Jan A

9.6

Soft and round, a point for my palate.

I've had limited experience with first growths until now and I always was blown away by how young these first growths presented themselves (70's/80's). Most were much older than the 1996 of today, so I was pleased to see that this was so approachable. — a month ago

Paul J

9.6

First Rose of the season! Always great! See previous notes and vintages. — 3 months ago

with Brooke and

GaryWEdwards

9.7

Dense, softened tannins are the start of a delightful full bodied blackberry led juice. Absolute magic. And it’s probably a longer runner than thought 15 years ago. Highly recommend to grab if you see it — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

This was my last 2008. See several previous Delectable notes. Typically reliable Moss Wood Cabernet. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

The 2021 Saint-Joseph used roughly 50% whole-clusters during fermentation. In comparison, 2022 saw 85% inclusion, while in 2017, no destemming was applied. Coming in at 12.5% alcohol, the deep purple-hued 2021 unfurls with pretty red fruits paired with leafy undertones and cedar. Orange blossom and rose petal add welcome floral lift. Light to medium in body, this is a delicate Gonon, neatly framed by velvety tannins and bright acidity. It should drink well right out of the gate. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 2 years ago

Sean

9.6

There’s a lot to like in the bold Shiraz. Plum, jam, leather and cigars. Would be great to see this again in another 10-15 years — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Whenever I see the 12 on the market it’s an automatic buy 👍🏼 had to smuggle it in, — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

10

Quick funny story:
Christine & I are LUCKY to have Kelly work in our office but we are BLESSED to be able to consider her and Darryl as dear friends.
We recommended to Kelly, prior to her going on vacation in Charleston SC, that they should stop by the Belmont hotel. They have a bar and restaurant that is 2nd to none in that area. Christine & I LOVE it!!!! Kelly sent me a quick text to say “hey, we’re at the Belmont! And about to have dinner!”
Being the goof ball that I am..... .....I called the Somm and said “I don’t care what they ordered, bring them a Shafer Hillside Select with some age on it!!!”. 10 minutes later he was decanting a 2003 Hillside Select table side! I love that hotel! Incredible service, incredible food and always a phenomenal experience! The only thing better are-our friends that are there right now!!!!

I didn’t Have a drop of this wine but I am scoring it a 10 based on experience alone!! It must have been “Badass in a Glass” as I always say!
I’ll let Kelly and Darryl fill in the official tasting notes!
by the way Kelly: don’t love SC tooooooo much, Christine & I can’t operate that place without you! See you next week! 👍👏👏👏👏👍
— 8 years ago

with Christine

Doug Powers

9.4

Another absolutely fabulous older CdP, I saw @Jay Kline’s excellent tasting note from a few years ago on the 1990 (thanks for the info, @Jay Kline!!), this is amazing, amazingly a little better than the 1989 Beaucastel, what a trio of 1988-1990 CdPs!!! — a month ago

with Jim

Bob McDonald

9.5

I’ll just commence this tasting note to see if it is accepted. Dense Ruby in colour. Blackcurrant and tobacco notes - ripe blue and black fruits - luscious texture. Anytime I’ve had a Napa (or Washington State) Cabernet I have always been impressed - probably better than most good Aussie Cabernets (and more expensive). Has a good future but irresistible right now. Have the last bottle in a year or two. Interestingly reverse osmosis was used to reduce the alcohol. Now at 13.9%. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Quite a light to mid lemon in colour for its 11 years of age. Nutty (almond and cashew) aromas. Oak has integrated. The palate shows those same nutty notes together with that trademark pear character with white nectarine. Overall still youthful. My remaining 3 bottles will easily see out this decade. — 6 months ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.3

A murky purple magenta color, but still appears young. Very aromatic with beautiful notes of blackberry, perfume followed by sandalwood, wet rich soil, pencil lead and sweet oak. Tastes young with tannins still present leaving many years for aging. Primary flavors of blackberry cedar and bitter sweet chocolate with secondary notes of cassis, new leather, pepper, dried herbs, and gravel giving it a long dry finish. Should pair with our Neapolitan marinara pizza and pasta dinner tonight. Looking forward to see what another several years will add to its flavor profile. — 2 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Doug Brown

9.0

Very nice white wine — 6 years ago

Wouter Aalst

9.0

Past it’s best for a few years now, but still very interesting to taste and absolutely not completely gone.
Garnet colour. On the nose as expected a lot of tertiary aroma’s like tobacco, coffee, ceder, chocolate, meaty, smoke, leather, mushrooms, earth, caramel and balsamic. On the palate it is confirmed that the fruit has faded and so have the tanins. This make the wine a bit thin and structureless, like you see often with wines if this age. Great experience! — 7 years ago

Anthony Eacuello

9.0

Over 30 years old. Has aged quite well. Did not have a decanter to deal with the sediment, but still a great wine to experience. Would be curious to see how this bottle compares to its counterpart from Alexander Valley. — a month ago

Rick Phillips

9.1

Not sure what’s up with Deletable. Can’t see who I’m following anymore and half the time my wines don’t post. Days later I’m able to post them! — 2 months ago

with Letha

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I remember when the 2005 Pichon Lalande was reviewed by RP, 89. I saw that & said, you would have to get in the way of the 2005 Bordeaux vintage to be that sad. I still bought 6 at a bargain basement price. A very good idea post 20 yrs+. Both Pichon’s don’t have a modern day history of getting in the way of a good vintage.

I also bought this one. 18 yrs in bottle and still acending. This will hold 5 more yrs and will last another 10 yrs properly stored.

I have visited Bordeaux 11 times. This chateau visually is still my favorite. It was showing a picture of this chateau to Sofia that launched our first visit. Sofia loved it and we have stared at it multiple times on every visit.

It was in our visit in 2007, I stood in the estate vineyard, looked & tasted their soils. After doing so, I said, “I get it.” I understood everything about what I was tasting in Left Bank Bordeaux’s early in my wine journey.

Sofia and I had dinner w/ Christian Moueix not long after the 2005 vintage was hyped/released. She asked him, when did you know you had something special?” He said, “as soon as I tasted the fruit at harvest.”

Tonight, it shows that it is a close relative, a sibling to Pichon Longueville. Cork, perfect.

The nose shows; classic left bank traits. Ripe, dark, brooding fruits, bright, mid berries, red cola, leather, tobacco, sandalwood, leather, led pencil, dark rich earth, limestone, dry river stone, hint of mushrooms, dark, red, fresh & withering florals.

The fruits on the palate show everything outstanding from the 2005 growing season. Ripe, juicy, brilliant; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, baked/poached strawberries & some hovering raspberries. Dark chocolate bar to pudding, red cola, anise, dark spices w/ palate heat, dark, rich earth w/ dry leaves, pronounced graphite, dry tobacco, leather, limestone, dry twig, dry river stone, moist clays, moist herbs, cedar to sandalwood, withering & dry, dark flowers, red roses, some lavender & violets, beautiful rainfall acidity, excellent; balance, tension, structure, length w/ an elegant finish that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earth.

13.4 ABV. Nice.

#TheTwoHourRibcap

This held up vacuumed sealed the same night, refrigerated & enjoyed exactly a week later. — 5 months ago

Clark Harrop

9.3

I can see how people overindulge. Too good. — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Medium deep pink moving toward reddish orange. Citrus melange aroma... orange, blood orange, sour key lime and pink grapefruit. Powerful weight on the palate but round and creamy in texture. The finish is awesome—long, sweet, savory, lasting almost a minute... with just the slightest hint of funky, cheesy forest-floor. Perfect foil for fresh broiled salmon with grilled broccoli and a Dijon cream sauce. So very glad I kept this wine so long before popping... far from over the hill.. could see enjoying the wine at 25 years. What a wonderful pink wine! — 5 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Had about 30 sec to pick a bottle as store was closing - Saw the familiar wire mesh and knew I had a winner. Needed some air to shine, but improved steadily over three nights. — 7 years ago