45 years on, and still singing. Our friends’ wedding anniversary year. Classic tertiary Saint-Julien: cedar, forest floor, dried cherry, tobacco, pencil shavings — fruit fully resolved into savory complexity. Silky, perfumed, no rough edges. Need time to breathe for nose to be appealing. — a month ago
I purchased this wine for $60 as a Bordeaux future offering from MacArthur’s in DC, with the hope of opening it when my younger son—born in 1982—was old enough to share it. We finally did just that this Thanksgiving, celebrating both him and the bottle.
The fill was mid-shoulder, but the family was together and it felt like the right moment. I gave it about an hour in the decanter before dinner. Early on it showed blackberries, a touch of veg, lead pencil, cedar notes and a smooth elegant finish. As the evening went on it opened a bit more, gaining some depth.
A few hours later I revisited the small amount I’d saved and found it had dried out some—but that was expected for a 43-year-old First Growth. Ultimately, it was a wonderful experience and a memorable way to share both the wine and the moment with family.
— 10 months ago
What a treat opening this 27 year old Napa Valley Spottswoode Cabernet! A deep purple garnet color with some bricking. Nose - dark fruit and wet forest floor initially standout followed by subtle notes of blueberry dark chocolate, fennel and a touch of tobacco & spearmint. Taste - cherry and dark plum stand out giving it a luscious smooth feel. Well integrated with secondary notes of dark soil, crushed rock, espresso, cedar and a medium finish — 2 years ago
Fantastic pour from an often overlooked vintage year, smooth, well-balanced, delicate, great on its own and even better when paired with a well prepared steak covered with truffle and mushroom sauce, as presented at our Commanderie de Bordeaux dinner at the Hope Club. — 8 days ago
Purchased after reading the novel “Theo of Golden”…Which I highly recommend. Sweet caramel, baked cherry, mint perhaps; really enjoyed this Port. Love the dark ruby…. — a month ago
Bright and fresh. Prunes, chocolate, hazelnut, orange peel, and vanilla. Excellent with a rich blue cheese. — 6 months ago
The final bottle for our annual Valentine’s Day and carbonara tradition (this time one day early). We skipped last year as my wife was pregnant, nice to be back. Very good, but definitely in an advanced stage - the nuttiness really comes through. There is still great acid, lemon curd, crispness, soft bubbles.
After the full case, I’d say the ones from 2021-2023 were the best.
On to Krug 2004 next year!! — 7 months ago
So seamless and delicious. We had 3 forty year olds at dinner so this was a birth year wine for the majority of our dinner. Last had a couple years ago, and this remains very good. Not primary, but also wouldn’t guess 40 years old. Really nice pairing with a roast leg of lamb on Christmas. — 9 months ago
Chih winegeeks valle de los encinos — a year ago
The 1999 Latour has a dark garnet color with little aging on the rim. The nose is closed initially and demands coaxing, eventually revealing blackberry, cedar and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, displaying some secondary notes of clove, white pepper and a distinct earthiness that comes through on the finish. [Post-script: this is one of the few vintages I identified correctly!] Tasted blind from double magnum at a 20-year retrospective at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2024)
— 3 years ago
Light golden in color.
Beautiful nose of honeydew, apples, honeysuckle, tropical fruits, spices and melons.
Full-bodied with high acidity and long legs.
Sweet on the palate with apples, citrus, mangoes, spices, honeysuckle, herbs, honey and light earth.
Long finish with sweet honey notes.
This delicious 9 year old Sauternes is drinking beautifully now. Complex and interesting. Elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.
Feels very fresh, but a bit subdued and earthier right now, compared to other vintages. Will continue to age nicely in the next 40 years.
Loved the nose more than the palate here. So expressive.
Wine Spectator 96 points. Robert Parker 99 points.
A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 24 months. Drank from a 750ml bottle.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$450. — 13 days ago

I’ll just commence this tasting note to see if it is accepted. Dense Ruby in colour. Blackcurrant and tobacco notes - ripe blue and black fruits - luscious texture. Anytime I’ve had a Napa (or Washington State) Cabernet I have always been impressed - probably better than most good Aussie Cabernets (and more expensive). Has a good future but irresistible right now. Have the last bottle in a year or two. Interestingly reverse osmosis was used to reduce the alcohol. Now at 13.9%. — 5 months ago
Who am I argue with 100 point rating from Dunnuck and Wine Advocate? And it is a youthful beauty. I typically find the great vintage of ‘09 approachable earlier than ‘05, also a great Bordeaux year. This is perfectly enjoyable right now but I’ll SAVE at least 6 of these because this baby is a distant runner with lots of legs left. Wow! — 7 months ago
The taste is rich and multi-layered. Let your tongue feel it, and then go deeper until you reach the back of your tongue. It ranges from sweet to sour, and the aroma of the wooden barrel comes out, very intense. — 9 months ago

Somewhat disappointing for a great producer in a great year. Medium body medium color, dark fruit hint of tobacco.
Hopefully a few more years will improve this wine. — 4 years ago
"Odedi"
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with a beautiful nose.
Showing black plums, black currants, cedar, dried figs, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, rhubarb, tobacco leaf, light black tea and black pepper.
Long finish with soft tannins and tangy cherries.
This 32 year old Pauillac is still drinking beautifully, but a bit past its prime. Rich and elegant. Very complex and spicy.
This Second Growth Bordeaux needed 5 hours to open up properly, and was not that special right out of the bottle.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel, and still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes.
Robert Parker 91 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and with food.
A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$200. — 3 days ago