Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1988 vintage. Feminine-styled. Ran into some resistance back in the day with the (re-) emergence of this Château and the massive 85/86 and 89/90 efforts. Eff all that. The 1989 AND 1990 vintages probs the best this Château has ever realized. The 1988 slid in then and performed delicate magick. That cocoa powder and blueberry combo still coming forth with undeniable impressions. Whereas those four “bigger” vintages rocked harder, all four have had more noticeable drop off. This 1988 just doing its best La Mission Haut-Brion/Haut-Brion impression and pulling it off. No rush to crush. 5.13.26. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2003 vintage. Also recently tasted 9.26.23 (9.5) and 10.14.23 (9.4). First bottle was sexy, voluptuous and the usual Cos with all the baby fat, even after two decades. 2nd bottle much leaner (9.4) and w/o the baby fat...more minerals afoot. Decanted and immediately tasted, also after 30 mins and after 2 hrs. Massive sed thrown. This bottle in between worlds. Some baby fat, some minerals-still damned delicious and doesn't suck. 10.22.23. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2000 vintage. Briar, earth and slight brickish nose. Color as if bottled yesterday. Light-medium/medium body. Throwing some serious sed. Decanted for two hours and a little watery on the concentration but plenty of fruit. I suspect this would have fared better with a six hour decant/lounge sesh. Also follows on the heels of last week’s tasting of the massive and undying 1990 vintage so there’s that. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Dark gold color. Notes of burnt oranges, apricot and strong tan spice. Very perfumed... wakes you up with it's power in the nose. Massive fruit and acidity in the mouth. Some petrol and spice notes evolve. Guessed 59 d'Yquem, and while 61 wasn't known for being a great vintage for Sauternes, this bottle tonight was right up there with some of the best old d'Yquems we've had. Great finish to an epic evening! (M's 60th bday 14th of 14) — 5 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.5

PnP. Light hardly penetrates the black violet color. Massive thickness. It coats the glass like a low viscosity oil. Nose is ethereal, multidimensional and arriving sequentially. Foggy herb garden on a cold/wet day, black pepper, black currant liqueur, iron. Strikes the front palette with creamy sweetness. Easily coats the mouth. Low tannin/acid. Bursting with developed fruit layers. A real pleasure to drink. — 6 years ago

Scott Soren

9.4

This is my second time with this wine, Vinious media gave this 100 points, and as a lover of Pax wines, I still can’t get there. While it’s a nice wine it’s a massive fruit bomb at the moment with some underlying back side subtleties of elegance. Time is still needed and i probably won’t take another shot at this for at least 2-3 years. — 6 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

What you get for the extra $10 (and 250ml less) from Emperatriz Eugenia is massive compared to the entry Don Nuno (both Oloroso). Depth, complexity, something to think about.

Mahogany caramel colored with aromas of sandalwood and sweet dates. Winey sweet palette of dried figs, golden raisins, and burnt toffee. — 7 years ago

Paul J

9.1

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Overrated and overpriced. 1+hr decant, probably needed more. Very hot nose with plums. Massive tannins and hits the palate like a razor blade. Earthy with plums and prunes. Not my style. Medium depth and finish.

Anyone want my last bottle? — 7 months ago

with Brooke

Joe DAscoli

9.4

Young wine. Opened at 4pm. Immediate nose is massive blue fruit and incredible aroma. Latter when poured at 530 - super green pepper flavor and tobacco / charcoal. Not ready without food. 7pm - pairing with steak and the greenness has blown off and fruit re appearing on the palate. Now it’s 9pm and wine is really hitting its stride — 3 years ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Massive dark fruit. The tannins are fine and sweet. I would suggest giving it a few more yrs just so the oak integrates better if you are oak adverse. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Dark reddish tawny. Mostly translucent. Amazing nose. Powerful. A spectrum of notes including red fruit, cola, pencil lead, black truffles, coffee, blood sausage and some dry dark soil. Animalistic. Massive fruit and structure with a long finish. Someone says "honey ham" as a note in the nose and we all agree (first ever note involving the word "ham"). This was a wine where everyone's score or appreciation greatly improved over the evening. A best ever Unico for me. (M's 60th bday 4th of 14) — 5 years ago

Ming L

9.2

Rich and powerful. The nose features cassis, blueberry, cedar, and sweet spice, accentuated by incense, tobacco, and hint of dried flower. The lush and dense palate is ripe and concentrated but with good balance. The dusty tannins, though very polished, is still quite massive.

The 13’ is more akin to new world than old, and will benefit for at least additional 5 years of aging. — 6 years ago

Daniel M

9.7

Blackberry jam, pepper, a bit of celer, tar, meat juice with a gamey note too. It's intoxicating and it calls for a quick dive. The palate starts with a very nice blackberry jam layer which expands on the width but soon comes a massive acid backbone which pushes the structure toward the end of the palate. It's super powerful yet very complex with different layers: some grip on the side, a buttery, creamy touch and mouthfeel, the acid backbone and some tannins which kick-start and expending finish, very fresh, with blackberry and pepper and a slightly bitter note, just underlined by the gently drying tannins. This is magnificent and comes easily in my top 3 wines all time. I love it and it's an understatement. #birthdaytreat — 7 years ago

Marshal White

9.3

Massive wine. Lots of everything. Absurdly exotic nose. Not the most harmonious; maybe still too young. — a year ago

Ludovic Anacleto

9.7

inky, saturated, dark. Magnificent.
The nose full of violets, crushed rocks, black olives, cedar, black cracked pepper. Alcohol is medium.

On the palate, a masterpiece of tannin management, full throttle yet perfectly integrated, melting in dark ripe berry giving a wholesome mouthfeel and a highly pitched acidity giving lightness and brightness to the overall massive texture.
The full stem gives a lightness to the whole ensamble that is stunning and a masterclass of equilibrium and definition alike.
Buy by the case.
— 2 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.8

Tasted blind. This bottle was purchased directly from the winery on allocation and stored in a cold cellar since release. The ruby color is frightfully deep, almost black. Intense aromas with a laser-like precision of blackcurrant, crushed rocks, orange rind, chocolate, black cherry, mint, cloves and a dash of bourbon vanilla introduce the 2007 Screaming Eagle. The palate is a complete knockout: Full-bodied, extremely concentrated with pixelated, polished tannins, built like a skyscraper with an almost never ending finish. This is a massive Napa Cab, but despite all its power, it still retains freshness and elegance. The top of the cork reads "fly high and proud". Drink now until 2040. — 3 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.6

Massive wine, deep & structured classic old school style Pomerol that is still youthful showing dark berry, plum fruits, inky with notes of cedar, earth, spice box, core of mineral & mocha. Beautifully balanced with good length. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.8

The 2018 Mollydooker ‘The Velvet Glove’ Shiraz is a utterly sensational bottling that rivals any wine of its kind. Aged in all new American oak, this shows a gorgeous bouquet from blueberry pie to espresso grounds, graphite and toasty oak tones that all impress. The palate is deep and utterly seamless. A massive core of blue and dark fruits collide with white pepper, minerals, firm tannins and a light dusting of salinity. While obviously big, this has a weightless quality and wonderful verve. Wonderful to enjoy now, this outstanding Shiraz will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another fifteen years. But why wait? Drink 2021-2038- 98 — 5 years ago

Joe Gillies

9.4

Massive dark fruit but it taking down some with age...some lol. Very good! — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Loads of dark fruit, tar, gravel, dried herbs and espresso with massive tannins still! This bottle, despite being 15 years old, seems like it was born yesterday. I wish I had more because this would be a treat to try again in 2034. Decades of life left, obviously. This is what I love about Cru Barolo. — 7 years ago