Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Fruit sourced from three young, cool vineyards, Arborina and Gattera in La Morra and Castelletto in Monforte d'Alba, Ruby red with a bouquet of dark fruit, spices, leather and licorice. On the palate flavors of sour black cherry and plum with notes of pepper, smoky tobacco, vanilla and oak. Long finish, nice balance with fine drying tannins, savory edges, ending with earthy mineral notes. Good now! — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

One of the few producers that I purchase each and every vintage. I find that Laurence Feraud’s wines are consistently some of the more interesting and enjoyable wines made in all of Chateauneuf du Pape; particularly when value comes into play. This bottle is my first experience with her 2018 vintage and the first bottle of a small tranche that I swooped up upon release. Popped and poured; consumed over 5 hours. The color is deep ruby with a near opaque core; glossy and gorgeous to behold. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this is classic Pegaü with loads of dark cherry and bramble fruit, a veritable hillside full of garrigue, lavender, black pepper, and something that reminds me of old books. On that palate, the fruit is equally generous, brambles and cherries, exotic spices, Herbs de Provence and a somewhat sanguine-like character to it. Substantial structure, though it seems to be a notch lower than the previous three vintages at this point in its young life. The tannins are very sneaky. Almost imperceptible for the first hour and yet, by hour four, they were very much making themselves known (in the Medium+ range). Acid is also Medium+ indicating these have an exciting life ahead. The finish lasts for well over a minute. All in all, another lovely Pegaü that will likely live in the shadow of some of the more heralded vintages in the last ten years however, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a stunner. Absolutely lovely stuff and I very much look forward to enjoying these well into the 2030’s. — 4 years ago

Meg Herring

9.3

Dark cherry, clove, sassafras, cinnamon, spice, good acidity. Dark red fruits. A lot of depth. — 4 years ago

Tom Garland

9.2

1 hour decant(little cloudy sediment). A wondrous dark ruby red color. On the nose: jumping from the glass are dark berries, loamy earth, oak, pencil shavings, and smoke. Taste: soft, lush, integrated wine with dark plum, currants, lots of milk chocolate, and a spiced cherry/tar medium finish. YUM! — 6 months ago

with Brenda

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a delicious one from California.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Nice nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, light earth, liquorice and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, figs, vanilla, cedar, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light vegetables and peppercorn.

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

This is delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Lake County in California. Fruit forward with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Still young and would be better in a few years. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. I gave it 90 minutes to open up and show the tannins.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a nice piece of steak. Very tasty.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels. A small production of 150 cases.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

An 18th century chateau, overlooking the Isle valley, facing Pomerol and the Saint-Emilion limestone hillsides, belonged to the same family for three centuries took over by Michel Rullier in 1955, and his daughter Brigitte took the helm in 2002. Dark Ruby with an array of berry aromas and smoky scents. On the palate plum and cherry flavors with cacao, tobacco and smoky cedar notes with herb spice. Firm chalky tannins, long finish ending with earthy mineral notes. Still tasting ok, but drink now! — 4 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.4

Beautiful label with original artwork. Aged well. Color is still very dark. Smells meaty. Floral too. Hints of violets. Berry melange. Flavors are dense and very tannic. Fairly complex and very chewy. Clean and clear with the lovely flavors. Plenty of savory and licorice-y stuff. This is Petite at its best and it’s still going strong 14 years on. — 9 months ago

Deborah M

9.3

Really great one to enjoy with or without food. I enjoyed this one paired with a delicious tomahawk ribeye. Full bodied and well balanced. Plush mouthfeel. Dark fruit, but not too much fruit. This is a really easy one to enjoy. Will revisit in a year or so. — 3 years ago

John Kuhn

9.0

Another great Lodi cab! Black fruit on the nose. Nice dark fruit on pallet. Well balanced and lingering finish. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind... we're served three glasses from three brown bagged bottles. They all are similar in color: dark reddish tawny. This is rich and luscious with notes of red and black fruit, dark spices, some smoked meat, some warm earthy fruit pie and a little soy. Improved with air over the evening. By now we're on to the 1990 theme of the evening and these are clearly La La bottles, so which is this? I guess the 90 Mouline given its profile and that of the other two. For me this was the best of the three, although the La Turque was right there too. — 4 years ago