Henry K

9.9

Lunch with dad and Luigi. Such a great wine, first time trying it. Ton of sediment. Beautiful red fruits, very light bodied, loved it. — 20 days ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). I was really hesitant to open this given the fanfare of this specific wine, but also how DrCrane can be an in-between wine for me (so explosive young, shut down at 5-10yrs, re-open 10+). Decanted two-three hours.

Classic deep purple-black DrCrane in the glass. Aromatics are immediate with ripe blue and black fruits, baking spices, mocha and graphite. Just a little bit of high-toned EA to make it pop, along with this roasted character I always get from DrCrane wines. Opulent and polished in every way on the palate, this is a tidal wave of flavor with no hard edges. It’s a towering wine in the sense of so much concentration and depth on the mid-palate, but it’s so incredibly polished at the finish…almost shockingly so. The ripe fruits and the dark chocolate linger longer than any Napa cab I can remember. Iron first in a velvet glove.

No need to worry, these are open for business. Plenty of structure to carry a while, but this window seems like it was made for how this wine is drinking now. — a year ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.7

If somebody can find a better way to finish lunch then this, please let me know! A perfect balance of cooked apricots and honey. As usual, the crème brûlée didn’t hurt us at all either! — 7 years ago

with Leonard and Joe

Bob McDonald

9.6

Mid Lemon in colour. Stone fruits on nose and palate. The big peaches and cream style. A typical delicious Leeuwin Art Series palate of profound intensity with Oak playing a supporting role to the abundant ripe fruits. Medium minus acid. A big generous Art Series Chardonnay which went well with fresh prawns. I think I would need to drink the remaining 3 in the next 18 months. Had another bottle with friends for lunch 9 weeks later on 16th November. All agreed this was the white wine of the day marginally from the 1998 Lovedale. — 7 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.1

Gorgeous. Big, round with lush fruit and lactic notes. Barrel fermented, partial malo w/French Oak. — 8 years ago

B

10

2012 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre Chablis. LACMA group lunch. Fantastic. — 8 years ago

Henry K

9.8

Bomb ass wine!!! Explosive, so so good. Floral, fruity, everything you could want out of a great Bordeaux. Had over lunch after work with dad and Marcello (grandpa and Gina in attendance) — 20 days ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Dark tawny, opaque. Powerful nose. Notes of red and black fruit, leather and cassis, dark soil. Has the funk. We're all in the same camp of where it's from so there is lots of working out who made it. I go with a 59 Latour guess. Really good today, better than a bottle we had of this earlier in the year. Thanks Stan! — 4 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Always a great choice for a 2nd btl off the list to finish lunch. Lots of berry fruit, citrus, pastry dough in a creamy finish — 5 years ago

Mitch Powell

9.0

Christmas Eve lunch — 7 years ago

John Van Trijp

9.4

Magnum lunch — 7 years ago

Jay

8.9

Lunch @ Montmartre, French bistro near Eastern Market. Washington D.C. 🇺🇸 — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It’s been another long day of landscaping and I’ve been looking forward to a glass of Champagne all day. Sofia says, “she favors the Ruinart Rosé over Billecart-Salmon Rosé.” So, we’ll be working this in a little more often. They are both very good. I think she likes the Ruinart Rosé better as the fruits are more ripe, richer, bolder. The black cherries, strawberries & cherries are certainly more pronounced over the Billecart. 375ml. — 8 years ago

Ross Bathgate

9.3

Opened after Xmas lunch as we needed a follow up to the Black Shiraz. Did not disappoint. Mature and soft with all the lovely spice and dark fruit of the basket pressed. Lovely. — 9 months ago

President Obama

9.4

Brought to Hanukkah lunch by Ron — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Christmas lunch date at V. Mertz. Disgorged January 2013. No formal notes. Rich in style with bruised apple, brioche, honey and some nutty, oxidative notes too. Zippy acid still. A truly wonderful way to close out the meal. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid to deep Ruby in colour. Some maturity in evidence on the rim. Cedar/cigar box aromas with black currant and cassis - classic Pauillac descriptors Only medium bodied - lacked some intensity for the vintage. Restrained - 20 years might be its limit. It will sit on the plateau but won’t improve. In summary a lovely old claret and has been better than its 5th Growth status for decades. “Lunch Bags” as old poms used to refer to it as. — 6 years ago

Nick Ferrall

9.2

Tasted blind. Eventually got to Super Tuscan, but it was a long road working through the Cab blending. Very young, but very beautiful. — 7 years ago

with Pietro and Brad

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.2

wonderfully chalky, round even though very young. Perfect lunch wine with homemade charcuterie — 8 years ago

Aaron Means

9.8

We couldn't help ourselves in St. Emilion with all the Selosse available. Aperitif for lunch at L'envers du Decor. — 8 years ago