Jason Phillips

9.2

Great nose. Complex but well balanced. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 30% petit syrah, 9% merlot, 4% petit verdot, 4% malbec. Enjoyed at the castle in Napa. — a month ago

Dmitry Koutcherouk

8.9

Magnum! Very nice and enjoyable Shiraz, the way this grape should be like form the book. Serve it slightly chilled 17-18 degrees should do the trick. — 2 years ago

Gary Grose

9.0

Not bad but somewhat overpriced. We’ve found better values both in this style and year. Early on came in sweet and then mellowed. Definitely serve closer to 49 degrees v anything cooler. — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Simple, light, but full of charm. Clear purple dress, beautiful shine. Nose typical of the cabernets-francs de Loire. Raspberry, geranium, violet, blackwood, green pepper (but not too much). The mouth is fresh and tense, with a beautiful mineral weft reminiscent of rifle stone, slate or chalk. Served at 15 degrees, it’s a nice treat.

Saumur simple, léger, mais plein de charme. Robe pourpre limpide, bel éclat. Nez typique des cabernets-francs de Loire. Framboise, géranium, violette, bois de ronce, poivron vert (mais pas trop). La bouche est fraîche et tendue, avec une belle trame minérale évoquant la pierre à fusil, ardoise ou craie. Servi à 15 degrés c’est une belle gourmandise. — 3 years ago

with Peter

Edward Patten

9.4

Nice notes of cocoa and cherry. A grand easy drinking wine — 2 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

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Wasn’t expecting to like English sparkling nearly as much as I’m enjoying this bottle. A truly bizarre combination of ripe fruit and racy acidity (higher than the average for champagne) that can only come from somewhere this far north > 50 degrees latitude (long growing season + long days during growing season). Lemon curd, green apple danish, even notes of pear and passion fruit. Bond may have to trade out his Bollinger for this. — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: medium cherry. Smoke.

Palate: spice. Dark a bit sweet cherry fruit.

Long finish.

$25 / $15 on 2 — 3 months ago

Gage Orion

9.4

Wife and I cracked this bottle in honor of two friends that we lost yesterday. Strawberry, blood orange, and even light notes of cinnamon. Very good Pinot noir. Never disappointed with Duckhorn. Rest in peace Zach and Chris, hope you’re drinking all the good stuff up in heaven. — 3 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.1

From magnum on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I broke the cork and had to decant through cheese cloth, which I was really trying to avoid with a twelve year old Crianza. Ended up drinking beautifully and was very well received. Layered with mature red fruit, dried berries, game, tobacco, and vanilla. Maybe a kiss of bret? Acid and tannin still very much intact though the sediment is significant and after several hours the wine becomes a victim of oxygen. Have had this in the cellar for several years and caught the right large format occasion. Pop ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. — 3 years ago