates and herbs.

Medium plus on the finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.

This 3-year-old Zinfandel from Sonoma County is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next few years.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouth feel. Fruit forward and easy drinking. Rich, but not 'too much'.

The alcohol is not very noticeable at this point, although it is very high, so watch out.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent. I usually like it better with a little more age.

Wine Spectator 92 points.

A good everyday wine. Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with burger and fries.

A blend of 83% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante and 4% Mixed Reds.

15% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25. — 5 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.8

Dark scarlet color with a deep center. Notes of black cherry, cola, roses, cassis, some spice and a little wood char. Amazing perfume in the nose. Smooth and silky in the mouth. Lots of drama with this one, and many agreed the 59 was better than the 45, the 61 and 82 Latours beside it. Bravo! — 2 years ago