Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nose is bright dark fruit and bright red florals. Dark core of black currents, blackberries, dark cheeries, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, light baking spices, melted, dark chocolate, baking soda, dry tea leaves, dry pebbles, black rich earth, stems, some mid berry licorice, almost candied dark flowers with red & pink roses.

The palate reveals the elegance of St. Julien straight away. It’s beautiful. Core of black currents, blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries, light baking spices, melted, dark chocolate, dark spices, clove, some cinnamon, vanillin, baking soda, dry tea leaves, dry pebbles, black rich earth, stems, moist tobacco, used leather, barrel shavings, mix of dry & moist clays, volcanic minerals, some mid berry cola/licorice, dark, almost candied dark flowers, red roses. Excellent acidity with beautiful elegance, well balanced, nicely tensioned/structured finish that lands on florals, ripe fruits and nicely resolved earth.

You can drink now with a good decant and will last 2+ decades. Better things lie ahead in 5-8 years. 92+ in time. — 9 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 “Les Belles Dames” pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of grapefruit, horseradish, grassy/herbal notes, and flint. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and mineral laden. Drink now through 2032. — 2 months ago

David Valenti

9.0

Ripe blueberry, thick and sticky. Chocolate and mocha finish. 14 years and it still got it. — 5 months ago

Dmitry Muzychak

9.5

Выпито 03.05.25 у Савваса дома. Это просто шедевр. Шикарный шираз 2016 года. — 17 hours ago

John Van Trijp

9.6

Toooooooo Young! — 22 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Referred to as the “Baby Grange,” blend of 53/47 Cab Sauv & Shiraz, aged for 12 months in American oak, partly in previous-vintage Grange casks. Dark Ruby with aromas of fresh black fruits, complex with sweet spice. On the palate flavors of juicy black cherry and blackberry flavors with notes of cacao, oak and toasty spices, from cooler vintage. Well balanced with acidity, full ripe tannins, long ending with smoky spice, fruit well integrated with oak, drink over next 10 years+, will only get better. Nice! — 2 months ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Subtle, and great. Peach, apricot, wet stones, little wet wool, nice acid. — 5 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

Gorgeous chenin, totally clean, stony and pure — 15 days ago

Jan A

9.8

Yes! After a 2016 at a recent tasting that didn't deliver, this was firing at all cilinders 🚀🚀🚀 — 12 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1997 Grange pours a deep purple color with an opaque core moving towards a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black, red and some blue fruits: blackberries, raspberries, Fig Newtons, tobacco, purple flowers, cocoa, coffee, some mint and other green herbs as well as earth and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is so long and there is remarkable density. I would say this is entering its early drinking window, but just barely. I find these wines need decades to shed their fat and really start to strut. Regardless, this is delicious now with a healthy decant and should drink well through 2057 without breaking a sweat. — 3 months ago