Cameron Etezadi

9.2

Beautiful port which is more Merlot forward than brandy forward. Ripe fruit and caramel notes. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Back when I was a University student 50 years ago I used to smoke a pipe and one of my favourite tobaccos was McBarens Plum Cake pipe tobacco. Tuscan Merlot often reminds me of that. I must admit I often prefer these wines when they are younger with more plummy, black cherry fruit and less earthy savouriness. The 2007 I had some time ago was better. Have the last bottle in the next couple of years. Postscript: 99 points from James Suckling. — a year ago

LM Segal

9.7

Pure blackcurrant perfectly articulated with dark chocolate, blue fruit and pipe tobacco. Mostly cab that made me think older Dominus, a Bordeaux style in Napa. In a perfect place with a few hours in decanter. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous note from 96 weeks ago where I said that I would drink the last one when my son Hugh was home from NY (born 1987) which came to pass last night. Overall not as impressive as the previous tasting but retains its silky tannin structure. Very dark in colour - opaque. Notes of cassis and pipe tobacco - overall dusty without the depth of fruit of the previous tasting. Just medium bodied. Tasting Book recommend a drinking window till 2035 which I would not agree with. Leads me to think I will be drinking my bottles of 86 Mouton sooner rather than later. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and a decent amount of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with heady notes of cassis, black cherry, plums, Kalamata olive, purple flowers, pipe tobacco, leather, earth, 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 long with savory minerals. Absolutely delicious. Drink now, though well-stored examples should drink well through 2036 — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

92-93 for me.

Consumed half bottle at pop, then corked for another 4hrs before consuming the rest. No change.

What a beautifully elegant and refined ‘09. The highest compliment I can give this is that it was a simplistic joy. Some wines make it easy to get nerdy and command your attention…some wines are underwhelming and not worth your time. This was squarely in the middle. It was a joy to not feel the need to overthink…it’s exactly what it should be. No bricking at almost 15yrs. Decidedly black fruit heavy (black currant, cassis, underripe blackberries) with a sprinkling of raspberries and black cherries. Aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, dark florals. Integrated on the palate with good structure and acidity…not a massive wine, but it put on a bit of weight/length the longer it was open. Still sporting a fair bit of tannin at the finish, but it’s balanced. Drink or hold. — 2 years ago

Andrew Liguori

9.3

Cherry plum coming in hot. Dense and full bodied, wet earth and sweet pipe tobacco, hint of clove and fennel frond. Years of life ahead. Grippy tannins that beg for a steak. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened just prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. As far as I know, this was the first commercially released vintage of La Fleur de Boüard but others may be able to confirm or deny that. The 2000 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe dark fruits: back plums, cassis, pipe tobacco, Flintstones vitamins, purple flowers, dried green herbs organic earth and fine baking spices. “Yabba dabba doo!” On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Gosh, this is in a really lovely place right now; very well balanced! Thank Andy! Drink now through 2040. — 7 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2021 The Bard is fabulous. Rich, ample and beautifully resonant, the 2021 offers up generous dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, spice, menthol and pipe tobacco. Full-bodied and voluptuous, the 2021 flaunts tons of flavor intensity and vibrancy. It’s a gorgeous wine, especially considering it is the largest-production wine at Realm. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2023)
— 2 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 2007 | Masterpiece. Mesmerizing smell, complex: a flower garden, scottish pipe tobacco, cinnamon, rinse applesyrup. Refinement and elegance. 😍 — 2 years ago