Amazing night with Louis Michel tasting his release of the 18 vintage — a year ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, licorice, spices, earth, tobacco and herbs.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Rich and extracted. Nicely balanced and complex.
This 16 year old is starting to drink at its peak now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Wine Advocate 96 points. Wine Spectator 96 points.
I've had the 2012 a few years ago, but this 2010 vintage is showing so much better.
Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.
A blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 17 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$180. — 2 months ago
Amy and Brian steak sandwich dinner — 5 months ago
Wally’s Beverly Hills — 2 months ago
2011 vintage. Last of two, kept, bottles with two being gifted. Last tasted 7.21.25 (9.4) and 12.11.24 (9.4). PNP'd with very early Thanksgiving-styled fare. Great cork and fill and traces of sed. Tasted over the course of 1.5 hours. Still light-medium body. Very very nice but just missing that upper-level, loving touch exhibited in the last two bottles tasted in the last 11 months. If I came across another stash of this tho in the next decade, would likely pull the trigger. 11.6.25. — 6 months ago
Jay Kline

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service. The 1983 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark cherry, blackberry, dried purple flowers, Poblano pepper, coffee, beef roast, earth and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This bottle of the 1983 was absolutely singing tonight and I found it to be a lovely pairing with braised pheasant. Drink now through 2033+. — 23 days ago