Jeroen Koenen

9.5

Power and grace. Somehow this feels like a wine of wisdom. Mature, carressing, full of warmth and comfort. Long, elegant, classy. — 7 months ago

Jessica Knickerbocker

9.2

Very nice 😊 — 5 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Two perspectives: first vibrancy and youth, then wisdom from age. Begins optimistic - bright red berries and minerals with interesting inflections - iron rich beef liver, seared in butter, wild Maine blueberry reduction.

Then darker, concentrated, experienced advice. Dried wrinkly fruits - raisins, prunes, dates. Like Amarone.

They come together to tell a good story from both sides. — 5 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

Owned by Banfi and an elder statesmen in Sherry. I’m not a Cream Sherry man but this is quite light and well constructed, for under 15$, well done. Almond paste, marzipan, walnuts on nose. — 6 years ago

Hylton Heeld

9.4

1997
Staggeringly good...defies conventional wisdom. A 21 year old Shiraz from Margaret River. I closed my eyes and was transported to France. — 8 years ago

R J

9.2

Melissa suggested this one and I hailed to her wisdom! — 10 years ago

Rajiv Ayyangar

10

This was the vintage Serge sipped as bombs fell in Beirut in '76.

Moderate ruby-garnet to an orange rim. It was phenomenal straight out of the bottle, with tertiary dark blackberry essence leaping from the glass. It doesn’t show much oxidation at all. Savory integrated brett, complex tamari and blackcurrant notes. Rounded softened tannins, but still present. I can’t believe how good this is!

Overall the character was similar to the ’95 but with an added tone of brilliant blackness. Slightly toasty, blackened and charred blackberry essence. Also at various moments, dried apricot, orange peel, amaro herbal notes, anise, flemish sour notes, like a rich BFM brew.  

Age with power. Complexity with playfulness. Wisdom with unpredictability.  — 10 years ago

with Gence and Tim

Roberto Carli

9.4

Opened a great wine at the wrong time. Clocking at 35yo, like a wise grandpa it has wisdom to share but only talks when it’s quiet. Right after opening it has a mix of ripe, evolved pyrazines but with an hour or so the black olives are there in your face like in cote rotie, with a touch of their brine but without the VA you would expect. dried black fruit makes an appearance, even a medium bodied texture (!!!) which already isn’t Chinon’s strength and fine tannins still with some good grip, leading to a bright lingering acidity. Of course it can’t stay too long in the glass as the age shows some fragility. Still, it delivers — 2 years ago

DomDoc

8.9

Who drinks P Manseng? This is a BA local, SF medal winner that is unique and awesome. PM grapes are small and make sweeter wines. Next time I make Rice Krispie treats teriyaki jerky, this is the call. Great too with funky French cheeses. Very nice wine. — 5 years ago

Monique Starkey

9.8

Delish! : ) — 6 years ago

Michael Chelus

9.1

Black cherry, raspberry, currant, blackberry, licorice, vanilla and oak. Full-bodied and moderate tannins. — 6 years ago

Peter Leggatt

9.2

Something like the Platonic form of the Beaune; not wildly idiosyncratic, but a practised, well-dressed dinner companion who pulls out fine cigars during dessert. No risk of opinions on Brexit; refuses even if asked. Remarkable wisdom and suavity for its years; has the wit of a wine eight years older but definitely for drinking now, like the best summer dinner dates: easy but not simple.

[Wonderful pupper, does a fat boof, very doggo.] — 9 years ago

Sam Mak

9.3

The red cherry and lots of perfume stunned my nose. That's not it. The palate sustained the romance all the way. Exceptional long last. Such a good buy from a lucky me! Glad I still have several bottles of it. It can age for another decade at least. I will let this Pomerol wisdom accumulate. — 10 years ago

Susan Hanners

9.0

Smooth cab franc, no nose, dry brambleberry taste, medium body, light dry finish — 4 years ago

Anisha Walters

9.2

Anisha had this 4 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Already very balanced although still young. Association of Power and Finesse The fruit is still marked with well-melted light notes of oak. Deep concentrated notes of smoked ham, primary peppery and violette notes. Classic style. Beautiful gourmandise that will gain in wisdom with several years of cellar. 😋

Déjà très équilibré bien qu’encore jeune. Association de la puissance à la finesse. Le fruit est encore marqué soutenu par des notes d’élevages déjà bien fondues. Notes concentrée lardées fumées, notes primaires poivrées. Style classique. Belle gourmandise qui gagnera en sagesse avec plusieurs années de cave. — 5 years ago

Andrea Rague

9.3

Love the acidity, wish it has a little more body, very mineraly — 6 years ago

Marc Pimentel

9.1

Cami really likes this wine. Grape dvine — 7 years ago

Constant Van Wyk

10

Wife loved it and she's not a red drinker. — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.1

Better integrated pine and malt with no soapiness. A definite improvement upon their previous rendition of this beer. — 10 years ago