David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This 09 was upgraded to 100 points by Lisa Perrotti formerly of Robert Parker in 2020. I didn’t taste a 💯 & the first time she & I have been this far apart.

This 09 was velvety, smooth, beautiful & elegant with nicely ripe fruits. But, it really lacked the depth & complexity I have come to expect from this producers bottling.

Touched into 94 with a few sips. Decanted a 1 1/2 hours & enjoyed over the next two hours.

@NepentheBigSur If you haven’t been there, well worth the time to visit. — 2 months ago

Joe Fischer

8.9

Had this for $23? At Al Giardino in Taormina Sicily. A bargain and a different blend. We thought it was great for the price/value consideration. Dark berries and plum. A bit of leather with the tannins just fine. You can pick apart the two grapes in the blend. — 2 years ago

James Mosman

9.0

Liked the combination blend. Best of two worlds. — 2 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.3

Graceful yet powerful…black and blueberry, menthol, vanilla spice, lead pencil, slight jalapeño, mocha, brick color, acid diminished, tannins super smooth and finishes like cali cab…fruit forward and lush…cork fell apart but wine fortunately did not… — 3 years ago

Connie Radwanski

9.9

Nice tannis and smooth finish! — 7 months ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Just rock-solid Châteauneuf, this is exemplary and for me personally my exact sweet-spot in terms of the varied styles from this region. The nose takes a little coaxing, but has a great yin / yang profile of pure, fresh blue fruit, liquorice, violets, and garrigue, versus seared meat, iron and loamy earth. This all puts it square in the middle of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ schools, broadly speaking, and it’s a wine that has the best of both worlds as a result.

The palate is huge, an iron fist in a glove of velvet and so much more, but in no way imbalanced or over-extracted - not overtly alcoholic, at a modest 14%. It spreads out in waves across the palate, ripples which are felt long after the finish. This is clearly a baby now, but it drinks well and will see its 20th birthday in damn fine fettle. Excited to have a case in the cellar.

Decanting not required nor recommended. — a year ago

Katie Fester

9.0

Very drinkable at Love & Salt — 3 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.6

There are clarets and then there are clarets - this is the latter. Intoxicating Perfume of currants and tobacco gives way to a palate that is like a time capsule - loads of currants, cassis, cedar, truffle and sous bois. Tannins completely melted. Apart from a touch of phenolic notes in the first 30 mins or so, this is just gorgeous and what a perfectly aged claret should be. — 3 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium garnet wide watery rim . No oxidation whatsoever , really quite floral and enticing on the nose , dried strawberry raspberry fruits , truffle , spiced old wood notes . On the palate lovely freshness and elegance with those red fruit, truffle and spiced strawberry, earl grey tea notes . Good length , just slightly drying on the finish now , apart from that this wine really does show well . Very elegant and precise . If you have the bottles open over the next 5 years or so . @ Rockpool Sydney , great suggestion from the sommelier even if I did really want to stick to Australia ! — 9 months ago

N B

8.9

Light friendly cab. Doesn’t drink too heavy. Via DomaineLA — 3 years ago