David Hale Smith

10

Simply perfect — 4 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

The sleeper vintage, one at this time I bet to be even more showy than the illustrious 2000. It’s simply just ready to go after a short decant wafting from the glass with layers of cassis, black truffle, violets and licorice. This is a wine of texture and elegance, as Margaux should be—It’s liquid cashmere in the mouth with melting tannins and a black truffle and mineral inflicted finale that keeps on going. Superb showing tonight, with still a long life ahead. — 10 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.6

From a great looking bottle with a fill almost into the neck. Double decanted and left in the bottle for 5 hours before attacking it. Amber color. Good weight and haunting nose. Notes of old cedar, mocha, plums, cola, dark fruit, molasses and some sweet red cherry. Early on it’s all about the amazing nose. But with time the wine gains weight and you have a gorgeous old St Estephe in front of you. Still giving its all, and although the fruit is somewhat faded, this has complexity and structure that still drives the experience. And that nose is simply stunning. Great showing. — 4 years ago

Rick Wolfen

9.5

Boom! The 2016 Alexander Valley is so good! Big fruit, beautiful nose, great balance, so well crafted and simply delicious! And for the price it really is a steal. Excellent the second night as well. Need to get some mote! Well done! Cheers! — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.8

The 2014 Mouton Rothchild is a stunning wine that is already making its case for one of the wines of the vintage. Graphite, salted dark fruits, tar and mocha with a touch of red bell pepper all marvelously combine on the nose. Silky and marvelously textured, with an incredible complexity and viscosity, the wine shows wonderful brightness and a seamless quality that artfully dances across the mid-palate. Stunning and simply marvelous even at the five year mark, this is only an infant now and has decades of life to go. Try to resist this beauty for at least three more years. Drink 2021-2045- 98 — 7 years ago

Erin Stelling

10

Smooth and not sweet! Love it! And I appreciate that it announces it is unoaked. I wish more brands would announce that for those of us that don’t like the oak, buttery flavor — 8 years ago

Vino Joe

9.7

I simply love this. It’s my sweet spot for Champagne. Decadently sweet and rich. Deep golden color. My favorite champagne. — 7 months ago

Raul Puga

9.8

Simply stunning 🤩🥂 — 2 years ago

William Lauder

9.5

Simply amazing. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve!!! 🎄🎁🎅❄️🌟⛄️

Maybe, it’s the Christmas spirit and/or I really needed a good glass Rosé Champagne tonight but, I don’t recall this ever tasting better. Could simply be a better disgorgement? Ah, I’ll just say it’s Christmas Magic! Cheers! 🍾🥂

Shots around the house listening to our Christmas Eve Mix.

Yup, that’s my Wine Snowman! ⛄️

Be pairing this later with the Shari’s Chocolate Covered Strawberries that arrived today.

12/23/20. — 6 years ago

K. Syrah

9.1

2017. Decanted 4+ hours. Pains me to not give one of my favorite labels a 95+, but this hot vintage is simply missing the red fruit to go with all the rustic leather and barnyard funk that makes Pegau so unique. Rich but not sure fruit is going to come around. Discounted- $50 at Wine Library, elsewhere. — 6 years ago

Ryan Hayward

10

It was simply fantastic! — 7 years ago

Dan Michael

9.5

Wow, just wow, this is simply one of the best wines I have tasted. Toasty nose, big and rich without being heavy, perfect with everything on the table, awesome experience! — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Long day of work. Needed my pick me up. It’s simply consistent & never disappoints. — 8 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.6

Simply remarkable- as it should have been for the $$$. Top notch Cali Cab. — 7 years ago

with Beth

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

10/21 disgorgement is simply perfect, rocking tonight and unmistakable with its infinite layers of red berry fruit, blood orange and chalky minerals that wrap around the palate, with incredible texture, density and intensity before its forever finale. The best. — 3 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.8

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2008: Bold. Rich. Stunning. Velvety black fruits. Mocha. Eucalyptus. Leather. Consisting of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot & 4% Merlot, this was the perfect 1.5L of pure liquid greatness. What better way to celebrate two milestone events but with this extremely special bottle. Simply the finest Napa Valley Bordeaux-style blend ever! Happy Birthday mom & Happy belated 50th Anniversary! Cheers🍷 — 5 years ago

with Carol

Willem Booij

9.3

A point and a simply delicious glass of wine — 6 years ago

John Malcolm

9.8

This wine was opulent, elegant, and simply spectacular. Milk chocolate, black cherries, and cassis. If you are lucky enough to have a bottle, you are in for a treat. — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 8 years ago