Ron Siegel

9.3

This needed some air showing black fruits, plum, graphite, cedar, spices, floral & tobacco — 8 days ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.3

Too early but an upcoming beauty! Became better and better with air over the evening. @Peter van den Besselaar sorry, I couldn’t resist in opening one 🤦🏻‍♂️😂 — 23 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened three days earlier. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, lavender pastilles, bacon fat, black pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A delightful pairing with Bison ribeye. Young but showing its potential. Drink now through 2043. — 3 months ago

Paul Adams

9.4

Aromas of fresh red fruit, petrified, and a slight wood herb scent. Moderate acidity, heavy silky tannins, medium full body, flavors of wet slate, black pepper, and a hint of jammy red fruit — 4 months ago

Daniel M

9.5

16 years old and kicking! This was one of the very first grand cru classés that I bought when I began my wine journey in the early 10's.
The nose shows tar, pine resin, mushrooms, damp autumn forest floor, cedar, old leather, dark cherries, black currant. Some many layers! The palate is complete with fully integrated tannins, a very smooth, silky mouthfeel, nice cherry and black currant notes all along, fully integrated tannins which caress the tongue in the rear, and a long and smooth finish, leaving a nice dusty layer amongst nice cherry and black currant touches. Some cedar, light oaky notes pop up as well as a nice saline touch which adds a layer of complexity. It's in a perfect place right now. Great wine! — 4 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Red & black fruits, cassis, spice box, cedar, leather & tobacco — 6 months ago

David Koenen

9.6

Savory meat juices, lavender, black olives, and fresh, vibrant acidity that underscores the rich, ripe, and velvety character of this wine. It possesses a sandy, almost granular texture—most noticeable on the finish—and is elegant, long, and rounded. Truly magnificent. — 2 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This needed lots of air showing mostly black fruits, menthol, leather, graphite, earth, sweet spice & wet tobacco. Although enjoyable now this will continue to develop for many years — a month ago

Tom Barras

9.1

The utterly delicious 2018 Chateau Gloria is medium>full, with an abundance of black fruit aromatics and flavors, a good structure, and a well balanced fruity core with juicy acidity and powdery tannins at the smoothly textured, long mouth coating finish. One of the better values in Bordeaux. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was a check-in to see how ready my 2000 Montrose’s are doing. A good check.

This is absolutely a close relative of the 2nd Growth Montrose. The thing that experience has taught me is, Montrose is a long in the tooth producer. As well, the 2000 Bordeaux vintage mimics that completely.

I would say the 2000 Montrose is finally ready with a longish decant.

This is completely classic Bordeaux and Saint-Estèphe.

The nose shows ripe, lush, nearly candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices, limestone/sandstone, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, semi-used charcoal, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers.

The palate shows nicely resolved M+ rounded, tarry tannins. It has freshness and bright fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, back/stewed dark cherries, strawberries & raspberry hues. Both dark & milk chocolate to pudding, dry twig/soils, dark rich soils, dry river stone, dark spice w/ palate heat, dark & mid berry cola, anise to black licorice, softly layered baking spices-nutmeg, clove, cinnamon & very light vanillin, limestone/sandstone, moist clay, crushed dry rocks, grey volcanics, black tea, used leather & tobacco, black olive tapenade, light cedar, dark, red fresh & slightly withering flowers, beautiful acidity, it is nicely toned, good structure/tension with a well balanced, elegant & polish finish for days that lasts two-minutes and lands on dry earth & spice.

91-92.

Still has 5-10 yr of life ahead depending on your storage. — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This was showing well with its red & black fruits, spice, orange peel, earth, mineral & floral notes — 5 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

Always good ample aroma including black currant, berry and cherry. Leather. Slightly solid. Better to wait for years. Rafon Rochet 17 @3080, Galeri, 260518 — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Medium Ruby with aromas of black and red fruits with floral spice notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with smoke and tobacco notes. Generous acidity on fine soft tannins with a long finish ending with fruit and floral spice. Drinking well now! — 7 months ago

David Koenen

9.2

Lavender, chalk, peppery notes, wet earth, and a hint of black fruit on the nose. Sun-dried tomatoes; a full-bodied and concentrated style, yet somewhat closed—meaning it doesn’t quite reveal the whole story. Time will tell and I’m guessing it’s going to be a intriguing story. 92+ — 2 days ago

Nathan Renfro

9.7

Surprised ratings are low on this. I found it absolutely brilliant. Super smooth and great mouthfeel. Silky tannins, wonderfully balanced, ripe black fruit. — 2 months ago

Paul J

9.4

PnP. Great restaurant value. Dark purple color. Bold wine with great depth. Black fruit with meat and menthol. — 3 months ago

with Brooke

Jeremiah Diaz

9.2

Clear, deep ruby to purple in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced intensity primary aromas of black currant jam, dried herbs, and plums; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced primary and secondary flavors of blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, bkack olives, and clay pots with a long finish. This wine is complex and intense, but a little too bitter and tannic. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. Nellie didn't not like it with our food. — 3 months ago

with Nellie

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Nose of blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and mediterranean spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, herbs, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, light forest floor and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 21 year old 4th growth Bordeaux is drinking beautifully now. Still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes. Rich, elegant and very complex and engaging.

This iconic 2005 vintage is drinking very nicely now, and drinking at its peak. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.

I had this vintage 2 years ago, and it is drinking much better now, and very approachable right out of the bottle.

Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Wine Advocate 93 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.

13% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$200. — 4 months ago

Ericsson

9.2

Aged Bordeaux with notes of tobacco, cedar, fig, red plum, black plum. — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, herbs, chocolates, light earth, garrigue and peppercorn.

Full bodied and soft, with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black cherries, plums, light oak, spices, coffee, licorice, tobacco leaf, light earth, chocolates, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot based blend from Saint Emilion. Elegant and nicely balanced. Showing good complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Needed 2 hours in the bottle to open up.

This 10 year old Merlot from the great 2016 vintage still feels young. Probably in its 'dumb phase' right now, and needs a few more years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and better with food.

A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$125. — 6 months ago