Bettina Drake

9.1

From Date night at J. Gilberts. Some but not a lot of tannins, raspberry and other fruits, a good wine with steak and chocolate. — 2 months ago

Raun Kupiec

8.9

It’s a decent steak wine. Not aromatic at first, needed an hour or so. Still not enough but the oak notes began to come through. Some nice fruit, black cherry, bit of spice, enough structure to counter the salt. Was very smooth while eating. — 4 months ago

with Barbara

Steve Mitchell

9.2

2018 A. Rafanelli Cab., top sirloin prime, smashed potatoes & a salad! Life is good. — 4 months ago

Ivan Wolpert

9.0

Inky in color, jammy, big, plums, light no tannins. Not balanced but big. Steak tasting night at home — 3 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

8.9

Deep ruby in color, almost purple; cassis, black cherries, and cedar on the nose; high acidity; high tannins; tastes like black plums, berry jam, and baking spices with a medium finish. Nellie says it's ok, and I like it. We both think it goes well with a steak. — 4 months ago

with Nellie

Henry Fuseler

9.0

7/2024. Bold with nice fruit and soft tannins. Paired well with my meatloaf and potatoes. — 4 months ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Nice but not quite at the true top level, especially given the price. Decanted 4 hours which is necessary at this point. Nice pairing with a big T-bone steak cooked in the Tuscan style. Could use more acid on the finish. Probably needs a few years to come together. — 5 months ago

Robbie Jo Gerarden

9.8

One of my favorite wines! Great with steak!so smooth with great after taste. — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

It’s a night of first year consecutive decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order

From the same technical team as Leoville Las Cases.

Another great Clyde Beffa direct purchase from the Chateau or Negociant.

Still ripe older Bordeaux fruits with smoothed out lead pencil. Blackberries, black raspberries that lean into pudding, black plum, darkest, cooked cherries, raspberries edges, baked rhubarb and hues of poached strawberries. There is nothing that bites back. Dark chocolate, smooth mocha, caramel, soften baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, old tobacco w/ ash, used leather, dry top soil, limestone powder, black licorice to anise, dry river stone, fresh & withering dark, red flowers, amazing, rainfall acidity and a well; balance, structured, knitted and smartly polished finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Steak slow cooked in the oven at graduating low heats and then seared at 1300 degrees, 30, 30, 30 & 30. .

“The Truth is Inside” is an expression about the very bottom of a bottle of wine. Tannin soaked & it never lies. Typically the best part of the bottle. 93 that lands 94 in truth. I always leave two-three inches of wine in bottle just because it is always slightly better than the rest of the bottle. It is more concentrated. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2000 vintage. Never a fave L-B vintage as it has always seemed a little too much sizzle and not enuff steak. FF two decades and said wine is drinking more like a Napa cab vs a BDX. Chunky and in a state of transition (discombobulated) but still medium-heavy body after two+ decades. The 2005 is more affordable and drinking better, imho, currently. Will this effort will ever round into form for dedicated L-B fans going back to the 1985 vintage? Not tasting it. Storybook fill and cork. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after two hours. Aggressive sed. 7.3.24. — 4 months ago