Narrow Escape

Masseto

Toscana Merlot 1995

Medium red garnet , quite narrow ruby garnet rim . Quite open with tobacco , spice , charcoal , plum, cassis , truffle , cedar . Good cedar , cassis and blackberry , dusty tobacco . Well balanced acidity and quite dusty tannins . Good tobacco , dusty cassis tinged finish . Perfect now and over the next 5-10 years , at least in magnum . At Noble Rot , London , 15th Jan 2026 — 4 months ago

Tom, Jeroen and 8 others liked this

Château Marjosse

Red Bordeaux Blend 2022

Bright medium ruby core and quite narrow ruby , violet rim . Quite juicy with blackberry , raspberry jam , red cherry , red plum , with some spicy herbal notes and touch of cassis . On the palate this is also quite fruit forward , with cassis , blackberry and plum , good freshness and just balanced alcohol , though I would serve this on the cooler side . Ripe , suave tannins . Ok length with a slightly spicy , red plum , cherry tinged finish . Drinking well now and over the next 3 -5 years . A really good example of what a reasonably priced Bordeaux can deliver. — 8 months ago

Daniel, Dave and 4 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Medium deep ruby , quite narrow rim . Touch of earthy menthol , tobacco , spicy blackcurrant, grafite . On the palate quite dusty , with earthy sous bois , blackcurrant, ripe blackberry , grafite and tobacco , cocoa hints. Quite rich but balanced , good acidity, quite dusty tannins . This is probably at peak now though will last well another decade perhaps . — a year ago

"Odedi", Severn and 5 others liked this

Château Saint-Pierre

St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

Medium deep ruby garnet , with quite narrow garnet rim . This is quite closed at first , with some dusty , mineral , seaside hints . Cassis , cedar , blackberry , charcoal and a touch of toasty oak . On the palate this is again quite four square and serious , dusty blackberry , cassis, cedar , grafite . Quite linear in style , fresh acidity and quite fine but noticable tannin . A lightly saline , grafite tinged medium length finish . This is drinking well at the moment , quite classic in style but with enough polish and mid palate . Will probably continue to show well over the next 5-10 years . — 5 months ago

Daniel, Tom and 6 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2001

Medium ruby garnet , narrow garnet rim . Quite deep spicy tobacco , cassis , redcurrant , grafite , smoky herbal notes on the nose. On the palate this is quite restrained and elegant , with a mix of red and dark fruits , cassis , blueberry , red currant , touch of menthol also . Good refreshing acidity and slightly gritty tannins , good length with grafite and tobacco stained finish . This is showing well and is probably at peak at the moment , no rush as it will stay here for another 8-10 years or so . — a year ago

Jeroen, Jan and 11 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1986

Bright ruby garnet with quite narrow garnet rim . Quite closed at first with mineral , cassis , sous bois , cigar box , touch of smoke . On the palate very intense with lots of cigar box tinged cassis , blackberry , cedar , coffee. Gritty but integrated tannins , fresh acidity . Very long and complex on the finish . This is still young but is starting to show what it can do , perfectly balanced and enormously long . Precise and for Las Cases very elegant . Now and for the next 10-15 years . — 2 years ago

Jeroen, Tom and 17 others liked this

Domaine Francois Lamarche

La Grande Rue Grand Cru Monopole Pinot Noir 2015

The 2nd vintage of La Grande Rue we had at the Burgundy dinner in Sydney 6 weeks ago. This was the 2015. A very Vosne Romanee nose - perfumed and enticing. Sweeter fruit than the 2012. Given its prime location as being over the road (La Grande Rue) from La Romanee and La Romanee Conti it doesn’t reflect the quality of those 2 vineyards nor the price thankfully. Amazing that the separation of the width of a narrow road makes such a difference. The 1.65 hectares of La Grande Rue dates back to the 15th century. It is simply a continuation of La Tache - lighter bodied (and lighter priced). — 8 months ago

Andrew, Scott@Mister and 17 others liked this

Domaine du Collier

Saumur Blanc Chenin Blanc 2020

Lyle Fass
9.1

Fine but boring and narrow. Just lacked energy and excitement. I don’t know, never had one of these that excited me. — 9 months ago

Jay, Zach and 10 others liked this

Cantina Ar.Pe.Pe.

Riserva Rocce Rosse Sassella Valtellina Superiore Nebbiolo 2001

Medium garnet , slightly less intense than the 2002 , quite narrow terracotta rim . Quite a lot of dried spice , cinnamon , clove , with dried meats , porcini . Lighter fruits than the 2002, more of the red cherry , strawberry , raspberry noticable on other vintages. Not as dense as the 2002 but still enough fruit on the palate . Porcini , anise and black tea on the finish . Quite dense still , fills out well with good length — a year ago

"Odedi", Bob and 5 others liked this

Château Tour des Termes

St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

Medium deep ruby, quite narrow ruby pink rim . Dark creme de cassis , blackberry , with earthy , mineral , grafite touches , quite inviting and open , though still classic in style . On the palate more cassis , grafite , blackberry , quite juicy and round , but with balanced acidity and alcohol , rounded but noticeable tannins . Ok length . Drinking well now and will age well over the next 5-10 years — 2 years ago

Jan, Tom and 5 others liked this