Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I’m a bit early opening this but have three and was curious. It will be a while before opening another.

After a double decant, it started to blossom after four hours decanted. Smooth and elegant with just the right kind of spice and soft earths on the long, elegant finish.

Better things in another 5 yrs and beyond.

Enjoyed the 2011 James Cole Malbec afterwards more. Charles Hendricks still crafts my favorite new world Malbecs. — 9 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

Unexpectedly sweet, cherry, plum and raspberry. Must wait for 2 hours. Then, show up the its taste. Wood, chestnut, minerals, spices. Charles Noëllat Vosne Romanee Suchots 2010 @3080, domaine - , 230110-230317 — 3 years ago

Mark S.

8.9

It has slight chocolate nuance. Acidic and Spiciness. Mid body. Elegant. A bit greenish amid. Its smoothness can be enjoyed 3 hours later. Charles Joguet Chinon La Cure Val de Loire Cabernet Franc 2015 @1680, Kping -, 211020-211105 — 5 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

This was a recommendation of the sommelier in Paris for an after meal wine. She was so right, the wine is fresh, balanced, elegant, rich but dry, and with good length. Really good and interesting stuff. — 5 years ago

with Adriana

Leslie

9.3

Decanted this 09 about 4 hours before drinking. The nose was a combination of black plum overlaid with funk...a good funk. On the palate ripe luscious black fruit with forest floor and herbal notes. Med tannins and med high acid which balanced out the robustness of this wine. — 6 years ago

Carey Bailey

9.0

Decanted for two hours before drinking. A beautiful Cab Sauv. a little past it’s prime. Great color, very smooth tannons, great balance with amazing jammy flavors, berry, currant aromas. — 7 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Had to be patient. So tight in the beginning but it opened up into a beautiful flower. Rich, dry fruit and a peppery edge....after 2.5 hours!!! New Country Columbia Basin, Wa won!!!! hands down over old country Chateauneuf du Pape. — 8 years ago

with Tammy

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2014 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 30 mins and one hour. Subtlety, thy name is this wine. Light-medium body. Raspberry, strawberry and menthol in the initial impressions. A bit more supporting fruit in the fringes but this stayed consistent over the course of two hours. Seemingly in a transitional phase. Not super-demonstrative but just enough elsewhere with focused concentration and finishing thrust. 12.20.24. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

9.3

This was too much fun. 20 plus years old but still as fresh as a daisy. Or close enough to it at least.

Dark purple with just a bit of rust at the edges. Initially pretty closed in but when it opens it it blossoms. Mushrooms and earth with some cedar and herbs. There’s funk, glorious funk shining here. It doesn’t take dominance but it is rather lovely.

After decanting for a number of hours this is finally ready to enjoy. And what is this exactly? It’s perfectly fine, budget friendly Burgundy that over delivers. There’s a good core of fruit here with wild strawberries and stewed plums. Cloves, dirt, and cranberry juice. The finish is long with muted spice. A real joy to taste.
— 3 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Earth, woods, cigar box, pepper, currants, plums, a hint of berry jam. Outstanding! Had about 4 hours of air before drinking. — 5 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.0

Needed 2 hours of air for the funk to blow off. After that, pretty solid. — 6 years ago

Andy Mc Nees

9.2

Interesting profile. Round fat tannins. Took hours to open up. Unfamiliar with the vineyard or winemaker. Enjoyed it. Challenge to describe — 6 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

8.9

Past its best, but there is more than one thing I like in this wine
Firstly the tactile perception in your mouth, the wine invades your oral cavity
And secondly it is still fresh and a mineral tone after few hours came out too
(it reminded me of a Montrachet Marquise de Laguiche 1986 for the power)
Yes the fruit had gone oxidised a bit but I save this wine for the picture — 7 years ago

with Claudio, Mauro and 3 others

Bob McDonald

9.6

So fresh you would not know it was a 1995 but disgorged in January 2014. Lemon minerality and hints of stone fruit and touch of pineapple. A fine persistent bead. The perfect balance of complexity and freshness. When I first tried this I thought it was rich enough to have a % of Pinot Noir but it is a Blanc des Blancs. Amazingly still available because they “made shitloads of it” said Stephen Leroux. A few hours later a honeyed nuance. Celebrating my 2000th Note on Delectable. I would like to congratulate Delectable for creating such an enjoyable and useable App. I can see what my American and European friends are drinking and try to purchase same. Also celebrating my son Hugh’s 31 st Birthday in New York. If anyone is looking for office space in Manhattan contact Hugh at CBRE. — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2017 vintage. @ Mister A’s Restaurant, San Diego-Les Caves de St. Charles CDP dinner. Initially, an absolute ballbuster. Massive tannins with a modicum of velveteen fruit at the end of a long tunnel. After two hours? Surprise! Change partners and the nearsome, fearsome tanninfest coalesced into the velveteen fruitfest. Remarkable concentration, tho, from start to finish over the course of the dinner. Best newer-vintage CDP, out of roughly 200, that I’ve had in the last two years. Just a remarkable chameleon. Supposedly 50/50 Grenache/Syrah. Worth the hunt. 11.16.23. — 3 years ago

Thomas Lengyel

8.9

$27 Big nose. Notes of blackberry, black currant, boysenberry, eucalyptus, and baking spice. Medium body. Dry. Before decanting, high acid, high tannins, and medium alcohol with a sour finish. Notes of blackberry, baking spice and cherry on the palate. After decanting for about 2 hours this wine opened up significantly. The acid and tannins mellowed out and I really began to enjoy it. This wine became medium alcohol, medium acid and medium plus tannins. In other words, decant and enjoy. — 4 years ago

Jeffro Beaudeen

9.4

Holey Shinoley Batbrain another amazing save! figured I'd be dumping this one along with its brethren on the shelf into my fine wine vinegar barrel but instead someone slipped in at some point and replaced the contents with a fine premier cru burgundy . . Reminiscent of a Mid90s Charles Dugat Gevrey Clos St Jacques . . and is drinking like an a-point seven year old instead of it's 26 current years of age . . slight and bring out the rim; solid plum and some Asian spice notes, evolved secondary and some tertiary notes, tinge of barnyard that helps a pair with the 36 hours sous vide braised then flash fried elk tongue I am pairing it with . .  perfect balance of fruit and acidity, long long long lingering finish -- what a fabulous surprise . . I would've been delighted had it been that vinetard designated premier crew burgundy at a couple hundred bucks, but to open some thing like this for probably eight dollars and change when I bought it makes the smile slightly broader. Happy I have more 😁🍷 — 5 years ago

Pooneet K

9.2

Very nice overall but if I’m being honest a bit under expectations. Aromatically brilliant, with dark petal flowers and earth and a bit of sweet dark red fruit. Just before the finish the palate falls apart a bit - just missing that extra gear. Still an excellent pairing with the steak in the background (prime dry aged rib eye from Hudson and Charles). Decanted for 2 hours but not sure it made a huge difference, didn’t change much in the glass. — 6 years ago

Theresa Eagleson

9.1

One of the better champagnes I’ve had. Excellent with dessert. Bubbles for hours. Not too sweet. — 7 years ago

with Hannah

Bill Burns

9.2

Smooth, decant for a couple of hours ahead of serving — 8 years ago