Jan de Weerd

9.4

Intense. Like conversation show stopper! This wine needs all your attention to figure out what is going on. Dark, aged, dry fruit, edgy tannins and black pepper spice… I think. So much going on. Needless to say. I loved it. We made the track again 11 years from the first time we drove up to De Trafford winery and vineyards. This time the road was paved, quite a change from the two track rutted dirt road we took 11 years ago bottoming out our little rental car. Had a great vineyard tour. They first and foremost believe that the wine is made in the vineyard and minimal processing thereafter. They had to deal with a huge wild fire earlier this winter and might have lost their 45 year old top award winning Shiraz vineyard …. Great people who know how to make a great wine. — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Will Stanley

9.2

First bottle of a case of this 2016 Ch. Marquis d’Alesme, a modern Margaux property run by the Perrodo family with an all-female team in charge. I’ve been excited to try it.

Safe to say, it’s young. Quite austere at the moment, but incredibly promising. There are intense and angular aromas of cedar, sandalwood, tomato leaf, blackberry, blackcurrant, with the palate showing a similarly hunkered-down profile. All the fruit seems to be kept in reserve for now, behind a convincing body of coarse tannin, a graphite edge and a gorgeous vanilla note through the finish.

Very promising stuff, this should be left for at least another 2/3 years and keep for many more thereafter. A gorgeous wine in the making. — 3 years ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.4

Absolutely stunning example of Pinot Bianco, an underrated variety in my opinion. The nose shows yellow apple, orange blossom, some creamy custardy character and a slight hint of sweet spice. In the mouth this wine is lush and lively with loads of texture from the barrel ferment and sur-lie aging. Quince jam, pineapple upside-down cake, and chamomile resonate on the intense finish. Had this for the first time at Single Thread a year and a half ago and bought a few bottles shortly thereafter. Worth it. — 4 years ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.0

This One’s heavy even after a decant. The tannins are in the forefront with purple plum, black cherry and cassis thereafter.

Would love to have this after its mellowed for a bunch of years. — 2 years ago

with Gillian

Brett Rogosin

8.9

This needs time. Plenty of time. I decanted 3 hours, then drank it over days and still quite tannic and lots of acidity. Closed at first, but the nose is opening with inky ripe blackberry, black currants, little bit of vanilla, and a touch of menthol. The palate is more tart currant and blackberry pits with menthol and tree bark. For the price I’d buy a few, start drinking in 3-5 years+, then have each year thereafter. — 3 years ago

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10

In my last sighted review of the 2016 Cos d’Estournel, I wrote: "I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth." Perhaps it is already beginning to shut down, because though this wine was deeply impressive, it fell just a notch short of ethereal previous bottles, despite its "pixelated black fruit" on the nose and "sublime balance" on the palate. I tasted the wine twice thereafter, though this time with a 4-6 hour decant, and this revealed the Cos d'Estournel that has amazed since I first tasted it out of barrel. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago

Angus Powles

9.3

With Camerons. One bottle duff. The other opening up nicely between hour 3 and 4 of opening, thereafter wonderful. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2003 vintage. Decanted for approx 3 hours. The usual LB nose. A little pickled mushroom/forest floor flavor profile off the bat, then settled into dark plum and cocoa powder shortly thereafter. Light-medium body and slightly “bigger” than expected at this point. Lots of stuffing still. It’s in the sweet spot/top of the bell curve currently…seems like it could sustain that momentum for at least another 4-5 years. — 3 years ago

Trevor Brown

9.0

Great, bolder flavor that is great on the tongue. The finish begins rich, but mellows quickly thereafter to a poignantly sugary syrup finish.

Unfortunately, the finish ends up being a little too sweet. This said, it does little to detract from the excellent aroma and complexity on-the-tongue. — 4 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.0

Integrated VA. Joe was like “Do you like VA?” I responded “Sure, if it’s integrated..” (I dont like that in my own wines but it’s like going to dinner at someone’s house). Naturally i taste shortly thereafter. It’s good. A light bodied PN that is beautiful with a little ugly. I can’t like a perfect all the time but this has soul. — 4 years ago