Tasted double blind. Lots of dense black fruit aromas followed by highly structured black fruit on the palate. Trace hints of licorice and tobacco. I felt this needs some more time for the tannins to resolve, and I hope the fruit hold steady until that happens.

Tasted double blind. Pedigree stood out immediately. Massive black currant and cassis aromas. Big, masculine in every way, with dense black fruit flavors followed by wonderful spice. Bit of tobacco and lead pencil emerging. Thank you, David!

Tasted double blind. Sour cherry on nose, same fruit on palate, quite tart. Fruit clearly shows power but somehow came across as a bit muddled and showed far older than I'd ever expect from a 1996 Corton.

Approximately 30-40 minutes in a decanter, but this could have used a couple of hours. Black cherry and blackberry aromas with huge meaty, Gevrey spice. Slightly floral in background. Fruit is very ripe on the palate, but somewhat hidden for now behind large-scale tannins. Give this plenty of more time in the cellar.

Tasted blind. Rich and lush styled Champagne. Showed its Pinot Noir character with elegant strawberry elements throughout. Very good textures, but I'd just like a bit more acidity to come through.

Tasted double blind. Wonderfully floral aromas to start, which made me this was white Burgundy. Palate came across as very New World, with ripe orchard fruit and moderate spice. Clear signs of heat on finish. Quite unlike any Aubert Chardonnay I've tried before...much less intense...quite confusing.

Tasted double blind. Horribly bitter and undrinkable. I was going to score this at around 72 points, but will give this wine the benefit of the doubt and go with "flawed" based on both Meadows' and Tanzer's professional barrel tasting reviews extending into the mid-90s.

Tasted double blind. Super ripe fruit, came across as New world to me. Intense fruit followed by big spice, then lots of power and a trace of heat at the end. Lots of structure more than balances that heat. This will benefit from a decade+ in cellar.

Tasted double blind. Sensational in every way. Powerful black cherry aromas with anise and cocoa powder. Explosive sweet black fruit flavors, incredibly lush and powerful with some meaty spice that came across "Beze-like" to me. Long, long finish with great spice. Beautiful today with perhaps one hour in decanter. I can't wait to try this again 2020 or later. Thank you, Brock!

Popped and poured. Black cherry aromas with espresso, dark chocolate and background floral notes. Powerful flavors of black cherry and blackberry and some meaty spice. Most likely approaching its peak drinking window. Thankfully much better than another bottle from a different source tasted a few weeks ago.

Tasted double blind. Very lush, ripe, forward red fruit on nose and palate. Great Asian spice aromas and flavors are also prominent. Comes across as a bit modern with new oak also pronounced, but largely in balance with the wine's great raw materials. Showing slightly older than I expected, particularly in contrast to a bottle opened earlier this year in Burgundy.

Tasted double blind. Bitter, harsh, never would have guessed this was from Burgundy.

Tasted double blind. Served alongside Guigal 03 Cote-Rotie Ampuis. This was clearly New World in every way, but wasn't lost next to the Guigal. Blackberry and plum flavors with some of the same hints as the Cote-Rotie, showing traces of black pepper and bacon. Big start, slightly flatter finish.

Tasted double blind, served alongside the Colgin 2003 Syrah IX. Lean fruit to start on the nose, more power coming through on palate particularly on finish. Very good balance and textures for a Rhone vintage I don't always enjoy.

Tasted double blind. Very accessible today. Black fruit on nose and palate with good emerging earthy and tobacco elements. Good power and spice come through on the medium finish.

Musty nose with very nice and charming tertiary elements. I enjoyed the flavors slightly more than the aromas, but still more interesting than enjoyable.

Tasted double blind. Black fruit. Short and flabby. Not a good day for Bonnes Mares.

Tasted double blind. Mild;y floral to start. Lean red fruit on nose and palate, very integrated in every way. Lots of strawberry and red cherry accompanied by subtle Asian five spice. Very approachable now, I truly liked how the vintage's lean and precise style comes through.

Tasted double blind. Alas, too easy to identify as 2004 Burgundy. Bitter and green.

Decanted approximately two hours. Mostly black fruit aromas, followed by combination of red and black cherry flavors. Very robust spice box comes through on nose and again on long finish. Fruit seems somewhat lean from middle to end.

Tasted double blind. All black fruit, easy to identify as young left bank wine. Flavors were very easy to enjoy, but came across as slightly simple to me. Drinking well now, probably ideal for medium-term consumption.

Tasted double blind. Lots of robust black fruit with big spice from fruit and new oak. Others really enjoyed this wine, but it's not exactly my preferred style. A bit too much alcohol comes through to me.

Popped and poured. Plenty of earthy aromas with hints of tobacco and lingering black fruit. Good flavors emphasized earthy and mushroom elements, moderate intensity, very surprising how well this tasted for a 1970.