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. — 2 days ago

Catherine Gmoser

9.2

Full bodied, fruity — 4 years ago

with Liz

Ericsson

9.5

On the eye it’s definitely showing some age and sediment. The nose is dusty, leathery, and smokey with blueberry and plum. The pallet is earthy and well integrated upfront. No outliers just beautiful flow: mushroom, game, dark fruit, some vanilla, still bold, low alcohol, medium tannic and round finish.

This bottle and I have history; after ten years of carrying it, babying it, and nurturing it. I decided to pop it open for my forty second nameday. Could have gone several more years, easy, but it was perfect timing for me, and this is why I love wine. Cheers. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2007 vintage. Perfect fill and excellent cork. Used a Durand. Decanted with some expected unfined/unfiltered sed that was the size/texture of Ovaltine or Folger’s, freeze-dried, coffee crystals. Gamey, meaty nose mated with cranberry. Tasted after 45 minutes open. Still medium-heavy body although another few years of aging will drop it to medium body. The cranberry and gamey/meaty impressions remained intact in the flavors and some pomegranate spritz and blood orange notes came along for the ride. Complex and impressive. No rush to crush. 1.9.26. — 4 months ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Pop and pour. A brilliant medium gold color. On the nose: lemon, grilled pear, crushed stone, apricot, caramel, and honey. Taste: chalky, lean acid driven style with pear, steely minerality, green apple, saline, orange/lemon rind, and a medium plus finish. YUM! My favorite Napa chardonnay. — 7 months ago

with Brenda

constantin a velo

9.3

Haute acidité, tanins impostants, bulles et belle amertume à la fin. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.5

Blackberry, black cherry, black licorice, seem to be the fruit notes here in order from greatest to least. But, I'd never guess that this one was 8 years post-vintage as it really had a nice sweet toasted oak and vanilla character on the nose, entry, and finish. I was drinking this with some pepper jack cheese and it's amazing how much pepper and spice seemed to come out of this wine. After eating some brie, it was much more subdued. A very rounded, full bodied wine and didn't even take a lot of coaxing to get it going so I think these are probably close to being right in the wheelhouse for a pop and pour. With proper cellaring, this one still has 10 years or so left in it. Enjoyed on our last night at the beach. — 6 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Pop and pour. A majestic lite gold color. On the nose: crisp apples, lemon, almonds, floral, and honey. Taste: creamy, beautiful texture and nice acidity wine with apple, pear, lemon zest, saline, flint, and a minerally lime peel medium plus finish. YUM! Maturing gracefully and time to go. — 6 months ago

with Brenda

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2002 vintage. Decanted and tasted 15 minutes and 1 hour after decanting. Slight amount of sediment. Cedar, cinnamon and traces of bacon fat in the nose along with a splash of VA. The VA blew off and wasn’t there after 1 hour but was hanging out at the onset. Medium heavy body with another 5-7 years likely dropping this to medium body. Smoked meats, bigg dark plum and roasted nuts still part and parcel during. No rush to crush. 10.28.25. — 7 months ago

Carlos Gonzalez

9.4

Pop smoke. Decanted for an hour. Beautiful place. Great bottle. — 5 years ago