9/6/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine:

Antinori Tasting at Liquor Barn (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Rich, big fruit, well balanced, lovely wine, long on flavors on the finish.

2/9/2024 - BellevuePhil Likes this wine:

The year was 1986, triumph and tragedy.

The world witnessed the launch of the Space Station Mir by the Soviet Union, the exhilarating victory of Argentina in the FIFA World Cup held in Mexico, the awe-inspiring return of Halley's Comet and let’s not forget the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

And of course my 16th birthday which unfortunately and fortunately was spent alone 220 miles north of Fairbanks in a village with no name due to my adventurer father who ran out of gas in his Piper cub…searching for Don Sheldon’s (the bush pilots) lost bag.

Stranded, we walked to the village.

The 1986 Château Gruaud Larose is a true masterpiece of winemaking, a vintage that embodies elegance, complexity, and timeless allure. With each sip, one is transported to the sun-drenched vineyards of Bordeaux, where the grapes ripened under the watchful gaze of the Gironde estuary.

This wine pours a deep, garnet hue, hinting at the depth and richness that awaits within the glass. On the nose, it offers an enticing bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, dark cherries, and hints of cedar and tobacco, layered with subtle notes of leather and earthiness. It is a symphony of aromas that captivates the senses and promises a truly indulgent experience.

I closed my eyes and I recalled the warmth of the sun kissing my skin as I frolicked with a young native girl who spoke no English, yet possessed a tanned body which I will never forget amidst the luscious blueberry bushes. Together, we reveled in the simple pleasures of life, rolling in the tart sweetness of the berries until our bodies were stained with their vibrant hues. In the stillness of the evening, we sought refuge in a weathered canoe, hidden away from the world as reindeer leaped gracefully over our makeshift sanctuary.

It was in that moment of serenity that I cracked open two bottles of this precious wine, liberated from my fathers plane bag, that he had stolen from the Pump House in Fairbanks, our only companions in the wilderness. With no glasses to separate us from the liquid ambrosia, I corked it with a buck knife and we drank deeply, savoring each exquisite sip as if it were the elixir of life itself.

The finish is long and lingering, leaving behind echoes of dark fruit and subtle oak, a testament to the wine's impeccable balance and structure. This is a wine that demands to be savored, a true expression of the terroir from which it hails. Wine to me is a living memory and tonight, alone in my Bellevue home with my bearskin rug and my 64 Fender amp glowing red, I uncorked this bottle and my mind drifted back to a summer's eve in June, amidst the rugged beauty of Alaska's Brooks Range.

The 1986 Chateau Gruaud Larose my friends, when allowed to open like a young flower of the spring, is a symphony of the senses, a voyage through time and space that transcends the boundaries of mere mortal existence.

As the deep crimson liquid cascades into my glass, I am reminded of the vibrant hues of the blueberries that once stained my skin, a testament to the untamed beauty of nature's bounty. With each swirl and sniff, I am greeted by a bouquet of aromas that evoke memories long forgotten yet forever cherished summer love between a white boy and a native girl.

The taste, oh the memories, and oh the taste of this wine tonight! It is like nectar from the gods, a tantalizing blend of sweetness and depth that caresses my palate with every sip. It is as if I am reliving that moment in the canoe, hidden away from the world, with only the reindeer and the northern lights as our witnesses.

And though time may have faded her image, and reality may have diverged from fantasy, this wine remains a steadfast reminder of the passion and adventure that once defined my existence. So here's to you, my dear friends, and to the journey that lies ahead. May we savor every moment, as we savor every sip of this divine elixir. Cheers!

NOTE TO SELF DECANT 3 HOURS. (I DECANTED FOR TWO, BUT MAN SHE OPENED OVER THE NEXT HOUR)

2/11/2024 - wlauster Likes this wine:

I purchased this 24 year old magnum bottle, along with its big sister double magnum 20 years ago in a silent auction. The double magnum was enjoyed much younger; I squirreled the “smaller” magnum thinking a special occasion would warrant its opening. Occasions came and went; the bottle stayed squirreled. Today I hosted a party. Guests included the people who hosted me to the event which featured the silent auction 20 years ago; the perfect moment to open. I expected the wine to be totally undrinkable; spoiled, oxidized and turned into compost. Removing the foil revealed a cork with dark matter which mostly was easily removed. The cork was wonderfully moist and seemed to be easily removable…until the last bit broke off in the neck. A sniff revealed fruitiness. My attempts to remove the residual piece of cork failed and it fell into the bottle. My friends and I decided to pour around the floating cork. The wine poured a luxurious golden. We all agreed upon a fruity nose. We tasted. “It lives!” my friend exclaimed. Fruitiness, acidity, layers of complexity and a maturity in a Chardonnay that I’d never experienced. It made the entire evening a night to remember, along with the 49’ers losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl for the 2nd time in 4 years. I wish I’d squirreled away the double magnum for next year’s rematch.

2/1/2024 - LetItRide Likes this wine:

An over achieving Barolo . Such a nice sip and decent QPR..cinammon earthy nebbiolo nose and some cherry, black pepper spice and mid range length on the mildly tannic finish.

1/20/2024 - johnh1001 wrote:

Soft open and insane spice and complexity. Textbook Leroy. Mature and gorgeous right now but this will go a long long time. An amazing achievement this vintage.

1/1/2024 - Geoff Likes this wine:

Wow and wow! Truly extarordinary. We all know the mantra, but it is remarkable to make a stellar wine like this no matter where the location. Still going strong with plenty of everything left in the tank.

12/16/2023 - lelandinmichigan Likes this wine:

Shining garnet color with a deep core. A variety of aromas, from mulberries to euchalyptas leaf provides plenty of enticing smells. The palate has a gentle presences and covers the mid palate with a decent length and finish (20 seconds plus). Tannins are resolved, acids provide a nice frame and fruit remains alive. Great with a hummus, tomato, avocado and alfalfa sandwich. Great value in the under 20$ range, has all the features of a well made wine.

9/12/2023 - 560 B&W Likes this wine:

Still very tight

9/4/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote:

Brawny, beefy, masculine, yet, regal with its layers of tobacco-drenched red fruits, leafy garden herbs, forest floor, and greenery. Full-bodied, chewy, and deep, this is one of the best examples from this challenging vintage. Popped and poured, this is simply fabulous and character-filled. Drink from 2023-2045.

7/26/2023 - mick978@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Superb. This remains the best Dominus wine there is.

2/13/2023 - forceberry wrote:

Typically a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65-70%), Merlot (30-25%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Aged for approximately 12 months in oak barriques (40% new). 12,8% alcohol.

Rather deep, moderately opaque and quite luminous black cherry color. The nose feels savory, complex and slightly rustic with aromas of dried flowers, ripe blackcurrants and wizened red berries, some licorice root tones, a little bit of leathery funk, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a hint of pipe tobacco, a bretty touch of barnyard and an autumnal whiff of damp, decomposing leaves. The wine feels dry, vibrant and moderately ripe with a rather full body and nuanced flavors of wild strawberries and wizened Bing cherries, some savory notes of earth and dried dark fruits, a little bit of licorice root, light woody notes of pencil shavings and cedary cigar box, a bretty hint of leathery funk and a touch of ripe blackcurrant. The structure relies more on the quite high acidity than on the rather resolved yet still quite firm medium-plus tannins. The finish is juicy yet also dry and savory with a long, complex aftertaste of tobacco and wizened dark plums, some evolved notes of dried red berries and savory meaty tones, a little bit of licorice root, light bretty nuances of farmyard, a hint of leather and a woody touch of cedar.

A fine, beautifully evolved vintage of Chasse-Spleen. There seems to be a tiniest amount of bretty funk in the wine that really doesn't distract or muddle the fruit, only adds a little bit of nice, rustic complexity to the flavors. There is just enough vibrant, relatively youthful fruit to make the wine feel very much alive, even if there is quite a bit of more evolved and savory stuff from the more tertiary aromatics. Structurally the wine is still firm and very balanced, but age has resolved the tannins quite a bit so that the wine doesn't come across as particularly tough or grippy, just firm and nicely structured. Great stuff, priced according to its quality at 65€.

12/26/2022 - Vinum Deorum wrote:

Good but I would not call it a success for Mouton, nor for the vintage. It has a decent structure, with a bit of rusticity and slightly angular tanins. Good length, medium bodied, not much fruitiness nor freshness. The wine itself is pretty nice, but there is nothing really special in it. I mean, one can have the same level of pleasure with hundreds of ordinary wines from the area. Just a good ordinary claret at the wrong price point.

12/27/2022 - boillatm Likes this wine:

My second Mouton after a bottle of the 1981 vintage.
Bottle bought at an auction a couple of months ago and opened 30 minutes before drinking (no decant). The cork was entirely soaked.
Very ethereal and complex medium-bodied wine. Very Pauillac.
Now, would I think this is a great wine if it wasn't Mouton Rothschild? I mean, I had other 1989s Pauillac (PLC, Duhart Milon) that were in my mind as interesting as this. But perhaps my palate is not distinguished enough to appreciate all the subtelties of a wine of such pedigree.

12/14/2022 - winedupe Likes this wine:

Bought a case as futures based on Parker's blurb and have only had a couple of the bottles so far. I can't remember the price, but I'm sure it was low compared to today's lofty.
Not decanted. To loosely paraphrase the Beach Boys, a woody but an oldie and a goody. Cork was HEAVILY MOLDY on top, but fill was still in the neck. Cork came out in one piece easily without fancy hardware, but as expected from the mold, soaked all the way up (mold has got to have something to eat, n'est pas?). As such, I expected the worst. HOWEVER, the color was still dark purple, with little browning. Not much nose, but a bit of mushroom. Taste, as alluded to above was very woody, but with a ton of cherry fruit. Not a long aftertaste, otherwise I would have given it 95. Amazing at 36 years old.
I noticed that the more recent reviews are generally higher than the historical average, even though the "drinking window" closed in 2018. My opinion is that this wine has a few more year of mellow old age if stored well. Still some tannins.
For the record, the previous bottle, from about a year ago, was not as noteworthy.

11/25/2022 - prccap wrote:

What a waste of almost $100US. way over oaked and the fruit flavor is completely cooked, concentrated juice like. This might as well be a home made kit wine. Zero grape tannins. Acid is just enough to wash the wine down. Very disappointing

11/25/2022 - GB510 Likes this wine:

Complemented our Thanksgiving meal

8/20/2022 - Curtis Chen wrote:

The CFO's Birthday: A bit of a weird wine tonight. Dark in color with the appearance of a young wine, but with almost a delicate body in comparison. Didn't improve much in the decanter and it was also being copiously consumed by a wine newbie at the event, so double whammy. Wish I could've followed it over time.

4/28/2022 - Mikeytnyc Likes this wine:

Too strong for a light dinner. Mom & Nina put ice cubes in there glasses. Never again will I waste with them.

2/4/2021 - platpeeps Does not like this wine:

Greeted with a bouquet of rotten eggs this did little to endear itself further on the palate. The mouthfeel resembled stewed rhubarb such was the astringency and for the most part the fruit had dried out. Well past it. Score 75pts

8/8/2022 - JamesAnthony Likes this wine:

Elegant, sweet barolo

2/5/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine:

Retail $75(?). 100% Pinot Noir. I bought four bottles of this wine from WTSO back in 2014 and this is, surprisingly, the first that I have cracked. Fairly light in the glass with a balanced nose of subtle fruit, plenty of spice, and just a hint of the characteristic Burgundian funk that I actually like (in moderation). The palate is simply delightful, and again, wonderfully balanced with some initial fruit, joined by a near-perfect amount of acidity on the mid-palate, and ending with a lengthy finish. Whoa.

www.thedrunkencyclist.com

5/22/2021 - Andrew.Koss wrote:

If you come across this bottle on WTSO or similar, do not pass up. It’s almost unfair that a wine this well aged and this delicious can be purchased for 30-40 dollars. The 15.5 alcohol is still present so let it decant/breath for a while but this bottle won’t disappoint. Pair it with a marbled steak and it’s reminiscent of an aged Bordeaux for a fraction of the price. Wonderful earthy nose yet surprisingly balanced and subtle on the pallet. It lacks the complexity that an older Bordeaux might have but it’s freaking 30 dollars and it’s outstanding. Plus, it’s incredibly unlikely you’re guests will have ever had it.

Drinking splendidly and isn’t it nice to open a vintage wine and not feel like your wallet is taking a beating too!

11/6/2020 - jeanclaude wrote:

Bought on wtso 4 bottles wish I had bought more. Punching way above price point. Deep and rich pinot without over extraction, if you see this wine buy it.

5/6/2019 - Markus IWC wrote:

Grappe Piemonte 2, vin 4:

Från Serraboella i Neive, en vingård som ofta ger strukturerade och kraftfulla Barbaresco. Gjort på gamla stockar. Producent som gått från modern till en mer klassisk stil.

Vinet har tyvärr en obehaglig reduktiv doft, något man inte hittar i Nebbiolo så ofta, påminner om dålig andedräkt i doften. Blir bättre med tid i glaset men försvinner inte helt.

Munkänslan är det inget fel på, stram och sträv i stilen med kraftfulla tanniner.

4/5/2019 - Ericsson Likes this wine:

Bordal chez PG (100% Bordeaux) (Collex-Bossy (Genève)): Une des robes les plus légères de la soirée, presque rubis, encore brillant. Au nez, les arômes se dégagent plus lentement, il leur faut une heure pour émerger complètement, tabac blond, fruits rouges, coco.
En bouche, le vin joue la finesse, la persistance, la complexité et une belle harmonie.
Très jolie finale, longue et soyeuse.
Tiendra encore 10 ans sans problème.

6/13/2018 - jayw wrote:

Too much buttery oak, but partly redeemed by the ripe orchard fruit and oily floral character of this wine. Nice acidity, too, and an expressive nose. I would not buy more of these at $19, but I'm not a big fan of New World Chardonnay, so I don't know... I guess this is OK. Paired well with a rich roasted salmon.

3/22/2018 - VinCapitan wrote:

Brioche and almond croissants, lemon, pithy and apples, Golden honey sunsets, light bead tickles the tongue. Lacks a little depth

2/5/2018 - mxpbuy Likes this wine:

3 hour decant. Tobacco, hard leather, blackberries, black currant, very smooth. Almost no sediment. Long finish.

5/11/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote:

World's Greatest - Night I (Eleven Madison Park): Unbelievable how fresh and juicy this nose is. More age showing than on either the '28 Palmer or Mouton with leathers and dusty old cigar box. Sweet red cherry on the palate with touches of tertiary soil. Baking spice and cinnamon.

12/30/2016 - Diane (LI) wrote:

You gotta love that Cordier funk. This bottle is beginning its decline. The cork wasn't in the best shape and was a challenge for my Durand. The nose is all savory with barnyard, dark fruit and tobacco. The palate loses the barnyard, but picks up black olive, dark fruit, prune, and cedar. The long finish is delicious. I can't speak to the soundness of this bottle as that cork appeared to allow some seepage, but it still was quite good.

7/29/2012 - MatthewF wrote:

Dinner at Home with Friends (My House, Chicago IL): Opened about 2 hours before serving. A dark red/almost black cherry and berry fruit profile with some meaty spice and great earth notes. Typical Leroy floral, but not as much as the previous wines tonight. Relatively fruit forward on the palate with some good mineral structure. Medium body and finish. Nice acidity with well integrated tannins. Quite good.

3/10/2013 - GoBlue2002 wrote:

Minneapolis Wine Spectator Offline (Fire Lake Grill, Minneapolis MN): Another horribly corked wonder from Benchmarkwine.