5/19/2014 - lastone Likes this wine:

One of my top 10 most enjoyable cases. The depth, richness and complexity of 10 years ago is undiminished and should remain at this level for a few more years. Famous Mont tannins are totally tamed. Unlike many older Cal cabs, this has considerable tertiary aroma and taste.

12/25/2012 - lastone Likes this wine:

Not the "lastone" but so compelling, had to write a note: extradordinary complex nose; expansive and sweet palate; long, captivating aftertaste. At 30 years, a near perfect specimen.

8/16/2012 - lastone wrote:

Tinge of sherry spoiled the broth but cannot complain. Best years were '04 to '09 but still couldn't match the "84 and '86 (which are still going strong).

6/25/2012 - lastone wrote:

Possibly the best Meyney ever.

9/29/2011 - lastone wrote:

Like a fine Hermitage. Loved the whole case. Drink up.

8/22/2011 - lastone wrote:

One of my best Calif purchases in terms of overall enjoyment, this cab has evolved nicely since the first bottle in 7/01. The fruit is relatively youthful, i.e. deep (although the cherry is gone); tannins, while always friendly, have all but disappeared; balance is superb; alcohol level is reasonable. Sorry to see it go.

7/20/2011 - lastone wrote:

Consistently gorgeous over the past decade. At this point, suggest drinking without food.

4/11/2011 - lastone wrote:

Hard and tannic in 1999, approachable in 2002, still evolving in 2004, mature in '05. Last one last week showing some fade but still gorgeous: complex nose, lovely berry fruit and long aftertaste. Married well with rich pot roast.

4/1/2011 - lastone wrote:

Immensely enjoyable over the past several years, this bottle had the usual rich extract sharpened by a perfect acid balance.

2/5/2011 - lastone wrote:

Purchased in Paris (at Les Bioux on 6/13/96), I suspect it was bottled rather late as the concentration and extract levels were below what other bottles were that were purchased on release and drunk a year or two ago. Regadless, we enjoyed its nose, lovely color and lively acidity. While the tannin and rusticity were mostly gone, it had its own personality and went nicely with roast chicken and trimmings.

12/16/2010 - lastone wrote:

Meat, smoke and spice on the nose; rich syrah palate, perfect balance, lingering aftertaste. A developing deep cherry over the past several years, not Burgundy-like, more Black Forest; quite extraordinary. There are few successive vintages of the same wine that I've enjoyed more than the "89 and '90 Les Grandes Places.

11/12/2010 - lastone wrote:

Bottle was a gift. Too sweet, too alcoholic - awful.

11/2/2010 - lastone wrote:

To my (more traditional) taste, a Calif standard-bearer: Surprisingly youthful in color, nose and taste; remarkably consistent since first bottle in 6/99 (except for some closing-up circa 2004); St. Julien-like with great balance, mature cab notes and reasonable alcohol. Like a time machine.

9/16/2010 - lastone wrote:

Great balance 1st of many attributes; unmistakable N. Rhone nose and palate; has evolved beautifully over past 8 years; hard to beat in a basic Hermitage.

3/13/2010 - lastone wrote:

Consistent notes since first bottle 3/95: tropical fruit (apricot and mango), lovely balance, creamy mouthfeel right through last one tonight. "Not Equem" as my wife said 15 years ago but what is? This has been a terrific purchase, just right with (her) peach tart and apple pie (Ida Red's only please; you can guess where that came from). Couldn't ask for more enjoyment. Its still at or near peak but you're on you own going forward.

3/7/2010 - lastone wrote:

Pure amber, pure apricot, pure.

2/13/2010 - lastone wrote:

Notes back to 9/98 indicate a fruity, well-balanced, classic wine with a civilized alcohol level (13.3%). Last one true to form with a saliva inducing nose; creamy, black fruit palate; and exquisite balance (terrific food wine, something not said very often about Calif. cabs). Could have waited 2-3 years but the occasion couldn't.

1/31/2010 - lastone wrote:

Strength and balance; time in hand.

1/30/2010 - lastone wrote:

Creamy and spicey in mid-'90s; yummy with lobster salad in 2002; last one was characteristically pure with exotic fruits like mango and pineapple. Like all ZHs this is a food wine; married beautifully with scallops in a basil cream sauce. I wouldn't wait any longer.

1/26/2010 - lastone wrote:

Nose makes you smile for everything you love about Alsatian riesling. Still spicy and rich, possibly some fruit fade heightening the acidity (but not a problem with salmon). As with all ZH's the purity is astonishing. This is the last bottle of several cases of '89, 90' and 94' ZH rieslings (can't afford them anymore) but oh, what a ride. Drink up quickly.

12/14/2009 - lastone wrote:

Gloriously mature, beautifully balanced, could stay at this level for years. Put on weight since the late '90's. Classic Hermitage.

11/16/2009 - lastone wrote:

This wine was too tanic to enjoy throughout the late '90's and didn't fully express itself until 4 or 5 years ago. Last 4 bottles were lovely with cherry and game on the nose and palate. Don't hurry to drink up; I'd say you have another 3-5 years if stored well.

10/22/2009 - lastone wrote:

Bought case on release for week-day drinking based on price; silly me, this is serious stuff. Came into its own in '03 demonstrating classic Bordeaux traits (which for all the many adjectives over the past 25+ years remains undescribable). What I can say is the melange of flavors plus purity plus balance has made this wine a favored purchase. I wish I had a few more bottles (and a few more vintages).

10/22/2009 - lastone wrote:

Bought 6-pack on release; WS gave 83, big mistake, this wine needed time. 1st bottle: deep rich merlot in '05, excellent with porterhouse; last one was more impressive having taken on some complexity. But its charm remains typically Calif (at least from 1991 and from a gifted wine maker) - pure, well-balanced, solid fruit, good match with food, time in hand for those with more. A clear success.

8/24/2009 - lastone wrote:

Always a complete wine since 1st bottle in '97; would out class other Crozes from '90 and more than one Hermitage; complex nose of soft cheese, beef and pepper, rich dark syrah fruit even at 19 yrs, perfectly balanced. Won't forget this one.

7/20/2009 - lastone wrote:

Closed and tannic until circa 2001, has since emerged into an extradinory CR; all the usual adjectives are there but I would emphasize creaminess, smoke, bacon and petrol. Drink up.

7/20/2009 - lastone wrote:

Perfectly balanced, that captivating cedar nose and black fruit palate; brings me back to the 1964 Figeac that my friend lifted from his Dad's cellar 30+ years ago that told me there's more to wine than Hearty Burgundy.

7/13/2009 - lastone wrote:

Tannic and dumb until 2004; notes afterward very positive: more merlot in character than you'd expect, well-balanced and complete, time in hand; bodes well for other, untasted '86's.

6/23/2009 - lastone wrote:

Never had a La La in 40 yrs of drinking CR but not concerned with Brune et Blonde like this; from first bottle in '94 with roast chicken (and dear friends) to the last, last week-end always creamy, fruity and complex (I can't agree more with Brix review of 4/25/09 and happily defer). I announced "best CR ever tasted" in 8/01. Bravo.

6/23/2009 - lastone wrote:

What an extraordinary buy on release; delightful chocolate in mid-90's; maturing into middle-aged, gorgeous Pomerol at 12-15 yrs (why buy Burgundy?) and still feisty (but fading) at 19 yrs. Along with the '90 L'enclos, a beautifully structured, delightful, food-friendly yet sexy Pomerol. At what I paid, what wine, wine buying and wine cellaring is all about.

6/23/2009 - lastone wrote:

Bought a 6 pack on release; from first bottle in 1996 to last always represented the best of Calif: flamboyant (for me) but stylish and unbeatable with rib steak; peak may have been '04-'05 but I'd buy more today; last one was characteristically creamy and lush with huge, mature cab fruit. Should have bought more.

6/23/2009 - lastone wrote:

Never saw the "super intense" WS wine (or the 98 pts); overall not a prized investment, tasting notes indicate "restrained" and "bottle variations" but never tasted young; best experiences were 2005-06: "sweet cab fruit, deep, rich, complex and nuanced"; last one was well balanced (lovely with osso bucco), stately, cab genome not to be denied. This wine has been fully mature for at least 5 years and has started a gradual decline.

6/11/2009 - lastone wrote:

Tough as nails until 2005 or so when most of the fruit was gone but, since then, quite lovely in it's own way. Still, not a good purchase (RP gave it 95 on release, oh well).

6/11/2009 - lastone wrote:

Always needed extended breathing since 1st bottle in 2001; 2 were corked, remainder stunning. Rich Bordeaux in nose and palate (95% of Bordeaux should be this good even at this price), perfectly balanced, outstanding with roasted meats, peak window closing.

6/1/2009 - lastone wrote:

Note on first bottle in 1996: ugh - cellar for 10 yrs. Next one in 2006 through last bottle last week: Bordeaux pedigree has emerged on nose and palate, still some tannin but with good fruit and terrific balance. Drink now!

5/18/2009 - lastone wrote:

Glorious wine since tannins starting to wane circa 2002; Bordeaux complexity in the nose, still some tannin but I question the staying power of the fruit, complex in the mouth too and as dimensional as Calif gets. With 13.5% alcohol you can actually drink it throughout the meal. One of the top 3 Reserves (with '87 and'91).

5/13/2009 - lastone wrote:

We threw everythng at it: spiced pork, Chinese chicken, lobster salad, and it changed everything for the better. Living with this case has been a wine-lovers dream.
But time to drink up.

5/13/2009 - lastone wrote:

Put on weight in the early 2000's after some lean early years; last one was over the hill but still extraordinary; drink up now wth light food.

5/12/2009 - lastone wrote:

Losing some sweetness (unctously sweet in 1995) but perfectly balanced; dowager lady.

5/12/2009 - lastone wrote:

Mouth searing tannins (Broadbent 9 yrs ago) still but leg of lamb brought out the fruit; unlike any other wine, gorgeous, hard to say how long fruit will last.